New York Red Bulls Head Into MLS Season Clearly Rebuilding

In terms of expectations, the New York Red Bulls say they want to be competitive. Their roster, on the other hand, says something entirely different.

It is a roster that, as of right now, screams rebuild.

Not that there is anything wrong with that, especially since the Red Bulls only prominent personnel moves have been on the way out of the organization over the past two seasons. And while there have been a flurry of offseason moves, none register as being a difference maker or a significant building block for this team to make a run at either the Supporters’ Shield let alone MLS Cup.

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“In terms of expectations – from our perspective, I think we understand we have got a very young, new squad. We have a new head coach,” said head of sport Kevin Thelwell during a press conference this week.

“And of course we’re ambitious this season but having said that, it is very much about following our process, taking things step-by-step. Allowing these new players to climatize and hopefully we’ll see some good performances.”

The statement from Thelwell reeks of managing expectations and setting the bar low.

Clearly, the Red Bulls are in a bit of transition. There is the whole messy Kaku situation and the club hasn’t replaced the likes of Tyler Adams, Kemar Lawrence or Michael Amir Murillo – all transferred to Champions League clubs within the past two years – with replacements of a similar level.

This is a major reason why head coach Chris Armas, terminated last season, was unable to find success. In recent years, there simply hasn’t been a prominent transfer into the organization to elevate a rather ordinary roster. Red Bulls transfer budget during Armas’ tenure was among the lowest in MLS and it showed with a roster that simply can’t compete.

And while the system rules in the land of Red Bull, there is still the need for a roster upgrade full of players who can actually do more than press. A difference maker wouldn’t hurt either.

The hope, of course, out of Harrison, is that all this is a knee jerk reaction.

There was a similar upswell of disapproval in 2015 when Red Bull jettisoned star players off the roster and began a youth movement. The result was a Supporters Shield that year and another one in 2018.

And of course, there is also hope in Thelwell, who came to MLS after being sporting director at Wolverhampton in the English Premier League. Perhaps in the flurry of signings such as Fabio and a loan for Andrew Gutman, that the big names and stars won’t be needed.

Surely, Thelwell has found success in mining for under-the-radar talent in the past in building his roster at Wolves. And head coach Gerhard Struber, most recently of Barnsley, has a similar track record.

But in a league where the salary discrepancy is ever-increasing between the ambitious clubs and, well, the Colorado Rapids, it is hard to see a path forward for New York long term if investments don’t keep pace.

The academy structure is fine and dandy and among the best in MLS. But with the stated goal of developing talent in New York to eventually move abroad, it is not a sustainable enough mentality to win an MLS Cup.

The team can point to a move for Colombian centerback Andres Reyes. The 21-year old defender played for Inter Miami last year and has represented Colombia at the U20 and U23 level.

Thelwell said that Red Bull tried to sign Reyes previously.

“He’s a player with very high potential, everybody can see that. He’s a very talented young player. He obviously fits what we believe will be our identity going forward. He has all the weapons to fit into what Gerhard and the team will want to do,” Thelwell said.

He’s obviously very capable of that. We had very, very good reports on him – not only in terms his attitude and mentality around games but also in terms training. We had good sources told us he’s good person, a very good individual. He also has had a year in MLS and dare I say it, made some mistakes, as all young players do, but them on someone else’s time. I think he will benefit from that experience. We’ve been tracking him a long time.

“I think with Andres, we have a player – he is exactly the player I want in that position. I think we can make him very, very good development in time.”

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer

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