The home stretch ends on a positive note for New York City FC. Two consecutive wins against Orlando City and Montreal gave the team a breather after tough defeats on the road. The team continues to push for the top spots in the conference, but having games on the road can challenge that quest. However, these last two games might have set the tone for expectations ahead of the team’s road trip before the All-Star Game.
Changes to consider ahead of the away stretch
The performances of certain players over these last two games could be forcing the manager to reconsider some options ahead of their upcoming fixtures. One name in particular could be Andres Perea. The midfielder gave the team a more offensive look despite only being on the field for the last 20 minutes against Orlando. Yes, Keaton Parks provides both defensive advantages and a more controlled transition in midfield. But Perea has that added burst in speed and can be used as that extra piece in attack whenever is needed.
It can be considered old news but the striker position continues to be a topic of discussion. Mounsef Bakrar has the manager’s trust, but the player’s confidence is not there with every missed opportunity he takes part in. His rotation could suggest him to come from the bench. He was the hero against Orlando City after scoring in the last minute of the match to stop a comeback from the visitors. While the sacrifice and support he provides in other areas of the field are needed, his contributions to the attacking third are not panning out as expected.
This is where Alonso Martinez has made a case for himself. After his double against Montreal, he already has 7 goals this season. The manager can’t keep him on the bench for much longer, both the numbers and in-game impact support Martinez. Hopefully, the manager will give him a few games to continue his scoring contributions to the team. This of course doesn’t take into account the fact that Talles Magno is still on the team despite not featuring for a while.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news in terms of changes. Malachi Jones was having a breakout moment with the team. His speed and ability to contribute to the attack were making him a headache for the opposition. Ironically it was due to his nature to push forward that caused him to suffer a bad injury. A clash with the Orlando City goalkeeper sent him to the hospital and will probably cut his season short. Luckily his spot will be covered by Kevin O’Toole, who is as talented as Jones. Hopefully, Malachi will come back stronger from this significant setback.
The team now heads into a 4 game stretch on the road. It’s a tough task given the results on their most recent results away from home. But if the suggested rotations work, the team will continue picking up points ahead of the playoff push down the road. New York City will face a new conference rival on Saturday as they visit Austin F.C. Im sure the ‘Boys in Blue’ will be looking to have the first win for the record books. New Yor City won’t come back home until late July when the Leagues Cup Kicks off.