After experiencing first hand, as a player and a coach, just how difficult it has been for the New York Red Bulls to settle on a proper training ground, head coach Mike Petke would not deny himself another minute to inaugurate the team's new grounds.
New York Red Bulls playmaker Juninho (Image via SI Photos)
The New York Red Bulls battled in their first game of the centennial U.S. Open Cup against a mix of college students and amateur players from Reading United AC. The visitors were granted the chance to play against the Red Bulls after defeating USL PRO side Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0 in the second round last week.
Foxboro. It's a place that can strike fear in the heart of any Red Bulls/Metrostars fan. And not just because it's in the god-forsaken middle of nowhere. No, it's more about the New York MLS soccer franchise's remarkable ability to throw points away on the fake turf of Gillette Stadium - a place where they have not won a game since (gasp) 2002!
The importance of Tim Cahill to the New York Red Bulls could not have been on a bigger display last Saturday, when he scored both goals in the team's 2-1 win vs. Toronto FC, a performance that earned him MLS Player of the Week.
The Australian international had been called out by fans and the media alike for his lack of scoring so far this season, but once again, manager Mike Petke laughed off those suggestions, praising Cahill's versatility and willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
After a two-game homestand that saw the New York Red Bulls split contests with Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution, it's back on the road. This time, RBNY will make its second trip of the year north of the border, visiting Toronto FC at BMO Field. Over the past few seasons, the Red Bulls have had Toronto's number, beating them handily in Harrison and getting generally respectable results in Ontario as well.
After trading away Dane Richards last season, then New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe quickly realized how dramatically his wing play suffered. He took a chance on signing Lloyd Sam to buffer the loss. While out of form and fitness, Backe believed the speedy, young English midfielder would fill the gap in what had become an impotent flank attack.
HARRISON, N.J. The New York Red Bulls midfield has a problem and it was a problem that was easily disguised in the early weeks of the MLS season, as the team played a series of opponents that made it easy to cover the issue.
The Red Bulls lack quality on the wings and the problem became glaringly obviouson Wednesday night as the Red Bulls suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Sporting Kansas City, a result that dropped New York to 2-4-2 on the season.
Porterball is starting to show its way in MLS. (Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports)
It seems as though with each passing season in Major League Soccer we get a new crop of coaches in the league. Last year we got a couple new coaches and this season was no different with five new managers roaming the sidelines.
WASHINGTON — Mike Petke had seen enough. The leaky defense. The lack of commitment. The late collapses. All of it.
So after the New York Red Bulls allowed two late goals in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Fire last weekend, the coach turned the team's training focus to defensive shape.
On the basis of play, the last Atlantic Cup battle between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls should have ended 3-0 or so to the former Metrostars. Stat-heads could look at possession, duels, completed passes, shots, and every other metric one can come up with. The number-averse could just watch the game: One team was clearly better in virtually every facet, and that team was wearing white.
New Jersey vikings rock, man. (photo: online.wsj.com)
OTF's Stephen Mangat brings you his no-mixer-added drink on the New York Red Bulls.
Paul McCartney, Buffalo, Daedalus, and 90s NBC. These givers of wings are all overrated in their own right (if they were rated at all), just like Red Bull.
Following a home opener that saw the New York Red Bulls dominate proceedings but emerge with just a single point for their efforts, Mike Petke's men go back on the road again to face the red-hot Montreal Impact, who boast a perfect record through three games.
UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill will not be in the New York Red Bulls' starting lineup this weekend and there is a chance that Juninho won't be either.
Having recently returned from a calf strain that forced him to miss one game already, Juninho is somewhat of a concern ahead of the Red Bulls' battle withthe undefeated Montreal Impact at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Slowly but surely, Mike Petke's plan is coming together.
Back-to-back late-game meltdowns on the road cast an ominous cloud over the New York Red Bulls season and erased whatever gains they had garnered in those two matches. After all, New York scored four goals in two matches while controlling long periods of play against both Portland and San Jose.
It's been a while since we last posted a Red Bulls match preview. Forgive us for taking some time to get over the epic disappointment of 2012! Any of you who attended the final match against DC United or who were foolish enough to venture out to the Snow Bowl will understand the crushing disappointment that accompanied the end of the Erik Solér/Hans Backe era.
All credit to the Portland Timbers; they quite literally pushed New York around the field for the final 45 minutes of Sunday's 3-3 come-from-behind draw.
However, watching the Red Bulls wither away in the second half sent out a clear message. This team is far from being "regular season" ready.
The defending MLS Cup champions will open defense of their second straight title while two rookie head coaches square off in a high-profile clash at what should be a raucous Jeld-Wen Field.
The LA Galaxy open today's action by taking on the Chicago Fire (5pm). Caleb Porter and the Portland Timbers face off against Mike Petke and the New York Red Bulls in a clash of first-year pro head coaches.
NEW YORK Thierry Henry is as competitive a player as there is in MLS and New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke loves that.
A former fiery player himself, Petke admires Henry's relentless desire for perfection and the 37-year-old head coach believes it does more harm than good in the locker room despite what some sections of fans and media believe.
PSP's Eastern Conference preview looks at each club and how the Union match up against them. In the end, PSP picks Michael Farfan and the Union to finish ... well, click on to read more.
After yesterday's news it would be easy to forget that there are still three preseason matches left this week. Tonight is the first of those as the Seattle Sounders FC face a revamped New York Red Bulls squad. They now have a coach that understands MLS in Mike Petke, brought in at least three starters (Juninho, Espindola and Olave) and even signed a couple HGPs.
Nineteen days ago, Mike Petke was officially named the New York Red Bulls head coach. Eighteen days from today, they kick off their season against the Portland Timbers.
Needless to say, the team has a lot of catching up to do.
Having played all of two preseason friendlies this offseason, the "undefeated" Red Bulls begin a four game, ten day stretch as part of this year's Desert Diamond Cup in Arizona.
HARRISON, N.J. It was a natural question to ask Thierry Henry after the New York Red Bulls hired a coach with no head coaching experience. Did the team consult with him bout the decision to hire Mike Petke. Henry confirmed that the team did speak to him about the hiring, but made it clear it was only to let him know who they had chosen to hire.
The New York Red Bulls head coaching search took some serious twists and turns in recent weeks, and for a time it was unclear just what circumstances led to the sudden hiring of Mike Petke has Red Bulls head coach.
Now we have a clearer picture of what went wrong after the New York Post reported on Friday that leading candidate Paulo Sousa had his application for a work permit rejected after agreeing to take the Red Bulls head coaching job.
After spending ten years serving the club in multiple capacities, as a player, assistant coach and interim coach, Mike Petke finally has his wish come true: he is head coach of the New York Red Bulls.
"I'm honored and I feel privileged to have been put in this situation that I'm in right now," Petke said in a conference call with the media Thursday.
Recaps and reaction to the Union's ugly draw in Toronto. Harrisburg in second place after two-win weekend with Union loanees all over the score sheet. USA celebrates Centennial with two wins. More news.
Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke joins the pod ahead of Saturday's big match. Also discussed: Adu's departure, Kleberson's arrival, and the USMNT's qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico.
Reports, reaction, quotes player ratings from USA draw in Mexico. Red Bulls coach says Saturday's game is not a must-win for winless New York. Valentin on loan to Norway. More.
New England previews and news. Union hire new Academy director. City Islanders draw with Drexel in first preseason game.USMNT friendly against Belgium announced. Champions League quarterfinal draw. More news.
Casey admits Union attack was disjointed on Saturday, Le Toux says it will come together with time. PPL Park out of WCQ contention? Champions League action returns. More news.
"Too many mistakes in too many areas": Quotes, reports and ratings from the poor US showing in Honduras. Hack on high level of competition in camp. More news.
Le Toux on where he sees himself in the Union formation. Lots of players in camp equals lots of GKs. Has MLS arrived as a feeder league? More on USA v Canada. Match-fixing in Canada.
It's time to answer some SBI reader questions in the latest installment of Your Questions Answered.
In case you missed it, we featured an SBI Old School Q&A post recently, which allowed readers to submit their questions onto the site for me to answer.
Union add preseason game against DC United. Diego Restrepo trial confirmed. Seba happy and sees partnership with Mac. "Thor" will do whatever it takes. Further details on MLS-USL PRO partnership. More news.
