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The door of opportunity may have just opened for Ryan Meara. The Yonkers native is poised to start his first Major League Soccer match in a very, very long time.
Following New York City FC's last match (a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers), Josh Saunders was given a suspension by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for this challenge on Ishamel Yartey.
What does this mean, Franco Panizo?
MLS Disciplinary Committee has handed Josh Saunders a one-match ban. Ryan Meara will get his shot tomorrow, it appears. #NYCFC
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) April 23, 2015
Ryan Meara joined New York City FC from the New York Red Bulls on a year long intraleague loan (meaning he cannot be called back) in December.
Should Red Bulls fans root for Ryan Meara to do well? Absolutely because he's a great player with tons of potential and perhaps the Red Bulls will be the recipients of said potential some day. In addition, it's a great opportunity for Meara. He hasn't made a MLS appearance since July of 2012 when a violent attack from Kelyn Rowe ended his surefire Rookie of the Year season on that awful Gillette Stadium turf.
Do you guys agree?
I'll have zero difficulty rooting against blue ryan
— just tolstoy (@TolstoyFC) April 23, 2015
So maybe Red Bulls fans should be rooting for a 0-0 tie. Meara gets a shutout and NYCFC gets a point that brings them no closer to a playoff spot. In fact, if Meara holds onto the job, then I hope NYCFC has 0-0 shutouts for the rest of the year and Ryan Meara is named to the MLS Best XI!
But they still don't make the playoffs.