Cushing out. Deila out, Dome out. Vieira out. It must be June in New York. Two different matches were played yesterday; those with hyper-critical vision saw a team in crisis. Every failure to score an indictment of Cushing and Lee. A team that deserves to be derided, jeered, and informed that they have to win. They must win. As if that thought hasn’t occurred to them. Then there are those of us who saw a team wiping off the dust of the mid-week failure, ignore the fact of losing a starter due to some yet to be released accusation, and put in a gritty performance. We saw a well-played match against one of the top keepers in the league who did his job well and if not for a lucky assist from the woodwork, would have added a loss to his tally.

The only indication of poor coaching that I saw was that the team is not quick enough in transition or in moving the ball up the pitch. They tend to go to the lateral pass rather than push forward and attack. They also tend to think a bit too much when on the ball. Those decisions need to be a second faster.  

But people see what they expect to see. The youth soccer teams that filled the surrounding sections saw a match where they chanted and cheered, shouted and screamed. All for the love of their club. Kids see the beautiful game. They focus on the game part. They enjoy the experience. Adults see something that needs to be fixed. Frustrations that need to be shared. And a loss or draw is seen as a personal offense. 

It’s easy being a supporter when the team is winning. We all came into this experience back in 2015 without knowing what type of team we would support… top of the table or relegated in any other league. Fortunately, we were given the first. But it is in how we handle our side having a down season that shows our true nature. What type of supporter are you or wish to be? Do you scream at the moon, thinking that you actually have agency with the Front Office, or do you understand how fickle the game actually is and choose to support the team, and each other, when we’re at the bottom of a cycle.

#NYCFC Twitter is only a fraction of the fan base and out of that only 50 or so of us are really active and vocal. A few more than most. And quite frankly, it’s getting boring. If you have a different opinion from one of those who want to burn the team to the ground during any stretch of poor form you are either not a real supporter, don’t expect the best out of the team, are an apologist, or don’t really know the game. 

I offer another perspective. Maybe, we are just as passionate, just as knowledgeable, and love the badge the same amount. Maybe the difference is that winning is secondary to why we pay the cost of admission. Maybe our demands are more simple. Our only demand is that the team play with heart and leave it all on the pitch. That we are able to enjoy the experience of live professional football with others who love the sport. And that the team recognizes our love for them and the badge and respects us enough to give it all knowing that we are committed. Win, lose, or draw, we will have their back. We will criticize their level of play, but in the end we will still stand up for them, even the coach. This is MLS. Not the Prem. No one deserves to be fired mid-campaign for a bad run of play during a season of reconfiguration. And those who disagree with others on the bird site do not deserve to be mocked and derided because they have a different take on what it means to be a supporter. 

Stay positive,

The Man in Seat 9

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It boggles my mind that the rest of the league doesn’t get that we, as New Yorkers, DGAF any longer about our temporary stadium situation. Each social media department becomes oh, so clever, with the baseball memes. And almost every time, the scoreline does not treat them well. FC Dallas came to play ball and walked away with a lesson. Queue the excuse of a small pitch. Get over it. Play the pitch you are on. You’re professionals. I don’t hear cries of a tight pitch when a Premier League team loses at Craven Cottage.

As for the play on the pitch, there is something special strengthening in Queens. I love Yankee Stadium. And I wish that the new stadium was being built in the same neighborhood. But I can't deny that there is a distinct energy in Queens. It might just be the same dynamic as when you go on vacation. The slightly different experience, seeing different people, eating at different venues, energizes you. The experience resets your habits. Sitting with different people than you do in your normal sections, patronizing different vendor options, the tailgate, and the acoustics all turn the amplifier to 11.

The play for the last two weeks has been exciting and inspiring. Taking a page from Ted Lasso, this season was one in which I put aside my expectations..."It's the hope that kills you." And yet, seeing this side start to connect, seeing Nick Cushing doing Nick Cushing things, AKA the manager stuff, and seeing NYCFC quietly get results against the teams that other pundits list higher in terms of quality, has made keeping those expectations low difficult.

Positive Points

• Taty found his foot against Real Madrid. And in a BIG way. Taty scored a haul, beating Real Madrid 4-2.

• It took Santi all of about five minutes to figure out how to play an effective and dangerous false 9. The play between the three forwards was fluid, exciting, and dangerous.

• Sands is becoming the rock of the midfield that allows Keeton and Ledezma the ability to go forward and support the attack.

• Ilenic likes to come forward and has the legs to get back on defense when needed.

• Barazza’s (AKA the Big Banana) touch map this match was on par with our midfield (73 touches. 66 for James Sands and 55 for Keaton). He needs to catch more balls instead of punching or parrying them, but he keeps earning his starting role. 70.6% save percentage through 9 matches.

Fan Experience Rankings Week 9

This week’s scran, Pig Beach Brisket Sando and a Bases Loaded Blackberry Lemonade with Bourbon. The sandwich was tasty, but a bit dry and small for the prices. I tend to prefer my brisket sliced instead of in chunks. The lemonade was excellent but not enough so that it changes the table.

The porchetta sandwich retains the top spot in week 9 as does the Cucumber Lemonade.

Food

1. The porchetta sandwich from Marc Murphy’s Porchetta (CitiField)

2. Brisket Sandwich, Mighty Quinn's BBQ (Yankee Stadium)

3. Shake Shack (Citi Field)

4. Bobby’s Burgers (Yankee Stadium)

Drink

1. Cucumber Lemonade (Citi Field)

2. Beer Selection (Citi Field)

3. City Winery (Yankee Stadium)

Notable Tweets

From James Nalton, some stats supporting the argument that being a different type of Keeper than Johnson might be exactly what the team needs.

https://twitter.com/JDNalton/status/1650633426125443078?s=20

Andrew Leigh brings some more positives to light.

https://twitter.com/AndrewLeighNYC/status/1650500243300007936?s=20

Corey points out an impressive stat for our Big Bird.

https://twitter.com/CoreyClayton/status/1650660824426356738?s=20

And finally closing out the theme from the top… Fitzgerald created the term Valley of Ashes to compare the life, poverty, and harshness of the working class to the polished, manicured, softer lives of the wealthy portrayed in The Great Gatsby. I love the fact that, after being attempted for decades, NYCFC will help transform what was the Valley of Ashes into an entertainment venue incredibly accessible to those who make New York City, New York City.

As NY is Blue states… a blue and white dream is rising from the ashes.

https://twitter.com/NYisBLUE/status/1650313905510416385?s=20

The pigeons activated firebird mode.

And now for a long road spell of away games…

Stay positive,

The Man in Seat 9

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Citi Field was rocking so loud Saturday night that my Apple watch alerted me with a decibel warning. Maybe it's the material in the stadium, maybe it's where the pitch sits within the bowl, or maybe playing in Queens amps the vibe. Whatever the reason, Citi Field has become an electric alternative home pitch.

Until we parked the bus and the subs came on, the first 75 minutes were the best played minutes of the season. Two quick goals gave the boys in blue confidence and energy and electrified the crowd. There is not a lot of negativity to balance this week, so let's just jump into it.

Positive Points

• Chanot is our anchor. Our veteran. And now, it seems, our striker.

• Sands is so solid in the 6 slot that Keeton is allowed to drift high and be the attacking midfielder that he is.

• Ledezma is seriously good. I’m going to say it here… Anton Tinnerholm Richy Ledezma is good at soccer.

• Barazza made 5 excellent saves and almost walked out of Citi Field with a clean sheet.

• The food at Citi Field is on point. Check out this morsel of beauty.

Feed The Muse

You probably don’t know this, but one of my other projects is Feed The Muse. So, I will be keeping a leader board here for my favorite fan experience items.

Food

1. The porchetta sandwich from Marc Murphy’s Porchetta (CitiField)

2. Brisket Sandwich, Mighty Quinn's BBQ (Yankee Stadium)

3. Shake Shack (Citi Field)

4. Bobby’s Burgers (Yankee Stadium)

Drink

1. Cucumber Lemonade (Citi Field)

2. Beer Selection (Citi Field)

3. City Winery (Yankee Stadium)

Notable Tweets

Let’s start with Christian Smith on what everybody was looking at during some part of the night.

Moving on to DaleNewYork… This kid is living his best life right now and I’m here for it.

https://twitter.com/DaleNewYork/status/1647457123779895300?s=20

I agree Mike, I agree… Michael Allen

https://twitter.com/msa_allen/status/1647447473303040001?s=20

This week I’m going to tuck into the chicken and biscuit sandwich from Jacob’s Pickles. I’ll let you know how it goes but it’s going to be tough to take the top spot from Porchetta.

See you Saturday at Citi Field.

Stay positive,

The Man in Seat 9

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It is only April, and like the daffodils of early spring, grumblings of "Cushing out" are popping up around the NYCFC online community. If Ronny had remained, I'm certain that in the early months of last season, you would have heard the same. Even for the skipper who had led us to our first MLS Cup victory. It's tiresome.

The main positive point I want to make this week is that we took points from both New England and Atlanta, who were each at the time top of the Eastern Conference, and we won at home against a very good Miami side.

Match play differs from training ground play and with each week, the new kids are finding both their feet and the non-verbal language of their teammates. Were there mistakes? Yes, like the entire team resetting for a second corner as the ball stayed in play, allowing Atlanta space and surprise that resulted in their only goal. Which was very similar to their goals against other sides, picking up the rebound of a keeper's save and placing the ball into the open half of the net. But outside of that the defense and midfield were pretty solid.

Positive Points

• That Pereira goal was a thing of beauty

• Keeton and Sands are solid anchors in the midfield

• Talles Magno moved back to wing instead of a false 9. We still need a proper striker who can clear the box and force defenders to mark them so that others can take advantage, but Cushing is letting Talles play where he instinctually gravitates... out wide

• Barazza continues to earn my respect

• Our new corner kick play, low and fast into the box for a quick snap shot on goal. It just barely failed on both uses against Atlanta

• Finally showing some life in pressing the keeper hard during distribution Santi forced at least four distro errors on Guzan and we almost capitalized on a few of those interceptions.

• James Sands doesn't have a broken ankle. Horrible play. Horrible officiating. But at least it's not serious.

Notable Tweets

As embedding of tweets is down for now, here are the links.

Barazza’s first half footwork was solid:

https://twitter.com/jrojasa75/status/1646016209295663106?s=20

Skyscraper Blues getting positive:

https://twitter.com/CaitlynChale/status/1645940217977634817?s=20

And, Thiago Martins has advanced the ball further upfield than anyone else in MLS.

https://twitter.com/OptaJack/status/1645435628845162497?s=20

See you Saturday at Citi Field.

Stay positive,

The Man in Seat 9

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It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

If Dickens was on NYCFC Twitter, he would think that his first sentence never made it to print.

Coined by Billy the Butcher, last season was the Summer of Vibes. It was the season to not worry. To just enjoy that beautiful star and the beautiful game. I took the season off from writing about NYCFC as three other book projects swallowed my time. I removed the analyst's glasses and just enjoyed the game.

After the exit of our key players in the off-season, I resigned myself that this was the Season of Low Expectations. Only to make the playoffs to keep that record intact. The team was shifting to a much younger profile, doing something I have been advocating for years; Stop chasing retiring talent from Europe and focus on the academy system and develop the youth. Like investing in your 401K, this is planning for the next five to ten years, not just one season of brilliance. For the record, I will still be excited if Messi joins the league. It would be a rebuild season. And I would sit in 211 and enjoy watching the young talent grow during the season. That plan appears to have changed. Although I took away the next day deadline and promised myself that the posts would be brief, high-level, more fun - less work content. I am still going to enjoy the team and the sport I love.

So let’s get to the positive points for this week.

Fact Check

If you saw some of the tweets during the match against New England, you would think that the side was the last-place team in the Sunday pickup league.

• “Worst #NYCFC since 2015” It’s not. You forget how bad that season was. No defense at all, a keeper that had the distro skills of a blind seal and was shaky between the posts, a skipper who cared more about being friends to the stars, and a DP who physically went to hell in the off-season and spent more time on the bench than scoring goals.

• “Barazza has to go”, over and over and over again from the same account. We get it, you don’t like him, but he gave up two goals, one was the best own goal I have ever seen and the other was a technically perfect shot from a Spanish sniper. I like Freeze but Barazza is better than people want to give him credit. He has a much different style than Sean Johnson, and we were, and still are, used to Sean. A lot of us soccer bloggers seem to be former keepers, myself included, and most of us see something in Barazza. The more times I see him, the less nervous I feel about him. Except for some faulty distro, which let’s be honest here, SJ wasn’t that great with his feet and was losing a step, I haven’t seen anything to make me want him pulled. Although I would like to see the Iceman a few times to see what he’s like in blue.

Positive Points

• A point on the road against the conference leader. We knocked them down to 3rd, which is just a bonus. We could have, and maybe should have gotten three points. Take away that amazing save against the first header and that’s a goal. And being physically tackled by the last man, at the top of the box, that keeps you from being in on goal is a penalty all day, every day, in my book.

• The one-on-one defensive recovery by Martins was strong. Hustling back with enough pace to be able to plant both of your feet in front of a freight train heading to goal and then making the play is a positive sign from any defender.

• The new kids are going to be all right. I liked what I saw from all of them. A bit of Welcome to the Bigs jitters, but they all had moments that showed quality.

• I don’t like the plan, but everything seems to be going the way the Front Office wants. Like last year, the goal is the playoffs and as long as we are above that line the season is preseason. Chemistry is starting to form between certain pairs of players and I think the team is starting to gel with each match under their belt.

• It appears we are still on the hunt for a proper striker. If we get someone who the defense has to mark, someone who will score goals if given half a chance, the back of the net will be rippling for a lot of our boys.

Hail and Farewell

Thank you, Andrade, for one of my favorite memories at RBA. The speed you displayed as you left a defender in your wake the time you and SJ went Route One, is forever etched in my mind. And I agree with Brenda…

For those who are new to our fan base…

Positively Notable

And to finish on the most positive of positive notes…

See you Saturday, Blue Crew…

P.S. Why don’t my Bobby’s Burgers look like this? (Pro tip: I know the reason. Bobby’s got pull. And he made them himself.)

bobbyflay

A post shared by bobby flay (@bobbyflay)

COYBIB!

The Man in Seat 9

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To start with a truly Everest of a mountain to climb — let's look at this past week’s match against Houston Dynamo.

James Sands

James proved that he can solidly play the back line if needed and keep his composure on the ball. Yes, I prefer him higher up the pitch, for the reasons that Black Air Force Warrior (Twitter: @autto421) pointed out, but it is good to know that there is someone to stand in for Chanot during international call ups.

Louis Barazza

The score sheet ended 1-0 but that was due to a very weak penalty. He made a major error on a distribution pass but recovered and no damage was done. He even showed some talent as a left linebacker during stoppage time when Cushing brought him to center line to support the last attack. I have always been a bit nervous about him between the sticks but after seeing him at home those nerves have subsided. He's comfortable with his feet and is making good saves. He won't be SJ, because he's not. He's his own style of keeper and for now I'm comfortable with him guarding the net.

International Break Over

Chanot will return to anchor our back-line and provide the needed leadership of a proper Captain. And James can move back up to the midfield to better disrupt the opponents attack instead of reacting to the final assult.

No Injuries

In a very fortunate outcome Talles Magno did not pull a hamstring while jogging around in the attack and standing around off the ball to conserve his energy.

There's Always Hope

The Front Office is still looking for talent and a proper striker to move into the formation and that will allow Magno to move out to the wing where he plays better football.

Feel Good Tweets

Silky, silky.

Passion.

Watching NYCFC is good for your health.

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