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When Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio revealed last week that Venezuelan midfielder Jorge Rojas and Argentine midfielder Juan Pietravallo would return in 2009 after enduring largely disappointing 2008 seasons, most Red Bulls fans were left scratching their heads at the decision.
As it turns out, the club didn't have much of a choice. Both Rojas and Pietravallo have guaranteed contracts for the 2009 season, sources with knowledge of the terms of the player's contracts confirmed to SBI this week.
So why did the Red Bulls give Rojas and Pietravallo guaranteed contracts? The easy answer is that the only way the club was going to lure a pair of veteran players like them was to give them a guaranteed year in 2009. With Rojas being captain of the Venezuelan national team and Pietravallo being a veteran of the Argentine league, both players had other options when they signed with the Red Bulls.
So what now for the South American tandem? They are slated to return to the Red Bulls in 2009, but an earlier departure isn't totally out of the question.
How so? One option the Red Bulls have is selling either on or both of them during the transfer window. Pietravallo has a history of drawing interest from clubs(having played for nine different clubs in eight years before joining the Red Bulls). Selling Rojas would likely be a much easier proposition, but the impression I get is that Osorio has plans for Rojas in 2009. The Venezuelan playmaker did play well early on in his 2008 stint, and did come through with a good performance in the Western Conference playoffs.
One person who believes that Rojas and Pietravallo could be important contributors in 2009 is star striker Juan Pablo Angel, who was adamant in his belief that both players could play key roles in the team's success next season.
"Sometimes players take time to get used to the style of play in this league, but they both showed in the beginning that they can play," Angel said in an interview on Saturday. "I believe they can be important players for us and you can't just write them off because they struggled to adapt in their first season."
What's my take? With Seth Stammler and Luke Sassano in the field, and Carlos Mendes in talks to re-sign, the Red Bulls must find a taker for Pietravallo in South America. He might be able to improve his form in 2009, and he did play well in his first few games in 2008, but the team would be better served using his salary at another position. Rojas is another story. He is a player with obvious skill who could very well enjoy a much better second season in MLS. I think he stands a better chance of staying in 2009, but it also wouldn't surprise me if the Red Bulls were able to sell both players this winter.
What do you think of this news? Stunned that the Red Bulls gave these players guaranteed deals, or are you just happy that the club didn't necessarily decide to bring Rojas and Pietravallo back based on their 2008 performances? Do you think one or both of them could rebound next season and be an impact player?
Share your thoughts below.
So we can Pietravallo that…yet we need to think about whether or not van den Bergh is worth it? Seriously? WTF red bull.
I can never understand all the talk about how these guys are garbage. Rojas looked like pure quality to me and I watched Pietravallo shut down Jaime Morales and ..DeRosario was it? If he can just keep his temper under control and not get sent off I think he’ll be a real good player for us. All defenders have slip ups now and then and everyone calls for their heads. Dieo Jimenez was terrible when he first came and he shaped up to be pretty good down the stretch. Now Cichero, yeah he was just plain terrible. Shocking too, because I seem to remember Ives hyping him up the most when he first saw him practicing.
Can someone please telll me why Agoos is still around? I think he is an idiot? Tell me one good trade he completed? Sure let alot of our guys go in early 08 but I have yet to see one single good aquisition he made? This RecloPetro stuff is a joke. Ok will give Rojas a pass for now but Petro..? The guy stink sand is a red card in training period. Hey 8 or 9 clubs that should tell you something and the mere thought of NOT signing VDB is shameful. I say fire Agoos absolutely sign VDB Give Stammi Sassono and Ubi raises along with Goldy and bring in Harkes now he knows soccer!
Coach K
I agree with most posters, that Pietra at $192K is too much money when you have guys like Stammler, who is less expensive and better in my humble opinion, and Sassano and Mendes, neither of whom I’d want to start 30 games but are great spot starters at that spot and can provide some minutes off the bench.
I’d also keep Rojas around and give him a second chance, but if the Red Bulls can get another attacking player then they should do that. They shouldn’t be banking on Rojas to be the next Schelotto, though that’d be great if he becomes that sort of player for Red Bull.
Angel didnt backtrack to help becauase the team sucked its just what south american forwards do. look as tevez and messi, or even rooney does it all the time. no big deal its just a good way to get involved build up the attack so midfielder can push forward.
Considering the erratically aligned formations this team used during the season, the struggles of Cichero/pietra/rojas didn’t surprise me one bit. I have no doubt that if there were a true offensive midfielder in the middle of the park, things would have gone very differently. No team can spend an entire 90 minutes playing defense. The fact Angel would backtrack to help, says alot. Let Pietra play the “5”, sign a real offensive mid, leave Rojas on the left and then we’ll see what we’re dealing with.
TMK-
I think it is 192k for Pietra.
Depending on how much we are paying Pietravallo with his new contract, keep him around if it is low. We are gonna need as much depth as possible with next year’s schedule as loaded as it is. 15 more games is a lot.
First MLS is alot better than what most people think here. Talkin about Rojas and Pietrovallo , Rojas has shown some quality , but Pietrovallo hasnt shown anythin at all and to be at such high salary is absurd, especially when u have players such as sassano , ubi , stammler and most of other players who are better and makin not even half of his salary. thats crazy , someone said experienced , jp was with 7-8 different clubs in as many years …Rojas is a captain at very average national team , prolly top two worst teams in south america si its not like we could have expected somethin amazin when buyin him .
i think we should definitely give these two a chance next season and let them get a preseason under their belts. they got tossed into the mix of things last year. they both showed some talent and i think all they need is time.
btw, any news on kandji?
Getting rid of Rojas is crazy right now. He was the MVP during that August hot streak (the reason we made the playoffs). It’s way too early to give up.
I’d say the same of Pietravallo, but we already have equal talent for a fraction of the cost. Move him, if possible.
Rojas looked quality at times. I think he was the only one who came with any credit whatsoever during the Barca friendly.
He’s certainly worth another year. Piertavello, well, he was rubbish, but this is MLS, I don’t think it’s the end of the world seeing how he’s settled and give him a chance for next season.
Rojas looked quality at times. I think he was the only one who came with any credit whatsoever during the Barca friendly.
He’s certainly worth another year. Piertavello, well, he was rubbish, but this is MLS, I don’t think it’s the end of the world seeing how he’s settled and give him a chance for next season.
Give Rojas a chance to prove himself. Playing on turf at Giants Stadium would be an adjustment for anyone. I think he has the potential to be an MLS best XI.
If DVB goes, Piertavello has to stay unless they can find a better player. I hope they’re not relying on the draft to fill that spot.
Remember that Van den Bergh’s first season in MLS at KC was pretty poor and he’s turned out quite well, so we shouldn’t judge Rojas on just that.
Besides, a skill player will always show better on natural grass. I bet he’ll be happy to see the new stadium.
Remember that Van den Bergh’s first season in MLS at KC was pretty poor and he’s turned out quite well, so we shouldn’t judge Rojas on just that.
Besides, a skill player will always show better on natural grass. I bet he’ll be happy to see the new stadium.
all im sayin is that red bulls should give erik abarca a call and give a him a crack as assitant coach …he knows this team good
There’s no question that Pietr is firey. Too firey, though. There’s been numerous games where he took a yellow card early and had to choose between being ineffective or being a hair away from a second yellow. Remember, he got a red in Salt Lake, and most likely would’ve been sent off in the Chicago game if JCO wasn’t wise enough to remove him at halftime.
Juan Pietrvallo is to yellow cards as a fat kid is to cake.
As the league continues to grow in stature and player compensation guaranteed contracts will not be necessary as they are today. Kudos to El Professor and Goose for bringing in two players who SHOULD have shown better
I completely agree with your assessment, Ives. Rojas showed flashes of bringing something different to the team and makes a lot less. Keeping him for next year isn’t a bad move. Pietravallo’s flashes were not any different from what Stammler or Sassano have also showed they can bring, and his contract is just absurd by MLS standards. He has to go.
Pietravallo is terrible. He is not “firey,” he is unskilled to the point that it can seem that he is working against the team.
Does anyone know what his cards per minutes played ratio is? I would suspect it’s gotta be highest in the MLS.
If nothing else, RBNY should trade him to another MLS team by eating up 92k of his salary, and use the now free 100k to cover VDB’s raise (another 30k) and a 15k to Richards and some other guys.
It would really be a crappy move if Pietravallo stays and VDB goes.
-Mike
Ethcverry sucks and never should have been signed. But Piertavello and Rojas are good players. and i wouldve held on to cicehro he has great talent. If you remember Schelotto started off strong then faded his first year. Rojas is a proven national. He will rebound and be the amf the red bulls wanted. dont give up on him yet.
Maybe we can expand their roles to include food preperation and concessions. That way, we can perhaps find a means for them to earn their salaries without actually doing serious detriment to our team.
I think NY are stuck with both unless one of them becomes eager to leave. Rojas is probably in Osorio’s plans. Pietravallo made $192k last year and I doubt anyone in Argentina will pay him that. Maybe Pietravallo would take a buyout but that means NY gains little in cap room.
They weren’t great players last season but they’re not complete wastes of cap space. Both had good spells at times, and both could step up and have productive seasons in ’09, so no need to worry.
I agree, keep Rojas and try to sell Pietravallo since the Red Bulls are loaded at his position.
I think Stammy and Pietravallo can enjoy a great destroyer/creator tandem roll, if Pietra is given the chance to familiarize himself with the league and control his temper tantrums. Argies are usually firey. Give him some time to acclimate and he may turn out to be a good but expensive gamble.
I’m with Eric. I didn’t watch too much of the Red Bulls so I don’t know for sure, but just being the captain of Venezuela has to be worth something you’d think.
As a neutral observer, I thought Rojas brought something to the table, and I believe that players have to adjust to the league. That he is captain of the VNT tells me that other people think he is good too, so I want to see if he can make it as the playmaker. I’ve never thought Magee was very good, and Rojas showed me more than him.
Pietravallo seems like a waste of cap space. I looked him up on wikipedia to get my facts straight, and him being loaned out 6 freakin’ times doesn’t inspire confidence. Plus, I like Stammler a lot (but then again, I have a soft spot for ex-Terps). Hopefully they can find a buyer down south and add another forward or a good defender.
So, seems pretty spot on, Ives.
I knew there had to be a reason! Great stuff, Ives! Thanks for the info.
Agoos and Osorio are knuckleheads when it comes to player acquistions.
Ok….now what’s the story with Echeverry???