Skip to main content

Aaron Long Selected for Qatar Silences the Haters

photo by Matt Kremkau

On Wednesday, November 9th, US Men's National Team Head Coach Greg Berhalter had a World Cup roster announcement party in Brooklyn, NY to inform the fans and the media of who is going to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and begin play on Monday, November 21st against Wales. While former New York Red Bulls players like Center back Tim Ream and Midfielder Tyler Adams were selected to join the roster, a current Red Bull player will also make the trip as Center back and club captain Aaron Long will be flying to the middle east.

Long has had a solid career with the Red Bulls and has been the backbone of that backline since he was called up from Red Bulls 2 during their USL tenure making strong defensive decisions, solid runbacks to prevent chances from being taken and, has also scored some big goals in the regular season, the playoffs and the US Open Cup.

We remember his disastrous 2021 season when Long was challenging for a high ball when he leaped in the air to try and control it but landed awkwardly and ruptured his Achilles tendon, which ended his season after a few games. He returned in 2022 with a vengeance and scored some big goals including the final goal in a 4-1 road victory at BMO Field against Toronto FC. 

His perseverance to get back on the pitch showed why he wanted to be the captain of the club and why he is a part of the US Men's National Team. Sadly in this modern age of social media, Aaron has had plenty of detractors who have gone against him from making this World Cup Roster. Not your typical banter or analysis on why he shouldn't be on the roster, but more personal and vile attacks for no reason.

Even those who have created fake news quotes to paint Aaron Long as a racist to make their negative opinions of his so-called poor play and begging him to retire a.s.a.p. as facts. It is the current state of social media going too far and while everyone knows that Aaron Long is not a negative person, you never know when a real reporter will ask him questions about a fake quote that could sound real and cause controversy for no reason.

In this reporter's opinion, Aaron Long has beaten the haters, he has earned the full confidence of Greg Berhalter to be a part of the nine defenders on the 26-man roster for the Qatar World Cup. Whether or not he starts, comes off the bench, or sits is no longer the issue. All that matters right now is that Aaron deserves to smile, feel the positives, and earn the congratulations he will receive from his family, teammates at the club, and the other 25 players on this World Cup Roster. His extreme critics have failed.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

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
Post a Comment
Read more

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
Post a Comment
Read more

Ex-Red Bulls Coach Gerhard Struber Shares Thoughts on MLS and Salzburg

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced Red Bull News Network had the chance to communicate with former New York Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber, now the manager of Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. Struber was with New York from the end of the 2020 campaign through to the early part of 2023. Along the way he secured two playoff berths, a seventh and fourth place finish in 2021 and 2022 respectively. While his time was ended abruptly in MLS, his memories of the American version of the game have helped him prepare for such a monumental task in Europe. You spent nearly three seasons in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, what did you learn from that experience that has made you a different coach at Red Bull Salzburg? Struber: In addition to the sporting aspects, there is a lot that I was able to gain from my work at New York Red Bulls. Any work in a foreign country not only brings you closer to the language, but also to the culture and mentality of the pe
Post a Comment
Read more