The mood surrounding the New York City Football Club, Before Saturday’s Match against Real Salt Lake, was starting to look more promising. They were coming off a huge come from behind draw against the Chicago Fire, also were down a man. Entering Saturday the team you would think was going to come out strong. We were sadly disappointed. The team didn’t even show up, they were shutout 2-0. The game was never in doubt for Real.
The same questions arise after every loss that the Blue and White suffer. The Attack was stagnant, the Mid Field is just a barren waste land where the ball is lost, and the back line has more wholes then Swiss cheese. Sadly we cannot address all of these. The team has tried internally. They have played with the lineup, they have moved guys out of position, and they even have tapped the local market in signing Old Bridge New Jersey Native R.J. Allen. All have gone by the wayside as the team continues to struggle.
With July approaching quickly, this means the Transfer Market within the MLS starts to heat up. As all the leagues around Europe finish off their season the MLS is just getting to the middle of their schedule. This also means players around the FIFA universe start to look for new teams and contracts. We already know of major moves like Steven Gerrard leaving Liverpool to join the Galaxy or Frank Lampard ending his BPL career to join the NYCFC in the MLS. This is the one thing that NYCFC Fans have been clamoring for, since Lampard’s ETA has been a bit of a mystery. According to SI.com Lampard will make 6 million for 1.5 years of service.
In most leagues outside of the MLS there is no cap, but just like most American sports there is one in MLS. Any team is allowed to sign three players over the cap; this is known as the David Beckham rule. As it stand right now the City has 2 designated players (Villa and Lampard). They will search for one more, many believed to be an aging legend from overseas. Many have been linked to the Big Apple and the MLS but most rumors are just negotiating tactics older stars use in Europe.
From what I have gathered is that there are a few legit Rumors. First there is Didier Drogba, who turned down an offer of 10 million in 2012 to join the MLS. As reported on by The Telegraph in the UK, NYCFC has reportedly made an offer to the 37 year old Chelsea forward. He would reunite with his old teammate Lampard. Drogba scored 4 times for eventual champions Chelsea.
Next, there is Italian futbol legend Andrea Pirlo. He is currently preparing for his June 6th match against Barcelona to decide the Champions League. This hasn’t stop the Rumor mill from turning, as his name has popped up several times. He too has been linked to NYCFC and Lampard. According to David Amoyal of Italian transfer experts GianlucaDiMarzio.com, he says that "Pirlo is very intrigued by the possibility of playing in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, he prefers moving to the United States over the option of playing in the Middle East. Sabri Lamouchi, the coach of Al-Jaishnin, had offered Pirlo a huge contract to play in Qatar a few weeks ago. Pirlo continues to have ongoing conversations with the United States as he prepares for the Champions League final in Berlin." This is very encouraging but we must take every rumor with a grain of salt.
There is so much speculation and gossip right now. Here are a few more players I think are real possibilities, Ashley Cole of Italy’s Roma is a good place to start. The 34 year –old Fullback would definitely bolster a very lackluster back line. It was reported by David Amoyal as well that Cole has met with Roma’s Brass about a move to the MLS. There have been speculation about other high tier players leaving for the MLS but I call shenanigans on all of them.
Before I make a prediction of who I believe our third DP will be I will leave you with two Dark horse picks that haven’t had much if any ties to the Blue and White. Kevin-Prince Boateng was recently released by FC Schalke 04. He obviously has a lot left in his legs seeing as he is only 28. He has been linked the a return to Milan but also has had rumors to the RBNY (shot down that pretty quickly). This again is just my opinion but If NYC (who is owned by the Yankees and Manchester City) wanted to make an epic splash they could go after him. The other which may have more legs to the rumor then the last is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He recently applied for a work visa, this causing the MLS world to get giddy that the Superstar may make his way state side. He would be by far the Best Talent to make his way to Major League Soccer. I could dream can’t I?
When it’s all said and done I believe that Drogba will be the final move made this summer for the Boys in Blue. He is old and good friends of Lampard. He wants to be able to perform and if he played in America he would instantly be a top twenty player in the League. With that being said it will be a fun July.
GALLO
