New York Red Bulls’ focus should be playing their best match all year vs Atlanta United

The New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United square off on Sunday afternoon in the match dubbed best of the year at Red Bull Arena. The focus for the New York’s red side should be simple. Play the best match they have all year.

The New York Red Bulls host Atlanta United this Sunday at 1:00 PM in the match that will for sure decide the Supporters’ Shield.

However, the Red Bulls can secure all three points and still not win the shield. Even with an outright win, they would still trail Atlanta United by one point in the race to be at the top of the table.

Both teams face an easier schedule down the road after Sunday, so the Red Bulls, no matter what, should focus on playing the best match they have all season on Sunday.

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The Red Bulls still might not win the Shield anyway. The focus still needs to be on the MLS Cup.

Wanting to win everything is a dilemma the Red Bulls face every season no matter what. But, with how things have been going, and the way they have been playing lately, they don’t seem ready to win anything.

The Red Bulls need to simply go out on Sunday, be willing to accept any result, and show the MLS winning form they use to have.

History shows that this team can beat Atlanta United. Earlier this year they already did down in Atlanta too. However, Atlanta is arguably even better on the road and even at their worst are still unstoppable.

So, the Red Bulls, who are already without Bradley Wright-Phillips due to suspension, have the chance to flex their muscles and play the best match they have all year and roll into the last few matches of the season and into the playoffs with Cup-winning form.

The Red Bulls need to prove a lot of things.

To start, and they are going to have to do this, it would be ideal to see production from someone other than Wright-Phillips. He has been responsible in some way for so many of their goals recently, that it would be better to see other people involved.

In their last match against Toronto, the Red Bulls shut them out and played well on defense, that is a much taller order against the offensively sound Atlanta, but getting the defense to play outstanding and deep again would be huge in the playoffs and now.

Kemar Lawrence just resigned so get him involved. The rest of their defenders like Aaron Long and Tim Parker should smother Atlanta and force them into frustration.

Atlanta can score without even being close so they need to be careful with their approach.

Also, the player with more goals in the MLS than anyone this year, Josef Martinez, has been stumped by the Red Bulls in his career. He has never scored against them and scores a lot on everyone else.

The Red Bulls need to keep being the thorn in his side.

Of course, winning this match can propel the Red Bulls to their third Shield in franchise history. But, if they play their best match of the year and click on all cylinders, then that is something that will take them farther in the big picture.

The Red Bulls can still do it all, play well, win, not fry themselves out for the playoff run, but giving all they have to beat Atlanta only to have nothing left for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs is not worth it.

The Red Bulls can bring back that balance and flow they have lacked all year. Earlier in the year goals looked easy for them

Only recently since Chris Armas took over has this been the case.

On Sunday, if the Red Bulls play well, complete, and even draw or tie, but it was the most complete and the best they looked all year, it is a heck of a time to do so.

Soccer is a game where crazy things happening is the normal standard. However, if the Red Bulls finally want to bring home the Cup, the best thing to do is start preparing now, even if it means sacrificing the Shield.

The Red Bulls try to win every game, obviously. But it is not too much of a stretch to say they do not exactly seem to know how to prepare for a long playoff run. With all the experience they have from the CCL this year, and the US Open Cup the last, they are finally closing in.

So, if all else fails, if the Red Bulls play their best match and lose to a very tough and worthy opponent, so be it. Getting into a consistent Cup winning groove is key now.

Playing complete, well-rounded, and often un-pretty soccer is what wins the MLS Cup. The Red Bulls can start that this Sunday. Whatever happens, happens, but it is time to bring home a Cup.

That starts by getting back to their best possible form.