after a monthl long break from League Play MLS action Returns on Saturday for the final nine games of the regular season for all teams both New York teams the Red Bulls and nycfc they're right in the thick of battling for playoff positioning so let's talk about all of this we're going to do it with the lead host of MLS 360 on Apple TV Kevin Eagan joins Me Now Kevin how you doing I'm great Dexter better to be talking with you yeah always good to talk to you it's been a while since we talked we get to catch up on MLS action and Kevin as the MLS season resumes what are some of the biggest challenges teams face transitioning back from an intense leagues Cup schedule to regular season play what's the biggest challenges that most teams face I think it depends how far you get in the League's cup let's be honest here you go on a run to say the final like Columbus and lafc are in tomorrow's final well then they're going to have to adjust for next week but they get a buy for this week whereas you get knocked out in the group stage and you've had about three weeks nearly a new pre-season that can be frustrating that can be boring for players at times but for coaching staffs it's actually probably um a chance to re refocus reenergize ahead of the second half of the Season or in many ways the final stretch for a lot of teams Dexter there's only nine games left so you're round the corner here into the final Sprint of the MLS regular season so it's crucial that they get it right um yeah it's the League's cup was was phenomenal it the final will be epic tomorrow but for a lot of teams now it's a case of right back to work in Major League Soccer yeah back to work time we're going to talk about some of the local teams as we transition to that so let's start with the Red Bulls because they currently they're fourth in the Eastern Conference standings they have 41 points and their first match following the break is at Charlotte FC who Trails them by only four points so what have you liked about the Red Bulls form this season and do you see them moving up in the standings before the end of the regular season it's funny because the Red Bulls sit in fourth which for those of you that aren't aware the top four is crucial for HomeField Advantage come the playoffs so fourth will be a great finish for the Red Bulls this year but I still feel like they haven't hit Top Gear yet and I say that when they they brought in Noah AA at the back who's been tremendous he's been a really good passer out of the back and a good Defender uh further forward you know they've Lewis Morgan back from injury back from the Euros now and he's scoring goals and he's great friends with Dante vaner uh that you want to see him scoring more but he's been assisting as well up front there's been a real Rhythm uh the Red Bulls did sell Amaya to TCA in Liga ekis so they lose a key midfielder but they bring in a key midfielder then in the in the transfer window I think the Red Bulls will be fighting and scrapping for it but I think it's going to get really really close the top three have separated themselves already so for the likes of New York City for the likes of Charlotte the New York Red Bulls everyone is honing in on that fourth spot yeah everybody gunning for that fourth spot we'll see if the Red Bulls can hold on to their positioning right now now sitting right behind the Red Bulls is nycfc you just mentioned them they're in fifth place in the East they have 38 eight points New York did head into the leagues cup break with three straight draws what has to change for New York to start putting some wins on the board over the final nine games of the season I think they're one of those teams Dexter that will come away from the leagues cup buzzing that the leagues cup gave them this new lease on life this this kind of um energy and zest for the game again because they were a little bit stagnant at times it it felt before the leagues cup and now all of a sudden New York City watching them play in leagues cup they take out tigis a giant from Mexico they go and they face Columbus at Columbus the MLS Champions and they they score after 14 seconds they take the game all the way to penalty kicks and they lose unfortunately on penalty kicks but there's there's a a fresh feel and energy and Vibe around this New York City team now under Nick Cushing that I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a run and it's just it's an exciting team I just wish they had a striker that's found his form by now because they've got three Strikers matovic back and Martinez Martinez scored after 14 seconds against Columbus but he he's been hot and cold he's been really good when he's hot and then all of a sudden you're left wanting more when he's cold and that they've yet to have a striker really step up and grab that mantle like we've seen in New York City in the past with the likes of castios and David be yeah you'd like to see some of that consistency up front and I do Wonder as you mentioned there Kevin does their performance in the leagues cup does that sort of galvanize them moving forward and sort of propel them towards these final nine games of the season season we'll see how that works out for nycfc so Kevin what's interesting here is if the season ended today we would have a New York Darby in the playoffs with both local teams facing off against each other if we do get the Red Bulls versus nycfc in the postseason who would you like coming out on top in that matchup oh man Dexter you're throwing the impossible question at me here because I don't remember a season where I felt like the Red Bulls in New York City were as close as they are this year it feels to me genuinely like there's not much can separate these two teams so therefore HomeField Advantage would prove crucial I think um even though New York City has played at Red Bull Arena so many times I think that if they could take it to Yankee Stadium versus going to Red Bull Arena it's a massive Advantage so therefore the top four finish is crucial but both these teams have so many good young players both of these coaches feel like their clubs are in a really good moment right now um the Red Bulls certainly have been throughout the season and they've had a little bit of a blip in the leagues cup especially when they got knocked out of the leagues C and they didn't even lose a game over 90 minutes losing on penalties in both occasions uh so I I I think it's too close to call if you got me to to hop off a fence and just call it right now I'd probably go New York City by the slightest emergence ah there you go annoying the Red Bulls fans right there because you picked nycfc but by the slightest of margins as you said you will go nycfc right now over the Red Bulls we'll see how that all plays out who finishes in the top four do we get a New York Derby in the playoffs maybe we do it should could be interesting the final games of the MLS season get started on Saturday today it's a nice stretch most teams have about nine games left Kevin Egan the lead host of MLS 360 on Apple TV he will be all over it Kevin always good to talk some major league soccer with you we will do this again soon my friend thank you and cheers Dexter we'll see you for MLS 360 7:30 pm. eastern time tonight on Apple check it out