The Sweet Taste Of Son’s Of Ben Tears

A huge takeaway from NYCFC’s draw in Los Angeles in week one of the season was not being able to capitalize on the man advantage after LA received the red card with 30 minutes left to play.  In week two, NYCFC had less time with a man advantage, but they definitely learned from their mistakes and made Philadelphia pay the price.

This week on Blue City Radio Mike Anderer and Mike Allen discuss the road win and the fact that NYCFC is undefeated in two games to start the 2026 campaign.  In the show there is audio from Pascal Jansen, Keaton Parks and Tayvon Gray.

False Nines Giving False Hope

Stop us if you have heard this before, NYCFC need a striker.

Once again a team with so much promise and quality lacks a definitive player in the key role of striker.  Since the departure of David Villa in 2018 the club has really only seen one quality replacement as a number nine, in Taty Castellanos.  Heber had a good season with NYCFC, but he was never the same after his injury.

The start of the 2026 campaign was a stark reminder of why having such a gaping hole in the middle of the attack will limit any team’s chances on truly challenging for hardware.

This Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen break the opening game of the season down.  They also share some audio from Pascal Jansen, Tayvon Gray and NYCFC newcomer, Kai Trewin.

MLS Fantasy with Favian Renkel

This week NYCFC supporters got their first real look at the 2026 squad with a livestream of the team’s preseason match against LAFC.

Spoiler alert: it looked very similar to last year’s team.  

This week Mike Anderer, JR diBart and Mike Allen chat about the game and also give some over/under predictions ahead of the start of the season.

In the second segment, Favian Renkel from Kickbase joins the show to talk MLS Fantasy.

Enter Todd Dunivant

This was a busy week for New York City FC.

First scrimmage of 2026 in the books.

Two players out on loan.

One player signing confirmed and one rumored.

First official press conferences of the season.

It feels like the new season is right around the corner because it is.  This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen tackle all the news stories from the club and include some audio from CSO, Todd Dunivant, and head coach, Pascal Jansen.

NYCFC Preseason Begins

This week marks the official return of the players for 2026 so it is only fitting that Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen return to the virtual studio to kick off their 2026 with a discussion about Talles Magno, Keaton Parks and the other returning players to NYCFC.

Justin Haak Officially Departs NYCFC

We have all experienced the feeling of not being valued at work.  Value is not about the price tag or cost, it is about the experience.  

This week former-NYCFC defender, Justin Haak, made the choice to sign with LA Galaxy.  In the move Haak reportedly signed for a lower salary than offered by NYCFC.  

This week the guys discuss the departure of the homegrown player.  They also look ahead at what key positions NYCFC need to fill once they start signing players in 2026.

The Dunivant Era Begins

Ultimately NYCFC lost their semifinal match to the eventual champions.  That might not dampen the pain of the 5-1 loss in the Eastern Conference Final but it is a reminder of the success new coach Pascal Jansen had with the club in his first year.

Now enter a new Chief Soccer Officer in Todd Dunivant. 

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen discuss what they know about the new CSO and also look at how he will impact NYCFC.

They also talk about the 2026 schedule, the 2027 calendar shift and ticket prices in Etihad Park.

The Eastern Conference Final

For most of the 2025 season a big talking point about NYCFC was the young average age of the squad.  These weren’t players in their prime.  That changed in summer with the additions of Aiden O’Neill, Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Raul Gustavo.  Even with those players coming in and helping the club reach another Eastern Conference Final it was not shocking to hear head coach, Pascal Jansen, lecture the team on naivete following the 5-1 loss in Fort Lauderdale.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen break it all down and discuss their opinions on the future of NYCFC homegrown, Justin Haak.

Maxi Does It In Philadelphia Again

Only the diehards believed and even some of them might admit it was only half-heartedly.  NYCFC limped into Subaru Park on Sunday night and took the fight to the Supporter’s Shield owners leaving them with only their dreams of hoisting a cup.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen recap the moments from this Eastern Conference semi-final that made it so special.  They also look ahead at the difficult task of taking down Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC on Saturday.

NYCFC Advance To the Eastern Conference Semi-Final

NYCFC is a team that knows how to handle adversity.  Their legacy began with the club’s second biggest signing missing the first half of their debut season.  Their championship season was marked with two key season-ending injuries.  Last year breakout rookie star, Malachi Jones, suffered a severe injury mid-season that he still has yet to return from.  Despite all of these moments, the team rises, the team comes together and the bond grows.

Friday night was another of those moments as midfielder Andres Perea would land awkwardly breaking both his tibia and fibula in the 70th minute in Charlotte.

The Boys In Blue rallied as they often do to hold off the home side and win the deciding game 3-1.

This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen discuss the options Pascal Jansen has to build a midfield for the next match in Chester, PA.  They also look back at the key moments from game three of the first round series.