Draw With CSKA Moscow Gives First Glimpse Of 2010 Red Bulls

The Red Bulls gave us our first look at this seasons squad with a 1-1 draw against CSKA Moscow today. Besides the result, some other promising bits of information made their way to fans stateside. We have some old questions that have been answered (hi Walter Garcia!), formations played, and trialists to boot!

Let’s check out the lineup from the first and second half and dive right in, shall we?

FIRST HALF

————Chin–Angel———-
da Luz–Oebster—-Ubi—–Richards
Borman—Ream——Petke—-Jonson
————-Cepero—————–

SECOND HALF

————Chin–Angel———-
Borman—-I. Garcia—-Ubi—–Richards
W. Garcia—Ream——Boyens—-C. Johnson
————Guadette—————-

Goal By: Dane Richards, assisted by Juan Pablo Angel, Austin Da Luz

Here are some observations:

#1 – Good to see Walter Garcia on the squad. Why? Because he is the lone Argie on the team, and I would love to have one of my countrymen on the squad! Garcia trialed with Leeds, failed his assessment, and has come back to the Bulls to try and secure his spot. This season, the Argie defender will have no excuses in his performance; he joined the team in woeful match readiness late last season. He managed to play only one game in his three months with the team.

#2 – Trialists! If you noticed that “Jonson for Johnson” switch at the half, it wasn’t a type-o.

22 year old Swede Frederic Jonson is currently plying his trade with 2009 Swedish division bottom dwellars Vasalunds. All I can find on him is that he plays some leftback and possibly some central defense as well.

Bill Gaudette, goalkeeper for the respectable Puerto Rican Islanders side, and formerly of the Crew, is also trialing with the team. Gaudette has enjoyed great success in the former USL-1 division, earning the 2008 GK of the year award. He would definitely give Coundoul and Cepero a run for their money as a starter.

#3 – Hans Backe is a classic Scandinavian coach in that his concentration stems from creating a uniform back line and growing the team from that point. Hunter Freeman spoke to me recently and noted that the concentration of the defensive line as a unit was a major part of the Norwegian system (Hans backyard). Backe has already been emphasizing these aspects of the game, as evidenced by the last few reports out of La Manga from RBR. Defensive error was a major, cataclysmic flaw to the Bulls 2009 system. Though only a friendly, a 1-1 draw in the middle of a downpour against a quality side is a good sign of progress to that end.

#4 – For those whom worried about the back to back to back friendlies being played at La Manga, ease your little hearts: neither Mac Kandji, Goldthwaite, Sassano, Mbuta, Tchani nor a host of others played today. Expect to hear more on them, along with other trialists and draftees, in days to come.

#5 – There was no report of a 4-5-1. And that hasn’t happened in over two years. Thank your lucky stars people.

Share your thoughts on this afternoons action, player movements, or other nonsense after the jump.

UPDATE: RBR just posted a complete report of the game, and oh my, does it ring positively. Check it out by clicking here.

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