Houston get their man in Hofstra’s Holland
With the selection of Joseph Holland from Hofstra University with the tenth overall pick, the Houston Dynamo are getting a midfielder that has seen his stock soar in the last week with a terrific showing as a member of Team Tango at the MLS Player Combine.
Holland played for Team Tango at the Combine alongside the top three picks in the MLS SuperDraft. Abu Danladi, Miles Robinson and Jonathan Lewis were better known commodities heading into the meeting of prospects, but it was Holland that stood out as the surprise on his unit. Team Tango went 2-0-1 over the five days with the midfielder starting all three games.
A fear of Holland’s age (he’ll be 24-years-old in April) didn’t appear to affect his draft stock in a way that it might have a defender or a goalkeeper, two positions where experience seems to be a crucial piece of the puzzle. There will be a learning curve for a player making the jump from the Colonial Athletic Association to the MLS, but his collegiate senior year in Long Island displayed a player poised for a professional career.
The native of London, England and 2015 CAA Player of the Year dominated a league that produced two other players selected on day one of the SuperDraft. The 2016 CAA Player of the Year Guillermo Delgado and Thomas de Villardi, both from the University of Delaware, will be heading to the Chicago Fire and Minnesota United respectively.
In a collegiate career spanning 78 games, Holland collected 19 goals and 28 assists. It oftentimes takes midfielders more than one season to find their scoring touch in the MLS, but he may not be expected to score in Houston as much as he will be crucial to ball retention and dictating the tempo of the contest.
As evidenced by the first day of the SuperDraft and amplified by the arrival of new Dynamo defender A.J. DeLaGarza, teams are clearly still wheeling and dealing and rosters could continue to see more turnover before the season gets underway. Nevertheless, if the Dynamo’s roster was to remain largely the same, Holland may find himself closer to a starting position than many of his fellow draftees. Houston’s new manager Wilmer Cabrera may move away from the 4-1-4-1 that the squad finished the season utilizing, but Holland still has a claim at an essential position in the middle of the park. As far as central attacking midfielders, the young international’s direct competition appears to be Eric Alexander, Alex Monteiro de Lima and club captain Ricardo Clark. A starting role right out of camp shouldn’t be expected, but it would not much of a surprise to find Holland take on a larger role a month or two into the season.
The first chance that fans will get to see Holland in official MLS action is Saturday, March 5th against the Seattle Sounders at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo’s preseason match schedule begins on Saturday, February 4th at H-E-B Park to take on the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.
Summer Transfer Window Review: The Premiere League
The summer transfer window is shut and while clubs still have January to strengthen their squads, league titles can often be won or lost in the first few months of the season. For the majority of clubs in the world, the objective is the same. Groom young talent to increase their price tags and sell them to larger clubs. For the top teams in the world, the goal is to stockpile enough talent to compete in multiple competitions while abiding by Financial Fair Play rules. How one defines “winners” and “losers” from the window depends on how victory is quantified. Of course the end result of trophies will help in hindsight, but to be winners in foresight, recognizing the number of potential starters and potential future superstars may be a good place to start.
Taking a look at the Premiere League, it seems to be general consensus that Manchester City were “winners” in the window, though this may have something to do with their bright start in the league aligning with Chelsea’s rough few games. Nevertheless, the Sky Blues brought in Fabian Delph as their annual “just-because” signing for squad depth and Patrick Roberts for the future, but the three reinforcements in Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi perfectly fit the winners in foresight qualifications. They all commanded egregious price tags, but all three could make a case as starters in an all-important Champions League final. In addition, Sterling is still shy of his 21st birthday and may not have even reached his potential yet, making him a signing for the present and a signing for the future. Chelsea had a much different mindset to their window, but when you are coming off the Premiere League title, how much altering should Jose Mourinho and company have been expected to do? Pedro was the only starting-caliber player added, though Abdul Rahman Baba and the young Brazilian Kenedy are new toys for management to either work to integrate or send out like the other 33 other loanees to search for first team opportunities. Asmir Begovic is a quality back-up, Papy Djilobodji is unproven at the top level and Falcao is still an enigma, but overall, Chelsea bolstered where they needed to fill holes and didn’t panic-buy after a sluggish start to the campaign.
Meanwhile, Manchester United and Liverpool didn’t necessarily panic-buy as much as they did attempt to revamp and reshape historic clubs that should be title contenders every season. United’s late purchase of Anthony Martial for an inflated fee may have gotten the attention, but the early capture of Memphis Depay may prove to be their most important piece of business in this window. Louis van Gaal would never admit his starters, but Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger are all starter-quality players. Failing to capture Pedro and failure to sign a superstar goalscorer may come back to haunt the Red Devils, but a major trophy at the end of the season would make all the apprehension disappear. Over at Liverpool, a healthy Christian Benteke is the obvious coup, but James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne have been immediate contributors as well. Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings will have a harder time breaking into Brendan Rodgers’ XI.
The cliche about insanity is that it’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, and Arsenal fans may feel like they are completely insane to have anticipated a few new faces at the Emirates. While Gooners were pleading for a forward, Arsene Wenger and the brass answered with an upgrade in net in Chelsea legend Petr Cech. Merited, the pre-transfer window squad looked like it could contend for a title, but not playing a part and adding depth certainly doesn’t excite a fan base. In typical North London fashion, Tottenham fans may have a similar feeling to their transfer dealings as their rivals. Adding Toby Alderweireld, Heung-Min Son and getting the exuberant and youthful Dele Alli back from loan may help, but they didn’t add any major fire power that can immediately step in as a world-beater.
A new trend appears to have taken root with a bigger television contract coming to the Premiere League. When once the top six spent liberally and every other club had to fear relegation each year, it seems that the top six have continued to spend liberally, but the clubs that one would consider “middle of the table” year in and year out now have the budget to splash the cash for at least one player who could immediately contend for the title of their top player. Swansea City and Stoke City are probably the best examples of this with new arrivals Andre Ayew and Xherdan Shaqiri respectively. West Brom have added Jose Salomon Rondon up top and West Ham are hoping to stay up when a number of experts picked them for relegation by grabbing Dimitri Payet and Alex Song, who may prove to be the Hammers most talented players when all is said and done. Even the new faces in the league have gotten in on the excitement, as Bournemouth signed Max Gradel to compete with Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie as their best attacking threat.
Newcastle, Aston Villa and Southampton have taken a similar approach with their new cash, but instead of signing a new top player, they bought players at multiple positions that they believe could help them. Newcastle went young by swooping for Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Florian Thauvin and Chancel Mbemba. The Villans imported a number of players from Ligue I in France including Jordan Veretout, Jordan Amavi, Idrissa Gueye and Jordan Ayew. They also bought new club hero and super-sub Rudy Gestede on the cheap and awarded the captain’s armband to Manchester City castoff Micah Richards. Southampton opted to bring on players who had been linked to major clubs throughout their careers and never made the big moves, but the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Jordy Clasie and Cedric Soares now find themselves on a team that hopes to contend for at least a spot in the Europa League. Oriol Romeu will be asked to replace Schneiderlin, but he is a player with Premiere League experience and came at a bargain from Germany after previous stints with Barcelona and Chelsea.
FIFA Reform: The Long Road Ahead
Bribery, fraud and corruption. What were once a set of venomous accusations against FIFA has now become a reality over the course of a few days. Sepp is out, along with a number of the executives who worked directly under him. Blatter’s resignation comes with no concrete allegations (yet) against him, but in the wake of Chuck Blazer’s guilty plea that the FIFA executive committee accepted bribes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup, one would be led to believe that damning information against Blatter is on the horizon in the near future. The FBI has been working on this investigation since 2010, so there is a very high probability that they have something that goes against Blatter. Though while every soccer fan has broken into the same dance the Munchkins raved out to when Dorothy arrived and the Wicked Witch of the East was flattened by a house, the yellow-brick road to reform will be a long and difficult one. Blatter will still be the place-holder president until the new election, which will take place in February, when the next FIFA congressional meeting is set to take place. The 2022 World Cup is still set to be played in Qatar, with more workers dying with each passing week. Additionally, what prevents the bribery system from ending in FIFA? The United States and Russia have one vote a piece while Andorra and the Cook Islands have the same amount of pull with their equal one vote. A population-based vote may not be the solution, especially taking into account the minor role that a country such as India has in the soccer world. Nevertheless, a change of some kind should be explored.
This is just one minor change, and it would take time. Major changes would take even longer. The ousting of Blatter certainly did wonders for public perception, but having him sitting back in the chair has taken some wind out of reform’s sails. Though with corruption of this magnitude, one has to wonder how deep the moral ineptitude seeped into every corner of the world’s largest non-profit, a non-profit with over a billion dollars stashed away for a rainy day. The individuals dipping into this money and the activities they used it for will come to light more in the coming months or years, but that still doesn’t change the power and pull that FIFA has acquired. FIFA is changing, but the change will be met with opposition. Blatter still has backers like Vladimir Putin, who proposed the man be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, and large parts of Africa back Blatter as well. The next World Cup in 2018 is still set to be played in Russia, and regardless of how the bid was obtained, it looks extremely unlikely that plans will change in the next three years. Consider that Russia, along with over half of the voters in the recent Presidential election, voted for Blatter. The stink of corruption will take years for FIFA to wash themselves clean of, but at the very least, the process is already in full swing.
It seems that the most immediate change to be expected by a shift in power at FIFA is the support of the women’s game. Blatter’s comments in the past were stained with ignorance and sexism, but the recent World Cup was a good place to start changing public perception. In truth, playing the tournament on turf was offensive and dangerous. Yes, the ball goes quicker and the game is sped up on paper, but the potential for injuries increases by leaps and bounds. Even if it doesn’t affect the viewers at all, the outcry from the players should have been heard. While it may have been too late to change things for this tournament, there are already expectations that four years from now things will be different. FIFA’s name has recently been attached to another advance for the women’s game, as EA Sports has added some women’s national teams to the upcoming installment of the FIFA video game series, but this is only a minuscule change that was long overdue.
Now a few months removed from FIFA’s fatal night, there is constantly new information, allegations and confessions that better paint the portrait of their deception. Chuck Blazer’s admittance to bribery was especially telling. He admitted to taking bribes on a number of occasions, and he does give clarity to a timeline. From World Cups to Gold Cups to France’s infamous handball against Ireland in 2009, light is being shed on incidents of controversy.
The next presidential election for FIFA is coming up in February, and the man who is now denying that he ever resigned will be finally removed. As he recently found out when money was thrown in his face, the public has already warmed up to fighting back. Nevertheless, the reform will be an arduous process, and FIFA’s real display of change comes with the World Cup in Qatar. Between workers’ conditions and the difficult timetable for construction (Lusail, the location of the final, is not a fully constructed city yet), officials have plenty of issues to show that FIFA has changed their ways.
USA 2-1 Germany: 5 Things We Learned
1) The defense is still learning
Allowing one goal against Germany with a center-back pairing playing together for just the second time and both being 21-year-olds is a major accomplishment. Throughout the match both John Brooks and Ventura Alvarado had shaky moments and luck was on their side when Sami Khedira hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but to only concede once is a victory in itself for the duo. The Germany goal could be broken down and blame given to Timmy Chandler, Mix Diskerud and Alvarado for all having poor defensive positioning, but each redeemed themselves nicely. Chandler, in particular, took a rough first 30 minutes and had a much better hour afterwards. The defense is still a work in progress, but these two friendlies went a long way to put confidence in the coaching staff and the players that there is considerable progress taking place.
2) Soccer is turning into a fast man’s game
So maybe this is hyperbole, but the fact that DeAndre Yedlin and Jordan Morris had an impact against a second straight European power is an indication that they have a very important skill in the modern game. While Morris’ dummy step-over to open up space for Bobby Wood showcased his Stanford smarts, it was his tireless work and breakaway speed that put him in that situation to begin with. Yedlin, meanwhile, got to the touchline on a number of occasions. Whether Yedlin will ultimately be a winger or a defender, one thing is for certain that he isn’t afraid to run at defenders, regardless of the country they represent. This lack of fear from the speedy youngsters should be a blueprint for other exuberant hopefuls looking to use their legs and quickness to make a difference for the senior team. Speed may be the most significant factor in Miguel Ibarra’s appearances at national team camps.
3) Rosters were even enough
An argument that immediately came out after the win was in regards to the class of Germany’s unit. Germany clearly didn’t have all of their top players, but yet there were appearances from Mario Gotze, who scored the World Cup game winner, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Andre Schurrle, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski. Nevertheless, as the United States are featuring newer, younger players such as Morris and Gyasi Zardes, Germany were also utilizing players that could play larger roles for Germany moving forward. Patrick Herrmann’s assist on Gotze’s goal showed his skill and Shkodran Mustafi’s defending halted the U.S. counterattack quite a few times. The list doesn’t stop there for Germany, as Ilkay Gundogan, Christoph Kramer and Karim Bellarabi have all played major roles on teams either in the Champions League or played an important part in their team qualifying (Kramer at Borussia Monchengladbach, were he plays with Fabian Johnson). To say that this was a second-rate German squad isn’t necessarily true because of the talent the World Cup winners can boast as “back-ups”, but the United States could make the excuse that they weren’t at full-strength either. With Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya absent, the Star and Stripes were missing pieces too.
4) U. S. can play different styles when they play with confidence
In the modern game, counterattacking is all the rage. Even F.C. Barcelona, known for being the poster boys of possession soccer, scored two of their three goals in the Champions League final on the break. Possession should mean more opportunities, and while Germany held the majority of the ball (64% to 36%), they only had one more shot on goal and one less shot in total. The U.S. spent the better part of the 1st half being outclassed by the best team in the world, falling behind in the 12th minute when they left Gotze wide open for an easy finish. Nevertheless, Klinsmann’s men did make the necessary adjustments and the man of the match Michael Bradley delivered an almost perfect long ball into the box for Mix Diskerud to control and finish to equalize. The second half saw a U.S. playing with confidence, and with that confidence, they saw more of the ball and the game opened up. Their best chances came when Bradley had the ball at his feet, and the attack looked brighter when Gyasi Zardes moved up top when Juan Agudelo was replaced by Yedlin. Brimming with enthusiasm, the U.S. eventually found the winner from Bobby Wood on the counterattack, when Brad Evans gave a long ball to Wood in enough space (also thanks to Morris’ run to pull the additional defender) that he could turn and fire a brilliant strike full of power and precision. Sticking to the game plan can help a team avoid defensive mistakes, but being the team that dictates the way they want to play, regardless of the style, may bring out the best in what this current crop of U.S. stars has to offer.
5) Another historic win is a great tune-up for the Gold Cup
The same day that saw the U.S. capture their first win on German soil and their first historic win against Germany also saw the release of the 35-player provisional roster for the 2015 Gold Cup. Snubs can be debated, but nothing can take away from how prepared the Americans look for the Gold Cup. Whether they like it or not, their recent win over Mexico coupled with their comeback victories over the Netherlands and Germany showcased a side talented enough to win the Gold Cup and quite frankly should be expected to win it. Mexico and Costa Rica will provide potential stumbling blocks, but the U.S. is poised to accept all challengers with home field advantage and plenty of confidence.
USMNT vs Netherlands: Three Observations
While Dan did a great write-up of the USMNT’s historic win over Netherlands, I felt the need to add a few observations of my own. These observations aren’t necessarily things I learned from the game, but rather things that are still being learned, and little tidbits about ‘what could be’ down the line for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team.
New CB Pairing Anointed?
John Brooks is a Klinsmann favorite. Perhaps that should come as no surprise, given that Klinsmann worked hard to recruit the young German-American center back. But what is more noticeable is Klinsmann’s faith in the young man, who seems to alternate between stellar performances and head-scratching ones. Perhaps this is to be expected from a 22-year-old.
The reasons to like Brooks are obvious: great size and athleticism, adept at playing the ball out of the back, very strong in the air, great club performer, and always a big hit with Klinsmann, he plays in Europe. The more troubling concerns have been related to his mental lapses.
Yet Klinsmann’s comments about the relatively inexperienced central defenders ahead of tilts with two world powers suggested that he is going all-in with Brooks, and Club America standout Ventura Alvarado (also just 22). The talk from JK was about ‘testing these guys against the world’s best’ etc., signaling his intention to let them learn and grow on the job. Were there shaky moments against the Dutch? Certainly. But it was the first time those two started together, in a potentially overwhelming environment, against a team that finished third at the last FIFA World Cup (and is in the midst of EURO 2016 qualification).
Maybe this is the Klinsmann way. When he led Germany to third place in 2006, he did it with a CB pairing of 21-year-old Per Mertesacker and 25-year-old Christoph Metzelder. Klinsmann controversially dropped Christian Wörns, the 34-year-old veteran CB, after the longtime Borussia Dortmund star suggested he was better than the reserve-role Klinsmann handed him.
Matt Besler will be 31 by the time WC 2018 rolls around. Omar Gonzalez will be nearly 30, Michael Orozco, 32. It’s beginning to look like Klinsmann is picking teams with an eye for the future, hoping to turn Brooks and Alvarado into the team’s top pairing for the better part of the next decade.
Danny Williams’ Resurgence.
Speaking of Klinsmann recruits, let’s not forget Danny Williams, the first player to earn their first cap under JK’s reign. Williams showed plenty of promise as a deep lying midfielder with bite, that could also strike from distance. Williams’ CV is an impressive one: Bundesliga debut at 20, 2-year starter at Hoffenheim, 2-year starter at Reading, started in USMNT friendly at France, and in the team’s historic 1-0 win in Italy, while also starting 4 of the team’s 6 matches in the semi-final round of WC qualifying. Now we can add another feat, after Williams picked up his first USMNT goal in the historic 4-3 win at the Amsterdam Arena.
Were it not for injuries, perhaps we wouldn’t be talking about Williams’ reemergence as part of Klinsmann’s plans going forward: he’d already be an integral part of the team. What seems clear, though, is that Klinsmann trusts Williams in big matches, and most often Williams’ performances reward his manager’s trust.
Again, as we look towards the future, it is clear that Klinsmann must find the right man to pair with Michael Bradley for the next cycle. Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones are fine short-term options, but their ability to be relevant in four years’ time is questionable, at best.
Mix Diskerud hasn’t looked like the ideal partner for Bradley, and using Alejandro Bedoya inside to pair with Michael robs the US of his presence on the wing, where he is a more committed defender than most other options in the current pool. Perhaps it is time for Klinsmann to give Williams an extended look as Bradley’s partner, with the Gold Cup looming. Early results are positive, and with experience, theirs is a partnership with the potential to shine.
Speed (Still) Kills.
For all of the talk about the USMNT becoming a more technical side, relying less on physical attributes, it was clear against the Dutch that pace can greatly alter a match. Late in the game, with a Dutch defense looking a little worn out, the insertion of DeAndre Yedlin as a winger, and Jordan Morris up front injected speed, and subsequently life, into the US attack.
This kind of pace has been sorely lacking from the US, probably since DaMarcus Beasley was in his prime. On the 3-2 goal, Yedlin outpaces Daley Blind at LB to get in behind the defense, before slotting beautifully to John Brooks. Yedlin again outpaced Blind in the 80th, setting up Bobby Wood who laid it off for Diskerud, only to see the shot flash wide. In the 88th, it was Jordan Morris’ speed, latching on to the end of a Brad Guzan kick that got him the opportunity to strike at Cilessen. The ensuing corner kick was finished off by Williams. Then again, with the score tied, the US ran a brilliant counter. Michael Bradley’s superb run found Jordan Morris running behind the defense, and his cross found Wood for the winner. Three goals for the US, all created in full, or in part, by the team’s speed.
It remains to be seen whether or not Yedlin’s future is in the midfield or at fullback, and the same could be said about Fabian Johnson. Regardless of where these two play, along with guys like Morris and Zardes up front, the US seems to be a quicker team than in recent memory. And as the Dutch found out, speed kills.
USA 4-3 Netherlands: 5 Things We Learned
1) CB combos need time
The U.S. would have been fortunate to get a draw, let alone a miraculous win. Any paid of central defenders will need time to figure out their positioning and communication together, and John Brooks and Ventura Alvardo/Michael Orozco are no different. For Brooks, the athleticism is clearly there. He’s rarely beaten in the aid and he showed his ability to step into space and read the field as he went the full-length for his second U.S. goal, as easy tap-in from DeAndre Yedlin Alvarado is a young combination of brains and brawn, and while he does start for the best team in CONCACAF, it will take him some time to adapt to the speed of the international game. Depending on Klinsmann’s picks for the Gold Cup, Brooks will almost certainly be the started on the left, there is some pressure on the youthful German-American to sharpen his positional awareness and carve out a partnership that Klinsmann can trust. The crossbar isn’t that partner.
2) Fullback is still a concern
Both Brek Shea and Timmy Chandler, along with Greg Garza, have all had bright moments since the World Cup for the U.S. However, all three have had major defensive issues, especially with nimble wingers. To Shea’s credit, his physicality and experience are quickly turning him into one of the best leftbacks in MLS for Orlando City, but his understanding of the position is not yet up to the level required to play the better teams in Europe. Shea looks to have the inside track for the Gold Cup (unless Fabian Johnson is the LB), and if Shea can do wonders for his stuck if he can continue to play well against CONCACAF opponents. Chandler, coming off a decent campaign in Germany for Eintract Frankfurt, continues to struggle at the international level. Memphis Depay and the other Dutch wingers terrorized the flanks for the full 90 minutes and Chandler may find himself on the outside looking in if he can’t replicate club form into international success.
3) The Worth of a Goal
The responsibilities of a forward are not just to score goals. They need to lead the defensive line, hold up the ball and allow the midfield time to transition from defense to offense and create space for others with their runs. Even without goals, strikers and wingers can show their worth. Gyasi Zardes and Bobby Wood are two players who scored their first U.S. goals, a reward for Klinsmann for continuing to call them in. This point is amplified in the case of Wood, who has had a difficult domestic campaign, struggling a t anew club Erzgebirge Aue after his nasty break from 1860 Munich. There is no objective answer as to how many caps a goal buys, but the likes of Zardes and Wood most assuredly saw their stack rise by netting against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
4) Fabian Johnson and Michael Bradley are always constants
Most of What the U.S.A. did offensively flowed through Bradley, at least until DeAndre Yedlin entered and provided the U.S. attack with some much-needed energy. Klinsmann had said that he would use plenty of pace on the flanks, and his substitutes drove that point home. Nevertheless, Bradley controlled the center of the field enough for he U.S. to get a few credible looks at the goal. Bradley was criticized for his play at the World Cup when he looked uncomfortable in a forward role, but after a year in the spot, Bradley is starting to appear to have more confidence in the role, especially when his midfield partners know their roles as well. Fabian Johnson, meanwhile, featured both in attack on the right flank and in defense in the second half. Johnson may be the United States’ best option in both positions. Johnson has been in sensational form for Champions League-qualifying Borussia Monchengladbach and having a player with his exceptional versatility is always a weapon for Klinsmann. Johnson didn’t have his best game, but he can clearly play with the Netherlands of the world (he is quite familiar with players of Bayern Munich quality). Bradley and Johnson do deserve criticism on occasion, but it’s obscene to think that either could lose their spot in the starting line-up.
5) It was a historic win
While many U.S. players didn’t show their best, the win over the Netherlands is still a historic victory and should be celebrated as such. Not only was this the first time that the Stars and Stripes defeated the Dutch, but they also did it on the road in Amsterdam amongst a sea of orange. Scoring in such an environment should do wonders for the young players that played a large role in the stunning finale that saw three goals in twenty minutes. In addition, it was a good start to Brad Guzan’s return in-between the pipes for the U.S. as the number one on the depth chart. Having defeated Italy on the road in 2012, Klinsmann does have a habit of getting a good deal out of his players in tough tests. Last time the U.S. played Germany in Brazil they gave the eventual World Cup winners a scare, and after downing the Dutch, the expectation is that the Americans will give Germany a tough fight as well.
New York Derby: A Tale of One City
Whatever you want to call it, Major League Soccer’s newest derby announced itself as a match that could work out to be tons of fun for fans. While the derby was unable to find a catchy name, though there were a bunch of good suggestions, the derby contested between the two MLS New York-based teams certainly did have its fair share of excitement. A 2-1 Red Bulls win is a result that many would have predicted based on both teams’ records, but the match-up didn’t fall short of fireworks.
Coming into the clash, fans were buying into the hype of the affair and social media was ablaze with contentious interactions between the two fan-bases. The players, however, weren’t as committed to the idea of a rivalry before the two sides had ever played a match against one another. Bradley Wright-Phillips, the Red Bulls leading scorer and talisman now that Thierry Henry is enjoying retirement, said, “D.C. United are our rivals. There’s no history between the Red Bulls and New York City, it’s just that we share the same city.” Dax McCarty was on record having a similar sentiment back in March as the season was getting underway. Nevertheless, for a team ranked twelfth in attendance this year right behind the Montreal Impact, the fans sold out Red Bull Arena and brought out the entire songbook for the clash.
The match itself did have most of the characteristics of a classic with goals, cards and stars coming to play. New York City F.C. held 60% of possession, as has been their game-plan as directed by Manchester City, but it was the Red Bulls who scored in the fourth minute through Bradley Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips now has five goals, putting himself on the same pace as last year with his 31 goals in a record-tying season. While there was fear that Wright-Phillips would no longer look the part without service from Henry, Wright-Phillips has used his strength and skill and nose for goal to continue his tirade through the MLS.
It looked like the Red Bulls would dominate from start to finish, but in the 36th minute, NYCFC were handed a lifeline when young U.S. U-20 defender Matt Miazga was handed his second yellow for a tackle from behind on U.S. U-23 attacker Khiry Shelton and promptly sent off. Yet even with the extra man, the men in sky blue couldn’t find much in the way of an attack. David Villa didn’t see much of the ball and U.S. midfielder Mix Diskerud was largely held in check by the midfield of Dax McCarty, Felipe Martins and Sacha Kljestan, who is making a case for an inclusion in the Gold Cup squad, especially with Jurgen Klinsmann in attendance. Come the second half, Wright-Phillips was at it again, scoring his second of the match on the counter with his team down a man. Lloyd Sam would be the recipient of the non-existent MLS most improved player award, stepping in on the wing this season with increased pressure after the exodus of Henry and delivering game after game.
Credit is due up and done the Red Bulls roster, from cast-off Mike Grella in attack, Jamieson Olave’s replacement Damien Perrinelle and recently signed Kemar Lawrence at the back. These three in particular, as well as the youthful Miazga, have all been catalysts for the Red Bulls’ hot start that has only lost once. The same fans that outwardly boasted their resentment at the sacking of Mike Petke have now backed and show great support in the way that Jesse Marsch has motivated his team to play winning soccer. At the start of the season, both the present and the future of the Red Bulls looked in flux, but the team from Harrison, New Jersey looked to have answered all doubters. The present looks in good shape with Wright-Phillips, Sam, Luis Robles and company playing at a high-level, but the future looks bright as well. 21-year-old Sean Davis, not draft selection Leo Stolz, has looked lively in two appearances and of course Matt Miazga taking the next step in his development and his selection to the forthcoming U-20 World Cup roster should be pieces of pride for Marsch. Even the NY Red Bulls II playing in the USL can boast youngster Dan Metzger (recently called up to the U.S. U-23s) and others that seem talented enough to have a future in the first team.
New York City F.C., meanwhile, is undoubtedly trending in the opposite direction. They did pull one back in the derby through Patrick Mullins and his second goal of the season. This goal made the match-up a little more lively for the last fifteen minutes or so, but it was in vain. The substitutions of Villa and Diskerud, much to Villa’s noticeable disagreement, was a clear message being sent by Jason Kreis that something has to change. Since winning their home opener in against the New England Revolution, they have since drawn twice and lost five. An injury to Villa got in the way of building continuity in the offense, but this also showcased an obvious lack of depth. For as athletically imposing as the 6’3’’ Shelton has looked, the 21-year-old is still goalless in his first MLS season. Mullins has been the spark off the bench, but the lack of a contribution from Adam Nemec has led to the goals drying up. The arrival of Frank Lampard in the coming months can’t come soon enough for a midfield in-flux, with 32-year-old Mehdi Ballouchy and his two spectacular finishes being a rare bright-spot this season. The NYCFC midfield that usually controls the majority of possession and includes Diskerud, Ballouchy, Ned Grabavoy, Andrew Jacobson, Sebastian Velasquez, Javier Calle and fan-favorite Kwadwo Poku have all had their ups and downs in the early season without much consistency. For the defense, goalkeeper Josh Saunders being named the player of the month for the club should tell the story. Saunders is pepped often in most contests, and injuries and inconsistency have plagued the unit as well. For what’s worth, 24-year-old R.J. Allen, having not played a professional match since 2013, has slotted in as a starter in the last two matches and while he could clearly help the depth-situation, his inclusion shows the Kreis’ desperation. The season is still relatively young and NYCFC have plenty of time to turn things around, but that moment of change needs to come sooner than later.
Another issue for NYCFC is their lack of a close-by youth set-up. The Red Bulls are finding their USL affiliate useful, as it allows young players such as Sean Davis to train with the first team for continuity purposes and get full games with Red Bulls II while he waits for his opportunity. NYCFC do have a relationship with the USL’s Wilmington Hammerheads where they can send players, but shipping off players to North Carolina limits the time they have to work with their first-team teammates. Shelton, for all his physical tools, could potentially benefit from a midweek game against a lower level outfit where he could gain confidence and has a better chance to get on the score-sheet.
The next match-up between the two New York sides will be played at Yankee Stadium at the end of June, and these two sides could be in very different positions by then. Though until further notice, New York is red.
Impact’s Cinderella Story Ends
One putrid half of soccer sealed the Montreal Impact’s CONCACAF Champions League fate, falling 5-3 on aggregate after being outscored 4-1 in the second half in the final. Club America unleashed their expected offensive onslaught on the MLS team from Canada, and the Impact’s Cinderella story came to a screeching end. This finale shouldn’t take anything away from Montreal’s miraculous run to the final, as they found a way to navigate through the group stage and while albeit not playing flashy soccer, they found ways to get results on the road throughout the knockout rounds. The Impact sits at the bottom of the MLS table just as they did last year, giving them the ability to focus on the Champions League more so than other teams. Club America’s win went with the grain of history as Mexican clubs have dominated the affair for many years, but the Impact appears to be the bigger story. The what-if of a win produced the most debate, especially after Montreal secured an unlikely draw that included an away goal at the fabled Estadio Azteca.
There are certainly more pros than cons if the Impact had in fact captured the trophy. The cons would have come through in criticism of both the team and the league. Critics may have cited the more physical and less technical nature of their gameplan and made a general conjecture that the United States do not play aesthetically pleasing soccer. Truthfully, the Impact did not play the beautiful game as the Brazilians would have it played. Yet, the visual gratification, or lack thereof, of the Impact’s gameplan should not be an indictment of the entire MLS. The Real Salt Lake team in 2011 that also reached the final played a much more attractive brand of soccer, yet that is quickly forgotten in the what have you done for me lately world of sports media. RSL also failed to capture the Champions League crown, falling to Monterrey. Another piece of criticism is the fact that of all the clubs in the MLS, it was the Impact, the cellar-dwellers from Canada, were the best that the MLS had to offer.
This is more of a criticism of the league than Montreal. As previously stated, sitting at the bottom of the table afforded the Impact the opportunity to put their energies (read best XI) into the competition. Other teams such as the Seattle Sounders or Los Angeles Galaxy tend to be stretched thin and choose to focus more on the domestic side of things. Yet, why are the MLS title contenders so lacking in squad depth? One can turn to the new CBA (and the old CBA too) for some answers. A salary cap that prevents game-changing talent off the bench at multiple positions limits a team’s options when they are playing more than one game a week. In addition, a lack of free agency that neglects to reward players for their service has players dreaming of European pastures. What’s more, younger players with promise of a substantial national team role like DeAndre Yedlin and Brek Shea are told they must challenge themselves (and make more money) in Europe. As much as the MLS has improved with their academies, these themes still seem to leave teams with a lack of depth, especially after even one or two injuries of suspensions. Might Montreal have collected a different result with Evan Bush hadn’t been suspended, Justin Mapp wasn’t out or Cameron Porter hadn’t gone down for the season? It’s not likely, but those two certainly would have improved their chances. Nevertheless, MLS teams do have something to strive for. Improved academies and supremely astute scouting would aid in squad depth.
With a little luck, the discussion may be geared towards how far the MLS has come in winning the CONCACAF Champions League. All the criticism may have been offset by the praise of finally triumphing over their neighbors to the south in a two-legged final. Even in falling short, the Impact continued to chip away at the mystique of playing in the Azteca, a trend that has taken shape due to the recent success of the national team in Mexico City. The Impact’s success also begs the question of how successful the top MLS teams would be in the competition if a greater emphasis was put into it. While the counterargument has already been discussed, it is not too insane to think that a team with a lot of quality that is struggling in the domestic campaign could choose to want to make a run in the Champions League, much like Borussia Dortmund this season.
Through all the criticism and speculative what-ifs, the main sentiments remain. Much credit is due to the Impact of their willingness to give to the competition and sub sequential success. While a win doesn’t need to pretty, a victory in the CONCACAF Champions League and invitation to the FIFA Club World Cup that comes with the title could be in the near future for the MLS. A trip to the Club World Cup may be the greatest prize of all, as it would mean exposure for a league pining for worldwide recognition and respect. With the group stages beginning again sooner than later, it’s not too early to say what if?
The Pitch Men 