The showdown that will take place today inside Red Bull Arena will not just be two of MLS’s clubs battling for points or table position, but for bragging rights in the most ridiculous derby MLS has, the 1% derby. The rivalry between NY and LA is real, and the battle between Broadway and Hollywood intensified over the last few seasons with the additions of players like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, and now Tim Cahill. However, with the new unbalanced schedule, the teams only face each other once in the regular season and rotate hosting duties, making the matchup all the more special.
The New York Red Bulls (6-4-3) finally settle into a match a week format after having a touch, compressed opening schedule, and return home for the first of three consecutive home matches. Mike Petke took the opportunity to rest key starters and limit the minutes of other players, after a grueling week of 3 games in 7 days. Now, those players are all back and ready to start against the defending MLS Cup champs. On the flipside, LA is playing their third game in a week, all three on the road.
With the Red Bulls healthy, Mike Petke will have some tough choices to make concerning his lineup. It seems obvious to most that Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave return to their normal roles but it is in the midfield where the questions are being asked. New York has three central midfielders, Dax McCarty, Tim Cahill, Juninho, all healthy and ready to go. Petke can also not ignore the play of Eric Alexander, Lloyd Sam, and Johnny Steele. So what is the first year coach to do with four midfield spots and six able bodies? Lloyd Sam played well for 60 minutes against New England but seemed gassed towards the end of the match. Against the tired legs of LA, Sam’s speed and one-on-one ability could prove the difference early on in the match. Johnny Steele’s combination play with Roy Miller and Henry down the left flank has made NY one of the best crossing teams in MLS this season. It’s too close to call on who sits out of the three central midfielders of McCarty, Juninho, and Cahill and Petke may play all three in some 4-3-3 formation. If the Red Bulls trot out in a 4-4-2, they will force the ball centrally more and more and with the likes of Juninho and Marcello Sarvas, that could bite them.
Bruce Arena will most likely start his back four that won him two consecutive MLS Cups. With Donovan and Keane healthy, there’s no reason to need to push Sean Franklin into the midfield. Either way, NY’s crossing and their direct play could easily be stifled by the height of Omar Gonzalez and defending with his partner AJ De La Garza. Todd Dunivant has always been good defending solo but we’ll see how he does returning from injury, especially if Sam gets time against him. The Red Bulls will need Fabian Espindola to be on top of his game. Espindola, a former RSL man, should know this LA defense very well. His runs will be needed to open up space for Henry and the midfielders joining in on the attack.
What about LA’s offense, you ask? Well after looking sloppy against Houston and Vancouver, LA poured four goals down I-95 this past Wednesday against the Union. LA hit Philadelphia pretty hard on the counter and should look to do the same against New York. While Dax McCarty and Tim Cahill could easily stop the counter, the legs of Juninho, if played, could allow LA to find the space necessary to more easily facilitate their counter. New York can do a few things, besides sitting Juninho, to prevent LA’s counter. The central midfield pairing could afford less space to LA by facilitating the attack through the flanks. Cahill, Dax, and Juninho will all try to run with the ball when given the ability to do so. LA could trap NY’s center mids, stranding them in the attacking third from time to time.
For the first time in 12 matches, the Red Bulls take on a Western Conference foe. The only two matches that haven’t been eastern conference opponents were NY’s first two matches against Portland and San Jose. New York had two good opening halves but could not finish out the games, leading to disastrous second halves. The Red Bulls have been scrapping and grinding out results but have yet to have a statement win against a top MLS team. A strong outing against the defending champs could tip some pundits in NY’s favor. The Red Bulls and LA Galaxy kick off in the 1% derby at 1pm eastern on ESPN 2.
