For the first time this season, the Impact is travelling to New Jersey to play the New York Red Bulls, this Saturday at 7pm at Red Bull Arena. Here are 10 things to know about the red half of the Big Apple.
Context
After a rough start – six losses in seven games –, the Red Bulls found their groove, dropping only five of the following 24 points available. While they didn’t maintain this pace, New York has been managing the bumps in the road quite well and sits third in the East, four points from first-placed New York City FC, their Bronx rivals. Jesse Marsch’s men haven’t lost in their last five games and just boosted an already strong attack with the acquisitions of Israeli forward Omer Damari, on loan, and Austrian midfielder Daniel Royer. Damara’s arrival is timely: Bradley Wright-Phillips came off injured on Sunday night in a 2-2 tie in Los Angeles, and during his postgame press conference, Marsch seemed pessimistic when addressing his case – as well as those of Damien Perrinelle and Connor Lade, also substituted off with injury.
Current form (MLS and CONCACAF Champions League)
W-D-W-D-W-D
Head coach
Jesse Marsch (27-19-12 as Red Bulls head coach, 39-35-18 all-time) has been New York Red Bulls head coach since Jan. 7, 2015. He won the 2015 MLS Coach of the Year award after leading the club to its second-ever Supporters’ Shield and to the Eastern Conference Final. Marsch became a coach after a 14-season playing career that started with D.C. United picking him up in the third round of the 1996 MLS College Draft and ended with a trophy haul of three MLS Cups, two Supporters’ Shield and four U.S. Open Cups.
Current top scorer
Bradley Wright-Phillips (12)
Players to watch
1. Sacha Kljestan (#16) – No one has provided more assists in MLS than the former Anderlecht and Chivas USA man.
2. Aurélien Collin (#78) – One of the favourite characters in the small world that is MLS. This fashion aficionado is defensively sound but can commit costly fouls – though he has yet to suffer the consequences in New York.
3. Felipe (#8) – Montrealers know what Felipe can do. With the ball, he takes risks that pay off. Without it, he’s a constant inconvenience.
Team profile
The Red Bulls want to play in the opposition’s half. They love having the ball, even on the road. Their midfield mainstays, Kljestan, Felipe and McCarty (injured, recently replaced with Davis), enjoy moving the ball quickly with short passes, but will play a more direct ball into space. The aim is to play forward as much as possible, which can translate into costly lost balls or clear chances down the middle. This is the gamble that the Red Bulls are prepared to take. These situations can release the wingers, who enjoy cutting inside (especially Grella), or centre forward Wright-Philips – BWP is also useful in the air, in transition and on set plays, which makes his possible absence all the more depressing for the Red Bulls. Set plays are one of New York’s favourite weapons; they have scored nearly half of their goals in such situations, with a soft spot for corner kicks. They may be efficient down the middle, but the Red Bulls also manage to exploit the flanks, especially Grella’s, as this undisputed starter brings stability on that side. However, his penchant for the goal makes his flank more vulnerable than the one defended by right back Zizzo, particularly on crosses. Defensively, the Red Bulls’ play has followed their season’s trends. With six early losses, they had to commit numbers forward to try and mount comebacks, which allowed the opposition to punish them on the counter. Conversely, now that they have returned to form, they are more likely to concede when the opponent is pushing the game into their half. On the flip side, the Red Bulls defend set plays quite well.
Tactical formation
It looks like the Red Bulls will carry on fielding their tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 for a while, still. Lineup v. LA Galaxy (August 7): Robles; Lade, Zubar, Perrinelle, Lawrence; Felipe, Davis; Muyl, Kljestan, Grella; B. Wright-Phillips.
Most recent games against the Impact
The Montreal Impact turned the tide, on March 12, with a 3-0 win against the Red Bulls at the Olympic Stadium. The thing is, the Bleu-blanc-noir had endured two nights to forget against that team last season. On Aug. 5, 2015, Laurent Ciman got a questionable second yellow card for a birthday gift, and the Red Bulls grabbed a 1-1 tie at Stade Saputo. Then, on Oct. 7, 2015, Montreal went down a man only 15 minutes in as Ambroise Oyongo handballed on the goal line. The Red Bulls won 2-1.
Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of August 11)
D Gideon Baah (left tibia)
D Damien Perrinelle (meniscus/left ankle)
D Connor Lade (right anterior cruciate ligament)
M Dax McCarty (tibial plateau)
M Daniel Royer (visa)
F Bradley Wright-Phillips (right knee – day-to-day)
Next games
Alianza FC v. New York Red Bulls (CCL, August 16)
D.C. United v. New York Red Bulls (MLS, August 21)
New York Red Bulls v. New England Revolution (MLS, August 28)
