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New York Red Bulls: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Red Bulls fans cheer during the second half against the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium. The Red Bulls won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Red Bulls fans cheer during the second half against the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium. The Red Bulls won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 10, 2015; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty (11) and New York City FC midfielder Ned Grabavoy (11) come together after the match at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls defeated NYCFC 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2015; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty (11) and New York City FC midfielder Ned Grabavoy (11) come together after the match at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls defeated NYCFC 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

The big fear: That they might be looking ahead to NYCFC

New York Red Bulls-NYCFC is one of the biggest derbies in all of soccer in this hemisphere. Does it have the years and years of acrimony that other derbies have around these parts? No. But many of those rivalries do not sell out every single match, have supporters at each other’s throats, and the feeling that every game matters. In just two short years the Red Bulls and NYCFC have created something unique to the region, exciting to the supporters, and worth tuning to watch.

But while the league and many supporters are possibly looking ahead to an NYCFC-Red Bulls derby those who reside in RBA Stadium would be advised to not look beyond the Impact. Montreal showed on Wednesday night against a D.C. side that were clearly more interested in playing their I-95 rivals than Montreal. That the Impact were playing without Didier Drogba probably did not help in resolving this oversight. Montreal came within a few whiskers of making MLS Cup last season and are certainly a side bigger than Drogba.

More from New York Red Bulls

The good news for Red Bulls supporters is that their coach has something to prove in this match. Just four years ago around this time Jesse Marsch was the head coach of the Montreal Impact. In their inaugural season in MLS Marsch led the club to a 12-16-6 record. The side was an expansion side but they played pretty well under Marsch’s leadership and looked like a better side at the end of the campaign.

But a good final third of the season (4-3-3, 15 points) was not enough to keep Marsch’s job. Marsch is not exactly a hot-head but he certainly has to be entering this series with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and the desire to prove Impact owner Joey Saputo wrong. This Red Bulls team feels united behind their coach and will want to deliver their best effort against his former side.

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