Glenn Crooks was the host of the event and asked more questions as follow ups than actual attendees. I don't know if it was setup but there wasn't a long line of people asking questions. The longest it was was three people. People would just get up when Glenn asked if someone had a question. Emily actually went through the bar and asked if people had a question to ask a question, like myself. Glenn questions were things I honestly didn't care about and provided no additional value to my knowledge about the club. He provided more of a storyline for the conversation.
I don't think I learned a lot more than I actually know about the club's activities and ongoing news. That being said some points from what I can best remember:
- LGBTQIA+ Pride Night will be held August 20th vs. LA
- Inclusiveness and diversity is a priority for the club in terms of its fan and supporters.
- Claudio referenced Khaldoon about the potential for a Women's Club (NYCWFC). There are no plans for girls in the academy but they may have a current girl's academy be an affiliate for NYCFC.
- Claudio is working hard to build the academy and that we'll see players on the first year team eventually. Homegrown Gio Reyna. #HGGio
- A permanent training location is being worked on in Rockland (across the Hudson river in New York). No papers are signed but it's progressing.
- The club is committed to being in the city and having the stadium within the five boroughs. Patricof said that real estate in New York is what it is and it will take time to get everything sorted like we all know. They want the best available location to meet the club's needs. He's working on it every day.
- Win! (NYCFC Documentary) won't have additional screenings but should be available on-demand, iTunes later this year, hopefully. Woohoo!
- The club (front office) wants more face to face interaction with fans like these events. Social media can only do so much in communication.
- Players have most control over their likeness in terms of marketing and advertising even though the league owns all the contracts. (I don't even remember the question or what happened during those minutes).
- Someone asked about supporter-security relations asking that supporters should be able to support the team how they want when we score. #NoPyroNoParty People, grow up, it's league policy no uncontrolled pyro, no streamers, etc, etc, etc.
- NYCFC don't change their tactics when at home on the road in terms of field size. Other teams might change what they do, per Ethan White, but it's not a concern for us.
- They're always looking to add players whether in the starting 11 or to provide depth. That being said, summer transfers are based on available salary cap space and Claudio indicated we probably don't have the available funds to make a big/medium move. Moves will be made in the offseason. What moves? Nobody knows. But Claudio said the priority is to bring in another defender and then another goalscorer to get some of the weight off Villa.
- They're always evaluating all positions from forwards to goalkeeper.
NOW THE BIG POINTS:
- I asked Claudio in person after the event as well I could about players signed by NYCFC playing for CFG clubs and possibly missing MLS play (Lampardgate). He didn't give me a yes or no answer on a guarantee that our players would be our players but he threw me the curveball that has been discussed before by users that Man City would sign a target, be able to spend that transfer money which we can't do in MLS, and then a free transfer to MLS or a loan.
- Mix is not on the trading block. Though I didn't ask about the transfer market??? Claudio says he has to earn his spot in the starting 11 now that Frank Lampard is back.
- In public regarding Eirik, Claudio said that Eirik is a young and talented goalkeeper that will be apart of this organization in the years to come. Regarding acquiring a goalkeeper, it's always a possibility like every other position on the field. Then I asked in person after, come on really, what's going on with Eirik not getting a shot? I asked if Saunders confidence would be shot or something? Claudio answered that Eirik was playing very well in the offseason but Saunders was the number one. Eirik apparently from not playing or something gained some weight and wasn't performing so well in training so when there was a possibility for Eirik to start during the multiple games in a short stretch of days Vieira didn't feel comfortable starting Eirik. Additionally Saunders is a big leader in the dressing room and on the field so starting Eirik could affect his regard to the rest of the players. Saunders has one more year left on his contract after this one. Claudio said that Saunders could be a good number two next year behind Eirik but nothing is set. Saunders is the hard number one for now. Fuck life. #StartEirik