DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Red Bulls wrapped up their last training session before yet another friendly, as Wednesday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Union looms large. Still, there were plenty of talking points to come out of Tuesday’s training session, as the team’s second and final preseason trip to Florida begins to wind down.
- TICKETS: Red Bulls Home Opener vs. Toronto FC, Sunday March 6
As is the case with every team across the world, numerous trialists have come and gone over the course of the team’s stay in Florida. The Red Bulls have used this time to take a look at players from various backgrounds in the hopes of filling out their final roster as the season draws closer.
SuperDraft selections Justin Bilyeu and Zach Carroll have both had impressive preseason camps, and look set to figure into New York’s future plans, but a bit more uncertainty typically surrounds the trialists in camp. However, head coach Jesse Marsch has been pleased with what he’s seen from those currently training with the team and spoke to their progress to date.
“All three of them, we want to keep within this organization,” he said. “It’s just a matter of trying to figure out where to slot them right now to put them on the right development path.”
Just who are those three trialists? I’ll let Marsch explain.
“Vincent Bezecourt has done really well. He’s got a real soccer sense to him. It’s been an adjustment for him to understand how we play and physically understand how to commit to it. But everyday I think he shows a little bit more savviness, a little bit more of an understanding as to how to adjust. We think he has a really bright future.
“Cheikh Mbaye is a young Senegalese centerback who I think has all the qualities that we like. Everyday he’s getting a bit more up to speed. For him, it’s a big cultural change with language and everything else. But we like him; we think he has potential.
“Aaron Long is a little bit older than those guys. He’s played pro for a little while and has a lot of good qualities. We’re trying to use him mostly at centerback, but he’s got flexibility to play in a few different spots, he’s athletic, and he’s got good feet.”
And as we approach the home opener on March 6, the team is beginning take shape more and more each day. From a personnel standpoint, it appears that the Red Bulls have settled on the players they currently have in camp. Of course, they already have 28 players signed on with the club, but the remainder of the players in camp will have their roles to play, according to Marsch.
“We’re getting closer and closer to fine tuning exactly what the roster is going to look like. Everyone here right now, we hope, will stay within the organization in some way. You make good progress with players in preseason, and then sometimes you have to let them go. But that’s the great thing about having our USL team. With the way that we have things set up with the structure of this club, we can continue the process of helping them understand how to be a Red Bull player.”
