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The New York Red Bulls and Kansas City Wizards endured two of the worst seasons in MLS in 2009, disappointments that led to coaching changes before the season even ended, failures that led to inevitable roster turnover this winter.
Both teams posted season-opening victories last Saturday, only neither team looked as different as you would have expected.
The Wizards fielded eight players who were on the 2009 squad, but there was a completely different energy around them as they demolished D.C. United 4-0.
The same went for New York, which trotted out eight players who were on the roster of the worst team in MLS last season, but still managed to post a 1-0 victory against a strong Chicago team the Red Bulls hadn’t beaten since 2007.
So how did two teams that were so bad last year look so good last week, despite using many of the same players from a disappointing 2009? You can point to the new coaches on the sidelines for each team, as well as the trio of newcomers each team can boast.
Peter Vermes is hardly a stranger to the Wizards, having been the general manager who built the team over the past two years, but it wasn’t until he took over as interim head coach last season that he got an up-close look at his team and what needed changing.
The first thing he found was a K.C. team that needed to become tougher to play against. That’s a not so subtle way of saying the Wizards were a soft team, which was something Vermes was intent on changing. Enter midfielder Stephane Auvrey, a pit bull in the middle who has provided some much-needed bite.
Auvrey was one of three new players in the Wizards starting lineup against D.C. Ryan Smith was arguably the most influential. A speedy and shifty English winger who has replaced the well-liked but aging Claudio Lopez, Smith showed off a dynamic quality that had been lacking from recent Wizards teams, a spark that could serve as the ideal conductor for Kansas City veterans Josh Wolff and Davy Arnaud.
The third K.C. newcomer was goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, who has replaced the always reliable Kevin Hartman. While it remains unclear whether Nielsen will be an upgrade or not, the Danish net minder certainly looked comfortable in goal and looks capable of making Wizards fans forget the blonde goalkeeper he replaced.
As good as the Wizards’ newcomers were, there were strong performances from returning players that were key to the victory. Kei Kamara played well in a right wing role and second-year defender Matt Besler was very impressive playing alongside perennial all-star Jimmy Conrad. The trio of Jack Jewsbury, Arnaud and Wolff were also impressive.
Vermes spent the preseason working on combining his strong nucleus with the smart additions he made this winter and, with the help of new assistant coach Octavio Zambrano, put together a team much better equipped to compete for a playoff spot.
In New York, the fact that only three new players were in the lineup in Saturday’s victory is even more stunning. The contributions of those three players provide plenty of insight into why the Red Bulls could look so much better with the same players.
One of the Red Bulls’ biggest problems last season was the poor play of the midfield, and specifically the defensive contributions of the midfield, which often left the team’s defense overrun.
There was no such problem against Chicago on Saturday, with Joel Lindpere showing off his impressive work rate and tenacity, which clearly rubbed off on Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who played his part in neutralizing the Fire’s midfield.
While Lindpere gave the midfield a much-needed boost, the starting lineup’s other two newcomers showed real class in helping the back line turn in a very strong performance.
Rookie Tim Ream has impressed throughout preseason and he showed why on Saturday, with his poise and skill on the ball. Center backs with strong technical ability on the ball are a rarity in MLS and Ream’s ability to pass out of the back should make him a threat all season.
Costa Rican Roy Miller also gave Red Bulls fans reasons to be optimistic about this season. Left back has been a nightmare position for New York in recent years, but Miller helped contain Chicago’s dangerous wingers, Marco Pappa and Julio Martinez, both of which tried to beat him but couldn’t.
With Jeremy Hall a year wiser at right back, and veteran Mike Petke still capable of playing at a high level, the Red Bulls defense could wind up being a strength after being such a glaring weakness in 2009.
Ultimately, the most important new face for New York is head coach Hans Backe, who has instilled a disciplined structure and playing system that emphasizes organization and defensive responsibility, as well as possession soccer.
He has just one MLS game under his belt, but Backe looks poised to buck the trend that has seen so many foreign coaches with no previous ties to Major League Soccer struggle, and ultimately fail, in MLS.
As important as familiar faces will still be to both Kansas City and New York’s seasons, there are more newcomers on the way for both squads. The Wizards recently signed Indian striker Sunil Chhetri, who they are hoping can provide a major impact to the offense, while first-round pick Teal Bunbury is still expected to play a big part in the 2010 season.
As for New York, the Red Bulls are expected to sign a Designated Player this summer (with Thierry Henry being the leading candidate to come to MLS).
Make no mistake, both the Wizards and Red Bulls will see more new faces play key roles this season, but for now at least, both teams are being led by veterans eager to put the disappointments of 2009 behind them.
Ives Galarcep is FoxSoccer.com's newest senior writer who will be covering U.S. Soccer and MLS.
