The New York Red Bulls are in danger of missing out on the postseason despite fielding a high-priced roster with international appeal in a league where more than half of the teams make the playoffs.
Even with that, it appears that manager Hans Backe isn't going anywhere.
Talking to reporters in New York, Red Bulls sporting director Erik Soler said that Backe's job is safe no matter the outcome of Thursday's crucial match against the Philadelphia Union. The Red Bulls need to win or get a draw and some help to make the playoffs or risk becoming the most underachieving team in league history.
"Hans is the head coach next season, regardless," Soler told the New York Times. "I met with our owner three weeks ago to discuss the next two seasons. Red Bull is showing a lot of faith, of course they want to win all the time."
What do you make of Soler's remarks? Who deserves most of the blame in New York: Backe, Soler or the players?
Share your thoughts below.
If they miss the playoffs with the talent they have, then it’s difficult to justify keeping Backe.
However, after years of futility, perhaps patience with the coach and the team are the right move. Last year Soler was a genius, and this year many of his moves back fired as the team’s depth and some promising young players were moved to accommodate a bunch of high priced mercenaries.
For those of us who have endured, lets hope they pull it together tomorrow night and get a chance to do some damage in the playoffs.
After 16 years, nothing this franchise does/doesn’t do surprises me. C’mon Cosmos so I can go back to cheering on the team of my youth. Guarantee they win an MLS Cup before RBNY.
This team is a complete and utter joke. That is all I can say.
this could wind up being a great day for DC United!
Man City seem to be pretty happy right now.
I thought claudio reyna coached/owned a development youth team…upstate ny i believe…
I agree. Firing coaches in New York has really helped them over the course of their history.
If the Red Bulls management has the patience to let him acclimate more, I think it is a smarter move.
How many coaches have they gone through since they purchased the club? Instant success has not happened as a result.
Unfortunately all that extra money brought in by next season’s exorbitant increase in season ticket prices won’t go towards buying what the Red Bulls don’t have and really need – a clue.
On the subject of coaches…just saw this on Richie Williams. Congrats to the ankle biter, and well-deserved. Not surprising Soler/Backe felt threatened by this guy on the bench, he has actually won on every level and is known for his competitiveness smarts and leadership – wouldn’t it be nice to have some of that within the RBNY organization these days…
http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/10/richie-williams-induction-into-dc-united-hall-of-tradition-presented-by-yuengl
+1
NY must be stupid, stupid, stupid.
+1
Not really everyone’s thoughts – my first thought as a Fire fan was “oh, yes!” Another year of squandered talent and staring at the empty trophy case!
Ooops – no – I almost forgot that lonely Kewpie doll they brought back from London.
So is this the part where I fall back laughing? Has April Fools come in October?!?!
money alone never bought happiness, at least not in the making of a football team
Backe is horrible. He open admitted yesterday he hasn’t seen the replay of Henry’s red card. Really? Takes 10 seconds. He has turned into that Baghdad Bob press secretary guy from the Iraq war. Backe is completely delusional. He plays the same 11 every game. Never subs. Doesn’t trust youth. He doesn’t watch scout the other teams. Doesn’t understand the nuances of the American game. Dump him please. Hire Mike Petke. Panathinaikos got it right when they fired him after like 3 games.
One of my favorite posts I’ve ever read on SBI, lol.
Just a simple question mark to this Redbulls (non)move in retaining Backe.
Hilarious as it basically sums up everyones thoughts.
well-played good sir 🙂
not as thrilled as Lady Gaga in her punk spike thong. i actually googled that after the barb wire thingy. yes, you too can see the picture. Apparently, she is very popular. The relevance here being that despite a seeming inexplicable choice in a certain matter (a spikey/wirey thong up one’s backside), the outcome is not always an apparently negative or disturbing one. Nah, forget my analogy (though i showed my verbal prowess in explaining it)…Backe’s a stinker…in a barb wire thong or not.
me too
Apparently both of Hans Backe’s daughters are getting married. One (his eldest/second favorite) is getting married this fall, while the other is getting married in the summer.
Word is he’s sending his assistant coaches & reserve players to attend the eldest daughters wedding in the fall.
When asked, he said it was so that he can focus on his other (youngest/favorite) daughters wedding in the summer.
Stunning. And embarrassing.
Exactly. Hopefully ownership fires both these clowns.
Wow. If the Austrian parent company is comfortable keeping clowns like Soler and Backe who will – without any doubt – go down in history as managing the most underachieving (and expensive) franchise in the history of MLS….makes you wonder if Red Bull care about quality control in any of their products. Makes you think twice about taking a sip of red bull drinks!! I have advised NYRB sales that I will NOT be renewing my 10 season tickets. Good luck Soler and Hans, at least the empty stadium next year won’t sound as loud when they whistle and boo…
are you kidding? Marquez aside this talent should be able to manage itself into the playoffs…
wow. that is perfectly put exasperation. right down to the lack of caps and punctuation.
Amen to that BB! You are assuming we can keep Lindpere and Rodgers next year of course…
Well at least we will be able to shave a little payroll next season by trimming our roster to only 13 players since Backe only uses 2 subs a game…wait, make that 14 players in case Rost gets hurt sitting on a plane again next year…wait, nevermind, Backe would pick a “pool” goalkeeper instead of using our backup who actually practices with the team…13 it is!
Backe isn’t the problem. It’s non-performing stars like Henry and Marquez. Henry can’t go a few games without cheap-shotting his ‘lesser’ fellow players. Marquez only goes faster than a job when he’s benched. The two who carry the armband are the worst examples. Give the captaincy to Rodgers or Tanio or Lindpere, the real workers on the team.
barbed wire thongs? it would explain a lot….
it just never ends with this team
whhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyy god wwwwhhhhhyyyyy?!
Yay! Now the Red Bulls will continue to be horrible!
Me too!
I think there’s an argument to be made for stability and avoiding speculation, both long term and – especially when you are trying to make the playoffs – short term.
So what you are saying is that even though the team is going Backewards,…Hans will be Backe next season to coach the Red Bulls. Nice.
Makes about as much sense as US Soccer hiring a Director of Youth Development who has never coached before
Great news for the Cosmos!
They should change their name to the fluster clucks.
I doubt it matters what Soler thinks since he is probably on the chopping block as well.
Whoever decided to trade DeRo and Tchani should be fired.
By the way, if I was Soler I wouldn’t fire Backe either. He can fire Backe next year if they’re doing poorly and stick around for a new head coach. If he fires Backe now and the next coach does poorly there’s a better chance Soler and the new coach get canned together.
Hey, he brought home the Emirates Cup. How could you fire him after that…
I bet the RBNY players are thrilled about this.
i lol’d
This makes about as much sense as a barbed wire thong.
If he continues to trade his potential MVP caliber players to DC I’m all for it.
?