It took only 45 minutes of the 2023 season for New York City FC’s best-laid plans for the center-forward role to come into question. Talles Magno earned the start as the lone forward in Nashville after a preseason spent in that same role, but he and all of NYCFC’s attacking players struggled.
The first half in Nashville was an ugly one for NYCFC, and the big halftime adjustment head coach Nick Cushing chose to make was a swap of positions for striker Talles Magno and left winger Thiago. No attacking substitutions entered, with Cushing attempting to see if Magno and Thiago could find a new chemistry in new positions, rather than hand a debut to new forward Gabe Segal or roll the dice with Andres Jasson.
While NYCFC played better in the second half, they still came away with no goals and only registered a minuscule 0.4 expected goals (xG) over the full 90 minutes. Playing as a striker, Thiago did manage to create NYCFC’s best scoring opportunity of the match, but it went begging.
Now as the dust settles on the underwhelming opening-round loss, questions swirl around how NYCFC should move forward with its forward position. The poor showings from the NYCFC attack, and Talles Magno in particular, already has multiple MLS observers questioning Talles Magno’s ability to thrive in the no. 9 role.
