The New York Red Bulls have been tested by adversity early and often over the first month of the 2016 MLS season.
Injuries and unfavorable results have set the team back thus far, giving head coach Jesse Marsch and his side just three points through the opening four matches.
“We looked at video today and we talked a bit about how we can be more aggressive in the attacking part of the field,” Marsch said following Monday’s training session. “There was some instruction about what that was, but I think we just need to be a little more aggressive and on the move. We need to go after plays and make runs in the box and go the extra mile to put the other team on their heels.
“We looked at it and we implemented a few things in training. We went through a period of time where we weren’t scoring goals last year and I said I wasn’t concerned then either. I’m going to stick with that, and I think a lot of our success is determined by everyone’s ability to commit to the mentality and tactics of what we do at the highest level. Now, we just need to put it together and put complete performances together.”
While the team will will be looking to turn things around against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, injuries still remain a concern for the team, as well as a decision over Felipe’s red card suspension.
ZUBAR NEARING RETURN, OTHERS STILL DAY-TO-DAY
When three players exited the team’s match against the Houston Dynamo, all with hamstring injuries, the Red Bulls were put in a precarious position, especially in defense.
Now, Marsch is hopefully to have all three back in the near future, although Ronald Zubar seems to be the likeliest to make a return over the weekend.
“Ronald is the closest, so he’ll be in training tomorrow,” Marsch said. “Gideon (Baah) and Gonzalo (Veron) are probably both a little bit behind him, but hopefully they’ll be on the field soon too. It’s day-to-day for all of them.”
In addition to those three, Kemar Lawrence, who left Friday night’s game against the New England Revolution with a knee injury, is also being monitored closely.
“Kemar right now is suffering from a ligament strain in his knee,” Marsch added. “It’s nothing overly serious but again he felt his knee pop out so it scared him a little. He’s day-to-day. My guess is he’s doubtful for the weekend but not sure yet.”
With options running thin in the back, expect Karl Ouimette and Connor Lade to fill key roles for the second straight week.
TEAM STILL UNDECIDED OVER FELIPE APPEAL
Controversy arose on several occasions in the team’s 1-0 loss to the Revolution. The Red Bulls only have the opportunity to change one call though.
Midfielder Felipe was sent off just after the hour mark for a tackle on Revolution attacker Kelyn Rowe, and the Red Bulls had to play the remainder of the match down a man.
“We’re evaluating that right now,” Marsch said of a potential appeal. “One of the things is that you only get two appeals a year, so if we appeal it we feel like we want to know there’s a chance it could be rescinded. I don’t know what the percentages or odds are on that right now so we’re trying to come up with a process and make a decision.”
In the event that Felipe isn’t eligible to play, Marsch discussed the possibility of Sean Davis filling in for the Brazilian.
“We know what we’re going to get from Sean,” Marsch said. “He’s got a great work rate, he can cover ground and he’s a very good passer. He’s a great competitor. The reality of this week is that we’re going to have to rotate guys around, and that was going to happen regardless of if Felipe gets a red card or not.
“If Felipe stays suspended, then there’s no hesitation on our part to put Sean on the field. I think in general we’ll need to figure out how to use our whole roster. We’ve already been challenged that way early this year, but this week we’ll need to make sure we can put fresh legs.”
OKUGO STILL AN OPTION FOR BACK LINE
One familiar face that has remained with the Red Bulls over recent weeks has been free agent defender Amobi Okugo.
The 25-year-old most recently played for Sporting Kansas City, but was cut prior to the beginning of the 2016 season. The team is still assessing his fit into the rest of the squad, despite showing positive signs over his stint in training.
“It was good again today, Marsch said. “We had more of our group together, so we’re kind of continuing to get a full picture of what Amobi is about. It’s been good. In the end, it’ll just be about where he fits in with the roster. We’re not ready to make a decision just yet, but overall he has been positive.”
Sporting KC coming to town,…methinks Red Bulls are looking at 1-4. Considering Felipe pulled two goals out of his a$$ to rescue them against Houston,…Mama Mia!
I am looking forward to seeing Sean Davis get a full game. That said, should Marsh be a little bold and bench a few guys and make way for some youth?
Okugo seems like he would be a nice addition,…albeit with a high price tag. Do they have a choice?
I hear Mike Petke may be available.
In all fairness many of those goals came while chasing the game so it is hard to gauge whether the defense is at fault or simply the team got scored on because they had to be aggressive.
Also on the other side of the ball BWD has not done much and Sam is not as effective as in years past. It seems like this is a multi faceted issue with this team that is not solely on the defense.
Agreed. But Marsch keeps talking about the problems with scoring. I just wanted to point out that Curtis failed to take sufficient steps in the off-season to shore up the back line, and it’s showing.
Somebody needs to interview Ali Curtis about the back line. Everything except the Baah injury was foreseeable — and it is way too soon to tell whether Baah for Miazga was positive, neutral, or negative. Zubar was a sub last year for a reason. Nine goals conceded in four games may be just the beginning.
Completely agreed. They entered the season with an unknown in Baah (let’s be charitable and say he’s a first choice CB on a good team; he has been good so far), and two guys in Ouimette and Zubar who are at best 4th choice on a good team. Given how long Perrinelle is supposed to be out for, this is not an acceptable way to go into the season. They were always an injury or two away from disaster.