New York Red Bulls 2012 Season Preview

Added by Jake Landau on March 10, 2012.

The 2012 New York Red Bulls should start the season re-energized and recharged. The key word being should. New York has underachieved to their standards for the past two years with superstars galore on the pitch. With added depth to the backline, a few new midfielders and the addition of a true target forward in Kenny Cooper, the Red Bulls are strapped to make a run.

In 2011 they started out unstoppable and never recovered form after that. Sure Tim Ream was sold during the winter window, but Victor Palsson, a former Liverpool youth team captain joins the midfield to sweep above the defense.

The new balanced schedule can also work in the favor of the Bulls while the Eastern Conference looks decidedly weaker than the West. With three games against local rivals D.C. United and Philadelphia respectively, fans should see an increase in the number of wins and complaints about RFK Stadium.

Juan Agudelo will be away for a large majority of the season. Pair this with the uncertain visa situation of Luke Rodgers, the forward situation could start to go awry with Henry’s older legs. The loan stint at Arsenal should help the general to lead a few more troops into battle, but the achilles heel might turn out to be too much trouble.

All around the team looks flooded with quality, yet so have the last two teams that have started the 2010 and 2011 season. Will this be the year the Red Bulls finally get it together and steamroll opponents like they should on paper? Only this season will tell.

Make sure to watch tomorrow (3/11) on the new channel NBC Sports at 3pm eastern.

2011: 5^th

2012 Prediction: 2^nd in Eastern Conference

Additions: D Connor Lade (Home Grown); D Jonathan Borrajo (free/Hamarkameratene); D Markus Holgersson (free/Helsingborg); F Kenny Cooper (trade from Portland); G Ryan Meara (SuperDraft); D Mike Volk; M Christian Barreiro; M Nate Polak; G Jeremy Vuolo (free/AC Oulu); D Wilman Conde (rights from Chicago); M Victor Pálsson (free)

Subtractions:  G Alex Horwath; D Mychal Jones; D Tyler Lassiter; M Marcos Paullo; M John Rooney; D Teddy Schneider; G Frank Rost (contract expired); D Carlos Mendes (Re-Entry Stage 1/Columbus); D Chris Albright; G Bouna Coundoul; D Tim Ream (transfer/Bolton Wanderers); D Sacir Hot; M Matt Kassel