2025 Season: Netflix Red Bulls

Perhaps A.I. edited? ( just a guess)

 

Missed yesterday's match again live, partly because it was midday. We seem to have had quite a few of those this season... more than most other teams perhaps? Even if Sat 7:30 wasn't exactly convenient for live viewing, it was predictable and I usually watched it a few hours later.

Anyway we were owned by NYCFC out in Flushing. We never really looked like threatening to get a result against them.. Sure there was a fair amount of rotation because of playing 3 days prior, but a 2-0 loss yesterday seemed deserved to me.

And that prior game was a trip to Nashville, where we also lost. And even if it was a narrower 2-1, I'm not sure we were any more threatening. Though I watched it while traveling and half-asleep, so I could be wrong.

One thing is pretty clear... that we are far from consistent. These 2 matches followed closely after we inflicted the biggest blowout I can remember... 7-0 against the champions LAG... thought admittedly they're a pale shadow of themselves from just 5 months ago.

Maybe part of the blame is that our squad is not good for games every 3 days. (or just not good?) And we have another one Weds in the USOC, at least it's at home so we won't have had to make any big trips for a week or so.

 

In a stadium with perhaps less people then watched my Summit HS soccer games decades ago, we got the rub of the green tonight and sneaked through to the QF’s of the USOC. Not sure if that’s a good thing for our season overall but if it boosts our squad’s confidence and belief I’n good with it.

 

I agree we’ve looked pretty shit so far. But I’m not giving up yet. Last year we also started poorly and made it to the final! I’m still scratching my head a little bit about that one.

 

Just finished watching a lively NYRB 4-2 CLT, with the smallest # of fans I can ever remember, but there were numerous positives I could take:

• Consecutive regular season wins for first time in almost a year
• We leapfrogged both CLT & NYC in the table
• Relatively early goals from 2 youngsters: Sofo & Bogacz... and both were slick outside-of-the-boot finishes
• Coronel's saves kept us in the lead... several times... he's just so consistently good
• When CLT pulled it back to 3-2, we didn't park the bus, kept-pressing & trying to score, Harper earning a late PK for insurance and +2 GD
• EMCM is lethal from the spot... and he's starting to show a smile and a bond with his teammates
• Forsberg was rested for the full match
• The pitch looked fantastic, best shape I can remember (and it handled a day of steady rain, no problem)

 

NYRB 2-0 AUFC

• Happy to keep ATL’s miserable record in Harrison intact.
• Harper with a fantastic match, especially 1T where he had goal & assist. The goal was a gift from Almiron but Cam still had plenty to do to dig it out.
• EMCM is *really* good, in several ways, including reliable clinical finishing.
• Half-season point we sit 6th and 5 pts off first… not bad, and a good recovery.
• Only bummer was that late in game we lost Valencia to shoulder(?) injury, and minutes later Duncan to hammie? Shame because both were having good seasons with lots of contributions. And Duncs has a poor record for recovering from those things.
• All in all a significant net plus tonight. I was gonna make it out to NJ and slightly sad I didn’t, but way too many other games I needed to watch on TV today/tonight.

 

Anyone know off-hand which of our players are going away in Int’l duty? I’m assuming Valencia won’t be now because of his new injury.

 

Watched our game last night. Our players were generally poor. Even Forsberg. We were disorganized, especially on defense. The guys played like they weren’t familiar with each other. And produced very little threat to Austin. Zero points was appropriate IMO.