Just a fun thread to post in now before the actual season starts---what is your prediction: will the Bulls shine or disappoint this season? And why do you think so? It might be fun to go back and compare this thread to actual results once we're in the playoffs. I volunteer to go first: If you define success as winning MLS Cup (and there are rumors that Backe and Soler are under orders from HQ that anything less is unacceptable this season) then unfortunately I think that the Bulls will disappoint. They were not exactly active during the offseason with trades, or draft signings. Yes they did sign some more foreigners but the jury is still out whether that will mean anything. But the big reason why I think they will disappoint is because even though they have tried to address the situation in the backline and at GK--the big glaring GAP in this team for several years now has always been in the midfield. Simply put there is no midfield general, no one who can distribute the ball smartly and read the game as it develops, no one who can set up the attack with that killer surgical through pass. It is my opinion that as long as we don't have that CAM we will continue to try and run it down the wings with Richards or try to play long ball from the back hoping someone will catch up with the ball upfront and make something happen, or trying to make a pass to a lone Henry up front and hoping he can make some kind of magical solo play. Of course everything could change during the midseason transfer window--it will be interesting to see what happens. What about you guys? What are your predictions?
I think we'll place a little better given the east heavy unbalanced schedule. Luke will score 10 goals, Agudelo will be sold to Europe, Rafa will get his **** together and lead the back line and probably get a few assists. We sign derosarios replacement in summer window. If Henry stays healthy we get to MLS cup and lose. If Henry gets hurt, we make it to the playoffs and lose in the first round. SKC is the team to beat, followed by Seattle and LA. Koevermans wins the golden boot.
They still need depth in the back, an attacking mid and they still need to get rid of Rafa. Otherwise, disappointment
Potential downfalls are a lack of pace and depth at a few positions. We absolutely need Luke back, I don't think Henry pairs well with any of our other strikers.
Ok, I'll buck the trend. If Rodgers comes back, I think we'll do much better than last year. I think we win the Supporter's Shield because we are going to dominate the East, and win enough of the West to make it count. The West is going to make it hard for a repeat of a run by LA. I think the improvements to the team (getting rid of the hospital ward) will help us. As long as we can rest Taino occassionaly and don't need Marquez in the back, we are a better team.
Isn't a question in my mind, that the team has improve a little compared to last year, but we still miss that central man the CAM and some pieces like RF and LB, Richards is true he make some good plays time by time and is very fast that disconcert players when he make those good runs, but in the dead plays he always screw up, same with Miller, he don't belong in this league period.... Another point of view is, that all the teams improve at the double the RBNY did this year and even that we improve this will be not enough to compete with the 5/6 big teams, LA, Seattle, SLR, Chicago, Colorado and Houston, so, I don't think we will have any hard ware this year either and the sacrifice of the kids was for Nothing, Nothing and Nothing.... Now, if Backe and Soler change they mind and start develop young players, they are capable to ensemble a very good team, but if they will continue with the obtuse idea that they don't need the young players, then is better that they roll they "Petate" and get the hell out of here.... . .
Where did you get the idea that all of those teams improved twice as much as we did? Let me guess, because they have more young players on the roster?
Well, stipulating to the fact that RedBull ended up not doing "too" badly last season (i.e. they made the playoffs), I see no reason to believe they'll do any better (or worse) this season. It basically looks like re-arranging deck chairs on (pick your average cruise ship): management made enough personnel changes to disrupt team chemistry and require that players take most of the season to get to know each other but haven't made a significant improvement in the overall level of talent. So, who knows? Anything can happen but I don't see any reason right now to think things will be markedly different from last season.
Well don't tell me that Galaxy has not improve more than RBNY, Seattle, Sounders, Houston, Chicago, even DC, they pack they team with a lot of young talents that will be in play all year around, a thing that you can't say about RBNY, remember what I tell you about Conde two weeks ago, the same goes with Henry, Rafa, Lindpere, Teemu, Solli and Cooper....because they are getting old and fragile and you can say what ever you want to say, but we don't have a depth to cover all that injuries......Is true we have two young and promising keepers and in defense Lade, but we lose Rim and Conde is a question mark, and beside that we have nothing more to show only the same old players that no body knows if they will finish the year in uniform, Borrego is good no question about, but he isn't better than Kassel or Hot, so we don't advance there nothing at all....
You're probably right...but things could be worse... My main concerns are who will be the CAM and will the Bulls score enough...Rodgers may not be with us and Titi doesn't play all the time... Cooper is streaky as is Richards... We need more offensive weapons... I am not that worried about our young keepers..they have played admirably so far and the D will be OK... Lade has impressed... and Keel is growing on me... So the Bulls may shine if the soccer gods will it or more likely they will continue disappoint...
He's gonna have to, its necessary with an empty bucket midfield and neither Rafa or Tainio would have the stamina to play a box to box role, which is what I think the midfield actually needs (as opposed to a purely attack minded central midfielder). Henry dropping back is not a problem as long as he has the energy to haul ass towards the box after distributing the ball, which he does better than anyone else on the team by a wide margin. His one touch passes out to the wings from the center of the field was one of our best attacking plays last season, we bagged a lot of goals using it.
That seems like a lot to ask of a 35 year old, especially over the length of the season. I think we can all appreciate the effort, but asking him to wear two hats this season seems likely to end in tears.
Well I guess the idea is that he'll only have to do it for half a season, and our 3rd DP will take over the playmaking role over the summer.
For me they are only three guys to watch, Lade, Meara and Vuolo the rest, Borrago, Palson are not ready yet and they will not have to many chances either, maybe Palson for his speed, but that it is....
There isnt one hopefull outlook on this thread about the Red Bulls. Could it be so obvious everyone agrees the outlook that as the team stand the RB do not stand a chance to the improved league? I have said it all along , when you have a GM as blind as Soler its very difficult to make it anywhere. RB best keeper is a kind that doesnt even know how to protect himself after going into centers and Soler made it obvious when he was invited to comment on TV. Sad quite sad that New York city , a city that has the Rangers in 1st place (hockey), the Knicks in its rebirth with Linsanity, the New York Yankee strong as always, we soccer fans have to settle down for a coach that is clueless on the league and a GM that has no idea what is to scout outside of Scandenivia. aaah.!!! I will enjoy the rest of the league play yet when its the Red Bulls turn im not that cheerful. Until there is a change in the direction of the organization , Lets go Cosmos!
Um well the team has never succeeded under any leadership hence the negative attitude. Until this team wins something under any leadership then I will always have negative expectations. Soler blind? Ok whatever you say. Most of his signing have been really good, and he has shown to be a very aggressive gm better than most in the league. Would you rather have NE's gm Burns or Soler? Some signings haven't worked like Marquez which probably came from RB leadership above him to land a big name hence our frustration with RB leadership. And Backe's coaching has left a lot to be desired and I wouldn't be sad to see him go if we don't succeed this season but I would like to see some continuity and to see Soler continue because he has proven he can get the players its about the proper tactics. And your comments about Meara prove a lot about you. You said "RB best keeper is a kind that doesnt even know how to protect himself after going into centers" makes a ton of sense. How do you go into centers anyway? I would like to try. If you hate on what you see from Vuolo and Meara so far then you are just a douchy hater. You're blaming a goalie for an accidental high contact to his nose? Do you know about what can happen in those scenarios when a goalie is going for the ball and how this can happen to anyone? Or do you prefer Bouna who is an inconsistent clown who can't kick a goal kick across half the field and makes more than a handful of ridiculous mistakes per season? Oh but racism is the reason he can't play that's right you said it was racism not that he sucks and is overpriced. There is a reason he can't get a contract anywhere. Is Conde also from Scandanavia? He has gotten players from elsewhere, but I have said that I don't like that they focus on only that specific area but I understand why. I agree that they could and should look to other places too. But I don't recall any objections from you when JCO was bringing scrubs from South America. That was fine with you right? It's ok when coaches bring in scrubs from places you are more familiar with right? And you are gonna use the Knicks and Rangers as examples of success? Do you even know that they are not good historically in the least. Knicks are a 500 team bro. Great success there. And go Cosmos? Fcuk them they aren't even a team and haven't been a team for a long f'ing time. And they failed cause theur league no longer exists in large part to their bs. Some fan you are.
Stop all that BS., just see what happen until now, you think that this players will improve after 10/15/20 years as pros, hell no, thay will do the same on the season as they did at the preseason....and that is a fact, because no one there are rookies, all of them are all pros and they have nothing new to give and what they are giving is a bull shit....
This is fun! 1. Meara will be the new Tim Ream. Everyone will be talking about what a great year he's having and what potential he has, but he will make a few critical errors. 2. Lade will send Miller to the bench. 3. One of the new CB's won't work out. We'll have to spend big in the summer to get another one and that will rule out the CAM. 4. Rodgers will be back. 5. Marquez will be better. 6. Lindpere will have his worst season for us. 7. Henry will have his best season for us. 8. Concessions during halftime, traffic, and transportation back to NYC via PATH will continue to be problematic. 9. Red Bull will reward their midfield season ticket holders by raising prices and giving them a 2 week window to renew. 10. The membership card will no longer be free. 11. Chris Heck will either leave or be fired next off season. 12. We will do well, but not win the US Open Cup. 13. We will play a meaningless friendly touranment that effects our league play and costs us points or the Open Cup. 14. Red Bull will announce "sell outs" even when they don't sell out. and finally... 15. They will make the MLS Cup final. However...
I think Backe may not finish the season as coach - he can't transform overnight into someone who works his butt off scouting other teams and preparing for games - or gaining respect from veterans like Henry and Marquez. He has an inherent problem if his two highly paid stars don't really work their butts off on the field. How do you inspire the rest of your team to do so? History has told us that slapping teams together isn't much of a recipe for success in MLS - we have a lot of guys that are going to take time to gel and get used to MLS. I think best case scenario is we are much more consistent in the regular season and get out of the first round of the playoffs. Worst case is we lose a bunch of guys like Henry and Conde to injuries and we lack real difference makers otherwise and have a repeat of last season. I think we will be improved over last season - but barring a major signing that lights MLS on fire, and even with that - I don't see us as much of a real threat to win it all. Although if you can get into the playoffs in a good position, any team can get hot and win a few games in a row so who knows.
Wow, either I'm on your ignore list, or a Supporter's Shield prediction isn't hopeful enough. Oh, well, now that explains it. You prefer fantasy soccer.
A few points. I thought we were over the suggestion that Henry does not work hard for us, he put in the same exact kind of effort while playing on loan with Arsenal under his mentor, so what makes you think its Backe's fault that his 35 year old legs can't sprint for 90 minutes anymore? As for taking time to "gel", we have a huge overlap in starting players from last year, and almost every player has been in the league for at least 1-2 full seasons. Only Meara and Holgersson are total newcomers in our starting lineup. Our core players have had plenty of time to get to know each other and the league, so although there are still issues to be concerned about, roster continuity shouldn't be one of them. At the same time, you say that unless we make a big summer signing we won't be a threat. Well, which is it, are players who have time to adjust to the league the key to success or is it flashy mid season signings? You can't make both arguments.
Sure I can make both arguments - not all new comers struggle at first and if we make it to the playoffs another star player could be the difference between winning and losing in the mini-season that is the playoffs. But truth be told, we've done a lot of waiting for star players mid-season and it has never really come out that great for us. Fair point about we have a core group that are returning - but Cooper isn't going to be a key starter? What about Conde? I don't think it's Backe's fault that Henry takes games off because he doesn't want to travel to play on plastic - I'm just saying it gives him problems when his leaders are only sometimes, pick your spots players.
I'm still going under the assumption we'll have Luke back, but if that isn't the case then you're right that Cooper's ability to pair up with Henry is questionable considering the Henry-Agudelo pairing never clicked and Cooper plays a similar style. Same goes for whether or not Conde can stay healthy but I did like what I saw from him and Holgersson against LA, for whatever 30 min of a preseason match is worth.