Crooks: There's Nothing At All 'Ruthless' About Stumbling NYCFC

By Glenn Crooks
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The tenants at Yankee Stadium are suffering from the same malady -- their inability to deliver in scoring situations. And the paucity of timely connections is limiting the playoff aspirations for both.

The elder residents in the Bronx, the Yankees, are batting .212 with runners in scoring position (only the Mets at .210 have a worse mark in Major League Baseball). The Bombers sit three games below .500 and 7 ½ games behind the first-place Red Sox.

New York City Football Club, which is in its second season in the Bronx, is finishing less than 9 percent of its goal-scoring possibilities in Major League Soccer. While currently positioned for the playoffs in the enigmatic Eastern Conference, NYCFC's failure to deposit into its scoring accounts has prevented an elevated position in the table.

On Thursday night at the Stadium, world class striker David Villa missed on nine shots in the run of play and Mix Diskerud muffed a certain head ball finish during a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake. Villa and Diskerud were not available after the game, but head coach Patrick Vieira addressed the issues.

"We do not score enough with all the chances we create," said the former Arsenal FC midfielder. "We have to change something."

Vieira has repeatedly used the word "ruthless" to describe the inadequacies in front of the frame.

"We have to be more aggressive in front of the goal, we have to be more ruthless," said the first-year manager. "For me, it is based on humility. We maybe have over-confidence and I think it has become a problem."

Arrogant behavior is an odd response from a team that leads MLS in home record deficiency with one win in nine matches. Under the circumstances, City should be hungry and humble -- and ruthless.

The Merriam-Webster definition of ruthless is: "Having no pity -- cruel, merciless." In MLS, there is only one ruthless team in the New York, metropolitan area -- the New York Red Bulls.

Exhibit A -- Red Bulls 7, NYCFC 0. The Supporters Shield defenders were callous, pitiless, and unforgiving. Watching the carnage on that Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, it reminded me of a comment from Anson Dorrance, who owns 22 national championships at the University of North Carolina and a World Cup championship with the U.S. Women's National Team. He was describing the approach of his squads in each competition.

Paraphrased, this was his remark: "We tear their heart out, hold it in the palm of our hand and watch it until it stops beating."

While a psychological evaluation of each first-team member would provide a more thorough analysis, there are tangible reasons why the Red Bulls have a superior mentality to their cross-river rivals.

The personality of the Red Bulls is developed in training. Head coach Jesse Marsch insists on a competitive cauldron (to steal a phrase from Dorrance). With rare exception, the Red Bulls engage in fierce, competitive battles in each session. Together, they have learned that it is permissible to play with venom and rancor while battling a teammate in training. If any player deviates from the maximum effort required, they will be admonished by a teammate -- usually the captain, Dax McCarty.

The Red Bulls are comfortable directing each other on the pitch no matter how harsh the tone. They comprehend that their commands have a higher purpose -- to win the competition. The axiom, "mean no offense, take no offense," gleaned from the book, "The Messiah Method," is relevant to their success.

Vieira has intimated that his players have yet to accept each other in a manner that will breed competitive success. There is an absence of constructive communication between the first team members. In a transition sport, there is little time to determine the tone and style of delivery when addressing a teammate in an urgent situation.

"Mean no offense, take no offense."

Connor Lade has no issue scolding Felipe if the Brazilian fails to recover defensively. But will RJ Allen provide the same sort of decree to Andrea Pirlo?

"Mean no offense, take no offense."

Vieira's challenge is similar to the obstacle faced by Jason Kreis in City's expansion season. NYCFC is a team whose internal leadership pales in comparison to the team from Harrison, New Jersey. RBNY thrives on the guidance of McCarty, Sacha Kljestan and goalkeeper Luis Robles. They lead by example and pilot through vocal demands. More importantly, they each accept criticism with positive body language and a hunger to improve.

More than once in my 36 years of coaching, I constructed a scenario. I would meet with my top player before a training session and suggest that I was going to direct a harsh scolding at some point in the session. Further, I explained to the player that how they react would be imperative to the exercise. It was a set-up. I would find a moment to criticize the player who then responded in a positive, understanding manner. This provided the impetus for teammates to open up with each other. If the best player reacts favorably to that sort of tongue lashing, then so can I, they concluded.

"Mean no offense, take no offense."

"Hungry and humble."

It's no longer about tactics for Vieira, but internal management. The former French international was a fierce and vocal leader when he captained the Gunners to the EPL title in 2004. It must be painful for him to observe a team that lacks the professional stability to lead and be led.

The international break may be the precise anecdote for the necessary repairs.

Throw-Ins

-- New Jersey schoolboy legend Richie Williams of Middletown served as the head coach Thursday night for RSL. Jeff Cassar was tossed in the 4-3 loss to Columbus Crew FC after arguing with the fourth official about the limited amount of stoppage time in their match.

-- On Friday night, the U.S. Men's National team plays Colombia in the opening match of the Copa America Centenario.

MORE: Hartnett: USA, Klinsmann Under Pressure To Deliver At Copa America

The curiosity revolves on the personnel and shape that head coach Jurgen Klinsmann will favor against the Colombians, who defeated Brazil in the group stage last year and lost in penalties to Argentina in the quarterfinals.

Here is my preferred lineup to defeat Colombia:

Brad Guzan in goal with a back line left to right of Fabian Johnson, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron and Diedre Yedlin. The midfield diamond places Michael Bradley in the hole, Darlington Nagbe at the attacking point with Alejandro Bedoya and Christian Pulisic on the flanks. Bobby Wood plays along the last line of defense while Clint Dempsey can roam as the false 9.

The tight diamond will permit Yedlin and Johnson to attack with a furor out of the back while forcing the Colombia attack into the wide areas.

A win against Colombia is not essential. However, it is crucial that the U.S. put in a highly competitive soccer performance. If the USMNT fails to resemble a cohesive unit that understands the value of purposeful possession and is subsequently eliminated in the group stage, then the responsibility will rest prominently on the shoulders of Klinsmann.

For all things futbol, please follow Glenn on Twitter at @GlennCrooks. You can also read his work on the @EmpireofSoccer site