The New York Red Bulls stink. After a crushing 4-0 defeat to the New England Revolution yesterday, the Red Bulls are now a dismal 2-9-3, for a grand total of nine points. Their goal differential is -10, and they've yet to put the ball in the net on the road.
Things are so bad that there's talk of Juan Carlos Osorio becoming the first officially fired coach in the 2009 MLS season. Red Bull's execs back in Europe are getting itchy; a terrible team with no momentum is bad news for an organization getting set to open their brand new arena in 2010.
It's my opinion, then, that the New York Red Bulls may be the safest bet in MLS. If you bet against them, that is. If you are the type to do a little online sports betting, or any betting for that matter (do real life bookies still exist?), then I highly suggest you take a long look at each and every New York match. I dare you to show me a game in which they'll be favored, and at this rate, even draws seem unlikely.
Some are reveling in the Red Bulls' woes, and while I understand the feelings involved, it's clearly not a good thing for MLS. Perhaps I should say that it's unfortunate for the league; the biggest market in the United States has what is perhaps the worst top-level team. If the goal is the sell soccer to the broader American public (both soccer fans and non-soccer fans), then the Red Bull's failure is a hindrance. Not even last year's playoff run is buying them any credit; the fans are staying away, the manager is on the verge of being fired, and talented players like Juan Pablo Angel, Mac Kandji, and Dan Richards are being wasted.
I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Even a managerial change might not turn around the Red Bulls' fortunes, or get them back to respectability. Betting football is never a sure thing, and neither are the New York Red Bulls. But if you had to choose the "safest bet" in MLS in 2009, going against New York each and every time just might be it.
New York's next four matches are at Toronto, Seattle at home, at Toronto again, and at Columbus.
I just might have to take my own advice.
