Once A Metro - Week 9 - FC DallasAccept no substituteshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21683/metro-fave.jpg2014-05-06T09:02:44-04:00http://www.onceametro.com/rss/stream/54389472014-05-06T09:02:44-04:002014-05-06T09:02:44-04:00Player Ratings: Week 9
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In which we once again assign a number between one and ten to each player in order to arbitrarily rank the value of their performance. </p> <p>Don't look now, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> are officially on an undefeated streak. Not only have our boys in white managed to win nine points out of their last four matches, but they also grabbed their first road win of the season after beating <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> in Frisco. It was far from pretty, in fact, it was just about as boring a match as you're likely to see, but three points is three points. So let's take a look at how the fellas played in the win at Dallas.</p>
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<h3>Starting Eleven:</h3>
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<p><b><span>Luis Robles</span> - 8 (MOTM): </b>We're running out of nice things to say about the job Robles has been doing between the sticks this season. Unquestionably saved the game with a number of stops, but none so important as the PK save against <span>Blas Perez</span>. Man of the match by a wide margin.</p>
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<p><b><span>Kosuke Kimura</span> - 5: </b>A decent match for the right back. He's been handling his business and playing well enough to keep the starting spot. Nothing flashy, but Kimura once again got the job done.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Armando - 5: </b>Armando still has an annoying tendency to rely on back passes, but there's little doubt the Spanish defender is starting to get a feel for the league. It's been what, twenty minutes since his last card? Not bad!</p>
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<p><b><span>Jamison Olave</span> - 6: </b>Olave was going to get a five, but that might make him mad....if you think we're just gonna go around making Olave mad all willy-nilly like, you're out of your mind. He gets a six and if you don't like it, you can take it up with him yourself. In all seriousness, Olave is quietly having another solid season and last Sunday was no different. One of the best centerbacks in MLS.</p>
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<p><b><span>Roy Miller</span> - 6: </b>It's almost like we're in the middle of a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-2014">World Cup</a> year and Roy Miller thinks he has a shot of playing for Costa Rica. .....what's that? It is and he does? Well then it makes perfect sense that Miller is having the best season of his RBNY career. Anyone else secretly hoping for one more classic Miller melt down so that we won't have to rely on <span>Bobby Convey</span> come June?</p>
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<p><b><span>Lloyd Sam</span> - 5: </b>For the first time all year, Lloyd Sam appears human. It was hot in Frisco and the heat took it's toll on Sam. Not a bad match by any means, but certainly not the all star performance we've been getting from the English winger all season long.</p>
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<p><b><span>Dax McCarty</span> - 5: </b>Dax's game improved drastically after Luyindula was subbed onto the midfield, which helped him connect a sweet little pass to spring Henry on the only goal of the match. Still, before the sub, Dax was a turnover machine. His passing hasn't been consistent this season and the trend continued on Sunday.</p>
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<p><b>Tim Cahill - 4: </b>Cahill just needs some more time to get fit. He clearly isn't up to 2013 form just yet, but he'll get there. That said, this wasn't a great return to the pitch for the Australian.</p>
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<p><b><span>Tim Cahill's</span> groin - 9.3: </b>Drawing the early red after suffering a studs up challenge, the old groin was responsible for allowing New York to play a man up for the rest of the match.</p>
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<p><b><span>Eric Alexander</span> - 5: </b>Just an average day for Alexander, he biffed on a golden opportunity to put one away early and was largely invisible for the rest of the match.</p>
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<p><b><span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span> - 7: </b>BWP's scoring blitz continues! Tapping one in after a completely unselfish pass from Henry, Wright-Phillips is making the point that maybe he's worth the extra zeros in his paycheck. Making all the right runs, stretching the defense and allowing Titi room to create, BWP is on his way to an allstar season.</p>
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<p><b><span>Thierry Henry</span> - 7.5: </b>It had to be tough for <span>Mike Petke</span> to leave Henry out on the pitch for a full ninety in the Texas heat, but the decision paid off. Henry had a solid match, but the calm and unselfish display he showed on the only goal of the game was outstanding. He might not have the pace, but the smarts are still there and that's all he needs to make it work.</p>
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<h3>Substitutions:</h3>
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<p><b><span>Peguy Luyindula</span> - 6.5: </b>Peguy brings a completely different look to the midfield when he's out on the pitch. Clearly, he's not a ninety minute player for every match, but used correctly, he can break a game wide open. He once again showed that center mid is where he belongs.</p>
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<p><b><span>Jonny Steele</span> - 5: </b>Steele didn't do anything wrong...but he didn't do anything to get noticed either. He filled in well enough with an average game.</p>
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<p><b><span>Ibrahim Sekagya</span> - 5: </b>Brought in for an injured Roy Miller, Sekagya did a fine job staying back and defending the lead until the final whistle.</p>
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<p><b><span>Mike Petke</span> - 6.5: </b>This probably wasn't the best game to work Cahill into the starting lineup. The decision not to sub Peguy in immediately after the half was a little confusing as well. The French midfielder would have helped a lot in maintaining possession and forcing a short handed Dallas into chasing the ball and wearing themselves out. Still, his substitutions worked and got the job done.</p>
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<h3>Commentary:</h3>
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<p><b>Steve Cangialosi - 15: </b>Cangialosi is a gem of a human being and we should all thank our lucky stars to have a prince of his ilk calling play by play for the Red Bulls.</p>
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<p><b>Shep Messing - 2: </b>In what world? In WHAT WORLD, SHEP, is that not a red card? You saw the exact same slow motion, studs to the pills challenge as the rest of us. How on Earth could you say that was the wrong call. Not good enough, Shep. Not good enough at all.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/6/5685210/player-ratings-week-9Tim Dean2014-05-06T03:21:42-04:002014-05-06T03:21:42-04:00Week 9: FC Dallas 0-1 New York Red Bulls
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Thierry Henry's 100th MLS regular season appearance and 33rd career assist for RBNY brought Mike Petke's Red Bulls their first road win of 2014.</p> <p>How does a team which hasn't won a game on the road since October beat one of the hottest sides in the league on its home ground?</p>
<p>First, play the hot team after it just suffered its first blowout loss of the year. Next, face the aforementioned club when it has not one but two first-choice players suspended for red cards incurred during that blowout loss. Also, get the added bonus of having your supposedly in-form opponent lose its definitely in-form play-making spark to injury. And then enjoy the sight of yet another of this hot team's starters lose his cool in the opening minutes of the game against you and get himself sent off.</p>
<p>This was a match no one would have expected the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> to win two weeks ago. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> was looking like one of the best teams in the league back then. Sure, FCD lost to Seattle, but many good teams will lose to Seattle this season.</p>
<p>Then FCD got thrashed 4-1 by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a>. And Zach Lloyd and Michel were sent off during the match. And Mauro Diaz was injured. And just 10 minutes into this game in Frisco, <span>Je-Vaughn Watson</span> <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15298" target="_blank">launched himself </a>at <span>Tim Cahill's</span> family pack - and FCD, already missing three guys from the preferred starting lineup, was down to 10 men.</p>
<p>By the eleventh minute of this match, a game RBNY might have been expected to lose had turned into a can't-miss opportunity for three points. Except the Red Bulls very nearly did miss.</p>
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<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/4/5681382/3-thoughts-red-bulls-earn-hardfought-win-in-dallas" target="_blank">3 Thoughts: Red Bulls earn hardfought win in Dallas</a>
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<p>It might have been the heat - it was over 90 degrees in Frisco when the game kicked off. It might have been the pitch, which was not great. It might have been a bit of tiredness: RBNY is one of just two teams (the other is Philly) to have played 10 games in the first nine weeks of MLS. Perhaps it was a combination of all of those things.</p>
<p>Whatever the reason, even after going up a man, the Red Bulls were disjointed and ineffective, and dangerously vulnerable to the counter attack. <span>Jair Benitez</span> appeared able to streak past RBNY players at will. In the 26th minute, <span>Fabian Castillo</span> got round most of <span>Dax McCarty</span>, but tripped and was unlucky to be <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15305" target="_blank">carded for diving</a>. He ought to have won a penalty.</p>
<p>Tim Cahill was back in the lineup for RBNY, slotting into central midfield at the expense of Peguy Luyindula. Cahill very nearly opened the scoring with a sly free-kick in the 25th minute: <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15304" target="_blank">a low, scuttling shot</a> that looked to have beaten <span>Raul Fernandez</span> but drifted wide of the post.</p>
<p>But Cahill's primary contribution to the match was two collisions. The first was unfortunate: Watson panicked at the sight of Dax McCarty, hurled himself into the air, and clumsily flailed a leg into Cahill's groin. It didn't look intentional, but that doesn't matter: there aren't many good reasons for a flying kick to the nethers during a game of soccer, and there aren't any reasons why it shouldn't bring a red card from the referee. Advantage Red Bulls.</p>
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<div class="pullquote">I felt alright until I got a karate kick in the midriff <span>-</span><a href="http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2014/05/quote-sheet-red-bulls-1-0-fc-dallas" target="_blank">Tim Cahill</a><span> (newyorkredbulls.com)</span>
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<p>Cahill evened things up in the 58th minute. <span>Danny Garcia</span> was running free in the space vacated by <span>Kosuke Kimura</span>, who had been hurled to the ground by Castillo. Cahill chased Garcia down, caught up with him in the box, and simply plowed into the FCD rookie's back. Garcia is young, but he's playing the game long enough to know what to do when an overexcited Australian runs into him in the penalty area: the rookie hit the deck, and won one of the <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15319" target="_blank">more straightforward penalties</a> of RBNY's recent glut (this was the sixth conceded this season).</p>
<p>It was the turning point of the game, though not as one might have expected. Dallas had generally looked a little livelier and likely to score, despite being a man down. <span>Blas Perez</span> stepped up to take the penalty, spanked his shot at goal, and <span>Luis Robles</span> finally got the bit of luck every 'keeper needs to make a save: he guessed correctly, timed his dive correctly, got hands to the ball and kept it out of the net.</p>
<p>It was a good save, and Robles had to make <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15320" target="_blank">one</a> or <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15322" target="_blank">two</a> more before the match was over.</p>
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<div class="pullquote">There were some difficult moments for the guys, but everyone stuck together and we got the result. <span>-</span><a href="http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=36871" target="_blank">Luis Robles</a> <span>(bigapplesoccer.com)</span>
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<p><span>Mike Petke</span>, meanwhile, had seen enough. Cahill was in bull-in-china-shop mode, careering around the pitch, amply demonstrating his fitness but entirely out of sync with his teammates, who appeared scarcely interested in moving at all. Petke yanked Cahill and brought on Luyindula: it was time for less guts and more guile.</p>
<p>The switch worked. In the 71st minute, Luyindula - who had only been on the pitch for about 10 minutes - helped create the only goal of the game by being exactly the opposite of Cahill: instead of charging after the ball or into space, he simply didn't move.</p>
<p>By <a href="http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-05-04-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/details/video/15324" target="_blank">basically standing still</a>, Luyindula kept his marker with him, which opened up a channel through which Dax McCarty launched a pass. It bounced perfectly for <span>Thierry Henry</span>, who got behind the defense and through on goal.</p>
<p>Still, there was work to be done: Henry had a clear chance to shoot, but also had two defenders closing in and a well-positioned 'keeper. In his 100th MLS regular season appearance, here was Titi's chance to deliver another high class finish - but he didn't,</p>
<p>The captain has quickly built a very solid partnership with Bradley Wright-Phillips. Henry cut the ball back behind the chasing defenders, and BWP pushed his shot back across goal to the very spot Fernandez had been covering when he was expecting Henry to shoot.</p>
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<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/5/5682910/video-highlights-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bulls/in/5438947" target="_blank">Video Highlights: FC Dallas vs NY</a>
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<p>It was a clever pass from Henry, and it bodes well for BWP: he has his captain's confidence.</p>
<p>One goal was all it took for RBNY to take three points. This was convenient, because the team did not look particularly interested in playing after the goal was scored.</p>
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<div class="pullquote">We have to play better than what we did. <span>-</span><a href="http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=36872" target="_blank">Thierry Henry</a><span> (bigapplesoccer.com)</span>
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<p>But it is not necessary to be critical of this performance. It was hot. The pitch was shabby. RBNY was on the road, where it isn't often at its best. FCD is a better team, even without its best players, than recent results suggest. And the Red Bulls were having a bad day. Tim Cahill's return to the lineup was more disruptive than constructive - it would appear the team needs to learn how to work with him again.</p>
<p>Even good teams have bad days. We don't yet really know how good RBNY will prove to be this year. But we do know that to be good, you also need a little bit of luck. This match was that little bit of luck: a bad day for RBNY but a terrible day for FCD. When you aren't playing well, you hope your opponent plays worse.</p>
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<div class="pullquote">Because of this weather, we always knew, with the field how dry it is and hard, we knew it would always be an ugly game. <span>-</span><a href="http://www.empireofsoccer.com/decries-conditions-encounter-25526/" target="_blank">Mike Petke</a><span> (empireofsoccer.com)</span>
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<p>Right now, RBNY needs points. It got them. There is still a lot to work out on the training ground: there will be a few more hot days on the road before the season is over, and the team can't stop running every time the sun comes out.</p>
<p>But any day RBNY wins is a good day overall. This team can play pretty - as it did against Houston - but it's nice to know it can also win ugly.</p>
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https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/6/5686150/week-9-fc-dallas-0-1-new-york-red-bullsAustin Fido2014-05-05T09:15:10-04:002014-05-05T09:15:10-04:00Video Highlights: FC Dallas vs NY
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Video Highlights of the Red Bulls 1-0 victory over FC Dallas.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/5/5682910/video-highlights-fc-dallas-vs-new-york-red-bullsJason Iapicco2014-05-04T17:17:46-04:002014-05-04T17:17:46-04:003 Thoughts: Red Bulls earn win in Dallas
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Red Bulls beat FC Dallas to improve to 3-2-5 on the year on a hot afternoon in Texas.</p> <h3><span>Luis Robles</span></h3>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.onceametro.com/2014/4/26/5657022/3-thoughts-new-york-red-bull-columbus-crew">We can't stop talking about him</a>, and with good reason. Luis Robles is easily one of the Red Bulls' most important players. He consistently makes big saves to keep the Red Bulls in games and today, he came up with a big penalty stop to help the Red Bulls to all three points.</p>
<p>That penalty save as well-earned, too. Robles has been victimized by five penalties so far this season, but he's often guessed correctly, but just couldn't get his hands to the ball. Today, Robles got his hand to one and it made all the difference: The Red Bulls would go on to score and win the game.</p>
<h3>One we'd rather forget</h3>
<p>There are going to be games during the season we'd all rather forget and this is one of them. It was hot, making it a 90 minute slog rather than something approximating an attractive soccer game, and there were plenty of fouls to go around.</p>
<p>The important part isn't that this is a game we'll all sooner rather forget than watch MLSsoccer.com highlights or Red Bulls in 60 on MSG. The important part is that the Red Bulls got three points.</p>
<h3>Wright-Phillips keeps it up</h3>
<p>Shep Messing could hardly fathom <span>Thierry Henry</span> feeding strike partner <span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span> on the game winning goal, rather than taking it himself.</p>
<p>But Henry clearly has faith in Wright-Phillips (who was in a better scoring position than he was, anyway). And Wright-Phillips is on a tear, with five goals in three games. <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2014/2/22/5429910/red-bulls-on-the-run-the-forwards-who-have-tried-to-partner-thierry" target="_blank">The Red Bulls have gone through a litany of forwards to pair with the French legend</a>, but it looks like they may have found one in Wright-Phillips.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/4/5681382/3-thoughts-red-bulls-earn-hardfought-win-in-dallasMatt Coyne2014-05-02T13:35:42-04:002014-05-02T13:35:42-04:00Three Questions with Big D Soccer
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<p>Wherein we sit down with SBNation colleague Brian Wachholz of FC Dallas blog <a href="http://www.bigdsoccer.com/" target="new">Big D Soccer</a> to discuss tomorrow's Red Bulls-FC Dallas match-up.</p> <p><b>Once a Metro:</b> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> made a number of moves in the off-season and brought in a new coach to great results. How?</p>
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<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> I think there were 2 events last year that helped make this happen: the sale of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew</a> and the hiring of Dan Hunt as full-time President.</p>
<p>Hunt Sports Group had been struggling to run two MLS teams. Time, money, resources, support staff - everything has to be split. Then you run the risk of favoring one over the other (i.e. AEG's Galaxy and Dynamo). At the start of MLS in the 90's, it was a financial necessity, but the league has been clear about eliminating multiple team ownership going forward. Last year, HSG was able to sell the Crew to the benefit of both clubs. The aggressive off season signings were a direct result of the new ability to focus on driving one soccer team to success.</p>
<p>Dan Hunt was officially announced as President of FC Dallas early this year. Since beginning work, he has injected a new level of energy into the organization and put a smiling face on the ownership. Clark Hunt is the chairman of HSG, but FC Dallas has never felt like his priority. Clark must spread his time across multiple teams in different sports, and it's hard being the little brother to an NFL legacy. Dan's sole focus is FC Dallas. He's been seen at tailgates, in supporters' sections around the stadium, and been accessible on social media. I believe it was through Dan's leadership and persistence that FCD finally broke through the Rapids to approach Oscar Pareja.</p>
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<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> We've seen a few flash-in-the-pan teams over the years, teams that get off to great starts, then peter out. Can FC Dallas keep this up?</p>
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<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> We're about to find out. The month of May lines up 7 games for FCD, with 4 of those being away from home. Contrast that to the season so far where FCD has played the majority of matches in North Texas. Add to that the injuries to <span>George John</span>, Andres Escobar, <span>Kellyn Acosta</span>, and Mauro Diaz. Mauro Diaz! The good news is that FCD has an unprecedented level of quality depth not seen at this club before. For all its success so far, this season is one of transition while Oscar Pareja gets acclimated and institutes his philosophy. I'm confident you won't see an epic collapse like last season - with FCD going months between victories. However, we are still finding out just how high this team can keep riding.</p>
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<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> Who should Red Bulls fans be worried about come this weekend?</p>
<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> Watch out for the rising star of Matt Hedges. Mauro Diaz and <span>Fabian Castillo</span> have received most of the offensive limelight for FC Dallas in 2014. However, quietly on the back line, Hedges has been punching above his weight. Matt scored 8 goals since being selected by FC Dallas in the first round of the 2012 SuperDraft - this more than any other active defender on the roster. With George John still out due to knee injury, Matt has quickly risen to lead the defense. FCD hasn't exactly been bullet proof, but Matt is putting in stellar performances week in and week out. I think you'll see him clamp down on defense after giving up 4 goals to DC United last week. This team needs to make a statement that last week was an exception.</p>
<p>National media is starting to sniff around Matt for a potential USMNT callup in the next <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-2014">World Cup</a> cycle. I've seen tweets out of writers like Brian Sciaretta, <a href="http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2014/04/30/4786851/player-spotlight-matt-hedges-ready-for-the-next-step" target="_blank">and Goal.com posted an article earlier this week</a>.</p>
<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> Prediction? Scoreline?</p>
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<p><b>Big D Soccer: </b>Roster prediction is going to be tricky. This is a new coach with a new system with our first big hit to player availability. Diaz and Acosta are out. From what I've heard, I would guess:</p>
<p>Seitz, Hernandez, Hedges, Keel, Benitez, Thomas, Moffat, Castillo, Garcia, Watson, Texeira</p>
<p>Variables being the possibility of Fernandez given a chance at GK after last week's disaster against DCU; Jacobson replacing one of the defensive mids; Perez starting instead of Tex.</p>
<p>Dallas needs a result to bounce back. I think we see a narrow victory off a set piece: 2-1</p>
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<p><i>Now, their questions for us...</i></p>
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<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> Looking at the MLS Stat Leaders for 2014, the Red Bulls have representation in the Top 5 of the major offensive statistics: goals, assists, shots, shots on goal, and then even <span>Luis Robles</span> tops the saves category as of this week. What's behind this success? Is it due to <span>Mike Petke</span>; individual players' effort; team chemistry?</p>
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<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> Probably a bit of everything. <span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span> is hot right now, scoring a hat trick mid-week against the Dynamo before notching the game-tying goal against the Crew over the weekend. Lloyd Sam's goal total can be credited a bit to him, who realized he needed to bring more than just speed and a good cross to the side, and to Petke, who pushed him to work on his defensive game.</p>
<p>With Henry and shots, well, he's Thierry Henry. With Robles, he's bailed the Red Bulls out more times than I can count.</p>
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<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> What is your opinion on the NYCFC Yankee Stadium announcement? They jumped on to the soccer stage with a lot of big promises and bravado laying claim to NYC over the Red Bulls, but playing in a baseball field feels very MLS 1.0.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> No one is going to build anything in New York on 22 month's notice. Case in point: One World Trade Center. The Twin Towers replacement? That hasn't opened yet.</p>
<p>Because of that, I think we all knew they'd play in Yankee Stadium to start. The issue is beyond that. There was lot of trepidation in the real estate community over new Mayor Bill de Blasio's election, and I'm not sure he's keen on playing ball with a team whose minority owner just got a new stadium built with considerable public funds and whose majority owner has less-than-savory politics.</p>
<p>So that puts the Yankees in a weird situation, with President Randy Levine forward and saying, "Oh, yeah, we'll consider options outside of New York." To me, that's a power play with the city, but I don't know where their leverage is coming from. Whatever part of New York they're looking at will get by just fine without the city opening the public coffers to help out, and it's not as if there will be a considerable uproar from people, like there'd be if the Yankees left for Yonkers (just north of the Bronx) or the Mets for Nassau County (just east of Queens on Long Island).</p>
<p>That leaves their whole deal -- five boroughs, one city is their slogan thus far -- dead in the water. New Yorkers can be very provincial, part of that is because it can be really tough to get around the city and part because of run-of-the-mill zip code elitism. They're trying to get the people too good to go to New Jersey to watch soccer to pay attention to them, subtlety playing up the idea New Jersey is a backwater. What good is it if they're in Yonkers?</p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> The average age of the NYRB starting XI is 30. How do the Red Bulls maintain endurance through a busy 2014 season including MLS, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/us-open-tennis">US Open</a> Cup, (World Cup? - are any players expected to be called up?), and the CONCACAF Champions League later this year?</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> The Red Bulls are old, but there are a lot of them. <span>Jonny Steele</span>, who had a breakout year last year, still hasn't played many minutes in 2014. <span>Bobby Convey</span> has been in and out of the trainer's room with various injuries. <span>Ibrahim Sekagya</span> has been called into action more than a few times thanks to Armando's injury and card troubles, but he's up to the task (by Red Bulls' standards).</p>
<p>And it's not just the old guys. There are younger guys who can step up. Twenty-one-year-old Ruben Bover proved he can play in pre-season and in reserve league games. Petke called on central midfielder <span>Michael Bustamante</span> to fill in on short notice last year, and he performed admirably. <span>Matt Miazga</span>, the Red Bulls' 18-year-old centerback, has a lot of admirers in the Red Bulls organization.</p>
<p>Long story short, there's plenty of depth to compete, even after they lose <span>Tim Cahill</span> and <span>Roy Miller</span> to the World Cup.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Big D Soccer:</b> Prediction? Scoreline?</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Once a Metro:</b> Robles; Kimura, Olave, Armando, Miller, Sam, McCarty, Cahill, Alexander, Wright-Phillips, Henry</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/2/5675590/red-bulls-fc-dallas-preview-three-questions-once-a-metro-big-d-soccer-2014Matt Coyne2014-05-02T10:57:50-04:002014-05-02T10:57:50-04:00What We Know and What We Don't: FC Dallas
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<figcaption>Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In which we take a look at what we can expect from this Sunday's match in Frisco, Texas. </p> <p>The last few weeks have seen a pleasant turn around for New York's boys in white. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> have won their first and second matches of the season and got a valuable point on the road in Columbus after short rest. Following a tough start to 2014, things seem to be looking up. Now the Red Bulls are hoping to grab their first three points away from home. Will they be able to pull it off this week?</p>
<p> </p>
<h3>Here's what we know:</h3>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><b>New York is getting healthier.</b></li>
</ul>
<p>It feels like the Red Bulls haven't been able to maintain a completely healthy side since the start of the season. Injuries to the back line have presented some depth issues for the defense, while <span>Tim Cahill's</span> hamstring managed to pull off the impossible by keeping the Australian DP out for the team trainer's fully projected amount of time. Fortunately (or unfortunately) both <span>Bobby Convey</span> and <span>Richard Eckersley</span> have <a href="http://bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=36838">returned to full training </a>while only being listed as "<strike>doubtful</strike> questionable*" on the latest injury report. Cahill's name is absent the list all together. With the team playing as well as they have been, the added depth can only help.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> is hurting.</b></li>
</ul>
<p>Dallas kicked off to a dream start this season. Sharing a league leading best, 5-2-1 record with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a>, they've looked fast, sleek and dangerous. A big part of their success? Young, Argentine midfielder, <span>Mauro Diaz</span>. A spring board for Dallas' attack, Diaz has been having a revelation of a season....and that revelation may have just come to an end. It's being <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Jata/status/462085921039323136">rumored </a>that the young midfielder will miss the rest of 2014 due to a torn meniscus. It's never good to hear of anyone being sidelined for that amount of time, but losing a talent like Diaz comes as a huge blow to FC Dallas' season. A blow that could help New York get their first win on the road.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><b>BWP is on fire.</b></li>
</ul>
<p>It only took one week and one positional change for <span>Eric Alexander</span> to hand the title of "team goat" off to <span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span>. A week later, and the title is, once again, looking for a new owner. Wright-Phillips appears to have passed the allotted time it takes for foreign players to acclimate to the league and is now plenty comfortable in his position next to <span>Thierry Henry</span>. Not only has BWP become the first Englishman to notch a hat trick in MLS, he has also been a menace to opposing defenses, making all the right runs in order to free up space for Henry to create. If able to maintain his current production, BWP adds the kind of play up top that this team has lacked for the last year and makes New York hard to beat.</p>
<p> </p>
<h3>
<br> Here's what we don't know:</h3>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><b>So who's going to be starting and where?</b></li>
</ul>
<p>Mike Petke's starting lineups have been an easy call up to this point due to sheer necessity. With Tim Cahill, Richard Eckersley and Bobby Convey all nursing injuries, there was little room for experimentation with the boys on the pitch. Other than Eric Alexander starting out left over a healthy <span>Jonny Steele</span>, all of the decisions were already made because of a lack of other options. Now that the team is getting back to full health, what will their starting eleven look like? We'll most likely see a very similar lineup as the last two matches, with one exception: Tim Cahill. Now healthy, who does last year's team MVP replace? Does Petke put him in for an under performing <span>Peguy Luyindula</span>? Does BWP start on the bench to be brought in as a super sub or does Petke decide not to start Cahill in the first place?</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><b>Can New York make a statement?</b></li>
</ul>
<p>Putting injuries aside, FC Dallas is one hell of a squad. New coach Oscar Pareja has them playing damn good soccer that would make them tough to beat at home in Red Bull Arena, let alone on the road in Frisco. Can the Red Bulls get out of Texas with a full three points? A win this Sunday would put the entire league on notice, letting everyone know that last years Supporter's Shield was no fluke.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>*<i>Thanks to Dan Dickenson, super editor. </i></p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/2/5674792/what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-fc-dallasTim Dean2014-05-02T10:00:12-04:002014-05-02T10:00:12-04:00RBR 97: Tying one on in Cowtown
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The 97th episode of the Red Bull Rant features a rare triple threat interview.</p> <p><span>Jason, Pat, & Truman are back to recap the 1-1 draw vs the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew</a>, and discuss if <span>Roy Miller</span> might be the best Left Back in MLS right now. They also discuss if it's OK to have players on your fantasy team if they play for real life rivals. The guys are joined in the guest segment by the founding members of the Irish, Scottish, English New York Red Bull Supporters. They discuss how the group got started, how they got into the Red Bulls, what it's like to watch from overseas, what they think of the 2014 season so far, and an infamous tattoo. In the final segment, the crew speculates about where <span>Tim Cahill</span> fits into the starting XI, and preview this weekend's match at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a>.</span></p>
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https://www.onceametro.com/2014/5/2/5673400/rbny-red-bull-rant-97-tying-one-on-in-cowtownJason Iapicco