Speaking Out: Time is Long Overdue for a Gay-Friendly MLS

If the 2011-12 Premiership season in England has seen the issue of racism finally get the serious attention it deserves - with superstars such as John Terry and Luis Suárez either already punished for or charged with having made racist comments - the same cannot necessarily be said of discrimination toward the gay community. In fact, despite the best efforts of organizations such as The Justin Campaign, named in honor of the first openly gay footballer, Justin Fashanu (pictured above), there is still a major stigma attached to members of the LGBT community across all areas of the game.

The number of prominent openly gay soccer players can probably be counted on one hand, terrace culture and supporters groups continue to tolerate insensitive, homophobic chants, and even fans of the game can be wary about coming out of the closet to their fellow supporters. Despite the tremendous strides made in recent years, including, locally, New York's 2011 passage of the Marriage Equality Act, an ugly undercurrent of homophobia continues to permeate sports in general and soccer specifically. It's something that we feel is long overdue stamping out.

That's why we are proud to announce today that we are allying ourselves with Gay4Soccer, a movement founded by a group of fans from across the league who are working to make Major League Soccer- and the culture surrounding it - a model of gay-friendliness and an example for others around the world. Their goals include fostering an environment where gay players will be comfortable being open about their sexuality, and discouraging discriminatory terrace chants and behavior.

Anyone who's been to a Red Bulls game and sat in a supporters section has probably heard anti-gay slurs, whether it's a derogatory reference to a referee, a rival supporters' group or an opposing player (and not just in English). As someone with gay family members and a number of gay friends, such chants have always made me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. They're a black eye for the supporters groups involved, and hardly encourage an atmosphere of tolerance.

Going forward, we hope to be able to work with Gay4Soccer on issues of concern. In the meantime, please take the time to check out the latest column from their RBNY beat writer Kevin, which you can find here.

And for those who think we are making some kind of political statement and are unhappy about it (I'm sure there are a few), I can only answer that we feel strongly that this is an issue of basic human rights - one that should cut across party or ideology.

Speaking Out: Time is Long Overdue for a Gay-Friendly MLS

Red Bulls Notes: Ream, Trialists and a Residential Academy?

The Hard Work Starts Now

The Red Bulls preseason got underway in earnest today at Montclair State University, as an expanded group of players reported to camp, including a massive 12-13 trialists. The size of the group is hardly surprising, considering the number of reserve and fringe players the club has shed since November. Strangely, none of RBNY's supplemental picks were included on the list, but that may just have been an oversight. Dave Martinez at Empire of Soccer provides a little more info on the trialists, which includes several players with USL and/or NASL experience, a few MLS veterans, and a couple of overseas players, such as Tom Williams, the English journeyman left back.

The most intriguing names on the list? Two key players from last season's FC New York squad - Jhonny Arteaga and Quame Holder - and New Jersey high school legend Jose Angulo, now with Harrisburg City Islanders. For more information on Angulo, check out this 2007 article from Ives Galarcep, who followed him closely during his years at St. Benedict's Prep.

Interestingly, players not listed by the Red Bulls also include goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo, whose official signing would appear to be imminent, and Icelandic midfielder Victor Pálsson (formerly of Hibs), who is - according to a report this morning on Sky Sports - on the verge of agreeing to a deal with RBNY.

In other news, Brian Lewis of the New York Post has some great information on the sale of Tim Ream to Bolton Wanderers, which is expected to be consummated very shortly. According to Lewis, because Ream is technically considered a third year player, the Red Bulls would be eligible to receive 2/3 of his total transfer fee, rather than half as we had assumed. Of that 2/3, $650,000 would an allocation that can be used toward player salaries or traded away in part for, say, the rights to Wilman Conde. The only catch is that the money must be used over the next three transfer windows, plus the 15 or so days remaining in the current one. The Red Bulls would also have Ream's $65,000 salary off their books, of course.

The remaining money can be used for a number of purposes, including the academy, training facilities and even designated player salaries. Perhaps the most exciting news in Lewis' piece, however, comes right at the end, when Erik Solér discusses the possibility of the Red Bulls establishing a residential academy, on the European model, that would be the first of its kind in MLS. This would seem to be a project still in its infancy, but it would be a huge development if it were to become a reality. If the Red Bulls can establish something along the lines of Ajax's famous academy, which you can read about in a fantastic article the New York Times published in 2010, they could have a big leg up on the rest of the league. This is an area where the financial muscle of Red Bull and the club's more European outlook might provide an advantage. Stay tuned.

Red Bulls Notes: Ream, Trialists and a Residential Academy?

Ream Seals Bolton Deal, Monday News & Notes

So Long Timmy!

The long-running transfer saga involving New York Red Bulls central defender Tim Ream appears to have finally come to an end this afternoon, with the BBC reporting that Bolton Wanderers have secured a UK work permit. There had been considerable doubt about Ream's qualifications for a visa, as he had only played in a total of two competitive fixtures for the US Men's National Team. But after a successful appeal, which might have included letters from the likes of Jurgen Klinsmann, the deal has now gone through, with an introduction likely tomorrow.

With a final price agreed of somewhere between $2.75 and $3 million, the transfer makes Ream the most expensive American defender ever sold abroad. It's not a bad haul for the Red Bulls, considering the fact that they selected Ream in the second round of the 2010 draft, and taking into account his up and down form in 2011. Because Ream has two years of seniority and is not a homegrown player, the Red Bulls will be entitled to half of the total transfer fee, with about $650,000 available to use on player salaries ($700,000+ when you factor in Ream's salary coming off RBNY's books).  

What will they do with their new-found wealth? Part of it is likely to go directly to Chicago Fire in order to secure the rights of Wilman Conde. This deal had been rumored on Draft Day, but was probably postponed until the Red Bulls could be certain of Ream's departure. Another chunk of the money might be used to secure the services of new players, such as the Icelandic midfielder Victor Pálsson and the English/Cypriot defender Tom Williams, both of whom are reported to be discussing terms with RBNY. 

Then there's the question of the goalkeeper position. Though Jeremy Vuolo and Ryan Meara might both be solid #2 keepers, neither is likely to be between the pipes on Opening Day in Dallas. Getting a quality netminder won't be cheap. By the time the Red Bulls have landed Conde, Pálsson, Williams and a goalkeeper, they may well have little to no allocation money remaining. That assumes, of course, that Juan Agudelo is not sold. Rumors of interest from Liverpool have been making the rounds, and the Red Bulls may well be eager to cash in on a player who made little progress in his second season but is still coveted by foreign clubs.

Expect a lot more news between now and the time the Red Bulls travel to Mexico. With the Ream business cleared up, Erik Solér and Hans Backe should have a lot more freedom of movement under the salary cap.

Finally, a big thanks to Tim Ream for everything he gave the New York Red Bulls over his two seasons in Harrison. Despite some ups and downs, he was never less than a consummate professional and a really terrific guy. We at the Viper's Nest would like to wish him all the success in the world as he embarks on a new life in England.

Ream Seals Bolton Deal, Monday News & Notes

New York Red Bulls Still Unsettled as Season Approaches

Agudelo: One Foot Out the Door?

When the New York Red Bulls' disappointing 2011 season drew to a close, both Hans Backe and Erik Solér assured fans that they had identified the team's main weaknesses and would be taking steps over the winter to address them. But with 2012 preseason training camp having opened this week, the RBNY roster is still a work in progress, with question marks hanging over the heads of several players and doubts remaining about key positions and bench depth.

The club's hesitancy in pulling the trigger on player acquisitions may have a lot to do with the pending transfer of Tim Ream to Bolton. Should that deal go through, RBNY management will have a lot more cash to play with - as much as $700,000. Should Ream fail to land a UK work permit, on the other hand, they'll have to operate on a much tighter budget. Since it's unwise to spend money you don't have (a point Hans Backe drove home when he met with media on Thursday at Montclair State University) the transfer train remains stuck in neutral for now.

None of that will stop us from speculating about moves the front office might make, or identifying areas of need. So, with no further ado, here are four key questions remaining for the Red Bulls as the head into the first full week of training camp:

1. Whither Juan Agudelo? Tim Ream may not be the only young USMNT player on his way out of Harrison. Read the Backe interview linked above and you hardly get the sense that Juan Agudelo staying with the Red Bulls is a slam dunk. The young striker has had a bit of a stormy relationship with Backe, and there may be pressure from the powers that be at MLS and the US Soccer Federation to move Agudelo along to a club that can guarantee him more playing time. There doesn't appear to be any move imminent, but you never know. Of course dealing Agudelo to a European club could backfire spectacularly if Luke Rodgers fails to secure a US work visa or Thierry Henry goes down with a serious injury at Arsenal.
2. Who's Going to be the Red Bulls' #1 Goalkeeper? Rookie Ryan Meara is currently  the only goalkeeper under contract with the Red Bulls. Rumors on Twitter have returning Yank Jeremy Vuolo also joining RBNY, as did his own Twitter page, until it mysteriously disappeared. But neither Meara nor Vuolo has the kind of experience required to start on Opening Day. The team's decision not to bring back Frank Rost means that they'll have to identify a new target, available at a reasonable price or free of a transfer fee altogether, and negotiate quickly. The one name that keeps coming back in Internet rumors is Renny Vega, the current Venezuelan national team keeper, currently employed as FC Caracas. According to this article from November, Vega has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Caracas should an offer come in from a foreign club. Whoever the Red Bulls add, they need to do it quickly and find a steady hand.
3. What is the Defense Going to Look Like? The Red Bulls back line was a mess in 2011. Many assumed that Markus Holgersson, the new central defender signed from Sweden, was being brought in to pair with Ream. But if  Ream leaves the Red Bulls would only have Holgersson, the untested Sacir Hot and newly re-signed Stephen Keel as central defenders. Rumors of a deal with Chicago on Wilman Conde's rights have been flying around (in fact, in some places it has been presented as a fait accompli) but nothing has been finalized or announced yet.
4. Where's the Depth? Factoring in the likely Ream departure and this afternoon's announcement that Carl Robinson would be leaving New York to pursue a coaching opportunity in Vancouver, the Red Bulls are down to a mere 20 players under contract, far below the league maximum of 30. Even assuming that RBNY adds Vuolo, signs Conde, re-signs Brian Nielsen and adds all three of its Supplemental Draft selections to its roster (by no means guaranteed), that still leaves them short of what would be required to get through 2012. And that's assuming that Agudelo stays and no other current squad members leave. Players like former FCNY standout Jhonny Arteaga might have an excellent chance of making the squad, as things stand now.

There's still quite a bit of time left to work through these issues, but the longer the club lets transfer season drag out the less time they have to prepare for a very challenging season.

Read more »

New York Red Bulls Still Unsettled as Season Approaches

Seeing Red Episode 73: Heck Speaks

It's the latest, and greatest, episode of Seeing Red: The NY Soccer Roundup. This week, Mark Fishkin and Dave "The Emperor" Martinez have none other than NY Red Bulls President of Business Operations Chris Heck. Mr. Heck makes a massive 40 minute appearance here and lots of topics (Season Tickets, Harrison lawsuit, the 2012 schedule, Cosmos, etc...) are discussed. It's a must, must-listen for all RBNY fans. Plese click here to download or to listen.

Seeing Red Episode 73: Heck Speaks

RBNY News & Notes: Three For Tuesday

The Red Bulls made it an eventful Tuesday as they drafted three players in the 2012 Supplemental Draft. The three are Defender Mike Volk (UVA), Midfielder Christian Barreiro (UPenn) and Midfielder Nate Polak (Hastings).

I wouldn't bank on any of these guys making the team, as Soler has stated that it would be hard to find a player that could make the team in the Superdraft, nevermind the Supplemental Draft. Let's hope they found some gems in the three drafted today. Here are some highlight reels of Barreiro and Polak for your enjoyment.

Interested in what pundits are grading our picks in this year's Supplemental Draft class? You can click here to find out what our grade is.

Corey Hertzog would like us all to know that he's been hanging out with a guy by the name of Jeremy Vuolo lately (but not in a gay way). It would appear that Soler has not one, but two young American keepers in his sights. You can watch some Vuolo highlights by clicking here.

Speaking of goalkeepers, Venezuelan Renny Vega claims that negotiations with RBNY are in "advanced stages". Maybe Frank Rost isn't coming back after all?

In today's Supplemental Draft, FC Dallas picked up a player by the name of Walter Hines, a forward who played his college soccer locally at St. John's University. So what, you ask? Well, Hines was a member of the Red Bulls Academy system, which makes everyone here at TVN wonder why the Red Bulls would pass on a free pick. Here are some Hines Highlights.

RBNY defender Stephen Keel, a revelation at Center Back last season, has signed a new contract with the club.

A RBNY friendly vs Mexico's Pumas Unam has just been announced. This is scheduled for February 23rd, during their Arizona training camp

Finally, it looks like TH12 is already headed for the Arsenal Physio's treatment table (mate).

RBNY News & Notes: Three For Tuesday

Red Bulls Notebook: Nielsen Extends His Stay, Camp Opens

Brian Nielsen Playing Soccer: A Rare Sight

The bulk of the New York Red Bulls squad gathered today at Montclair State University for the first training session of the 2012 season. It was a chance for new arrivals such as Ryan Meara and Jonathan Borrajo to meet their new teammates (well most of them anyway) and begin the process of building up fitness. Missing from training camp were several players, including Markus Holgersson, who is traveling with the Swedish National Team to Qatar, Tim Ream, who is tying up the final details of his transfer to Bolton Wanderers, and of course Thierry Henry, who is busy calling out disgruntled Arsenal fans for their lack of support.

With only one goalkeeper officially under contract at the moment (Meara) and the retirement of Carl Robinson imminent, the Red Bulls could be down to just 21 players by the time the Ream transfer is sewn up. Add the rumored arrival of Wilman Conde into the equation - which is likely dependent on the Ream deal going through - and you get to 22. That's still far below what the team will need to get through the rigors of an entire season, so Erik Solér and Hans Backe will need to find creative ways to add young players without busting their budget or running up against their limit of internationals.

Like Borrajo, Jhonny Arteaga featured in a few Red Bulls reserve matches last season and could be an interesting, inexpensive addition. You may remember him lining up for the other side in the US Open Cup tie against FC New York at Red Bull Arena last season. Arteaga and his teammates gave the Red Bulls quite a scare on that evening. In fact, the young striker, from Stamford, Connecticut, was one of the USL's more interesting players last season, scoring 13 goals in 21 matches for a mostly dismal FCNY team. Today, Kristian Dyer reported that the Red Bulls have extended the offer of a trial to Arteaga. Here's hoping it goes well for the kid. I remember his family showing up to support him in matching t-shirts in Harrison last year. Between Meara, Connor Lade, Borrajo and Arteaga, the Red Bulls have been quite active in integrating local talent into the squad. The question, of course, is whether any of them will see time on the pitch.

Speaking of not playing, media in Denmark are reporting that everyone's favorite invalid, midfielder Brian Nielsen, will be returning to New York for another six month stint, possibly with a view to a summer move to Red Bull Salzburg. Nielsen's continued presence in the Red Bulls' squad is one of the league's great unsolved mysteries. Why the club insists on keeping a player who has proven himself unable to stay fit and who costs more than $120,000 against the salary cap is anyone's guess. If healthy, he could conceivably provide a nice option on the left, but anyone willing to bet on the Dane staying healthy should have his head examined. Just when you think the Red Bulls are doing a good job of trimming roster fat, they sign up for another six months of Nielsen.

Back to the goalkeeper question. Our friend Dave Martinez at Empire of Soccer reported yesterday that the Red Bulls have made contact with goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell about a move back to MLS. You may remember the name, because Patterson-Sewell was previously RBNY's third keeper, back in the 2008 season. Though he didn't see any time in league games, he did feature in the friendly against Barcelona. Patterson-Sewell is currently with Atlético CP, a second division club in Portugal pushing for promotion, where he has been performing admirably and, according to this article from Yanks Abroad, attracting the attention of a number of clubs. Could this be the second "mystery American" that Erik Solér has spoken about in recent weeks? Possibly, but if Dave's report is accurate the timeline wouldn't seem to match up. In any case, the move could well be dependent on the Red Bulls paying a substantial transfer fee, and we all know how reluctant MLS is about securing players under contract.

Finally, those of you hankering for a hungry man sized portion of Red Bulls talk should definitely check out the latest edition of Talking Bull, where Ben Schneider and I discuss all of the latest transfer rumors, re-cap the draft and kick around a lot of other news. Michael Orr of the Portland Timbers podcast Soccer Made in Portland also discusses the Kenny Cooper trade.

Red Bulls Notebook: Nielsen Extends His Stay, Camp Opens

Are the Red Bulls Close to Signing Wilman Conde?

Is Conde Worth the Price?

Late yesterday evening, Big Apple Soccer's Michael Lewis broke the news that the Red Bulls had purchased the MLS rights of Wilman Conde from Chicago Fire. Lewis' story, citing an anonymous source, indicated that the Red Bulls would be sending a draft pick Chicago's way in return. This morning, however, Ives Galarcep of Soccer By Ives (in the midst of gleefully teeing off on his favorite target) disputed Lewis' account, claiming that Conde's rights would command a six figure allocation, presumably part of the proceeds from the pending sale of Tim Ream to Bolton Wanderers. 

The Red Bulls are without a draft selection in 2013, having traded away their first and second round picks to Portland and Kansas City, respectively. If Galarcep is correct, presumably the Fire have no interest in a pick beyond 2013. The question then becomes, "Is Conde worth a six figure allocation?" Galarcep certainly doesn't seem to think so, going so far as to call the Colombian a "flop" at Mexican club Atlas.

But it's not an easy question to answer. With Ream gone, the Red Bulls will have a burning need to fill a gap at center back. Relying on either Rafa Marquez or Stephen Keel to step into Ream's shoes would really be playing with fire (no pun intended). Using part of the $650,000 allocation that will result from the sale to Bolton, it makes sense to secure the services of an experienced, physical MLS defender like Conde, who was probably one of the league's best before an indifferent 2010 and an injury-plagued spell in 2011 with Atlas. At his best, Conde is an imposing figure and a very tough customer. He has an MLS pedigree, understands what the league is all about and wouldn't require a period of adjustment.

This morning I spoke with my friend Kevin McCauley, who runs the great SBNation Mexican soccer blog FMF State of Mind about Conde's time in Mexico and he offered his views:

Conde only "flopped" at Atlas because he got injured and the team sucked. He was Chicago Conde when he played. No more, no less. He looked very good at times, and made a couple of dumb errors. He'll have five great games in a row, and in the sixth game, he'll do something so dumb you can't believe he's an international footballer. That's who he is.

The sale of Tim Ream gives the Red Bulls plenty of allocation money, but it also makes it imperative that they bring in an adequate replacement before the season kicks off. If they can coax Conde back into his 2009 form and pair him with new signee Markus Holgersson, it's hard to see how that's a worse situation than an opening day center back pairing of Ream and Stephen Keel. With trade options inside MLS limited and international transfers taking time and effort to consummate, paying a premium for Conde may be Erik Solér's best option.

With the addition of Cooper and Conde, two of the league's better players three or four years removed, the Red Bulls are throwing the dice and hoping that their best form returns. Neither move is without risk, but if successful both could have a massive upside. If they fail miserably, many around the league and in the news media will have a field day. At least you can't accuse Solér of timidity.

Are the Red Bulls Close to Signing Wilman Conde?

Red Bulls Get Active, Adding Cooper, Holgersson, Meara

Kenny Cooper: Jersey-Bound

On what most people expected to be a relatively quiet 2012 MLS Draft day for the New York Red Bulls, Erik Solér and company made a surprising amount of noise. First, even before the draft began, the team confirmed the signing of defender Markus Holgersson from Swedish club Helsingborgs IF. (You can see him talk about the deal in Swedish here.) Then, in what was probably the biggest shock of the day, they acquired striker Kenny Cooper from Portland Timbers in exchange for a first round pick in the 2013 MLS Draft and a sizable amount of allocation money, reportedly contingent on Cooper remaining with RBNY beyond 2012.

Why would the Red Bulls be interested in a big, relatively expensive forward who struggled at times with Portland in 2011, scoring just eight goals? Quite simply, they need a big body up front who can cause havoc in the penalty area and pose a threat on aerial balls and set pieces. Between Holgersson and Cooper, the Red Bulls should be much less easy to defend, with some size and physicality now available to complement to speed and trickiness of players like Dane Richards, Luke Rodgers and Thierry Henry. They must also hoping that Cooper can re-ignite a scoring spark he hasn't had since leaving FC Dallas for Europe. If Cooper doesn't pan out, the ability to dump out of the allocation prior to 2013 is a smart move by the Red Bulls front office.

Finally, with their lone SuperDraft selection, the Red Bulls went with an area of burning need and shopped locally, selecting Ryan Meara of Fordham - the consensus best keeper in a weak goalkeeper class. Check out some brief Meara highlights here. Hopefully the youngster can grow into the franchise's next great netminder and get some valuable mentoring from Frank Rost, should the German return of course.

Back to the addition of Cooper, by far the most controversial move of the three. It does bring up the issue of depth at forward. But with Thierry Henry unlikely to play every game, Luke Rodgers hampered recently by foot problems, and Juan Agudelo gone for part of the season with the USMNT U23 Olympic squad, it was absolutely vital that the Red Bulls add some forward depth. The Dane Richards as striker experiment didn't exactly come off with flying colors last season, while Corey Hertzog is still raw and unproven. Since the Cooper deal went down, there have even been rumors of a sale of Agudelo to a foreign club, perhaps Stuttgart, with whom he trained in December. If that were to come to pass, and the interminable saga of the Tim Ream transfer to England were ever consummated, the Red Bulls could well be sitting on top of a massive pile of transfer cash, even if they have to send some of it to Portland.

All in all, it was an excellent day's work for a club that wasn't really expected to make waves in Kansas City. There should be a lot more to come over the next week, so stay tuned.

One additional wrinkle on Draft Day (and it wouldn't be RBNY if something didn't happen to piss in everyone's Cheerios): Luke Rodgers has allowed his visa to lapse, meaning that he may not be back in New York for another several weeks. Oy!

Finally, if you like reading about tax disputes, the Observer reports that the Red Bulls owe the Town of Harrison millions of dollars for Red Bull Arena. Can you feel the love from the local community? I can't. And the chances of ticket prices going down next season? Slim.

Red Bulls Get Active, Adding Cooper, Holgersson, Meara

Wednesday RBNY News & Notes

Bye bye Timmy?

Good morning! With MLS preseason training beginning in just three weeks and the MLS Combine complete, there should be a lot of player movement and a ton of new signings announced in the coming days. The 2012 MLS SuperDraft kicks off tomorrow, and though the New York Red Bulls only have one selection (the 31st overall pick in round two), it's not inconceivable that we could see a trade or two happen while the general managers and coaches are assembled in Kansas City. I participated in SBNation's mock draft earlier this week on behalf of Once a Metro, and you can see my "shot in the dark" selection (as well as all the other picks) here.

While General Manager Erik Solér has been down in Fort Lauderdale with Mike Petke and Jan Halvorsen assessing college players, he has also been working to conclude negotiations over the transfer of Tim Ream to Bolton Wanderers. This morning, the Bolton News is reporting that a £2.5 million fee has been agreed with MLS, and that Ream's transfer will go through, pending a physical and a work permit. There has been quite a bit of speculation on Twitter and elsewhere about Ream's eligibility for a UK work visa, but all parties apparently feel confident about the strength of an appeal.

If the Ream to Bolton deal is finalized, the windfall to RBNY will be substantial - half of the transfer fee, with about $650,000 of it available to apply to player salaries. Factor in Ream's compensation coming off RBNY's books, and Solér would have a tidy sum of $700,000+ to spend on strengthening his squad, including replacing Ream. Besides defensive help, the needs list would include a quality goalkeeper, a creative midfielder and some bench depth. From this perspective, the Ream transfer makes a lot of sense for New York, even if they have a small window in which to add new players. Carrying three DPs, the Red Bulls were right up against the salary cap last season, and could hardly afford to turn down a deal that gives them some badly needed breathing space.

A few other notes:

• I was a guest this week on NASN's Arsenal Review USA podcast. The topic? What else??? Thierry Henry. I'd like to thank Kyle Van Buren and Joel McNamara for having me on the program. My segment is about 16 minutes in.
• Ex-RBNY goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has a dream - and that dream involves playing in England. 

That's it for now. We'll have an update for you if/when the Ream deal is finalized, and we'll try to stay on top of all the news as the SuperDraft gets underway.

Wednesday RBNY News & Notes

Henry Magic Sparks Arsenal Victory in FA Cup

Henry Celebrates on His Return

It just had to be, didn't it? Cometh the hour, cometh the man and all that. Thierry Henry's brief two month loan move to his former club Arsenal got off to the most dramatic of starts in London this evening, when the French legend scored a scintillating second half goal that took the Gunners past Leeds United and into the next round of the FA Cup. Arsène Wenger probably couldn't have written a better script if he had tried. It was a sweet moment for Henry and one in the eye for the fools who assumed that Arsenal were getting a dried up husk of a player.

Those who have been watching Henry closely over the past year and a half probably weren't surprised about the turn of events. Although the Red Bulls struggled mightily through a tumultuous 2010 season, Henry's quality was never in doubt. In fact, you could argue that only his absence from key road games, a few controversial red cards and the incompetence of the Red Bulls' defensive corps stood between TH14 and an MVP trophy. Put simply, Henry has qualities that few players in the world possess. He has also been diligent about staying in shape, which helps compensate for any loss of pace over the years. Smarts, positioning and the ability to finish under pressure count for a lot in football, an he has those qualities in spades.

Naturally, in the wake of the goal Twitter and our own Facebook page were abuzz with speculation that such a performance would lead to an extension of the loan period, with some alarmists even going so far as to say that Henry may never return.

Let's step back from the ledge for a moment and get a little perspective. When he signed on with Arsenal, Henry was at pains to emphasize that he would be back in New York to help the Red Bulls challenge for an MLS Cup. Is it possible that a set of circumstances might present themselves that would have Wenger and Henry contemplating a loan extension (say, an injury to the oft-injured Robin Van Persie)? Perhaps. But the Red Bulls would still hold the upper hand in any negotiation, and Henry has demonstrated his commitment to the club both in words and actions. In any case, it's unlikely that every appearance Henry makes over the coming weeks will be quite as dramatic and emotional as this evening's debut was. The hype will fade.

The best thing Red Bulls fans can do right now is savor the artistry of one of the great players in world football and hope that he doesn't find a way to pick up an injury before his return to New York. Whether you're an Arsenal fan or not, Henry's goal this evening was a pretty cool moment for him, for MLS and for the game in general. Can't we just enjoy it for what it was, and leave the nail-biting and idle speculation for another time? Please?

Henry Magic Sparks Arsenal Victory in FA Cup

Henry Loan Deal to Arsenal Finalized

Henry: "I just could not say no to Arsenal"

The ongoing saga of finalizing Thierry Henry's two month loan to Arsenal reached its conclusion today when the Gunners announced that they had an agreement in place with the New York Red Bulls and MLS. The deal is intended to allow Arsenal to bridge the four to six week gap when Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh will be away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Henry says it was his love for Arsenal that brought him back to his old club, but was also adamant that he would be back to help the Red Bulls start the season on the right foot and compete for MLS Cup:

I want to send a message to the fans of New York Red Bulls as well. I always said I would not play in Europe again. But it is hard for me when it comes to Arsenal. I am not coming here for the whole season, I will be back and I want to win the MLS Cup with the Red Bulls. I hope it is a win-win situation where I can help Arsenal and come back fit for the MLS season.

There's inherent risk in any loan arrangement, as we've seen just this morning with Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez tearing his ACL while on loan to FC Nuremberg. Henry can provide assurances that he is only at Arsenal to fill a temporary need or appear as a sub, but most Red Bulls fans will be watching nervously every time he takes the pitch for Arsenal, hoping that nothing happens to endanger his return. The Red Bulls don't have the easiest of starts to the 2012 season - away in consecutive weeks at Dallas and Real Salt Lake - and they will need a healthy Henry if they hope to take anything away from either match.

According to several reports, the Henry loan deal runs through February 16, with the option to extend to February 26, the date of the North London Derby. This means that Henry very well could miss part of pre-season training in Arizona, contrary to earlier assurances from Red Bulls' General Manager Erik Solér. The extension of the loan to encompass the Tottenham match may have been one of the factors in the protracted negotiations. It would appear that the Red Bulls blinked first.

Red Bulls fans can only hope that the loan goes smoothly, and that they get back a healthy, motivated player. With the extension of the MLS regular season and playoffs through December, Henry could well be playing football for a year straight. You have to wonder how much he will have left in the tank by the time the playoffs begin.

The other concern, of course, is that Arsenal might suffer an injury to a key starter (such as Robin van Persie), and then request to extend the Henry loan through the end of the Premier League season. The Red Bulls would be well within their rights to refuse, but the pressure from Henry, Arsenal and Gunners fans might prove to be too much to resist.

Henry Loan Deal to Arsenal Finalized