Although I am not typically a fan of meaningless mid-season friendlies, there are a lot of positives to take from Metro's games against Man City and Tottenham.  The midfield played extremely well throughout the mini-tournament, moving the ball smoothly and passing well, often creatively.  Thanks to the arrival of Thierry Henry, as well as the return of a healthy Mac Kandji, Metro also looked quite dynamic up top, which it has struggled to do for much of the season.  Barring a few mental lapses, the defense also played extremely well.  All in all it was a good couple games for New York, and hopefully their solid play will translate to league results.  The New York Football Challenge was also fun to watch and brought out decent crowds, so maybe some of the Spurs, City, and Sporting fans that attended these games will be back to see their local side in action.

HARRISON, NJ - New York rounded out its solid play in the highly competitive and heralded* Barclay's New York Challenge by defeating Manchester City 2-1 in Red Bull Arena this afternoon.  The fine play which saw Metro look so good against Tottenham carried over, while the poor luck that saw them give up two goals was nowhere to be found.

Dane Richard's played excellently throughout the match, notching a goal and an assist against EPL opponents.  He has struggled to be effective in league play this season, so hopefully he can translate this into success in meaningful games.  New York's first goal came in the 7th minute, with Richards making a streaking run and burning England-reject Wayne Bridge to slot a great low ball into the path of Macoumba Kandji.  Kandji, who also looked good throughout both friendlies, slammed the pass home with authority.  Man City would get one back when Jo knocked home a low cross from Greg Cunningham in the 55th minute.  The draw didn't last, as Richards scored a beauty of a rip from far outside the box in the 70th.  Kandji, who got the first, played provider and laid the ball off to Richards at the top of the box.

Metro missed out on an opportunity to beat the current leader in the East, the Columbus Crew, in Ohio tonight.  Playing at a near unwatchable level, New York was easily dismantled and defeated 2-0, looking terrible in the process.

Although this probably seemed a bit worrying to new addition Thierry Henry, who attended the match, this result was a bit of an anomaly in that Metro played worse than usual.  Hopefully they can get back to their ordinarily solid form.

The line up was a fairly familiar one, although Luke Sassano (who doesn’t appear to have a long time left to impress with cuts on the way) did get his first start in months.  Coundoul started at keeper, with Borman, Mendes, Ream, and Sassano in front of him.  Miller, Stammler, Lindpere, and Ubiparipovic made up the midfield, while Angel and Richards played up top.

Miller, who has been seeing more and more time in the midfield, continues to struggle in the advanced position.  He appeared a bit lost, and often pinched in centrally from his wide left position, leaving his position open and clogging the middle.  Richards, who is usually a midfielder, had a poor game at striker.

Thierry Henry: I can assure you I came here to win

French legend Thierry Henry was officially announced as New York’s newest signing at Red Bull Arena today.  The announcement of his 4.5 year designated player contract was surrounded by much fanfare, and for good reason.  Henry is a legend for Arsenal and won the Treble at Barcelona, while leading his native France in goals scored at 51.  His trophy case is about ten times bigger than the club he is joining, and includes the World Cup, the UEFA Champions League trophy, and the European Championship.

Joining Henry at the press conference (which received slightly more coverage than your average US Open Cup post-game presser) were Erik Soler, Hans Backe, and Erik Stover of Red Bull New York, Don Garber (commissioner of MLS) and Dietmar Beiersdorfer, head honcho of Red Bull’s global soccer division.

Two things are immediately worth mentioning.  The first is that Thierry Henry has an excellent attitude.  Although this event came down to talk and talk only, he has a positive attitude and seems committed to the team and aware that he will actually have to work hard to succeed here.  The second is that for what is likely the first time in franchise history, there is not an idiot in a high level position here.  Everyone involved with the front office (at last at the highest level) is competent and intelligent.  Maybe it should have been like that from day one, but it wasn’t, so it is nice to have people running the team who know what they are doing.

Although you may not have noticed with all the fast paced and world class Major League Soccer games going on, we have crept ever closer to the World Cup, which begins less than a week from today.  Finally recognizing that the biggest sporting event in the world is slightly more interesting than watching Salt Lake and Kansas City duel in 109 degree heat, the MLS brass has decided to set up a break in league play during the tournament.

Metro will be taking a relaxing 3 week break from league games before it plays the Wizards on the 26th, in Kansas City.  Don't worry footie fanatics!  If non stop World Cup Action is somehow not enough for during this period, you will also be able to catch your local, with New York lining up against Brazilian side Cruziero on June 18.

In what has to be Red Bull Arena's most dramatic moment to date, Metro captain Juan Pablo Angel curled in a magnificent stoppage time free kick to lift his team over the visiting Houston Dynamo, 2-1, Wednesday night.  It was a game New York probably should have won 3 or 4 to 1 anyway, but lookesd destined for a draw.

When the hosts were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal at the tail end of stoppage time, a palpable feeling of intensity surged throughout the stadium, bringing the crowd of 11,000 to its feet.  When Angel's shot bounced off the post and deflected off the back of Houston's keeper, entering the net, the crowd was sent into jubilation.  It was clear the goal had meaning.  Instead of merely picking up a regular league win (and snapping a four game losing streak in the process) it was as though Metro won the Super Bowl.  This is especially notable when considering the fact that Metro is a soccer team, so it would really be something special if they did indeed win the Super Bowl.

Week 8: New York 0 - Seattle 1

The New York Red Bulls lost their first game in any competition at Red Bull Arena, picking up a second straight league loss as they fell to the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday night.  Although New York did not play a terrible game, they failed to create chances and lacked creativity in the final third, and were doomed by a late goal from Fredy Montero.

The oldest supporters club in Major League Soccer

One of the most intriguing aspects of soccer from around the world is the unprecedented support that fans put behind their teams. To a large extent, what is happening in the stands is a spectacle itself and often nearly as exciting as the action on the field.

Singing, jumping, flags, smoke bombs, flares, etc all bring a special atmosphere to games that typical American sports lack.  Various MLS supporters groups have been attempting to replicate the passion and intensity of European and Latin American fan groups in America.

One of the most notable is New York's fan group, the Empire Supporters Club.