Last se𓃲ason, Bradley Wright-Phillips tied the MLS all-time single-season scoring record with 27 goals. But many have wondered how the Red Bulls would provide service for him without💫 Thierry Henry, who assisted on eight of those tallies before retiring. Based on last Sunday’s season-opener, the answer is not well.
Wright-Phillips was left stranded and shut out in a 1-1 tie at Sporting KC, som♏ething the Red Bulls need to fix during their off-week before hosting D.C. Un🔯ited on March 22.
“It was definitely personally a frustrating game chances-wise,’’ Wright-Phillips told The Post. “I’ve watched the game back and I’ve got to get better in my movement. It’s early in the season and I think I was making runs tꦉoo early, or t☂he midfielders sometimes would choose another pass. We weren’t on the same page. But in training it’s worked; we link up well. So it doesn’t worry me.’’
Despite having 56.7 percent possession, the Red Bulls weren’t dangerous enough with them. They were out𓄧shot 18༺-14, and Wright-Phillips didn’t have a single shot.
“We’re talking about some of the relationships on the field and how to make sure that Bradley’s movement is a 𝐆little clearer so that he can be available at the right times, and that the m🍎idfield continues to understand how to find him in the right ways,’’ Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. “Some of it comes from wide positions, some of it comes from deeper positions in midfield.
“But we’re continuing to work on all of our relationships in the final third to make sure we can be more effective with how we play … and with our possession. I have a lot of confidence that🦄’ll come along, and it’s just a matter of time ironing out some of the relationships. I expect us to be better in the next game.’’
They have time to work out the kinks before that next game, the home opener, and Wright-Phillips can work on errant timing that saw him overanxious and call🥂ed for an uncharacteristic three offsides.
“It’s excitement,” Wright-Phillips said. “I just wanted to get a shot on goal. I haven’t played a game for three points for ages. I just wanted to get out there and try and look sharp, and sometimes I went too early, playing ൩like a young kid. That won’t happen every week.”