In Red Bull coach Hans Backe’s preferred scenario, he’d rest several starters in Saturday’s penultimate regular-season game in Philadelphia and then line up his optimal First XI in next Thursday’s finale against New England. Looks like he won’t have any choice with the former.
“There are some options, but I’m a little bit keen to win the Eastern (conference) also,” Backe said. “We’ll look at the balance. (But) I don’t think we risk it, because these guys have shown in the Open Cup that they can play well with MLS sides. I have to think a little bit, for the Thursday, Friday training if we’re going to rest some players.”
Starting left back Roy Miller will serve a suspension for yellow card accumulation, with Danleigh Borman expected to start in his place. Starting right back Chris Albright suffered a concussion against defending champion Real Salt Lake, and newly-acquired Carey Talley is unavailable as well.
To compound the fullback woes, starting centerback Carlos Mendes would normally slide over to right back, a position he has previously played; except backup Mike Petke is injured and unavailable to spell him. That leaves little-used Jeremy Hall to start with no available backup.
“We don’t really have the options (at right back),” said Backe. “It’s Jeremy Hall to give him some minutes as a right fullback that could be an option. He looks OK in training sessions.”
And that doesn’t even count midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy sitting out practice Monday with a swollen foot, and the possibility of Welsh veteran Carl Robinson stepping in at central midfield to rest rookie Tony Tchani, or Salou Ibrahim perhaps getting a start at forward to spell either Thierry Henry or captain Juan Pablo Angel.
“At the midfield we could of course play Carl Robinson in a central midfield position and rest Tony,” Backe said. “And up front Salou could be an option to give him some minutes in a game like that.”
When asked if Juan Agudelo _ who made his league debut in the waning minutes of the scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake _ could be an option at striker, Backe said he viewed the 17-year-old academy signee as more of a wide midfielder in a 4-4-2, or winger in a 4-3-3/4-5-1.
“When I look at striker, I think Agudelo is more wide for me now,” Backe said. “I think perhaps in the future is the striker position for him, but coming in MLS, he’s that young you need some more time, space for yourself in a wide position and go from there. Perhaps in the future he will be striker, but to settle in MLS I think the wide position for starters is perhaps more likely for him.”
