10 things on NYCFC

While there’s life, there’s hope. The Montreal Impact is still alive and will look for three points as New York City FC visits, this Wednesday at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, TSN, 985sports.ca, CJAD 800 – TICKETS). Here are 10 things on one of the many clubs owned by City Football Group.
Context
NYCFC is in a kind of purgatory at the moment. Second in MLS – and in the Eastern Conference – 10 points away from Toronto FC, the Supporters’ Shield is out of reach, but the playoffs are a given. Remains to be seen if the team can stay in second position, but the knockout round bye is not always a good thing to get, as we saw last year in the East… The New Yorkers have slowed down a bit recently, with only one win in five games, but David Villa, who suffered an injury while away with the Spain national team for his first call-up since the 2014 World Cup, is back, and it will be a welcome sight for the Citizens.
Current form
D-D-L-W-D-W
Head coach
Patrick Vieira (30-18-6 all-time as NYCFC head coach in MLS) 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 (19)
Players to watch
1. Maxi Morález (#10) – The diminutive Argentinean midfielder (160 centimetres) scored with a header this weekend! He is one to mark closely, as his passing abilities are lethal.
2. Jack Harrison (#11) – The 20-year-old is already a starter on the right flank. He likes to dribble and create space for Villa.
3. Alexander Ring (#8) – While Pirlo spreads the ball from deeper in midfield, Ring offers a physical presence and a bit of balance between Pirlo and Morález.
Team profile
Obviously, when you have a player of David Villa’s caliber in your squad, you use his strengths as much as possible. If the wings are very often used to launch crosses, on the ground or in the air, in the box, NYCFC also likes intricate play in the middle, combining quickly between the Citizens’ attacking, technical players. The team also likes to attack in numbers, with central midfielders who go up all the way to the box and with full-backs who move in the flanks in the last third. It leaves the defense vulnerable to counterattacks and if the ball is lost in the midfield.
In 2017:

*Source for all data is Opta
Tactical formation
Patrick Vieira likes to experiment with his lineup, but looks to have chosen a 4-2-3-1. Lineup against Houston Dynamo (September 23): Johnson; Sweat, Callens, Brillant, Struna; Ring, Pirlo; McNamara, Morález, Harrison; Villa.
Most recent game against the Impact
The latest visit to Yankee Stadium, this past March, once again allowed the Bleu-blanc-noir to bring back a point from the Big Apple, once again thanks to a goal by Dominic Oduro.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of September 26)
D Maxime Chanot (groin)
M Yangel Herrera (groin)
M Miguel Camargo (hip)
M Alex Ring (toe – day-to-day)
Upcoming games
Chicago Fire v New York City FC (MLS, September 30)
New England Revolution v New York City FC (MLS, October 15)
New York City FC v Columbus Crew SC (MLS, October 22)