Santi Rodriguez ‘Masterclass’ Offers Surprise Solution For Coach Cushing At New York City

When New York City FC wandered into the 2023 season having lost the spine of its team throughout the previous year, there was real uncertainty as to what the lineup would look like in Nick Cushing’s first full season as head coach.

Most of those who left would be familiar names, not only to fans of the team but also to followers of Major League Soccer generally such was their profile and importance—Taty Castellanos, Nicolás Acevedo, Alexander Callens, Sean Johnson, Maxi Moralez, Anton Tinnerholm, Héber.

From goalkeeper to striker, and from creative linchpin to star center-back, NYCFC was losing limbs as well as its spine.

But though the team still lacks some depth, it has somewhat recovered and in many ways been rejuvenated. Nine games into the new season, NYCFC’s future now looks clearer.

Sporting director David Lee and head coach Cushing have assembled a new-look starting XI that has already produced moments of attractive, effective football—not least in last weekend’s 3-1 against FC Dallas at Citi Field.

Despite its fresh look, the team is still recognisable as New York City, thanks in part to the fact two of the players who have arrived this season were returnees.

James Sands re-joined after a spell on loan in Scotland with Rangers, and Santi Rodríguez eventually made last season’s loan move permanent, joining on a Designated Player deal from fellow City Football Group side, Montevideo City Torque.

Sands has replaced, and arguably been an upgrade on, Acevedo, while Rodríguez has in some ways replaced both Moralez and Castellanos. The pair have immediately become key players in 2023 and their introductions have been seamless thanks to existing links with the club.

The use of Rodríguez as a false nine now appears to be an obvious solution while the club holds out for other suitable options in the central forward position.

Whenever the Argentine has found himself in such a role in the past, either as a stand-in later in games or simply by drifting into these areas, he has shown he is able to hold up the ball more effectively than might have been predicted as well as combining build-up play with attacking skills closer to, or inside, the opposition penalty area.

On his return to the club this season with an upgraded contract, Rodríguez was set to finally prove he is the Moralez replacement, but he may turn out to be much more than that.

The shrewd signing of Richly Ledesma for the midfield, plus the key role that should be and so far has been given to Keaton Parks this season, leaves only attacking spaces open for newly-anointed DP Rodríguez in Cushing’s best eleven.

With the skilful Brazilian, Talles Magno, ideal for the inside forward role from the left, and his compatriot Gabi Pereira performing a similar role on the right, albeit more as an inverted winger, this leaves one spot open for Rodríguez—that of the central forward.

It also happens to be the one of the spots NYCFC hasn’t managed to source a replacement for an outgoing player (in this case Castellanos), so playing Rodríguez in the role makes sense from a short-term squad-building perspective, but it might also make sense to get the most from the player’s attributes.

From this position Rodríguez is able to drop deep to do Maxi-type things such as playmaking, tying attacking moves together, and feeding passes to Talles Magno, Pereira, or any onrushing teammates breaking from full-back or midfield.

As shown already this season, he also has an eye for goal, and his brace against Dallas in Queens took him to three goals for the season, level with Talles Magno at the top of the club’s scoring charts.

Out of possession, against Dallas, New York City looked as impressive as they have done all season in terms of their pressing.

Ledezma and Rodríguez often pressed as a pair as Dallas were playing out from the back, supported equally energetically by Parks and Sands, as well as from wide areas.

This game marked the end of a three-fixture run of home games as the team now embarks on a run of four games on the road, which will be its longest stint of away games in 2023.

NYCFC’s home record is good, but away games in MLS pose an altogether different challenge that will really test this new-look team.

Though the lineup against Dallas was very impressive, Cushing has hinted that he may change things up for these four away games, which includes a Hudson River Derby over at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey against New York Red Bulls.

“We have to have an understanding of how we dominate [each] game,” said Cushing when discussing the approach.

“Tonight [vs Dallas] we went with Santi, Richy, Keaton, and James Sands through the middle of the pitch, and at times we brought Talles [Magno] inside to overload the middle of the pitch, and that helps. I thought we were really good in the build-up and in possession tonight.

“Will we do that every game? No. We go to a really difficult Toronto team now where we may need a focal point, where we may need someone to run in behind, where we may need a real physical presence up there. Every game is different.

“For what we asked the team and Santi in particular to do tonight, I thought his performance was a masterclass. Not only in the goals but also tactically, the spaces he played in and the decisions he made on the ball.”

Cushing also praised Gabe Segal, the more natural striker who has played through the middle up top already this season but was replaced by Rodríguez on this occasion.

Though Segal failed to find the net in his three recent starts, Cushing commented on his contributions to the overall structure of the team in those games, and that he might have every right to feel disappointed not to retain his place based on those performances.

“Gabe should be disappointed that he came out of the team,” added Cushing.

“OK he didn’t score a goal and it looks like Santi has done better, but Gabe gave us so much structure, so much tactical discipline, so much in an out of possession that he should be disappointed [to lose his place]. He continues to work hard.”

This suggests Segal remains an option despite Rodriguez’s “masterclass” versus Dallas and also leaves open the idea of them featuring in the same lineup.

From looking somewhat threadbare given the departures during the past year, Cushing suddenly has options and welcome team selection headaches as he looks to maintain this recent good form, and good football.