2023 MLS Season Previews: New York City FC

This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.  

What New York City FC did last year

NYCFC looked like they might be set to win a second-straight MLS Cup last year. Then they lost star forward Taty Castellanos and manager Ronny Deila in the span of about two weeks, went into a tailspin, then somehow recovered in time to make a legitimate push toward a second-straight title at the end of the season. They didn’t quite get there. It was kind of a weird one.

Key additions

Goalkeeper Matt Freese (trade from Philadelphia), defender Mitja Ilenič (transfer from NK Domžale), forward Matias Pellegrini (from waivers)

Key departures

Defender Alexander Callens (contract expired, moved to Girona), forward Héber (trade to Seattle Sounders), goalkeeper Sean Johnson (contract expired), midfielder Maxi Moralez (transfer to Racing Club), midfielder Santi Rodriguez (loan expired), defender Anton Tinnerholm (free to Malmo FF)

Making the case for New York City FC

It would be way, way easier to make this case if we had any idea at all what this starting lineup looked like. It’s generally safe to assume that NYCFC Will figure it out and be near the top of the East by the end of the season. They’ve been the most successful non-Philadelphia team in the conference over the last five years. 

But this is a brave new world for the Pigeons. Maxi Moralez is gone. Sean Johnson is gone. Alexander Callens is gone. Anton Tinerholm is gone. Santi Rodriguez is gone. Heber is gone. An assorted cast of other MLS Cup winners is gone. There are question marks all across the board, especially if you’re still not sold on winger Talles Magno as a striker and manager Nick Cushing as a manager. Both are fair things to be wary of putting stock into. 

However, this is NYCFC and they’ve done similar things before. Not quite to this extent, but we’ve spent time waiting for key signings to arrive beyond opening day before.Thanks to the resources of City Football Group (who might be a little bit distracted right now to be fair), they’re generally able to find quality players at any time. They still need to add a few pieces, but it’s a safe bet that they’ll get that done. At that point, they’re just building on a relatively solid foundation that includes a dynamic and young front three, and a midfield led by the perpetually underrated Keaton Parks.

Players to watch

We mentioned Magno before, but he might be the key to everything. If they really are hell bent on transitioning him from winger to striker, his ability to acclimate may determine whether or not NYCFC can find the net consistently this season. It didn’t work out all that great last year when they tried it. And it’s fair to wonder if Taty Castellanos’ success making the same move has poisoined their thinking here. 

Elsewhere though, winger Gabriel Pereira is a stud, and winger Thiago Andrade has shown flashes of elite talent. No one is doubting the ability of NYCFC’s front three this year. They are doubting their ability to put it all together.

A nerdy tidbit

Per Eliot McKinley, NYCFC has the smallest amount of returning production this season. Just 53.2% of last year’s minutes remain on the roster.

A fun tidbit

NYCFC fans can buy a whole entire bucket of chicken fingers and fries at matches. It looks amazing. It’s at least good enough that fans will chant “CHI-CKEN BU-CKET” at games. There's even an offshoot fan group called Chicken Bucket FC. 

All hail the chicken bucket.

Projected finish

12th in the East

If we had any information at all about all the signings they’re probably going to make in the very near future, it would be easy to project NYCFC as a playoff team. As of now, there are just too many unknowns to confidently predict much of anything. Until then, they’re going to be floating in prediction purgatory.