Once A Metro - New York Red Bulls vs LA Galaxy; MLS 2017, Week 11: Match ThreadAccept no substituteshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21683/metro-fave.jpg2017-05-18T06:22:12-04:00http://www.onceametro.com/rss/stream/153922912017-05-18T06:22:12-04:002017-05-18T06:22:12-04:00Kljestan fined for tussle with LA's Joao Pedro
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Just a fine - Sacha will still be available for RBNY vs TFC.</p> <p>On Wednesday, May 17, the <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/05/17/mls-disciplinary-committee-fines-kljestan-blessing-acosta-after-week-11">MLS Disciplinary Committee announced</a> it had fined <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> captain <span>Sacha Kljestan</span> for an incident observed during the 55th minute of RBNY's 3-1 loss to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> on May 14.</p>
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<p>Kljestan's foul on <span>Joao Pedro</span> was deemed a "violation of the league's policy regarding hands to the face, head, or neck of an opponent" - a policy that is clearly and not unreasonably "don't put hands on the face, head or neck of an opponent".</p>
<p>Kljestan's fine is the extent of the Disciplinary Committee's action on the matter. His availability for his team's match against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a> on May 19 is not affected.</p>
<p>The Red Bulls' rough-and-tumble style of play has attracted its share of referee attention so far this season: the team was 9th in <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/disciplinary-points/2017">the Eastern Conference Disciplinary Points table</a> (which means only two teams in the East had worse disciplinary records) at the time of its last update (April 20). Of the 20 players to appear in MLS for RBNY so far this season, <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/stats.jsp?ACT=0&YEAR=2017&TYPE=1&STAT=goals">16 have drawn at least one yellow card</a>.</p>
<p>A team like RBNY that plays an aggressive counter-pressing game is likely to concede a lot of fouls. RBNY's 2017 disciplinary record is currently not all that different from its <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/disciplinary-points/2016">2016 record</a>, when <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/stats.jsp?YEAR=2016&TYPE=1&STAT=yellows">17 payers drew at least one yellow card</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, Kljestan's tangle with Joao Pedro cannot be characterized as part of any pressing scheme. The captain will hopefully keep his hands to himself in future.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/18/15657302/sacha-kljestan-fined-mls-disciplinary-committee-for-hands-on-joao-pedro-la-galaxy-new-york-red-bullsAustin Fido2017-05-15T21:30:11-04:002017-05-15T21:30:11-04:00Should he have done better? Robles' part in RBNY's loss to LA
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Expert goalkeeping analyst, Bill Reno takes a moment away from EverybodySoccer.com to walk us through the goals RBNY gave up against LA Galaxy.</p> <p dir="ltr"><i>Was Luis Robles at fault for the goals LA Galaxy scored against RBNY on May 14? Once A Metro asked Bill Reno - more often found at </i><a href="http://www.everybodysoccer.com/">EverybodySoccer.com</a> <i>- to weigh in on whether the Red Bulls 'keeper might have done more to stop the shots LA put past him. And to our delight, he agreed.</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>It’s been a weird season for MLS goalkeepers and last weekend was not an exception. <span>Luis Robles</span> has had a decent enough year but, similar to 2016, it’s hard to find consistency when a defense is leaking shots in front of you. (Robles currently sits </span><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/season?year=2017&group=saves">first in shots faced</a><span>.) Fortunately for me, this gives me a platform to talk goalkeeping, which I’ll never turn down. So let’s take a minute look at the first two goals from the game between <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> to settle the ol’ "should he or shouldn’t he have saved it?" debate.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b-bHL9R9JME" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p><span><span>We will be skipping the third goal, a penalty kick from Giovani dos Santos. Robles is 7 of 31 on penalty kicks all-time (23% save percentage: almost exactly average). So I’m not going to bother covering the third goal. I thought dos Santos lined up wider than normal and assumed he’d go to Robles’ right but a player of dos Santos’ caliber has the ability to go either way. There’s no need to nitpick one penalty kick when Robles has historically held his own.</span></span></p>
<p>Both of the first two goals were a result of bad movement, and I will display this through grainy screenshots taken from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-bHL9R9JME">YouTube</a>.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center; "><span>First Goal - 8th Minute</span></h4>
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<p><span>1. As Romain Alessandrini whips the ball in, Robles is not ready for the play. Notice his relaxed "Eh, what could go wrong?" stance.</span></p>
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<p><span>2. The ball is halfway to Robles and now he jumps into position. He has lost valuable time to adjust, which we will see soon.</span></p>
<p><span><span>For those calling for him to go punch the ball, I wouldn’t completely disagree with the idea although it’s impossible for Robles if he’s going to be this slow in getting set. Personally I think it’s a little out of reach for him but he could punch the hell out of this ball if he changes his approach. Maybe a step off his line and definitely being ready from the get-go.</span></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>3 & 4. The ball doesn’t trickle too far past Robles but with his weight and footwork so out of sorts (he never gets his feet together on the play, they’re always out of step with each other) it’s an impossible task. This all comes from Robles’ slow start on the free kick and now he is having to play catch up. Notice his left foot to see how his momentum is still carrying him.</span></p>
<p><span><br><span>If Robles is ready from the start, he shuffles quickly to his left, gets set, and shoots his hands low for the shot. Admittedly, any rebound likely gets put back home but there’s always hope.</span></span></p>
<p><b>[Editor's note:</b> Point of information, for what it's worth - in his post-match comments Robles said he hadn't yet had a chance to review the tape, but he could clearly recall being frozen by Van Damme's movement. He blamed the hesitation for the goal.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XnA5fsrlpC8" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Robles is generally a calm presence post-match, but also one who doesn't often seek to deflect criticism when the team has performed poorly. He responded to a direct question about the first goal, but kicked off his comments by describing the first half as a "beatdown" for RBNY, and saying he was embarrassed by his own performance and that of his team as a whole, and the Red Bulls' "entire disposition" in the opening 45 minutes.]</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span>Second Goal - 9th Minute</span></h4>
<p><span><br><span>Woof. What a horrid start. One minute later the Galaxy is back at it.</span></span></p>
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<p><span><span>1. Robles is set up fine. He can’t check his shoulder without losing visibility on the ball, so perhaps a general "mark up!" call out would be nice but they’re all professionals.</span></span></p>
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<p><span><span>2. Again it’s bad movement for Robles. He has taken too long to move off his post. The ball is already to Alessandrini and Robles has maybe covered one yard. The slow movement is like trying to stop an eighteen-wheeler: it’s going to take a lot of time. To make it even more problematic, it appears a falling defender (atop the six yard box) is blocking Robles’ vision. </span></span></p>
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<p><span><span>3. The video doesn’t make it 100% clear but </span><span>I think</span><span> Robles is originally trying to basket catch this dipping shot. I think this is why his hands are out of sorts. Combined with the poor eyeline, the ball movement fools Robles enough to slip through.</span></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>4. Robles’ momentum still hasn’t come to a complete stop. His weight carries him another yard, which brings up another point about movement. (I imagine if you’ve scrolled this far you’re interested in goalkeeper theory.) 95% of the time, a goalkeeper should move to get into the best possible position. However the other 5%, the goalkeeper just needs to stand strong where they are because the time it takes to move will actually hurt them. This is a great example of when a goalkeeper needs to stop moving and just get set. Robles is still sliding to his left here and it exacerbates the problem.</span></p>
<p><span>I’m not sure what’s going on with his hands. At the very least he should be able to just push it away but it is hit with pace from close range, so it’s hard to say for sure. If this was a penalty kick and his hands did the same, people would have a different response.</span></p>
<p><span>While the hands have their own issues, ultimately the goal can be traced back to Robles’ slow movement from the post and the inability to keep his lateral movement under control. If he fixes his footwork here, I think the rest falls in line.</span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span>Should He Have Saved the Goals?</span></h4>
<p><span>It depends who "he" is. If we’re talking about an average MLS goalkeeper, these are probably around 40-60 plays. Maybe less. There are moving pieces with multiple outcomes that a goalkeeper must decipher within a second. However if we’re talking about an EPL goalkeeper, then the answer is yes. These are the types of saves they’re expected to make and if they don’t they’ll find someone who can. Robles clearly lines somewhere between the average goalkeeper and an elite one but exactly where differs from person to person. So in a classically postmodern answer, it comes down to everyone’s personal opinion on Robles and where they think he stands, as long as fans understand MLS goalkeepers are going to concede these types of goals.</span></p>
<p><span>I’m not sure there’s much to take from this on Robles’ part. These are two intriguing plays to dissect (they were intriguing for me, I should say) and it’s helpful in accessing goalkeeper movement for future reference, but we all know who Robles is. Maybe it wasn’t his best performance but I haven’t heard many calling for his replacement.</span></p>
<h4><i>Follow Bill Reno on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/letsallsoccer">@letsallsoccer</a>. And check in with <a href="http://www.everybodysoccer.com/">Everbody Soccer</a> for all your US goalkeeping analysis and insight needs.</i></h4>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/15/15644926/should-he-have-saved-it-a-look-at-luis-robles-part-in-new-york-red-bulls-3-1-loss-la-galaxyAustin Fido2017-05-14T22:28:35-04:002017-05-14T22:28:35-04:00“No life, no commitment, and no belief”: Hard truths come home for RBNY
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It was the worst performance at Red Bull Arena in a very long time.</p> <p id="AVqCuS">A team with high standards does not seek to sugar-coat its bad days - and if there was any positive at all to be gleaned from the <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a>’ <a href="https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-05-14-new-york-red-bulls-vs-la-galaxy/feed">3-1 loss</a> to <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> at Red Bull Arena, it was that the home team was in no mood to find excuses for being second-best from start to finish. </p>
<p id="84W38Q">“I have to take responsibility for this, because to have a team that’s not ready to play from the start and play a first half like that with no life, no commitment and no belief, I have to look carefully at what I am doing,” said <span>Jesse Marsch</span> after the game. “There’s not enough guys that are playing up to their potential and to their abilities, that has to fall on my shoulders. I’ve got to figure out how to get this group playing better and more to where I know it can and make things clear to the guys and challenging them.</p>
<p id="xQNM5v">So this is the worst performance at home since I’ve been here at Red Bulls, for sure and on that side of things, I’m very disappointed at myself and now I have to find a way to get things back to where they were.”</p>
<p id="gzYfXr">Things are a long way from where they were. RBNY’s saving grace during an uneven start to MLS 2017 was its home record - unbeaten in five outings at Red Bull Arena this season, and unbeaten at home in the MLS regular season for 19 straight games stretching back to the early stages of the 2016 season.</p>
<p id="UArMxM">Eight minutes into LA Galaxy’s visit to RBA, the record was in jeopardy. <span>Romain Alessandrini</span> bounced a free-kick from a seemingly innocuous position past <span>Luis Robles</span>. </p>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr">Allesandrini! It's 1-0 LA! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYvLA?src=hash">#NYvLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/a3M1CCZS15">pic.twitter.com/a3M1CCZS15</a></p>— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/863881795993051136">May 14, 2017</a>
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<p id="sJ33fF">Credit defender <span>Jelle Van Damme</span> with making the run that put Robles in two minds and created the space for the ball to travel into the net unmolested.</p>
<p id="gQaqUk">A minute later, Alessandrini started and finished the move that brought LA its second goal.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">He's right back it! 2 for Romain! 2 for LA! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYvLA?src=hash">#NYvLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/J7X94YgRNI">pic.twitter.com/J7X94YgRNI</a></p>— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/863882339612536835">May 14, 2017</a>
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<p id="OLb0Oo">It was a great pass to Giovani Dos Santos, that switched play so successfully the Red Bulls turned their backs on Alessandrini and didn’t notice him again until he had burst into the space in the box where Dos Santos found him with his return pass. Robles parried the shot, but only sufficiently to put a little topspin on it - and it bounced gently over the line.</p>
<p id="Y7XuCx">Jesse Marsch’s half-time talk, and the decision to sub out <span>Alex Muyl</span> for <span>Mike Grella</span>, didn’t turn the tide. Two goals up on the road, LA could afford to let the Red Bulls have the ball and focus on maintaining defensive shape and purpose. </p>
<p id="QrzLSv">Marsch tried to turn up the heat. Fredrik Gulbrandsen arrived for <span>Sean Davis</span> in the 63rd minute, triggering an adjustment to the formation and more numbers up front. <span>Connor Lade</span> came out for <span>Sal Zizzo</span> in 74th minute.</p>
<p id="COmURx">Four minutes after Marsch made his last move from the bench, LA iced the game. Mike Grella chopped down Alessandrini, and Dos Santos put the Galaxy three up from the penalty spot.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Penalty to LA! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYvLA?src=hash">#NYvLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/Me3jtQT0vn">pic.twitter.com/Me3jtQT0vn</a></p>— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/863904299717459968">May 14, 2017</a>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">Dos Santos converts! 3-0 LA. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYvLA?src=hash">#NYvLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/m0EBLbApPH">pic.twitter.com/m0EBLbApPH</a></p>— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/863904387139330050">May 14, 2017</a>
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<p id="3iIgQL">The Red Bulls were not without chances, they just couldn’t convert them. That changed in second-half stoppage time. The Galaxy was reduced to 10 men after <span>Bradley Diallo</span> was sent off in the 90th minute. Three minutes later, <span>Daniel Royer</span> tapped in to at least ensure RBNY wouldn’t be shut out for the third consecutive game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Royer picks up a consolation goal right at the death, but LA win 3-1. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYvLA?src=hash">#NYvLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/533oTmuSwl">pic.twitter.com/533oTmuSwl</a></p>— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/863907953266524160">May 15, 2017</a>
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<p id="TqgkL0">“Tonight seemed a bit bizarre to me, I can’t really figure it out. We talked all week about being us and doing what makes us so good especially playing at home and in the first twenty minutes of the game we come out and play like an amateur team.” said <span>Sacha Kljestan</span> after the match. “It’s hard to explain, but I think some guys are lacking in confidence and are lacking on the ball and it’s hurting us, physically in the first twenty minutes we lost every battle. It’s so disappointing.”</p>
<p id="RvPoZl">The Red Bulls will have to work hard to make sure their situation does not get worse - next up is red-hot <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a>. The home fortress has been breached, and TFC is not the opponent a team short on confidence wants to pay right now. Toronto has won six straight in the league, and will kick off as favorite against RBNY on Friday, May 19. </p>
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https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/14/15639490/new-york-red-bulls-surrender-home-unbeaten-streak-to-la-galaxy-3-1-highlightsDaniel_Feuerstein2017-05-14T21:31:26-04:002017-05-14T21:31:26-04:00The Fire reviews NY v LA<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdan.feuerstein%2Fvideos%2F10158985489485508%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=400" width="400" height="400"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Dan Feuerstein looks back at the game Jesse Marsch called the worst he's seen RBNY play since he started coaching the team.</p></p></div>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/14/15639626/the-fire-reviews-ny-v-laAustin Fido2017-05-14T21:25:33-04:002017-05-14T21:25:33-04:00The Fire previews NY v LA<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdan.feuerstein%2Fvideos%2F10158984764505508%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=400" width="400" height="400"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Dan Feuerstein previews RBNY vs LA Galaxy from Red Bull Arena</p></p></div>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/14/15639622/the-fire-previews-ny-v-laAustin Fido2017-05-14T15:32:31-04:002017-05-14T15:32:31-04:003 Questions about LA Galaxy with LA Galaxy Confidential
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<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Talking LA Galaxy with LAGC's Mike Gray.</p> <div><span class="im"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> is coming to Red Bull Arena with a few early-season issues to work out. <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy Confidential'</a>s Mike Gray fills us in on RBNY's latest opponent.</span></div>
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<div><span class="im"><b><i>Once A Metro: We've seen a lot of explanations for LA's uncertain start to the season: injuries, tactics, <span>Jelle Van Damme</span>. What do you think has been ailing the Galaxy?</i></b></span></div>
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<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p1"><b>Mike Gray, LA Galaxy Confidential:</b> All of the above. The Galaxy are off to their worst start <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">in 10 years</span></span> for a myriad of well-documented reasons. And yet, were we to meet in a huddled bar somewhere, I'd tell you the main factor of the Galaxy's downfall has been an arrogance that appears to have permeated the culture of the club.</p>
<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p2"><span>MLS might not yet be at the same level as Liga MX, but this is 2017. If your club doesn't have a plan, and they don't have depth, you're going to struggle. </span></p>
<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p2"><span>Nine games into the season, LA have no offensive identity, in other words, no plan. The idea was to integrate Los Dos into the senior squad, but unfortunately to paraphrase MLS writer Matt Doyle, the Galaxy are not producing starting-level talent, so that turned out to be a bust.</span></p>
<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p2"><span>LA also have zero depth. Curt Onalfo has obviously struggled at the helm, but he shouldn't be held responsible for this cobbled-together roster. Why did the Galaxy trade AJ DeLaGarza knowing there was a high probability <span>Robbie Rogers</span> wouldn't step on the field this year? Why is <span>Jermaine Jones</span> making $600,000? Who decided a 35-year-old coming off an ACL tear would thrive as a defensive midfielder? These were moves with a supreme overconfidence of the team's ability to compete this year.</span></p>
<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p2"><span>Let's not even get into the Galaxy's refusal to acknowledge LAFC as competition, which is frankly infuriating. And arrogant.</span></p>
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<div><b><i>OAM: <span>Jesse Marsch</span> seems to expect LA to start the lineup that played the second half against Chicago - do you agree, and what might recommend that group to the task of getting a result at Red Bull Arena?</i></b></div>
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<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p1"><b>LAGC: </b>Interesting. From what I've heard inside training this week, there's been a night and day difference with Van Damme's attitude. I would expect him to start, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if <span>Dave Romney</span> (who was excellent last week) got the nod.</p>
<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p2"><span>LA are not yet a cohesive offensive unit, but subbing out Van Damme allows the Galaxy to simplify their play and lean on the magic of Giovani dos Santos. LA scored both goals in their comeback vs. the Fire on set pieces, so NYRB will need to lock down on corners.</span></p>
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<div><span class="im"><b><i>OAM: How much patience do you think the Galaxy has with Onalfo? What does the front office want out of the team this season, and will Onalfo be sacked if he doesn't appear able to deliver it?</i></b></span></div>
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<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p1"><b>LAGC:</b> As controversial as the Van Damme substitution was, the common consensus among the Galaxy press box was that Onalfo made the right call. The defense stopped leaking goals, the team was galvanized and Curt legitimated himself as a manager.<br><span><br>With LA's last result, Curt has bought himself some time. I'm not sure what the front office wants, after all this team is in cost-cutting mode and no longer Leiwiki-land, but at a minimum the attack has to start clicking soon or Onalfo could get his walking papers.</span></p>
<p class="m_-3289814193077284771gmail-p1"><b><i>Follow </i></b><a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGraySC">Mike Gray on Twitter</a><b><i>. Catch Once A Metro's thoughts on RBNY over at </i></b><a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy Confidential</a><b><i>. </i></b></p>
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https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/14/15638170/three-questions-about-la-galaxy-confidential-mls-2017-week-11-new-york-red-bullsAustin Fido2017-05-14T11:15:01-04:002017-05-14T11:15:01-04:00"Happy Mother's Davis" - RBNY predicted XI: vs LA Galaxy
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YasDJ-3VqisonY_p8yjfHdJVWvU=/0x34:2780x1887/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54769893/usa-today-10040680.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Connor Lade and the Red Bulls have a score to settle with the LA Galaxy.</p> <p>After two straight road losses, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">Red Bulls</a> return to the comfortable confines of Red Bull Arena for a showdown with West Coast rival <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a>. And you can be sure that defender <span>Connor Lade</span> has been licking his lips for this match since last August.</p>
<p>Many Red Bulls fans will remember the 2016 match against the LA Galaxy with great disdain. Not only did the Galaxy tear Lade's ACL, ending his campaign and sidelining him for over six months, but they committed blatant fouls which then-referee Hilario Grajeda infamously failed to call as penalty kicks on multiple occasions.</p>
<p><span>Sean Davis</span> and <span>Gonzalo Veron</span> likely remember that game as well - both scored goals in the game and showed glimpses of their talent, only for the team to concede another two-goal lead that erased their heroics. The two would both find themselves back on the bench within weeks, their strong performances wasted.</p>
<p>Suffice it to say, a lot of players are eager to get revenge on the Galaxy.</p>
<p>Here is the RBNY predicted XI vs LA Galaxy:</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="RBNY predicted XI v LA Galaxy" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fr3Q9C8S0Iyd6gW-SxJwoB-V70I=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8512139/RBNY_predicted_XI_v_LA_Galaxy.0.png">
<cite>buildlineup.com</cite>
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<p><b>GK <span>Luis Robles</span></b></p>
<p><b>LB <span>Kemar Lawrence</span></b></p>
<p><b>CB <span>Aaron Long</span></b></p>
<p><b>CB <span>Michael Murillo</span> - </b>He's quickly establishing himself as solid option at RB, so if <span>Sal Zizzo</span> can move inside, why can't Murillo?</p>
<p><b>RB Connor Lade - </b>You just know Lade has been waiting nearly a year for this game.</p>
<p><b>DM Sean Davis - </b>With Tyler Adams spending the next few weeks at the U-20 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>, Davis will get another chance to reclaim the starting job</p>
<p><b>DM Felipe</b></p>
<p><b>AM <span>Daniel Royer</span></b></p>
<p><b>AM <span>Sacha Kljestan</span></b></p>
<p><b>AM <span>Mike Grella</span> - </b>It may be a leap to give Grella the start after just a few minutes on the pitch against Philadelphia, but Red Bull Arena has seen far more surprising starters this season.</p>
<p><b>FW <span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span></b></p>
<p><i>Bench: <span>Ryan Meara</span>; <span>Damien Perrinelle</span>, Sal Zizzo; <span>Dan Metzger</span>; <span>Alex Muyl</span>, Gonzalo Veron, Fredrik Gulbrandsen</i></p>
<p>As for the visiting team, the Galaxy have struggled significantly since head coach Curt Onalfo came in to replace Bruce Arena at the helm. Injuries and poor play have left the team with just eight points from their first nine matches.</p>
<p>Of course, just because the Galaxy are struggling now doesn't mean they will against the Red Bulls. The team has been outscored 9-3 against Western Conference foes this year and only beat 22nd-place Colorado thanks to an own goal.</p>
<p>In the end, the Red Bulls will need to channel some more of that Red Bull Arena magic to get back on track in this game. Thankfully, that hasn't proven to be much of a problem since April 2016 (*knock on wood*).</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/14/15632326/happy-mothers-davis-new-york-red-bulls-predicted-xi-vs-la-galaxy-mls-2017-match-12-lineupMachlinT2017-05-14T07:11:01-04:002017-05-14T07:11:01-04:00"This is as close to 100% as I've felt": Grella's ready to return
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wDgEs2FMtkAjFw3abOPHI99c0xQ=/0x48:3239x2207/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54775683/usa-today-9659735.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We've been watching Mike Grella try to play through pain since the 2016 playoffs, apparently. But we might soon be treated to the sight of a fit and healthy Grella on the field again.</p> <p>"You name the treatment and I've done it," <span>Mike Grella</span> told reporters at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> training facility in the build-up to this week's match against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a>.</p>
<p>Grella has been troubled by a persistent knee injury since last year's playoffs. Ultimately, after pre-season and early-season efforts to address the issue apparently failed, he was sidelined for course of new treatments <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2017/3/26/15061130/new-york-red-bulls-mike-grella-will-be-sidelined-for-several-weeks">back in March</a>. He got about 15 minutes off the bench against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a> on May 6, his first competitive appearance for RBNY <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/mike-grella">since March 19</a>.</p>
<p>Grella has been injured, not unconscious, and is therefore well aware of his team's recent struggles - including the 3-0 loss to Philadelphia Union that <a href="https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-05-06-philadelphia-union-vs-new-york-red-bulls/feed">he participated in</a>. "<span>The last two games have been not what we wanted. We struggle a little bit away from home - I think that's not a secret," he said of RBNY's most recent away-day disappointments.</span></p>
<p>Perhaps one of the things the Red Bulls have been missing so far this season is a fully-fit Mike Grella. In his first two seasons with RBNY, he made <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/player.jsp?ID=301">65 MLS regular-season appearances for the first team</a>, including 58 starts. And he contributed 16 goals and 13 assists in that time.</p>
<p>In his third season with RBNY, Grella has so far made four MLS appearances, no starts, played only 112 minutes, and contributed no goals or assists.</p>
<p>In principle, the Red Bulls are stacked with players who can play Grella's position (usually on the left of the 3 in the 4-2-3-1). In practice, <span>Daniel Royer</span>, <span>Alex Muyl</span>, <span>Derrick Etienne</span>, Fredrik Gulbrandsen and <span>Gonzalo Veron</span> have combined for four league goals and one assist in the league <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/stats.jsp?ACT=0&YEAR=2017&TYPE=1&STAT=goals">so far this season</a>.</p>
<p>That's not nearly enough to compensate for the loss of Grella's scoring and that of Lloyd Sam. In 2015, those two players were the Red Bulls' second and third highest <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/stats.jsp?ACT=0&YEAR=2015&TYPE=1&STAT=goals">regular-season goal scorers</a>, providing 19 goals between them. <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/stats.jsp?ACT=0&YEAR=2016&TYPE=1&STAT=goals">In 2016</a>, with Sam traded away, Grella's seven goals were the second-highest regular-season total on the roster.</p>
<p>The team needs someone to step up to provide goals and assists when <span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span> and <span>Sacha Kljestan</span> cannot. Grella has been the most consistent source of neither-BWP-nor-Kljestan scoring for RBNY over the last two seasons. Maybe the best option to provide the goals Mike Grella used to get for the team is, well, Mike Grella.</p>
<p>But a fit Grella, not one hobbled by a knee injury that won't go away. Fortunately, he seems optimistic about the effect of his latest treatments:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>This is as close to 100% as I've felt, pain-free on the field. Even when you're getting back in the beginning, it's very hard because you don't trust it or you've got a little bit of pain. But the last week...or four, five days Ahave been fantastic for me, not feeling any pain. It's been a step definitely in the right direction.</span></p>
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<p>Grella credits focus on flexibility in training and regular applications of <a href="http://www.grastontechnique.com/home">the Graston Technique</a> for getting him back into the sort of shape he's used to being in.</p>
<p>We have yet to see him start, or put in significant minutes, for RBNY this season. But perhaps the run of home games the Red Bulls kick off with LA Galaxy on May 14 will be the opportunity for Grella to get his first start, and maybe even first goal, of the new season.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/14/15637218/as-close-to-100-pain-free-as-ive-felt-on-the-field-mike-grella-ready-new-york-red-bullsAustin Fido