In the days after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, current Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke remembers trying to do something, anything to help.

Petke was a rugged defender in MLS for the MetroStars at the time. A native of Long Island, the attacks struck him hard and the days after the towers came down, he volunteered after practice to help in the relief effort. His return to the field after the attacks produced a poignant moment for Petke. He walked on the field at Giants Stadium wearing an NYPD baseball cap and carrying an American flag.

This weekend, Petke’s emotions will likely be the same in the wake of the deadly bombing at the Boston Marathon. Coincidentally, the Red Bulls host the New England Revolution on Saturday evening.

“It puts sports in perspective. It puts last night’s game, Saturday night’s game — it really puts everything in perspective. We’re talking about wins and losses and the frustration of how we played,” Petke said. “People in Boston are talking about funeral arrangements for an 8-year-old boy.”

Petke said a friend of his in the NYPD was in Boston on Monday and just five blocks away from the attack, giving him some perspective on the events of the day.

On Wednesday night the Red Bulls supporter end, known collectively as the South Ward, raised a banner in support of Boston that read: “New York Stands With Boston.” A similar tribute is planned for this Saturday.

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Sometimes, all it takes is to look at a team’s record to judge how much of an impact a player has on his team.

For the Philadelphia Union this season, look no further than forward Sebastien Le Toux.

Le Toux, who rejoined the Union in a trade after stints with the Vancouver Whitecaps and N.Y. Red Bulls last season, has made an immediate impact on the team from both a record and leadership standpoint.

“My goal this season is to bring the Union back to the playoffs,” said Le Toux. “Last season it didn’t happen which was very frustrating for this team. Making the playoffs against Houston [in 2011] was a great accomplishment, so I hope this season we can get back there. Once we’re in, anything is possible.”

Without Le Toux last season, the Union finished a disappointing 10-18-6 which placed them 15th out of the 19 total MLS clubs. With Le Toux in 2011, the Union finished an impressive 11-8-15 which placed them third in the Eastern Conference and they finished eighth in the league in points with 48.

Le Toux has inspired the Union, winners of two-straight, to a 2-1-0 record so far this season as they prepare to face their rival N.Y. Red Bulls [0-2-2] on the road Saturday. The Union have yet to win a game at Red Bull Arena in their four years as a club, but Le Toux thinks they’ll have a good chance this weekend.

“I think we have a great chance,” he said. “We’ve been great defensively and the Red Bulls seem to be struggling to find that cohesion right now between their team, so we have a great opportunity right now to use that to our advantage … To have nine points after four games would be great.”

One things, for sure: Expect a large crowd Saturday. The Sons of Ben will definitely make the two-hour drive out to see their team potentially get their third-straight win against the rival Red Bulls, a team who desperately seeks its first win.

“I expect a lot of people down there Saturday, especially with the afternoon kickoff,” said Le Toux. “We take pride in the fact that it’s a rivalry match against a bigger team that we don’t really like too much so it’s nice to have them behind us when we’re away. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and we just need to get a win for them [the Sons of Ben] over there.”

The match kicks off at 3:30 on the NBC Sports Network.

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It doesn’t seem long ago that a 22-year-old Mike Petke was taking the field at Giants Stadium, wearing the red and black of the MetroStars.

He made his names as a physical defender and became a fan favorite for his dyed-blonde hair. He had phases during his 13-year MLS career where he had a nose ring, earrings, multiple hair styles (and colors) to go along with other colorful fashion statements.

But on Saturday afternoon at Red Bull Arena, Petke will be on the sidelines with jet-black hair and a suit for what will be his first home game as New York’s head coach. He’s 37 years old now and just two games into his MLS coaching career (the Red Bulls have started the season with a tie and a loss on the road) and there’s plenty to learn for the boy from Bohemia, N.Y.

A first-round draft pick of the MetroStars in 1998, Petke’s career has come full circle and a fan base that loved his full-throttle style of play will surely show its appreciation before the game.

“At the end of the day, there’s no arrogance. People know I’m not arrogant or cocky so when I say this, it is meant in a good way,” Petke told Metro. “But this game alone, the first game, I know there’s going to be a lot of friends and family there and I have a great relationship with the supporters. I don’t want it to be about me. I know that some part of it will about me. I understand that, I’m not stupid. I respect and appreciate that.”

I want to show appreciation and love to the supporters and everything but I also want to be focused. It’s tough. But the feeling of going out to be the head coach for my first home game at Red Bull Arena against D.C. United keeps becoming storyline after storyline for me. It’s exciting.”

Eight years of his MLS career were spent in New York, first with the MetroStars and then again in 2008 following their rebranding as the Red Bulls. He is the club’s all-time leader in appearances and was on the roster in 2000 and 2010 for what were arguably the franchise’s best seasons in their history. But a MLS Cup has always eluded a team as snake bitten as any in MLS and it is hoped that Petke can finally bring the Red Bulls some hardware.

Two weeks ago, on Saturday in the team hotel in Portland, Ore. prior to their season opener against the Timbers, Petke was going through the final details for the next day’s game. It was then and there that it dawned on him that he was coaching the team that meant so much to him, and had ushered him to icon status.

Petke is paramount to a legend among the hardcore fans who have supported this team though the many downs and few ups associated with following the Red Bulls. When he retired in 2010, he was given the job of Manager of Business Operations but he quickly found his way back to the field as an assistant coach.

“I took a position on steroids is what I like to call. It was three or four job descriptions rolled into one,” Petke said. “It took only a month or two to realize I wasn’t meant for an office and that I belonged on a field.”

And now after two years as an assistant coach, he has his team on his terms, just like in 1998 when he was that young, gutsy rookie on the MetroStars. Only this time, the hair is a little different.

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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The Red Bulls open the season this Sunday at the Timbers, one of the most difficult places to play in MLS. Hopes are high in Mike Petke’s first season as head coach with the team trying to build on three straight trips to the postseason. It won’t be as easy as fans might hope.

The team has question marks and Petke has never been a head coach before, meaning there will be a severe learning curve on and off the field. And in Thierry Henry’s last season with the Red Bulls, the time is now for the franchise’s first MLS Cup. Patience from the team’s ownership in Austria might be next to nil.

Storylines to watch …

1. Where will the goals come from?

Last season, the Red Bulls offense was paced by Kenny Cooper’s 18 goals, but the hulking forward was traded to Dallas this offseason and he leaves a giant hole. His production will be replaced, in theory, by former Real Salt Lake forward Fabian Espindola. While gifted on the ball, Espindola is not a true goal scorer and unless he has a career year, goals may be hard to come by early on for the Red Bulls.

2. Will the backline be better?

For much of last year, the defense struggled to keep the ball out of their net, giving up 46 goals. The defense returns largely intact, with the only noticeable addition being Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave, a defender with a physical reputation but at 31 years old is losing his speed and cover ability. Given what appears to be a rather plebian attack, the defense must stay compact and tight. In their last five preseason games, New York has given up 11 goals. Things don’t seem to be getting much better and this again might be a struggle for New York.

3. Is Petke Ready?

A fan favorite after two playing tours with New York, Petke is the epitome of soccer in this region. He parlayed success in high school in Long Island to a solid college career and then a long and storied career as a rugged defender in MLS. But is he ready to coach the team? After being an assistant coach for just two years, there is still plenty for Petke to learn. The locker room loves him, but the players will need to learn to respect him.

Players to watch …

1. Lloyd Sam – The English midfielder was signed late last season and showed sparks in five games before being shelved with a knee injury. The 28-year-old winger is speedy and reads the game well but must be consistent in a midfield that might struggle to maintain possession.

2. Dax McCarty – Last year was a breakout season for the American midfielder, who is a pit bull in the center of the park. He deserved another call-up to the national team camp in January as he was in 2010. McCarty must continue to be a ball winner who will spark the attack.

3. Tim Cahill – The Australian international didn’t put up big numbers after his summer signing from Everton but he will be called on to pull the strings in the midfield. Cahill must be more daring this season if the Red Bulls again want to make the playoffs. He is a designated player and while his style isn’t flamboyant, he must begin to earn his high paycheck.

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Now after being a finalist for the MLS Rookie of the Year award and becoming a regular with the national team, the central defender is making a move to Bolton of the English Premier League. The Red Bulls announced on Thursday that a deal for Ream has been reached, with sources telling Metro New York that the transfer fee is just less than $3 million.

“I want to thank the Red Bulls and their fans for their tremendous support over the past two years. The club gave me an unbelievable opportunity to play in Major League Soccer and I would not have been in this position without the team and league’s backing. I will always cherish my memories playing for New York,” Ream said in a statement. “This was a hard decision for me considering the fact that I enjoyed playing for the Red Bulls and was looking forward to the upcoming MLS season. However, after consulting with those closest to me, I decided that this was a once in a lifetime chance that I could not pass up.”

“I’m happy for Tim,” Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe said. “It’s quite a story. We picked Tim in the second round [then] he becomes a regular from the first day and I would say he’s been quite solid. He had a phenomenal first year [and] a quite normal second year.”

His teammates, including Norwegian international Jan Gunnar Solli, see him making a smooth transition from MLS to what is arguably the most competitive league in the world.

“For sure, he’s been playing really well. He was a part of the national team squad for the U.S. and they know what he’s capable of doing,” Solli said. “I’m sure he will have his chance and then it’s all about him using that shot well.”

Follow Red Bulls writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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The addition of Cooper was a bit of a surprise, given that the Red Bulls feature star striker Thierry Henry, had a successful debut season from Luke Rodgers last year and are grooming 18-year old striker and national team player Juan Agudelo.

“We have a situation where we have Juan Agudelo who will play for the Olympic team. He’s going to be playing in qualifiers, he’s going to be away with the first National Team as it looks and also play for the Olympic team. So, he’s going to be away for a long time. We simply need to ensure that we don’t get in a situation where we have injuries and have no one to put up top,” sporting director Erik Soler said. “Kenny Cooper is a player that I tried to move out of the U.S. five years ago, to Rosenborg in Norway, when he went to 1860 Munich. I think he’s a good player that will suit us. He’s big; he’s not really a target man, but he’s good with his feet, he can move around and he can score goals. We scored a lot of goals last year and we’re going to try to score more goals this year.”

Picked to the season ending MLS Best XI in 2008, Cooper is a target forward who brings a 6-foot-3 frame to a Red Bulls team that lacked aerial prowess. The 27-year-old has had two rather unsuccessful stints in Europe and both times came back to MLS and found success. Last year, following a tenure in Germany, he starred for the expansion Portland Timbers where he had eight goals and two assists in 34 games.

Cooper has represented the national team 11 times and is the son of English goalkeeper Kenny Cooper, Sr. who was one of the most successful goalkeepers in North American Soccer League history.

Also on Thursday, the Red Bulls signed Swedish international center back Markus Holgersson, completing a long rumored move. They also selected Fordham goalkeeper Ryan Meara with the No. 31 pick in the draft.

Follow Red Bulls beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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A league source tells Metro New York that Ream has received a “multi-million dollar offer” from Bolton, the club team of American international Stuart Holden. Late last year, after the conclusion of the MLS season, Ream went on training stints with Premier League teams West Brom and Bolton. His performance earned interest in a possible offseason loan from both teams and the current offer from Bolton.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that negotiations are ongoing with regards to a possible transfer.

Drafted in the second round of the 2010 MLS Super Draft, Ream became an instant starter with the Red Bulls and was one of the finalists for league rookie of the year honors. He parlayed that success into national team call-ups, including a recent substitute appearance with the United States in October during a friendly against Ecuador at Red Bull Arena.

He has been hailed for his passing skills and comfort on the ball.

The Red Bulls signed on Thursday right back Jonathan Borrajo, a former academy player who spent the past year playing with HamKam in Norway, perhaps in a move to shore up their backline should a deal for Ream occur. The team’s Scandinavian exploits might not be over yet, with the team poised to sign Swedish defender Markus Holgersson, a tall and powerful central defender.

Follow Red Bulls writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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The controversy comes from comments made by Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan following Sunday’s 1-0 road win by Los Angeles in the first leg of their playoff series with the Red Bulls.

Donovan cited his 11-year career in MLS and called New York a “disgrace,” who have been playing overtly physical soccer throughout the year. He was specifically appalled at what he saw as dirty play from the Red Bulls, saying “in all my years in this league, I’ve not played against a cheaper team.”
Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe brushed Donovan’s remarks aside.

“Let them talk,” Backe said. “We are at another level.”

On Sunday, in their playoff win, the Galaxy committed 10 fouls, the Red Bulls nine — both numbers below the season average for either team.

The Red Bulls committed the sixth-most fouls in the league — 420 over a 34-game regular season or 12.35 fouls per game. Conversely, the Galaxy committed 396 fouls during the course of the regular season, or an average of 11.65 fouls per game. That is less than a foul per game difference.

“This is playoff soccer. When you’re in this league long enough, you realize that the playoffs are a different season,” Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty said. “The intensity kicks up a gear, teams want to win that much more. I’m not surprised by the physical play. I think both teams were playing just as physical. I don’t think we were any more physical than the Galaxy we were.”

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for in-depth coverage of the Red Bulls as they fight to stay alive in the playoffs.

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That defense set the tone in Wednesday night’s 2-0 road win against FC Dallas in the wild-card round of the MLS playoffs. Now, the Red Bulls host the Los Angeles Galaxy, a team which captured the Supporters Shield with the best regular-season record in the league, on Sunday afternoon.

For all the glamour and expense of Thierry Henry, the hype around teenage forward Juan Agudelo and the clutch goals of speedy Dane Richards, it was tenacious defending that lifted New York into the next round of the playoffs.

Including their playoff win at Dallas, the Red Bulls have had five shutouts in their last eight games — a testament to what head coach Hans Backe calls “cynical defending.”

It is the type of gritty, no-nonsense defending that lifted the team on the road for their first playoff series win since 2008. It was a confident performance from what Backe called a “relaxed, calm team.”

“A solid game for us, definitely the key for us was defense,” Backe said. “I’m very pleased with our defense.”

At the beginning of the season, Backe looked at his roster with pride. He even set the team’s goal as the Supporters Shield, the standard for regular season consistency. After a hot start to their MLS campaign, including just one loss in their first eight games, the Red Bulls fizzled. Instead of cruising into the playoffs with the Supporters Shield in tow, they squeaked into the 10th and final playoff spot.

But over the last two months, there hasn’t been a better, more consistent team in league play. It isn’t the prettiest soccer, and not what would be expected of a team replete with international stars and talent, but it has been effective.

For Henry, who scored in stoppage time on Wednesday night to cap off the win, it is what’s necessary to get the win and advance in the playoffs.

“We had a great playoff game, maybe not one of our best performances in terms of passing the ball, but sometimes you have to dig in and win games,” Henry said. “If we want to go through, we had to play tight and have a great team performance. That’s what happened even going down to 10-men. We were under pressure, but we didn’t look like we’d concede a goal.”

The Red Bulls are 1-0-1 against the Galaxy this season, including a 2-0 win earlier this month.

“We have a lot of respect for them, they were the best team in the league this year so we know the task is going to be very difficult,” Henry said. “We were one of the few teams this year able to beat them, they know that.”

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for in-depth news on the Red Bulls.

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Petke was in his third year in the league, playing for a team now known as the Red Bulls, but then simply known as Metro to the team’s hardcore fans.

It was a year of firsts for a MetroStars side that went from a league-worst 7-25 record a season before to their first Eastern Conference title in 2000. They eventually took their first ever playoff series, sweeping Dallas in two games. They had a brash, “take no prisoners” mentality that won over fans. Petke, who had dyed blonde hair back then and always sported a Breathe-Right strip across his nose, remembers those days fondly.

“We had a confidence, a swagger maybe, a cockiness that perhaps we didn’t deserve or earn yet,” Petke told Metro. “We felt like we could win any game and maybe that wasn’t deserved, but it was a special team and a special feeling. After that series and beating Dallas, I felt like we could beat anyone and go to MLS Cup.”

It wasn’t meant to be for Petke and the MetroStars, who lost in three games in the Eastern Conference finals to Chicago. It was a playoff series considered to this day among the best in league history, with the MetroStars throwing star players such as Clint Mathis, Adolfo Valencia, Mark Chung, Lothar Matthaus, Thomas Dooley and Petke against a juggernaut Fire team. The team didn’t win another playoff series until 2008, when they advanced to their only MLS Cup final to date.

Petke is now an assistant coach with the Red Bulls and works extensively with the younger players on the team. Things come full circle for him and New York this week.

Now tonight, against FC Dallas, the Red Bulls will hope to rekindle some of the magic of the 2000 season when they travel to Pizza Hut Park for a one-game wild card playoff game. FC Dallas was MLS Cup runner-ups last year and one of the best teams in the league the past two seasons. A Red Bulls team that squeaked into the 10th and final playoff spot will face a difficult task on the road.

“There is a lot of talent on that team, a lot of very good players. Brek Shea, Marvin Chavez, my old teammate Danny Hernandez, George John, there is a lot of talent there — a very good team,” Petke said. “I think we were favored in 2000, even after the season we had the year before, to beat Dallas. This time, this is a great team we face. It will be tough.”

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for extensive coverage of the New York Red Bulls.

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The fans sitting in the right field bleachers of Yankees Stadium are notorious for their rhythmic clapping and chanting of players’ names. But there is a huge difference between these Yankees fans and the wall of sound that comprises the South Ward at Red Bull Arena.

Oh, and never, ever call the South Ward fans.

Located behind the south goal at the Red Bulls 25,000-seat stadium in Harrison, N.J., the three sections of seats are never actually sat in. Instead, the Garden State Supporters Club, the Empire Supporters Club and The Viking Army fill these sections every Red Bulls game with the brash, passionate support unique to the New York-area. And they stand all game long, for 90 minutes.

But it is rarely standing still.

Anthony Poulin has served as the co-president of the ESC, the largest of the three supporters clubs in the South Ward and the oldest of the bunch. On gameday he is usually hoarse somewhere around halftime. A mild-mannered attorney by day, Poulin sheds the shirt and tie and transforms into a scarf-wearing, chanting maniac for 90 minutes.

“What first strikes you is just how much fun it is, and how different it is than being at most other sporting events,” Poulin said. “It’s not watching the game and cheering — it’s also a feeling of actually being a part of the game itself, like somehow your songs and enthusiasm is an invisible force helping the team guide the ball to the back of the net.”

The South Ward is filled with flagpoles on gameday and every inch of the concrete walls in front of the three sections are covered with banners. Perches stand in front of each section, where coordinated commands come from the “capos” who belt out the songs to the thousand fans before them. Streamers roll-out and controlled smoke bombs, released by specially designated fans, billow after Red Bulls goals.

This Thursday night, in a game that could send the Red Bulls into the playoffs with a win over rival Philadelphia, the South Ward will be sold out and in full voice. They will coordinate a march into Red Bull Arena, lighting flares and singing for the 10-minute walk. Lawyers and paralegals, media buyers and doctors, construction workers and a fashion model, all become one on game night.

It is organic, it is spontaneous and it has nothing to do with being a fan. It is a crazy, passionate love that gives the Red Bulls one of the most unique home atmospheres in MLS. Other support groups may be larger, but the South Ward, led by the ESC in the center of section 101, is probably the most innovative. Watch any soccer game in Major League Soccer’s other markets and you will hear a song or chant that originated from the South Ward.

“We have members from all over the world and walks of life and that is a big influence of our style,” said Hope McCarty, a native of Elmwood Park, N.J. and a member of the Garden State Supporters and the Viking Army. “This is a universal sport and to me, we all speak the same langue.”

Last summer, the Red Bulls hosted the Barclays New York Challenge, a tournament featuring several top European clubs. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp praised the South Ward after one of the matches for their enthusiasm and support, something he wasn’t expecting from a country that supposedly hasn’t embraced soccer. And the Red Bulls’ own have taken to the South Ward, applauding the home support after every win, loss and tie. The team’s newly-minted President of Business Operations, Chris Heck, made his first priority this past July to meet with the leaders of the South Ward.

Such is the power of their tireless voices.

“It’s absolutely tremendous, I’ve never seen anything like it. I wasn’t expecting this,” said Red Bulls forward Luke Rodgers.

The English forward is in his first season in MLS.

“They are loud, they are really into it. The support is great. I’ve never played before anything like it.”

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for in-depth news on the Red Bulls.

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Following comments made after last Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake where the Red Bulls defender slammed his teammates for not being at his “level,” Marquez was suspended for the club’s next match on Saturday night.

And without Marquez, one of the team’s three designated players and the second-highest salary on the team, the Red Bulls defense went out and pitched a 2-0 shutout. It was a vital win for New York’s playoff hopes and it proved a point — this team doesn’t need Marquez to win.

There is no denying the pedigree of Marquez. Marquez, captain of the Mexican national team with 108 appearances for El Tri, was a regular for famed club Barcelona, one of the biggest sides in the world. Marquez signed last August with the promise of bringing distribution and vision to the midfield, but his lack of speed and mobility saw a tactical shift to the backline this year, where he excelled with Barcelona.

And the results have been disappointing.

Marquez has missed half the season due to injury or national team call-ups and now, most recently, being suspended by the team over his disparaging remarks. He answered criticism Sunday on Univision’s Republica Deportiva, saying he was misquoted. But the stats behind Marquez’s play can’t be taken out of context.

Marquez has just 1,350 minutes of play this season with no goals and just four assists. He has a lowly three shots on goal and was so bad on corner kicks that he was pulled from that duty in May, a slap in the face to someone hailed as a free kick specialist. Perhaps most telling, the Red Bulls hadn’t won with him in the lineup since Apr. 30.

There is no marked difference defensively with Marquez in the lineup. Having played half the team’s games this season, he’s been in the lineup for half the team’s eight shutouts, a tally proportionate to his time on the field. The fact that there is no difference between a defense with Marquez or without him draws serious question marks about the impact of such a high-profile player.

The Red Bulls, winners of two of their last three games, have used journeyman Stephen Keel in central defense in place of Marquez in both their wins. Keel, who last played for the then second division Portland Timbers in 2010, has won praise from the coaching staff and his teammates for his simple and direct style of play.

It’s a style which fits perfectly in the sometimes rough and tumble MLS.

But as talented as Marquez can be, can he justify his $4 million dollar a year salary? All indicators so far are a clear and decisive “no.” Simply, Marquez may not be cut out for MLS, or MLS may not be cut out for him. While he complains of the level of his teammates, the truth remains that while he technically may be the best player on the Red Bulls, he isn’t a good fit here.

The time might be coming to end the relationship with Marquez. He never materialized into the draw that team management planned, with visions of green Mexican jerseys and sombreros filling the rafters at Red Bull Arena. His midweek comments might show that his heart and head are elsewhere, and it might be time at season’s end to make sure his feet are elsewhere as well and to bid him adios.

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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“In this league, he’s a respected person,” Rodgers said, “but … the kid’s a d—head.”

Rodgers’ rant follows New York’s 1-1 draw with Los Angeles on Saturday when Donovan constantly complained about what he perceived as rough, physical play from the visitors. Rodgers didn’t back down then, responding with a hand-talking motion on the field, and certainly didn’t back down yesterday.

“He is telling linemen off, shouting at referees. Is it one rule for him and one rule for the rest of us?” Rodgers asked. “He needs to be a bit more humble. He just talks too much.”

Rodgers also took exception to Donovan dropping the f-bomb in the direction of forward Thierry Henry moments after he gave the Red Bulls the lead in the fourth minute. Rodgers searched for words to describe his frustration, then just plain described Donovan as a “prick.”

The outburst is nothing new for the Englishman, who last played for League Two club Notts County. He’s been extremely candid and open about his colorful past, which includes an arrest for allegedly assaulting a competitor in a parking lot. Still, his name didn’t ring a bell with Donovan, who fired back via Twitter.

“I’m confused; who is Luke Rogers?” Donovan tweeted.

After yesterday’s tell-it-like-it-is comments, MLS fans certainly know who Luke Rodgers is. And truthfully, he might be just what the league needs.

The guy is a character in a sport that needs more leading roles.

His sentiments are quietly thought in the league but certainly never said. Donovan is the golden boy of the soccer movement in this country and a hero of the national team; criticizing him is rarely done by the media, fans and certainly never by fellow players. But Rodgers wasn’t afraid to back away from his comments or their tone.

And for a player who sports an audaciously jeweled ring on his right hand that looks like it had just been Bedazzled, Rodgers’ swagger is something MLS sorely needs.

In the league’s early days, there were showmen and theatrics, a certain air as MLS created heroes and villains. But as the league developed into a respected playing standard and quality players began to develop within the country while enticing talent from overseas, MLS got a bit sterile.

But now, a presence like Rodgers is perhaps as important to MLS as a David Beckham or an Henry. He’s a fiery sort, unafraid to speak his mind and he stands by his comments and his aggressive style.

Even at 5-foot-7 with a bald head  that looks to be built for a scrap, Rodgers resembles an NFL cornerback with his pipes for biceps. Above his locker at the team’s training facility at Montclair State University is a bobblehead of the Austin Powers’ character “Mini Me,” an obvious dig at his lack of stature. But he looks and acts more like a miniature version of Vin Diesel, and what’s not to like about that? Certainly the Red Bulls liked what they saw of the player enough to jump through some hoops to get him this winter.

Rodgers was almost a singular obsession with head coach Hans Backe for the better part of a year. Backe, a Swedish coach now in his second year with the Red Bulls, had targeted Rodgers last spring but the player’s past incidents with the law precluded him from getting his working papers to enter the United States. Rodgers only had limited experience at the Championship level in England, one level below the Premier League, and spent the majority of his career in the lower divisions of English soccer.

In fact, he was a virtual unknown to most.

Fans weren’t too eager that Backe brought Rodgers into the team, even if he had coached the player before. And Rodgers early success in MLS, including a two-goal game three weeks ago where he also had an assist, only seemed to draw questions to MLS of how good of a league this really is.

But Rodgers’ style and his desire to keep the ball on the ground fits better with the style of MLS than the physical rigors of the lower divisions of England. At Notts County, Rodgers had to play and assimilate into a style that relied on long and direct player. In New York, he gets the ball at his feet a lot more and he’s thriving.

And now his passionate and fiery rhetoric is making him a fan favorite as well.

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A new stadium home in Red Bull Arena, a new coach and sporting director with a clear vision for the club and two marquee signings in Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez helped push New York to the Eastern Conference title in the regular season. But the one down for the year came when it mattered most, a 3-1 home loss in the playoffs knocking the team out on aggregate against a lower-seeded San Jose. The sour end to the season leaves the Red Bulls wanting a better taste in their mouth this time around.

The Red Bulls look like they could stampede in 2011 and are clear cut favorites out of the Eastern Conference to advance to the MLS Cup for just the second time in franchise history.

The Outlook: The Red Bulls return their core, minus last year’s leading scorer Juan Pablo Angel, and added intriguing pieces in Norwegian international Jan Gunnar Solli and Finnish star Teemu Tainio. There is depth on this team and lots of talent, but can the Red Bulls mesh as a unit and stay healthy to win not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs? “No one remembers what we did last year in the regular season because we lost in the playoffs,” midfielder Tony Tchani told Metro New York. “But they remember what Colorado did to win the MLS Cup.”

The Star: Last year, Thierry Henry was a midseason signing, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker announced before 200 media members in the middle of July. Henry, however, was forced into the Starting XI without the benefit of a true preseason and battled injuries and fitness issues. This year, he appears set after two months of preseason training but now the league’s second highest paid player must do better than the two goals he scored last year.

Under The Radar: He may not play much early on, but look for draft pick Tyler Lassiter to get some minutes as the season progresses. Head coach Hans Backe has praised the young player as further along than Tim Ream was this time last year, and Ream parlayed a strong rookie year into a spot with the national team.

Area of Concern: It might be goal-scoring that fans will focus on but the club should be most unsettled by the fact that six of their starters could each miss as many as 10 games this summer due to playing for their respective national teams. The Red Bulls depth could be severely tested during this stretch. “It will be tough for us throughout the summer because we’ll be missing so many players,” Backe said.

What to Watch: Mexican national team captain Rafa Marquez, after playing in the midfield last year, has been moved to the backline and will partner centrally with Tim Ream. The two center backs give the Red Bulls great possession and composure along the back four, and Marquez’s distribution is already rubbing off on Ream. “I’ve learned so much from him already,” Ream said.

How to Get There: It’s a 20-minute ride on the Newark Red Line with an exit at the Harrison station. The Arena is a four-block walk. New Jersey fans can easily get to Harrison off 280 East and follow signs to the stadium.

Where to Eat: The stadium has a nice Red Bulls Corner Pub located inside the facility and is open to all fans. Typical bar fare at reasonable prices. If you want to eat outside the stadium, try the nearby Spanish Pavilion or to soak up the game day atmosphere, join the supporters club for a burger and beverage at El Pastor, two blocks away in Harrison.

Where to Sit: There isn’t a bad view in the 25,000-seat facility with excellent sightlines. If you’re adventurous, get a seat near the South Ward and section 101 to stand and chant with the boisterous supporters club. Younger fans and families should head in an hour before kickoff to watch warm-ups and snap photos.

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