Thierry Henry is apparently tired of watching the poor defensive efforts that have become commonplace for the New York Red Bulls this season. After last week's loss to the Houston Dynamo, and in advance of Friday night's rematch with Houston (8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network), Henry shredded his team's defenders.
Henry was particularly incensed by Houston star Kandji being allowed to control the ball seemingly at will in last week's loss.
"The time he had on the ball, if you have a bit of talent, again, I'm not attacking anybody, but watch how he was getting the ball. Chesting it, going, 20,000 step-overs, on the spot, nobody smashed him once, like he was playing against his friends," Henry said
"You can't let him control the ball on his chest, step on it, look if someone was in the stand, take a coffee, turn, call his family, no one was answering, he left a message and then say, ‘Oh, I might cross the ball.' He crossed it and they scored. You can't win a game when you play like that. I'm not attacking anyone, but that was just a fact."
The other fact is that New York has been one of the worst defending teams in the MLS this season. New York has used several combinations on defense and in the midfield. They have also switched from rookie goalkeeper to veteran Bill Gaudette.
Only four teams have surrendered more goals than the 34 given up by the Red Bulls, however.