Photo by Adam Hunger/USA Today Sports
By MICHAEL PENG
On paper, the names on New York City FC’s roster glisten. On the pitch, however, they have yet to match the bright lights of the Big Apple.
It has been a couple of weeks since NYCFC was made available to all of its players, particularly the Designated Players in Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo, but the club’s performances on the field since then have yet to match the expectation with a roster of this caliber.
Lampard and Pirlo made their first starts together a little over a week ago but were given a rude welcomes by the rival New York Red Bulls. The cohesion and chemistry was clearly lacking at some points during the contest, but that was expected for a couple of players that had just joined the team.
Throw in the fact that Lampard has been dealing with a couple nagging leg injuries for the better part of the past month while Pirlo remains in early-season form, certain mistakes can be chalked up. But with the season heading into the stretch run, everyone on NYCFC — not only Lampard and Pirlo — need to find a way to gel better if they want to reach the playoffs. And it’s up to head coach Jason Kreis to figure out how he can maximize the tools at his disposal.
The first and foremost concern has been the defense, which has struggled all season long despite the numerous changes it has gone through. Kreis has thrown out more than a dozen different backlines this season and seems yet to decide on the one constant. However, few players have shown they are capable of playing top-notch defense at times, and it could just be a matter of playing guys where they thrive on the most.
The centerbacks have featured a couple of regulars in Shay Facey and Jason Hernandez, both of whom have performed adequately on the season, and certainly better than the alternatives in Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Jefferson Mena. However, things get a little fickle when it comes to the fullbacks.
On the left side, Angelino has fared well during his short stint thus far, but one has to wonder what would happen once the injured Chris Wingert — who had been a staple on the backline for Kreis this season — returns in a few weeks.
Angelino brings an attacking mindset with his abilities to run and distribute the ball, but he tends to play up the pitch a bit too often at times and that may not be what NYCFC exactly needs at the moment given the team’s struggles defensively throughout the season.
Longtime La Liga veteran Andoni Iraola has been solid on the right side since he joined the club in July, but R.J. Allen has been making the most out of the opportunities given to him and, after another solid performance against D.C. United last week, could be pushing for more minutes if he keeps up.
Chances are Kreis will stick with his fullbacks for the meantime while giving Wingert the starting job back once he’s healthy. Angelino could be kept on the bench until NYCFC needs to press and attack more and Iraola should also hold onto his position until Allen proves he is clearly the better option on the right side.
As for the crowded midfield, Kreis has plenty to work with, but with few matching positions for his players.
If Kreis sticks with the 4-5-1 formation, then Pirlo is certain to be sitting in the holding position, while Mix Diskerud will be (and has been) played out of his natural position.
Diskerud has been tested out on the wings a bit as of late but with little success, and a speedier and more physical player may be better suited for that position. Cue the chants for the fan-favorite Kwadwo Poku?
Poku had a sensational game against D.C. and upped his season total of assists to a team-leading seven during the contest, despite making just four starts. His physical prowess and tenacity is often too much for defenders to handle, especially when working with the creativity of David Villa, and leaving him as a super sub does not do the team too many favors. A Poku in a slightly more advanced role, either centrally or on the wings, could cause matchup nightmares for opposing teams.
As for Diskerud, moving him next to Pirlo would be a potential scenario, given both players’ tendencies to spray passes over the pitch and to control the tempo of the match with their possession of the ball. Andrew Jacobson currently claims that spot next to Pirlo, as he has throughout the season with regular first-team minutes, but his impact is very limited to his defensive responsibilities.
However, if Kreis does opt to move forward with Jacobson on the bench, NYCFC could have major issues defensively. Having already been plagued by plenty of defensive blunders, removing the Jacobson safety blanket may prove suicidal as neither Pirlo nor Diskerud provide enough defensive cover.
One player who has made a huge impact this season, however, is Tommy McNamara. Coming off an ACL injury, McNamara has been more than just a pleasant surprise for NYCFC as he notched five goals and three assists for his homestate club, affirming a consistent spot in the starting lineup after having to earn his minutes early in the season.
That leaves Kreis with a potential option of playing an attack-minded midfield three of Poku, McNamara and Lampard behind Villa, while Pirlo and Diskerud lie deep. Or, if defensive issues persist, Jacobson could keep his spot next to the Italian, while leaving Diskerud to battle for a place higher up the field.
If this crowded midfield can be sorted out and the backline can find some consistency, then NYCFC should have an easier time winning close games, rather than having Villa bail them out in goal barrages.
The talents on this team can be overwhelming, but that won’t mean a thing until they can prove it on the pitch.
Here’s a closer look at potential lineups for NYCFC going forward:
Villa
McNamara —— Lampard —— Poku
Diskerud —— Pirlo
Angelino — Facey — Hernandez — Iraola
Saunders
—
Villa
Diskerud —— Lampard —— Poku
Jacobson —— Pirlo
Angelino — Facey — Hernandez — Iraola
Saunders
Which players do you believe make up the ideal NYCFC lineup? What do you expect Kreis to go with going forward? Which players deserve more time on the field?
Share your thoughts below.