Twitter Is Ablaze With Talk Of Frank Lampard, Too.

[Midas Mulligan]

Could you see a midfield 2 of Xavi and Frank existing without an enforcer? Their skill level will probably be ridiculous in MLS, but they don't have the legs they used to. That's my only worry about signing Lampard.

Glad you brought this up, as I've been thinking along those lines, as well, and I honestly can't think of a single MLS side that doesn't use an enforcer/destroyer. I believe a lot of guys are presuming Frank might play that role. Apparently, since it worked at another club, every attack minded or goal scoring b2b mf the world over can now just slide back to shield the defense.

I would personally have my doubts about that deployment.

It will also be interesting to see if Kreis utilizes much wide play, given our field dimensions and how he set up his prior squad. But that's another topic.

 

[TonyM]

Again, it's not about Mix vs Xavi or someone of that incredible talent. It's about an American who draws eyeballs.

If you asked 100 Americans who david Villa was, maybe 2 would know.

Ask them who Landon Donovan is and the other 98 know.

Isn't that what marketing is for?

 

[Aguero93:20]

Glad you brought this up, as I've been thinking along those lines, as well, and I honestly can't think of a single MLS side that doesn't use an enforcer/destroyer. I believe a lot of guys are presuming Frank might play that role. Apparently, since it worked at another club, every attack minded or goal scoring b2b mf the world over can now just slide back to shield the defense.

I would personally have my doubts about that deployment.

It will also be interesting to see if Kreis utilizes much wide play, given our field dimensions and how he set up his prior squad. But that's another topic.

Xavi is very solid defensively as he started out as a holding midfielder, Lampard can tackle too, but I don't think both of them together would be mobile enough.

 

[TonyM]

Nigel De Jong? Not a great "footballer" but someone who no doubt could be very popular amongst fans pretty quickly and would be very good in the dressing room. 29 and saw something about him making a big decision soon about his future.

Bit far fetched but you never know. I'd prefer a better technical player.

 

[kun]

Gary Medel? perhaps on a Julio Cesar style loan deal?

 

[Aguero93:20]

I think perhaps for the defensive midfield position they would be best off using a homegrown player, the american teams I've seen (national) have had some pretty terrier like holding mids and if Lampard and Xavi are both in midfield it's another position much like full back where the legs of youth would give you better balance than another holding player.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Nigel De Jong? Not a great "footballer" but someone who no doubt could be very popular amongst fans pretty quickly and would be very good in the dressing room. 29 and saw something about him making a big decision soon about his future.

Bit far fetched but you never know. I'd prefer a better technical player.

I'm guessing you aren't American, right? People here are well aware of that guy, and he is loathed by everyone who follows our national team for being the guy who essentially crippled Stu Holden for life, breaking his leg with one of the ugliest tackles you could imagine.

Beyond that, yes, I too would prefer someone more technical. Too bad Stu Holden is injured all the time...he'd be perfect.

 

[Andy]

Lampards name popped up during an interview with Mark Schwarzer..

"Well, all I can say is that he did ask me about Melbourne Heart."
"So he did ask me a couple of weeks ago, what Melbourne was like, and what Melbourne Heart was like.
"I spoke very highly of Melbourne, I actually love Melbourne a lot, it's a great city.
"I said to him how passionate the Victorians were, with particularly their sport, and there is huge potential for the game in Australia, and it would be unbelievable if he went to Australia, and I said to him he would love living there. It's a great place to live.
"He walked away with that, and I know what he's like, we have the same agent. So, you know, we'll see. Watch this space. I wouldn't be surprised if you saw him in the A-League at some stage."

 

[TonyM]

I'm guessing you aren't American, right? People here are well aware of that guy, and he is loathed by everyone who follows our national team for being the guy who essentially crippled Stu Holden for life, breaking his leg with one of the ugliest tackles you could imagine.

Beyond that, yes, I too would prefer someone more technical. Too bad Stu Holden is injured all the time...he'd be perfect.

You are right I'm Irish. I didn't know about the Holden tackle. Typically DeJong is very tough in a tackle but rarely dirty - a few tackles have looked awful though like the one against Alonso in the WC final. A dirty player imo is someone like Clint Dempsey who never fails to elbow someone in a game.

Anyhoot I think we agree that the final DP should be someone more technical.

 

[horky]

just for info Lampard is reported on BBC as "seriously considering NYCFC as an option" just saying......

 

[Kjbert]

Isn't that what marketing is for?

Marketing to whom, though?

The casual American fan is going to watch the US games and just the US games. If Mix or Fabian Johnson or ArJo score a goal, they become American heroes. Xavi could score 17 goals with his nutsack and Joey Bagodonuts from the Bronx could care less.

 

[TonyM]

Marketing to whom, though?

The casual American fan is going to watch the US games and just the US games. If Mix or Fabian Johnson or ArJo score a goal, they become American heroes. Xavi could score 17 goals with his nutsack and Joey Bagodonuts from the Bronx could care less.

I think you are under estimating the power of marketing, the power of winning with style and the intelligence of the soccer followers of NY.

I think think NYC can do a lot better than just signing players for promoting themselves. Xavi and Villa (both former Barcelona players and World Cup winners) knocking them in would be far more beneficial for NY in the long term than an American national team player who might draw some initial attention then fade away as he's found out. CTG want NYC to play fantastic football and win. They will do it too.

It'll be interesting for that matter to watch the expectations increase as CTG strengthens the club. It happened with us. ADUG = Miracle Gro

Ps if this Mix dude turns in a good WC I'll hold my hands up but I'd be surprised if he was anything more than above average.

 

[BxLio91]

The reason someone like Mix would be great in NYC is the same reason epl teams overpay for english talent

 

[SebastianBlue]

I think you are under estimating the power of marketing, the power of winning with style and the intelligence of the soccer followers of NY.

I think think NYC can do a lot better than just signing players for promoting themselves. Xavi and Villa (both former Barcelona players and World Cup winners) knocking them in would be far more beneficial for NY in the long term than an American national team player who might draw some initial attention then fade away as he's found out. CTG want NYC to play fantastic football and win. They will do it too.

It'll be interesting for that matter to watch the expectations increase as CTG strengthens the club. It happened with us. ADUG = Miracle Gro

Ps if this Mix dude turns in a good WC I'll hold my hands up but I'd be surprised if he was anything more than above average.

I have to agree with the above, however, I do think other posters are correct when asserting that an American marquee would be very helpful. I've just been advocating for someone with likability and talent. As I have said before, my experience in the states (and NYC), is that mediocrity is not tolerated for long, even if the player is charismatic (Mark Sanchez, anyone?).

The same reason someone like Mix would be great in NYC is the same reason epl teams overpay for english talent

Fair point, however, our worry is that he would end up an Andy Carroll, not a Gary Cahill.

 

[BxLio91]

Fair point

 

[Kjbert]

I think you are under estimating the power of marketing, the power of winning with style and the intelligence of the soccer followers of NY.

I think think NYC can do a lot better than just signing players for promoting themselves. Xavi and Villa (both former Barcelona players and World Cup winners) knocking them in would be far more beneficial for NY in the long term than an American national team player who might draw some initial attention then fade away as he's found out. CTG want NYC to play fantastic football and win. They will do it too.

It'll be interesting for that matter to watch the expectations increase as CTG strengthens the club. It happened with us. ADUG = Miracle Gro

Ps if this Mix dude turns in a good WC I'll hold my hands up but I'd be surprised if he was anything more than above average.

And I think you are over estimating the number of soccer fans in New York City. The market has to be groomed. Say what you want about NYRB - they have a decent product with a decent star - they average 15k fans a night in a brand new stadium. It's easily accessible from New Jersey and Lower Manhattan.

Their most famous American player is??? Bobby Convey?

Soccer isn't what it is around the world here in the US. It's a sport for hipsters and white men with extra cash in their pocket. What is going to draw the average American is different than what will draw guys like you and me.

For Joey Bagodonuts, there's no difference between Mix and Xavi. We're not talking a transcendent talent like Messi or Cristiano Rinaldo.

 

[Aguero93:20]

The reason someone like Mix would be great in NYC is the same reason epl teams overpay for english talent

That and filling the necessary quota of homegrown players

 

[TonyM]

The reason someone like Mix would be great in NYC is the same reason epl teams overpay for english talent

In England though English players are at premium because of stupid UEFA development rules. Everyone knows they're are few English players that are better than what you can pickup from outside of England....everyone except the media and FA.

 

[Kjbert]

Question for the board - how many DIFFERENT UNIQUE whatever you want to call it fans will walk through the turnstyles for NYCFC's 17 home games next year? Let's say we average 20k a game for the season, totaling 340k in paid attendance throughout the year. Out of those 340k tickets, how many will be different people? 50k? 100k?

 

[Across the Pond]

I can't see us signing Mix and Xavi. As you'd presume it'd be set up with a 3 man midfield, Lampard and Xavi with Mix just ahead of them. As others have said i don't think the two behind Mix would have the legs to deal with the pace and power of the MLS.

For a destroyer, isn't that Alonso (the Puerto Rican/US guy) from the Sounders that type of player? Would he be worth getting?