Position: Center-Forward
Age: 24
Key Stat: 8.01 touches in the opposition’s box per 90 minutes, in the 100th percentile for forwards per FotMob.
Watching Mounsef Bakrar last summer in a match against Orlando City, one New York City FC was favored to win against an underperforming Orlando side, it was more contentious than supporters of the Boys in Blue would have preferred.
An injury-time goal from Orlando provided some late match worries and a 3-2 scoreline, but Bakrar produced a goal that put his impressive technical ability on display for everyone in Yankee Stadium to witness.
OUR NUMBER 9. pic.twitter.com/Y0w7cCFzRR
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) June 29, 2024
While these moments of brilliance captivate you as a fan of the sport, it was not enough to distract from the fact that across his next fifteen MLS appearances, Bakrar only recorded 2 goals – ending up with four goals total in 35 appearances in all competitions. This resulted in him coming off the bench for a large portion of the 2024 campaign, but he presents qualities that new head coach Pascal Jansen will hope to utilize in the upcoming campaign.
Bakman and Robin
While Alonso Martínez is considered the “de facto starter” at the striker position according to Mark Radigan, it seems as though NYCFC’s No.9 could etch his name back into the starting line-up under Jansen.
In three of the four preseason matches of the Coachella Valley Invitational, Bakrar not only started but also managed a goal in NYCFC’s 3-1 win over San Diego FC. Starting alongside Martínez, it seems as though the pair will be playing off one another in Jansen’s system, a tactical decision I’m very excited to see develop this season.
While both Bakrar and Martínez play the same position, they have different strengths which could make this pairing all the more lethal. Martínez, as Radigan discusses in his preview, is as clinical as it gets in this league. An impressive 16 goals for a scoring rate that places him amongst all goalscorer in the league to Bakrar’s four total goals last season.
But, Bakrar has established himself away from his goalscoring ability. According to Football Observatory, Bakrar is considered the second most dynamic center-forward across 30 top leagues worldwide based on his distance covered and the percent of distance covered at high speed, ranking higher than the likes of Liverpool FC’s Darwin Nunez.
So while Bakrar’s clinical ability has not matched that of Martínez, the duo can combine to make a forward press and counterattacking opportunities become the bread and butter for more goals to come this season. Especially with his elite ability to maintain touches in the attacking third, many more opportunities can be had for Martínez and even Bakrar if they are able to keep the ball in their own half through pressure in the attacking half.
Third time’s the charm?
This season will be a major indicator regarding Bakrar’s future with the club. You want your forward players to be scoring goals, but the intangibles for forwards can be just as important, if not more.
The willingness to press and put pressure on the opposing team’s back line. The effort exerted to win the ball back for the team. These are a few examples of the many ways in which Bakrar not only contributes but, in addition to his flashes of technical ability, can be a pivotal player for this NYCFC squad looking for a second title push.
All he needs are more opportunities to gain experience and confidence in front of goal and it seems as though Jansen is willing to provide him with those chances during the 2025 season.
John Baney
“most dynamic” measured by the distance covered, sounds like, could also be a counter measurement to the efficiency & productivity when accompanied by number of the scores and direct/indirect assists, no? don’t get me wrong, i like this guy just like us all. work ethics and everything. maybe he’s not meant to be a striker. maybe he’s not meant to be a ‘lone’ striker. maybe he’s not meant to be a starter. stat tells us, no? the question for the new gaffer should be more like finding ‘where’ Bakrar fits in the aspect game of NYCFC than ‘whether’ he can become (or re-gain the designation of) the striker or not, IMO.