RSL/RBNY Preview: In Like A Lion, Out Like . . . .

By: Dave Martinez | October 8th, 2008

The Red Bulls will be following Leonardo the Lion and the rest of RSL to Rio Tinto Stadium for the inauguration of the teams new home. It is this blogger’s hope they don’t go there bearing any gifts . . .

That means no own goals.

No more than 1 goal against.

At least 2 goals scored for.

An absence of that dreaded 4-5-1.

An attitude that isn’t all about coming away with a point.

Those, my friends, are gifts.

This is a game where the Bulls need to explode on the field more like Lions (pun intended). Take advantage of the fact that RSL does not have the home field advantage in this one. Think about it - no longer will they know every minute detail of their hard as cement, galactic ball bouncing turf. They will have to experience this pitch in full mode, just as the Red Bulls will. In this sense, the playing field is quite literally leveled - and everyone will be showcasing their skill on grass (as God intended).

Of course, the Bulls will not have underachieving acquisitions Jorge Rojas or Gabe Cichero available, and the speedy winger/forward Dane Richards is on a Jamaican call up, so they go in heavily undermanned. But they have pieces in their lineup that can seamlessly make the transition to the 11 without significantly disturbing production or depleting the bench. How?

Rojas - CAM - Magee

Cichero - CB - Parke and Boyens/Goldthwaite (forcing Jimenez on the D wing if Goldie mans center)

Dane Richards - Mbuta. In the famous words of the great trainer “Mick” - “We need speed! Speed is what we need!” Mbuta fills the bill.

And what would this look like in the end?

———-Angel—Kandji———-
DVB—–Stammler–Pietra—Mbuta
Goldie—-Parke—-Boyens—Leitch
————Conway—————

Bench Options: Ubi, Woly, Mendes, Borman, Touray, Magee

OR

———-Angel—Kandji———-
————-Magee————–
DVB———-Pietra———Mbuta
Goldie—-Parke—-Boyens—Leitch
————Conway—————

Bench Options: Ubi, Woly, Mendes, Borman, Touray, Stammler

Does that look so bad? Not really! And you still have depth on the bench. Its up to the Bulls and Coach Osorio to take the game to RSL. The conditions call for it. And what better way to showcase their playoff push then to do it on National TV? Put the rest of the league on notice and say “The Bulls ain’t Dead Yet!”

If they don’t go in aggressively, Leonardo and RSL will eat their playoff hopes alive. Count on it.