It's Hudson River Derby week so Episode 5 of the Hudson River Blue Podcast takes a long look at New York City FC's trip to Harrison, New Jersey to face the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.
Before the rivalry match talk, HRB senior editor Andrew Leigh joins hosts John Baney and Mark Radigan to recap his visit to the team's new Midtown Manhattan space dedicated to showing off their future soccer stadium in Willets Point, Queens (tiny replica included), which also meant a chance to speak with New York City FC CEO Brad Sims about the stadium and recent club developments like the change made to the team's badge.
From there on it's all Red Bulls-NYCFC preview, as John and Mark look first at the big implications this match carries for the MLS Eastern Conference playoff race, and how it finds both teams in poor runs of results and looking for some late-season momentum.
The conversation then shifts to how New York City might line up at Red Bull Arena given the forced absences of Santiago Rodríguez and defender Strahinja Tanasijević, and the injury question marks that remain over Birk Risa. Will this be a big game for Agustín Ojeda, Justin Haak, or Andrés Perea?
You can listen to Episode 5 of the pod right here, or on Bleav, Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you do your podding.