Tag Archives: MLS

Is Nick Cushing’s NYCFC The Antithesis of Entertainment? / Ep 446 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 446:

New York City FC has been in a horrible scoring drought since the end of 2022. In 2023 the club average just over one goal per game and things are not looking better to start 2024 with the club in scoring in only half of their first six matches and only scoring more than a single goal only once this year.

The questions continue for the club. Both Sporting Director, David Lee, and Head Coach, Nick Cushing, have spoken highly of the new roster additions but many of the new players have yet to feature in matches. Cushing remains consistent in his approach of “form over freshness” by giving the same players minutes despite their lack of goals.

This week the guys take a look at the game from Miami, the questions about Nick Cushing’s tactics and look ahead at the next five home games for New York City FC.

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Def-Con 3 Points / Ep 445 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 445:

What can be said about New York City FC’s performance away in Cincinnati? The team was headed to the defending Supporter’s Shield winners from 2023 missing six players to international duty, one to suspension and two key attackers out because of injuries. The outlook was bleak from the beginning of the training week and despite all of the headwinds, the Boys In Blue conceded a loan goal to Luciano Acosta in the 57th minute.

This week Mike, J.R. and Mike Allen look at the current state of NYCFC through their first five games. The guys also look at the comparisons to Nick Cushing and Gregg Berhalter.

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A Step In the Process / Ep 444 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 444:

New York City FC took a step towards redemption on Saturday night in Yankee Stadium. Against a severely depleted Toronto FC, Nick Cushing lead the team to a 2-1 victory. This is the first victory for the team after conceding the first goal since 2022.

This week Mike Anderer and Mike Allen welcome John Baney (@thePigeonsNYCFC) to the show to go over the game’s highlights.

In the second segment Greg Irwin, the General Manager for NPSL club FC Motown, joins the show to discuss the upcoming US Open Cup match against New York City FC II.

There’s also quotes from Birk Risa, Nick Cushing, Matt Freese and Thiago Martins.

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New York City FC, 2026 MLS Champs? / Ep 443 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 443:

New York City FC played its home opener on Saturday in front of 24,000 freezing wet fans and conceded two goals after the 80th minute to lose to Portland 1-2, and that’s the good news.

The team came out blazing in the first 25 minutes and did well to control the rest of the first half despite a surge from the Timbers. It was when the second half started that all of the old habits of a young New York City FC came out and the team lost complete control of the match.

This week the guys look back at the home opener and all the woes it exposed. Both Mike Anderer and Mike Allen had the chance to also sit down with New York City FC CEO, Brad Sims, to discuss the play on the field, the roster construction and the plans and renderings for the stadium in Queens. There is plenty of audio from that exchange as well as post game comments from Nick Cushing, Keaton Parks, Hannes Wolf, Mounsef Bakrar, Andres Perea, Andres Jasson, Mitja Ilenic, Matt Freese and Tayvon Gray.

It’s long episode but one that we enjoyed recording so we hope you enjoy listening to.

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St. Louis Blues / Ep 442 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 442:

NYCFC travelled for the first time to St Louis. Nick Cushing knew the style of the club, the players knew what to expect from the opposition and still they looked woefully unprepared for the match. Credit where credit is due, St Louis are an excellent team, but NYCFC should not be man-handled the way they were.

This week Mike, JR and Mike Allen take a look back at the match and discuss the positives and the negatives of what they saw from the coach and the players.

In the second segment they share a conversation that Mike Anderer had at training with NYCFC draft-pick and rookie-signing, Malachi Jones.

Also stick around until the end of the show to learn how you can win a “Backer” level subscription to the newly updated Hudson River Blue.

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Is Help On the Way For NYCFC? / Ep 441 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 441:

For much of the offseason NYCFC fans and pundits were focused on the roster for NYCFC. Who was going to be signed to bulster the thin attack and replace the goals scored from the likes of Castellanos, Heber and Pereira? Well David Lee signed some attackers and while they all haven’t arrived and be able to put their mark on the field there is light at the end of the tunnel for the fans. But perhaps the one position on the team that needs the most help isn’t between the white lines, but just outside of them in the technical area. Nick Cushing has brought in Leon Hapgood to be an assistant for NYCFC and that might be just the addition that the team has been waiting for.

This week Mike, J.R. and Mike Allen look back at the 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC on the weekend and focus primarily of what they hope will change as the team heads on the road to an equally challenging place to play in St Louis.

In the middle segment, Shjon and Chris from the River City Ramble join the show to give us their analysis in St Louis City FC and the keys that have made that team such a strong competitor so early in their creation as a franchise.

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Mr. Consistency, Nick Cushing / Ep 440 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 440:

Is Nick Cushing Mister Consistency? Not based on his 2023 lineup decisions but this is 2024. NYCFC has a roster that he had a strong hand in shaping so now is the time for Nick to show us his true colors.

This week Mike, J.R. and Mike Allen discuss the last elements of preseason. They try to do their best at setting some over/under lines for some fun competition, but let’s face it, they’re pretty bad at it, hopefully it is at the very least some fun thought starter conversation.

2024 is finally upon us. Thanks to all of the listeners over the years! We are all extremely excited to get season 10 underway.

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Unpacking NYCFC Preseason At Coachella / Ep 439 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 439:

This week Mike Anderer and J.R. DeBart welcome Andrew Leigh from Hudson River Blue on the show as the three discuss the NYCFC preseason matches that were streamed from Indio, CA.

Andrew also gives a deeper look into his conversation with former NYCFC legend, Maxime Chanot, as they discuss the creation of La Fabrique Academy which opens in March of this year.

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Cushing’s Cadre / Ep 438 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 438:

NYCFC starts its next and final phase of preseason with the Coachella Valley Invitational out in Indio California. The three games will prove an interesting test for the head coach and the players as they try to balance honing the tactics for 2024 while still awaiting the arrival of key pieces of the squad. One thing is for certain, this is Nick’s squad of players. While the roster has not turned over 100% from when he assumed the interim role back in 2022, the core of his preferred starters are all players that the coach has had a hand in making sure they are on his roster.

This week Mike, J.R. and Mike Allen talk about the new signings and pontificate on what this season might look like for NYCFC with the addition on some new talent especially in the area of attack.

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NYCFC: SNAFU / Ep 437 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 437:

If you’re confused by the title of this week’s episode you can catch a great quote about the acronym in the movie Memphis Belle.

NYCFC continues to go through their preseason routine and routine seems to be a very appropriate term. There simply does not feel like there is anything new or exciting about the team a full two weeks into the preseason and less than a month away from their first match of 2024.

This week Mike and J.R. welcome Chris Campbell to the show. Yes, Chris gives an in depth update on the stadium progress, but the stadium is part of the long-term vision and plans of the club and to thrive in NY, the team needs to be competitive. The guys try to find some silver linings in the roster construction progress.

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