Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
Perhaps no point better illustrates how enigmatic the New York Red Bulls' season has been other than the fact that the team could still conceivably win the Eastern Conference or finish outside of the playoff picture altogether.
The star-studded, high-priced Red Bulls were pretty much left for dead prior to last weekend, but the club's 1-0 victory over FC Dallas has breathed new life into the team's hopes. With six games remaining in the regular season, New York trails first-place Columbus by five points, but has a game in hand.
The Red Bulls are also level with the Portland Timbers for the 10th and final playoff spot (owning the advantage via goal differential) but are just two points clear of D.C. United, who has two games in hand on New York, for that final berth.
Much will be cleared up this week after New York's games against Real Salt Lake and Portland, with the first of those two being played Wednesday night. The Red Bulls finish the season with games against Toronto, Los Angeles, Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia.
Given all of that, where do you think the Red Bulls will finish the regular season? Cast your vote after the jump:
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How did you vote? Where do you think the Red Bulls will finish? If they fail to make the playoffs, where would you rank them among the league's most underachieving teams? Would you want your team potentially playing against them in the postseason?
Share your thoughts below.
I feel bad for Lindpere. He has the balls and the heart, just no one around him that does
Im a red bull fan and i approve of this message
On one hand I’d love to see the Timbers take that last WC spot from NYRB but on the other hand Portland plays with no fear and therefor are more dangerous than Red Bulls. Let’s go RSL!
Later will we have a “Where do think DC United will finish the regular season?”
oh…and let’s not forget the post I read on another website from a season ticket holder saying how NYRB jacked up his season ticket cost for next season by at least $250 a seat making the decision not to renew his seats that much easier. I just have no clue what this organization is looking to achieve anymore.
I am right there with you Joamiq. Other than beating what appeared to be a flat Dallas team 1-0 and giving us a reason to even think they might make the playoffs now, they haven’t done or shown anything. And that is exactly the problem with NYRB…they talk a lot and show little on the field. If I don’t see the team gutted in the offseason (other than Lindpere, Solli, Agudelo, Rodgers and Richards), I will find it hard to support them again next year. There is just no heart left in this team. Tainio is always a red card waiting to happen…Henry only plays half of the games and walks around most of the games he does play…other than leaving them around for future depth, the backline is abysmal…and Dax and Ballouchy are trades that never should have happened. As for Rost, he had a decent game against a flat Dallas team, but he hurt himself on a plane and prior to that, I watched 2 goals go in on him when he did play that he watched go right over his shoulder. As for the rest of the guys on the bench, I can’t pass judgement on them because Backe never lets us see what they can do. I know Hertzog scored a few goals in the reserve league, but he never sees the field when we need a goal. I know John Rooney is certainly not Wayne Rooney, but no idea what his skill set might be. I like Stephen Keel when he isn’t falling down on the field all the time and I like Mendes because he is one of the only remaining Metrostars on the team. I hope most of the team is put up for the Montreal expansion draft, but I am sure NYRB will only expose Lindpere, Rodgers, Agudelo, Solli and Richards because they are the only ones that consistently put forth effort in the games and that appears to go against this team’s concept. I just hope RSL shows up tonight and brings NYRB back to earth after a poor win on Saturday.
Ha! Good one. (I thought that, too!)
….and don’t tell ME to unsubscribe, I have been a soccer fan of the US leagues for 35+ years.
It is fun to root against them, because they were sooo over-rated and still are over-covered, but I don’t care either.
IF they are in the Top 10 MLS teams, it is barely. They would get crushed in CCL if they take the Eas(y)t route and make the MLS Cup.
What has this team done to suggest it’s going to get three points out of games it should win? Red Bulls need 8 points out of their final 6 games to make it. They’ll probably end up with like 5 draws and a loss. Their only chance is to somehow manage to not screw up the TFC game and then hope that Houston collapses.
Mike, I couldn’t agree with you more. Looking forward to the Cosmos joining the league soon…. Feel free to jump off the sinking ship in the swamps of Jersey.
We go on a mild tear to make the top three. Then win it all.
We’re resting now, that’s all.
Don’t end a paragraph with “Just saying…”
Sums it up well.
The fans have mostly turned on him. Soler (and Backe) traded away all of the depth of the team. Backe’s game management stinks too, especially regarding subs and his love for M. Ballouchy.
There was a banner hanging from the 2nd level, directly opposite the benches, at the last home game that said “Go Backe Home”
pretty much sums it up. but like Scuba Steve said, no one knows what corporate thinks – about anything.
“With six games remaining in the regular season, New York trails first-place Columbus by five points…”
This speaks to the crappiness of the Eastern Conference.
It’s all a bit of a mystery, since their struggles mean little if Austria likes him. That said, he is probably on a fairly hot seat right now. My guess – and again, it’s hard to know for sure – is that no matter how much they like him, they want someone in there who’s going to do a better job winning (and thereby promoting the brand).
hahahaha…..right.best.signing.of.the.season!
Hey NYRB fans, I’m seriously interested – How much of a hotseat is Backe on considering he has done so little with so much? No disrespect, just honest curiousity here…
I wish I had time to go through player by player … I will give NYRB an advantage up top (but with Keane, it’s slight), but the midfield and backline of Galaxy are better in reality and on paper. Teams don’t win consistently (or championships) without an impervious back four. Just ask Arsenal. When you say, “just look at how successful they have been around the world,” you are focused on past accomplishments of players that are on the decline. By contrast, Gonzalez, Dunivant, Franklin, Juninho, DeLaGarza, Ricketts, Donovan (he’s midfielder most of the time) are all at their peak or improving. Beckham hasn’t had a bad year either. In fact, he’s been tremendous. On paper, today, the Galaxy are better.
I’ve been a Metros fan since day 1. And based on history, gut, player moves, lack of heart, management, – no way they make it.
I’m not really a NYRB fan, but I’d like to see Henry in the playoffs. I think he could come up with something special.
HEY. Hold on a second. You lot are acting like NY have had a disappointing season, neglecting that they won the EMIRATES cup. Playoffs? Playoffs?
sarcasm.
Umm… No. Look at #1, Henry & Donovan tied for most goals. Luke Rodgers has alot of goals, Agudelo is a rising star for the US team, Tainio has played in the EPL & has multiple caps for Finland, Lindpere is one of the best mids in the league, Solli has had success in Europe and for Norway, Mccarty has been in & out of the US picture, Miller is one of CR’s best left backs, Richards is a mainstay for Jamaica, & Rost one of the best goalkeepers for Germany in the past decade. & oh yh that Mexican legend, Marquez…
So, ON PAPER look at LA Galaxy’s players and how succesfull they have been around the world and such. Keane, Beckham, Juninho, Donovan, Gonzalez, Dunivant all have their unique stories but most would say LA is the best team in the league because Bruce has a good unit and the players want to succeed at the club. They have good young players coming through and are playing past their limit. New York has the potential technically to be better if they had the unit and structure LA has…
+1
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Fair enough, I guess I should care. I want NYRB to be successful, but without the continual NYRB drama, which goes on and on, year after year. NYRB also seems to get a disproportionate amount of coverage on SBI, but I also understand this given NYRB is a local team for Ives. I will disagree with you that NYRB is the best team in the league on paper. I think the Galaxy would take issue as well.
that button is the X button on the top right…Good day.
I thought they’d already won everything when the acquired DeRo. No?
If you watch MLS or pay attention at all… you should care, why? NYRB is one of the biggest spending MLS clubs and like teams in the EPL always get the big time coverage. Well, if NYRB were to fail to make the playoffs, MAJOR moves will probably be made to make sure they do get into the playoffs next season… I could see Marquez being traded or sold for instance if they dont, because lets be honest, he hasnt showed his full potential much and NYRB may want to bring in another DP. Also, its possible the MLS All Star coach could be sacked if they dont make it, which Im not sure if that has ever happened… Lets face it, on paper NYRB are the best team in the league and I believe its a huge headline if they dont atleast make the playoffs…
thats never the case tho… its always a brutal slaying… TFC are ok in my book, but we have their number down pat.
Rafa Marquez disagrees with this statement.
You can’t be one the best MLS teams if you cannot impose your level of play on your opponents. Just saying…
I agree with Joshua – the East plain sucks and I do not see the MLS Cup winner coming from this conference. As a DC fan it pains me to say this, but it is what it is.
It’s almost like the West is the first division and the East is the second division. Sad thing is that the West has two expansion teams – and before someone attributes that as a reason remeber this, it’s a balanced schedule.
not sure about management(they’ve at least invested lots of money) , but you are correct about the players. it’s simple they haven’t played w/ any heart or balls, w/ the exception of a couple of players. sad really because im sure they all consider themselves professionals but they sure haven’t shown it.
Where is the “who cares” option?
After playing like garbage for months, i hope they win tonight make the playoffs. coming from a fans perspective, nothing was more frustrating seeing one of the bets MLS teams play down and tie consistantly to mediocre teams. If they win tonight, im confident they’ll make it.
At this point, I don’t care as neither does management or some of the players.
I really hope they miss the playoffs altogether… but suspect they’ll get a WC spot.
The Red Bulls being able to either win their division or finish outside of the playoffs has nothing to do with being enigmatic – they’re merely the most mediocre team in an eminently mediocre conference.
Where will Red Bulls finish? Why…in the toilet, just like the energy drink itself. 😛
They will be in, but barely.
They’ll eek in… but nothing would make me more happy than seeing TFC edge them out.