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Friday MLS Forecast: Week 17
The Forecast reviews Thierry Henry's debut before revealing its Week 17 selections.
Jul 23, 2010 1:38:00 AM
By Kyle McCarthy
Thierry Henry introduced himself to New York with a flourish.
All it took was one moment and one goal to reveal Henry's class in Thursday night's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham at Red Bull Arena.
Henry's first goal in the United States wouldn't have looked out of place in the highest reaches of the game if Alan Hutton had defended competently. Joel Lindpere skipped around the Spurs right back all too easily and played an inch-perfect ball to the near post. Henry anticipated Lindpere's service, sliced inside his marker and stabbed the low cross into the far corner.
In that fleeting instant, Henry displayed what he brings to the Red Bulls and what the Red Bulls still need to bring to him.
The former French international packs more than a big name and a hefty resume when he takes the PATH to Harrison on game night. Based on this lively showing, Henry can still move off the ball, offer options in the buildup and provide the clinical finish when prompted. While his match fitness isn't quite there yet, Henry showed flashes of what he can do as he works his way back to top form.
Henry won't be able hit those heights if he can't find players around him to supply him with the right ball. The former Arsenal and Barcelona star will have to adjust to a more direct style of soccer in the States, but the American tendency to take the most direct route to goal does not mean he won't cajole and guide his teammates until he receives the passes he wants. Henry gesticulated frequently during his 45-minute spell as he sought to further increase his substantial influence on the match, but his pleadings often resulted in stray passes or wayward longballs.
The attack will flow once New York surrounds Henry with players on the same page. Lindpere certainly showed signs that he and Henry can combine to good effect in the attacking third, while Juan Pablo Angel will add another option with his flicks and neat touches once he recovers from a sprained ankle. Others – perhaps even Rafa Marquez, Henry's former teammate at Barcelona and a fine passer over distance – could also rise to the fore once Henry settles into the side and adjusts to a world quite unlike the one he just left.
But those medium-term considerations won't make other clubs around MLS feel any better after watching Henry make his Red Bulls debut. With Angel and Henry in the fold, New York boasts two players capable of snatching victory at any point in even the most dour of matches.
Those nights won't come with the hype and the highlights this one included, but Henry showed enough on Thursday night to create the belief he can conjure up similarly impressive introductions as he works his way around the country during the second half of the MLS campaign.
Last week: 2/5 (40%)
For the season: 45/100 (45%)
Saturday
FC Dallas @ Toronto FC – 4:00p.m. (CBC) – Goal.com Preview
FCD's ability to keep the ball will force TFC to destroy even more than usual. Watch your heels, David Ferreira.
Prediction: Draw.
Houston @ Columbus – 7:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Robert Warzycha moved around his pieces a bit during training this week – particularly at fullback – but he doesn't have an option to replace what Brian Carroll brings to the side.
Prediction: Columbus win.
Chivas USA @ Real Salt Lake – 10:00p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Speaking of influential holding midfielders, Kyle Beckerman could return for RSL this weekend. This particular test would constitute a nice way to ease back into things.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win
(Writer's Note, Friday PM: I originally intended to have this as a RSL win, but for some reason predicted a draw instead. Thanks to the heads up from the reader in the comments below.)
Sunday
Colorado @ Seattle – 10:30p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel) – Goal.com Preview
Sounders FC will have yet another chance to test its Freddie-free theory against the Rapids. The results so far? Inconclusive.
Prediction: Seattle win.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSsoccer.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Thierry Henry introduced himself to New York with a flourish.
All it took was one moment and one goal to reveal Henry's class in Thursday night's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham at Red Bull Arena.
Henry's first goal in the United States wouldn't have looked out of place in the highest reaches of the game if Alan Hutton had defended competently. Joel Lindpere skipped around the Spurs right back all too easily and played an inch-perfect ball to the near post. Henry anticipated Lindpere's service, sliced inside his marker and stabbed the low cross into the far corner.
In that fleeting instant, Henry displayed what he brings to the Red Bulls and what the Red Bulls still need to bring to him.
The former French international packs more than a big name and a hefty resume when he takes the PATH to Harrison on game night. Based on this lively showing, Henry can still move off the ball, offer options in the buildup and provide the clinical finish when prompted. While his match fitness isn't quite there yet, Henry showed flashes of what he can do as he works his way back to top form.
Henry won't be able hit those heights if he can't find players around him to supply him with the right ball. The former Arsenal and Barcelona star will have to adjust to a more direct style of soccer in the States, but the American tendency to take the most direct route to goal does not mean he won't cajole and guide his teammates until he receives the passes he wants. Henry gesticulated frequently during his 45-minute spell as he sought to further increase his substantial influence on the match, but his pleadings often resulted in stray passes or wayward longballs.
The attack will flow once New York surrounds Henry with players on the same page. Lindpere certainly showed signs that he and Henry can combine to good effect in the attacking third, while Juan Pablo Angel will add another option with his flicks and neat touches once he recovers from a sprained ankle. Others – perhaps even Rafa Marquez, Henry's former teammate at Barcelona and a fine passer over distance – could also rise to the fore once Henry settles into the side and adjusts to a world quite unlike the one he just left.
But those medium-term considerations won't make other clubs around MLS feel any better after watching Henry make his Red Bulls debut. With Angel and Henry in the fold, New York boasts two players capable of snatching victory at any point in even the most dour of matches.
Those nights won't come with the hype and the highlights this one included, but Henry showed enough on Thursday night to create the belief he can conjure up similarly impressive introductions as he works his way around the country during the second half of the MLS campaign.
Last week: 2/5 (40%)
For the season: 45/100 (45%)
Saturday
FC Dallas @ Toronto FC – 4:00p.m. (CBC) – Goal.com Preview
FCD's ability to keep the ball will force TFC to destroy even more than usual. Watch your heels, David Ferreira.
Prediction: Draw.
Houston @ Columbus – 7:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Robert Warzycha moved around his pieces a bit during training this week – particularly at fullback – but he doesn't have an option to replace what Brian Carroll brings to the side.
Prediction: Columbus win.
Chivas USA @ Real Salt Lake – 10:00p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Speaking of influential holding midfielders, Kyle Beckerman could return for RSL this weekend. This particular test would constitute a nice way to ease back into things.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win
(Writer's Note, Friday PM: I originally intended to have this as a RSL win, but for some reason predicted a draw instead. Thanks to the heads up from the reader in the comments below.)
Sunday
Colorado @ Seattle – 10:30p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel) – Goal.com Preview
Sounders FC will have yet another chance to test its Freddie-free theory against the Rapids. The results so far? Inconclusive.
Prediction: Seattle win.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSsoccer.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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