Pleased to meet you \u2013 what\u2019s my name?<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nDid the fact that Patrick Vieira had 15 different players starting over the course of these four matches negatively impact the outcome? Setting aside for a moment why<\/em> he had to fiddle with the lineups so much, did the fact that each line saw some element of change over the course of NYCFC\u2019s last four matches have as much to do with getting a less satisfactory result from teams like Colorado and Houston? Sure, sure, they\u2019re all professionals and they all train together \u2013 and they will tell you to your face that it doesn\u2019t matter who\u2019s on the pitch. But Alex Ring and Andrea Pirlo are fundamentally different kinds of players and players have to adjust to those differences \u2013 and sometimes that adjustment creates opportunities for opponents to steal points.<\/p>\nOne is the loneliest number.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nThree goals in NYCFC\u2019s last four matches. In this side\u2019s past FIVE matches they\u2019ve failed to score more than one goal. These are the same guys who scored more goals than any other team in the league last season. This is the side that has last season\u2019s MVP and this season\u2019s potential golden boot winner. And they only manage to score four goals in five matches? Against Portland, who have given up 47? Against Colorado who are worst in the league and have given up 42? Against Houston who have given up 40?<\/p>\n
Squirrel!<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nI swear, sometimes this team plays like it needs a healthy dose of Adderall. Against Portland, Pirlo gets knocked down and raises his hands to the ref (or the heavens, I wasn\u2019t quite sure which) and so everyone stops… except, of course, Portland who go on to score. Against Houston, two players go down, referee Allan Chapman blows his whistle, and NYCFC argue the call. Meanwhile the Dynamo have restarted play and score. And against Colorado, NYCFC give up a goal in the 88th\u00a0minute. Look in the dictionary under \u201cLosing Focus\u201d and you will see a picture of that goal.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why in NYCFC\u2019s last four matches they took only five points: inconsistent personnel, scoring drought and focus.<\/p>\n
On the other hand<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nLook, no one likes to lose. But when you lose to an Eastern Conference rival, the pain is doubled. Because not only do you NOT get points, but someone you\u2019re directly competing with for a playoff spot does<\/em>. But dropping points to Western Conference sides \u2013 while annoying as hell \u2013 is less damaging. At worst, it\u2019s a wasted opportunity to gain ground, not actually a self-inflicted wound that helps your enemy.<\/p>\nSo if you were going to go through a stretch where you took only five points out of a possible 12, frankly, NYCFC\u2019s last four matches was the time to do it. Great, Colorado gets a point \u2013 they\u2019re still at the bottom of the league. Terrific, Houston gets a point; maybe they\u2019ll make the playoffs. Imagine how much worse to have taken only five points in August, when NYCFC faced three conference rivals \u2013 including the Red Bulls twice.<\/p>\n
And on the other other hand<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nNow let\u2019s remind ourselves what the roster looked like over NYCFC\u2019s last four matches. No Yangel Herrera. David Villa out for two and a half matches. Alex Ring out for three. Ethan White out for all of September. Rodney Wallace still working the rust off. And of course, still no Ronald Matarrita, Maxime Chanot or Miguel Camargo.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a lot of quality players not in the starting XI. A lot of players who NYCFC really rely upon on every line.<\/p>\n
In other words, it is entirely possible that Patrick Vieira looked at his injuries and then looked at this schedule \u2013 a schedule against Western Conference sides where the risk was somewhat mitigated \u2013 and said \u201cif I can give some other players an opportunity, rest some of my key players, and still be in second place \u2013 I\u2019ll take it.”<\/p>\n
And what has happened over NYCFC\u2019s last four matches? Villa, Hererra, Ring have all gotten some much needed rest. Harrison has dialed up his aggressiveness, as has Khiry Shelton. Tommy Mac has taken more of a leadership role on the pitch. Andrezj Sturna got his first MLS minutes, as did James Sands.<\/p>\n
And NYCFC is still second in the East.<\/p>\n
You want proof that this is what he was thinking? I don\u2019t have it. Though I will point to Vieira\u2019s consistent contention that Toronto was going to win the Supporter\u2019s Shield as an indicator that he was viewing these games differently. That if he thought he couldn\u2019t catch them that he should adopt a different goal. And maybe this was it.<\/p>\n
Four down, four to go.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nAnd now NYCFC head into their final four matches of the season. Last year, NYCFC went 3-1 in this stretch. In 2015, they went 1-3. This year, for the first time, the matches are all against Eastern Conference rivals, two of whom are likely to be in the playoffs and two of whom are fighting for a shot.<\/p>\n
In other words, this is the perfect time to have a well-rested and comparatively healthy side.<\/p>\n
Hmmm\u2026 maybe NYCFC\u2019s last four matches weren\u2019t so bad after all\u2026<\/p>\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a>