Monday, May 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Hudson River Blue
New York City FC Official Gear
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Player Ratings
    • Transfer News + Rumors
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • HRB Interviews
    • International Call-Ups
    • Oppo Research
    • Reader Polls
    • City Football Group News
    • FO News
    • Stadium Saga
    • Preseason
  • Schedule + Results 
    • NYCFC Schedule and Results
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Game Day Hubs
    • Oppo Research
    • Leagues Cup
    • Hudson River Derby
    • MLS Cup Playoffs
    • US Open Cup
    • Campeones Cup
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • False 9
    • Hot Takes
    • Guest Columns
    • Predictions
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Gotham FC
    • NYCFC II
    • NYCFC Academy
  • Fan Culture
    • Fan Culture
    • Kits + Merch
    • Food + Drink
  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
Hudson River Blue
No Result
View All Result
Home Oppo Research

Oppo Research: 5 things you should know about Red Bulls

Hudson River Blue Staff by Hudson River Blue Staff
May 12, 2023
in Hudson River Derby, Oppo Research
A A
2
John Tolkin of the New York Red Bulls has amazing hair.

Good hair | Courtesy NY Red Bulls

For this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue asked Michael Battista of Hudson River Blue (and other soccer publications) to give us the dirt on the New Jersey Red Bulls, New York City FC’s opponent in Matchday 12 tomorrow night. That’s right, the answers are coming from inside the house. 

Red Bulls fans will be the first to admit their club are a mess this season: Head coach sacked, striker suspended, fan protests. The team are off to their worst start in memory, with just one win after 11 played. But the Red Bulls have a way of pwning New York City, and historically dominating their cross-state rivals in the Hudson River Derby.

Read on to see what Battista has to say in this NYCFC vs Red Bulls game preview.


Hudson River Blue: The Red Bulls are off to their worst start in memory, the front office just fired former head coach Gerhard Struber on Monday, and now Troy Lesesne is the interim head coach. Will this move reset the course? Or are the club in free fall? 

Michael Battista: The club was fully in free fall before Monday’s announcement and it’s still too early to say the team has pulled out of it. But Troy Lesene got his first win as an MLS head coach in the US Open Cup, a tournament he’s very familiar with and one that’s worth it to almost any team, and that has fans feeling more optimistic. He even called the Fourth Round match a chance to “reset” the season. The team still struggles to score and that was evident by all the missed chances on Tuesday night against DC United at Montclair State. The forward third is a scary place where Cory Burke and Tom Barlow scuff shots. Plus with all the injuries and Dante Vanzeir still being suspended, it’s hard to be fully convinced things are reset. But I and the nearly three thousand fans that attended Tuesday can definitely say things felt different.


RELATED: Is the US Open Cup worth winning?
RELATED: Supporters remain upset after Red Bulls walkout

HRB: You wrote about the April 15 walkout staged by the club’s biggest supporters groups after the racist comments made by striker Dante Vanzeir and the response of then-head coach Gerhard Struber. The supporters were back in the stands last week – are these issues being resolved?

MB: First of all, let me start by thanking everyone who read and shared that article, especially from within the three RBNY Supporter’s Groups. As of now, it feels as though the issues are being resolved. Prior to last weekend, Empire SC noted that its members were happy with the steps that were being taken (Dante Vanzeir’s commitment to grow, RBNY implementing a training and education structure) but were not happy about the lack of consequences for Gerhard Struber. After he and the team parted ways on Monday, despite head of sport Jochen Schneider saying Dante’s incident on April 8 had no bearing on the decision, I assume they’ll be satisfied to a point. Both Viking Army SC & Torcida 96 returned to support the team last game and their anger was mostly directed at the poor performance against the Philadelphia Union.

HRB: What is working for the Red Bulls right now? Who is the team’s dangerman? 

MB: The entire backline is holding up the team. Centerbacks Andres Reyes and Sean Nealis have been stellar, both ranking near the top of MLS in challenges won. John Tolkin is a full-field menace, stopping opposing offenses while also being fourth in the team in both total shots (12) and shots on goal (four). I thought Cameron Harper would step in for Lewis Morgan as an attacking winger, but he’s been solid on defense. The former Celtic man has been a great asset, making huge passes in the midfield while helping to disrupt the opposing gameflow.


RELATED: Is the Hudson River Derby a proper rivalry?
RELATED: All Hudson River Derby news

HRB: What is the X-factor that could decide Saturday’s game?

MB: Injuries and missing players, plain and simple. The team is currently missing seven players due to injury, one due to suspension, and potentially will be losing Daniel Edelman to the US U-20 men’s national team. The absence of Luquinhas and Lewis Morgan has been felt up top, even though I didn’t think it could get worse there. Most of the squad minus Carlos Coronel and Sean Nealis are on short rest. Plus Cory Burke was a halftime sub on Tuesday and only played 20 minutes before leaving with an ankle injury. Even if he’s match-fit on Saturday he’s not going to be 100%.

HRB: Prediction time. Starting XI? Final score?

MB: See, this is a trick, right? If I say the Red Bulls pull out a win, I’m biased because I’m the only red guy here. If I say NYCFC, I’m a scab because I write for HRB now. It’s a no-win situation!

But when have I ever been smart? I think New York City will win, 2-1.

The predicted lineup is very sketchy because I don’t know who will be healthy this weekend, but:

Tags: 2023 US Open CupAndres ReyesCameron HarperCarlos CoronelCory BurkeDante VanzeirEmpire Supporters ClubGerhard StuberHudson River DerbyJochen SchneiderJohn Tolkinlewis MorganNew Jersey Red BullsSean NealisTom BarlowTroy LeseneUS Open CupViking Army Supporters Club
Hudson River Blue Staff

Hudson River Blue Staff

Covering the best sport in the world in the greatest city on Earth.

Comments 2

  1. typoattack says:
    2 weeks ago

    Says a lot when both fanbases expect the other team to win.

    Reply
    • Oliver Strand says:
      2 weeks ago

      Ha!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

Steve Cohen’s Willets Point casino suffers political setback

Steve Cohen’s Willets Point casino suffers political setback

May 25, 2023
Where to eat at Citi Field: 2023 Update

Where to eat at Citi Field: 2023 Update

April 13, 2023
The MLS Table after Matchweek 14.

Why W-D-L is better than W-L-T, and why MLS should change their ways

May 23, 2023
Gotham FC players celebrate after beating OL Reign 4-1

The secrets of their success: Why Gotham FC now top NWSL table

May 24, 2023
NYCFC midfielder Maximo Carrizo has interest from both the USMNT and the Argentine national team.

Four NYCFC players called up to USYNT U-16 tournament in Japan

May 23, 2023
Hudson River Blue

A New York City soccer community
© 2023 Seawall Media LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NYCFC Schedule and Results
  • Game Recaps
  • Video Highlights
  • Player Ratings
  • Opinion
  • Transfer News + Rumors
  • Tactics + Analysis
  • International Call-Ups
  • False 9
  • Kits + Merch
  • Food + Drink
  • Stadium Saga
  • HRB Interviews
  • Long Reads
  • MLS Cup Playoffs
  • US Open Cup
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
  • Gotham FC
  • NYCFC II
  • About
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
  • Masthead
  • Login

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}