Thanks to DC United being off this week and the draw between the Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City, the New York Red Bulls could take a one point lead in the East and be level with games played between the top teams. There are a few obstacles New York must navigate in order to take first ahead of a long three game home stand. New York has not won away at New England in Gillette, regular season and playoffs, since 2002. That is a 17 game winless streak New York is carrying since a 10-man 2-0 victory a decade ago.
New York travels north without the likes of Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Jan Gunnar Solli, Heath Pearce, Markus Holgersson, and Teemu Tainio. Gillette Stadium is an artificial surface and Red Bulls fans are accustomed to their big name designated players missing matches on turf. All week long through training Henry and Marquez have been questionable for the matchup with New England as both are still recovering from nagging injuries. Defender Heath Pearce picked up a hamstring injury late in the game last week against Toronto while Holgersson has been struggling with an ankle injury he picked up in Vancouver. Jan Gunnar Solli underwent scans Saturday and was ruled out and did not travel with the team. Wilman Conde did travel with the team but is still dealing with lingering affects from his groin injury earlier in the season. Conde did play in Toronto this past weekend and will most likely be called upon to anchor NY’s backline without Pearce, Holgersson, and Marquez available.
Without reinforcements through the transfer window and Luke Rodgers’ visa status unknown, Hans Backe will once again call upon his role players to step up and grind out a result. Expect New York to line up in a 4-1-4-1 via Barklage, Conde, Keel/Ruthven, Miller, McCarty, Richards, Lindpere, Ballouchy, Lade, and Cooper. Backe could very well have Balloucy or Lindpere push forward once again as auxiliary forwards but they have been better creating chances than finishing them this season. This might be time for a new hero to rise for the Red Bulls. Against DC, Brandon Barklage claimed the mantle and Solli carried it over through Toronto. It could be time for Richards or even Roy Miller to really make a positive impact in the attacking stats. Last season, Dane Richards salvaged a point for New York with two late goals. Roy Miller recently saw both his opposite side fullbacks score goals and recently told reporters enough is enough. Millers’ teammates have been teasing him about his missed chances on goal. That’s not the only motivation Miller and Richards should be carrying into this match as both players were involved in a physical dust up in training earlier this week. Red Bulls practice is inherently chipy due to Backe’s desire to constantly have a competitive environment but this encounter went a bit further than the norm.
Earlier this season, New York edged the Revolution out, 1-0 at Red Bull Arena that sparked New York’s five game winning streak, three of which were 1-0 shutouts. Henry put the Red Bulls ahead early before suffering a hamstring injury, leaving New York to figure out how to play without their leader and superstar. New England did come back into the game in the second half with the inclusion of Benny Feilhaber but the Revs just could not finish their chances, including a free header by Feilhaber. New England will not be lining up their first choice lineup on Sunday either. Jose Moreno and Kevin Alston are both doubtful, Kelyn rowe is out, and Shalrie Jospeh is questionable ahead of the I-95 match. The Revs injury list, however, is much shorter than New York’s and coach Jay Heaps has more to work with. Saer Sene found his way back onto the score sheet against the Sounders and it was his first goal since May 26th. Diego Fagundez netted the late equalizer to see New England remain unbeaten in three matches. Jay Heaps has made some changes through these matches, whether forced through injury or mixing things up. Florian Lechner has come in strong for Kevin Alston, Blake Brettschneider had the assist on Sene’s goal against Seattle and started in place on Fagundez, and Shalrie Joseph had played in place of Kelyn Rowe.
The matchup I will closely be looking at is Kenny Cooper against A.J. Soares and Stephen McCarthy. Cooper has fallen off his scoring strut since late May and with Henry in and out of the line up, Cooper has had to change his playing style game by game. Cooper has consistently been the last player on the field, working on shooting and finishing. During pre-match warm ups at Red Bull Arena, Cooper can be spotted taken long range strikes on net as the sprinklers emerge to get the players off the field. Cooper has been known to be lethal from distance in the past and even flashed this ability in preseason. If New York wants their lone, true striker to be effective they need to forgo the endless crosses form the wing and play the ball on the ground to Cooper’s feet. All Kenny has to do is let the ball fly.
This match could become a critical match for New York as their next three games all come at home in an seven day span. Two matches are conference games and the other match is against the Sounders. New York will come out of that home stand playing two more games than DC United and one more against Sporting KC. Getting three points to take back to Red Bull Arena could very well determine the makeup of the east for the playoffs.
(image courtesy of newyorkredbulls.com)
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