Can NYCFC win the MLS Cup in Year One?

One of MLS’ two expansion franchises, New York City FC, kicks off their season on Sunday. With high expectations in New York City and the backing of Manchester City, can NYCFC win it all in their debut?

If there is anything in pro sports that is for certain it’s this: any team that plays in New York City has to win and win often. More importantly, they have to win titles. However, after a “decent-at-best” preseason, a title in year one may be out of reach.

Then again, we’re talking about the MLS Cup toward the end of the calendar year, in March.

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The Chicago Fire were the first team to win the MLS Cup in their first year in 1998. They went to two MLS Cup finals in their first three years and made consecutive playoff appearances in their first six years in the MLS. In 2009, the Seattle Sounders made it all the way to the conference semifinals, losing 1-0 in aggregate to the Houston Dynamo.

NYCFC made a lot of solid moves going into their 2015 debut season in the Bronx. They signed head coach Jason Kreis first and foremost, proving that they’re not going to rely on their English or international connections to fill out the staff. Kreis is expected to build NYCFC up from scratch the same way he did with Real Salt Lake, making him the perfect candidate in New York City.

“I think it is important to consider that I was hired by this club for a reason,” he said in a recent interview with NBC Sports. “A big portion of that reason was what I had done at Real Salt Lake and how we had tried to play.

“I know from being in our league that it is always important to start well. You can really put yourselves in a great place if you can get out with a couple of wins and put them in your pocket. But I know at the same time that it isn’t going to be so easy for a team that is brand new.”

Their next move was probably the biggest, signing one of the best strikers in the world in David Villa. Signing American midfielder Mix Diskerud helped solidify a midfield that is expected to improve once Frank Lampard arrives in the summer.

That is, if he arrives – another story for another day. But if it adds value to anything, maybe even another storyline to NYCFC’s inaugural season, both Villa and Mix have shown their appreciation for NYCFC and love being in NYC.

“Right now, I just have a message for all New Yorkers: New York City FC is your team,” Mix said at a jersey release event in Times Square Monday.

Roster wise, this team can compete, on paper, with the rest of their MLS this year.

During the Carolina Challenge Cup last weekend, NYCFC struggled to pick up wins against both Orlando City SC (pulling a 1-1 draw) and the Houston Dynamo (losing 2-1) in their first action against MLS teams. Throughout their five preseason matches, both of NYCFC’s wins, against St. Mirren and Carolina Challenge Cup host Charleston Battery, were against “lesser” opponents.

St. Mirren is toward the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table (6-3-19, 11th of 12 in Scottish Premiership) while Charleston, one of the better USL teams throughout the past few years, is a USL team not looking to make a move to MLS anytime soon.

In their losses to Bronsby at City Football Academy in Manchester, England and the Houston Dynamo, NYCFC struggled to create scoring chances and, especially against Houston, saw a backline that struggled against the cross inside the box.

With all of that said, anything is possible with this team. Considering the fact that they’re backed by Manchester City, NYCFC has all of the support they need to have a successful inaugural season.

Realistically, New York City could go as far as the conference semifinals, which would be a great first step in their MLS journey. They have big-name designated players, a top-notch coach who has built a team from scratch before and solid young talent.

Whether or not they raise a championship trophy in Yankee Stadium before the Yankees do will have to be seen.

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