Rafa Marquez has provided calming possession and pinpoint passing for years on some of the better teams in the world, as captain of the Mexican National Team and a stalwart for Champions League-winning Barcelona. And what he does for the back of the Red Bulls’ midfield, Mehdi Ballouchy can do for the front.
Says who? Thierry Henry, the star striker who played alongside Marquez at the Campo Nou, and paved the way for him to come to New York. He’s seen the Marquez-like impact Ballouchy has had on the Red Bulls’ possession game, and hopes it continues tonight vs. Kansas City when they can clinch a playoff berth.
“What Rafa does for us _ dropping, getting the ball, calming the game, giving us always solutions to give him the ball at the back, reassuring people _ Mehdi does that higher,” Henry said. “I think it is important. Rafa was doing it at the back, but he couldn’t be also higher up in the midfield, so sometimes we were missing that link between the midfield and the center forwards.
“I just think whatever Rafa does at the back, midfield-back, he does it midfield-forward. He’s always available, always wanting the ball, moving, creating something. He’s a football player. I love to say he’s a player, a proper player.”
Henry should know; he’s played with a star-studded array of proper players, from Zinedine Zidane to Lionel Messi. And not to imply that Ballouchy is anywhere approximating that level, but Henry recognizes and appreciates possession-oriented, technical football over the more direct approach Colorado employs.
In that aspect, the Red Bulls suit Ballouchy, and he suits them. They dealt enigmatic striker Mac Kandji to Colorado for the 27-year-old Casablanca-born midfielder. And with Kandji has three assists in two games for the Rapids, Ballouchy has a goal in his debut and has lifted the Red Bulls’ possession game.
“I don’t give a (crap) about stats,” said coach Hans Backe. “People around me tell me he’s only scored two goals, blah, blah, blah. It’s not about stats; it’s about the way you play football, it’s about the way he wants the ball, the way he moves, his touch on the ball, the one-two-touch game that gets our game going all the time. It will be difficult for a team to defend against us if he can stay on this level.”
But playing what position? He officially joined the team Sept. 14 and started at support striker two days later in Dallas, supplanting captain Juan Pablo Angel in the lineup. He started there again in the 2-0 win in Los Angeles, with Angel replacing an injured Henry. Tonight vs. Kansas City, Marquez’ status is in doubt, which could leave Ballouchy playing midfield along Tony Tchani.
“Most important for me is what he does offensively, and what he can produce offensively but also to keep an eye on me and what I do defensively,” Marquez said. “It’s a good combination for us.”
Backe says he’s already decided whether to stick with the 4-4-2 formation he’s used all year, or make a late switch as the team tunes up for the playoffs. He could move to a diamond midfield, with Ballouchy playing behind Henry and Angel, or actually use a 4-4-1-1, benching Angel _ whose 13 goals are one shy of the MLS lead _ for Ballouchy.
Either way, no matter what formation the Red Bulls go into the playoffs with, there is a very good chance the man from Casablanca will be part of it.
