I’m standing in Stan’s trying to make sense of what I’ve just seen – a team that looked absolutely abysmal five weeks ago not only just defeated their number one rival, but are now top of the eastern table. What? So as I drink one bourbon, one scotch and one beer, one thing occurs to me about the game between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls:
One Love: One Thing Learned From NYCFC’s Victory Over NYRB
One Step Beyond:
Are you getting tired of the accolades being showered upon young Jack Harrison? Yeah, me neither. Nineteen years old and he’s been a bright spot in both of the derbies he’s appeared in. Hustles for every ball. Not afraid to get physical. Not afraid to take a shot. And every time he plays he attracts more attention from defenders – leaving more space for David Villa and Tommy McNamara. Sure, he seems to have trouble in the air (come on, Jack – Conor Lade was beating you to headers?) but hey, he’s young, he’ll learn.
The One I Love:
Hey look at that: NYCFC are top of the table. Nice, isn’t it? How long will it last? Let’s see; the Montreal Impact travel out to Rio Tinto Saturday to play Real Salt Lake who are currently sitting on 28 points. The Philadelphia Union host D.C. United the same day, and the Red Bulls host seventh place Portland Timbers on July 10th. In the interim, NYCFC will play the New England Revolution in Gillette and Sporting KC in the Blue Hell. Best case scenario? The Cityzens win both matches and gain three points on everyone. More likely scenario? They get three from the Revs, Montreal loses to RSL, Philly beats DC and NYCFC’s number one rival beats the Timbers – leaving NYCFC top of the table for another week. Just…
One Nation Under a Groove:
Not only did I not see any of the wrong-headed violence that has marred two of the preceding four derbies, but my conversations with a couple of members of Securitas, and with some of New York City’s finest after the game indicated that this was a peaceful meeting with fans of NYCFC’s number one rival. That’s a very good thing and both sides are to be commended. There are a lot of things the U.S. can learn from our brothers around the world about the sport we love; idiotic fan behaviour is not one of them.
One Thing Leads to Another:
Three games, nine points. It took NYCFC ten games to get that many points at the beginning of the year. Could just be luck. Or it could mean that the team is finally coalescing, learning how to play together and how to play within Patrick Vieira’s system..
Love Plus One:
Look, I’m as happy about the 2-0 victory over NYCFC’s number one rival as you are, and I’m as anxious to think of it as a harbinger of great things to come in future derbies – but let’s not get carried away. The Cityzens are still -10 on goal differential over the course of their games with the Red Bulls. They are 1-4-0 now. And while these stats in no way diminish the recent accomplishment, we know who the Red Bulls are. They will adjust. Which means the game in Harrison later this month will be even more important – if that’s even possible.
One Fine Day:
Congratulations to Josh Saunders, Jason Hernandez, Federic Brilliant, Jefferson Mena and RJ Allen on getting a clean sheet. They have been few and far between on 161st street this year. In fact, the only other Yankee Stadium shut out for this year was April’s 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire. That’s got to change if they hope to stay top of the table because it’s nuts that the number one team in the east has the same goal differential as the worst team in the west.
One Toke Over the Line:
Don’t take this the wrong way. But the Red Bulls played Philadelphia four days before they came to the Bronx. And they really played them. Full Starting XI. Jesse Marsch alluded to it during the press conference. That one of the reasons he started Alex Muyl was to get fresher legs on the pitch. Of course, I’m not saying that’s why NYCFC won. But I am saying they were lucky to catch their number one rival when they did J.us as they were lucky to catch the Sounders and the Union when they did too.
One on One:
You know, a lot of people have their knickers in a twist because the Red Bulls are “riled up” over NYCFC’s social media posts. Really? If I were Marsch I would do exactly the same thing. I would use whatever means available to get my team excited after a loss like that. Honestly, NYCFC fans, let it go. Marsch’s comments have more to do with firing up his team than they do with anything you did. If NYCFC had gone dark on twitter after the match, he’d have found something else. That’s what great coaches do and you shouldn’t expect anything less from NYCFC’s number one rival.
One for My Baby and One More for the Road:
Hope you enjoyed the game on Sunday, because NYCFC won’t be back in the Bronx until July 30th. And while this roadtrip won’t be as onerous as others, it will seriously test their record away from Yankee Stadium. Especially the match on July 24th against their number one rival. Will the NYCFC we saw in the fifth Derby be the team that shows up? One never knows, do one?
