Most of the first-year troubles for New York City FC stemmed from a lack of balance in the side. Former coach Jason Kreis spent most of the inaugural season trying to compensate for a lack of capable defensive options and a midfield oriented toward pushing forward first and foremost. The results predictably reflected the issues created by a foundation essentially built on sand.
NYCFC entered the offseason with a clear brief: establish a more resolute base to provide the necessary platform for Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo to operate freely in the center of the park.
After addressing the defensive concerns with the arrivals of Fred Brillant and Ronald Matarrita, NYCFC reinforced the critical area in front of the back four by landing Federico Bravo on loan from Boca Juniors on Saturday.
“He’s a holding midfielder that can also play at the back,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said in a release. “I like this versatility. He’s got good technical ability and importantly his game understanding is really good. He’s already fitted well into the group and trained with the players for the first time yesterday. He is fit and ready to play”.
Vieira needs Bravo to present a credible alternative quickly. His options in front of the back four are limited beyond Andrew Jacobson, Mikey Lopez and an out-of-position Mix Diskerud. And that particular berth is vital with the limited defensive contributions of Lampard and Pirlo.
Bravo supplies exactly the sort of physical presence necessary to protect those players, though his lack of first-team football with Boca over the past two years is a concern. He is a rugged tackler with a penchant for picking up bookings (eight in 16 appearances during his most productive season with Boca two years ago).
Those qualities are useful for a team with little need for another creative figure. If Bravo can cover ground, interrupt the opposition and shuttle the ball toward the capable players in front of him, then he will prove an important addition for a side in need of some steel.
How exactly Vieira plans to cobble together the structure of his side and introduce Bravo into the frame remains an open question.
The haphazard construction of this squad complicates matters considerably. David Villa operates most deftly playing off a center forward, but Lampard and Pirlo require a holding player to cover behind them in midfield. Mix Diskerud is most usefully deployed as a central midfielder even if he has to serve as a holding player, while Kwadwo Poku’s best spot -- probably in a location designed to use his formidable presence in the attacking third while removing any responsibility for tracking off-the-ball -- is still underdetermined and isn’t necessarily available in this side.
Vieira is tinkering with his options, but he is apparently leaning towards a 4-3-3 setup when all of the pieces are in place. Diskerud and Pirlo played in the center of the park with Tommy McNamara in the 1-0 victory over Montréal on Wednesday. Lampard projects to take that third berth when he is fit and available for selection. That sort of setup heaps considerable pressure on Diskerud to impose himself on the game physically, manage space and track all over the place.
Bravo, at the very least, presents an alternative if Vieira decides he needs a more authoritative and conservative choice in there. Expect Vieira to constantly assess his options in that department to ensure he sidesteps some of the pitfalls encountered during that frustrating first campaign.
Learn more about @fede_bravoo's position and playing style #NYCFC #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/tkVCTb4osb
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 20, 2016
