MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Throughout last week one of the more prominent stories in MLS was the stratospheric amount of starpower that would take the field in Saturday’s glamor game between New York and LA. But once the match actually arrived the story changed and the buzz around Harrison turned to the stars in the luxury suites instead of the ones on the pitch.

Last weekend the list of names filling Red Bull Arena’s well-appointed suites and uber-posh Skybox Lounge seemed to mimic the guest list for an NBA All-Star weekend party. So who was there? Actress Eva Longoria and her hoopster husband Tony Parker, New York Knicks Ronny Truiaf & Danilo Gallinari, LA Laker Kobe Bryant (allegedly), NHL star Patrik Elias and a few of his New Jersey Devils teammates were the most boldface of the 25,000 names in the stadium on Saturday.

Somewhere in between the big names on the field and the ones in the stands was David Beckham. The injured midfielder is recovering from a ruptured Achilles but traveled with the team having returned to training this past week. He spent most of the day on the bench but found time to make an appearance on the suite level and catch up with a few friends; hopefully they’ll get the chance to come out and see him play sometime soon.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the tunnel before the players come out? Do the refs decide which team lines up on which side? Do the players shake hands? Are they stone-faced and serious or loose and jovial? And how do they get all those children lined up just right? Here’s your answer to all of those questions and more.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

We’re about an hour away from the kickoff at Red Bull Arena and anticipation is at a boil. At the moment the Red Bulls are on the field for their pre-game stretch and fans of both New York and Tottenham (who just arrived via charter bus) are raring to go after milling about the standing for a few hours already. Thierry Henry is in the house…and so are about 1000 people wearing his jersey.

As a side note the word around the press box is that Henry didn’t arrive by fine European motor car or chauffeur-driven; he took the PATH train like the majority of those in attendance tonight. Whether he did it because he’s humble or a man of the people or maybe a little naive I don’t know. Either way doing a little straphanging is always a good way to endear yourself to New Yorkers.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

With the announcement that Thierry Henry has joined the Red Bulls the dominant topic of this week’s MLS news cycle it’s no surprise to see Commissioner Don Garber weighing in on the subject. After all this is arguably one of the biggest signings in the league’s short history; certainly the man at the top of the totem poll has an opinion on the subject.

Speaking this morning ahead of the Red Bulls afternoon press conference the Commissioner praised both the Red Bull organization and Henry for their commitment to the game in America, pointing out that their significant investment in both a new facility and Designated Players are exactly what the New York fans have been clamoring for. “I think that fans here in NY will finally get what they have been asking for for so many years which is a well run, very, very committed ownership group and a team that is really going to try to break through the clutter.”

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Thierry Henry was introduced to the world media as a Red Bull New York player today at Red Bull Arena under sunny skies and an air of expectation. But this was not the made-for-TV spectacle of David Beckham’s LA Galaxy introduction or the fan-filled fiesta that marked the arrival of Cuahuatemoc Blanco in MLS. This was a much more subdued & refined affair which, when considering that it was to announce one of the most elegant players to ever play the game, seemed more than fitting.

It’s only 2 days in but at a glance Henry’s introduction to America has been very well handled. It almost seems a little low-key for a player of his immense stature but in the wake of LeBron James & ESPN’s “The Descision” backlash perhaps now is not the time for an over-the-top player acquisition announcement. Perhaps that’s why today’s event was plotted out as such a classy affair; no confetti, no sideshow, just the business at hand.

But now that the formalities are over it’s time for New York to get back to the business of playing soccer. With a chance to claim first place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday on the road against current leaders Columbus the Red Bulls have a tough task ahead of them though. And with Henry slated to make the trip to Ohio only as an observer they’ll have to do it without their newly-acquired offensive weapon…something the Crew should feel thankful for.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The wait is finally over for Red Bulls fans: Thierry Henry has officially signed with New York. Although the move, which was rumored as far back as 2007, seemed all but inevitable and holds little in the way of surprise it still doesn’t seem real in a sense…perhaps because we all heard about it for so long that it almost became some sort of myth from the future.

But it’s no myth. The Arsenal legend is stateside and now adds MLS’ New York franchise to a resume that also includes stays at Barcelona, Juventus and Monaco. And he does it at a time when, at age 32, he still looks more lethal than lethargic on the ball. That’s not to say that he had the best of seasons last year but this is a player only one year removed from a 26 goal season at Barcelona, not to mention that he is France’s all-time scoring leader.

So buckle up everyone because things are about to get very interesting in New York, especially for visiting defenders; by my estimation (and Taylor Twellman’s) the duo of Angel & Henry is the scariest strike combo in MLS and officially the stuff of centerback’s nightmares.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

This morning I headed over to Harrison, NJ -home of Red Bull Arena- to check out the watch party for the Brazil-Portugal match. With one of the largest Lusophone neighborhoods in America just a mile from it’s doorstep, this was one of the premier locations in the metropolitan area to take in this late group stage match. And with over 6,000 free tickets distrubuted for the event it was also one of the largest.

Although the match, an improbable scoreless draw given the amount of marquee attacking players on the pitch, was disappointing the party was not. Fans clad in the colors of both sides flooded one (shady) end of the stadium while a handful of sun-worshipers put down stakes on the opposite end to take in the match on the stadium’s gigantic video boards.  Fans who favored watching in air-conditioned comfort also filled the stylish club lounge and Bulls Corner Pub, which were offering up the exceptional food & drink that the stadium’s dining facilities are known for.

For a quick peek inside the Red Bull Arena watch party check out the video above. And if you are in the area be sure to visit Red Bull Arena tomorrow at 1pm for the U.S.-Ghana watch party.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

This past week the New York/New Jersey area has felt like the center of the soccer universe. OK, maybe that’s a stretch but a case can be made for it being the center of America’s soccer universe as over the past 7 days as there has been a non-stop cavalcade of soccer-pleasures to be had in the Tri-State area from the international level all the way down to the pick-up game.

Just looking at my own calendar, I spent 3 days with the USMNT in Princeton, NJ as they prepare for the World Cup. I attended a Manhattan press conference with the inimitable Sir Alex Ferguson on Wednesday. On Thursday night Red Bull New York hosted the Columbus Crew in MLS play. Saturday I saw Turkey tear apart the Czech Republic at Red Bull Arena in the early afternoon and some of the city’s best pick-up teams battling it out over the Hudson River on Pier 40 for AdiCup 2010 in the evening. And yesterday I witnessed the Reds Bulls put the hammer down on Juventus in a dazzling 3-1 friendly victory at Red Bull Arena.

No matter how fanatical you are, you have to admit that’s a lot of soccer. Heck, it is almost too much soccer. Almost…

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Following Red Bull New York’s somewhat surprising –given their current 3-game losing streak– win over star-filled Italian side Juventus yesterday, I walked from Red Bull Arena back to Newark to catch the train home. While crossing the bridge that links Harrison to Newark’s Ironbound district I struck up a conversation with a colorful Juve fan with more than a few things to say about “the old lady” and her loss at the hands of Juan Pablo Angel & company. Ladies & gentleman I give you Francesco Machio.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Here’s a few curious details for you to wrap your head around ahead of tonight’s U.S. Open Cup Qualifying match between Red Bull New York and the Philadelphia Union.

• The Union trained this morning in Springfield, PA, a rare game day workout.
• Red Bull New York coach Hans Backe released his starting lineup last night in the New York Post.
• A visit to USOpenCup.com gives you to options: a visit to a page on USsoccer.com that’s not been updated since Sept. or a more comprehensive, but seemingly unofficial, fan page.

Practice, then a 2-hour bus ride before a game? A starting XI composed of rookies, rehabbers and role players released the day before the game? An official webpage with no mention of the 2010 tournament? Despite previous statements to the contrary and grand proclamations to play their best players, it sure seems like no one’s really too concerned with the U.S. Open Cup, doesn’t it?