Photo by ISIphotos.com
BY MIKE NASTRI
French star Thierry Henry is set to be introduced by the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Thursday July 15th at 1:15pm, and while the club still isn't naming him due to unsigned contracts, Henry's first match should be against Tottenham on Thursday, July 22nd.
Red Bulls general manager Erik Soler would still not refer to Henry by name when he spoke to the media before Saturday's Red Bulls-D.C. United match because the contract has not been officially signed. Soler told the media that "most of it" has been signed but "not all of it".
Soler revealed that the Tottenham match could be Henry's debut. He was also adamant that Henry would not play in the MLS match two days later against the Crew in Columbus.
"We want the player to be able to fit in and have some training sessions. We don't want to throw him out in an away game against Columbus totally unprepared. That would be unfair to him and unfair to the team. And I think it's better to wait and get him into the squad."
However, the real news came with Soler telling the media a 3rd DP could join the team soon after Henry.
"There's one player coming first, but I said before the World Cup that I think it's going to be two."
The negotiations are going along well with this mysterious 3rd DP.
"I think it's more than a 50-50 chance. We have gone far into the negotiations. We are more or less ready to sign."
There isn't a ton known about the identity of this additional DP. But, he is a midfielder and Soler said he can "play various positions." Soler also added that the player is still in a contract with his current team. Therefore he will have to negotiate out of his current deal to play with the Red Bulls, just as Henry did about a month ago.
This midfielder could join Henry very soon after the former Arsenal star is introduced in New York. The Red Bulls are hoping this third DP could even make his NYRB debut agains Tottenham.
"We hope the first one will play against Tottenham, I'm quite sure of that," Soler said. "The second one I wouldn't rule it out but I'm not for sure yet."
Soler had "no comments" on various other inquiries on the identity of this midfielder from whether he has played with Henry before or if he has ever played under Hans Backe.
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What do you think of the Henry debuting against Tottenham? Who could this midfielder be? Think that's the position NYRB needed to fill? Shocked at how quickly the 3rd DP would join the team?
I here people saying that hardcore fans of the beautiful game would rather see home grown talent than aging veterans that still have something to prove. Maybe I’m not hardcore enough but I’d love to see Henri play. He’s still explosive even though he’s not in his prime. That’s like saying that hardcore fans back in the day of the NY Cosmos didn’t care to see Pele or that Beckham wasn’t entertaining when he entered the league.
MLS and the US in particular are the last great wild frontier left to be conquered in the world of soccer and after making most of their cash in Europe these stars see MLS as a great challenge. Nothing wrong with that.
Baby steps Baby steps it will get their
Ives, question wouldn’t seattle just trade him now if NY was the team to get him?
Better odds that Seattle is selling him and waiting for the summer transfer window to open.
All I’m saying is, we’re in a good place. But, we’ve got a ways to go. I bet the Greeks and Turks thing think the same thing. But they’ve been around a lot longer. We’re still in our infancy compared to most European leagues. It’s kind of like the Arena Football League (differences in rules and game play aside). The AFL sends players, be it very few to the NFL. Once a player is there, they don’t go back too much, there are exceptions of course. MLS–>Europe, Europe–>MLS/Turkey/Greece/Saudi League when they feel retirement is imminent.
I’m not arguing that we don’t need Henry and Ronaldinho.
Don’t ever compare Barca to the phillies and the steelers .. Barca shits on them. Literally different levels
Who?
F**k the crew. And their cocky a** fans.
Henry’s career is hardly over. There were still quite a few teams interested. I am sure Barcelona would still love to have Henry if only to ride the bench because they do get injuries and having Henry to step up would still be good value. Barcelona also happens to be one of the top 3 teams in the world and a team of their bench players would be easily the best in MLS. I am sure Henry just pressured them because of his dissatisfaction of sitting on the bench. There were still many teams in top leagues interested in him.
That’s true and a valid point. My point though is that those guys careers were all but over in Europe. Henry was out of favor at Barca. Europe takes our best players, but it doesn’t work both ways. So, it’s good for the league to get those players. I will agree. But until we can take Europes best players we will be nothing more than the place where older European one-time-stars come to finish out their careers.
Not disagreeing with you that the MLS needs all the help it can get. And that these players coming over is awesome for the league. I was excited when I heard Henry and Ronaldihno were possibly coming.
a tiny bug in the back of my brain tells me its freddy adu. coming back to the states like donovan did would help him get back on his feet.
Got a source…wouldn’t say so otherwise.
Funny. I guess the Turkish, Greek, and other European leagues that don’t get players like Henry in their prime aren’t serious leagues either. I better turn off the TV until those 5 serious leagues (EPL, La liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) start. Rest of the leagues in the world be damned.
The 3rd DP is Rafa Marques…100% guarantee it.
its not about getting a messi or rooney to join right now, it’s about getting these DP’s and starting to grow the MLS network in Europe. The guys like ljunberg, henry, and if true marquez, are signficantly younger than the other “big” names we’ve seen come through the MLS before, and I think that’s because the level of play in MLS is getting more and more respect. This is the first time the MLS has real recognition coming off a world cup year and its important to pick off some guys who still have legs but are coming off the world cup high. Henry Marquez both fit that
It will only be a serious league when its not the place where stars go to die (retire). Henry, Ronaldihno, Schelotto, all on their last legs and getting close to official retirement. Same with David Beckham. Until they can get someone like Rooney or Schweinsteiger or Messi or Schneijder to sign RIGHT NOW there it is not becoming a serious league.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it is slowly but surely getting better but I don’t think it is a “serious” league yet. It will be, I think/hope, but not quite yet.
Honestly I’m not the best at writing, I fail to proofread on occasions. What i do know how to do is read and understand. Is that ok with you ?
Could Adu be a DP? He’s already American. If it’s Adu, it could be Beasley as well.
Can some you write?
MLS is becoming a serious league finally. This is very healthy. I hope to see even more dramatic moves from MLS. Perhaps increase the DP to 4 or 5 players. We need this kind of growth for the MLS to reach the next level.
ronaldihno is joining LA for sure now. it has been anounced
These guys do no play multiple positions . SMH can some you read ? honestly lol.
With that sweet crossover dribble, Henry is going to dominate the NBA…err, MLS
3rd dp is definitely Adu
Hardcore fans do prefer to see homegrown players on their teams, but I think the casual fan is a lot more likely to go when there’s a name like Henry playing.
And since hardcore fans will be there no matter what, you need to focus on drawing in the casual supporters, then you turn them into hardcore fans, and your main fanbase grows.
Its Rafael Marquez he was Henry’s teammate at Barcelona and he played for Backe when he was an assistant on the Mexican National Team
Veron? Riquelme?
Guys its a CM so rule out Pires who is a winger and Guily who is a Winger slash foward. its Sounds alot like Marquez. he’s still in contract with Barca and I read on goal that he is negotiating his way out of it like henry did. he does play multiple positions so he fits the bill perfectly . He’s a CM a CB and he played wingback also under Frank Rijkaard.
Interesting. Adding DPs (especially players like Thierry Henry) is great to bring in casual fans and Euro-snobs, get media coverage, and gradually increase the fan base. So that’s a good thing.
Adding a third DP? It will be interesting to see the cap implications. I think it’s worth noting that the teams who’ve spent big money on DPs haven’t ended up being the most successful MLS teams. That’s usually b/c by signing 2-3 DPs, you don’t end up with a lot of the MLS vets who make $70k-$120k on your roster: you end up with a couple of rich players and a lot of rookies and cheap/USL talents for the most part. But hey–maybe they have enough allocation money to buy down the cap hit–that could make a third DP workable without having to sacrifice veteran players.
Philly would only be in DP race “trouble” due to a lack of willingness on the part of the ownership group to spend the money. They have the facilities and fan support to be an attractive destination–and being a big town does not hurt either.
Or Seattle
Ljungberg will not play tomorrow due to a “minor ankle sprain” apparently suffered in practice. Reporters talking to him after Thursday didn’t notice anything. Possible Ljungberg/Henry reunion? Ljungberg and Backe have a good history.
it shouldn’t be that hard. Chivas USA has some deep pockets and also shares LA, a place where a lot of people want to live. Seattle has fantastic fans and owners that are willing to spend, toronto, if they ever get their act together will be attractive to a lot of people as will vancouver. The teams i mentioned can go after big, henry like players. That doesn’t have to be the only way to use a DP. Schelotto might be the bet example of a DP in the league and i wouldn’t say hes a big name, same with JPA too. If and when DC gets a stadium, and a clue, they’d also be a very attractive destination with some $$ to back it up. I will admit RSL, Colorado, philly houston dallas might have some troubles
Then we would be like Europe, I think thats where its headed as most players will want to go to NY or LA.
Is it Ludovic Guily?
The problem with that is we’re sending most of our young talent abroad. There isn’t enough talent in this country to have 60-70 players in other countries and still have a high quality league without bringing in foreigners.
I’m excited for MLS even though I worry the Crew will be the second best team in the conference. This league could quickly become New York, LA and everyone else. It will be difficult for other teams to compete if it becomes a race for a handful of international stars.
I’m a Galaxy fan through and through, But I’m celebrator of the MLS as a whole and I for one am excited for Henry to come. It going to be fun to watch him up close. Good on New York for going all in on 2 maybe 3 dp’s. I don’t think each team needs them, but I do wish a few more teams would use them and use them wisely.
I think this is a bad thing for MLS…
maybe. I know it’s not a booming business, but it is growing slowly. I think fans want to see their homegrown talent more than buying an aging french dude…True fans. As a Union supporter, it sucks for us because even an old Henry will burn Califf, but I still would rather cheer our young bucks and watch them grow.
Like Barcalona, the Phillies, the Steelers…homegrown
Do the mls players still have. To fly coach on airlines like airtran? How awesome would it be to randomly get seated next to Henry?
Rafa would help to fill up RBA – if he is announced, attendance will immediately go up by at least 5K, most of them in green shirts.
^haha
It can’t be Pires because he is a free agent, and Soler said that the player is still in contract with another team.
*cough*Galaxy*cough*
Agreed. Dirty player.
god i hate rafa
Nothing like the league trying to setup NY to finally have a good team.
Maybe just maybe Red Bulls will turn a corner finally; with a solid midfielder to feed Henry and Juan Pablo, they could have a first rate attack.
As a Galaxy fan, I am excited for New York. This will only add more credibility to the league. I hope they get the 3rd DP as well so that they could compete with the Galaxy in the near future.
That was a lame attempt at a joke.
If I was Henry I wouldn’t want to play the Crew either.