One factoid I pulled out of this is that once your team is out of the BIM tourney, your staff, even one to scout may not remain and catch the games live, but the USMNT HC & father of a Crew player is able to look on? Yes his presence will in theory benefit the league as he evaluates players for his team but if I have upwards of 40 people, get eliminated today, I may not leave 1 behind. Now I must rely on the video of the game, it stays with the ball, unable to see where gaps happen as others both attack and defend, how close are the lines as the ball goes up and down the field, so much happens off the ball.
This conference was Sat. a.m. as I was already scheduled to do work on a property, I was a bit late, yet both coach and the captain said the same thing that seemed odd and got more odd as it was repeated by Deila in that as of Sat. noonish, the players had not begun doing things relative to Miami, yes the staff had reviewed them and I would like to think they had installed new things into training to account for them, getting the ball wider, playing it faster, pressing at midfield, whatever they saw as items of concern to address more so should this opponent of Mon. do such things. I understand giving the day after a game off and only have those for treatment, maybe did not even dress want to come in, but to not introduce them until as Ronny said until the day before the game, we shall see how that plays out.
As I got on Alex Ring was just finishing up he stated, no we have not yet begun with Miami prep, but we are focusing on us. He was asked of how great was last year, his reply was very good but maybe a good extreme as until then they had not won the conference, 2019 had them at the top of the league in points. He stated we did nothing, did not take the title, yes a good year but without winning it doesn't matter.
Coach was asked about the dearth of goals thus far, was it bad luck, tactical, and fixable. Of course it is fixable, it is in part that we start poorly. How much of an issue is the 9 a.m. start? To prep they had been training at 8, that has them eating from 5:30-7, getting treatment and what not, on the bus at 7:30, so the earlier part of the day gives them some freedom. Like RIng he was asked if Miami or themselves are more important, this was when he explained that the staff was familar with their opponent in less than 45 hours, that they would be introduced to the team at the next days session, but that their performance is key, not to dwell on Miami. I am sure most if not all players have seen each and every game of each and every opponent, I would do more on my last, even more so given how poorly they have been playing as a unit. An inquiry was made as to the pressure as they go down 1-0, they are not used to it, it may be their mindset, they must be more offensive minded at the start, they will wait and see what is happening. When asked how will the pair of losses impact the lineups coach informed that yes there will be changes, including Mitirita being back. (Mitrita was vey dangerous with one free kick in particular rattling the goal.) He informed when asked about in the past them playing like Man CIty that in the past they had a lot of freedom, he will have the players in the place he wants them to be in. As to the water beaks, yes they have been good, first yes so hot but helps get rest, a little bit of coaching in, easier witout crowd noise but might not be so enamored of them should he be playing well and winning. Due to the COVID-19 in NY they were delayed by 2 weeks in training, coach offered that yes he would have started earlier but had not given it much thought. (They did train in NJ at the Red Bulls facility.)
Here is the bottom line, they may have been thrown a bone in getting Miami to save face a tad, should they not win, not score it brings in a lot of questions and doubts top to bottom, but they may still win and go home, you had very few changes in the off season, were thought to be a favorite coming into these games yet here we are.