Seattle Sounders at New York Red Bulls - Three Questions with Once a Metro

by Dave Clark on Mar 19, 2011 10:03 AM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Let's take a look at the team that reinvented itself as much as any over the last eight months. Hans Backe didn't just bring in the two famous DPs, he also added a ton of lesser names to the New York Red Bulls roster. This year they start with a roster ready to compete on opening day, something that hasn't been true in the past, and so Red Bull New York is starting to look like a functional organization. Three questions is with Avery, one of the authors from Once a Metro.

DC: Backe has re-evaluated his push for the Supporters Shield in light of the number of players that could be called up for the Gold Cup and Copa America. Is this also a sign that Red Bulls don't have the depth for the league season? Backe has re-evaluated his push for the Supporters Shield in light of the number of players that could be called up for the Gold Cup and Copa America. Is this also a sign that Red Bulls don't have the depth for the league season?

Once a Metro: Of all the Metro/Red Bull rosters compiled -- I know not an illustrious bunch -- the 2011 version seems to have the greatest depth. Erik Soler and Hans Backe have assembled a squad with multiple options at nearly every position. The perceived lack of depth actually illustrates how much the New York team has grown as it's now rife with two budding United States internationals and an assortment of other CONCACAF stars. The Red Bulls will definitely be hurt in certain positions.
Carlos Mendes can fill in at centerback, but a second alternative still needs to emerge when Rafa Marquez and presumably Tim Ream leave for the Gold Cup -- overall, though, national team matches are something difficult to complain about. That being said, teams with fewer players away during the summer will most likely have a more consistent season and possibly gain more points over the entire campaign.

DC: Rafa Marquez is moving back from CDM to a Centerback role. This will limit his ability to get into the attack. What do you think about having a DP in a defensive role like that?

Once a Metro: To go along with the theme of the previous question, our central midfield is absolutely crammed. Depending upon Backe's configuration in the middle of the park, one or a combination of Tony Tchani, Jan Gunnar Solli, Joel Lindpere, Carl Robinson, or even Teemu Tainio should be able to flourish in front of our back four. This diversity allows the Swede to employ Marquez in the position where he has the greatest experience, central defense. Mendes played honorably last season and could start for most MLS sides, but Rafa is simply a cut above. The DP status shouldn't matter; the Red Bulls want silverware this season. Also, Marquez seemed to overextend himself last season in terms of his passing. He played some wonderful balls, but also gave away too many. Hopefully he will will simplify his game when he moves farther back on the pitch.

DC: Ream and Agudelo are both going to featured elements in New York's potential success. Can the team count on both these youngsters for a full season and playoffs?

Once a Metro: Ream is seen as a known quantity by most Red Bulls fans and the player who deserved the 2010 Rookie of the Year award. After playing every single minute for us in league play last season, Ream proved himself as a professional. In person, he gives off the impression of a diligent, no-nonsense demeanor that should allow him to make an Omar Gonzalez or Michael Parkhurst-like jump in his second year with Red Bull. Agudelo, however, is much more of a worry. He still hasn't even scored a pro goal yet . . . . Dane Richards and Luke Rodgers will hopefully help carry the scoring load. If that trio can bag a combined dozen goals and Thierry Henry performs as he should, the Red Bulls should be comfortable with their attack.

Their questions and my responses follow;

1) The departure of Blaise Nkufo shocked most in the MLS world. Do you think Seattle is prepared for a Nkufo-less frontline? And do you feel comfortable with your strikers coming into this weekend's match?

Seattle's front line is decimated by injury and the Nkufo news. It is essentially limited now to Fredy Montero and O'Brian White with only replacement level players available off the bench. This will remain true until either Nate Jaqua or Mike Fucito get healthy. While Roger Levesque will put in great effort and could help protect a lead, there isn't someone who can offer some punch for a late game winner. So, no, I'm not comfortable at all.

2) There seemed to be some type of agitation around the Seattle camp towards the end of the preseason. Sigi Schmid in particular revealed concerns surrounding the team. After the loss to the Galaxy and the additional pressure it created, do you think Seattle will be able refocus?

Post loss Sigi doesn't seem concerned. The team created its chances. Six shots on goal against a team that essentially bunkered is a handy number. But this is a trend now. We saw it last year against Red Bull here where Seattle dominated in all facets of the game and still lost. The issue that worries me more than the offense is the inability of Seattle to break up a counter. Maybe more tactical fouls should be used. That's cynical for sure, but the Sounders can't allow more than a single goal and get points over the next month or so. There just isn't enough variety in the offense at this time.

3) Kasey Keller has stated that this will be the last season in his illustrious career. On the lone goal Tuesday, he seemed somewhat slow on Juninho's strike. Are there any worries over Keller's play and is he a player that can be exploited by the Red Bulls?

Keller is showing his age. While he is still one of the better keepers in the League, he will struggle at stopping shots at times, particularly with balls that quickly work from opposite sides of the goal area. He is still a great leader and distributor and so has a strong role with the club, but it is unlikely that Seattle gets many wins from the ageless one stopping 5 or more shots on goal. Seattle's backline will have to be better at limiting quality shots and return to the form of 2009 when the reason for their defensive success had as much to do with the outfield players as it did Keller. Then again, last year's poorer Goals Against numbers were heavily influenced by awful set-play defense.

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Countering against Seattle

Alonso has always looked smart enough to do his part in slowing teams down (and not just by fouling). The issue, to me, is the rest of the midfield and even the back four. Zakuani’s offensive skills are worth the risk that comes with his questionable defensive positioning, but you can’t really say the same about Fernandez. It’s odd to see someone who plays both centrally and on the right struggle to pinch in and slow things down in terms of defending, but Fernandez often looks disconnected to me when the Sounders are defending.

Friberg also looked a little soft in this department. He’s not lazy; he just didn’t get into the best spots against LA. Maybe it’s just that he hasn’t developed an understanding with Alonso (and Hurtado and Parke for that matter). It could also be harsh to judge him on his MLS debut. We’ll see. At this point, I think Seattle will improve in this department when Brad Evans returns.

Gonzalez also struggles because of his lack of agility. The speed with which MLS teams can counter, especially down the right (does anyone in MLS have a right winger that isn’t out-and-out fast at this point), leaves him as a big weak point in my book. Teams are going to look to that part of the field when making their move forward. A quick crossfield ball from the left, or – even easier – a simple ball down the line from the right, and Gonzalez will most likely be chasing the play. To put it another way, as a DC fan I am really looking forward to seeing us isolate Andy Najar against Gonzalez over and over again.

It occurs to me that Seattle might not have very good communication. I can’t say for sure, but one thing I do know is that teams that give away lots of chances on the counter usually aren’t talking enough (or aren’t providing enough quality information). While Keller is almost certainly not to blame in that department, I would have my questions about everyone else in the back four as well as the central midfield.

Is it the mix of Spanish and English speakers (along with a Swede, though from what I gather Friberg is perfectly fluent in English)? Is it simply too many soldiers and no generals? I have no conclusions to offer Seattle fans, but I do think that the question of communication is one you should be asking. Teams that talk and react to each other well can defuse counters; LA is probably the best example of that in MLS.

Writer - Black and Red United

by ChestRockwell on Mar 19, 2011 10:47 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I'mgoing to quote this at lenght

as one of the posts I’m writing shortly is on countering the counter.

Goals from open play, rather than set-plays, against Seattle are almost always on a counter.

The shift last week of Friberg for Evans added more offense, but less defense in what is a B2B CM role.

Funny that you should mention that most teams can counter down the right due to the speed there. Seattle doesn’t have speed there and probably has their weakest starting defender on the left to stop the opposition, and a mid that plays so high he’s nearly a forward.
That’s a big reason why I want a much better left back.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Mar 19, 2011 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

I kid you not.

On the radio pregame Pete Fewing said about Leo that “he looks like a loper, but he does really well against faster players.”. Then Matt Johnson (I know..) said, “yeah, once he gets going he’s really fast!”.

by deeplennon on Mar 19, 2011 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Using a 'bucket' 4-4-2 seems to help

Having two defensive minded central defenders seems to help prevent Leo being isolated on the counter especially when the shape is messed up because Zak is playing high. I think it worked well against New York. The problem was having Leo as cover on the corner. There probably needs to be a faster guy to cover the counter when we move forward for corner kicks. Alonso perhaps?

by Dizzo on Mar 21, 2011 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions