Much of what made the New York Red Bulls so damn impressive last season was their ability to be a high octane, high pressure and high scoring side. They would blitz teams like Jesse Marsch was an estranged brother in the Rex Ryan family from the jump and be on the front foot all day long.
Granted, some of the success stemmed from tempered expectations and the turmoil that permeated the club through town hall meetings, well before Marsch ever handed in his first regular season team sheet. This year was always going to be tougher for a team that'd now have a target on their backs with the element of surprise eliminated.