BWP: 'US is one place English youngsters should try'

Monday 08 Dec 2014
Bradley Wright-Phillips speaks to TheFA.com
Bradley Wright-Phillips says the MLS is "definitely one place English players have to try".

In the first installment of our feature with the New York Red Bulls striker, he revealed how Thierry Henry had made him a better player and spoke of his adjustment to life in the USA.

And despite being one of a rare breed of Englishman to enjoy success abroad, the modest marksman says he still has a lot of work to do, despite equalling the MLS single season scoring record this year with 27 goals.

“More and more people are coming to games and you start to get stopped on the street now”

Bradley Wright-Phillips 
New York Red Bulls

"When I first came here, obviously it's different from England, and people don't really know what you are good at," he said.

"I wanted to show them that I can score goals and I'm not too much of a bad player and I just wanted to do that this season. I've done alright but there's still a lot I can improve."

'Soccer' as it is referred to over the Atlantic, is booming Stateside at the moment – something Wright-Phillips has seen first-hand.

"The World Cup had a big part to play in that. The run the USA national team had in Brazil got a lot of people interested," he said.

"More and more people are coming to the games and you start to get stopped on the street now.

"It's good for the country as a whole, and the league is a good standard, so I expect nothing less really."

Having experienced two MLS seasons to go with his time playing in the Premier League, Championship and League One back in his homeland, Wright-Phillips is in a great position to compare the difference in style he has come up against.

“Teams pass it out from the back and try to play. There's a lot of tactics”

Bradley Wright-Phillips 
On playing in the MLS

"We play the majority of the season in the summer so the temperature is really high and it can get so hot," said the 29-year-old.

"What I found playing in the Championship and a lot in League One, there was a lot of long ball, the second ball and playing down the channels.

"Over here, the heat plays a big part in some of the games and results.

"Teams pass it out from the back and try to play. There's a lot of tactics – it's good."

And having thrived since his move to the Red Bull Arena, Wright-Phillips would recommend any of his fellow Englishmen to try the MLS out for themselves.

"For sure. Players get really well looked after here,” he revealed.

"There's a union that is looking to put things into action to help players get better contracts, and there's a lot of things to look forward to.

"The standard is high, and it's definitely one place you have to try.

"For me, I didn't know anything about it, but I took the chance and I'm having a great time."

You can keep updated with all the latest from former England U20 striker Wright-Phillips in America by following him on Twitter @TheRealBWP.

By Gary Stonehouse Staff Writer