David Villa Departs New York City Football Club
- Thread starter LionNYC
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I look back on our home win over Chicago last year as a great example of what he brought to this team. I was there with my brother-in-law and nephew from California who are not soccer people. We went down a man early on that Herrera red card. But the team fought incredibly hard, and none harder than Villa.
Late in the second half, I watched him sprint back 30 yards to make a tackle and regain the ball after a turnover. The effort and determination were amazing. I pointed out that play to my relatives as an example of why Villa is so special. I told them that Villa could easily have come here, lounged around upfield and knocked in 15 goals each season and everyone would have been happy. Except he wouldn't have been happy. The man holds himself to an incredibly high standard in everything he does. It's impressive and inspirational.
With him gone, NYCFC will lose more than a goal scorer. We will lose the heart of the franchise - a guy whose ethics kept the locker room intact for four years. It's a big loss.
Late in the second half, I watched him sprint back 30 yards to make a tackle and regain the ball after a turnover. The effort and determination were amazing. I pointed out that play to my relatives as an example of why Villa is so special. I told them that Villa could easily have come here, lounged around upfield and knocked in 15 goals each season and everyone would have been happy. Except he wouldn't have been happy. The man holds himself to an incredibly high standard in everything he does. It's impressive and inspirational.
With him gone, NYCFC will lose more than a goal scorer. We will lose the heart of the franchise - a guy whose ethics kept the locker room intact for four years. It's a big loss.
I can't remember a World Class player coming to MLS who has showed the hard work, leadership and just plain thrills that Villa provided this team. Of course, I supported the Revs for years so I guess you can figure out why that would be. It is going to be very difficult to replace him, as few players can score goals in bunches and be willing to work that hard.
Thanks, El Capitan. You will always represent the heart and soul of this team to me.
Just got off the phone with my rep about 2019 ST renewal. I expressed my displeasure at the stadium situation, our poor second half, and the fact that they didn't move to supplement or replace him before he left. I selected my tickets in 129 back in 2015 expressly because I knew I would have a close look at him for at least one half per match. My gamble paid off handsomely, as I didn't expect him to be doing this for four years. Now I'm mulling a move to the 200s. Should I?
Thanks, El Capitan. You will always represent the heart and soul of this team to me.
Just got off the phone with my rep about 2019 ST renewal. I expressed my displeasure at the stadium situation, our poor second half, and the fact that they didn't move to supplement or replace him before he left. I selected my tickets in 129 back in 2015 expressly because I knew I would have a close look at him for at least one half per match. My gamble paid off handsomely, as I didn't expect him to be doing this for four years. Now I'm mulling a move to the 200s. Should I?
What kind of message would it send if we give the SS their own stands.... besides didn't we recently just deport the last one back to Germany? Gonna be mighty empty
Why do you hate Steam Ships so much?
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Villa <3
Sitting at that Atlanta game, I couldn't help but think during the game, "This is the last time you'll see Villa on a field. Cherish it." So I spent a good portion of the time watching Villa. Because I had that nagging feeling inside. It's going to be a completely different team next season without our Captain, and it's gonna leave that empty feeling for sure.
...But on the bright side, this will mean that someone other than Villa will win man of the match during our home games LOL
Sitting at that Atlanta game, I couldn't help but think during the game, "This is the last time you'll see Villa on a field. Cherish it." So I spent a good portion of the time watching Villa. Because I had that nagging feeling inside. It's going to be a completely different team next season without our Captain, and it's gonna leave that empty feeling for sure.
...But on the bright side, this will mean that someone other than Villa will win man of the match during our home games LOL
June 2, 2014 - Villa: https://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/06/02/david-villa-signs-new-york-city-fc
August 11, 2014 - Lord Kwame https://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/08/11/nycfc-sign-kwame-watson-siriboe
It's a shame he didn't have enough help to get a cup here but it doesn't matter. It would effectively be a participation trophy after everything that he's done. He's been an exemplary human being and I'm thankful to have watched him so closely.
- Jul 14, 2014
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I've gone the last couple years thinking the other way around. Thank goodness I got it wrong!
He definitely made us legit and a contender right from the get go. Proud to call him our captain.
now both halves of my username name are retired...boo
friends, check your email to RSVP for the monday night event. Hope to see ya there.
I'm going to bring my Villa Poster and Villa Jersey for him to sign.
Damn it,
Another lottery due to limited space. I told Patricof after the NYCFC Awards event they could have had so many more people come. Obviously they wanted a small space due to costs and giving the fans more time with the players. So...we'll see how this one goes. No idea what to expect in terms of who will show up.
I remember going to see England play Spain at Wembley in 2011, after Spain won the World Cup. Villa was the best player on the park that night. He did everything but score. At one point he bought down a long clearance out of the sky with a first touch so perfect that me and my brother spontaneously looked at each other with amazement -- after 20+ years of watching crap English football together, this may well have been the first time we ever shared that reaction at a game. Even though England won that night (Frank Lampard scored the winner!) we spent most of the ride home talking about Villa and that touch.
When I saw that Villa would be the first player on NYCFC, it was the first time I got excited about the whole project. Over the last few years, I gradually became surprised how much I grew to love the team, and Villa was such a huge part of that. Those of us, ahem, lucky enough to see that Historic First Season can only imagine how horrendous it would have been without him, how impossible it would have been to drag people along to see this brand new team without that kind of figurehead. There were so many games, from that season onward, that we only managed to stay in seemingly through the sheer force of his will. The home opener against New England, the hat-trick against Red Bulls, the Citi Field game against Columbus.
I will miss his unwavering commitment to first-time backheels, watching him set up on his right foot while through on goal, and his insistence on trying to lob the keeper from 40 yards out at least three times a season. I will miss watching him chew out hapless referees, and squirting water at the kitman on the Behind the Scenes videos. I will miss having someone who consistently gets me out of my seat when they get on the ball.
If you had gone back and told me in 2011 that I would one day get to watch David Villa every week, I wouldn't believe it. It was nothing short of a privilege.
When I saw that Villa would be the first player on NYCFC, it was the first time I got excited about the whole project. Over the last few years, I gradually became surprised how much I grew to love the team, and Villa was such a huge part of that. Those of us, ahem, lucky enough to see that Historic First Season can only imagine how horrendous it would have been without him, how impossible it would have been to drag people along to see this brand new team without that kind of figurehead. There were so many games, from that season onward, that we only managed to stay in seemingly through the sheer force of his will. The home opener against New England, the hat-trick against Red Bulls, the Citi Field game against Columbus.
I will miss his unwavering commitment to first-time backheels, watching him set up on his right foot while through on goal, and his insistence on trying to lob the keeper from 40 yards out at least three times a season. I will miss watching him chew out hapless referees, and squirting water at the kitman on the Behind the Scenes videos. I will miss having someone who consistently gets me out of my seat when they get on the ball.
If you had gone back and told me in 2011 that I would one day get to watch David Villa every week, I wouldn't believe it. It was nothing short of a privilege.
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