The Red Bulls are the highest-scoring team in the MLS, but Dane Richards is off to a quiet start. In recent years when the Red Bulls were at their offensive best, Dane Richards and Joel Lindpere blew past defenders on the wings and served dangerous balls into the box that forwards often converted into goals.
They were also scoring options themselves, and opponents had to be aware of their presence, even after they gave up the ball or seemed out of the play.
This season, with the Red Bulls (2-2) being the highest-scoring team in Major League Soccer with 10 goals, you would think Richards and Lindpere would be off to great starts.
But that's not the case.
As the Red Bulls get set to face the Crew (2-1) Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, Richards and Lindpere have yet to register their first point of the season.
“That is a little bit strange,” Red Bulls coach Hans Backe admitted. “It’s good that strikers score. Sometimes the strikers are sparkling and can use each other’s combinations in a good way. That’s probably the answer.
“We know they can’t keep scoring one or two goals every game, so we need the wide guys involved.”
Thierry Henry, who has won two straight Player of the Week awards and was named Player of the Month for March, leads MLS with five goals. Kenny Cooper is tied for second with four, and they have combined for nine of the Red Bulls’ 10 goals. The goals they haven’t created themselves have originated from central midfield, rather than the wings.
“Not every game you can get stats,” Richards said. “I try to be involved each game in the offense and try to be dangerous. I’m trying to be a good teammate and take part attacking the goal and defending as well as possible. The stats will come. It will just take time.”
Last season, Richards had a goal and four assists in the first eight games and both he and Lindpere finished with seven goals and seven assists. But both have struggled this year.
“Good for the strikers to score. The midfield will come and add some goals, but good for the strikers right now,” Richards said. “I’m not trying to pressure myself, but (the goals) will come.”
Cooper believes Richards and Lindpere will break out. The first-year Red Bulls forward has played against them and knows what they are capable of.
“Joel and I came real close to linking up last game,” Cooper said. “He played a great ball near post. Had I done better, he’d have had an assist.
“They’re two guys with tons and tons of quality, great speed, great on the ball. I’m sure they will make lots of positive contributions to the team throughout the year, and I believe they already have.”
The Red Bulls’ task will be even tougher today with the loss of midfielder Teemu Tainio and defender Wilman Conde.
Tainio damaged ligaments in his knee in practice Thursday and will likely be out at least a month while Conde will sit out due to a groin strain.
“We know that both Joel and Dane can perform and produce more,” Backe said. “We definitely need the wide guys to be creative and set up the final passes.
“There’s still a lot of games to play and I know they will bounce back, but they haven’t really been themselves this year.”
Frank Giase: fgiase@starledger.com