It has been a year of an offseason for New York City Football Club. The team has lost many long term starters and brought in few additions. Fans looking back to the squad that won the championship two years ago will see only a few familiar faces, and yet the club itself has played down the idea of it being a complete rebuild. Here is a look at what has happened and what fans can expect to see in 2023.
The departures were many. The club lost, Maxi Moralez, Sean Johnson, Cacha Acevedo, Alex Callens, Heber, and Anton Tinnerholm. That is a lot of major pieces lost in one season. Six of their starting eleven from the Eastern Conference finals last season are gone. All of those players were important starters for the club last season. Santi Rodriguez left as well but rumors have him returning in a few days. If the Rodriguez rumors are not true and he stays with Torque, then that effectively leaves NYCFC with out a true number ten. Rodriquez was brought in as the heir apparent to Maxi Moralez but for them both to leave this off season is a major blow. Also the loss of Callens, Tinnerholm, and Johnson asks a lot of questions of the defensive shape and strength of the team.
May 1, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder Gabriel Pereira (38) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Earthquakes with teammates during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The replacements were few. NYCFC’s biggest signing could very well be resigning Rodriguez if the team can get that done and that says a lot about who they have brought in. Team captain Sean Johnson has been replaced by Philadelphia’s backup Matt Freese and the club has brought in reinforcements on the defensive line in the forms of Jose Alfaro at centerback, Mitja Llenic at right back, and Braian Cufre at left back. While Alfaro is most likely a bench player, Llenic and Cufre could slot into the wingback roles Nick Cushing likes to use right away.
What all this means for the team is a restructuring, not really a rebuild. It is a testament to the strength of last year’s roster that NYCFC can lose so many bi players and still have players to slot in and fill the roles. NYCFC’s starting eleven will be as stong as any team’s in the league but real questions will be asked if there are any injuries or sickness. Many players will have to step up and grow into their potential this year. NYCFC look to start an all Brazilian front line of Thiago Andrade, Talles Magno, and Gabriel Perreria. Each of those three players are very good with their feet, technical and a nightmare for defenders individually. If they can develop a chemistry up front together, then they can undoubtedly score a lot of goals this year.
May 22, 2022; New York, NY, New York, NY, USA; New York City FC forward Talles Magno (43) and Chicago Fire defender Boris Sekulic (2) fight for the ball during the second half at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The starting backline looks strong as well. Even without Tinnerholm and Callens, what remains is strong. Maxime Chanot and Thiago Martins will be starting in the center undoubtedly and the flanks will be filled out with either, Llenic, Cufre, Tavon Gray, Malte Amundsen, or Kevin O’Toole. Depending on the formation each of them could see significant minutes this year.
The questions for the line up seem to lie in the middle of the pitch and in the keeper position. Luis Baraza has been the back up keeper for Sean Johnson over the years but the addition of Freese mixes up the equation of who will start in net. ” What has been communicated is that the opportunity to be number one is there for both of them, ” Nick Cushing said at this week’s press conference. “Matt certainly did not move here to be number two.”
Apr 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC forward Thiago Andrade (8) does a celebration dance after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Who ever starts in net will have big shoes to fill. Johnson has not only been one of the best keepers in MLS of the past few seasons but also the team’s captain. The leadership, distribution and saves will be hard to replicate.
In midfield the options get even more scarce and the questions more poignant. the Loss of both Moralez and Rodriguez leave a major hole at the number ten and who will fill it remains to be seen. The best option would be for the club to resign Rodriguez. He is still listed on the club website as on the roster at the time of this writing even though he has been training almost all offseason with Torque. If that falls through, then Keaton Parks or Matais Pellegrini will most likely be asked to fill in the playmaker role. Justin Haak and Alfredo Morales are left holding down the more defensive positions in the middle but any injury to Haak, Morales or Parks and the midfield get very thin indeed. No doubt reinforcements are coming either soon or in the summer, but the club must learn how to live with this Achilles heel until then.
Jun 19, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC interim manager Nick Cushing reacts during the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Even with all these questions, the club’s outlook is strong. Cushing stated a few weeks ago he thought the club would be as competitive or more competitive than they have been the past two seasons. On Thursday he added, ” We want your support. We want to be a team that plays exciting football this year. we want to be competitive from the opening game.”
Well, the time for questions is coming to an end. Preseason wraps up on Saturday and NYCFC plays their opening match in Nashville on February 25. That game will finally give the club, coaches, players, and fans some answers. MLS is back for 2023.
