So who is this year's villan?

Viewfrom226

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While Saunders was effectively out of the picture before today's trade anyway, his official departure has me wondering what/who it is going to be that sparks the most complaints this year. Last year's favorite targets included:

  • Saunders - gone

  • Hernandez - gone

  • Mix not playing - probably soon to be gone, but in any event his absence is essentially old news and I suspect virtually none of us expect him to have a role

  • Lampard (at times) - gone
Right now, the only one I can think of is Mikey Lopez if he ends up playing a lot, but I doubt that will be the case. White would also be a candidate, but I can't imagine he plays enough to draw that much fire.

Obviously inevitably some of the new guys won't pan out, but right now I think the only certainty is that there will be someone or something that draws the collective board's ire.

What or who will it be? I'm talking about on-field stuff. Not, for example, the potential for no progress on the stadium, the persistent irrelevance of City Beats, lack of transparency, etc.
 
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Mix until he either sucks up his pride and does what vieira wants him to do to get back on the field or helps us get a transfer by easing his terms (I don't fault him for not wanting to take less money but for god sake's your hamstringing us).

and then for me personally I guess ethan white for his general suckiness.
 
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Given the noises from PV that he is happy with the trades we have made and the way the squad will form, I think that he will be the next fan target, that is if it all goes tits up and we keep messing up when playing his tactics (especially building from the back). Or it's going to be Brillant.
 
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Bill de Blasio* (If he comes to the home opener for the third time and is on the pitch or Yankee Stadium field he counts)
Clearly outside the scope of the question, but it gets a "like" for two reasons. First, the lawyer in me has to respect it. Second, the annual awkward moment when he stands there and everyone boos him is one of my favorite non-soccer moments of each year.
 
Clearly outside the scope of the question, but it gets a "like" for two reasons. First, the lawyer in me has to respect it. Second, the annual awkward moment when he stands there and everyone boos him is one of my favorite non-soccer moments of each year.

It's a sunny (or cloudy) day in March. You wake up knowing its the first home game of the season. We've already seen NYCFC win at Orlando for the first game and are riding high. You enter the stadium and see all the fans in NYCFC gear walking around. The Yankee Stadium grass is nearly cut and painted green (it's still winter). The clock gets closer and closer to kickoff. Maybe you pickup a Chicken Bucket on your way around the stadium. The players come out to warmup. We get to see our boys in blue on our field for the first time. They head back into the lockeroom. Shortly after, the MLS anthem is played, the players come out of the tunnel. The national anthem is sung with patriotic glee. Mayor Bill de Blasio is announced for the opening coin toss. Yankee Stadium echos will the boos near and far. It's louder than any poor referee decision. He just stands there and smiles.

You know it's going to be a great season...
 
The obvious choices depending on playing time are Lopez, White and Allen. I'll throw an outlier into the conversation. I think there is a chance it's Mata, assuming the team is playing at a higher level this year with last years villans all departed his defensive lapses could become more noticeable.
 
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RJ Allen if he is consistently in the Starting XI

Dark Horse candidate is Tommy McNamara if he can't replace Lampard's consistent production (when he played) from the #10 role
I don't think Tommy is a dark horse if he's really playing a central mid role, and it's nothing to do with goals. I think he's absolute shit in the middle of the field. Free role on the wing or nothing for me, unless the other option is Lopez.

I bet Lopez is on his last year here, possibly last year in the league. He's just not very good, and no one with good sense will pay him more than what he makes now.

I am pretty proud of my record of vehement anger about particular players pointing to their departure. It just took an extra year for Saunders and Hernandez.

Shelton might be at a crossroads, too. He's not a kid. He needs to produce consistently or learn fullback, or he'll be on the next thing smoking.