That was Juan Carlos Osorio after the FC Dallas game, and by all accounts, it looks like he had more on his mind than yet another loss.

Maybe this weeks summit in Austria is what weighed so heavily on him.

SBI reports Jeff Agoos and Erik Stover have been summoned to Austria to meet with Red Bull brass to explain the mess that has been the 2009 season. And it looks like heads will roll for these failures.

This, along with the Beckham game, will surely make for a circus atmosphere the next two weeks. A change can come as early as this week.

You all know how I have felt about this. But sound off. Should Osorio get the ax? Or do more heads need to roll? Will Osorio even have a job after this meet and greet? Share your thoughts people!

With both clubs primarily focused on righting the ship late into the season, the big guns should be getting a rest, and some bench players will have the opportunity to see the pitch and possibly compete for starting minutes in the process.

Since I can’t seem to find even an amateur feed of the event, I’d be happy to direct your attentions to live running commentary of the event from two very reliable sources:

- Red Bull Reader has their representative at Buck Shaw, ready to report the action, which you can follow along here!.

- TheOffside.com Alumni (San Jose blogger) and now big shot SBI Correspondent (good job buddy!), Sean Rubio, will be tracking the action live as well at SBI Mafia Central. Click here for the action!

Both RBR and Sean at SBI give a great and detailed account of the game, so follow along, cross your fingers, and hope for the best possible result.

We’ll be back tomorrow to recap all the action. But feel free to leave your comments below.

This week, I am “dumping” a lot of stuff on ya’. So get your “open new tab” buttons ready! Links galore are coming your way!

- We start off with the slowly dying publication known as “The New York Times.” Some of you may have heard of it. Anyway, Danny Cepero has taken over Jozy Altidores slot as the NYT Pro Soccer blogger, and has put up a beautiful, must read piece on the less than glamorous lifestyle of a star MLS player. It is actually very endearing. Check it out.

- Have you heard about the season opener in Seattle against the Sounders? It’s a sold out affair. Take that Mariners!

- Here is a link talking about Becks return (and exit). If all goes as planned (which I dont think will happen), his first game back will be against the Red Bulls. My favorite part of the link? “To a July 18 game at the New York Red Bulls, in the suffocating heat of the East Coast summer and on artificial turf (both of which he loathes).” Good. The booing won’t make it any easier. If it happens.

- How close is Celades to signing with the Bulls? This Close.

- Jeff Parke has resurfaced overseas, this time on trial at Anderlecht. This is one blogger that has his fingers crossed for him. Go Jeff!

- American Soccer Blogging Godfather Ives Galarcep reports two Boca Juniors products are currently training with the RB organization; Nicolas Villafane and Gabriel Quirulef. I hope these two work out better than past bosteros. I am one Boca fan with his fingers crossed.

- And speaking of the backlines, MLS has a good article up about the possible facelift that is underway in the Red Bulls defense. A definite read for a Wednesday morning.

- And finally, the Bulls roster is under compliance. From here on out, every player they sign will mean a player released. Let the games begin.

Have a great day everyone! Ill be back later if anything exciting pops.

How about a starting central defender for a former La Liga side? How about a veteran of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona? How about a defender that has been a part of La Liga Championship teams!?

Meet Albert Celades, central midfielder, formerly of Real Zaragoza. The 33 year old vet has been around greatness and garbage in his 13 year Liga career, finding himself on championship teams and relegated losers. He is widely considered a tough as nails presence in the middle defense, who gets on the end of an occasional header for goal. Like most Red Bulls, he has played a central defensive midfield as well. And to top it all off, Ives reports that the Red Bulls have him on trial in Argentina.

Thats encouraging!

THE CENTRAL MIDFIELD

Not to undercut my next “Preseason Battles” edition, but the central defense for the Red Bulls could use some support, especially in the face of a season featuring so many miscellaneous games on schedule. Goldthwaite, Boyens and Petke will only take the team so far. The added veteran leadership of a tried and true big league veteran will only help stabilize the backlines; that is, if Celades continues to be in game shape.

Add this move onto the possible transfer of Pacheco, and you have the makings of an exciting (and short) lead up to the season.

So what are your thoughts now? Things looking better? Liking the mix or veterans and youth players? Or what?!

Let me know!

- Life Vest? Check. Hey, you may want to drown me.
- Bullet proof vest? Check. Because bullets are everywhere in Jersey and New York.
- Military boots? Check. In case I have to fight back.
- Now, where is my jockstrap? Oh, there it is. Check. And thats for the dirty fighters!

Ok. Now I am ready for you.

Trading Dave Van Den Bergh is not the end of the world. SBI reports that both DVB and Mike Magee are on the Red Bulls trading block, heading into the SuperDraft. And I say? So be it. Here is why.

We can start with the money issue. Once again, a year has passed with a very minimal change to the salary cap structure. Concessions were made by eliminating the reserves division, but that will cut into the prospective roster depth. Therefore, no matter what, the teams are still squeezing their wallets to get the best value.

Dave Van Den Bergh enjoyed a phenomenal season with the Bulls last year, and earned his place as the hardest working footballer on the pitch, week in and week out. He transformed himself from a 2007 after thought to a 2008 hero. His goals weren’t always the prettiest, but they were clutch. And his attitude on the pitch rubbed off well on the rest of the players.

But let’s face facts. A couple of thousand dollars can be the difference between bargaining power for a well skilled, fairly known South American player or a player with high risk, and possible low reward. It is the nature of MLS business; bargain shop, and get the best for your buck. The Red Bulls barely paid DVB half of his salary the past two seasons, with Kansas City supplying the funds for the rest. Suddenly, you are talking about a 100k+ hit on a cap that can not afford to waste space.

Not that an investment in DVB is a waste, but it is certainly money that can be spent elsewhere to further strengthen and reinforce a squad, rather than bringing in retreads to relive last years regular season nightmares. This team needs an infusion of new blood, without sacrificing the on the field product.

If DVB were to exit stage left towards FC Dallas, the Bulls have the luxury of a more than competant back up in Jorge Rojas, at half the price. The extra money can be put towards finding that missing piece that has been searched for since the Guevara days; a quality attacking midfielder. And with the market in its current shape, opportunities may arise to aquire quality at a bargain (look at Kansas City recently resigning Claudio Lopez as a NON – DP).

Now, the team made it to the finals last season, but please, don’t forget the futility that mired the season leading up to it. They were uninspired, for the most part, and over matched. Though making the Cup is an achievement, by no means does that make the team an immediate contender. Like the NFL in playoff season, the Red Bulls decimated opponents by getting hot at the right time. This doesn’t put them on the level of a Houston or New England, who are expected to be there. Red Bull has to make a deeper investment in their on the field product to achieve such a lofty status.

Can the team worsen without Van Den Bergh? Surely. Juan Pietravallo, though fairly difficult to judge as a late seson addition, did have his share of problems on the squad, and he is playing at a guarenteed 190k a year. But, in Van Den Berghs case, there are people who would be able to fill the spot with a fairly small adjustment period, a lower price tag and most importantly, a younger age range. He is almost at the middle of the wrong side of 30. Yes, he performed last year. Yes, we know the kind of impact he may have. But to make such a long term commitment at a pivitol offensive position makes this a tougher call than sentiment would dictate.

You know my stance, and I am fully armored . . . so . . . what do you feel? Is Van Den Bergh untouchable? Or is that an Angel Only status?

With Mendes secured into the fold, the Bulls have added to their CB options, which also include Kevin Goldthwaite, Andrew Boyens and Mike Petke. Goldthwaite is coming off of a career year, featuring play in the center and wings of the defense. Boyens, who took some early gruff for replacing the Bulls first round draft pick Eric Brunner, persevered as the year progressed, and became a valuable asset down the playoff stretch with defensive partner Diego Jimenez. And Petke, though a bit older than the rest of the boys, brings a veteran leadership to a squad that won’t have Jeff Parke to fill the roll anymore.

Even so, many Red Bull fans are clammoring for the signing of a stronger CB option. Recently, Ives bought up the fact that “Trader Mo’s” in Toronto is open for business come MLS Draft Day and may be looking to wheel and deal. With that comes the rumbling of options; can they pull off a trade with Toronto or more teams to find the answers to their needs? Or is the January transfer market just off to a slow start, and are other options right down the road?

I am in the camp that feels one more quality CB anchor would be a definite boost for this team. Goldthwaite is versatile and can adjust if necessary. Boyens was very promising and may show more of that this coming year. And Mendes is still a bit too short for Osorios model of the ideal CB, but he can also fill the roll of a defensive midfielder quite handily. The hope for many is a round about trade to secure Wilman Conde. But that is a pipe dream if there ever was one.

(*editors note: That being said, there has been no stronger a CB tandem for the Red Bulls over the past 3 years than Mendes and Jeff Parke)

Look at the open markets, look at the Bulls line up, and look at the needs of other teams out there; what are the realistic options to go after for CB? Do you feel that the Bulls can survive with the current CB options? Let me know what you think.

img credit: flickr.com

So I put it in your hands. And the response was the most highly one sided votes in “weekend poll”s short history. Overwhelmingly, Red Bull fans not only believe Dave needs to be resigned; they think its a top priority. 62% call him a top priority signing, while 34% feel he should be signed, just so long as it doesn’t spend the team out of contention. That is 96% of our overall readers, nearly unanimous in their outcry that Van Den Bergh must return. Wow. I should have just asked people if eating is necessary to life – would have gotten the same reply.

If his agent is looking for leverage, point him this way.

Dave Van Den Bergh is on the verge of that lovely age of 33 this coming season. It is an age of worry for many. But Red Bull fans see things differently. DVB has shown a tremendous growth and leadership the past two season, and players like Schelotto and Blanco will tell you, MLS is the fountain of youth for certain older players. It is possible that the Red Bulls lock into DVB for 2 years, and still reap the benefits of his skill, without incurring too much damage. And if you read into Ives analysis, it seems that he is looking for a similiar deal to his previous one.

All things considered, the readers and fans have spoken; Sign the Dutchie to the Red Bull Side!

And in a move that can be best described as giving the Red Bull fans a big fat hug after taking a couple of emotional beatings, Mike Petke will be making his return to New York for the 2009 season (as reported by SBI)!

But first things first:

JEFF PARKE

Jeff Parke’s services in MLS are now controlled by the Sounders. That does not, however, impact the central defenders freedom to explore the European markets for a new home. It was previously reported to be as such. But if he does find MLS to be the only source for his play, then the Sounders would have the negotiating rights to deal with him.

Parke would be the keystone to a formidable back four. Anchored by Kasey Keller, Parke would serve as the vocal leader of the group, along with the young and very talented Tyson Wahl. James Riley makes for a fiesty defender, and Nate Sturgis can well play a back wing. Ljunberg would cap off the pyramid. Not a bad base to build off of. A couple of mid field and attacking signings mid season, and you may have a very competitive team in the West.

Its no secret to any reader of this blog that I am a fan of Parke. He was given a raw deal based on a stupid mistake and a lack of research. An excessive penalty was delivered, using Parke as an example of how harsh the league is willing to punish any kind of offenders. Through this process, he was the only player to come out and issue a public apology and explanation. That is manning up, even when he knows it is a raw deal. And I respect the hell out of that.

Furthermore, he was the defensive anchor for the better part of two years. Always the most vocal, and under appreciated player on the defense, Parke didn’t need anyone to be down his throat when asked to do what was expected. He just performed. He was a great teammate to many, and as fan friendly a player that you can hope for. Its a shame it ended this way, but the good memories out weigh anything else.
MIKE PETKE

And now for sentimentality of a different flavor. Mike Petke, in many peoples eyes, is every bit the Metro Icon that a Clint Mathis, or dare I say, Geo Savarese, are. He holds Metro records for most minutes and games played. He was a two time all star and a consumate pro. And, among Metro Supporters, he is known as the man who, after the brutal slaying of keeper Mike Ammann at the hands of Diallo, Petke scored a rare goal, and revealed a shirt that read “August 16th: Crime of the Century on the front and Revenge is Coming” on the back.

With Parke gone, that is the kind of leadership void Red Bull needed to quickly fill. And Petke can play the part excellently. Though a step slower, he had never played less than two thirds a season before 2008. He is durable, vocal, and a fan favorite to boot. All the fans would want now is a return of the bleach blond hair do.

So what are you thoughts on today’s movement? What else can the Bulls do moving forward?

There has been some construction in my office that forced me off the internet for nearly four days. I never knew technology could cause withdrawals . . . . but here I am, back to the old bloggeroo.

And here is some stuff I’ve missed (and maybe you have too) this week:

+ As some of you already know, Gabe Cichero and Jorge Rojas won’t be there for the leagues induction of RSL’s new soccer specific stadium. The Vinotinto calls, and after a couple of tough opening matches, they will be counting on these Bulls to buoy their World Cup hopes against Equador and Brazil. Any team that plays against Brazil immediately gets my attention, so who knows, I may do a running commentary on that match! GO VINOTINTO!

+ The Johnny X situation continues to be muddled. For those just joining us, Red Bull Academy standout Johnny Exantus was announced as a new signee for 4th Division Belgian side Belgian club Royal Racing of Montegnee. In their mission statement, they emphasis Royal’s goal to develop young academy players. Though they have fixtures to follow through April, they don’t emphasis championships in said mission. Instead, they stress an environment for young players to take advantage of, which includes media exposure, training and a vast support system.

So the question seems to be “How beholden is Johnny X to Royal?” The answer seems to be a unanimous “Ummmm?”

Now, Ives reports that the Red Bulls have made it clear no Academy Player would join the senior squad unless they accepted a developmental deal. And that may have been part of the reason for Johnny’s departure. The only loophole to a developmental deal would be to sign JX as their lone Generation Adidas player, which affords teams the luxury of signing a young stud at a better salary rate, but in return, they must commit to the player for three years. So what does the move tell you? Red Bulls feel that JX may be more of a chance than a sure thing, and with the way people rave over RBNY’s youth academies, the front office may feel that the commitment may mean passing over a potential stud. Needless to say, Mo Johnston would disagree.

+ INJURY REPORT: Danleigh Borman rolled his ankle and is questionable for this weekends clash against Colorado.

+ A popular stat has been ballied about this week: The Red Bulls have only managed 8 out of a possible 39 points on the road this season. And a home debut of a new stadium with a dangerous RSL squad presents no walk in the park. For a team with high aspirations for the post season, the Bulls need to learn what the rest of the world recognizes – champions are made on the road.

+ Here is a great read on the resurgent Mike Magee. Check it.

+ And finally – 10 points seperate the second place Revolution and the sixth place Wizards. If you add last place TFC to the equation, you are looking at 14. The Bulls are 7 behind the Revs, in a lone third place position. With a two game homestand starting off the final 5 games of the season, the Bulls are in excellent position to propell themselves into the postseason, especially considering their lowely opponents in TFC and Colorado. Get the job done boys!

Grandfathering Carlos Ruiz is fine.

Grandfathering Landon Donovan? No problem Beckha . . . I mean Galaxy.

Allowing teams to label bogus discovery claims on players they have no intention of signing? Hunky Dory.

But not allowing the Red Bulls to use $200k of their own money, earned in deals like Jozy to Villarreal, which have lined the pockets of many an MLS official, is an absolute atrocity. Its a step backwards. Its unfair. Its downright Communism at its ugliest.

The Bulls developed Jozy, put money into infrastructure, player development, player signings – you name it, the Red Bull organization has earned its money here (whatever has been made!). Who has the right tell an organization what to do with its money, especially when they are playing within the convoluted rules? Is it because its a USL player? Or is this a feable attempt to protect smaller market teams from feeling jipped, since they do not have the funds of the Red Bulls Conglomerate? Come on now.

This is wrong on so many levels. But the one underlying message in all of this that I am getting is simple – MLS does not respect itself enough to believe that one of its own can handle a 200k transfer gamble. And that is a sad state of affairs for those of us who are under the illusions that MLS is becoming a world class league.

Its time to take the plunge MLS. Small steps like allowing the Red Bulls to use their money at their own discretion will build the credibility of the league, not only domestically, but worldwide. Blocking these moves just reinforces the image of MLS as a small, tepid yet totalitarion and fragile league. And these are small steps ladies and gentlemen – George Steinbrenner scratches his nose and 200K fall out.

Take the plunge MLS. Believe in your ownership. Allow teams more freedom. Its time to start letting go.

UPDATE: 4:30PM

- Metrofanatic.com was able to reach Ivan Gazidis, MLS Deputy Commissioner, for his comments on this move. He denied that MLS ever rejected any deal, and basically chalked it up to new media hype – “and of course blogs are driven by hits, not necessarily by the same standards as print media.” Check out what Metrofanatic has learned – click here!

UPDATE: 7:30PM

- I was watching GolTV, and according to their report, it was the Red Bulls who thought that 200K would be too much to spend for a partial season transfer fee, and withdrew! Believe what you will?

UPDATE 9:30pm

Ives sticks to the original story and sources. In a big way. Check it out!