Ryan Meara just might be the most patient player in all of Major League Soccer.
Since enjoying a stellar start in his rookie season in 2012, the New York Red Bulls goalkeeper has had to play second-fiddle to the likes of Luis Robles and Carlos Coronel.
Now, that certainly isn't the end of the world given those two keepers' resumes and accomplishments, but it can get frustrating because Meara feels that he has something to bring to the table. "It was definitely tough when I was younger," said Meara, who has played more Lamar Hunt Open Cup games (15) than any other Red Bulls player.
The former Fordham University standout performed well for a first-year keeper before a hip injury shut him down for the rest of that 2012 season.
"Coming into the league, starting that first half of that season and doing pretty well, we were in first place when I went and got hurt," he said. "Up until that point in my rookie year that's all I knew as a pro. In my thinking I was like, it was an 8–10-month recovery and then I'll feel good and just get right back in and be the starter again."
Outside Looking In
Near the end of that season, though, Luis Robles was signed by the club and embarked on an MLS-record 183-game streak in goal that ran through May of 2018.
"It doesn't always work as you have it mapped out in your head," added Meara. "For me, he [Robles] was one of the best – if not the best and most consistent – keeper in the league for those years. To be behind him is no insult. I think he could start on any team in the league.
"As I matured, not that it became easier, but I learned how to cope with it.” said Meara, who’s become philosophical about his circumstances. “Being a goalkeeper is the best position in the world if you're the guy starting because you play every minute of every game and it's the worst position in the world if you're not because you're the guy on the bench – and you never get subbed in."
