The New York Red Bulls are 4-1 and find themselves atop the Eastern Conference with their best start ever after five games as the surrpise team of this young MLS season. Yes, the season is young, but it has been quite a turnaround from last season's sorry 5-19-6 finish.
The funny thing about it is that 14 players are still on the team from 2009. Including five in the starting lineup (as many as eight members of the 2009 team were in the lineup in earlier games). Three returnees came off the bench to help secure the victory.
On Saturday, the Red Bulls can equal their win total of last season. It took them some seven months to attain five wins last year. If they win at D.C. United May 1, it will be 37 days from their MLS season opening victory over the Chicago Fire.
So, why are things different? Big Apple Soccer's Michael Lewis looks at why the Red Bulls winning:
First and foremost, coach Hans Backe and sporting director and general manager Erik Soler have instituted a new philosophy and environment, Backe for the team, Soler for the organization. Backe, to many American soccer fans "an unknown" Swede with a long, impressive coaching history in Europe and Scandinavia, Backe hasn't tried to complicate things. He keeps things simple. After all, soccer is a simple game, isn't it? Essentially, Backe uses a 4-4-2, although he said the formation might morph into a variation or two of that when there is the right time. Moreover, players know their roles. They don't change drastically from game to game. And except for injuries, form and obviously suspensions, Backe said he doesn't like to change his lineup from game to game, unlike what his predecessor, Juan Carlos Osorio, did. Osorio like to build his lineup to match up with the opposition. Backe wants to put out the best possible 11 in their respective positions.
The funny thing about it is that 14 players are still on the team from 2009. Including five in the starting lineup (as many as eight members of the 2009 team were in the lineup in earlier games). Three returnees came off the bench to help secure the victory.
On Saturday, the Red Bulls can equal their win total of last season. It took them some seven months to attain five wins last year. If they win at D.C. United May 1, it will be 37 days from their MLS season opening victory over the Chicago Fire.
So, why are things different? Big Apple Soccer's Michael Lewis looks at why the Red Bulls winning:
First and foremost, coach Hans Backe and sporting director and general manager Erik Soler have instituted a new philosophy and environment, Backe for the team, Soler for the organization. Backe, to many American soccer fans "an unknown" Swede with a long, impressive coaching history in Europe and Scandinavia, Backe hasn't tried to complicate things. He keeps things simple. After all, soccer is a simple game, isn't it? Essentially, Backe uses a 4-4-2, although he said the formation might morph into a variation or two of that when there is the right time. Moreover, players know their roles. They don't change drastically from game to game. And except for injuries, form and obviously suspensions, Backe said he doesn't like to change his lineup from game to game, unlike what his predecessor, Juan Carlos Osorio, did. Osorio like to build his lineup to match up with the opposition. Backe wants to put out the best possible 11 in their respective positions.
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