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.

With 2012 marking the beginning of the USA's FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and the players here hoping to make a big impression, we decided to look back at the January camp roster from this time in the previous two cycles to see if there is any forecasting to be done on how many players will actually reach the World Cup.

Solér Speaks, FinallySince 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.

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.

There was a time when I liked a couple players in the MLS Re-Entry Draft for the Seattle Sounders to pick up in Stage Two and talk into less money. First Bobby Boswell renegotiated with the Houston Dynamo and then Bobby Convey went to Sporting Kansas City at a cut rate (rumors say 200K$). Now the list of available players is absent of the really appealing names.

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.

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.

New York has a lot of talent but little depth, which could be good for them in the expansion draft. (Getty Images)

It wasn't the year that most had expected out of the New York Red Bulls. A fast started turned into a long summer drought followed by a late season push into the playoffs. Expectations were high and the team failed to reach them.

Just when you thought all hope was lost, New York goes out and does this. A win, honest to God, a win. For the first time since the July 6th drubbing of TFC, the Red Bulls claimed all three points and boy did it feel good. Granted, it got a bit nervy there and it wasn't the pretty display by any stretch of the imagination, but isn't that what it's all about?

Rodgers With Another Huge Goal (Photo by Brandon Wade, Getty Images)The drought is finally over! After going more than two months (73 days to be exact) without a league victory, the Red Bulls pulled their act together on Saturday night and got a massive, massive three points in Frisco against FC Dallas, one of MLS' more formidable home sides.

Missing Thierry Henry and facing a strong FC Dallas side on the road, the New York Red Bulls didn't look like a good bet to get the three points they needed to pump some sorely-needed life into their fading playoff hopes.

No, the Red Bulls didn't have their star goal-scorer, or three fourths of their starting defense, but the team that hadn't won since July found a way to win anyway, as a Luke Rodgers goal and standout performance from Frank Rost helped New York post a sorely-needed 1-0 victory over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park.

By MIKE NASTRI

Another game, another draw for the New York Red Bulls.

After not winning a game since July 6th, the Red Bulls desperately needed three points to stay in the increasingly crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture. A match against the last place Chicago Fire seemingly was that game, but New York let an opportunity and an early lead slip away once again.

What lineup will Jurgen Klinsmann use tonight in his USMNT debut against Mexico?
We'll all have to wait and see of course, and another thing we'll have to wait and see about is what players Klinsmann will rely heavily on during his time as US coach.
Might those players be on the field tonight against Mexico?

What lineup will Jurgen Klinsmann use tonight in his USMNT debut against Mexico?
We'll all have to wait and see of course, and another thing we'll have to wait and see about is what players Klinsmann will rely heavily on during his time as US coach.
Might those players be on the field tonight against Mexico?

Arsenal failed to beatThierry Henry's New York Red Bulls after a late Kyle Bartley own-goal handed the MLS side a 1-1 draw which wins them the Emirates Cup.

A first-half Robin van Persie header at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium home put the Gunners ahead before substitute Bartley's attempted clearance of a Juan Agudelo cross cost his team the victory, with former Gunners superstar Henry creating the chance.

So after playing on the west coast last weekend getting and getting pounded @altitude midweek, the Red Bulls returned home to face the second best team in MLS on Saturday. In the ensuing 90 minutes, the Red Bulls were lucky to get out of Harrison with hard fought 2-2 draw. But nevermind the result.

Carlos Tevez could be returning to Corinthians.

According to reports out of England, the Brazilian power has made Manchester City a £35 million offer for the Argentine forward, who played there from 2004-2006 prior to joining the Premier League.

Tevez' departure from Manchester City seems to be a certainty, but a major team in Europe was expected to be his next destination.

Good evening! As our boys prepare for their trip to San Jose - where 25,000 tickets have already been sold - let's take a quick look at the news.
While there's no proven link with his being up in a skybox on Tuesday night, word came out today that head coach Hans Backe is recovering from surgery today and will not be available for the match at Stanford Stadium this Saturday night.

Photo Credit: DailyHarrison.com
Good afternoon! What a perfect day it is, here in Red Bulls Land! The sun is shining, the temperature is just right and our beloved team is back in action, @The Cathedral of Football (8:00pm ET, MSG). Today's opponent: none other than current the MLS Champion Colorado Rapids.

Photo Credit: DailyHarrison.com
Good Afternoon! A cloudy, but pleasant one (temperature-wise), here in Red Bulls Land. Before tomorrow's massive home fixture, against Chivas USA, let's get to some RBNY happenings from the past week.
Despite the Red Bulls losing a midweek friendly up @Montreal, Mr.

Good Afternoon! The Red Bulls are in action today, as they travel north of the border to beautiful Stade Saputo for a midweek friendly against the Montreal Impact. The Impact currently play in the second division NASL but are due to become MLS' 19th team next year.

Can TH14 be the player Red Bull paid for?

That's the label that's pretty much been put on this Red Bulls team by fans and "experts" alike (please note the quotes). With all the expectations that come with having two world-class DPs along with the addition of quality European talent, New York has no other option but to go all the way.

This week was one of mixed emotions for Sounders fans. The team took to the field against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday in the last preseason game and won 3-1. The offense put up the numbers many Sounders fans, and Sigi Schimd, were looking for. Unfortunately, both Steve Zakuani and Brad Evans were taken out of the game for injuries.

By AVI CREDITOR

Fans of the Seattle Sounders can turn their worries from an anemic preseason offense to injuries to two starters.

Fredy Montero scored two goals and assisted on Jhon Kennedy Hurtado's 60th-minute opening goal, as the Sounders topped the Colorado Rapids, 3-1, in Wednesday night's Community Shield match at Qwest Field.

STARTERS
Happy Birthday to the Dark Prince himself - Clint Dempsey!
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2nd leg Quarterfinal matches!
dN
Barcelona and Shakhtar storm into the next round.
Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune reviews Tuesday's action.

In what was truly a "game of two halves," the Red Bulls dropped the final match of their preseason trip to Mexico, losing 3-2 to Chivas de Guadalajara thanks to a late second half collapse. Dane Richards and Juan Agudelo registered two fine goals that had RBNY comfortably in front before the break, but it was a different story in the second half, especially after major substitutions resulted in Carlos Mendes playing at right back and trialist Stephen Keel replacing Marquez in central defense.

By MIKE NASTRI

The New York Red Bulls have already added many new faces to the team that won the regular season Eastern Conference crown. New York hopes to add one more piece to that puzzle with new trialist Teemu Tainio.

The current Ajax midfielder arrived in Mexico for Red Bull camp on Thursday night.

The Red Bulls saw their first pre-season action tonight as they faced three-time Mexican champion, Atlante, in a friendly match. While still early, and meaningless, the match does give us fans a first glimpse at Coach Backe's thinking regarding the first XI, as well as some actual soccer to soothe our collective football jones.

It may be a total shot in the dark, but if you ask Mike Burns or Steve Nicol about their assessment of the recently-concluded calendar year, they'd both probably say that 2010 didn't quite go they way they had planned. Just a wild guess.

But, I would bet my sweat-stained orange crush Tea Men t-shirt that a losing record, the retirement of Taylor Twellman, and the early-season suspension of skipper Shalrie Joseph weren't on the agenda as 2010 opened.