The 2019 New York Red Bulls are missing something. Their season has been a puzzle that adds pieces just when the picture is coming together. There have been uncontrollable factors: injuries and a congested schedule, and consequences of a conservative off-season: thinner roster depth forcing starter-minutes on raw players.
In this season, where a Bradley Wright-Phillips groin injury drags out for months and Tim Parker and Aaron Long have not partnered since May 8, New York has done what it prides itself on: relying on the next man up.
The peak moment of that was against Atlanta United on May 19, when Sean Nealis sprung a counter-attack for the undermanned Red Bulls: a match-winning charge that started and ended with two MLS SuperDraft picks.