The New York City Football club take their 2-2-1 record to the north east on Saturday to take on the first place New England Revolution in Foxboro. NYCFC’s match against Houston last weekend was lethargic at best, only mustering a single shot on net and not until into the 90th minute. As always, 5 question to ask as they take on the Revs. Let’s go:
5 QUESTIONS:
1) What can Richy Ledezma bring to the club after a full week in training with them? The touted Midfielder was acquired from Real Salt Lake via PSV in the Netherlands last week and saw time with his new club despite only joining them the day before. In the short time on the pitch against Houston given the circumstances I could see why the club has sought him for so long and I’m curious what a week will his new team will do to gel. Right now this team needs a bit of a jolt and he might help in that arena.
2) How will the return of Maxime Chanot (and Mitja Ilenic) affect the club? Chanot being called up for International Duty certainly changed the look last week in their match against the Dynamo. With Chanot back in the line and in the backfield it gives Nick Cushing the option of pushing James Sands back to the midfield which could assist the offense starved club that’s been shut out in 3 of 5 matches.
3) Can New York win there? Gillette Stadium hasn’t been friendly to the Gents in Blue, going 2-6-3 in Foxboro and having lost the last two up there. Overall the two teams are more evenly matched, with a 8-10-5 overall record, but expect this to be a low scoring defensive slugfest up there. 3 of New England’s 5 matches have ended with a defensive cleansheet (and 1 goal in another). The key for New York is to duplicate what LAFC did against the Revs on March 12, when they put 12 shots on goal and scored 4.
4) Is it Freese’s turn? Luis Barraza did make some stellar saves last week against Houston but a couple key turnovers as well resulting in near goals for the Dynamo. I’ve beaten a dead horse in this department but sometimes making a massive switch like this is more than just goaltending, it sends a message to the team as a whole. Additionally players feel the pain of a switch as feeling as though they failed Luis. Just speculation, but if the club loses again with weak offense, Nick Cushing might just make that move to shock the team.
5) Can the team replace Taty? This has been the big question since even before Golden Boot Winner Taty Castellanos departed for Spain. There’s been some concerns about Talles Magno up front if that’s going to be the long term solution or if he’s better suited on the wing. For now it seems like Brad Sims & David Lee are holding with what they have and continuing to work younger (much to the disappointment of the fanbase). In them we trust.
About the author – Scott Churchson has been an actor in every way for the past 13 years, from BG to stand in to stunts and principal, a sports writer for the past 4 and is one of the people that created Stream Punk Entertainment. He’s married to a veterinarian, has a cat with three working legs and is just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe.
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