September 14, 2009
OFFSIDE REMARKS
Repost: Osorio and Arena: different strategies, similar results
In wake of Alfredo Pacheco getting released by the Red Bulls on Monday, we thought it was appropriate to repost a column that BigAppleSoccer.com Editor Michael Lewis wrote on May 2.
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
On Saturday, we have a classic confrontation between a pair of second to last-place teams in their respective conferences -- the sixth-place Red Bulls (1-4-2) from the East and the seventh-place Los Angeles Galaxy from the West at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Ah, the classic resistible force against the movable object -- the 1-4-2 Red Bulls, fresh off their Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup qualifying win on Wednesday, vs. the 0-4-1 Galaxy.
The encounter also will be a first-time confrontation between the coach of Red Bull past (Bruce Arena) and the coach of Red Bull present (Juan Carlos Osorio).
While both teams are foundering near the bottom of their conferences, it is intriguing to see how each team has been built.
On one bench you have an intense coach who has flown several times to South and Central America and the Caribbean in an attempt to build his team.
On the other bench you have a coach trying to salvage his reputation by using old friends from the U.S. National Team and even the Red Bulls.
Of course, coaches have used players they have coached before or know has been a strategy for decades.
While it is nice to have experience, soccer is still a young man’s game.
Since last season, Arena has brought in 14 players, several of them who have played for him (sorry former Red Bulls forward Edson Buddle was in L.A. prior to Arena's arrival). Seven are former Red Bulls or U.S. National Team players. They're average age? A whopping 32-years-old, not exactly the usual game plan to win a league championship. In fact, you have to wonder what Arena is doing in L.A. -- trying to build a team or establish an old-age home for former U.S. international players? Looks like he's taking the easy way out by bringing in his old friends, a tactic that did not work when he brought former U.S. international captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna as the team's designated player (which was a factor in Arena's dismissal from the Red Bulls in 2007).
In alphabetical order:
* Gregg Berhalter -- former U.S. international defender who will turn 38 on June 1
* Todd Dunivant -- one-time Red Bulls left fullback who is 28
* Jovan Kirovski -- ex-U.S. international midfielder-forward who is 33
* Eddie Lewis -- former U.S. international midfielder who turn 35 on May 17
* Dema Kovalenko -- ex-Red Bulls midfielder who is 31 (turns 32 on Aug. 28)
* Mike Magee -- one-time Red Bulls midfielder-forward and first-round draft choice who is the baby of the bunch at 24
* Tony Sanneh -- former U.S. international defender who will turn 38 on June 1
Osorio has gone an entirely different route by taking the proactive route in pursuing promising talent. The average age of the Red Bulls' newcomers is 27.7.
Osorio's recent signings:
* Albert Celades -- Spanish midfielder who is 33
* Carlos Johnson -- Costa Rican right fullback who is 24 (turns 25 on July 10)
* Dominic Oduro -- Ghanan forward who is 23 (turns 24 on Aug. 13)
* Alfredo Pacheco -- El Salvadoran left fullback who is 27
* Mike Petke -- American central defender who is 33
* Khano Smith -- Bermudan international midfielder who is 27
Will one strategy ensure a team a victory on Saturday? No way.
Regardless how they fare on Saturday, the real test will be the test of the season -- reaching the playoffs.
Michael Lewis would like to hear from you. If you have a comment, drop him a line at email.
