Angel's injury not as serious as first thought, Echeverry sidelined
Photo by ISI Photos
Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel saw a nerve specialist on Thursday and the prognosis was a very good one for Angel and for the Red Bulls. An analysis of the Colombian forward's lower back and hamstring revealed that his injury is, in fact, a nerve-related injury that can be treated with a cortisone shot, and not the left hamstring strain he was first diagnosed with.
Angel has some nerve damage near the lower part of his back that caused spasms that created the feeling of a hamstring strain, but the damage, which is more a form of inflamation, will be treated with a cortisone shot, Red Bulls trainer Rick Guter said on Thursday.
Angel is unlikely to play in Sunday's match against San Jose, but is expected to receive a cortisone shot soon and is expected to be available for the Toronto FC match next Thursday.
Echeverry sidelined with sprained knee
Colombian striker Oscar Echeverry suffered a strained right lateral collateral ligament in training on Tuesday and is expected to miss four weeks.
Echeverry's injury, coupled with Angel's doubtful status for Sunday, means that reserve forward Chris Megaloudis could be the first forward option off the bench, with Jozy Altidore and John Wolyniec expected to start against San Jose.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
Have a tip, story idea or suggestion? Send it to:
And with that, the RB forward line is as thin as >|<. Maybe some time for Megaloudis?
Posted by: gas huffer | April 24, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Red Bulls need a striker? They should call me! I was the greatest goal scorer in the history of the North American Soccer League! No one in that league scored more goals tan I did! I was the man to put the ball in thde back of the net! I am Chinaglia!!!
Posted by: Giorgio Chinaglia | April 24, 2008 at 01:59 PM
I would rather see Woly over Etch anyway....And I think we would see Woly or Magee before Mega
Posted by: Karl | April 24, 2008 at 01:59 PM
It's Mega-time, baby!
Posted by: Smith | April 24, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Does anyone remember the Dave Dir curse of 98? Dir made a comment regarding the Fire’s 12 game winning streak that year. He said something along the lines of wanting to see if the Fire could keep winning if they had to deal with injuries. This was 10 years ago so forgive me if I don’t remember it correctly. I mention this because I remembered this "curse" when Ives mentioned that the red Bulls didn’t have a lot of preseason injuries due to how Osorio conducted practice. My first thought was I hope he didn’t just jinx them. Sure enough a few days later Richards gets hurt, than Jozy gets hurt, now angel. I hope this doesn’t become known as the curse of SBI!!
Posted by: El Rey | April 24, 2008 at 02:05 PM
With each new post the Chinaglia crap is getting even less funny and less original, I thought that was impossible.
Posted by: kpugs | April 24, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Our scouting Department should be fire all of them!!!!!
Posted by: Mighty | April 24, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Ives, can you get us a scoop on how Etch got hurt? Freeman's blog said that there were some competative, hard challenges going in at practice, is this an injury related to the hard training?
Also, is Woly prepared enough to go a full 90? Is going with Jozy alone up top an option?
Posted by: mikeK | April 24, 2008 at 02:41 PM
How can you say I am not funny or original? I am the great Chinaglia! You people with your little minds! I was the leading scorer at Lazio & played in the world cup! Did you? Can you wear great sideburns like I did? Have you been with thousands of women? Were you ever related to Mike Eruzione? What kind of name is kpugs? I am the greatest. Go back to wherever you crawled out of! No one scores more goals than Giorgio! No one!
Posted by: Chinaglia | April 24, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Chinaglia was a fat hack back in the 70's and now he's just a loudmouth. He only played 14 times for Italy, so it's not like he's a national legend there or anything. He came to the NASL and feasted on weak competition. Had he stayed in Europe, no one would have heard of him. Have another plate of pasta, Giorgio. Anything to shut your stupid mouth.
Posted by: William the Terror | April 24, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Dang, I was hoping that the Red Bulls wouldn't have any excuses for getting spanked at home by the 'Quakes.
Posted by: Zungazan | April 24, 2008 at 03:15 PM
I only played 14 times for Italy because the coachm with his little mind, couldn't see the genius of my play. So busy with their defensive minded catennacio! They should have trusted the great one!
Posted by: Chinaglia | April 24, 2008 at 03:22 PM
No but really, you're not funny.
I think Jozy and Woly are just fine up top, but of course if either one gets hurt... well, I don't want to think about that. I'm getting really tired of seeing Angel and Jozy hurt. It would be nice to see an injury free stretch where they could play together for at least a few games.
Posted by: Joamiq | April 24, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Come on guys....leave the great gggggiiiiooorrrgioni alone. He's a great man.
Right now, there is disco music in the background, Giorgio just unbunttoned his $2,000 silk shirt, he's pointing his right finger into the air, and giving you guys a little shimmy.
That's greatness....
Posted by: Charlie Stillitano | April 24, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Grazie di tutti, Charlie!
Posted by: Chinaglia | April 24, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Dove el gambinetti....
Posted by: Furniture Music | April 24, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Nel New Jersey, naturalmente
Posted by: Chinaglia | April 24, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Giorgio, do you remember my cousin's husband Geoff Davies? You played together for a while. Well, he's still in the States. I'm in Milan! Now, we have REAL football. Even as a Man. Utd fan, da una vita, I must say A.C. with Ronaldihno is going to be magic this year. Why don't American's like exciting, entertaining technical stuff?
Posted by: Jean | July 22, 2008 at 08:12 AM