It’s called "The Game." It’s the point in your season where your team puts in a performance where the entire season turns around. It's the point where a few months from now after a championship has been won you can look back and say, "Yes, that was the moment where things changed for good."
The New York Red Bulls’ went into Portland and picked up a 2-0 win over the Timbers. They put in a dominant performance on both sides of the ball despite missing two starters. But was it a transcendent performance? Will the players and coaches point to this match as when they truly knew that this season would be special? Did fans just witness "The Game"?
Lester: I’ll say it, this was "The Game." The New York Red Bulls should be everyone’s favorite to win MLS Cup. They’re going to have a rough October without Miazga, but they’re going to dominate when he comes back for the playoffs. This team is playing on another level and the Portland match proved it. Opposing teams simply cannot compete with gegenpressing. Portland is very good at home, but for the Red Bulls to walk in like they did and take three points? That’s championship swagger and it’s the first time I’ve seen it from any team this year.
Aaron Bauer: I’m going to respectfully disagree. "The Game" already happened. It was against Chicago at home, where we went down 2-0 early, and managed to grind out a 3-2 win. That game was the only time this season the Red Bulls gave up more than one goal and won. Every other time was a loss and or a draw. In the playoffs, things can happen in a heartbeat. It is nice knowing this team will not settle in a defensive shell and start countering when things get out of control. They stuck to the system, for 50 + minutes when they were down before taking back the lead against an inferior team. That was the turning point. Knowing that no matter what the system can produce the results that the team is going to need going forward no matter the cause. Without the game against Chicago, there’s no Portland game.
Lester: So there’s definitely been "A Game." We can agree on that. This may be the chocolate milk talking, but I can’t see a team beating the Red Bulls over two legs. They reloaded over the summer and are too deep now. Even if somebody goes down, you have Shaun Wright-Phillips, Gonzalo Veron, and Sean Davis coming off the bench. Man, this is optimism. What a strange feeling. Tell me something depressing and bring me back to reality.
Aaron Bauer: Oh yeah there has definitely been "A Game." This team is firing on all cylinders and they look like they are the class of MLS. This is a change from recent developments from when they were just thinking about how they could capitalize on games in hand. A lot of things have broken right for this team, but I just don’t know if this team is going all the way yet. The commitment to the system is impressive, but the playoffs are still prone to randomization and chance. I like to think we can win it all, but man, this is the Red Bulls. Pencil me in for a conference semifinal loss.
Rob Usry: I don’t think you can call this "The Game" simply because the Timbers aren’t very good. They have the second fewest goals scored in the league. It’s not like they are ‘The Invincibles’ or anything. It was a phenomenal, dominant performance by the Red Bulls, but at this point I feel like it’s expected of them. I’m not sure we can pinpoint "A Game", sometimes the most innocuous of games can mean the most. All that matters is that the team has come together better than anyone could’ve ever hoped for and that they are one of the most dangerous teams in the league. If there is "A Game" hopefully it’s coming at the end of the playoffs, because this group certainly deserves it.
Aaron Bauer: Fun fact, Rob calls me contrarian offline. And look he’s the one arguing there is no such thing as "The Game."
Rob Usry: There’s only one "The Game". (Please insert a Triple H gif here.)
Lester Townsend: Sure thing.
Aaron Bauer: When did we invite Rob anyway?
Lester: He’s sort of like a vampire. We invited him in once and now he won’t leave.
