[golazo68]

What is it about Reyna?

He's obviously has had a great player, and very good still in 'glue in the middle' role- but most every team he's been at the last 5-6 years (Sunderland, Man. City, USMNT, and now Red Bulls) so often digress into these low-scoring slugfests in which battle takes high priority over a flowing game.

Those teams were largely offensively poor, and battled hard in midfield and the defense held up well (against moderate competition).

Now Bruce + Claudio have got the Red Bores organized (good) defensively, but they play conservatively going forward (not good for neutral observer, or pulling in newbies). It works/is working because MLS is a (too often) sloppy league, which will reward the organized teams which points (but may bore us all in the process).

Note the scores (with Claudio): 0-0, 1-0, 1-0

Without Claudio: 3-0

It will be interesting to see if JPA really changes this dynamic or not. Hopefully a bit better to the upside, but given the scheme- I don't know how much.

Give me the ol' San Diego Sockers, Chicago Sting (or Cosmos, for that matter) any day. Arena and his henchman Reyna look like they are playing in the World Cup, trying to make the next round.

It may be effective, but it ain't 'the beautiful game', and I seriously doubt it can draw massive fans in New York market (its not just 'win', but 'win pretty' there IMO).

[Huwiler's Odoreaters]

Is this a trial balloon for the new justification for "NY sucks"? We've seen "they're old and slow," "they have no D," "where are the goals gonna come from," and now they're "boring."

They have 60 shots in 4 games: 15 shots/game (and they were a man short for 2/3 of one of their games). Chivas and Columbus have 16 shots/game, and New England is level with NY at 15 shots/game.

Third in shots per game in the league: they're hardly bunkerball.

Next excuse.

[Andy_B]

I am sure all NY fans will be happy to be "bored" by a team winning rather than the wonderful excitement they have been treated to in the previous years of wonderment

That being said, this is not so much Reyna as Arena. If he continues to play one foward all alone up top, this is pretty much the style you will get.

If he has the ability to find a lineup where he can pair JPA and Jozy up top and still keep Richards, Reyna and van den Bergh all on the field together, then I think the excitement level may rise a bit for the neutral viewer.

[Huwiler's Odoreaters]

FWIW, the 1998 DC team, which I think is one of the best attacking teams in MLS history, averaged 15.78 shots per game.

[FlashMan]

i enjoyed their workmanlike mauling of FC Dallas on the road..."mauling" may be too harsh for a 1-0 game...but they squeezed out quickly and efficiently almost any threats coming from Dallas and controlled the midfield pretty much throughout, so whatever. maybe i'm just a soccer nut but i like watching well organized teams slowly but almost inevitably take over the opposition.

and as others have said, they're getting their shots on goal. between Altigore, Van De Bergh, Mathis and Richards they buzz around the net a lot, and Angel should only help matters.

[MasterShake29]

Originally Posted by golazo68

Note the scores (no Nor'Easter): 0-0, 1-0, 1-0

With Nor'Easter: 3-0

FYP.

[golazo68]

Originally Posted by FlashMan

i enjoyed their workmanlike mauling of FC Dallas on the road..."mauling" may be too harsh for a 1-0 game...but they squeezed out quickly and efficiently almost any threats coming from Dallas and controlled the midfield pretty much throughout, so whatever. maybe i'm just a soccer nut but i like watching well organized teams slowly but almost inevitably take over the opposition.

and as others have said, they're getting their shots on goal. between Altigore, Van De Bergh, Mathis and Richards they buzz around the net a lot, and Angel should only help matters.

As a soccer fan, I can tolerate such results. As a NYRB fan, I would be happy for quite a while (but itch for more attack eventually).

But as a 'fan in waiting', wanting to fall in love with MLS? I don't think it would move the needle at all.

Chicago Sting. San Diego Sockers. Minnesota Kicks. Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. New York Cosmos.

Those were exciting teams. RIP.

[Devil500]

One word watch the Scousers when they play in Europe same type of Bunker ball and they play it to perfection and kill ya when you create an error

[Andy_B]

Originally Posted by golazo68

Those were exciting teams. RIP.

where the hell is the irony icon..........

[golazo68]

Originally Posted by Andy_B

If he has the ability to find a lineup where he can pair JPA and Jozy up top and still keep Richards, Reyna and van den Bergh all on the field together, then I think the excitement level may rise a bit for the neutral viewer.

If Arena opens it up with 2 true forwards (which will open up midfield for the opponent) AND if Claudio doesn't get too far forward to muck up the attack.

- In this case, I would agree with you.

I hope it happens. I think Red Bull can still win in that scenario, but allow a much more attractive game (3-2 wins, 2-1 wins vs. 1-0, etc.)