After taking all nine points in a brutal three game week at home, then taking 12 days off to rest and heal, New York City Football club are back on the road to play games in Orlando and in Seattle with only two days in between. Welcome to the crazy MLS schedule, Dome Torrent, where nothing really makes as much sense as it should.
NYCFC hope to keep the pressure on Easter Conference leaders, Atlanta United, by taking some points in each of the games this week if not all. City currently sits four points behind ATL and has two games in hand. A win and a draw on the road is all they need to keep pace.
Those points will be hard won, however, as a retooled and reshaped Orlando side hosts NYCFC on Thursday evening. NYCFC dominated the last meeting in June, winning three to zero but Orlando will be harder to play at home and with a new coach. James O’Conner has the team back in playing form and Dom Dyer is back from injury. Orlando will most likely be without the services of Justin Meram. Meram did not train with the team this week amid trade rumors. Like it or not Orlando always comes to play against NYCFC and Thursday will be no different. The heat, the atmosphere and fans in the new stadium will be something to be reckoned with.
Speaking of atmosphere, it does not get any easier for City as the pack up right after Orlando and fly to Seattle to face the sounders. Jet lag and tired legs will be a factor in this game. Seattle’s field is never an easy place to play and much of what happens Sunday will depend on the roster for Orlando.
Looking at the grueling week ahead and the players coming off injury, will Torrent simple send Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, David Villa and Jo Inge Berget on to Seattle or will he try to phase some of them back in the line up against Orlando? It is hard to imagine a scenario where at least one of them to not travel south for Thursday with the team. All three returned to practice this week and NYCFC can use a true striker again in some form. The team has done well especially with all the injuries to key players but what will happen now?
Torrent will most likely go back to the 4-4-3 line up he is so fond of for both games. Some combination of Villa, Shradi and Berget up top with the usual cast of characters backing them up. It will be interesting to see what happens to players like Jonathan Lewis, Ronald Matarrita and Jesus Medina. All three stepped up in one way or another the last few games and helped NYC weather the storm of injuries. All of City’s losses this year have come on the road but If the team returns to full health and those players keep up their recent pace then the road won’t matter. The future will look bright indeed.
