On Sunday, May 3rd NYCFC host Seattle Sounders in Yankee Stadium at 7pm ET.

The real question is: do we have to?

Form

Sounders are in great form. Recently winning their hotly contested rivalry match against Portland 1-0, Seattle currently sit at third place in the Western Conference. NYCFC are in eighth in the Eastern.

Seattle have over twice as many points as NYC, and have played a game less.

Seattle have twice as many goals as NYC, with a game less.

Seattle have won 3 of their last 4 matches. NYC haven’t won in 6 games.

Simply put, Seattle are playing very well and NYC are playing very poorly.

Lineups

Seattle (4-2-2-2): Frei (GK), Remick (LB), Evans (CB), Scott (CB), Mears (RB), Alonso (CM), Pineda (CM), Neagle (LAM), Pappa (RAM), Dempsey (ST), Martins (ST)

-Seattle don’t have any players injured. Really? Really. None.

NYC (4-5-1): Saunders (GK), Brovsky (LB), Wingert (CB), Watson-Siriboe (CB), Facey (RB), Ballouchy (CM), Mix (CM), Poku (CM), Grababoy (LM), Shelton (RM), Mullins (ST)

-NYCFC have so many injuries and near injury returns that this game seems impossible to predict. Jacobson is out with a suspension, and although a Poku start seems like wishful thinking, there’s some magic in the air and we’re feelin’ it. But that could just be the fumes from the 2nd Avenue subway construction.

-Right back Williams could start at right back, but is battling an adductor strain.

-Villa completed a full session of training on Friday and could make the start, but will at least be on the bench. Unless he stubs his toe on his walk over. Or breaks his hip on an escalator. But yeah, 33-year-old DP’s are great. Good thing Lampard’s bringing in some fresh young legs soon.

-Nemec and Jason Hernandez are battling hamstring and calf strains, respectively. Expect one of them to make the bench.

Final Thoughts

Martins and Dempsey are arguably the league’s best striking duo, and NYCFC have been arguably the worst team in the league the past few games.

That, coupled with the host of aforementioned statistical facts, does not bode well for NYCFC. We’d like to say home advantage will play a part, but NYC haven’t done anything better at home than away for the past few games.

Tickets for this game have been in high demand in the weeks leading up to Sunday. One has to wonder if people are more excited about seeing NYCFC or Clint “Deuce” Dempsey.

Anyway, let’s hope for the best. Realistically we will lose.

Yay NYC!