Lineup and Score Predictions for TORvNYC
It's playoff time! NYCFC visit Toronto in their first ever playoff game. Whenever NYC plays Toronto, you can expect goals, goals, goals. I always enjoy these games, regardless of result (maybe because NYC hasn't lost to Toronto), but today is different. I want a lead on aggregate, meaning I want to win this leg.
After the last match, many questions came up: "Who will start in goal?" "Does Lampard start?" Does Vieira play the 5-2-3/5-4-1 formation again?" So much to consider. I decided to keep this simple and just call out the players I think will start. I kept the formation as 4-3-3, partly because I think Vieira would go back to that, and partly because I'm a bit too lazy to change so much in PowerPoint (how I make the images for my lineup predictions).
Before I show you, I will warn you now, I will be using this:
Look at his face!!! What is he saying there?!? Anywhere here's my predicted XVIII:
I decided to keep Saunders in the starting XI, although that's against what I want. I don't see Vieira starting Johansen again any time soon, even after an amazing performance last week. But if he does start, I will be extremely happy to be proven wrong on that. I also have Lampard starting. I think he would convince Vieira that he is healthy to start. But I do think that we will see the 5-2-3 formation again, if not at the start. It worked really well, it looked really good, and I think Vieira now has that card in his hand that he can play.
Score prediction: 2-2. I do want a win, but I can't see much of it. However, because we're in playoffs, scoring two away goals puts NYCFC in a great position. So 2-2 would not worry me at all. 2-1 would not worry me much, but it still leave NYCFC work to do next week. 2-2 would mean a scoreless draw next week sends City to the conference finals. So, I guess as long as NYCFC score two away goals and does not let the game get too much out of hand, all is well.
Good luck to the boys in blue!
