Three questions with Once A Metro

Eugene Rupinski – Brotherly Game) The overall goal production from the New York Red Bulls is down from last season. What do you attribute that to?

Tzvi Machlin – Once A Metro) From a personnel standpoint, the loss of Dax McCarty was huge because he was excellent at creating chances and could score a few goals himself. Throw in the team not having Mike Grella – one of the team's best playmakers – and goals are going to be hard to come by.

Schematically, HC Jesse Marsch's decision to utilize 5 defenders on a regular basis has obviously taken away from the attacking options available. Sean Davis, Tyler Adams and Alex Muyl are good – but they don't have the attacking chops of guys like Grella, McCarty and Lloyd Sam.

tBG) Bradley Wright-Phillips is having another good season, scoring 15 goals so far. At 32 years old, how much more shelf life does he have? 

OAM) If his genes are any indication, BWP's expiration date isn't as close as you might think. His dad, Ian Wright, remained a dangerous scoring threat for Arsenal well into his mid-30s. His cousin, Jermaine Wright, also managed to play at a high level into his 30s. 

Throw in the fact that BWP has played a good portion of his career injury-free, and in the 2nd- and 3rd- divisions of English soccer and you have a recipe for plenty more of years giving goalkeepers nightmares. 

That being said, if he does keep playing into his mid-to-late 30s, he probably won't be playing with the Red Bulls.

tBG) He dives, he whines, he plays dirty – does Felipe have any redeeming qualities whatsoever? 

OAM) Listen, if Felipe played for any other Eastern Conference team he'd probably be the most hated player at Red Bull Arena. But he's not, so I have nothing but nice things to say about the man right now. 

What I will say is that he's probably the most durable non-goalkeeper in the league, missing just one game in his Red Bulls tenure (and that was due to a suspension) and playing more minutes in a season than any non-goalkeeper in team history last year. 

He knows how to get a highlight-worthy goal too, and had a spectacular game against Houston in 2016.

But without a doubt his most redeeming quality is his son, Noah. I mean, have you SEEN this kid – he's got to be the most adorable child I've ever seen.

Predicted XI:

GK Luis Robles; WB Kemar Lawrence, DF Connor Lade, DF Aaron Long, DF Fidel Escobar, WB Tyler Adams; DM Felipe; AM Sean Davis, AM Sacha Kljestan, AM Alex Muyl, FW Bradley Wright-Phillips

Injuries: DOUBTFUL – D Aurelien Collin, M Daniel Royer; QUESTIONABLE – D Michael Murillo