2026 Roster and Transfer Discussion Thread

[gbservis]

Where's Kei Kamara? Perhaps he can continue his "Have Suitcase, Will Travel MLS Tour".

Not exactly the same type of player but IMO the Kamara 1 year rental guy this season was Benteke but he went to Saudi.

I'm disappointed the team doesn't look to Liga Mx more often. Maxi came from there and was fantastic. My Liga Mx viewership is admittedly limited to leagues cup, but the top Liga Mx teams consistently seem to be deeper and of higher quality than the MLS teams, there has to be talent there that could upgrade our roster. The Liga Mx window just closed on February 10th so we had time too.

Windows are open right now is Brazil, Argentina and Columbia, maybe they can find someone there.

 

[ZYanksRule]

We'll be waiting until the summer...just like 2025 waiting for Nico to sign. Not a great start from Todd.

We still have a lot of time left in this window. It closes in April. Even if we get a striker and he shows up in April, that's fine.

I also think it's really harsh to be negative towards Todd because a medical was failed.

 

[BC19]

We still have a lot of time left in this window. It closes in April. Even if we get a striker and he shows up in April, that's fine.

I also think it's really harsh to be negative towards Todd because a medical was failed.

The winter window closes in March this year, but I agree. They are also at least publicizing that they want to bring someone in. At least it isn’t complete radio silence like years past

 

[ZYanksRule]

The winter window closes in March this year, but I agree. They are also at least publicizing that they want to bring someone in. At least it isn’t complete radio silence like years past

DIdn't reaize that. The point remains. The window closes March 26, now that I look at it -- let's say we sign a guy on deadline day and he arrives around April 15. That means he would miss only our first seven games.

If we sign a striker in this window and they hit, we are MLS Cup contenders.

 

[mgarbowski]

I also think it's really harsh to be negative towards Todd because a medical was failed.

I looked at the MLS Transfer Tracker looking for international signings before Dunivant's first day of 1/1/26. So I excluded draftees, free agents, trades, home-growns, etc. I stopped counting when I reached a dozen less than halfway through the list of teams.

Todd and the club decided by agreement to prioritize his Sacramento FC transition over an early jump on NYCFC's winter window. Any complaints here were met with assurances that this was fine and would not make a difference. Oops.

They left it late and got burned by circumstances. I look at the failed medical excuse as no different than a student who complains of a power interruption the day before an assignment was due when said student did not start the paper until that morning.

We started two of the last three seasons with an incomplete attacking roster. The assignment was to avoid 3 for 4. This is a fail. It doesn't have to be a big fail. But tick tick ...

That means he would miss only our first seven games.

Including 4 out of 17 home games. By percentage (24%), that's more than $300 of substandard product for me. Excuse if I'm not so sanguine about it.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I looked at the MLS Transfer Tracker looking for international signings before Dunivant's first day of 1/1/26. So I excluded draftees, free agents, trades, home-growns, etc. I stopped counting when I reached a dozen less than halfway through the list of teams.

Todd and the club decided by agreement to prioritize his Sacramento FC transition over an early jump on NYCFC's winter window. Any complaints here were met with assurances that this was fine and would not make a difference. Oops.

They left it late and got burned by circumstances. I look at the failed medical excuse as no different than a student who complains of a power interruption the day before an assignment was due when said student did not start the paper until that morning.

We started two of the last three seasons with an incomplete attacking roster. The assignment was to avoid 3 for 4. This is a fail. It doesn't have to be a big fail. But tick tick ...


Including 4 out of 17 home games. By percentage (24%), that's more than $300 of substandard product for me. Excuse if I'm not so sanguine about it.

This roster is not substandard. We are missing a striker, but aside from that we are loaded. This is not 2023 or 2024, and not even the start of 2025. We need another addition, and I feel confident we'll get it. If it happens by the time we get to April we are fully loaded.

Considering how late we've made signings the last few years, I really don't think Dunivant starting on Jan. 1 had any impact on anything. Had there not been a sporting director change, we'd have been in worse position. Just for comparison's sake, Sporting KC has 10 players on its senior roster a week from Opening Day.

I understand the frustration in not having a striker ready on Opening Day, but I don't understand the negativity -- we are a good team right now, probably even a very good team, and we're one signing from being an elite team.

 

[mgarbowski]

This roster is not substandard.

With Talles apparently hurt, if we start Nico, Wolf, Ojeda, Maxi on Opening Day, our offensive depth consists of 17 year olds Reid, Carrizzo, and maybe some NYCFC II supplements.

we're one signing from being an elite team.

ETA: I guess KOT the swiss army knife could sub on offense in a pinch.

 

[ZYanksRule]

With Talles apparently hurt, if we start Nico, Wolf, Ojeda, Maxi on Opening Day, our offensive depth consists of 17 year olds Reid, Carrizzo, and maybe some NYCFC II supplements.

ETA: I guess KOT the swiss army knife could sub on offense in a pinch.

we're talking about an injury that's a 1-2 week injury and not reflective of the roster writ-large. My point is that when we have Talles, Perea, Parks, O'Neill, and Shore all available this is one of the best rosters in MLS. Especially if we also add a striker to that which will have carry-on effects for Nico and Maxi.

 

[mgarbowski]

we're talking about an injury that's a 1-2 week injury and not reflective of the roster writ-large.

What is reflective of the roster at large is that one injury means we have zero attacking options off the bench older than 17, and just one with perfect health, pending long term injured players like Jones and Martinez with highly variable prognoses.

In contrast, the 2019 offensive roster while waiting to acquire Heber consisted of: Taty, Mitrita, Shradi, Maxi in his prime, Medina, J Lewis, and Gary-Mackay Stevens. The first 5 names on that list scored a combined 38 goals that year. I think the likelihood that Magno, Nico, Wolf, Ojeda, and Maxi score 35+ goals is <2%. To get to 35, I have to assume Wolf matches his career high while Magno, Ojeda and Nico all set new highs. That can happen, in the sense that anything can happen. I'll be happy if it happens. I don't see how anybody can expect all of it it to happen.

Maybe 2019 is an unfair comp being NYCFC's points and goals scored leader. Let's try 2022. It our last team with a double digit GD. It ranked 5th in the league with 55 points and scored 57 goals (rank 7th). Both solid but not amazing. That team received 37 goals from the 6 top scorers behind Taty. Assuming our eventual striker will be our #1, I don't see 37 goals coming from any 6 players currently on the team. Also 57 goals in 2025 was only good for 10th best in the league. You now need to aim for 60+ to be in the very top.

I'm happy to be wrong but I don't expect it.

 

[gbservis]

we're talking about an injury that's a 1-2 week injury and not reflective of the roster writ-large. My point is that when we have Talles, Perea, Parks, O'Neill, and Shore all available this is one of the best rosters in MLS. Especially if we also add a striker to that which will have carry-on effects for Nico and Maxi.

Even with Magno back there is no historic attacking production on the roster that justifies labeling this roster as one of the best in MLS.

Player	2025 Goals	Career Best Goals
Magno	2	7 (2022)
Ojeda	0	2 (2024)
Nico	3*	6 (24/25, Laliga 2)
Maxi	2	8 (2018)
Wolf	11	11 (2025)

*not a full MLS season for Nico

 

[mgarbowski]

Putting aside the debate on quality: at a minimum, besides a striker, we need someone to replace Julian’s 1400 minutes and 4th highest G+A on the team. Maybe that’s Talles?

But until we get a striker, Talles is replacing Martinez apparently. Can’t be both.
We need more offensive depth.

 

[gbservis]

Putting aside the debate on quality: at a minimum, besides a striker, we need someone to replace Julian’s 1400 minutes and 4th highest G+A on the team. Maybe that’s Talles?

But until we get a striker, Talles is replacing Martinez apparently. Can’t be both.
We need more offensive depth.

Agreed, even going beyond depth, assuming we add a striker, one of Magno, Maxi, and Ojeda are still a best XI starter. If they repeat last year that means 0-2 goals from that 4th attacker spot. MLS best attacks don't have 25% of their attack just along for the ride as a non-goal contributor.

So you are banking on 39 year old Maxi to score more than 3 goals for the first time since 2019 or Ojeda to go from he looks good vibes to he actually scores or Talles some how putting it together in the league he said is too physical for him and a bad fit for his style.

Edit: Sorry I know you said putting a side the quality debate, I just can't let it go.