Bradley Wright-Phillips says he isn’t frustrated. Yes, the marking on him is a bit different this year, but what do you expect after scoring a franchise-record 27 goals in 2014? This year, the Red Bulls have a new coach and a new system and his role has changed.
“Bradley has been sharp, has done what we’re looking for, what we want him to do,” Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch insisted. “He’s finding chances, as he always does, and he’ll continue to find ways to put them in the net. He’s been good.”
Wright-Phillips knows this is a new year. Even after all the goals last season – and given the honor of becoming a designated player, and getting the money that comes with it – he says he is still a team-oriented guy. And he expects that will continue Wednesday night when the Red Bulls host the Colorado Rapids in the second of three games in a seven-day span.
“I never put pressure on myself except to score goals,” he said. “Even last season, if you go back, I’m more performance-based. I’m not just happy with scoring. That’s boring to me. Just scoring a goal and not helping the team out in other areas. That’s something I want to work on this season.”
And is has showed. Wright-Phillips has two goals in six games this season, one more than he scored at this point a year ago. But he also has three assists, one more that he registered all last season.
Last year, however, he played with Thierry Henry up front in a 4-4-2 formation, although Henry free-lanced throughout the game, which allowed Wright-Phillips more room to maneuver. This season, alone up top in a 4-5-1, he’s getting tighter marking.
“Last year Henry drew a lot of attention and just kind of ran all over the field and collected balls, so there wasn’t as much a cohesive understanding of how the team wanted to move and play,” Marsch said. “It was a little bit more like get him the ball and see what happens.
“This year we tried to build more of a role for each guy and have each guy contribute to who we are defensively and who we are with the ball. With Bradley, it’s still up to (him) to move around in ways he can be available for final plays, and he’s good at that. It’s not much different but we ask a few more things for him to think about and he’s good with that and he does them well.
(Bradley’s) been a facilitator, too. He’s had a lot of assists. He could have more and he’ll continue to score goals. I look at him more as a 15-15 guy instead of a 27- goal (guy). But, you know, he could still get to 27 easily, so I’m not counting him out yet.”
Wright-Phillips acknowledges the tighter marking, but insists it’s his job to find space to score. He’s had his chances. He just needs to be more opportunistic.
“Yeah, of course, I wouldn’t mind a little bit more protection from the rest (of the team), but, obviously, people, for some reason, think I’m dangerous and I’m getting a lot of (attention),” Wright-Phillips said following Sunday night’s 1-1 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy at Red Bull Arena. “It’s obviously harder, but I can deal with it.”
At training on Tuesday, Wright-Phillips had a bit more time to evaluate the situation.
“It’s very similar to the end of last season (when he was in goal-scoring form),” he said of the marking. “For some reason people think I’m some kind of threat and they take it upon themselves to throw me around. I’ve got to be strong and man-up. It’s a lot more hands-on, but strikers up and down the country get it and I’m no different.”
It helps that Sacha Kljestan, playing an attacking role at the top of the midfield, has been playing closer to Wright-Phillips.
“We’ve linked up a few times. And he’s a very good player with the ball at his feet,” Wright-Phillips said. “I like playing with him. I don’t mind being up front by myself.”
Though the Red Bulls played the defending MLS champs on Sunday and travel to play Eastern Conference rival New England on Saturday, Marsch didn’t believe the game with Colorado is a trap game, especially since the Rapids played FC Dallas last Friday, will travel across the country to play the Red Bulls, then fly to California to play the Galaxy this Saturday.
“Our team is mature enough to understand that every game is a battle in this league and there are no gimmies,” Marsch said. “I understand Colorado has had a tough stretch for the last year and a half, but we know they’re dangerous and they have good players and they still have beaten Dallas on the road 4-0 and Dallas is a good team, so we won’t take them lightly at all.
“Their attacking players are very gifted and good around the goal. We still want to press and be aggressive and go after them but we know there are going to be breakdowns and little match-ups one v one and do a good job because they’re shifty around the goal. We’re still going to try and put the game on our terms.
“They came out of the last game well so leading into the next two games we’ll have options. We want to rotate and use all our good players but also make sure that we put a team on the field that understands what we want to do and who we want to be and get results.”
Frank Giase has covered Major League Soccer since the league's inception in 1996. Follow him on twitter at @Frank Giase. He can also be reached at fgiase@gmail.com.
