2021 Roster Discussion

[mgarbowski]

Lol Zelalem is back.

Gedion Zelalem 🔙❗️ @Dumbomoving

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) March 8, 2021

ETA: The 2020-21 offseason's perfect move.

 

[ALBNYfan]

Lol Zelalem is back.

Gedion Zelalem 🔙❗️ @Dumbomoving

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) March 8, 2021

And from the same article: Torres out on loan:

TRANSACTION:  New York City FC midfielder Juan Pablo Torres joins Austin Bold FC (USL Championship) on loan for the remainder of the 2021 season

 

[Fantazma]

Lol Zelalem is back.

Gedion Zelalem 🔙❗️ @Dumbomoving

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) March 8, 2021

I assume he got a pay cut and there was no one else even remotely interested.

 

[mgarbowski]

And from the same article: Torres out on loan:

TRANSACTION:  New York City FC midfielder Juan Pablo Torres joins Austin Bold FC (USL Championship) on loan for the remainder of the 2021 season

Whaaat!? Not that I think he would have been a big contributor, but we need bodies at this point. In fact I figured that's the only reason we pulled Zelalem back..

 

[moogoo]

so are we just hoping with baited breath he's not going to injure his other knee and be out for the entire 2021 season?

 

[Fantazma]

Whaaat!? Not that I think he would have been a big contributor, but we need bodies at this point. In fact I figured that's the only reason we pulled Zelalem back..

i know he played RB in the open cup but i read he was more of a RW or RM. i do recall a couple people here saying he was not really good and just had speed. but i didnt even see enough of him to judge him really

 

[JayH]

Whaaat!? Not that I think he would have been a big contributor, but we need bodies at this point. In fact I figured that's the only reason we pulled Zelalem back..

Waiting for the use your leftover citi points to earn a spot on the roster promotion.

 

[Fantazma]

so are we just hoping with baited breath he's not going to injure his other knee and be out for the entire 2021 season?

i mean i feel we have Jasson to sort be involved in the midfield.

 

[Fantazma]

Waiting for the use your leftover citi points to earn a spot on the roster promotion.

better yet use citi points for a round trip to austin to see him play, and say hi to ring at austin fc while we there.

 

[moogoo]

i mean i feel we have Jasson to sort be involved in the midfield.

zalelem just feels like a wasted roster spot to me. kid is way too injury prone. not enough upside even if people have always thought had had potential to be really good. from the little bit we saw him play last pre-season, he seemed weak on the ball to me (so ball retention is poor) and his vision wasn't anything special.

 

[Fantazma]

zalelem just feels like a wasted roster spot to me. kid is way too injury prone. not enough upside even if people have always thought had had potential to be really good. from the little bit we saw him play last pre-season, he seemed weak on the ball to me (so ball retention is poor) and his vision wasn't anything special.

i get it but with this FO that cant seem to sign anyone international i think they willing to spend the spot on him. but you right the phily game he played he kept losing the ball and bad passes. well see.

 

[mgarbowski]

i mean i feel we have Jasson to sort be involved in the midfield.

We also have a 21 player roster. When I said bodies I literally meant bodies regardless of role. We're bringing back a perennial underachiever who can't stay healthy because apparently we can't get anyone else.

The one thing that kind of sort of makes sense about this is the team has 8 of 10 supplemental roster spots filled but only 13 of 20 Senior spots. And I don't think most teams make full use of the supplemental roster, and even if we plan to do so, offloading Torres gives us some flexibility there. But we are under using a lot of senior spots at the moment.

New York City FC | MLSSoccer.com

All the latest MLS club news, scores, stats, standings and highlights.

www.mlssoccer.com

 

[Fantazma]

We also have a 21 player roster. When I said bodies I literally meant bodies regardless of role. We're bringing back a perennial underachiever who can't stay healthy because apparently we can't get anyone else.

The one thing that kind of sort of makes sense about this is the team has 8 of 10 supplemental roster spots filled but only 13 of 20 Senior spots. And I don't think most teams make full use of the supplemental roster, and even if we plan to do so, offloading Torres gives us some flexibility there. But we are under using a lot of senior spots at the moment.

New York City FC | MLSSoccer.com

All the latest MLS club news, scores, stats, standings and highlights.

www.mlssoccer.com

then this means we are winging it until the summer when lee claims "we should be more active"

 

[ZYanksRule]

Can't imagine he's making a lot of money, probably doesn't even count against the salary cap since he's likely not on the 20-man senior roster.

Low-risk signing, I don't think he has any impact on whatever else we are trying to do in terms of signings. If he plays well, it's a bonus. If he gets hurt, we move on.

 

[moogoo]

then this means we are winging it until the summer when lee claims "we should be more active"

so until then, we play who we have til they are ragged from the condensed schedule (though ronny would probably do this anyway), hopefully stay mid-table at least unless our stalwarts can churn out a couple months of wins before reinforcements arrive in the summer...

 

[Fantazma]

so until then, we play who we have til they are ragged from the condensed schedule (though ronny would probably do this anyway), hopefully stay mid-table at least unless our stalwarts can churn out a couple months of wins before reinforcements arrive in the summer...

yes, i feel Lee's statements really made it clear that there is little chance at signing anyone now and wait until the summer window. At best they sign someone late May so they can be registered by the June 1st deadline.

 

[sbrylski]

yes, i feel Lee's statements really made it clear that there is little chance at signing anyone now and wait until the summer window. At best they sign someone late May so they can be registered by the June 1st deadline.

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.

 

[moogoo]

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.

i don't think gray or haak will get much time since their positions have depth already and they are lowest on the totem pole. i would hope that ronny will rotate more this year given our sparse roster and condensed schedule, but the guy didn't rotate much last year and i think it showed in our performances and injuries.

i'm with you though. i would love to see these guys get more time. both chanot and callens looked a little tired last year. would be great if gray and ibby became a new CB pairing that could straight swap in and take control. the problem with that is it doesn't seem like ibby or gray are natural leaders like chanot. so, organizing the defense and the team shape would be left to sean or maxi. maybe tinny?

 

[Fantazma]

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.

thats one way of putting it, the problem is we have some positions that we just need players. RB backup , Striker, a winger.

 

[moogoo]

thats one way of putting it, the problem is we have some positions that we just need players. RB backup , Striker, a winger.

heber should be coming back soon and i think ronny and david are counting on that. we are def. short on wingers though and hoping that isi doesn't get another injury! we need his 1v1 ability - something we simply do not have enough of on the team.