Crooks: Jesse Marsch Has Lineup Decisions To Make Ahead Of Red Bulls' Next Match

By Glenn Crooks
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Bradley Wright-Phillips, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Lloyd Sam, Sacha Kljestan, Mike Grella, Sal Zizzo, Anatole Abang and Gonzalo Veron.

That's eight starting candidates for the New York Red Bulls' front four attacking spots. The Red Bulls will try to win their first match in three tries against the Union this season in Philadelphia on Saturday night.

It is an abundance of affluence, and head coach Jesse Marsch must sort out where each player best fits and which combinations connect in the 4-2-3-1 system that the first-year coach favors.

Ultimately, it would appear that starting midfielders Felipe and Grella will move to a reserve role. I predict that Kljestan, who has been attacking out of the middle, will drop into a deeper position next to Dax McCarty and function in the same manner that New York City FC has designed for Andrea Pirlo.

Shaun Wright-Phillips -- signed earlier this week as the Red Bulls' second Designated Player -- could move into the central midfield spot and form a relationship that goes beyond blood with brother, Bradley, the central striker and the other DP for RBNY.

Sam, who is improving with age and frequently seems unstoppable on the right side of the attack, will eventually be joined in the midfield by the Argentine, Veron, who is comfortable on the left side.  Watching Veron, it is apparent that he is versatile enough to compete in any of the four attacking postures. While the Buenos Aires native has not been a prolific goal scorer (eight goals in 52 appearances at San Lorenzo) and has yet to appear for his country, he has a certain guile and intuition that can inspire the Red Bulls.

Consequently, Felipe or rookie Sean Davis becomes a substitute for Kljestan. Grella or Zizzo becomes a substitute for Veron and Apong becomes a substitute for BWP. Davis, the homegrown sensation and Holmdel native, scored two goals against Chelsea in the International Champions Cup last week to serve notice to the hierarchy at Red Bull Arena. In the absence of captain McCarty, Davis started alongside Felipe in a functional training session that focused on the Red Bulls' attack in the opponents half.

Veron has yet to be announced by the Red Bulls, although a team source indicated that Grant Wahl's breaking story Wednesday night prior to the MLS All-Star Game on Fox Sports 1 was accurate. The earliest he will be introduced into the 18-player side is August 9, at the home derby versus NYCFC.

This also may be the date that reminds us that Frank Lampard is on the roster for New York City. The second NYCFC DP has been rehabbing a calf injury, the severity of which was misdiagnosed by the medical staff, according to NYCFC coach Jason Kreis. NYC has played nearly two-thirds of its regular season, and this Saturday's home match against Montreal will be the fourth opportunity for Lampard to debut. Lampard is listed as questionable.

Throw-Ins

-Shaun Wright-Phillips came to the states three weeks ago to attend BWP's wedding – Marsch met SWP at the airport, and from that moment he started to envision the England international in the lineup for the Red Bulls. Marsch invited SWP into training and this past Tuesday, he signed a free-agent contract with the third-place team in the Eastern Conference. I asked Marsch whether SWP would have been on his radar had he not flown in to see his brother tie the knot.

"If he was not here randomly, then he would not be here permanently," said Marsch, who had SWP with the first unit on Thursday.

-Philadelphia will be without the services of midfielder Victor Nogueira until the end of August with a severe quad injury. The Union are known to persevere through adversity, but having seen this side on three occasions, I sense that the absence of Nogueira will effectively end their hopes for the U.S. Open Cup championship and a Major League Soccer playoff berth. A team source has suggested that Nogueira is THE vital member of their side.

-David Villa had a huge smile after scoring the game-winner in the MLS All-Stars' 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, the fifth best team in the EPL last season. Kaka had the assist after converting a penalty for the game's first goal. McCarty, who was named to the All-Star squad late to replace the injured Lampard, started in his familiar deep-lying midfield role, and was arguably the finest among the MLS XI.

-McCarty told SiriusXM FC on Tuesday that he is committed to the Red Bulls and loves playing in New York. (He, like many others, failed to acknowledge that Red Bull Arena is located in Harrison, N.J.). But he said he would have to listen if a European club called.

"Players have to listen to big opportunities," commented Marsch.

-Montreal Impact manager Frank Klopas has left open the possibility that Didier Drogba could play at Yankee Stadium on Saturday against NYCFC. Drogba, the former Chelsea striker who chose between the Chicago Fire and Impact, arrived in Montreal on Wednesday to a throng of supporters that he recorded on his Twitter account.

Drogba passed his physical on Thursday and will participate in his first training session with the Impact on Friday. Can he compete on Saturday after two months off and a single session with his new club?

-It is difficult for me to properly express my gratitude to WFAN boss Mark Chernoff, NYCFC, City Football Group and the New York Yankees for earning their approval to call the matches for the expansion club. It has been a thrill and my largest smile this season came last Sunday, when Pirlo stood on the sideline next to the fourth official, preparing to make his initial MLS appearance.

To observe this soccer genius in person for the first time was a privilege, and his impact on the match was instantaneous. As I expressed to the listeners on Sunday, the New York City players appeared to sense that their movements would be rewarded, and upon receiving the deft services from the Champions League winner there was a shared responsibility to produce a positive result. Would I go so far as to say his presence guarantees only the third playoff berth ever for a first-year MLS side?  Yes, I would – he is that superior.

-Finally, I had a dream this week that I wanted to share:

NYCFC forward Khiry Shelton, a popular rookie who has been unable to produce due to injury, received a large ovation from the home side every time he touched the ball in a recent match. He soon learned from the ball boy along the touch line that a report on Twitter said he had been traded to the Houston Dynamo for Giles Barnes.

Meanwhile, head coach Kreis wondered why the crowd was reacting every time Shelton had the ball.  At halftime, Shelton was in tears and Kreis asked his assistants to investigate. Kreis became agitated since he has not been told about any trade, let alone one that delivered their top draft pick to Houston. Kreis put his arm around Shelton and explained that he does not know about the trade. Regardless, Kreis said, Shelton has to be a professional and play to the best of his ability.

Shelton remained in the lineup, occasionally wiping away sweat (tears?) with the sleeve of his jersey. After the final whistle, he received a closing ovation then learned that the trade was off and he will remain a member of New York City, knowing that management and perhaps his coach have determined that he is expendable.

I woke up in a sweat, disturbed that a professional team could be so inept. Of course, it was a dream – this could never happen.

Glenn Crooks is the color commentator for New York City FC on WFAN and the former head soccer coach at Rutgers University. You can follow him on Twitter @GlennCrooks and glenncrooks.sportsblog.com.