Don’t tell anyone, but New York have now won three of their last five matches.  I know, I know, try to keep it on the DL, don’t wanna let it get to their heads.  On a night where DPs such as Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane would not be a factor, it was the Red Bulls whose star power shined the brightest.

Once again, it was Luke Rodgers who got the festivities started with a goal off a rebound in the six.  Hey may not always score in the prettiest way, but who cares.  The fact is, New York is a different team with the Englishman on the pitch, and there’s no debating that.  Hey always seems to get the job done when his team needs him.  After his goal, New York controlled the match and there was no looking back.  As Backe said post game, it was perhaps the most complete performance of the season, and the Bulls sure did look impressive.

With Rafa Marquez back in the midfield for the second consecutive match, there were plenty of skeptics as to how he would bounce back after a subpar night at TFC.  Here’s your answer.  Say what you will about his off-the-field comments and apparent appearance to not give two shits, but the man can still get it done.  I don’t know too many players in MLS that would see that pass, let alone get it to Henry with a perfectly weighted ball (that chip wasn’t too bad either).  Rafa and Tainio paired well together, building attacks and spraying the ball around the pitch helping to unlock LA’s stingy defense.

Unsung hero of the match? Gotta be Dane Ricahrds.  We all knew he had pace, but he was absolutely tearing up the wing, burning by anyone who dared to stand in his way.  The difference this year is that the speedy Jamaican isn’t just sprinting to the end line and losing the ball (usually), but actually feeding his teammates and creating chances.  Runner up goes to Frank Rost, who continues to impress and justify his DP contract.  He’s shored up the defense and lead New York to yet another clean sheet. I’m trying not to get too excited about this result.  After all, this was a weakened LA side.  But you can’t tell me that this team can’t go out there and beat anyone in this league with a performance like that.  That was an team win, from top to bottom.  Could the Red Bulls be hitting their stride at just the right time?  Is this a turning point in their season?  Lemme know down below.

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P.S. I’m looking to sell three tickets to the Philly game in October.  Reach me by email, Twitter, or Facebook if you’re interested.

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What grade would you give the Red Bulls performance against Los Angeles?

Coming off a nice win, you’d think they’d have some momentum, but you know how the old saying goes, “One step forward, get in the car, pop it into R, put a brick and the gas pedal, and let it fly”… or something like that.  This team has uncanny ability to pick you up and throw you down; tricking you into thinking they’ll turn it around (or maybe that’s just me being way too naïve).  Playing against an in-form Salt Lake side, it wasn’t a shock to see the Bulls get out played (despite RSL missing their captain, playing at home, and coming off of a win).   The season now hangs in the balance, with a tilt against Portland likely to determine New York’s playoff fate.  Yet despite the magnitude of the importance of this next game, one player stole the show… and for all the wrong reasons.

When Rafa Marquez first signed with New York in the summer of 2010, he became the teams 3^rd DP (behind Henry and JPA).  There were high hopes for the Mexican captain and Barcelona star.  He offered a calming presence to stabilize the defense and distribution skills to hang with the best in the sport.  Upon joining the Red Bulls, he had a respectable year, but much more was expected in his first full year with the squad (and a return to his favored position at CB).

Then came the 2011 season, and the Rafa of old never showed up.  The only Rafa fans saw (when we have seen him, playing in only half of RBNY’s matches), was a lethargic, uninspired, and arrogant player.  He and Ream never seemed to be on the same page all season.  Their poor communication led to many goals conceded, followed by displays of disgust to his teammates.  He even wore the captain’s armband a few times, despite showing no signs of being a leader.

Fast forward to Wednesday.  Marquez missed New York’s match in Dallas due to yellow card accumulation, yet the team still got the win.  With Rafa available for selection against RSL, Backe opted to throw him back in the starting XI.  The Bulls came out flying in the first seven minutes or so, but it didn’t take long for RSL to get on the scoreboard.  For some reason, Teemu Tainio was marking Saborio on a corner kick, and was easily out-muscled by the Costa Rican and found the back of the net.  No one particularly at fault there, just a good goal.

The last two, however, are a different story.  On both of Espindola’s goals, Ream and Marquez left Frank Rost out to dry.  Ream inexplicably gave the ball away in the six for an easy tap in.  And in the 21^st minute, a lofted through ball caught the New York backline flat-footed, but don’t worry, Rafa was there to flail his arms in disapproval.  Top-notch stuff.

Post game, Dave Martinez of Empire of Soccer caught up with Rafa (who was booed mercilessly all night) to get his thoughts.  Here are some of his quotes (you can check out the full article here, video here):

• “If you watched the game, there were individual errors that you can’t do anything about.  If we look at statistics, I stole a lot of balls. I think I made two or three bad passes out of 30 plus attempts.  I almost didn’t commit any errors, so I am not worried. I think I am playing at my maximum level, and doing everything I can.  I don’t have, unfortunately, four defenders on my level that can help me out.”
• “Tim is still a young player with a lot to learn.  He still has quite a lot to learn, and well, he has committed errors that are very infantile and cost us goals.”
• “I think that this is a team game, and unfortunately, there isn’t an equal level between perhaps (Thierry Henry) and myself, and our teammates.”

Wow, I honestly was in shock.  You gotta have some big balls to say that.  Exactly how you’d expect a leader and veteran to act, right?  In all honesty, I would much rather have Carlos Mendes or even Stephen Keel start at CB.  They may not have half the talent Rafa does, but they’ll give you their all every time, and that’s something the stats won’t show you.  All of this is coming from someone who’s been in Rafa’s corner longer than most other Red Bulls’ fans.  Now, I’ve just about had enough.  If you watch the game recap, Luke Rodgers addresses the fans booing Rafa, and sticks up for his teammate.  Bet he said that before he heard how much of a fan Rafa is of his fellow teammates not named Henry.

I gotta say though, lots of credit to Backe for suspending Marquez for the Portland game.  It was the right decision and absolutely needed to be done.  It’ll be interesting to see how this affair affects the team tomorrow.  Do you think the team is better off without Rafa?  Has the Rafa Experiment been a failure?  Lemme know down below.

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P.S. I’m looking to sell three tickets to the Philly game in October.  Reach me by email, Twitter, or Facebook if you’re interested.

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What grade would you give the Red Bulls performance against Salt Lake?

Do you prefer Rafa in the starting XI?

But before we move forward, let’s look back on the Top 5 plays thus far as voted by the fans.  Do you agree with the order?  Did the fans miss a top play?  What gets your vote for #1?  Lemme know down below.

P.S. My snubs include Henry’s amazing run and finish against Portland (with great passing from Lindpere and da Luz), Rodgers’s sidewinder rip against TFC, and Tainio’s goal line bicycle clearance against Portland. (Henry’s goal vs. Fire gets honorable mention for looking like he was using a finesse shot in Fifa 11).

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The Red Bulls last two games have sent mixed messages, granted they were against very different opponents.  Taking on a rather weak Toronto squad, New York took it to Aron Winter’s squad with an emphatic 5-0 win.  Gotta say, it was pretty nice to see the offense firing on all cylinders.  Henry, Rodgers, Lindpere, and Agudelo all got on the board and all seemed right in the world of Red Bull.  Perhaps most importantly, New York posted a zero on the defensive end.  Yes, that’s right, a shut out for the Red Bulls.  Funny how in the beginning of the year, I actually had the audacity to believe that their defense prowess would hold up throughout the season; el oh el.

Then with DC into, the Scum played a rather solid game and pulled out a win courtesy of a Dwayne De Rosario goal (did you expect anything else)?  But hey, at least we got to hoist the Atlantic Cup, right? Yeah, that’s what I thought.  In a game where New York deserved to at least earn a tie, the Bulls couldn’t find a way to equalize and earn a share of the points.  And although De Ro’s goal couldn’t be blamed on poor goalkeeping, the damage had already been done throughout the balance of the year thanks to the less than stellar work of Bouna Coundoul and Greg Sutton.  With neither keeper proving to be dependable, Erik Soler made his move.

Soler delved into the depths of the Bundesliga and found German keeper Frank Rost.  At 6 foot 4, Rost combines the size of Sutton with the shot stopping ability of Bouna, but it all comes at a price.  The Red Bulls have filled their third and final DP slot to sign Rost, but it could be just what New York needs to get back on track.  At 38, Rost is hardly a spring chicken, nor in his prime.  But if goalkeepers have taught me anything, it’s that age does not define them.  You can look throughout the soccer world to see seasoned vets who still get the job done.  From the recently retired Edwin Van der Sar (40) at Man U, to Brad Friedel (40) at Tottenham, to Faryd Mondragon (40) right here in the MLS who as helped turn the Philly Bimbos into a quality team.  My only concern is how quickly Backe is throwing Rost into the fire.  After signing with the team just a few days ago, he will fly cross-country to LA and start when the Bulls take on Chivas.

What do you think of the new DP? Will the Red Bulls avenge their early season loss to Chivas?  Let me know down below.

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NEWS: There’s no place like home for the Tin Man Greg Sutton, who gets sent to back to his native Canada on loan to the Montreal Impact, his former team.

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Will the addition of Frank Rost solve RBNY’s defensive woes?

Can Backe right the ship?

The three-game winning streak of last month seems so distant now, doesn’t it?  For that matter, so does my last blog post, but that’s neither here nor there (but apologies, nonetheless).  The Red Bulls now find themselves in a precarious situation.  They are no longer getting the results that seemed to come so easily earlier in the season, and the defense has been suspect to say the least.  The same backline (for the most part) that let in just four goals through eight games has now seen their GAA balloon thanks to poor set-piece defense.  In fact, the last six goals scored against the Red Bulls have come off set pieces.  And with the Gold Cup calling away five Red Bulls away from club duty, this coming month could be a very telling one for the future of New York’s 2011 campaign.

Well let’s take a look at what I missed.  New York disappointed at home, dropping a 3-2 decision to a surprising Chivas USA team in which Justin Braun torched the Bulls for a hat trick.  The home team showed resilience in tying the game not once, but twice, but asking for a third equalizer proved too much.  Dwayne De Rosario got his first goal in a New York uniform courtesy of a PK and captain Thierry Henry continued his hot form, slotting home a wonder pass from Rafa Marquez.  In the end, set pieces doomed New York, as Braun was the beneficiary of some sloppy defending twice on free kicks.  In one night, the Red Bulls had conceded as many goals as they had all season prior.  This game may have been written off as a fluke, if not for the events that transpired in the next few weeks.

Then came the midweek friendly against the Montreal Impact, who will become the 19^th team in MLS next year.  The team traveled north of the border on short rest, which proved to be perhaps an ill-advised move.  The first team played a solid 45 minutes, but Carl Robinson left the pitch with a knock and would not return.  The Red Bulls fell to the Impact 1-0, in what didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, until we fast-forward four days…

Where the team finds itself in Robertson Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo.  Right off the bat, Dynamo killer Dane Richards took matters into his own hands, putting the Red Bulls up inside the first minute off a blast just outside the 18.  It seemed New York were controlling the tempo of the game until Will Bruin was sprung (from what looked to be an offside position) and was off to the races.  Rafa was fooled on a cut back and took Bruin down in the box.  Dynamo captain Brad Davis stepped up and made no mistake, leveling the score at 1.  Davis again bured the Red Bulls, this time off a corner kick, where Koke tapped in a ball spilled out in front by Greg Sutton, leaving New York reeling.  But just when all hope seemed lost, everyone’s favorite midfielder stepped up big time.  Backe’s favorite supersub Mehdi Ballouchy came in for a rather ineffective Juan Agudelo and promptly tied the game in the dying minutes off of a Joel Lindpere corner (yes, Backe listened to me, again).  That’s right folks; Mehdi Ballouchy saved us from the Rapture.  So the Red Bulls avoided their first losing streak of the young season, and returned home for another quick turnaround against the defending MLS Cup Champions.

Back home at the friendly confines of Red Bull Arena, New York was hoping desperately to get back to their winning ways.  The Rapids came to town looking to capitalize on the now seemingly mortal Red Bulls.  The game led to more frustration, but some hope for future matches as well.  Some poor officiating led to the Rapids getting a PK after Roy Miller committed a foul that was CLEARLY outside the box, but the referee pointed to the spot.  Jeff Larentowicz stepped up, and Sutton parried his shot away.  However, the ricochet sat up nicely for Larentowicz and he tapped it home to put the Rapids up.  In my frustration, I ran to the bathroom cursing under my breath and wondering what has happened to my beloved Red Bulls.  As I stared at the wall, I heard the crowd roaring and cheering, and Steve Cangialosi’s goal call.  Just my luck.  Literally moments after the PK, Henry leveled the score off of a nice feed from De Ro.  However, the lead didn’t last for long, as the Red Bulls fell victim to a set piece once more.  Larentowicz stepped up to take a free kick from about 20 yards out and slammed one through the wall and past Sutton.  The set pieces continue to be the downfall of New York.  Thankfully, Luke Rodgers would have none of it.  After latching onto a Roy Miller through ball, Rodgers chipped the oncoming Matt Pickens and knotted the score.  It was the fastest four goals ever scored in Metro Bull history.  From then on, the Red Bulls dominated possession and had their chances to get the victory, but failed each time.  With just three points in their last five matches, the Red Bulls aren’t looking much like Supporters’ Shield contenders.

Now, the Gold Cup possesses and even bigger threat with Tim Ream, Agudelo, Marquez, Richards, and De Ro all leaving to represent their national teams, New York will have to turn to their bench to get some results.  Vancouver is next on the slate, where the Red Bulls will have to be on top of their game to salvage points in a hostile environment.  What is a fair expectation of points while the team is missing so many starters?  Can the Red Bulls get back on track?  Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

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Is the Supporters’ Shield still attainable?online surveys

Luke's aeroplane celebration... yea or nay?

Take a deep breath folks; the Red Bulls took home all three points tonight… but just barely.  In a win that was very much different from the two matches that preceded it, New York played an incredibly strong first half that saw Luke Rodgers get on the board once again.  However, the second stanza saw a complete swing in momentum, with KC piling on the pressure and maintaining the majority of the possession.  Nonetheless, it’s a return to the top of the East for the Red Bulls.

With the South Ward rocking, the game got underway.  From the get go, New York looked like they had picked up right where they left off after their big wins against San Jose and D.C. United.  The Red Bulls played the same type of possession soccer that has characterized this team thus far.  They knocked the ball around and forced KC to chase the game.  By the looks of it, it was only a matter of time before the Red Bulls would get by KC’s infamously porous defense.

The Red Bulls would have their first chance after Dwyane De Rosario felt a tug on his back and dropped to the deck.  The referee pointed to the spot and a penalty was awarded.  With Thierry Henry missing their last and only PK on the season (opening day), it was Rafa Marquez who stepped up to try to give New York the early lead.  After a stutter step that fooled no one, Jimmy Nielsen dove correctly and stopped Rafa’s (rather weak) strike at goal.  Say what you will about Juan Pablo Angel beefing up his goal totals from the spot, but at least he converted them.  I say give the ball to DeRo.  He’s proven to be good in the past, and putting a goal under his belt might be just what he needs to start being another offensive weapon for New York.

Fast-forward to the 22^nd minute, where the Red Bulls would draw first blood.  After Dane Richards got fouled at around midfield, Teemu Tainio stepped up to strike the free kick, but Rafa played the ball forward quickly off the restart before Tainio got a chance to make his move.  He found Henry who played a clever one-touch pass forward to DeRo who made his run down the right flank.  Very reminiscent of his second goal, Rodgers collected the ground pass from the right side and banged it home to give the Red Bulls the eventual game winner.  From start to finish, the goal was a thing of beauty.  The vision from all those involved was something to marvel at, and the execution was picture perfect.

Throughout the rest of the first half, the Red Bulls kept the pressure and peppered Nielsen with shot after shot, but couldn’t find that second insurance goal.  With just the one goal advantage, New York headed back into the locker room, presumably feeling confident after a strong first half.

The second half would unravel much differently than the first, with Hans Backe removing Rodgers and Tainio for Juan Agudelo and Carl Robinson.  Both players received yellow cards in the first 45, but they also both picked up knocks that forced Backe to replace both players.  As the half went on, it became more and more apparent just how important Tainio is in the heart of the New York midfield.  Robinson filled in admirably and played a strong game, thwarting many KC attacks and working well with the back four, but it’s clear that he doesn’t have the same distribution skills that Tainio does, and the possession game suffered in his absence.  KC, who boast the league’s best offense (as well as defense) created opportunity after opportunity as Tim Ream and Rafa were forced into making some important stops.

Teal Bunbury and Kei Kamara threatened the New York goal and kept many fans at the edge of their seats.  In a game where the Red Bulls seemed to have everything under control, they suddenly found themselves with ten men behind the ball, defending for their lives.  Bouna Coundoul played a sharp game, earning his 3^rd shutout of the 2011 campaign.  In the waning moments of the match, Ryan Smith burned past Roy Miller on the right side and sent in a dangerous low ball across the goalmouth, but Bouna came out to claim it, signaling the end of a hectic match.

Lost in the shuffle of the Red Bulls’ recent scoring explosion has been the stellar play of the defense.  Giving up just two goals in seven games is remarkable, and even those two goals came on flat-out blunders that could have been easily prevented.  Not the game I was expecting, but a win in any event.  The first-place Bulls head out to LA next week for a crucial, prime time match up with the Galaxy.  What are your thoughts on the KC match?  Who was your MVP of the match?  Let me know down below.

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What grade would you give the Red Bulls performance against Kansas City?online surveys

Who should take PKs the rest of the year?customer surveys

After De Rosario was officially announced as a member of the Red Bulls, management said that he would be available for selection on Saturday.   However, Hans Backe opted to stick with the team’s current #10, Mehdi Ballouchy, at the top of the diamond midfield as the Red Bulls used the same starting lineup as they did their last time in Harrison.  Even with De Ro on the bench, New York appeared to be the much stronger side on paper, but it didn’t seem so in the first half.

The Red Bulls came out flat in the opening stanza and never seemed to mount any real threat on goal.  Backe, who called his team’s first half performance “lazy”, saw his team play to a virtual standstill in front of their home crowd (which was rather thin, but we’ll get to that later).  However, the Bulls seemed to come to life with the addition of the De Ro.

It didn’t take long for the Canadian’s presence to be felt, as just two minutes in, he hit a through bull to Dane Richards who shimmied past the defenders and slotted home his first goal of the year.  Right then and there, thoughts of MLS Cup 2011 raced through my mind.  I said to myself, “This is the last piece to the puzzle.”  Alas, I spoke too soon.  Mere minutes later, off a damn goal kick mind you, Houston drew level after a boneheaded play by who other than Bouna Coundoul.  You’d think by know I’d be used to his astonishing ability to make a seemingly mundane play turn into an adventure, but I was still left with my jaw on the floor as the ball hit the back off the net.  After an apparent miscommunication between our empty-headed net-minder (see what I did there?) and Rafa Marquez, Cam Weaver chipped Bouna leaving New York fans wondering what happened.

From then on, it was all out attack.  The Red Bulls held a 24-9 shooting advantage, but in the end, never found the final shot to beat Tally Hall (who assumed the role of Superman last night).  Thierry Henry seemed like he couldn’t be bothered, moseying around the pitch and was only a true threat a few times.  One of those times came in the 70^th minute.  After Richards sent a chipped through ball to De Ro, the Canadian put a cross in from the touchline that found Henry at the back post, but he was stuffed at the line.  He also had a header late in the game that was goal bound if not for a sprawling save by Hall.  Luke Rodgers had his chances, Juan Agudelo had his chances, Richards, De Ro, Joel Lindpere, so on and so forth.  New York realistically could have scored five or six goals, but in the end, couldn’t take home all three points at home.

Which brings me to my next point; the pitiful, and I mean pitiful turn out at RBA.  The announced attendance was 13,664 and it didn’t even look that full.  With a marquee signing making his debut, you’d imagine close to a sell out crowd would show up.  I know there was Final Four action on the slate, and I know the Devils were in town as well, but there is really no excuse for the turn out.  I did, however, hear the South Ward singing loud and proud for the full 90, bringing back some respectability to the otherwise desolate stadium.

All in all, it was just about as disappointing as home draws can get.  It’s a dropped two points, simple as that.  New York will look to regroup next week as they take on the Union at PPL Park.  Expect Ballouchy to hit the bench and De Ro to take over the center of the pitch.  As upset as I was immediately after the game, I went back to watch the highlights this morning and realized how much promise this team has.  I’m excited for the rest of the season, and I know this is just a speed bump.  No need to panic just yet.

Some random notes that I couldn’t otherwise cleverly incorporate into my recap:

-       Rafa has been pretty wasteful with set pieces (corners and free kicks).  Look for De Ro to take over from here on in.

-       Teemu Tainio continues to impress with his distribution from the deep lying midfield position.

-       Henry had a game-high six shots and still couldn’t find the back of the net.  The excuses stop now.  He has to get it done.

-       Backe had some choice words for Bouna after his gaffe, looks like Greg Sutton may take over as the starter pending his health starting next week.

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What grade would you give the Red Bulls performance against Houston?survey software

Can TH14 be the player Red Bull paid for?

That’s the label that’s pretty much been put on this Red Bulls team by fans and “experts” alike (please note the quotes).  With all the expectations that come with having two world-class DPs along with the addition of quality European talent, New York has no other option but to go all the way.  The fans are ready, the players are ready; the time is now.  The quest for glory begins tomorrow in Harrison…

In a mere 24 hours, the Red Bulls will welcome the Seattle Sounders to the crown jewel of American soccer stadiums, Red Bull Arena.  All the pieces are in place for New York to succeed this season: a weak Eastern Conference for the taking, a healthy mix of proven veterans and talented youngsters, and a coach who can lead them to promised land (not to mention a 3^rd DP slot that may or may not be filled later on in the campaign).   But before we fast forward to November’s MLS Cup, let’s take a look at the task at hand, how New York can dispatch Seattle.

The Sounders are coming off a 1-0 opening day loss to the LA Galaxy.  It was an opportunity that Seattle was looking forward to, as the Galaxy have all but dominated them in league play.  But the Sounders didn’t have much time to sulk over a wasted opportunity, as they had to hop on a plane to face New York in their second game in less than a week.  Don’t count on the Sounders to be hanging their heads, as they’ll be coming out guns blazing against the Red Bulls and looking to get into the win column.  Even without Blaise Nkufo, who was released by the club just prior to the LA clash, Seattle still poses a great threat to New York, and are certainly MLS Cup contenders themselves.

New York will rely on the speed of Dane Richards on the wing to help break down the defense and whip balls into the box.  As for the forward line, it looks like Juan Agudelo has recovered from his groin injury in time to pair with Thierry Henry.  Last year I was willing to give the Frenchman a pass as to his lack of production.  He came in midseason fresh off a World Cup disaster and never fully integrated into the team along with nagging injuries that limited his minutes on the pitch.  That’s all fine and good, but now it’s time to put up or shut up.  And here’s a little quote that bothered me a bit.

• “I never set myself any personal targets before the season,” Henry said. “You reach a time in your career where you want to make the guys around you play better. … We have Juan Agudelo and Dane Richards. Dane Richards is our go-to player. He always makes things happen on the field. We have guys with pace, so I don’t mind playing a bit more in the middle and trying to fit people in.”

Sorry Thierry, that’s not gonna fly around here.  Red Bull didn’t break the bank so you could play a supporting role.  Henry needs to be the go-to guy in the starting 11.  Richards and Agudelo are important pieces of this offense, there’s no questioning that, but there’s a reason there’s an armband on your bicep there; you need to put the team on your back alla Greg Jennings.  With Juan Pablo Angel gone, there should be no question as to who will fill that void, it absolutely has to be Henry.

The midfield looks like a formidable bunch with the likes of last year’s team MVP Joel Lindpere on the left wing and the aforementioned Richards on the right.  Tony Tchani has replaced Rafa Marquez as the holding midfielder for New York, and has done so admirably.  He’s tough to knock off the ball and his poise and precision will be key in helping the Red Bulls win the possession battle.  As for as that center midfield spot in the 4-1-3-2, it’s still up the air to me.  It could either be Teemu Tainio or Jan Gunnar Solli, with the other dropping back to play the right back position (vacated by the injured Chris Albright).  Both are natural midfielders and both have spent time in the central midfield role during the preseason.  It’ll be interesting to see how Backe aligns his new additions.  Whoever it is, however, will be have to be that link to the forward line to jump start a New York attack and pepper Kasey Keller with shots.

On the defensive side of the ball, the task of shutting down Columbian stiker, and newly appointed DP, Fredy Montero, will fall mostly on the center back tandem of Marquez and Tim Ream.  The Red Bulls boast perhaps the most prolific center back duo in the MLS and have developed a good chemistry since Marquez’s switch back to his natural position.  Roy Miller will likely man the left side, but the question is, which Miller will we see?  The Costa Rican international was so good in the early stages of 2010 but seemed to lose his way in the latter half.  When at his best, Miller is a valuable asset as a wing-back who can push forward and create scoring opportunities for New York.

Backe is still making us sweat it out in regards to the goalkeeper battle.  He has yet to commit to either Bouna Coundoul or Greg Sutton, but my guess is that Sutton gets the nod.  Whoever Backe goes with, Seattle’s potent offense will certainly be a test for either keeper.

Man, this blog is reaching unbearable length; the excitement of a season opener will do that to a guy.  Hopefully, you’re heading out to the stadium tomorrow to watch the 2011 season unfold, if not you can catch the action on MSG.  The first step to eradicating the heartbreak that was last year’s early playoff loss begins tomorrow night.   The quest for the cup is underway…

How Will the Red Bulls Finish the MLS Season?customer surveys

Well, it seems as though Don Garber’s “big announcement” was a big PR letdown and irked many MLS fans, but it works just fine for me.  Red Bull Arena will play host to the MLS All-Star game for the first time since 1997 back at Giants Stadium, although the opponent has yet to be released.  Season ticket holders get first dibs on these tickets, then partial plan holders.  People have been complaining because RBA holds a mere 25,000 fans, while just last year Reliant Stadium in Houston housed a record setting crowd of over 70,000.  Although RBA holds significantly less, the fans will create a great atmosphere as usual and will give it that marquee matchup feel.

On a side note, NYRB has unveiled their new away kit for 2011. Damn, I’m really feeling these.  Not what I was expecting but a pleasant surprise to say the least.  I still say the Red Bulls should rock a red and black striped third jersey, but this should suffice for now. Add this to the list of things to look forward to in 2011, leaving only one thing on my mind…

...is it March 19th yet???

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No, not them. As the offseason winds down, the Red Bulls have undergone quite a facelift. New York has added plenty of new faces and parted with some old ones as well. With all these changes, the question on many fan’s minds is, “How will Hans Backe make it all work?”

First things first, the Red Bulls have officially signed long sought after striker, Luke Rodgers from Notts County in England.  The move brings New York’s tally up to seven forwards.  While this does give Backe great depth, there still remains the question of who will get the bulk of playing time.  Without question, Thierry Henry is guaranteed a starting position, pending his health that is.  However, his strike partner has yet to be determined.  The addition of Rodgers makes things interesting, adding yet another quality name into the mix of potential partners for Henry.  Many fans were calling for the insertion of 18-year-old Juan Agudelo into the starting 11, fresh off another great performance for the U.S. National Team.  However, Backe and Soler seem to be taking a more cautious approach with their young star.  Although there’s no doubt about his potential, Backe wants to be careful not to throw him into the fire just yet.  The other options at forward would be Salou Ibrahim, Corey Hertzog, Conor Chinn, and Giorgi Chirgadze.  Ibrahim looks like he is likely on his way out, and the remaining three are young and unproven players.  If Backe were looking to go that route, he’d certainly place Agudelo at the top of that list.  So it seems Rodgers will have a pretty good chance of staring the season up top with Henry.  Backe himself stated of Rodgers, “He’s definitely a higher striker, he’s not a target [forward].  I really hope that he will be a regular starting player.”  Seems as though he’s already made up his mind.  Question is, what strike tandem will have the best chance of replacing the goal-scoring prowess of Juan Pablo Angel?

Moving on to the midfield, the pitch seems just as cluttered.  New York added four new players in the offseason: John Rooney, Matt Kassel, Marcos Paullo, and Jan Gunnar Solli.  Departures from the midfield position included Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Seth Stammler, and Luke Sassano. I’m interested to see how all the midfielders get incorporated into the mix.  If I had to guess, I’d say that Solli has the only real chance of winning a spot in the starting 11.  There was already enough of a problem last year when Mehdi Ballouchy joined the club, sending Tony Tchani to the bench.  Of course, all this is contingent upon whether Soler can manage to pick up a top-of-the-line center back or not.  Soler and Backe have expressed their interest in bolstering up the backline.  If the Red Bulls were to pick up another center back, this would leave Rafa Marquez free to play the holding midfielder position as he did last year.  If not, it seems that Backe will place Marquez alongside U.S. National Team defender Tim Ream.  With all these possible combinations across the pitch, Backe will have to make a decision as to what formation will work best based on his players strengths and weaknesses.

Well, we still have quite a few questions yet to be answered.  Hopefully, all of them will be answered over the course of training camp and before the season’s first game (just secured my tickets for opening day, booya).  Let me know what you think about this roster situation in the comments.

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