The Post caught up with ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman to talk about New York City FC’s early-season struggles, coach Domenec Torrent’s questionable decisions and if the Red Bulls are going through an identity crisis following a tough finish to their record-setting Supporters’ Shield season in 2018. (This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)

Q: NYCFC is winless in its first four games. The team has only three points and hasn’t really been a threat in any games. What exactly is going wrong for Dome Torrent and NYCFC?

A: The problems started with about six weeks to go in the regular season last year. I think [Patrick] Vieira brought a persona [and] style of play that gave the team confidence. It also gave the team belief. Make no bones about it – I don’t think Dome Torrent has done the same kind of thing. If you look at this team since he’s taken over, there’s been an uncertainty to the way they play. There’s been an uncertainty to the [starting] 11. They’ve looked completely different. When you really think about it, David Villa’s the only player that left of any significance. I don’t know if it’s the roster, to be honest. I am not totally sure it’s the roster. How Dome’s using the roster, the style of play – it just does not look like the same team they were going into the last 10 weeks of the season last year. They were within three points of winning the Supporters Shield. I don’t think it’s a personnel issue, I think it’s how the personnel is being used. I think it’s fair criticism if Dome’s being questioned because I do think he’s struggled. I think his struggles have been more than NYCFC brass and even Manchester City brass thought it would be.

Q: Alex Ring quickly established himself as one of MLS’ top No. 6s in the league. Yet this year, Torrent has opted for him at the No. 8. Ring can play there, but he’s not the same player that built himself as one of the league’s best defensive midfielders.



A: I would look at Alex Ring’s case and apply that to seven or eight others, I completely agree. Alex Ring, for me, I’ll use Patrick Vieira’s words to me: He’s the guy who cleans up everything. He allows the other guys to take chances going forward and when he can, he’s a very good player box-to-box. But first and foremost, he’s the guy who’s going to clean up a lot of plays for us. That’s literally what he said when he signed him. When he’s playing in a spot where he can clean up a lot of plays, they just don’t look like the same team. When you asked me the first question, David Villa is really the only player and David Villa didn’t look like the same player with Dome as he did with Patrick Vieira. During the playoff games last year with Atlanta, there’s an uncertainty with this team that you did not see when Vieira was in charge.

The identity is much different. I described Vieira as very stubborn, but a good stubborn, very similar to Tata Martino where they were going to play one way. They were going to play a special way whether they were winning 4-1 or losing 3-0. They were going to play one way and one way only. If you looked at the players and talked to the players about the way they play, that gives you some continuity and belief in the style of the play. I just don’t see that. I haven’t seen that since Vieira left.

Q: Jonathan Lewis is an interesting player. He doesn’t play that often, but when he does he’s exciting. He’s on the map with the US men’s national team. How does he establish himself without grabbing significant minutes with NYCFC?

A: It’s extremely difficult. As a player, you can only control what you can control…Ultimately, if Jonathan Lewis isn’t playing games regularly, he has to move on. He has to find a place where he’s going to play. In saying that, I think Jonathan Lewis has to grow though. As a player, tactically from the opening whistle, from the beginning from his time in MLS, it’s always been a question. Vieira knew right away when he had him: He’s explosive, he’s dynamic, he’s a very good one-v-one player. Every time the ball is on his feet, something happens. He’s electric like that. But from the opening whistle, early on in his career you were uncertain about his tactical understanding and how to play in that decision. That’s where he has to grow.

You ultimately don’t know that until he’s given another chance. That’s where the pickle is. The problem for Jonathan Lewis is there’s multiple wide players playing in New York City’s system. Ultimately for Jonathan to grow and be that kind of player, I’m not sure it’s going to be at New York City. That’s up to him trying to get that opportunity, but if you don’t get that opportunity, you have to move on and find a place where you will get that opportunity.

I think we’re going to get an answer on Jonathan Lewis in the next 12 months, whether or not he’s in New York City or where that next move is. When scouts watch him at the end of a game, he catches your attention but the next question is: Why doesn’t he play from the beginning? That will always be the question. Jonathan needs to get games from the beginning to get rid of that , unless he’s a super-sub. Like I said in the broadcast, that’s not a bad thing but you just need to find a team that believes in you enough where that super-sub role is yours and it’s yours every single game. There in a nutshell is your career, but I’m not writing off Jonathan Lewis yet, either. I’d like to see him play 10 games in a row from the beginning and see that because how do you know if you haven’t really seen it.

I’m still not sold Jonathan Lewis can’t do it. I’d like to see and I’d like to see him get the opportunity for 65-70 minutes for 10-11 weeks… He’s got the ability one-v-one that very few players have. You can’t teach that.

Q: Are the Red Bulls experiencing a similar identity crisis? They’ve started the year slow.

A: The performance against Atlanta is the hangover. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s human nature. That kind of performance is the hangover…

There’s not the same life to the New York Red Bulls that you often see when they play. They’re obviously not scoring a ton of goals. Their only win is against San Jose. It just seems that this isn’t the same New York Red Bulls teams that we saw last year that we saw the previous years. Internally, they need to get over that hangover… I could be completely wrong, but I’ve been in locker rooms where players start to question [decisions]. It’s also the curse. The New York Red Bulls are that type of franchise where they get to the playoffs and can’t get over it. That’s what that looks like to me. I think [Florian] Valot’s injury is a massive buzzkill because he was a very good player for them before he tore his ACL last year, then he tears his other this year. I’m not writing off the Red Bulls yet because the Red Bulls are the kind of team, for me, who in the blink of an eye can switch.

Q: Aaron Long has emerged as MLS’ top center back. He grabbed a few games as captain of the US men’s national team. Do you think he’s a candidate for the captain’s armband in the future?



A: Yes, I do. Right now, would I pick him to be my captain? He’s in my final three conversation, absolutely. Would I pick him? I’m not sure about that. I think Tyler Adams is the captain of the national team for a long time, if he wants it. Tyler Adams is also the type of player who doesn’t need an armband to lead. I’m impressed with Aaron Long with his hunger and wanting to succeed in every single game. A big part of that is look how it came. He got cut [and] he was playing the wrong position. Then the Red Bulls said, play center back and he’s named USL Defender of the Year, MLS Defender of the Year. Now we’re having a conversation for captain of the national team. I know he’s on the radar of many scouts. When you watch him play, he’s got real pace at the center back position. He can play the high-press and be comfortable one-v-one. He’s good. I’m a big fan of his because there’s a hunger in him to defend. I may be old school but if my two center backs are good defenders first, I think we’re in a good spot. Aaron Long is one of those.