The Best Metro Bull Ever: Juan Pablo Angel

By: Dave Martinez | March 4th, 2009

We recently conducted a poll on who the greatest All Time Red Bull/Metrostars player is. The choices included:

JPA
Mathis
Savarese
Guevara
Howard
Ramos
Donadoni
Jozy
Other (Djorkaeff as it turned out)

Hands down, Juan Pablo Angel destroyed the field with over 60% of unique readers believing he is the greatest of all time. And the argument is hard to combat. But is this result justifiable?

Johnny Come Latelys?

Onionsack made a great comment in the previous post; one that, in many ways, I emotionally echoed:

“MAN, what a bunch of johnny come latelys’
Mathis was better in 2000 than Angel has been in either year.
Savarese is still the man.
On skill and reputation Donadoni, Djorkeaff are tops.”

This was actually my first reaction as the numbers began to come in. Especially in regards to Clint Mathis. When Mathis and Howard first broke out on the team, I became a fan. They were both so unique and talented, and that, along with my love for the USMNT, is what hooked me to the team.

On top of that, Mathis in 2000 really was unreal; a complete wrecking machine that showed his passion for the team LITERALLY on his chest. I mean, the goals he had that season were of the highlight reel variety, game in and game out. This got me to thinking; how can a player that has been here less than two years be regarded as the best player in franchise history?

The answer, quite frankly is “easily.”

- Juan Pablo Angel lead an underwhelming Red Bulls team to the MLS Cup; a first for this franchise.
- He has scored 35 goals in 47 games – not counting the goals he has assisted on or chances he has created by creating space for other players, or his playoff appearances.
- He is a perennial MLS All Star
- He is the face of the current Red Bull ownership
- He is, hands down, the absolute best DP signing when taking performance into account, amongst all DP players (Becks draws more merch sales)

What RB or Metro player can claim any of this? Difficult to rebuke the facts. And though I grew up with different heroes, it is almost unmistakable to crown JPA as the teams best ever.

Savarese, I still love you.

So what are your thoughts on the poll? Fair? Biased? Fair weather or just plain truth?