He says he is still adjusting to joining his third team this season. But on the field, New York Red Bulls forward John Wolyniec has looked like he has not missed a beat.
After being acquired by the Red Bulls from the Los Angeles Galaxy for a pair of draft picks on Aug. 17, Wolyniec, who is now in his third stint with New York, has energized an attack that has scored eight goals in two games.
Two of those goals have come from Wolyniec, who found the back of the net in the Red Bulls' 6-0 win over Real Salt Lake last Saturday and a 2-2 draw with Kansas City on Wednesday. Wolyniec previously played for New York in 1999 and between 2003 and 2005.
"Obviously, coming into a new team, it can be difficult to jump right in and click with other players, but so far, it's been pretty good. I can't complain," said Wolyniec, who started the year with the Columbus Crew. "We're getting chances offensively which is good and we've had a couple of results. You know, it's a tough road ahead and hopefully we can keep getting better."
With the pair of goals to go along with two assists he earned against Salt Lake, Wolyniec has forced himself into head coach Bruce Arena's Starting 11.
"He's done really well for us. He's a tireless worker, he holds the ball up for us and you know what you're going get from John so that helps us quite a bit," said former Los Angeles teammate and current New York defender Todd Dunivant.
At first glance, some thought that Wolyniec's presence on the squad might provide direct competition for Edson Buddle, who is thought by some to have a similar game as the Staten Island, N.Y., native, with their large frames and ability to play with their backs toward goal.
However, Arena has a different opinion.
"They're not that similar," he said. "John is certainly a guy that's much more comfortable staying up top on a permanent basis. Edson's a guy that likes to move around a little bit. He's much better at facing a guy, taking him on."
Because of this and considering the Red Bulls' dearth of forwards due to injuries and international duties, the pair have formed a previously unlikely and now potentially potent duo.
"The results have been pretty good so far. I think we complement each other pretty well and it's still a work in progress that we can be better. But so far, so good," Wolyniec said. "It bodes well for the future, but we'll keep working on it and keep getting better."
The Red Bulls are heading into their final stretch, with seven of their remaining eight league games against conference opponents, starting with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Sunday (7:00 p.m. ET; DK, MSG, MLSLIVE.tv). Wolyniec hopes that his move back to the Big Apple will continue to be smooth.
"That comfort level really helps, makes the adjustment a little easier," Wolyniec said about the transition of moving back to the Tri-State Area again. "Obviously, knowing some of the players from being here before like Youri [Djorkaeff] and Amado [Guevara] and having played with Edson, there is a level of familiarity there already so it's a good place to start and it's something build off of."
