2) Still No Depth On The Left
The loss of Danleigh Borman, an effective midfield and defensive depth option, left the Red Bulls with no other choice but to run Roy Miller and Joel Lindpere into the ground last year.
This year looks no different. With Brian Nielsen far from game shape (and trialing mind you), Lindpere looks to be in for another 34 game season.
And Roy Miller? His late season injury last season exposed just how brittle the defense can become without him. Unless Backe plans on converting either Borrajo or Lade for the position, there doesn’t seem to be an option there. Even the teams preseason roster in Mexico is barren of options.
The team is getting older, and the season, longer. Bench options at both of these positions will be a must, especially during the grueling summer months.
The other question, of course, is what the hell is going on with Luke Rodgers. The Red Bulls lack a #1, a #10 and a #9.
As for Vuolo, it would be a big risk to give him the starting job, but then again MacMath is starting in Philly with even less experience under his belt. It’s weird – Vuolo is an American player with arguably more first team experience than Agudelo, yet everyone clamors for Agudelo to start and thinks there is no way that Vuolo should even be in consideration. What am I missing?
I think Agudelo has been in the national consciousness a bit longer, and has proven on a larger level (nationals) that he can play. Further, though his starts have been lacking to say the least, he has shown the knack to score. Vuolo kind of flew under everyone’s radar and managed to land a job without much of a resume to back him. Personally, I have no idea what to make of him yet; he is an unknown quantity.
I’d have to say Vuolo is the bigger question mark, and I am in your camp with Agudelo – not a starter yet.
As for Luke, let’s see what happens; could be an issue where he simply cant join the team in Mexico. We shall see.
I didn’t realize Conde was still recovering. This does not make me happy at all. Though will this mean Sacir Hot finally see some minutes? Haha, I kid myself.
As for the tax dispute, I’m starting to think Harrison may just win this. While Harrison may own the land, the stadium that sits on it is taxable since it’s not owned by the Harrison Development Authority, but privately by Red Bull. They’ll still have to pay the lease of $150k because it’s the public land they’re using to support their private structure. Maybe Harrison officials were smart enough to double dip in this case.
It’s kind of happening to the Giants/Jets as well. The status quo before was that Giants Stadium was publicly owned in it’s entirety; land and structure. Metlife Stadium however is privately own on public land just like RBA and is being sued for property taxes.
In other words, if they didn’t want to pay taxes, they should’ve let the authority own the arena as well. My own layman thoughts about it ie. not an actual legal analysis.