New York City FC: Three realistic predictions for 2022

2. The New York City FC Brazilians will storm the league

As of now, New York City FC has three Brazilian players on their roster: Héber, Talles Magno, and Thiago Andrade, known simply as Thiago.  All three are forwards, and all three are expected to contribute more in 2022.  Héber was out most of the season with an ACL injury, while Magno and Thiago came to the club mid-season, and both were adjusting as the season progressed.

Regarding Héber, everyone remembers his impressive 2019 season, in which striker scored 15 goals in 22 regular season appearances.  He was vital part of the first place Eastern Conference finish, and quickly became known throughout the league.  But then in 2020, he struggled, and eventually things went from bad to worse toward the end of the season, when he tore his ACL.  That led him to miss the majority of the 2021 season, especially since his recovery took longer than expected.

Now, going into 2022 with an obvious hunger to contribute, there is no doubt the striker should have a much more productive season.  With the expectation that Castellanos will leave, whether before the season starts or during the summer window, there will be room for Héber to retake the starting role.

Yet, NYCFC should still go out and sign a striker to replace the Argentine, so there is no guarantee the Brazilian will produce, or have the opportunity to produce, what he did in 2019.  Nevertheless, Héber should have a much better year, and will be a vital part of the team, whether he starts or enters as a substitute.  It would not be surprising for him to be close or reach a double digit goal total.

Meanwhile, with the departures of players like Jesús Medina and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, there will be more opportunities for Magno and Thiago to start.  Likely both will fight for the starting role vacated by Medina, and Deila might continue to give Magno opportunities to start in the center-forward position as well.  Again, Castellanos is expected to leave this year, so that will lead to an increase of opportunities too.

In addition, both forwards are versatile and can play in multiple attacking positions, even though both prefer the left wing.  Likewise, Rodríguez, who finished the year as the left wing starter, is also versatile in the attack, so Deila can shift and rotate the three.

Both of the young Brazilians showed glimpses with what they can do in 2021.  To start, Thiago had the amazing goal against D.C. United, where he ran on his own down the field, to then score the winner for NYCFC.  Magno scored the winner against the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference finals, securing the club’s first trip to the MLS Cup final.  Both are technically skilled with their feet, and are forces to be reckoned with in the attack.

Therefore, let’s say that Magno and Thiago will become stars in the league in 2022, and score plenty of goals between them, with Héber contributing too.  Of the three, Magno will have the biggest season, and become the next name that European clubs go after.  He will score ten or more goals, and have numerous assists as well.

Oh, and if Héber can find his 2019 self, then do not be surprised to see a front line of all three Brazilians in some matches.  In fact, Deila already used the three as the attacking starters in a preseason game.  2022 could be the year where New York City FC, and the forwards from Brazil, storm the league by becoming an attacking force.