With Tim Cahill back from the World Cup and Dax McCarty presumably back from his injury, the Red Bulls’ central midfield should get a boost. But it’s the center of the defense that desperately needs some leadership, starting with Saturday’s game against Columbus.
That means they need Jamison Olave.
With the veteran Colombian centerback surrounded by a youth movement, nobody has stepped forward to take command of the back four, become the vocal presence needed to organize and lead. The Red Bulls already have coughed up 26 goals —the most of any Eastern Conference team in the postseason picture — which coach Mike Petke said is a weakness they have to shore up fast.
“We have three young guys in there that I’m excited about for the future,’’ Petke said. “But I’m still waiting for somebody to step up and claim the back line as theirs, be that vocal leader, that in-your-face leader when we need it. We’re a little too quiet in the back, a little too unsure at times.
“I’m not concerned about the big [mistakes]. I’m concerned about the little things. It’s times we’re too deep, and it happens over and over. By this point if you don’t know where the line should be — I’m doing my job wrong or I’m not translating it properly, little things like the line not being straight.’’
Petke didn’t name names or call out players, but it doesn’t take much to deduce where that leadership is going to have to come from.
It’s hard for fullbacks to direct traffic because of their positioning on the field. The youth of rookie Chris Duvall (22) and Ambroise Oyongo (23 last month) compounds the difficulty. Oyongo speaks French, and thus is able to communicate only with Thierry Henry and — when he starts — Peguy Luyindula.
That leaves the centerbacks. One is Matt Miazga — who is still wet behind the ears, won’t turn 19 until next Saturday and is earning just $71,250 — and the other is the 33-year-old Olave, who made the MLS All-Star team last season and is owed $290,000 this season.
“At this point, I’ll take anybody,’’ Petke said, before adding: “It doesn’t have be, but preferably you want a centerback to do it. We have a young 18-year-old kid there, and a rock-solid pure defender who’s not the most comfortable with speaking a lot. At the end of the day, somebody needs to step up, needs to organize that and carry the things in practice throughout the week [into the game].’’
Cahill’s return from World Cup duty with Team Australia should help — he came on as a reserve against Toronto and started in Houston — and McCarty’s knee is healed to the point at which he will be in the lineup, likely as a sub. They will help shield the centerbacks, who need to be more communicative, a big part of the reason the team has surrendered seven goals this year in first 12 minutes of games.
Olave’s form has dipped, from a lofty ranking of 25th in MLS last year according to Whoscored.com, but 68th this season. But his leadership could still prove invaluable to such a green back line, especially until veteran left back Roy Miller — injured at the World Cup with Costa Rica — returns to the lineup.
“I don’t care which one [steps up], to be honest,’’ Petke said. “If it’s a situation where a young kid doesn’t feel confident doing it or an older guy is set in his ways, if you know it’s going to help the team, help the defense … perhaps it’s too easy for me to say just do it, but in a way I am. If you’re set in your ways, change your ways. If you’re too young and nervous about speaking up, throw that out the window.
“You look in the mirror and say, ‘Did I do everything to help this team?’ If you can’t say yes, you’re looking at the person to blame in the mirror. I want guys who don’t give a [damn], throw caution to the wind and say, ‘I’m going to lead this team, I’m going to step up, take this by the back of the neck.’ That’s what we need.’’