New York City FC player ratings are determined by Hudson River Blue readers — here are your NYCFC player ratings from New York City’s feeble loss to Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday, April 29.
Starting XI
Santi Rodríguez – 4.4
Last week’s Player of the Match was a non-factor in this game against Toronto despite playing the same False 9 role: With zero shots on goals, Santi never really got into the game. ForMob gave him a more forgiving 6.8.
Talles Magno – 2.9
The argument between Talles Magno and Maxime Chanot at the end of the game sums up the left winger’s night: His one appearance on the highlight reel is for flipping the bird at NYCFC’s hardest-working player. It’s not just the poor stats (zero shots on goal, one successful dribble), it’s the lack of effort. Talles Magno ain’t looking like a Designated Player these days. FotMob awarded him a 6.2.
Matí Pellegrini (off 55′) – 2.7
Pellegrini was given the start for an injured Gabriel Pereira, but couldn’t discover the same chemistry the attack enjoyed last week. This 2.7 from HRB readers is their single worst player rating handed out to date. Fotmob gave him a team-worst 6.1 for the performance.
Richy Ledzema – 4.2
After logging two strong weeks in the Starting XI, Ledezma couldn’t make an impact this night. The playmaker had a .16 xG, a .05 xA, and just 55 touches. FotMob gave him a 6.4.
Keaton Parks (off 55′) – 4.3
Nothing clicked for the NYCFC midfield. Even the dependable Parks had only 31` touches and one successful dribble. FotMob presented Parks with a 6.3.
James Sands – 5.3
One of the only NYCFC players who put in a decent shift on the night. Fotmob had him at a 7.2.
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Maxime Chanot – 5.6
The lasting meteor from this game will be the 33-year-old center-back chewing out Talles Magno (see above). It was another solid enough night for the defender, although it was another game without a clean sheet. Fotmob gave him a 6.6.
Thiago Martins – 6.0
The Brazilian Designated Player had another solid enough night — if we’re echoing what we wrote about Chanot above, that’s because the two are developing into a formidable tandem. There’s room for improvement, but we like what we see. Fotmob presented Thiago Martins with a 6.6.
Mitja Ilenič – 5.2
The attack-minded right-back was pinned into a defensive role by a Toronto that dominated the midfield and always seemed to be on the attack. FotMob had him at a 7.1.
Kevin O’Toole – 4.1
The breakout player from last season made his first appearance in the Starting XI this year — what a night for a debut. HRB readers weren’t impressed, and gave him the fourth-lowest rating on the team. (Actually, it’s the fifth-lowest, including head coach Nick Cushing.) But FotMob gave him a 7.2, good enough to tie him for team-best with Sands and Luis Barraza.
Luis Barraza – 6.4
It wasn’t an easy match for New York City’s new No 1. NYCFC were supposed to test Sean Johnson; instead, Barraza was forced to make five saves against a Toronto that created dangerous chances. HRB readers recognized his hard work with the highest rating of the night. FotMob gave him a 7.2.
Substitutes
Alfredo Morales (on 55′) – 4.6
You usually don’t see the defense-minded Morales brought in for the more progressive Parks, but after the midfielder came on the game’s momentum shifted in the direction of NYCFC. Still, it was too little, too late. FotMob gave him a 6.9.
Andres Jasson (on 55′) – 3.6
Jasson once again was brought in late in the game, this time to replace Pellegrini. The Homegrown drew one foul, made three recoveries, and took one shot — which is one shot more than Talles Magno and Rodríguez combined. In fact, Jasson’s attempt was New York City’s only shot on target. Fotmob kept him at an even 6.0.
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Player of the Match
Luis Barraza
It was a good night for Barraza even if it was a bad night for the team. Toronto were the better side throughout the night, and the goalkeeper was the only reason why NYCFC were still in it until the final whistle. Barraza fully deserves Player of the Match honors. If only it had come after a game that New York City had won.
Head Coach
Nick Cushing – 3.6
The gaffer was handed his second-worse rating by HRB ratings — only the 2.8 given to him after the Houston Dynamo game on March 25 is worse. The Starting XI didn’t perform, and the substitutes didn’t make enough of a change.
Armando Villarreal (referee) – 5.3
What does it say when the referee is given the fourth-highest score of the night? Let’s be honest, it should have been higher: Villarreal ran the game efficiently and without controversy. You can’t ask much more than that.
Tony Husband and Kyndra De St. Aubin (Apple TV announcers) – 5.0
Kyndra De St. Aubin distinguished herself with some incisive commentary about the NYCFC attack in general and Talles Magno in particular. Are HRB readers starting to warm to the Apple TV broadcast teams? We’d certainly like for De St. Aubin to be in the booth again.
Just to clarify the ratings on the TV announcers. Kyndra is terrific – thoughtful, insightful, focused on the match. Tony Husband is awful. HIs role is play-by-play but he has really no clue what is going on during the match, including knowing the names of the players. He spends his air minutes talking about information provided to him on crib sheets that have nothing to do with the action on the pitch.