3 Questions with Hudson River Blue

Getting to know the opp.

Apr 04, 2024

Atlanta United hit the road once again as they head up north to New York looking for their first point(s) away from home on the season. The Five Stripes will not have to endure another nine innings at Yankee Stadium, but will instead get their first look at Citi Field.

To get a little insight on Saturday night’s opponents, I reached out to Matthew Mangam, a Senior Writer for Hudson River Blue, for a quick chat. Here’s what he had to say about the blue half of NY.

Rob: From an outside perspective, it seems like it’s been a rough start to the season. What is the reality of the situation from someone who covers the team?

Matthew: The start to the season is disappointing but also somewhat expected. Heading into the season, we knew the first few games would be tough. NYCFC struggles against Charlotte, St. Louis is a good team and Portland has only lost to NYCFC once, which was in the MLS Cup. It was disappointing to see NYCFC lose their first home opener, but the team bounced back with a win over Toronto. The last two games haven’t been great but also haven’t been awful. With a five-game homestead coming up, I have confidence that the team can string some wins together.

Rob: We’re used to NYCFC being a splashy team when it comes to bringing in players. But this current roster seems to be lacking that star power. Is this just a lull or have they changed their mindset when it comes to player recruitment?

Matthew: The team brought in a lot of players who have potential. Alonso Martínez, who signed with the club last season, had a good performance against Miami. Jovan Mijatović has potential, Andrés Perea has hunkered down the midfield and draft pick Malachi Jones has looked promising. Besides Santi Rodriguez, the team doesn’t really have a star player but instead multiple players who make an impact. NYCFC likes to recruit players from South America or Europe, so their philosophy has not changed, it has just been harder for some players to settle into MLS.

Rob: With the stadium dilemma finally reaching a conclusion, what are the general vibes around the club and fan base now that there is light at the end of the tunnel?

Matthew: The fans cannot wait for the stadium. With more and more updates coming from the club, the excitement is getting stronger and stronger. There is even a Twitter account that tracks the progress of the stadium and posts a picture of the construction everyday.

Lineup Prediction: With a lot of injuries and players out, things can change by the end of the week but here’s my best guess right now: Freese (GK), O’Toole (LB), Tanasijević (LCB), Martins (RCB), Illenic (RB), Parks (CM), Sands (CM), Rodriguez (CAM), Wolf (LW), Bakrar (ST), Martinez (RW)

Score Prediction: NYCFC wins 2-1.

Big thanks to Matthew for taking the time to chat with me.