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Red Bulls Notebook: Third goalkeeper situation in flux, Henry returns and more

Meara (ISIphotos)

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By DAVE MARTINEZ

The New York Red Bulls goalkeeping situation continues to be a major point of emphasis as the preseason forges on.

Amongst the guest players joining the club in Arizona are Ray Burse and Phillip Tuttle, two netminders expected to push Ryan Meara and Jeremy Vuolo while vying for a place on the club's roster.

Speaking to the press, assistant coach Jan Halvor Halvorsen spoke glowingly of Meara and Vuolo. Asked whether the plan was to continue pursuing a veteran keeper, however, the Red Bulls assistant was non-committal.

"We had been looking for another goalie," Halvorsen conceded. "But you have to find one. And if you find one, it has to be much better than what we had. No sense to get another one in maybe a little bit better or on the same level, because we have two good young ones now."

Burse and Tuttle will get the chance to prove that they're at the level Halvoren is seeking.

Burse, 27, is formerly a backup with the Columbus Crew, but he was most recently the starter for NASL side Puerto Rico Islanders. The 6-foot-2 Burse has had a journeyman's career but found a home with Puerto Rico, helping the Islanders to a second-place finish last season.

Tuttle, 24, is a former Harrisburg City Islanders netminder. He was a second round Supplemental Draft pick for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2011 but was quickly released before finding a home as a backup with the third-tier USL Pro side.

Both players join the side after New York failed to sign goalkeeper Luis Robles. The league ruled Robles ineligible as a discovery claim, changing its original stance and forcing the keeper to find his way to a team through the allocation order. Robles removed himself from MLS consideration upon the league's decision.

Former Red Bulls keeper and Designated Player Frank Rost announced his retirement Tuesday as well, ruling the German veteran out as an emergency option.

HENRY RETURNS FROM LOAN

With Juan Agudelo training the U.S. Under-23 national team and Luke Rodgers not in camp while he continues to sort through his visa issue, the club got a boost to its front line with the return of Thierry Henry from his loan spell with Arsenal.

Henry has officially rejoined the club in Arizona after a successful loan in which he played in six games for the Gunners and scored three goals, including two match-winners.

Henry, Kenny Cooper and Corey Hertzog are the lone rostered forwards in camp with the club.

TRIALISTS AIM TO MAKE THEIR CASE

In addition to Burse and Tuttle, a number of other trialists have made the trip to Arizona for the Diamond Desert Cup.

Jose Angulo, Jhonny Arteaga, Leobardo Alvarez, Brandon Barklage, Georgi Chirgadze, Willis Forko, Tyler Ruthven and Ryan Maduro have all accompanied the club on its latest leg of the preseason. Forko and Ruthven will be rejoining New York after training with the club in New Jersey prior to the team's preseason in Mexico. The remaining guest players participated in the team's Mexico camp and impressed the staff enough to warrant a longer look.

Their first chance at making even more headway is tonight, when the Red Bulls take on Real Salt Lake at 10 p.m.

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What do you make of the Red Bulls' goalkeeping situation? Think Henry and Cooper can make a strong strike tandem? Which trialists can you see making the club?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Everyone based red bulls for not developing young American talent. Now they are giving two young, Americans a chance to develop and everyone’s up in arms.

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  2. It seems to me that the NYRB brain trust is just offering spin. They didn’t due their due diligence for GK, figured may Rost would come back for at least half a season until the summer transfer window, figured Robles was an answer and then…nothing. Even now, I think they figure that they sign a veteran keeper during the summer and then make their playoff run there. Stupid philosophy.

    First, even if one of these young keepers was good, you’d still want to have good depth. And even good young keepers still make mistakes, are weak organizationally, make poor decisions.

    Second, I don’t buy the argument that NYRB is strong defensively. I don’t think it’s a bad defense. But if Marquez brings the same old attitude, then it will degenerate into finger pointing and a lack of hustle and mental errors and give-aways.

    Philly is the perfect example of what a veteran keeper who provides organization and leadership does for a team–they were a strong team all of last year (without that talented of a roster). I think they’re going to miss Mondragon. Well, NYRB is (IMHO) really mishandling the GK position. Unless this is just spin and they covertly pursuing a proven GK right now.

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  3. RBNY should get Peruvian national team keeper Leao Butron.. his team USMP just withdrew from the league due to a players strike. Tons of international experience and I’m pretty sure we can get him on the cheaper side and a free transfer.

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  4. meara has a ton of potential and given the chance could develop into a great keeper. i know the red bulls arent the most patient when it comes to young american talent out of college (ask hot and kassel if they were given enough time) but i think meara with this experienced D could flourish but we may never know

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  5. 44 GA in 2011 and now minus Tim Ream does not sound superb to me. Rafa?

    Now, I’m a Conde fan — he was a Fire Beast — but there’s gonna be a big question if he can come back, foot surgery, almost 30.

    I don’t think they need a DP GK, Rost was a mistake. I think they could be solid with one of the domsetically-based US keeper pool, Johnson, Hamid, Rimando, or the like. I just think the current set of competitors are second-rate, and that usually has a consequence.

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  6. I would like to have seen the team go after Timo Hildebrand, the back up keeper at Schalke. This is a former National team keeper, and a guy I think would do great in the MLS.

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  7. VERY risky to go with rookie keepers but I can’t imagine Soler and Backe woulg go into the season with Vuolo/Meara unless they were really good. If they are not any good Soler/Backe are going to get killed for not signing a vet.

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  8. Yes, same dude.

    Man, I’m excited for this season. With Rodgers, Henry, Cooper, and Agudelo, we’re stacked at forward. Plus, we have two new center backs in Conde and Holgersson. Addition of Palsson is also crucial. I think we should win the east.

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  9. It’s a sad commentary that you could have said pretty much anything after your first 10 words or just ended the statement there and it would have been true.

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  10. My two cents NY is not really trying hard enough to get a serious keeper. The names already in camp or trialing all sound like 2nd or 3rd keepers. So it sounds like a great competition for spots, but not at the level of quality NY really needs. None of these guys are Meola/ Howard/ even Condoul quality.

    And what’s worse is it’s a pretty obvious need position. Got a pile of forwards and middies, but the defense is slack.

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  11. The goalkeeping situation has been a nightmare for NY. I just don’t see how they can not acquire a solid keeper after what 4/5 years now? (And don’t you dare say Bouna)

    As for Henry, I’m glad he did well for Arsenal. Hopefully his boost in confidence will carry over to RBNY and he perform better than he did last year. Not saying that he sucked last year or anything.

    As for RBNY in general, it’s going to be a scary season for them. I don’t see how the season can start off on a “average” note. I think it will either start off extremely well or just melt into an epic fail.

    Reply

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