Gedion Zelalem Signs for NYCFC

Really like this one. Not sure he's a starter as we start the year, but with how much squad rotation we'll have to do this year, he's a perfect guy to have behind Ring and Parks in that role, especially under Deila's 4-2-3-1. He's young, yet to tap into his potential, but that potential caused him to be at Arsenal for a while, so we know it's in there. If we can tap into some of it he's going to be a really good under-the-radar signing.
 
Presumably, this is the replacement for Ofori as the 3rd quality CM (as distinct from CAM). We need an extra starting level guy there (as we do at CB and winger) to have the depth necessary to maintain quality through a 34-game season.

Hopefully, NYC can be the team that can tap into that potential.
 
Wow, the thought of being able to rotate Maxi, Parks, Zela at the 10/8 is nice. Zela will get a ton of touches and build a huge amount of confidence. We always know how to break that second line and find space going forward. It's the perfect situation for him.
 
Just wanted to make sure that everyone here is reading The Outfield. Our own Christopher Jee Christopher Jee LITERALLY scooped the Zelalem story. He wasn't the first one to circulate it, he was the first one who WROTE it. That's pretty damn cool and the rest of the site and staff are the bees knees.

The Outfield: As good as The Athletic, but free
 
i think it's a good depth signing. sometimes it takes the right system for a player to thrive. SKC is a possession team, so it's strange that he couldn't thrive there and stranger still that his teammates didn't pass him the ball. maybe he's not a very good person? who knows.

i hope he can thrive with us. it will add competition for parks, which is always good. and give us depth for those congested game weeks and to handle injuries.

now, we just need to sign a left back?
 
I’d like to see a LB and maybe a depth Striker in the summer. Even a guy like Glenn Murray from Brighton. An M1, end of game guy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LionNYC
I’d like to see a LB and maybe a depth Striker in the summer. Even a guy like Glenn Murray from Brighton. An M1, end of game guy.

giroud FTW. i think it would be great to sign a target striker like giroud. i know signing giroud is unlikely. but someone like him for times when we want to change up our tactics a bit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kjbert
...are we overrating Gedion? There’s a reason he’s an MLS free agent.
It's totally fine to get excited about his potential. If he works out, great. If he doesn't, no one is going to cry too many tears if he doesn't make an 18 all year and that means more minutes for James Sands and Justin Haak.
 
You don't think he'd be a bit redundant to Hebér? They're both hold-up #9s.

i don't think heber is a true hold up 9. he CAN hold up the play, but he's not a big physical player that is a target in the box. heber roams and makes runs down the channels. he's a highly mobile player with the added benefit of being able to hold up play now and then. but he's not like a striker like giroud..
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kjbert
Gedion was not great for Rangers. Of course he was very young and lightweight playing in the Scottish lower divisions where you get lumps kicked out of you but that's all I've seen of him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kjbert
Gedion was not great for Rangers. Of course he was very young and lightweight playing in the Scottish lower divisions where you get lumps kicked out of you but that's all I've seen of him.
Seemed like a very bad fit for him straight off. A loan to the Dutch league would have done far more for his psyche and shins.
 
A 22 year old is no longer a prospect. I’m sorry. He is who he is now.

Haak is a prospect. JPT is a prospect.
Maybe project is a better term although prospect is still not so far off. Parks is 22 and I still viewed him as a prospect or project. He also showed flashes on the US unders. He showed potential at Benfica (b) but never really broke through. He came here and shined in the right spot. The two may not be perfectly parallel, but 22 and prospect are not so inconsistent (at least the way I think of it).
 
Maybe project is a better term although prospect is still not so far off. Parks is 22 and I still viewed him as a prospect or project. He also showed flashes on the US unders. He showed potential at Benfica (b) but never really broke through. He came here and shined in the right spot. The two may not be perfectly parallel, but 22 and prospect are not so inconsistent (at least the way I think of it).

I realize that in soccer you start incredibly early, but players don't reach their peak until the mid-20's physically and mentally. He still has room to improve.