2026 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[SThorp]

I think we’re going to desperately miss Haak’s versatility. Right now we’re one knock away from a much leakier back line. I trust the Martins/Gustavo pairing will solidify, but if one of them goes down…

We’ve also had horrible luck in the midfield with injuries. Haak slotted in so effortlessly in both, and Pascal relied heavily on him because of that versatility. He was basically two players for one roster slot. David Lee should be taken out back and whipped with a rubber hose for how poorly he messed that situation up.

I’m also very concerned about where goals come from in ‘26. I came away very impressed this year with Pascal’s strategic ability to take what he has available to him and make the most of it, but the margins were very thin, and with Martinez’s injury and the loss of the Swiss Army knife in Haak, they just got thinner. I don’t think we can wait until the summer window to pad out the roster. Hopefully Dunivant is already making moves.

 

[LionNYC]

We're almost 12 hours into the Todd Dunivant Sporting Director era and nothing positive has happened yet!

 

[ZYanksRule]

We're almost 12 hours into the Todd Dunivant Sporting Director era and nothing positive has happened yet!

I'm excited for them to post his welcome video tomorrow with his first entrance into the building and people will complain that he was supposed to start January 1, as if he hasn't already been unofficially working for us for the last month.

 

[ezbeezy214]

Is this new guy even working yet? Like come on!

 

[CoachJoe]

Anyone else concerned about Raul as our starting CB? It was only 10 games but he seemed wildly inconsistent.

Very concerned

 

[DeGrozz]

Anyone else concerned about Raul as our starting CB? It was only 10 games but he seemed wildly inconsistent.

When the defense looked good, he seemed to fit right in.

When the defense looked awful, his mistakes seemed to stand out the most.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Matthew Doyle dropped a bomb on the Mothership in the first footnote here, and maybe in the third, too:

Big-name targets? Looks like they're back on the menu, boys

MLS teams are once again browsing the "Over 30" aisle in the world market

tacticsfreezone.substack.com

 

[gbservis]

Matthew Doyle dropped a bomb on the Mothership in the first footnote here, and maybe in the third, too:

Big-name targets? Looks like they're back on the menu, boys

MLS teams are once again browsing the "Over 30" aisle in the world market

tacticsfreezone.substack.com

We should be furious. MLS teams are signing the likes of Messi, Busquets, Muller, Alba, Reus, talking about adding Lewandowski and Salah yet, NYCFC has used one of their DP spots on a centerback from the J-league for the last 4 years. Nothing against Martins, he's a quality MLS CB, but he's nowhere near DP-level quality when compared to the level of impact other clubs are not getting out of that spot.

 

[mgarbowski]

Matthew Doyle dropped a bomb on the Mothership in the first footnote here, and maybe in the third, too:

Big-name targets? Looks like they're back on the menu, boys

MLS teams are once again browsing the "Over 30" aisle in the world market

tacticsfreezone.substack.com

Among all the legitimate criticisms of CFG I find the one in the first footnote to have the least merit.
CFG can’t just route Man City’s star players wherever CFG wants. Even if they could it goes completely against their commitment to let players direct the course of their careers.
It is fair to criticize CFG for not bringing major stars to NYCFC. There’s just no reason to focus on MCFC players in that regard.
The Lampard and Pirlo dig hit target. Pirlo was never what we needed and Lampard wasn’t here enough

 

[gbservis]

Among all the legitimate criticisms of CFG I find the one in the first footnote to have the least merit.
CFG can’t just route Man City’s star players wherever CFG wants. Even if they could it goes completely against their commitment to let players direct the course of their careers.
It is fair to criticize CFG for not bringing major stars to NYCFC. There’s just no reason to focus on MCFC players in that regard.
The Lampard and Pirlo dig hit target. Pirlo was never what we needed and Lampard wasn’t here enough

I think it’s fair to question how we’re this far into the relationship without a single high-quality departing MCFC player ever being funneled to us. I understand the emphasis on player agency, but CFG at least has an inside track with these players and could be actively selling NYCFC as an option.

Call me cynical, but I doubt they even tried to get KDB. When it comes to NYCFC’s premium roster spots, CFG has shown that monetization takes priority. They want Nico, not KDB, because Nico comes with the possibility of a future transfer fee. With the exception of Martins, who appears to be here largely because we overpaid to facilitate a CFG-driven internal move, every DP we’ve signed since Maxi has been a prospect: players CFG scouted with the hope of developing or rehabbing in the case of Mitri and selling.

When MLS introduced the U22 initiative, CFG’s response was immediate and telling. They signed players who were nowhere near ready, clearly brought in for pure development and resale value. So while the specific names Doyle cites may be a stretch, his broader point still stands. CFG isn’t seriously pursuing these MCFC veterans, and they’re likely not even approaching their aging stars about coming here. Their actions have consistently made their priorities clear: the chance to sell Nico down the line matters more to them than getting a 30-assist KDB season now.

 

[Joe_Cos]

I have a bad feeling that CFG is not going to be able to loan out Talles again. Then adding the potential the team will need to hold a spot on the roster for Jovan just in case his loan is not extended. So this might be another quiet winter and until they figure out those 2 players.

I should know this but I am not sure if the team can buy those players contracts outright or do they need to hold open their DP spot and U22 spot.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I have a bad feeling that CFG is not going to be able to loan out Talles again. Then adding the potential the team will need to hold a spot on the roster for Jovan just in case his loan is not extended. So this might be another quiet winter and until they figure out those 2 players.

I should know this but I am not sure if the team can buy those players contracts outright or do they need to hold open their DP spot and U22 spot.

If Talles is willing to return, I could see him playing a positive impact on our roster. I'd certainly rather him on the wing than Ojeda or Fernandez.

I doubt Talles returns, but if he does I think it would be to our benefit.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I think it’s fair to question how we’re this far into the relationship without a single high-quality departing MCFC player ever being funneled to us. I understand the emphasis on player agency, but CFG at least has an inside track with these players and could be actively selling NYCFC as an option.

Call me cynical, but I doubt they even tried to get KDB. When it comes to NYCFC’s premium roster spots, CFG has shown that monetization takes priority. They want Nico, not KDB, because Nico comes with the possibility of a future transfer fee. With the exception of Martins, who appears to be here largely because we overpaid to facilitate a CFG-driven internal move, every DP we’ve signed since Maxi has been a prospect: players CFG scouted with the hope of developing or rehabbing in the case of Mitri and selling.

When MLS introduced the U22 initiative, CFG’s response was immediate and telling. They signed players who were nowhere near ready, clearly brought in for pure development and resale value. So while the specific names Doyle cites may be a stretch, his broader point still stands. CFG isn’t seriously pursuing these MCFC veterans, and they’re likely not even approaching their aging stars about coming here. Their actions have consistently made their priorities clear: the chance to sell Nico down the line matters more to them than getting a 30-assist KDB season now.

I'm going to defend CFG a bit here: Nico turns 26 years old this weekend. He's nowhere near a prospect and the team bought him for (reportedly) around $8 million. He's not a project they expect to sell on in 3 years, you don't hear of a lot of 29 year olds being sold at high value to Europe. I think Nico is here for the long-term and for the bulk of his peak just like Thiago Martins, who will not be getting sold anywhere whenever he leaves.

Many of the other signings you are right about, but Nico isn't being sold on at profit considering his age.

 

[gbservis]

I'm going to defend CFG a bit here: Nico turns 26 years old this weekend. He's nowhere near a prospect and the team bought him for (reportedly) around $8 million. He's not a project they expect to sell on in 3 years, you don't hear of a lot of 29 year olds being sold at high value to Europe. I think Nico is here for the long-term and for the bulk of his peak just like Thiago Martins, who will not be getting sold anywhere whenever he leaves.

Many of the other signings you are right about, but Nico isn't being sold on at profit considering his age.

Brad Sims quote on Nico:

By the way, I think that to be able to recruit a player the caliber of Nico Mercau, a player in his prime.........We're able to tell a story, a really compelling story, about who we are, how we like to play, how we treat players, learning what his career goals are, and letting him know that if he comes here and upholds his end of the bargain, we will help him achieve his career goals, that is what enables us to get a player of that caliber to say, all right, I'm in, I want to go to New York City.

Call me cynical but something tells me his career goals they promised to support are not playing the rest of his time in MLS.

Miami went and got Messi, we have a decent CB and a guy from the Spanish second division, not sure why CFG deserves defending.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Brad Sims quote on Nico:



Call me cynical but something tells me his career goals they promised to support are not playing the rest of his time in MLS.

Miami went and got Messi, we have a decent CB and a guy from the Spanish second division, not sure why CFG deserves defending.

Moving him on at some point in the future when he's already 26 means we have him during his prime, and if he does end up going anywhere we'll have been the beneficiary of some of his best career years.

If he leaves us after this upcoming season I'll agree with you, but if we get him for two full seasons during his age 25-27 seasons that's a good signing, especially if he plays as well as we expect he will.

 

[Kenny]

I think it’s fair to question how we’re this far into the relationship without a single high-quality departing MCFC player ever being funneled to us. I understand the emphasis on player agency, but CFG at least has an inside track with these players and could be actively selling NYCFC as an option.

Call me cynical, but I doubt they even tried to get KDB. When it comes to NYCFC’s premium roster spots, CFG has shown that monetization takes priority. They want Nico, not KDB, because Nico comes with the possibility of a future transfer fee. With the exception of Martins, who appears to be here largely because we overpaid to facilitate a CFG-driven internal move, every DP we’ve signed since Maxi has been a prospect: players CFG scouted with the hope of developing or rehabbing in the case of Mitri and selling.

When MLS introduced the U22 initiative, CFG’s response was immediate and telling. They signed players who were nowhere near ready, clearly brought in for pure development and resale value. So while the specific names Doyle cites may be a stretch, his broader point still stands. CFG isn’t seriously pursuing these MCFC veterans, and they’re likely not even approaching their aging stars about coming here. Their actions have consistently made their priorities clear: the chance to sell Nico down the line matters more to them than getting a 30-assist KDB season now.

The frustrating thing about this is, it’s not a binary choice. We can be a develop-to-sell club while also bringing in at least one or two players on the level of Son or Evander (I know those are two different profiles but both are top-tier in terms of effectiveness in MLS).

It will be interesting to see how the new Sporting Director gets on within the CFG superstructure.

 

[KevinJRogers]

I'm going to defend CFG a bit here: Nico turns 26 years old this weekend. He's nowhere near a prospect and the team bought him for (reportedly) around $8 million. He's not a project they expect to sell on in 3 years, you don't hear of a lot of 29 year olds being sold at high value to Europe. I think Nico is here for the long-term and for the bulk of his peak just like Thiago Martins, who will not be getting sold anywhere whenever he leaves.

Many of the other signings you are right about, but Nico isn't being sold on at profit considering his age.

Nico is on $3.65 million per year. He was on $277,681 per year at Elche. That's achieving some pretty decent career goals right there.

As far as De Bruyne goes, I highly doubt we could have matched Napoli's number. I don't know that anyone making eight figures a year would ever find their way onto our board, especially someone in their mid-30s.

Maybe — maybe — we would take a run at someone like Silva if he were willing to come down to the high seven figures, but I think Doyle is wishcasting a bit, or more than a bit, even with that. It certainly makes sense from a competitive standpoint. But I find it hard to envision Silva coming down on his last big contract and us coming up to where he likely would want to be.

 

[Fantazma]

Nico is on $3.65 million per year. He was on $277,681 per year at Elche. That's achieving some pretty decent career goals right there.

As far as De Bruyne goes, I highly doubt we could have matched Napoli's number. I don't know that anyone making eight figures a year would ever find their way onto our board, especially someone in their mid-30s.

Maybe — maybe — we would take a run at someone like Silva if he were willing to come down to the high seven figures, but I think Doyle is wishcasting a bit, or more than a bit, even with that. It certainly makes sense from a competitive standpoint. But I find it hard to envision Silva coming down on his last big contract and us coming up to where he likely would want to be.

im assuming that even though they were promoted that was not going to be making as much playing in la liga with elche and had no one after him, so he came here to make his money

 

[KevinJRogers]

im assuming that even though they were promoted that was not going to be making as much playing in la liga with elche and had no one after him, so he came here to make his money

Right. And be a star. He was signed to be a star and he's ready to be a star. He has that thing.

The city, and Queens in particular, is going to fall in love with this guy once they get the chance.

 

[gbservis]

Here's a wild one for offseason discussion. If we don't make any significant offensive additions before the start of the season, I think they should try Julian at striker.

Pascal clearly doesn't trust him to start on the wing due to his inability to execute the defensive responsibilities. Putting him up top simplifies his role; all he has to do is press high and run the channels on the break. It allows Nico to play at CAM in his natural position and Maxi to come off the bench if he returns. At this point, Julian seems like a lost cause, so if they aren't going to move on from him, we might as well try something different.