Red Bulls Report : DANE INJURED, Reyna, Compliance Deadline, more

By: Dave Martinez | March 3rd, 2008

Though the World Wide Web is ABUZZ with THE OFFSIDE CUP (or not), we do have to focus attention back to the team we love.

The Bulls are off with their parent club in Salzburg. Red Bulls best reporters are on hand (Ives and Lewis for starters and enders) and they have ALOT to bring us!

BREAKING NEWS:

Micheal Lewis at Big Apple Soccer is reporting Dane Richards has suffered a mild MCL tear in a 1-0 Red Bulls loss against the Salzburg reserves. It seems that the contest was a “chippy” affair . . .

An excerpt from the article:

What transpired did not surprise Red Bulls captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna, who played in Germany for several seasons.

“I played in Germany and this is how it is always with Germans and Austrians, diving and cheats,” he said. “It’s how they are. That’s how they always play. It’s a shame.”

I will be updating you on the severity as we move forward, but this can put a major crux in our plans this season . . .

HEADLINES:

+ Claudio Reyna has been reported overall to be the top performer at camp. Whether it has been as a CAM or in his normal CDM position, his passing, vision and instincts seem to dwarf the achievements of the rest of the team. That is exactly what you would expect from your Captain, and leader.

Last season, I jumped off the Reyna bandwagon late in the season. He is a personal favorite of mine. And it killed me to do so.

This year, The Red Bulls Offside has thrown our (my) support back onto Reyna. We need him. Alot. And Captain America, under the new regime, will thrive. We hope.

+ Dave Van Den Bergh has also earned praise from Osorio as a viable option for the CAM position. I can see that happening. DVB is just too slow for the wing play. But a CAM? make a few tight passes, looking for opportunity . . . not bad.

+ Our best combination in Osorios 3 back scheme seems to be Goldthwaite, Parke and Mendes. Ives actually feels its Goldies job to lose.

What of Eric Brunner then? Well, he has been given good grades, but is a bit green, especially in such a heavily reliant 3 back position. So, the unforeseen seems to be occuring - Kevin Goldthwaite - starter. Wow.

+ Lider Marmol, a Paraguayan Midfielder (CM, CDM) has been turning heads at Salzburg, including firing a 30 yard blast in an interscrimmage game. Looks like a keeper! The problem? Chicago is rumored to have a discovery claim on him. Ah what a tangled web . . . .

+ Also in camp is Mexican CAM Jesus Mendoza, who is suffering from Mexico Primeraitis - he cant get adjusted to the rough and tumble, keep posession or get tackled game play of the MLS. From Lewis and Ives perspective, it seems that he has a long way to go to impressing the club.

+ I PREDICTED IT! Steve Cangiolosi will be joining Shep Messing in the booth. Yea, no brainer, but I DID GET IT RIGHT!

+ And by the way, Today is the compliance deadline for the salary cap. So good luck Alexi Lalas

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If there is any news on Dane Richards, I will be right there giving you the latest. This news is giving me a case of the MOOOONDAYS.