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Prediction: Eastern Conference Playoff Spots

By Matthew Nelson

Nov 29, 2015; Harrison, NJ, USA; The Columbus Crew win the Eastern Conference Championship and raise the trophy as they celebrate their victory against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The Columbus Crew won with an aggregate score of 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Harrison, NJ, USA; The Columbus Crew win the Eastern Conference Championship and raise the trophy as they celebrate their victory against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The Columbus Crew won with an aggregate score of 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fourth Place: New York City FC

Jul 30, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard (8) and midfielder Jack Harrison (11) celebrate during the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard (8) and midfielder Jack Harrison (11) celebrate during the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Currently at the top of the Easter Conference, NYCFC, similarly to Philadelphia, is surprisingly playing well this season. After sacking Jason Kreis at the end of last season and putting Patrick Vieira in charge, the team had a huge turn around, a lot having to do with Lampard’s successes in the midfield and Jack Harrison bursting onto the scene.

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Even though they are having a pretty good season, I predict that NYCFC will come crashing down the table and stumble across October, 4th in the Easter Conference. First of all, the MLS is a long and exhausting season, and with NYCFC’s dependence on veteran players such as Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard in the midfield, the farther the team gets into the season, the harder it will be for NYCFC to control the midfield. Secondly, New York City is just too streaky. There are times where they play incredibly, such as their 5-1 destruction of Colorado back on June 30th. But every time they dominate a game like that, they lose a game in similar fashion. Eventually NYCFC’s terrible consistency will catch up with them.

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