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SPEED TO BURN
One of Backe's tasks: make the best use of Richards' pace
Dane Richards followed orders and ran into space instead of running at defenders in Wednesday's 6-0 romp over the U.S. Under-17 National Team.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue ImagesBRADENTON, Fla. -- Perhaps no player has been a bigger enigma for the Red Bulls the past three seasons than midfielder Dane Richards.
He has all this speed to burn, but hasn't played close to his potential.
Taken by the Red Bulls in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, two coaches have tried to utilize the Jamaican international to the max. Sometimes Richards looks unstoppable on the right flank. Other times he has become an invisible man.
It will be the task of new coach Hans Backe to find a way to make Richards much more effective as the latter enters his fourth MLS season.
"Everyone knows about his pace," Backe said after the Red Bulls rolled to a 6-0 scrimmage win over the U.S. Under-17 National Team at IMG Academy Wednesday afternoon. "So it has to be clear in the way how to use his pace in the best way.
"Today in the first half, they [the U-17's] play very high in the back, so we fed him the ball all the time.
"He is one of the fastest players I have ever seen."
Richards, back from Jamaica’s 2-1 international loss in Argentina last week, followed Backe's advice and played an excellent game at right midfield, stretching the U-17 defense.
With the game barely two minutes old, he set up the first goal. Defender Jeremy Hall played a long ball to an onrushing Richards, who sent a cross that was knocked into the net by U.S. defender Holden Fender.
With the Red Bulls enjoying a 2-0 lead, Richards' speed killed the American defense again. This time he found midfielder Joel Lindpere in the penalty area. Lindpere was kicked but, but flicked the ball to Juan Pablo Angel, who scored the first of his two goals in the 28th minute. John Agudelo also had two goals.
"They said today to make my runs -- not at the defender, but into space," Richards told Red Bull Reader.
It worked.
Richards' goal this pre-season is to "make sue of my pace and just being smart. That's what I'm trying to do. . . . I'm doing well so far."
He added that he wants to "just improving my game."
Backe tempered the win, reminding Red Bull Reader that the team played against a U-17 side.
Asked what he was most concerned about, Backe replied, "Overall, mostly the attitude to the game because you're playing against the Under-17 team. You're supposed to win. You never know about the attitude. It was an excellent attitude for 90 minutes."
The Red Bulls raced to a 4-0 halftime advantage.
Richards was happy with the result, but realized the team still had a ways to go. As of today, Thursday, the Red Bulls 36 days to their season-opener against the Chicago Fire at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. March 27.
"It was almost perfect today," he said. "I guess we did well. We just have to keep working. It's early still. Hopefully by the first game, we well master it and be perfect."
One of Backe's tasks: make the best use of Richards' pace
Dane Richards followed orders and ran into space instead of running at defenders in Wednesday's 6-0 romp over the U.S. Under-17 National Team.Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
He has all this speed to burn, but hasn't played close to his potential.
Taken by the Red Bulls in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, two coaches have tried to utilize the Jamaican international to the max. Sometimes Richards looks unstoppable on the right flank. Other times he has become an invisible man.
It will be the task of new coach Hans Backe to find a way to make Richards much more effective as the latter enters his fourth MLS season.
"Everyone knows about his pace," Backe said after the Red Bulls rolled to a 6-0 scrimmage win over the U.S. Under-17 National Team at IMG Academy Wednesday afternoon. "So it has to be clear in the way how to use his pace in the best way.
"Today in the first half, they [the U-17's] play very high in the back, so we fed him the ball all the time.
"He is one of the fastest players I have ever seen."
Richards, back from Jamaica’s 2-1 international loss in Argentina last week, followed Backe's advice and played an excellent game at right midfield, stretching the U-17 defense.
With the game barely two minutes old, he set up the first goal. Defender Jeremy Hall played a long ball to an onrushing Richards, who sent a cross that was knocked into the net by U.S. defender Holden Fender.
With the Red Bulls enjoying a 2-0 lead, Richards' speed killed the American defense again. This time he found midfielder Joel Lindpere in the penalty area. Lindpere was kicked but, but flicked the ball to Juan Pablo Angel, who scored the first of his two goals in the 28th minute. John Agudelo also had two goals.
"They said today to make my runs -- not at the defender, but into space," Richards told Red Bull Reader.
It worked.
Richards' goal this pre-season is to "make sue of my pace and just being smart. That's what I'm trying to do. . . . I'm doing well so far."
He added that he wants to "just improving my game."
Backe tempered the win, reminding Red Bull Reader that the team played against a U-17 side.
Asked what he was most concerned about, Backe replied, "Overall, mostly the attitude to the game because you're playing against the Under-17 team. You're supposed to win. You never know about the attitude. It was an excellent attitude for 90 minutes."
The Red Bulls raced to a 4-0 halftime advantage.
Richards was happy with the result, but realized the team still had a ways to go. As of today, Thursday, the Red Bulls 36 days to their season-opener against the Chicago Fire at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. March 27.
"It was almost perfect today," he said. "I guess we did well. We just have to keep working. It's early still. Hopefully by the first game, we well master it and be perfect."
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