Red Bulls preparing for a Union Meeting

What an amazing run this current streak has been for the New York Red Bulls. Since their last loss at home to the Chicago Fire, the Red Bulls have rallied four straight victories at two road venues that have given them trouble in the past and going into a new building for them last week in Atlanta, Georgia.

But now it’s back to the I-95 battles as the New York Red Bulls are getting ready to take on the Philadelphia Union at Red Bull Arena before going back on the road for the next two league games.

As of right now the Union are on the outside looking in as they are directly below that playoff line with fourteen points and are seven behind the Red Bulls who currently sit in fourth place with Atlanta leading the east, NYCFC in second, then Columbus who are in third but tied on points.

“We know it’s going to be a fight. Jesse reminds us what type of team they are. Right now on a two game winning streak and they are starting to score goals.“ said Florian Valot.

“We’ve looked at them offensively and they have been scoring at least six goals within the last two games and we know that it will always be a challenge against them.”

The Union have once again started off on the wrong foot and while they have picked them selves up from starting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, this side is so Jeckyl & Hyde you never know what type of side you will be facing even though Head Coach Jim Curtain is doing decently.

“For me Jim is a good friend so I like to see him and there is competitive juices when you play against someone you know so well.“ said Jesse Marsch, “I want him to do well and continue to establish as the best coach the Union have ever had.

But of course when we play them I want to beat them. If we lose to them I’m happy for him genuinely, but there are some extra competitive juices flowing, but because they play similarly to us I like that and at the end of the game we will give each other a hug.”

Borek Dockel, C.J. Sapong and Ilsinho are tied for the club with the lead in goals as they have two each, but Dockel leads the club with four assists. C.J. Sapong who has always been a thorn in the side of the Red Bulls has had a rough start at the moment as he should have more than just the two he has recorded.

“Every game we have a talk with just us the back four, we want nothing less than a shutout every game. No matter who we are playing even Philadelphia.“ said Aaron Long, “My partnership with Tim Parker, I love playing with him, he’s a great guy off the field. Feels like we are similar in a lot of ways, enjoy playing with him.

The Red Bulls so far have been on a huge run in this four game winning streak and while Bradley Wright-Phillips has been succeeding with his goal productions, you really have to admire the play of Alejandro Romero Gamarra. So far since he has started full time against Montreal, his assist totals have been off the charts.

Scoring three goals and assisting seven times has been unbelievable in league play while leading the club and the league with nine. After earning his first assist in the league opener against Portland.

One of the best keepers within MLS and the CONCACAF region is Andre Blake who will be starting against the Red Bulls and as always Taxi relishes these moments in league play to face his teammate for Jamaica.

“It’s going to be fun. I’m never the one to score on him because I love him so much, It’s always fun to score against him and I love to get one this time.” said Kemar Lawrence, “Just to have a little talk, not much banter but just to have a little talk.”

Injury update for the club as both Kemar Lawrence and Tyler Adams should be able to play this coming Saturday at Red Bull Arena. Taxi was able to talk to the media about his situation on that Sunday night down in Atlanta.

“I feel good. I’m ready to go and I feel very excited about Saturday. Not really sure about what happened when the play took place, kinda watched it back on video and most of what I could remember is I was setting up to go to the outside guy as they were going to deliver a far ball.” said Lawrence

“When I stepped inside I kinda lost my footing and then I slipped, as I was going down I was trying my best not to let the ball get passed me so I was trying to use my chest to block the ball and at that moment my head did a whiplash and I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck.”

Thankfully Kemar has been cleared by the doctors and he will be ready to play against the Union back at home inside Red Bull Arena and that means the back line will be intact against Philadelphia.

But now it’s time for the Red Bulls to go out and extend this winning streak to five, as the club will host the Philadelphia Union at Red Bull Arena and it will be Military Appreciation Night as the Memorial Day Weekend is approaching.