Red Bulls 2008 Preview and Predictions

By: Dave Martinez | April 3rd, 2008
   


RED BULLS PREVIEW – 2008

Let me begin by saying – this is completely based on the team as currently configured. I know April 15th is right around the corner, and 2 signings can change everything, but this is the current situation.

With that said . . .

Lets begin with a Haiku . . .

Red Bulls 2008

We place all our hope
Into Osorio’s plan
May he guide wisely

SEASON PREDICTION:

12 wins 11 loses 7 ties (3rd in the East, 43 pts., Semi Final finish)

KEY ACQUISITIONS:

Juan Carlos Osorio (new head coach)
Zach Thornton
Oscar Echeverry
Eric Brunner
Luke Sassano
Danleigh Borman

KEY PLAYERS RELEASED:

Dema Kovalenko (you will be missed)
Clint Mathis (ditto)
Ronald Watterreus
Markus Schopp (not exactly KEY, but . . . )
Santino Quaranta (ditto Schopp)
Joe Vide (underrated, well trained CDM who will also be missed)

SEASON PREVIEW:

Nuts and bolts :

We left you last season at yet another brick wall performance against the team I love to hate – The New England Revo-losers.

There were our glaring weaknesses on display, for all to see. Lack of wing play. Mediocre play from our defensive wings. Absolutely no service to the most dangerous forward tandem in the MLS. And a big fat 0 on the goal side.

The list began to be compiled – we need an attacking mid, we need a left back, we need more service from the wings. We need, we need, we need.

So, in an attempt to better our course, we dumped Bruce Arena after a less than glorious reign as coach. In comes Juan Carlos Osorio, magic man who brought the Chicago Fire back from the dead (though I am sure there was some guy named Blanco who helped out situations). And all hopes were heaped on his shoulders.

The signings have been slim. The cuts have been drastic.

And here we are, days away from the first game of the season.

How much have things really changed?

The Stars

As previously mentioned, we feature the Dynamic Duo of MLS forwards – Jozy Altidore and Juan Pablo Angel (dont ask me who is Robin . . . ). Maybe 10 years ago, having that was enough to win an MLS Cup. But in this parity ridden league, you need strength on all ends.

In comes Captain America, Claudio Reyna. Reyna enjoyed a less than stellar year, with reports of a tumultuous relationship with Coach Arena making matters worse. Pile on injuries to this mediocre stew and you have Claudio Reyna, 2007.

2008, however, carries a more positive tone. Reports early and often have praised Reynas play on the field, where he is being asked to play a bit of CDM, his natural position, and CAM, the categorical opposite. And it seems he has been excelling in both areas, even if this display wasn’t quite visible in Carolina (last two games were sleepers, but he did play well in the first).

These are the teams stars, people who we will be relying heavily to carry this team.

The New Comers

Um. Zach Thornton and Oscar Echeverry. So we have depth at goal and the attacking spot.

Besides them, there is this years slew of draftees, headed by Luke Sassano and Danleigh Borman, both who may see time on the pitch as starters. Borman showed some magic in his crosses preseason. Sassano, grit. It will be interesting to track their development as the season commences.

But the most exciting new comer is Juan Carlos Osorio. He takes the cake. And he is carrying this teams expectations squarley on his shoulders.

Keep an eye on

Jon Conway. If anyone on the team is in the position of making this team float or flounder, its Conway. A life long career back up, many Bulls fans are skeptical of his ability to maintain his cool under pressure, come up with the big save, or simply maintain concentration on the pitch. Displays like last years Mendes back pass, or more recently with the mystery goal TFC’s Cunningham scored in the Carolina Cup that was in Conways hands, have fans begging for answers and hoping for the best. This will be Conways job to lose – all season long.

We’ll win the league if…

We avoid injuries, sign a key defender (Chris Innes), or a solid CDM to allow Reyna the CAM position (Lider Marmol). With them, and a healthy Dane Richards and Hunter Freeman, we will have the depth and talent to succeed.

We’ll be in trouble if…

We run into injuries. Why? Our depth cant take it. We will already be without Dane Richards till Summer. Ditto Freeman. We can not afford to plug in holes with rookie players. One more injury, and we will be looking at the Chris Leitches and John Gilkersons of the world to patch us up (in fairness, Leitch has looked ok this preseason).

The Beckham Factor

Will still be strong this season. If he stays healthy.

You might not know . . .

+ Play by Play of NY away games are done in studio, away from the field action.

+ Jozy Altidore had an offer from Reading as an immediate starter – and he rejected it.

+ Our only trophy? The La Manga Cup – a Soccer Resort in Spains club team preseason tourney

+ The logo featured above is the 2007 logo. I couldnt find the new, non-streaky one.

+ I am a Gemini!


Some Related Red Bulls Posts:


Tags

   
  • Chezlin Hendricks
    Well done to Danleigh Borman, definitely a up coming star, in my eyes his a star already, good luck for the season buddy.
  • Catherine-Lucia
    your boys are self-destructing at this point...what the heck is wrong with fulhamerica??
  • Catherine-Lucia
    poor guy. I feel your pain. Sort of. enjoy the day :)

    C-L
  • Yea I am partial to Kamara too. And EJ isnt ready. But Demps plays better than he does for the USMNT when suited up. So who knows what the deal with that is.

    Enjoy the rest of the day Catherine - I am off to my God Sons birtthday and then THE OPENING GAME!

    Take care!
  • That Hughes missed header will cost us damnit.

    And just then, Sunderland scores. Lovely. My heart is heavy.
  • Catherine-Lucia
    Newcastle 2-0 Reading! Didn't see that coming... (that's on for background noise in my house right now and some Brit is screaming his head off lol)
  • Catherine-Lucia
    You're asking me? lol I don't know! I'm inclined to think it's more that he likes whoever plays in place of Dempsey rather than him just not liking Dempsey. I don't know. I have hardly ever seen Dempsey play. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen him play outside of US nat'l games (which I watch very rarely). I am not surprised about EJ's absence, though, he needs some refining for sure.

    I kinda like Kamara...but then again I'm quick to like the Africans...
  • ;)

    Yea, fairly even so far. McHead seems to be active. Eddie Johnson did not dress. And Demps is again on the bench (what do you think Hodgson does not like about Demps game?)
  • Catherine-Lucia
    indeed. thanks to you I am rooting for fulham. this is very strange for me. :) lol! this seems like an even game so far, though...
  • oooof. Sunderland goal disallowed. lucky one.
  • Catherine-Lucia
    Speaking of Fulham. They have a good chance in this:
    http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/...
  • Catherine-Lucia
    Just don't think about Fulham, ok? Just don't think about it. That's my solution in times like that. I just pretend it doesn't exist at all.

    Is Boca ever bad? Seriously? Boca = class of Argentina. 100 percent. Red Bulls...I'll just keep my mouth shut...

    :)

    You're so lucky to be able to go to your game! I so wish I was going to DCU-TFC tonight, it's practically down the street at RFK but no money...sighhh!!!
  • Yes Catherine - if you get the chance, or can hook yourself up with a video on demand service, check it out.

    Boca has been ok so far this year.

    Fulham . . . ugh.

    And now its on to my beloved Red Bulls. I am going to the game tonite - cant wait.
  • Catherine-Lucia
    Wow, it must be really great then. I pretty much hated the framers of the Constitution, etc. mostly because they were all white bigots but then again they couldn't really help it. lol. But I don't really have much time to watch things these days, the limited time I do have is spent on DCU, Arsenal, and Barcelona--oh my Barcelona--so I might give it a try if I can but likely not. I'm glad you liked it though. :)
  • I am telling you - John Adams is excellent. I was never into American History as much as I am now - leading up to the series, I had read American Creation by JJ Ellis, and his book on Thomas Jefferson - American Sphinx.

    To see that, unlike what they told us in school, these guys were all so different, such characters - and the John Adams series brings it all to life.

    Take a watch. From the get go. It is really an excellent recount of our history, its obscure truths, and just life in that time and age (like seeing what they did to cure "the pox" - gross)
  • Catherine-Lucia
    don't I always? (that's a rhetorical question.)

    btw- really? I didn't think that would be any good. Then again I'm not very into early American History, I like the recent stuff more. I haven't really sat down and watched TV in forever. The only thing I watch is, take a wild guess, futbol of course... :)
  • Hey Diter - are you trying to say that YOU are the salvation of this season? Talk to Osorio.

    And thanks for visiting the page.
  • Lucia - you have the perfect answer ;) Cheers!

    And yes - next year, we should roll the dice and have an significant bump in the salary cap.

    btw - watching John Adams. What a great series.
  • Catherine-Lucia
    what you need on your team is some ARGENTINE DEFENSE...
  • NoLayupRule
    its great for the league that competition is getting better. IMO this player exception thing was a great move and long overdue.

    IMO they need to raise the cap too.
  • NLR and Gian -

    What is not giving you the same confidence as last year is the fact that the division has again gotten better.

    DC - improved. (the argies)
    NE - when healthy - improved. (the gambians)
    KC - Improved. (Lopez and Trujillo)
    COL - 1 year older, 1 year wiser for the young guys - improved. (Gaven, Rogers etc.) Good group of vets too (Hejduk, Schelotto, Moreno)

    Meanwhile, Chicago is still dangerous, and TFC is a killer at home. There is plenty to worry about when your biggest off season signing was the Coach. But there in lies the question - Can Osorios coaching actually improve our current roster to the point where last years issues wont be this years?

    We shall see. Notice, I am pretty much giving us a bit better than 33% of our games being wins. With Freeman, Richards and even a tweeked Altidore, it will effect results whether we like it or not.
  • NoLayupRule
    great preview, thanks.

    Im worried about defense more than anything but playmaking at the midfield is always crucial and seems overlooked, unless Renya can really succeed there despite last seasons mediocre showing.

    the truth is last season I felt like we were on a path to be a really solid MLS team and yet this season, with a major upgrade at coach, we seem somehow in worse shape.

    Im a little nervous honestly.
  • Beat me to it Dave (thanks to my friggin lawyers taking ten years today!)

    The ADDITIONAL injury of Altidore hurts my confidence as well.

    ------

    Melissa - I am a nice Gemini. No need to fret ;)
  • NY Red Bulls U-18

    Player inforamtion:

    First/Last Name: Diter Hakrama
    D.O.B: May 1, 1991
    Position: Foward
    Nationality: Albanian
    Current Hometown: Clifton
    Origin Hometown: Tirana, Albania
    Height: 5'6"
    Weight: 158 LB
    Other Clubs: Clifton (High School Soccer)
  • David - michfan2123
    Honestly, I am worried we will miss the playoffs. After hearing that Jozy might miss the opener I had to keep myself from putting a revolver in my mouth and saying good bye. Ok, that is a bit extreme, but when I heard it I went into the fetal position for 20 minutes.
  • I am a gemini as well. You know, we're not supposed to get along.
  • Injuries have removed any confidence I had going into this season...

    Lets hope for the best though as the attack is devasting.
  • Right now? Holey. As it stands, we may have a starting lin up of Leitch Parke Mendes. Not exactly the biggest confidence builder, but it may yet prove effective.
  • Catherine-Lucia
    whoa!! gemini too! scary :)

    how's your defense?
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