July 9, 2009 WHAT THE BULLS ARE LACKING Goldthwaite: the hard work aspect
Kevin Goldthwaite: "The hard work aspect. That's the thing that I think our team is lacking,"
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
There have been many reasons and theories as to what has gone wrong with the Red Bulls season.
During their recent 10-game winless streak, central defender Kevin Goldthwaite felt the team is not working as hard as it should game in and game out.
"The hard work aspect. That's the thing that I think our team is lacking," he said after practice on Wednesday. "I'm saying that everybody's got to realize that. It's not supposed to take one game. It's not going to be given to us. Teams are not going to be thinking that they're having an easy team to beat because they're going to play us.
"It's going to be difficult every week. The biggest thing with me, every player has to find a way to win the individual battles. And even more than that, help each other win their battles. . . . The puzzle piece that we're missing is everyone wanting to fight and compete and not lose."
The Red Bulls (2-14-3, 10 points) are virtually out of the playoff picture. Even if they run the table in their final 11 matches, the Red Bulls would finish the MLS season with 43 points. Last year
Goldthwaite said he hasn't given up on the season, but the players have to play for pride.
"I think there is still a glimmer of hope with us trying to make it into the playoffs," he said. "Anything can happen. Even if the playoffs are not a possibility, you still have to have pride in what you're doing. Still have pride in yourself, not let anyone beat you.
“That's pretty much the core value or our job -- to win and let people beat you. If you do not have that -- that fight or that fight in you, find another professional. Your pride has to take over when the playoffs are out of the picture. At that point, if anyone has given up, I'll probably be the first one to call him out on it."
Midfielder Seth Stammler agreed.
"You just want to finish the season with as nice a run as possible, whether that's making the playoffs or coming up one point short," he said. "As competitors, you like to think we take every game from here on out like the first one of the season. Well, hopefully not, but that one did not go very well either."
Stammler was referring to the 3-0 season-opening win at the Seattle Sounders FC.
"You've just got to play for your own self pride and obviously as a team, we've got to find something to bring us together and try to find some positive in the season because there has been very little so far," he added.
Goldthwaite admitted he isn't used to losing this much.
"I don't think I've been apart of a team like we've been struggling lately," he said. "It's a challenge every day to come in to try to figure out what you do did on the weekend to try to sort things out. Everything we've been trying seems to be is coming away without a result. It's difficult and challenging. Everyone wants to turn the thing around as soon as possible right now."
Goldy isn't alone in that assessment, but that doesn't make it any easier for him or his teammates.
"Obviously, it's been a tough year," Stammler said. "I think it's circumstances probably none of us have been through in our soccer careers. So it's kind of something you've got to adjust to and learn on the fly. You try not to dwell in the past, but obviously there's lessons to be learned in the games we've played to date.
"We keep talking about the same things, not giving up late goals, not giving up stupid defending goals, whatever. we see to keep falling into the same problems each game. Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks we can sort some of these problems out and get a result. Hopefully, that will give us a little bit of confidence and positive outlook the rest of the season."
