Good afternoon all! I hope that every Red Bulls fan has had a festive Holiday Season. Our team has gone through many changes since the latest of our usual season-ending debacles. Ten players got the axe right after that one and, in a way, Hans Backe got the axe as well (his contract wasn't renewed). But that's ancient history now and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
With the signings of Fabian Espindola and Jamison Olave, the Red Bulls have added two MLS veterans, and MLS Cup Champions w/Real Salt Lake, that will do much to bolster our defense and attack. Our team has also acquired veteran depth by signing fullback Kosuke Kimura, an MLS Cup Champion w/Colorado, from the Portland Timbers. The ineffective Sebastian LeToux has been shipped off to Philadelphia in exchange for Costa Rican forward Josué Martínez, a young player with a huge upside. On the other end of that spectrum, soon-to-be 38 year old Brazilian free-kick master Juninho Pernambucano has also been signed for the coming season. The Red Bulls have also done well to re-sign Young Connor Lade, Brandon Barklage, Ryan Meara, as well as signing Academy players Santiago Castano and Amando Moreno, to Long Terms.
All pretty good moves, but all pale in comparison to what our new management managed to do this past December 12th. That's right, our new French & Scottish overlords managed to convince the massive disgrace named Rafa Marquez that it would be in his best interests to continue his career down in Mexico. Marquez bought it and a mutual release agreement saw him packing his bags and moving to Mexican side Leon. Of course Marquez, who will be remembered as one of the worst Designated Players to ever play in MLS (certainly his per-game salary points to him being the biggest MLS waste of money ever), couldn't help but take a parting shot at our "amateur" league. But who cares? That abomination is gone and that's the best Holiday gift the Red Bulls could have given us. That, and this very nice "Happy Holidays" video (above).
There are still some questions that need an answer, chief of which is: who is going to be the next Red Bulls coach? Recent rumours have Gary McAllister, Owen Coyle and even Eric Wynalda in the mix for the job. Tony Meola, Jesse Marsch and Robin Frasier are said to have interviewed for the position. Even former MetroStars coach Carlos Queiroz has thrown his name into the hat. The silly season is still upon us and players like French forward Peguy Luyindula, Irishman Richard Dunne and even Welshman Jermaine Easter are being linked with our team. Besides all that, management might still be looking for a long-term #10 Creative Midfielder.
So will the maelstrom of mediocrity end or will the rot continue? By chance, some of our lot had a chance to discuss all that @Legends NYC's Football Factory just the other day. Please click on the video up top for our usual drunken comments and some bold off-season predictions as well. BTW, did I mention we just got rid of Victor "Red Card" Palsson? Ha, ha!
Happy New Year! I hope to see you all soon @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). The big viper is outta here!
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