St. Louis CITY SC went all-in at the transfer deadline. Now comes the hard part: figuring out who actually plays.
CITY made the biggest move in club history, acquiring Rafael Navarro from Colorado for a club-record $12 million and giving the 26-year-old Brazilian striker a Designated Player slot. Navarro arrives with 38 MLS goals, including 10 this season, and immediately becomes the true No. 9 CITY has been searching for.
But he wasn't the only addition.
CITY also brought in 6'4" USMNT forward Damion Downs on loan from Southampton and added 22-year-old midfielder Charles-Emile Brunet from Nashville, suddenly giving Yoann Damet a lot more options heading into the stretch run.
So what happens now?
Simon Becher has scored in four consecutive matches and leads CITY with 11 MLS goal contributions. Carlo Holse just scored his first CITY goal. Navarro has to play. Downs gives CITY another completely different look up top.
Do we finally see two forwards? Does Becher slide underneath Navarro? Does Holse finally start? And most importantly...
Conrad Wallem has to sit.
Yes, he picked up another assist against Dallas. But after another rough overall performance, Bright has seen enough. Kev isn't convinced Damet agrees.
Then it's on to the biggest test yet.
CITY takes its 13-match unbeaten run north of the border to face first-place Vancouver at BC Place. The Whitecaps enter 13-4-4 with 43 points, an 8-2-1 home record and one of the most dangerous attacks in MLS. CITY is still looking for its first-ever win at BC Place.
But Vancouver also played a Canadian Championship semifinal on Wednesday, so can CITY take advantage of the shorter turnaround?
Bright and Kev break down:
⚽ The $12 million Navarro signing
⚽ Damion Downs and CITY's suddenly crowded attack
⚽ Whether Becher and Navarro can play together
⚽ Why Holse needs to start
⚽ Why Wallem needs to come out of the XI
⚽ Vancouver's dangerous attack and first-place form
⚽ CITY being given only a 14% chance to win
⚽ What a road draw would mean
⚽ And whether CITY can actually steal all three points
Plus, we go back to the infuriating 3-3 draw against Dallas.
CITY led 3-1 after 64 minutes before conceding in the 81st and 90+7th minute, turning what should have been three huge points into one. We get into the substitutions that never came, the controversial handball, seven minutes of stoppage time, officiating frustration and why this absolutely felt like two points thrown away.
Predictions: Bright: 2-2 draw... but only if Wallem sits.
Kev: CITY 3-2.
🎙️ CITY SC Posse Ep26: CITY Went All-In: Navarro Is Here, Vancouver Is Next & Wallem Must Sit
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