NYCFC vs Montreal Impact: Preview

On Saturday June 13th Yankee Stadium will host the Montreal Impact.

Form

The Montreal Impact are a hit and miss team. After making it to the CONCACAF finals while finishing in dead last the previous season, Montreal has the potential to be the best and worst team there is.

Recently, though, they’ve been doing well. They’ve been making up for lost time in the MLS with a packed schedule and have surprised with a string of good performances. They impressively beat Vancouver at home, recently ousted the Columbus Crew, and have won four out of their last five games in Major League Soccer. Not bad.

NYCFC haven’t faired quite as well. After a holy-shit-what? away win last weekend, the team will hope to build on that “form” with a home win. Problem is, our win was due more to luck and mistakes by the opposition rather than good footie from us. But a win is a win and it’s possible this could spark the team into something passable as sport.

Lineups

Montreal (4-2-3-1): Bush (GK), Toia (LB), Ciman (CB), Leferve (CB), Gagnon-Lapare (RB), Bernier (CM), Reo-Coker (CM), Alexander (LM), Piatti (CAM), Duka (RM), McInerney (ST)

-Montreal have a host of injuries, most notably Kenny Cooper, Eric Miller, Hassoun Camara, and Duka may have a slight head injury which could keep him out of tomorrow’s game.

NYC (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), Wingert (LB), Hernandez (CB), Facey (CB), Brovsky (RB), McNamara (LM), Jacobson (CM), Poku (CM), Ballouchy (RM), Mullins (ST), Villa (ST)

-Shelton is still out with a knee problem, while full backs Calle, Williams, and Brandt all have muscle strains and will be out.

-Kreis could change up the formation of his defense, but after the man of the match performance Facey had it’s unlikely he will be sacrificed.

-Mix could also start over Poku, but after being with the national team and missing training it’s far more likely we’ll see him off the bench.

Final Thoughts

It won’t be easy for NYC, but it never really is.

Mullins scored the winner last weekend which is why we predict him getting the start, but the issue is him and Villa seem to lack any form of communication. One of the biggest issues is that they are similar forwards, guys who look to get a lot of touches, maybe move the ball out wide, and have a shot or cross it in. The problem that arises is with these similar styles there’s never any Nemec or other forward to get on the end of the crosses. Not saying Nemec would be able to make anything out of it, but Mullins and Villa have to figure out their shit if they’re playing up top.

Anyway, this’ll be a tough one. It seems likely NYC will get a tie, but if Montreal come out swinging things could get ugly.

Let’s go Poku. Give ’em hell.

The Day After (Philadelphia)

NYCFC broke their 11 game winless streak on Saturday night as we ousted Philly 2-1.

Wait, What?

We won? Really?

Yes, turns out we got 3 points. Frankly I still haven’t really accepted that as fact because it’s just been so long since it’s happened, I don’t know how to react.

While the hype-machine PR douchebags who run most of NYCFC’s website will herald this win as a massive stepping point, we’d like to put things in perspective before everyone gets their panties in a bunch.

Nothing Changed

The sad truth of that match was that we got very lucky. This was no tactical marvel, no newfound spark from the team, and not even the hardest fought game. There was very little we can point to that contributed to our first win in ages.

David Villa still dribbles too much and overthinks every move he makes, our defense gets caught making stupid tackles, and we struggle to get players wide. Our passing and movement off the ball are poor. We just didn’t play a good game.

If anything, we owe that win more to Philly than ourselves. The amount of chances they wasted and mistakes they made almost looked as bad as us. We would not have even been able to compete in that game had the Union not been so bad themselves.

Yet aside from all this brutal cynicism, there was a positive to take from this game.

Shay Facey

My man. I’ve always been excited about Shay, from the first day the young English lad got subbed on at right back in Yankee stadium. To me it was simple: would I rather have a young American player who’s been playing at college level, or a young Brit who was raised through the Man City youth system? No matter what, he’s going to know things that it will take years for his counterparts to learn, that’s just the reality of the gulf  between youth development in Europe and the States.

Much to my chagrin, however, Facey has had a rough start to life in the MLS. In his first start for the club he managed a red card in the first half and he’s had some really shaky defending. But after getting a rare start at center back against the Houston Dynamo, Facey has impressed, even being named man of the match against Philly.

Facey looked like vintage fuckin’ Vincent Kompany against Philly. He just had that beautiful intangible aurora about him where you just knew he wasn’t going to lose the game. Every cross into the box he managed to clear, he ran tirelessly, his positioning was spot on, and his high field pressing would force mistakes from the opposition attackers.

Though he did have some “training wheels” moments, most notably when his poor excuse for a cross fell invitingly at the feet of a Union player only for him to fuck up. But, as the case was, Philly made us look good. And Facey looked good.

If Facey can keep up this run of form he could be the rock in the back we thought Hernandez would be early in the season.

On To The Next One

At the end of the day, we did win. Which is pretty big. I’ve never played professional footie (…yet) but I believe that this win could have the power to instill real self-belief within our players. And that’ll be important considering the run of games we have coming up.

Looking ahead, we’ve got El Clasico versus the Red Bulls on June 28th. If we can maybe get another win between now and then we might have a real shot of competing. But that’s looking ahead and asking a lot.

For next week we’ve got the Montreal Impact at Yankee Stadium. Montreal are an eclectic team to say the least. They made it to the CONCACAF Champions League final all the while coming in dead last in the league. Anything can happen with those guys, but they’ve been playing some fairly good footie lately. Let’s hope we build on progress and don’t regress.

On to the next one….

NYCFC vs Philadelphia Union: Preview

Tonight NYC take on the Philadelphia Union for the third time this season. Welcome to the MLS.

Form

After playing against Philly twice it was clear that they’d be hanging out with us near the bottom of the table. And this season has mostly been that, yet recently they’ve had a good run of form.

Their 3 nil home win against the Columbus Crew continued a run that has seen them win 3 of their last 4 games, scoring 7 goals and only allowing 2.

But NYC shouldn’t be too nervous. The Union are a highly inconsistent side. Every match they play there is a chance they won’t show up and that bodes well for NYC. Truth be told, Philly are one of the few teams in the MLS that NYC has a fair chance of beating every time they play.

NYCFC’s form is still crap, but the Houston Dynamo game was bearable. Getting a point is nice, and almost scoring the game winner multiple times in the second half, including a diving header from Jeb Brovsky that hit the post, will give fans some hope. It was ok, but still far from what we need.

Lineups

Union (4-2-3-1): Sylvestre (GK), Fabinho (LB), Edu (CB), Vitoria (CB), Gaddis (RB), Nogueira (CM), Carroll (CM), Le Toux (LM), Maidana (CAM), Wegner (RM), CJ Sapong (ST)

-Forward Aristeguieta and center back Vitoria are both doubts after picking up muscle strains.

NYCFC (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), Brovsky (LB), Wingert (CB), Hernandez (CB), Facey (RB), Alvarez (LM), Jacobson (CM), Poku (CM), Ballouchy (RM), Villa (ST), Nemec (ST)

-Calle and Williams are still out, while Shelton is a doubt after picking up a left knee strain.

-With Mix Diskerud out banging the Netherlands 4-3, this could be a great opportunity to give Poku a chance to shine. With Lampard and reports of Pirlo coming through the tabloids, earning a center mid berth seems harder than ever for Poku. If he starts and impresses he could make a strong case for himself. But this is all probably useless conjecture seeing as Kreis will probably just play McNamara or some shit.

Final Thoughts

Philly are just about the only team that NYC honestly has a chance of beating every time they play. However, the Union are playing fairly well at home and will look to dispense of an NYC team that has probably forgotten what winning means.

This could be a real opportunity for NYC to do something, but, as always, we’ll probably lose.

NYCFC vs Houston Dynamo: Preview

Tonight Yankee stadium will host the Houston Dynamo as NYCFC try to do something, anything, to prove they are still a real team.

Interestingly enough, this is not the first time NYC have faced the Dynamo. While it was only a preseason match, we have played against these lads in the Carolina Challenge Cup back in February.

We played a fairly poor game then, losing 2-1, with the only consolation a sweet back heel from McNamara to set up Mix’s emphatic finish.

Ahhhhh, February. We had the whole world ahead of us: “back heels”, “emphatic”, “finishes,” no knowledge of Ned Grabavoy’s consistent mediocrity.  Granted, playing as we did should have been a stiff harbinger for the future, but hey, it was February.

Form

If there’s one thing that can be said about Houston’s season thus far it’s that is has been far from boring.

They’ve had only four wins, two of which have come in the past three games. They tied Sporting KC at home in a 4-all eight goal thriller. Their last match was set to be a tie against the Galaxy in California until a 92nd minute winner by Alan Gordon, giving LA the late victory.

Houston haven’t played all that poorly this season, they’ve just had a lot of unlucky moments. Watch out for British striker Giles Barnes who’s got 5 goals already and holding mid Luis Garrido. Also if you think you see a certain 33-year-old former US international playing left back, you’re not dreaming: it’s the man, the myth, the legend, DaMarcus Beasley.

NYC keep losing. They’ve lost for a while. There’s a few tied games in there. Mostly losses. That’s all.

Lineups

Houston (4-4-2): Deric (GK), Beasly (LB), Taylor (CB), Horst (CB), Rodriguez (RB), Lopez (LM), Clark (CM), Garrido (CM), Garcia (RM), Bruin (ST), Barnes (ST)

-Poster boy Brad Davis caused NYC a whole mess of trouble in that game back in February, so Yankee Stadium will hope that the left midfielder’s right knee bruise doesn’t heal up before this match. He could start, though, if the doctors give him the green light this morning.

-Center back Horst has a slight knee sprain, but is expected to start.

NYCFC: (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), Brandt (LB), Watson-Siriboe (CB), Hernandez (CB), Facey (RB), Ballouchy (LM), Mix (CM), Jacobson (CM), Shelton (RM), Villa (ST), Mullins (ST)

-It’s possible that NYCFC are using the same medical staff as Arsenal have been using for the past few years. There are SIX players who could possibly not play, FIVE of those defenders.

-Left back Calle and right back Williams are both certainly out, with a right quad strain and left adductor strain, respectively.

-Wing backs Brovsky and RJ Allen seem to be forming some type of chemistry, as both are questionable with right quad strains. Twins!

-Center back Wingert looks doubtful with a right hamstring problem.

-Ned Grabavoy is our final name on this list, with a pelvic injury (HA, loser!) having kept him out of a few matches. We’d usually be celebrating another match without him, but at this point it doesn’t even matter.

Final Thoughts

I think we could get a tie. But then again I also thought Pluto was a real planet, Arsenal would finally win the league this year, and NYCFC had a chance of making the playoffs.

Maybe try to play well? I don’t know. I really don’t know.

The Day After (Real Salt Lake)

FAITH NO MORE: RSL Dispenses NYC 2-0

Confidence. It’s the “patriotism” of the sports world…the last refuge of a scoundrel.

When your team’s coach and paid commentators start saying that your team needs confidence. When one of the Tri-State Ford’s Keys to the Match is “BELIEVE!” That’s when you know you are in trouble.

And, boy, are we in trouble.

Even without the 10-billion-ton burden that is Ned Grabavoy, we looked clueless and incompetent last night. Sure, Khiry Shelton is still a kid, a 21-year-old rookie. Maybe he and the 20-year-old Manchester City’s youth academy product Shay Facey might lack confidence, and Facey certainly showed it last night with some costly blunders, but the rest of these clowns are professional athletes. They get paid to do this, for a living. They are MLS veterans. Heck, some of them are even World Cup-winning record holders.

I could, like the match commentators, argue that David Villa isn’t getting the service he used to back when he was a world-class superstar. And I could even cling to their other claim, that MLS is a tough league with permissive refs and brutal center backs. But Villa has played against tougher, stronger, and faster opposition. And no matter what league you are playing in, if the ref isn’t giving you the calls, then you’ve got to stop going to ground and find a way to beat your opponent.

Mix Diskerud did strike the crossbar. That was our one shot on target. And our one match highlight. Which is why you won’t hear a lot of people talk about how useless he was for the other 89 minutes and 37 seconds. I hate to single him out, but – like Villa – the gap between his promise and his performance is hard to ignore. Diskerud is like a spinnaker that’s flapping loose.

In the field, Mehdi Ballouchy was our best player last night. The guy, long a posterchild for mediocrity, is even our top scorer this season. Mullins showed the occasional spark. And Jacobson wasn’t an embarrassment, though he did miss one of our few opportunities (Villa, who put one decent effort over the bar, pathetically squandered another opportunity).

Define “Defense”

Our defense really stood out. Brovsky was out-blundered by Facey, but he certainly can’t hold his head up high. Our two center backs, Hernandez and Wingert, were as effective as orange traffic cones on the side of the freeway.

The only exception to NYCFC’s failure has been and continues to be Josh Saunders. He made some huge saves. So many saves that it’s harsh to question his performance on the second goal. Without him there surely would have been more.

I look at the stats from last night’s game and the two teams appear even. Possession, passing, tackles, crosses, corners – all nearly identical. The only significant differences were in shots on target and clearances – both of which were in Real Salt Lake’s favor. Yet even MLS.com, notorious for proclaiming the league’s parity, declared that it was a “comprehensive victory” for RSL.

Jason Kreis…

I have to blame Jason Kreis. Yes, he did make some changes in the 66th minute, bringing on Velasquez for Shelton and McNamara for Mullins, and we did start to show some signs of life. And then he got bold in the 81st, bringing on Brandt – his first appearance as a professional – for Wingert. But stats aside, there looked to be one competent team on that field, and it wasn’t ours.

I blame Kreis because he picked these players, most of whom are proven entities. Sure, some of them are failing to perform, but a lot of them look completely incapable of performing – at least not at the professional level.

We’ve earned 7 points in 12 games…rock bottom of the table. 

Even without Grabavoy, we continue to chase the ball around the midfield. We lose our shape as soon as the whistle blows, leaving opponents with all sorts of space – and limiting our passing options when we do have on the ball. And our back line is exceedingly subpar. These are all issues Kreis can and should address, though it doesn’t seem like he’s even aware of them.

On the attack, Villa always has his back to the goal. Or he’s dropping back into the midfield to get the ball. That’s not his strength. That’s not his skillset. That’s not his game. That’s what Diskerud should be doing. He should be the playmaker sending through balls to Villa. Or, better yet, put Poku out there – a proven passer. And Nemec, the one strike partner who has demonstrated an ability to receive and hold the ball with his back to the goal.

I blame Kreis because he should see these challenges. And he should be working to address them. I’ve seen little improvement in our play over the past 12 games. Each week it’s the same problems. And each week he attributes them to a lack of confidence, and bad luck.

Maybe the player’s don’t believe in themselves, as Kreis claims. Or maybe they don’t believe in him. Either way, I hope I don’t have to wait 12 more matches to find the answer.

On To The Next One

We play Houston Dynamo at home. Whatever.

NYCFC vs Real Salt Lake: Preview

On Saturday, May 23rd NYC will travel to Salt Lake to take on Jason Kreis’s former club at 10 p.m. ET.

Form

RSL haven’t exactly set the world on fire with their play this season. While managing some impressive away wins at San Jose and more recently the Chicago Fire, Salt Lake have only won 1 of 4 games in their home stadium and have suffered heavy defeats such as 4-0 and 4-1 to the hands of New England and the Montreal Impact.

NYCFC have been worse, though. After an opening night win over the Revolution, NYC have seemingly forgotten what 3 points feels like. Unlike RSL, however, NYC always seem to compete for every game, never losing by more than 2 goals. We love barely losing. Yet, after a massive morale-boosting 2 goal comeback draw with 10 men last weekend, all of NYC will be hoping that game can kickstart the season.

Lineups

RSL: (4-4-2) Rimando (GK), Beltran (RB), Olave (CB), Vasquez (CB). Phillips (LB), Beckerman (CM), Gil (CM), Stertzer (LM), Mulholland (RM), Saborio (ST), Sandoval (ST)

-RSL have a host of niggling injuries to Okwuonu, Plata, Morales, and Jaime. While not necessarily guaranteed starters, RSL would benefit from having a few of these guys fresh and on the bench.

NYC (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), Brovsky (LB), Wingert (CB), Hernandez (CB), Facey (RB), Jacobson (CM), Mix (CM), Shelton (RM), Alvarez (LM), Mullins (ST), Villa (ST)

-With RJ Allen suspended, Brovsky will move to left back and Facey will slot in at right back, as Williams is out with NYCFC’s favorite injury, the famous left adductor strain.

-Both Calle and Grabavoy are questionable but one could make the bench.

Final Thoughts

This could be an important game for both sides. We both need the win.

Furthering the plot line is that Grabavoy, Watson-Siriboe, Velasquez, Wingert, Saunders, and as we all know, head coach Jason Kreis all used to play at RSL. It will be very much a homecoming for Kreis & Co. Let’s hope we can spoil the party.

May the force be with you. Or at least a win. Maybe even a tie. Good luck, basically.

The Day After (Chicago)

Last night NYCFC earned a well fought point against Chicago Fire at home. Here’s our thoughts.

David Villa? More like David Suck!

That’s not entirely accurate. He’s a fantastic footballer who holds the top goal scoring record for the Spanish national team and has won almost every trophy that a footballer can earn. He came to MLS to either: A) Get one last hefty paycheck living in our lovely city or B) Give himself one last challenge.

Presumably it’s a Mix of the two but if option B was at all on his agenda he’s doing quite poorly.

Granted, he’s only been here for a bit and he’s had some injury trouble, but it’s kind of unsettling how hard he’s finding life in MLS.

Sure, he doesn’t have Xavi or Iniesta giving him passes. Which in all honesty is exactly the reason he’s struggling. But you’d hope a player of such high caliber and talent would be able to do something on his own. Yet he often looks at a loss for ideas.

He keeps losing the ball when he runs with it at MLS defenders. Let me repeat, MLS defenders. 

And while his off the ball play is rather commendable, he’s slow and indecisive on the ball (Mix Diskerud too, maybe that’s what they learn in training?).

Villa will get the ball in a dangerous area and often slow the tempo, allowing for the opposition to get more men behind the ball, and then he’ll shoot from the same position he was in earlier yet now it gets blocked.

But forget all that. Villa is a goddamn world-class footballer. He shouldn’t only be finishing every single chance he gets in the box, he should be creating chances, he should be a game changer. A Designated Player, if you will.

So far he hasn’t really done that. He’s been good in patches, takes some nice shots like the one that allowed Mehdi Ballouchy another goal for this season, but he really isn’t doing anything special. We’d like that to change. Or another DP. Both work.

The People

As our results have been poor to say the least, I’ve been wondering how long will this team continue to get support.

Losing to the Red Bulls, playing like crap, being a bad team, all these factors add up to what should be a substantial loss of an excited fan base.

Of course the diehards would stay and the casual supporter would go, but it’s those in the middle, the slightly interested, who have presumably been jumping ship after this suck-fest we call our first season.

Thus, at Yankee Stadium this summer night I was surprised to see 23 thousand fans in attendance. There were many seats vacant, which makes me question that number, but a lot of people are still showing up. What if we were good? Imagine the possibilities!

Yet as the game progressed my positivity from the fan support was quickly overshadowed by what’s becoming an NYCFC trademark: poor play, red card, giving up a goal.

Once the second goal went in, the crowd (myself included) started getting angry.

“You guys are idiots” one fan screamed down to the team. “How could you make that pass?”, “What’s wrong with you guys?” “Does anyone want my season tickets? Please? I’m begging you!” were only some of the less than supportive shouts during the first half. It looked as if we were in for another long night.

Then, Mehdi Ballouchy did what he does best: Inexplicably score yet another goal. Fans clapped and cheered, but it wasn’t enough to bring us back from the disapproval we held.

Second Half

NYCFC love the second half.

We always play better. And for some reasons teams end up playing worse. Really odd.

Last night was no different. We played far better in the second half, and ended up with a goal to show for it.

Went Shelton sent that miss-hit shot wobbling into the far corner, Yankee Stadium erupted. As the game came to a close, most fans were on their feet, applauding the efforts of our team.

True, we were a man down for an hour on the match, but it’s quite incredible we were all clapping for a tied game at home. Maybe one day we can clap for a really good performance and even, dare I say, a win.

Shelton

It’s a shame, but Khiry Shelton looks the be the Chicharito of the MLS. We’ve started Shelton for many successive games after his breakout into the team, yet despite his best efforts, he hasn’t really had the offensive impact we’d hope he would.

Normally I’d be livid if he were benched, but last night I felt he sort of deserved it. And the truth is his pace and raw force are better utilized later into the match when the opposition are tired.

It’s so simple! He kept having such a positive impact on the game off the bench earlier in the season, naturally we assumed he’d be just as effective given 90 minutes.

Yet, we were wrong. Shelton is at his best two-thirds into a match when the opposite defenders are starting to get weary and he can run at them full steam. He may not want to admit it, but at this point in his career, he’s best only playing 30 minutes a game. But what a 30 minutes he gives us.

On To The Next One

Shelton’s late goal can only propel us towards a brighter future. It will give the team renewed confidence and a belief that maybe they aren’t the worst thing to happen to New York since some European douchebags brought pigeons here on a boat.

But let’s not get our panties in a bunch. Sure Kreis and Co. will be lauding this miraculous result, but we’re still making the same stupid mistakes and not playing up to our potential.

We can hope that this comeback will inspire us to get a result against a Real Salt Lake that were just humiliated 4-1 by last placed Montreal Impact, but only time will tell.

On to the next one.

NYCFC vs Chicago Fire: Preview

On Friday, May 15th NYCFC will host the Chicago Fire at 7 p.m. ET.

Form

Chicago’s form is an enigma. They love mini-streaks. 3 losses, 3 wins, and now 2 losses. Hopefully this’ll be their third loss in a row, just for the sake of consistency.

Chicago have a quality-ish team. Harry Shipp, David Accam, and Shaun Maloney all have the individual firepower to take over a game, but often struggle to do so. Accam wreaked havoc down NYC’s right side against Brovsky last time they played, so expect NYC to be prepared for that.

Or they won’t. Whatever. NYC need to get their shit together, but I don’t expect anything from them at this point.

It’s kinda fun now though…When will NYC get a win? How long will we wait? This is exciting! In a depressing sort of way.

Lineups

Chicago (4-4-1-1): Johnson (GK), Jones (LB), Larentowicz (CB), Adailton (CB), Gehrig (RB), Accam (LM), Polster (CM), Ritter (CM), Shipp (RM), Maloney (CAM), Guly (ST)

-Accam returns from a game suspension and will be looking to get his team back to winning ways

NYC: (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), RJ Allen (LB), Wingert (CB), Hernandez (CB), Williams (RB), Jacobson (CM), Mix (CM), Grabavoy (LM), Shelton (RM), Mullins (ST), Villa (ST)

-Calle and Nemec are STILL fighting injuries. Nemec is looking near 100 percent and should make the bench.

-RJ Allen could keep his place after an assist in a lively performance again Red Bulls, but could be dropped for Brovsky/Calle.

-It’s likely Mix will get the start over Ballouchy, but expect him to be fighting to stay on the pitch after last weekend’s early sub.

Final Thoughts

Deep Dish sucks!

Actually, no it doesn’t, it’s just not legally pizza. It’s something else, a separate denomination of cheese-tomatosauce-bread dishes.

Point is, much like last weekend, all we’ve got for bragging rights is that New York is better than Chicago. And they’ve got worse pizza.

We are home. While that hasn’t mattered much this season, you’d hope we want this win more than Chicago. Or who knows.

Let’s go team!

The Day After (Red Bulls)

I’ve been contemplating a theory for some time that seems more and more likely with each passing game.

Sure, it makes sense that City Football Group would spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars for a quality MLS team which would play in New York City. That’s possible.

But the more likely story is that this is merely a billionaire’s social experiment. I can see the conversation now: “Let’s pretend to actually build a soccer team, acquire some people who can reasonably pass for professional players, and see how long the masses keep watching before they realize this is simply a very expensive practical joke!”

Damn billionaires.

Passing

Forget that Red Bulls were down to 10 men for almost AN HOUR of that match, and forget that as soon as our two poster boy players were taken off the field we scored a goal, we can’t fucking pass.

For those of you who don’t know, which in this case is NYCFC coaches and players, passing the ball is important in soccer. It’s how you get the ball from one guy with a shirt to the other guy with a shirt. But remember kids, he’s gotta have the same color shirt as you!

Seriously, I usually try to stand up for our boys in blue after mistakes but I am at a loss for words with some of the passing that occurred. I just can’t believe that these guys get paid to do some of the crap that went down last night. Horrible communication between players and a ridiculous amount of misplaced passes. It hurt me physically and emotionally to watch that game.

Damn Ned Grabavoy.

(on to the next one)

Where do we go now? What is the rest of this season look like for us? Will they give us a discount on our season tickets? Will be buy a desperately needed 3rd DP? Would anyone even come at this point? Is Frank Lampard hoping he tears his ACL so he doesn’t have to partake?

I’m not entirely sure what the future holds. But I’m just a guy writing a blog, I can only watch so many shitshows before I lose my mind.

on to the next one.

NYCFC vs Red Bulls: Preview

On Sunday, May 10th NYCFC will hop across the hudson river to play the Red Bulls at 7 p.m ET.

Form

Simply put, the Red Bulls are playing quality football and NYC aren’t.

Barring a recent defeat to New England, the Red Bulls were undefeated until that point.

It’s funny that NYC’s only win of the season came against the only team that has beaten the Red Bulls.

Point is, Red Bulls have a better squad, are playing better, and are a much better team. But this is a derby match. Anything can happen. If NYC go to Jersey looking for blood, the nature of this tie might make that possible.

NYC will need to go out there hungry and smartly if they want a win that could potentially kick-start their poor season.

Lineups

New Jersey(4-2-3-1) : Robles (GK), Duvall (RB), Miazga (CB), Perrinelle (CB), Lawrence (LB), Martins (CM), McCarty (CM), Grella (LM), Kljestan (CAM), Sam (RM), Wright-Phillips (ST)

-Center back Zubar could make his long awaited return from injury, which comes at a good time with Matt Miazga heading off to the U-20 World Cup with the US team.

-Winger Sal Zizzo is out with a fractured tibia, which is a shame as he was starting to put together a good run of form

-Roy Miller is also battling injury, but should make the bench

NYC (4-5-1): Saunders (GK), Williams (RB), Hernandez (CB), Wingert (CB), Brovsky (LB), Jacobson (CM), Ballouchy (CM), Mix (CM), Grabavoy (LM), Shelton (RM), Villa (ST)

-Nemec is still recovering from a left ankle strain but could make the bench.

-Hernandez looks to be ready for the start, but has been dealing with injury issues.

-Javier Calle is unlikely to make the bench as he’s still dealing with a left adductor strain.

Final Thoughts

Everyone’s excited for this one.

The MLS get to hype up a rivalry. NYC get to talk about how we actually play in NYC. The Red Bulls get to talk about how they actually play soccer.

We’re betting on a tie. While Red Bulls will be fancied for all the obvious reasons, in a game of this heat and passion, it’s likely to be a 1-1 game. But let’s hope NYC can get a win, however unlikely.

Godspeed, gents. Godspeed.