NYCFC snatched a late equalizer from burgeoning cult hero, Gabe Segal, in the 94th minute to salvage a point at home in front of a season-high crowd of about 31,000 fans on Saturday.
But for me, the story of the day is how odd this NYCFC squad looks at this point in the season.
It’s been widely discussed just how thin this City team is these days. With Taty Castellanos, Maxi Moralez, Sean Johnson, Alexander Callens, Anton Tinnerholm, Héber, Malte Amundsen, and others departing since last season, this squad has needed reinforcements in just about every position in order to contend at the level fans have come to expect.
But, unfortunately for NYCFC fans, replacements for most of those star players never arrived. Instead, Nick Cushing has been forced to make do with what he’s got.
And what he’s got is mostly an interesting mix of expensive South American talent and a crop of academy players that are getting far more minutes than they’re used to. The one thing they all have in common – they’re incredibly young.
This was compounded by the fact that veteran center backs, Thiago Martins and Maxime Chanot, were both unavailable for selection on Saturday, leaving Cushing to improvise at the back.
The result? A squad with an average age of just 24 years old took the field at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, with many of these youngsters playing out of their natural positions to accommodate those who left last season and those who were unavailable for selection on Saturday.
James Sands and Justin Haak, both academy graduates who generally line up in defensive midfield, started the match in the back three. Talles Magno, the talented Brazilian winger, lined up at center forward again with the club still in search of a true no. 9. And, after Cushing switched to a four-back in search of a goal, we even saw academy product, Tayvon Gray, subbed in a center back instead of his usual right-back position.
But, instead of complaining about the positions in which they’re used, many of these youngsters appear to be relishing the opportunity to play anywhere.
When I asked Tayvon Gay whether he preferred right back or center back, he replied, “I could’ve been in goal. As long as I’m on the field, I’m good.”
While maybe not as extreme, the same sentiment applied to Justin Haak, who was happy to discuss his play at center back.
While grinning ear to ear, Justin said, “I definitely think center back is somewhere I could play. I think what I give the team with the ball helps us a lot while building out. If I can improve the defensive side of my game I think it’s somewhere I can take the next steps at.”
But, the biggest moment from any youngster was from the man of the hour, Gabe Segal.
The 22-year-old from Bethesda, Maryland didn’t come through NYCFC’s academy but rather went to Stanford University before joining FC Köln’s second team in Germany for a short spell.
Picked up on waivers by NYCFC this offseason, little was expected of Gabe, who’s making a league minimum salary and was pegged as an NYCFC II player by most this season.
After winning man of the match and scoring his second stoppage time equalizer of the season, Segal offered the following:
“It’s definitely big for me. It being my first full year as a professional, it’s all about making the most of your opportunities and trying to show the coaching staff, your teammates, and everybody involved that you’re here to stay.”
While it’s not quite the same as a homegrown playing out of position, the idea of Gabe Segal being the one to step up for this team and grab the equalizer feels fitting somehow.
With the big names gone and no signings through the door, guys like Gabe Segal are going to have to score goals, and guys like James Sands, Justin Haak, and Tayvon Gray are going to have to play center back. That’s just how it’s gonna be for now.
And while all NYCFC fans will be desperate for summer signings to keep their playoff hopes alive, maybe they can take solace in the fact that so many young guys are getting valuable minutes and taking their game to the next level.
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