The Viper's Nest

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

2012-01-25T14:39:00.004-05:00

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.

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

2012-01-24T16:14:00.001-05:00

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.

Ream Seals Bolton Deal, Monday News & Notes

2012-01-23T17:23:00.003-05:00

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.

New York Red Bulls Still Unsettled as Season Approaches

2012-01-20T16:17:00.001-05:00

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.

A few other notes on this soon-to-be-snowy Friday:

If you haven't done so yet, give the latest edition of Seeing Red! a listen. Mark and Dave have a great interview with the Red Bulls' President of Business Operations, Chris Heck. They talk about season ticket sales, marketing for the upcoming season, the schedule, continued rumors of a second New York team, and the ongoing tax dispute with Harrison. It's a must for all Red Bulls fans.
Speaking of the Harrison/RBNY tax dispute (which appears to be getting uglier by the day), check out this article. The last paragraph in particular is intriguing, as it would seem to suggest that there is a decent likelihood of the New Jersey tax judge's recent ruling being overturned on appeal. It also drives home the point that the Red Bulls' deal with Harrison isn't very different from other sports teams around the country. A defeat for Red Bull in the courts could set a precendent that would have both local and national ramifications.
Finally, if this ticket site is any indication, the Red Bulls will once again be playing in a pre-season "Reto Del Sol" match in Arizona against a Mexican league opponent, this time UNAM Pumas. Why this has been plastered all over Red Bull's corporate site but not even mentioned on the club site is anyone's guess.

That's all for now. Have a great weekend!

Seeing Red Episode 73: Heck Speaks

2012-01-20T15:30:00.014-05:00

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.

RBNY News & Notes: Three For Tuesday

2012-01-17T22:13:00.007-05:00

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).

Red Bulls Notebook: Nielsen Extends His Stay, Camp Opens

2012-01-16T18:35:00.000-05:00

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.

Are the Red Bulls Close to Signing Wilman Conde?

2012-01-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

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.

Red Bulls Get Active, Adding Cooper, Holgersson, Meara

2012-01-12T15:07:00.003-05:00

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.

Wednesday RBNY News & Notes

2012-01-11T11:14:00.000-05:00

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.

Henry Magic Sparks Arsenal Victory in FA Cup

2012-01-09T19:30:00.001-05:00

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 Loan Deal to Arsenal Finalized

2012-01-06T09:28:00.002-05:00

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.

New York Red Bulls 2012 Schedule Unveiled

2012-01-05T15:37:00.001-05:00

Start Marking Your Calendar: The MLS Schedule is Out!

Major League Soccer seems to finally be getting the hang of this scheduling thing. The 2012 schedule was released today, more than a month earlier than last year's version. For Red Bulls fans, there are some big changes to keep in mind. First, the schedule is once again unbalanced, with Red Bulls playing each Western Conference team only once, while they will face Eastern Conference foes either two or three times, depending on the opponent. Here are a few highlights:

A Tricky Start: The Red Bulls have arguably the league's hardest pair of games to start the season, away at Dallas, followed by a game against RSL at Rio Tinto.
First Home Games: The home opener on Sunday March 25 will be a 4PM kickoff against Colorado Rapids. That will be followed by another 4PM kickoff the following weekend against expansion Montreal Impact.
More Daytime Kickoffs: All in all, RBNY will have six home matches with daytime kickoffs. The earlier starts in March could help fans avoid extreme temperatures, but we are scratching our heads over the 1PM kickoff against Chicago Fire on a Wednesday in mid-July. That's either an error or a very very strange scheduling decision.
Conference Games: Of the eight Eastern Conference foes, the Red Bulls will play Philadelphia, D.C., New England, Montreal, Houston and Kansas City three times each. Strangely, all three of RBNY's closest regional rivals - Philadelphia, D.C. and New England - will have the advantage of hosting two home games, with just one visit for each to Harrison. The Red Bulls will host Houston, Kansas City and Chicago two times each.
Non-Conference Games: The scheduling gods (or Philip Anschutz) have smiled on the Los Angeles Galaxy, allowing them to avoid travel to any of the Eastern Seaboard teams. That means that the Red Bulls' only game against last year's champs will be at the Home Depot Center on May 5. As for the Cascadia teams, both Seattle and Portland will both have to travel east, while the Red Bulls will trek to Vancouver.
Away Days: The Red Bulls two visits to Montreal both fall on Saturdays, making them ideal road trips for traveling supporters. One will be played at Olympic Stadium, and the other at the newly renovated Stade Saputo. By contrast, the two away games against traditional rivals D.C. United fall on Sunday evening and Wednesday - hardly ideal for those with jobs.
Television: The Red Bulls will appear on national television 21 times in 2012, including eight appearances on NBC (two of those on the mothership network), seven on the ESPN networks and six on Galavision.
FIFA Dates: Conflicts with FIFA dates have been minimized, with the schedule honoring all three CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying dates.
Travel: Unlike 2010, when the Red Bulls were handed a brutal four game road trip smack dab in the middle of the season, in 2012 they never play more than two in a row on the road, and they'll get the most brutal mileage out of the way in March. Six league road games will be played within 200 miles or so of Red Bull Arena.
Down the Stretch: New York's final nine matches will be against Eastern Conference opponents, including three against Sporting Kansas City.

How do you feel about the new schedule? Happy to see more rivalry games? Unhappy about moving away from a balanced schedule? Are there any games in particular that you are looking forward to (or dreading)? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Red Bulls Sign Defender Jonathan Borrajo

2012-01-05T11:28:00.009-05:00

The New York Red Bulls announced this morning that they have signed young American right back, Jonathan Borrajo. The Clifton, New Jersey native played in the Red Bulls academy before signing on with the USL 2nd Division side, Real Maryland, in 2009. In his rookie year, he played every minute with his team and was a finalist for the USL2 Defender of the Year award.

After playing in Maryland for a season and a half, he transferred to the Norwegian 2nd Division side, Hamarkameratene, in August 2010, where he has played every game since joining the squad, helping his club achieve promotion to Norway's top division.

Borrajo will hopefully provide depth at right back, taking Chris Albright's spot on the depth chart. Look for him to see minutes, at the very least, when Solli needs to move up to the midfield. Let's hope, pray, plead... that Mr. Backe and Mr. Soler are signing depth that they actually plan to USE!

Below is a video of Borrajo in action.

PLEASE NOTE: The Red Bulls are hosting a chat with their newest signing today at 1:30PM Eastern.

More on Markus Holgersson

2012-01-03T17:19:00.001-05:00

With the Red Bulls poised to sign Swedish defender Markus Holgersson, I had the chance to exchange e-mails this afternoon with Torbjörn Dencker, editor, presenter and reporter at Helsingborg Dagblad's TV channel, 24HD. Torbjörn also contributes to a Helsingborg IF-focused blog, which can be found here. He was kind enough to fill me in a bit on the kind of player the Red Bulls are getting:

I've been following Markus since he came to HIF from Angelholm in the second division.

The two last seasons he has become a starter, as right-sided defender. This year he started 26 of 30 games in the league, Allsvenskan, and took a place in central defence when the squad was in trouble. Maybe centre back is his best position right now (even if Markus wants to play right winger).

He is not a favourite or a star among the fans, but he is always doing his job perfectly. Many were surprised that he got called up to the national team for January, but I think its logical. He is strong in the air, in possession and tactically. The weak part of his game is the touch with the ball, but its getting better season by season.

He is a clever guy, even off the pitch. He has been studying at university during his football career the last several years and I know that he was close to quitting football for a high position in the civil service.

I really think he has earned this opportunity. The hardcore fans understand his choice, even if he leaves Helsingborg on a Bosman and the club not will get any cash.

This all sounds encouraging, and the fact that he is also comfortable at right back should give Hans Backe some added flexibility. From the accounts I've read Holgersson sounds like a very solid signing - and just what the doctor ordered for a defense that was mostly a disaster last season.

Rumor Mill Begins to Turn: Markus Holgersson to RBNY?

2012-01-03T12:35:00.000-05:00

Holgersson: Defensive Help on the Way?

"Quiet" doesn't begin to describe the New York Red Bulls media profile since the 2011 season ended. The only addition to date has been young homegrown signing Connor Lade, while a whopping ten players have departed, according to the club's official "Transaction Central" page. Apart from the odd Rafa Marquez rumor, Tim Ream to England speculation and the hubbub around Thierry Henry's impending two month loan move to Arsenal, there has been precious little to report. Today, however, we have our first truly juicy rumor, as media in Sweden are reporting that Markus Holgersson, a 6'3", 27 year old central defender from Swedish champions Helsingborg, may be on the verge of joining the Red Bulls after failing to agree to a new contract with HIF and becoming a free agent.

Erik Solér and Hans Backe have spoken repeatedly about the need to strengthen an error prone defensive corps that struggled throughout the 2010 campaign. Holgersson would seem to fit the bill perfectly. He started 26 games for the Allsvenskan champs last season, while chipping in on the offensive end with five goals over three seasons. In addition to the 2011 league championship, Holgersson won the Swedish Cup twice (2010, 2011) and the Swedish Super Cup once (2011) with HIF, so there's also a recent history of success. Holgersson's positive form at Helsingborg has also landed him on the radar of the Swedish national team and earned him a call-up (his first ever) for Sweden's January friendly in Qatar.

All signs point to this being a plausible move - the lack of a transfer fee, the provenance of the player, as well as his age and size. If the Red Bulls can add Holgersson, it should go a long way toward addressing one of their primary areas of need. Now to solve the goalkeeping conundrum, reveal the identity of these mystery "young American" signings and look for some midfield creativity.

UPDATE: Hans Backe has now confirmed the deal. Backe's quotes, via Swedish media and Google:

"I've talked to our GM and he said Holgersson has accepted to play with us"

"It's a good acquisition for us. I've had good scores on Mark by Jesper Jansson and we need a strong physical back to our team. I talked to our general manager a while ago and he said then that Mark had accepted. It remains a visa and little else, but I expect him."

A few other items of note:

Joel Lindpere wants to play in England. That's the main takeaway from this video interview from Estonia. According to Lindpere, he has interest in his services from a number of clubs in England, but the decision by MLS/Red Bull to pick up his option year may keep him from moving. Joel talks vaguely about "verbal agreements" and having his agent explore options in January. Solér has spoken in the past about trying to work out a new deal with the "Estonian Express," but Lindpere doesn't sound inclined to stay in MLS long term. It's doubtful that the Red Bulls would sanction a move to England at this point, but it seems equally unlikely that Lindpere will be a RBNY player beyond 2012. So enjoy him while you can.
NBC Sports Network is finally operational, and one of their first ads features Lindpere taking a corner kick at Red Bull Arena against Philadelphia Union. You can check it out here.
The Tim Ream to England transfer speculation has died down, for the moment at least. Solér threw cold water on the idea when he spoke with the Post's Brian Lewis. It has always seemed to be a bit of an odd rumor, as questions surround Ream's likelihood of qualifying for a visa in England.

That's all for now. Hopefully this is the beginning of a very busy news cycle.

Happy New Year: The Viper's Nest 2011 Holiday Special

2012-01-01T20:42:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year Red Bulls fans! All of us here @The Viper's Nest hope everyone had a great Holiday Season. As the Red Bulls pre-season is just weeks away, the great You Suck Corrales, the great Matt Conroy (aka Who Shot Sam) and myself, got together at a Federal Hockey League game between the powerhouse NJ Outlaws (the Barcelona of the FHL) and the Brooklyn Aviators. With a great little pub (the "In The Crease Sports Pub") at the venue (the Capital One Bank Ice Vault Arena in Wayne, NJ) a great time was had by all. Besides some great hockey action, the boys and I took the time to discuss the coming season.

Great expectations? Not, really. We're just hoping that RBNY's Scandinavian braintrust can put together a half-way decent team, that the Thierry Henry loan, to Arsenal FC, doesn't turn into a season-ending injury disaster, that the Allocation Money proceeds from the (possible) sale of Tim Ream are put to good use and that Rafa Marquez fucks off to either Mexico or Brazil. So please do check out the above video for part I of our massive Holiday Spectacular. You can click here for part II and click here for a few pics. Once again - Happy New Year, and we'll see you soon @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Viper Out!

For Auld Lang Syne (To a Better Future)

2011-12-31T18:15:00.004-05:00

Seventeen years ago today, I fell in love again. My heart had been broken a decade before. So to be seduced again, at last, made me appreciate that much more how precious and fragile such a relationship can be. I don’t know what made me take the Tube that morning to buy tickets to Highbury for the derby between the Arsenal and Queen’s Park Rangers. Sitting with my head pitch-level in the first row of the Clock End, I saw the action mostly through the goal netting. Tossing the ball back into play (there weren’t multiple game balls or ball boys) and being on the big screen as I did so was a thrill, but the rush of energy when John Jensen scored was what grabbed me, giving me an ecstatic sensation that made me an addict on the spot, a moment as powerful as being struck by Cupid’s arrow. I was sixteen when the Cosmos left me and though I played and coached in the years after, the passion I felt for them was just another childhood memory. But on New Year’s Eve 1994, I fell for the Arsenal, the love of my sporting life.

If it hadn’t been for that day, I don’t know if I’d have been as excited as I was in the spring of 1996, when top-flight soccer returned to Giants Stadium with the MetroStars. Although neither the atmosphere at the Swamp nor the quality of play could compare to what I witnessed at Highbury, I quickly became a soccer bigamist, always wondering what I would do if my two loves met face-to-face. It was all conjecture until this summer, and fortunately the result was ideal. Neither side lost but winning the Emirates Cup surely meant more for New York than it would for the Arsenal.

I can appreciate the cynicism of fellow New York soccer fans who saw the Emirates Cup as an unnecessary distraction, as far less important than, say, the Open Cup, though I shared their disgust with management’s disrespect for our nation’s domestic cup. If the New York Giants found the Open Cup worth leaving the American Soccer League in 1932, the Red Bulls ought to fight for it in 2011. So while winning the Open Cup or MLS Cup would doubtless mean so much more, seeing Thierry Henry lift the Emirates Cup wearing a New York shirt had special value to me with my dual allegiance.

And that makes the news that our captain will play on loan this winter in England like one last gift for me this holiday season. Unlike the LA stories of Beckham wanting to risk injury with Milan in order to prove something to his country or Donovan flirting with Toffees in order to prove something to himself, Henry has nothing to prove. With his Highbury flat and daughter in London, it’s good that he keeps fit in training with the club that made him famous. And now that injury and the African Nations Cup leaves the Arsenal with a temporary void to fill, his joining the squad on loan doesn’t compromise his commitment to New York or create any controversy. On the contrary, while the loan deals of Beckham and Donovan to play for Eurosides in the MLS off-season threatened to make their teams and the league look second-rate, Henry’s loan to Arsenal flatters team and league. I hope my fellow New York soccer fans share my sense of pride as Gooners celebrate the return of their King. The icon is more than just a statue. He can still play at the highest of levels, but his home is now New York. His goal is not to win a title or indulge nostalgia, but to help the club he loves while he can, before he gets back to the project he’s committed himself to, to bring at last a Major League Soccer championship to New York. I sympathize with his desire to not so much serve two masters as love two clubs at once.

Henry’s spell back in an Arsenal shirt, provided it proves injury-free, is something to be proud of while so much else about this club leaves fans bitter and frustrated. The recent comments from President of Business Operations Chris Heck serve as a painful reminder that disquiet and mistrust from the fanbase is perhaps more justified than ever. Despite enjoying our Cathedral of the Beautiful Game, there’s still an awful lot to fix before we can be sure our local club will survive much less thrive. You have to reach a “perch” before you can claim you want to stay there. This franchise has been haunted by the ghost of Cosmos past since its inception. This year saw the threat of Cosmos future but neither a clothing line nor a nightmare exhibition at the Theatre of Dreams made them a reality. But reality often struggles to compete with fantasy and the Red Bulls front office would do well to learn this lesson and recognize that they have their work cut out for them still before they can claim to be a major presence on the overcrowded local sports and entertainment landscape.

2011 will doubtless go down in the annals of New York soccer history as a year of great promise that ended in disappointment. With what the Mayans hint may be in store for the world in 2012, we might well be headed for a most eventful year. Here’s hoping that Henry will have a successful spell back with the Arsenal and will come back to the Red Bulls inspired to lead us to glory. Anything less than a title could prove catastrophic. This love we share is fragile and easily lost. So as we recall auld lang syne, let’s take a cup o’ kindness yet, cherish what we have, not let the fools ruin what we’ve come to love, and let’s make sure the best is yet to come.

Is Tim Ream Bolton Bound?

2011-12-28T09:54:00.003-05:00

Ream Just Looked at the EPL Table

If reports in multiple British tabloids are to be believed, English Premier League relegation favorites Bolton Wanderers will be signing New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream once the January transfer window opens, for a transfer fee of somewhere close to £2 million, or approximately $3.13 million. By British transfer standards that would be a pretty modest deal, but one that would make sense for a club walking the fine line between top flight survival and a drop to the Championship.

For Ream and the Red Bulls the transfer would be a big gamble. Ream would likely be thrown to the wolves immediately as a replacement for Gary Cahill, whose move to Chelsea looks to be a certainty. If Owen Coyle gets the sack, things could get even trickier for Ream, with no guarantee that the new manager would be willing to risk his future on a fairly inexperienced American defender. For the Red Bulls, on the other hand, an already thin defensive corps would be tissue paper thin. With Hans Backe and Erik Solér having made clear that they do not see Rafa Marquez as a central defender - and having jettisoned Carlos Mendes in the Re-entry Draft - they would be forced to buy not one but two defenders (and possibly a third for cover).

The big benefits for Ream are a higher level of competition that could see him re-enter the US Men's National Team picture (he has been on the fringes of the squad since Jurgen Klinsmann took over), and a much fatter paycheck. For the Red Bulls, the cap savings gained by selling Ream would be minimal - they paid Ream just $62,625 in total compensation in 2011 - but allocation dollars could help pay for new players or draw down DP salaries. If the £2m fee is anywhere close to accurate and the deal does go through, the Red Bulls would likely reap the maximum $625,000 allocation, even after the league takes its cut. That would provide Solér and Backe with a ton of options as they piece together the 2012 roster.

British tabloids have a reputation for printing everything and anything, so there's still a decent chance that the Ream story is wide of the mark. But where there's smoke there's usually fire, and there seems to be plenty of smoke around this deal.

Happy Birthday YSC!

2011-12-22T15:40:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon! It's a Spring-like Tuesday, December 22nd and Birthday mania continues here at The Viper's Nest. This time, we're celebrating the birthday of RBNY's #1 supporter, the one and only You Suck Corrales. Sure, we had a YSC birthday get-together a few weeks back, but today is the actual date - so I'm all for celebrating the great man again. I don't often use the word "Legendary" when referring to a person because, let's face it, there aren't that many people who truly are/were "Legendary". Yes - I submit to you that the great You Suck Corrales is among those few who are truly worthy.

A former Marine combat veteran of the first Gulf war and currently one of NYC's Finest, the man has travelled far and wide to support the MetroBulls. And not just domestically, as he's flown the RBNY flag in such places as Trinidad's Manny Ramjohn Stadium (pic here) and London's Emirates Stadium (pic here) while supporting "The finest football team, the world has ever seen". The man is so legendary he's even been immortalized in painting (by the great Alexandro Art). You've heard of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"? Well, how about "The Man With The RBNY Tattoo"? Yeah, that's real and that's nuff said!

If you haven't seen it already, check out the above video of our 2010 Holiday Special, where YSC shows off his impressive MetroBulls memorabilia collection. We'll, hopefully, be bringing you our 2011 Holiday Special within the next few weeks. in the meantime: Happy Birthday YSC! Viper Out!

Happy Birthday Matt!

2011-12-21T15:10:00.006-05:00

Good afternoon! It's birthday time here at The Viper's Nest. Today, I'd like to wish a very Happy, Chuffed & Over The Moon Birthday to the one and only Matt Conroy (aka Who Shot Sam) of The Viper's Nest fame, of Talking Bull fame and of Once A Metro fame. Besides being a brilliant man (a Harvard educated bloke, no less), Matt's one of the greatest guys I know. He's also a massive, massive RBNY supporter (mate). Taurine to the core, about the only thing wrong with him is that he's also a big Chel$ki supporter. Oh Well!

Anyway, a big thanks to Matt for making this site what it is and for setting up our lively facebook group (make sure to join the RBNY discussion there). Please see the above video (shot at the Big East Finals) for some Year End RBNY thoughts from Matt. You can also click here for some further observations and thanks to all of you who frequent this site. Also, make sure to follow him on Twitter, if you're not doing so already.

A few more things:

In case you missed it, here's a recently posted, two part video interview with Red Bulls GM Erik Soler, where he discusses his offseason agenda.

Recently release RBNY goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has accused RBNY management of racism. At least one member of the local media says "absolutely not" to that one.

Rodgers, McCarty, Ream, Backe and Henry look ahead to the coming season.

Fomer Baby Bull Conor Chinn has landed with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL Pro League.

Old School MetroStars will be happy to know that Gerson Echeverry has just been named Men's Soccer Head Coach at Seton Hall University.

The Red Bull Arena grounds crew is currently prepping the pitch for the coming season.

And last, here's a holiday video from the finest football team, the world has ever seen.

That's all for now! See you all soon @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Viper Out!

Red Bulls' Solér Discusses Offseason Plans

2011-12-14T10:18:00.001-05:00

Solér Speaks, Finally

Since the New York Red Bulls were knocked out of the MLS playoffs by the Los Angeles Galaxy back in November, almost all of the news coming out of Harrison has been about players departing. First a large chunk of the reserve team was let go, then the club cut loose a group of veterans that included Chris Albright, Bouna Coundoul and Carlos Mendes in the re-entry draft. The only confirmed addition to date has been homegrown signing Connor Lade.

On Tuesday, however, General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Solér sat down with a group of media, including the New York Post's Brian Lewis and mlsscoccer.com's Kristian Dyer, to sketch out the clubs plans for the next several months, leading up to the nationally televised kickoff in Dallas on March 11. You can find the Post's report here and Dyer's story here, both of which contain some interesting nuggets:

The Red Bulls have identified central defense as their primary focus over the winter, as they look to cut down on costly mistakes at the back.
Creative midfielder is another area of need, and one that may be filled by a designated player - although the identity of that player has yet to be determined. The Red Bulls want a midfielder with a good pedigree who can both pass and create. More than likely, this will be a mid-summer addition, rather than a January transfer window move.
Solér was adamant that Rafa Marquez would return, but as a defensive midfielder. A report in Brazilian media yesterday indicated that Marquez has been in discussions with Flamengo about a move to the Rio-based club, but that should be taken with a massive grain of salt. In all likelihood, Rafa will be back in New York, his many critics be damned.
Solér also insisted that Tim Ream would not be sold or loaned to a club in England, despite numerous rumors linking him to West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers.
If Frank Rost fails to return to New York in 2012, the Red Bulls will be without a goalkeeper only three months from kickoff. But Solér told the media that the club is trying to find a way to keep the big German, on a non-DP contract. Should they succeed, they would look to fill the backup role with a young American shot stopper, while finding a reliable third option. Bouna Coundoul's stay in New York is over.
Joel Lindpere's contract option has been picked up for 2012 (a no brainer), and RBNY is in early discussions with the player to sign a longer-term deal.

It would appear that Solér and Backe have at least correctly diagnosed the team's problems. (Have they been reading my holiday wish list?) Whether they can find the right solutions remains to be seen.

One additional piece of news emerged yesterday, with the Daily Harrison reporting (via Twitter) that the Town of Harrison, in the midst of a tax dispute with the Red Bulls, has classified Red Bull Arena as a delinquent taxpayer and plans an "accelerated sale" of a lien on the property on December 15. The two sides presented arguments regarding the dispute in a New Jersey tax court recently, with a ruling expected in early 2012. The tax lien sale by the Town is clearly a measure intended to accelerate the process and get something now, even if it turns out to be far less than what they have been asking for. Longtime Viper's Nest reader John Peros, who is more versed in real estate law than I will ever be, explained:

The town sells the lien (also called selling a note) at a discounted percentage, sometimes as little as 10 cents on the dollar. The company who purchases the lien gets the right to collect on the lien. Typically they will settle with the debtor. So, in essence, Harrison figures they will never collect the whole amount from RBNY, so they sell the lien, collect something and let someone else deal with the hassle. Chances are, you will see RBNY quietly settle this for a fraction of the original amount.

That sounds somewhat less alarming than the original report, but it sure would be nice to see the Red Bulls and the Town put the matter to bed and move forward. There has been quite a bit of development around the Arena, with the demolition of industrial properties near the PATH station, the addition of new businesses in the area, a new hotel, and even plans to develop one of the lots directly in front of the stadium. With development finally under way in earnest, it's unfortunate that a black cloud still hovers over the relationship between the club and municipal authorities.

My RBNY Holiday Wish List

2011-12-11T21:24:00.002-05:00

Is There a Trophy in That Bag?

Dear Santa,

I've tried to be good in 2011. I kept my cursing at incompetent MLS referees to a minimum (6 times per game, max), gritted my teeth and got through a mostly horrible Red Bulls season, and supported my team home and away despite a long string of embarrassing performances and management screw-ups. I'll be back for what I am sure will be more disappointment in 2012 (yeah I'm one of the suckers who renewed on day one). In return for my blind faith, can you see fit to fill my Christmas stocking with the following?:

A one way plane ticket to Denmark - passenger name B. Nielsen. Preferably coach. And he won't be needing a meal.
One competent goalkeeper under the age of 36. Must be able to kick the ball past the halfway line and not injure himself on cross-country flights.
One or two central defenders. Should have some familiarity with the concept of defending a set-piece. The ability to pose some threat at the other end would be a plus.
Six months of anger management classes. I'd like to bring my friends Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers along.
Steel toed boots to motivate a certain Mexican superstar and a young American striker.
A creative midfielder DP capable of controlling the tempo and spraying magical passes to Mssrs. Henry and Rodgers.
~~A new substitutes bench.~~ Never mind, the one we have is still in mint condition.

and finally...

A real trophy. Not some Mickey Mouse Cup or Desert Invitational Trophy or Meaningless European Tournament Shield. Whether it's the Supporters Shield, the US Open Cup (don't laugh) or the Anschutz Homophobia Trophy doesn't matter. Just bring some sliverware to the Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (Built by Makita), and I'll be a happy bunny.

So there you have it, Santa. I'm not asking for much. Well except for that last one, but a man has to dream big, doesn't he? I'll leave some cookies out for you, big fella.

Warmest regards,

Matt

Red Bulls Hot Stove Heating Up: Ream to West Brom?

2011-12-11T10:08:00.001-05:00

Ream: West Brom Bound?

Following a turbulent 2011 regular season for the New York Red Bulls, General Manager Erik Solér and Head Coach Hans Backe have played their cards very close to the vest as they look to reshape and add depth to the squad for 2012. Apart from sanctioning the departure of a half dozen fringe players and exposing highly-paid veterans such as Carlos Mendes, Bouna Coundoul and Chris Albright to this year's Re-Entry Draft (Mendes has since been snapped up by Columbus), there has been little to no action to report. No trades have been consummated, no selections were made by New York in the first phase of the Re-Entry process, and even rumors have been thin on the ground.

Greg Sutton's loan spell at expansion Montreal Impact was made permanent this week, but that was hardly a surprise. Young defender Connor Lade has been added as RBNY's fifth homegrown signing, but given the Red Bulls' lack of draft picks in 2012, it makes sense for the club to fill out their roster with homegrown signings.

Our man Homebrew ran the numbers on the Red Bulls earlier this week and concluded that, absent additional departures, the team has approximately $420,000 of cap room, as well as four international slots to fill. (Keep in mind, of course, that MLS' obscure rules make it very difficult to work these things out precisely.) With the fate of players such as Brian Nielsen, Carl Robinson and Frank Rost yet to be decided, both figures could increase substantially. Keep in mind, however, that should Rost return to Europe RBNY would have three goalkeeper slots to fill in its roster.

One easy way for the Red Bulls to get additional wiggle room would be to loan or sell one of their two young USMNT players currently trialing in England - Juan Agudelo and Tim Ream - thereby pocketing substantial allocation dollars. Of the two, Ream is looking far more likely to be loaned out, with rumors circulating yesterday that West Brom boss Roy Hodgson was impressed enough with the young defender to consider pursuing a deal. Presumably the loan would run through May, but it would leave the Red Bulls with yet another gaping hole to fill in central defense, an area where they are already thin. Whatever financial benefit New York would enjoy as a result of Ream's departure needs to be balanced against the very real possibility that Stephen Keel would be the club's only remaining experienced central defender (let's not even contemplate Rafa Marquez dropping back from midfield). That's pretty scary.

The hot stove should begin to heat up further this week, before reaching full boil in January when the European transfer window opens. With so many slots to fill, limited options in the draft, and a less than stellar group of players available in the second phase of Re-Entry Draft RBNY will need to be active on the international market and open to trades.

State of the Roster: 2011 Re-Entry Draft Edition

2011-12-05T21:32:00.008-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I put up the New York Red Bulls roster prior to the beginning of the off-season. Mr. Soler and Mr. Backe have been busy since then, and over at our facebook page, members of the Viper's Nest Editorial Board have been clamoring for an updated post to sum up the salary and roster ramifications of the moves thus far.

Below is the roster, including today's signing of Homegrown defender, Connor Lade.

Name	Player Des.	Roster Des.	Base Salary	Total Comp.	Cap Hit
Juan Agudelo	HG, GA	OB	55000	85000	0
Stephane Auvrey			60000	80000	80000
Medhi Ballouchy			125625	125625	125625
Thierry Henry	INT	DP	5000000	5600000	335000
Corey Hertzog	GA	OB	65000	93500	0
Sacir Hot	HG	OB	32600	33600	0
Matt Kassel	HG	OB	32600	36600	0
Stephen Keel		OB	44100	44100	0
Connor Lade	HG	OB	?	?	0
Joel Lindpere	INT		90000	125000	125000
Rafael Marquez	INT	DP	4600000	4600000	335000
Dax McCarty			155000	175000	175000
Roy Miller	INT		99996	99996	99996
Brian Nielsen	INT		120000	120000	120000
Tim Ream			55125	62625	62625
Dane Richards			145000	156500	156500
Carl Robinson	INT		75000	75000	75000
Luke Rodgers	INT		180000	180000	180000
Frank Rost	INT	DP	545460	545460	167500
Jan Gunnar Solli	INT		180000	180000	180000
Teemu Tainio	INT		159996	164996	164996
TOTALS	10 INT, 4 HG, 2 GA	3 DP, 6 OB	11,820,502	12,583,002	2,382,252

Roster moves since the off-season began:

WAIVED - Alex Horwath, Mike Jones, Tyler Lassiter, Marcos Paullo (INT), John Rooney (INT), and Teddy Schneider.

OPTION DECLINED - Chris Albright, Bouna Coundoul, Carlos Mendes (taken by Columbus in the Re-Entry draft.)

MYSTERIOUSLY SIGNED BY MONTREAL VIA MLS POLICY OF OBFUSCATION - Greg Sutton

SIGNED - Connor Lade (Homegrown). (Note, in the chart above, while we don't know his salary (I'll bet it is for one of the sub-$40,000 slots), we can be sure he is off-budget and will not impact our salary cap.)

While members of the front office have publicly spoken about Frank Rost departing, this move has not been made official and so he is still listed.

So, the team is currently spending $2,382,242 on the roster. The salary cap should rise to $2,800,000 for the 2012 season. This gives us about $420,000, plus 4 more off-budget slots (for young and low-salary types) of room. It should also be noted that in 2011, I calculate that we were using around $170,000 in allocation money to pay down our salaries to conform to last year's cap. The league's Policy of Obfuscation does not allow the amount of a team's available allocation money to be divulged, so there's no saying what we will have available in 2012.

Also, we currently have 10 International players, and it's anybody's guess how many of those slots we will have in 2012. I do know that the slot we got from DC in exchange for Austin da Luz was only for this season, and is being returned to DC on January 1. It is all but certain that Carl Robinson will not be on the roster in 2012, and Frank Rost's departure will bring us down to 8 slots. Hard to believe, though, that the Red Bulls won't look overseas to fill in some holes in the roster, though.

So, there you have the roster as of December 5, with whatever other roster and salary information I've been able to scrape together. What moves would you like to see the team make going forward? Where are our weak spots? Should we accept a transfer offer for either of our young stars, Tim Ream and Juan Agudelo, to boost our allocation dollars? Should the team work with the League, and Frank Rost, to find a way to bring him back without burning a DP designation on him? See anyone available in next week's second round of the Re-Entry Draft on which Mr. Soler should cast his eye? Let us know in the comments below.

Carlos Mendes Taken by Columbus in MLS Re-Entry Draft

2011-12-05T12:54:00.001-05:00

Mendes: Le Dernier Metro

Carlos Mendes, the last squad member to have played for the New York MLS franchise as a MetroStar, was selected by Columbus Crew in phase one of the MLS Re-entry draft this afternoon. Mendes, Arturo Alvarez and former Red Bull Danleigh Borman were the only three players taken in the first round, when teams are on the hook for the full amount of players' contract options. This means that thew Crew will pay Mendes' $98,150 base salary in 2012, while the Red Bulls will have to find defensive help through the draft, academy signings, via trade, or on the international market.

Mendes, a Long Island native, played his college soccer at Old Dominion, before joining the Long Island Roughriders in 2002. He then spent two seasons with the Rochester Raging Rhinos before being signed by the (then) MetroStars in 2005. Over six seasons, Mendes made 146 appearances for the Metrobulls. He was a fixture at the heart of the RBNY defense for a number of seasons, before getting relegated to bench duty under Bruce Arena. Mendes featured more regularly under Juan Carlos Osorio, and enjoyed a very fruitful defensive partnership with Tim Ream in Hans Backe's first year in charge, 2010, after Mike Petke's retirement. The 2011 season saw Mendes again mostly relegated to the substitute bench, though his ability to play anywhere along the backline made him a valuable spot starter when injuries or suspensions hit.

Mendes has always been a consummate professional, and we'd like to wish him well in Columbus - with the exception of games against the Red Bulls, of course.

The second stage of the re-entry draft will take place on December 12. With a number of interesting players still available, including Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams, expect to see more action next week, when teams can negotiate new terms.

One more bit of news emerging today (via the New York Post's Brian Lewis) is that RBNY will sign St. John's defender Connor Lade as a homegrown player. Lade, a diminutive defender (5'5", 140 lbs.) was twice named Big East defender of the week in the 2011 season, and helped lead the Johnnies to the Big East title, defeating UConn in the final at Red Bull Arena. It's hard to see how a 5'5" central defender could work in MLS, but perhaps the club has plans to shift him out to fullback, where his speed and mobility can be an asset.

With the Red Bulls having cut a number of reserve team players recently - and given the club's lack of selections in the upcoming Superdraft - it's possible that we could see several homegrown signings over the winter. Lade's St. John's teammate Walter Hines - another player of Richie Williams-like stature - might also be on RBNY's radar. Stay tuned.

Ya Say It's Yer Birthday...

2011-12-04T14:48:00.015-05:00

While I usually need no excuse to head into NYC and down a few pints, this past Satuday I had best excuse of the year. That's right! If it's December, it means it's time to celebrate the great You Suck Corrales' birthday. A few of us got together at The Dublin House, on Manhattan's upper west side, to drink up in honor of the greatest Red Bulls fan ever. Thanks to some quick thinking by the great Matt Conroy (aka Who Shot Sam), we even managed to get our hands on the stunning, brand spanking new, 2012 RBNY Home shirt, which we presented to the great man as his birthday gift (a few more pics here).

The best part of the night was walking into a great Australian restaurant called The Sunburn Calf and running into this guy (I believe his name was Juan Carlos), sitting with a group right next to our table. It turns out he's a YSC fan/Viper's Nest reader. He even demanded more regular-basis content on this site. I'm telling you, it was not only surreal, but inspirational! We're gonna really try, dude (ha, ha). Anyway, I can't f'ng wait til March 25th, so we can do it all over again @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Viper Out!

Get Yer Red Bull NY Jersey Here...

2011-12-01T13:53:00.029-05:00

At last! What every Red Bulls fan has been waiting for, and just in time for the Holidays! Yep, the new home kit is out and it's pretty nice, if I do say so myself. It almost replicates the design of last year's stunning away kit, except the 2012 home version has a v-neck and also sports a subtle pinstripe stitch. That said, it's a massive improvement from the home kit we've had the past two seasons - with the awful button thing down the front and the equally as awful red stripes on the sleeves. In fact, here's a side-by-side comparison for you. If you're so inclined and need to buy one RIGHT NOW (starting at a hefty $88.00), you can click here to do so.

So, do you like the design? Do you find it bland or a spectacular improvement? Are you buying one right this second? Give us some comments below.

Some more stuff:

The latest player to be linked with a move to the Red Bulls is Spanish forward Kepa Blanco (who???), currently plying his trade at Spanish second division club Recreativo de Huelva. The article linked states that his reps have been contacted by RBNY, as well as Philly and the Galaxy.

Another player that's been (sort of) linked with RBNY is, Italian born, Swedish midfielder Valentino Lai. The Article says he's had an offer from an MLS Club. He's also played with (perennially injured) RBNY midfielder Brian Nielsen at Sweden's Vejle Boldklub. So, I ask you, what other MLS club could possibly be interested?

Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo will add Liverpool to his off-season destinations. The young lad will have a training stint with the Mighty Reds. Agudelo recently completed a training stint with Stuttgart, of the German Bundesliga.

Three Red Bulls players will be eligible for the Re-Entry Draft process, which begins tomorrow. The Red Bulls will have the 11th pick, and I'm hoping they can pick up this guy.

The date for our 2012 Home Opener has been announced.

That's it for now. Viper Out!

Black Friday Red Bulls Round-Up

2011-11-25T11:30:00.001-05:00

Pssst... There's a Massive Clearance Sale on RBNY Reserves!

As insane hordes of shoppers rip each other to shreds in search of bargains, while others remain paralyzed in a Thanksgiving food coma, the New York Red Bulls are busy reshaping their squad. They got in the holiday spirit early on Wednesday by axing a half dozen players, none more prominent than midfielder John Rooney, whose selection in the 2011 MLS Superdraft was a bit of a surprise. Our man Homebrew Tim analyzed the salary cap ramifications of the moves on Wednesday, pointing out that while the bulk of the players released came from the off-budget roster, the Red Bull were still able to free up some cap space and international slots as they look to re-shape the squad for 2012.

Inevitably, there will be an outcry from some Red Bulls fans about one player or another that could have turned into to something special - that's just how we roll. Maybe it's just because we've been Mageed too many times. On the other hand, neither Conor Chinn nor Irving Garcia has been able to find another home in MLS, despite limited success last season in US Open Cup qualifying and friendly matches. Sometimes it's just best to cut a player loose.

The Red Bulls' putrid performance in the 2011 US Open Cup - where they were nearly beaten by FC New York at home before getting walloped in Chicago - may have been an early indication of depth problems to come. Coupled with their woeful reserve league record (an MLS worst -10 goal differential), it's not hard to see why Hans Backe was reluctant to go deep into his subs bench - there simply was not a lot of talent there. If the Red Bulls want to withstand the rigors of the 2012 season they will need to be able to rely on more than 12 to 15 players.

Of course, the squad imbalance is a problem the Red Bulls created for themselves when they traded away players such as Tony Tchani and Austin Da Luz and got little in return. Moreover, having given away draft selections to the likes of Toronto FC and DC United, RBNY will be limited in terms of what it can do through this year's draft, with only a second round and several supplemental round selections remaining. The majority of new talent added will have to come through trades, transfers, loans or academy signings.

Hopefully Erik Solér and Backe have learned from the many mistakes they made in 2011 and will be able to find a way to shape a more sensible squad. Cutting loose remaining dead weight such as Carl Robinson, Brian Nielsen (not to mention a goalkeeper or two) could give them even more room to maneuver. If this first announcement is any indication, the Red Bulls should be very active over the winter.

A few other notes:

Tim Ream will train with English sides West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers leading up to the US National Team January training camp. Ream is the latest of a growing number of USMNT players who have gone to Europe for off-season training, as part of Jurgen Klinsmann's new fitness policy. In the article, Ream's agent also confirms the well-circulated story that RBNY received an offer for Ream from Arsenal following the 2010 MLS season but declined. If an offer comes in for Ream over the coming weeks in the neighborhood of £4m, which reports indicate is what RBNY are asking, there's a chance that we could have an entirely different central defense pairing next season, not to mention a tidy pile of allocation cash. Ream's teammate Juan Agudelo continues to train with Stuttgart in Germany.
Your rumor of the day has the Red Bulls interested in Venezuelan goalkeeper Renny Vega of Caracas FC. Remember the last time the club went shopping in the Venezuelan league? I do, and it wasn't pretty.

That's it for now. Enjoy the remainder of your Turkey Day weekend!

Red Bulls Waive Six Players

2011-11-23T20:53:00.007-05:00

Today's Expansion Draft and Waiver Draft kicked off the MLS offseason in earnest. The New York Red Bulls waived six seldom seen players today: Alex Horwath (1 G, 90 Min), Mike Jones (1G, 1 Min), Tyler Lassiter, Marcos Paullo, John Rooney (5 G, 48 Min), and Teddy Schneider. Collectively, this frees up two international slots, five off-budget slots, and $289,000 in salary. Most significant is the long-overdue move to rid our payroll of Marcos Paullo, who made $82,000 and consumed a valuable international slot. What was this guy doing here in the first place? Although most of this salary was from the off-budget roster and does not create cap room, these moves begin to clear the space for the (Super)draft and any other moves the braintrust has up their sleeves.

Talking Bull Episode 37: The Season Ends

2011-11-14T16:52:00.016-05:00

It's yet another dissapointing end to an MLS season for the New York Red Bulls and the Talking Bull duo is all over it. In this episode, our own Matt Conroy (aka Who Shot Sam) and Ben Schneider (of Once A Metro fame) review the second leg of the RBNY/Galaxy series, take a look at the positives and negatives of this past season, discuss personel decisions as well as what needs to be fixed for the coming season. It's a massive, massive episode that no RBNY fan should miss (mate). So please do yourself a favor and click here to download or to listen.

An Altered State

2011-11-11T21:43:00.004-05:00

Commissioner Don Garber gave his annual State of the League address via teleconference Thursday afternoon. Several of his comments are receiving media attention, like an imbalanced schedule and potential changes to the playoff format for 2012. Such alterations can easily be modified, though, year-to-year, if and as fans and critics voice their disapproval. But some of the Don’s comments are far more troubling in that they present paths that, if pursued further, may lead to trouble that can cause irrevocable damage and alter the state of the league forever.

After his initial statement, Garber answered questions from journalists. Predictably, questions surfaced regarding the possibility of a second New York franchise and the ownership of the Cosmos brand. Garber explained that the league now has an employee dedicated to working on a stadium in the New York region, that two-three viable locations are being considered, and that a selection of potential operator-investors will be made only after a stadium deal is in place. A full-time employee hired to realize a pipe dream is shocking. The problems facing a SSS project in NY are already well documented. But how are you going to get a stadium built without a team? The idea that MLS will build a stadium to then place a team is unprecedented and bizarre. No need to even get started on how grossly unfair this is to other potential markets. Not long ago the condition for getting a NY franchise was the ability to secure a stadium deal. Yesterday’s comments announce a shift, in that the league has assumed responsibility for building a stadium, in advance of any club to field a team to play in it.

The new owners of the Cosmos brand, Garber claimed, will be invited guests at MLS Cup but they remain merely potential partners with the league, not “front runners.” The pending lawsuit for non-payment of their sponsorship of the Blau Weiss Gottschee academy program won’t affect consideration. Although Garber has acknowledged that in the past he passed on the opportunity for the league to buy it from Pinton, he now claims to “believe the Cosmos are a great brand.” He also called Paul Kemsley a “great guy,” so it remains difficult to discern the Don’s authentic opinion.

Garber’s obsession with NY2 is problematic from a local perspective (when, where, how and at whose expense?) and must be horribly frustrating to those hoping expansion will bring MLS to their region/market. With all the problems that continue to plague the Red Bulls, one wonders why they don’t hire someone full-time at MLS to fix the current New York franchise. The focus and attention on the pipe dream of NY2 distracts from the crises facing existing franchises. Despite the Commissioner’s praise for the value of rivalries, the future of our archrivals is very much in peril. RFK is now raccoon colony while the Scum played the last year without a lease deal. Garber claimed that a move north to Baltimore is one option while relocation to another region all together is a very real possibility.

Great and grave changes may be coming to Major League Soccer in the near future. As much as we despise DC, it’s hard to imagine the league without them. We are the DC haters. But would any of us will them to extinction? Meanwhile, a local rivalry remains a prospect that may be shoved down our throats. There’s enough talent to justify operating three academy programs. But there aren’t enough MLS fans in the New York market to justify two franchises. A second team in the region will surely fragment an already fragile fanbase.

How different would things be if the Commissioner told New York soccer fans to support the team that represents them, rather than perpetuating the same vague promises we’ve been hearing for sixteen years and counting? Years ago, at the peak of their popularity while they played at Giants Stadium, the Cosmos nixed the notion of a second New York franchise to play in Queens, asserting their territorial exclusivity in the NASL. Only hubris and ignorance can explain comments from Chris Heck and Erik Soler claiming that the Red Bull organization would welcome a revived Cosmos as a second franchise to share the New York market, “as a little brother,” to cite Soler’s phrase.

So the State of the League address and its accompanying Q&A session leave us with many uncertainties. Just when it seems the new Cosmos ownership group have disgraced themselves to a point of no return, the Commissioner throws out another life-line, stringing everyone along further and further. While the obstacles in the way of building a soccer specific stadium in New York City proper remain as problematic as they were when the Cosmos considered it in the 1970s, if not more so, the league seems content to continue to foster fantasies and keep packing the pipe for those who dream of an alternative to the current New York pro soccer club. Will they ever wake from this altered state or will they alter the league? I suspect if their dream is ever realized it might well prove a nightmare for those who have kept the league going since its inception.

State of the Roster - 2011 Expansion Draft Edition

2011-11-08T20:04:00.009-05:00

With the expansion draft just two weeks away, Red Bulls fans are debating the merits of who to protect and who to expose. Presented below, to assist in the discussion, is the current Red Bulls roster and salaries, according to the MLS Players Union website.

Name	Player Des.	Roster Des.	Base Salary	Total Comp.	Cap Hit
Juan Agudelo	HG, GA	OB	55000	85000	0
Chris Albright			100800	100800	100800
Stephane Auvrey			60000	80000	80000
Medhi Ballouchy			125625	125625	125625
Bouna Coundoul			178250	179500	179500
Thierry Henry	INT	DP	5000000	5600000	335000
Corey Hertzog	GA	OB	65000	93500	0
Alex Horwath		OB	32604	32604	0
Sacir Hot	HG	OB	32600	33600	0
Mike Jones		OB	42000	42000	0
Matt Kassel	HG	OB	32600	36600	0
Stephen Keel		OB	42000	42000	0
Tyler Lassiter		OB	42000	42000	0
Joel Lindpere	INT		90000	125000	125000
Rafael Marquez	INT	DP	4600000	4600000	335000
Dax McCarty			155000	175000	175000
Carlos Mendes			98175	101300	101300
Roy Miller	INT		99996	99996	99996
Brian Nielsen	INT		120000	120000	120000
Marcos Paullo	INT		82000	82000	82000
Tim Ream			55125	62625	62625
Dane Richards			145000	156500	156500
Carl Robinson	INT		75000	75000	75000
Luke Rodgers	INT		180000	180000	180000
John Rooney	INT	OB	48000	58000	0
Frank Rost	INT	DP	545460	545460	167500
Teddy Schneider		OB	32604	32604	0
Jan Gunnar Solli	INT		180000	180000	180000
Greg Sutton	On Loan	On Loan	75600	80100	0
Teemu Tainio	INT		159996	164996	164996

A couple of notes. MLS wouldn't be MLS without rules full of vague obfuscation. The "OB" label above indicates players who are on the "Off-Budget" roster. However, it should be noted, I'm guessing here. We know that anyone making below $42,000 is, by definition, off-budget, as well as any player with a Generation Adidas (GA) designation. Beyond that, it's all guesswork, as the league does not clarify what the rules are that determine who can and can not be placed off-budget. I chose to guess the players with the lowest salaries.

A few more considerations. There are rumors that Carl Robinson will be headed out to Vancouver to start his coaching career as an assistant to Martin Rennie. Also, there are reports today that Frank Rost is unlikely to return.

As I look over the roster, the most egregious mistakes I see are: Marcos Paullo, taking up an international slot and being paid $82,000; likewise, Brian Nielsen pulling in $120,000 and an international slot--we've seen glimpses of promise from the guy but to keep him on the roster in a league salary and international restrictions is inexplicable, especially considering we traded away promising young Austin da Luz just to acquire an international slot from D.C. for 6 months. Of course, Medhi Ballouchy being paid any amount to play football is hard to understand; however, since his visa problems don't allow him to leave the U.S., he will certainly be left unprotected and not be selected by Montreal. Also, anyone notice that Corey Hertzog is being paid more than Juan Agudelo? Neither of them count against the cap; I'm just sayin'.

My best guess at a protected list for RBNY:
Henry, Lindpere, Marquez, McCarty, Mendes, Miller, Ream, Richards, Rodgers, Solli, Tainio.

Automatically protected:
Agudelo, Hertzog, Hot, Kassel

Exposed:
Albright, Auvrey, Ballouchy, Coundoul, Horwath, Jones, Keel, Lassiter, Nielsen, Paullo, Robinson, Rooney, Rost, Schneider, Sutton

Notes: If Rost had a no-trade clause, it is required that he be protected even if he is not going to re-sign. If Agudelo graduates from Generation Adidas, he won't get automatic protection unless the rules allow him to stay as a "homegrown off-budget." Again, without knowing all the restrictions that determine who can and can not be designated as "off-budget," it's hard to know.

We'll know in 2 weeks what decisions Mr. Soler and Mr. Backe will make. Who do you think they should protect? Who do you think they will protect? Let us know in the comments below.

Sunsets and Goodbyes (To Hell with Them)

2011-11-08T12:52:00.001-05:00

Kemsley and Pinton Broker Their Deal

I hate Hollywood endings. Like many sports fans, I structure my life with the seasons of my teams, the failure of another trophy-less year the painful reminder of all I hoped to accomplish within the same time span but haven’t yet wrapped up. The playoff loss to LA was all the more painful as it seemed to play out to someone else’s script. If Posh is indeed off to Paris, then the Don wants to say bye-bye to Becks by letting him lift MLS Cup at last. Spoiling that prophesied party seemed a real possibility until Roy Miller pulled a move from the Rob Johnson file and gave the Galaxy what they really wanted all night, a foul. Some might say the Supporters Shield alone makes LA worthy winners but the persistent diving and dissent showed the home side to be a bunch of spoiled, petulant and entitled brats.

Despite their winning through whining ways, it wasn’t the Galaxy but rather the Bulls that somehow came out of the playoff series having cultivated the reputation as the bad boys of MLS. The demonization of Rafa Marquez played no small part in the process. I know I’m likely in a minority of one on this, but I fail to see tossing the ball in the general direction of Landycakes as the egregious offense of all moral sporting codes as it has been portrayed. I’d have thrown the ball much harder and somewhere other than Donovan’s heel had I the opportunity after the first-leg, as I shared a sense of disgust with Captain America’s antics all afternoon. Of course, US soccer fans are predisposed to defend their national side’s captain against any perceived injustice suffered at the hands of Mexico’s captain, but in this context, with my club over country disposition, I’m inclined to side with my guy and say big deal. Why did he receive a three-match ban? How can you judge intent on his actions amidst the melee when numerous other parties behaved in less than exemplary fashion? Bulls fans still upset over Rafa’s honest if harsh critique of Tim Ream are perhaps understandably reluctant to defend someone they are fed up with, but how can you defend or dismiss Luke Rodgers’ momentary lapse of reason, nearly decapitating a female spectator when the ball was already in touch, yet be so pleased with the league’s disciplinary action of our Mexican DP? If they’ve both been more naughty than nice, it was because they were fighting for our colors, desperate to win a title for New York. Unless or until they go away, so long as they play with passion, they have my support.

Speaking of goodbyes, none more welcome than shyster wideboy Paul Kemsley. Since paying Peppe Pinton’s ransom, he deceived many into believing the Cosmos were reborn. The timing couldn’t have been worse. With the opening of the Cathedral of the Beautiful Game, New York soccer fans focus should have been squarely on the Bulls, but ads on Times Square and Umbro tailored gear conspired to perpetuate a grass-will-be-greener fantasy. Those desperate for NY2 and/or a return of the brand quickly jumped on the bandwagon, praising what they saw as “grassroots” investment in academy programs. Those involved in local youth soccer knew better, that they’d simply splashed some cash on pre-existing programs (rather than engaging programs throughout the region). Terry Byrne’s bizarre claim that their u8s were playing 4-3-3 was an early signal that perception didn’t match reality. Then the Cosmos West venture folded. Pinton still runs his Cosmos Soccer Camps and enjoyed a day in the director’s box at Old Trafford. He’s enjoyed his payday and continues to milk the cow that strayed into his yard. Now that news is out that Kemsley’s sold the brand to Saudis, all that’s been accomplished is turning “twice in a lifetime” into a sadly ironic joke, leaving many still unaware of the trick played at their expense.

The parents who bragged about their kids playing for the Cosmos have had the most brutal of reality checks, as they’re now facing the prospect of having to pay to play in the Academy after all. Blau Weiss Gottschee has taken legal action as the club struggles to compensate for payments never received as per their agreement with the Cosmos. With costs in excess of $200,000 and counting, a written statement from Terry Byrne that they still intend to keep their end of the sponsorship bargain must seem as empty as their promises to build a stadium in the five boroughs. Those finances have disappeared all-too-quickly, proving the naysayers right all along. Make a deal with the devil, don’t be surprised when you get burned. Those Boys who’ve been singing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” need to learn “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

So while season’s end means yet another year of dashed dreams, there’s some comfort in Schadenfreude. Our protagonists, whether seen as heroes or villains, won’t disappear into the sunset but will be back in the spring, more desperate than ever to bring a title to the Big Apple. At least we know we’ll have another season in the spring, another shot at a title, another year together as fans cheering our team. Regardless of how bad the players play or behave, and despite how miserably we’re managed by fresh faces in the front office, this club is our extended family, and we know we have a home of our own. The hatred from those calling the Bulls thugs or the NY2 Boys who mock us as Energy Drink FC merely strengthen our resolve and deepen our bonds and our shared sense of community. Harrison may not yet be Heaven, but our home is still their Hell.

Monday News & Notes: Playoff Exit Hangover Edition

2011-11-07T11:24:00.001-05:00

Red Bulls Fans May Have a Euro 2012 Rooting Interest After All

The 2011 MLS Cup final participants are now set following yesterday's conference finals, and for the first time in a number of years none of the lowest playoff seeds made it through to the championship. Whether that's the result of a slightly more equitable playoff format that punished poor regular season performance is anyone's guess. In any case, there appear to be big changes in store for MLS' league structure in 2012 that could very well impact the postseason format as well. If you don't like the MLS playoffs, just wait a year and they will change again.

Some additional (mostly) RBNY-focused notes:

The Red Bulls will have a number of big decisions to make over the winter, and my Once a Metro colleague Matt Coyne does a good job of identifying them in his latest blog post.
According to numerous reports in Estonian media, Joel Lindpere will join the Estonian national team, leading up to their Euro 2012 playoff showdown with the Republic of Ireland. The Galaxy's Robbie Keane will be lining up for Ireland, who are the clear favorites, but it would be great to see Lindpere and his countrymen shock the world and go through.
Neither Juan Agudelo nor Tim Ream was selected by Jurgen Klinsmann for the latest series of US Men's National Team friendlies. Given Ream's poor form in 2011 and Agudelo's lack of playing time for RBNY, it's hardly a surprise. Agudelo will, however, take part in the US U23 camp in Germany with new head coach Caleb Porter.
Former Red Bull Jozy Altidore finally seems to have found a home in Europe with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar (knock on wood). Here's a nifty little .gif of Jozy's latest goal (his 10th of the season), against ADO Den Haag - a fantastic give-and-go.
Red Bull Arena will host the Big East conference semifinals and final this weekend - the final soccer event in Harrison until the MLS season starts up again in March. The field is now complete, after UConn, St. John's, Louisville and Villanova won their quarterfinal matches on Sunday. On Friday the 11th, UConn will play Louisville at 5PM, while St. John's will square off against Villanova at 7:30PM. The winners will meet on the 13th. Rutgers will not be taking part, after their 3-1 loss to UConn ended in a brawl. For those interested in attending, tickets for Friday's doubleheader are just $10 and can be purchased here. I'll be there. Keep an eye out for Red Bull academy product and St. John's forward Walter Hines, who scored the winner on Sunday against West Virginia.
With Montreal Impact joining MLS next season, it's time to start thinking about which players will be included on the RBNY "protected list." Drew Epperley at WVHooligan.com does a solid job of predicting the Red Bulls' 11 selections.
The Daily Harrison reports that the long-awaited renovation of the outdated and cramped Harrison PATH station may finally be starting to move forward. The Port Authority has approved the purchase of several abandoned industrial buildings adjacent to the tracks, across Frank E. Rogers Blvd. from the current station entrance. Anyone who has tried to board the PATH after a game knows what a nightmare it can be, not to mention the impact on traffic in the immediate vicinity. Don't hold your breath for this project to be completed any time soon, but it's better than radio silence.

That's it for now. We'll try to keep you up to date with offseason news as we go through the winter and start preparing for 2012. Thanks for all your support and kind words about The Viper's Nest over the 2011 season. We greatly appreciate it!

Editorial: Backe/Soler Team Deserves Another Shot

2011-11-05T09:57:00.003-04:00

Get Used to It: They're Staying

It was bound to happen. It might even have happened if the Red Bulls had found a way to progress beyond the Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday and make it all the way to MLS Cup. What am I talking about? The boatload of scathing editorials asking for Hans Backe and Erik Solér's heads on a plate as a result of the Red Bulls' failures this season. New York's season ended earlier than their fans had hoped, and writers have wasted no time in calling for (yet another) regime change in Harrison.

I won't attempt to defend every move that Backe or Solér made this season (that would be foolish, not to mention impossible) or to issue blanket amnesty for their many mistakes. But I would like to argue that firing Backe and Solér is not the right thing for the Red Bull organization to be doing at this time - and that both men should be given another opportunity to prove themselves in 2012. Here are the main points in my argument:

Front office turmoil has killed this club. The MetroStars/Red Bulls have been notorious for burning through coaches, GMs and front office personnel, and where has it gotten them? Nowhere. Bringing in yet another coach and general manager would require total upheaval, including the entire talent acquisition apparatus, the coaching staff and the team's style of play. Is that really necessary, just one year removed from finishing atop the Eastern Conference? No. The Red Bulls, for all their failings, finished just five points behind Sporting Kansas City and were just a Rich Balchan equalizer away from booking an automatic playoff spot. Is that an ideal set of circumstances when RBNY were projected as a clear preseason favorite in the East? No. But is it an out and out disaster? Hardly, especially given the club's history of failure.
Solér and Backe have done a solid job of rebuilding. Remember when Kevin Goldthwaite and Juan Pietravallo graced New York's starting lineup? I do. Everyone will focus on Rafa Marquez's DP contract and the Dwayne DeRosario trades, but they should weighed against a number of positive moves, including the additions of unheralded players such Joel Lindpere and Luke Rodgers. Frank Rost, who many so-called experts were quick to brand as a "bust," (*ahem*) turned out to be one of the biggest positives down the stretch, providing much needed experience at the back. Even Stephen Keel, who looked so hopeless easily in the season in Portland, proved to be a solid acquisition. It's fair, of course, to note that in focusing on the starting XI, Backe and Solér have decimated the team's bench strength. But if they can unload some dead weight (i.e. Robinson, Nielsen, Paullo) over the offseason, there should be more than enough budget to add depth.
The team's window for success is closing. As (new daddy) Dave Martinez correctly noted at Empire of Soccer, the Solér/Backe team is a package deal, and one that the "Austrian overlords" have purchased on a multi-year contract. Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez are also part of that package deal, like it or not. The Red Bulls have two years - maybe three at a stretch - before they will need to gut the squad again and start over. You know that expression about changing horses in midstream? It applies here. I might feel otherwise if the club were up to its neck in water, but clearly they're not. The players proved in the games against Los Angeles (regular season and playoffs) that they are not miles away from the league's best. The problems are fixable.
The other options stink. Steve Nicol, recently departed from New England Revolution, has been touted by some as a possible replacement for Backe, but his record over the past two seasons with the Revs is hardly superior: 14-32-18. He also never got to the promised land despite four visits to MLS Cup. Moreover, it's hard to imagine Nicol's personality meshing with the Red Bull ethos. Other names with MLS experience - Hamlett, Soehn, etc. - have little to nothing going for them. As for bringing in another foreign manager, it would require getting up the league's steep learning curve once again. The fact is that the other coaching options out there are less than ideal. If a Sigi Schmid or Jason Kreis were unattached and available it might be worth discussing. They're not.

Feel free to fire back(e) in the comments below if you disagree or have brilliant ideas about regime change at RBNY.

Do or Die: Red Bulls Face a Tough Task in L.A.

2011-11-03T13:31:00.002-04:00

The First Leg Was Feisty. Don't Expect Anything Different Tonight. (Photo by Dan Dickinson)

The 2011 New York Red Bulls have to be accustomed to "must-win" games by now. They certainly faced enough of them during the final weeks of the MLS regular season. Yet each time fans expected the team to plunge over the precipice they somehow found a way to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Now, however, trailing by a goal on aggregate to the Los Angeles Galaxy in their Western Conference Semifinal series, the task for the Red Bulls is particularly challenging. The Galaxy has not lost a home game all season, on the way to capturing the Supporters' Shield. Their stingy defense and solid goalkeeping have shut opponents down time and time again at the Home Depot Center. Bruce Arena's team may not be the league's most entertaining or high-scoring, but they give so little away that even a 1-0 deficit seems daunting. So - can the Red Bulls pull off a surprise tonight and move on to play Real Salt Lake? Yes, but only if a number of variables break their way:

L.A.'s goalkeeping: Josh Saunders was arguably Man of the Match in the first leg at Red Bull Arena, parrying away a number of shots and making a key save on a goal-bound effort by Rafa Marquez as the seconds ticked away. With the Galaxy expected to sit back a bit on their 1-0 advantage and play it conservatively, while New York will be forced to attack, Saunders may need to come up big again. Can he play out of his skin twice in a week?
The Juninho Factor: As a result of his post game scuffle with Rafa Marquez and Stephen Keel, Juninho will have to sit out the second leg, with Chris Birchall the most likely replacement in the center of L.A.'s midfield. The Brazilian has been a key player for the Galaxy this season, while Birchall - even at his best - is a bit of a step down, not to mention less of a threat going forward. Consequently, David Beckham may have to do a bit more defensive work in the second leg than he did in the first. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls are arguably better off with Dax McCarty starting in place of Marquez.
Playoff pressure: You could make a decent argument that the Red Bulls, who nearly missed the postseason bus entirely, are playing with house money at this point. Los Angeles, on the other hand, are under extraordinary pressure to win a trophy in Beckham's final year.
Firepower: Not since early July have the Red Bulls failed to score in successive games. If RBNY can keep things tight at the back and avoid letting in an early goal, there is a decent likelihood that they'll find a way to breach L.A.'s defense.
Set pieces: New York continues to be vulnerable on free kicks and corners (see Magee, Mike). Given Beckham's set piece skills, the Red Bulls will need to do everything in their power to avoid giving away cheap opportunities around their 18-yard box. Close off this avenue and the Galaxy are a somewhat less dangerous team.

Make no mistake - the Red Bulls are clear underdogs coming into tonight's game. But L.A.'s advantage is so razor thin that a RBNY win would hardly represent a massive upset. New York can live to fight another day, but they'll need to play smart and catch a break or two.

RBNY vs Galaxy: Down, But Not Out

2011-11-02T12:22:00.008-04:00

My apologies for the late post, but I've been dealing with internet outages as well as having to cut a massive amount of tree branches around my property. But nevermind all that, we're down but still not out of this one. As the great You Suck Corrales said, it's half-time and the Red Bulls are only down 1-0 - after a hard fought defeat at the hands of the visiting LA Galaxy this past Sunday.

This game was decided on a 15th minute Mike Magee goal (which must have been the 50th set play goal given up by RBNY this season). Former Red Bull Magee then showed a massive lack of class, with his over-the-top goal celebration, in front of Johnny Toro's Raging Bull Nation corner. The Red Bulls really should have taken something from this game but LA back-up keeper Josh Saunders had the game of his life, making several - massive - saves to preserve the 1-0 for LA. A massive post-game melee, which saw Rafa Marquez and LA's Juninho sent off, put an exclamation point at the end of this one.

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

The Red Bulls must now do something tomorrow that no other MLS team has done this season: win at the Home Depot Center. Mr. Backe believes it can be done, and so do I. It's going to be a difficult task, however, as anyone who was @The Cathedral of Football this past Sunday knows Don Garber's 'David-Must-Win-MLS-Cup-This-Season' directive was in full effect. The Red Bulls will not only have to emerge victorious against this season's 'Supporters Shield' winner, but also against the Referee and his assistants. So come on boys - let's effing do it and stick it to that monotoned whinning little bitch (and the rest of his crew)!

Please see the above video for part I of our usual drunken comments & predictions. Please click here for part II & click here for part III. You can click here for my photo album or click here for the slide show. You can also click here for a photo album from our own Dan Dickinson (slide show here). You can also click here for some photos courtesy of the official RBNY site.

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

The Support was effing massive at this one. I've not heard it louder this season @The Cathedral of Football. If the Red Bulls make it to the big game, the Viper's Nest crew will be there with our usual massive coverage. If not, we'll do it all over again next year. Viper Out!

Galaxy 1 Red Bulls 0: Not Dead Yet!

2011-10-31T09:58:00.001-04:00

Playoff Intensity - On and Off the Pitch (Photo by Dan Dickinson)

In a hard-fought, intense game played on chilly Sunday afternoon in Harrison, the Red Bulls ceded the advantage in their Western Conference semifinal playoff series to the Los Angeles Galaxy, losing 1-0 on a goal by (who else?) former Red Bull Mike Magee. New York isn't out of the playoffs yet by any means. If they can grab the opening goal on Thursday night in L.A., as they did earlier in the season, the pressure will be back on Bruce Arena's team. On the other hand, the Galaxy have yet to lose at home all season, so the Red Bulls will have to do something very special to pull off an upset - and they'll have to do it without Rafa Marquez (more on that later).

Our friends at Once a Metro have a full match report, which you can see here. Rather than break Sunday's game down minute by minute, here are a few observations:

Jan Gunnar Solli's absence may have hurt after all. "DJ" Solli has been criticized by some (*ahem* Viper) for his poor defending, but Carlos Mendes - his replacement at right back - essentially gave up on the play from which Magee scored, allowing him a clear path to goal. You can judge for yourself whether Robbie Keane was in an offside position and made a move toward the ball (click the mute button to avoid John Harkes), but there's no excuse for the entire back line giving up on a play, no matter how much they expected to hear a whistle.
Mike Magee has no class. Fans in New York supported Mike Magee for five years, despite multiple injuries and mediocre performances. I have nothing against a player celebrating after scoring a goal against a former club, but inciting the crowd was uncalled for.
Henry wanted this one badly. It's hard to believe that many fans - yours truly included - were questioning Thierry Henry's desire earlier in the season. No player on the pitch on Sunday wanted to win more than Henry. The Frenchman played a tough, aggressive game, acting more as a distributor than a pure forward, but his effort was really top notch. TH14 has thoroughly won this once skeptical RBNY/Chelsea fan over.
Alex Prus' check from Phil Anschutz should clear soon. It's pretty clear by now that the Red Bulls have been branded as the Oakland Raiders of MLS, so maybe we shouldn't be surprised that they get no calls from officials. When referee Alex Prus wasn't busy helping David Beckham up to his feet, he was giving Goldenballs soft free kick opportunities or overlooking clear fouls committed against New York players such as Luke Rodgers and Rafa Marquez. If things got out of hand at the final whistle, Prus is partly to blame for calling a lousy, one-sided game.
The Galaxy are a boring team. Maybe I just never got over my Bruce Arena hate (I still have my "Fire Bruce" t-shirt), but it's hard to understand how a team with as much attacking talent as L.A. can play such a dull, defensive brand of soccer. Happy to bunker down after getting the early goal, they only have the heroics of Josh Saunders and Omar Gonzalez to thank for their advantage at the half-way point of the home-and-home series. Landon Donovan was mostly invisible, with the exception of one opportunity, which was snuffed out by Frank Rost. Robbie Keane, apart from the role he played in Magee's goal, did nothing.
Handbags at full time. I missed the post-game shenanigans between Landon Donovan, Rafa Marquez, Juninho and Stephen Keel, but the final outcome - New York playing on Thursday without Marquez while the Galaxy will be without Juninho - probably benefits the Red Bulls. Dax McCarty should be able to slot into Marquez's place, while the Galaxy may have to manage with Chris Birchall.
Landon Donovan is an annoying little twerp. Rather than simply addressing the Marquez incident for what it was, Captain America had to blow it up into an indictment of the entire Red Bull organization and its style of play. We can only imagine what Donovan's reaction might have been if every call had not gone his team's way on Sunday. Donovan could never cut it on the East Coast.
Red Bull Arena was rocking. I'm not sure that I've ever heard Red Bull Arena louder than it was on Sunday, and not just in the South Ward. It was the kind of atmosphere you want for a playoff game. Hopefully it will carry over into 2011, regardless of the playoff outcome.

That's it for me. Viper will be along later with what will probably be our final video of the 2011 season, barring a surprise a the Home Depot Center.

Red Bulls 2 FC Dallas 0: Bring on LA!

2011-10-27T09:41:00.002-04:00

Mehdi's Moment of Brilliance Eclipses Brek Shea: Hold the Phone! (Photo by Dan Dickinson)

Here's a head-scratcher: by defeating FC Dallas 2-0 last night in a Wild Card playoff in Frisco (my full match report on Once a Metro can be found here), the Red Bulls have arguably ensured themselves of a more "successful" season than they enjoyed in 2010.

"What?!?" I can hear you saying. Stay with me for a second. Sure, RBNY is only involved in the postseason as a result of Don Garber's screwy decision to expand the MLS playoffs when others were calling for them to be contracted. But by beating Dallas and setting up a two-legged series with the Los Angeles Galaxy the Red Bulls are now guaranteed to play at least three postseason games - compared to last year's two and out - with a decent shot of progressing beyond the second round. The meetings between the Red Bulls and Galaxy have been tight affairs this year, but taking four points off the Supporters' Shield winners is nothing to sneeze at, even if it wasn't close to a full-strength Galaxy team that visited Red Bull Arena a few weeks back.

That New York is even in this position points to some massive problems with the MLS postseason, but as they say can only play the cards you have been dealt, and at the moment the somewhat rejuvenated Red Bulls are a bit of a dangerous team - capable of falling flat or beating any opponent on any given day. Last night they showed both sides of their Jekyll & Hyde personality. it didn't appear that they were up for it early, but they stayed patient, played a bit of Muhammad Ali style rope-a-dope and had more gas left in the tank as Dallas faded.

Some additional thoughts on last night's game:

Frank Rost has made a big difference. Unfairly pegged as a "DP bust" after a handful of early performances, the towering German projects confidence and authority from the back. Gone are the screwy goal kicks that sail out of bounds or dribble harmlessly up the middle to opposing attackers. Gone is the helpless flapping at corners and free kicks. Gone is the lack of communication between goalkeeper and defenders. It's probably safe to assume that if Rost wants to return next season he will be back. He has turned out to be a pretty good buy, and his addition must factor in any fair assessment of the De Rosario trade.
Mehdi Ballouchy has his moments.The Moroccan is often error prone and has gone missing too often this season when given a chance to prove himself, but he was responsible for a key assist last night that may very well have made the difference between the team's success and failure this season. Give credit where credit is due. Mehdi loves playing in Texas.
Red cards galore. If the Red Bulls want to progress any further in the postseason, they must stop making their task harder by picking up silly red cards. Jan Gunnar Solli's ill-advised two footed lunge saw him correctly sent off against Dallas, and RBNY will now have to hope that Carlos Mendes can get the job done at right back against Los Angeles, at least in the first leg.
The Red Bulls were lucky in drawing FC Dallas. It's always best to have momentum going into the postseason, and Dallas had none. The flat atmosphere at Pizza Hut Park probably helped the Red Bulls relax. They won't have the same luxury going forward against the likes of the Galaxy and - potentially - Seattle Sounders.

Wednesday's big win sets up a 3PM ET kickoff on Sunday at Red Bull Arena. Regardless of what happens in the series, it will be New York's only home playoff game this season. Season ticket holders have this game included as part of their package and only need to bring their member cards for admission. Additional tickets can also obtained by using accumulated loyalty points, which vanish into thin air at the end of the season, so if you have not cashed yours in yet the time is now.

See you out at the Cathedral of Football and COYRB!

RBNY vs Union: Can We Play You Every Week?

2011-10-22T15:45:00.011-04:00

Yes, like Flynn - we're in! It was a must-draw game that our Red Bulls managed to - wait for it - WIN 1-0! Yeah, I can't believe it myself, because years of of supporting this team (and its previous incarnation) has led me to always expect the worst. But, then again, we were up against the Philadelphia Union - a team that has had nothing the five times RBNY has played them (in two seasons of Philth existence).

Even in their two victories against us, at PPL Park, the Union had so many of their players behind the ball that a neutral might have left thinking it was the Philthy ones who were playing away. If it wasn't for a blockhead mistake (by Tim Ream) in this year's PPL tilt, the Union would not have taken all three points on offer. It's really too bad we couldn't play Nicky Sack's minions every week this season, else we could have run away with the Conference title (and maybe even the Supporters Shield).

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

But whatever! An early-in-the-game moment of Dane Richards brilliance (with a little luck thrown in for good measure), saw RBNY take the lead for good. The Red Bulls should have had several more in the first half, but Philthy's Man-Dragon kept them in the game by making several key saves, time and time again. In the second half, Luke Rodgers missed a chance that looked easier to convert than miss and Tim Ream had a wide open header he really should buried in the back of the net. It didnt' matter, as it was three points to the good when all was said and done.

Up next is an away wild-card game, probably at FC Dallas, next Wednesday (or is it Thursday?). Let me, at this time, apologize to MLS Commissioner Don Garber for all the names I called him when he announced the expansion of the playoffs to 10 teams. You're a man ahead of your time Mr. Garber! Not that I have any expectations of getting by the wild-card round. I'm just happy that our team was saved the embarrassment of not making the playoffs!

Please see the above video for the usual drunken comments and predictions. Please click here for my photo album or click here for the slide show. You can also click here for an album from our own Dan Dickinson (slide show here).

Kudos to the Union supporters for showing up to The Cathedral of Football in large numbers. The hardcore lot they are, the SOB's made a lot of noise in the first half, then proceeded to sit on their hands in the second. Sing when you're winning, you only sing when you're winning... Hope you guys (and Bimbos) had a nice ride back and please do come again! I'll be pulling for Columbus and Houston today. One thing I would like to ask, however: What does Billy Dee Williams have to do with winning (or not) MLS Cup?

Ok, that's it for me (maybe even for the season). The big viper is outta here bitches!

Red Bulls 1 Union 0: We're In!

2011-10-21T10:41:00.003-04:00

Richards Celebrates the Lone Goal With Teammates (Photo by Dan Dickinson)

An unlikely first half header from Dane Richards that hit a goalpost before ricocheting off Faryd Mongradon's back and into the Philadelphia Union goal was, in the end, all the New York Red Bulls needed on Thursday night to punch their ticket to the 2011 MLS postseason.

The final scoreline could have been even more lopsided, if not for some poor finishing and a few key saves by Mondragon. In the first half in particular the Red Bulls controlled the tempo magnificently, allowing the Union few chances if any. When the second half began, Piotr Nowak made it clear immediately that he wanted to get a result that would allow his team to avoid the wild card round, by bringing on Freddy Adu and Danny Mwanga to get after the Red Bulls back line. Later, he would ratchet the pressure up even further when he introduced youngster Roger Torres, whose goal had earned Philadelphia a victory at PPL Park earlier in the season.

To the Red Bulls' credit, however, they stuck to their task, worked tirelessly for each other and showed a degree of grit and determination that fans have seen all too infrequently this season. Stephen Keel and Tim Ream had occasional sloppy moments, but only allowed Philly a single shot on goal all night. Jan Gunnar Solli had one of his better games on the right, providing the crucial cross for Richards and making a number of other forays down his side, while working hard defensively. Roy Miller and Dax McCarty had two of their stronger games of the season, while the "mighty mites" striking team of Luke Rodgers and Dane Richards kept the Union defenders on their heels all night.

All of this was accomplished without the help of Thierry Henry, who was serving a one match suspension for his red card in Kansas City last Saturday. Despite his attractive MVP credentials and point-saving heroics, it may be fair to say that the Red Bulls play with better movement and a greater sense of purpose when Henry is not in the lineup. Is it a case of players waiting around for their superstar to do something magical? Perhaps. Whatever the case may be, they'll need to bring the same commitment they showed last night to their first round playoff game, when Henry will undoubtably be back in the starting XI.

A few additional observations from last night:

Credit to the Philadelphia Union supporters for bringing the largest ever traveling contingent to Red Bull Arena. Their presence helped create a fantastic atmosphere and raised the intensity of the South Ward as well. It would have been nice to see the Red Bulls' supporters groups get to the Arena a little earlier, rather than letting Philadelphia fans have the Freedom of Harrison for an hour before kickoff, but when there is beer to be drunk I suppose that takes precedence.
Sebastian Le Toux is lucky not to be facing a red card suspension. During the first half, frustrated with some of the Red Bulls' physical play, the Frenchman shoved referee Mark Geiger with both hands, using some force. Not only did Le Toux not receive a red card - he didn't get any card at all. When you see Thierry Henry sent off twice with questionable red cards, but Le Toux let off for shoving an official, you have to wonder what is going on at MLS headquarters.
Le Toux and his Philadelphia teammates claimed after the match that they were robbed of a legitimate goal in the second half when the play was whistled for offside. Leaving aside the fact that Le Toux should have been changing into street clothes by then, the correct call was made.
Hans Backe's substitution policy remains a real head scratcher. With Philadelphia throwing on one fresh body after another, Backe stuck to his guns and did not make a single substitution until second half injury time. It's pretty apparent that - rightly or wrongly - Backe has no faith whatsoever in his bench. However the postseason shakes out, New York desperately needs to add depth for 2012 so that Backe doesn't continue to run his starters into the ground.

So - what's next? The RBNY victory ended the playoff hopes of the only two teams that had a chance of sneaking into a wild card spot, Portland Timbers and Chicago Fire. Results this weekend will determine who the Red Bulls will now face in the wild card match, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids all still possibilities. Whoever New York ends up playing, under the new playoff format they will need to win away from home in order to move on to a second leg home/away series.

Three Questions With Scott Kessler of The Brotherly Game

2011-10-20T11:35:00.000-04:00

Angel's Goal Sealed the Deal the Last Time Philly Played a League Game at RBA

I exchanged three questions with Scott Kessler, editor of Philadelphia Union SBNation blog The Brotherly Game, in advance of tonight's big game at Red Bull Arena. You can find my responses to his queries by clicking here.

We talk DeRo, the Henry red card in Kansas City and the Red Bulls' playoff chances, which improved enormously on Wednesday night, thanks to the crazy 1-1 draw in Washington between D.C. United and Portland Timbers.

Given the fact that Portland and Chicago's respective opponents this weekend, Real Salt Lake and Columbus Crew, will still have a lot to play for, tonight's result may end up being academic. Regardless, with a large number of away fans traveling up to New Jersey for the game and rumors of a sell out, it should be one of the best atmospheres ever in Harrison. If you have tickets and are not either attending or giving them away, you're dead to me.

With no further ado, here's my Q&A with Scott:

1) How badly does the Union want to win this game? Obviously the teams that are already in the playoffs are still jockeying for position and trying to avoid going in as a wildcard. How will that impact Nowak's decisions on Thursday?

The Union know how much it means for the fans to win this game, and they'll be playing at their highest levels possible just to make the hundreds of traveling fans (up to 1200 will attend, according to a Sons of Ben source) as happy as possible. While the fans in New York may not see this as a big rivalry yet, with many on Twitter going so far as to laugh it off, but the Philly-NYC rivalry is always strong in Philadelphia, no matter the sport.

Nowak and the Union have said multiple times this week that they're trying to win the Eastern Conference. Whether or not that in the end will help or hurt the Union in the playoffs is something completely different. I've discussed finishing second to avoid playing the top Wild Card contender, but if the team finds itself playing better because of the added confidence of winning the conference, no one is going to criticize them for taking the harder road.

A win would also ensure the Union of at least a top two finish, thus avoiding the wild card round.

2) Just a few weeks ago the Union were struggling and still within touching distance of the Red Bulls in the standings. What has made the difference in the past few weeks as they've pulled away?

Finding their early season defensive fortitude, a resurgence of Sebastien Le Toux, finally playing Roger Torres consistently and putting Michael Farfan in the position to succeed. The back four was incredibly prone to making a misstep here and there that would lead to a goal, which the Union were unable to come back from for what seemed like the longest time. During the down turn in form, Le Toux was unable to find the net or assist teammates, despite returning to his more favored position as a forward after the departure of Carlos Ruiz to Mexico. Le Toux's goal scoring splurge, which has resulted in 11 goals in his last 10 games, has come on the back of more starts for Torres and Farfan, who both have brought much needed flair, speed and attacking ability to the offense. Though in recent games Torres has not seen the field much, his play out of the center of the field helped to spur the Union out of their awful midseason slump. Farfan (or Marfan, as he is affectionately called by the supporters) shored up the right side of the midfield, something that hadn't happened since Shea Salinas was injured halfway through the 2010 season. He has scored important goals and impressed with his passing and movement since being given the chance to start in his natural position, and not in the defense.

Everything sort of came together at the right time.

3) How far do you see Philadelphia going in the postseason? The defense and goalkeeping have been solid all season, but is there enough scoring punch to make a run all the way to L.A.?

Their starting line up could use a tweak here and there to enable the team to make it deep in a playoff run. Justin Mapp and Freddy Adu aren't consistent enough to help a team in the playoffs, especially in a potential elimination game. Torres would be the best central attacking midfield option that the Union can use, and the hope is that he gets playing time versus the Red Bulls, since he loves to play against them. As for the left side of the midfield, with Keon Daniel's visa problems keeping him out of the country, there's no one to really replace Mapp fully on the left side of the field. I'm not too worried about scoring, because the Union have been able to score on Columbus, Seattle and other very good teams down the stretch. Consistent play out of whoever gets slotted into the CAM spot, and from Marfan, will aid Le Toux and the Union in scoring goals.

Likely Philadelphia Lineup:

Faryd Mondragon

(l-r) Gabriel Farfan - Danny Califf - Carlos Valdes - Sheanon Williams

CDM: Brian Carroll; Justin Mapp, Freddy Adu, Michael Farfan

Danny Mwanga, Sebastien Le Toux

Prediction: 2-0 win for the Union, with Mwanga and Le Toux scoring.

Thanks again to Scott for the knowledge, and Come on You Red Bulls!

Talking Bull Episode 34: Sweating Out the Final Week

2011-10-19T13:03:00.002-04:00

Just in time for the white-knuckle ride that is the final week of the MLS season, guest co-host Dan Ferris (from Once a Metro) and I are back today with another episode of Talking Bull, North American Soccer Network's RBNY-themed podcast. This week, we look back at the disastrous loss in Kansas City that saw Thierry Henry get sent off, preview Thursday's showdown with Philadelphia Union and discuss the club's announcement that Hans Backe will be back on the touchline next season. Click here to listen to Episode 34.

This Is It: Red Bulls Face Crunch Time vs. Philly

2011-10-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

It's time to bust out the Kenny Loggins, Red Bulls fans. When the MLS schedule was unveiled last winter, you somehow knew that the final fixture against Philadelphia would have extra meaning. As a result of RBNY's nightmare performance last Saturday in Kansas City - when they had the chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs with what was virtually a first choice XI, but ended up losing their captain for the remainder of the regular season - Thursday's showdown at Red Bull Arena will probably determine New York's postseason fate.

There's a chance, of course, that the Red Bulls will be able to breathe a little bit easier if the D.C. United/Portland Timbers match this evening at RFK Stadium ends in a draw. A draw would knock D.C. out of the playoff picture and make a win in Salt Lake a must for Portland, even if the Red Bulls lose on Thursday. Chicago still has a minuscule chance to catch the Red Bulls, if they can somehow make up a five-goal deficit. On the other hand, three points either way in D.C. this evening would ratchet up the pressure on New York just a little bit more.

The Red Bulls will need to find a way to manage on Thursday without Thierry Henry, whose red card incident in Kansas City Hans Backe has - strangely - yet to watch. Kristian Dyer of mlsssoccer.com reported yesterday that Dane Richards will probably start up top with Luke Rodgers on Thursday, providing the team with a lot of speed, but precious little height. Don't expect RBNY to pose much of a threat on set pieces. Unless Hans Backe has a surprise up his sleeve, Richards in a striker role means that Juan Agudelo will once again be on the bench. It also means that Backe will have a choice to make on the right side of midfield. He has used Mehdi Ballouchy there before, but can he afford to go with the Mediocre Moroccan again in such a critical game? We'll find out.

Speaking of Backe, RBNY Sporting Director Erik Solér spoke with media yesterday in Harrison, and indicated that regardless of Thursday's result Backe will return next season to manage the Red Bulls. We've been critical of Backe's in-game decision making, his ultra-conservative tactics and his unwillingness to use subs, but the club's Austrian overlords apparently feel that giving the Solér/Backe team the time they need to correct their mistakes is preferable to another off-season of front office turmoil.

To be fair, Backe is the first manager of the club since 2000 to achieve a first place Eastern Conference finish, even if it was quickly followed by playoff failure against San Jose. Equally interesting were Solér's comments regarding transfer targets and the likelihood that MLS will avoid playing on FIFA dates next season. The latter piece of news may be yet another case of Solér speaking out of school (you have to assume that he's not especially popular down at MLS headquarters), but let's all hope it's true. The Gold Cup and constant international call ups have played havoc with the Red Bulls' season, even if - as Michael Lewis at Big Apple Soccer rightly points out - it's ridiculous to pin the entirety of RBNY's 2011 failure on missing players.

The Viper's Nest Crew will be out at the Arena for Thursday night's game, so if you're a regular reader and have not had a chance to stop by for one of our inane videos, come by either Gate D at halftime or Gate A at full time and give us some comments. It may be your last chance this year!

Red Bulls Travel to KC With Fate in Their Own Hands

2011-10-13T12:50:00.000-04:00

A Big Result Against L.A. Put the Playoffs Well Within the Red Bulls' Grasp

We've gotten down to the part of the MLS calendar when fans can't help but scoreboard watch, however much they'd like to simply focus on their team's results. For Red Bulls supporters, this means - for the most part - hoping that their rivals in the Eastern Conference drop as many points as possible between now and next weekend, when the 2011 season wraps up.

At the moment, there is a still a chance, however slim, that the Red Bulls could finish atop the East, if they run the table and other results go their way. More likely is that New York will either finish in one of the top three positions in the conference or squeak into the postseason with a wild card berth. The number crunchers currently have the Red Bulls playoff likelihood at 86.3%. Their prospects were helped last night by D.C. United's 2-1 loss in Vancouver and - to a lesser extent - by Chicago's defeat at the hands of FC Dallas. Together, these results boosted the chances of all the clubs currently sitting in playoff positions, as well as Portland, who are on the outside looking in.

The formula for RBNY is now pretty simple: win on Saturday in Kansas City and they're virtually assured of postseason play. A draw would still leave them with a bit of work to do against Philadelphia in the season finale, depending on other results. A loss could make for a real nailbiter next Thursday. In any scenario, the Red Bulls' fate is very much in their own hands. If they fail to make the playoffs from what is currently a dominant position they'll only have themselves to blame.

(For details on the various non-RBNY playoff scenarios, click here.)

For RBNY to secure a playoff spot on Saturday, they will have to do what only one MLS team, Seattle Sounders, has managed to do so far - win at Livestrong Sporting Park. After struggling so mightily on their mammoth early season road trip, Peter Vermes and company have pulled things together and gotten fat off of home cooking. In C.J. Sapong and Teal Bunbury they have one of the league's more exciting young forward tandems, while the emergence of players such as midfielder Graham Zusi has given them a massive shot in the arm at just the right time.

The Red Bulls will also have to find a way to get a result without their iron man Joel Lindpere, who is suspended for Saturday's game due to yellow card accumulation. Will Hans Backe risk a Brian Nielsen start, or will it be back to the old playbook, with an all-too-familiar Mehdi Ballouchy appearance? [Edit: according to Kristian Dyer on Twitter, Lindpere is not suspended for this game, even though he is listed as such on the MLS website.] Elsewhere, the Red Bulls' injury concerns are few, with the exception of Chris Albright. The return of Luke Rodgers seems to have been the biggest factor in the team's late season run, which has seen them win three of their last five games. When Rodgers starts, good things generally happen. When the Red Bulls are deprived of their pint-sized bulldog they tend to struggle.

The other major concern, as it has been almost all season long, is the confidence of the RBNY's back line. Tim Ream's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad night for the USMNT against Ecuador on Tuesday probably hasn't done wonders for his confidence, which was already at a low ebb after the Rafa Marquez controversy. He will need to put the national team disaster out of his head quickly and provide a solid 90+ minutes on Saturday.

The Red Bulls have it all in front of them. Will they come up big in the clutch or choke under pressure?

RBNY vs Galaxy: We're Still Alive!

2011-10-06T14:21:00.009-04:00

Not only are the Red Bulls still alive, after powering their way to a 2-0 victory against the League leading Los Angeles Galaxy, but if they win their final two games (and depending on other results) a top of the East finish is not beyond the realm of possibility. Even if that doesn't happen, two more wins and RBNY winds up with 49 points, which is just two less than last season.

A poacher's goal from Luke, Luke, Luke Rodgers and a golazo from Thierry Henry took care of the Donovan/Keane-less Galaxy. As a matter of fact, with just a bit more luck, Rodgers and Henry could have doubled their respective tallies and the Galacticos would have flown home thoroughly embarrassed.

This victory would have been inconcievable just about a month and a week ago. Thanks to an Act of God and a combination fortuitous injury/International call-up (plus a healthy Luke Rodgers), the Red Bulls are in the position to rise from the ashes and take us to the promised land. With the talent that they have, and if they keep playing smart & balanced soccer, anything is possible.

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

A bit of redemption for Rafa Marquez, who's been "persona non grata" lately @The Cathedral of Football. Rafa put a magic ball over the top of the LA defense, which TH14 put away, and showed the fight that's been missing, from his club game, most of this season. After his assist, Rafa kissed the RBNY logo and was cheered loudly by the South Ward. The legendary Mexican International was cheered again as he made way for Dax McCarty (in the 82nd minute). Hopefully he's learned that lack of effort is not tolerated around these parts - no matter who you are.

Please click on the above video for drunken pre-game and half-time commentary. Please click here for full-time commentary. Please click here for my photo album or click here for the slide show. You can also click here for a photo album from our own Dan Dickinson (slide show here). Please click here for a slide show from the official RBNY site.

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

Another fantastic atmosphere generated by the Supporter's Sections. As Mr. Backe stated in the post-game comments, it's been "lively all year". With support like this, our Giants Stadium tenure seems like a lifetime ago. Check out the latest RBNY Matchday 360 for some great behind-the-scenes footage and click here to check out an interview with the latest celebrity to visit The Cathedral. Speaking of celebrities (and since this was problably his last game around these parts): Thank you David Beckham for playing in Major League Soccer! And I hope you enjoyed our humor!

That's all for now. I hope to see you all for our beyond-massive final home fixture, against the Philth, on October 20th. Viper Out!

Red Bulls 2 Galaxy 0: One Step Closer to the Postseason

2011-10-05T10:02:00.001-04:00

The Red Bulls began play on Tuesday night with only the slimmest margin for error in their chase for an MLS playoff spot. A loss against a depleted Los Angeles Galaxy team would have shoveled the first spadeful of dirt on RBNY's 2011 season. A draw, while keeping New York mathematically alive in the race, would have made things very tricky coming down the stretch, with games against Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia Union still to come. Only a victory would give the team a bit of badly-needed breathing space and make things difficult for the other teams, such as DC United and Portland Timbers, scrambling for a chance at postseason glory.

If there was an added sense of urgency on Tuesday night, however, it was hard to detect in the opening exchanges. The Galaxy, missing a host of players including Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Sean Franklin and Chris Birchall, gave as good as they got in the first half hour, with Frank Rost called on several times to clear away danger. Rafa Marquez, roundly criticized for his weak display in Toronto on Saturday, was having another off night as well. The passing from both teams was sloppy and quality was hard to find. Things did not look promising for Red Bulls' fans.

The one Red Bulls player who did look sharp early on was Luke Rodgers. And it was Rodgers who would give RBNY the opening they so badly needed almost exactly on the half hour mark. A Joel Lindpere corner was directed emphatically at Donovan Ricketts by the head of Jan Gunnar Solli. Ricketts could only parry the header away, and Rodgers pounced quickly on the rebound, making it 1-0. It was a true "poacher's goal," but such a vital one to the Red Bulls' playoff hopes.

Rodgers had a golden opportunity to double the lead before halftime, when Henry received a pass seven yards from goal and laid the ball off to the Englishman. But Rodgers' powerful shot rebounded off the inside of Ricketts' right post. Red Bulls fans had to be hoping, as they went about their business at halftime, that they would not come to regret the miss. At the very least, New York had snapped out of its early game funk and was starting to dominate a visibly exhausted Galaxy. Still, the threat of a David Beckham free kick or a long distance rocket from Juninho was very real and could have brought L.A. level in the blink of an eye.

The Galaxy did start the second half with a little more bounce in their step, but the Red Bulls' midfield also stepped up. Marquez has had, to be charitable, an up-and-down season for New York, but when he chooses to impose himself on a game he has skill and vision that few players in the league possess (Kevin McCauley at SBNation does a great job of breaking down the Marquez conundrum in his Sardines from the Trawler column this morning). The Mexican's sublime, inch-perfect pass to Thierry Henry to set up the evening's second goal is one such example. Henry still had a bit of work to do, but chipped the ball perfectly over the onrushing Ricketts to essentially decide the contest. The Red Bulls would waste a chance to add to their lead in the 81st minute, when Henry, through alone on L.A.'s goal, smacked his shot off the woodwork. By that point it didn't matter, however. Los Angeles had run out of gas and never seriously threatened to get back into the game.

The loss is only the fourth of the year for the Galaxy, but with key players missing and the Supporters' Shield very much in their control, fans won't fret too much. For New York, on the other hand, the three points gained represent a massive step forward toward the playoffs. There's still a lot that can happen between now and the end of the season, with D.C. United possessing a game in hand and a number of fixtures remaining. The Red Bulls sit on 43 points. That could be enough to allow them to squeak into the postseason if other results fall their way, but getting to 45 or 46 would make things much more comfortable.

RBNY appears to be rounding into form at just the right moment. The return of Luke Rodgers - and his ability to link up effectively with Henry - has been vital in the recent run. If Marquez can step it up like he did in the second half on Tuesday, while the backline and Rost keep things tidy, this could be a very dangerous team come playoff time.

Assuming they get there. One step at a time...

Matchday @Red Bull Arena: Red Bulls vs Galaxy

2011-10-04T16:34:00.005-04:00

Good afternoon! With our team still fighting for its playoff life, it's another massive, must-win, fixture against the MLS "King of The Hill". Yes, it's time for RBNY to play against the model franchise that is the LA Galaxy. As you might recall, this Galaxy fixture was originally scheduled to take place on August 28th, but was rescheduled due to a hurricane. At the time, most of us considered it a "Stay of Execution" for the Red Bulls, as LA would have, most certainly, demolished our hapless team. With the news that both Landon Donovan & Robbie Keane will be missing this one (not to mention several other Galaxy players who are listed as questionable - including Beckham), it might yet turn out to be a "Death Row Pardon", as this one is now definitely winnable.

Yeah, right! Who am I kidding, eh? I have not an ounce of confidence in this team or the quack of a coach currently running it. I can see them getting way trounced, even without two of LA's big guns. With a win today, LA can clinch the Supporter's Shield. Needless to say, the Galacticos will be looking to take all three points on offer. That said, I'm calling for all RBNY players to put on their brass ones (even the waste of roster/cap space that is the underperforming Rafa Marquez) and prove me wrong for having no faith whatsoever. Let's go motherfuckers! Get a fucking victory and prove me wrong!

All righty then! I just read that this one will be broadcast in over 100 countries, so I hope it's a memorable one. If you haven't done so already, please do check out our own Matt Conroy's (aka Who Shot Sam) preview of this one posted on the great Once A Metro site. Hope to see you all tonight @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Viper out!

Dead Man Walking: Time to Unload Marquez

2011-10-02T10:18:00.001-04:00

The Red Bulls Need to Cut Their Losses on Marquez

When news broke following the Real Salt Lake home match that Rafa Marquez had made disparaging comments about the play of his teammates - Tim Ream in particular - there were some fans who were quick to jump to the Mexican's defense. Ream did have an awful game, they argued, and Rafa was only stating an uncomfortable truth: the Rookie of the Year candidate we saw last year has been nowhere to be found since this summer's Gold Cup fiasco. Never mind that Marquez's remarks about playing on a higher plane than his teammates were ridiculous on their face and bad for team morale - not to mention demonstrably false.

Hans Backe and the Red Bulls did the only thing they could do in the face of the Marquez media firestorm - suspend him for the next match against Portland. In a series of media interviews, Rafa sounded somewhat contrite, though the fact that he even entertained questions about being traded to another team on ESPN Deportes' Jorge Ramos y su Banda program had some - including yours truly - wondering whether the Mexican had already decided that he wanted no further part of the three-ring circus in Harrison.

Having disposed of Portland - without Rafa - thanks to a gritty defensive performance, a nicely taken Dane Richards goal and a slice of luck, the Red Bulls moved on to Toronto. The stage was all set for Marquez to return to the fold and demonstrate to all the doubters that he was worthy of his designated player salary (not to mention his own high opinion of himself). Relegating Dax McCarty to the bench, Hans Backe paired Marquez with Teemu Tainio in central midfield, opting to keep Stephen Keel at the back alongside Ream. Maybe, Backe's thinking likely went, a change of scenery will see The Real Rafa re-emerge.

Sadly, Marquez's performance over nearly eighty minutes last night at BMO fell well below the standard for an MLS starter, much less a highly payed designated player. The Red Bulls played a listless, aimless and lazy first half, but no player showed less initiative and drive than Marquez. Rather than raising his intensity level, Rafa hardly broke a sweat over the first 45 minutes, rarely exceeding walking pace and content to play square five yard passes to teammates, rather than trying to stamp his authority on the game.

In the second half, an atrocious giveaway by the Mexican was directly responsible for a Toronto FC break that resulted in TFC's go-ahead goal. The fact that Marquez played a poor pass is hardly unforgivable - it happens to professional players all the time - but his lack of hustle in getting back to disrupt the Toronto attack is (witness his casual stroll here). Conspiracy-minded fans might even wonder if Marquez was "sandbagging" it, i.e. intentionally playing poorly in order to force a move away from New York. That might seem harsh, but it's hard to square what we saw in Toronto with what we've seen over the years with Barcelona and the Mexican National Team.

Astonishingly, Backe left Marquez in the match for another 29 minutes following the incident. McCarty would eventually be brought on in his place, but by then the Red Bulls had little time left. They left Toronto with an unsatisfactory 1-1 draw, thanks to a late bit of magic by Thierry Henry, and now must now hope that they can get enough points over their final three matches to scrape into the playoffs. It's no easy run-in, with Los Angeles Galaxy, in-form Sporting Kansas City and hated rivals Philadelphia Union still to come.

The question for Backe now is whether he can afford to give Marquez yet another opportunity. On the evidence of Saturday's performance, few fans would criticize the Swede if he were to bench Rafa from now until the end of the season. At this point, even if it means eating part of the contract, Erik Soler should consider finding a way to unload Marquez over the winter. In a salary cap league, there's no sense in the Red Bulls keeping a DP player who does not want to be here and whose play is detrimental to the thing that matters most - getting results.

Backe Needs to Find the Formula

2011-10-01T14:52:00.002-04:00

Backe's Search for the Winning Formula Continues (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Nearly three months since the Bulls beat down Toronto at the Cathedral, but it seems like three years ago. Despite winning two from their last three league matches, few supporters can be accused of hubris as we begin the month that will determine whether or not the year’s a success or a humiliating failure. The obituaries were obviously premature, but another win is vital tonight to restore a sense of promise to the season, as Backe hopes tonight he’ll find the formula to carry New York not only to preserve a playoff spot, perhaps even the top spot in the East. In the tenth and final playoff spot, the Bulls are just three points out of first in the East with a game in hand. There’s everything to play for tonight in Toronto.

Neither side can feel good about this year’s race to the Golden Boot, as DeRosario’s goals for both sides contribute to the tally that has him in top spot. A bit of greed would be good not only for Henry, but for New York, as his return to the score sheet can mean all the difference for a side so desperate. Who Backe selects to partner with him up front is just one ingredient he needs to find the winning formula. Rodgers to start with Agudelo off the bench would be the better’s choice, but JA17’s brace against Toronto earlier this season might tempt Hans into giving him a full 90. Fresh from suspension and the cover of FIFA 12, Rafa Marquez should figure in the starting XI, but he’s more likely to play a midfield role than return to a back four. The foursome of Solli, Keel, Ream and Mendes that earned the shutout the Timbers last week might be best left alone, but Keel will probably sit for the return of Roy Miller. Teemo Taino’s touch has been off of late but his experience might be more highly valued by Backe than Dax McCarty’s scrappy if not quite persistent presence. Plenty of flank play from Lindpere on the left and Richards on the right are a given, and Aron Winter should have prepared Toronto for this or his team’s slim playoff chances will bring an early and bitter winter north of the border.

Only two wins out of fifteen road matches but the Bulls might welcome this trip out of town for some urgent team building, free from home dissent. Bulls fans won’t be around to voice displeasure with the team or the front office, so a respite from such distractions might mean this road trip can help Backe and the boys find their form and the winning formula to lift the spirits of squad and supporters alike, and make this an October to remember. Three points and the hype for Tuesday’s rescheduled match against the Galaxy will be deserved. Another road loss and the game against the Gals might be a last gasp.

Little chance of substantial tactical changes, Backe will certainly remix his personnel; subtle changes are needed to recover contender status. Whether the formula works magic or proves poison will determine whether we’ll enjoy a postseason or will suffer another offseason of wholesale changes.

Renewal Day Is Here! Have You Given RBNY Your Money Yet?

2011-09-29T14:07:00.001-04:00

This Could Be Par for the Course in 2012 (Photo by Dan Dickinson)

Tomorrow, September 30, marks the end of the 2012 Red Bulls season ticket renewal period. Those RBNY fans who have not renewed their seats - either by payment in full or via an installment plan - will surrender them when the clock strikes twelve Friday evening. Longtime fans of MLS' most dysfunctional franchise would like to thank the powers that be - Chris Heck, I'm looking at you - for the massive 18 days they were given to scrape together hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. After the season we've been through, there's nothing we're more eager to do then clear out our savings accounts on short notice.

For those fans not able to pull together the requisite scratch by the deadline, do not fret. There should be plenty of midfield seats available next season at a discount. In fact, you may be better off waiting until the desperate Red Bulls front office starts unloading premium seats at a bargain basement price. Keep checking Val-Pak and Groupon and I'm sure you'll find what you need. They may even throw in a free hat or t-shirt!

Among the friends I made in section 107 when the team first moved to Harrison in 2010, not a single one is returning to "Boca" (as we affectionately called it) for 2012. Successive price hikes have seen to that. Instead, fans are migrating to the upper deck or the (still affordable) areas behind the goals and cutting the number of seats they are purchasing. Quite how the new front office regime plans to fill the swaths of midfield seats left abandoned is anyone's guess. The product on the field certainly isn't doing them any favors. Maybe it's all part of a plan to reveal more and more of the midfield bull logo.

At the same time, season ticket holders are seeing their longtime ticket reps dropping like flies, as they're replaced with Heck's NBA cronies (who probably don't have much to do at the moment anyway). To Heck's credit, he has done a fairly admirable job of filling up the stadium since coming aboard, though anyone who attended the Portland game knows that RBA was far from "sold out" as was proclaimed.

Maybe there's some ingenious logic to the new season ticket scheme that has eluded everyone. Maybe the Red Bulls will beat Toronto FC on Saturday, claim a few more scalps, climb to the top of the East and make a stunning run to MLS Cup. But that all seems very far-fetched at the moment. All we season ticket holders can do for now is scratch our heads - and get out our credit cards.

Red Bulls on Course to Surpass 2010 Attendance

2011-09-27T13:17:00.000-04:00

Despite the Results, Attendance at RBA Is Up (Photo by Dan Dickinson)

It has been a while since we updated our MLS Attendance Tracker feature (our apologies, but life has a nasty habit of getting in the way of soccer sometimes). In any case, we have a brand spanking new update this morning, which you can find either here or by clicking the link below the Twitter feed on the right of our homepage. The big takeaway for the Red Bulls is that, despite a pretty horrific year on the pitch, the club is well on course to surpass 2010 attendance (+2.9% to date), with only the rescheduled Los Angeles Galaxy and Philadelphia Union matches remaining.

It remains to be seen, of course, how the Red Bulls' new pricing scheme - and 2011 season results - affect attendance as Red Bull Arena enters its third season.

On the whole, MLS has seen 4.7 million fans attend games so far this year, compared to 3.8 million all of last year. The additions of Portland and Vancouver have certainly helped.

Ranked Total Home Attendance
1) Seattle Sounders FC: 553,987
2) LA Galaxy: 342,693
3) Toronto FC: 302,803
4) Portland Timbers: 299,739
5) New York Red Bulls: 284,510
6) Philadelphia Union: 273,253
7) Vancouver Whitecaps: 269,281
8) Sporting Kansas City: 265,017
9) Real Salt Lake: 257,971
10) Houston Dynamo: 253,594
11) Colorado Rapids: 222,056
12) Chivas USA: 213,831
13) Chicago Fire: 212,049
14) D.C. United: 211,872
15) FC Dallas: 208,414
16) Columbus Crew: 191,581
17) San Jose Earthquakes: 180,318
18) NE Revolution: 178,352

Ranked Total Attendance (Home and Away)
1) Seattle Sounders FC: 797,553
2) LA Galaxy: 673,750
3) New York Red Bulls: 613,387
4) Toronto FC: 555,199
5) Portland Timbers: 540,384
6) Vancouver Whitecaps: 532,983
7) Sporting Kansas City: 527,320
8) Houston Dynamo: 507,235
9) Philadelphia Union: 501,609
10) Real Salt Lake: 486,051
11) Colorado Rapids: 484,321
12) Chivas USA: 483,717
13) Chicago Fire: 474,889
14) FC Dallas: 470,052
15) Columbus Crew: 457,225
16) NE Revolution: 457,000
17) D.C. United: 450,221
18) San Jose Earthquakes: 429,746

Many thanks to our friend Chris Lalli for compiling all the data!

RBNY vs Timbers: It's A Miracle - We Won!

2011-09-27T11:30:00.003-04:00

A must-win that our team actually won. Can you believe it? Yes, it's true - the Red Bulls kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 victory against the expansion Portland Timbers. A Dane Richards golazo, in the first half, and a Luke Rodgers penalty, in the 2nd, ensured all three points for the desperate Red Bulls. With both Houston and DC posting wins, anything less would have been catastrophic.

With two wins in the last three games, the Red Bulls are building just a bit of momentum. Also, one might call it a coincidence (or not) that those two wins came without the much maligned Rafa Marquez who, according to TH14, deserves better from fans. Lucky for us, the Red Bulls lineup will "get a boost" with the return of both Marquez and left back Roy Miller for the Toronto game.

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

With this victory, the Red Bulls move back into the last wildcard spot (forgive me Mr. Garber - I take everything a said about you back). Another must-win, @Toronto FC, is up next (this coming Saturday). The Red Bulls better come back from the Great White North with three points, as Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane (and the rest of the LA Galaxy) won't be looking to show any mercy when they visit The Cathedral of Football on Tuesday, October 4th.

Please see the above video for pre-game comments. You can click here for half-time and post-game comments. Please click here for my photo album or click here for the slide show. You can also click here for a photo album from our own Dan Dickinson (slide show here). Here's a slide show of some photos from the official RBNY site.

I had a fantastic time sitting in one of the so-called midfield prawn sandwich sections (Section 127 - that's me just above the T in Portland), thanks to Brian and Derek. It's my goal to experience a game from every section of Red Bull Arena in the coming years. Why not? One last thing: can someone please tell me what this was about?

Alrighty then! Hope to see you all soon @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). The big viper is outta here!

RBNY vs RSL: We Suck A**hole!

2011-09-23T16:27:00.012-04:00

What else can be said about this debacle. It was yet another must win situation that our team managed to not win. Goalkeeper Frank Rost was probably wishing he was back in Germany (enjoying his retirement), after getting shelled for 3 goals in the 21 opening minutes. Another set piece our team couldn't defend, another classic Tim Ream gaffe and another forward waltzing right through our defenders. A second half Joel Lindpere golazo gave us just a bit of respectability - but not much.

This is one of those games better left to distant memory. In fact, with another must-win home game coming up tomorrow, it would have been quickly forgotten but for some unfortunate remarks made by a certain RBNY Mexican International Designated Player, with a massive salary.

The obvious fact that the Red Bulls are in total disarray was driven home by the now infamous comments made by one Rafa Marquez (to Dave "The Emperor" Martinez) after this game (video here). That these comments made him look like the overpaid, lackadaisical, elitist he clearly is, I'm sure is of no concern to Mr. Marquez. That he's been suspended for the next match for his comments is, I'm sure, of no concern to him either, as he'll have that much more time to spend at his luxury Manhattan pad (with his model wife.).

Also of no concern to him, I'm sure, is the fact that (when he wasn't on Mexican NT duty) he's sucked it up for many an RBNY game this year, as defenders have gone through him like he wasn't even there. Really, his ball-watching skills are second to none and the two years left of his contract are looking like a massive albatross hung around our team's neck.

Photo credit: Dan Dickinson

Alrighty then! When is the deadline for Season Ticket renewals again?

Please click on the above video for pre-game and first half comments. Please click here for half-time and full-time comments. Please click here for my photo album or click here for the slide show. You can also click here for a photo album courtesy of our own Dan Dickinson (slide show here).

That's all for now. Yes, our team might be toast, but I still hope to see you all tomorrow @The Cathedral of Football, Red Bull Arena (built by Makita). Viper Out!