A Fresh Start: Red Bulls Open MLS Season With Huge Road Win
And just like that, the off-season has come to a close and the MLS season has begun again. It’s another year where we metro faithful pray we finally claim some hardware. With another off-season of major moves, there’s been some big incoming and outgoing transfers that will effect how the team looks this year. The Red Bulls lost a few loan players that many didn't expect them to retain, but the biggest shock was losing captain, homegrown player and New Jersey native Sean Davis on a free agency transfer to Nashville. With new signings like Lewis Morgan and Dylan Nealis, the permanent signing of Carlos Coronel and the return of Caden Clark on loan from RB Leipzig, maybe another full offseason with head coach Gerhard Struber will see his master plan come to fruition. Heading into the opening week, many hoped this year’s campaign would start on a high note against San Jose on the road.
As the New York Red Bulls grabbed their first three points of the year in a very important and dominant showing on the road, there are a good chunk of talking points to discuss. First, it seems their game plan and style will not change from previous years: the Red Bulls formation features five in the back line and a high press that is intended to disrupt their opponents play and create big chances. In their opening again against San Jose, the press was a big factor, as it frustrated San Jose to the point that they couldn't get anything going offensively. San Jose’s lone goal came off of a set piece, which is something New York can work on in the months to come. However, the Earthquakes had no open play goals and a lot of turnovers, which really shows that this Red Bulls squad has really put in the work this offseason to master their style of play.
If RBNY can continue to get this kind of productively from their midfield, it will be easier to create chances for their forwards, which in turnshould lead to more goals.
Next was New York’s creativity from the midfielder, who put in a masterclass on Saturday. Omir Fernandez, Christian Casseres Jr., Frankie Amaya and Dru Yearwood were nearly perfect in every way. If RBNY can continue to get this kind of productively from their midfield, it will be easier to create chances for their forwards, which in turn should lead to more goals. Finally, the forward depth could play a massive factor this year, especially if New York want to make a run in the US Open Cup, The Leagues Cup and the MLS playoffs. It’s clear that Polish striker Patryk Klimala is still the lead guy up front, and his movement and link up play in this opener really showed me he is getting comfortable. Klimala’s hustle eventually paid off with a well-positioned goal to open the scoring.
Even Tom Barlow came off the bench to get his first goal of the season. I can’t remember a game in recent years where multiple strikers got on the score sheet – for it to happen in the first game of the seasons really make you think New York may finally have something special brewing. Overall, Saturday’s match was a nearly perfect team performance. RBNY owned this game from the first whistle and the result speaks for themselves. To me, its not that they got the bounces - its that the Red Bulls created chances, capitalized on them and got a well-deserved win. It didn't matter what time was on the game click, as New York put constant pressure on Son Jose to close out the game with a 3-1 win. If New York can continue this form, the sky is the limit on what this club can do.
I can’t remember a game in recent years where multiple strikers got on the score sheet – for it to happen in the first game of the seasons really make you think New York may finally have something special brewing.
With the recent additions of new Designated Player signing Luquinhas, a Brazilian attacking winger/midfielder from the Polish Ekstraklasa, as well as the loan of Ashley Fletcher, an English forward from the Premiere League, it seems that RBNY are investing the club and gaining the depth they need for the post-season. We have no idea where this club can go this year, but I can guarantee that it will probably put me on the edge of my seat.
As Always I Am Here For It All.
