The New York Red Bulls will move one step closer to trying to organize the mess that is the club's front office when it formally introduces Erik Soler today as the team's new general manager. Soler will step in and be in charge of all soccer-related operations for a club still picking up the pieces following a nightmare 2009 season.
What will this mean for the club's immediate future? That depends on who the club will hire to be its new head coach. You probably thought I was kidding when I mentioned former Arsenal star and failed Portsmouth manager Tony Adams was in the running for the Red Bulls job, but now the link has reached the UK, leaving us to wonder if Soler is really ready to hire a coach who knows as little about MLS as he does.
Red Bulls fans shouldn't jump into panic mode just yet. The club is considering coaches with MLS experience, with at least one MLS veteran earning an interview last week. A hire will need to be made in the next week or so if a new coach and coaching staff is going to be in position to prepare for the 2010 MLS Draft, which the Red Bulls have two first-round picks in. The longer the club delays in hiring a head coach, the more likely Jeff Agoos (the man who Soler has essentially replaced and the man who apparently cannot be fired by the Red Bulls) will play a key role in the club's draft strategy.
Those wondering what that may mean to New York should consider what teams sources called Agoos' most significant contribution to last year's draft. When the Red Bulls were poised to select with the No. 18 overall pick, then-head coach Juan Carlos Osorio had his sights set on fullback Evan Brown, a player expected to be available at 18. Seattle ruined those plans by grabbing Brown at No. 16, which left the Red Bulls scrambling. Agoos wound up recommending that the club take Babajide Ogunbiyi, an imposing defender who had impressed at the Combine. The only problem with that selection was that Ogunbiyi had European club aspirations and had no intention of signing in MLS for anything short of a senior contract. This information was common knowledge among other MLS front offices, which is how Ogunbiyi slipped to No. 18 in the first place. Nobody told Agoos though, and he wound up wasting a draft pick on a player the team never signed.
TRACY EMERGING IN DENMARK
If you are wondering which forwards might emerge to challenge for spots in U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley's pecking order, one name you might want to start considering is Marcus Tracy.
Just a year ago, Tracy was playing for Wake Forest and was regarded as the top prospect in a loaded MLS Draft class. That was before he bolted for Denmark, where he signed for Aalborg BK. After getting limited playing time last season, Tracy has emerged in recent weeks as a regular starter for the Danish club. The 23-year-old striker has started four straight matches and wasted no time making an impact, scoring the winning goal in Aalborg's 1-0 win vs. FC Copenhagen, his first of those four straight starts.
Aalborg played its final match before the winter break last Saturday, a 2-0 loss to Sonderjyske, and won't return to action until the Danish League returns to action in early March. In the meantime, Tracy just might have done enough to be considered one of the leading candidates for a call-up to the U.S. team's January training camp in Carson, California.
Correct you are. Thanks. (Too many forwards whose last name start with a C).
You probably mean Kenny Cooper over in the Bundesliga 2. Cooper I think is out with an injury right now, but was doing good with his team. Connor Casey is in the MLS offseason.
Tony Taylor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKI9NRBF8TU
IMO Tony has a great dribbling ability and can create a chance for others off the dribble. I don’t see that too much in our current forward players. The only thing I don’t like about him is his finishing. He isn’t a guy that would make the team for SA 2010. Mainly just a guy to bring into camp and get affiliated with the full national team.
Whats the latest on Connor Cassy. He had a good start over in Europe but I have to admit that I have no been following him all that closely.
Tracy has always been strong and fairly fast. He has decent height and is good in the air and is fairly composed on the ball. He was able to take people on off the drible in college but not sure if that ability has transferred to the Danish league. His senior year at Wake he torched the rest of the ACC the first half of the season but then struggled a bit when teams starting keying on him, which opened up things for Cody Arnoux, his opposite striker, who is now playing with Everton’s reserves.
Overall, great size and a decent soccer IQ for someone whose technical ability is catching up to his physical gifts, which are plentiful.
Myself, I hope the next forwards to get looks are: 1 Findley 2 Cunningham 3 Tracy 4 Lee Nguyen.
People.. Tracy is not a “speedster”. He’s much more of a target forward, who’s barely faster than Jozy.
Tony Taylor has a ton of potential, but he needs to be playing pro ball before he gets a cap.
Not relevant to this discussion. General knowledge does not indicate caliber of quality.
Haha..
Not enough speed in that combo. Findley next to Dempsey would be much more effective.
Well said.
Tracy is the next Davies
Rejoice all Adu fans…all he has to do is start 4 games and he’s back in the USMNT!!!!!!
(SBI-How about starting ONE game? And last time I checked Adu wasn’t a forward, which is a glaring area of need for the national team and IS the position Marcus Tracy plays for a club that was playing Champions League soccer just a year ago.)
Who is Tony Taylor? Why would he be good for USMNT?
Four strikers I wouldn’t mind seeing at the January camp: Jeff Cunningham, Robbie Findley, Marcus Tracy, and Tony Taylor.
Scoring one goal in the Danish league is hopefully not all that’s required on the resume to get a look in our national team…I would like to believe we are better than that.
Give Tracy a shot! I cam remember back when Davies was not considered good enough by Bradley to be the starting forward, and how quickly that changed after he was pratcially forced to use him in the Confederations Cup.
In full disclosure, I pulled the list from http://yanks-abroad.com/. It might be a bit outdated but has an alphabetical list of scores of players.
Tracy starts 4 straight games, scores a goal. He should be starting.
If he does get a call, it says a lot about how desperate we’re getting
salary cap does not influence transfer value. Its unfair, but the value of a player is measured by how much a club can sell a player for, not how much the player makes in wages. The fact that MLS pays some players such dreadful wages, does not influence their transfer value.
But what a great player he was. I loved those Dutch team with Van Basten and the rest. O’ the memories. And that crazy pyscedellic jersey they wore in the ’90 or ’94 world cup.
Using Califf as an example is not appropiate when comparing leagues. The guy used to captain Aalborg and was regarded one of their best players in the Danish league before they couldnt negotiate a new contract at the end of the 08 season (which wasnt too long ago). At his newer Danish club, he just never gelled into the squad. he just needs a new club to regain his form.
haha, I can honestly say that there is no player that I like less than Jeff Agoos. I’m sure most of my dislike stems from the ’02 performance.
I don’t think I’ve watched a single Danish Super League match, and yet I’m convinced that the quality of play (in general) must be higher than in MLS. You know why? Because they can pay more. It’s just economics. If you can pay more money you get better players.
There are some other factors, like club prestige and location, but it seems like playing in Europe would be preferable for most players if that were an issue.
What about Masal Bugduv??? His mother is American, he should be eligible to play for USMNT? He’s been linked with a transfer to Arsenal… Bradley should call him up for January games and give some time off the bench at least…
Thanks for the list. One name on that list that I’ve been screaming for a shot is Jemal Johnson from MK Dons in league one. They *almost* won promotion to Championship last year and JJ was a consistent starter and scorer up top; however, MK Dons started using him more as a midfielder and a bench player and then from what I’ve read, Johnson had a falling out with either the coach of club officials over a contract dispute. He’s failed to even make the bench the last few games.
good info. i am not familiar with spain but if he speaks the langauge that is a plus. i just want to see him play with as good a team as possible while still getting to start every game and maybe even shine as a ‘star’ … he is the key to our WC fortunes and needs to be at the top of his game.
Ruud Gullit was not a high-quality manager, and that was evident before he came to MLS and after he came to MLS. He is famous because of his playing days.
ya but that was unrealistic at the time
I’d rather see him with a Spanish side, around mid-table. Espanyol, Deportivo, Mallorca, or even Atletico Madrid would be a great chance for him.
I really think the style of play (and average size of his opponents) would suit him well. The German game is much too physical for him, and I think England would be as well.
ok Tony Adams not a great choice for RBNY manager but great choice for me to meet a former gunner and maybe a chance to sign henry.
I’m starting to come around on the idea of Landon going to Mexico and playing with Club America.
Anyone who thinks the USA is going to waltz into the second round of the World Cup needs only to read the posts seeking to have Tracy called in for a look with the USMNT.
Thanks for the list. I had completely forgotten about Johann Smith. I didn’t know that he’s in Croatia now.
The guy in Sweden’s name is Josh Howard. I can’t find much on him but here is an article from earlier this year http://sgfsoccer.com/2009/02/25/josh-howard-signs-with-soderhamns-ff-sweden/
I guess that I’m just hoping that there is a Santiago Muñez (from the movie Goal) type person out there who has yet to be discovered.
Dempsey should move to Davies spot and Holden should move to the outside right mid spot
Altidore Dempsey
Donovan Bradley Holden
?
Boca Demeritt Gouch Spector
The MLS has a salary cap how can they compare apples and oranges?
“Reminds me of Eddie Johnson”
That’s OK DC, because Eddie Johnson no longer reminds me of the powerful EJ , slayer of Panama.
and Ives, “and can’t possibly be a worse talent evaluator than Jeff Agoos.)”
Alexi Lalas could give Agoos a run.
(SBI-Lalas doesn’t still have a job evaluating talent for a pro club.)
If you want to compare the leagues this is how you can do it: transfermarkt.de is a german soccer site that tries to estimate the transfer value of players. They are wrong with many individuals and sometimes late with their adjustments but on average they are fairly good. This is their english language page:
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/international/2009/int/uebersicht/menue_international/startseite.html
If you look at the leagues and clubs you get averages. Try to see that as the price that you would have to pay if you wanted to transfer in the whole squad today.
I think it is a fairly good tool to compare the strenghts of leagues and players. It gives you an idea of the difference in strenght between the US and the danish leagues.
Think, Zamora, Kamara, Jo, etal, with Jo being a 19 million pound (around $31 mil.) acquisition. Perhaps Brazilian flops get more slack in Europe, no?
Well, here are some relatively obscure American forwards plying their trade in Europe. I don’t know anything about most of these players. Not sure who you are thinking of in Sweden.(Is Ferrari the kid he grew up in the States but has pledged to the Italian national side?)
Ferrari, Gabriel Forward Sampdoria Italy Serie A
Grella, Mike Forward Leeds United England
Harris, Seb Forward Northampton Town England League Two
Hill, Kamani Forward Vitoria de Guimaraes Portugal Superliga
Johnson, Jemal Forward Milton Keynes Dons England League One
Smith, Johann Forward NK Rijeka Croatia Prva Hrvatska Nogometna Liga
Smith, Lawrence Forward Vaasan Palloseura Finland Veikkausliiga
Taylor, Matt Forward FSV Frankfurt Germany 2 Bundesliga
Waltrip, Brian Mid/Fwd Molde Norway Eliteserien
Zizzo, Sal Mid/Fwd Hannover 96 Germany Bundesliga
That’s right. Throw out a line of laughable dubiosity, and then make sure the rubes know that no dissent is to be considered.
Of course many would [actually, yer know] argue with that. By all means let FC Copenhagen or Aarhus come trundlin’ over for their bitch slap of MLS teams. Would love to see them try.
Califf was a long time starter for a top Danish team, when he was an average MLS defender. He goes to Philadelphia because he, and they, are desperate –each in their own way. No more, no less. He is going to what will likely be the worst team in MLS next year, and he will-betcha all the kroner Denmark once had– have a very hard slog of it.
Parkhurst is starting for his team. He struggles only in the sense he has competition, not in the sense of failing to do well when he plays.
Also, if you actually followed MLS with sufficient attention, would know that in his last year with New England Parkhurst did struggle to play well there. Just review some of the Revs lowlights from last year. Yet he starts, cool as cucumber, in ol’ Daneland.
I think that I would like to see him not go to an English club. It just does not seem to suit his style.
Unlesss someone steps up big time then I agree with ivanovich. Move Dempsey up top to partner with Altidore. Clearly, he’s not the speedster that opens up the field the way Davies did, but he is much more then capable up top. It would be a bit of a stylistic change though. In the meantime, everyone and their grandmother at this point should be given a chance to impress (Cunningham, Casey, Fiendley, Tracey, Ngyun, Grella, etc.)
I would like to see several forwards who are off the radar get a shot with the national team. With Charlie Davies likely out for South Africa, BB might need to think outside the box for another striker to take that spot. In addition to Marcus Tracy there is Jeremiah White, Jon-Paul Pittman, and there is an American playing in Sweden whose name escapes me at the moment. Hopefully someone is ready to step up and fill the big shoes left vacant by the loss of CD9.
At least it is better than Altidore who has not scored a goal in any EPL games with Hull and he plays regularly for Hull & for the USMNT. We are not saying to hand over a starting role to Tracy, we just want to take a look at him this january like some other unknown players……remember, BB has to field 11 best US players out there and in order for him to do just that, he has to look at very many players in which he had been doing since he got hired. Marcus deserve a call up & if he performs well, then BB will continue evaluating him to see if he can be part of the WC squad, if not, he won’t be called up (at least for this WC) until he has gotten better before he can earn subsequent call ups.
This is a fantastic question. The last I heard on him was that he wanted to go on trial in Europe, probably Norway. I can’t find any remotely recent information on him.
speaking of usmnt players what about those headed overseas before the WC …. Holden? Clark? and of couse Landycakes?
So where should landycakes go? i am trying to decide what EPL team(s) would be a good fit for him, balancing quality of the side/club with the assurity of a regular Dempsey-esque starting role? Any ideas?
Hull – Injury to Bullard? Team with Jozy? Kinda suck?
Everton – Timmy? Great club/coaching? Too much midfield talent?
Blackburn – Good club history? Definite starter/star?
Birmingham – Good sized club? Probable starter?
Sunderland – Great club size/history? Final piece to their puzzle? Regular starter?
What do you guys think?
As a Red Bulls fan, I don’t have even a shred of confidence in this team. In fact, my disappointment with the organization has grown since the end of the season (the awesome final game aside).
How is it possible that a team that needs to make SO MANY changes on the player level still does not have a coach, when they have one already employed by them in Williams?
The way this club is handled is an even bigger joke now than it was with the MetroStars. Hire, fire, hire, fire, hire, fire, hire, fire. Then just sit around doing nothing. Then hire a clueless nobody (relative to MLS, I get it, I’m not trashing the guy’s European career) to operate the team. Then just sit around and do nothing. Great work RBNY.