Simplicity Rules The Day In Red Bulls Win

By: Dave Martinez | August 24th, 2009

Imagine this:

You are a player for Juan Carlos Osorio, and it is the beginning of the 2009 campaign. After a good showing in the offseason camps, you are looking forward to some playing time for the rest of the season. As a matter of fact, you have fallen in line with the Osorio mantra; “practice hard, and you will get playing time.”

Filled with hope, you begin the season and immediately experience a devastating loss. Then another. Then another. Every week, a line up shift leaves your future in the air; “will I be playing today?” Some times, players who have been plain awful seem to see the pitch more than you do. “So much for playing hard,” you think. And then, when playing time is handed your way, it is in an unorthodox position on the field, in a strange lineup and unfamiliar surroundings. How can one succeed under these conditions?

This is the story of many role players on the Red Bulls squad. I’ve heard the story countless times already, though never on the record.

And in comes Richie Williams. Facing a less than threatening opponent in FC Dallas, Richie sees this as a chance for a win. And what do you do when faced with an opportunity? You keep it simple, because that is what will get everyone, no matter how discombobulated, on the same page.

He starts off in a 4-4-2 formation. He pairs off Angel with a reliable holding forward in Wolyniec. He later subs in Kandji to continue Angels successful partnership going. He removes an underperforming Jorge Rojas for Ubiparipovic, who has been hungry for playing time. Ditto for Pacheco, who hasn’t had his head in the game for weeks. He starts Dane Richards behind Angel on the right wing side, which was a successful tandem in the offensive zone last season. Sure, he sacrifices Zimmerman in the process, but that gave Albert Celades one less person to compete with when playing the holder/attack mid role.

In the end, Williams created a fluid team, with defined roles, in a simple attacking formation. Celades didn’t have to try to rip the ball possession away from Rojas and Zimmerman. Angel didn’t have to roam the attacking area all alone, all day. Sure, the wing play was less than aspiring, and Goldthwaite’s mental error cost the team a goal, but you can’t correct this teams litany of issues in one day. Instead, you have to focus on some of the glaring issues and correct them to the best of your ability.

Coach Williams didn’t need to scribble notes, and over think a situation; he just kept it simple. And the results spoke for themselves – the first Red Bull win since May, behind a rare, energetic and inspired performance.