
Photo credit: Dan Dickinson
Good afternoon! It's a glorious Friday here in RBNY Land. Our team is back in League action tomorrow, @Rio Tinto Stadium, and it's must win time. That's right! The Red Bulls must start to pick up full points or face the prospect of missing out on the playoffs altogether. But let's forget about that for a bit while we examine the RBNY news from the past week.
Red Bulls forward Luke Rodgers could miss the rest of the season due to the plantar fasciitis that he's been suffering from the last two months. The diminutive Englishman will definitely be out the next three weeks and, if not recovered, faces the prospect of season ending surgery.
Speaking of Mr. Rodgers: please do check out his FourFourTwo.com blog called, appropriately enough, An Englishman in NY.
With Rodgers out of the lineup, his logical replacement in the starting lineup will be Juan Agudelo. This will, most certainly, please those who believe that Agudelo's development is being held back by RBNY head coach Hans Backe.
Agudelo, and teammate Tim Ream, will not have much time off after Tomorrow's away game as both have been called up to the USMNT for next Wednesday's friendly against the Mexican National Team. RBNY designated player Rafa Marquez will be suiting up for Mexico in that one.
According to RBNY Right Back Jan Gunnar Solli, the Red Bulls have been invited to defend their 2011 Emirates Cup title in next year's edition. A DJ in his spare time, Mr. Solli will have his first music track release this coming fall.
This week, RBNY defender Tim Ream is featured in a great article from NY Times writer Jack Bell. It's a great read, so check it out.
RBNY rookie Matt Kassel answers some questions in his NJ.com blog.
A few more things:
In case you missed it, here's a great article on the fabled Harrison Courts, just a stones throw from The Cathedral of Football, where legendary USMNT players refined their craft.
Moving closer still to Red Bull Arena, this article talks about part of the development that's about to open by the PATH station.
As you might very well know, the legendary Jurgen Klinsmann has just been named Head Coach of the US Men's National Team. Klinsmann outlined his long term agenda, which includes developing a unique style of play and fixing the youth development system. Will Klinsi attempt to emulate our distant neighbor's youth development success? Can he hope to succeed in in the "Unique Style" department? I, for one, certainly hope so. Good luck to him.
That's all for now. Viper Out!
