New York Red Bulls: 2018 season young but little left to prove
The New York Red Bulls’ 2018 MLS season is quite young, but they have been so dominant thus far, they already have very little left to prove before the MLS Cup playoffs.
Okay, yes, the MLS Cup playoffs are months and months away and it is a long season. But after another MLS match week came and gone, the New York Red Bulls find themselves sitting pretty.
Such has been the Red Bulls’ blistering start to the season, both in MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League, they’ve already proved a ton:
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- They can score a lot of goals
- Bradley Wright-Phillips is still an MVP candidate
- They have immense depth
- Anyone can produce any given match (most recently Alex Muyl)
- Harrison is a tough place to play
- Luis Robles in on a new planet right now
- Jesse Marsch is brilliant
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There might even be more things on the list that I have missed. But the overall, big idea is this: The New York Red Bulls, from very little, have proved a lot.
So, what’s left?
This is a vague question. There are many answers to it. However, there is more already proven by RBNY thus far then there is left to prove.
This upcoming match in Orlando vs Orlando City SC they can prove their proficiency on the road, something that is in doubt after their loss to Real Salt Lake, perhaps the only thing that is in doubt.
But what is there after that? We have seen the Red Bulls win the supporters’ shield before, and relatively recently, we have seen them dismantle a number of MLS teams, we have seen their depth shine, we have seen them succeed in the CCL.
Perhaps, sweeping the Hudson River Derby will prove they are the best team in New York over NYCFC, but that should not even be important to them right now.
The Red Bulls, as a franchise overall, still must prove they can win a Cup competition. They are flying through their opposition in the 2018 CCL, but there is still a long way to go to win it. But domestically, they are demolishing their competition, especially at home. Aside from the obstacles they will overcome in the summer, they do not have much left to prove and have little weaknesses exposed.
Aside from the difficult away win, or even perhaps proving they can come from behind, the only things left to prove, then, is they can win it all.
The New York Red Bulls have a long and grueling season ahead of them. Please do not get me wrong on that. But solely basing observations of what I have seen thus far, they do not need to prove much more to remain near the top of MLS all season long.
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Maybe Red Bulls does give you wings.