Van den Bergh Lets Loose on Red Bulls

By: Dave Martinez | July 6th, 2009

The story goes something like this:

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