It's Round and It's White
The New York Red Bulls are BACK!
Wait a second maybe i shouldn’t get ahead of myself. Although they did thrash Toronto FC for a good 5 nill scoreline last night, i wouldn’t get ahead of myself to say they are back. Being that Toronto has probably been the most inconsistent team in all of MLS this season and their last 2 victories were against the western conference cellar dwellars, Vancouver Whitecaps.
However unconvincing the opponent might have been last night at Red Bull Arena there is one definite positive to take away from the match.
The Red Bulls demonstrated sheer dominance on the wings. 4 of their 5 goals last night came from service from the wings (well 5 if you consider a corner a wing play – Hey it comes from the side!)
Jan Gunnar Soli (A natural midfielder converted right back), speedy Jamaican international RW’er Dane Richards, and Estonian workhorse LW’er Joel Lindpere, proved how deadly the NY attack can be from its wings. Both Soli and Lindpere finished with two assists and Richards with one on the night. Lindpere also added a goal to his credit. His 4th goal in 3 games.
More importantly, however, is how the Red Bulls consistently used their speed and skill to bring the ball up the field on the wings and serve tricky or well placed balls into the box for quality goal scoring opportunities. Dane Richards had a golden opportunity to put one away early in the game from a glorious pass laid off by Henry to the top of the box that he sent high and left over the goal. Interestingly enough Henry created that opportunity by making a left corner run before dribbling the ball into the left side of the box to play an inviting pass to Richards at the top.
The Red Bulls offensive game plan is becoming more and more apparent. Distribute the ball well from the back. Push their Left and Right backs into the attack push the ball out wide, with long or short play, and look for quality runs from the front men into the box. Not that this is relatively new, what is noticeable lately is how effectively it is working.
The key for the Red Bulls now is to maintain this quality attacking play and continue to be solid in the back with consistent Goalkeeper play.
The British Bulldog’s (Luke Rodgers) return to the line-up yesterday will continue to put pressure on opposing defenses, with his constant motion and harassment of defenders. Couple that with Joel Lindpere, who is in remarkable form, this run should continue, when they face off against the hugely inexperienced back line of DC United on Saturday at home.
Hopefully the Red Bulls put in another dominating performance this Saturday so i can confidently say “The Red Bulls are BACK!”
