Red Bulls practice observations

It was a pretty light day of training today at Red Bulls camp, probably because it felt like 100 degrees on the team's new field. Here are some tidbits:

Ronald Waterreus, Hunter Freeman and Todd Dunivant look like they will be out for Saturday's match. Dunivant did some running but won't be ready while Waterreus and Freeman didn't even join team on the practice field.

One player who is healthy is Claudio Reyna. He is fit and ready to go (insert your 'Unless he gets hurt on Friday joke here').

Here's the lineup I think you are most likely see vs. Kansas City on Saturday:

---------Angel---------Wolyniec---------

VDB-------------------------------Richards

-----------Reyna------Mathis-------------

Stammler-----------------------Kovalenko

-------------Parke----Mendes-------------

-----------------Conway--------------------

Yes, Jozy Altidore is back and healthy but Angel and Woly have a good run going so it shouldn't come as a surprise if Bruce Arena wants to stick with what's working.

The Reyna-Mathis central midfield tandem will be an interesting one. They haven't been paired in midfield together since their national team days at least three or four years ago.

Chris Leitch was in training again and he has a good chance of making the team. Bruce Arena is just getting to know him but technical director Jeff Agoos and assistant coach Richie Williams are very familiar with Leitch. He would be a great bench addition and would give Arena an experienced fullback who can play on the right or the left.

Comments

[MetroFlip73]

Mathis and Reyna in the center? Didn't they see marinelli against the Revs? He'll be breaking our guys ankles all game!

[nutmegger]

If Leitch is signed, who is waived?

[lawrenceterp]

I hope you are wrong about Jozy. I love watching RBNY just to see him play. If he's on the bench it takes a lot of the game for me.

[Jasen]

i don't mind Mathis in the midfield so much if his workrate remains consistent.

this also works because earlier in the season, Arena had mentioned Reyna would need to have more attacking responsibilities, but with Mathis in front of him that won't be necessary and Reyna can continue to be a great link between the defense and the midfield.

[Tim]

I assume that Schopp will get some minutes off the bench?

[Frank the Frowner]

Woly should not be starting while Jozy is still around.

[sublicon]

Woly for president, who cares? If he's doing well, he's doing well. Bruce knows what the deal is.

[JHJG89]

So, pretty much the same as last Saturday, except Reyna for Jozy, and Stammler takes DVDB's place at left back and Dave moves up.

[emilio]

I cant see Wolyniec starting ahead of Altidore, considering Altidore scored last week and played the 90 minutes, while Wolyniec was subbed out.

[ag nigrin]

Woly is playing very well and
played his derriere off last week... Plus KCs D is very physical and I think Woly can handle it better then Alti!

[bill]

Altidore is obviously going to get sold playing time if he starts or not. He is YOUNG. I feel it will probably be better that he play as a sub and work to earn playing time then to have time gifted to him. He needs to continue to develop.

[Diego R.]

NYRB should get a reward for playing the most midfielders on the pitch at the same time. Maybe they could sit out Woly and bring in Schopp just to make it 7

[Jon]

Reyna could get hurt Saturday morning too

[erik]

Ha! Jon's comment got a laugh from this guy. Seriously, we ought to send Reyna a crate of Windex.

[Haig]

If that's the lineup, I bet VDB plays very deep, and Stammler does a lot of covering for Reyna and Mathis. Don't get fooled by "formations."