Previewing Houston Dynamo vs New York Red Bulls with Joe Pantorno
(image via New York Red Bulls)
The Houston Dynamo are back at home for MLS play as they host the New York Red Bulls tomorrow night. We talked to our friend Joe Pantorno from amNewYork to get some insight on RBNY ahead of tomorrow’s match.
Bayou City Soccer (BCS): The Red Bulls made a big splash this offseason signing Emil Forsberg. How big a signing has he been for the fan base and what does Forsberg bring to this Red Bull team?
Joe Pantorno (JP): Forsberg's signing was the crown jewel of an otherwise uneventful offseason for Jochen Schneider, who initially teased an aggressive approach but walked back those sentiments as the winter progressed. I can't speak for the fans, but Forsberg's presence amongst the Red Bulls is already enormous. The pedigree speaks for itself and his demeanor has made him a leader from the jump. He provides a playmaking surge to the midfield but with it, a calming presence that can whisk up danger in a flash. He's going to be the engine of the Red Bulls' offense and the reason why they make (or miss) the playoffs.
BCS: Red Bull plays a very distinct style across all their different clubs around the world. With Sandro Schwarz taking over as the new head coach, is he continuing that high-press mentality and what else does he bring to this club?
JP: Upon Schwarz's arrival, he said that he wasn't going to come in and completely revamp the so-called "Red Bull Way" of play. They'll still press high and they're still going to be incredibly aggressive, but there are tweaks to this. This isn't counter-attacking soccer with a smash-and-grab type of feel. The Red Bulls are going to try and boss possession and pick their opponents apart. That's what Forsberg is here to do and that's what was seen during the season opener against Nashville. The only thing that was missing was the finishing.
BCS: One of the big question marks coming into this season for RBNY is where the goals are going to come from as they lack a MLS-proven goalscorer on the roster. Is Dante Vanzeir ready to take on that role and where else might the offense come from on this team?
JP: This was the biggest question mark of the offseason and it will continue to be just that this year until proven otherwise. Where are the goals going to come from up front? Vanzeir should take a step forward to be that guy, but that obviously remains to be seen. He had a golden opportunity to get off the mark against Nashville but was denied by the post. That's how things have gone for him since he arrived in New York. Elias Manoel is going to play an important role as a secondary forward, but there is a ton of polishing that still needs to be done to his game. This is why the return of Lewis Morgan is going to be so important. The Red Bulls are getting their leading scorer from two years ago back and a midfield partnership with him and Forsberg should open up an abundance of chances for the likes of Vanzeir and Manoel. They don't need to convert at 100% — or even 50% — but they need to produce or else it's too much on the midfield's shoulders.
BCS: John Tolkin has become a star for the Red Bulls after a breakout season last year. How important is his versatility and what he brings to the lineup as a leader at such a young age?
Schneider said it best last season: This is a player who is destined for Europe and the Red Bulls are going to sit back and enjoy whatever time left they have with him. He's a strong defender, a menace down the wing to support the attack, and skilled from set pieces. That's pretty impressive for a 21-year-old. He was out last week in Nashville and I'll be speaking with Schwarz a little later today, so we should get a bit of clarity about his availability for the weekend shortly. (Editor’s note: Tolkin is a game-time decision per the RBNY press conference)
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We want to thank Joe for his time and wish our friends in New York and New Jersey the best of luck tomorrow night.
