MATT KREMKAU - EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by ANTHONY J. MERCED

HARRISON, N.J. – If you could take a time machine, nab Jesse Marsch at the end of 2015 and show him the team’s current defensive situation, he probably wouldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The centerback depth with Zubar, Perrinelle and Miazga just one year prior seemed more than capable of handling the job. Since then, Miazga left to join Chelsea. Gideon Baah was signed to replace him. With that like-for-like exchange, all still seemed well.

However, 20 games into the 2016 season, defense has been one of the more concerning aspects of New York’s game. It’s not just the injuries, the suspensions, the team’s negative goal differential or that they have allowed five more goals when compared to the same point last season. It’s the inconsistency in the home and away form that would have Jesse pulling his hair out.

“We’ve been a little bit inconsistent in terms of our defending,” said captain Dax McCarty after the Wednesday night shutout of Orlando City. “When you shuffle the backline so much, when you have so many injuries… Honestly I don’t know but I think we’ve had a different backline probably almost every game this season.”

Injuries have been a major problem. Winning on the road in MLS is difficult enough, but when you have Damien Perrinelle returning from his ailments halfway through the season, a potential season ending injury for Baah and difficulty integrating younger players, it can compound the situation.

“It’s hard to build continuity back there,” continued McCarty. “It’s hard for guys to really get to know each others tendencies. That’s not an excuse but it’s just led to some really inconsistent performances.”

The 2015 Supporters Shield Champions are no strangers to struggles on the road. Despite having a record year in wins and points, they still finished under .500 away from Red Bull Arena last season. In fact, 24 of the 43 goals allowed in 2015 came on the road. In that case, it is no surprise that the team has struggled away from Red Bull Arena this year as well.

However, the fact that they have been so dominant defensively at Red Bull Arena and not been able to translate much of that success to the road is a shocker. The Red Bulls haven’t surrendered a goal at home since a 3-2 victory of Orlando City SC. Since then, the team has rattled off seven straight clean sheets in Harrison as opposed to only one on the road. That form on the road may end up being the deciding factor in a playoff run, with important games against Philadelphia and Los Angeles coming up in the next few weeks. Points on the road will be essential to raise the team’s points per game which currently has them tracking at 46 points at the end of the season. That may not be enough to secure any of the six playoff spots.

“Last year we almost attacked all out, trying to find ways to get goals,” said Jesse Marsch when talking about his team’s defensive approach at home this season. “This year we’ve been a little more cautious to protect ourselves from the counter. If we can get shutouts we feel that we can get wins.”

New York’s next game against Philadelphia will be an attempt to take that home defensive record and see if it can translate to road form. This season, the Union lead the Eastern Conference in goals scored and will certainly test the backline. Whether Marsch can assemble his men into a cohesive defensive shell may be the deciding factor for the outcome of the team’s season.