After losing Jeff Parke to the expansion draft and seeing Diego Jimenez return to Mexican club Tecos, the New York Red Bulls needed to start taking steps toward building their defense and that is what they did on Wednesday when they re-signed veteran Carlos Mendes to a new deal. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
A New York native, Mendes had been toying with the idea of giving Europe a try but ultimately chose to return to his hometown team, where he will now play his fifth season.
A central defender for most of his MLS career before shifting more into a defensive midfield role in 2008, Mendes is expected to provide cover at both positions in 2009, though he did look solid in central defense during the Red Bulls playoff run.
Mendes, 28, joins Kevin Goldthwaite, Andrew Boyens and Mike Petke as current Red Bulls capable of playing in central defense. The club is currently searching the transfer market for another central defender.
What do you think of the signing? Glad to see Mendes returning? Think he could wind up starting in central defense?
Share your thoughts below
make a big deal for conde, or is that unlikely?
Mendes is a good re-signing. I think it may show that Osorio realizes he made a mistake in slashing his playing time. Sometimes when you go shopping, it takes a while to realize that what you needed was right there in your closet after all. (Not that Mendes fills all of RBNY’s needs, mind you.)
i’m a fan of Mendes and am glad he was signed again. we need a solid alternative or back-up for defensive midfielder and central defender (or right back).
we still need a dominant starting CD, though.
@Aljarov,
“Pink Cows” had me rolling!!! That made my day.
Ives, I read that Solano had signed with Universitario, so there goes your wish for a midfielder…
Cheers
Who’s that guy in the blue?
How quickly some have forgotten how good Mendes was in 2007…
When Mendes first started off with the MetroStars, I thought he was a great defender who went largely unnoticed. Osorio has a great defender in Mendes, and this is surely a good signing for the former MetroStars.
I agree, Mendes is very under-rated. He’s a tireless workhorse also
“Mendes, 28, joins Kevin Goldthwaite, Andrew Boyens and Mike Petke as current Red Bulls capable of playing in central defense. The club is currently searching the transfer market for another central defender.”
wow i didnt think the red bull defense could get any worse over the last 3 years but now i think we finally have the worst d in the league.
I like that they brought him back. I do hope they sign another centerback and let Mendes and company fight it out to start as the second central defender.
Mendes is a nice MLS defender who won’t break the bank, and isn’t going to be called into the Nats, so you know he’s going to have a chance to play while the Nats are called out and as an injury substitute. Solid players like Mendes who are needed for MLS teams to compete in more than one competition.
Mendes is a good player… I did a little fist pump when hearing this news, no need to wash out everyone this offseason! “t”, Boyens isn’t bad at all… I look at it this way – if he or anyone else is good enough to achieve their goal/dream and play for their national team, he is a good player in my mind and deserves a shot at fighting for position.
Mendes is a quality player …. see if you can bring in Scott Palguta and have Mendes, Petke and Palguta fight for the 2 center spots. Boyens has to go
Mendes, in my view, wasn’t given a fair shake to win a spot on the back line. He looked good in the CDM role. If there’s one thing we need this upcoming season, it’s going to be that versatility.
Class act, who fights hard. Good man.
by the way.. Goldy should be considered for USMNT camp why not?
don’t laugh.. I see slot of potential, great size and a very tactical intelligent on and off the field. Plus there is not much to choose from at left back. Harrington is also great but wasn’t called either
another exciting day at the red bulls office haha ..mendes wow!
are you serious? Underrated? Please..
red bulls really need to do something about their defense, petke and goldy are great but the other 2?? Cmon!
I don’t know if i havent been paying attention or what, but does anyone know where the gold cup is going to be held this summer.
I did a quick search and couldnt find any definite answers.
Mendes has always been a class act. I’m glad he is with the team. He should push to start but I’m hoping that the Red Bulls get two central defenders.
Seeing as they have about 5 defenders Right now Mendes is a lock for CD. And let’s hope the experimenting with him as defensive mid is over.
If Leitch could cross at all he’d be OK at right back, maybe he’s learning in the off-season…but as of now:
Leitch – Mendes – Petke – Goldy
And yes please a playmaking midfielder. Maybe Amado’s available?
Solid, versatile player that endured some unnecessary criticsm last year. Glad he’s back
Red Bulls are in an interesting position heading into 09.
They’ve got a bit more depth (Rojas/VDB, Stammler/Sassano/Pietravallo, Richards/Mbuta), but still need what they needed last year.
– A solid central defender (plus another one or two on the flaks)
– and a playmaking midfielder.
It’ll be fun (I hope) to see what Osorio does for the draft and pre-season.
Mendes was really under-rated as a player and when Osorio in, I felt he didn’t get quite what a solid player he’d been over the previous couple of seasons.
I was glad to see him break back in and play well after the suspension dished out to Parke. He’s been a good servant to that club, and I hope he gets more minutes this season for the Pink Cows.