Football Season Review

New York Red Bulls endured their worst campaign in six years as they needed a late surge in form to just about book their place in playoffs by finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference only to bow out in the Conference semifinals. It was a rollercoaster season for New York who struggled for consistency in the opening weeks but hit a rich vein of form midway through, which took them all the way to the US Open Cup final, but a late blip in form raising the prospect of them missing out on the playoffs only for a strong run to the season, collecting seven points from the final three games, helping them over the red line though they did lose out to eventual winners Toronto FC. Lack of goals was one of the problems for the Red Bulls who struggled for consistency up front and while Bradley Wright-Phillips did bag 19, there were dry spells for the striker and that is something New York will have to improve on next season There were positives for coach Jesse Marsch, especially the introduction of youth players that did pay off with Sean Davis and Tyler Adams emerging as solid candidates for a place in the starting lineup while in Daniel Royer, Sascha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips, they have one of the most potent attacking force in the league. New York is expected to continue to look to the youth for fresh bodies though they do need to beef up their defense, with Marsch struggling to name a settled pairing in the center of the defense while they are a bit light at rightback as well though the Red Bulls have enough quality in the roster to bounce back and challenge for the top spot in the Eastern Conference once again next season

Player of the Season: Daniel Royer