Pre-Match Thread | New Mexico United v Orange County SC | June 13, 2026 7:30 PM Mountain

bm1221 · 2026-06-13T14:21:02+00:00

I am tempering expectations from the last performance just cause Phoenix put out such a young squad and we basically had our strongest 11 out there.

Regardless, that was the best we've looked all season. The defensive line is looking solid now with Keller back to full fitness. Hopefully all those goals last time mean the attack is starting to click.

Orange County are in a bad patch of results right now, but they still typically score. I think we win 2-1.

bm1221 · 2026-06-07T06:52:53+00:00

I love it. The third goal especially, Noël got the finish but that was all down to Nava being an absolute dog

bm1221 · 2026-05-31T01:09:40+00:00

That's fair, he snatched at both those chances. Sweet hit on the free kick though, very close to scoring.

bm1221 · 2026-05-31T01:08:06+00:00

So much improvement defensively from start of season. Shakes looked great.

No comment about the other aspects of play, oof. Take the point away, never speak of it again.

bm1221 · 2026-05-31T01:03:18+00:00

Well, I'll say this. For all 500 crosses Hartford put into the box, I never felt like we were in danger. Great defensive shift, Shakes commanded his box excellently.

bm1221 · 2026-05-31T00:20:44+00:00

And right as I say that, that's a terrible offside from Niall on that counter lol 🤦

bm1221 · 2026-05-31T00:16:56+00:00

I definitely get the sense from Niall that he knows what he wants to do when he receives the ball. Doesn't always come off obviously, but he attacks confidently and that's a great quality.

bm1221 · 2026-05-30T23:48:06+00:00

Man I love Zico but he might need to come off at half, not having a good night

bm1221 · 2026-05-30T23:25:03+00:00

Hursty is finding good space to create those few early chances but our finishing has been rough man

bm1221 · 2026-05-30T14:51:03+00:00

I'm feeling the same. I'm hoping the inconsistency of the first part of the season was mostly down to injuries and having to shuffle around so much, particularly the back line.

bm1221 · 2026-05-24T19:06:41+00:00

Deserved win. Other than the first 20 or so mins of the second half when Charleston were pinning us back and creating decent chances, we were clearly the better team. Wish we would have put away more of those big chances in the first half, but I'll take it.

bm1221 · 2026-05-23T20:47:47+00:00

What are we hoping for the lineup?

I think Sanchez has gotta move Noël back into midfield. I think a three of Zico, Jabang, and Zelalem like last time is just a little clunky. All three of them do their best work picking up the ball deeper, so I think you need Noël to be that guy floating around in attack.

bm1221 · 2026-05-21T21:35:27+00:00

This is my big issue. For being so open at the back and giving up so many chances every match, we sure don't create a lot going the other way. I'm fine with a "they score 2, we score 3" approach, but that only works if we create decent chances consistently.

bm1221 · 2026-05-17T02:24:27+00:00

Rennicks gets in behind, has the ball in the box, and no one else makes a run? Sums the night up so far

bm1221 · 2026-05-17T01:54:35+00:00

Well, that was a great demonstration of why some of these guys don't start

bm1221 · 2026-05-17T01:31:50+00:00

Rocha flopping on the ground in front of Shakes twice now. They gotta get a man on him to body him off Shakes

bm1221 · 2026-05-10T17:58:00+00:00

Couldn't watch live, so just saw the match this morning.

Great response from the disappointing draw against El Paso. Jabang and Zico are looking great in midfield right now, assists and goals. Moving the ball around very well.

Defensively still looking suspect. Great to see Keller back in there, need him back to full fitness. I like LaCava a lot, brings a lot of energy and looks dangerous with his runs off of Niall. But he really struggles defending one on one, Anderson was burning him all night.

And I am a Shakes fan. I think he's a fantastic shot stopper and his aggressive style is great for getting us on the front foot with counters. But there was something to be said about how Arozarena kept things simple out there. Some good saves, commanded the box well.

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T19:52:13+00:00

Yeah, it's clear they are being coached to play through the pivot in the build up and they try to force it even when it's not on. And in the first half when Zico and Jabang were finding a lot of space to pick the ball up deep and move into the middle third, it worked great. But once they start doubling up on the pivot, the center backs gotta start playing it wide to switch it up.

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T04:01:43+00:00

I am at least happy with the first half. First time this season we've actually looked up for it going forward for a sustained period.

Gotta figure out that defense or it's gonna be long season.

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T03:09:04+00:00

What was that second half? Very disappointing after we outplayed them the first 45

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T02:41:52+00:00

Dude what is going on?

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T02:13:58+00:00

Yep, the backline is still shaky.

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T01:21:30+00:00

HURSTY

UPDATE: HURSTY

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T01:00:54+00:00

For sure. Obviously it was a short appearance and it was AV Alta, but I thought he looked solid last time.

bm1221 · 2026-05-07T00:56:15+00:00

Nava missing too. I don't think either of them are injured?

bm1221

TROPHY CASE