2025 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[moogoo]

Well Reid didn't start when Alonso was "benched" for Miami. If Reid doesn't start against Red Bulls, I'm not too confident that Pascal think he's ready.

oh i definitely think they should have gone out and found a quality attacker anyway. but if jansen really pointed to reid then it's hard to point fingers. it is strange he didn't start reid when alonso was benched and it will be very telling if reid doesn't start on saturday.

 

[gbservis]

To be fair, Brad Sim is really good at spinning stuff. Before that answer I believe that he made a reference to NYCFC needing to be really sure when they spend money because of the renting situation, but then Pascal is like no I don't need another high profile signing because we have Seymour Reid? Doesn't sound grounded in reality

Sims had just been talking about firing Cushing because he wouldn’t play the young guys. He used the Reid and Bakrar situation as an example of why Pascal is better, saying Pascal actually gives them chances.

I had to laugh imagining the conversation going something like this:

Sims: Hey Pascal, come in. David and I were just talking about how much we appreciate that you’re willing to play the young guys.
Lee: Yeah, it’s such a difference from the last coach. He just wouldn’t play them, so he had to go.
Sims: Anyway, Bakrar’s on his way out. You think we need to bring someone in, or are you fine rolling with Reid?

The whole Cushing vs. Pascal comparison in Brad’s interview felt like disingenuous spin. Sims threw Cushing under the bus for not playing “young guys” and praised Pascal for doing the opposite. Then he pointed to Shore and Reid as proof Pascal is more willing to trust youth. Not a word about Fernández or Ojeda, who have pretty much the same backup starter and late-game sub roles they had last season.

Who exactly were Cushing’s versions of Shore and Reid? Jovan hasn’t exactly been lighting it up in Belgium, and Maxi is still starting ahead of Ojeda and Fernández under Pascal just like he did under Cushing. And at the start of the season, did Pascal even have a choice? The roster was so thin he had to start Shore.

It’s worked out in the end. Pascal is clearly an upgrade, but Brad’s argument felt like smoke and mirrors, trying to spin an apples-to-oranges comparison to make a point. The more meaningful criticism he hinted at was that Cushing didn’t do a good job communicating with players about where they stood and why lineup decisions were made.

 

[mgarbowski]

Sims had just been talking about firing Cushing because he wouldn’t play the young guys. He used the Reid and Bakrar situation as an example of why Pascal is better, saying Pascal actually gives them chances.

I had to laugh imagining the conversation going something like this:

Sims: Hey Pascal, come in. David and I were just talking about how much we appreciate that you’re willing to play the young guys.
Lee: Yeah, it’s such a difference from the last coach. He just wouldn’t play them, so he had to go.
Sims: Anyway, Bakrar’s on his way out. You think we need to bring someone in, or are you fine rolling with Reid?

The whole Cushing vs. Pascal comparison in Brad’s interview felt like disingenuous spin. Sims threw Cushing under the bus for not playing “young guys” and praised Pascal for doing the opposite. Then he pointed to Shore and Reid as proof Pascal is more willing to trust youth. Not a word about Fernández or Ojeda, who have pretty much the same backup starter and late-game sub roles they had last season.

Who exactly were Cushing’s versions of Shore and Reid? Jovan hasn’t exactly been lighting it up in Belgium, and Maxi is still starting ahead of Ojeda and Fernández under Pascal just like he did under Cushing. And at the start of the season, did Pascal even have a choice? The roster was so thin he had to start Shore.

It’s worked out in the end. Pascal is clearly an upgrade, but Brad’s argument felt like smoke and mirrors, trying to spin an apples-to-oranges comparison to make a point. The more meaningful criticism he hinted at was that Cushing didn’t do a good job communicating with players about where they stood and why lineup decisions were made.

I largely agree. But I think Sims and Lee believe that explaining the Cushing firing with the youth playing time issue is the most generous option, and they’re probably right.

 

[gbservis]

I largely agree. But I think Sims and Lee believe that explaining the Cushing firing with the youth playing time issue is the most generous option, and they’re probably right.

You're probably right, especially considering that Sims isn't going to admit the real reason Cushing struggled and we continue to struggle, is that Lee totally bombed on several key signings, resulting in constant roster holes and rebuilds.

 

[Kenny]

Alonso out 2-8 weeks, likely, for an adductor injury.

What's the source for this? Not contesting it, just curious. That's a wide range.... we have a game tomorrow, then in a week at Philly, then skip a week, then final regular season game in three weeks. Then the playoffs, intermittently. Eight weeks would be the conference semifinals.

ETA: Just saw your post in the Matchday NJRB thread, sounds like you are extrapolating based on a typical adductor injury. Hopefully it is on the lighter side and he can be fully back for the playoffs

 

[mgarbowski]

You're probably right, especially considering that Sims isn't going to admit the real reason Cushing struggled and we continue to struggle, is that Lee totally bombed on several key signings, resulting in constant roster holes and rebuilds.

I take it as given that people speaking in capacities like Sims here will be at least moderately self-serving. They might be tactically self-critical but generally not. The open question is do they disparage others needlessly or even cruelly. Sims and Lee pass that test. But no, they will never concede that Cushing was set up to fail with an absurdly poor roster in 2023 and a bunch of not ready teenagers in 2024. Sims gives a nod to Cushing's situation with a reference to his initial interim status (a mistake from the start though some thought it made sense) but cannot admit Nick's entire tenure was poorly handled by the sporting office.

The organization prides itself on providing everyone what they need to succeed and indulging their dreams. Somehow they sabotaged the only 2 head coaches they fired. They get away with it because both coaches had enough flaws to justify the firing. Something something if I had a nickel I'd have 10 cents but it's weird it happened twice.

 

[gbservis]

https://bsky.app/profile/mls-pr.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3lzqn2ur6pk2u

Still sitting on a pile of GAM.

 

[Gotham Gator]

https://bsky.app/profile/mls-pr.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3lzqn2ur6pk2u

Still sitting on a pile of GAM.

 

[Gene]

The organization prides itself on providing everyone what they need to succeed and indulging their dreams. Somehow they sabotaged the only 2 head coaches they fired. They get away with it because both coaches had enough flaws to justify the firing. Something something if I had a nickel I'd have 10 cents but it's weird it happened twice.

SPOT.
F*****G.
ON!

 

[mgarbowski]

I confess. Last night in the game chat I was a bit trollish about Ojeda.

But honestly I find it odd how much the forum wants to glow him up. In the first half there was a discussion whose consensus was we'll be lucky if the club doesn't sell him next year.

Me: who would pay big dollars for a forward incapable of putting a shot on goal in MLS, much less in goal?

Here is a list of NYCFC defenders with at least as many shots on goal as Ojeda has in 2025: Haak, Martins, O'Toole, Ilenic, and Gray.

I honestly - no joking - think it is possible that Pascal has told Ojeda not to shoot unless he finds himself alone near goal with zero options. We criticize that Fernandez has one offensive skill which is to shoot while unimpeded and directly facing goal. Ojeda has deteriorated as a shooter to the point that he also has one offensive skill, which is running at great pace on the right side and either laying it off or sending a cross from the end line. That's all he does. He has no goals and all his assists come from doing exactly that. He's become modestly great at that one thing. But that's it. He certainly does not score, shot often, or shoot well.

There are 54 MLS wingers with at least 1400 minutes in the ASA database for 2025.

Ojeda is tied for last in goals with zero.
He ranks 52 of 54 for shots taken (18).
He ranks last for xG (1.09).
He ranks last for shots on target (3).

His adjusted xG to account for shot quality is 0.26. That's not per game. That's for the entire year. He rarely shoots and when he does he does so terribly.

He took 9 shots in the first 9 games of 2025 and 9 in the 21 games since then in almost 3x as many minutes. Again, I seriously think it is possible that Jansen told him to stop shooting and just do his pacey dribble-pass thing.

A player with his current skill set and resume might, might, make it to a top league as a late game sub. Unless he improves considerably that is IMO suspect and certainly a ceiling.

As much as he has improved at the one thing he does, his shooting contributions have gotten worse.
In his first ~600 minutes in 2024 he had 3 goals, 16 shots, and 7 shots on target, and 1.63 xG.
In ~1600 minutes since then he has 0 goals, 24 shots, 6 on target, and 1.80 xG.

The most charitable forced stat I can create for him is to note that he has all 5 of his assists since July 3. In that time frame, he is tied for fourth in assists, behind 3 players who each have 6, and that's not nothing. But his G+A in that time frame is only good enough for 42nd in the league. He's quite one dimensional, even in a cherry picked set of games.

I'm not saying he can't or won't improve the rest of his game. I'm saying if he doesn't do so, then he's a one dimensional limited utility assist generating winger.

We paid $7M for him.

 

[moogoo]

I confess. Last night in the game chat I was a bit trollish about Ojeda.

But honestly I find it odd how much the forum wants to glow him up. In the first half there was a discussion whose consensus was we'll be lucky if the club doesn't sell him next year.

Me: who would pay big dollars for a forward incapable of putting a shot on goal in MLS, much less in goal?

Here is a list of NYCFC defenders with at least as many shots on goal as Ojeda has in 2025: Haak, Martins, O'Toole, Ilenic, and Gray.

I honestly - no joking - think it is possible that Pascal has told Ojeda not to shoot unless he finds himself alone near goal with zero options. We criticize that Fernandez has one offensive skill which is to shoot while unimpeded and directly facing goal. Ojeda has deteriorated as a shooter to the point that he also has one offensive skill, which is running at great pace on the right side and either laying it off or sending a cross from the end line. That's all he does. He has no goals and all his assists come from doing exactly that. He's become modestly great at that one thing. But that's it. He certainly does not score, shot often, or shoot well.

There are 54 MLS wingers with at least 1400 minutes in the ASA database for 2025.

Ojeda is tied for last in goals with zero.
He ranks 52 of 54 for shots taken (18).
He ranks last for xG (1.09).
He ranks last for shots on target (3).

His adjusted xG to account for shot quality is 0.26. That's not per game. That's for the entire year. He rarely shoots and when he does he does so terribly.

He took 9 shots in the first 9 games of 2025 and 9 in the 21 games since then in almost 3x as many minutes. Again, I seriously think it is possible that Jansen told him to stop shooting and just do his pacey dribble-pass thing.

A player with his current skill set and resume might, might, make it to a top league as a late game sub. Unless he improves considerably that is IMO suspect and certainly a ceiling.

As much as he has improved at the one thing he does, his shooting contributions have gotten worse.
In his first ~600 minutes in 2024 he had 3 goals, 16 shots, and 7 shots on target, and 1.63 xG.
In ~1600 minutes since then he has 0 goals, 24 shots, 6 on target, and 1.80 xG.

The most charitable forced stat I can create for him is to note that he has all 5 of his assists since July 3. In that time frame, he is tied for fourth in assists, behind 3 players who each have 6, and that's not nothing. But his G+A in that time frame is only good enough for 42nd in the league. He's quite one dimensional, even in a cherry picked set of games.

I'm not saying he can't or won't improve the rest of his game. I'm saying if he doesn't do so, then he's a one dimensional limited utility assist generating winger.

We paid $7M for him.

stats don't lie and if the club decided to transfer him at the end of the season, i wouldn't be the least bit upset (especially if we made money).

personally, my excitement is seeing him flip some switch to go from constantly retreating and passing back to confidently attacking defenders. it is just really nice to see and his play is becoming a new option for us with speed down the wing and in behind. something we missed when jones got injured last year.

he's got a ways to go before he's a stone cold starter and key part of our roster, but it is just simply nice to see that SOMETHING is happening with him while fernandez continues to languish at around the same level with some moments of magic sprinkled in.

 

[KevinJRogers]

personally, my excitement is seeing him flip some switch to go from constantly retreating and passing back to confidently attacking defenders. it is just really nice to see and his play is becoming a new option for us with speed down the wing and in behind. something we missed when jones got injured last year.

Same here. And if he has indeed broken through to the next level (a distinct possibility — he wouldn't be the first guy to do it), he adds a potentially explosive dimension to our squad.

He's been improving dramatically over the last month, maybe six weeks, and he was absolutely dynamic last night. The only question now is whether he can do it on a consistent basis. If he starts against the Union and does it again, mark me down as sold.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

He was electric last night and has been consistently good the last couple of games. Great to see. Pascal designed our game plan around him exploiting the space behind when NJ's fullbacks got forward. He also was doing this without striker on the field and the Red Bulls started doubling him in the second half. The number of cut backs and great chances we had last night was very nice to see. Complaining about Ojeda's shot taking when he was lined wide with his strong foot to the outside to provide width with Tayvon not getting forward is losing the forest for the trees.

 

[Gotham Gator]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972402921825542597

Yes.

 

[FootyLovin]

I confess. Last night in the game chat I was a bit trollish about Ojeda.

But honestly I find it odd how much the forum wants to glow him up. In the first half there was a discussion whose consensus was we'll be lucky if the club doesn't sell him next year.

Me: who would pay big dollars for a forward incapable of putting a shot on goal in MLS, much less in goal?

Here is a list of NYCFC defenders with at least as many shots on goal as Ojeda has in 2025: Haak, Martins, O'Toole, Ilenic, and Gray.

I honestly - no joking - think it is possible that Pascal has told Ojeda not to shoot unless he finds himself alone near goal with zero options. We criticize that Fernandez has one offensive skill which is to shoot while unimpeded and directly facing goal. Ojeda has deteriorated as a shooter to the point that he also has one offensive skill, which is running at great pace on the right side and either laying it off or sending a cross from the end line. That's all he does. He has no goals and all his assists come from doing exactly that. He's become modestly great at that one thing. But that's it. He certainly does not score, shot often, or shoot well.

There are 54 MLS wingers with at least 1400 minutes in the ASA database for 2025.

Ojeda is tied for last in goals with zero.
He ranks 52 of 54 for shots taken (18).
He ranks last for xG (1.09).
He ranks last for shots on target (3).

His adjusted xG to account for shot quality is 0.26. That's not per game. That's for the entire year. He rarely shoots and when he does he does so terribly.

He took 9 shots in the first 9 games of 2025 and 9 in the 21 games since then in almost 3x as many minutes. Again, I seriously think it is possible that Jansen told him to stop shooting and just do his pacey dribble-pass thing.

A player with his current skill set and resume might, might, make it to a top league as a late game sub. Unless he improves considerably that is IMO suspect and certainly a ceiling.

As much as he has improved at the one thing he does, his shooting contributions have gotten worse.
In his first ~600 minutes in 2024 he had 3 goals, 16 shots, and 7 shots on target, and 1.63 xG.
In ~1600 minutes since then he has 0 goals, 24 shots, 6 on target, and 1.80 xG.

The most charitable forced stat I can create for him is to note that he has all 5 of his assists since July 3. In that time frame, he is tied for fourth in assists, behind 3 players who each have 6, and that's not nothing. But his G+A in that time frame is only good enough for 42nd in the league. He's quite one dimensional, even in a cherry picked set of games.

I'm not saying he can't or won't improve the rest of his game. I'm saying if he doesn't do so, then he's a one dimensional limited utility assist generating winger.

We paid $7M for him.

I think the enthusiasm is for the value curve. If you chart Ojeda's player value as a goal scorer, it is a flatline that has never changed. If you chart his value as the sum of everything he brings it was a pretty flat line for a long time up until about the last month or two. I think the excitement is that the way the curve is swinging upward has the makings of a hockey stick. If he adds any goal scoring at all that curve goes way higher. So even with all those lousy scoring stats, he is finally giving hope that there is real potential value there.

 

[Revfugee]

I think the enthusiasm is for the value curve. If you chart Ojeda's player value as a goal scorer, it is a flatline that has never changed. If you chart his value as the sum of everything he brings it was a pretty flat line for a long time up until about the last month or two. I think the excitement is that the way the curve is swinging upward has the makings of a hockey stick. If he adds any goal scoring at all that curve goes way higher. So even with all those lousy scoring stats, he is finally giving hope that there is real potential value there.

There is an inherent value in running at defenders, tiring them out and keeping them off balance. Agu has been consistently doing that in recent matches and regardless of whether he gets on the score sheet this has been instrumental in helping create chances and maintaining pressure on the opposition. If a teammate can’t finish a cross or a cutback, that’s not entirety his fault. The key is that he’s been consistently getting in behind and or tying the opposition in knots, where before he would stop, ponder his options and pass backward. It has been a big contribution to our overall game.

 

[mgarbowski]

1. I think I misread/overestimated how much people like him to some extent. I don't think I'm as far from consensus as I did yesterday morning.
2. I'm not convinced by the idea his numbers don't reflect his value because teammates aren't finishing or he does things that just aren't in the numbers. First, he has, eg, 5 Assists on 3.03 xA. Nobody else's failures are suppressing his data. Second, the ASA G+ metric actually does capture everything, shots, passes made and received, dribbling, defensive interrupting of all kinds, and fouling, and it is unaffected by e.g., whether an assist was completed or a shot put in goal. It's a work in progress but it's very based in actual results. Over the weekend, they have 83 wingers in action. Ojeda's signature performance ranks 27. Not bad. Good even. Not outstanding.
3. Contrast and compare:


Shouldn't be hard to guess but Winger 1 is Medina and Winger 2 is Ojeda.
Winger 1 never got anywhere near the same level of love.



I'm rooting for Ojeda. I know he's gotten more aggressive. I think he's on track to be as good as Winger 1, who never had a G+A/90 below 0.42 or above 0.49. If he ends up better I will be happy, and surprised but not shocked. But yes a little surprised.

Feel free to respond but that's my last word for now. I think I've fully saturated the topic.

 

[FootyLovin]

Winger 1 never got anywhere near the same level of love.

I think this might be the heart of the misunderstanding. I don't think it is love being expressed right now for Ojeda. I think it is hope.

We are seeing the promise of something special and imagining what it could be if it was consistent and portended other skills following the same growth path.

 

[KevinJRogers]

I think this might be the heart of the misunderstanding. I don't think it is love being expressed right now for Ojeda. I think it is hope.

We are seeing the promise of something special and imagining what it could be if it was consistent and portended other skills following the same growth path.

That's what has me excited: his sudden trajectory. It's like a rocket that got launched after sitting on the pad for an extended period. For the longest time it didn't do anything, and then a button got pushed and it's zoom.

 

[Revfugee]

1. I think I misread/overestimated how much people like him to some extent. I don't think I'm as far from consensus as I did yesterday morning.
2. I'm not convinced by the idea his numbers don't reflect his value because teammates aren't finishing or he does things that just aren't in the numbers. First, he has, eg, 5 Assists on 3.03 xA. Nobody else's failures are suppressing his data. Second, the ASA G+ metric actually does capture everything, shots, passes made and received, dribbling, defensive interrupting of all kinds, and fouling, and it is unaffected by e.g., whether an assist was completed or a shot put in goal. It's a work in progress but it's very based in actual results. Over the weekend, they have 83 wingers in action. Ojeda's signature performance ranks 27. Not bad. Good even. Not outstanding.
3. Contrast and compare:
View attachment 14159

Shouldn't be hard to guess but Winger 1 is Medina and Winger 2 is Ojeda.
Winger 1 never got anywhere near the same level of love.



I'm rooting for Ojeda. I know he's gotten more aggressive. I think he's on track to be as good as Winger 1, who never had a G+A/90 below 0.42 or above 0.49. If he ends up better I will be happy, and surprised but not shocked. But yes a little surprised.

Feel free to respond but that's my last word for now. I think I've fully saturated the topic.

1. I think I misread/overestimated how much people like him to some extent. I don't think I'm as far from consensus as I did yesterday morning.
2. I'm not convinced by the idea his numbers don't reflect his value because teammates aren't finishing or he does things that just aren't in the numbers. First, he has, eg, 5 Assists on 3.03 xA. Nobody else's failures are suppressing his data. Second, the ASA G+ metric actually does capture everything, shots, passes made and received, dribbling, defensive interrupting of all kinds, and fouling, and it is unaffected by e.g., whether an assist was completed or a shot put in goal. It's a work in progress but it's very based in actual results. Over the weekend, they have 83 wingers in action. Ojeda's signature performance ranks 27. Not bad. Good even. Not outstanding.
3. Contrast and compare:
View attachment 14159

Shouldn't be hard to guess but Winger 1 is Medina and Winger 2 is Ojeda.
Winger 1 never got anywhere near the same level of love.



I'm rooting for Ojeda. I know he's gotten more aggressive. I think he's on track to be as good as Winger 1, who never had a G+A/90 below 0.42 or above 0.49. If he ends up better I will be happy, and surprised but not shocked. But yes a little surprised.

Feel free to respond but that's my last word for now. I think I've fully saturated the topic.

You are aggregating full season numbers. Ojeda was was more frustrating than Medina until about 5 matches ago and since the he’s been more exciting than Medina ever was. Who knows if he can keep it up, but underappreciation of Medina is orthogonal to what we are seeing recently from Ojeda.