Two MLS teams advance in CCC, Crocker's out & more | Thursday Round-Up
I don't think Matt Crocker's departure is a big deal, and I do think this week's CCC performances are a reminder of what should've been for MLS clubs
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Good work by LAFC to go down to Mexico City and close up shop, protecting their 3-0 first-leg lead with minimal drama in eventually sliding past a very good Cruz Azul team by 3-1 on aggregate. Nothing fancy or particularly notable about this one.
There's lots that was notable about Nashville's 1-0 win at the Azteca, which gave them the 1-0 series victory over Club América. They became the first MLS team ever to win outright at the Azteca, and of course it was Hany Mukhtar who delivered the goods with a very well-taken chance in transition. I highly recommend SixOneFive's reporting on that one:
Ben Wright
The Sounders beat Tigres 3-1 very late on Wednesday night for the 3-3 aggregate draw, but ended up losing on away goals. Seattle put forth what I'd say is their best all-around performance of the season, but once again conceded on a set piece, and that was enough.
Part of me thinks "well, they were starting their 5th-choice CB, so give them some slack," but I don't think we can hand-wave this away. The Sounders have been poor defending restarts for more than a calendar year now no matter who's been on the backline, and they have to address it. This is not a team that has the firepower to just outscore the best opponents they run up against.
Neither are the Galaxy, who got shelled 3-0 at home for the 7-2 aggregate loss to tournament favorites Toluca. They were the one MLS team that looked outclassed in this round, which is not unexpected: LA are 18th in the Shield standings (which feels about right), while los Diablos Rojos are, for my money, the best team in North America.
My honest take on all of this: if MLS ownership had added $2 million to the salary cap and two more DPs to the roster* a couple years back, they'd have already wrested continental superiority from Liga MX. As is, they're still looking up.
(*) This has always been my least-invasive "improve MLS quality fast" suggestion, in that it keeps the rest of the rules – ridiculous as they are – intact but gives ambitious teams more room to actually be ambitious.
Good Reads:
- Speaking of ridiculous rules, is it time or GAM to go? My guy Arman makes his case at Footy Analytic Musings.
- Tommy Scoops is back from Dad Leave and I'm pissed b/c he wrote an excellent "we're in a #PlayYourKids Golden Age" piece before I managed to. From the Athletic.
- Here's the paradox: St. Louis City are one of the most attractive but also one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league. Maybe some personnel changes are in order? ChatCityTactics is on it.
- Sanjay Sujanthakumar (the biggest #PlayYourKids sicko I know) has a good feature on the Michael Bradley era for RBNY over at the Guardian.
- "Bernardo Silva confirms Man City exit at end of season" from ESPN. Not technically MLS-related, but if NYCFC isn't getting guys like this then what's the point? He'd be the perfect signing to juice interest in the six months before the new stadium opens.
- And as always, you can't beat TheCup.us for complete US Open Cup coverage.
So I guess I should share my thoughts on Matt Crocker's departure for Saudi Arabia since I mentioned it in the headline. My overall take is... not really a big deal, is it? His biggest job was to hire the right coaches for both the men's and women's national teams.
He certainly got that right with the women, and he probably (eventually) got that right with the men. And I'd say that even if Poch ultimately turns out to have been the wrong choice, it's 100% a defensible hire that I think anyone in Crocker's position would have made if they had the opportunity.
Gass and I talked about it in a big greater length on the episode of Soccerwise that's dropping today. Check all the socials.
And yes, I'll be back with my regular MLS matchday column on Sunday. See you all then!
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