The 2024 holiday wish list for NYCFC | OneFootball

The holiday season is here and so is the offseason for New York City FC. The Pigeons have not brought in any new signings as of yet but they have seen some players depart the club, including goalkeeper Luis Barraza. In addition, Nick Cushing is no longer the head coach. As a result, the Pigeons are searching for their sixth coach after ten years of Major League Soccer play.

The team will also want to improve from 2024, for finishing in sixth place in the Eastern Conference was not good enough. Fans expect better competition and stronger performances from the players too. One can only hope the Bronx side is back to their usual selves as they head into the new year.

Since it is the holiday season, it is a time for celebrating with family and friends. It is also a time wishes are made for the future, and this can include NYCFC.

Here are some wishes for NYCFC as the club heads into 2025.

NYCFC's 2024 holiday wishes

1. The first wish is for NYCFC to sign a better head coach. Cushing sadly was not good enough and overstayed in New York City. As such, the club must sign someone who is better tactically and can develop the young forwards that the former head coach failed to do so. They need someone that will not cause strife with players like Cushing did with Maxime Chanot and Talles Magno. The pressure is on for the club to find that coach.

2. The second wish is for Maxi Moralez to return for one more season with the Pigeons. If this happens, then fans will be extremely happy. The club did say they are talking with him about the future, so hopefully, Moralez will be back.

3. An easy wish to make is for NYCFC to progress beyond the Conference Semifinals that saw them eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs by the New York Red Bulls.

4. That is why the next wish is for the Boys in Blue to win every Hudson River Derby in 2025.

5. One wish is for the Pigeons to sign a big-name European star who could be one of the best players in MLS. This was a desire in the last offseason, but sadly nobody was signed. Skyscraper Blues put out some suggestions, including Robert Lewandowski. It is more likely such a signing would be made over the summer, but bringing a high-caliber player and star from Europe would be a positive move to make in 2025.

6. Another wish is for Jovan Mijatović to establish himself in 2025. The striker was playing well in Serbia before he joined NYCFC. His struggles did not make sense since he is a player many see playing in one of the top European leagues in the future. He was the big signing in 2024 and possibly Cushing was part of why he struggled so much. If Mijatović can find his stride and if Alonso Martínez continues to score, then NYCFC can be fearsome in the attack.

7. The final wish is for the team to play better on the road. Away games have been a problem for the Pigeons. They did win more games away from home in 2024, for they won four compared to the lone win in 2023. Still, NYCFC needs to earn more points on the road to climb further up the table in 2025.