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<DIV class=pagetitle><H1>Reyna expected to be the offensive focal point</H1></DIV><DIV class=bylinebox style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px"><DIV class=bylinephoto>
</DIV><DIV class=bylinetext>Ives Galarcep, ESPNsoccernet
Archive </DIV><DIV style="FLOAT: left"></DIV></DIV><BR clear=all><DIV class=text11 style="BACKGROUND: rgb(255,255,255) 0% 50%; moz-background-clip: initial; moz-background-origin: initial; moz-background-inline-policy: initial"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Editor's note: This is the third of 13 MLS team previews being done by ESPNsoccernet for the 2007 season.
2006 record and finish: 9-11-12 (fourth in Eastern Conference)
Key additions: M Claudio Reyna, GK Ronald Waterreus, M Dave Van Den Bergh, M Dane Richards<DIV class=phinline>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 205px"><DIV class=photocred2>Rich Schultz/WireImage</DIV><DIV class=photosubtext>Marvell Wynne improved dramatically over the course of his rookie season last year.</DIV></DIV></DIV>
Key losses: M Amado Guevara, M/F Youri Djorkaeff, GK Tony Meola, M Chris Henderson, F Edson Buddle, M Danny O'Rourke
Key questions facing the Red Bulls
1. Who will score the goals?
If this question sounds familiar, it is because it was the very same first question in the team's preview last season. Rather than address it, the club went through the offseason without adding a single, established goal scorer.
The onus will fall on teenage forward Josmer Altidore, who showed tons of potential late last season, delivering four goals once he became a starter. Journeyman forward John Wolyniec also will be called on to try to match his 10-goal tally with the MetroStars. Dane Richards and Mike Magee also should see time at forward, but they will likely see more action in midfield.
What remains to be seen is what formation coach Bruce Arena will use. The team has been favoring a 4-5-1 formation with a target forward taking advantage of the club's strong wing play. Altidore and Wolyniec are both well-suited for that system, which would help cover up the club's lack of forward depth.
If Altidore and Wolyniec don't get the job done, Arena will have little choice but to consider signing a forward during the summer transfer window. The Red Bulls have the salary-cap space and designated-player slot to bring in a quality option.
2. How big an impact will Claudio Reyna have?
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Eric Wynalda's Take:</TH></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(235,235,235)" vAlign=top><TD width=184>"I think the over/under on Claudio Reyna is probably eight, in terms of how many games he plays on that turf. Claudio has had an amazing career, and this is sort of a homecoming. People don't realize that Claudio Reyna, as great as his career has been, has never set foot on American soil to play professionally. Altidore is a player I'm excited to watch this year. I think at the end of last season, we all got to see what the future of American soccer might be. Marvell Wynne has the absolute best recovery speed of any player in the league, meaning if he get beats, and he does get beat often, they still can't run past him, beca
</DIV><DIV class=bylinetext>Ives Galarcep, ESPNsoccernetArchive </DIV><DIV style="FLOAT: left"></DIV></DIV><BR clear=all><DIV class=text11 style="BACKGROUND: rgb(255,255,255) 0% 50%; moz-background-clip: initial; moz-background-origin: initial; moz-background-inline-policy: initial"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Editor's note: This is the third of 13 MLS team previews being done by ESPNsoccernet for the 2007 season.
2006 record and finish: 9-11-12 (fourth in Eastern Conference)
Key additions: M Claudio Reyna, GK Ronald Waterreus, M Dave Van Den Bergh, M Dane Richards<DIV class=phinline>
<DIV style="WIDTH: 205px"><DIV class=photocred2>Rich Schultz/WireImage</DIV><DIV class=photosubtext>Marvell Wynne improved dramatically over the course of his rookie season last year.</DIV></DIV></DIV>
Key losses: M Amado Guevara, M/F Youri Djorkaeff, GK Tony Meola, M Chris Henderson, F Edson Buddle, M Danny O'Rourke
Key questions facing the Red Bulls
1. Who will score the goals?
If this question sounds familiar, it is because it was the very same first question in the team's preview last season. Rather than address it, the club went through the offseason without adding a single, established goal scorer.
The onus will fall on teenage forward Josmer Altidore, who showed tons of potential late last season, delivering four goals once he became a starter. Journeyman forward John Wolyniec also will be called on to try to match his 10-goal tally with the MetroStars. Dane Richards and Mike Magee also should see time at forward, but they will likely see more action in midfield.
What remains to be seen is what formation coach Bruce Arena will use. The team has been favoring a 4-5-1 formation with a target forward taking advantage of the club's strong wing play. Altidore and Wolyniec are both well-suited for that system, which would help cover up the club's lack of forward depth.
If Altidore and Wolyniec don't get the job done, Arena will have little choice but to consider signing a forward during the summer transfer window. The Red Bulls have the salary-cap space and designated-player slot to bring in a quality option.
2. How big an impact will Claudio Reyna have?
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Eric Wynalda's Take:</TH></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(235,235,235)" vAlign=top><TD width=184>"I think the over/under on Claudio Reyna is probably eight, in terms of how many games he plays on that turf. Claudio has had an amazing career, and this is sort of a homecoming. People don't realize that Claudio Reyna, as great as his career has been, has never set foot on American soil to play professionally. Altidore is a player I'm excited to watch this year. I think at the end of last season, we all got to see what the future of American soccer might be. Marvell Wynne has the absolute best recovery speed of any player in the league, meaning if he get beats, and he does get beat often, they still can't run past him, beca
