Matchday 14 Preview: New York Red Bulls
Matchday 14 Preview: New York Red Bulls
2019 MLS Regular Season Match
Nippert Stadium – Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, May 25, 2019 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Star64, FloSports, ESPN+ (Out of Market), MSG, MSG Go
There was a point in time when MLS wanted everyone to call this team Red Bull New York. But now, I guess we call them the New York Red Bulls. This is a dumb name for a team. I say that as someone who was a fan of Futbol Club Cincinnati. One day, the New York Cosmos and New York Red Bulls will merge into one club, with a shared history and record book, and all under the name and colors of the Cosmos. And it'll be dope. Until then, we have the Red Bulls.
I don't want to talk about last week for FCC.
Form
FC Cincinnati has won one game in their last 5, including a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls. FCC has been outscored 10-3 in this run of games. They also fired their manager.
The New York Red Bulls have won three, lost one, and drawn one in their last five games. The draw was a 2-2 affair with Vancouver that makes you scratch your head about this Red Bull team. They’re probably better than their record, which is a scary thought. But they keep slipping up against bad teams. Which they just so happen to be playing this weekend!
Also Philly did this, presumably at the NYRB, so their egos have really taken a hit this week.
Is it obvious I just figured out how to embed things in the website?
Storyline
The Red Bulls are doing fine this year. But you’d never know that by looking at the media coverage about them. Now that probably has something to do with the fact that they were the best team in MLS history last year. No, wait, that’s the vast majority it. Chris Armas, the manager, thinks things are going fine, and the fans disagree. It must be really hard being a massive market team with a fantastic soccer stadium, a history of winning, and massive bank account to bring in soccer legends. You really feel for their fans.
FC Cincinnati made a weird decision to bring back Alan Koch to manage the last game. Or at the very least they played Orlando like he had been. Hopefully being back at home the team plays like they did against Montreal, tight passing to maintain possession and attacking flow, and have the team pass their way out of the NYRB press.
Players You Should Know or Might Know
Cristian Cásseres Jr, FWD
Last time FC Cincinnati faced the Red Bulls, I wrote about Bradley Wright-Philips and how some young gun names Cristian Cásseres Jr would be coming for his job. And he did. And he’s been fantastic. The 19 year old Venezuelan has two goals and an assist this year. While Brian White is the team’s leading goal scorer, for my money Cásseres has been the better overall player. And a young attacking player in Nippert? Expect him to score.
Luis Robles, GK
Robles is another in a long line of overlooked and disrespected American goalkeepers in MLS. While he did get a few random appearances with the national team, he never caught on. And with Howard and Guzan in front of him most of his career, it does make sense. Robles is a fantastic shot stopper. In an era where goalkeepers are being judged on their passing abilities, something Robles lacks, he does not come immediately to mind when thinking of the best in the league. But if someone is ripping a worm-burner from the 18, you want this guy in net.
Sean Davis, MID
There is a fantastic quote from Vicente del Bosque about Sergio Busquets saying “You watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game”. It’s one of those beautiful soccer quotes that gives me chills when I think about it. Now, MASSIVE CAVEAT HERE, Davis isn’t Busquets. Shocking. But the spirit of the quote is true. Davis has played a ton this year and is fantastic with tight short passing to keep the ball moving in Armas’s hybrid press-posses system. He won’t be lighting up the scoreboard or putting in crunching tackles, just making sure everything keeps moving how its supposed to. He is great in the air though. Casually watching the game, you’ll miss him. Watching Davis, you’ll see how complicated the NYRB system is.
Potential Lineup
I am going to keep asking for Saief, Adi, Lamah up top until it happens. Remember how this team beat Atlanta back late into the game? The one where Adi had a goal called back for offsides even though he was on? And Lamah scored the late equalizer and it felt like a win? And then someone decided to print t-shirts about that game? That was Lamah-Adi-Saief. Give it to me.
Also, move Hoyte to left back, Hagglund to center back, and keep the midfield the same as the Montreal game. Richey in goal because he’s been fine.
Unavailable Players
FC Cincinnati
OUT: M - Jimmy McLaughlin (right ACL surgery)
OUT: D - Greg Garza (undisclosed injury)
QUESTIONABLE: M - Corben Bone (left shoulder injury)
QUESTIONABLE: M - Allan Cruz (left ankle injury)
Random Injury Prediction Because FCC Loves Hiding injuries: Bertone slipped in the shower and is a surprise scratch
New York Red Bulls
RED CARD SUSPENSION: D - Tim Parker
OUT: M - Florian Valot (torn ACL)
QUESTIONABLE: F - Bradley Wright-Phillips (groin injury)
QUESTIONABLE: D - Aaron Long (hamstring injury)
QUESTIONABLE: M - Vincent Bezecourt (knee injury)
QUESTIONABLE: M - Andreas Ivan (ankle injury)
Prediction:
FC Cincinnati win a late one, 2-1. The consistent passing of Damet’s system is enough to beat the press. Even with Garza out, we ought to have enough players back in the lineup to not have to make the same mistakes that were made in Orlando.