Previewing Houston Dynamo vs New York City FC with Hudson River Blue

(image via New York City Football Club/Twitter)

The Houston Dynamo will look to build on the momentum of last week’s win over Austin as they welcome New York City FC to Shell Energy Stadium tomorrow night. We talked to our friends at Hudson River Blue to get some insight on NYCFC ahead of Saturday night’s match.

NYCFC have won their last two matches after a bit of a slow start to the season. What has been the biggest turnaround in the last two matches that has led to the two wins? 

Simple. The team now have something close to a full lineup now that Santiago Rodríguez and James Sands are back. The club is known for taking their time with signings, or even re-signings, and there was no rush to get Santi and Sands back to New York. Remember, this is the closest thing to a rebuilding year the club have ever experienced after losing their playmaker (Maxi Moralez), goalkeeper and captain (Sean Johnson), starting defensive midfielder (Cacha Acevedo), and superstar center back(Alexander Callens). And the team is still one striker, midfielder, and center-back away from being at full strength again.

With New York City being in the Eastern Conference, Dynamo fans don't get to see them as much. Outside the stars on the team, who are some other under-the-radar type players we should be on the lookout for Saturday?

I would say right-back Mitja Ilenič, but he's on international duty with the Slovenian U19 team. Keaton Parks and James Sands form one of the best midfield tandems in MLS, but they never seem to get the credit they deserve. Maybe it's because they're unflashy, and calm on the ball, Keaton especially. He never looks rushed, and even though it might seem like he's about to be dispossessed, he gets the pass off 99% of the time. Gabriel Pereira is a star-in-the-making on the right wing, although he has been off his last two games. Matí Pellegrini is the hardest working winger in global soccer and we're waiting for his first goal of the season. 

Talles Magno has taken over the number 9 role with Taty Castellanos off to Europe. How has Magno done in this role that is a little unorthodox for him and how do you see him doing for the remainder of the season?

This is the big debate in NYCFC fandom. Head coach Nick Cushing is bullish on Talles Magno, but he's a natural winger and it shows — he wants to find space and dribble into the box, not cross up the keeper and harrass defenders. Thiago in many ways is a more suitable number 9, but he can be inconsistent; still, he scored the game-winner eight minutes after coming on last week. Talles Magno is likely to get the start for the foreseeable future, but Thiago could prove he deserves more minutes in the role.

With Maxime Chanot on international duty, how big will his loss be for NYCFC this weekend?

It's an enormous loss, as the backline will now have a Chanot/Callens-sized hole in it. Tony Alfaro is likely to step in to play, and the center-back was a regular starter at D.C. United in recent seasons. But if you're looking for a vulnerability in the NYCFC lineup, then you just found it. 

We've seen James Sands return to NYC recently after a stint in Europe. Do you think we will, and should, get another chance overseas or has that ship sailed?

It's hard to say. He was an exceptional player for NYCFC in 2021 and he had some strong moments for Rangers FC, but what should've been a stepping-stone to the Bundesliga or even the Premier League turned into a stalled-out loan. He is young, and I could see him leaving again depending on his performances and development at NYCFC. 

How is the health of the roster and do you expect anyone to be unavailable Saturday?

It looks like a full lineup minus Chanot and Ilenič, but it's a thin squad because of the ongoing trades, or rumors of trades. Still, there are no major injuries unless something happens in training this week.

Predicted lineup and prediction for the match?

Barraza; Cufré, Alfaro, Thiago Martins, Gray; Parks, Sands; Pellegrini, Rodríguez, Pereira; Talles Magno

Goals will be scored, but it's hard to say who will score more. It'll be 3-2 or 2-3, depending on the onfield chemistry. 

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We want to thank our friends at Hudson River Blue for their time and wish our friends in New York City the best of luck tomorrow.