Hudson River Blue Podcast

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  • 4.9 (10)
  • SOCCER
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Hudson River Blue Podcast looks at soccer from a New York City perspective. We cover everything from NYCFC and MLS, to European giants and global fútbol, to lower-league clubs in the Tri-State Area. If you want angry boys shouting about managers and refs, this isn't for you: We're here to inform you, and to keep it fun.

  1. 5D AGO

    NYCFC wins again in Philly, front office gets candid about transfers

    It was as wild a win as wins get for New York City FC in their second match of the 2026 season, so this episode begins with lots to be said about the last-gasp 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union. That includes some choice words about the controversial refereeing decisions that influenced the match, from two contentious penalty-kick decisions to the quick-trigger second yellow card that reduced the Union to 10 players shortly before Tayvon Gray's dramatic winning goal. Gray is one of a few players we zoom in on, including Agustín Ojeda and his match-winning assist, and Keaton Parks in his first Starting XI appearance since May 4, 2025. Following a thorough unpacking of the Philly win, the episode switches gears and focuses on the wide-ranging, eye-opening interview given this week by NYCFC president and CEO Brad Sims. We digest some of the biggest things shared by Sims, including why Etihad Park is opening in July 2027 instead of during the 14-match mini-season held next spring, some of the ins and outs of how New York City FC executes player scouting and transfers while inside the City Football Group apparatus, and that the club still might sign a high-priced Designated Player during the current MLS Primary Transfer Window. To wrap up this jam-packed episode, it's a preview of the 2026 home opener against Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium. Orlando is winless and looking far less dangerous than their 2025 selves, and NYCFC is off to a rare unbeaten start through their first two games: Is confidence too high, or just right heading into the season's first home match? Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 4m

  2. FEB 25

    Takeaways from NYCFC's season-opening draw

    New York City FC started the 2026 season with a 1-1 draw vs LA Galaxy, a slightly frustrating but respectable result while playing thousands of miles away from home. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh all agree that the Galaxy game served as another reminder of how badly New York City FC needs to sign a new striker or versatile forward to fill in at the No 9 while Alonso Martínez rehabs from his knee injury. The NYCFC striker situation once again is a big topic of discussion, with Nico Fernández Mercau getting the start at striker vs the Galaxy and enjoying a strong game with a penalty-kick goal scored, but all while not playing like much of a true center-forward. We break down Nico's role and tendencies against the Galaxy and wonder what could make Pascal Jansen turn to Talles Magno or promising 17-year-old Seymour Reid while searching for the team's ideal answer at striker. After diving in deep on the Galaxy match, the pod's attention shifts to NYCFC's soon-to-open soccer-specific stadium and the announcement that Etihad Park will first open for the Summer-Spring portion of the 2027/28 MLS calendar. Is it a wise move for the new stadium to entirely skip the brief 14-match "Sprint Season" MLS has planned for the early part of 2027? With one point on the board, NYCFC's season-opening road trip now shifts to Chester, Pennsylvania, and a Matchday 2 clash with Philadelphia Union. It's a very different-looking Union team from the one NYCFC dispatched to reach the MLS Eastern Conference Final last November, so we lay out what to expect as New York City reacquaints with one of the club's biggest rivals. Listen to this super-sized, season-opening podcast, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 3m

  3. FEB 18

    Previewing and predicting what's in store for NYCFC in 2026

    It's a big season preview episode involving bold predictions made about New York City FC and the players we expect to play big roles during the 2026 season. Before the predicting and previewing, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh put a bow on the preseason. There was one final Coachella Valley Invitational friendly played, and there were many updates about the health of some key members of the NYCFC squad shared by Pascal Jansen. After catching up on the state of the team as preseason ends, we move into season preview mode, and that involves laying down some bold predictions about the season ahead. We each share where we think New York City FC will finish in the Eastern Conference standings, then all call out our choices for who will be NYCFC's top goal-scorer, breakout player, and overall Player of the Season, across the entirety of the 2026 campaign. The big-picture predictions finished, this episode wraps up with our first match preview of the 2026 season, a look ahead to the inaugural Justin Haak Derby when NYCFC plays LA Galaxy. You might know all about Justin Haak already, but he wasn't the only big roster addition made by the Galaxy this offseason. We cover the new faces and dangers posed by LA and each try to predict how we see this first meaningful match of 2026 playing out. Listen to this super-sized, season-opening podcast, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 11m

  4. FEB 11

    What the preseason matches tell us about the state of NYCFC's roster

    The New York City FC preseason is nearing its conclusion and the Coachella Valley Invitational friendlies are happening, giving us more and more clues about how Pascal Jansen might line his team up when the 2026 season kicks off on February 22 in Southern California. To start this episode, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh revisit the 1-1 draw between NYCFC and LAFC to open the Coachella slate. The review includes some analysis of the first Coachella Starting XI rolled out by Jansen, a lineup that included usual defender Kevin O'Toole as a defensive midfielder. Nico Fernández Mercau scored in a second straight preseason friendly, but this time while playing as the team's starting center-forward. The pod is bullish on a Nico breakout in 2026 during his first full MLS season, and his performance during preseason is reinforcing that bullishness. While Nico is looking good in preseason, some key players have been looking on from the sidelines while injured and unavailable to feature in any of New York City FC's preparatory friendlies. It's easy to wonder about how the New York City FC midfield will hold up while both Aiden O'Neill and Jonny Shore are out recovering from injuries, and it's similarly easy to wonder why Talles Magno has seemed so absent since playing that friendly at Austin FC earlier this month. To wrap things up, there are some serious and judgmental takes offered about NYCFC's new 2026/27 away kit, the All Nations Kit. The show has generally positive feelings about the new jersey, but it's not all must-cop sunshine and roses for the new shirt, which gets explained as part of our animated discussion on the pros and cons of those All Nations Kits. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    55 min

  5. FEB 4

    Where the failed Moussa Sylla transfer leaves NYCFC

    Moussa Sylla of FC Schalke 04 looked all set to become a Designated Player striker signing for New York City FC, but instead of wrapping the transfer up, the move went up in smoke and in dramatic and contentious fashion. The first portion of this episode is spent unpacking all the dramatic twists of the Sylla transfer saga. This is the first time in recent memory a New York City FC transfer fell apart due to a medical exam, so there's lots discussed about this Sylla medical, and about Schalke and their fans having very strong and very anti-NYCFC reactions to the transfer breaking down. A ripple effect of Sylla not signing is that it now remains an open and unanswered question of where New York City FC will turn next, to the transfer market or to their own roster, as they try to find a solution at striker to hold them over until Alonso Martínez is healthy again. After lots of Sylla talk, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh shift to some preseason observations coming out of NYCFC's friendly against Austin FC, and as the team sits on the verge of starting the Coachella Valley Invitational. What players and positions on the roster are we keeping closer eyes on as the preseason games start ramping up, and as the MLS regular season draws closer? Finally, we can't overlook the one big signing that New York City FC did successfully make this week: Sky Scraper, the team's new pigeon mascot. How are we feeling about the club's new big bird in not-quite-Timberlands? Opinions are mixed and varied, but there are plenty of opinions to be had about MLS mascots and Sky joining their ranks. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    54 min

  6. JAN 28

    What signing striker Moussa Sylla, defender Kai Trewin means for NYCFC

    Transfer business has picked up at New York City FC, so this episode is almost entirely about roster comings and goings. The biggest NYCFC move is the first one covered, as hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney, plus producer Andrew Leigh, discuss the new Designated Player striker reportedly heading to New York City FC, Moussa Sylla of FC Schalke 04 in Germany's 2.Bundesliga. We wonder how Sylla's prolific goal numbers from the second divisions in France and Germany will translate to MLS, speculate how this new-look New York City attack might line up once Sylla is in the fold, and cover how Sylla fits on a roster now maxed out on its Designated Players. Sylla's arrival isn't 100% confirmed just yet, but NYCFC did officially announce the signing of Kai Trewin, the versatile Australian central defender and midfielder from fellow City Football Group side Melbourne City FC. Is Trewin the ideal Justin Haak replacement, and what might his best position be once he settles into life playing under Pascal Jansen? The first half of the episode is all about new players joining the NYCFC roster, while the second half is about players leaving or getting even further removed from the NYCFC roster. First, there's Julián Fernández heading back to Argentina to join Rosario Central on a year-long loan. While in past episodes the pod gang was on the fence about whether or not it was wise to part with Fernández, the pending arrival of Sylla and the continued presence of Talles Magno has changed a few minds about the importance of keeping Julián around for another season. Fernández will join another former highly-regarded U22 Initiative signing, Jovan Mijatović, on the list of loaned-out NYCFC players. Mijatović, though, is about to head to yet another different non-NYCFC team on loan, as he's set to terminate his loan to OH Leuven in Belgium early in order to join Eintracht Braunschweig in the 2.Bundesliga in Germany. It's been nothing but struggle for Mijatović since his club-record transfer to New York City FC, and we wonder if the two moves made by former U22 Initiative signings, coupled with the different age and career profiles of the recently-signed new players, indicates a shift in transfer philosophy on the part of New York City FC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    59 min

  7. JAN 21

    Todd Dunivant meets the media, Julián Fernández transfer rumors swirl

    The new New York City FC Sporting Director held his first press conference this week, so Episode 73 starts with a healthy dose of Todd Dunivant discussion. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh dissect some of Dunivant's first statements to the press in search of hints of what he might do now that he's in charge of NYCFC's soccer decision-making. Is a goal-scoring forward going to be his first priority on the transfer market, and is Talles Magno really going to factor into the team's 2026 plans? Questions that didn't outright get answered by Dunivant, but questions that left us trying to read more tea leaves. After talking Todd, it's time to talk transfer rumors. More and more reports keep popping up about Julián Fernández potentially leaving New York City during this winter transfer window. São Paulo FC in Brazil and now Rosario Central in Argentina supposedly want to sign Fernández on loan with an option to buy him, but the pod crew remains unconvinced that this is the right time to part ways with the 21-year-old attacker. We wrap up the episode by taking a glimpse at the downright scary 2026 Inter Miami CF roster taking shape down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The reigning MLS Cup champions shored up in net by signing the Goalkeeper of the Year, replaced the retired Jordi Alba with a former Tottenham Hotspur FC and Spain left back, and are on the verge of adding firepower at striker in the form of a $15 million transfer for Germán Berterame from CF Monterrey. Their squad looks insane on paper and we're already wondering if anyone can keep Inter Miami away from the trophies next season. Listen to the episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 1m

  8. JAN 15

    Maxi Moralez returns, Talles Magno makes the NYCFC preseason roster

    It's an episode of comings and goings as the New York City FC preseason gets started. Episode 72 starts with a discussion of legendary midfielder Maxi Moralez coming back for another season in 2026, still going strong as he nears his 39th birthday. Was it the right move to bring back Moralez for another season, and can we expect him to still be as ever-present in 2026 as he was in 2025? While Maxi will be there next season, it increasingly sounds like fullback Mitja Ilenič won't be with NYCFC much longer, as the 21-year-old Slovenian was left off the club's traveling roster for preseason and is reportedly getting loaned out to a club in Poland. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh wonder if Ilenič got enough opportunities during his time in New York, and wonder if a move to Raków Częstochowa, reportedly only a loan with an option to buy, is the right one. Preseason is prime time for player rumors and the Ilenič chatter isn't the only transfer talk this episode, as we also cover a report that winger Julián Fernández is wanted on loan by São Paulo FC in Brazil. Do we buy this as a plausible move, and are we ready to give up on Julián after parts of three up-and-down seasons in New York? We wrap up this week's show by talking through the highlights from NYCFC's traveling preseason roster, namely that prodigal son Talles Magno is back with the team and officially taking part in the 2026 preseason. For a second straight episode, we wonder: Will this Talles-NYCFC reunion actually stick, and might he contribute in MLS this season? We also each shout out NYCFC players we're excited to keep tabs on throughout this preseason, from an injured midfielder making his comeback to a promising teenaged striker possibly filling Alonso Martínez's shoes. Listen to the episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Hudson River Blue Podcast looks at soccer from a New York City perspective. We cover everything from NYCFC and MLS, to European giants and global fútbol, to lower-league clubs in the Tri-State Area. If you want angry boys shouting about managers and refs, this isn't for you: We're here to inform you, and to keep it fun.

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