2021 Roster Discussion

[SoupInNYC]

I'm going to choose to be happy that Haak, Gray, and Jasson might be able to find some field time and develop during the first few months of the season.

Play the kids and survive for a few months until some big signings hopefully come through.

I don't absolutely hate it solely for the reason to watch more of the academy kids get playing time and see what they can do and how they can improve. But I'm also not excited about it.

 

[ZYanksRule]

We are also still just under six weeks away from the start of the season. We are basically still in late January of a normal offseason.

I agree with you all that it seems unlikely we will make major additions before the season starts, but we're still nearly six weeks away from Opening Day. Lots of time for things to shake out. Does it seem unlikely at the moment? Yes -- and the level of concern over the roster on Opening Day is starting to rise. But there's still time.

 

[moogoo]

We are also still just under six weeks away from the start of the season. We are basically still in late January of a normal offseason.

I agree with you all that it seems unlikely we will make major additions before the season starts, but we're still nearly six weeks away from Opening Day. Lots of time for things to shake out. Does it seem unlikely at the moment? Yes -- and the level of concern over the roster on Opening Day is starting to rise. But there's still time.

yup - still time to tack on some USL short term loans to fill out the roster

 

[ZYanksRule]

yup - still time to tack on some USL short term loans to fill out the roster

I'll also say this: If the goal is to sign guys over the summer, we've seen lots of teams go that route, get into the playoffs, and make noise. This league has a pretty large pillow for teams who start slowly. As long as we get into the playoffs and are playing well at that point in the season, anything can happen.

 

[Fantazma]

is it still 10 spots per conference to get into the playoffs?

 

[ZYanksRule]

is it still 10 spots per conference to get into the playoffs?

They haven't announced yet. But they only expanded the playoffs last year because they played a shorter season, so odds are they might ramp back to 7 or 8 spots per conference.

 

[mgarbowski]

I'll also say this: If the goal is to sign guys over the summer, we've seen lots of teams go that route, get into the playoffs, and make noise. This league has a pretty large pillow for teams who start slowly. As long as we get into the playoffs and are playing well at that point in the season, anything can happen.

I think that's the way to go at this point. I'd rather they not try to acquire someone just to fill up a senior roster slot for appearance's sake. This was a weird year, with the schedule, salary cap not rising, teams not wanting to sell in a weak market and a number of players seemingly unwilling to move. So wait until the summer. Right now, I think there are few options. In fact, if we do anything semi-major before opening day (which I don't think we will) it might actually come via trade within MLS, which we've very rarely done.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I think that's the way to go at this point. I'd rather they not try to acquire someone just to fill up a senior roster slot for appearance's sake. This was a weird year, with the schedule, salary cap not rising, teams not wanting to sell in a weak market and a number of players seemingly unwilling to move. So wait until the summer. Right now, I think there are few options. In fact, if we do anything semi-major before opening day (which I don't think we will) it might actually come via trade within MLS, which we've very rarely done.

Agreed with the caveat that if they do find someone they think is a long-term solution, then absolutely bring them in. This roster, even at its currently diminished state, is still capable of treading water. We won't be winning the Shield with this roster, but we should still be right in the thick of the playoffs. So whatever we do in the summer will be adding to a roster that is already pretty good.

As it stands right now and assuming Heber isn't ready to go on day 1, our projected XI is:

Medina-Taty-ITS
Sands-Maxi-Parks
Gudi/Amundsen-Callens-Chanot-Tinnerholm
Johnson

I'm not positive on where the goals will come from, and if one of our forwards gets hurt we're in trouble with the lack of depth up front, but this is still a very strong XI. There isn't nearly enough depth and the bench isn't great at the moment, but that XI can still get results. So I think unless guys get injured, we can tread water if reinforcements aren't coming until June or July, especially with the season starting 7 weeks later than normal. Figure we're probably only going to be at no more than 10 games into the season on June 1. Plenty of time for summer transfers to make an impact.

 

[FredMertz]

It finally happened: a kid Fred Jr. played with is on the NYCFC pre-season roster. Mateo Ponce-Ocampo. Very good player (obviously), but a really good kid. He might be the nicest elite player I've ever seen. Most are ... not so much.

For example, one of the other Academy kids on the pre-season roster frequently sits in my section at games. He nudged over and stepped in front of a 5-year old (Axel -- who is the section mascot and the most popular person in the stadium) to grab a t-shirt that was thrown into the stands.

 

[Fantazma]

wow these kids from academy are 16..going on training with grown men.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1369008109084151811

 

[moogoo]

wow these kids from academy are 16..going on training with grown men.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1369008109084151811

it'll be a great experience for them. playing up age groups is common for elites so i'm sure they are used to playing against older and bigger players. great way to improve and learn!

 

[SoupInNYC]

wow these kids from academy are 16..going on training with grown men.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1369008109084151811

Now we see why there was so little transfer buzz this offseason.

Somehow the club acquired Diego Rossi and brought him into the academy without anyone knowing.

 

[Shwafta]

Now we see why there was so little transfer buzz this offseason.

Somehow the club acquired Diego Rossi and brought him into the academy without anyone knowing.

Srsly though, no DeRosario really saddens me.

 

[Fantazma]

Srsly though, no DeRosario really saddens me.

he never had a contract though. And if there is interest from spain thats even less reason for him to sign here.

 

[moogoo]

he never had a contract though. And if there is interest from spain thats even less reason for him to sign here.

just lack of foresight by the club if they did not make an effort to sign him. if they did and he refused, then fair. but if they didn't even make an effort after the potential he showed during preseason last year.. major fail.

 

[Fantazma]

just lack of foresight by the club if they did not make an effort to sign him. if they did and he refused, then fair. but if they didn't even make an effort after the potential he showed during preseason last year.. major fail.

who knows though, maybe they did and he rejected it like you said or maybe they didnt. There is no way of knowing (unless derosario came out and said it) so i cant get upset about it.

 

[Shwafta]

who knows though, maybe they did and he rejected it like you said or maybe they didnt. There is no way of knowing (unless derosario came out and said it) so i cant get upset about it.

Hence, going back to my wording, I said "I'm sad" to see he isn't, not "I'm mad at the club" that he isn't

 

[LionNYC]

wow these kids from academy are 16..going on training with grown men.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1369008109084151811

Seeing this with only 6 academy players makes me sad because we lose a lot of players after they graduate from the academy and we can't put them in a USL team that we have like other MLS teams. We won back to back U18/19 championships and only have 4 players from those academy team on our team. Where all the others now? Likely in college.

New York City FC

All the latest news, scores, highlights, photos, and stats from New York City Football Club.

www.nycfc.com

 

[ZYanksRule]

Seeing this with only 6 academy players makes me sad because we lose a lot of players after they graduate from the academy and we can't put them in a USL team that we have like other MLS teams. We won back to back U18/19 championships and only have 4 players from those academy team on our team. Where all the others now? Likely in college.

New York City FC

All the latest news, scores, highlights, photos, and stats from New York City Football Club.

www.nycfc.com

But we still control their professional rights while they're in college, right?

 

[Rip 73]

He signed with an agent overseas. Don't think he'll be playing for NYCFC.

Maybe. But he didn't sign with anyone, and he's still on the academy roster. If he plays during their preseason, they might have the opportunity to sell him on the chance to get some minutes this season. So many of our offensive players have a history of frequent injuries, and are coming off missing significant time due to injury. Even if he wants to go overseas in the next transfer window he'd be a more attractive prospect in Europe with some professional game tape. Sign him now, get him some minutes, and then both the team and the player would be in a better position

Not that NYCFC will do that mind you. My wife was treated to frequent rants last season where we had no offensive subs available! No one! Why they didn't sign Jasson and De Rosario then, to give them some garbage time minutes to develop and to give Taty some dang rest was beyond me.