Preseason Battles: The Forwards

By: Dave Martinez | January 27th, 2009

SECURE STARTER:

Juan Pablo Angel

CONTENDERS:

Dominic Oduro
Macoumba Kandji
John Wolyniec
Oscar Echeverry
Michael Palacio

OVERVIEW:

We are going to work on the assumption that Coach Osorio is looking for a starting pair up top, considering his desire to run a 4-4-2 / 3-5-2 formations (if a 4-3-3 is established, I would do back flips). Being that the case, you have 5 players gunning for one starting spot.

Who will win the JPA Idol auditions?

First of all, Osorio has been quoted plenty of times blaming a lack of pace as a major detriment for the 2008 season. That, and an apparent obsession that lasted all of last season, is the reason why I believe Dominic Oduro walks into camp with the job firmly in place for him to lose. That may be a shock to the many people who thought Macoumba Kandji had the spot all wrapped up after a long, drawn out transfer battle between the league and USL’s Silverbacks. But Oduro is the person Osorio wants to succeed. Believe it.

Kandji won’t be sitting pretty, that is for sure. From personal contact, and press accounts, he loves New York, and prospects like Big Mac don’t come by very often. He can be an excellent presence as a target forward for the Bulls, and has enough pace to be a productive partner to Juan Pablo Angel up top. Nothing but upside.

Of course, there is the perennial question mark known as John Wolyniec. Woly proved to be a clutch player late into last season and in the playoffs, playing his heart out when it counted the most. That explains the “root for the underdog” love affair a lot of Red Bull fans feel for him (which extends into the coaching ranks as well). For all those reasons, Woly should have a job with the team this season.

Then there is Oscar Echeverry, who is still recovering from last seasons serious knee injury. Eche was a huge disappointment for the team, even in his healthier appearances. He didn’t show a killer instinct for the net, was hesitant on the shot, and would consistently lose the ball in key possession. Now, whether that was the doing of a lingering injury, who knows. But his stats coming in from Colombia would indicate that Oscar was never truly an offensive juggernaut to begin with. All of this, and his inability to track back (again, judging from his performances), leave him as the odd man out, with everything to fight for.

And if Oscar Echeverry is the odd man out, Michael Palacio, injured in reserve play last season, will most likely be the after thought. With the new rule on the reserve team, his days may be, unfortunately, numbered.

SENIOR SPOTS: 4/20
DEVELOPMENTAL: 0/4