Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8: Boos, Gasps, Cheers
"I knew it would end up like this! Just how many chances are you going to miss!"
"Damn it. I'm the idiot for buying a season pass knowing it would be like this, an idiot!"
Halftime, after the first half ended.
My ears were numb from the tremendous booing pouring down all the way from the bench to the locker room.
It was a bizarre situation where the home fans were sending boos to us, the home team.
Since the stadium, originally used for baseball, had its capacity reduced to fit the football fixture schedule, the available seating today was about 25,000. Among that, they said today's match filled about half, but the response was tremendous even with just half gathered.
Football is known to not be very popular in the US, but to this extent? Honestly impressive.
It's just a pity that the impressive impression ended with boos.
Of course, there seemed to be many Latino fans. Perhaps that's why they are even more passionate.
Anyway, the problem is the fact that we are currently losing.
Above all, the biggest problem is that we are being significantly pushed back in performance by the opponent at home. The fans are dissatisfied with that part too.
"Give the pass easily in situations where you possess the ball! If pressure sticks tight in the center, drop down one slot to where Pirlo is, or find Harrison waiting on the flank or Mix right next to you and give it! Why do you keep trying to go the hard way?!"
Manager Vieira, standing in front of the tactical board, delivered feedback regarding the play, pointing out situations that occurred during the first half one by one.
They were valid points.
Actually, they were points everyone was aware of too.
But if there is a problem, it's the subtle tension felt among teammates.
That is continuously cutting off plays.
I felt it when I joined the 1st Team training too, but in my view, that is the biggest problem right now.
The team is definitely one, but it feels like the plays each person is aiming for are too different. So they are not becoming one at all.
"It's one goal! We can overturn about one goal anytime! Think again that our goal isn't just advancing to the Playoffs. For that, we must harvest 3 points today! Now, gather your hands! LET'S GO!"
"WE ARE—, NEW YORK CITY—!"
Players responding to the chant led by David Villa, who wore the captain's armband.
But the reason it feels somewhat lifeless is probably because I'm thinking too much, right?
Even in the hallway heading to the pitch after leaving the locker room, Manager Vieira held onto the players until the last moment, checking instructions.
The players are nodding at this too, but...
Will they be able to properly show what they heard on the pitch?
"And..., JT."
"Yes?"
Manager Vieira called me separately while I was waiting for other players to enter the pitch, standing at the end of the hallway due to a bottleneck.
I ended up being here as my name was put on the roster as a bench member today, but actually, I haven't had a separate conversation with the coaching staff yet.
There wasn't time to have a conversation in the first place. Everyone was frantic with match preparation as soon as I came. I was frantic warming up too.
Like that, in a spot where only the two of us remained after most players left, Manager Vieira asked.
"What did you see during the match today?"
Hm? What kind of question is this? It seems he's asking with some intent or purpose. A question where the intent cannot be gauged.
So I decided to answer honestly.
"The spot where I can play."
The formation NYCFC constructed today is 4-2-3-1.
If I get subbed in here, I will be assigned one of the spots in the 2nd line or the 1st line.
But the forefront is where David Villa is playing so it's clear the chance won't come to me, and among the 2nd line, the left and right wings are receiving strong pressure from Toronto FC today.
As they press their hardest to prevent the ball from being delivered to David Villa, situations where a striker faces two defenders alone are occurring frequently.
If told to run, I could run somehow, but it's not the best place for me right now.
Then, there is only one spot remaining. The 2nd line Attacking Midfielder.
"But that spot would have the most severe pressure coming from all directions rather than the flank? Can you endure it?"
"It won't be easy. But like I told you, I saw the spot where I can play. It's a situation where we don't need me to be a superstar too, right?"
"!"
Saying I saw the spot where I can play means I also thought about what kind of play I should do.
And the player our team needs most in today's match right now isn't a player who scores goals, nor a player who dribbles well. Rather, conversely, there is no need to do those two things well.
A player who can give a pass to anyone, and a player who can receive a pass from anyone.
That is exactly the player needed right now.
At this answer of mine, Manager Vieira pondered for a moment with a thoughtful face, then soon nodded.
"Prepare to go in anytime."
Manager Vieira's answer that I might be subbed in.
It's not definitely decided, but at the answer that still made my heart flutter, I fixed my socks and prepared my boots.
But at what timing will I be subbed in?
My question containing a question mark was resolved surprisingly easily.
"JT, substitution!"
Head Coach Lattanzio approached me and shouted amidst the stadium filled with boos.
City Lounge, NYCFC's fan forum, filled with negative posts at the match content being completely suppressed by Toronto FC.
Still, they were people watching the match doggedly somehow, but at the additional goal conceded, they eventually couldn't hold back anymore and exploded.
Not another team, but Toronto FC, who is currently competing within the Playoff rankings, was today's opponent.
And it's a match faced at home, but let alone proper performance, it's a situation where they can't even create passes properly so far.
In such a situation, Manager Vieira executed a player substitution.
Eventually, the fans' anger reached its limit.
Some even created a petition link saying they would protest to City Group which currently owns the team.
It was a natural reaction.
Eliminated early from the Cup tournament, and in a situation where they have to stake life and death on the Regular League season, such lax team operation.
They didn't even hope for the Conference Championship.
If they somehow managed to at least advance to the Playoffs, they would at least qualify to compete for the MLS Cup.
Even that has become a situation that looks distant now.
Just as the fans' gazes were turning away from the TV one by one,
Contrary to everyone's expectations, I wasn't regretful at all.
If it were the me of the past, I might be regretful.
Back then, one goal, one assist was that desperate.
A period when I believed I had to create results somehow to prove myself.
Of course, it doesn't mean I am free from results now.
It would be correct to say I gained eyes to see the process.
So although it didn't lead to a score, I was happy with this play right now.
Because it was a play where I could confirm that I could unravel it according to my intent.
Match situation resuming with our team's corner kick.
Several players are tangled inside the box, but I waited outside the box.
If I rubbed against the hulks with muscles plastered all over with my current body condition, it would be a direct ticket to injury.
Instead,
I rushed in aiming for the secondary situation that would occur after a deflection like now.
Ball cleared by the Toronto FC defender's head.
The ball escaping outside the box connected to a Toronto FC player, but...
A situation where it could look like the pass path was pierced from the outside.
But you have to watch until the end. Only then can you know.
That it wasn't pierced,
"—?!!"
But a prepared action of letting it be pierced.
A clean tackle by Andoni Iraola, who is handling our team's Right Side Back.
Iraola, who is showing good defense several times today.
However, since he has some age, his defensive power shone only when the opponent team came into a limited space first like now.
That's why I let it be pierced. So the opponent would enter the space Iraola wanted.
The reason I came into this spot right now.
Simple.
There are many geniuses in this team right now.
Not to mention players like David Villa and Pirlo.
Tommy McNamara, who was subbed with me, is also a very talented player. He's not a US National Team player for nothing.
Therefore, when Pirlo tries to hand a pass, everyone runs towards a position where they can aim for a score directly.
That's why I slipped to the outside.
Because this team is full of players right now who can create a scoring chance if I receive the ball in a spot that can distract the opposing defenders' gazes just once, even for a very short moment.
For the first time, cheers erupted in the stadium that was nothing but boos.
(End of Chapter)
—Translated by Prime Works —