POLL: Will You Be Watching On The Fourth?
By: Dave Martinez |
3 Comments
Here is an interesting question for you this weekend. With the clubs dismal results on Independence Day, and a house full of beer, food, and friends, I need to know; will the Bulls figure into your Fourth of July plans?
How will the Red Bulls figure into your Fourth of July plans?(poll)
Game Preview: Independence Day, And Other Curses
By: Dave Martinez | Add Comments
The Red Bulls will be facing FC Dallas this Saturday, July 4th. While many around the nation will be having fun, grilling hot dogs and burgers, and throwing back a few beers, the Red Bulls will be performing an exorcism in hopes of finding a rare win on our nations Birthday.
Well, maybe not. But it wouldn’t be a bad idea! The team has played in nine Independence Day games. Their record? An astounding 1-7-1, most recently made worse by a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Rapids just last year (sound familiar?). That is almost as bad as their road record this year.
Almost.
Here is the breakdown of those games:
1996: Colorado 2 - Metrostars 1
1997:Tampa Bay 1 - Metrostars 0
1998: Colorado - Metrostars 0
1999: New England 3 - Metrostars 2
2001: Tampa Bay 1 - Metrostars 2
2002: Dallas 2 - Metrostars 0
2005: Salt Lake 2 - Metrostars 2
2006: Los Angeles 1 - Red Bull 0
2008: Colorado 4 - Red Bull 0
Pretty scary.
Their opponent this year happens to be the “other” worst team in the league, FC Dallas. Maybe that will be exorcism enough for the Bulls to pick up a win, but with their history on the fourth, and their current road slide, I wouldn’t bet on it.
And if this depressing cake needed an extra topping, you could definitely sprinkle some DVB on it. That’s right; this will also be the first time the Bulls have seen much missed fan favorite Dave Van Den Bergh since his offseason departure. Left wing has been a black hole since he left the team, and I am sure Van Den Bergh will be more than willing to remind Red Bull what they have been missing (The curse of DVB?! Maybe just this year . . . ).
All of this spells a tough time in Frisco, Texas. A bit harder than most would expect. Can the Bulls pick up the elusive road win and end two curses in one performance?
Category: +++ MY INFO +++, +++ daveredbulls(a)hotmail.com +++, CURRENT ROSTER, News, Red Bulls, Team News, misc, previewKhano Smith’s Days As A Bull May Be Over Soon
By: Dave Martinez | 4 Comments
Ives is reporting two players have been dropped from guaranteed to non-guaranteed status. Lewis at the Post is saying it is only one. And, from my side, all I am hearing is one name.
Khano Smith.
So let’s just work with that for now (though we know SBI has a way of being correct 99.99% of the time).
As we have been saying, Ernst Obster seems to be a practical lock for the roster, and retired Serb forward Veljko Paunovic (31) has impressed with his performance in training. Paunovic has bounced from club to club for a few years, with three stints in Altletico Madrid. Some seem to have reservations about that, but I would take a guy who has been to one of the premier La Liga teams three times any day - as long as his 6 month “retirement” didn’t leave him with nothing in the tank.
What does this have to do with Khano Smith? Everything. With his contract no longer guaranteed, his roster spot may be used to bring in the veteran Serb or another player onto the roster. And this has been directly a result of his inability to meet with the lofty expectations Red Bull had when they acquired the left winger. He has been absolutely terrible and disinterested on the pitch. It seems from the day of his first benching, Smith has not been able to work his way back into the starting line up.
Surely, Khano imagined a dream scenario in New York; he signed this big contract to fill in the shoes of uber fan favorite Dave Van Den Bergh, meaning more consistent time on the field with the starting XI. But not so fast. Dismal, disinterested performances followed, until he found himself riding the pine. Ever since, Smith has seemed uncomfortable with and, quite frankly, regretful of his move to New York. The mere fact that he walked over to the Revolution fans after a 4-0 drubbing of his team, and gave them a clap and a bow speaks volumes. He just hasn’t been able to settle here, and this is why the Bulls are looking to vacate his spot as soon as possible.
Khano Smiths days as a Red Bull seem to be winding down to an end, and that will open up another roster spot. Will Paunovic be the man to fill it? Will it be someone else? Should Khano get one more chance?! Let me know . . .
Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Category: +++ MY INFO +++, +++ daveredbulls(a)hotmail.com +++, CURRENT ROSTER, News, Red Bulls, Rumors, Team News, misc, releasesRed Bull New York Car
By: Dave Martinez | 2 Comments
Peep this (seen at the Showdown in Chinatown):
For you car lovers out there, it is a 2009 Honda Ridgeline.
In The Wake Of The Tsunami
By: Dave Martinez | 7 Comments
Yesterday, I stated that only in MLS does a guaranteed contract need to be re-guaranteed during the season to count as a true guaranteed contract. Well, with the July 1st guarantee deadline upon us, and no additional moves announced, the Bulls roster has now been set in stone, right?
Well,
Brian Lewis at the Post is reporting a little wrinkle in the rule. In his own words:
And since a lot of you have been asking, Khano Smith and Pietravallo were both at practice. I think it was the Argentine’s last day, but probably not Smith’s. Since contracts are guaranteed tomorrow, does that mean Smith is out of the woods? Not exactly.
The club is able to shunt a few players into a category where their deals are NOT guaranteed tomorrow. I don’t know exactly who falls on that list, but I do know they exercised that option with two players. I presume we’ll find out who they are soon enough, just like we’ll find out who any more trialists will be soon enough.
“Shunt.” “Guarantee.” Meh, what do words mean in Major League Soccer anyway?
The most intriguing aspect of all of this is the identity of the two players that have been . . . ahem . . . “shunted.” My guess is Khano Smith may be on this shortlist. And with the season ending injury of Carlos Mendes, Kiwi Andrew Boyens may be safer than most thought. Definitely leaves a person to ponder the possibilities.
Meanwhile, the Bulls still have one known roster spot open, and all signs are pointing at the Austrian sister clubs Ernst Obster to fill it. They also have Veljko Paunović of Atletico Madrid fame in training, possibly looking to fill the ever elusive CAM slot.
We shall see what happens. Until then, share your thoughts on all of this. Who are the two unidentified players? Is the Obster / Paunovic option to little to late?
Tuesday Morning Poll: Who Would You Cut?
By: Dave Martinez | 9 Comments
With tomorrow signaling the Major League Soccer contract guarantee date, the expectation is that Red Bull are not done with their roster alterations.
For those who don’t know, MLS chooses a date each year on which contracts are officially guaranteed (which defeats the purpose of the word guarantee, but hey, it’s MLS!). This year, it is July 1st. And with may Redn Bull starters underachieving, I am throwing the ax into your hands.
Who would you cut if you were RB management?
Who should the Red Bulls cut before their contracts become guaranteed?(poll)
Category: CURRENT ROSTERBouna Time Means Conway’s Is Up
By: Dave Martinez | 6 Comments
SBI reports Bouna Coundoul, a former starting keeper for the Rapids and keeper in Albany, has signed with the Red Bulls. Widely regarded as a promising prospect with excellent athleticism, the Senegalese native will join a team in desperate need of answers.
Of course, a goalkeeper will not be the offensive answer this team has been searching for, but Coundoul will be a steadying influence on a backline that has been hurting all year long.
The cost of bringing Bouna Time aboard is Jon Conway. Though serviceable for quite some time with the Bulls, he has not been able to regain his winning form after being suspended for violations of the league performance enhancing drug policy. Conway is by no means the root of the Bulls problems, but he does represent another hefty salary being tossed to the way side. Conway joins Pietravallo on the Bulls cut list.
Bouna Coundoul’s signing is a slight ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak 2009. Being that he has signed on through 2012, one can make the implication that this signing is just as much about the teams present state, as it is its future.
Now the one question on my mind is when will the ax start to fall on underachieving starters? Share your thoughts.
Painful Facts
By: Dave Martinez | Add Comments
The truth hurts.
2009 Facts:
- Dead last in the eastern conference
- Least points-for in the league
- Most goals conceded in the league
- Least goals-for in the league
- Most games lost in the league
- Least wins in the league
- A goal differential of -14
- No all stars in this years game
- Currently nine points out of playoff contention
- 0-9-1 on the road this season
- 2-3-3 at home
. . . And there seems to be no end in sight.
Category: CURRENT ROSTERThank You USMNT!!!!!!!!
By: Dave Martinez | 5 Comments
In honor of a valiant perfomance, not only in the Confederations Cup Final, but as a whole, I want to give my gratitude to the boys through song . . .
Oh beautiful for spacious skies
for amber waves of grain
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
and crown thy good with brother hood
from sea to shining sea
Thank you USMNT for proudly and honorably representing our country.
And thanks again Brazil, who continues to make my soccer life miserable, whether as an American or an Argie! Grrr. . . .
Another Road Loss: Crew 1 - RBNY 0
By: Dave Martinez | 9 Comments
If you caught Juan Carlos Osorio’s expression after his team let in yet another extra time goal, it really spoke to you. Anger, confusion, frustration, pain; it was the story of the season, captured in an image (and that is why I highlighted it here!).
Only the Metro Bulls would follow up an amazing header clearance of a sure goal with a lax defensive effort on the opponents only goal. Maybe Marshall did climb Jeremy Hall like a stallion, but that mismatch should not have happened to begin with. The teams inability to end danger in extra time has become as predictable as its results.
Three games into the second half of the season, and the Red Bulls are 0-2-1. They are putting themselves in a mathematically dangerous position. There are 12 games left in the season, and they need 30 points to even sniff their way into playoff contention. That means ten wins folks. The Bulls have only managed 2 in 18 games this season.
Things look very bleak.
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