Tag Archives: James Sands

Playoff Derby Preview With Calen Carr / Ep 477 Blue City Radio

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Episode 477:

This week the guys bring you a special preview episode because on Saturday NYCFC hosts Red Bull in what is their most important MLS matchup to date and most important derby game since Thiago Andrade lost his temper in the 2022 US Open Cup Quarterfinals.  

Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen welcome former MLS player and current MLS Season Pass color commentator, Calen Carr, to the show in the second segment to get his perspective on both of these teams heading into this weekend’s game.

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Just Like the Coach Drew It Up / Ep 476 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 476:

NYCFC traveled to Cincinnati for game three of the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs and kept the number three seed in the east to a nil-nil draw. The game was decided by penalty kicks and Matt Freese proved to be just as important in the moment as he has been all season long.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen look back at round one of the playoffs and look ahead at the all-important Hudson River Derby matchup on November 23 in CitiField.

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NYCFC Lives On For Another Day / Ep 475 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 475:

NYCFC hosted FC Cincinnati in CitiField on Saturday for the second leg of the first round of MLS Playoffs and the Boys In Blue solidly defeated the higher seed opponent.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. deBart and Mike Allen discuss the game from last week. There is plenty of post game audio as well as a conversation with Justin Haak from training in the midweek.

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The Kreis NYCFC Deserve / Ep 473 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 473:

In the ten season history of NYCFC, the team had only lost to Montreal twice. Once was in 2020 during the “Covid” season that will forever be tainted by the impact the pandemic had on rosters, venues, and fan support. The second time was in NYCFC’s inaugural season under head coach, Jason Kreis. Back in 2015 NYCFC was a project. It was not well-oiled machine like it’s counterpart in Manchester. But in 2024, already with a championship and an international trophy already in its case, the team should be more than a project. More than a young coach and youthful squad going through a multi-season long process. The team at this point should be “plug and play” with depth both on the roster but also in its reserve squad. And yet, here we are, again, limping into the playoffs grasping at the thin chances of advancing to the meaningful moments in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. deBart, and Mike Allen look at the 2024 regular season with a discerning critical eye and also recap the loss in Montreal that brought up the memories of the team under Jason Kreis.

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Mediocrity FC / Ep 469 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 469:

Let’s face facts. After 28 games it is becoming clear that NYCFC under Nick Cushing is a mediocre team. Occasional flashes of brilliance, long stretches of possession without purpose, but worst of all a commitment to underperforming talent. Last year in 2023 the team suffered through the extended Barraza experiment and in a “rinse and repeat” pattern 2024 saw the Bakrar drought go on and on. Even after the emergence of Alonso Martinez, Bakrar still finds his way on to the pitch for 20 minutes per match.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. deBart and Mike Allen take a long hard look at the club’s identity as being a mid-table side that will compete, but ultimately lacks the talent to be a top tier team in the league. Nick Cushing has put his stamp on the squad and the ink-stained image on the crest reads, “Ordinary”.

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Was Leagues Cup a Confidence Builder for NYCFC? / Ep 465 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 465:

After shocking Tigres in Red Bull Arena last Tuesday night, NYCFC took reigning MLS champions, Columbus Crew, to PK’s in a tense quarterfinal match on Saturday night.

NYCFC returns to MLS league play this coming Saturday at home, in CitiField against the Chicago Fire. The big question is which team will show up for Nick Cushing on Saturday, the gritty squad from the two most recent games or the passive group that could barely muster any offense against New England and Queretero?

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. deBart and Mike Allen talk about all that and more on Blue City Radio

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Magno-ficent Draws / Ep 462 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 462:

NYCFC wrapped up their four game road trip with a pair of exciting draws. The pigeons in back to back games would have to earn points after conceding the opening goal.

Justin Haak, Matt Freese and Talles Magno would all have impacts on the games this week. Mike Anderer, J.R. deBart, and Mike Allen take a look at the games from the past week and dig deeper into the odd handling of one of the club’s best prospects in Talles Magno.

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USMNT Out Of Copa and NYCFC Split the Week / Ep 460 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 460:

This week’s episode could almost be recorded at any given time in the year. The USMNT under performed under Gregg Berhalter and NYCFC won a home game and then lost a road game. There really is not much shocking about these occurrences.

This week the guys take a moment to talk about Berhalter’s future with US Soccer and possible replacements both from a pipe dream level but also realistic options.

Second segment is all about the home match versus Montreal in CitiField and in the final segment they discuss the loss in Austin.

There is lots of post-game audio shared from the Montreal match.

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A Costly Win At Home / Ep 459 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 459:

NYCFC has a history of bright young players that burst on the scene hoping to secure a spot on the squad and cement their relationship with the fanbase. This year Malachi Jones did both with his speed, talent and smile. Sadly during the 4-2 victory from Friday against Orlando City, the winger suffered a devastating injury that will most likely see him out until next season.

Mike, J.R. and Mike Allen talk through the injury, the impact to the roster depth and what players might see minutes in the rookie’s absence.

The trio also use the second segment to have a quick conversation about the USMNT with that group’s final match of the Copa America kicking off immediately after recording.

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Delays, Debuts and Da Silva / Ep 457 / Blue City Radio

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Episode 457:

What started as a rainy stormy night became a beautiful evening in the Bronx. NYCFC was poised to take on a formidable foe in the Columbus Crew and hope to maintain their record breaking streak of victories.

Unfortunately three second-half goals by the visitors would be too much for the Pigeons to overcome.

This week Mike Anderer and Mike Allen discuss the key moments from Friday’s loss. In the second segment Mike Anderer is joined by Trey Fillmore, another OG podcaster, from Blue Balls Pod to get into the sentiment postgame in the tunnels of Yankee Stadium.

We hear from Santi Rodriguez, Malachi Jones, and making his NYCFC and MLS debut, Christian McFarlane.

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