After experiencing first hand, as a player and a coach, just how difficult it has been for the New York Red Bulls to settle on a proper training ground, head coach Mike Petke would not deny himself another minute to inaugurate the team's new grounds.
If anyone knows a thing or two about losing your head in the heat of a match, it's New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke.
Is it any surprise, then, that he feels a little compassion for Juninho? The 38-year-old playmaker lost his cool in the waning minutes of last Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City, kicking a dead ball in the penalty area at goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
After trading away Dane Richards last season, then New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe quickly realized how dramatically his wing play suffered. He took a chance on signing Lloyd Sam to buffer the loss. While out of form and fitness, Backe believed the speedy, young English midfielder would fill the gap in what had become an impotent flank attack.
With two months remaining before the start of the season, the New York Red Bulls are still without a head coach. Many options have been discussed – both domestic and European – but none have been confirmed.
SBI can now safely cross off two names from that list.
The hardest working Philadelphia athlete outside of Chase Utley has returned to the city, according to two reports.
Empire of Soccer, a New York Red Bulls news and analysis site, stated through its Twitter account that sources had informed it that Sebastien Le Toux was traded to the Philadelphia Union.
With so much going on in Major League Soccer this week following Saturday's MLS Cup Final, I have had a chance to make some guest appearances on a couple of podcasts to talk about the trades, the coaching searches and everything going in in MLS.
I spoke with the folks at MLS in 30, and we talked about the MLS Cup, as well as the flurry of trades in MLS earlier this week.
It seems Gerard Houllier is looking to do more than simply trim the Red Bulls roster.
"Futnet" out of Brazil reports the Red Bulls Global Director of Soccer traveled out to the Soccerex facility in Rio de Janiero to speak with 37-year-old attacking midfielder Juninho Pernambucano.
SBI reported last week that the New York Red Bulls would part ways with veterans Teemu Tainio, Jan Gunnar Solli, Bill Gaudette and newcomer Jose Angulo.
You can now add six more names to that list.
Stephen Keel, Corey Hertzog, Jeremy Vuolo, Tyler Ruthven, Jhonny Arteaga and Jonathan Borrajo become the latest casualties in the Red Bulls offseason exodus.
A week to the day of their epic playoff ouster against D.C. United, the Red Bulls have capped off the firing of Hans Backe and the arrival of Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh with the offseason's first four major player cuts.
According to Frank Giase of The Star-Ledger, New York have decided not to renew the contracts of long-time midfielders Jan Gunnar Solli and Teemu Tainio along with newcomers Bill Gaudette and Jose Angulo.
It only took 58 minutes for the New York Red Bulls to see an element they had been missing for quite some time.
Earning his first start in front of a packed crowd at Red Bull Arena, Lloyd Sam proved to be a game changer. His aggressive style and skill added an element to the Red Bulls' attack that seemed to complete the team's starting puzzle that Coach Hans Backe has desperately been trying to put together for the playoff run.
The New York Red Bulls latest Designated Player, Tim Cahill, has been outspoken about his
transition into Major League Soccer but what does his new partner Dax McCarty think?
The 25-year-old veteran of the American top flight has found a solid form all season long while
teaming with a plethora of different options in the middle.
Ryan Meara's magical rookie season has come to an abrupt end.
SBI has learned that the former Red Bulls starting keeper will undergo hip surgery that will
effectively end his first professional season.
"Yes, it will be a season ending (surgery)," Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe confirmed after
Thursday's training session
Meara, a New York native and Fordham University product, started 18 matches for the team this
season, accumulating 1620 minutes in net, and allowing all of 27 goals against for a respectable
1.
On a night where Tim Cahill scored his first goal as a Red Bull and the team rallied from a 2-0
deficit for a 3-2 victory, it was Bill Gaudette who stole the show.
And that says a lot.
"I think the real hero tonight was probably Billy," Cahill said after the match.
Battling heavy heat and overwhelming humidity through 90 minutes of play from virtually a
central defensive midfield position against a superior opponent was not exactly the way Tim Cahill,
the New York Red Bulls organization or their fan base pictured the Australian's debut.
Friendly matches are not usually a barometer for judgment when reflecting on regular season
play, but one New York Red Bulls player put an impressive exclamation point after weeks of dominant
performances by stoning Tottenham in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to the Premiership club.
There is a bittersweet feeling in the air at Red Bull Arena. Though today's press conference
to officially announce the signing of Tim Cahill will surely nab headlines, a disappointing loss in
Montreal will undoubtedly bubble beneath the surface.
New York Red Bulls fans may be days away from seeing the team's latest Designated Player, Tim
Cahill, in action.
Though he won't be used against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, the former Everton star will
likely be debuting much in the same manner like his New York DP predecessor Thierry Henry did just
two years ago; in a friendly against Tottenham.
From the season opener to the present day, the Red Bulls have been steadily fighting (and
overcoming) injuries all year long. Saturday's match against the Union continued that trend as
comeback player Brandon Barklage fell with a hamstring injury despite New York's victory.
The New York Red Bulls have long been on the hunt for an attacking midfielder. The last steady
offensive distributor for the team left in 2006. His name? Amado Guevara.
Since the Honduran's departure, many have attempted to fill in the role for New York with little
success to show for it.
Kenny Cooper had gone seven matches without scoring a goal, but he picked a perfect time to end
his recent drought.
Cooper headed home crosses from Connor Lade and Thierry Henry to push his season goal total to
13 and help the Red Bulls deliver a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union at Red Bull Arena on
Saturday.
New York Red Bulls Designated Player Rafa Marquez will once again be designated to the injured
list.
Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe said a scan of his calf revealed another injury, forcing the
former Mexican captain out of the team's next several games.
It didn't take long for Sebastian Le Toux to make an impact for the New York Red Bulls. His game
tying strike, and a steady performance from goalkeeper Bill Gaudette guided New York through brutal
heat en route to a 2-2 tie against the visiting Seattle Sounders.
Things certainly change quickly in the world of the New York Red Bulls.
Earlier this week, Head Coach Hans Backe told gathered reporters about the team's "ongoing"
discussions with a potential Designated Player. By week's end, General Manager Erik Soler was
busy putting the brakes on any such talk.
With a little more than two weeks remaining until the close of the MLS summer transfer window,
the New York Red Bulls have a Designated Player in their sights.
According to head coach Hans Backe, the Red Bulls have targeted and are currently in
negotiations with a potential third DP to join the likes of Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez.
Earlier this season, a decimated New York Red Bulls lineup managed to tie a club record for
consecutive victories with five wins in a row despite heavy losses to their starting eleven. Bench
players, newcomers and rookies all helped keep the Red Bulls' season afloat, securing three
shutouts while outscoring opponents, 8-3.
"I don't think we ever played a game (this season) with the same team two games in a row," Hans
Backe lamented after Friday's training session.
It looks like this week won't be any different.Â
The New York Red Bulls will be missing up to six starters, including Designated Players Thierry
Henry and Rafa Marquez and teammates Jan Gunnar Solli, Markus Holgersson, Heath Pearce and Teemu
Tainio for this weekend's match against the New England Revolution.
New York Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry warned about overlooking Toronto FC. "I hope people
are not expecting us to go out there and kill them because it won't be an easy game, we all know
that," he told reporters after practice this week.
After a relatively quiet start to the winter, the New York Cosmos have gone on an acquisition spree. Friday morning, the team announced further reinforcements with the signing of former Toronto FC striker/midfielder Peri Marosevic and Guatemalan striker Henry Lopez.
A 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium in New York is being proposed for construction at the center of a rundown area of land with the aspiration of opening by 2016.
Sound familiar? You bet, but it isn't Major League Soccer's proposal we are talking about.
The last remaining Metrostar is now the first New York Cosmos player of the modern era.
The Cosmos have officially signed former Red Bull defender Carlos Mendes. Mendes, who will be 32 at months end, is a Mineola native and no stranger to the New York market.
The du Nord Futbol Show podcast - Episode 2 - Featuring an interview with the legendary Eric
Wynalda is ready for listening!
dN
Toronto FC is making big roster clearing moves that one would assume means new players are on their
way. Today money-drain Julian de Guzman was shipped off to FC Dallas in exchange for cheap
youngster Andrew Weidman, while last week the team cut Nick Soolsma and loaned out Joao Plata.
The Paul Kemsley Era New York Cosmos left a sour taste in the mouth of New York-area soccer fans
hoping for a second MLS franchise to emerge in the region. Seemingly at every turn, where there was
promise, failure followed. A potentially great alliance with standout youth academy program BW
Gottchee was formed, only to deteriorate into a legal battle over unpaid wages.
It has been a long and winding road back to the National team for Eddie Johnson.
Once considered the next great American forward, the 28-year-old striker has since seen his career come to a near halt as four nomadic years in Europe and an unsuccessful jaunt with Puebla FC of Liga MX derailed his progress.
It has been a long and winding road back to the National team for Eddie Johnson.
Once considered the next great American forward, the 28-year-old striker has since seen his career come to a near halt as four nomadic years in Europe and an unsuccessful jaunt with Puebla FC of Liga MX derailed his progress.
To understand the Columbus Crew's Federico Higuain, you have to know where he is coming from.
The dynamic forward, and the Crew's newest Designated Playe, was born and raised in the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires, and he comes from a culture where soccer is king.
Juan Roman Riquelme always said he would like to retire in a Boca Juniors jersey, but last
night's 3-1 aggregate defeat in the Copa Libertadores final against Brazilian side Corinthians was
surely not the way he wanted to go.
Shortly after Boca's ouster, the 34-year-old attacking midfielder and former Argentine
international informed gathered reporters of his decision to leave the club effective
immediately.
