Image via Wikipedia
hello injury time readers,
it is with a heavy heart that i write to say farewell. the past several years have seen many
changes (players, coaches, team names, even our post-season records), and i've been proud to
witness them all and give you my thoughts.
Image by Seo2 | Salvador |
Dolores via Flickr
it's been a busy off season for the new york red bulls, with announcements about players coming at
a brisk pace.
it's also been a busy off season for yours truly, who had a daughter added to his family and is now
moving away from our fair city to another metropolis by the water - philadelphia.
Image via Wikipedia
red bulls reader has just posted a video (see below) that has a virtual tour of red bull arena
(which was announced in january wouldn't be ready until the 2010 season). still, if it comes out
anywhere near what this video shows, it will showcase the beautiful game.
Image via Wikipediaon the heels of the new york red bulls losing jeff parke to seattle in the
expansion draft comes news that the man parke almost caught on most games played all-time for new
york (mike petke) is coming back to new york for the 2009 season.
petke might be the person who most comes to mind to fans of the club when you talk about new york
players, the others being cleetus and angel.
Image by Getty Images via Daylifeit was an bad way to go after such a great season, but jeff parke
is no longer a new york red bull any more.
this season saw parke move up in more ways than one: he is right at the top in the number of games
played for the new york club ever (second all-time), and he became a regular starter and dependable
central defender.
Image via Wikipediait took me a few days to write about the mls cup final between the new york red
bulls and the columbus crew. let's be honest: for a new york fan, it was a heartbreaker.
after a cinderella-run (on the road) through the playoffs, we were poised to knock off the best
team in mls this year.
if you wanted some evidence that the new york red bulls actually had a following in our fair city,
check out this video of soccer-bar-extraordinary nevada smith's on saturday night as fans packed
the bar to celebrate the victory. about 1:40 in is when the ref calls the game and the place
erupts.
wow, i wish i could have been there.
Image via Wikipediamiracle of miracles, we're going to the cup. the new york red bulls have made it
to the mls cup final. the new york red bulls have made it to the mls cup final.
i'm still a bit in shock this morning. i was on pins and needles during last night's game,
especially when we apparently decided in the 63rd minute to get into a defensive shell.
Image via Wikipediahere's a 5 minute video with the highlights from sunday's new york red bulls
game against the houston dynamo - now being called the greatest upset in mls playoff history.
btw, it's in spanish, but who really cares? the red bulls look great, and soccer always sounds
better when the announcers are speaking spanish.
Image by eschipul via Flickrthe unexpected has happened! for the first time in 8 years, the new
york red bulls have advanced through the first round and will play in the conference finals this
saturday. are our playoff woes finally over? the next game will tell. but let's take a look at
sunday's game.
Image via Wikipediared bulls reader posted the fan appreciation video that was played at the end of
the red bulls' last regular season home game against columbus on october 18.
it's great to see the club recognizing its fans, because its their support that makes going to the
games so much fun.
Image via Wikipediathe red bulls are heading down texas way this weekend to face the houston dynamo
in the second leg of their playoff series. after a heart-breaking late goal tied the game at giants
stadium, the red bulls go into houston needing to win outright to advance to the next round. here's
what i think they need to do:
- play aggressively.
Image by eschipul via Flickrwell, after wiggling our way into the playoffs one more time, the new
york red bulls ended up with a 1-1 tie with the houston dynamo in the first game of the playoff
series. and it was a crushing tie.
after a scoreless first half that saw the red bulls playing some rather sloppy soccer (though the
defense did keep houston's weapons out of our net), red bull fans were rewarded early in the second
half on a gorgeous header from angel.
well, my friends, i didn't watch the new york red bulls's last game of the season against the
chicago fire (i've got a really good excuse), but it sounds like i didn't miss much. a 5-2 drubbing
is not a good way to end the season, much less a good way to enter the post-season.
as it happens, our loss left us not in control of our own destiny, and in dc united's hands.
Image via Wikipediasaturday night was good to the new york red bulls, and like obama, we're keeping
hope alive with a 3-1 win over the columbus crew.
of course, much of the accolades goes to our superstar and the man who always seems to be there
when we need him: juan pablo angel.
the first half felt directionless, and we felt flat.
