Thursday, June 8, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Hudson River Blue
New York City FC Official Gear
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Player Ratings
    • Transfer News + Rumors
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • HRB Interviews
    • International Call-Ups
    • Oppo Research
    • Reader Polls
    • City Football Group News
    • FO News
    • Stadium Saga
    • Preseason
  • Schedule + Results 
    • NYCFC Schedule and Results
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Game Day Hubs
    • Oppo Research
    • Leagues Cup
    • Hudson River Derby
    • MLS Cup Playoffs
    • US Open Cup
    • Campeones Cup
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • False 9
    • Hot Takes
    • Guest Columns
    • Predictions
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Gotham FC
    • NYCFC II
    • NYCFC Academy
  • Fan Culture
    • Fan Culture
    • Kits + Merch
    • Food + Drink
  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
Hudson River Blue
No Result
View All Result
Home MLS Cup Playoffs

Maxime Chanot, Maxi Moralez, Talles Magno doubtful for Eastern Conference Final

It could be that a depleted NYCFC will face a full-strength Philadelphia Union on Sunday

Oliver Strand by Oliver Strand
October 28, 2022
in MLS Cup Playoffs, Tactics + Analysis
A A
0

New York City FC interim head coach Nick Cushing sounded measured in his pregame press conference when he reported that Maxime Chanot, Maxi Moralez, and Talles Magno are doubtful for Sunday’s grudge rematch against Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.

While none of the players have been ruled out, Cushing noted that there is just one more training session before they need to make a final assessment. We likely won’t know who will be in the game day squad until the lineup is released about one hour before game time. 

This will be disappointing news to NYCFC fans who watched the team turn around the season in recent weeks. It’s no coincidence that New York City’s current six-game winning streak began once the squad returned to health after an injury-plagued summer. 

The loss of Maxime Chanot could force Cushing to abandon the back-three formation that transformed NYCFC into the most in-form team in MLS. Since switching to a back three, New York City are 6-0-0 in all competitions, with 14 goals scored and just two goals allowed. 

Chanot’s role in the back three could be filled by Tayvon Gray, who is expected to return to the squad after injuring his foot in the Decision Day win over Atlanta United. Another option is asking Alex Callens to slide into the center, and let defender Malte Amundsen could fill in on the right. But Chanot has been instrumental in NYCFC’s recent run of games, and his experience and leadership can’t be replaced.

Likewise, Moralez’s role in the midfield has been essential to New York City’s winning streak. The veteran playmaker was the best player on the field in NYCFC’s 3-0 domination of Inter Miami CF, and his sixth-minute goal against Montréal forced the hosts to chase a game they were expected to control. 

Cushing has other midfield options in Nicolás Acevedo, Justin Haak, Keaton Parks, and Santiago Rodríguez, but the team will miss Moralez’s ability to control the pace of the game.

Talles Magno will likely be replaced by Héber, who has two goals in two playoff games. The Brazilians have been sharing the striker role, but the loss of Talles Magno will give Cushing less tactical flexibility should he want to change the shape of the team.

Of course, there could be another angle to the release of this news. The pregame press conference is one of the few opportunities that a head coach has to disseminate information – or disinformation – to the public and to their counterpart on the other team. The head coach is not under oath in the press conference, and there is no obligation to fully disclose which players will be available: Sometimes injured players who won’t make it into the lineup are listed as questionable, and fit players who will likely play are listed as doubtful. It doesn’t hurt to keep the other side guessing. 

The fact is, we won’t know the status of Chanot, Moralez, or Talles Magno until Sunday night.

Tags: 2022 MLS Cup PlayoffsAlexander CallensAtlanta UnitedCacha AcavedoHéberInjuriesJustin HaakKeaton ParksMaxi MoralezMaxime ChanotMLS Cup PlayoffsNick CushingPhiladelphia UnionSantiago RodríguezTalles Magno
Oliver Strand

Oliver Strand

Oliver is the executive editor and publisher of Hudson River Blue. A benchwarmer on the 1985 Culver City All-Stars, he grew up supporting the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

NYCFC defender Tayvon Gray.

Tayvon Gray suspended by MLS

June 3, 2023
Maxi Moralez and Taty Castellanos when they played for NYCFC.

City Football Group out of touch with NYCFC’s frustrations

June 6, 2023
James Sands has testy exchange with supporters after loss

James Sands has testy exchange with supporters after loss

June 1, 2023
Ted Lasso Season 3 Finale Review: Richmond, Until Goodbye

Ted Lasso Season 3 Finale Review: Richmond, Until Goodbye

May 31, 2023
Newtown Pride FC advances to the TST final

Newtown Pride will play for $1 million prize today

June 4, 2023
Hudson River Blue

A New York City soccer community
© 2023 Seawall Media LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NYCFC Schedule and Results
  • Game Recaps
  • Video Highlights
  • Player Ratings
  • Opinion
  • Transfer News + Rumors
  • Tactics + Analysis
  • International Call-Ups
  • False 9
  • Kits + Merch
  • Food + Drink
  • Stadium Saga
  • HRB Interviews
  • Long Reads
  • MLS Cup Playoffs
  • US Open Cup
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
  • Gotham FC
  • NYCFC II
  • About
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
  • Masthead
  • Login

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}