2014 Matchday #7: Red Bulls v Union, April 16, 2014 p/d/p (R)

Not a rivalry? Seems like this game is being greeted with a collective yawn, with the game thread going up less than 48 hours before the game and no comments on it. Is anyone actually travelling for this? Terrible time for it to be scheduled, IMO.

 

What else to expect?

 

Im going, but I do not really want to.

 

I see a win, despite the Union's history at RBA. This is a pretty poor Red Bull side.

I don't know how MLS doesn't put this game on a weekend.

 

our 3rd away match against a winless team. i hate playing winless teams because probability dictates they are going to win at some point. however, ill say 1-1. more ties than mens warehouse.

also, ill agree with the poor scheduling of this one. weds night games this early in the season are lackluster.

I cant believe we play them midweek TWICE. i bet the game here will be 3/4 full.

 

I will be there. I am fairly certain that less than half of all seats will be filled.

 

are you talking about tomorrow or at the home game in july? i meant the game here as in PPL aka the mens warehouse. RBA is going to empty, i cant imagine the pain in the ass to get there at 7 pm on a weeknight

 

Went to every RBA game the first 3 years. Midweek is tough enough for home games.

It's not only the cows that are winless, WE are winless up there! So maybe the law of averages goes our way! Feel like it is possible this time.

 

I meant tomorrow's game. Planning to leave around 4:00.

 

I'm heading up there for the game. Because of the train access, I find it easy to get to.

MLS was very foolish this year in scheduling. The league stated a couple of years ago how it saw the growth of the league invariably linked with the growth of rivalries and that they wanted to foster more traveling team support for its fans. So, the league went to an imbalanced schedule which favored geographic rivals. So, in 2014 how have they continued that stated goal? By scheduling New York and Philadelphia to have not one, but two midweek matches. Thus, the league guarantees to keep down the number of both home and away fans when recent history has shown that this match up can garner plenty of away support for weekend matches.

 

i guess they figure these matches have the best chance of drawing people, and easier travel for the visiting team. I think maybe the break for the world cup is also factoring in the getting these matches played.

 

Yep, PPL has become a draw factory. Expect a website puff piece soon telling us how wonderful it is that the team is undefeated at home.

 

I understand what you mean. If they have to schedule midweek games because of the WC break, we all get that. I assume the league is concerned about travel time for midweek matches for the teams. But, why not schedule a quick flight game like Toronto or Montreal or Columbus or NE midweek instead of the games which are local enough to garner significant away support? Seattle, for example, only has weekend clashes with its geographic neighbors because the league values the Cascadia traveling support. I just don't see the consistency in the league's scheduling.

 

reminds me of that commercial in the simpsons episode where they go to the soccer game. " It's all here--fast-kicking, low scoring, and ties? You bet!"

no hotel, no airport for this one. ha. but seriously, thats probably why.

 

Sorry to hijack the thread, but to discuss the actual match...

A couple of keys to the match for the Union will be to limit Dax McCarty time and space on the ball and to be mindful of Cahill's late attacking runs. A decent amount of New York's attack is sprung through Dax, if you give him time and space he will find Henry, et al. I think Edu will be counted on to help in that effort. Tim Cahill is scheduled to return and he's a menace when he gets inside the penalty area. I think Carroll will be critical here, along with the center backs, being mindful of his late runs into the area. Communication on whose responsibility Cahill is when the Red Bulls attack will be important. I think his inclusion in the lineup takes the Red Bulls up a notch from what they have been in the past few games.

Thierry Henry against the mistake-ridden Union back line is a concern. He may be old and slower but he can still pull off a quick, accurate shot given an inch of space. They need to mark him at all times in and around the area.

 

cahill is coming off an injury, and just practiced for the first time yesterday. seems as if its up in the air if he plays.

that said, henry terrifies me

unrelated- reading the article on the NYRB site, this is the ad to the left. is it stereotyping slightly?

 

I'm just going on the info the Shep Messing was giving during their broadcast over the weekend. If Cahill can't go then it certainly helps the Union, all-the-more to focus on Dax, then.

 

I LOVE the road win optimism. All you Posidelphians (I may have just invented a word), you've been watching the games, reading the blogs, tweeting the twits, and NOTHING can keep you down! Love it.

I'ma egg the mall Easter Bunny to bring some balance back into the equation.

 

I enjoy the consistency. I think you do a great job with them.

 

I bet if you ask them about it, they'll say they tried to call to reschedule but you didnt answer