UPDATE: Soccer By Ives is reporting that the Juan Agudelo signing has finally been completed.
Lots of news coming out of today's training session at Montclair State, in the form of various tweets from beat reporters. Michael Lewis, at Big Apple Soccer, and Dylan Butler from the New York Post, have been typing faster than I can keep up. Here is a summary of their reports:
Roster/lineup notes for Saturday's game: Bouna Condoul will get the start in goal. Coach Hans Backe (pictured above) says that Condoul earned the right to be the #1 keeper, "at the moment," and that he will give him a few games to solidify his place as the Red Bulls' starting goalkeeper. Juan Pablo Angel participated in the full training session today, and will be available for Saturday barring any adverse reactions to today's workload. Carl Robinson was in Toronto securing a work permit today. He tweeted today that he is "still sore and taking it day by day." Ibrahim Salou does not have his work permit yet, will not be available Saturday, and may not be for several weeks.
Other roster notes and rumors: Coach Backe confirmed that Ernst Oebster has been cut--he considers there to be enough talent on the left side. Speaking of which, Backe also said that he is not currently interested in signing Dave Van den Bergh, a sentiment shared by Sporting Director, Erik Solér. Coach Backe also said that he has spoken with three players from his former club, English League Two side Notts County, but that he doesn't see striker, Luke Rodgers, coming to the club soon as was reported at threefourthree yesterday. He didn't rule it out as a future possibility, though.
A tweet from Big Apple Soccer has Coach Backe saying that building a training ground is the most important thing the club can do now, to attract good international talent.
Finally, a nice piece on Erik Solér's mindset as we head into his first MLS season as the Red Bulls' Sporting Director (spoiler: he's "terrified!") Check it out.
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