Welcome to the injury list

By: Chris | March 27th, 2007

For most RB fans, a new coach and a new season brings optimism of a fresh start at the Meadowlands. And after last week’s fall out over a 14 million dollar loss for the 2005-2006 season, at least we can put to bed the rumors Red Bull is running this team on the cheap.

As a long time fan, writer and fitness trainer for the NYRBs, I have watched this team bump and grind from the bottom to well, around midtable, as Bob left and Mo came in only to quickly step aside from Bruce. All the while we fans have been forced to bore the slings and arrows of watching our beloved (insert name here) team struggle to find their identity on and off the field.

So will 2007 be the year MLS finally sits up and takes notice? While noone can be sure, we are pleased to present a blog to the side of the game which is often overlooked: fitness. From Steve Stammler’s elastic hamstring to the rumors of Pierre Barrieu’s secret dungeon/gym, it is clear that simply keeping our key players on the field is the first priority for success. And so each week, this blog will cover our chances for success from the practice field to the injury table and beyond.

Now when it comes to “injury prone”, no one falls in to this category more than Claudio Reyna. After three world cups and over a decade of service as America’s field general, “Captain America” has finally returned to lead his home town club in triumph. But while his undoubted talent will be welcome in the RB midfield, questions remain about his thirty three year old body.

From chronic hamstring to ankle trauma, Reyna’s right side has taken a beating over the years. And with premiership physios rarely prescribing sufficient rest, Reyna has been sliced and diced more than a country ham. With the season fast approaching, he is unlikely to be wrapped in cotton wool or shirk from a tackle—it simply isn’t his style. So what are his chances of staying on the field?

Well, chief among the factors likely to influence his health this season are the fields themselves. Compared to the early years, a quick survey of MLS stadiums actually paints of a fairly healthy picture with seven teams boasting natural or hybrid grass surfaces versus five field turf stadiums.

Unfortunately for the Red Bulls, the pitch at Giant Stadium is amongst the worst in the league. Compare Reyna to frequent injury victims such as Danny O’Rourke, Mike Magee and Peter Canero (although the less said about Canero the better)—who each missed at least 6 games with similar injuries last season– and you can begin to come away with the challenges of playing on turf.

But perhaps the best comparison to Reyna’s situation can be made to that of our last another mercurial playmaker, Youri Djorkaeff. A player of similar physical stature, Djorkaeff joined the Metros struggling for fitness after a hamstring injury plagued his 2004 season.

After playing 50 games per season for over 10 years, critics speculated that Djorkaeff’s battered body was simply unable to sustain the high level of performance required for top level football. And after arriving in the states in 2005, this was put to the test early with a series of right sided hamstring and calf injuries which plagued him throughout the summer. But Djokrkaeff answered all critics by putting in a strong late season performance which somewhat single handedly propelled the Metros in to the playoffs.

While 2006 proved to be a year disrupted by coaching changes and off the field turmoil, Djokrkaeff still managed to play in 21 games for a total of 45 starts and twelve substitute appearances to cap off his MLS career.

The verdict? Much like Djorkaeff, Reyna’s game is based upon astute passing and vision—rather than speed and strength. Unlikely to be caught in possession for long, Reyna’s success or failure with injury is likely to be determined in large part by the players around him.

A good defensive midfielder and willing runners will allow Reyna to dictate play without the need to go at defenders—never one of his strengths anyway. In my opinion, Danny O’Rourke was a pitbull in this position in a poor midfield last season and Demo Kovalenko will likely follow suit (I would hate to be on the wrong end of this guy’s tackle) along with Steve Stammler (if he can stay on the field).

While only time will tell for sure, with David Beckham on his way to Giants Stadium, at least Reyna wont be the only one under the gun.

Chris K.
CK Wellness
One on one and online training at it’s finest at: http://www.ckwellness.net