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Moussa Sylla of FC Schalke 04 looked all set to become a Designated Player striker signing for New York City FC, but instead of wrapping the transfer up, the move went up in smoke and in dramatic and contentious fashion. The first portion of this episode is spent unpacking all the dramatic twists of the Sylla transfer saga. This is the first time in recent memory a New York City FC transfer fell apart due to a medical exam, so there's lots discussed about this Sylla medical, and about Schalke and their fans having very strong and very anti-NYCFC reactions to the transfer breaking down. A ripple effect of Sylla not signing is that it now remains an open and unanswered question of where New York City FC will turn next, to the transfer market or to their own roster, as they try to find a solution at striker to hold them over until Alonso Martínez is healthy again. After lots of Sylla talk, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh shift to some preseason observations coming out of NYCFC's friendly against Austin FC, and as the team sits on the verge of starting the Coachella Valley Invitational. What players and positions on the roster are we keeping closer eyes on as the preseason games start ramping up, and as the MLS regular season draws closer? Finally, we can't overlook the one big signing that New York City FC did successfully make this week: Sky Scraper, the team's new pigeon mascot. How are we feeling about the club's new big bird in not-quite-Timberlands? Opinions are mixed and varied, but there are plenty of opinions to be had about MLS mascots and Sky joining their ranks. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transfer business has picked up at New York City FC, so this episode is almost entirely about roster comings and goings. The biggest NYCFC move is the first one covered, as hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney, plus producer Andrew Leigh, discuss the new Designated Player striker reportedly heading to New York City FC, Moussa Sylla of FC Schalke 04 in Germany's 2.Bundesliga. We wonder how Sylla's prolific goal numbers from the second divisions in France and Germany will translate to MLS, speculate how this new-look New York City attack might line up once Sylla is in the fold, and cover how Sylla fits on a roster now maxed out on its Designated Players. Sylla's arrival isn't 100% confirmed just yet, but NYCFC did officially announce the signing of Kai Trewin, the versatile Australian central defender and midfielder from fellow City Football Group side Melbourne City FC. Is Trewin the ideal Justin Haak replacement, and what might his best position be once he settles into life playing under Pascal Jansen? The first half of the episode is all about new players joining the NYCFC roster, while the second half is about players leaving or getting even further removed from the NYCFC roster. First, there's Julián Fernández heading back to Argentina to join Rosario Central on a year-long loan. While in past episodes the pod gang was on the fence about whether or not it was wise to part with Fernández, the pending arrival of Sylla and the continued presence of Talles Magno has changed a few minds about the importance of keeping Julián around for another season. Fernández will join another former highly-regarded U22 Initiative signing, Jovan Mijatović, on the list of loaned-out NYCFC players. Mijatović, though, is about to head to yet another different non-NYCFC team on loan, as he's set to terminate his loan to OH Leuven in Belgium early in order to join Eintracht Braunschweig in the 2.Bundesliga in Germany. It's been nothing but struggle for Mijatović since his club-record transfer to New York City FC, and we wonder if the two moves made by former U22 Initiative signings, coupled with the different age and career profiles of the recently-signed new players, indicates a shift in transfer philosophy on the part of New York City FC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The new New York City FC Sporting Director held his first press conference this week, so Episode 73 starts with a healthy dose of Todd Dunivant discussion. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh dissect some of Dunivant's first statements to the press in search of hints of what he might do now that he's in charge of NYCFC's soccer decision-making. Is a goal-scoring forward going to be his first priority on the transfer market, and is Talles Magno really going to factor into the team's 2026 plans? Questions that didn't outright get answered by Dunivant, but questions that left us trying to read more tea leaves. After talking Todd, it's time to talk transfer rumors. More and more reports keep popping up about Julián Fernández potentially leaving New York City during this winter transfer window. São Paulo FC in Brazil and now Rosario Central in Argentina supposedly want to sign Fernández on loan with an option to buy him, but the pod crew remains unconvinced that this is the right time to part ways with the 21-year-old attacker. We wrap up the episode by taking a glimpse at the downright scary 2026 Inter Miami CF roster taking shape down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The reigning MLS Cup champions shored up in net by signing the Goalkeeper of the Year, replaced the retired Jordi Alba with a former Tottenham Hotspur FC and Spain left back, and are on the verge of adding firepower at striker in the form of a $15 million transfer for Germán Berterame from CF Monterrey. Their squad looks insane on paper and we're already wondering if anyone can keep Inter Miami away from the trophies next season. Listen to the episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's an episode of comings and goings as the New York City FC preseason gets started. Episode 72 starts with a discussion of legendary midfielder Maxi Moralez coming back for another season in 2026, still going strong as he nears his 39th birthday. Was it the right move to bring back Moralez for another season, and can we expect him to still be as ever-present in 2026 as he was in 2025? While Maxi will be there next season, it increasingly sounds like fullback Mitja Ilenič won't be with NYCFC much longer, as the 21-year-old Slovenian was left off the club's traveling roster for preseason and is reportedly getting loaned out to a club in Poland. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh wonder if Ilenič got enough opportunities during his time in New York, and wonder if a move to Raków Częstochowa, reportedly only a loan with an option to buy, is the right one. Preseason is prime time for player rumors and the Ilenič chatter isn't the only transfer talk this episode, as we also cover a report that winger Julián Fernández is wanted on loan by São Paulo FC in Brazil. Do we buy this as a plausible move, and are we ready to give up on Julián after parts of three up-and-down seasons in New York? We wrap up this week's show by talking through the highlights from NYCFC's traveling preseason roster, namely that prodigal son Talles Magno is back with the team and officially taking part in the 2026 preseason. For a second straight episode, we wonder: Will this Talles-NYCFC reunion actually stick, and might he contribute in MLS this season? We also each shout out NYCFC players we're excited to keep tabs on throughout this preseason, from an injured midfielder making his comeback to a promising teenaged striker possibly filling Alonso Martínez's shoes. Listen to the episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City FC can now say that the club has produced multiple Premier League players. That's a fact because of former NYCFC striker Valentín Castellanos and his big-money transfer from Lazio to West Ham United FC of the English Premier League. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney first turn to the resident West Ham expert, producer Andrew Leigh, to paint the bleak picture of where things stand with the Hammers as Castellanos joins the club: West Ham is staring down relegation and has had a terrible recent track record signing strikers and getting them up to speed in the Premier League. Taty going to West Ham also nets New York City FC millions more dollars, reportedly over $5 million, in transfer profits thanks to the sell-on clause they retained when selling Castellanos to Lazio. How should NYCFC spend its newfound Castellanos money? The transfer mill is active in Major League Soccer, even if it's been quiet for New York City FC in the earliest days of new Sporting Director Todd Dunivant's reign. While the moves have yet to materialize, we still have thoughts on what positions NYCFC should most prioritize most on the transfer market before the 2026 season begins. One on-the-fringes NYCFC player with an uncertain future: Talles Magno, who just ended his time out on loan to Corinthians in his native Brazil. Is there any chance we see Talles make a triumphant return to NYCFC and MLS next season? The pod crew is split on that possibility, but we talk through all the potential next moves that might be on the table for Talles Magno as he tries to find a next place to play. Listen to the episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's our 52nd and final episode of 2025 and it begins with the sad business of discussing the official split between Justin Haak and New York City FC, following the Christmas Eve lump of coal that was the report, now confirmed and official, that he'd sign with LA Galaxy. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh get into some of the reasons why New York City FC ended up letting their third-ever Homegrown go as a free agent, and on a one-year contract to a team within MLS. The crew also attempts to make some early guesses as to how NYCFC and its new Sporting Director will replace the versatile and elite defensive presence of Haak. Haak's departure was preceded by two new Homegrown players entering the fold for New York City, so there are introductions made to Cooper Flax and Kamran Acito, as well as a conversation about the recent approach taken by NYCFC to making Homegrown signings. Flax and Acito are officially on the roster, but four new 2026 MLS SuperDraft selections who may or may not sign and play for New York City FC. Two of the four SuperDraft picks, including First Round choice Ransford Gyan, get picked out as possible future MLS standouts, with the caveat that it's hard to know if the team's fourth and final pick in the draft will end up signing and playing for NYCFC. Enjoy one last 2025 episode and then find more of our coverage in the New Year at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're joined in the first portion of this episode by Glenn Crooks, English-language radio play-by-player announcer for New York City FC since the inaugural 2015 season. He's got a new book just released, "Put It On Frame: Stories and Strategies from Top Soccer Coaches and Experts," so he tells hosts John Baney and Mark Radigan and producer Andrew Leigh about the process of interviewing all the coaches and influential figures of the sport who end up in the book, like Emma Hayes of the United States women's national team and Mikey Varas of San Diego FC. There's talk of some of the things the most successful coaches tend to have in common, and, given Glenn's 11-season stint as New York City FC's radio voice, we also have him tell us what stands out about NYCFC's current coach, Pascal Jansen. We wrap up our talk with Glenn by discussing his reaching the milestone of 400 NYCFC matches called, and by getting his thoughts on the current state of MLS broadcast and media coverage. After our short break, it's just your usual trinity back to discuss what looks like the pending departure of Justin Haak, with his contract talks with New York City reportedly broken down and not looking to end up with Haak and NYCFC reuniting. We each weigh in on how badly New York City FC's front office fumbled the Haak situation, and we seem to collectively hope he doesn't join another MLS squad but instead goes and tests himself at one of the multiple European clubs reportedly interested in signing Haak. Listen to the episode in its entirety, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're coming to grips with the end of another Major League Soccer season to begin Episode 68, as we revisit Inter Miami CF's 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2025 MLS Cup final. Lionel Messi and this Miami super-team added another trophy to the collection, and we're in agreement that Messi had to win MLS Cup in Given that Hudson River Blue is in the midst of publishing a series of final 2025 report cards for members of the New York City FC roster, we then dedicate a big chunk of this episode to running through some of our own 2025 season superlatives. Each of hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh grade the totality of the New York City FC season, then name their Player of the Season, most memorable moments, best new arrivals, and most improved players. Once our end-of-year grading of NYCFC is wrapped up, we move on to talking about the hours-long spectacle that was the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw, and more importantly, all the World Cup groups and group-stage matches confirmed by the draw. We discuss the favorable but not what we'd call easy draw for the United States men's national team, and the five enticing group matches confirmed for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while calling out a few other games and groups we're excited to watch next summer. Listen to the episode in its entirety, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 2025 season ended in ugly fashion for New York City FC, and Episode 67 has to start with that ending: The Eastern Conference Final in South Florida, where Inter Miami CF ran wild and beat New York City 5-1 to advance to MLS Cup and kill New York City's cup dream. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh review what went wrong for New York City at Chase Stadium, from defensive miscues to wasted scoring opportunities and everything in between. We wonder if the heavy defeat detracts from the rest of the run New York City made through the MLS Cup Playoffs, and reflect on where the team stands now that they've come up short in the postseason. The Eastern Conference Final didn't work out, but New York City pivoted quickly into offseason action after the defeat, giving us our next big topic of the episode: The club's newly-appointed Sporting Director, Todd Dunivant. We fill you in on some of Dunivant's background as a soccer executive and as a long-tenured, highly successful player in Major League Soccer. Dunivant has decisions aplenty to make once he's settled into the Sporting Director role, but NYCFC already made a wave of end-of-year roster decisions to kick off the offseason. That means we're spending some time debating who stays or who goes out of the three out-of-contract players New York City is still in negotiations with – Justin Haak, Maxi Moralez, and Andrés Perea. The 2025 ride has ended, but there's no rest for the weary as the build toward 2026 begins. Listen to this episode in its entirety, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This Thanksgiving Week episode has us with lots to be thankful for on the New York City FC side, as we're discussing both a shocking upset win over the Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia Union, and a tasty upcoming matchup against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in the Eastern Conference Final. Two-man show this week as host John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh take you back through the highs of that most satisfying yet slightly nervy 1-0 victory for New York City at Subaru Park, which included a few surprising but successful starting lineup twists from Pascal Jansen, one of the best New York City goals our eyes have ever seen, and some unreal saves made by Matt Freese against his former team to make sure New York City held onto their razor-thin advantage, in what John called "a legacy performance of all legacy performances." The win in Philadelphia felt iconic and is still fresh in our minds thus gets lots of talk in this episode, but we're not shorting you on an Eastern Conference Final preview, either. Lots to be said about Inter Miami and it's not all Lionel Messi talk, either, as we get into what's changed about Miami's team since New York City last faced them back in September, we get into the ridiculous run of goal-scoring form the team and Messi have been on in the late stages of this season, and we try to guess how Pascal Jansen will line his team up to pull off yet another playoff upset. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We have to start this episode by discussing Alonso Martínez and the devastating knee injury he suffered while with Costa Rica during the international break that divides the MLS Cup Playoffs. New York City FC now has to adjust on the fly to an injury to a key player that sends ripples across the club and feels like it could be franchise-altering, not just in these playoffs but in the next MLS season that follows them in 2026. Your hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh try to pick up the pieces left behind in the wake of losing Martínez for the long-term, an injury made possible by the fact that the current MLS league calendar makes it necessary to pause for two weeks in the middle of the playoffs. Fret not, though, as after we've lamented the loss of Alonso, we're on to talking about how MLS will fix the exact international break problem that led to his injury by changing the entire league calendar starting in 2027. Say goodbye to February-to-December seasons and say hello to July-to-May seasons, plus there's a new winter break, and a whole reformatted competition format that does away with the Eastern and Western Conferences and creates a single league table, but with the twist of breaking teams up into five geographic divisions. There's a lot to digest about all the changes MLS is making in 2027 and we dutifully catch you up on all the biggest points there before we switch gears and get to the meat of this episode: Our preview of the Eastern Conference Semifinal between New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union. How will Pascal Jansen compensate for the absences of Martínez, plus the injured Andrés Perea and the suspended Aiden O'Neill? We debate the merits of lining up with three-at-the-back, set our expectations for who needs to step up the most amid the trio of absences, and wonder if some of the super-young players left healthy on NYCFC's bench will have a say in the result in Pennsylvania. Listen to the full episode to get as ready as you possibly can be for the latest playoff meeting between Philly and NYCFC, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nothing but positive vibes after New York City FC won a do-or-die Game 3 on the road in Charlotte. This episode starts with a complete unpacking of the away win over Charlotte FC that got New York City through Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs and set a date with Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. That unpacking includes marveling at the pair of goals scored by Nico Fernández Mercau, praising the consistent greatness of the New York City defense over the course of the three-game series, and making picks for our New York City FC MVPs from the three matches against Charlotte. There's also some less positive fallout from the Charlotte triumph, specifically the awful fractured leg injury suffered by Andrés Perea. We lament the loss of one of the team's most important midfielders, a loss made more tough to take since it's compounded by another NYCFC midfielder, Aiden O'Neill, being suspended for the next playoff match in Philadelphia due to yellow card accumulation. How will Pascal Jansen compensate without Perea and O'Neill? Maybe it's lucky for the New York City coach that he's got two weeks to figure out his midfield before his next game, because we're also in the thick of another international break right now. This one comes with a few twists, like Kevin O'Toole getting called up by Ireland for the first time right as they play crucial World Cup qualifiers. We run you through all the national-team action planned for NYCFC players this November, but we also collectively wonder why players from NYCFC or any still-alive MLS playoff team are traveling to play World Cup qualifiers right in the middle of their playoff runs. No episode could be complete without some time spent wondering aloud about the logic of the MLS playoff schedule, especially as we wait over two weeks for the international games to end so the playoffs can resume. Get your MLS playoff fix in podcast form while the games pause for a few weeks by listening to Episode 64, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It all comes down to one game for New York City FC, and we're officially sweating the upcoming win-or-go-home Game 3 against Charlotte FC to decide who advances in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Before grappling fully with the stress of Game 3, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh review Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. The scoreless draw that became a loss on penalty kicks offered multiple points of frustration from the NYCFC perspective, and we cover many of them, including the conservative nature of Pascal Jansen's lineup and substitutions, and the team's inability to capitalize on the few good scoring opportunities presented before things went to penalties. With Game 2 covered it's time to fully stare down the do-or-die series decider at Bank of America Stadium. In previewing the biggest game of NYCFC's season, we weigh possible lineup changes to be made or not made by Pascal Jansen, and we try to find some ways to get Alonso Martínez better shots than what was available to him during a quiet and ineffective Game 2. The New York City FC season could march on or it could end abruptly, and this episode will get you as ready as you can be to go through the ups and downs of must-win playoff soccer. Listen to Episode 63 and then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bask in the afterglow of a New York City FC playoff win with us, as Episode 62 of The Hudson River Blue Podcast comes to you after Alonso Martínez scored an early "goal of the playoffs" contender to help NYCFC beat Charlotte FC on the road in Game 1 of their best-of-three series. We start the episode by giving you our immediate reactions to the win and by singing the praises of Martínez some more, given the quality of his winning goal, and also given how he's come to be Charlotte's primary tormentor. It wasn't all down to Martínez that NYCFC won in Charlotte, though, as we spend a fair amount of time talking about the lineup and tactical decisions made by Pascal Jansen for Game 1 in North Carolina. That means we get into the decision by Jansen to not start Hannes Wolf, the player with the second-most goal contributions on the team this season. We also discuss the fluid, unpredictable formation deployed by Jansen in Charlotte, which at times featured defender Kevin O'Toole operating as an out-and-out winger. Jansen's tactical decisions worked wonders in Charlotte, so the Head Coach comes in for some post-win praise to go with all the nice things we had to say about some of his New York City FC players. With Game 1 broken down to the best of our abilities, we shift focus to the weekend's Game 2 back in New York City at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Charlotte will have Wilfried Zaha back from his suspension, but New York City now has all the confidence in the world after winning on the road, plus the advantage of now playing at their home field. How different will Game 2 look, given Charlotte now enters must-win mode and given that the series moves to Yankee Stadium? We preview all the possibilities and wrap the episode up by making some (confident) predictions about the next game in this series. Check out the episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The MLS regular season is over, and the MLS Cup Playoffs are next, so this episode is spent mostly getting ready for the start of New York City FC's best-of-three series against Charlotte FC. We can't jump right into our Charlotte preview, though, because there's Decision Day and one final regular-season game to revisit. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh discuss the disappointments and concerns coming out of the loss to Seattle Sounders FC, flagging some points of worry that emerged for NYCFC over the final few games of their MLS season. With the dust from Decision Day settled, we also survey the full MLS playoff picture across the Eastern and Western Conferences and call out some of our most-anticipated match-ups set to take place during Round One of the postseason. Our main focus in these MLS Cup Playoffs, though, is the series between Charlotte and New York City FC. New York City has never won in four all-time trips to Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina, though a few factors – Pep Biel's injury and Wilfried Zaha's Game One suspension – are leaning in NYCFC's favor as Game One approaches. How confident are we feeling about this first New York City away day of the MLS postseason, and how do we feel about Pascal Jansen's team, given we now have a full season's worth of evidence on their strengths and weaknesses? Get playoff-ready by listening to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.