(Editorial) – It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Last year New York City Football Club stumbled through the opening campaign and missed the MLS playoffs. It was exciting that NYCFC had a new team playing in New York City, but they never found their footing and missed the postseason. This year the team seems almost assured a MLS playoff spot and now are fighting for first place in the East. What a difference a year makes.
A Tale of two Cities: New York City Football Club’s MLS Playoff Hopes
Winning at Home
With back to back home wins over the Colorado Rapids and The Los Angeles Galaxy NYCFC made a statement that it could not only consistently win at home but beat the top teams in the west at home as well. Patrick Vieira has the team playing with a purpose and a philosophy of play that is refreshing after last year’s failed diamond formation. Vieira has stuck to his program of playing out of the back and now the team seems to be reaping the rewards of that style of play. NYCFC is the only team in the MLS with a winning record at home and away this season
Unsung Hero: Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola has been something of a revelation for NYCFC since moving from right back to the defensive midfield role. Saturday he completed (92% of his passes and was almost perfect on defense. He has had just as big of an impact on the midfield as the flashier inclusions of Andrea Pirlo, Jack Harrison and Frank Lampard. Iraola provides a good touch and a strong sense of defensive awareness to the center of the pitch. His work supports Pirlo perfectly and allows for Lampard to play a more advanced role. Not enough praise has been given to Iraola for his work this season. That is starting to change, however.
Super Frank
Frank Lampard was booed when he came on the pitch earlier this year. You have to wonder how those fans must feel right now as Lampard has scored 9 goals in 11 games since returning from injury. Maybe the booing sparked him to renew his efforts to please the fickle NYC fans but either way, Lampard has found his again and is proving vital to the team. He gives NYCFC a second scoring option besides David Villa. Villa an Lampard have combined for almost all of NYCFC’s goals of late. If Pirlo, Harrison and Macnamara can start scoring as well as providing assists to Lampard and Villa, NYCFC will be formidable indeed.
Defensive resurgence
NYCFC also finally have a defense it seems. Maxime Chanot could not play on Saturday because of a red card given after the Columbus Crew game, but that was no problem. Jefferson Mena played very well in a support role, stepping in and never missing a step from when he was starting regularly. RJ Allen and Ronald Matarrita have each missed time in the last two games but Jason Hernandez has filled in nicely. NYCFC shut out a very high priced Galaxy offense. Viera seems to have found a defense that can work even if it is missing one or two elements in certain games. The team seems set for the playoffs when the starting back four can all finally play together.
All in all, NYCFC seems vastly more impressive than where they were at this time last year. The schedule only gets more interesting when NYCFC travel to see their old coach, Jason Kreis, and his revived Orlando City next Sunday. With all the improvements Viera has made, Kreis may not even recognise his former team at all.
