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Red Bulls land Robles through allocation order

Robles (ISIphotos)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Luis Robles is a member of the New York Red Bulls after all.

The Red Bulls used their place in the allocation order to select Robles, who signed with MLS Tuesday night. The club had initially tried to sign Robles during the winter, but when it became apparent that he could not sign directly with the club and would have been subjected to the allocation order, the deal came off the table.

Nine teams passed on the chance to sign Robles, though, and the Red Bulls, sitting 10th in the allocation order, used their place to sign him six months later. Robles joins rookie Ryan Meara, Bill Gaudette and Jeremy Vuolo as goalkeepers on the Red Bulls depth chart, although considering Gaudette's emergence while Meara went down with an injury, it would appear that Vuolo's already-slim chances of playing for the Red Bulls' first team anytime soon are nonexistent.

Robles, 28, was most recently with Karlsruher FC in Germany and was drafted by D.C. United in 2007 out of the University of Portland before spurning MLS for a chance to join Kaiserslautern. He has one cap for the U.S. men's national team, which was earned in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Haiti. He was also on the U.S. roster for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

What do you think of this development? Which player should be the Red Bulls' No. 1 goalkeeper?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Haven’t people here learned yet? Not every team and league in Europe is better than MLS. Reading the story I gleaned two things 1)He didn’t stay at Kaiserlautern and he’s not at Karlsruher. Neither of these teams are in the 1st division in Germany. So this guy wasn’t playing for a team in the top divison. This is likely a lateral move(at best) for the guy and a chance for the Red Bulls to take a flyer in order to solve thier goalkeeper situation.

    For the record, the Red Bulls/Metrostars haven’t had a steady goalie solution since Tim Howard was here. Could it be that the 10 teams that passed on him didn’t feel they needed to upgrade thier situation and the Red Bulls did?

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  2. I am wondering if they are thinking to move Meara because of his Irish NT aspirations. They hate anyone who leaves on NT duty.

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  3. I think Robles is likely a #2 in the MLS. While I believe Bundesliga2 is a stronger league than MLS, for keepers the MLS may be better. Luis had a nice run with Kaiserslautern, caught the eye of the NT but has pretty much been a backup since.

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  4. this is why the Red Bulls don’t win championships…they are always tinkering with what shouldn’t be tinkered with. Pick a keeper, have a reliable back-up, and a prospect that you can loan out as your third string. Anyways, Robles will probably be #2 to Meara when he comes back, and they should then trade Gaudette and get rid of Vuolo.

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  5. I wouldn’t be surprised if RB trade Meara now. Gotta feel bad for him. I have no clue why RB would shake up their keeper situation when there’s no real problem.

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  6. You gotta feel bad for Ryan Meara…he was having a Rookie of the Year-caliber season before getting injured, and while he’s out, the Red Bulls snatch up two new keepers? It can’t be good for the guy’s confidence.

    As an aside, I’m a bit surprised that Toronto, being second in the allocation order, didn’t take Robles. Stefan Frei has been out all year with an injury, and Milos Kocic is alright, but there is almost no depth behind him.

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  7. How you got to Red Bulls snagging a player that they had wanted in the past to the entire league being a joke is remarkable. Also amazing is you you divine that he’s No. 3 on the depth chart. And to do it with such eyerolling disdain! True art.

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  8. I hope your joking with that comment…you are aren’t you?

    Here’s the impact. I think Gaudette still ends up being the starter. I think Robles becomes #2. I think Meara is now third string.

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  9. Wow, what a joke of a league. I am sure Robles is thrilled to have landed with te team he wanted to play for … 5 months later and now firmed planted at #3 on the depth chart.

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  10. Been following him for years through the internet. He played for bad teams in Germany…when he played. So I am not sure how to rate him. He has size and the tools. I would think the Red Bulls have done their homework. So I guess time will tell…there are a good number of players who do really well in the MLS but don’t fair so well over seas…yes I am talking about you Eddie Johnson.

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  11. I agree. I figure Bill and Ryan (when he heals) are battling for first choice. But I would think that Luis Robles is no slouch either. It would be a bit shocking if Meara would wind up as the #3.

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  12. I just don’t get this pickup. I’m not complaining about it, I just don’t get it. Are we going to release Vuolo? Is Meara more hurt then they let on?

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