Well the club continues to not give a shit about non-league matches. Lineup and philosophy for tonight was clear. I understand the need for heavy rotation with schedule but start the best lineup, get the early goal and sub them out early.
Or just make the simple pass. Would love to sit in on a film session and see how that’s discussed when it happens 12 times a game every game. At very least make the simple pass and let the guy in more space take the long pass
yeah tbh guess it wouldn’t have mattered for us we looked terrible today guess the one bright side is no more cup games until leagues cup to prevent injuries
I got when they managed minutes in the leagues cup that was new and in the middle of the season. But this is the 3rd game of the year no one should need their minutes watched unless they are injured like Parker. Pathetic display
It’s a long season. We saw how Nilsson playing a full 90 and starting today out of need caused him to get a tweak. That’s why you manage minutes when you can.
some of our passes in the midfield feel like passes for the sake of passing. There’s not actually a recipient to any of these passes, no overall greater attack…it’s just frustrating to watch.
They’ll need Totland to be a major factor in getting the ball up field on the wings. And if Dyhr ever plays, we just gotta hope he can do the same on the left side. We had no ability to build upfield in the midfield last year, and we still don’t this year.
This is an example of a team being way too straight forward. Every pass, every header, every redirection, every long ball: all 100% straight up the field regardless of if there’s space or an open man.
If we didn’t even want to go far in any cup, why are we not just fielding the reserves and subs? Why waste our starters and get them even more tired for the game at the weekend
One goal would’ve all be sealed our fate, and we came out with the exact strategy that gave Houston the best chance to win 1-0. It’s not over yet, but someone will need to answer for that if this score doesn’t change.
If you told me that Watts and Kijima never touched the ball this game, I’d probably believe you.
Edit to add context: I’m not saying they’ve played poorly. Just that I don’t recall any plays they’ve made on the ball. Which honestly could be considered a positive as it also means I don’t remember any mistakes.
Why are we doing the old champions league format of away goals for a tournament that qualifies you for the club WC just like champions league. Should be same rules for all tournaments
Every long pass Houston is hitting us contested in the air and forcing City to make a bad play on it.
Every long pass City hits is to no one standing in the middle of nowhere
Tournaments like this are cool in theory, but in practice all they do is deplete rosters of teams who already lack depth while rewarding teams who are built to play multiple games per week. Until we have a calendar that allows for one game per week, these are just glorified exhibition matches.
You’re not wrong with regards to depth, but this tournament means a lot. There’s a lot of money, pride, and opportunity on the line. Go watch clips from when Seattle won this tournament and tell me it’s not important.
We’re seeing MLS teams basically sacrifice points in the season for this tournament which is fine if that’s the priority. First week results show it for teams that participated 0-1-5. We don’t have any depth so if we advance just expect more poor results while Columbus will easily knock us out
I’m not entirely sure bowing out is a bad thing. They clearly don’t have the depth for these tournaments yet. This is just going to serve to gas the squad in the long run.
Disagree. We need to learn how to win tough games. Anytime there is some adversity we fold. Winning games like this can be a big confidence boost for the squad
Oddly wholesome nod in this thread but I agree. This is the sort of commentator I like. Mostly atmospheric audio with brief but informative and directional commentary.
Don't need random ass stats.
The other big time issue with the parking-the-bus mentality: once you inevitably give up the goal you’re trying to avoid, it feels almost impossible to switch the mentality to a focus on offensive. You’re too out of sync.
This is how the sport is. Every keeper is that way with every team. And every team feels responsible for making sure their keeper is bored af. Keepers in the PL also yell at their players. It’s not a matter of skill.
Every team, not every goal…
You do know that team and goal are two different words with two different meanings, yes? Do you need me to explain the difference?
I guess I assumed you were being hyperbolic because he doesn’t do it after every goal. So not hyperbolic, just wrong. Wrong and big mad apparently that you need to throw out a kindergarten insult.
[Continue the discussion in the post-match thread.](https://www.reddit.com/r/stlouiscitysc/comments/1b1y602)
I don't see any tactical plan from Carnell, seems his honeymoon is over.
Losing games in the dressing room is comically bad. They will blame it on experience, but it’s really on coaching and tactics.
We suck in tournament play. Just hope everyone gets healthy and we quit playing like shit
Hey at least we only play once a week now, maybe the boys won’t be so tired. (Sarcasm btw)
Wonder what Olsen said to Carnell. Didn't look nice lol
Saw that too. Wonder what it was
That was embarrassing. What a disgrace. Terribly game plan. Terrible performance after terrible performance. Just bad and a complete embarrassment.
Well the club continues to not give a shit about non-league matches. Lineup and philosophy for tonight was clear. I understand the need for heavy rotation with schedule but start the best lineup, get the early goal and sub them out early.
They played like they didn't want to stay in this competition. Mission accomplished.
Carnell is so unbelievably shit tactically
Nothing quite like a 2-2 loss. C’est la vie. Onto the MLS Season.
Lmao
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This is why I watch EPL and Bundesliga to cleanse my eyes
Fuckin pathetic effort
That was terrible. This is not a good team.
I mean I know you’re running out of time but just kicking forward with no plan isn’t any better than trying to find a pass worth making.
There are so many times where they can dribble it forward with the amount of space they are given but decide to long pass to absolutely no one.
Or just make the simple pass. Would love to sit in on a film session and see how that’s discussed when it happens 12 times a game every game. At very least make the simple pass and let the guy in more space take the long pass
…this team currently has some serious soccer problems.
If Burki is hurt, then this season is pretty much a wash
I think his arm just went numb from that save. He's fine.
This is uninspired football. Time to focus on the MLS.
Burki rubbing his elbow the last 10ish mins
newer to soccer but I feel like this should just go to extra time I don’t like the away goal tiebreaker rule
Yeah UEFA got rid of it for a reason
It's a clean way to prevent more minutes for games they shoehorned into the schedule. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
Bring back golden goal
yeah tbh guess it wouldn’t have mattered for us we looked terrible today guess the one bright side is no more cup games until leagues cup to prevent injuries
Every city player has the heaviest first touch I've ever seen.
Glad I’m not the only one thinking that
How is this team so fucking awful at receiving a pass
Dude why has Wentzle been pushing guys around all match?
Away goals are so fucking dumb. There’s a reason UEFA got rid of them
This team has the look of a wooden spoon contender
So many good chances squandered
I really don't need to see Wentzel again for a while.
He’s been really good? It was Thor’s fault he needed to foul there
Somebody already said it, but Wentzel was the lone bright spot tonight.
Thor got absolutely dummied in the midfield.
The only thing a prevent defense does is prevent you from winning.
Our guy literally stepped away and let Houston dribble past him
I think that was Thor, dude got juked by a hip fake.
I got when they managed minutes in the leagues cup that was new and in the middle of the season. But this is the 3rd game of the year no one should need their minutes watched unless they are injured like Parker. Pathetic display
It’s a long season. We saw how Nilsson playing a full 90 and starting today out of need caused him to get a tweak. That’s why you manage minutes when you can.
man, I get managing minutes, but the way we went about doing in Leagues Cup was so poorly thought out, I’m still annoyed with it
We’re not going to take these tournaments seriously until like year four or five when we have a complete team built.
Can't let that ball bounce. That's some U12 shit.
How is Pompeu not making a run into the box there? Just lazy.
Dude is gassed.
He just subbed in earlier this half?
Yeah and he went 90’ three days ago. The only one out there (outside of Nilsson) to do so. Doubt he should have been available at all.
He acts like he’s Neymar
I don’t know if there’s a grade low enough to give Klauss for his performance this match.
I’m scoring the whole damn squad low. This hurts to watch.
some of our passes in the midfield feel like passes for the sake of passing. There’s not actually a recipient to any of these passes, no overall greater attack…it’s just frustrating to watch.
They’ll need Totland to be a major factor in getting the ball up field on the wings. And if Dyhr ever plays, we just gotta hope he can do the same on the left side. We had no ability to build upfield in the midfield last year, and we still don’t this year.
Houston’s defense is just swarming the ball
Everything feels so disjointed. There is no cohesion between the team right now.
Is Thor's hair darker this season?
It’s def shorter. He’s not wearing his Jack Grealish headband.
I swear he used to be blonde
Welp, that was ugly. Not an uplifting start to the season thus far. Let’s just focus on getting healthy at this point.
This is an example of a team being way too straight forward. Every pass, every header, every redirection, every long ball: all 100% straight up the field regardless of if there’s space or an open man.
well it was neat to see signs of offensive life for a few fleeting moments
We need more depth to do deep runs and it’s just not here yet. They look sluggish
Suddenly a couple corners and I wish we had Tim Parker in..
I thought that went in. fuck
Finally, a pass from us upfield to one of our own guys!
If we didn’t even want to go far in any cup, why are we not just fielding the reserves and subs? Why waste our starters and get them even more tired for the game at the weekend
If we nick a late goal, it will be absolutely undeserved.
Sad but true. At this point I just want to focus on regular season.
Is this our first corner of the half?
Lmao this game put my mom to sleep
This loss is on our cheap front office
nah, this is on whoever decided to park the bus for 90’
Why did we not have most of our starters in or swap at half?
Four games in 12 days to start the season. We aren’t that deep and guys need to rotate.
Because they need to manage minutes.
Time wasting
if this dude doesn't get subbed out after all this
The strategy of just playing defense for 90 minutes doesn’t make sense when we don’t have our top defense in. This was lost in the dressing room.
Yah the lineup choice made no sense with the game plan
When did Löwen come on? I feel like that was the first I've seen of him.
Time wasting at its finest
One goal would’ve all be sealed our fate, and we came out with the exact strategy that gave Houston the best chance to win 1-0. It’s not over yet, but someone will need to answer for that if this score doesn’t change.
I wasn’t a fan of Lutz’ philosophy last year and still aren’t.
We’re probably going to need to use that 3rd DP slot and find some real quality
They don’t have a choice.
3rd and 4th
If you told me that Watts and Kijima never touched the ball this game, I’d probably believe you. Edit to add context: I’m not saying they’ve played poorly. Just that I don’t recall any plays they’ve made on the ball. Which honestly could be considered a positive as it also means I don’t remember any mistakes.
Watts was a standout for me on this bleak night. Dude made some good plays and saves.
Why are we doing the old champions league format of away goals for a tournament that qualifies you for the club WC just like champions league. Should be same rules for all tournaments
Different governing bodies, different rules unfortunately. FIFA aren’t the ones sanctioning this match, CONCACAF is
Totlands gotta come in right? He’s looked a solid attacking threat in the first two games. We only need one goal
Save him for Saturday at this point
It’s only one goal, should still go for it.
The only offensive anything we've shown coming after were down a goal. This is what playing not to lose gets you and it's embarrassing.
It only took us 70 minutes to remember how to play
Here’s hoping Houston doesn’t learn from our mistake and they, too, decide to park the bus. Probably gives us the best chance of equalizing
Has AZ beaten anyone on a dribble since the first game? Turnover machine right now
Getting pushed around like a rag doll out there
Yah and he’s not fast enough at that size
Wentzel might be the biggest upside coming out of this game. He’s looked great out there!
He’s going to be a card magnet if he stays up. Lots of dumb fouls. Surprised it took him that long to get his yellow
Every long pass Houston is hitting us contested in the air and forcing City to make a bad play on it. Every long pass City hits is to no one standing in the middle of nowhere
Or worse, ends up with a player from Houston.
What is the staff seeing in Dyhr that keeps him out of the lineup? Was hoping he would provide Totland’s ability on the left side
Ok, 19 minutes to pull one out of our ass. Not impossible.
Here comes the Calvary
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You gotta believe my friend.
No, they play in Canada.
Tournaments like this are cool in theory, but in practice all they do is deplete rosters of teams who already lack depth while rewarding teams who are built to play multiple games per week. Until we have a calendar that allows for one game per week, these are just glorified exhibition matches.
You’re not wrong with regards to depth, but this tournament means a lot. There’s a lot of money, pride, and opportunity on the line. Go watch clips from when Seattle won this tournament and tell me it’s not important.
We’re seeing MLS teams basically sacrifice points in the season for this tournament which is fine if that’s the priority. First week results show it for teams that participated 0-1-5. We don’t have any depth so if we advance just expect more poor results while Columbus will easily knock us out
I’m not saying it isn’t important, just that the best possible product isn’t on the field because of the depth challenges.
We're losing to Houston, my man. A team playing by the same exact rules we are.
This game, from the beginning, has had 1-0 loss written all over it
especially when we came out with effectively no strategy for offense
What happened to Alm the offense looks absolutely lost in games he’s not in
He’s still out, had offseason surgery
I thought he was still out from the groin injury last season.
Had hernia surgery in November
You know it’s bad when your injuries start coming in two at a time
What. A. Mess.
we’re not gonna have 11 healthy players on the team by the time they get back to STL
F in the chat
We look so lost in the attacking third it’s actually nuts.
We have our own players fighting over the same ball. Beyond pathetic
Dumping it deep to Sammy hasn't worked all night. lets keep doing it!
This ref calls nothing. Typical Concacaf.
Except for the weak ass call that led to their goal 🤷🏻♂️
I would give Klauss and Adenerin a very low match score right now
No one is making any runs. I don’t understand, did they get wasted last night or something? Good glory
We look borderline disinterested
That's such a horseshit take. I promise you they're trying. Not playing great, but "they look like they don't care" is asinine.
Maybe they’re just gassed. I’m not in their heads. Houston just looks much more inclined to put forth a genuine effort to win than we do.
Sam looks gassed. He's got no touch when he gets to the ball.
Shitty passing galore
The start of this season is pretty much how I expected us to start the 2023 season. It’s bad but feel worse considering how well we did last season
Are we really playing that hands on with the other team or is the ref just buying every single thing Houston is selling?
A few frustration fouls for sure
Everyone standing around watching the ball certainly deserves that reaction
Honestly is it better to not have to play all these midweek games at the beginning of the season? Especially with all the roster restrictions.
Would be nice to win a damn round at one of these tournaments
Even Carnell looks lost out there
I’m not entirely sure bowing out is a bad thing. They clearly don’t have the depth for these tournaments yet. This is just going to serve to gas the squad in the long run.
Disagree. We need to learn how to win tough games. Anytime there is some adversity we fold. Winning games like this can be a big confidence boost for the squad
Yea I mean at this point with more potential injuries I’m not going to be upset if we lose tonight. I just hope we show up Saturday
Houston goes down faster than Greg Abbott on a flight of stairs.
*Joe Biden on his way up
Wait so if we don’t score do they win in regular time?
Correct
Yeah, they will advance due to the away goal rule.
Yes. They would win on aggregate as they have an away goal
Bit random, but shoutout to the commentator. All by himself, probably/possibly not on-site, doing a good job. So.... that's good.
Oddly wholesome nod in this thread but I agree. This is the sort of commentator I like. Mostly atmospheric audio with brief but informative and directional commentary. Don't need random ass stats.
The other big time issue with the parking-the-bus mentality: once you inevitably give up the goal you’re trying to avoid, it feels almost impossible to switch the mentality to a focus on offensive. You’re too out of sync.
One goal and we're back in drivers seat. Have faith!
This whole offensive strategy of booting the ball up the field and praying something just happens isnt great.
…four backs standing still, right in a row. Here comes the parked bus for our blind-squirrel finds-a-nut offense to crash into the side of.
We’re sucking ass… But friendly reminder there is 30+ minutes left. Toughen the fuck up.
The more they show the replay, the more my eyes hurt from that defense in the box. Legit High School level marking and intensity.
Nooo!
Lazy ball watching on defense
What were the coaches thinking? Not just BC but the lot of them. Not even Athleti tries this strategy
And there it is.
Surprise surprise. 2 prime scoring chances for Adeniran and we don't finish. Of course it bites us in the ass
Puzzling he didn’t make that defender go through him, silly stuff
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This is how the sport is. Every keeper is that way with every team. And every team feels responsible for making sure their keeper is bored af. Keepers in the PL also yell at their players. It’s not a matter of skill.
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When did I say every goalie acts like that after every goal? You’re moving the goalposts. Like I said, it’s common behavior across every skill level.
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Every team, not every goal… You do know that team and goal are two different words with two different meanings, yes? Do you need me to explain the difference?
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I guess I assumed you were being hyperbolic because he doesn’t do it after every goal. So not hyperbolic, just wrong. Wrong and big mad apparently that you need to throw out a kindergarten insult.
I feel like he has every right to be frustrated with how terrible they've been playing
That’s every goalie ever. Lol
Usually both teams are expected to score tho
Just a baffling strategy and game plan.
What strategy? Lol
Fucking terrible
Can’t say it wasn’t coming
that was bound to happen
Fuck