After going unbeaten in 10 games during the preseason, the Red Bulls will look for three points in their first game of the season

New York’s long and critical off season is finally coming to a close.  As the team, which has changed significantly, prepares for its first regular season game at RBA, we have an opportunity to look back at this momentous off season.  Full of changes, ups, downs, new faces, construction, and a plethora of emotions, this MLS off season has kept the entire tri-state area riveted.  Whats that you say?  You believe that I am misinformed, and that you, along with the majority of the New York/New Jersey area have indeed NOT been riveted by the roster and front office moves of Red Bull New York?  That is a bit disappointing, but conveniently, the Daily Harrison’s crack team of soccer correspondents have assembled this season preview for your reading pleasure.  So crack a beer and dig out your scarf, because Metro is back in action.

Ins and Outs

What will ultimately be a long and painful, but hopefully rewarding process, began in earnest this off season, as the team started to replace both Juan Carlos Osorio and his all star team of talentless players.  Management brought in a new GM and Coach in Erik Soler and Hans Backe, and the new guys (with the help of perennial assistant Richie Williams) began cleaning up JCO’s mess.

Notable departures include fan favorite Nick Zimmerman, who was picked up by expansion team Philadelphia.  Young goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who led the team to the 2008 MLS Cup, and the positionless Jorge Rojas also left the team.  Carlos Johnson, the only actual right back on the squad was let go, as were Walter Garcia, Matthew Mbuta, and Ernst Oebster.

The team added a number of players, including left back Roy Miller, central midfielders Joel Lindpere (who can also play on the left) and Carl Robinson, striker Ibrahim Salou, and backup keeper Greg Sutton.  The team also had what is looking like an excellent draft, with all of the players Metro selected making the squad, including notables Tony Tchani (picked second overall in the draft), Austin da Luz, and Tim Ream.  The team also picked up veteran right back Chris Albright on draft day, who is talented enough to start if he can recover from a long term injury.

Positional Awareness

The Brains: Although not really a position on the field, it is important to mention the new GM-coaching tandem of Erik Soler and Hans Backe.  Soler seems like an intelligent man who is dedicated to improving this team, while Backe appears to know the game well and likes to keep things simple.  This is an excellent improvement over Jeff Agoos (who is apparently still on the clubs payroll, but sits at the kids table of important meeting and is rarely allowed to talk to the press or go outside) and Juan Carlos Osorio.  It is true that a four year old girl with a learning disability and a flaming bag of dog feces would probably build a better MLS team than the aforementioned captains of soccer industry, but for a franchise that has been mired in a sea of mediocrity, a competent staff would be a refreshing change.  Soler has done a good job of filling holes on the team, and if you believe everything you read on the Internet (which you should) he isn’t done building the team.  Backe has gotten the most out of the core of the team he inherited while integrating new pieces nicely, leading the team to an undefeated preseason.

The Back: Bouna Coundoul will start for New York.  Bouna looked excellent in Metro’s first friendly against Santos, playing at his acrobatic best.  He still looks a little lost when coming out for crosses and corner, but there is no denying his athletic ability and reflexes.  With a capable defense in front of him, he should do fine.

Thankfully, it looks like this years team might actually have a competent defense.  It hasn’t changed much from last season, but it is important to note that under Richie Williams, the D looked much less lost and horrendous than under Osorio.  Rookie Tim Ream seems like the steal of the draft.  Composed on the ball and an intelligent passer, he has already earned the starting job, likely next to veteran Mike Petke.  Roy Miller, the newly signed left back, looks excellent at getting up the field and overlapping, but his poor crossing nullifies his runs.  Hopefully he can get that under control, because he could be serious threat with a good cross.  The team is still trying to sign a right back, but as of now it looks as though Jeremy Hall and Luke Sassono will split time in the position.  It isn’t ideal, but both are competent enough at the position, and both young players will be better off on the field out of position than on the bench.  Andy Boyens, Carlos Mendes, Kevin Goldwaite, and Danleigh Borman will provide cover in the back.

The Middle: New York has a fair amount of midfielders, many of which are pretty versatile.  This gives the coaching staff a fair amount of options when putting together a starting eleven, and makes predicting who will start on a regular basis a little difficult.  Dane Richards, who can be a very effective right mid in MLS when utilized correctly, seems set to start on the right.  Joel Lindpere and Carl Robinson look to be the favored central combination.  Lindpere has shown potential, and scored Red Bull Arena’s first ever goal in a friendly against Santos.  Lindpere looks good on both sides of the ball, and he looked like a balanced partner for Robinson, who is more of a defensive midfielder.  Sinisa Ubiparipovic has also seen significant minutes in the middle this offseason, although hes also played on the wings.  Tony Tchani, New York’s highly heralded rookie central mid, looks to have an uphill battle for playing time, while Seth Stammler may be on the outside looking in.

Jeremy Hall and Austin da Luz are the team’s two natural left wingers, although Lindpere has played on the left before.  Danleigh Borman can also start on the left in a pinch.  Macoumba Kandji and John Agudelo also played as attacking left wingers during the Santos match.  Rookie Irving Garcia is a backup in the right mid position.

Up Top: Although the teams offensive woes were due in large part to an empty void of a midfield, last years attack wasn’t much to get excited over.  Juan Pablo Angel, despite being a bit streaky, is an amazing forward who has carried this team on his back the past couple seasons.  John Wolyniec, a fan favorite and workhorse, wasn’t exactly the second coming of Ronaldo (despite the fans singing about him being a Staten Island Ronaldinho) and Mac Kandji showed potential but never really broke out.  Backe and Soler have added multiple strikers, including Ibrahim Salou, who looked good at holding up the ball and working hard in the Santos match.  The team also signed rookie Connor Chinn, who had a solid preseason, and has offered a contract to academy product John Agudelo, who has been highly touted by coaches/critics on many levels.  Giorgi Chirgadze, who was signed from the academy last year, will be out for the next four or five months with an injury.

Cautiously Optimistic

If Metro fans weren’t optimistic heading into seasons, they’d probably never be optimistic.  Now is the time to let your naiveté shine and get behind the team.  The team looks to be in good hands, and has been performing well in preseason.  Hopefully that translates into a winning season worthy of the amazing new stadium the team will play in.  Backe and Soler are still working on adding to the team, and it will likely only improve as the season continues.  It is hard not to be wary or critical of this team, but it looks as though Red Bull is finally doing things right.

Dave Braneck is a blogger and an all around soccer fan who represents North Jersey to the fullest and contributes to Dailyharrison.com

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