The New York Red Bulls got a close-up look at Mehdi Ballouchy when they beat the Colorado Rapids last weekend. Apparently they liked what they saw.
The Red Bulls have traded forward Macoumba Kandji to the Rapids for Ballouchy on Tuesday.
Ballouchy has registered three goals and five assists for the Rapids this season. Kandji has endured an injury-plagued season for the Red Bulls, managing just one goal this season.
What do you think of the deal? Shocked to see Kandji traded? Think Ballouchy can be the Red Bulls' answer in the playmaker role?
Share your thoughts below.
That’s not entirely fair considering the Red Bulls lineup he’s trying to crack includes two top-shelf European-quality players.
And the Bulls don’t have forwards?
Bad move for NY…Kandji is a future star….Ballouchy is already a has-been
I think he’s injured
I loved watching Kandji and Henry together. Mac seemed so happy, and I think he would have learned alot from Henry! I’ll miss him.
If Angel leaves, perhaps Jozy can come back and play with Henry. I’m sure this would help him develop for the national team. Right now, he’s keeping the bench nice & warm at Villareal.
I like this trade. The guy did not show enough consistently to justify his salary. Tons of people are high on him, but when he wasn’t injured, overall, he wasn’t that good.
…and Stammler retiring at the end of this season.
Backe likes to play 4-4-2. he has stated that in the past.
Ha. RSL traded Ballouchy to Rapids and got Kyle Beckerman in return. Not sure if RSL gave up more but RSL got the best end of that deal. Ballouchy is good but I don’t see him getting any better. Kandji has loads of potential and more upside.
I liked balouchy when he was with RSL but Kries was not that impressed and I’ve come to appreciate Kries’s perspective much more than my own. Bad trade for NYRB since Kandji has more upside than Balouchy.
I have bad news bro…
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/kandji-chooses-play-senegal-or-gambia
Neww Yooorkkk Cosssmooooosss
That’s like saying he’s better than Scrubs McGee. I’m kinda wondering why the Rapids did this. They’ve been adding nothing but strikers lately, so maybe they are looking to change their formation to a 3-3-4. I’m wondering who will replace Mehdi. I’m hoping it will be Claudio Lopez. But I’m worried that maybe the Rapids are looking to sell Cummings
I agree, I think Ives favorite Tchani is going to be seeing the bench. Bottom line Hans Backe has to see Ballouchy as an upgrade over Tchani to make this move. I remember reading a quote from Hans saying they had to work with Tchani about a little kink in his game, he always passed the ball backwards!
good move for RBNY, I’ve always thought highly of Ballouchy, I think he’s got a bright future. Too bad Kandji had to go but you gotta crack a couple eggs sometimes.
Oh, and good luck Mac 🙂
This NY fan likes this move
Good deal for the players individually, but better for the Red Bulls than the Rapids. Ballouchy is a pleasure to watch live – great finesse. I always felt that the players around him didn’t do him justice. Time to see just how big of an impact he can make.
Speaking of JCO, he just got fired at Once Caldas. What a shock!
Another great Juan Carlos Osorio signing!!!!
He’s not a winger! He’s not a striker! He’s BIG MAC!
In the words of the Ramones, “Glad to see you go, go, go, go, goodbye!”
playing some intramural ball as an undergrad and getting totally creamed by a group of semi-pro moroccans (1-14 score), I have to say I like this one for NY.
But hey, dont moroccans and algerians hate the french?
Mehdi is still young and improving. He has better control than Robbie Findley.
Prediction: every Red Bull fan will retract their positive statements about Ballouchy before the end of the season. After seeing his dizzying assortment of short back passes with attacking players wide open, silly turnovers, poor shot selection, barking at the referee and general lack of consistency, you will all change your mind and forget the one or two plays a game that make you go: “Wow, did Mehdi Ballouchy just do something?”
I pictured him more as a Berbatov than a Rooney loan striker. He’d be the central point of attack and where the action started. I think his best plays so far this season have been through link up plays, throw him there and have everyone else do the running would enable him to get the most out of himself.
+1
Chin is going to be the next forward to get the minutes for Red Bull. Kandji was there filling the midfield and wing positions but his performance, especially at wing was just not there. His potential will be as an attacker.
Let’s not forget they have good depth in our developing draft picks from this year!
Agreed. I was at that game, and the Cummings strike was insane. Plus was the only player that caused any trouble for the Red Bulls in the midfield. But Kandji is very fast and has great one-v-one skill.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I’m a huge fan of Kandji’s from his days with the Atlanta Silverbacks (ATL stand up!!), and he was one of the reasons I liked the Red Bulls. Oh well. I guess it’ll be a better move for his career as he wasn’t seeing much playing time with ny. Can’t help but feel the Red Bulls got HOSED on this one though.
I guess it’s an okay move, but I don’t think this changes the starting 11. I see Ballouchy being used as a utility midfielder, possibly a sub for Richards, Lindpere, or Tchani.