The Impact is playing its first midweek game of the season, this Wednesday at 7pm EDT, at Yankee Stadium against New York City FC (RDS & TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 6pm]). Here are 10 things to know about NYCFC.
Context
It’s been a rough start to this season for NYCFC (1-3-3, 6 pts). The opener, a 4-3 win at Chicago, was promising. New York hasn’t won since then. City has just suffered a second straight loss – their third in five games – against Philadelphia Union. Chris Pontius and C.J. Sapong both scored in the first half as the Union beat NYCFC, who are stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Current form
D-L-D-D-L-L
Head coach
Patrick Vieira (1-3-3 all-time as NYCFC) was appointed NYCFC head coach on November 9, 2015. A world champion with France in 1998, Vieira is best known for his stint at Arsenal from 1996 to 2005. After stops at Juventus, Inter Milan and Manchester City, he accepted an administrative position with the Citizens upon retiring, in 2011. In May 2013, Vieira became head coach of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, which plays in the U21 Premier League in England.
Current top scorer
David Villa (4)
Players to watch
1. Andrea Pirlo (#21) – “I think therefore I play,” says the cover of his autobiography. You know he does. Pirlo isn’t a physical specimen by any stretch of the imagination, but very few footballers play with such intelligence. Whether he plays remains to be seen.
2. Ronald Matarrita (#22) – A former teammate of Johan Venegas’ at Alajuelense, Matarrita has tackled more than anyone this season in MLS, according to WhoScored. He’s enthusiastic, all right. Sometimes overly so.
3. Thomas McNamara (#15) – One of Patrick Vieira’s darlings. Is he a creator? An outlet? A workhorse? No. He’s, quite simply, Tommy Mac.
Team profile
The New Yorkers haven’t been getting the results, but at least they’re playing. Patrick Vieira wants a proactive team, a patient group that plays in the opposition’s half. The field dimensions at Yankee Stadium, 101x64 metres, fit that mentality. In front of their own goal, ‘keeper Josh Saunders often plays the ball out to his defenders to start an attacking phase. Side backs get forward, create overloads and draw opponents in, giving a midfielder like Pirlo an opportunity to switch the point of attack quickly and destabilize the opposition backline. Up front, David Villa occupies defenders, which opens space for the likes of Shelton, McNamara and Poku. Still, Villa shoots a lot, and he brings a great deal of variety to his game; he’s dangerous between the lines, but he also troubles backlines with his runs in the channels. Upon losing the ball, NYCFC relish the duels and want to win the ball back as close as possible to goal. But their approach makes them vulnerable to counterattacks, and their defensive block can be all over the place. Matarrita’s runs forward leave wide pockets of space to be exploited, and in the centre, hold-up play like Sapong’s for example, has led to fine chances.
Tactical formation
3-5-1-1. 3-4-3. 4-2-3-1. 4-1-4-1. Patrick Vieira does not shy away from experiments. Lineup v. Philadelphia Union (April 23): Saunders; Iraola, Brillant, Hernandez, Matarrita; Lopez, Bravo, Poku; Shelton, Villa, Mendoza.
Against the Impact last season
David Villa’s first meetings with the Impact were kind to him. Villa first scored a goal and assisted another on June 13, 2015, in a 3-1 New York win at Yankee Stadium. Villa then came to Montreal and made no friends, on July 4, as he scored a brace to down the Impact, 2-1, at Stade Saputo. Villa notched a goal and an assist again on August 1, in New York, but this time around, Montreal got the upper hand, winning 3-2 thanks to a quick (obviously) goal by Dominic Oduro and two more by Ignacio Piatti.
Injuries (as of April 25)
D/M Connor Brandt (core muscle repair)
D Ethan White (hamstring strain)
M Jack Harrison (hip injury)
M Frank Lampard (left gastrocnemius inflammation)
Next games
NYCFC v Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS, April 30)
D.C. United v NYCFC (MLS, May 8)
Portland Timbers v NYCFC (MLS, May 15)
