The Centerback Options

By: Dave Martinez | January 8th, 2009

Carlos Mendes resigned yesterday with the Red Bulls, and it is a good thing; he is a veteran of the team, who has become an all purpose defensive styled player, solid on the ball and a definite boost to the Bulls depth. Yup. I’m with it.

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