Foreign stars often grab the headlines for the New York Red Bulls, but three American players—Eric Alexander, Dax McCarty, and Luis Robles—have played key roles in the club's MLS Cup run.

BY Brooke Tunstall Posted

November 19, 2014

10:42 AM SHARE THIS STORY



have the most talented player in the history of Major League Soccer, one of the most prolific scorers the league has ever seen, and an international bench so deep that it features several capped national team players.

And yet the team's run to the Eastern Conference finals has been keyed by a pairing of unheralded Americans in central midfield and a goalkeeper so far down the U.S. depth chart that few remember he once played for the U.S. in the Gold Cup.

So it goes for midfielders Dax McCarty and Eric Alexander and goalkeeper Luis Robles, the only Americans to start for the Red Bulls since September. On an international team—the American Arsenal, if you will—that reflects the cosmopolitan region it represents this trio is often overlooked but have a played a key role in the team’s current run of form.

On one level, being overlooked can be expected on a roster that features French icon Thierry Henry, MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips, former MLS defender of the year Jamison Olave of Colombia, and Australian World Cup hero Tim Cahill.

On this team, pedigreed players like Costa Rican World Cup defender Roy Miller and former French national teamer and Lyon star Peguy Luyindula are “the other guys” and someone like rising Cameroonian starlet Ambroise Oyongo is coming off the bench. So a trio of lunch-pail Americans can easily get lost in the shuffle when it’s time to mete out praise.

Yet the key to the Red Bulls suddenly reaching their vast potential was when coach Mike Petke moved Alexander from a wide midfield role and paired him centrally with McCarty.

"I think that was one key aspect of us turning our season around,” McCarty told American Soccer Now. "It really helped stabilize the midfield, especially defensively. We were kind of getting overrun before. We have a lot of tremendous attacking players and we want them to have the freedom to go forward to do their thing. But it puts a lot of stress on us defensively. (The tactical shift) helped us have a good shape.

"A lot more things go into it, but it’s been fantastic having Eric there.”

The switch happened before New York’s September 6 game with Sporting Kansas City. The team was 7-8-1 at the time and outside the playoff cutline. But they emerged from that game with a 2-1 victory and finished the regular season on a 6-2-1 run. It then eliminated Kansas City and D.C. United in the playoffs to set up a showdown with the surging New England Revolution, which kicks off Sunday (1:30pm, NBC) at sold out Red Bull Arena.

“I look at the tactical shift to a two defensive midfielder formation, putting Eric and Dax together, as the key to turning around our season,” Robles said. “Coming off the Supporters Shield we got off to a slow start and were trying a lot of things and there was a lot of trial and error. But by moving Eric next to Dax it resulted in fewer chances conceded while allowing our offensive juggernauts to do their thing.”

Is it really that simple? Alexander was already in the lineup most games – his nine assists tied for second on the team behind Henry—and McCarty was consistently doing the grunt work behind the attackers.

Robles thinks so.

“It more clearly defined their roles, everyone is more comfortable, and it took more pressure off the backline,” he said. “Before the shift in formation, I was way up there in saves. I was probably in the top five in MLS in saves. But after we made that shift, I bet I’m in the bottom five of saves since then. There was a game where I don’t think I touched the ball except for goal kicks.

"I could be back there chilling with a margarita.”

Indeed, Robles finished tied for second in MLS with 111 saves, 3.26 per game. But after being called on to make 3.52 saves per game through 25 games, the final nine games he made 23 saves—2.55 per game. The team’s goals-against average also dropped, from 1.56 through 25 games to 1.22 the final nine. Half of the club's six shutouts have come since moving Alexander next to McCarty.

It’s not a huge drop but when combined with New York’s attacking arsenal, it’s been enough to spark the Red Bulls to within shouting distance of its second MLS Cup Final.

While Robles is quick to praise his holding midfielders for his drop in workload, Alexander and McCarty say the 30-year-old goalkeeper is the one who isn’t getting enough praise.

“Luis has been tremendous for us,” said McCarty. “He doesn’t get nearly enough credit but he’s one of the best goalkeepers in MLS. When a goalkeeper gives up a lot of goals, he’s usually not in the conversation for goalkeeper of the year. But with the way we play, going forward so much, he’s kept us in a ton of games. He’s been one of the three best goalkeepers in the league this year. Who knows where we’d be without him.”

Alexander, 26, and McCarty, 27, both began their pro careers at FC Dallas and played there together for one season so they were already familiar with each other when they were reunited when Alexander joined the Red Bulls last year.

“We have a good relationship and I think we read each other very well and communicate very well so we both aren’t caught getting forward," Alexander said. "We both read the (game) situations well and play off each other so that when one pushes forward, the other is always back defending.”

And perhaps most importantly: “Winning is the most important thing but for us the first priority is defensive, keeping a clean sheet” said Alexander. “It’s just a mentality thing for us. And it’s not just Dax and me but the whole midfield, the whole team, really. We’re all on same page, committed to defending.”

There are some odd similarities in the careers of Robles, McCarty, and Alexander. Each is on his third pro team; Robles played for two clubs in Germany before joining the Red Bulls late in 2012. After leaving Dallas, McCarty and Alexander had stops in D.C. and Portland respectively before landing in the Big Apple. Each was a highly regarded youth national team player and each has had brief looks with the national team but none have claimed a permanent role.

Playing on a team on a good playoff run could lead to more national team chances, something they are aware of but not focused on.

“We’re committed to doing well for the Red Bulls,” said Alexander, who has two caps, one more than Robles; McCarty has five. “And if that leads into international opportunities, great. But right now we’re focused on the Red Bulls.”

The trio are now unlikely flag-bearers for American soccer on one of the league’s more high-profile teams. By contrast, the Revolution have started nine or 10 American players in each of its playoff games while out west Seattle and Los Angeles each started between five and seven players developed in the U.S.

“It’s not something we really think about,” McCarty said about being the only American starters on Red Bull. “Any time you have Americans starting on a team that plays in the U.S. there’s a sense of pride. But I don’t think it crosses our mind too much. If you look at the whole Red Bulls organization, not just our team, it’s a very diverse environment and this is a very diverse group to play with. But we all have the same goals in mind and that doesn’t matter if you’re a Frenchman, an Englishman, an American, or Cameroonian.

"We have the same goal and we’re brothers on the field.”

Robles said the international environment reminded him of his time in Germany. “It does feel a little bit like a foreign team though the biggest difference is we speak mostly English,” he said. “But the one thing this team has no matter where you’re from is a sense of unity. That’s what’s carrying us down the stretch.”

And that unity will be tested against the red-hot Revolution, which went 10-2-2 down the stretch and blitzed the Columbus Crew in the playoffs to set-up this showdown. But one of those two losses came against New York, a 2-1 win on August 2 in Harrison, N. J. The Red Bulls also beat the Revolution 2-0 in Foxboro, Mass., earlier this season.

But that was before the Revs added U.S. international Jermaine Jones. Since he joined New England in August, the club has lost just once.

“The Revolution are a great team and pose a very big challenge,” said McCarty. “They’re the most in-form team in the league right now especially after acquiring Jermaine Jones. They have a lot of different ways to hurt you. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think it’s fair to say they’re the favorites and that suits us just fine. I don’t mind being underdogs, the Revolution have earned right to be the favorite.”

Both Alexander and McCarty know several of the key Revolution players well, including MVP candidate Lee Nguyen and resurgent forward Charlie Davies.

“I got to (the University of) Indiana a year after Lee left after his freshman year but he came back a lot and I got to know him. Plus he’s from Dallas and sometimes we’d train together down there,” Alexander said. “He’s having a great season and he’s going to be a big test for us, not just Lee but all the weapons they have.”

“I know Lee and Charlie very well. We were on a U-18 team that won the Milk Cup in Ireland,” said McCarty. “I’m sure we’ll chat in the coming days but once we step on the field, they’re the enemy and we’re not friends anymore.”

With the firepower on both sides, McCarty is expecting a very entertaining series.

“No question. I think we’re both exciting, dynamic teams. It’s going to make for a very good semifinal. We both have players who are good on both side of the ball and difference-makers going forward. And both teams love to score goals. It makes for a good battle and both teams really gonna go after it.

"I’d certainly be watching this semifinal if I wasn’t playing in it.”

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. You can follow him on Twitter