#NYCvHOU Match Thread, notes, & how to watch

My output is in decline
I was burned out after Thatcher
My banner I laid down with a sigh
Now I doubt if I'll ever catch her

-- Belle & Sebastian, "Step into My Office, Baby" (2003)

Mired in the cruel trappings of a ten-game winless run, New York City FC is not a model of workplace productivity.

Luckily, despite the best efforts of a clueless security and law enforcement apparatus, the fans aren't laying down their banners just yet.

Take heed, ye sky blues. It's another workday. Time to clock in.

If anyone in Major League Soccer is struggling nearly as mightily as NYCFC, it's Owen Coyle's Dynamo squad. Honestly, the H-town boys make fitting doppelgangers for the Bronx Blues:

• Both teams competed at the preseason Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston.
• The opposing managers -- Jason Kreis and Owen Coyle -- are fortysomething former players with over 100 career goals scored.
• New York City ranks worst in the league with five one-goal losses, while Houston has suffered four.
• Both have gone scoreless in five separate games this year.
• Each captain -- David Villa and Brad Davis -- is a veteran international that has missed noticeable time due to injury.

Indeed, these teams are practically bosom buddies, but not the good kind, like you want.

Who will blink first in the Bronx?

WEEK IN REVIEW

It's been a busy week here at Hudson River Blue! Here's what happened:

• Our fearless leader dished on the Bronx Blues' 2-0 road loss in Utah.
• Jordan Kessler took the temperature of NYCFC's embattled supporters at a watch party in Brooklyn.
• We rolled up the finest stats in the land to tell the story of New York City's first dozen games.
• A new columnist made her HRB debut to much fanfare.

INJURY REPORT

New York City:

OUT: Javier Calle (right quad strain), Josh Williams (left adductor strain)

QUESTIONABLE: R.J. Allen (right quad strain), Jeb Brovsky (right quad strain), Ned Grabavoy (pelvic injury), Chris Wingert (right hamstring irritation)

Houston:

DOUBTFUL: Brad Davis (right knee bone bruise)

QUESTIONABLE: David Horst (right knee MCL sprain)

HOW TO WATCH

To find the YES Network on your dial, CLICK HERE.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS

New York City:

Houston:

RUNNIN' THE NUMBERS

• 14: The longest winless streak for an expansion team, set by the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011. New York City's streak reached ten games last weekend in Sandy.
• 5: One-goal losses for NYCFC, the most in MLS. Houston and Chicago both have four.
• 350: League appearances for Dynamo captain Brad Davis, which ranks sixth all-time in MLS. Davis is doubtful tonight with a knee injury.
  
• 0.75: Goals scored per game by New York City (nine in twelve).
• 9: Minutes played by New York City, out of a possible 1080, without Chris Wingert. He was subbed off in the 81st minute last weekend against Real Salt Lake, and is questionable tonight with a tweaked hamstring.
  

POTENT QUOTABLES

• New York City manager Jason Kreis on playing from behind: "We’re in a familiar territory where we come back at halftime [vs. Real Salt Lake] and we’re down 1-0. … We allow a goal that probably we need to look at how it happens and we need to sort it out. We’re just allowing too many goals against us at the moment."
• Kreis on returning to his old Salt Lake stomping grounds for the first time: "It was odd to look out at all those players and see that they were opponents and not my players. I tried to enjoy it as much as I could, and certainly that's not going to be much when you lose 2-0."
  
• Dynamo gaffer Owen Coyle on last week's heartbreaking stoppage-time defeat to L.A. Galaxy: "It can be a cruel, cruel game. We have to pick ourselves up and we go again."
  
• NYC defender Connor Brandt on putting all the pieces together: "I think we just need to push each other in training. We actually just talked about that in a team meeting, that we probably need to be on each other a little bit more in training to get better, and hopefully it will show in the games."
• Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric on the mental letdown in the final minutes last week: I don’t remember [Los Angeles] having too many clear-cut chances on goal. I really didn’t have too many saves to make. That’s why it’s unfortunate to lose the way we did."
  

AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE FROM THE BEASTIE BOYS

MATCH THREAD RULES

Welcome back! We're glad you're here! Wipe your feet, mind the gap, and be sure to check out the other pages at this outstanding site. While you're here, though, we have a few rules and regulations.

Finally, while we don't have a rule against profanity, any language that is sexist, racist, or homophobic in nature will be swiftly deleted. Most importantly, though: HAVE FUN, tip your wait staff, and remind those Texans how city slickers really roll.