The one where we need to be hungry like Tyler Wolff

Five Takes On The Five Stripes

1: Another lack luster performance. We just can’t seem to put together a full performance on offense and defense. It’s one or the other. Tonight the defense was there and the offense was not. Clearly build up and playing through the midfield was not happening so short of making subs, we have to recognize that we need to adapt and then execute. We have the ability and the talent up top to go direct and for our direct play to be more than simply huffing forward and hoping. We can actually be dangerous. At the very least it would’ve forced Orlando to defend a little because apart from a couple set pieces, we gave them little to be concerned about.

2: Etienne with another meh match. He just doesn’t seem connected to the game when it’s unfolding in front of him. It’s really bizarre. He’s clearly talented but he’s just been kinda sloppy and not reading things at all. Disconnected is I think the best way to describe his game.

3: When a player as good as Almada and as important as Almada has a bad night, it sticks out more and the effects are felt more acutely. He missed more crosses and by his his standard, easy passes, than maybe he has in totality for the whole season. I think Orlando did a good job of handling him but he was also just off. I hope it’s not some lingering injury.

4: What’s the problem with a strong starting XI, no one to come off the bench and really change the game. I’m sure folks will be screaming for Pineda to make subs, particularly in the midfield, but who was really on the bench? FWIW unless it’s a fitness or injury concern, I do whole heartedly disagree with taking GG off, but there’s really no one sitting on the side who can come in and break the game open. That being said I would have like to have seen the subs we did make come on sooner and a little more creativity from Pineda in our shape since he couldn’t bring on a real game changing type player with who was available. Credit where it’s due, Fortune and Wolff did end up changing the game. If we can just stay competitive until the summer window I think this team is set up to make some big positive changes.

5: So Miguel Berry was pretty decent tonight. Truthfully he played with a bit of swagger. If he had been producing at any level at all up to this point we’d probably be ok with that performance. He had TWO shots on goal. That’s more than he’s had all season. If he can just bag a goal and a couple assists we might be able to keep him on his super low wage.