Sixteen years in MLS and the New York Red Bulls are struggling again

Last week at the close of the MLS transfer window, the New York Red Bulls were one of the quieter teams in the league, making a single move for a teenage center back from Uruguay. For a team hovering around the red playoff line, it was a surprising lack of activity, especially since upgrades are needed at three or four spots on the field.

When Red Bull bought this team in 2006, they consistently splashed lots of money on pricey foreign imports. Now, 16 years later, they have just as much cash at their disposal but seem dead-set on limiting funds for a club that once boasted some of the biggest stars in MLS.

The less than buzzworthy summer transfer window from the Red Bulls is the latest example of a club that, a decade ago, was the biggest spenders in all of MLS. That isn’t the case anymore. Not in the least.

New York Red Bulls spending

The New York Red Bulls currently rank No. 23 in MLS (out of 27 teams) with a total salary outlay of $8.95 million. While that is behind a number of teams, it is actually a rather significant uptick in spending over the past two years when Chris Armas was the head coach.

In 2019, the Red Bulls were No. 22 (out of 25 teams) with $7.486 million in salary expenditures. Last year (when Armas was fired midseason), they were second-lowest in MLS with a salary of $7.05 million, besting only the Colorado Rapids.

Even with the significant increase in spending (the organization is spending 21 percent more this year on their roster than in 2020, not including transfers), it is still a surprisingly low level of spending for the Red Bulls, considering that they are a major market team with one of the wealthiest men in the world as an owner. Fifteen MLS teams are spending at least $10 million this year on payroll.

Now, at first blush, this all seems like an easy way to label this organization as being cheap but there is a definite philosophy here. Since the retirement of Thierry Henry following the 2014 season, the Red Bulls have poured more time and resources into their academy and young players, producing players like Tyler Adams, Caden Clark (not an academy player but acquired as a teenager in a trade with Minnesota United) and John Tolkin – with Adams already a starter at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and both Clark as well as Tolkin seemingly being groomed for a similar jump to Europe.

The philosophy has worked, with two Supporters Shields since 2015.  But as MLS spending has grown, leading to more difference makers on nearly every roster, the margin for error in the league is decreasing. The frugal approach by the Red Bulls may not be enough. With more quality in the league, pressing at a frenzied level isn’t simply enough of an identity.

And when the Red Bulls do spend, the return on investment has been disappointing. Kaku, brought in three years ago for a club record $7 million, is currently in Saudi Arabia amid a contract mishap (for which the Red Bulls aren’t at fault). Patryk Klimama, whose $5 million transfer from Celtic this season is the second-biggest after Kaku, has underwhelmed at this point.

Which leads to the issue of what Red Bull is getting with all this money.

What the New York Red Bulls are getting in return

In 2020, the New York Red Bulls spent $306,521 for each point, a number that is skewed given that the MLS schedule was just 23 games due to COVID-19. But pro-rated for a full season, their 32 points becomes 47 points and they spent $167,857 per pro-rated point.

In 2018, it was $220,176 per point.

This year, based off their projected point total for 34 games (Red Bull is at the halfway point having played 17 matches so far this season and sit on 19 points), the club will have spent a projected $235,526 per point.

And they might miss the playoffs. Truth be told, in a league where both expansion sides made the playoffs last year, that would be unacceptable, no matter the status of the roster rebuild.

So the Red Bulls are spending more and getting less under Struber and Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell. Ironically, they got more bang for the buck under Armas, whom fans detested but seemed to do more with a less talented roster than what is being seen now.

All this leads to the caution that this is a club that, for better or for worse, is going through a rebuilding project. These things take time to say the least. But what is discouraging is that the results aren’t there.

New York Red Bulls rough 2021 and moving forward

In their last six matches, the New York Red Bulls have just three points and are without a win since July 8. Sunday’s 2-1 loss at the Chicago Fire was as disappointing of a result as this club has seen over the past two years.

What’s a Red Bulls fan to do at this point? Patience for sure, as the rebuilding of a roster that has been underfunded for three seasons continues to take shape under Thelwell. He has a proven track record and sporting director Denis Hamlett, another popular punching bag among fans, knows how to navigate the league and its complicated roster rules.

But this is a more talented and deeper roster than any since 2018 (and the roster has been neglected with a lack of investment since then) and the results still aren’t coming. More spending is nice, but it appears that Red Bull  – in their sixteenth year of ownership – still hasn’t figured out how to spend the right way.

The Philadelphia Union won the Supporters Shield last year and have the lowest payroll in MLS this year. But unlike the Red Bulls, they aren’t bound by a stringent code of getting transfers under 24-years of age. The Union have young players, whom they compliment with veterans. They also play a pressing system similar to the Red Bulls.

For what it is worth, the Union are also the only MLS team remaining in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Difference makers are needed, perhaps of the variety old enough to rent a vehicle, would be a start. This is a team with a good young core but needs veteran leadership to drive forward any and all progress. It is not unfathomable to think that a young player in his mid-20s can help this team and yet still have the legs to do the maniacal running required by this system.

Of course, the proverbial ‘fit’ is of the utmost importance to Red Bull, both in New York and global. That shouldn’t change. But getting a fit (or two) with star power would surely help on the field while also negating the need for tarps to mask the dwindling crowds at Red Bull Arena.

There is no reason why the Red Bulls can’t find a player who fits who also is a difference maker while at the same time can crack through the malaise around this team and excite the fanbase.

Somehow in the span of seven years, the Red Bulls went from all to nothing when it comes to high-priced Designated Players – from Henry to ‘who’s that?’. Ambitious sides such as the Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City seem to be able to bring in big names that fit their style and they get results.

Red Bull needs to figure it out soon.