Editorial: Emil Forsberg is the Difference Maker

By Daniel Feuerstein

After the first ninety minutes of the season, the New York Red Bulls ended their match at Geodis Park against Nashville SC with a scoreless draw. While we saw multiple times in this match how many chances the Red Bulls took and were stopped by Joe Willis or the woodwork, you knew they should've taken the full three points. But what you saw in this match was something you all wanted for a very long time. A creative attacking midfielder who looked dangerous on the ball and can also be a threat shooting it.

Emil Forsberg is the real deal. 

What we all saw from him was amazing and I know all of you are going to be begging for more of the same each and every match. How he controls the run of play, what he is doing with the ball, finding his teammates to spring them into attacking runs, and his dead ball shot was also very dangerous in this game. The confidence that oozed out of him was something we hadn't seen in a very long time. 

Not since we saw Sacha Kljestan in the midfield or Mike Grella, have we seen a midfielder grace the pitch in a Red Bulls kit and do so much to make everyone play so well around him. The confidence he brings out of his teammates to attack the opposition's net. This truly feels like something big is going to happen, and this match is the start of it. Still, it would be beneficial for the strikers to finish their chances when they get their opportunities.

"We played a really good game. I think we were controlling the game. We played fast, the pitch was a little bit dry, but we played fast. We wanted to move them. We created chances and as long as you do that in the end you're going to score, and the guys are going score and they're going to have what we call a catch-up effect." said Emil Forsberg, "It's like a domino release, it's going to come, the ghost is going to come. I think we just keep pushing, keep believing. Happy about the game today, it's the first game so it's always normal that you have a little bit of mistakes here and there, but I think in general we played a very first very good first game and it's important that the guys know it. And of course, we're disappointed about the 0 -0 because we think we had a lot more in us, but I mean in the end it's going to come. I'm sure of it next."

The negative will be the possibility of seeing clubs double-teaming on Forsberg and canceling out his lovely offensive capabilities. That's why the strikers need to take their chances strong and find a way to convert so that they can force their opponents to be on their heels, instead of on their toes. This is the threat this club has been begging for in a very long time. This is the threat the fans of the Red Bulls have also been wanting for a long time as well. 

Now the Winter Transfer Window of MLS is still open till April 23rd, and that means Sporting Director Julian DeGuzman has plenty of time to bring someone over to help fill in the holes that need to be added. To give more weapons for Forsberg to play around with and show this club is coming back as a possible dangerous side. For now, it's a good start, and what we saw in these first ninety minutes down at Nashville, Tennessee, is something that many have been drooling over. An creative attacking midfielder who wants to be here and take down all opponents in MLS.