After Warzycha benched the teams biggest threat for the teams biggest match (what a dope!), it should have sent warning shots in the minds of everyone associated with MLS.

Former All Star, MLS Cup Winner, Boca Jrs. Legend and league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto has just been asked to take a sizable pay cut by the Columbus Crew, to the tune of $400k.

The team continues to undergo it's offseason makeover. Leo Krupnik, formerly of Maccabi Haifa, has just signed on with Maccabi Netanya for an undisclosed sum. He appeared in only three games, starting in two.

If you are keeping score at home, that is now 9 players that started 2009 with the Bulls, who now find themselves elsewhere.

Big Apple Soccer, home of everything New York Soccer, reports speaking to "El Professor" Juan Carlos Osorio about his move to Once Caldas. His reply?

"The offer is a very good offer," he said. "The club is a very good club. I am considering the offer. However, I would like to stay in the United States.

It's time for a little overdue wrap up post with the correct answers to the recent quizzes.

One of These Players is not Like the Others

Answer: Didi Hamann. All other players were transfers from Karlsruhe to Bayern, while Hamann came through Bayern's youth system for a change.

If you were betting on Once Caldas of the Colombian Mustang division to be the first suckers to hire the preeminent Professor of the 4-5-1, grab yourself a boobie prize kid.

Juan Carlos Osorio is a head coach once more. He takes on a squad that is currently 8th in their table, with 7 wins, 7 draws and 4 ties, accumulating 23 goals for and 14 against in that time frame.

Leeds United, once tippy top dog of the First Division, has been relegated to the third division for the first time in it's storied history. Today, a once ravaged squad stands as tippy top dog again, having it's finances in order as well as their management, going undefeated in eight games, and taking an early lead in the poll race for a Championship promotion.

Jeter is breaking down the left flank, and he sends a beautiful cross to Johnny Damon.
Damon dribbles passed the defender and finds a wide open A-Rod!
A-Rod with a chipper to Matsui . . .
Matsui lines it up and hits a glancing head . . .
GOOOOOLLLLL MATSUI!

The two times Curt Onalfo and Richie Williams were together in a playing capacity, they managed to take home the 1989 NCAA College Soccer National Championship at the University of Virginia and ten years later, the 1999 MLS Cup with DC United. They know each other, and have been proven winners stateside in the past.

You have heard stories about how this economic downturn has effected people from all areas of life, from the financial district to the local McDonalds. But what about the caffeine addicts out there? Well, for those who feel coffee just isn't enough, but paying two dollars a can for Red Bull is too much, they have turned to the next best thing: a crime spree.

The Metro Reverse Curse lives.

What is the Reverse Curse? It is a temporary suspension of all footballing ability while wearing a Metro Bull kit that is magically cured once a player switches kits to another club. There are so many examples of this, but sticking to recent memory (and not in any order of importance at all); Hunter Freeman leaves Red Bull and has become a regular starter in Norway, Gabriel Cichero leaves Red Bull and becomes a valuable piece of their National teams youth movement, Mike Magee has proven to be a key offensive cog in the Galaxy's overall make up leading the team in assists, Diego Jimenez continues to excel in Mexico, and notched two goals upon arriving back to his country after his RB departure.

Are we at all sure that Youri hasn't been hired by Red Bull already?

The French legend has been planting seeds in France, playing Red Bull ambassador in the hopes of attracting his countrymen stateside through interviews like the one he had with football-ravageur, a French footy outlet.

He has some great insights on the successes and short comings of David Beckham, the measure of MLS against other leagues and the possibility of including more French players to the league structure.

It has been a long and sometimes unforgiving decade for the Bulls. They played in the highest of highs (an MLS Cup Appearance) and the lowest of the lows (2009), suffered extreme anguish over injustice (Diallo, Petke is still gunning for you), and extreme ecstasy (Mathis - those 5 goals were a thing of beauty).

Which player is seen here reflecting large amounts of light straight back to the sun?

Dieter, Dietmar . . . close enough.

Dietmar Beiersdorfer, the new sporting director for worldwide Red Bull soccer operations, has descended upon New York and has brought with him a cloud of speculation. Is he here to hire a new GM? Perhaps weigh in on the coaching situation?

Here is a little tidbit that just made its way to my desk: Luke Sassano, Nick Zimmerman and Jeremy Hall are all taking in the sights and sounds of Austria, as the trio begin a 2-3 week training stint with the Salzburg Motherland Crew.

Hopefully, they don't get the Dane Richards treatment.

One of these players just doesn't belong. Can you tell which player is not like the others?

From left to right: former Dortmund striker Márcio Amoroso, Wolfsburg striker Grafite, Bayern striker Luca Toni and Nuremberg striker/midfielder Marek Mintal.

Phil Brown has been talking a storm about Jozy's "Twittergate" this week, including gems like this:

Asked if Altidore had put the twit in Twitter, an unimpressed Brown replied: "I'd have put an 'a' in it."

Now that is the kind of comment Maradona would be proud of!

While at yesterday's final grass installation, there was a rare positive vibe with the team, not just for the Arena's near completion, but for the season to come. Whether it was players, management or press, everyone seemed to look towards the future with longing eyes.

A lot of the hot button issues were discussed, and others simply insinuated.

Jozy Altidore was excluded from the Hull City game with no explanation for his absence to be found. But the young lass loves his social networking sites, so the mystery didn't take very long to figure out. While Hull was already playing, Jozy sent his fans a little tweet to explain what had happened:

"Apologize to the all of you.

Alrighty ladies and gents, while some may be writing about postseason plans with passionate pride, I will be doing my darndest to keep things interesting around here till March of 2010. And when a team isn't in the playoffs (holla TFC, and San Jose!), the front office has to do the same.

It is in that vane that the Red Bulls announced their awards for team MVP, Defender of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Fan of the Year.

Just in time for the election cycle, interim coach Richie Williams has received a huge endorsement for the vacant head coaching position. And this vote of confidence holds a lot of weight.

Team captain Juan Pablo Angel has clearly recognized the short term successes of the Williams era.

When you looked up at the sky, and the puddles all over the floor, there was a certain irony in it all; as if even the God's were crying over the 2009 season. And what weather could be more fitting for a Stadium that caused nothing but tears for the past 14 years? Surely, with a hungry and desperate TFC at the gates, tonight would end like so many others; a tearful mess of a loss.

How many times have you heard a sports journo or commentator use the phrase "That kid's got heart!" It is one of those cliches that stands the test of time, much like the classic "he gives one hundred and ten percent every play," and the ever so popular "he never takes a play off. He is always competing!

This is it.

October 24 will be the end of an era (error?) for New York soccer. Toronto FC will be the final opponent on that cursed rubber pitch that has haunted this franchise for 14 years now. Yes fans, the day has come. It is finally over.

No more unpredictable bounces. No more turf burn.

A fairly easy one to solve I think.

For all of you that are interested, FIFA 10 is out and ready for your consoles!

Anyone want to play? Look for my XBOX gamer tag: UNCLE DAVE 23 - and maybe we can get a little tourney going later in the year!

Pick up your copy today!

One of these players just doesn't belong. Can you tell which player is not like the others?

You know, I never do the CAPTION THIS thing, but this one was too good to pass up . . . .

. . . . As if Red Bulls fan needed another reason to poke fun at their DC rivals.

My entry:

"At least they wore socks ..."

Thanks ESPN the Magazine!

New York Red Bulls: Don't Forget the Lyrics from Red Bulls Reader on Vimeo.

Um . . . thanks Red Bulls Reader?! OOOOOF. Is this cringy . . . but I have to admit. Danleigh Borman is better than most boy banders.

Enjoy on this Wednesday morn . . . . eek.

Updated salaries have been posted, reflecting teams pay as of September 15, 2009. In the clandestine world of MLS, a look at the finances are a rare peak into the inner workings of the individual teams, and the league as a whole. When they give you the info, be thankful!

Definitely a few pleasant surprises here this time around, especially when you consider the fact that the list no longer includes albatross salaries of Juan Pietravallo and Khano Smith.

Here it is. Like The Riddle Of The Great Pyramids, the Red Bulls have been staring at this mathematical equation for the better part of two seasons now, and that number continues to escalate. 25 game winless streak on the road. Another Osorio record. But can Richie turn it around against San Jose?

The US Mens Under 20 National Squad had some local flavor, as Red Bull Academy stand out Dilly Duka exposed the Cameroon defense and midfield in a brilliant performance, setting up the second goal, and painting the lower third in a 4-1 romp over the African side.

Going one on one with the Cameroonian defender, and with space to move, Duka looked towards goal, and floated a beauty over the head of the keeper, and just inside of the post on the far right.

Anyone who even lightly follows Serie A (like me) knows that Napoli is in a bit of trouble. Currently standing at the bottom half of the league tables, Napoli's performances have been considered disappointing this season, even after an exciting 2-1 win against Siena this weekend, in a match that was billed to be a make or break for their head coach, former Italian National manager and Metrostars player, Roberto Donadoni.