It’s just two games into the season and the Red Bulls have had a second West Coast flight canceled, with daylong delays wreaking havoc with their plans. Thierry Henry said that’s why they blew a two-goal lead last Sunday in Portland, and they were delayed again flying to tomorrow’s tilt in San Jose (10pm, ESPN2).
They’d spent 3 ½ hours on the tarmac last Friday before their flight was cancelled due to mechanical issues; they flew to Portland the next day, and eventually blew a 3-1 second-half lead, settling for a disappointing draw. This time yesterday’s 7 p.m. commercial flight was cancelled – presumably because of the weather – and they charted in today. And Sunday’s game could prove an even greater challenge.
Newly acquired midfielder Juninho is expected to miss the match with a left calf strain, Jonny Steele the most likely stand-in for the 38-year-old Brazilian. And that depleted Red Bull midfield will have to face an Earthquakes team that won last year’s Supporters Shield, and striker Chris Wondolowski, whose 27 goals matched the league’s all-time single season record.
“You know with Wondo, not even half a chance, it looks like he doesn’t have one and he puts the ball in the back of the net,’’ Henry said of Wondolowski, who had seven shots but was held scoreless in San Jose’s season-opening 2-0 loss. “And he has a habit of scoring against us. He didn’t score last weekend, so the whole team will want to do better.’’
In other news, the Red Bulls are reportedly signing Barcelona “B” fitness coach Albert Altarriba to the same position on Monday, according to Sport.es.
Barcelona is regarded as having one of the world’s top fitness programs, and the Red Bulls have not only suffered from significant injury woes over the past few years, but are – with starters Juninho, Henry (35), Tim Cahill (33) and Jamison Olave (32 next month) – a rapidly-aging team.