The Red Bulls go to New England to do something different
Tim Cahill chats with Gareth Bale. Howard Megdal
2:28 pm Sep. 21, 2012
The New York Red Bulls entered Wednesday night's game against Sporting Kansas City with everything going for them. Then they turned in one of their worst performances of the season, losing 2-0.
In the wake of that loss, the Red Bulls need to rebound within 72 hours, playing their third game in a week, on the road against the New England Revolution, in a place they haven't won in ten years.
So maybe that's a sign they'll foil expectations again, this time for the better?
There's no real reason that the ten-year drought at Gillette Stadium should have any effect on the results of Saturday night's match. The streak dates back to 2002, when the team was known as the Metrostars, but neither team has many players from even the past few seasons; the longest-tenured Red Bulls are Joel Lindpere and Roy Miller, both of whom debuted in 2010.
The Red Bulls defeated the Revolution, 1-0, back in April. That happened at Red Bull Arena, of course; at Gillette Stadium in July, the Revolution beat the Red Bulls, 2-0, with the Red Bulls' attack looking very much as it did on Wednesday night.
But that team from July was dramatically different than the current Red Bulls. That team was without Thierry Henry or Rafa Marquez, both of whom missed the game with injuries, without Tim Cahill, who had yet to be signed and without Sebastian Le Toux or goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who'd yet to be acquired. Both Mehdi Ballouchy and Dane Richards, now former Red Bulls, played the full 90 minutes, and goalkeeper Ryan Meara, now out for the season, played the full 90 as well.
So taking history as a guide for what the Red Bulls are likely to do Saturday in New England is a mistake.This will be the most talented Red Bulls team, perhaps ever, and given the chastened mood following Wednesday's defeat, coach Hans Backe shouldn't have much trouble motivating them.
That said, despite a plodding season from the Revolution, winning there will be no easy task. It's just a new task for these Red Bulls, no matter what you hear about the franchise's futility through the years.
