u/quarkpod

Thanks to the 51 people that voted. Löwen is Player of the Match at 86%. Löwen via Joyner is Goal of the Match at 77%. There are two bonuses, one on who you’d want to face in the Quarterfinal and one on RP VAR.

A few matches were not yet finished when posted, but I updated the options as votes rolled in. So the “Winner of...” options were combined with updated results. Vote percentages are shown for the potential opposition. Less than half of responses submitted after the draw, and less than half of those opted for Houston Dynamo FC who we will face at home for the Quarterfinal match. In the description, I’ve included each team’s current MLS regular season Supporters Shield rank along with relative differences in points and goal differentials compared to CITY (currently 28th with 6pts and -7GD).

From top votes to least:

Houston Dynamo FC (32%; 15th; +6pts; +1GD) - see you at the Park May 19th

Atlanta United (23%; 26th; +1pt; -1GD)

Colorado Rapids (21%; 12th; +7pts; +11GD)

Columbus Crew (11%; 17th; +6pts; +8GD)

Orlando City (11%; 27th; +1pts; -10GD)

San Jose Earthquakes (2%; 1st; +21pts; +26GD)

New York City FC (0%; 16th; +6pts; +10GD)

The other bonus asked you to role play as VAR, since there is no VAR in these earlier rounds of US Open Cup. Durkin made a challenge in the box during the 83’ which was questioned as a potential penalty if there was VAR. 71% did not figure it warranted review while 29% did. Considering Durkin’s luck, we’re likely benefiting from no VAR this match.

Thanks to the 42 people that voted. Four trolls were detected and removed. Hartel is Player of the Match at 79%. Hartel via Becher is Goal of the Match at 54%. Bonus is on how you would have used the fifth, unused sub.

There were for sub timing options, based on the actual sub timings Damet used and at the half, since half time subs don't use one of the three sub windows. Options for sub out include only those starters that were not subbed out during the match. Options for sub in include only the available bench players that did not sub in during the match. Results shown only include those that had a clear choice for each of the three parts for the sake of simple interpretation.

Only half time and 75’ window sub times were ever selected from amongst options: half time, 75’, 81’, or 85’. Of the half time subbers (46% processed votes) 6% would have sought a defensive sub taking off Polvara and bringing on Fallou. The rest opted for bringing on Joyner either by taking off Durkin (3%) or Wallem (37%). The rest opted to use the 75’ window (54%). For defensive-leaning subs 3% chose Durkin, MacNaughton, Polvara, or Wallem each in favor of bringing on Fallou. Another 3% choose Durkin for Joyner, but the majority in this window have Wallem off to bring on Joyner (40%).

Obviously, we have hindsight, and taking Wallem out at half time would have been the only guaranteed avoidance for the penalty, since that came just before the 60’. Even so, most still figured subbing at 75’, which would live with the penalty while perhaps avoiding Werner’s winning goal, assuming time to track back and cover the run at MacNaughton. Either way, to bring on Joyner for Wallem could be risky given Joyner is quite new to the wingback role, even stating in recent weeks it's an area he's trying to learn. Given this, the formation and tactics might need a change too, albeit limited with a more fluid game state, so how would you accommodate a Wallem-Joyner sub (or any of the other options)?