UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- Following Sunday’s win over Manchester City to snag third place in the Barclays New York Challenge, the Red Bulls returned to the practice field after a two-day rest, ready to prepare for Houston on Saturday night.
Training at the warm and muggy practice facility at Montclair State University was intense. The team spent a lot of time working on finishing. The shooting was a bit rusty and, during one sequence, Thierry Henry and Carl Robinson both hit the right post in nearly identical spots on consecutive shots. Danleigh Borman, with a wide-open goal, also rung the post from with a shot from a tight angle.
During the team’s small-sided game, Mac Kandji showed the same form from this past weekend that earned praise from Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. Kandji was very active and continues to link well with Henry. The two appeared to have formed a fast friendship off the field as well, with Henry jokingly calling his strike partner “Big Mac.”
Head coach Hans Backe was pleased with the form and fitness shown by Henry, who is now in his second full week of training with his new club. Backe said it will take Henry two or three weeks more to be fully fit, but he may start the French star against Houston.
Henry said he hasn’t talked with Backe yet about the plan for how many minutes he’ll play, but Backe said “if we’re lucky, perhaps [Henry will play] 60 minutes.”
After training, Henry remarked that his legs felt heavy and that he didn’t know when the “form is going to come.” However, he hopes to be ready to play a full 90 minutes against Toronto in mid-August. That fixture would represent his first home appearance for the team in league action.
Right now though, the player said that he is pleased with where he is in terms of being match-ready, but says he must progress more.
“[I’m] trying to get fit – nowhere near fit, though,” Henry said.
Henry represents the team’s second Designated Player, along with MLS All-Star Juan Pablo Angel. A third DP, whom Backe has said is a central midfielder, appears close to signing.
“I can’t confirm anything,” Backe told MLSsoccer.com. “I don’t think anything is signed.”
Last week, reports had surfaced that the Red Bulls were looking at another central player, who would partner with the soon-to-be-unveiled third DP. But Backe said that he doesn’t think that will come to fruition.
Quick Notes
- Defender Kevin Goldthwaite participated fully in practice on Wednesday for the first time in more than two months.
- Academy signee Giorgi Chirgadze, 19, participated fully in training for the first time since the start of the season. The forward had been training separate from the team while he recovered from injury.
- Brian Nielsen told MLSsoccer.com that his knee still hurts and that his recovery could be between two months to four months.
- Brazilian trialist Marcos Peixoto was back for his second week training with the team. Backe continued to be impressed and said a decision could be forthcoming this Friday.
- Juan Pablo Angel will stay in Houston after the All-Star Game in order to join the team for Saturday’s match against the Dynamo.
- He’s not a trialist, but Cal-Berkley defender A.J. Suarez will be training with the team this week. The San Diego native has several friends on the team, including Connor Chinn and Luke Sassano. He hopes to grab a photo for Facebook with Henry before he departs later this week.
Kristian R. Dyer can be reached for comment at KristianRDyer@yahoo.com and followed at twitter.com/kdyer1012.
