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MLS stock report and preview: Eastern Conference

By Joshua Bowers

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls)
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls) /
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New York City FC, David Villa
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – October 31: David Villa #7 of New York City celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the New York City FC Vs Philadelphia Union MLS Eastern Conference Knockout match at Yankee Stadium on October 31st, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /

New York City FC — 56 pts

Stock Down

Key Additions: F A.Mitrita, M K.Parks, M J.Torres

Key Losses: F D.Villa, M Y.Herrera, F J.Berget, M/D R.Wallace

New York City FC finished in third place in the Eastern Conference last year. They had 56 points. That figure still left them 10 points from second place Atlanta United. They are losing two crucial players. David Villa has moved on and Yangel Herrera is being sent elsewhere on loan, after proving himself at NYCFC for the last two years. New York City have also lost contributors: Jo-Inge Berget and Rodney Wallace. There are not many teams who’s “outs” are as valuable as that quartet.

NYC has worked hard to bring in replacements for their starters, but neither is equal to the man they are replacing. Alexandru Mitrita is a Romanian attacker, who was signed for upwards of $8.5m. It is expected he will join the front three in a false-nine setup. He is a risk, since he has not succeeded outside of the Romanian league. However, Mitrita has looked promising in the preseason. The front-three will look different without a traditional striker and it should be a fluid attack. Sporting Kansas City has succeeded with a false nine the last two seasons, but it will be difficult to replace Villa that way.

US nationals Keaton Parks and Juan Pablo Torres have been brought in to replace Herrera. Parks has real potential and the hope is he can step into that role beside Alexander Ring. It is a tall order to replace Herrera, though, who was a key player for NYC when they were at their best the last two seasons. Parks will have to prove that he is up for it.

Ebenezer Ofori’s return should also help account for the loss of Herrera. Ofori actually started five more matches more than Herrera in 2018 and will be the starter to begin the season. He has some good quality on the ball but is not as defensive-minded. Parks is the spiritual successor to Herrera and I believe New York will be at their full potential if he is able to capture that spot in the line-up.

New York City return all four defensive starters and their goalkeeper, Sean Johnson. So, the defense should be as good as last year. Alex Ring also returns and has been granted the captain’s armband. He is a top-five defensive midfielder in this league.

Maxi Moralez was the team MVP in 2018, and with Villa gone, it’s his team to take over. Moralez will improve upon his nine-goal, 11-assist season last year. He is a top-ten attacking talent in MLS and NYCFC will go as far as he takes them.

A potential front four of Moralez, Mitrita, Tajouri-Shradi and Jesus Medina is exciting, even if there is not a traditional striker among them. Jonathan Lewis is due to break out this season as well. The defense, meanwhile, is the same as last season and Ring will keep the team composed. New York City will be a good team, but they will drop a little below the 56-point mark they achieved last year.

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