Post-Season 2018/2019

FCC just traded a TON of money to pick up Kendal Waston from Vancouver. With Waston and Ndam, a clearer picture of how Cincinnati wants to play defense is taking shape.

 

Because he's not a big, strong defender. I know the rationale. I know that Waston is strong in the air, that header he scored against Red Bull was impressive. But Vancouver was 4th worst in goals allowed with 67. In that sense he's about as good as a six-and-a-half foot tall traffic cone.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Red Bulls Move Up in Waiver Draft, Select Marcus Epps

 

Oh, and it was officially confirmed that Tim Parker has signed a new three-year deal.

 

I think Parker lacks the on the ball skill for the next level. Maybe I'm wrong, as I missed about half the games this season. But I always felt he was a safety first, clear the ball type. Great defender and in the air, but missing the Tim Ream style of confidence with the ball. That said, very pleased to sign him for another 3 years.

 

Long is far more confident on the ball, but I think Parker can/will improve just playing in this system. I agree that Parker might have done well in England, but he wasn't EPL ready, more likely Championship or lower. He's going to do considerably better financially next year, just by staying in MLS.

 

Four prospects connected to New York Red Bulls on initial list for 2019 MLS Player Combine

The curious case of Marcelo Borges continues, some would have thought (incorrectly) that playing a fourth year was a good thing, Attention turns to Marcello Borges after Atuahene Decision. Typically RBA products who are pro ready get signed sooner rather than later. That he didn't get signed suggests Red Bull technical staff did not agree. It may also be that Borges was trying to emancipate himself, ala a few of the other RBA products over the years. That Borges played for Michigan Bucks last summer adds further evidence of a weak relationship between Borges and the Red Bulls. OTOH, he does fill a need position. One wonders if Borges has a good combine that the Red Bulls may come back to him with a Homegrown offer.

 

MLS has moved to a single-elimination format for 2019, with the top seven teams qualifying and the top seed getting a first round bye in a 4 round playoff.

This probably favors strong defense teams, as well as the ones that play the best at home. Just generally it also puts greater emphasis on the regular season. This is a format that would have favored the Red Bulls, no question. That does put the onus on Hamlett and Armas to build better quality depth, especially since injuries are always a factor.

 

That's the spirit.

 

Of course, every time I start to feel buoyant hopes for the success of a Red Bull team there is a reminder of the iceberg lurking beneath the surface, e.g. the Vancouver match this year, a game that should have been easily won, and yet the Red Bulls found it surprisingly difficult to impose their collective will on the Whitecaps.

 

It was an indication that a fairly simple tactical plan, get the ball to the head of Waston, can beat a team with an intricately designed team strategy, especially when that team has weaknesses.

I have at times been frustrated with the slow buildup of the Red Bulls counterattack, chosing to maintain possession rather than go for goal, allowing numbers to get back in defense. Aerial crosses into the box have also been a growing problem. Both of these issues were on full display against Atlanta, who routinely outnumbered Red Bull attackers even on supposed counters, and time and again crosses were sent in without finding anybody on the end, not enough movement to shake defenders. One big problem that I see connects these two is an aging BWP. He's incredibly hard-working, smart and skillful, but he's not spring chicken. I think bringing in Carlos Rivas was a way to help relieve some of this work load, especially for 2nd half runs against a tired D. Then they tried Etienne, who for all his strengths, is not a striker. And neither of those guys is much of an aerial threat. White? Abang? Nope. This team doesn't have a credible stand-in striker. They could also use more burners on the wings, too. Royer is the only one with close to the requisite speed. If RBNY are going to get behind teams, they need more of it. Those are just the problems up front.

In terms of getting burned on headers, that sort of thing does happen, and I would still lay money on Parker and Long winning most battles. A tall, rangy d-mid might be nice to bulk up screening in front the defensive line. I am concerned with driven balls into the box, a taller version of Sean Davis might be nice, one who can help close down attacks before they turn into crosses, and help out in the box as needed, a Lawrentowicz type. Atlanta made effective use of his ability to be both midfielder and defender, and NY was sorely lacking in this area, too.

The players I've seen picked up so far seem only like half measures, depth players not starters, and NY needs to pick up several starting-caliber players to maintain position near the top of the league.

I didn't realize there was a rant lurking, but there it is.

 

Well, like I said, the club needed a deep lying destroyer who can help stop up the middle, with Almiron running rampant and wingers swinging in crosses, a player who can help slow down the runs, and can drop back to help defend those crosses, would have been a useful player.

Agree with you 100% on the injuries front. Any club that plans on deep runs in tournaments and finishing near the top of the league needs lots of depth. Yet another reason is so the pipeline can keep flowing. This club needs close to 3 players at every single position, and right now they would struggle to find more than 1.5 rostered players per starter. The return of injured players would be a factor, but they need to look at how RBII needs to feed squad depth and keep some guys around simply because they are that 3rd player on the depth chart. The turnover on the 2nd team should be about their second, plus players. Serious injuries happen all too often, so it should be part of the plan on how to build a squad.

Ironically this club has been historically short on street smarts. One of the reasons why Lawrentowicz and Parkhurst always find jobs is they have a track record on winning sides, they know how to step it up in big games. You saw a difference in attitude from a player like Henry than other seasoned pros that have come through here, he really owned his mistakes and the team's shortcomings, too. It might be time to bring that back into the fold. I will say that it was my hope the Adams-Davis-Muyl presence coming up through RBII might have added a little bit of this winners attitude organically, but that clearly couldn't do it all by themselves.

 

So far, soooo quiet for the RBNY. Other MLS clubs have been stocking their teams with acquisitions. Now that the international transfer window is open, the Red Bulls are also competing with the rest of the world for players, and the only anticipated move is the finalizing of the Adams transfer to Leipzig.

 

Oh, and there's Koffi is now officially a Red Bull having finally received his work visa. Anyone know what position he plays?

 

https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/players/jean-christophe-koffi says he's a midfielder.

 

The Red Bulls were able to trade for two picks from FCC for $100K, and drafted four through the first two rounds.

Red Bulls Draft Four Players in 2019 MLS SuperDraft

I don't know anything about these players but they drafted two CD's out of the four, and Boateng looks like he could molded into a decent defender with some seasoning. Looks like RBII is going to have a decent level of talent in the new crop for this season.

 

So so many Boateng footballers. Can't keep em all straight.

I just hope we hold onto our back-4 from last season!

 

Hamlett: 'Everyone Has An Opportunity'

It's a little confusing here, whether the $100K in GAM covers all three picks, because MLS mentions a player to be named later was sent to Chicago for the Buckmaster pick.