How we sniggered last year when former RB New York Managing Director Marc de Grandpre said upon dismissing coach Bruce Arena that the expectation at owner Red Bull's HQ was nothing less than the MLS Cup. Now, says Pat Walsh, it may not be beyond the team to achieve that goal as early as this season, thanks to the turnaround capabilities of coach Juan Carlos Osorio.
Walsh pinpoints two principal reasons behind the team's rosier prospects for the MLS run-in. First, the four new South American signings that Osorio has made, especially the Venezuelan playmaker Jorge Rojas, who played so well in the 4-1 victory over D.C. United at the weekend. Also, Argentine Juan Pietravallo has "added the bite to the midfield the team has lacked in the wake of Dema Kovalenko's move to Real Salt Lake."
The second major factor will be the return to form of Juan Pablo Angel, and building upon the understanding that he has already begun to form with Rojas. "He appears healthy finally, and has four goals in his last three games," Walsh writes. "As a result, New York's impotent offense from the first half will be a force to contend with again down the stretch."
The Colombian Osorio is putting to good use his local knowledge of players from South America, and their combined tactical acumen gives the team "a distinct advantage over fellow playoff-strugglers Kansas City and Toronto. [D.C.] United has a better team when all of their players are healthy, but as was shown in last year's playoffs, Osorio can out-coach just about anyone in the league."