Behind Enemy Lines: Hudson River Blue Preview of Rapids at NYCFC

BRONX, NY.- Saturday night sees Colorado Rapids play their first non-conference game of this MLS season. They head to Yankees Stadium to play New York City FC. This should be Colorado’s final league game ever at a baseball stadium. The Pidgeons are unbeaten so far this year. We reached out to Matthew Mangam from Hudson River Blue to get caught up on NYCFC. Check out their preview of the match here.

NYCFC have seven points from three games, but their opponents have all gotten a red card. Is this good start to the season benefiting from that or is this team a contender in the East?

It’s definitely a good start to the season for NYCFC. Without Alonso Martínez, the club hasn’t signed a true replacement, leaving Nico Fernández Mercau as the sole option up top. Although it hasn’t been the perfect solution, Fernández Mercau does have two goals this season, one coming from the penalty spot. 

I think the red cards were fair calls, but the only game in which it really helped NYCFC get the win was against Philadelphia. They couldn’t find the game winner against the LA Galaxy, and I strongly believe they would’ve beaten Orlando, red card or not. 

NYCFC could contend in the East; it’s just a matter of whether this team can consistently score goals without Martínez. 

The club lost Justin Haak in the offseason. How’s the defense doing with his departure? 

Conceding two goals in three games is not bad at all. NYCFC signed Kai Trewin, a defensive midfielder and center back from Melbourne City, as a replacement for Justin Haak. I’m already a big fan of Trewin, and I think he will live up to being a solid replacement for Haak.

Outside of Trewin, you can’t go wrong with NYCFC’s backline. Tayvon Gray is a solid right back, Thiago Martins is defending well, and Kevin O’Toole has improved season after season. Raul Gustavo looks a bit iffy at times, but I also think he will improve. And with Matt Freese in goal, I always have faith in NYCFC’s defense. 

Maxi Moralez has still got it, but from afar, it looks like Keaton Parks and Nicolás Fernández are running the show. What have they done well this season? 

Maxi Moralez had a great game against Orlando — two assists and a goal —, but he’s 39 years old, and his age is starting to catch up to him, sooner rather than later. That’s why the club ultimately signed Nico Fernández Mercau, NYCFC’s future No. 10. As I said earlier, he’s playing out of position because of Martínez’s injury, but he’s still heavily involved and dangerous. Fernández Mercau can create chances but also get in good positions to score, which he’s proving again through the first three games. 

Keaton Parks’ return is huge for NYCFC. The midfielder scored twice against Orlando but is also contributing defensively. He’s a key player for the team, whether it’s winning the ball back or starting an attack with a forward pass. 

It was this time two years ago that Matt Freese had that great start and got into the national team picture. What’s he gotten better at since the last time these two teams played? Do you think Matty Ice beats out Matt Turner for the starting spot at the World Cup? What can Rafael Navarro expect?

No bias aside, I can confidently say that Matt Freese will beat out Matt Turner for the starting spot at the World Cup. Freese is such a good shot stopper and has great reflexes. The only thing I think he needs to continue improving is his distribution out of the back. There have been times when Freese’s passes were poor and either led to a goal or almost did. 

But overall, Freese is one of the best goalkeepers in MLS and is extremely consistent. I believe he’s already done enough to win the starting spot over Turner. 

Second season under Pascal Jansen. Presumably, he’s more familiar with the league. What’s he doing tactically this season that intrigues you? 

You never know what you’re going to get with Pascal Jansen. Whether it’s his weird corner kick routines where NYCFC lines players up at the top of the box, or putting Kevin O’Toole in the midfield, Jansen always has a trick up his sleeve.

This season, he’s been switching Agustín Ojeda and Hannes Wolf on the wings. Ojeda may start on the left wing and switch to the right, and vice versa for Wolf. Jansen didn’t do it against Orlando, but I’m confident he will move the wingers multiple more times this season.

I do prefer Ojeda on the left and Wolf on the right, but Jansen likes to tweak their spots depending on their matchups with the opponent’s fullbacks. 

Last year at Yankees Stadium (FINALLY). How excited are supporters about Etihad Park? What’s everyone think of the new mascot Sky Scraper? 

Everyone is excited about Ethiad Park; it can’t come soon enough. The constant stadium update progress is building more anticipation as we get closer to the long-awaited completion. It’s kind of crazy to think that the stadium is nearly done, given how long NYCFC has played their home games in baseball stadiums. 

Sky Scraper is a fun mascot, and the fans loved Sky in the home opener. Sky’s design has grown on me, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the club adding a mascot. 

Lineup prediction? Score prediction?

I think NYCFC will go with the same lineup they did against Orlando. With NYCFC in good form, I think they win 2-1. 

Freese; Gray, Thiago Martins, Trewin, O’Toole; Parks, Moralez, O’Neill; Wolf, Fernández Mercau, Ojeda

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