Re: New York City
Nice summary from the Guardian.
New York City FC
Players in: GK Josh Saunders, Ryan Meara, Akira Fitzgerald; D Jeb Brovsky, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Josh Williams, Jason Hernandez, George John, Chris Wingert, Andres Mendoza; M Andrew Jacobson, Matt Dunn, Ned Grabavoy, Daniel Lovitz, Thomas McNamara; Mehdi Ballouchy; Sebastian Velasquez, Mix Diskerud, Kwadwo Poku, Javier Calle F David Villa, Omar Salgado, Patrick Mullins, Tony Taylor, Khiry Shelton, Adam Nemec
Players out: M Daniel Lovitz, Sal Zizzo; F Omar Salgado
Summary: One of the most pleasantly surprising impressions from NYC’s first ever game against St Mirren in Manchester, was how, even in their rudimentary form, the expansion side looked like a Jason Kreis team.
Doubtless some of that was down to the limited quality of the opposition, but the impression of hard-working runners attempting intelligent possession play was genuine enough – and not only that there was little discernible drop-off in standards when the subs began coming on, adding weight to Kreis’s belief that even in this first year form, NYC will turn out to be the deepest squad in terms of talent and experience, that he has ever coached in MLS.
It’s not entirely starting from scratch – Kreis has brought a trio of his former RSL players with him and Chris Wingert, Ned Grabavoy and Sebastian Velasquez collectively represent the kinds of honest professionals whose willingness to work hard for the team will be emphasized by Kreis as an exemplary quality for the New York City blueprint.
It’s going to take a while, and promising cameos up front by Tony Taylor, or in midfield by the likes of Poku, have to be taken for what they are – glimpses rather than solutions. David Villa may find himself coming deeper than he’s ever had to before to get the ball to try and make something happen, at least until Frank Lampard turns up, and however intelligent and versatile the players in the new roster are, it’ll take time until they approach the level of institutional knowledge that was the hallmark of Kreis’s later RSL sides.
But the very fact that we’re framing the team in that way bodes well. Rather than being blown off course when the Lampard saga threatened to badly undermine the new team, Kreis and director of football Claudio Reyna simply maintained their primary focus and waited for the storm to blow over. Mix Diskerud was added into the team, and those outside were reminded that Lampard apart (and in truth once he gets here, Lampard especially), each signing including that of Kreis and Reyna has been eminently solid and in keeping with a vision for the club.
Will it work though? Well, you wouldn’t bet against Kreis and co, but to take a club from zero to competitive speed takes time, no matter how smart your players or coach. MLS is forgiving of slow starts though and by the end of the season NYC might be backing up Kreis’s claims of unprecedented depth.
Last season: n/a
Prediction: It depends how long they take to cohere and settle on an effective starting line up. If Lampard can be integrated into a working model rather than requiring the overhaul of one, then a Montreal-style debut season could be on the cards. The lower playoff places are a possibility. GP
