Last weekend I looked at NYRB- Minnesota United where I spoke about the big potential and options that Red Bulls have and by contrast how limited those at United were, especially defensively, despite having won twice already ............
I was hoping to get some MLS notes down today about other teams, but the fixtures have not played out well and I will have to hold off. I will be amazed if NYRB do not win very comfortably though against a Minnesota side who have flattered and overachieved to post two wins so far. Their loss came on opening day at San Jose Eathquakes 3-2, which was exactly the same opponent and result as for the final game of 2017. We could take a (too) simplistic view and say they must be at a similar level, or just leave it at SJE rarely score three (they were the lowest scorers amongst the 12 post season teams) let alone back to back and that highlights the United issues and they gave up 70 goals (MLS high) last season, including a whopping 2.59 per game average on the road. They have not made the upgrades that other underachieving teams in the West did in the off season and I see nothing, despite two wins, to feel they will not continue to ship goals. I want to give some background notes on them , so it might as well be their home game with NY last summer and those are reproduced at the very foot of this email, they lost that 3-0. United have ridden their luck to "only " concede four in their two away starts to date and I think we will see that average number conceded back up today.
I previewed NY's trip to Real Salt Lake last weekend ...........
Real suffered a shock 5-1 home loss to LAFC last week and will be motivated to bounce back, but they were, as the scoreline suggests, awful against the new franchise club with the visitors having every attempt from inside the box on target and additionally hitting the woodwork twice. RSL had a much changed backline and head coach Mike Petke , who was previously in charge of NYRB, made some odd decisions, also changing one of the established holding midfielders to sit infront of the transitioning back four. Petke make three backine chances (one enforced) from Week 1 where they drew 1-1 at FC Dallas which sounds a good result, but the head coach wasn't happy and they rode their luck there giving up 16 attempts inside the box ,also being saved by the woodwork and had veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando to thank for five saves. They also came into the season with injuries and it feels like Real are sorting a lot of things out right now and struggling to find solutions. Petke would like to win this after being sacked by NY, he claimed that "there were no hard feelings" this week, but why say that unprompted unless there were ! But he left Red Bulls over three years ago and any "inside knowledge" is going to be very limited.
NYRB look an exciting prospect this season, they eliminated Mexican club Tijuana at the last eight stage of the Champions League in midweek which was a very big deal, to give that some context, last 12 winners of the competition have been Mexican and nine of those finals have been all Mexican ties and they dominate the region. Red Bulls won 5-1 on aggregate and gave the tie priority, putting out a B team in their sole MLS start to date which came inbetween the two CL games and still won that 4-0 (at home to Portland Timbers). They have huge competition for places now as you might expect and have a young squad bursting with talent which was upgraded in the off season , boasting the second biggest squad in MLS with the youngest average age . Tim Parker of Whitecaps ( see above) was traded for at great cost and named as the cornerstone around which they are going to build a watertight defence and after just one training session with the club he started in the away game in Mexico, where NY kept a cleansheet
Red Bulls website: Parker said that coming to the club and starting so quickly was a tough proposition.“It is not an easy situation to be honest, because obviously that game meant a lot," Parker said. "I think, as much as the team was excited to have me join them, of course I was going to be nervous. It is always nerve wracking walking into a room, meeting a bunch of new guys and hoping you can gel into that system right away. Knowing some of them helped a little bit, and obviously, they were all so welcoming, so I was happy about that.”But Parker said he was thrilled to be joining an "energetic and young" Red Bulls squad."To be honest, everyone is thirsty, everyone is biting at heels to get onto the field and I think that is awesome," Parker said. "I think the first thing I said to Jesse after that game was that it was fun. You always have fun playing, but it is fun to be a part of a squad that is so energetic and ready to get after it for 90 minutes."
Three other new additions Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra, Marc Rzatkowski and Florian Valot were all involved in goals in the second leg tie in midweek ( 3-1 win) and I have no idea what starting 11 head coach Jesse Marsch will go with today, but he has huge options and a battled hardened squad who have played five competitive games , so should be ahead of most in terms of fitness and after trips to Honduras and Mexico, Salt lake City is not going to put too much fear into the visitors. NY have won 9/16 on the road in all competitions, scoring in 15, two or more in 11 and Real will need to up their game to get a result here. Those stats alone suggest good value in NYRB scoring two or more ( over 1.5) at circa 2.50, but I will opt for the easier to bet............
Bit disappointing as they conceded very early and lost 1-0 but dominated all statistical categories , with keeper Nick Rimando rescuing his team for about the 100th time and making two spectacular saves. I expect a big bounce back today and United to pay the price, NYRB by 2+ goals.
NY won 3-0 and all stats indicate that was just about a fair reflection, along with the evidence of watching eyes. Now Red Bulls make the trip down to Orlando, where United posted their away win, beating City 2-1 which should definitely give the visitors confidence. City have won just 2/19 and 1/9 at home losing five and in any league that is poor, but in MLS abysmal . They are dealing with a host of injuries and in the off season they lost Kaka and sold Canadian striker Cyle Larin to Besiktas and in total, will be without the scorers of 32 of their 39 goals in 2017 today !
Good Luck.
