Photo by ISIphotos.com
The New York have parted ways with veteran right back Chris Leitch, shipping him to San Jose for an international player spot and an undisclosed allocation.
The move should help pave the way for the Red Bulls to acquire one of the international fullbacks the club has been scouting, as well as potentially clearing the way for the acquisition of Spanish defender/midfielder Albert Celades.
What will happen with the right back position for the Red Bulls now?
While the club has been linked with the potential acquisition of a foreign right back, the Red Bulls have also been impressed with rookies Jeremy Hall and Nick Zimmerman at the position. Both players have played the spot in pre-season and both bring the attacking element to the position that head coach Juan Carlos Osorio is looking for.
Hall could very well be the pick for the long-term spot. Having played right back for the U.S. Under-17 national team, Hall is familiar with the role, although he is still inexperienced at the position. Zimmerman, also a converted midfielder, has shown an ability to play there as well, but also lacks experience in the role. Midfielder Luke Sassano might be the safest bet of the team's existing players, having played right back in college. Moving Sassano to right back would also make sense considering the current logjam in central midfield with Seth Stammler, Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Juan Pietravallo.
Leitch, 29, leaves the Red Bulls after establishing himself as a solid starter in 2008, especially during the team's MLS Cup run. Leitch leaves the club having played in 101 regular season matches for the Red Bulls and MetroStars, as well as nine playoff games.
What do you think of the deal? Excited to see Hall being considered for the role? Sad to see Leitch go? Hoping the club signs a foreign player for the position? Think Luke Sassano could be the answer?
Share your thoughts below.
i dont know about Sassano starting as right back, he didnt seem to have that attacking edge osorio likes from his fullbacks, i am pretty sure he is going to go after the costa rican carlos johnson, and if that doesnt work then Hall will get that job. But overall this was a good trade for new york, especially the extra international slot. Great trade, but still wish the best of luck to Leitch.
nick brazil has a history of formidable fullbacks left and back either known or unknown period. Cafu jorginho branco leonardo leandro nelinho carlos alberto ( 70’s players) roberto carlos marcelo etc etc should I go on? Its not only because of maicon and dani alves, you need to be more informed my friend, you sound like you recently became a soccer hobbyist.
all I meant is that NYRB could really use a Brazilian style RB… Its not about maicon and alves its a style that brazilians always had
Yeah, it would be great to press the undo button and undo the awful Wynne to Toronto move that Arena made. But something tells me that Trader Mo just wouldn’t trade
I wish him well, but I don’t think any of the other options are a significant downgrade. Of course, even an insignificant downgrade is a bad thing for a defense this weak. Hopefully JCO addresses this soon.
ABL
Anyone But Leitch
Good move RBNY (Finally)
Now if they could only get Wynn and a healthy Dunivant back.
Good move. Leitch can be serviceable, but then would make BAD BAD mistakes. He can go to SJ
Just because Brazil has two very good right backs in Alves and Maicon doesn’t mean we should consider nationality when signing a player.
I’d be happy with Luke Sassano at right back. He’s very good technically and tactically, and his long passes are solid so I imagine his crossing would be good. It seems like his strengths would complement Dane Richards really well on the right side.
ny should pursue a Brazilian RBack brazilians are the best in that position, even if its an unknown from a small club I like the concept brazilians have with. That position and it would benefit NYRB. Another cool option would be Ibarra from boca a very “brazilian” argentine playing as right back
no doubt this trade took place because of the performance of hall. i’ve seen hall play defense with the u-17 and during the pre-season in bradenton. yea he might not be as touted as wallace and alston but thats only because many haven’t seen him play the position. he will start the opener
I liked Leitch, his crosses was not the best, but he gave his all every game and played his heart out. He is a solid hard nose defender. I would have like to keep him on the bench. I hope who we bring in plays with the same intensity, or more and bring that attacking element to that position that we so much need.
sorry cindy, but i’m pretty sure everything you just said isn’t the case. it’s been “hinted” to me personally by a couple RB employees (i say hinted cuz i’m sure they’d be in a lot of trouble if they full out said it and it came back to them) that leitch has an ego and attitude problem off the field, which would leave one to believe he’s a possible locker room cancer.
that said, good way to start off the week. hopefully there’s some signing news by the end of it.
aww Leitch was a good guy and had a great team relationship at least! i’m sure the team would be sad to see him go, so good luck to him in the future. that said, i think the deal was a smart one.
also, that’s a nice photo.
I always admired Leitch. Not a a great player by any means, but willing to play on either side and do an ok (by MLS standards) job.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him get into coaching someday.
This is great news, get a foreign player now, and we definetly have a good option in zimmerman.
I’m ticked. I thought the Quakes would pick-up Brandon McDonald (he played right back at USF.
This was actually a GOOD trade for RBNY. I am impressed.
leitch had an awful 2007, but when he started to play in 2008, starting with the FCBarcelona game — where he played great — he was a very good MLS defender.
it always seems to me like the red bulls never have enough defenders, but i guess we manage with using midfielders…
I never felt like Lietch was the long term solution at right back. He wasn’t bad defensively, but going forward he made lots of mistakes. There were so many times in the last five years when he’d make a run to the other teams half, try and whip in an early cross, hit it right to the feet of one of the other teams players, and end up caught out of position BADLY on the following counterattack.
Depending on the size of the allocation, I’d say we made out on this one. Leitch is gonna get waived by San Jose by the end of the season, and either us or Columbus will pick him back up, bank on it.
What could the allocation really be…. 30K?less?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaahh!!! Ives you just made my day! This is the best news all off season. Leitch was terrible. It was a rare night when he play “ok” by not leaving his man wide open for a back post goal. Our problems on D are by no means solved, but this is a huge step IMO. I’m really excited about Hall impressing enough to earn consideration for RB too. Good job JCO! Keep it up.
He was ok at times but glad he won’t be starting anymore. he also seemed to have a bad attitude in my opinion. hopefully his replacement is an improvement…
He was a whipping boy, but the guy was a solid defender who could play any position on the backline. He’s an ideal, experienced squad player who would probably have no issues with being a backup/utility defender.
I suppose if the rookies step up, this won’t look so bad. He got a lot out Sassano last year, perhaps he can do the same with Hall and Zimmerman.
Good Trade. Leitch was at best a bandaid for the position. Now they can go after a real right back. Good Job Goose
If one of the rookies is as adequate as Leitch at this position, this is a solid deal.
Essentially, you drop Leitch’s salary, get allocation money, and an additional international roster slot by drafting well.
Maybe Osorio has another player in mind, but I think Ives is on the right track here. I think Hall has shown enough to Osorio that he’s just as capable as Leitch.
Primetown
good move… theyre essentially getting something for nothing… no one wanted leitch and they picked him up last year and ended up getting something out of the deal.. can’t argue with that
Could be that they’re signing Carlos Johnson, but also likely that Hall demonstrated he could play the position, which allowed Leitch to be traded.
Overall, great deal, great value for a guy that wasn’t core to the team.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Leitch, but at least he wasn’t making tons of $$$. If Osorio signs a Central American defender who plays matador-style defense, I’ll be righteously ticked.
Well, if Hall starts than RBNY will clearly be the fastest team in MLS what with some of the other speed demons who are either going to start or play sub roles.
But this doesn’t seem like such a great move to me. For instance, to say that Hall can play right back is not the same as saying you draft him primarily to play outside defense. I think there are a number of players in the draft I’d rate higher than Hall as an outside back–his real value in my mind is as an outside mid.
I never thought that highly of Leitch. But put this in perspective: DCU (with Wallace) and NE (with Alston) aren’t talking about starting either of those players right now–and I’d rate both of them ahead of Hall as an outside defender.
FINALLY!
Thank God!!! His lake of passing ability along with another glorified USL ‘er Mike Petke would have set us back 3 years.
1o1 matches…hmmm well Good Luck Chris,
As for the deal ,well not bad international spot and allocation is good ,just please dont spend it on Assassin like Pietrovallo….
PolishPete
ESC