The Leagues Cup break has finally ended and the New York Red Bulls are getting ready to resume their regular season with nine games remaining, the hope is to stay in their current position or go higher to start the playoffs at Red Bull Arena. While only getting Felipe Carballo on loan from Gremio of Brazil to take over Frankie Amaya’s spot in the summer Transfer Window, the Red Bulls believe they have enough to move forward and make a run to stay in the top four of the Eastern Conference.
But the schedule is still filled with landmines and they must find a way to not drop any form of points and get the necessary results to stay where they are. They will restart with a trip to the Queen City at Charlotte FC. Since Dean Smith came over from England, he has done some magical work to put Charlotte in a favorable position. While his side fell to the Red Bulls in Harrison, some of their transfer deals did bring over some good players including US Men’s National Team defender Tim Ream. But the big match that all of us are going to be looking at is when the re-emerged Philadelphia Union comes up the New Jersey Turnpike and makes that visit to Red Bull Arena at the end of August.
Andre Blake has returned and so far his form has brought that confidence back to the Union, who are looking to get themselves out of the bottom of the East. We all know you can’t take anyone lightly in MLS, if you have a poor start, but finish strong in the end, you can make a run. They still have to play Atlanta United Twice, at home against Sporting KC, NYCFC, finishing the regular season with the Columbus Crew and travel to Toronto FC, and the jinx club in the Chicago Fire. If you have that feeling the home unbeaten streak is truly in jeopardy, it would be the home match against the Union. But there is encouraging news for the club.
When we all thought Peter Stroud was done for the entire season with that nasty ankle injury, it looks like he has made a miraculous recovery. Serge Ngoma has also been at training and those are positive signs for the club moving forward. While it’s nice to hear that Emil Forsberg is doing well in training, he will not be with the club in Charlotte and so far keeping him off the field turf for this one, in my opinion, is a smart move. Have him ready to go for the Union if that is the target match to bring him back on the pitch.
Ronald Donkor has looked solid as the temporary fill in after Frankie Amaya transferred to Toluca of Liga MX and was paired up as the double six with Daniel Edelman. John Tolkin returns from his Olympic duty and the hope is that can improve his game returning to the Red Bulls as their starting left back. While I understand some of you are disappointed that they couldn’t bring in more signings in this abbreviated Summer window, the Red Bulls do have enough and have played very well under Sandro Schwarz’s tactics to make the playoffs and make some noise in the east. What they will do against some of the better clubs in the east is still a mystery when they get to the playoffs, but the sense is they are confident and can make some noise.
But right now twenty seven points are on the line and they must go out there and put on their best performance in such a short period. Nine matches remaining may not be a lot, but the available points are what makes every match never racking and make you sweat. This is why we love the game and now it’s time for the Red Bulls to get back on the pitch and put themselves into a firm position to make the playoffs and to host a home match in the opening round. Buckle up and watch the sprint.