Curious Signings

By: Dave Martinez | March 22nd, 2008

The Red Bulls recently announced the addition of 4 developmental (minimum wage slave labor) signings, and have resigned Danny Cepero for another year.

In full, here are the transactions;

- South African Midfielder Danleigh Borman
- Midfielder Kevin Mesa (A Queens Product - REPRESENT! We sign Chris MEgaloudis, and we will be running the show! 718!)
- Goalkeeper Danny Cepero
- Australian Born Goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell
- Defender John Gilkerson

WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS

Borman is there to do what JPA has been begging for - feeding the attackers the ball. He lead Rhode Island with 7 assists in his final year, and has showed his prowess with some dangerous crosses in preseason action.

I get that one.

John Gilkerson - depth? Ok. Got it. No problem there.

Kevin Mesa has scored during preseason, and has done enough to impress the coaches. Obviously someone thinks he will be a capable back up.

But someone please explain to me why it is we have two keepers on our roster already with Jon Conway and Zach Thornton, and have now resigned Danny Cepero (who has been getting glowing reviews as a keeper since he was signed - even earning the praise of Ronald Waterreus as a potential keeper talent to watch) and Australian born Sewell. What is that about?

THE FINAL CUT?

MLS restrictions clearly define the roster space to be an all inclusive 18 man squad. This leaves very little maneuverability for clubs. With that in mind, we have 4 keepers. Signed.

Who is the going to see the door?

Can it be that the Red Bulls front office is as squeemish as the fans are at the prospect of Jon Conway, Starting Goalkeeper? Has Osorio changed his mind after infamously stating that the keepers job is Conways to lose? Was he overestimating the career long back up, and was the Big Zack signing a way to hedge his bets?

Maybe Juan Carlos Osorio is seeing the massive potential that everyone seems to clamor about when looking at Danny Cepero. In 5 games with the reserve squads, he is 3-2-0 with a 1.00. Not bad for a rook

SO WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN?

It looks like the Bulls are set to make moves. Maybe JCO saw those Carolina games too and found some urgency in our situation. Who knows. But moves are a coming!

Will Conway really be our starter? I would place that bet at 95%.

Will Zach Thornton still be on the team come game 1? With these signings, it may be unliklely. But this is MLS - who knows.

Cross your fingers - if the Conway/Big Zack combo can not get the job done in JCO’s eyes, we may be looking at the beginning of the Danny Cepero era.

Dont ask me about the Australian . . . I dont get it.

What are your thoughts? Should Cepero get the nod over Big Zack? Is Conway ready for the number 1 spot? Lets us know what you think.