It has been a long, rough year, but one thing I can always be thankful for is my little niche in the blogosphere, right here on TheOffside. Thank you to everyone who takes time from their day to visit here, sharing your opinions and insights. You make this alot of fun, and I appreciate the support everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And many blessings to you, your friends and family.

Zimmerman was a clear target in the minds of Red Bull fans. He is a box to box midfielder, with a pass first mentality and a tremendous work rate, especially for such a young player. Remember, Dane Richards was always a penned in starter until Zimmerman showed another dimension on the right and won the spot (briefly). He is also quite the bargain, making only $20k in 2009.

Some may feel that Zimmerman’s value is blown out of proportion, since it is based on a window of only a few weeks in which a lagging team fed off of the excitement of a young, debuting midfielder. Others feel the loss will be a hurtful one, especially if he winds up developing into the threat many think he can become. One thing everyone can agree on is this; he is a prospect who may be worth the risk. And it is the Union that are willing to undertake that task.

Well, what are your thoughts? Has Red Bull lost a valuable commodity, or is this kid a one hit wonder, now laid at the steps of the enemy? Hit us up, let us know what you think . . .

Congratulations Cleetus, from the East side of town!

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.

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.

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 . . .

The French legend has been planting seeds in France, playing Red Bull ambassador in the hopes of attracting his countrymen stateside through interviews like the one he had with football-ravageur, a French footy outlet.

He has some great insights on the successes and short comings of David Beckham, the measure of MLS against other leagues and the possibility of including more French players to the league structure.

Here are some of the highlights:

ON MLS:

What I appreciate in this moment in the United States is that the league is growing by one, even two teams a year . . . Seattle and Philadelphia add a little more quality to the American championship. There will be Vancouver the next year. Everyone hopes for Miami. It is only the beginning. The Americans want a true perenniality in their championship. I think that there will be even more great names. The history of (David) Beckham effected people, but that was also a beautiful story of marketing to promote (American) football. There will be others following his footsteps, I am sure.

WHERE DOES MLS RANK?

It is a good level. I would say between the top of the table in League 2 and the bottom of the Ligue 1 table. It is true that there is not much difference. The Americans are very competitive in everything they do.

HAS TRAINING IMPROVED IN MLS?

Yes, enormously. They rely increasingly on it. When you look in Europe, there are many U.S. investors in major clubs: in England but also in France, with PSG. All they have learned in Europe, they will transmit to the United States. This is where they will be more interesting.

THOUGHTS ON SEBASTIAN LETOUX, THE NEW FRENCH PLAYER IN MLS

He is good and in addition he plays. It’s pretty weird. I must receive a phone call a week from players motivated for the United States asking me for advice. It’s a bit complicated to go. That is why many French break the figure. They think that having played in France, even in England, opens doors. But Americans work differently. You see it in basketball. It must be a name. There circuit is a bit complicated, therefore there are not much French in the United States. I think there will be more next year.

THE FRENCH PLAYERS THAT YOU SPEAK OF ARE USUALLY AT THE END OF THEIR CAREERS?

Yes. The only problem is that Americans want to invest in the young. They will go against their current policy, because with Beckham it went well marketing side but not on the field. They would put the same amount but it goes well on the field.