Episode 449:

This weekend was a high-point for NYCFC fans. The team capped off another victory against an Eastern Conference rival, DC United, but more importantly Mayor Adams and Councilman Moya were on hand in CitiField to officially recognize the approval of NYCFC’s soccer specific stadium in Willet’s Point.

The guys this week discuss the plans for the stadium and share some audio from Mayor Adams, NYCFC CEO, Brad Sims and NYCFC COO, Jennifer O’Sullivan.

They also break down the victory against a depleted DC United lineup including audio from Nick Cushing, Mounsef Bakrar, Kevin O’Toole, James Sands, and Keaton Parks.

Episode 448:

New York City FC won. New York City won by scoring more than one goal in a game. New York City won because they scored more goals than the opposing team. New York City FC… you get the idea.

This week Mike, J.R. and Mike Allen look back the team’s win against New England from last Saturday. The guys also discuss the latest updates on the stadium progress.

Inside the episode is audio from Nick Cushing, Matt Freese, Augustin Ojeda, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Malachi Jones, Birk Risa, Mitja Ilenic, Kevin O’Toole, Hannes Wolf, Andres Perea, Monsef Bakrar, and Keaton Parks.

Episode 447:

This is what we’ve come to. The well is running dry of ideas and excuses as to why New York City FC continues to waffle and struggle. This is no longer an anomaly. This is New York City FC’s identity under Nick Cushing with this current roster. Gone are the promises of turning it around. Gone are the dreams of being near the top of the table. Gone are the multi-goal games and rosters capable of winning Golden Boot honors.

This week Mike Anderer welcomes Adam and Justin from Post90 Podcast to fill in for Mike Allen and J.R. and the pair offer more support to Blue City Radio than Julian Fernandez and Augustin Ojeda have offered to New York City FC.

The trio go over the draw in CitiField that kicks off the five-game homestead for the club.

In the show they share quotes from Nick Cushing, Hannes Wolf, Thiago Martins, James Sands, Keaton Parks and Birk Risa.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.