What is next for NYCFC following their elimination from the Leagues Cup?

New York City FC concluded their Leagues Cup journey after falling to the Columbus Crew via penalties on Saturday. They ended the tournament with a 1-1-3 record while winning two of the three penalty shootouts. Though a successful run, there is still a lot to learn from the five matches played.  

On the bright side, the injury list has cleared up, and Kevin O’Toole has been back as an option for the team. Nick Cushing made a few changes to his Starting XI, which was nothing new about him. NYCFC still struggles to defend against counterattacks, with Matt Freese having to save them each time from disasters.

With the Leagues Cup behind them and the MLS season returning, what is next for the Boys in Blue? 

NYCFC’s chances for a trophy this season 

It seemed that NYCFC's best chance for a trophy would have been the Leagues Cup. Their victory over Tigres UANL was all that fans needed to bring them hope. Unfortunately, they will return to MLS play out of the competition as it is back to work in league play.   

Their chances of making the playoffs are much higher than where they were last year. They must work on securing a higher seed for home-field advantage. Because they are 15 points from first place Inter Miami CF, their chance for the Supporters' Shield is almost entirely impossible.

Although, the Pigeons are missing that one piece to make a promising run into the playoffs. Comparing this team with the 2021 winning team, they lack a consistent striker and a fully experienced backline, making their potential playoff run difficult.

Changes to the Starting XI 

One of Cushing’s popular tactics as a coach is changing up the Starting XI frequently. To start the season, he began with Mounsef Bakrar as the striker, with Julián Fernández in the attacking midfield, while keeping Kevin O’Toole and Mitja Ilenič (swapping out for Tayvon Gray) as the outside backs. Those seem to be popular positions that he swaps out, taking advantage of the depth on the bench.  

One of the more surprising changes was continuing with Christian McFarlane at left-back over O’Toole. The 17-year-old was great during the Leagues Cup as the Homegrown player could remain in the lineup to end the campaign. Maxi Moralez and Santiago Rodríguez can be rotated in the attacking midfield. Although, Moralez has been the favorite in that spot for obvious reasons as of late.  

However, Cushing does have the freedom to rest Hannes Wolf and Rodríguez with his other options on the bench winger-wise. The No. 9 position continues to be an issue for NYCFC, with both Bakrar and Jovan Mijatovic failing to perform to their expectations. This has forced Cushing to go with Alonso Martínez, who has been able to shine when given a chance to play.  

Too early offseason decisions 

With a few months left on the season, it is too early to think of any offseason changes that would need to be made. It is not a bad idea to discuss them. The team had already decided on Talles Magno by sending him off to Brazil on loan to regain his top form while also extending his MLS contract.  

Each starter and main bench players have contracts through 2025 or beyond, which could mean that NYCFC will look to develop its current team for a potential run at the MLS Cup next season and beyond. Yet, they will likely search for another striker if Bakrar and Mijatović continue to struggle. Then, Moralez is only signed through this year. Therefore, his future could be in jeopardy, especially if he decides to retire soon. 

Fans cannot forget Nicolás Acevedo and Thiago Andrade, who are off on loans that could be options for the club next year. And of course, there is the obvious head coach position. Will NYCFC stick with Cushing or move on? Despite a poor 2023 season, he has improved his tactics, and depending on where the Pigeons end, it will be a 50/50 decision if he stays or goes in the offseason.