Red Bulls ready to face the Union

The New York Red Bulls are back in league action with two matches remaining after the international break came and went seeing the USA with a four goals to two loss against Colombia and then a one goal draw with Peru.

Two matches remain for the club as they will go on the road down the New Jersey Turnpike to take on the Philadelphia Union who has been a big surprise this season securing a playoff spot and looking like a threat to anyone’s chances of getting to the MLS Cup final.

As of right now the emergence of Cory Burke has been a pleasant surprise as his play has made C.J. Sapong’s role on the club a bit different and more lethal on the attack, when he is going down the wing and Burke remaining up top.

“Now it’s a new front four. They have a strong attacking four, Dockal is playing with a lot of confidence setting up and scoring goals. He operates in those spaces in a very good way so he has three good options on the attack.” Said Chris Armas.

“Each guy is a little bit different as you know Sapong and Burke are handfuls physically and loves to run and can finish. Sometimes it looks like two forwards who can finish and Picault is a solid player as well so we love to face these types of players.”

The midfield has been lethal ever since Alejandro Bedoya came over from French Ligue One playing for Nantes and being teamed up with Borek Dockal of the Czech Republic has been a solid fit as the Union are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

“I’ve always been a fan of Bedoya’s. His work ethic, his belief and his quality as he goes box to box, he’s a two way guy he can help deep or go and build up. You can see how intelligent he is as he’s been a part of the US Men’s National Team.” said Armas.

Of course Andre Blake is going to be that brick wall for the Union every time he is putting on his gloves and stopping that ball from entering the net. There are times he’s had the Red Bulls number and of course the Red Bulls have been able to stop him as well, the Red Bulls are still alive for the shield race and a win will inch them closer or put them over Atlanta United.

“Andre Blake is a very good goal keeper he makes tremendous saves which happens to us all the time which is unfortunate, but I think set pieces could work and we are going to try and change things up.” said Long.

The Red Bulls have had two interesting stories this past week as two members of their side did something amazing in their personal lives. Center back Aaron Long finally got a chance to play his first match for the US Men’s National Team on Tuesday night against Peru paired with Cameron Carter-Vickers for the one goal draw.

“Great feeling for sure to be on the National Team. So happy and so excited I guess it’s a bit of responsibility to be apart of that. Being tied is a decent result against a side like Peru to go out there.” Said Aaron Long

“My partnership with Carter-Vickers was good. We had a lot of talk and we saw a lot of video during the week, kind of sorted things out defensively. I don’t think we gave up much, they had a lot of the ball, but we didn’t give up much.”

Then Bradley Wright-Phillips opened his brand new clothing line and hat line as he signed on the famous baseball hat making company New Era who will make his “Two Nines” product for all the Red Bulls fans and possibly his fans back home in England.

“I don’t know because Two Nines is very casual it’s done well for the work we have put into it, but I wouldn’t call myself a fashion guru. I like what I like and so far people are looking like they want to get into it.” said Bradley Wright-Phillips.

“I’ve always been interested in fashion and clothes. I’ve talked to my wife a few times over the years about a fashion label, but maybe it wasn’t the right time in the past. Well a friend wanted to make a hat for me and when I gave the o.k. it looked really nice.”

But with two matches remaining and played simultaneously with Atlanta United’s matches against Chicago and at Toronto FC, the Red Bulls can’t worry about scoreboard watching. They need to take care of business and they need to do it now.