Photo by ISIphotos.com
BY MIKE NASTRI
Juan Pablo Angel will most likely not be wearing a New York Red Bulls uniform to start the 2011 season.
At halftime of the US Men's National Team match against Colombia, ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas asked Angel if he would be back with New York for next season. Angel responded, "I probably won't".
It was widely speculated that if Angel came back to the Red Bulls it would be for Non-DP money. It seems that scenario is off the table as New York will look elsewhere to fill their third Designated Player spot for next year.
The Red Bulls are in need of an attacking midfielder to distribute the ball to Thierry Henry and might look to fill that role with Angel's DP spot in 2011.
Angel, the Red Bull's all time leading scorer, will be a welcome addition to many MLS teams looking for a veteran goal scorer. While Thierry Henry has become the focus of many opposing defenses, Angel still leads the team in goals this year and has been a model of consistency for New York since his arrival in 2007.
What do you think of Angel's possible departure for New York? Hoping the striker joins your MLS club? Do you think the Red Bulls are making a mistake?
Share your thoughts below.
Hasn’t loading up the roster with old timers taught us anything?
Stupid move by Angel…if New York doesn’t want to spend the money on him fine…I get it, he’s older now. I understand he’s productive, but that’s just the way this business works. But don’t say you’re “probably not” going to be with a team next year right before you’re about to begin a quest for the cup WITH that team. He should’ve answered it differently with the old “we’ll see what happens”…Now, EVERY game they play this post season, all you will hear is Shep Messing (who is THE WORST soccer announcer of all time) talking about how Angel is leaving instead of focusing on the game…bad form Angel…bad form.
JPA – honest, classy, intelligent and the best Red Bull/Metro Star ever.
I’m glad he didn’t beat around the bush in his response. Now let’s hope the Red Bulls win the cup for him – he deserves it after carrying this franchise through bad and good times!
Thank you, JPA and good luck!
He’s staying in MLS. His family loves it here just like in the case of Schelotto..not spelled right prob…2 hectic for themin Argentina at this stage of their careers…you can walk the streets in the USA without getting hounded ….being a NJRB fan i would take Schel off of the Crew’s hands since they seem to be parting ways,in exchange the Crew could use JPA…not saying a trade is going to happen but i wouldnt be surprised if these were the likely destinations for both players
YOU GUYS ARE ALL WRONG! he going back to RIVER PLATE!!!! VAMOS MILLIONARIOS!!!!
Angel’s response was jarring. You get so used to “well, we’ll look at our options” or “can’t rule anything out” or “we’ll have to wait and see” or various other Beckhamisms. Instead Angel just up and told it like it is. Knocked the wind out of the whole studio!
RSL should take a flyer on Angel and perhaps as a DP for a one or two year deal. NYRB can have Findley.
We could sure use you in Philly!
J League…
Double agreed!
JPA, FCD wants you!!!!
I saw up there that someone mentioned the artificial turf that will be the Portland Timbers field. I agree he wouldnt come here for that reason…but I am always praying! He is the man that has help make MLS what it is today! JPA!!
Agreed. Imagine having Sabo, Nat, Olave, AND Angel at the end of those set pieces.
Agreed!
NY is sure to acquire a 3rd DP. It’ll either be an attacking midfielder or a striker. It’s a mixed bag losing Angel, and Henry will have to pick up the slack next season. I hope Henry is paired with a speedy and talented striker in the 24-28 range.
Selfishly, I hope he leaves the league. It will be much harder having to deal with him coming back here than simply being gone.
you think he could play a good 2-Guard?
Actually, the midfield could be a strength for DC next year. Najar, Varela, Boskovic, a healthy Simms and Pontius, along with Quaranta would make a pretty strong returning set, by MLS standards — plus the team will probably be looking for a real central attacking player, so they can move Boskovic out wide. If they can get that player, they’d have the deepest midfield around.
lol. good one. The “Juan Pablo Angel” Decision
Ives- is it a sure thing that RBNY sign a 3rd DP or do they use the cap space to add more depth to the squad given that the chances they’ll be playing in the CCL seem pretty strong? That being said, this is New York where marketing always seems to trump winning.
Either way, it doesn’t make sense, in a salary cap league, to invest so much money at one position. Furthermore, Angel is not the ideal compliment to Henry. Backe seems to want to bring in Luke Rodgers from Notts County and the need to find some more playing time for Juan Agudelo.
From a lot of perspectives, it’s a good move for the franchise, but I’m still devastated.
+1
they can’t trade him. his contract is up at the end of this season.
I’ll bet JPA takes his talents to south beach.
Because he’ll want DP money for multiple years and NYRB can probably get someone younger and faster.
Love what Angel has done for NYRB, but we desperately need an attacking midfielder — let’s get one!
im revs fan, and all i can think are u crazy
Will David Trezeguet be the man that replaces Angel, as he has stated that he wants to play in NY with Henry. I think it would be a great move, but the Red Bulls would have to buy out his 2nd year of his contract. So I am hoping that is team gets relegated and hope he has a release clause if they do. Angel will be greatly missed next year and will deffently go down as the best Red Bull/ MetroStar in their history.
I think Angel would do great with RSL’s midfield.
How amazing would that be?
It can be done!
the man isn’t getting any younger. if RBNY thinks they can get a better player, a younger player, to fill his DP slot then they should by all means try. it is nothing personal and if he can stay in the league, if they can trade him and get some draft picks for him all the better.
will swapping JPA for another DP work for sure? who knows, obviously it depends a lot on who they get, but i think they’d be better off for instance with a 31 year old John Carew than a 35 year old JPA next season.
JPA is pure class and I completely agree with other commenters, he is a top 5 player in MLS. He would be a top addition to any club.
Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, and New England are out. There’s no way he’ll play a full season on artifical turf. He’d fall apart and he knows it.
To: All Staff
From: Erik Soler
Date: 10/12/10
RE: JPA
Juan Pablo Angel is no longer a member of Red Bull New York. His contributions over the years have been immense, both to the team and to the community, and they are greatly appreciated. We wish him well in his future endeavours.
Win us an MLS Cup before you leave Angel! Or perhaps, the team should win HIM an MLS Cup before he leaves!
JPA has always had injury issues. And you ideally want your DP players (or any big salary players) to be on the field alot and have an impact. DeRosario is a great example of a big salary player (though not a DP) who plays a lot and is a bid difference-maker.
JPA doesn’t always play a lot. But he’s absolutely a difference maker.
Frankly, me thinks that part of this is that Backe respects Angel but doesn’t value him highly. I think we saw this with some tactical tinkering earlier in the season that HB tried to sell as “we’re just testing other combinations.” it wasn’t “we’re resting our key veterans.” And he sat JPA.
He’d be a positive addition to any team in MLS. He’s a class individual, a great finisher and elevates his game when it matters. But clearly some teams would benefit more than others. I can’t see LAG getting value from him–they’ve got Buddle (who is cheaper, more athletic, plays in more games) and they’re better off spending the money on speed on their backline (which is too dependent on Berhalter). I think he’d win a title with RSL, given their midfield and the service he’d get from Morales. I think DC United would have the finisher they’ve lacked all season (not a cure-all but a cure for their biggest of many problems). He’d be a real asset for TFC and a better choice than Mista.
Ultimately, given Backe’s personnel decisions this year, you to have trust the decision to go in another direction for a DP.
Angel is older now and isn’t as effective as he was a few years ago, but he STILL is, right now, one of the top forwards in the entire league. Bad move to offload him.
Dear Juan,
*chuckles* Do you know how many goals you would score with *chuckles* our midfield?
Sincerely,
DC United
Stupid move by New York. Why would you get rid of a top 5 player in the league?
Meant I would NOT be surprised to see him stay im MLS.
Future Dallas headlie?????? “Welcome to Dallas Angel. We look forward to your Heavenly scoring.”
Dear Juan,
Do you know how many goals you would score with our midfield?
Sincerely,
RSL
NYRB are going to steal Ronaldinho from the galaxy. NYRB is Barca round two.
It happens world wide. Great player, but he’s 35 and not as mobile as he used to be. Would bee surprised to see him stay in MLS & watch RBNY sign a “name” on par with Henry or Marquez. I will mis shim, but that’s the way it goes worldwide.
DC UNITED PLEASE!!!
Nooooooooo… JPA is one of my favorite players. He is clutch. I hope he is just posturing, and comes back next year.
Every era has its end. Juan Pablo Angel is one of my favorite NY players of all time. I’ll miss him but I totally understand this.
Galaxy would be thrilled to have him on the end of Beckham crosses…
well the man is 35.
So dumb. RedBull will probably end up spending lots of money on a big ‘name’ player who won’t be half as productive as JPA… very few ppl in the league are.
I would love to see New England sign him.