Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com
It appears that Frank Rost's time in Major League Soccer has come and gone.
Hans Backe told the New York Post Tuesday that he expects New York's midseason acquisition and Designated Player goalkeeper to return to Germany, leaving the Red Bulls with an unresolved situation in goal yet again.
Part of the reason that the club dealt Dwayne De Rosario to D.C. United was to clear cap space to sign a goalkeeper of Rost's caliber, but the move amounted to a high-cost, short-term rental during a season that ended short of lofty expectations. Bouna Coundoul appears to enter the offseason as the club's top option in goal, although it's an area that is likely to be addressed again.
Backe also mentioned that he expects integral midfielder Joel Lindpere to remain with the club, either with a new deal or via the club picking up its option on the Estonian international, who will compete for his country in its Euro 2012 qualifier playoff against Robbie Keane's Republic of Ireland.
Here are a couple of more items from around MLS:
TIMBERS DENY RAPIDS' INTERVIEW REQUEST
The Colorado Rapids have a hole to fill on their coaching staff following the dismissal of Gary Smith, but current Portland Timbers coach John Spencer won't be the one stepping into that void.
The Timbers denied the Rapids' request to interview Spencer, according to The Oregonian, taking the potential candidate out of consideration for the job.
While there's no reason for Spencer to be looking to leave his situation in Portland, it's understandable why Colorado would be interested in acquiring his services. In addition to leading Portland to the cusp of the postseason in its expansion year, Spencer was a standout player and captain for the Rapids from 2001-2004, earning two Best XI nods while wearing the Rapids' crest.
LE TOUX REPEATS AS FAIR PLAY WINNER
For the second straight season, Philadelphia Union attacker Sebastien Le Toux captured the MLS Fair Play award. Le Toux didn't receive a single card, yellow or red, all season, and committed just 20 fouls en route to edging out New England's Darrius Barnes and and Colorado's Kosuke Kimura for the honor. He joins Michael Parkhurst (2007-08) and Steve Ralston (1999-2000) as players to win the award in consecutive years.
The Timbers, who committed a league-low 347 fouls all season, captured the team Fair Play award, beating out Chivas USA and the Philadelphia Union.
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How would you characterize the state of the Red Bulls and their roster? Happy to hear that Spencer won't leave Portland for Colorado? Whom else do you think Colorado should look at? What do you make of the Fair Play Award winners?
Share your thoughts below.
Rost wasn’t great, but, uh… Nery Castillo, Reyna, Denilson…
“New York give up two back ups that Backe doesn’t play enough.”
Apparently you’re not familiar with the Hans Backe-Mehdi Ballouchy love affair. Backe will keep Ballouchy by his side forevermore.
Compared to what our keepers were like before Rost, he did very well.
It seems to me that the Red Bulls definitely need a leadership change at the top – Backe didn’t impress tactically, but even more damning is that it seemed that he completely failed to hold the team accountable for mistakes (Marquez, Henry’s red cards) and failed to develop any depth on the team (which is also partially Soler’s responsibility). What’s more, the recent comments to the NY Times that suggested he was completely unaware of the Gold Cup taking place, and that he does little scouting of other teams, makes it sound like he’s out of his depth here.
That said, I don’t know that RBNY needs a complete overhaul. Marquez needs to go. Rost and Coundoul are out, as is Nielsen. Albright probably has little left to offer the team. Ballouchy is overpaid for his production. Getting rid of those guys alone would give RBNY a pretty large salary budget to work with. They need to target a creative central mid (can swap Marquez’s DP spot for this player directly, if they can convince Atlas to buy him at a steep discount), a physical veteran central defender who can lead in the back (think of a guy like Ryan Nelsen), and solid keeper (Ricketts has been mentioned here; I’d also be calling the agents of younger Americans abroad who aren’t getting much playing time like Cervi, Westberg or Robles – even Yelldell). Beyond that, they need another defensive mid to cover for Tanio, some cover at fullback, and prob another wing – not a major haul, and they have the budget to do that. The key is making the right choices – Soler (plus the new manager) need to spend smartly this time.
No prob, Rory. We’re ecstatic to have him and he’d never agree to having a Marketing exec have a say in his team selection, anyway.
Yoda, I am called.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sarcasm
Jealous, also, I am.
Always thought it was a waste having a DP GK, one thing Americans excel at in football is the goalie position. Get Marquez and Rost out and pick up a creative MF as a DP and a towering back. NJRB DOES NOT NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE!! Talented as they come, just add some finishing touches to the lineup. Drogba would be a dream come true!!…or Raul, big Spanish community in and around Harrison.
I log onto SoccerByIves each morning hoping to see “Backe resigns” or “Backe sacked”….to no avail. LA did have problems, and they have dealt with them. Red Bull needs a house-cleaning at the top.
Backe has no comment on who will be coaching NYRB next year? Biggest underachievement in memory.
Yep, I’ve only been a Rapids fan since 2007, before that I didn’t pay much attention to the MLS as the quality was too lacking for me. So, no, I don’t remember Spencer as a player and I’m more used to him for his post-game complaints, whining, and excuse-generating for every loss the Timbers had. I would suggest that I’m in a much better position to be objective to his coaching style than any long-term Rapids fan who are looking at him with fondness for his playing past. Luckily I came in at the end of the Clavijo era but I would think the Rapids fans would remember what it was like to have a coach who accepted excuses from his players and from himself instead of demanding something better, which has been the real key to our recent success.
Get Rost Frank
hah 🙂
That’s a funny.
No. This might look fair, but one of them can be sold for several million today
I’d like it if Soler and Backe hired an assistant who’s MLS-savvy. Someone like, I don’t know, Richie Williams.
+1
Does anyone think a straight up swap, Agudelo for Ricketts, would be possible?
Rory,
Clearly you are a new bandwagon Rapids fan and don’t remember all Spencer gave to that organization as a player (his whole heart, every game). In case you forget, look at his name/number on the Wall of Fame.
You say whinny, I say fighting competitive. if he was your coach you’d be complimenting his fighting spirit for “your” Rapids.
Looking forward to this next seasons trades:
Columbus Crew Receives:Juan Agudelo ($85k) and Mehdi Ballouchy ($126k)and $75,000 allocation.
New York Red Bulls Receives:Dilly Duka ($220k) bring back the home town kid
Looking forward to this next seasons trades:
Columbus Crew Receives:Juan Agudelo ($85k) and Mehdi Ballouchy ($126k)and $75,000 allocation.
New York Red Bulls Receives:Dilly Duka ($220k)
As a Rapids fan, it’s sad to have to agree with that statement
Also interesting to note that “the Timbers committed a league-low 347 fouls – 27 fewer than the next closest team, the Colorado Rapids”.
Not that anyone here would guess that.
http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2011/11/timbers-receive-2011-mls-fair-play-award
Out of all the positions to spend money on a DP, a goalkeeper has to be without a doubt the dumbest. Good, or at least above average goalkeepers are maybe not a dime a dozen, but pretty close. Goalkeepers who are either better or equal to Rost in MLS this year-Keller, Ricketts, Saunders, Kennedy, Busch, Reis, both TOR keepers, Hall, rimando, Hartman, Nielson, Johnson, Hamid,Mondragon. I know it seems like I listed almost everybody, but tell me which one of those guys is 200k worse than Rost? None. Rost edges out a few on a good(think Emirates Cup) day, barely.
Rost was mediocre in MLS. I don’t think he’s going to be any better anywhere else. NY has set a new low for DP signings. Red Bull has money to burn though.
Envious, I am.
I feel his assessments are honest.
Personal story: On the flight back from the opening game in Colorado I was on the same flight as the Timbers. As Spencer walked by I thanked him for everything that he has done. No hesitation, “I aint done nothing yet.”
Honest? Yes. And he’s a Scotsman!
In other news….I just bought my mls final ticket! $80 to sit in the grass area. Is it worth it? Considering the historical circumstances, yes!
+1
Phony outrage, I think not. That’s the best trade proposal either team could hope for. Ricketts is the best in the league when he’s healthy (see 2010 GK of the Year winner) and LA needs someone with speed and vision to play with Keane. Fingers crossed.
How about Backe gets to go too. Trading DeRo was stupid
HAHAHA no kidding, i think they are suffering from the same issue as NE, except they happened to be more successful as of late.
It is still beyond me why the Red Bulls won’t adjust their formation to get Agudelo on the field. Play a 4-3-3 with Aguedelo – Henry – Rodgers/Richards(depending on Rogers fitness) Then you have Lindpere – Tainio – Marquez (only because you can’t sit him) And then their usual backline. Honestly I would love for them to ditch Marquez and bring in another center mid DP then use the cap space from Rost leaving to add depth, aka 2 or 3 players.
Works great, because he is adored here.
Guess Portland likes trolls.
Interesting we got the fair play award too. I would think trash talking would factor into that.
LOL @ Colorado. Good luck finding a better coach than Smith. Hint: your front office sucks and your team is only going to get worse until they are all gone.
Guzan ?
Ricketts will likely be available this offseason. He fits NYRB desire for big-names (Ricketts is big-name as far as MLS goes).
“Mehdi Ballouchy… Backe doesn’t play enough.”
Does not compute.
Frankly I’m more interested in watching if TFC can build on their promise rather than if NYRB will continue to underwhelm.
It would be better if Agudelo was traded to LA, a more professionally run organization.
except for the fact that Agudelo is going to Philly, you got a great idea.
What’s wrong with NY? Quite a bit really and nothing thats a quick fix. Henry’s goals and play masked many flaws. LA had a similar problem initially with Beckham masking huge gaps in talent around the pitch however LA was managed cleverly and the youngsters were blooded and are now developing into good players. New York hasnt done that. I see Rogers as a liability to be honest, he is unreliable fitness-wise and keeping Agudelo on the bench is a disgrace. Use Henry and Agudelo. Richards key on RM and blood in youngsters like Rooney who is kean to get action and whilst not up to his brother’s skill can develop into a fully skilled attacking midfielder. Marquez must be offloaded too but not until youngsters are up to par which will be in a year or so if played right. Backe wont do any of this though, he will try and buy a fix and fail miserably which he deserves.
They hooked him up with tickets? Oh, that’s nice.
I like the proposal. Would work well for both sides, even if, as a Los Angeles supporter, I’d be sad to see Ricketts go.
That would be fantastic. But NY can keep Ballouchy.
Rost is heading to Arsenal.
I’m a Rapids fan and I’m glad Spencer won’t be our next coach. He’s a whiney angry troll with Little Man Complex and frankly I’d hate to have to see the type of trash he says after games coming from our coach. I’d like to tell him to grow up, but he’d probably be thinking that was a dig at his height.
Looking forward to silly season. How about this one to get some people puffed up with phony outrage:
New York receives Donovan Ricketts ($195k), Michael Stephens ($79k) and $75,000 allocation.
Los Angeles receives Juan Agudelo ($85k) and Mehdi Ballouchy ($126k).
New York give up two back ups that Backe doesn’t play enough. They get a younger back up midfielder to replace Ballouchy, a bone fide starting goal keeper, and $20k in additional cap room. Hertzog becomes the new #3 striker.
Los Angeles give up a part time starting goal keeper and a young midfielder who hasn’t cracked the line up regularly. They receive a more seasoned back up midfielder, and a guy to immediately start next to Keane. Brian Perk becomes the new #2 GK.
“Rost’s caliber”? What did Rost do in his time with the Red Bulls? He talked s*** about the league (NY Post article) and was mediocre in many important situations.
Hopefully Backe, Soler, and Marquez follow him out of town.
I think Bouna Coundoul should start in goal!