If New York is a team of habit, then it’s a habit of falling into the same holes twice. Last season started with the team going winless in its first four games, gaining only 2 points. This season has started the same way, with the team putting out even worse performances and earning only 3 points altogether. The first half involved inviting pressure from Chivas, leaving the defense wide open to attacks. While the midfield and offense had improved, Cahill was still noticeably invisible until he was taken off due to injury. The first half was a microcosm of the first four games of the season, the team underperformed.
Eckersley was the star of the first half. After giving away a cheap penalty in the first game of the season, he decided that fans would love it if he repeated the scenario. After he was caught on the wrong side of the player, Eckersley decided that it would be a good idea to pull him down inside the box even though the cross went harmlessly five feet above their heads. It would be unfair to say that Eckersley doesn’t put in work; he’s clearly a player who works hard and realizes that he’s been the weakest link, something former ex-bulls might want to take note of. As hard as Richard Eckersley tries, however, he just simply isn’t good enough. New York had statistically one of the best defenses in the league last season, allowing few chances and even fewer goals from those chances, but the turnover in players has meant that new defenders have to live up to expectations.
Obviously some might claim that the exact same scenario happened with Roy Miller. There’s some truth to that statement: Roy Miller was the only decent left back New York had and he failed the fans and his teammates when he gave away a penalty before then being called for encroachment. Petke handled the situation well, and after taking a short trip home, Roy Miller came back and proved his skill. The difference between Miller and Eckersley, though, is the fact that Miller had already proven that he was good enough for New York. His defensive performance a season before was good, and he had been a reliable although frustrating member of the starting squad. That difference is key between the two: as hard as Eckersley works, he just might never fit into Petke’s defensive system.
But if the first 45 minutes showed the teams failure, the second half brought back the esprit de corps. At the end of last season, Andy Roxburgh famously said that “The team never really lost, we just ran out of time.” Those words brought together the entire strength of the renewed team. Even in the worst of losses, in the worst performances, each and every player that New York fielded worked themselves to the bone to get a win. In their worst performances, New York’s players matched their opponents skill with their work rate, often rallying in the final minutes of the match. It was a race against time, and they took no punishment lying down. Even when they played down to the level of the worst teams in the league they fought to the bitter end to earn the respect of their fans.
This team came back.
The talk during the halftime break had resuscitated them, taken them out of the closet and brushed the dust off. Even though they were unorganized, often times messy, every player on the field fought. They challenged Chivas, using their individual skill when their team play wasn’t working. It was a sure sign of good things to come. The big Spaniard Armando once again proved that he was the best defensive partner for Olave. He possesses the same mental acuity while defending and is able to intercept balls and break up plays before they develop just as the star Columbian does. His propensity for violence means that he’ll collect yellows throughout the season like a seven year old collects baseball cards, but that same ferocity allows him to perform courageous slide tackles in the defensive third, especially on breakaways. Armando’s power going forward is in his ball control and his pure physical strength. More than once was he able to run through a stream of Chivas players like a steamroller against toy army men.
On the right side, Kimura changed the game when he came in for Eckersley. His one on one defending has been perfected, and the offseason has given him the ability to read plays, something he struggled with last season. His offensive movement was outstanding, overlapping with Lloyd Sam in near perfection while knowing when to return to his position to defend. Though he is injured for the next game, Kimura has surely earned a starting spot on the right side.
In the end, Peguy Luyindula stole the show with his first goal from open play in a Red Bull jersey. His usual dribbling and passing skill in the offensive half shown through in the teams attack minded play, and his final header finally drove him his contributions to the team. Whether the scoring curse that has plagued Peguy Luyindula has been broken is yet to be seen, but going forward, he is sure to be an integral part of the team. At the same time, Convey showed some of his old skill when he tucked into the middle of the field and was able to orchestrate some play, though he still has greater potential at New York.
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