Skip to main content

Flat start dooms the Red Bulls

photo from Matt Kremkau

That start was the worst I have ever seen this Red Bulls team perform in a very long time. Especially the backline who was in a regular four-man backline that switched off as soon as the opening whistle sounded. While Aaron Long has become the whipping boy to the fans of the USMNT on Twitter, he wasn't helped by his Center back partner Sean Nealis either.

Allowing Alexander Callens to camp into a spot between both center backs and allowed to stay onside and then spring into action by heading the ball with ease past a surprised and helpless Carlos Coronel was just putrid to watch. Not only did the switch off, but both were caught ball-watching and looked helpless.

Then the second goal came in the 23rd minute and Santiago Rodriguez was given a lane to walk free into the area and towards the net to fake out Coronel and score, this was an embarrassing display of players who left their passion for this Derby in the locker room and assumed it was going to be a cake walk. I can't fault the goalkeeper, because there is only so much he could do.

While they did regain some sense of pride and passion after being down two goals to nil, they couldn't convert chances to get back into the match. Even when Elias Manoel did score to pull one back, it was wiped out through VAR due to Aaron Long being offside when Lewis Morgan delivered the ball & Long's right foot was just ahead of the defender.

While Gerhard Struber has done a good job this season and, secured a large number of road points for the very first time this season for the club, currently in third place and is close to hosting a playoff game at Red Bull Arena, he has to take the blame on how he got this side ready to go and battle.

You can always be ready for big rivalry matches against DC United & Philadelphia Union all you want, but when you play against a rival that is just 30 minutes away down I-80, crossing the George Washington Bridge, and heading down south on the Major Deegan Expressway. You should know very well where you are going and who you are facing.

When this Rivalry got started in 2015 by Major League Soccer, Jesse Marsch had all of his players ready to go. Prepared them physically and mentally in the right direction. Swept the inaugural series and then the infamous Red Wedding in Yankee Stadium the next season happened. What you saw was a determination from Bradley Wright-Phillips, Mike Grella, Dax McCarty & substitutes Alex Muyl, Gonzalo Veron, and others to continue the same sentiment by being on the same page from the opening whistle to the closing whistle.

While this loss is not devastating, it does close the gap between both sides to a single point. With the international break coming now, Struber's Red Bulls can now relax and rethink what they need to do in their final two matches on the road in Columbus & finishing off the regular season by hosting Charlotte FC. While Aaron Long goes with the Senior side of the USMNT team, Caden Clark & Daniel Edelman will be away with the US U-20 Team at a mini tournament in Mexico.

If these two sides do meet in the playoffs, then the Red Bulls are going to need to bring that passion back and hard to show the fans, that they will defeat the Blue side of New York in utter heartbreak. That passion,l Energy, concentration & strength was missing today, and it needs to get back as quickly as possible.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Red Bulls Announce Fan Experience Improvements

by Garry Redman On top of the theme nights announced this season, something new has been added the next time the season ticket holders and supporters step inside The Cathedral... The state-of-the-art LED lighting system at Red Bull Arena will provide higher on-field light levels for enhanced visibility and safety and introduce new entertainment features that heighten the overall experience for spectators.   Built around Musco's Total Light Control—TLC for LED™ technology, the new system is designed to provide exceptional playability and uniformity while minimizing glare. Cleaner, whiter light will elevate the broadcast quality for fans watching around the world.  Color-changing fixtures and Show-Light® Pro entertainment technology will allow the Red Bulls to wash the stadium in different colors and synchronize light shows to music, heightening the fan experience during goal celebrations, player introductions, and other big moments. If you have no idea what this means, click here t

Rumor: Dru Yearwood to be Traded to Nashville SC

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced More trade rumors are circulating as Red Bulls midfielder Dru Yearwood is linked to a move to Nashville SC according to Tom Bogert of the Athletic . What Red Bull will receive for such a trade remains to be seen. However expectations are that the move will be finalized by the end of next week. Yearwood joined New York in 2020 from Brentford in England. Along the way he has made 86 appearances for the club, including 55 starts. In 2021 and 2022 he made 18 starts, scoring three goals and three assists, his total output for the club in Major League Soccer.  In 2023 Yearwood found his position in the club to vary greatly. At times he played in a defensive midfield role next to Frankie Amaya and other times higher up the field, almost as a second forward. After the departure of Cristian Casseres Jr. earlier in the year, it appeared as if Yearwood's minutes would increase. However Daniel Edelman stepped into the role, relegating Yearwood to more

Red Bulls Season Ending Roster Moves Announced

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls have announced their roster moves for the end of the 2023 season with notable names such as Omir Fernandez, Hassan Ndam and Steven Sserwadda either being out of contract or the team declining their option. Forward Tom Barlow, defender Cameron Harper, midfielders Dru Yearwood and Wiki Carmona will remain with the team as their options have been renewed. Barlow has been the rumor of a trade to Chicago, so picking up his option would be the first step in such a move if it is the case. Yesterday Dylan Nealis was announced as having signed a new contract for 2024, keeping him with the club. New York has also exercised their option to retain Kyle Duncan as he is out of contract with his European club.  Forward Jorge Cabezas-Hurtado will return to Watford in England following the end of his loan spell. Remaining Red Bull Roster: Goalkeepers: Carlos Coronel, Ryan Meara, AJ Marcucci Defenders: John Tolkin, Kyle Duncan, Sean Nealis,