When New York City Football Club takes the pitch on Friday night it will most likely be without the services of their new Brazilian striker, Hebert, but questions remain about what other players will be ready for the match after the international break.
As of Wednesday, Alexandru Mitrita, Anton Tinnerholm, Alex Callens and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi were still returning from their international stints giving them just one day to prepare for the match Friday night. It is anyone’s guess as to what the starting eleven will be for NYCFC at this point. Toronto should be largely in tact with all their starters returning and the addition of Alejandro Pozuelo into the squad. Pozuelo may see his first start since joining the club and the game will be a real test for City on so many levels.
Can City win on the road. Last season NYCFC had a stellar record at home but played abysmally on the road. the team is hoping to correct that starting on Friday night. Will Dome Torrent’s style of play translate to a bigger pitch and give the team more chances to break down their opponents or will the club get stymied and look disordered like they did in Orlando in the season opener. City’s last outing verses LAFC was their most complete game to date. they looked in charge against a very potent team, but can they keep the momentum going and grow coming out of the international break. unbeaten Toronto will provide a huge test. In both their games this year the Canadian side as scored three goals and the addition of Pozuelo along with the return of Jozy Altidore will only strengthen their attacking prowess. Where they may be weakest though is being exposed on the defense as they have also yet to have a clean sheet. Can NYCFC’s pacey offense expose Torotno’s back line and keep them on their heels? We will see.
NYCFC need a win and one on the road will only grow their confidence in the new system. Winless and undefeated going into Friday’s match, NYCFC need more points in a very tight eastern conference race. It is still early in the season but points matter and they add up. After getting just three points from three games, NYCFC need to prove they are a team that not only can take the lead but keep the lead late in the game.
The omission of Tajouri-shradi from the team’s starting line up has many fans scratching their heads. Last year’s second leading goal scorer, behind only David Villa, has yet to see significant minutes this season. Torrent has said it is because of his work ethic in practice and injury concerns but the young winger played fifty four minutes for Libya last week so we know he is fit enough to start. His presence on the right wing would add a dynamic that has been missing from City’s performances so far and make them equally lethal from both sides of the attack. With his absence from practice do to international duty, will Torrent give him a chance on Friday or will he start Taty Castellanos or Jesus Medina instead?
There are more questions than answers leading into the match on Friday, but if City can improve on their last performance against LAFC and translate their home success to the road then it could be a good evening for the pigeons. If not, then it will be a long road home and only lead to more questions.
