1: Marcelino is a Number 10+. Chance creator. Chance finisher. Dribbler. Back a Brinks truck up to his house and lock him in as long as we can. The only “criticism” I have is maybe go down when you’re fouled in and around the box. 

2: This was an outstanding defensive performance. Calm and controlled throughout nearly the whole match. Even when NYC had chances, which wasn’t often, we never panicked. There were no wild clearances. We played out of the back, found outlets and sprung the attack. Truthfully most of the time we were winning the ball back before anything could even develop anyhow. Alan Franco was outstanding. 

3: Some things never change and Cubo is one of those things. Largely invisible and when he did have the ball at his feet, it wasn’t long before it was taken off. Having a solid back up for Josef next season will be very important. To give him a little credit, he did have a shot that wasn’t completely sky’d and he didn’t do anything horrifically bad. 

4: Was it a foul? Look, we had ample opportunities to kill the game off and we just couldn’t get that 2nd goal. As it got closer and closer to full time and the more chances we didn’t convert I just felt like something has gonna happen for them off a fluke or set piece. And it did. 

5: I’m really happy we’ve been able to be threatening and find goals without Josef. I’d make the case that we actually looked better before Josef came on. Look, sometimes the ball just won’t go in and this was one of those nights. I think we are still in a good spot. The grind continues. It was always going to.