I am back! Did you miss me? I have just literally returned from outer Mongolia!! Really!!! So happy to find that my beloved Red Bulls are not only in 1st place in the Eastern Division but also tied for the lead in the race for Supporters Shield! Holy Sh**!! I am gone for a few bloody weeks and look what happened! This is great! OK so what is up with Cahill. Heard he got injured. Also heard that my man Lloyd Sam has been burning up the place. The Bulls need to win more games on the road if they have any hope of winning in the playoffs. So this game vs Columbus looms large...
Expect to win vs. TFC. Tie. Expect to lose vs. KC. Win. I expect a tie in Columbus so what does that mean the result will be?
Don't expect anything... If the Bulls want to be taken seriously the must win on the road consistently!
Its amazing how much this applies to MLS as a whole, not just the Red Bulls. Looking at the table right now, only 3 teams in the entire league have a positive goal differential away from home. Granted this year the table is closer than it normally is, but even in 2012 only 4 teams were able to accomplish a positive GD on the road. Dan Dickinson from The Gothamist tweeted some numbers earlier, and the Supporter's Shield race really doesn't look out of reach at all for us. We're currently tied for second place with RSL by PPG, and while Montreal is in first they have struggled for results lately. Out of our final 11 games of the season 6 are at home and only 3 are against teams currently in playoff position.
The magic of MLS. Where a top side like Montreal Impact can lose 2-0 to DC United. Where Toronto can look like a good team when you watch them but still end up on the losing end of the stick. It is also a place where literally 3-4 wins in a row can take you from 5th to 1st. However, the same is true backwards. This game is a must win for us. We are on form, heading into a game against a side who have lost 3 MLS matches in a row recently. We need to take advantage of this and come out of this really good before playing three relatively easy games (2 of which at home).
We're the beneficiaries of a front loaded schedule. Credit to the team for staying afloat during the brutal start to the season. Schedule is MUCH easier from here on out. Can't have that midset though. Win at home. Tie on the road. That's all. Loses WILL happen. Just need to make them infrequent.
If you look at it from the flip side: Reasons we lose: Back to back wins against 2 of best teams in the league. This game has let down written all over it. Reasons Cbus wins: 3 loses in a row and now under new ownership playing at home. Good time for them to break the streak.
Montreal's defense is terrible. They just aren't going to be successful playing catenaccio this year, trying to win games 1-0, they'll end up with more ties.
“We’re hoping he can get visa this week,’’ said Petke. “They’re going through some loopholes. The quicker we have him, the happier I’ll be. It will most likely involve a trip to London. If it doesn’t happen in the next 24 hours, then we’re not looking for him at for Columbus.’’ Read more: Red Bulls coach Petke talks Cahill, Sam & more additions to come http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/soccerblog/red_bulls_coach_petke_talks_cahill_CKSaFlq8hjAuwXlpug8YfO#ixzz2bEREeBx1
Same lineup I presume with Sam's injury. Hopefully he can at least come off the bench but we can all assume he won't be starting.
No need to rush Sam, Cahill, or Kimura. The schedule is forgiving from here on out and we have players that should be able to step up and help the team. Let's play it safe with injuries until we absolutely have to take a risk (I.E. playoffs).
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/socce...phillips_cx51kPeKT97rhaY4myULAN#axzz2bFH0ndtb So we have a new signing coming, and its not Grella. Has to be an established player if they're not putting him on trial.
Ag, I was worried you were sick or died. Missed when you did the sticky thing for upcomimng gae synopsis. Mongolia??? WTF?? What do you do in Mon golia? Anyway, welcome back.......
and that's a red for you and a red for you and one for you. (god I miss neg rep sometimes.) As for these guys, I've given up trying to figure them out. I still don't think they've put together more than one or two solid 90 minutes all year, have some unfilled holes, and players a bit out of position yet somehow, they are in first place.
Not looking too great for Sam and I don't think Petke risks playing him against Cbus away. I know Lade is back to full training, but I don't expect him to be ready to go 90 yet. -------------Espy -------Henry Steele-----Dax-----Alexander ---------Sekagya Miller-Olave-Hulk-Barklage --------Throwbles Bench: Meara, Miazga, Obekop, Peggy, Lade, Akpan, Bustamante