PM UPDATE:

MLS Examiner just did a quick write up on the petition for Dave van den Bergh, including a brief interview with me. Click this link and check out the article.

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Big Apple Soccers own Michael Lewis has been able to keep in contact with the Walking Dutchman, Dave van Den Bergh, updating the fan base on his status. Here is his latest offering.

It seems there hasn’t been much interest shown on the Red Bulls side. And my guess, which was discussed on our recording of Seeing Red! last night (look for it later tonight, earlier tomorrow), is that DVB is simply not a Soler/Backe guy. It is as easy and as difficult to figure out as that. The new management are putting their stamp on the team, trying to create a chasm between themselves, the Osorio regime and the negative history of this club. You add to that the fact that van den Bergh isn’t the quickest guy on his feet, which may impede Backe’s tactics, and you have a Dutchman who continues to walk in search of a new home.

That hasn’t stopped Red Bull fans from clamoring for the fan favorite, though. The petition drive has reached 225 unique signatures in two days. . . .

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/davevandenbergh

. . . which is definitely a strong number from the hardcore supporters of this team.

And the DVB campaign has also gone a bit viral . . .

. . . that is a text message from GSS Great, “The Rev,” aka Gprime, on the Wynaldiful FSC program “Fox Football Fone-In”!

Well done sir.

Will DVB find a home in New York? The watch continues and the campaign carries on.

If you agree, check this out:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/davevandenbergh *fixed link

That is the link to a petition to bring back Dave van Den Bergh.

If you are looking for a solution to the left wing side, and think Van Den Bergh has got what it takes, then get up and do something about it. You never know; maybe somebody will be listening!

Lying west of the Passaic, under the shadows of the World’s capital, stands the culmination of over 30 years of trial and error, success and failure, and the product of dreams. Red Bull Arena, billed to be the new Mecca of American Soccer, is quickly completing it’s construction, well ahead of the start to the MLS season. Every fan and supporter in the area, from followers of Pele and the Cosmos to Savarese and the Metro’s, has been waiting for this moment for years.

And yet, there stands a good chance that this beautiful, World class Arena will open March 27th as empty and cavernous as Giants Stadium ever was. This past week, the players Union and MLS reps have been firing salvos over the bows of their ships, each trying to paint the other side as the aggressor. The Union has accused the league of using fuzzy math and creative accounting to make the numbers appear as if the league has been doing justice to the players themselves. Using a meaningless, baseline number, like the 2009 salary cap to project future earnings and income, can create a nice veneer for the league to point to and say “Hey, we are doing the best we can here!”

Meanwhile, the league itself seems to be torn amongst it’s owners. From the Red Bull Organization to the Hunt family, ownership has a different face and budget from team to team. Some teams, like Columbus, feel they may be swallowed whole by the bigger fish in the pond, even though everyone has to live under the umbrella of a salary cap. Others, like Red Bull, have the funds to invest in not only players, but training facilities, soccer academies, etc., and the restrictive guidelines of the league do not allow them the opportunity invest in such growth initiatives.

Then you take a look at this years soccer environment. The World Cup is coming, and the USMNT is desperate for their domestic league to play a role in keeping players match fit, especially after receiving the most favorable group draw in recent memory. Two stadiums – in Philadelphia and New York – are set to open under the increasing glare of this atmosphere. Speaking of Philadelphia, they are the second new team in two consecutive years to begin play in MLS. And if Seattle is any indicator, the wild Philly fans would flock like sheep in support of their fledgling side. This has created the perfect storm for the players union to go on an aggressive, no holds barred negotiation tact, boldly stating “If you aren’t ready to negotiate, we aren’t ready to play.” For once, the leverage is on the players side. And they do not seem to mind being type cast as the bad guys for the greater good.

Though my podcast partner Nate Baker at ASN has a rosier view on the situations, I tend to see things in a bit of a grimmer light. Arguments have been made that these players do not make enough to get by, and they would ultimately be hurting themselves if they decided to lock out. And that does make sense. Even the NFL players union collapsed in similar circumstances during negotiations with the league years ago. But did the NFL dare pay a player 12k a year to earn their way onto the team? I think not. Has the NFL withheld rights to a player, like a Dave Van Den Bergh, after they waived them, and elected to let that players career hang in limbo until another team makes an offer to pry them off their hands? My guess is no. This lack of justice for the players leads me to believe the fight is far from over.

This franchise, let alone the league, can not afford to take this type of blow. Moreover, they may not be able to recover from it. Simply look at the NHL, which hasn’t been able to catch peoples attention with hockey since their lockout nearly six years ago. As a matter of fact, up until last nights thrilling US win against Canada in the Olympics, no one has really cared much about hockey at all. The NHL rivaled the NBA as the solid 3rd biggest sport in the nation throughout the 90’s, with only the NFL and MLB claiming the top two spots. Now tell me how soccer, the sport that occupies this countries dark basement of sporting interest, will possibly be able to recover from a strike when so many others, including baseball, have failed in doing so?

If there is a lockout this season, it will finally answer the question I have had for years.

“Is this franchise cursed?”

The answer would only be yes. On the year that the team and ownership decides to dive head into the pool, they will be met with no water and concrete to break their fall. Their multimillion dollar stadium will serve as a paper weight on the banks of the passaic. Their newly hired gurus in Erik Soler and Hans Backe will be playing tiddlywinks while collecting a check. Their offseason performance, one of the best this team has experienced, will serve only as a distant memory while the pickets remind them of what could have been. And Metro Bull fans will be able to toss another pound of fodder on the pile of fail that this franchise has bestowed upon them for so many years.

After years of suffering, frustration, angst and pain, it would all seem like one big, hearty, galactic joke on this franchise if a strike came to pass. And if people stopped following the team after an ownership change, how many will stick around after a strike?

What do you think of this CBA mess? Will there be some type of closure prior to the start of the season? Share your thoughts.

Check it:

Draft picks aren’t the only trade commodities FC Dallas holds. acknowledged that the club has let it be known that it is open to trading veteran Dutch winger Dave Van Den Bergh, with the team’s salary cap situation being a potential driver of a deal

. . . .

One potential destination for Van Den Bergh is New York, with sources telling SBI that Van Den Bergh is keen on a return to the Red Bulls, a club he spent two successful seasons with. The teams have yet to discuss a Van Den Bergh trade but with head coach Hans Backe now in place, a move for Van Den Bergh is something the club will consider.

The rest of the read is right here.

I have brought this up before, and will again; is dipping into the past for an answer the way to go? I’ll let you decide:

POLL: Would You Want To Resign Dave Van Den Bergh?(polls)

With coach Schellas Hyndman continuing to nurture a youth movement, and perhaps to make room for an emerging Brek Shea, Van Den Bergh has been made out to be the odd man. And Red Bull happen to have a left wing spot, with absolutely no prospect to fill it. As a matter of fact, there hasn’t been an answer on the left hand side since . . . well . . . since Dave Van Den Bergh.

Rumors of a possible impromptu reunion floated around the league this past summer, but nothing as solid as this. Would the 33 year old Walking Dutchman be the answer the Bulls are searching for? Or a better question would be who will be making the decision that DVB is or isn’t worth the investment. Nevertheless, he is a name of interest, and the Bulls would be fools not to entertain and examine his addition to the squad.

What do you think? Too good to be true? Not worth the investment? Have your take after the jump.

Dave Van den Bergh was never going to be a Red Bull, due to some family issues he was having. Dallas, Texas is the home of his wifes family and friends, and so, the issue seemed logical; no matter what Red Bull could do, DvB was as good as gone at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign.

But hold the phone. After DvB assisted on the FC Dallas game winner over his former team, the Walking Dutchman shared his thoughts with the boys and girls over at BAS, including some candid words about his final months as a Bull:

“I’m sorry for the coach and the players that stayed behind. I wish for them to be doing just as good if not better than last year. But on the other hand, I think I had talked to them four months previously before I got traded. There were opportunities for them to re-sign me. They didn’t jump on it. After a while you kind of get what you aim for.”

As if his role in the game winning goal wasn’t enough of a kick to the stomach, this tidbit of information hit the Bulls fan base like a ton of bricks. As I have said all season, the left wing has been a black hole this year. Where there was once consistency, there is now confusion. Khano Smith, Danleigh Borman, Jorge Rojas, Mac Kandji, and Alfredo Pacheco are all players that have at one point or another seen time on the wing. And that is just off the top of my head. Sure, Van den Berghs game was not pretty, or fast, but it was effective. He represented a rare breed in this league; a left footed winger with an excellent touch and cross, with the ability to be dangerous from set pieces. And judging by his comments, no one knew it better than Dave.

So what do you think of this little bit of wisdom? Were you always skeptical of the story? Did you bite hook, line and sinker? Share your take with us.

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Feel my pain, and witness Dave Van den Bergh, wearing similar colors to the Red Bulls training outfit, but somehow, representing a different team. This seems wrong.

*Thanks to the folks over at FC Dallas TV for the link. Much appreciated.

PS: Read the Spanish newspapers reporting this, and check out his monicker. His nickname on the Red Bull radio broadcasts, is “El Fantasmita” or “The Little Ghost.” Gotta love it.

Please don’t kill me, but . . . .

3rdDegree out of Dallas is reporting the imminent trade of Dave Van Den Bergh for long time Coach Osorio target, Dominic Oduro, and the 11th round draft pick in this years SuperDraft.

I guess I will have to go back to the artillary arsenal and suit up again.

THE FAN IN ME

I have to start off with the praise, so well deserved after a season with such success. DVB has been this teams work horse of 2008, taking the youngsters under his wing, and shouldering the offensive burden when Angel was being double, triple and quadruple teamed. Where there was a leadership void, DVB came in to fill it. It was his clutch performances, and non-stop commitment on the pitch that made the Bulls so successful in the postseason. He anchored a team of rookies, no names, and retreads to the MLS Cup Final, and that is not an understatement.

The fan in me will miss DVB if this deal has truly come to fruition. Much like Mathis and Howard before him, I love players that give their all for their club each and every game. He developed a repore with the fans over the course of a year that made it feel like he has always been here, guiding the ship. Well, the two year love affair appears to be over. And his accomplishments can never be diminished, and will never be forgotten.

THE REALITY

The reality of the situation is much like I said in the last post, but with a new twist. Yes, the Bulls did this for budgetary reasons. Yes, they did it because of his age. And Yes, they did wait for his stock to be at its absolute highest to trade him, regardless of how the fans felt. That is business my friends. But the tipping point is Dominic Oduro. Juan Carlos Osorio has had his sights on Oduro since last season. When the opportunity came to further put a stamp on this team, he did so, sacrificing one of his most reliable players to do it.

Now, the trade shapes up as a swap involving not only the players, but a 15th and 11th round choice, and both sides find themselves well served. FC Dallas has been desperate for a left sided attacking threat. The rest of the league has solved that issue, and the Red Bulls are the only ones that have depth in the spot, so in all likelyhood, taking away the possibility of an outside option, Dallas had to look the way of New York to complete its attack. Being that the case, the Bulls ask for the player they most coveted, along with to a first round draft pick. Why would Dallas do this? Because they are riddled with youngsters, and can afford the luxury of trading the draft options away. Why wouldn’t Red Bulls consider and pull the trigger on such a trade, especially in a year where the draft seems to be fairly deep?

As a fan, it hurts to see a leader go. As a business man, I can make sense of why this was necessary.

THE BIRDMAN, DOMINIC ODURO

Now, who is Dominic Oduro? Up until this past season, the 24 year old has been Dallas speedy offensive bench option. When Dallas sufffered through countless injuries, Oduro took advantage of his playing time and shined with clutch goals, and excellent team play.

Much like Dane Richards, Oduro has been blessed by speed. But also like Richards, his finishing, though ever improving, has always been a point of contention. In 9 starts, and 25 appearances, Oduro managed 5 goals and 2 assists; a respectable feat for the young man. 2007 saw him notch 29 appearances, again, as an off the bench, late game threat. Not exactly an unknown commodity or a risk, but the Red Bulls will be offering Oduro something he never truly owned; starting time.

If capable of the responsibilities, he compliments this team in more ways than one. For instance, last seasons squad relied heavily on Dane Richards. Once he was benched or injured, there was suddenly no speed on the pitch, and tactics turned very slow and predictable in the process. Oduro compliments the wingers speed, and is able to compensate for the loss of a Richards if necessary.

He also scored clutch goals as the Dallas season progressed, which is important considering the fact the Bulls are trading away their version of Mr. Clutch. Oduro isn’t afraid to challenge people, and blow past them with his blazing speed. Add to all this the fact that he is 6 feet tall, and a great target on corners, and you have more areas to check off that the Red Bulls needed improvement in. If the trade shapes up the way it seems, then the Bulls and Dallas walk away happy.

MOVING FORWARD

Taking all this into consideration, the Bulls have opened up pandoras box, and bought more questions to the forefront. For instance:

+ Is Oduro’s acquisition a clear sign of the end of Mac Kandji as a Bull?
+ If not, is Osorio going to do something that is completely foreign to the MLS and perhaps institute a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3?
+ What will be the focal point for the SuperDraft acquisitions at #’s 11 and 15?
+ Will this lineup be able to compete and succeed?
+ Who will fill the void of DVB’s leadership?
+ How much more will the team now rely on Pietravallo and Rojas?
+ Is the team now “too young”?

Again, I must mention that Jorge Rojas is a viable option off of the wing. I will never forget when he first came into the league, and set up a beautful heel pass that lead to a goal by none other than Van Den Bergh and how impressive and telling that one move was. I am willing to buy into the fact that the Vinotinto Captain was simply worn down from a very competitive, non-stop year. This seasons more rested version may do the about face that DVB did from 2007 to 2008. But will that be enough? Can this lineup survive?

——–Angel—–Oduro——–
————–Ubi—————
Rojas——————-Richards
——Sassano—Pietravallo—–
—Goldthwaite-Petke-Boyens—-
———–Cepero—————

Only time will tell.

Personally, I am torn between my brain and my heart. My heart says “Who will be able to fill those shoes offensively and in the lockerroom?” My brain says, “This is a good trade for a guy who’s stock can not possibly go any higher. The Bulls pulled the trigger when the pulling was good, and got a player and draft picks that they so coveted.”

What do you think? Share your hurt, pain, happiness, or tears with us, as I am sure the opinions will be flying.

- 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?