Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Whether they make mistakes or not, the New York Red Bulls have sent a strong message of their belief in the ability of Roy Miller and Luis Robles to win the club an MLS Cup title.
The Red Bulls announced on Monday that they have signed both the left back Miller and goalkeeper Robles to new contracts, tying them down for the 2014 season. Per league and team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
“With one of our goals being to create long-term continuity within our roster, we are very pleased to have signed Roy and Luis to new contracts,” Red Bulls sporting director Andy Roxburgh said in a statement. “Both players were important players for our team in 2013, and we are happy to keep them in New York.”
Both players committed costly errors at separate times during the season, but at the same time also came up some stellar plays. In Robles’ case, the 29-year-old made a number of tremendous saves on his way to 17 wins and 11 shutouts, including three in the Red Bulls’ final six matches. Robles also saved a league-best three penalty kicks.
Miller meanwhile was injured or on international duty for most of the season but had his best spell in April and May. Following a horrible decision early in the season to encroach in the penalty area against the San Jose Earthquakes, Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke gave the Costa Rican international some extra time to clear his head, and after the international break, Miller came back with purpose and a newfound sense of belief.
Though he missed the last ten games of the 2013 season with an Achilles injury, Miller played 17 times for the Red Bulls, 16 of them as a starter. Miller is expected to miss up to one month next season as he’s a very likely call-up to the Costa Rican National Team for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Reports late last week originally stated that the longest-tenured Red Bulls player would leave the club and return to Costa Rica. However, those reports turned out to be inaccurate.
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What do you think of this news? Glad to see Robles and Miller sign new contracts? Do you see them playing even better next season? Where else do the Red Bulls need to upgrade?
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