International Call-ups And Injuries Leave Red Bulls Shorthanded For Trip To Columbus
by Ben Schneider on Mar 25, 2011 5:42 PM EDT
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After a solid opening-day win over the Seattle Sounders, the New York Red Bulls head out on the road to face the Columbus Crew this weekend, but they will have to do so without a number of key players. The Red Bulls' lone goalscorer in this young season, Juan Agudelo (also 2011's first MLS Goal of the Week winner), has been called up as part of the USA squad to face Argentina, along with fellow New York youngster Tim Ream. Sacir Hot will be with the US U-20s, Rafael Márquez and Mexico take on Paraguay and Venezuela, Dane Richards has been called up by Jamaica, and Bouna Coundoul is off to play for Senegal.
In addition to a debilitating set of international absentees, Thierry Henry is out with a hamstring strain, Jan Gunnar Solli and Roy Miller are both recovering (and likely to play) after the same injury, and Greg Sutton will miss the game because of a concussion. That means even a best-case scenario would have New York missing six of its eleven starters from the game against Seattle.
The Red Bulls will be particularly thin at striker and in defense; now that the club has waived Salou Ibrahim, it appears that Luke Rodgers and Corey Hertzog will both make their MLS debuts on Saturday, and that at least two of the Red Bulls' back four will be playing out of position (probably Roy Miller at centerback and Solli at right back).
Sutton's injury left New York without a goalkeeper for the game this weekend, so former University of Wisconsin 'keeper Alex Horwath was signed on Friday and will start against Columbus. Former NC State centerback Tyler Lassiter has also been signed; Hans Backe has said that he is already ahead of Tim Ream in his development...yet somehow he's not good enough to start on Saturday.
All of this squad disruption means that the Red Bulls will look very different against Columbus as they try to avoid defeat at Crew Stadium for the first time since opening day in 2007. Horwath will start in goal, with Danleigh Borman at left back, Miller and Mendes in the middle, and Solli on the right. Mehdi Ballouchy, Teemu Tainio, and Joel Lindpere will be joined by Tony Tchani in midfield, with Rodgers and Hertzog up top.
Probably unfortunately considering that lineup, the game against the Crew will be on MSG+ at 4 PM, even though the Red Bulls have yet to sign a full-season TV deal for 2011.
On the other hand, Columbus look like the best possible opponents for a team missing so many key players: after a torrid pre-season, they fell 3-1 to DC United in their opening game of the season. The Red Bulls deservedly lost both games against Columbus last season, but will have hope of improving their record with at least a draw this weekend.
We had a few technical problems last week, but there will be a GameThread going here on Once A Metro for your (well, at least my) Roy Miller complaints and general discussion during the match tomorrow afternoon. Given the many absences a victory for New York looks distinctly unlikely, but they're not very good either so a point should be within reach.
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Absurd. The MLS can’t find a way to schedule around the international matches? Realistically, many of the top players and designated players would be out of the line-ups to back their national sides. The MLS needs those top players to keep people interested in the league, eh?
I read last week that RBNY will have the most players missing this weekend. So, perhaps that’s why I’m saying I dislike the result here. All the same, the MLS should think about that as they schedule next year.
by Alan Wright on Mar 25, 2011 8:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
They really should… it hurts the team and certainly hurts the game and the league. They will be dressing what will more or less be a “B” squad for a game that gets put on television when they are trying to negotiate a deal to get the season televised. Can only hope it shows some good depth. Quite the trial by fire though for some of the back-up players (and a huge trial by fire for a freshly signed ’keeper).
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
quick question
Are you more impressed with the structure and fans of the Prudential Center/ Devils or Red Bull Arena/ Rangers? Obviously, I’d like to see NJD fans more raucous and loud. A perennial problem.
by Alan Wright on Mar 25, 2011 11:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Oops. I meant Red Bull Arena/ RB fans.
by Alan Wright on Mar 25, 2011 11:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’ve been to a few games at the Prudential Center and am always a little disappointed by the lack of energy and enthusiasm in the building compared to MSG (not mean to be an insult but rarely do I hear the Prudential Center get as loud as MSG). It is hard to do a pan-sport and compare Red Bull Arena’s noise to the Prudential Center’s noise. The Red Bull fanbase is, admittedly, very modest compared to other sports teams in the NY/NJ area. When you look at how great the fanbase is in Seattle and how loud they can get their stadium it turns you (rave?) green with envy.
I would say that soccer fans have an edge in terms of making noise because they are well-known for it, few sports have fans singing songs that everyone knows the words or at least melody to. To answer your question in a succinct way- I can’t make an educated observation having not been to Red Bull Arena (yet). But I am always very impressed by the noise generated in all soccer arenas, including the Red Bull Arena. But there is nothing like actually being there and hearing it firsthand.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
I had a feeling you’d say something like that. about Prudential Center. The Devils are, perennially, the underdog-newcomer in the region despite their successes. At Continental/ IZOD, their arena lacked class, appeal, and public transit. Now, at Prudential they have public transit access… but still nothing like MSG and the generations of fans the Rangers have.
The reason I’ve mentioned them is that both the Devils and Red Bull are NJ-based teams which suffer in a very crowded sports marketplace, and which are still trying to find themselves a geographic connection to both their home site, the dominant local sports teams, and their realistic question where their fans live.
Also: the press. The New York press gives more time to A-Rod’s dating habits than to hockey or soccer generally.
Fair point.
I think the Red Bulls struggle with something very different than the Devils however. The sport itself isn’t in the mainstream for the country, while you can debate that hockey shares that ignominious honor I don’t think you can compare the popularity of the MLS to the NHL.
Having a tradition of being in the region like the New York Rangers have, in addition to public transportation access, is a huge advantage for fan support and filling a stadium. One of those things isn’t something you can spend money on to add to your club. Ensuring you can get people to attend games is a big part of filling the seats.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Yep, trial by fire is right.
Fortunately it’s an away game, so local fans will probably be distracted by other international games, including USA-Argentina that very night. If both were in town at the same time, you could either get a very exciting day of soccer… or a depleted local team with a depleted crowd.
by Alan Wright on Mar 25, 2011 11:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Fair point, hoping that Agudelo gets some time on the field for the US club and shows just how good he is at his young age.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
But if he does that
he’s more likely to get called up this summer for the Gold Cup…
SBNation.com Soccer Contributor (Bundesliga, EPL)
Manager, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Mar 26, 2011 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Are you saying you want him to perform poorly at the international level? ;)
I think the experience and eventual confidence of playing against some of the best players and defenders in the world will be great for him and his development.
It would help if the MLS removed their heads from unmentionable places and arranged the schedule so that players (especially American players) don’t have to miss club games.
I say especially American players because of how difficult it is for many American soccer fans to embrace international players, at least that is something I have noticed. I for one don’t really care if you can speak English or if you have a thick French accent, if you have magic feet and can help the club win, I’m happy to have you playing for my team.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
MLS has done a good job with a lot of things
but this is not among them. Not scheduling around internationals is dumb, looks arrogant, and is disrespectful to the fans.
SBNation.com Soccer Contributor (Bundesliga, EPL)
Manager, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Mar 25, 2011 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely short-sighted. To grow the league/ sport here, you have to earn fans and their support. This weekend could even be a lot of throwaway games. Let’s hope of none of the results are decisive to the final standings for, say, a team with 7 starters out.
by Alan Wright on Mar 25, 2011 11:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That means even a best-case scenario would have New York missing six of its eleven starters from the game against Seattle.
I knew it was going to be bad but more than half of the starters out? Didn’t the boys stretch out their hamstrings before the damn game?!
Former NC State centerback Tyler Lassiter has also been signed; Hans Backe has said that he is already ahead of Tim Ream in his development…yet somehow he’s not good enough to start on Saturday.
Will be interested in him whenever we get to see him, same goes for the new keeper. Any word on how good (or bad) he might be?
Hopes are not high… hopefully we can play them to a draw.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Of the four RBNY players on the injury list
three have some kind of hamstring strain (Henry, Solli, Miller — Albright had knee surgery and is about a month away from coming back). Bizarre, really.
Horwath was solid for the Badgers (insert we don’t need no Badgers jokes here), with 17 clean sheets in 52 games. He was a pool keeper last year but has yet to start an MLS game — his inexperience and the lack of competitive games for the whole XI tomorrow is what concerns me.
SBNation.com Soccer Contributor (Bundesliga, EPL)
Manager, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Mar 25, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
That is absolutely bizarre. Keep limber and hydrated boys!
Solid but not spectacular I take it? I wasn’t expecting much more than that from him… can’t be worse than Bouna can he?
BTW is Irving Garcia still with the club? He isn’t listed on the Red Bulls official site but is listed here in the ‘roster’ tab (sorry if that is a silly question).
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
I'd say there are many 'keepers worse than Bouna
when he’s on a good day. When he has a game like away to Chivas last year, though…
Irving Garcia was cut, along with Conor Chinn, two weeks before the season started. I have to update the roster.
SBNation.com Soccer Contributor (Bundesliga, EPL)
Manager, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Mar 26, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t mean to rub it in for Bouna but he didn’t have enough good days. He always seemed awkward and uncomfortable in net to me. Hopefully Sutton isn’t out long term with his concussion, any word on how he got it?
I thought Garcia was cut, I didn’t know about Chinn, that surprises me a little bit.
Thanks again for breathing some life into this place by the way, it is very much appreciated.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
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