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. He is 36 years old, and will be 37 in May, so a pay cut is naturally the way a team would look at such a player at this time in his career. But $400k? After all he has done?

Let me rattle off some facts for you:

- He has accumulated 19 goals and 22 assists in 51 regular season games.
- He has 2 goals and 6 assists in 5 postseason games.
- He was benched by the Crew in preference to a defensive style on the road leg of their series with RSL, but upon his insertion, he found the net. Twice.
- He single handedly turned the Crew around from perennial wanna-be to constant contender.
- He has won a grand total of 21 trophies in various competitions internationally and here in the US.

The guy does two things very well; get a team scoring, and get a team winning trophies, both critical to the future of Red Bull.

So what would you do if given the opportunity to sign him? Would he be worth a trade? And what would you place as his price tag? Have your say in today’s poll and comment below:

Guillermo Barros Schelotto:(answers)

If you are keeping score at home, that is now 9 players that started 2009 with the Bulls, who now find themselves elsewhere. Here is a rundown of the entire 2009 Exodus – and boy, what a difference it is from the start of the year:

- Albert Celades (retirement)
- Jon Conway
- Alec Dufty
- Oscar Echeverry
* Walter Garcia (on trial at Leeds, future unknown)
* Juan Carlos Osorio (coach for Once Caldas)
- Leo Krupnik
- Dominic Oduro
- Alfredo Pacheco
- Juan Pietravallo
- Khano Smith

That is almost enough players to field a team. Not good.

“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. But I’m not sitting around. I want to work. I have to work.”

Interesting denial, especially considering that the Once Caldas front page has been promoting Osorio for the past two days (screenshots after the jump):

Once when he “officially” signed on . . . .

. . . . claiming he will commence work the second week of December. Or today’s feature . . .

. . . . with this front page splash, detailing Osorio’s initial “transfer wish list” for the club moving forward and highlighting the clubs directors mulling the fax. The bottom of the page actually has an inset featuring an interview with his new assistant coach, Pompilio Páez.

Who is to be believed, ladies and gentlemen?

My guess? Osorio signed on prematurely. With his apparent popularity in Colombia going through the roof, combined with a team that is struggling it’s way through the league table, it seems the directors may have jumped the gun on the announcement before Osorio’s contract expired in December to give the fans a little something to look forward to. This puts the former Bulls coach in the unenviable position of towing the line he has already crossed; signing with a team while still “signed” with another.

What do you think is going on here?!

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. Osorio, infamous for his defensive positioning and tactics, inherits a squad which already boasts the lowest goals against in the league, and is in the top half of the scoring tables as well.

I am sure every Red Bull fan will be following this storyline during the offseason – just in case those numbers take a turn for the worse.

Their quest for this goal has lead them to Red Bull trainee and Jeff Agoos pet project, Walter Garcia. Garcia is currently trialing with Leeds in hopes of securing a contract with the club. He notched only one appearance as a Red Bull, and will most notably be remembered as the final lynch pin pulled on the grenade that was the Agoos/Osorio partnership. As a matter of fact, he played so little time with the Red Bulls, that it is a challenge to find a picture of him with the teams kit!

Osorio felt that the investment and training put into an out of shape, former Argentine prospect would be a waste for a club that was itself trying to reformulate. If Garcia is taken by the England side, it will be Osorio who will have the last laugh in that argument.

Besides, as an Argie, it would stink to lose yet another countryman. Boo lack of Argies!

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!!!! GODZILLA DOES IT AGAIN!!!
YANKEES LEAD 1-0!!!!

Ok, wrong World Series.

Jack Bell and the Times reports Red Bull have inked a multi-year deal to be the American home of the Football World Series (not to be confused with the baseball final or the World Series of Football). The format is simple; the tournaments take place in different areas of the world. Being that Red Bull is the host for the American event, they will be immediately inserted into the competition. Three international squads fill out the remaining card.

In Amsterdam, the three teams included host Ajax, Benfica, Sunderland and Atletico Madrid. Not a bad showing, especially for the soccer aficionado. This will also give the Red Bulls more opportunities to test their mettle against some of the best in the world in a tournament that may take place after the World Cup.

The multi-year aspect of this is exciting as well, securing supporters a look at world class competition, even if the participating teams will be playing during their off season. In my humble opinion, tournaments like this are necessary in drawing more of a spotlight to the American Soccer community.

What do you think? Cool or lame? Drop me a line, let me know . . .

If they are the winning combination, Red Bull had better start moving fast; as predicted, DC has already sent out feelers to the Williams camp, enticing the once beloved United figure to come home once more and lead the team to the promised land. Quite the proposal.

Meanwhile, Red Bull are entertaining the other half of that duo. Curt Onalfo “enjoyed” a rather mediocre stay at the Wizards, keeping a fairly even record of 27-29-22, with two consecutive playoff appearances in consecutive years, before this seasons collapse. Onalfo was originally hired as the KC coach by Peter Vermes for his “attacking style” and “exciting” play, a stark contrast to past KC coaches of recent memory. Those same attributes are what make him an appealing fit for the Bulls, who languished in 0-0 ties and 1-0 losses throughout the Osorio era.

On one end, it is a welcome sight to witness Red Bull aggressively pursuing American options who understand the MLS game and rules. But is Onalfo ready to take the step as Sporting Director? Who knows. One thing is for certain; the communication, which was none existant and dextrimental in the Osorio/Agoos era, would surely die with the friendly, on the same page Onalfo/Williams pairing.

What are your thoughts? Is Onalfo the answer? Are you still clammoring for Peter Wilt perhaps? Share your thoughts below.

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.

Red Bull cans are flying off the shelf – but no one wants to pay for them! Check this out:

Exhibit A – The NJ Police Blotter (report here)

LYNDHURST — Kelly Vannote, 25, of Kearny, was arrested Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. for shoplifting $142.20 worth of Red Bull from ShopRite on New York Avenue. She also had warrants out of Warren County Sheriff’s Department for $3,396 and Newark for $500. WCSD took custody of Vannote.

and not to be outdone . . .

EXHIBIT B – Red Bull Stealing Spree In Buffalo

James Taylor really, really likes Red Bull, according to his Buffalo police arrest report. Taylor, a 50-year-old East Delavan Avenue resident, is accused of visiting the same Rite Aid drug store four times over two weeks to steal numerous cans of the energy drink.

Taylor’s alleged energy-drink crime spree began Oct. 25, when police say he stole nine $6.99 four-packs of Red Bull from the store at 1410 Delaware Ave., near Forest Lawn Cemetery. The thefts increased over the past 48 hours, when police say Taylor stole five four-packs of Red Bull just after midnight Friday and four more four-packs just after midnight Saturday. Those thefts had a total value of $125.82 for the 72 cans. Finally, at 9:40 p.m. Saturday, when Taylor reportedly tried to steal three more packages of the energy drink, a store employee caught him and threw him into the store display. The pair wrestled on the ground before officers showed up and arrested Taylor. Some, if not all, of the thefts were recorded on the store’s surveillance camera. Taylor is charged with third-degree robbery.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this recession is hitting harder than Mike Tyson’s fist on Little Mac’s face. How will this theft be controlled, and how will this effect the Red Bulls ability to pick up a second DP?! Share your thoughts on this sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow news day.

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. Chris Leitch even notched 7 assists for a weak San Jose squad this year! And the list unsufferabley goes on and on and on.

Well, now the Fat Cat can proudly call himself one of the many that used New York as a spring board for better things. Zach Thornton, who just last year sat behind Conway, Cepero and a half a bag of popcorn on the goalkeeper depth charts, has been awarded the 2009 Goalkeeper and Comeback Player of the Year award. Imagine that! The Beast not only won the awards, but did so while demolishing his best season tallies to do so. With a tiny .87 goals against, it is a wonder why Thornton was never seriously considered for the starting position here at all.

But that is the nature of the Reverse Curse, isn’t it? Let’s hope for Red Bulls sake that the new Arena washes away the demons of East Rutherford for good . . .