Aug 23, 2024

Charlotte FC's predicted starting XI vs New York Red Bulls

By Ryan Donahue

Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner

With the Leagues Cup Final this Sunday, Charlotte FC plays at the Bank this weekend as Dean Smith’s side will look to get back on course with their regular season fixtures.

Before the disappointing round of results in the group stage of the tournament, Charlotte had two draws and a win in their regular season campaign and will need to hit the ground running to ensure they have a positive final stretch of the season ahead of playoff qualifications.

Ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against New York Red Bulls, Smith stated that he is overall pleased with the business that Charlotte has done during the transfer window with the addition of defender Tim Ream from Fulham, midfielders Pep Biel from Olympiacos and Jamie Paterson from Swansea City, as well as a new attacking prospect Idan Toklomati.

While Smith noted that most of the new recruits will not be ready for the First Team this weekend, one notable signing Charlotte fans should expect to see is US Men’s National Team veteran Tim Ream who joined the side earlier this month. When asked about player availability, Smith noted that his squad is fully fit.

As it stands, the Red Bulls sit four points above Charlotte, although the side have struggled to secure wins on the road. While a win against New York, will not significantly advance their position up the table, getting a result in this matchup will indicate to supporters that the side is ready to push through the final stretch of the season with Charlotte currently sitting seven points above the playoff line.

Before kickoff, our team examined how Charlotte could potentially line up against the Red Bulls this Saturday.

Defensive unit

In defense, Adilson Malanda will likely partner Andrew Privett from the start as the side have established a partnership that has been highly reliable across the season. While Privett would be the expected starter, Smith will likely look to integrate Ream into the side as a second half substitute. The outside backs are likely to remain unchanged with Nathan Byrne and Jere Uronen coming back into the fold.

Midfield line

The midfield trio will feature Ashley Westwood as the side’s anchor, with Brandt Bronico and Djibril Diani likely alongside him.

Forward line

Diani and Bronico will look to link up the play with Karol Świderski expected to start in the center forward position. Kerwin Vargas and Liel Abada will more than likely feature as Charlotte’s wingers.

Possible substitutions

While the front lineup will mostly remain unchanged, a few substitutions that Smith could make are Patrick Agyemang for Świderski. Agyemang’s physicality and ability to get behind defenders and create chances on his own has proven difficult for defenders.

If Charlotte is chasing a goal in the second half, Smith could see Agyemang as the key to unlocking the Red Bulls' defense. Additional substitutions could include Iuri Tavares, Ben Bender, and Nikola Petković.

If there is one thing that is for certain it’s that Charlotte supporters will be ready to pack the Bank on Saturday night as the club return to regular season play in their first fixture at home since the end of July.