Following Sunday’s playoff elimination at the hands of the Columbus Crew, the New York Red Bulls have made their initial roster moves, although several of those expected to depart could return in the very near future.
The Red Bulls announced on Wednesday that the club has declined options on Roy Miller, Damien Perrinelle, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kyle Reynish, Anthony Wallace, Leo Stolz, Manolo Sanchez, Marius Obekop and Dane Richards. The Red Bulls tenures of Wright-Phillips, Perrinelle and Reynish may not be coming to an end, however, as the club continues discussions with the trio over possible returns to the club.
“We want to thank each player for their service to the club and wish them nothing but the best moving forward,” said Sporting Director Ali Curtis. “Despite options not being exercised for Shaun, Kyle and Damien, the club is in discussions with each player and is looking to bring those players back in 2016.”
The departure of Miller sees the Red Bulls cut ties with their longest-tenured player, as the Costa Rican fullback had been a staple of the club’s back line since joining in 2010. However, Miller saw playing time limited in 2015 due to injuries and the emergence of fullback Kemar Lawrence.
Perrinelle’s potential return comes on the heels of injury, as the French defender suffered a left knee injury against D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Prior to his season-ending injury, Perrinelle had featured in 28 games for the Red Bulls in 2015.
As things stand, the Red Bulls have 21 players under contract heading into 2016.
What do you think of the Red Bulls’ moves? Any surprises?
Share your thoughts below.
They may not be giving up on Stolz yet. Perhaps there’s a realization that he’s not going to crack the senior team just yet and he needs another season with NYRBII. This may simply be a move to restructure his contract or sign him directly to a USL contract. Same with Sanchez.
Perrinelle will probably be out until midseason anyway recovering from ACL surgery. He had a good season and it’d be nice to have him back.
If anyone needs further proof that college soccer is a waste for top players – RBNY just cut Leo Stolz, the 2014 Hermann award winner, after he didn’t manage a single appearance for the first team in 2015. Tells you all you need to know about the level of play in the NCAA.
Regarding Stolz, could there be some attitude issues as well?
Stolz was the captain and starter of NYII.
Yes, Stolz is the only real surprise here. I thought a year with RBNY II was going to get him ready to challenge for a spot on the senior team. Given the hit-or-miss nature of the college draft, it’s not that big a disappointment, but this one will have to go into the “negatives” column on Curtis’s year-end evaluation.
Stolz made it clear that he would only play in LA, SJ or NY and so was excluded being chosen by other MLS teams. Stolz, also took a hit in his salary because of his demands. Also it was Petke and not Curtis or Marsh who brought in Stolz from the Super Draft. I have no doubt he will be signed by another MLS teams, should he desire to. Otherwise he will go back to Germany, where more than three from the 2BL and one from the 1BL have some interest.
I think bottlcaps is half-right about the drafting of Stolz. Curtis was already on board at the time of the draft, but Marsch was hired a few days later.
Not sure about Petke recruiting him. Stolz has said that his UCLA coach knew Marsch well (I think they were past teammates)…my impression is that Curtis and Marsch recruited him. Stolz was under a senior contract and loaned out to NYRBII. If he wants to stay in New York he probably signs a USL contract. My bet is he returns to Germany.
No one would argue that NCAA is anything other than amateur, and yet some college players do just fine as pros, if not very well. Cyle Larin was at uconn for two years right? Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron, the MNTs two best central defenders, were 4 year college players.
Every year this happens, although does seem that the Hermann winners are often not able to elevate their game – although I’m sure Mike Fisher is a great doctor now – which points to two facts :
– MLS scouts aren’t that visionary
– The best players at one level aren’t always the best players at the next level (the same holds true between pro and international games).
Every Rookie of the Year except Najar — including Larin this year — was a college player for at least one season.
Leo Stolz might have won the Hermann but was drafted #18 (by a routine playoff team that won the SS), suggesting MLS teams had already graded him down on pro potential. His particular destination was a rough one. Larin went #1 and won Rookie of the Year.
IMO the college draft is weakening in importance to each team, as more HGP sign and opt out, and as the league expands to the point that the supply of obvious talent is exhausted in fewer rounds. The amount of players churned in two rounds in a 12 team league is nearly the same as one round in a 20 team league now. So you have to be smarter and luckier.
That being said, given the iffy fortunes of HGP, and the fact that the reserve team concepts are still under construction, I’d say college is still as or more effective than signing pro at 18 and hoping they give you a fair shake. Unless your name is Brek Shea or Andy Najar.
IV,
My understanding is that Stolz dropped in the draft because there was a good possibility he would head off to Europe if he wasn’t happy with the club that drafted him,…NOT because he wasn’t rated as a players. I suspect had he made it clear he was content with MLS generally,…he would have gone higher.
All that said,…this is interesting. Coming from UCLA,…one would have thought he would have at least merited some playing time. Pity. [Watch him turn up in LA and play lights out for the Galaxy! 😉 ]
Not sure the talent is exhausted in the first couple rounds. I think MLS does a poor job of sorting talent before it gets a chance to actually see them against MLS quality Competition. For example, Montreal got Cameron Porter in the supplemental draft (and he was, I think, only invited to the combine as an afterthought, despite leading the NCAA in goals per game). He is one player whom Marsch missed and should not have. Unfortunately his MLS season was ended early by an ACL tear after a very promising start.
At Perronelle’s age it is more likely he will not be ready to actually play in a practice game for over 9 months and then he would be far from ready to face serious competition for another month or 2, rendering him all but out for the entire 2016 season.