MLS Player Ratings: NY Red Bulls v NE Revolution

All stats are courtesy of whoscored.com. That is the go-to place for Soccer (football, or whatever your country calls it)statistics. Check that site out. Be warned though, they're coverage of the United States' events isn't always great (see, Gold Cup), but they have really stepped up giving excellent MLS coverage this year. I could not be more bullish of whoscored.com.

New York Red Bulls

4-2-3-1

GK Luis Robles: 6.5

Robles was fine. He made the couple saves that were available to him. He commanded his box well and came out when he needed to. The one goal the Red Bulls did give up was not one he could have done much with. It came off a cross from Lee Nguyen on the right side and he put it to the far post where Dorman was charging into the box, and Davies was already waiting. There was a scary moment when Nguyen charged a loose ball in the box and Robles came out to grab it and they collided, sending Nguyen flying. I thought Robles got to it first, and the no penalty was the correct call.

RB Connor Lade: 6.6

Lade had a very silent night, but that does not mean he was not effective. He ended the match with five interceptions. However, he left too much space at times for Tierney and Nguyen, who often drifted out wide, and allowed quite a few uncontested crosses. Lade was not much of a factor on offense, allowing Wallace to surge ahead more on the other side. He ended the match with 76% passing accuracy, and did not complete either of his crosses.

CB Damien Perrinelle: 8.0

Perrinelle made a couple of errors early in the match, but was strong for the remainder and majority of it. He was adept at heading crosses out of the box, as well as getting out wide to defend and contain a winger. Perrinelle finished the match with a game high eight interceptions, while also completing three successful tackles and blocking a few incoming shots. I like the poise he and Miazga had when Lee Nguyen controlled the ball at the top of the box. They stayed home and contained him, cutting off his passing lanes and making him take shots over them or swinging the ball way outside of the box.

CB Matt Miazga: 8.2

Miazga and Perrinelle worked great as a team; Miazga was just a little bit better than his counterpart though. He was outstanding in the air, winning six aerial battles, he also snagged four interceptions, made four tackles and cleared a game high nine balls. Miazga played pretty error free to boot. As previously stated, he and Perrinelle did a good job of containing Nguyen when he got the ball at the top of the box (which he did often throughout the second half).

LB Anthony Wallace 8.5

Wallace seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. He was terrific on defense. He had no problems handling Agudelo and Bunbury, although Rowe had more success late in the second half once Wallace had finally slowed down. He contibuted with a few clearances, a few tackles, and a few interceptions. He did allow Nguyen to slip in between himself and the center back at times, which ultimately led to New England's lone goal, but he did a good job throughout most of the match. Wallace was even better on offense. His passing accuracy was only 65%, but despite this he did well to get the ball into dangerous positions. In the second half he got his chance to put a shot on goal from just outside the box and it took a deflection off Goncalves and into goal.

RDM Dax McCarthy: 9.0

McCarthy is clearly the most important player on the Red Bulls' squad. He is an engine, constantly working to win possession for his team while on defense. This is evidenced by his game high six tackles, a stat that looks good no matter what league you are in. McCarthy also does a good job of retaining possession, and carrying the ball through the midfield. McCarthy is not a defensive specialist. He was able to find his teammates in the final third as well, and was responsible for two assist tonight.

LDM Felipe: 6.4

Felipe was the weakest of the Red Bulls' midfielders, but to his credit, his fellow midfielders were all ridiculous in this match. Felipe was the free kick taker for the Red Bulls and could have been more precise; he had difficulty picking out teammates in the box, and deliver a dangerous ball. Felipe's passing accuracy was only 74%, while making more passes than anyone else in the match. He was much better on defence, helping McCarthy win back the ball and carry possession.

RM Lloyd Sam: 9.3

Lloyd Sam was unbelievable this match. There was a stretch in the first half when every touch he had provided a scoring opportunity. Sam's delivery into the box and passing was on a different level tonight, and really showed just how good he is (Henry who?), and how good Wright-Phillips can be when he has someone of that caliber assisting him. Sam finished with a goal and an assist, four key passes, and a passing accuracy of 88%. Sam looked like the best wing in the premier league in this match.

CAM Sacha Kljestan: 7.0

Kljestan arrived with big expectations this year, he has European and national team experience so there is an assumption that he is going to be one of the best players in the league. So, from that perspective Klejstan has been somewhat of a disappointment this year. He was alright in this match. He did a good job distributing the ball to the wings; he finished the match with an 85% pass accuracy. However, he struggled with his own balls into the box, and struggled putting the ball and himself in dangerous positions.

LM Mike Grella: 8.3

Grella was another midfielder who excelled for New York tonight. He provided an excellent compliment to Sam on the right side, and made the defense stretch, having to be wary of both wings. Grella was not quite as effective as Sam. He was more prone to giving possession away, and his passing accuracy was much lower at 67%. However, Grella had three key passes and kept peppering the box with crosses, ending the game with an assist.

ST Bradley Wright-Phillips: 9.0

Bradley Wright-Phillips is not having quite as spectacular a season as last. That will happen when you lose one of the best players in the league's history as a battery mate. However, Wright-Phillips, like many of his teammates, was spectacular tonight. The midfield kept Wright-Phillips well fed, linking up well with him. He finished with five shots, three of which were on goal, and two of which found there way to the back of the net. Another was very close, as he headed a great cross from Sam just to the left of an open goal. Wright-Phillips showed off his all-around ability as a striker threatening with his head, his feet, his speed, and his passing. He finished the match with a passing accuracy of 90%. He even played good defense when he shifted to left midfield late in the second half.

SUB Anatole Abang (68' Sam): N/A

Abang was on the pitch long enough to have a rating assigned to him, but it's not necessary. He is an attacking player and the Red Bulls already had a three goal lead by the time he came on. He received only twelve touches in his twenty minutes on the pitch. He did take a shot, receiving a nice cross from Grella to their left side, but he could not get it on target.

SUB Sal Zizzo (79' Kljestan): N/A

Zizzo was only on the field for a little more than ten minutes. He received a good ball in the box where he was “fouled.” He took the PK, and was unsuccessful, getting his shot blocked by the Revolution GK twice.

SUB Sean Davis (83' Wright-Phillips): N/A

Davis came on in the final ten minutes, and only got four touches. Nothing to see here. He is happy to get some pitch time.

New England Revoltion

4-2-3-1

GK Bobby Shuttleworth: 7.0

Shuttleworth looked about as good as you can while giving up four goals. The New York attack was just too lethal, and came at him from every angle. He had four saves, and it always looks impressive when you not only save a penalty kick, but immediately get back up and dive in the opposite direction to block the rebound.

RB London Woodberry: 6.4

Woodberry had an uneven, but fair performance. He was surprisingly good in the air on defense, winning five aerial duals. He also recorded seven clearances and intercepted three balls. However, he often gave Grella too much space, and allowed him to pass around him and get the ball into dangerous areas. Woodberry is usually a good offensive full back, and he certainly got his chances, trying seven crosses. However, he was only accurate on one of those occasions. His passing accuracy was also subpar at 68%.

CB Jose Goncalves: 6.5

I feel bad for Goncalves; he seems to garner a red card in every match I watch him play, and the one he received this time was pretty unjust.

How much can Goncalves be expected to do? He finished his match with eight clearances, five interceptions, three tackles, and a partridge in a pear tree. New England's midfield was just getting run over and provided little assistance.

CB Andrew Ferrell: 6.3

Goncalves lite had a similar experience, minus the two yellow cards. He finished with eight clearances, three interceptions, two tackles, and a blocked shot to boot. He did make a couple errors at times, but none which led to goalscoring opportunities.

LB Chris Tierney: 6.2

Tierney is an attacking full back, and was given opportunities deep on the left flank. He crossed the ball ten times, and connected on three occasions. However, Tierney and Woodberry's combined passing accuracy was right round, or a little under, 70%. It is not good when your attacking full back gives away the ball, often times deep in their opponent's territory, because it can expose you to the counter attack, and when an offense is clicking like New York's was, they do not need any added help. He also lacked quality when tacking free kicks, struggling to put dangerous balls into the box off corners. Tierney did end up with four interceptions, but did not have an answer defensively for Sam, and forced Goncalves to cover too much ground.

RDM Andy Dorman: 7.0

Dorman scored New England's only goal. He timed his run into the box perfectly to strike Nguyen's ball to the far post into the open left side of the goal. Dornan could have been better in possession, his passing accuracy was only 70%, and he did little to slow New York's charge through the midfield throughout the first half.

LDM Scott Caldwell: 6.7

Caldwell had spells where he seemed absent, but he quietly did the little things in midfield. He had five interceptions and a couple tackles, but could have done more to put pressure on the ball while New York attacked.

RM Teal Bunbury: 4.5

See Agudelo, Juan, and add one goal—not on target, then lower passing accuracy to 60%.

CAM Lee Nguyen: 7.6

Lee Nguyen was easily the best player on his side. After tallying an assist on New England's only goal in the first half. Nguyen really took off in the second half. He consistently got himself and the ball to the top of the box right in the center of goal. However, despite regularly getting this position, New York's center backs did a good job of containing him and not providing him an avenue to pass through them. It did not help that Charlie Davies was unwilling to work himself into a position Nguyen could pass into. So, often Nguyen was forced to try and take on both center backs, and sometimes McCarthy too, on his own on the dribble, and work himself into a shot. He finished with four shots, but only one of them was on goal, but he really had to force himself to take difficult shots, because his team was so far down, and the rest of his team provided little support on the attack.

LM Juan Agudelo: 4.5

Zero key passes. Zero key dribbles. Zero shots. Pedestrian 77% pass accuracy. Little defensive contribution, and a tendency to give the ball away. Keep up the good work Agudelo.

ST: Charlie Davies: 5.0

This was not an immpressive performance from Davies. He had trouble linking up with his teammates in the final third, and had trouble finding open space behind the line. He finished the game with zero shots. It stands to reason that if your lone striker has zero shots in a game, there is a good chance you will not win. It is easy to be negative on Davies when you compare him directly to Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips is a complete striker, he can take on the defense on his own if he needs to, is an aerial threat and can shoot from anywhere inside, or outside the box. Davies is more limited, and seemed in this match if he was just waiting for an opportunity to poach a goal.

SUB Daigo Kobayashi (57' Dorman): 6.2

Daigo played well the final thirty minutes. He did a nice job carrying possession for New England and distributing to his attackers. He finished with a passing accuracy of 83%. New England had possession for a majority of the time he was on the pitch. Daigo was not much of a factor defensively; he did not really win back the ball, or help out the center backs when New York got the ball in precarious positions.

SUB Diego Fagundez (56' Bunbury): 6.5

Fagundez tried to energize New England's offense, using his fresh legs to carry the ball around the midfield. He had a pair of key passes in the final thirty minutes of the match, and even played a little quality defense.

SUB Kelyn Rowe (66' Agudelo): 6.5

Rowe took advantage of the time he had on the pitch. He consistently got the ball out on the right flank and peppered the box with crosses, although he was unable to connect with a teammate. He did score a couple of key passes though.

Man of the Match: Lloyd Sam

You cannot go wrong picking Sam, Wright-Phillips, or McCarthy. I just liked how dynamic Sam was. It seemed every time he touched the ball a goal was soon to follow.

Final Toughts:

-I was pleasently surprised by how good the Red Bulls were. This was the first match of theirs I have watched all of this season. They have a formidable attack and several creative options. The defense is also sturdier than I expected. They are a good balanced team, and the East can be had still.

-It is hard to believe the Revolution were in the final last season. They are really struggling right now. Jermaine Jones' absence was felt in this match, as the Red Bulls dominated the midfield, and were very efficient with the ball.