Bradley Wright Phillips opens up his season tally with a beauty in the 25th minute
As the Red Bulls opened their 2015 season in front of their fans, a huge cloud of uncertainty hovers over the franchise. From the new competing neighbors, new coaching staff, and mid level management changes, the 2015 season will prove to be a pivotal one for the Red Bulls. Will it be the dawn of the new Red Bulls that will will finally bring a championship to New York, or will it be the beginning of a slow eclipsing into the shadow of the blue team across the Hudson? Sunday’s performance, as impressive as it was, may have not begun to answer all the questions, but it was a clear indication that the Red Bulls are up to the challenge, and amidst all the changes, they are hoping the new regime finally catapults this team to the elusive MLS Cup.
With the exception of a wanting to see more fans in the seats, the Red Bull organization couldn’t have been happier with the way their home opener against their long standing I95 rivals played out. After a convincing 2-0 win, and perhaps the first step in their reconciliation with the Red Bull faithful, the man at the center of the off season whirlwind, Ali Curtis, was visibly content, yet contained in his emotions as he congratulated the players entering the tunnel into the locker room.
One of the biggest changes in the off season was undoubtedly the unexpected sacking of Mike Petke. Petke, who had just finished his second year at the helm, brought the only piece of silverware the Red Bulls have ever won in their 20 year old history. While he may have had his limitations as a coach, his passion and ties to the club was something the fans valued, something the South Ward made sure to remember with their “Legends deserve better” banner and their brief chants at the start of the game.
Despite some of the anger, and frustration fans have felt during the off season, the kick off whistle had an almost instantaneous soothing effect. There was great anticipation to witness the new acquisitions in action, and as fans got their first look at Felipe, and Sacha Kljestan, among the familiar faces of Dax McCarty, Lloyd Sam and Bradley Wright-Phillips all was forgotten.
The new look Red Bulls under Jesse Marsch are definitely a different team. High energy, supported football, fluid play, and quickness will surely be some of the stronger suits of this team this season. The growing chemistry between the midfield triangle will be something to keep an eye on, if the partnership of McCarty, Felipe and Kljestan reaches a symbiotic level, this midfield will be a force to contend with, as DC United experienced on this Sunday afternoon.
“My goal is the team, if the team is right, and the people like the team, then they will like me in turn. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest, I’m trying to coach a football team to be the best in the league” – Jesse Marsch
Bradley Wright-Phillips opened up his season tab in the 25th minute after a perfectly floated cross from now team captain Dax McCarty. The man whose initials rhyme with MVP, and last year’s golden boot recipient, made quick work of his defender with a nifty touch to take him out of way, and then rip a shot across his body to beat Hamid at the far post.
“I want him(BWP) to be around the goal, I want him to score goals, that’s obviously one of his great strengths, but with all the players we are trying to get them to rotate, and move in ways so they are not just standing next to defenders the whole game, so for Bradley the combination of coming deep, going wide sometimes, work off defender’s shoulders, and then making slashing runs and getting in front of the goal so that he can be available to finish plays” – Jesse Marsch
DC United tried to get back into the game but Luis Robles denied a well hit shot by Chris Pontius. Despite a few flurries of action from DC United, the Red Bulls always seemed to be in control, pressing the United players, and causing DC to turn the ball over. On the offensive side of the ball both BWP and Lloyd Sam gave the United defense a run for their money. Sam who has emerged this season as more of threat, both on the wing and when dribbling inside, got his second goal of the season after Felipe recovered a ball in United’s midfield, and found BWP, who assisted his compatriot for the Red Bulls second goal of the game with 20 minutes left in the contest.
“We are encouraging Lloyd to not be only a sideline player, we want him to become more involved and to come inside” – Jesse Marsch
In the dying minutes of the second half, DC United had one last chance to reduce the lead, after being awarded a kick from the spot, but Chris Pontius shot it well over the crossbar, allowing Luis Robles to record his first shutout of the season. It was just that type of a night for DC United, over played, and out hustled by a Red Bull team who despite still in their embryonic stages of Jesse Marsch’s era, has some potential. Time will tell how far they can go, they still have vacant DP spots, but as it stands, it seems Marsch has a good core of players on his hands.
“I want our team to be the example of what this organization is, by how they play, by how they work, by how they treat each other, we want to be a real club on the biggest level…I’m more concerned that our team is making progress, that guys are understanding their roles, and that every week they are cranking it up from the previous week” – Jesse Marsch
The Red Bulls get their first win of the season, but the 3 points mean so much more. After all the upheaval of the off season, and the suspicious feeling that has taken over the fans, as a result of the many changes, the Red Bulls know that playing attractive football and winning in the process will cure all. It certainly seems, albeit early, that Jesse Marsch has this team headed in the right direction.
With the neighbors across the river being the fashionable choice for the casual, and undecided fan, the Red Bulls will have to put a quality product on the field in order to keep, and sway fans looking to make the jump. This past Sunday they showed they are capable of doing that, but consistency will be the determining factor for this Red Bull team, whose history has been full of inconsistencies and shortcomings.
Alfredo Fumacas (@TalkingtodaDoll)
