2020 Third Rail memberships are now available. Every 2020 member will receive our 2020 membership scarf and card, and early joiners will also receive our 2020 membership pin. This is addition to all of the other benefits that come with membership. Your support enables us to do so much throughout the year, including creating large scale tifo banners, plan away bus trips, host large social events and tailgates, and make charitable contributions to local charities.
Thank you to everyone that took the time to read about the candidates and vote. Thank you to all of our candidates for stepping up and offering to give back to this organization.
2020 Election Winners:
Vice President - Danny Chediak
Secretary - Stephanie Plaut
Board Member - Ray Kingsbury
Board Member - Allison Michelle Whitney
Board Member - Justin SE Bulova (1-year term)
Congratulations to all of our winners and new Board members.
A few people reached out to us about wanting to get more involved in The Third Rail and potentially running for the our Board. Next year we want to get as many people as we can involved in the org, taking on responsibility, and working with others to keep the org running and growing. Board position or not, we want this to be an org run by a broad base of volunteers, not just Board members. We started a push on committees in 2019 and will be looking to expand and grow them next year. If you have the energy and ideas to give back then we'll find a place for you. Thanks everyone
2020 Election Committee:
Andrew Tucker, Boris Gul, Andy Drelick
2020 Third Rail Board of Directors:
President - Andy Drelick
Vice President - Danny Chediak
Secretary - Stephanie Plaut
Treasurer - Boris Gul
Board Member - Ray Kingsbury
Board Member - Andrew Tucker
Board Member - Allison Michelle Whitney
Board Member - Justin SE Bulova
The Third Rail is proud to partner with Heritage of Pride as an official Pride Partner of NYC PRIDE for WORLDPRIDE | STONEWALL 50. The New York City FC match on June 6th vs FC Cincinnati will now be designated an Official Pride Event due to this partnership and The Third Rail will be celebrating with a special tifo display to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
The Third Rail is the first and largest, independent, volunteer-run, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting New York City FC. The Third Rail is an inclusive organization, accepting all people regardless of race, age, gender, creed, or sexual orientation.
Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed nonprofit organization that plans and produces New York City's official LGBTQIA+ Pride events each year to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969 - the beginning of the modern day Gay Rights movement. Heritage of Pride’s mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. They do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate and celebrate our diverse community.
NYCFC will look for their third win in seven days on Saturday when Nani and Orlando City visit Yankee Stadium for an early afternoon battle. The former Manchester United winger will look to stay hot, as he’s scored in three consecutive matches. Saturday will be City’s last home match until June 6th, and after a strong defensive showing Wednesday night, NYCFC may finally be turning the corner.
Domè seems to have found his ideal formation both home and away. The 5-3-2 that City have lined up in as of late has become a 5-2-1-2 with the injury of Ismael Tajouri-Shradi. James Sands has been a rock in defense between Alexander Callens and Maxime Chanot, allowing both outside fullbacks freedom to get forward along the touchlines. With Ronald Matarrita injured again and likely to miss Saturday’s contest, Ben Sweat will step into the left-fullback role as he did on Wednesday. City supporters have been clamoring for the inclusion of loanee Keaton Parks since the start of the season, and although he would absolutely thrive in this system, Domè will almost certainly stick with Ebenezer Ofori alongside Alex Ring in the midfield. Alexandru Mitriță trained on Friday, but will still carry a Questionable tag into Saturday’s contest. If Mitriță is fit to start, the front three will be incredibly dangerous, and with Jonathan Lewis and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi ready as subs off the bench, it is easy to see why City fans are finally getting excited.
Goals: Alex Ring (2), Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (2), Alexandru Mitriță (2), Taty (2)
Assists: Maxi Moralez (3), Héber (2)
Goals: Nani (4), Dom Dwyer (3), Chris Mueller (2)
Assists: Nani (4), Three Players (2)
Follow Nick Fiorino on Twitter at @stretch_fio and The Third Rail at @ThirdRailSC.
Visit our website at thirdrail.nyc for merchandise, weekly game previews and more. Interested in joining? Click here.
Watch NYCFC v DC United at 1:00 ET on YES and the FoxSportsGo app
Listen on WNYE 91.5 FM and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes 1050 AM
NYCFC will spend Easter Sunday in the nation’s capital, facing DC United for the second time this season. The two teams drew 0-0 at Yankee Stadium in March, and a similar low-scoring contest may be in store, as DC has gone scoreless in two consecutive home matches. Domè is still on the hot seat after City’s fifth draw in six matches, and another week without a win may be the final straw.
Throughout Domè’s tenure as manager, City have usually set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, Torrent has often changed the team’s shape away from Yankee Stadium, as he did in Minnesota last weekend. With Mitriță, Héber, and Maxi all seemingly healthy at the same time, we may finally see Domè’s preferred shape for 2019.
The 4-2-3-1 formation allows Domè to play his best eleven. The return of Alexander Callens allows the usual back line to start, with Ronald Matarrita taking back the starting left fullback position from Ben Sweat. James Sands and Alex Ring should slot back into their usual midfield positions, allowing Ring the freedom to get forward. A healthy first-choice front four should get City supporters excited, with Maxi Moralez, Alexandru Mitriță, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, and Héber all available for selection.
James Sands was a revelation at CB last weekend and has real experience in the back with the USMNT. If City start with a back three as they did last week, I expect Alexander Callens to start in place of Tony Rocha, who was, simply, terrible. Width is provided by the fullbacks, and Maxi is free to roam and spend most of the match on the ball. When Moralez and Tinnerholm fill the space on the right, Héber and Mitriță can push to their preferred left sided spaces in the attack. This formation forces another midfielder into the eleven, sending Ismael Tajouri-Shradi to the bench in place of either Eben Ofori or Keaton Parks
City’s Home Opener was a tale of two goalkeepers, with Sean Johnson and Bill Hamid both saving everything they saw. Johnson showcased his reflexes early, saving a Luciano Acosta shot from about nine yards away. By the end of the first half, NYCFC had only registered one shot on target, a first time shot from Alex Ring from far outside the box. Johnson and Hamid continued to hold their clean sheets throughout the second half, with the only clear-cut chances falling to NYCFC in the final five minutes. Hamid saved a diving header from Alex Ring, and Jonathan Lewis missed a golden chance in added time. A boring contest finished with a boring scoreline of 0-0. In a perfect exemplification of City’s early season troubles, the boys in blue were simply not clinical enough in the final third, continuing their home woes under Domè.
New York City FC:
Goals: Alex Ring (2), Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (2), Three Players (1)
Assists: Seven Players (1)
DC United:
Goals: Wayne Rooney (4), Lucho Acosta (2), Lucas Rodriguez (2)
Assists: Wayne Rooney (3), Junior Moreno (3), Lucho Acosta (2)
Follow Nick Fiorino on Twitter at @stretch_fio and The Third Rail at @ThirdRailSC.
Visit our website at thirdrail.nyc for merchandise, weekly game previews and more. Interested in joining? Click here.
Watch NYCFC v DC United at 4:00 ET on ESPN and the WatchESPN app
Listen on WNYE 91.5 FM
On Saturday, NYCFC travel to Minnesota looking to break their early season slump. Fans knew this season would be different without David Villa, but the front office seemingly did not. City were without a true centre forward for weeks, with Mitriță and Taty sharing time in the middle. While the boys in blue continue their objectively frustrating start to the year, City supporters continue to clamor for changes at the top.
Domè has been a disappointing hire for many. We all know the numbers: 4 wins in their last 21 matches, no goals in their last 200+ minutes, and an overall abysmal effort to penetrate into the final third. Last season under Patrick Vieira, City were undefeated at home, winning six of seven, outscoring opponents 19 to 3. Under Torrent, the fortress that was Yankee Stadium has turned into a sand castle.
Fans will remember the first month of Domè’s tenure. A mystical week of three home victories, three clean sheets, a victory over our cross-state rivals, and quite possibly Jonathan Lewis’ best week of his young career.
A pretty pineapple indeed.
Fans will also remember Domè’s estimation that he would need at least a month, and a transfer window to implement his preferred style. He turned to the club’s youth, something Vieira never did, and was rewarded early. This first group of matches as manager would prove to be the last remnants of the Patrick Vieira era in the Bronx. Torrent soon added Eloi Amagat and Valentin Castellanos to the team, and promised supporters something new on the pitch. City then went four in a row without a win at home. They finished the season losing five of six away from Yankee Stadium, eventually hobbling into the playoffs where they were soon eliminated, marking another year of what could have been.
So, if NYCFC lose this weekend and management does decide to sack Domè, what really would change? We would certainly see more of Keaton Parks in the sky blue; It would be hard to fathom a situation where he could play any less. We would see less of ‘Taty’, a Domè favorite, but that is likely to happen anyway with the arrival of Héber. A new manager would change our style of play? Certainly not drastically: the starting lineup would likely remain the same, and this team is built to play a certain way, whether we like it or not. All of this without asking, who replaces Torrent?
Other notable clubs have started the season poorly too. The Red Bulls and Atlanta United have both faced challenges to start the season in the East, and the Timbers have earned one point from five matches, holding a -10 goal differential in the West.
We are 5 games into a 34 game season. While Domè has been incredibly disappointing, City have a very strong roster, and it’s still very early. Here are the facts: At his best, Alexander Ring is as good a midfielder as there is in MLS, and he looks like a true offensive threat in year three. James Sands has exceeded all expectations. Minus the embarrassment in Toronto, the backline has looked steady. On their good days, Anton Tinnerholm and Ronald Matarrita are incredibly active on both ends of the pitch. Sean Johnson has been a rock, racking up international caps along the way. Maxi, Héber, Mitriță, and ITS will all eventually take the pitch together, and when they do, this will be a very dangerous team with a very potent attack.
Torrent has not lived up to the hype, but disregarding months of planning after a few bad performances, without a solid replacement, and without a backup plan is the wrong decision. For now.
Onto Saturday, City will face a tough road test, another Stadium opener with frigid weather expected. History stands in their way, and the injury bug is striking at the wrong time. According to Torrent on Wednesday, Mitriță has an injury that may limit his effectiveness for months. Héber is still only ready for 40-45 minutes of gametime, and Maxi is only at “70-75 percent” health. City will also be without Alexander Callens.
NYCFC is in turmoil at the moment, but with other big clubs underperforming around them and only five games into a long season, there is time. While Saturday may produce more of the same from the Pigeons, a roster like this will be poised for an eventual turnaround. The only question is when.
Follow Nick Fiorino on Twitter at @stretch_fio and The Third Rail at @ThirdRailSC.
Visit our website at thirdrail.nyc for merchandise, weekly game previews and more. Interested in joining? Click here.
Watch NYCFC v Minnesota United at 5:00 ET on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN app
Listen on WNYE 91.5 FM or in Spanish on 1050 AM ESPN Deportes
On Saturday, April 6th NYCFC will look to turn the 2019 campaign around at home against the Montreal Impact, who are without Ignacio Piatti. When their star isn’t in the lineup, the Impact only win 16% of the matches they play. City will also be without their playmaker Maxi Moralez for a second straight match, hopefully leading to a new look XI after a disappointing month of March. Only losing one of their nine total matches against the Impact, City will be confident in front of their home supporters on Saturday afternoon.
New signing Heber will almost certainly debut against Montreal; I believe it would be foolish for him not to start. Although Domè alluded to Heber coming off the bench, another week of Taty or Jesus Medina through the middle would almost certainly escalate fans’ negative opinions of the manager. Alexandru Mitriță has locked down the starting position on the left, and Heber’s addition and strong holdup play will likely create more chances for the Romanian on Saturday. As always, the attacker on the right is in question, with Jonathan Lewis, Jesus Medina, and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi all available as capable options. I expect ITS to start, put together a solid performance, and begin to take hold of a weekly starting spot in the new NYCFC attack.
City looked completely lost last week without Maxi in the lineup. To head the midfield and link up play between the defense and the attack, I hope to see Keaton Parks get his first start. Most outspoken NYCFC supporters have been calling on Domè to give Parks a run out for weeks, and if not now, when?
Alex Ring and James Sands will both almost certainly start; The question is, where? Alexander Callens will be out with a hamstring injury, and we may see Sands get his first start in the defense alongside Maxime Chanot, but Domè will likely leave the remainder of his midfield unchanged. I expect Ring to remain in his 2019 box-to-box role with Sands spending most of his time just in front of the back four.
Ronald Matarrita deserves another start at left back after some questionable performances from Ben Sweat in recent weeks. Mata is at his best at Yankee Stadium, and his service from the left may have newfound meaning with Heber’s aerial ability. Anton Tinnerholm has not been himself yet this season, but Anton has the potential for game changing performances week in and week out. Ibeagha is on this roster for the absences of Maxime Chanot or Alex Callens, and shouldn’t be a liability for the City defense.
With Domè’s job security on the line, City should be able to dominate the Impact in the Bronx. If Heber can find his name on the goal sheet, supporters will be forced into at least some optimism for the first time this season.
New York City FC:
Goals: Alex Ring (2), Ebenezer Ofori (1), Alexandru Mitriță (1)
Assists: Five Players (1)
Montreal Impact:
Goals: Saphir Taider (3), Ignacio Piatti (3), Orji Okwonkwo (1)
Assists: Maximiliano Urruti (2), Five Players (1)
Follow Nick Fiorino on Twitter at @stretch_fio and The Third Rail at @ThirdRailSC.
Visit our website at thirdrail.nyc for merchandise, weekly game previews and more. Interested in joining? Click here.
Watch NYCFC v Montreal Impact at 1:00 ET on YES Network and the FoxSportsGo app
Listen on WNYE 91.5 FM
On Sunday, March 17th, NYCFC host LAFC after two disappointing draws to start the season. City’s depth has been evident thus far, with a multitude of capable wingers fighting for starting spots and James Sands seamlessly entering the XI. Sadly, even more evident has been the lack of a true centre forward on the roster. Although the Rumor Mill is hot, City will have to learn to play without a true striker for the time being. Changes must be made in order to keep pace with the high powered attack of LAFC, featuring Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, and Adama Diomande.
Jesus Medina and Taty both played quite poorly last weekend. Facing the attacking firepower that LAFC brings to every match, I expect City to change their shape on Sunday, and return to the 4-3-3 of old.
Earlier in the week, I was certain that Ismael Tajouri-Shradi would finally get his first start of the season on Sunday. After criticism from his manager and a Questionable tag ahead of the match, this is now unlikely. With that in mind, I expect City to play Maxi through the middle as a false 9, providing service to Alexandru Mitriță on the left and Jonathan Lewis on the right. City will need to create chances on Sunday, and Lewis seems to always find himself in front of the net. Although his end product last weekend was not good enough, I expect Domè to give Jonathan Lewis another run-out.
Domè was happy with the team’s performance for most of last week’s match, but preached the importance of possessing the ball. I believe to win possession on Sunday, another midfielder will be necessary. I expect Keaton Parks to start in a more advanced midfield role alongside Alex Ring, with James Sands spending most of his time between Callens and Chanot. Parks’ ability to pass in the final third might be exactly what City needs to refine their end product, and his size will give NYCFC an aerial option on set pieces that they didn’t have against DC.
I expect the backline to be unchanged after a solid performance at home last week.
In their only meeting to date, NYCFC and LAFC played to a 2-2 draw at Banc of California Stadium. The game started very well for City, with a VAR Handball leading to a penalty kick, headed in by David Villa off a rebound. LAFC would tie the match at 1-1 soon after, with Sebastien Ibeagha unluckily redirecting a corner into his own net. The game would stay tied at ones until the 66’. Carlos Vela was the first to a loose ball, and scored on his right foot to the glee of the home supporters. City responded quickly though, with an awkward cross from Anton Tinnerholm leading to an amazing finish from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi on the near post. Jesus Medina and Jo Inge Berget both missed clear cut chances which could have won the match for NYCFC, but the back and forth contest finished with both sides taking a point.
Carlos Vela has been the best player on the pitch in his first two games of the season. WhoScored’s Man of the Match in LAFC’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City, and tallying a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory against the Timbers, Vela has been a revelation since he arrived in MLS. To scare City fans even more, of Vela’s fourteen goals last season, ten came away from home. Just as he has in 2019, Vela started 2018 hot as well, leading LAFC to the best first ten games for an expansion side in MLS history. The current MLS Player of the Week will be a serious problem for City on Sunday.
New York City FC:
Goals: Alex Ring and Ebenezer Ofori (1)
Assists: Jonathan Lewis and Alexandru Mitriță (1)
Los Angeles Football Club:
Goals: Adama Diomande (2)
Assists: Carlos Vela (2)
Follow Nick Fiorino on Twitter at @stretch_fio and The Third Rail at @ThirdRailSC.
Visit our website at thirdrail.nyc for merchandise, weekly game previews and more. Interested in joining? Click here.
Watch NYCFC v LAFC at 3:00 ET on Fox Sports 1 and the FoxSportsGo app
Listen on WNYE 91.5 FM
On Sunday, March 10th, NYCFC host D.C. United for City’s Home Opener. After a disappointing draw last Saturday, our boys in blue return to the fortress that is Yankee Stadium, where City lost only one match in seventeen played last season.
Domè is a tinkerer. Especially at Yankee Stadium, City’s skipper will look to change the team’s shape and tactics throughout the match. With that in mind, I expect NYCFC to line up in an ultra-fluid and ultra-attacking 4-1-4-1, merging into a 5-2-3 in defense.
City is at full strength with Ronald Matarrita back from another brief injury, but I expect the backline to be unchanged from Saturday. With that being said, I do believe that Alex Ring will start where James Sands did against Orlando, just in front of the two centerbacks. At Yankee Stadium, however, Callens, Ring, and Chanot will likely form a back three at times, allowing Ben Sweat and Anton Tinnerholm to make overlapping runs in the attack.
Regardless of your opinion on the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, NYCFC are a much better team at home with a box to box midfielder, whose passing in the final third is essential to linking up the defense with the attack. I believe that Keaton Parks is the man for the job, grabbing his first NYCFC start in front of the home supporters.
City’s roster consists of a multitude of attacking options, it’s up to Domè to choose which to start. To make his decision a bit easier, I believe NYCFC will start with four true attacking threats on Sunday: Maxi Moralez, Alexandru Mitriță, Jesus Medina, and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi. I expect Medina and ITS to play tight to the touchlines, forcing the DC defense to make crucial decisions once their high-press breaks down. Mitriță can play through the middle, but the fluid attack will find our new DP on the left for a good portion of the match as well. This season, I envision NYCFC at their best at home, when Mitriță and Maxi are given freedom in their positioning, with the rest of the attack high-pressing their opponents, preventing stars like Wayne Rooney and Lucho Acosta from possession of the ball.
Jonathan Lewis’ role this season is a controversial topic. Regardless, I expect Jonathan Lewis as a late game sub at Yankee Stadium this season, a role he thrived in last season in the Bronx.
Another possibility for City on Sunday is giving Eben Ofori another start after his great goal last weekend in place of Jesus Medina. At times last season, Ofori would begin at the left midfield role at home, dropping deeper into the midfield in defense, perhaps even man-marking one of DC’s many dangermen.
On October 21st in NYCFC’s second to last match of the season, City fell 3-1 away to a red-hot DC United. DC started the match in style, with Lucho Acosta’s tight dribbling leading to an easy finish for Rooney. Chances were few and far between in the first half for the Blues, and Acosta would soon make it 2-0 on a shot from just outside the box. A penalty slotted away by Rooney killed the match off in the second half, as David Villa’s consolation goal meant nothing for a City team with one win in their last nine.
Follow Nick Fiorino on Twitter at @stretch_fio and The Third Rail at @ThirdRailSC.
Visit our website at thirdrail.nyc for merchandise, weekly game previews and more. Interested in joining? Click here.
Watch NYCFC v DC United at 3:00 ET on YES Network
Listen on WNYE 91.5 FM
