SoccerBlogs

Man, where do I even start?� First, let me apologize for such a long hiatus.� These past few months have been pretty crazy for me for a number of reasons, but I'm back now.� If there's anyone out there that actually still reads this blog, thank you for your patience.� This hasn't been a fun time for me, but things are starting to look up.

I have to admit; I've pronounced the season to be dead more than once before.� But you gotta cut me some slack, I wasn't counting on the absolute ineptitude of the rest of the Eastern Conference.� Thanks to their shortcomings, the Red Bulls found themselves clinging to the tenth and final playoff spot after a draw away to Toronto.

Well, here I am, once again reeling from another disappointment, trying to figure out just how to sum up yet the latest uninspired performance by New York.� I swear, with all the talk of how great this team is better on paper, I propose we so all go out and cover RBA in 8 ½ x 11's on Saturday...

Just when you thought all hope was lost, New York goes out and does this.� A win, honest to God, a win.� For the first time since the July 6th drubbing of TFC, the Red Bulls claimed all three points and boy did it feel good.� Granted, it got a bit nervy there and it wasn't the pretty display by any stretch of the imagination, but isn't that what it's all about?

Man, the past week or so has been quite kind to the Red Bulls. � After Irene washed away any hopes of the Galaxy match being played, New York saw their playoff position actually improve despite not playing a single match since August 20th. � As of now, New York owns the 10th and final playoff spot, sitting behind Columbus, SKC, Houston, and Philly in the East.

Do I even need to bother recapping this game?� You might as well just read my last post.� It meets all the requirements: disappointment, 2-2 draw, second half comeback, Ballouchy being useless... you know, the usual.� Just when you think they can't draw against a crappier team, they do.� The Revs, proud owners of the most anemic offense in the league, still managed to take a 2-0 lead against New York and it took a 87th minute equalizer to walk away with a point.

Another week, another disappointing performance for RBNY.� Par for the course, I would say (No Backe reference intended).� With the lowly Fire in town, you'd probably expect a win in front of the sell out crowd at RBA... who am I kidding, we were all pretty much expecting the worst the way things have been going lately.

That's right, folks; to go along with the laundry list of accomplishments the Metro Bulls have attained in their illustrious history, you can add 2011 Emirates Cup Champions to it.� Now while it's no La Manga, it ranks right up there with the Mickey Mouse Cup of 2010.� Hey, this is about the only Red Bulls news I can get excited about nowadays, so get off my back.

Wow, well hopefully you haven't been using the Offside as your sole source for MLS news (as I know many of you do), because I haven't been very diligent in updating you on all things Red Bull New York.� With the Bulls facing some adversity (understatement of the year?), the front office has taken action and enlisted the help of German backstop Frank Rost.

Coming off the heels of a rather unconvincing (but welcomed) win against New England, the Red Bulls are off to embark on their longest trip away from the friendly confines of Harrison.� First up, the rowdy crowd at JELD-WEN Field, home of the Timbers.

Thanks to an own goal and some inspiring football from Thierry Henry, New York finally snapped their winless streak and finally took home the full three points.

Can Backe right the ship?

The three-game winning streak of last month seems so distant now, doesn't it?� For that matter, so does my last blog post, but that's neither here nor there (but apologies, nonetheless).� The Red Bulls now find themselves in a precarious situation.� They are no longer getting the results that seemed to come so easily earlier in the season, and the defense has been suspect to say the least.

I've been trying to get an interview with some of the players for quite some time now, but until now I didn't have any luck. � Being a different state will do that. � Fortunately, I was able to get in contact with rookie midfielder Matt Kassel, who was nice enough to answer some of my questions.

Luke's aeroplane celebration... yea or nay?

Take a deep breath folks; the Red Bulls took home all three points tonight... but just barely.� In a win that was very much different from the two matches that preceded it, New York played an incredibly strong first half that saw Luke Rodgers get on the board once again.

Be honest, how many of you were expecting a JPA jump-slash?

Seriously, is there anything better than going into D.C. and stomping them out?� I think not.� If last week's performance against the Quakes was impressive, than we need to find a new word to describe the show that New York put on in RFK.

I got a feeling this is what everyone envisioned would happen when this team was assembled.� That game exemplified just how good New York can be as they dominated in all facets of the game.� Oh, and Thierry Henry finally got on the scoreboard.� A sign of things to come?� One can only hope.

Remember this?

That can go plenty of ways now, can't it?� I'm sure many of you have some choice words for Mr. Henry (I'll let you connect the dots) and some probably have a big question on your mind (again, use your imagination), but I have just three words for the entire Red Bull organization.

New York heads down I-95 to PPL Park to take on the (shockingly) first-place Union tomorrow.� Most teams heading on the road will usually be looking to take a point, let alone when facing a team that's at the top of the conference.� But the Red Bulls aren't most teams.� With the amount of talent on this team, and against a bitter rival, you'd be believe New York will be looking to send a message to the Union, and the rest of the league for that matter, by taking all three points in Chester.

After all the trade-hype eventually died down, it was time for the Red Bulls to take the field.� With Dwayne De Rosario in tow, New York was looking to get off on the right foot.� But the Dynamo proved that there is plenty of work still to be done during the long season that lies ahead.

Remember when I said that it was MLS Cup or bust for New York this year?� Well folks, that sentiment should be felt now more than ever.� Erik Soler made a huge splash this afternoon in anticipation to their clash with Houston by trading away Tony Tchani, Danleigh Borman, and a first round draft pick in 2012 for five-time MLS Best XI midfielder Dwayne De Rosario.

There was a bit of an uneasy feeling that the Red Bulls would fail to get another quality scoring chance after Thierry Henry squandered a PK chance to put New York up front early on, but rookie sensation Juan Agudelo would have none of it.

After a seemingly endless offseason, the 2011 season got underway with a 1-0 win in favor of the home team, but not without all the drama that usually surrounds a Red Bulls fixture.

I'm changing Twitter handles. @OffsideNYRB is now @EricRBNY. I'm making my Empire of Soccer debut today, where I'll be giving my take in a once-a-week opinion section. Go check out my first post!

Follow @EricRBNY

Haters gon' hate

Ah, the smell of a new MLS season.� A year to forget about past disappointments; a time when hope springs eternal.� Unfortunately for our beloved boys in white (and sometimes blue), it was much of the same.� Poor set piece defense, possession not yielding W's, lack of attacking spark, blah blah blah.