2026 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[ZYanksRule]

Maybe there was an unfilled spot after all.

https://bsky.app/profile/hudsonriverblue.com%2Fpost%2F3md3nadjskc2l

Glenn posted the quote on Bluesky. He said “other than that” we have all positions occupied. Meaning except for striker and a defender. Which, considering the limited outgoing this offseason, makes sense. I don’t really have a problem with only adding a striker to the forward group now that Talles is back. We have a lot of wingers, we need a couple of them to play to the backs of their trading cards.

 

[mgarbowski]

We have a lot of wingers, we need a couple of them to play to the backs of their trading cards.

What are the chances that either Ojeda or Fernandez have been working with a specialized shooting coach in the offseason but we've never heard about it?
That's what they both need. Sure, Fernandez might also need a new brain but they both need to start shooting with pace and accuracy while under pressure.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Looks good. He turns 25 in May, wire-to-wire starter, occasionally finds the goal. Me likey, mate.

https://fbref.com/en/players/1ab3d134/Kai-Trewin

 

[gbservis]

mgarbowski posts on scoring has me looking back at the clubs offensive recruitment strategy over the years. Highest goal season prior to joining NYCFC:

Wolf: 8
Martinez: 8
Nico: 6
Magno: 3
Maxi: 6
Bakrar: 8

When was the last time the club signed a player with a track record of scoring double digit goals? I think this is another indicator of CFG scouting continuing to under estimate MLS. Every season we desperately need goals and every time the solution seems to be to find a guy somewhere in Europe who scores a moderate amount of goals and assume their scoring will jump because they view MLS as a lower level league. Sometimes you need to pay for goals. For reference below are the highest goal total seasons prior to joining MLS for non-Messi leading scorers in MLS

1. Messi - leaving out because he's an alien
2. Denis Bouanga - 16
3. Anders Dreyer - 19
4. Sam Surridge- 8
5. Evander - 12
6. Dejan Joveljić - 17
7. Musa - 11
8. Alonso Martinez - 8
9. Choupo-Moting - 10
10. Hugo Cuypers - 20

Surridge and Martinez are the only players in the top 10 that didn't have a track record of double digit goal seasons prior to joining MLS. Devoloping players and trying to scout gems is fine but the club needs to start balancing some of it out with guys that have already shown they can put the ball in the back on the net.

 

[413Blue]

mgarbowski posts on scoring has me looking back at the clubs offensive recruitment strategy over the years. Highest goal season prior to joining NYCFC:

Wolf: 8
Martinez: 8
Nico: 6
Magno: 3
Maxi: 6
Bakrar: 8

When was the last time the club signed a player with a track record of scoring double digit goals? I think this is another indicator of CFG scouting continuing to under estimate MLS. Every season we desperately need goals and every time the solution seems to be to find a guy somewhere in Europe who scores a moderate amount of goals and assume their scoring will jump because they view MLS as a lower level league. Sometimes you need to pay for goals. For reference below are the highest goal total seasons prior to joining MLS for non-Messi leading scorers in MLS

1. Messi - leaving out because he's an alien
2. Denis Bouanga - 16
3. Anders Dreyer - 19
4. Sam Surridge- 8
5. Evander - 12
6. Dejan Joveljić - 17
7. Musa - 11
8. Alonso Martinez - 8
9. Choupo-Moting - 10
10. Hugo Cuypers - 20

Surridge and Martinez are the only players in the top 10 that didn't have a track record of double digit goal seasons prior to joining MLS. Devoloping players and trying to scout gems is fine but the club needs to start balancing some of it out with guys that have already shown they can put the ball in the back on the net.
[/B]

Alexandru Mitrita did have back to back double digit years prior to being acquired.

 

[mgarbowski]

mgarbowski posts on scoring has me looking back at the clubs offensive recruitment strategy over the years. Highest goal season prior to joining NYCFC:

Wolf: 8
Martinez: 8
Nico: 6
Magno: 3
Maxi: 6
Bakrar: 8

When was the last time the club signed a player with a track record of scoring double digit goals? I think this is another indicator of CFG scouting continuing to under estimate MLS. Every season we desperately need goals and every time the solution seems to be to find a guy somewhere in Europe who scores a moderate amount of goals and assume their scoring will jump because they view MLS as a lower level league. Sometimes you need to pay for goals. For reference below are the highest goal total seasons prior to joining MLS for non-Messi leading scorers in MLS

1. Messi - leaving out because he's an alien
2. Denis Bouanga - 16
3. Anders Dreyer - 19
4. Sam Surridge- 8
5. Evander - 12
6. Dejan Joveljić - 17
7. Musa - 11
8. Alonso Martinez - 8
9. Choupo-Moting - 10
10. Hugo Cuypers - 20

Surridge and Martinez are the only players in the top 10 that didn't have a track record of double digit goal seasons prior to joining MLS. Devoloping players and trying to scout gems is fine but the club needs to start balancing some of it out with guys that have already shown they can put the ball in the back on the net.

As I also mentioned, I'm cautiously hoping that Nico will do this as well. He showed signs, but it was such a short sample. It's hard to tell if he's still just a moderately OK goal producer who we caught on a hot streak.

Alonso amuses me in this category because I remain convinced he was an absolute happy accident whom Lee and CFG thought would be a decent reserve winger.

By memory I think the best examples of this phenomenon are Giovinco and Josef Martinez. Gio technically doesn't qualify. He did have one 15 goal season before he moved to Toronto, but nothing else greater than 7 before MLS and I believe he meets the intent of the category. Josef's pre-MLS high was 8 goals in the Swiss Super League . Outside that year he averaged <2 goals in 6 Swiss and Serie A seasons.

Last note: ages at time of first MLS season:
Surridge 24, A Martinez 24, Giovinco 28, J Martinez 23. If anyone remembers a player who made this type of jump in MLS at age 22 or lower please respond. Almiron was 22 when he came to MLS, but as much as he was the engine behind Atlanta in 2017-18 his goal totals were just good (9 and 12).
FWIW Nico 25.

 

[gbservis]

Last note: ages at time of first MLS season:
Surridge 24, A Martinez 24, Giovinco 28, J Martinez 23. If anyone remembers a player who made this type of jump in MLS at age 22 or lower please respond. Almiron was 22 when he came to MLS, but as much as he was the engine behind Atlanta in 2017-18 his goal totals were just good (9 and 12).
FWIW Nico 25.

Does Taty count? I honestly don't know. On one hand he arrived at 20 with 3 goals in his previous season.

But it also took a couple of seasons and a conversion from winger to striker before he started putting up double digit goals. He also wasn't a major acquisition as we paid $400k for him.

 

[mgarbowski]

Does Taty count? I honestly don't know. On one hand he arrived at 20 with 3 goals in his previous season.

But it also took a couple of seasons and a conversion from winger to striker before he started putting up double digit goals. He also wasn't a major acquisition as we paid $400k for him.

I guess people can define it however they want but for me Taty is someone who came young and developed in MLS as opposed to someone who blossomed in MLS because for the first time he was substantially better than league average.

Best case, Ojeda and/or Fernandez will end up in the Taty category. Taty is a great example that there's nothing wrong with acquiring a player like that and hoping he grows into quality. But when he came to MLS NYCFC already had Villa, Maxi, Shradi, and Medina. The following year when Villa left they added Mitrita (23) and Heber (27), both with a pair of 2-digit goal seasons under their belt.

 

[JayH]

Looks good. He turns 25 in May, wire-to-wire starter, occasionally finds the goal. Me likey, mate.

https://fbref.com/en/players/1ab3d134/Kai-Trewin

Yes, as much as I loved Haak for his story and growth, he’s not so difficult to replace - this guy may end up being a like for like or better. Now for the more important matter - bringing in some sure-thing scoring to fill that gaping hole. I don’t care whether it’s another CFG transfer, a network find, or aging blast from the past, we need some reliable output.