NYCFC Firesale, Cosmos Dumpster Fire, and a Fired-Up JJ Devaney / Ep 98 / Blue City Radio

Episode 98:

NYCFC announced the departure of six players from the club bringing the 2016 post-season number to nine.  Two of the players were NYCFC originals, Tony Taylor and Jason Hernandez.  Mike and Jon discuss the roster moves and look ahead at a younger team in 2017.

In the middle segment, JJ Devaney from the ESPN Podcast, Caught Offside, joins the show.  Together the guys talk about MLS Cup Playoffs, NYCFC, USMNT and the pending demise of the NASL and NY Cosmos.

NYCFC Gets Younger, Jurgen Departs, MLS Playoffs Return / Ep 97 / Blue City Radio

Episode 97:

NYCFC has lost three players already this offseason.  Andoni Iraola and Mehdi Ballouchy announced their retirement from professional soccer.  Mike and Jon discuss the implications of the turnover.

In the second segment, the guys talk about the news of the week as Thomas Rongen from BEIN Sports calls in to talk about US Soccer firing Jurgen Klinsmann.

The show wraps with a conversation about the MLS Conference Finals that started with the firs legs last night.

LEXIT, NYCFC Effect and USAvMEX / Ep 96 / Blue City Radio

Episode 96:

This week’s episode kicks off with a look at the legacy of Frank Lampard as he announces his departure from NYCFC.  Season Ticket Holder and Third Rail member Tony Larsen joins the show to discuss that topic but also two NYCFC-ish events in NY from last week.  First was a fundraiser for the South Bronx United with Jack Harrison and Jimmy Conrad.  The second was a Third Rail end of season event with honorees David Villa, Andoni Iraola and guests Patrick Vieira and RJ Allen.

After the break Andy Maycraft (sorry Leah was busy insulting Mike Francessa on her own vblog) from A View from 226 joins us to discuss USAvMEX from Columbus.

The show closes with a little deeper dive into the shortlist of players fans have been throwing out as replacements for the departing DP.

History In the Making, and a Work In Progress / Ep 95 / Blue City Radio

Episode 95

Part of NYCFC’s identity is quickly becoming, when the expectations are at their highest, the team’s performance is their lowest.  Once again, the supporters were ready for a great fight from NYCFC and the team well flat.

Mike and Jon discuss the impact of the game from Sunday and start the task of looking ahead to the 2017 season.

In the second segment Matt Reed from NBC Sports and Pro Soccer Talk comes in to discuss the MLS Cup Playoffs and NYCFC’s season and historic first-ever playoff run.  We close out the show looking ahead at USAvMEX.

Not the NYCFC Way / Ep 94 / Blue City Radio

Episode 94:

Patrick Vieira seemed to have lost faith in NYCFC’s ability to score.  The coach who constantly said, “Our style is to create more chances than we concede” put a defensive lineup on the first ever playoff game in NYCFC history, and they lost, creating zero big chances in the process.

We flip the show around today in honor of Vieira’s folly, and also because we forgot to record a segment on Monday, but hey, it works.

In the second segment Mike is joined by Dan Riccio from TFC Pitchside to get the perspective of the Toronto media and their outlook on Sunday’s second leg game.

The third segment is a great talk with announcer Tom Kolker from WFAN who tells the guys his highs and lows of the game from Toronto.

NYCFC still have a chance, they’ve delivered in the past, the big question going into the game, will Vieira set them up for success or failure.