Sporting KC play their penultimate game of the regular season with a trip to the East Coast to face NY on Saturday, October 20. I recently interviewed Red Bulls' (of MSG TV) commentator Shep Messing to preview the match.
On New York's season
"I think when you look at the Red Bulls this season, like many others, was a season of great expectations. When you have players that are the caliber of Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez, and you bring in Tim Cahill, you have great expectations. This Red Bulls organization, I think, has done everything they can do to try and win trophies, not only get to MLS Cup but win it. I think its been a little bit of a disappointment so far but having said that in Major League Soccer you gotta get into the playoffs and you gotta get on a run. I think they could save their season by getting on a run but so far its been a little bit disappointing."
On NY's Inconsistency
"I think I would say and the team would say and Thierry Henry has been saying it all year long, that the inconsistencies for this team really start on the defensive side of the ball. You look at a back four and rotation of goalkeepers. It started with Ryan Meara, the rookie who had a good start to the season, then he got injured. Bill Gaudette comes in, plays really well and now its Robles. A lack of consistent goalkeeping and a back four thats always been changing."
"The inconsistency, for me, is purely on the defensive side of the ball."
On NY conceding early goals
"It's been ludicrous. I think every team in every league in the world comes out and says 'Let's not give anything away in the first 20 minutes. Let's string some passes together. Let's be tight'. I think its the same in MLS, its the same in the Premier League, Germany, Italy, Spain. Nobody wants to give up a goal in the first 20 minutes and so are those physical mistakes or mental mistakes or both. Physical mistakes you can live with. There's a lot that goes on in a game and players are going to make physical mistakes but I think the mentality has been off for this team as to how they approach a game and how they play when the referee blows the whistle. They've been trying to get it right all year and they still haven't done it."
"They've got to come out on Saturday night and try to control the first 20 minutes. Then they've got to find a way to get goals."
On Sporting KC
"Kansas City's the best team in the league. Maybe San Jose but Sporting Kansas City has been phenomenal. They are kind of the model for how to build a team to win championships."
"Sporting KC, I think, has been the model of two strong centerbacks, outside backs who are versatile, and an outstanding goalkeeper. They are just tough to beat."
On Thierry Henry
"I think Henry has been superb. The question mark whenever you bring big name players to Major League Soccer, are they here for the right reason. Are they here to play hard or are they here to win championships. Thierry Henry is here for all those reasons. He works hard. He's the hardest working player in practice everyday. He's tempermental but he's been tempermental his whole career. He's here to win. He's been very frustrated with the inconsistencies but for me he's shown that he's still one of the best players around. I think he's the best player in Major League Soccer. He scores ridiculous goals but the stuff he does off the ball; tracking back, defending, orchestrating his teammates, I think he's everything anybody ever wants in a player. That's Thierry Henry. He's playing as well as I've ever seen him play."
On importance of Saturday's match to NY
"This is the biggest game of the season for Red Bulls. I think and they (NY) think they've struggled against Sporting KC because Sporting KC is a better team. They're (SKC) a better team. If you look at the games they've played this season (head to head), Red Bulls have only scored one goal and that was an own goal. You've got them (SKC) at home if you're Red Bulls but that didn't help the last time. They've got to find a way to get three points, not one point. That's how they are going into the game."
On keys for NY on Saturday
"I think its the midfield and the rotation of players in the midfield. Sporting KC has a three headed monster in attack. The way you slow that down is to control the midfield. Between Solli, Lindpere, Tainio, Tim Cahill, and Dax McCarty, I think they've got to find a way to control the midfield and cut off the head that feeds Sporting KC and that's Zusi. If they can control the midfield, I think they'll win the game. The marquee player, Thierry Henry will do his thing, but I think its the working guys in the midfield who are going to determine how this game goes. If Lindpere, Cahill, Tainio, and McCarty control the midfield, that's the best opportunity for Red Bulls."
On Saturday's match
"The Red Bulls have in their mind, I'm sure they do, that they are playing one of, if not the best, team in Major League Soccer. I think they have it in their minds that its going to take an all out 100% performance to try and get a win."
"It's a sell-out for this game Saturday night and I think we'll find out what Red Bulls are made of."
