2022 Schedule
Armchair Analyst's Breakdown
- Strength: Energy drink soccer! After eight years of this, RBNY are still singular in their commitment to ultra-direct, ultra-pressing soccer. And it still works.
- Weakness: Over the past couple of years it’s worked well enough to be a fringe playoff team. In the years before that it won trophies. Hmm.
Key Departures
- Sean Davis: Sean Davis was with the New York Red Bulls in some capacity for a decade, as the New Jersey kid was an academy standout that signed a homegrown contract ahead of the 2015 season. By the time of his departure in free agency for Nashville SC, Davis rose to club captain and was a key starter in midfield, including playing every single MLS minute last year.
- Andrew Gutman: On loan from Atlanta United for a season, Andrew Gutman heads south after a successful stint with RBNY. Homegrown left back John Tolkin proved he was ready for consistent MLS minutes last year, and the rising talent is their starting left back heading into the 2022 campaign.
- Fabio: Fabio, too, was on loan last year and, perhaps surprisingly, isn’t back for 2022. His loan ended and the Red Bulls couldn’t find an agreement on the purchase option after seven goals and seven assists in 30 regular-season appearances. He has since signed with Brazilian giants Atletico Mineiro.
Key Acquisitions
- Luquinhas: A second DP alongside Patryk Klimala, Brazilian attacker Luquinhas was officially signed last week as RBNY gear up for opening day. Luquinhas can play on either wing or as a No. 10, giving manager Gerhard Struber further tactical flexibility. He previously featured for Legia Warsaw, where the 25-year-old had 12 goals and 18 assists in 110 matches. He was named Midfielder of the Season in the Polish top flight in 2020-21.
- Lewis Morgan: Very briefly this offseason, Lewis Morgan was the most expensive intra-league trade in terms of guaranteed money ($1.2 million GAM). The Scottish winger was Inter Miami CF’s club MVP during their expansion season, a rare bright spot in their challenging first two seasons in the league. He was acquired by the Red Bulls to play as an attacker, be it on the wing or through the center pending Struber’s preferred formation.
- Caden Clark: Loaned back to RBNY from RB Leipzig, Caden Clark technically counts as an addition. But it's a gray area, as the MLS side hasn't played without him since he joined the German Bundesliga sister club this winter.
- Full roster
Projected Starting XI
Predictions
- Charles Boehm: 6th in East
- Tom Bogert: 8th in East
- Matt Doyle: 7th in East
- David Gass: 9th in East
- Sam Jones: 9th in East
- Joe Lowery: 8th in East
- Greg Seltzer: 9th in East
- Andrew Wiebe: 6th in East
New York Red Bulls Season Preview
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