Ahead of Wednesday's midweek action against New York Red Bulls, SportingKC.com caught up American Soccer Now's Franco Panizo to preview #SKCvNY. Live coverage starts at 7 pm (kickoff at 7:30) on FOX Sports KC+, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB, and La Grande 1340 AM. Check out MatchDay Central for complete online coverage.
How would you sum up the Red Bulls’ season so far? Are there any significant changes in the team’s style of play or philosophy from last season?
It has been the usual start to a Red Bulls' season: Very bumpy at first, but eventually smooth. The club began the year by playing in an unconventional 4-2-2-2 formation that was meant to help better protect high-pressing New York from being exposed on the counter, but it came at the expense of the attack.
Head coach Jesse Marsch was a bit stubborn in giving up on that tactical look, which he also tried at the start of 2016 with little in the way of results, but he eventually moved back to the more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation that the Red Bulls have thrived in during his tenure. The results have picked up since Marsch made the switch, and his players are looking a lot more comfortable.
Expect New York to come out with that same tried-and-trusted gameplan of trying to force turnovers high up the field that can be transformed into scoring opportunities and goals.
With a match at Philadelphia on Saturday, do you expect many lineup changes?
Marsch had said since last week that there would be a rotation of players given that the Red Bulls are playing three games in eight days, a stretch that included this past weekend's 2-1 home win over the revamped Chicago Fire.
Exactly how many changes will be made is unknown, but Marsch has some decent depth to count on with the likes of midfielder Sean Davis, versatile attacker Gonzalo Veron, forward Fredrik Gulbrandsen, and (former Sporting KC) winger-turned-defender Sal Zizzo all fresh and ready.
Given that this match vs. Sporting Kansas City match is an out-of-conference game, it is likely that Marsch goes with a less-than-at-strength lineup before reintroducing all the heavy hitters for the game against the Philadelphia Union on the weekend.
What are the injury concerns ahead of Wednesday’s match?
The two big ones right now are to wide midfielder Mike Grella and centerback Aurelien Collin, who Sporting KC fans know well from his days at the club. Grella will not be ready for the midweek affair, as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury. Collin, meanwhile, is also unlikely to make his return trip to Kansas City given that he suffered an abdominal strain last week and is listed as "week-to-week".
The two players might be missed, but neither has been an every-game starter to this point.
What’s been the key to the Red Bull’s recent success (three straight victories)?
Well, it certainly did not hurt that the Red Bulls played all three of those games at home, but the aforementioned switch back to the 4-2-3-1 system is really the driving force behind this good run of form. The club simply understands and performs better in it, and attacking players like Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan are made more dangerous because they are fielded in positions that best play to their strengths.
It is certainly not by chance that the three straight wins, which saw New York outscore opponents 6-1, coincided with that tactical change. The attacking part of the Red Bulls' game has started to come along since the move, and that combined with the improved defensive play has been a recipe for success.
What are you looking forward to seeing from Wednesday’s match?
The one thing that really stands out is how the Red Bulls attack, on short rest, fares against that sting Sporting KC defense. New York has proven that it has the weapons to hurt any team and the club is riding a good wave of confidence right now, but the test that Ike Opara, Matt Besler, and the rest of the back line will provide will be a big one. Kansas City has conceded just three times all season, so something will have to give when a potent attack meets a robust defense.
