The New York Red Bulls return to action at home this Wednesday, facing off against FC
Toronto.
This
will be New York’s second game of a busy week, in which the team will have
played three times.
On
Saturday the Red Bulls visited San Jose and finished at a 2-2 deadlock with the
Earthquakes, and a few days after this match with Toronto they will host DC
United.
Without
star performers such as Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers, New York still hung
around in its weekend battle with San Jose (Earthquakes and Chivas battle on Wednesday).
Joel
Lindpere got the Red Bulls off to a dream start early in the first half and
then netted the equalizer with only six minutes remaining to claim a point for
the visitors.
New
York comes into Wednesday’s clash as the heavy favorite, installed at -220 in the betting odds
with Bodog to get a home victory. Toronto is not given much of a chance, with
5Dimes having the visitors at +618 and Pinnacle handing them +748 soccer odds
to win.
The
Reds were able to win for the first time since May 7 in their most recent
match, squeaking by the Vancouver Whitecaps in a 1-0 decision.
A
converted penalty from Nick Soolsma was all Toronto needed as they got the
three points they so desperately needed, resulting in the team escaping that
dreaded last spot in the Eastern Conference.
The
Red Bulls to prove their superiority
New
York’s influential playmaker, Thierry Henry, did not play against the
Earthquakes due to flu-like symptoms, but there’s a solid chance he’ll have
recovered in time for Wednesday’s home encounter.
Luke
Rodgers on the other hand is still dealing with plantar fasciitis, a tricky
injury that could keep the important striker sidelined for the meeting with
Toronto.
Regardless,
perhaps the biggest news of the week came in the transfer market, as midfielder
Dwayne De Rosario was traded away to DC United.
In
return the Red Bulls received box-to-box midfielder Dax McCarty, a younger
player who the team has been tracking for quite a while. Sure, losing De
Rosario’s creativity and playmaking ability further up the field is a blow, but
what New York loses in that department they make up for on the defensive end.
McCarty is a battler and could provide some stability in the middle of the
field.
The
trade will also allow for Henry to operate a little further back rather than as
a target man, giving him more touches on the ball. And you definitely want that
if you’re coach Hans Backe.
Toronto
has also been in the news lately, with the squad recently acquiring German
midfielder Torsten Frings as well as Danny Koevermans. However the pair cannot
play until the transfer window opens on July 20.
But
let’s get back to Wednesday. Whether Henry and Rodgers line up for New York is
obviously an important development to track, with the pair having combined for
13 goals already this season.
Fortunately
for Backe, the Red Bulls do have a few other options in attack, including
speedy forwards Dane Richards and Juan Agudelo as well as Joel Lindpere and
Mehdi Ballouchy in midfield.
With
so many reliable outlets offensively, I see New York fielding a strong team in
spite of a growing injury list and it should be enough to pick off a weaker
Toronto side on Wednesday.
FREE
Pick: New
York 3 Toronto 1