The New York Red Bulls had the best midfield in their league, then ‘team-building’ was shortchanged for “target allocation money.” Tom Bogert addresses an alarming trend.
In 2016, the New York Red Bulls assembled a perfectly balanced midfield triumvirate which was arguably the best in the MLS. All in their prime, too – no waiting around for the, unfulfilled all too regularly, promise of potential in years to come. They were the real deal, all hitting the peaks of their powers at once, together.
At the base of the midfield was club captain Dax McCarty: the footballing manifestation of a successful war general and secret service agent extraordinaire for the painfully vulnerable back line, rolled into a 5’8” dynamo of a midfielder.
Next to him was Felipe. A true no. 8, both literally, as it was the number hanging on his back, and philosophically, as he filled the box-to-box role as that shirt was destined. He is Brazilian by birth, though more Lucas Leiva than Ronaldinho, in a good way, if such a thing can be meant as a compliment.