With another IMG Suncoast Pro Classic match looming Saturday vs. USL’s Oklahoma City Energy FC (2:30pm ET Live on NewYorkRedBulls.com), the team held a single training session Friday morning before separate video sessions in the afternoon.
Coming off a physical 1-1 draw with Danish side FC Koge Wednesday, Marsch said he’ll use a Saturday’s match to further evaluate more of his roster in a game situation.
“It’ll be a different group on Saturday,” he said. “We’re more trying to push the process with some of the younger guys and get some of the older guys a few more minutes to push their fitness. We’ll look to use that game to evaluate and as we move into the next two games.”
One first team regular that will be on the field Saturday is reigning MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips who was held out of Wednesday’s match as a precaution after picking up a slight calf strain. Further on the injury front, Marsch said Friday that Michael Bustamante and Matt Miazga are beginning to train again while Ruben Bover continues to recover from a quad injury.
More on Dane Richards
After seeing Sean Davis hit a screamer on Thursday, Friday’s top goal came from trialing winger Dane Richards who destroyed a half volley past goalkeeper Santiago Castano.
Asked about how the Jamaican international has done during the trialist stint with his former club, Marsch said Richards was adjusting and learning the system he’s trying to implement.
“I know him a little bit as a player, I’m trying to get to know him as a person a little bit more,” said the Red Bulls manager. “[We’re] trying to give him ideas as to what we think he needs to do to be successful in our group and how to play those attacking wide midfield spots for how we’re going to play tactically.
“Obviously when you see Dane, his pace still puts teams on their heels and now we’re just trying to add a little bit of sophistication in how he moves and how he thinks.”
In 28 minutes during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw, Richards showed he still has the pace to make life miserable for defenders and should see more time on Saturday vs. Oklahoma City.
Pointed Praise
With a less familiar set of players set to take the field on Saturday, Marsch was also asked who has stuck out for him during training camp.
First using the very obvious answer of new signing Mike Grella, the Red Bulls manager pointed to four other names currently in the Bradenton camp.
The manager pointed to former Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas left back Anthony Wallace, who he said would start on Saturday and be replaced at halftime by Jamaican international Kemar Lawrence.
He also pointed to the two Cameroonian players in camp saying, “Marius Obekob from last year has done well this year and caught my eye a bit in terms of what we’re trying to do and how he fits in. What I’ve seen of him in the past, he’s been good. [Trialist Anatole] Abang from Cameroon is very gifted, very strong has had a lot of good days too and we’re hoping we can develop him into a big time player.”
What of Oklahoma City Energy FC?
The USL affiliate of Sporting KC, the club was founded in 2013 and is led by former SKC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. Having finished 10th in the 14-team league last year, the club had a great start to 2015 by downing Toronto FC 1-0 in their opener of the IMG Suncoast Classic Wednesday night.
The team features former Chivas USA first round selection Casey Townsend, as well as ex-TFC defender Michael Thomas and two Danish imports in Sebastian Dalgaard and Danni Konig.
Fans can catch Saturday’s match live at 2:30pm ET on NewYorkRedBulls.com/Live.
