New York City FC is in dire straits to start the 2024 season with only one win in their first seven games. A loss to New England this weekend at Yankee Stadium will relegate the team to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, something that head coach Nick Cushing will surely like to avoid. To do so the team will need to start converting their high percentage chances in front of goal while also unleashing their offensive firepower with players like Santiago Rodriguez, Mounsef Bakrar and Alonso Martinez.
The issue has been goal conversion for NYCFC. Currently they have only scored fire goals in 2024, tying them for worst in the East alongside this weekend’s opponents New England. All of this despite creating a number of high percentage chances that have gone array on the feet of players that were expected to lift the team after a year where they didn’t make the playoffs. Defensively the team isn’t bad statistically. However, they’ve surrendered goals at the most inopportune times, leaving them on either the losing end or having to share points.
This weekend’s opposition is no better. The Revolution are last in the East, just one point behind City. They have also suffered from a failure to launch in 2024 under new head coach Caleb Porter. All of this despite retaining MVP caliber players like Luis Gil and Mark-Anthony Kaye. The team did break into the win column last week against Charlotte FC but suffered an embarrassing loss and elimination in the Champions Cup to Club America mid-week. Consistency has eluded both teams and a win for either club this weekend could be the beginning of a resurgence.
City are hoping that the good feelings around the team can continue following a mid-week announcement of a new stadium in Queens, N.Y. The play on the field has been described as a “process” by head coach Cushing but has not produced results as of yet. That should chance if the club hopes to keep their good vibes and avoid a potential major shake-up in either the front office or coaching staff.
PROJECTED STARTING XI:
New York City FC: Freese; Gray, Martins, Risa, O’Toole, Sands, Parks, Wolf, Rodriguez, Bakrar, Martinez
PLAYER AVAILABILITY:
Maxi Moralez (out) – knee injury
Talles Magno (out) – knee injury
Jovan Mijatovic (out) – non-injury related
photo by Jordan Bank