MLS: Defensive Decisions for Red Bulls
By Zach Lahey
Gideon Baah is out with a broken tibia and Marsch will have some tough decisions ahead. This is how the Red Bulls backline should look like.
One positive for the New York Red Bulls so far this season has been the performance of the defense. The Red Bulls defense started off very sloppy when the team only won one of their first seven games.
After the acquisition of Aurelien Collin, the Red Bulls have been dominant defensively.
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Unfortunately, New York took a big blow when Gideon Baah got stretchered off in their draw against the Portland Timbers on Sunday. Baah has been diagnosed with a broken tibia and will be out for 3-4 months.
This leaves Jesse Marsch with a couple tough decisions to make for the next couple games.
This is how the New York Red Bulls backline should look for the next few months without Baah.
LB: Conor Lade
Lade has been one of the Red Bulls best young players in the 2016 season. He has the greatest work ethic I have seen in a long time. Even though he is the smallest guy in the field, it does not stop him from proving his critics wrong. If anybody has earned a starting spot on the backline, it is him.
CB: Auerelin Collin
The big decision for Marsch will be who he plays at center back over the next few games. Since the defense has played great with Collin, he should definitely be in the starting XI. Collin has commanded the backline for New York and will continue to do so if he does not pick up any more red cards.
CB: Damien Perrinelle
I know he just came back from an ACL injury, but he looked pretty good in the draw against Portland. He was arguably New York’s best defender last season when they won the Supporter’s Shield. Do not expect him to start the next couple games but he will get his starting position back soon.
RB: Sal Zizzo
The Red Bulls should stick with Sal Zizzo at right back. I have been one of his harshest critics but he has done a pretty good job this season. Zizzo attacks very well and provides New York with speed on the outside. The only concern Marsch should have is who he puts in front of him.
Other defenders who will get in the mix for New York will most certainly be Ronald Zubar and Chris Duvall. They both have proven they can play with the first team.
Also, Marsch has recently included rookie Justin Bilyeu in the lineup. He is a player to look out for in the future.