It's now a two-match losing streak for New York City FC so Episode 33 begins with another post-loss autopsy, this one for Minnesota United's 2-1 win in a Sunday matinee at Yankee Stadium.

Your hosts John Baney and Mark Radigan and producer Andrew Leigh lament the sluggish start to the game from NYCFC while also discussing the team's wasteful possession and inability to break through a bunkered Minnesota defense once down by two goals after 30 minutes.

There's also a review of the big in-game decisions from Pascal Jansen, who made a rare first-half double substitution while trying to spark a comeback. What to make of the early hooks for Birk Risa and Julián Fernández, and what other changes should Jansen make to stop the skid?

That segues nicely into a preview of the upcoming visit from rival Philadelphia Union at Citi Field in Queens. It's New York City's first look at the post-Jim Curtin Union now led by Bradley Carnell, so there's a review of what's new with their squad and some suggestions as to what NYCFC will need to do to get a positive result against one of their more heated rivals.

One of NYCFC's biggest transfer needs is again a hot topic in this episode: A new Designated Player attacker, preferably a No 10 central midfielder. As it happens, a pretty big-name version of that player with a connection to City Football Group, 33-year-old Belgian superstar Kevin De Bruyne, is confirmed to be leaving Manchester City FC and available to sign this summer.

De Bruyne is rumored to be weighing interest from MLS and Saudi Arabia as he mulls his next move, so John, Mark, and Andrew all answer the burning question: Should New York City do whatever it takes to sign KDB?

When you've finished listening to Episode 33, get more of our coverage by following Hudson River Blue on Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads, and by reading all our work at HudsonRiverBlue.com.

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