Kicking It Old School: NYCFC II's 4-4-2
Matt Pilkington's tactical shift has propelled the Baby Blues to an improbable US Open Cup run, where they remain the last Division 3 club standing.
Throughout the history of New York City Football Club, there has been a strong inclination toward modernism in every aspect of the club. From its announcement, freshness, and innovation have been at the forefront of each press release. This progressive vision extends to the tactical setup of the team at every level.
New York City FC’s tactical approach can be boiled down to a few key elements. There is a focus on maintaining possession while progressing aggressively when the opportunity arises. Fullbacks are expected to contribute significantly in attack. The team maintains pressure with a high press. Above all, the formation epitomizes modern football: the Cruyff-inspired totaalvoetbal 4-3-3.
With relatively few exceptions, this has been the model the team has followed for its entire existence. There are occasional deviations, such as Callens' stint as an elbow back during the run-up to the 2022 playoffs, but these changes rarely last. If a player doesn’t fit the system, they are let go. For example, Malte Amundsen wasn’t dynamic enough to be an attacking left-back or physical enough for a center-back position, so he was sent to Columbus. There, he has proven to be one of the best passers in the league as an elbow-back center-back and assisted the winning goal in the MLS Cup.
For the first two years of NYCFC II’s existence, the playing system remained the same. Attacking wingers, a dynamic playmaking No. 10, and a lone striker provided continuity between first and second-team attacking systems. A devotion to playing the ball, even when it seemed counterintuitive, led to some painful losses but a lot of learning. Matt Pilkington, the manager, seemed content to let the system dictate the shape and approach.
In 2024, however, there has been a shift in the landscape. NYCFC II has taken on the role of underdog in multiple consecutive matches during its remarkable US Open Cup run, where it is the last Division 3 team standing. The mercurial nature of second-team roster building has led to a different interpretation of NYCFC’s core tactical roles. Consequently, the setup has become less progressive, morphing into a formation that echoes the primordial English setup: the 4-4-2.
Pilkington’s 4-4-2
As a young soccer player blessed with crusty old English coaches in a far-off former colony, the 4-4-2 was the first formation whose roles I learned by heart. It is easy to teach and easy to delineate. The wingers get up, the balls go long, and the defending is compact and combative. Movement tends to be vertical, and fancy passing is discouraged. It may be caveman soccer, but it has had its longevity for a reason. It just works.
It is opposite to the traditional NYCFC approach. Even an old Rochdale academy star like Pilkington must adapt to make it work in the modern era. His model departs from the traditional setup in several key areas, creating a blend of old and new ideas.
Big Man, Fast Man
Taylor Calheira and Jonathan “JJ” Jimenez operate as the striker pair. The classic 4-4-2 striker pairing features a target forward who receives deep progression and tries to flick on to his pacey partner, who in turn looks to run onto through balls.
Calheira, not the largest striker and not a target forward in college, has adapted admirably. The son of Baltimore Blast’s Brazilian indoor soccer star Audato Neto, he is technically gifted and able to control the ball in tight spaces despite aggressive coverage. He often plays deep, listed as a No. 10 in most formation graphics. His strength, technique and improvisational ability provide the focal point for the offense. His 59 progressive receptions comfortably lead the team.
Jimenez has played more consistently as a winger in prior seasons but never showed the next-level ability to break down opponents or provide effective service on the flanks. Along with CB Kwaku Owusu, he was downgraded in the offseason from a first-team to a second-team contract. With the change in approach, he has taken on the role of the “fast man” striker and has thrived. His pace and direct play have proven difficult for opponents to handle, especially when the threat of Calheira’s hold-up play forces CBs to choose between covering vertical spaces or stepping to the ball and leaving holes behind. He can attack CBs directly and threaten the goal, as he did against the Colorado Switchbacks.
The Role of the Wingers
The wingers are inverted, differing from the traditional 4-4-2 where wingers play on the side of their strong foot to get down the flanks and put in crosses. Instead, Maximo Carrizo plays on the right, and the opposite winger, either Jonathan Shore or Ronald Arevalo, takes position on the left.
This setup requires the fullbacks to be aggressive in providing overlaps. Andrew Baiera has been the most aggressive of the fullbacks, and his relationship with Carrizo has been notable. They seem to have a telepathic connection, with Baiera knowing exactly when to burst down the sideline to latch onto a through ball from Carrizo. Carrizo’s natural gravity and ability to hold off multiple defenders create huge lanes for Baiera.
Ronald Arevalo has not seen the field as much as some other options, but when he does, he’s been one of the most dynamic players in the league. His aggressive ball-carrying can catch defenders off guard and leave them scrambling to cover his direct runs. His xG+xA/96 of 1.18 leads the entire team, providing attacking verve that can sometimes be lacking in the 4-4-2.
Could This Be a Solution for The First Team?
The 4-4-2 is well suited for teams that cannot play the modern, expansive game the 4-3-3 requires. For a team that has been the underdog in four straight US Open Cup matches, it has provided an excellent platform to absorb pressure while reliably generating danger on fewer attacks. Playing against USL Championship sides has forced the Boys in Blue to surrender possession more often than usual and be ready to handle immediate pressure on the ball in the defensive third. This setup has allowed individual talent to shine while stabilizing the defense and simplifying the responsibilities of each player.
It’s no secret that the first team is one of the youngest in the league. At times, the offense can come to a halt as every player looks confused about how best to break down the opponent. Could Pilkington’s 4-4-2 be used as a potential tactic against teams that bring pressure? The vertical nature of the setup allows for an instant release that can help avoid disaster.
Would it work with the current personnel? It would force Santi Rodriguez to play out wide, but that could give him more space and freedom in transition. Hannes Wolf has played admirably this season and could fill the role that Maximo Carrizo fits in the reserves. It also simplifies the rotation; Agustin Ojeda and Malachi Jones would be the natural backups to Santi, and Julian Fernandez could easily play on the right.
The big question is the forward position. Mounsef Bakrar is one of the fastest and most physical forwards in the league, but his finishing woes are well-documented, and he cannot comfortably play in combination. Martinez also has pace but seems easily marked out of the game when not coming in as a substitute. A shift in approach would require a center forward who can play a more withdrawn role and hold up play while still combining with his teammates. This player wouldn’t need to be a vertical threat, as Bakrar would help keep defenses honest with his pace.
There might be three possible answers to this problem. First, there’s the current striker backup Jovan Mijatovic. Although he looked underwhelming in the last Open Cup fixture against the Switchbacks, he was tasked with playing the more vertical striker role on a strained adductor and looked uncomfortable in his partnership with Calheira. Calheira himself could be a potential first-team option; he’s been the team’s best attacker over the whole season and already knows the role.
The radical third option is Talles Magno. Magno at center forward probably causes reflexive agony in NYCFC fans, but there’s a case for it. Magno is immensely strong and capable in hold-up play. He is an excellent passer and can find space for himself on the dribble. As a lone striker, he doesn’t have the pace to keep defenders honest, allowing them to deny him lanes and double-team him to cause turnovers. Pair him with Bakrar, and now they have to worry about the space behind. Magno is excellent at drifting all over the field and combining with teammates, and can easily play in teammates on either wing. It has been a challenge for Cushing to make the best of the young Brazilian, but this could unlock his potential. ❧
Image: Winslow Homer, Pulling the Dory
Really perceptive piece.