photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
The New York Red Bulls might be severely shorthanded this weekend.
Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke said in his weekly conference call on Tuesday that midfielder Tim Cahill and right back Richard Eckersley will both miss this Saturday’s road game vs. the Montreal Impact because of injuries.
Cahill and Eckersley both sustained first-half knocks in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw vs. Chivas USA, and had to be removed prior to halftime. Cahill suffered a right hamstring strain and Eckersley a right ankle sprain.
“Cahill is most likely ruled out this weekend,” said Petke. “What we’re looking at is a mild hamstring strain. I would hope to have him back in two weeks, but for now it seems that he will be out this weekend with a hamstring strain. … Eckersley is out. He’s definitely out.”
Eckersley could miss about a month’s worth of games because of his injury, and Petke said the club is planning to gauge the right back’s health on a week-to-week basis.
The injuries come at a very inopportune time for the Red Bulls, who are set to play on the turf surface at Olympic Stadium rather than the grass field at Stade Saputo this weekend.
That means it is likely that starters Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave will sit out this Saturday’s match to avoid playing on the artificial pitch, further depleting Petke’s side as it looks for its first win of the season.
Petke would not rule the two out just yet, though.
“It’s Tuesday of the week before the game so I’m not going to make any bold statements yes or no,” said Petke. “We traditionally know what goes on with these games. However, there’s always that chance, there’s always the situation that we have a conversation and decide that it’s a go on this turf. I’m not ready to make any statement right now, but there’s always a chance.
“Having said that, we have what I think is a deep roster. I have total confidence in whoeever jumps in if (Henry and Olave) are not going to go. We’ve had success before in Montreal and that’s what we’re looking to do this time.”
Petke added that right back Kosuke Kimura is good to go for the trip to Montreal. Kimura suffered a slight ankle injury after coming off the bench to replace Eckersley against Chivas USA.
—–
What do you think of Cahill and Eckersley being out this weekend? Think Henry and Olave sit this one out? What should New York’s starting XI look like vs. the Impact?
Share your thoughts below.
Kimura > Eckersley right now. Also, Convey needs to be moved to the middle. He made the team better in 2nd half of Chivas game when he shifted there. Hopefully Olave and Henry play given that NYRB haven’t won yet this year. Lineup:
—Henry—BWP—
——Convey——
Steele——-Sam
——-Dax——-
Miller—Armando—Olave—Kimura
——Robles——
If Henry and Olave are out, then:
—Peguy—BWP—
——Convey——
Steele——-Sam
——-Dax——-
Miller—Armando—Sekagya—Kimura
——Robles——
Losing Eckersley isn’t a problem. Replacing Cahill is tougher, but he hasn’t quite been on his game this season so far. They’ll probably go with Alexander and McCarty in the middle with BWP and Luyindula up top (and Kimura at RB, obviously)
What about giving Conor Lade a shot.
They tried that and the problem is he stinks.
Expecting an Ives April Fool’s bit — “Red Bulls to Sign Rafa Marquez to One Week Contract for Upcoming Montreal Tilt” or some such. . .
Uh-oh. This is sounding a bit like Week 1 in Vancouver. Maybe Kimura and Wright-Phillips can help rewrite the script this time.
Missing Barklage about now.
+1 and Holgerson!
From what I’ve seen thus far, Eckersley is the new David Carney. Having him sit is addition by subtraction.
That having been said, let’s all recognize that I couldn’t come close to doing what he does on a weekly basis. My original post came across as being a bit harsh, but Eckersley surely needs to step up his game.
Not at all, you’re a fan and it’s not a pre-requisite that you be a professional player in order to comment on a player’s performance. Eckersley has been awful so far and I don’t think he’ll be missed. I’m not a huge Kimura fan either but I think he’ll be a lot better than Eckersley.
Kudos for your honesty and humility. It’s good for all of us to keep those facts in mind when we comment. That said, your comment was not overly harsh. Eckersley truly has played like the 2014 model of David Carney.
Eckersley has stunk, no guilt in saying that. Even Cahill has been nonexistent so far this season and I expect this to be the team’s best game yet now.