While We Were Celebrating JPA, Wynne Slipped Out the Back Door

By: Martha | April 18th, 2007

I don’t know what the hell is in the water out at the RBNY offices this week, but they’re going transfer-mad: Just hours after announcing one of the biggest signings in MLS history (yeah, I said it), Red Bull quietly traded right back Marvell Wynne to Toronto. Doh!

This is going to be a tough one for RBNY fans to take, I think. Wynne has been a fan favorite who, while still raw, has blazing speed, good work ethic, and has improved practically daily since the club made him the first pick in last year’s draft. Fan opinion aside, though, Ives and others have reported Arena is not a Marvell fan — we all saw him on the bench on Sunday — and seemingly has doubts about his ability to grow into the international player his potential suggests he can become. Because of that, he was apparently expendable.

And it must be said that the deal has upsides that are hard to deny: Wynne’s departure allegedly creates about $100,000 in cap room, and also frees up a senior roster spot for Juan Pablo Angel. One does wish, however, that RBNY could have gotten more than a “small” allocation and a second-round pick in exchange for the player. I mean, Toronto are desperate for defenders, and Wynne is a good, potentially great one; it seems like Red Bull could have turned the screws hard enough to get Toronto’s first-round pick (which will surely be very, very high) for next year.

All of that said, I think I’m going to trust Bruce on this one and see what happens. (Yes, I just expressed support for Bruce Arena. Look out for flying pigs.) Whatever the weird corporate agenda driving Red Bull, Arena is determined to build a successful franchise — his personal legacy in MLS is at stake here — and he clearly thinks we can succeed without Wynne. Alright then, Bruce: Let’s see it.

MLS Forums

NYRB Results

Category: Bruce Arena, CURRENT ROSTER, Team News

Tags: Bruce Arena, Marvell Wynne, Players, Team News, Toronto FC, trade

« Live-Blogging the Angel Announcement! Or Trying, Anyway. | Home | RBNY Prepare to Take on the Champs (Where the Hell is JPL When You Need Him?) »

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share

Comments  

• Sam |  April 18th, 2007 at 2:15 pm

  
  
  

  Thank you, thank you Red Bulls. Have you watched either of Toronto’s games? DID YOU SEE OUR DEFENDING? DID YOU, MARTHA?

  Posted from Canada

  

• Chris |  April 19th, 2007 at 3:41 am

  
  
  

  Good riddance. We are building a dynasty of the willing, and if this didnt include Wynne, then out with the bathwater.

  Posted from United States

  

• Clint |  April 19th, 2007 at 9:38 am

  
  
  

  Hey Martha, does Angel signing mean Altidore is going to be a super-sub? I’ve never seen the kid play but I’ve been reading about his great potential for a year now and he is pretty awesome in CM (or whatever this version of the game is called). Is there a long term plan for how to use Altidore or get him experience with two other legit forwards on Nie now?

  Posted from United States

  

• Martha |  April 19th, 2007 at 10:01 am

  
  
  

  Clint, we had NO HEALTHY SCORERS apart from Jozy until Mathis showed up, so it’s not as if we’re overloaded now. I actually think JPA and Jozy will start up top together, with Mathis eventually sitting in behind them as an advanced midfielder (whether he starts centrally or outside won’t matter that much).

  Of course, this is based on what I would do were I in charge and on what I’ve read around the massive RBNY blogosphere, so take it with a grain or seven of salt. I can’t imagine Jozy would be sitting, though, no matter what.

  Posted from United States

  

• Clint |  April 22nd, 2007 at 4:58 am

  
  
  

  It looks like your tactics are gonna work out! Nie will be awesome up front this season.

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed