He'll have fun trying his trademark pass on that narrow pitch
He'll have fun trying his trademark pass on that narrow pitch
That this thread is the equivalent to a sober discussion of a zombie apocalypse. A bunch of crazy people making up random baseless theories.Originally Posted by 69Chevy396
Including yours?
BAM!!!!!!
This thread should be read with music. Classical, or maybe porn. Not sure which.
Last edited by Redpunkfiddle; 06-25-2015 at 08:47 PM.
That's all I'll say about that.
Really it comes down to whether these guys have anything left in the tank and if they can adapt to playing with lesser talents. I don't buy the "MLS uber physical / fast" thing, at least on a world class level. It's a league that values strength / speed but it's not nearly as strong or fast as the top leagues in the sport. There is absolutely no way Pirlo gets less time on the ball here than he'd get in series A.
I sat pitch side for Liverpool - TFC at skydome. After Liverpool not giving a crap, the second most obvious thing was how large the average euro footballer is compared to a MLS'er. Our guys looked like they were half their size. Series A has no shortage of butchers either - they will use the same tactics that are used here. The only thing left is the ref, which is still a problem but not the deciding factor.
Last edited by ag futbol; 06-25-2015 at 09:06 PM.
Ok, a serious little tid bit that Vanney mentioned a few weeks ago and everybody agreed with.
Why do players take time to adjust to MLS?
Cause MLS players don't keep positional shape.
Guys will run out at you from weird places that you have never experienced before because in Europe formation and shape is everything.
Here...keeping shape is more like guidelines.
So, like it or not Pirlo and Lampard are going to experience a guy like Marky Delgado or Jackson or Moore coming at them at a time angle and speed their not used to having happen because in Europe if you did that Delgado/Jackson/Moore's teammates would go apoplectic. Not that Delgado or Jackson or Moore are all that good in comparison. But, for a guy who thrives on space, Pirlo is going to to have to learn to deal with people who will press him in places he's not used to. And Lampard is going to have to get used to his teammates not being where he is used to them being cause they too are going where no EPL/Seria A player would go.
So no, its not that MLS is technically better or faster or more physical.
Its just that MLS players are way less disciplined then European, and no player, not even Giovinco, figures that out for about 3-4 games.
Now, when Pirlo figures that out right around the middle of August we'll see how good NYCFC is.
And, Giovinco has figured out that with all that lack of discipline, he has a LOT of space he can find, especially in a league where the RB and the LB are usually the weakest links on the field.
Last edited by OgtheDim; 06-25-2015 at 09:18 PM.
Don't forget one very important thing regarding Pirlo. Yes he is absolute class, no one is doubting that. However, what has helped him age so gracefully at Juve is having the extremely dynamic duo of Vidal and Pogba in the midfield with him. The pace and tenacity of those two went a very, very long way in hiding the flaws now inherent in Pirlo's 36 year old legs, i.e. no pace left. Pair him up with fellow old man Lampard, and teams with any sort of pace will enjoy themselves when they can get past them. Sure he can pick a pass like very few other players in history, but going forward isn't everything...
Yes MLS is the ping pong league.
Osorio a bum?! Not sure what game your watching. Good utility player, works hard and makes good decisions and passes. A steal at what he's being paid.
Pirlo's is one of the classiest players to every play this beautiful game, but VERY old for a midfielder and here for one last big paycheck. I'd take Bradley in a heartbeat. He still has something to prove.
I can see Pirlo providing occasional displays of brilliance in the league for a year or two but then declining sharply.
Expect a Arsenal-like untouchables run from here on out.
Part of me is also wondering what's Silva going to do now that he has somebody that can actually pass the ball to space. He's going to have to unlearn his blast through with elbows up technique and start finding those spaces - it will take him a few games to adjust too.
All of this leads me to believe that we have a chance at getting some sort of a result at Yankees stadium next month.
Lampard is incredibly overrated. He was very good at a few things and played in a system at Chelsea for 10 odd years that maximized those talents.
I was going to mention those to specifically, Juve's mid is as good as it gets, and those two are probably the top tow box to box mids in the game right now, plus he had a bunch of others mids who are all around Bradley's level ( like Marchisio, probably less physical but more skilled then the general, asamoah as physical but faster), not to mention a world class back line and tevez/lorente/morata upfront who are more then likely just were Pirlo expects them to be.
First off I want to say about Pirlo (and Lampard): we shall see. You never really know how players will do in MLS. There are so many factors. How healthy & motivated will they be over time? How well will the coach use them & their teammates? How will the teammates adjust to them? For example, I thought that Frings would do better than he did. I think he had the right attitude, but had lingering injuries; a coach & a team that couldn't use him well; etc etc.
I think the fact that Lampard, Pirlo and Villa will be together (if they stay healthy) will help NY. Three core players that should be able to interact well. 3 class players that opponents can't all double team at the same time.
People mentioned that Serie A (& other top European leagues) are also physical. But I think they are generally smart physical. The question I would ask about Pirlo & Co: how would they deal with it over time, if other teams play them like NYCFC played us on the weekend? And with refs calling it the same way? With the constant hacking; off-the-ball fouls that aren't called; almost no cards; and all the rest. That's very different from what they experienced most of the time in Europe. I don't think that refs in Serie A would put up with that shit. You would get some free kicks called real quick in dangerous spots; and a few cards handed out to the opponents.
Plus nobody in Europe deals with the constant extreme travel, via scheduled commercial flights; huge temperature & altitude swings; plastic turf; etc. So we shall see. Pirlo & co may do great, or they may not. For team building, continuity, and reliability, I would prefer younger DPs -- as would Jason Kreis apparently. But NYCFC opted for the big names & fast cash.
Let's do this in September.
Toronto FC baby...best team everrrrrrrrrr -Jozy
Being a life long Juve supporter I am torn on seeing Pirlo coming to the MLS, I had really hoped that they would have beat Barcelona and Pirlo could have retire as UCL champion. That being said I have met and know a few players who made the transition from Europe to the MLS and they told me the league is a lot more difficult than everyone thinks it is.
The biggest adjustment is the speed and physicality of the league. In almost every european league you have time on the ball and when players are coming at you they are in control. In north america the speed at which they close and the recklessness of sacrificing position to attack the ball is something that takes a while to get use to. Also, his trade mark passes will go astary as with the exception of Villa they won't be where they are suppose to be. Also he has zero speed and as was said above was shielded by one the best midfields in the world (Vidal, Pogba, & Marchisio). IMO a midfield of Lampard and Pirlo even 5 years ago would be amazing, but with all of the factors that make the MLS unique (travel, turf & weather) I think this experiement is going to go horribly wrong.
But as he was a Juventino I want him to do well, but not against us.
Great news for league. 2 qualities that both Lampard and Pirlo have and still possess; Lampard's timing on his runs into the box, is still top class, as he showed for Man City this season. Pirlo's ability to dictate play and his passing is top class and still there. As much as I admire and respect both players abilities, I wouldn't have wanted them at TFC, I like that we are thinking more long term. I'd imagine once NY solidify themelves in this league this season, they'll start to think more long term themselves in DP selection. But a what a great way to start a franchise in season 1 with these types of players and to generate interest not just in their team but in the league.
Let's not bury the lead: Wow. My God.
Those are three players I would pay to see.
I wouldn't trade our 3 DPs for theirs from an on field POV, but for pure wattage, MLS has never seen 3 names like that on a team. You have to go back to the Cosmos to find parallels.
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.
I know Pirlo and Lampard will get all the attention but their other two recent pick ups are the ones im worried about. They got a legit La Liga defender Iriola in from Bilbao on a non DP contract and Man Citys best youth* prospect Angelino.
Both are full backs and both will provide width for the narrow midfield that they are going to have to play. They are probably gonna be a hot team down the stretch.
*According to Paddy Vieira
I'll be at the game in NYC with 4 others!
Official Member of the Montreal Miracle Crew 2009
Sweet!!! How are you guys getting there? I'm thinking Megabus. Also, what is the away section there again? I believe someone mentioned it here but I can't seem to find that.
Pirlo would be a fantastic addition to MLS and raise the status of the league, as he could still make most Starting XI's in Europe.......
Serie A is in fact a very physical league, but as someone here mentioned it is "smart physical" ie. not as reckless as some tackles in MLS......though Pirlo makes up for it in smarts and knowing what he's going to do next before he even gets the ball......I don't think he'll have a problem handling the physicality.......where the problem might come from is teammates not being in the space where he thinks they'll be, since a lot of what he does relies on his mates anticipation.....
and for those who are equating his age with "having nothing left in the tank"....check some stats please.......Pirlo was consistently in Juve's top 3 of distance covered match after match in his time with them......he doesn't look like he's moving around much because he doesn't run "hard" much......but he's covering ground a ton......
The team with 4 wins 7 losses and 5 draws is unbeatable this year? Well let's see how far from the playoffs they are when these phenoms arrive and have to adjust.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
Interesting Article on Giovinco's MLS experience and his thoughts on Pirlo joining the League
Giovinco: 'Pirlo, come face us'
By Football Italia staff
Sebastian Giovinco looks forward to Andrea Pirlo joining the MLS: 'I hope he plays against us.'
The 28-year-old has impressed for Toronto FC since his transfer from Juventus, and as reports keep mounting of his former teammate's move to the states, he looks forward to being reunited.
“He [Pirlo] messaged me, but not from New York,” Giovinco told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Some time ago he asked me how things were going for me.
“I told him it was a nice experience, something worth trying.
“I don't think I was the one who convinced him. I hope to see him playing against us.
“The level of football here is not comparable to the European one.
“But I'm convinced it can turn into an increasingly important championship over the years.
“There's less quality and tactical discipline. But in terms of their organisation, Toronto are at a level with the great clubs in Italy, though Juventus are a historical team.”
The Atomic Ant then discussed his possible future with the Azzurri.
“I heard [Coach Antonio] Conte twice since moving here. Once right after I'd signed, and on the second he asked me how things were going.
“But it's not up to me to say whether I can return to the Azzurri.
“Results will play a part in it, so I have to keep doing what I'm doing.
“But I knew that losing the Azzurri shirt was a possibility.
“Unfortunately playing abroad doesn't help, but if you do really well, they notice you sooner or later.
“I don't think it's a problem of distance. Maybe it has to do with the quality of this championship.
“My future? I only just arrived and I'm enjoying the positive moment.
“Life is good, football here is not like in Italy. Here it's just a sport.”
Interesting is one way to put it.Interesting Article on Giovinco's MLS experience and his thoughts on Pirlo joining the League
Giovinco: 'Pirlo, come face us'
By Football Italia staff
Sebastian Giovinco looks forward to Andrea Pirlo joining the MLS: 'I hope he plays against us.'
The 28-year-old has impressed for Toronto FC since his transfer from Juventus, and as reports keep mounting of his former teammate's move to the states, he looks forward to being reunited.
“He [Pirlo] messaged me, but not from New York,” Giovinco told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Some time ago he asked me how things were going for me.
“I told him it was a nice experience, something worth trying.
“I don't think I was the one who convinced him. I hope to see him playing against us.
“The level of football here is not comparable to the European one.
“But I'm convinced it can turn into an increasingly important championship over the years.
“There's less quality and tactical discipline. But in terms of their organisation, Toronto are at a level with the great clubs in Italy, though Juventus are a historical team.”
The Atomic Ant then discussed his possible future with the Azzurri.
“I heard [Coach Antonio] Conte twice since moving here. Once right after I'd signed, and on the second he asked me how things were going.
“But it's not up to me to say whether I can return to the Azzurri.
“Results will play a part in it, so I have to keep doing what I'm doing.
“But I knew that losing the Azzurri shirt was a possibility.
“Unfortunately playing abroad doesn't help, but if you do really well, they notice you sooner or later.
“I don't think it's a problem of distance. Maybe it has to do with the quality of this championship.
“My future? I only just arrived and I'm enjoying the positive moment.
“Life is good, football here is not like in Italy. Here it's just a sport.”
I prefer
Amazeballs
That is so effing cool.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
something I've seen consistently about Giovinco in reading interviews/articles, and I find very impressive is that he seemed fully aware, prior to coming over, of how coming to MLS would possibly impact his international career (in a negative way), and how different the "football culture" was in NA (wrt fans/media) as opposed to Europe......the total opposite of a guy like Defoe, who's attitude seemed that he was coming over to tear up an inferior league and get a last shot with the England NT because of it.....imo you saw a distinct change in attitude once he never made the England NT.....
of course the age difference between the two may be a factor, but Giovinco is by all evidence an extremely grounded person and realistic in attitude......fantastic to see and a reason why I have no concern right now that he will be with us here......
Who mentioned Bradley?
Some if us watch European Football, yes, but it it's because we watch European Footballers try and make a transition to MLS as quickly as they can that some of us add caution to our expectations.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
Osario was a rookie until Bradley got here.
There's not even a sniff of displeasure with his effort from management. So you'll know by tomorrow if your hopes will come true. I'm incredibly doubtful you'll get your way.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
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