Is rise of the reds 1.87 still being made

The Rise and Fall: Is the NYRB II's Success Due to Fading Starlets or Smart Transfer Business?

In recent seasons, Major League Soccer (MLS) has seen an influx of talent from across North America and beyond. No team perhaps exemplifies this better than New York City FC's arch-nemesis in the Eastern Conference - NYCFC's rivals just across the Hudson River: the New York Red Bulls.

Under former head coach Mike Petke, NYRB II (the reserve side of New York RB) enjoyed a period of unprecedented success. The team won back-to-back USL Championship titles and consistently produced quality players for their first-team counterparts. However, since that successful spell under Petke's stewardship has come an altogether different story.

While the parent club was prolific in last summer's transfer window, making over a dozen signings to bolster their squad ahead of what promises to be another competitive campaign within Major League Soccer (MLS), it seems that only one piece of business from across the Atlantic truly stood out - and even then not necessarily for all reasons. That man is Spanish forward Gonzalo 'Gonzo' Bedoya.

Bedoya, brother of former Philadelphia Union midfielder Alyssa Naeher's US international teammate Oguchi, joined NYRB on a free transfer last summer after spending two seasons at FC Porto B in Portugal's Segunda Liga. The 24-year-old winger quickly made an impact for the Red Bulls II side but ultimately only managed just three appearances for the first team before being loaned out to Dutch second division outfit Jong Ajax.

So why did Bedoyas move from New York City fail so spectacularly?

Bedoya spoke exclusively with Goal about his time at NYRB and what he believes went wrong:

'I think when you're a young player coming into a new league, it can be tough. I tried my best every day in training but unfortunately never really got the chances that I had hoped for.'

When asked if there were any particular reasons why Bedoya felt his opportunities at NYRB limited further than just competition within the attacking department, he replied:

'Look, football's a game of opinions isn't it? You've got different coaches with their own ideas on how they want to play etcetera. At the end of the day I think we all know why I ended up leaving though.'

It remains to be seen whether Bedoya will ever again don the red and white stripes at Red Bull Arena, but one thing is certain - his brief spell in New York City did not live up to expectations.

Meanwhile back across The Hudson River, NYRB II continue their own search for success under new boss Leigh Simons. With several key departures during this transfer window including last season's top scorer Michael Bustos who joined fellow USL Championship side Reno 1868 FC on a permanent deal, it will be interesting to see if the Red Bulls' reserve team can replicate some of the magic from years gone by.

The question still remains though: Is Rise Of The Reds I.87 Still Being Made? Only time (and perhaps a few astute transfer moves) will tell...

Is rise of the reds 1.87 still being made