Every year, one or two Red Bulls II players are called up to the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS). Last October, 17-year-old Caden Clark played 12 games with the Red Bulls II in the USL Championship before being called up to the first team. Since then, Clark has become a star at the MLS level and has signed with Red Bulls Leipzig, who he reportedly will join at the end of the 2021 MLS Season. Clark, however is just one of several players that spent a year with the Red Bulls II who have been major contributors to the first team,
The most recent news involving the Baby Bulls broke when Baby Bulls top goal scorer Omar Sowe and keeper AJ Marcucci signed their first MLS contracts in September. That is big news and both players deserve a great big congratulations for that, but while that has made the newstand, the Red Bulls II players who had great seasons with the Baby Bulls and are next in line, deserve a little press for their success.
During a recent press conference, the manager of the New York Red Bulls II John Wolyniec mentioned five players who he thinks are the most ready to play for the first team. The players he mentioned were New Jersey-natives Omar Sowe and Daniel Edelman, midfielders Jake LaCava, South-Jersey native Jeremy Rafanello, and goalkeeper AJ Marcucci.
All five of these Red Bulls II players have shown that they can dominate at the USL Championship level. So now the question that remains for them is, are you good enough to play on one of the biggest clubs in Major League Soccer? I make the case for five Red Bulls II players who are ready for first team action.
Omar Sowe - Striker
- Height/Weight: 6'0', 170 lbs
- Position: Forward / Striker
The academy product who grew up in Harrison, New Jersey, where Red Bull Arena is located, fulfilled a dream by making his Red Bull Arena debut on September 11. Omar Sowe was given an opportunity to get his first taste of MLS soccer because he was able to lead the Red Bulls II for the second year in a row with a career-high eight goals in 29 games this season.
As most players between the ages of 20 and 21 do, Sowe's body matured in his 21st year, which made him stronger physically and tougher for defenses to handle. More specifically however, Sowe was able to add strength to his game, but did not sacrifice speed or finishing ability, which were two traits that he put on display in every game this season.
One important feature Sowe added to his game was the quality of shots and passes he makes in the attacking third. Omar's best performance of the year was Aug. 10 against the Charlotte Independence. Here is the second of the two goals that Sowe scored that night.
Sowe with the brace and this one is knotted back up. 👀#NYvCLT | @NYRBII pic.twitter.com/TBlfLU73v4
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) August 11, 2021
Three years after joining Red Bulls II as an 18-year-old, the young man who broke all the scoring records at Harrison High, has started to show that he possesses all the tools that a dynamic strike needs to have. That was especially clear on one goal Sowe scored this year. During Red Bulls II's home game on Aug. 10, Omar ran down a long pass and dribbled past a defender toward goal. He then made a great move to cut over to his left foot and finished well.
Also, Sowe was more of a threat to score on corner kicks this season, which was a great addition to his game. He nearly scored with his head on a corner kick in the Red Bulls third-to-last game against Loudoun. Even the starting forwards on the Red Bulls, Fabio and Patryk Klimala lack an ability to finish consistently with their heads and if Omar continues to work on this attribute, it may help him earn the MLS minutes that he Sowe craves at this point.
Coach John Wolyniec, who has worked with Omar since the 2019 USL season, described what Sowe needs to do to make his dream of playing for the Red Bulls first team come true.
Credit to Omar and the time he’s spent with us, he’s matured a lot. He’s got to keep in mind that just because he’s on the first team roster, doesn’t mean he’s crossed any finish line. The race continues, there are big games with the first team coming up and he has to find a way to improve and prove he should be considered.
Overall, Omar has shown over the last two years that he is a great scorer. He matured physically, seemed to be in great shape and the results that he produced on the field reflect the work he has put in to his game. Now the question is, can he start to earn more minutes ahead of some of the strikers on the first team.
Daniel Edelman
- HT/WT: 5'9", 132 lbs.
- Position: Defensive Midfielder
The Red Bulls II captain is second on this exclusive list because he was the Red Bulls II's biggest surprise in 2021. This season was the 18-year-old from Warren, New Jersey's first year as a professional soccer player and about five games into his career he started wearing the captain's armband.
Edelman may not be the biggest physically, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in courage and skill. The stats back that up; Edelman played the second most minutes of all 25 players who played with the Red Bulls II in 2021. Danny Dimes scored one goal and one assist in 2021, but here are the stats that really show the whole picture.
In 2021, Edelman led the Red Bulls II in tackles won, duels won, interceptions and passes. Red Bulls II head coach John Wolyniec praised Edelman for the progress he made during his first year of professional soccer.
He's shown over and over again that he’s the engine of the team. He can cover a lot of ground, he’s been able to adjust his game and make improvements where he’s been challenged by myself and the staff. He’s a valuable piece of what we’ve been doing so hopefully we’ve given him some things and he’s accomplished those things too, so now we’re giving him more and he seems to take things on well, which speaks highly of him certainly going forward. - John Wolyniec
Edelman was just 18 this year, but really took the bull by the horns and accomplished all that he set out to. Here is how he described what this season means for him going forward.
I matured this year, it was just super helpful for me and beneficial so I can prepare for what’s to come for me in the future. Playing in those games against high-level teams and opponents was very important for me. I took each game as an opportunity to show that I can go to the next level. Seeing different opponents from East Coast to West Coast, getting exposure, all of it helped me to get where I am right now.
In October, Once a metro's Ben Cork penned an article featuring quotes from Red Bulls sporting director Kevin Thelwell, where Thelwell mentioned that the 18-year-old, Edelman was "training with the first team on a regular basis." Wolyniec's comments reflect that Daniel is mature beyond his age and has learned the Red Bulls system quickly. This indicates that Edelman possesses the maturity to play at the MLS level, and I think you will see him in a Red Bulls uniform next season.
Jeremy Rafanello
- HT/WT: 6'1, 170 lbs.
- Position: Attacking Midfielder
Rafanello showed off his many abilities on a soccer pitch by scoring seven goals and adding six assists to a great first year with the Red Bulls II. He showed he can score all kinds of goals, including goals like this incredible strike from distance against Sacramento Republic FC. He also finished the season strong with two goals against Loudoun United, which would help him finish second, just one goal behind Omar Sowe, who is now a first team player.
What a season it has been for @JeremyRafanello!
Another look at his first of two goals that helped him earn a spot on the USL Championship Team of the Week!#NYRBII pic.twitter.com/LgOO1leZOD
— New York Red Bulls II (@NYRBII) November 2, 2021
Rafanello has scored almost just as many goals as he did assists and was just one behind the team leader in goals even though that player is a striker and Rafa is a midfielder. At any level of soccer, great playmaking midfielders are key players and Rafanello was the Red Bulls II's best offensive playmaker in 2021. Here is what his coach said about him.
Jeremy is a guy that showed us right away he was going to deserve time, he was going to be competing for a starting job. First team for him is certainly in the conversation. Maybe he needs a little more time, but hopefully he is able to take steps forward and take the opportunities he has had this year to push him forward.
Wolyniec added that even though Rafanello scored some fantastic goals and provided nearly the same amount of assists, the 21-year-old is still needs to show "consistency from game to game, play to play" both with and without the ball.
They have shown an ability to make high-level plays, it's just now how often can they do that and how often can they stay away from some of the bad plays.
Jake LaCava
- HT/WT: 5'11, 157 lbs.
- Position: Forward / Midfielder
Fourth on this list is an exciting Baby Bulls midfielder known as "Mr. Chaos" for his ability to disrupt opposing defenses with his sharp instincts and accurate shot. During the 2021 USLC season, LaCava played in more games (31) than any other Red Bulls II player. The Connecticut-native was not only one of the squad's most durable players, he was one of it's most productive as well. LaCava finished third on the team in goals (6) and second in assists (4).
Here is a YouTube video that shows LaCava scoring a great goal at home this season.
Head Coach Wolyniec described where LaCava stands as a player within the Red Bulls system right now.
Jake has continued to improve and shown that the things that he’s good at, he’s very good at, so that’s valuable, but [we want Jake to] expand out a bit and step out of his comfort zone.
There was a lot of young talent from the academy being pushed onto the Red Bulls II in 2021 and making the lineup every night was not a guarantee, but LaCava managed to be there for every game. The 21-year-old has spent two seasons with the second team and is hungry for first team action. Here is how he described what he needs to work on now to get there.
the next step I’m looking to take is obviously a first team deal and minutes in MLS. I think for me that makes the most sense and I’m pushing to do that. That for me is definitely where I want to look to go next is first team, first team minutes, and then really becoming just a goal scorer, a chance creator, a point-getter is basically what I want to become as well. - Jake LaCava
AJ Marcucci
- HT/WT: 6'4", 190 LBS.
- Position: Goalkeeper
The Red Bulls 67th overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft was a tall young man from Connecticut College. Along with Luther Archimede, the team's 1st round pick this year, Marcucci gained valuable experience this year playing on the Red Bulls farm team.
Marcucci took his lumps early on in the season, including a seven-game losing streak in July and August. However, he opened a lot of eyes in the organization with how he played during the Red Bulls II's final ten games. Marcucci started to heat up on Sept. 25 when he posted a shutout in a tie against Real Monarchs. Then the Connecticut Yankee contributed his finest effort with a clean sheet against Loudoun United on Oct. 20, which included Marcucci saving a penalty.
Here is how Coach Wolyniec described the improvement his 21-year-old goalkeeper showed during a tumultuous USL Championship season.
In the middle of the year, I think he struggled maybe with not playing consistently with us, bouncing back and forth and we were trying to get [other goalkeepers] Luca [Lewis] and even Sam [Joseph] some games. I think that maybe led to a little bit of inconsistency in his game, but he’s made some strides. Sometimes you have goalkeepers that have big games and then you don’t know what to expect in the next one, but for him to put a number of big games in a row speaks very highly of him and starts to get us really excited about where he can take his game going forward.
The goalkeeping situation is set in stone for this season because of Carlos Coronel's 12 clean sheets, but who knows what next season will hold. Marcucci showed a lot of grit by finishing this season off strong and if he can keep improving during the offseason, he may be in the conversation to be a backup with the Red Bulls II. As of now, the two keepers ahead of Marcucci on the first team depth chart are Ryan Meara and David Jensen. The latter is on loan with a team in Belgium that will expire in May 2022. Next year's training camp will be a chance for the Red Bulls II's number one Keeper to opened some eyes.
Baby Bulls Honorable Mentions
Coach Wolyniec complimented some more players, and they are Emir Tombul, Mandela Egbo and Serge Ngoma . Tombul led the team in minutes played, ahead of the team captain, Daniel Edelman and the oldest player on the team, Mandela Egbo. Egbo's accomplishments this year include scoring four goals and three assists as a center back and being called up to the first team in July.
Serge Ngoma was just 16-years-old but he was able to contribute three goals and one assist. Ngoma scored the fifth-most goals on the Red Bulls II this season and was the second youngest player on the team, behind Curtis Ofori.
The future is very bright for the Red Bulls, because have been able to develop talent in their rich academy and give the next generation experience playing against men in the USL Championship. Out of the 25 players who played for Red Bulls II in 2021, ten were younger than 20-years-old and two of them, Serge Ngoma and Austin Brummett made a great impression by contributing goals and assists as 16 and 17-year-old players.
Based on all that I have gathered from covering the team this season, the Red Bulls have one of the deepest academies in Major League Soccer and that can only provide the environment where good young players will become better and better until they reach first team soccer.
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