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1. What must New York City FC do to make the playoffs?
1. What must New York City FC do to make the playoffs?
New York City are slumping at the very worst time. With 1 win in their last 14 league matches, NYC have fallen down to 12th in the conference, sitting 4 points below the line. In spite of their barren form, the Pigeons have a very real shot at the postseason. In their next 3 matches, they play the 3 teams below them in the table: at home against Atlanta, at home against Montréal on Saturday, and at DC the next Saturday. Even for a team that's shown very little signs of life, these are winnable games for NYCFC. If they can get all 9 points, it would put them on 44. This is 5 points more than ninth place Red Bulls currently have, and the club from across the Hudson River still have to travel to the top 2 teams in the East. New York City also has to leapfrog Toronto and Columbus, the latter of whom has been red hot in the league of late. That said, if the Pigeons can take all 9 points to end the season, they give themselves a great chance of getting into the playoffs in 2026. Anything less, and they will need good fortune in hoping that the teams around them falter.
Even though they've been poor for the last couple months, New York City has the capability to finish the season strong. For starters, Alonso Martínez is back amongst the goals. He got his first since returning from injury over the weekend, and it's clear that he's getting cloesr to full match fitness each and every game. His runs in behind make this team so much more dangerous, and it makes all the attackers around him better. If Martínez and Fernández Mercau can develop an effective relationship up top, like last season, New York City's offense will level up in a big way. New York City also need to solve their home form if they are to make the playoffs. They've picked up more points on their travels than they have in their home stadiums. For a team that's been formidable at home in the past couple seasons, this is a mystifying trend for the Sky Blue. One factor in this decline is lower efficiency in possession. New York City have been much more dangerous on the break this year. This is partly personnel related, as players like Fernández Mercau and Agustín Ojeda are devastating in transition. It's also due to the absence of Maxi Moralez, the irreplacable magician who still has the power to unlock defenses in this league. If New York City can get Alonso Martínez firing on all cylinders and improve their possession play, they can give themselves an unlikely berth in the 2026 MLS playoffs.
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A great first step to making the postseason is having your DP's deliver. This is exactly what Nicolás Fernández Mercau and Bénie Traoré did against Atlanta. Fernández Mercau converted a direct free kick to open the scoring and Traoré smashed home a late game winner from distance. Both were moments of immense individual quality, bailing out the Pigeons in a match they didn't deserve to win. Atlanta United played the hosts off the park for the first hour, but through poor Atlanta finishing and good moments from Matt Freese, NYC remained in the game. The second half wasn't much better, but against the run of play New York City emerged with all 3 points. On one hand, Pascal Jansen and NYCFC won't care about the performance at this point, so long as they picked up the 3 points to give themselves a chance at postseason soccer. On the other, it's concerning to be hugely outplayed at home by one of the worst teams in the league. New York City have to play better in their final two in order to claim all 6 points available. This begins in central midfield, where the Pigeons have plenty of quality options but haven't been able to establish control. They also need to keep getting big performances from their best players. If Alonso Martínez and Fernández Mercau can get hot, with Thiago Martins patrolling the backline, this team could do a lot more than simply make the playoffs.
2. How have RSL revived their season?
2. How have RSL revived their season?
A month ago, RSL looked out for the count. They didn't record a win in 12 consecutive league matches coming out of the World Cup break. Now, they've claimed 10 points in their last 5 matches, with their one loss coming in Philadelphia. Not only are Salt Lake picking up points, they look much better on both sides of the ball. In attack, they've finally figured things out sans homegrown stars Zavier Gozo and Diego Luna. The MO for this side has largely stayed the same: stretch the game laterally and exploit the gaps inside. RSL do a lot of their damage down the left, with Juan Manuel Sanabria providing the width. His quality and variety of service is crucial for getting RSL's attackers in dangerous positions. Noel Caliskan tends to drift out to the left from his post in midfield to create overloads, and his runs in behind from deep have caused opponents real problems. Critically, Guinean DP Morgan Guilavogui has stepped up in recent weeks, even tallying a brace a couple matches ago. Salt Lake needs Guliavogui to be more goal dangerous if they want to keep up their good form. A player who has no issues being goal dangerous is Sergi Solans. The rookie just continues to score goal after goal. He's up to 16 on the year in all competitions in what is an incredible debut campaign for the Claret and Cobalt. Salt Lake's offense regained its explosiveness, and Solans is a big reason why.
For as good as their attack has been of late, RSL's revival starts with their defense. Luc de Fougerolles has been awesome since getting integrated into the team. The young Canadian brings so much composure in the backline, and is a great reader of the game. He's also been dynamic stepping out of the backline, and already has a goal and two assists to his name in league play. He's been a great pickup on the right side of RSL's defense. Phillip Quinton and Kobi Henry have also impressed alongside him. Henry is playing the best ball of his career, and Quinton looks at home in the middle of the Salt Lake back 3. With these 3 center backs getting a run of games, they've developed a strong relationship at the back. What's exciting for RSL is Justen Glad made his first appearance since May, a 30 minute cameo off the bench. If Glad can get back up to speed in time for the playoffs, that changes everything for this Salt Lake defense. They are a substantially better side with their skipper in the lineup, so he would be a massive boost for this club. But in the meantime, they have Henry, Quinton, and de Fougerolles to lock things down while Glad finds full fitness. Real Salt Lake have been a much improved side in the last month, and with a win in Austin, they could jump ahead of LA Galaxy and step back into a playoff position with just 2 matches left to play.
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RSL's renaissance continued with a 2-1 victory in Austin. It was a significant result which eliminated the Verde & Black from postseason contention while catapulting Salt Lake into a playoff position. The crux of RSL's improved form is the center back trio of Phillip Quinton, Kobi Henry, and Luc de Fougerolles. Kobi Henry was excellent in this one, making several outstanding tackles to deny grade A Austin opportunities. They've provided so much solidity in recent matches, as well as capability to put out fires. This second quality is crucial because RSL send tons of numbers forward in attack, now more so than ever. De Fougerolles frequently releases from the backline to join in on the attack. This means one of the central midfielders stays back, but the other has license to get forward. With wingbacks always getting high and wide, this means up to 7 of RSL's 10 field players are involved in RSL's attacking patterns. It's a risky tactic, but the open field defending of Henry and de Fougerolles allows it. The sheer quantity of players committed forward makes the Claret and Cobatl's counter press that much more effective. This is another key factor to RSL being less leaky defensively.
On offense, RSL has come alive. What's enabled this improvement is have a more balanced setup. During their struggles, Salt Lake attacked predomiately down their left, sometimes forgoing any width on the right. Marczuk has made the right wingback spot his own, looking as confident as he's ever been in his MLS career. He's no Zavier Gozo, but he's disciplined in keeping his width and always willing to go at his defender and put the ball in the box. With both wingbacks providing width, the forward line is empowered to find the game. Mastroeni's settled on Guilavogui and Saba Lobjanidze next to Sergi Solans in his front 3. They complement one another very well. Solans' role is simple: find scoring chances. And he's been brilliant at this. The rookie is up to 14 goals in MLS play, and a lot of them are poacher's goals. Importantly, he's finally getting help in the goal-scoring department. Saba has been a constant threat attacking the space in behind, but he is effective operating the pockets as well. The Georgian's movement opens up lots of space for Guilavogui, who can do what he does best, which is combining in tight spaces and making things happen. Against Austin, he often took a position alongside Caliskan in central midfield while Spierings remained more withdrawn. This gets Guilavogui more touches and therefore more influence on the match. He's at his best when he's in more of a playmaking role, rather than the principal goalscorer. In saying that, the Guinean found the back of the net in what proved to be the game winner. Guilavogui has been really good of late for RSL, as has Noel Caliskan. The German's runs out of midfield are perfectly timed and disorganize opposition defenses. Caliskan, Sanabria, and Guilavogui have developed a great relationship in combination plays down the left channel for Real Salt Lake, which has made them very dangerous in attack. On top of this, club captain Justen Glad appeared again off the bench. His return to the squad will help RSL in all phases of play. Salt Lake have climbed their way into a playoff position and look destined to remain in the postseason picture.
3. What is Chicago's best backline?
3. What is Chicago's best backline?
Chicago Fire have a very talented roster. But finding the best combination of these players has been a problem for Gregg Berhalter at times this season. While the American manager seems to have figured out his preferred front line, it's unclear what he thinks his best backline is. There are lots of options, especially with the Fire adding depth all over the pitch over the summer transfer window. At center back, Mbekezekli Mbokazi and Jack Elliott are, on paper, the likely pairing. New addition Andreas Hanche-Olsen has slotted in while Elliott has been suspended. The Bundesliga veteran has been up and down for Chicago in his limited minutes with the club. Fellow summer acquisition Noah Allen is able to play in the middle as well, but it's unlikely he'd be partnered with Mbokazi. Allen is also comfortable at left back, which is the spot of major rotation for Berhalter. Gutman began the year in this role, but hasn't got a run of games in the starting 11 for quite some time. One of the players who is competing for Gutman's spot is Leonardo Barroso. Though he's right footed, limiting his effectiveness in keeping width for Chicago, the Portuguese gives a different dimension to the team when he plays out there with his comfort driving forward on the ball. Jonathan Dean, on the other hand, has locked down the right back spot. As Chicago look to enter the playoffs with momentum, it's key they settle on a back 4.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi is non-negotiable. The South African is one of the best defenders in the league. He does it all: he is an absolute beast on defense, great at defending in space and stepping out of the backline to break up attacks. His aggression and athleticism allow Chicago to play a high line and press high. Mbokazi's dominance enables the outside backs to push high, something Berhalter looks for in his system which commits lots of numbers forward. On the ball, Mbokazi's distribution with his left foot is excellent. While Hanche-Olsen has shown some nice moments, Jack Elliott is still a really high level MLS center back. He and Mbokazi have familiarity playing together and should anchor this Chicago backline for the rest of the year. Jonathan Dean is clearly Berhalter's preferred right back, but at left back is where it gets really interesting. Gutman provides so much quality with his final ball, and his movement off the ball is elite for this Chicago Fire side. Allen, on the other hand, is the Fire's best outside back at defending. This is not to say he doesn't add on the other side of the ball; Allen has a goal and 5 assists on the year across all competitions. Barroso looked decent stepping in on the left, but Gutman and Allen bring more balance to Chicago's setup. For Berhalter, the choice between Andrew Gutman and Noah Allen may depend on the opponent. Chicago face Orlando this weekend, welcoming one of the top attacks in the league to Soldier Field. It will be a gigantic test for the backline Berhalter sends out, which may well prove which 4 players take the field for Chicago's first playoff game.
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Chicago was not able to send out their best backline, as Mbokazi was suspended. There are very few defenders in the league who are better than the South African. It's no surprise that his absence was felt against a lethal Orlando attack, which put 2 past Chris Brady in what ended up as a 2-2 draw. Berhalter began the match with Gutman at left back, Elliott next to him, Hanche-Olsen making up the center back partnership, and Leonardo Barroso on the right. For the most part, this group played well, limiting Orlando's chances even if they did allow 2 goals. The centerbacks used their physicality to their advantage, getting the better of Orlando's forwards in these types of duels. Both fullbacks provided a spark in the attack. As always, Gutman gave the Fire width on the left, while Barroso did well in advanced positions on the other side. The Portuguese had an assist, a beautifully sculpted ball into the box with his weaker left foot. Barroso was also confident on the ball, comfortable driving forward to create room for himself or a teammate to put a ball into the box. However, both fullbacks are inconsistent defensively, which is why having a more complete outside back like Johnathan Dean in the backline is so important for this team. For his part, Gutman simply couldn't defend Justin Ellis when the young star had the ball at his feet(Gutman wasn't the only one). Barroso was also inconsistent on the defensive side of the ball, as was evident on Orlando's first goal. In a simple up, back, and through play, both Hanche-Olsen and Barroso were caught upfield, leaving acres of space for one of the quicker players in the league, Iván Angulo, to run into. Predictably, he got behind the defense and slotted home Orlando's opener. Moments like these show how the lack of familiarity in this backline can be exploited. Further, Chicago's ability to press high up the field is vastly worse sans Mbokazi. It's essential for Chicago to have the two way competence of Dean and the transformative Mbokazi back in their team as they continue to fight for a home playoff spot.
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