It’s that time again; the New York Red Bulls are once more retreating to Florida for some soccer and sunshine down south.
- TICKETS: Red Bulls Home Opener vs. Toronto FC, Sunday March 6
A mere three weeks remain until the team makes their 2016 MLS debut at Red Bull Arena, but not before another two-week stay at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. There, the club will take part in three more friendly matches including MLS clashes with rivals Philadelphia Union, local side Orlando City SC, and a rematch with NASL’s Jacksonville Armada. NewYorkRedBulls.com will provide live streams for the Union and Armada matchups (February 24 and 27, respectively).
As we draw ever closer to the season opening match against Toronto FC, there will be plenty to look out for as the Red Bulls make their final push towards first kick. Here are the top three things I’ll be keeping my eye on while down in Orlando:
Baah’s First Florida Camp
During the team’s last stay in Florida, perhaps the biggest news to emerge out of camp revolved around an outgoing Red Bulls defender, Matt Miazga. But this time around, there will be plenty of buzz surrounding what may well turn out to be his replacement.
After joining the team in Hanover for a few days of training, newly acquired centerback Gideon Baah will be making the trip to Orlando for his first stint down in Florida. The 24-year old has shown well in what little action we’ve seen from him so far, and the two weeks of training should prove to be a good gauge as to where he stands ahead of the 2016 season.
A Ghanaian international, Baah brings with him Europa League and Champions League experience that could prove to be a valuable asset within a Red Bulls defense currently on the mend. With defenders Ronald Zubar and Damien Perrinelle working their way back to full fitness—along with Miazga’s aforementioned departure—only Karl Ouimette remains as a centerback option from the 2015 Supporters’ Shield winning side.
If the Red Bulls are to contend for silverware this season, they’ll surely need a large contribution from Baah. And with three friendlies on the schedule, head coach Jesse Marsch will have a good opportunity to see just how he can make his mark within the side.
Attention to Tactics
Aside from the Miazga sale, the biggest piece of buzz to come out of Red Bulls camp in Orlando came when the club revealed a possible switch in their tactical setup. Fans and analysts alike began to piece together just what this could mean for the team in 2016 and which players would fit into the new formation.
“We’re just building more sophistication into how we do things tactically,” Marsch explained. “It gives us more flexibility into what our emphasis is tactically when switching from formation to formation. I think it’s been good for us because a lot of the emphasis is the same; it’s just that some of the arrangement is a little bit different.”
The 4-2-2-2 has already proved to add a new wrinkle to the Red Bulls attack, giving New York a “Plan B” by adding a second striker up top to partner with Bradley Wright-Phillips. To this point, perhaps the biggest beneficiary from the change has been Gonzalo Veron.
In the midst of his first preseason with the club, the Argentine has enjoyed a stellar preseason, featuring higher up the pitch than he had been deployed in 2015. As a winger, Red Bulls fans were treated to flashes of what Veron could bring to the table, but those in camp (myself included) have witnessed a different dimension to his game through the team’s first few weeks of preseason. His pace and ability on the ball have caused fits for opposing defenses, and the results have been readily apparent.
The move also changes the roles of midfielders Sacha Kljestan, Lloyd Sam, and Mike Grella. However, the extent of that change remains to be seen, as the formation is still largely untested. It appears that the Red Bulls will still roll out the 4-2-3-1 as the cornerstone of their tactical setup, only moving to the 4-2-2-2 when deemed necessary. With three more matches to go, I’ll be looking to see how effective this formation can continue to prove, as well as which players are required to adjust the most and which can find their niche within this tactical tweak.
Personnel Decisions
As preseason winds down, Marsch and his staff will have some key decisions to make not only tactically, but in regards to just who will make the final cut when all is said and done. As it currently stands, the Red Bulls are over capacity, so to speak. That means the team will need to shed players ahead of the roster compliance date in order to meet league standards.
The good news is that the Red Bulls have the luxury of utilizing their USL side, New York Red Bulls II. Led by head coach John Wolyniec, the side had a successful debut campaign in 2015 and will be looking to build upon that success when their season starts on March 27.
The biggest question marks seem to revolve around the team’s homegrown signings as well as their trialists and SuperDraft picks. The two-week stay in Orlando will provide one last chance for the youngsters to make an impression upon the coaching staff and stake their claim to a possible spot with the first team. Will Brandon Allen continue to find the back of the net with regularity? Can Zach Carroll continue to impress in the center of the defense? How does Vincent Bezecourt, a standout in the team’s first Orlando camp, figure into the team’s future plans? Those questions and more could well be answered over the next few weeks.
