New York Red Bulls: As the team chugs along on road trip, Chris Armas faces his toughest challenge yet

The New York Red Bulls are rolling, but it is not going to get any easier for Chris Armas and his team. This weekend vs Vancouver, he faces his toughest dilemma yet.

The New York Red Bulls are in the heart of having five matches in 15 days. That is not an easy task. The only bright thing about this challenge is that the Red Bulls have constantly shown us they can handle just about anything.

But, the potential fatigue from so many minutes of soccer is the least of their worries. They are professionals and world-class athletes.

It is even an issue that the next two matches for the Red Bulls are on the road and in the span of four days.

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However, that is still not where the ultimate challenge lies. The real challenge is how Chris Armas will set his lineups, manage his subs, and really overall have his team ready to go at all times.

This is the kind of dilemma that ex-coach Jesse Marsch often faced. Earlier this year for the Red Bulls they faced the same thing between league play, the Champions League, and even the US Open Cup.

However, his choice was even a little easier. Marsch knew to focus solely on the MLS league play matches. He often did no matter the cost.

An earlier than projected exit in the US Open Cup is a result of that.

So, how is Armas’ dilemma more difficult? Because all the upcoming matches are MLS League play. More importantly, all the matches are happening as the team chases their third Supporters’ Shield, their franchise wins record, and ultimately the MLS Cup.

The match on Saturday vs Vancouver is first, then they travel back to New York just to play in Yankee Stadium before finally coming home again to face a hot DC team in Red Bull Arena.

That is three matches in eight calendar days. So, what is Armas going to do?

His best bet is risky, but he should just test his team. The starting XI he has thrown out there the last two weeks has been exactly the same, it will not get much better than that one.

So, he should just stick to that starting core for the entire match vs Vancouver then at least the entire first half vs NYCFC.

Of course, beating NYCFC is more glorifying and important, but the match in Vancouver is a must win too, they all are. The Red Bulls won’t win the Shield if they only give their best players time vs NYCFC because then they will drop points out West.

Armas’ best bet is to take it one day at a time. The usual starting XI and rotation against the Whitecaps then see what happens.

If they are down early to Vancouver then maybe he can bring in subs and rest up the rest of the players for the NYCFC match, but that is all hypothetical.

Regardless of what Armas and his right-hand men decide to do, it is imperative it works. Even two draws might not help separate the Red Bulls enough in the East.

I would not want to be Chris Armas right now. Juggling all this soccer into just a few days is difficult and one wrong sub could mess up all the great things he has already done this year.

Next. NYCFC stepping up big. dark

One thing is for sure though, if he successfully keeps the Red Bulls ahead in the Shield race after all this, he will be the Red Bulls coach for a long time and will be high-ranking in the Red Bull soccer community.

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