NYCFC Players Wanted Thread

[NYCFC_Dan]

I got the sense before the season started this year that they are very high on him and are hoping to keep him around long term. I'm hopeful that we can get him back on loan for one more season and then Benfica will take him back.

Also, wanted to clarify on the above, that I just got that feeling from general internet browsing, I have no sources on that at all.

You think they even know? Wasn’t he playing with their B team? We need another big name for a DP. I guess if Maxi is gone it will have to be a midfielder. That would increase the chance of us signing a big name player. We definitely won’t be signing a striker as that position is crowded now. I highly doubt we spend DP money on a defender. So unless Maxi leaves I don’t think we sign a DP.

 

[Kjbert]

Any number that would let him stay at a TAM level (or sub TAM level) and not a DP signing for any part of his contract.

Why do you feel that way?

 

[LionNYC]

Why do you feel that way?

Because I still feel that if you're going to spend money on a DP, you should be spending money. And there are better ways to spend DP money than on a Keaton Parks.

 

[moogoo]

Because I still feel that if you're going to spend money on a DP, you should be spending money. And there are better ways to spend DP money than on a Keaton Parks.

Agreed. if we are signing a DP, we should be signing a big name or someone who's proven themselves to be a prolific scorer or an assist machine (if maxi leaves). I say we put all our money on the table and bring Messi in. just saying. the club wants to fill seats? that'll fill seats. Get him for free at the end of the season. If beckham has a chance, SO DO WE. We have pep on our side. lol.

 

[Kjbert]

We do not have the operating budget that Miami has right now.

 

[Kjbert]

Because I still feel that if you're going to spend money on a DP, you should be spending money. And there are better ways to spend DP money than on a Keaton Parks.

What if the purchase budget was only $4 million?

 

[Ulrich]

What if the purchase budget was only $4 million?

This club will NEVER have the purchasing budget of Miami if they don't bring in fans and fill the stadium. They won't do that with Parks as a DP. They will do that with a massive name player that people want to say they saw play. It's the chicken and the egg, and the club is hiding behind their decision to go cheap.

 

[ZYanksRule]

This club will NEVER have the purchasing budget of Miami if they don't bring in fans and fill the stadium. They won't do that with Parks as a DP. They will do that with a massive name player that people want to say they saw play. It's the chicken and the egg, and the club is hiding behind their decision to go cheap.

Yup. Our attendance is pretty noticeably down from last year even though the team is much better, and the reason seems very like to be David Villa related. People came to see him. I'm sure the front office has noticed. At least I hope they have.

 

[Kjbert]

I don’t think the big name is as big of a draw as you think it is

 

[moogoo]

I don’t think the big name is as big of a draw as you think it is

you're lying to yourself if you think a big name isn't a big draw. it's the reason the LAG have a full stadium this season every home game. it's the reason stadiums are full with the LAG play away games. Big names draw crowds. Even people who don't follow soccer regularly will know big names.. of course the bigger the better. and the more people they bring in.

 

[LionNYC]

We do not have the operating budget that Miami has right now.

What if the purchase budget was only $4 million?

Yeah, you already told us that we will not do big transfers. $10M. Nope. $20M. Nope. We’re still small by CFG and we’re going to be in the red for a lot years.

 

[The Toe]

I think we'll always need a big name in NYC. Winning is cool, but people show up for guys they play with on FIFA or have seen in the world cup. Ring, Maxi, Heber and Mitri are nobodies to the casual fan. Mertens moves the meter, but not even all that much. Falcao on the other hand...

 

[Kjbert]

you're lying to yourself if you think a big name isn't a big draw. it's the reason the LAG have a full stadium this season every home game. it's the reason stadiums are full with the LAG play away games. Big names draw crowds. Even people who don't follow soccer regularly will know big names.. of course the bigger the better. and the more people they bring in.

Is the stadium full? The picture I saw of Zlatan on the scorers table showed a half empty stadium the other night.

Soccer people want a soccer stadium. They want a gameday atmosphere. They want soccer amenities. They want family “stuff.”

It all comes down to the stadium. Always has after year one wore off

 

[moogoo]

Is the stadium full? The picture I saw of Zlatan on the scorers table showed a half empty stadium the other night.

Soccer people want a soccer stadium. They want a gameday atmosphere. They want soccer amenities. They want family “stuff.”

It all comes down to the stadium. Always has after year one wore off

22465 attendance for the SKC game. Dignity Health Sports Park is a SSS. Do you really think attendance would be so high if Zlatan weren't there? If JDS wasn't there? If Pavon wasn't there? Highly doubt it.

a SSS makes a difference for sure, but having a big name makes more difference. Look at the red bulls. one of the nicest SSS in the league and they can barely get half of the stadium filled. Yes, it smells like sewage, but still. If they had a big name come in next year, attendance would sky rocket.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I think this has been a pretty circular discussion if you look back over the last couple of years. As attendance started slipping a bit more into year 3, the narrative was that the big names don't matter (Villa and Pirlo still there), but NYC will only get behind a winning team.

Now that we are second in the league and first in the East, that narrative has shifted to big names draw attendance.

And the whole time, getting a SSS has been sprinkled throughout.

(I'm not implying that the same people have made both arguments, just pointing this out generically)

 

[Ulrich]

I think this has been a pretty circular discussion if you look back over the last couple of years. As attendance started slipping a bit more into year 3, the narrative was that the big names don't matter (Villa and Pirlo still there), but NYC will only get behind a winning team.

Now that we are second in the league and first in the East, that narrative has shifted to big names draw attendance.

And the whole time, getting a SSS has been sprinkled throughout.

(I'm not implying that the same people have made both arguments, just pointing this out generically)

Fair. But year 3 was when everybody realized that Pirlo’s abilities were completely deficient and costing the team points; Villa’s name and production were very likely solely responsible for keeping attendance where it was at.

Personally, I think the two - name and winning - are symbiotic and obviously the lack of a SSS has worn down the masses. We’ve yet to have name players at the same time as a solidly winning team, and likely the effect of which wouldn’t be seen until the year following since NYCFC enforces STH signup 6 months early, so there will be a lag in any bump seen.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Fair. But year 3 was when everybody realized that Pirlo’s abilities were completely deficient and costing the team points; Villa’s name and production were very likely solely responsible for keeping attendance where it was at.

Personally, I think the two - name and winning - are symbiotic and obviously the lack of a SSS has worn down the masses. We’ve yet to have name players at the same time as a solidly winning team, and likely the effect of which wouldn’t be seen until the year following since NYCFC enforces STH signup 6 months early, so there will be a lag in any bump seen.

That's fair.

I think all three things (1. winning 2. big name 3. SSS) result in attendance bumps, but nothing incredibly significant. Where the SSS would help the most, is by getting rid of extra empty seats and boosting the environment inside the stadium. But I don't think it results in quite the attendance bump as some do.

The one caveat to the above is unless a ridiculously large name were to come here as in Messi, or Neymar (or to compare to other players in this league, Zlatan and maybe Rooney) and not just a big name within the soccer community that may not translate to more than that (e.g. Cavani or the rumored Mertens). If a Messi or Neymar were to come, then yes, a very large boost in attendance would occur I'm sure.

 

[mgarbowski]

I think this has been a pretty circular discussion if you look back over the last couple of years. As attendance started slipping a bit more into year 3, the narrative was that the big names don't matter (Villa and Pirlo still there), but NYC will only get behind a winning team.

Now that we are second in the league and first in the East, that narrative has shifted to big names draw attendance.

And the whole time, getting a SSS has been sprinkled throughout.

(I'm not implying that the same people have made both arguments, just pointing this out generically)

Excellent summary.
It's also still possible that winning is still a bigger factor than star value. We certainly do not yet have data that suggests an opposite conclusion. NYCFC hasn't won anything, so it's no surprise attendance has not recovered. Last year ended in disastrous fashion and this year started the same. Then the team recovered, but was essentially on track to finish with similar point totals as the last 3 years until quite recently. All the team has done to date this year that is new is win a couple of USOC games and avoid the late season swoon they had in 2017 and 2018. The team didn't climb into first place until a week ago, and until winning 19 of the last 21 points starting 5.5 months into the season, and immediately following a disappointing stretch of getting just 9 points out of 21 plus losing a USOC game to Orlando. Lots of people here who are STHs are only now coming to believe this year might be different. I don't think you can say the public is failing to respond to a winning team because in the first weekend game after reaching first place we didn't get 25k at noon-30 against San Jose, or even based on a midweek game coming up against Atlanta.

 

[gbservis]

Anecdotally I can say that it was way easier to give my tickets away to non-MLS soccer fans or even people that follow almost no soccer when I had an answer to the first question most of them ask: Anyone on the team that I've heard of? David Villa, he played on the Spanish national team and on Barcelona with Messi resulted in more takers than no one you've heard of but the team is really good, fun to watch and is first in the east.

I have no idea how that translates to attendance as it's hard to say how many new fans would be enticed each week with a star but it's an awkward sell now to get people interested without a star selling point. My tickets for the DCU game got stanched up the moment I mentioned Rooney.

 

[Marito]

Excellent summary.
It's also still possible that winning is still a bigger factor than star value. We certainly do not yet have data that suggests an opposite conclusion. NYCFC hasn't won anything, so it's no surprise attendance has not recovered. Last year ended in disastrous fashion and this year started the same. Then the team recovered, but was essentially on track to finish with similar point totals as the last 3 years until quite recently. All the team has done to date this year that is new is win a couple of USOC games and avoid the late season swoon they had in 2017 and 2018. The team didn't climb into first place until a week ago, and until winning 19 of the last 21 points starting 5.5 months into the season, and immediately following a disappointing stretch of getting just 9 points out of 21 plus losing a USOC game to Orlando. Lots of people here who are STHs are only now coming to believe this year might be different. I don't think you can say the public is failing to respond to a winning team because in the first weekend game after reaching first place we didn't get 25k at noon-30 against San Jose, or even based on a midweek game coming up against Atlanta.

Then again ORL fans continue to go to the stadium and cheer their team, which is both bad and cursed. RBNJ won 2 Supporter's Shields and even then didn't have great attendance. Hey, fans even go in troves to see Cincy!