2026 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[ZYanksRule]

That's a real shame about Haak, but probably should have been predictable. The conversation we were having earlier about how CFG thinks its scouting network is so great and so impactful, they probably think they can replace Haak for less than what he's making. It's a poor job by the Club, and a decision that will probably come back to bite them, but this probably shouldn't come as a surprise.

You also look at this roster, we currently have Martins, Gustavo, Parks, O'Neill, and maybe Perea in the CB and D-Mid spots. All are making significant money. Signing Haak to a $1 million+ contract in addition to already having those guys is surplus goods. If we're looking at this rationally, the money Haak would get can probably best be used elsewhere on the roster, especially in a capped league where there's only so much to go around.

 

[gbservis]

You also look at this roster, we currently have Martins, Gustavo, Parks, O'Neill, and maybe Perea in the CB and D-Mid spots. All are making significant money. Signing Haak to a $1 million+ contract in addition to already having those guys is surplus goods. If we're looking at this rationally, the money Haak would get can probably best be used elsewhere on the roster, especially in a capped league where there's only so much to go around.

If that's the case, then they should have declined the team option on Martin's contract. It sounds extreme, but if we are saying Haak has to go because we are already invested in the positions, how about we dump the guy taking up the largest resource in a DP spot. What would you rather:

Option 1: DP Martins + Raul, Haak gone
Option 2: Haak + Raul and a free DP spot

I'm going with option 2. Haak is 24 years old, can play two positions well, and has possibly shown more year over year improvement in the last 3 years than any other player on the roster.

 

[ZYanksRule]

If that's the case, then they should have declined the team option on Martin's contract. It sounds extreme, but if we are saying Haak has to go because we are already invested in the positions, how about we dump the guy taking up the largest resource in a DP spot. What would you rather:

Option 1: DP Martins + Raul, Haak gone
Option 2: Haak + Raul and a free DP spot

I'm going with option 2. Haak is 24 years old, can play two positions well, and has possibly shown more year over year improvement in the last 3 years than any other player on the roster.

That's not a linear comparison because they were trying to re-sign Haak during the season and didn't come to an agreement.

Option two is really: Raul, a free DP spot, and the possibility of re-signing Haak.

Will Haak be a DP for whoever signs him? Will he be a high-TAM player? At what price-point are you walking away from him? If he's getting $1.2 million next year, or even if he's going to be a DP, is that something you're walking away from? Free agency can get pretty silly.

 

[Kjbert]

Justin wants to play aboard. Part of the attraction of NYCFC is they are VERY good to these guys and their ambitions.

Maxi wants to return. You should anticipate seeing him back for another season.

 

[mgarbowski]

Maxi wants to return. You should anticipate seeing him back for another season.

I can't wait to see more of the 25th (xG+xA) or 26th (G+A) most productive CAM in MLS per minute.

Fun fact: Thomas Muller had more G+A in MLS last year than Maxi while playing 2200 fewer minutes.

 

[413Blue]

It kind of set in on me during the season, once he started proving himself, that Haak was gone this winter. A player his age isn't going to be committing to us when he has potential in Europe. The only hope is that he signs with us with a plan of a summer window transfer.

 

[Shwafta]

I love Haak, but as long as he doesn't end up at another MLS club, I don't actually mind it.

What's the difference between re-signing him and sending him on loan (where there haven't seemed to be payments... see our other loans) and just letting him go on a free?

 

[joe]

Does anyone have an informed opinion about Global Football Rankings | Latest Team & League Rankings I couldn't find a methodology/background.

MLS and the Championship having similar scores feels right. Premier League being a tier above the other big four feels right, even if I might rank the other four differently.

Europe is always going to be a bigger draw, especially as long as MLS has a salary cap, but a top ten league seems reasonable.

 

[mgarbowski]

Does anyone have an informed opinion about Global Football Rankings | Latest Team & League Rankings I couldn't find a methodology/background.

MLS and the Championship having similar scores feels right. Premier League being a tier above the other big four feels right, even if I might rank the other four differently.

Europe is always going to be a bigger draw, especially as long as MLS has a salary cap, but a top ten league seems reasonable.

I don't really know but share your sense that it is close enough.
I definitely agree with PL at #1. WRT the next 4, lack sufficient info to make my opinion worthwhile, but my sense is Ligue 1 has the shallowest quality so it fits in at 5. Bundesliga probably has the most compact range of quality, with a better bottom rung but lesser top rung, and IMO that's a value judgment whether you place them above or below La Liga and Serie A.

My biggest question re MLS position is how is it so far above LigaMX?

 

[Revfugee]

I think we may be collectively overestimating the FO's control over Haak leaving. If you look at Sands and before him Taty, and maybe Santi and Cacha, it probably didn't benefit the player to be signed to NYCFC before a desired move abroad.

The showcase loans seem pretty hit or miss and the machinations of loanee clubs are inherently unreliable, so If I'm Justin and my value is rising every day outside or even inside MLS, why would I shackle myself with a club fee and a proabable showcase loan when I can move on a free to a team that actually wants me?

I love Justin and I'm going to be sad if he leaves for nothing, but I'm not sure his exit (especially to Europe) would count as an FO failure.

 

[joe]

I don't really know but share your sense that it is close enough.
I definitely agree with PL at #1. WRT the next 4, lack sufficient info to make my opinion worthwhile, but my sense is Ligue 1 has the shallowest quality so it fits in at 5. Bundesliga probably has the most compact range of quality, with a better bottom rung but lesser top rung, and IMO that's a value judgment whether you place them above or below La Liga and Serie A.

My biggest question re MLS position is how is it so far above LigaMX?

Fair to ask, I didn't spent much/any time outside of the top ten. Leagues Cup would tell a different story.

I was mostly thinking of MLS vs Championship, and whether or not that is a "better" move. NYCFC ranks 20th out of 54 teams across the two leagues, so I guess the answer is "it depends." (And I think maybe one of the teams Haak is linked to is in line for promotion?)

 

[Gotham Gator]

Fair to ask, I didn't spent much/any time outside of the top ten. Leagues Cup would tell a different story.

I was mostly thinking of MLS vs Championship, and whether or not that is a "better" move. NYCFC ranks 20th out of 54 teams across the two leagues, so I guess the answer is "it depends." (And I think maybe one of the teams Haak is linked to is in line for promotion?)

I believe that the Championship and MLS are more or less of equal quality - maybe the Championship is a nose ahead. The big difference is in parity - the best Championship teams are better than the best in MLS, and the worst are substantially worse.

So, a move to the Championship does not mean a player is competing against better overall quality. It does mean he is in Europe, attracting more eyes, probably getting paid more, and perhaps has a chance to play in the best league in the world if he ends up on a good enough team.

So, does it make sense that a player might prefer the Championship over MLS? Yes.

Does it make sense to rate a striker with 10 goals in the Championship as better than one with 10 goals in MLS? No.

 

[joe]

I believe that the Championship and MLS are more or less of equal quality - maybe the Championship is a nose ahead. The big difference is in parity - the best Championship teams are better than the best in MLS, and the worst are substantially worse.

The ratings don't really agree with this, fwiw. 3 of the top 5 are MLS sides, as are 4 of the bottom 5. Actually, 12 of the lowest 13 are MLS, with only Sheffield Wednesday down in the rubbish.

Championship spread: 75.8-85.3 = 9.5
MLS spread: 73.5-84.9 = 11.4

Several of the individual MLS rankings surprise me though, so who knows.

 

[Kenny]

Justin wants to play aboard. Part of the attraction of NYCFC is they are VERY good to these guys and their ambitions.

This is it. Anyone saying it's a failure of the club to retain him because we undervalued him or fumbled the timing or prioritize selling for profit is overlooking this. He wants to test himself abroad. Now, if he ends up at another MLS club, that's a different story but I would be shocked, SHOCKED, if that happened.

 

[BC19]

I love Haak but the number is 800k+ you need to wish him well and let him leave. With Martins and Gustavo we aren’t going to all of sudden concede 50 goals next season. Money is better served trying to score more than 50.

 

[Gotham Gator]

The ratings don't really agree with this, fwiw. 3 of the top 5 are MLS sides, as are 4 of the bottom 5. Actually, 12 of the lowest 13 are MLS, with only Sheffield Wednesday down in the rubbish.

Championship spread: 75.8-85.3 = 9.5
MLS spread: 73.5-84.9 = 11.4

Several of the individual MLS rankings surprise me though, so who knows.

Interesting. It’s admittedly been a while since I’ve looked at an analysis of the two.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

I don't mind 800k at all. Even if he is 3rd CB on the depth chart, our defensive line has not been the beacon of health. We also have major questions in the midfield. Does Keaton come back 100% or is he cursed? No Perea next year so we are out a body in the midfield but since we didn't pick up his options we have more cap flexibility. If Maxi comes back, we need midfielders that get up and down the field. Also not sure how much cap flexibility we actually need. We had multiple senior roster spots, multiple u22/DP, and a bunch of allocation dollars.

 

[FootyLovin]

I don't mind 800k at all. Even if he is 3rd CB on the depth chart, our defensive line has not been the beacon of health. We also have major questions in the midfield. Does Keaton come back 100% or is he cursed? No Perea next year so we are out a body in the midfield but since we didn't pick up his options we have more cap flexibility. If Maxi comes back, we need midfielders that get up and down the field. Also not sure how much cap flexibility we actually need. We had multiple senior roster spots, multiple u22/DP, and a bunch of allocation dollars.

Someone around this time usually gives us a depth chart of our current roster. I guess I'll take a crack at it.

Did not include any team II players who haven't gotten real minutes on team I. Also italics for players whose injury/age profile makes them a question for 2026.

GK - Freese, Romero, Ranjitsingh
CB - Martins, Gustavo, Tana, Murray
LB - KOT, Cavallo
RB - Gray, Ilenic
DM - O'Neill, Shore
AM - Nico, Carrizo, Parks, Maxi, Perea
W - Hannes, Ojeda, Julian, Jones
ST - Reid, Martinez

Looking at our injury profile and knowing how hard it was for us to score towards the end of the season, man do we need to sign some offensive weapons. I hope I am wrong but I essentially expect no production out of the players in italics. I certainly hope Donivant et al aren't banking on any of those players.

 

[CCMore]

Someone around this time usually gives us a depth chart of our current roster. I guess I'll take a crack at it.

Did not include any team II players who haven't gotten real minutes on team I. Also italics for players whose injury/age profile makes them a question for 2026.

GK - Freese, Romero, Ranjitsingh
CB - Martins, Gustavo, Tana, Murray
LB - KOT, Cavallo
RB - Gray, Ilenic
DM - O'Neill, Shore
AM - Nico, Carrizo, Parks, Maxi, Perea
W - Hannes, Ojeda, Julian, Jones
ST - Reid, Martinez

Looking at our injury profile and knowing how hard it was for us to score towards the end of the season, man do we need to sign some offensive weapons. I hope I am wrong but I essentially expect no production out of the players in italics. I certainly hope Donivant et al aren't banking on any of those players.

Excellent analysis and thank you for putting this together. When I look at this list I see only one winger on our roster and half a striker. This needs to be solved first

 

[FootyLovin]

Excellent analysis and thank you for putting this together. When I look at this list I see only one winger on our roster and half a striker. This needs to be solved first

Yeah. The offense is positively frightening.