(a rare full house at Giants Stadium as the US takes on Argentina in 2008)The Red Bulls closed out soccer in the concrete behemoth with a surprising 5-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday night---a win that allowed the Red Bulls to avoid the dubious distinction of being the lowest scoring team in league history by ONE goal (that's right---a team that couldn't find the net needed to score 4 times against a team desperate for their first playoff berth...and managed to pop in 5). New York somehow managed to bury the team that has alienated fans all year alongside Jimmy Hoffa (whom SoccerJunkie thinks he's located---check the end zone in front of 101, the location of the first puddle I've ever seen on the artificial turf of the Swamp), and play their best game in years. From Bouna Condoul and the backline, all the way up to Juan Pablo Angel and Mac Kandji up top, the team played a complete, exciting game for 90 full minutes---opening the scoring the 2nd minute, and closing it with a 90th min. PK. Appropriate, as well, was that it poured through most of the game---the final game before the team moves into Red Bull Arena, where fans will be sheltered from the elements by the structure's revolutionary roof system (that will allow sunlight in for the natural grass field, but cover all seats while leaving the field open).
Now that the season is over, it's time to look forward... Who will coach the Red Bulls next year? Who will take over as the team's Sporting Director? It appears that the executives at the top are ready to allow one person to handle both positions again (they decided to split them after firing Bruce Arena)...but they must take lessons from their hirings of Arena, Jeff Agoos, and Juan Carlos Osorio... Lesson #1--- Give whoever you hire some time. They let go of Bruce Arena before he had the opportunity to shape the franchise to his likings. Where is Arena now??? He holds that same dual role for the LA Galaxy, a team with two Designated Players (or at least 2 who earn DP money)...a team that has finished #1 in the Western Conference this year. By the way, the Red Bulls hold 2 DP slots, only one of which is being used (as rumors swirl (Thierry Henry?) about who will fill the 2nd)... Lesson #2--- Don't hire someone who doesn't understand the American game well enough. Juan Carlos Osorio has had success in the MLS before, but only in short stints. The MLS is a physical league, and the style of players that he brought in just doesn't fit with the style of play in the league. Along those same lines, anyone brought in MUST understand the salary cap structure and various limitations placed on rosters. The news over the past couple weeks that Avram Grant was interviewed and would've taken the dual-role position shows that the front office needs a wake-up call---you need more than just a name. Lesson #3--- Get someone with experience as an executive in the sport. Jeff Agoos has been a complete disaster, and a lack of experience is part of the blame.
Various reports are out there about names that have had meetings with Managing Director Eric Stover about positions with the club. Among those... Tab Ramos---apparently interested in a scouting job, which he could excel at. Claudio Reyna---has no interest in the coaching position, citing his own lack of experience (Thank You, Claudio!)...says he is interested in helping the club in any acceptable way, though. Tony Meola---Don't even get me started...refuses to write-off coming out of retirement as a player (says Kasey Keller can do it at 40, why can't he...Tony: You're no Kasey Keller!)...also gave every reason not to hire him as Sporting Director or coach with these statements during a recent interview:
"They have to put the right mix of players on the field. If they do that for
me, the coach is so secondary in the whole puzzle as is the sporting director. I
know that's the first piece of the puzzle they want to put together. You
can have the best coach and the worst players -- and not necessarily they have
the worst players here -- but in theory, you can have that and you're not going
to win. You can have a bad coach and really good players and win. that's the
most important thing."
So let's get this straight...success is pretty much entirely dependent on the players? Good players will win even with a bad coach? Bad players will lose with a great coach? Got news for you, Tony---it's dependent on EVERYONE within the organization. Players, coaches, trainers...everyone. Youri Djorkaeff---Yup, you read that right. Djorkaeff HAS spoken to the organization, and said that he is here if they need him. Would he succeed as a coach? Of all the former players out there, he probably has the best chance to---he understands the American game (having played here), and is one of the most intelligent players (both "book smart" and "soccer smart") to ever set foot on a field. Does that mean he will succeed? Not exactly. It would be an interesting move, but a risky one. There can be no doubt he'd also draw some big names to the organization...
The new coach and Sporting Director are going to have the task of developing the roster for the opening season at Red Bull Arena. With a 2nd Designated Player slot available to be filled in either January or July (with the earlier mentioned rumors swirling that Thierry Henry could join after the World Cup), New York needs to look no further than their Western Conference counterparts---a team in the biggest market in their conference, in a great home stadium, with 2 players being paid DP salaries, and finished last in the league last year---for a model to build around (yes, I'm talking about LA). Their plan? Start with their DPs (Beckham and Donovan (who earns $900k but is grandfathered in the DP rule), build the rest of the core on a few experienced players who make decent money (GK Donovan Ricketts (Jamaican National Teamer, $$150k), former US MNT defender Gregg Berhalter ($144k) Todd Dunivant ($109k), midfielders Eddie Lewis ($160k) and Chris Klein ($175k), and forward Edson Buddle ($169,950)), and then stock in the draft with talented young players (including starting centerbacks Omar Gonzalez ($64k) and AJ DeLaGarza ($36k) and forward Bryan Jordan (34k). The rest of the team includes young, but proven players who don't command a 6-figure salary (such as forwards Alan Gordon ($79,750) and Mike Magee ($70k), midfielders Chris Birchall (Trinidad National Team, $84k) and Stefan Miglioranzi ($70k), and defenders Sean Franklin ($64k) and Julian Valentin ($36k)). It's a formula that's been nothing but successful all season long.
With that said, let's take a look at the Red Bulls roster to end the season (including their salary for 2009)...
Goalkeepers- Bouna Condoul ($124K)- had a solid final game, but is one of the worst 'keepers in the league technique-wise...makes poor decisions, but recovers thanks to his athleticism...likely to return unless the team can score a steal somehow. Danny Cepero ($34k)- another good season from the young 'keeper...undersized, but makes up for it with incredible athleticism...no reason he can't be the starting 'keeper in 2010, and at this price, there's no reason to let him go anywhere.
Defenders- Danleigh Borman ($20k)- worth keeping as cover at left back at this salary...a natural left back should be a #1 priority in the draft. Andrew Boyens ($49,500)- has good size and experience...again, at this price, no reason to keep him to compete at centerback---another draft priority. Walter Garcia ($36k)- only got some real time in the finale, and did a fine job...as an Osorio signing, expect him to leave. Kevin Goldthwaite ($102k)- doesn't play well enough to justify his salary...well liked by the fans, but the team can do better for less. Carlos Johnson ($90k)- still believe he's the type of player who can succeed in this league...would love to see him hang around. Leo Krupnik ($144k)- WHAT? $144,000 for a RESERVE centerback? Again, someone with experience in the front office would go a long way...definitely not worth keeping around---for that money, you need to be a stand-out in this league. Carlos Mendes ($85k)- always been a wonder why he doesn't play more...missed the end of the season with a foot injury, but should be good to go for the preseason...no reason he shouldn't hang around. Mike Petke ($80k)- experience that you can't put a price on, yet he comes reasonably priced...if he decides to keep playing, a valuable player to have---both on and off the field.
Midfielders- Albert Celades ($100k)- fantastic finale to the season and his career...wasn't always the most effective, but didn't really have the personnel around him to play him in the most effective position...his retirement means more cap money. Jeremy Hall ($55k)- yes, I'm listing him as a midfielder, even though he played all but one game as a defender...played the final game as a left midfielder---he's a natural midfielder---and excelled...whoever takes over the team next year should use this kid in the midfield, where he belongs, and where he can really grow. Matthew M'Buta ($20k)- highly touted when he was signed with Mac Kandji, but hasn't lived up to the hype...of course, $20,100 for a reserve is a very fair price. Ernst Oebster ($36k)- brought over from Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) in midseason, then left briefly when his girlfriend gave birth to their first child...showed flashes of real talent, could easily compete for time next year...definitely worth keeping around for this money. Dane Richards ($125k)- definitely make-or-break for Richards...doesn't live up to his salary, though his speed is something you can't compete with...if his finishing and delivery improve, could be one of the best in the league on the outside, but is he worth this money?...the move would outrage many fans, but maybe it's time to let him go. Jorge Rojas ($120k)- nothing much to say here...clearly underperformed, definitely not worth the money, another Osorio signing who failed. Luke Sassano ($34k)- that Sassano started as much as he did shows the lack of depth and talent in the midfield...a solid reserve, and worth keeping at this salary. Seth Stammler ($118k)- a steady holding midfielder...quietly goes about his business...fantastic in the locker room...definite keeper, even at 6-figures---he earns it. Sinisa Ubiparipovic ($34,650)- like Sassano, is not the answer in the midfield...worth keeping if he's coming off the bench, though. Nick Zimmerman ($20k)- you have to like this kid's upside...exciting player, comes cheap...worth keeping around.
Forwards- Juan Pablo Angel ($1.5mil)- his stats say it all...worth every penny. Girogi Chirgadze ($20k)- team's first "homegrown" player, signed from the Academy team...highly touted, should be good to see what he's got. Mac Kandji ($70k)- inconsistent at times, but performances like Saturday night show why the team's so high on him...electric player, just needs a solid finishing touch...no doubt he should be back. John Wolyniec ($80k)- give him a chance, he'll score...one of the "heart and soul" type of player, gives you all he's got and can be the heart of the team...no doubt he belongs here.
So what does the team need in the draft? First, a natural left back and a solid centerback to solidify a leaky defense...a goalkeeper with real potential would help the competition...a playmaker is also a pressing need---but one that might be best resolved through the transfer market.
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