Red Bulls eyeing Carlos Ruiz

                                                                                Photo by ISIphotos.com

The New York Red Bulls quest to find a replacement for Jozy Altidore has led them to a player who just happens to be in town this weekend.

The Red Bulls are considering acquiring Guatamalan forward Carlos Ruiz from the Los Angeles Galaxy, sources within MLS have told SBI. The former MLS MVP is on the trade market as the Galaxy look to shed salary, and the Red Bulls could make room for Ruiz on their salary cap if they and the Galaxy can agree on terms (which would likely include the Galaxy paying a portion of Ruiz's salary).

Would Ruiz be a good addition? He is a proven goal-scorer in MLS but has struggled this year since missing considerable time with a knee injury suffered early in the season (and also struggled with FC Dallas last season, finishing with seven goals in 22 games). He has no goals or assists in limited action this season (188 minutes in six matches). The 2002 MLS MVP is also likely to miss time due to World Cup qualifying with Guatemala later this summer and in the fall.

What's my take? I think if the Red Bulls are limited in their resources to add a forward from outside MLS, which has been suggested, then they could do worse than Ruiz.

What do you think about the Red Bulls possibly adding Ruiz? Would he be a good fit? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Haig]

I think it's pathetic, and demonstrates that Osorio is in over his head.

As a fix for this season, if he costs us ABSOLUTELY NOTHING-- no picks, no players-- and if we don't have to keep him past October, and if he costs very little to us through the entire run of his contract (i.e., we won't be paying maximum salary money for a useless player next year), then it would be barely acceptable.

If there is any cost whatsoever, it would be absolutely stupid, very close to the late season desperation moves in the past for which we mortgaged our future.

Seriously, is JCO so useless that he can't find anyone better? I'm starting to think so.

[doug]

forget ruiz. there has gotta be a reason a proven goal scorer cant cut it with Dallas or LA, twice. Or stay fit enough to play. You lose him for WCQ. I say forget Ruiz, play the season out and chase somebody in the offseason. Chances are, Ruiz might be gone in less than a year. RedBulls should make a run for a quality international striker, but there is no need to rush. RedBulls are still in the hunt in a jampacked playoff race.

[Haig]

By the way, rumor has it that Heerenveen is asking almost $14 million for Michael Bradley. As a sell-on fee, aren't we due the difference between the $500k cap and the $50k or so we already received to apply to the salary cap? Are we really so hard up that we're going to give something away to hire an overpriced punk midget forward to try to salvage Agoos and Osorio's jobs? This sort of idiocy is EXACTLY the kind of thing that has made us the joke of the league.

[Dannyc58]

I was worried this was the deal.

I seriously question JCO's ability to evaluate talent if this is the deal that gets done.

What a joke.

[Tim F.]

As you say, could do worse but the Red Bulls need to make sure he has fully recovered from injuries and Ruiz cannot be a club house distraction. Never really cared from Ruiz's antics but the guy knows how to score goals.

[Mike from linden]

I dont know about Ruiz.
Doesnt he have alot of attitude problems.
If I were red bulls I would just try to get gerogie welcome and put time into him instead of going with a risky Ruiz.
By the way, What happened to Carlos Pavon?

[Mighty]

Bring Ruiz to New York this team needs a player with the Heart taht Ruiz Has....... He fights every Ball. This would be a gret addition to the team!!

[Tim F.]

We need a forward for the remainder of the year. If not Ruiz then who?

[mike ruze]

As a Fire fan ....I hope this a happens. Biggest whiner player working for th biggest whiner coach.

Does JCO know there are players OUTSIDE of South America?

Or is he predjudicd against every player wh is non Latino? Thats all he wants to bring in. Even when he was with the Fire.

Maybe hell make an exception for Henry

[Ives]

Listen guys, I get the angst over Ruiz, but if there aren't many other options and it's basically a deal for the rest of the season, what's the risk exactly? As long as he's healthy I don't know how bad an option he is.

I also think Welcome might sign regardless and I also don't think George Welcome is ready to really help yet. He's a project.

[Mike in LA]

As far as this year goes, just to defend Ruiz, he's been injured almost the entire season.

He's been capable of playing decent minutes for a few weeks now but for LA he has to wait his turn due to Buddle's amazing form.

I think the jury is still out on what Carlos can provide, he hasn't yet had a chance to show his stuff. He was our best performer on the Asian tour in pre-season.

[DL]

Reyna over Ruiz any day. Even if he's hurt.

I can't think of a player I dislike watching more than Carlos Ruiz. His incessant flopping, complaining, and all around dirty and irresponsible play is a mockery of the beautiful game.

[Tony in Quakeland]

I would take him if I was the Red Bulls

[kpugs]

I hope this is an awful, awful joke. The biggest cheater and dirtiest player in the history of MLS?

It was hard enough cheering for Mamadou Diallo, and compared to Ruiz he is a saint.

[Joamiq]

Ugh. I can't root for Carlos Ruiz. Sorry. Just can't do it.

[inkedAG]

All I have to say about this is:

NO NO NO NO NO!!! PLEASE LORD NO NO NO!!!!

We just got rid of one injured overpaid fool. We don't need to replace him with another. Coupled with his crap attitude and diving ability!

[paul Lorinczi]

You Red Bulls fans are funny.

Fire the 1st year coach who is trying to build a team. There could be more to the story regarding why they are looking a Ruiz.

Osorio just may be the coach to bring out the best in Ruiz. Ruiz has not played for a Spanish speaking coach in MLS. Reports of his national team performances have been positive.

I don't think it would be devestating if they pick him.

[pat pug]

I think if Ruiz played here he would be the first player that would never win me over. If he single handedly got RBNY its first championship I would boo him when he held up the trophy.

[DaveK]

Anyone got a cell phone number for Cleetus?

[ambihl]

We don't need another mostly lame, out of shape, "name" player taking up salary cap while he sits on the bench and underperfoms now that we finnaly got rid of Captain American't.

But then, what does that leave us with?

Let's see, no forwards worth anything other then Angel (you heard me Echeverry).

More Midfielders then we know what to do with (Richards, Van Der Bergh, Stammler, Borman, Sassano, Ubiparapovich, Rojas, Pietravallo)

And a defense that at times appears to be playing for the other side at times (that's right Goldthwaite, I'm talking about you), I say we adopt the old German formation of 3-6-1 and see what happens.

[4now]

____Angel__Ruiz____
_Rojas___VDB____Richards
_Pietravallo__Stammler__
Jimenez__Cichero__Parke
_________Conway________

Well, if the new guys aren't bad, and the boys can gel, this looks OK in theory.

[DaveK]

Anyone got a cell phone number for Cleetus?

[Jeff]

With your article on Xavier's hair I thought "Red Bulls eyeing Carlos Ruiz" was going to be another article about his trendy fashion sense.

[Spike]

If nothing else think about the additional free kicks Juan Pablo will get at the top of the box thanks to the Fish.

[Keith Brown]

Screw Ruiz!! If this is the best that JCO can do. then screw him too!

Let Peter Bockman suit up and play up front with Angel, cause theres only one Peter Bockman!!

[Bill]

I completely agree Osorio hasn't shown 'the goods' (my opinion of him didn't match up with most people in Chicago - I think he rode on the coat tails of prior coaching, and current head coach, decisions and a well-in-form Blanco)

But, I don't see signing Ruiz as a mistake. Ruiz has serious fire/passion - Red Bull is seriously lacking that (what do they have exactly?)

Last place in East without Ruiz isn't going mean much come October. Need goals - If fit, can provide that and defensive distractions to open up space for Angel.

Obviously, this is a smart move. Unless, of course we're happy with last place - perhaps Ruiz wants to make the playoffs and doesn't want Red Bulls - he's got options (Crew might take 'em).

[Aljarov]

I don't like Ruiz much, I don't like is flops, but by all accounts, like Guevara, he's not half the off-field distraction he's made out to be. He's a talented, proven striker in this league and if he didn't cost NY the future (and frankly, it's not like NY has a ton of top prospects in the DEV ranks) I don't see the harm. Sure, he's unlikely to command those wages next year on the back of two down seasons, even if he put in a stellar run in...so why not? COuld be worse...it could be Jeff CUnningham....

I'd have him on Toronto.....

[Mighty]

Dude Ruiz in the Red Bulls line up will make this team much better..... Agoos go for it.........

[Haig]

Okay, Ives, here's why I have a very hostile reaction to this:

1. Ruiz has been injured all year, and as you pointed out will be playing WCQs. We need a player who will be on the field, as Angel has had his share of injury woes this season. It would be horrible to make a run to the #8 playoff spot and take the field against NE or DC fielding Echeverry up top in a 4-5-1.

2. We should give up NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING if we sign Ruiz. We may make the playoffs, but we're probably not going to threaten anyone. I'd rather see us regroup, get players who WILL be around next year (even developmentals) some time, and not mortgage a draft pick, a prospect, and future cap room on a gamble like Ruiz. We've done that before and it failed.

3. Ruiz is under contract to MLS. He'll be paid no matter what. This move reminds me of 1999 all over again, bringing in existing, contracted MLS players who no one else wants (for good reason) to put lipstick on a pig.

4. Ruiz, even when playing well, is a horse's ass. It's an insult to the fans to sign one of the players who is booed the most at Giants Stadium.

5. One of the selling points when hired Osorio was his connection to South American talent. This pipeline, I believe, just doesn't really exist. We already gave up money and a pick for him-- why should we give anything else up? If he doesn't really know how to find new players, he had better learn.

6. I have a hard time believing that this would really only be until the end of the year. Where's he going to go? What's his contract like? Will we be stuck with Ruiz as a maximum salary cap hit next year, or, worse yet, a DP? With this league, you never know.

Conclusion: only if there was a statement from the league saying "he'll cost you nothing in trade and little in salary and if you don't want him at the end of the year, you're rid of him for nothing, and if you do decide to keep him, he'll play for peanuts next year, and if he punks out he's gone and doesn't cost a thing" would I even think about it.

If we make this move under any other conditions, it's because Agoos and Osorio know that they're going to be fired and don't have a clue what to do to stop it, so they're willing to wreck our future to save their asses. Just like everyone else.

[Aguinaga]

For the uninformed... This is a public service announcement:

Please take all the ridiculous bitching and whining that is coming from most of the Red Bull fan posts above, at even the mere mention of a move, any move, with a grain of salt. You see, most of us have severe anxiety disorder due to year upon year of horrible mental and emotional abuse brought about by allegiance to our team. Likewise, some of us are deranged to the point of permanent pessimistic insanity, & unable to see the absurdly personal, ignorantly racial, and/or footballistically naive edges to our opinions. Until we experience a new stadium, a world class star player, and an MLS Cup title, all some of us will ever see is fire, brimstone, and complete abomination. And even then, all some of us will ever see is fire, brimstone, and complete abomination. :)

This has been a public service announcement.

[kco]

Maybe JCO & RBNY should start taking classes from Nicol in Boston. They can call the class "How to build a soccer club 101"

[Nando]

i know this deal sounds awful considering the his slump, injuries and salary however, the red bulls are not stupid(or at least i hope their not). Like Ives mentioned, the red bulls are negotiating with LA in order to have LA pick up some if not most of his remaining salary. Considering we're halfway through the season, the red bulls would not give much up and/or end up paying much of his remainigh salary. If he cost the red bulls $100k for the remainder of the year, that would not be a bad deal for a proven goal scorer. Plus, if we don't have many other options in the market at forward then this deal can work

[kahlva]

I think everyone's reaction (in word: nooooooooo) is totally justified.

It's a little like why the Yankees have no desire for Barry Bonds. Sure, he might (might!) start slugging home runs. But who wants that attitude, locker room cancer, and media distraction going on?

Just not worth it.

[Eugene]

The Red Bulls shouldn't give up much to get him. For sure DO NOT give up high draft picks for next year's superdraft.

I think he's a good forward and could make a good tandem with Angel, but if he takes off for even half of the 15 games remaining, the Red Bulls should look elsewhere for a more reliable/available forward.

[j1m]

Hmm. Ruiz or Etchaverry? I know who I'd point to when picking sides.

Ruiz at best could light the league on fire. At worst, he gets lost up top and carded for flopping.

But best of all, he takes a defender off of Angel. Etchaverry can't even do that.

[SCNewJersey]

I HATE RUIZ! Please stay away from New York. If we're really looking for an MLS veteran, BRING BACK MATHIS!

[A.S.]

Hell no.

I'd rather lose without Ruiz than win with him.

[Out West NYer]

Great post Aguinaga

[Ryan]

Drogba anyone

[krelmatrix]

Hm, I'm no fan of Ruiz, but he's still better than just about any Red Bull forward without the initials JPA (Dane belongs on the wing, not up front). If he's cheap to obtain in trade (lower picks, a small bit of allocation cash, some "depth" players we want to get rid of anyways) and won't eat up a big chunk of salary, then I say why not.

The question is - will his style of play fit with JPA? Will they mesh together or get in each other's ways?

[KingSnake]

That picture.

How many drinks did Ruiz have last night?

[Mikemike]

Haig -

"5. One of the selling points when hired Osorio was his connection to South American talent. This pipeline, I believe, just doesn't really exist. We already gave up money and a pick for him-- why should we give anything else up? If he doesn't really know how to find new players, he had better learn."

He did sign Rojas, who according to Ives, sounds pretty good. In additon, he got Pietravallo, with Cichero and Jimenez in the works. I think he should have gotten stuff like this happening earlier, but it looks like he does have a bit of pipeline set up.

That being said, Ruiz should not be on the team. He is a villian, someone who may be fun to root against, but never for.

As long as Angel stays healthy, I see no issue relying on Woly and Richards as the second forward. Freeman can play Richard's wing spot.

-Mike

[Ossington Mental Youth]

You guys interested in Cunny?
Give ya a good price...

[Nutmegger]

Come on people. Name me another forward who has been more productive in MLS over the last five years, even taking into account his recent injuries. Sure I hate the way he plays too, but you can't deny that Ruiz is a pure goalscorer - and that is what the team needs right now. NM

[Miguel]

Echevery: Sucks! Wolyniec: Sucks: Megaloudis: Sucks! Richards: Sucks (as a forward)! We're not getting another DP until next season. If Ruiz costs us the bag of balls we paid for, lets say, Clint Mathis, then it is a good deal.

[DCUinCT]

I can't think of a better fit than Carlos Ruiz with NY Red Bull.

[npollock]

All Ruiz has to do for us is create space for Angel. Right now Angel is smothered.

[Haig]

Not understanding that there is a sell-by date on players is one of the primary things that has destroyed this franchise.

And nutmegger, a five-year time frame is not valuable for determining how good a player currently is. Four or five years ago, Shearer, Anelka, Forssell, and Owen were top five goalscorers. Now, Owen and Forssell are still nice players, but not that calibre, and Ruiz was never that good.

[J]

Ossington, only if you take Boyens and Goldie back

[onionsack]

I think most peoples rejection has more to due with Ruiz's negative reputation as a dirty player in MLS than anything.

If we dont have to give anything of real value up then its not a bad move in and of itself.

It is a risk though, Ruiz is on a shaky knee. I assume there isnt a forward for 200K that can be had right now that the club feels can be a second striker that has ability, which no one can deny Ruiz posseses in MLS.

Remeber when Fire fans were all pissed about signing Blanco because of his rep and mexi-hate. Yeah, they arent too upset now are they? Make roster decisons on practical considerations not emotion.

[jman81]

At first, I thought this was a good idea with the details given that ruiz would only be a temporary fix for the rest of this season and that LA is practically givng him up for a bag of beans and willing to pay a good chunk of his salary to make room for others. However, after thinking about it, this trade would just be lazy on JCO's part. If, as we think, he will simply be here for this season, and gone afterwards no matter what, then why even spend our time with him when we can try to find someone new who can grow with the club? Assuming we would be paying 100k of ruiz's contract, then why not just dump echeverry (80k), lump this sum up (180k), and get someone actually worth something. Didn't emilio initially come to DC for like 180k? There are great forwards in mls who don't even make 180k, yet we can't find someone with that kind of money? As I said... seems LAZY!

[190d]

JCO would be wise to pry Espindola from RSL . The guy is 23, has skills, and is available. why bring in ruiz?

[Mikemike]

I don't like Ruiz because he is a dirty player. I like to be entertained by a team.

Flopping and crying all day does not entertian me. Though Ruiz might help get some wins, he will not entertain.

In this sense, I don't want Ruiz to play for NY for very practical reasons.

-Mike

[paul camarda]

Ok... I'll admit in the past Ruiz was a good forward... but that was in 2002 and 2003(when he was in his early 20's(22))...but now, in 2008,(age 28) its seem like he's droped off the radar and is no longer a good foward...
that could be because:
1)hes getting older
2)the talent in MLS is getting better
3)or he simply doesn't have it anymore
4)or bad luck (due to other circumstances)
he are his states:(check for your self)

http://web.mlsnet.com/history/register.jsp?content=players_r

--------reg---playoff
L.A.
2002_-_(24)---(8)
2003_-_(15)---(2)
2004_-_(11)---(1)
DAL
2005_-_(11)---(2)
2006_-_(15)---(2)
2007_-_(7)----(1)--*(injury)
2008_-_(0)----(/)-6 games-188--(min)*(injury)

[KingSnake]

Every team should have more players with the desire and determination of John Wolyniec. Plus, he scored the best goal in Metro history ...

[brian]

Geography note: the last I looked, Guatemala is indeed outside of South America.

[paul camarda]

^*note* that he has always scored over 10 goals years except in recent years in 2007 and 2008 when he's suffered from injures

...and he's scored in every playoff game since his inception into this league

[matt]

whats the mls's circle jerk deal with this guy???

[Mike]

It will be a good move for the Galaxy. With Buddle and Donovan on fire, Ruiz is out of the picture and is paid way too much to be a 20 minute sub. The Red Bulls need to add some firepower to go along with Angel and to me, Wolyniec isnt enough.

Does anyone know if the salary shed by the Galaxy (Ruiz and Xavier) will lead to somne good backline players for the Galaxy in the coming weeks???

[paul camarda]

the truth is that he hasn't really done $hit in 2 years (since 2006) and he looks likes he's in a down spiral in his carear...and that maybe the biggest indicator of how he plays now...but now in the prime age of his career at (age 28) do you think he has anything left to turn his carear around...on a team with Juan Pablo Angel, Jorge Rojas, Dane Richards, and Dave Van Den Berg, and Seth Stammler, and Gabriel Cichero. Or do think he's a failing soccer who L.A. is trying to unload on Red Bull hands?

[paul camarda]

The interesting thing is why does L.A. want to unload him...???

...was his injury that really that bad that L.A. deemed Ruiz no longer useful?

...is he out of fitness?

...is he pretty much shot for the rest of the?

according to metrofanatic.com: http://www.metrofanatic.com/story.jsp?ID=4820

Carlos Ruiz made (350,000, 460,000)??? as of April 13, 2008 for L.A. this season

which confuses me because I thought non-DP money was limited to ~325K

...but anyway 350K, 460K, 325K, or what ever it is, its a pretty big salary for Red Bull to take against their cap. (with (400K) that Renya wasted by retiring that should take up about just about all the cap money we have for the rest of the season...(if were lucky))

[JoeG]

Some of you RBNY fans need to relax...

Yes, Ruiz flops, is dirty, blah, blah, blah....

but the guy scores goals and is a proven MLS scorer when healthy. What's not to like...

This would be a good move.

[JoeG]

Some of you folks need to relax...

Yes, Ruiz flops, is dirty, blah, blah, blah....

but the guy scores goals and is a proven MLS scorer when healthy. What's not to like. This would be a good move.

[Beckster]

Keep his dirty playing out of the East. It's bad enough that we have to play against him once or twice a year. I'm sure all of us DC fans would support the Red Bulls Fans in trying to keep him out.

[irishapple21]

Ruiz is a band-aid. I see this happening, but not for more than the rest of the season.

[Scott]

Whats the news on George Welcome?

I know that today was his final practice session with the club, was wondering if he was expected to recieve a contract with NYRB

[Allegre]

Onionsack. I have to agree with you. Osorio is beginning to put his team out there. I love the Blanco analogy, he's the player the Fire fans hate to love but he somehow gets the job done. Nobody thinks Ruiz is the key to the future of RBNY, but to have a gutsy goal scorer up front wouldn't be such a bad thing and might take some of the pressure off JPA with the double marking that is going on. I wouldn't finance the farm to get him but we need to score more goals to win games.

[JSquaredNY]

I can see why a lot of people are hostile about this signing, but if you look at the forwards on the squad right now I find it really hard to believe that Ruiz is not a significant upgrade. So unless it ties us up long term and we have to spend a lot of money for him it's not a bad deal. One has to consider the time that he's going to spend away during qualifying, but besides that I don't think that it's all too bad.

Although I also read that RBNY might be interested in Caraccio from Houston? I do think that I'd rather take Caraccio due to the fact that he's way younger, costs way less, and has a tremendous amount of upside.

[bgnewf]

Not that I want it to take place, but I would not be suprised if TFC ends up as the destination for this guy, and I have two reasons for saying so:

1) The McBride situation - I am thinking that a way out of this impasse between the Fire and TFC might be to engineer some sort of three way deal where Chicago sends LA some cheap defensive help, TFC sends McBride to Chicago and Ruiz comes here.

2) Mo has been unable to sign any striker of note so far this season and if you can't sign anybody (salary issues, field turf, whatever the reason) then the only other option is to trade for one.

And if he can find a way to get rid of Jeff Cummingham as part of this deal so much the better...

[pmc]

We are hald way intot eh season and mired in last place. I would take Ruiz for the remainder of the season at a low cost to us. If all he does is force teh defense tobe honest and not double team JPA he is worth irt. If defenses continue to double JPA, an uncover Ruiz will be a monster against any team.

[ag nigrin]

When Oso said he was looking at a striker w/in MLS I thought to replace Jozy...I thought who could that be? Well now I have my answer, I think... Ruiz may be a good fit for the BUlls and then again he may not. As others have said he will be gone a good chunk of this season for WC Qualifiers, he is a flopper and a wanker, but he does have a knack for scoring! To me he reminds me of Guevara. On a a good day he can be great and on a bad one he can be very bad... Does the RBNY need this kind of inconsistency? From my POV the answer is NO and although I am not as hostile to this move as Haig and others, but if the BUlls don't get him for next to nothing then it would definitely not be worth it...

[mikeK]

B.Lewis says it's some dynamo scrub.

[Rashid]

I just got off the phone with Alexi, he wants to know if the Red Bulls have any over priced midfielders to get in exchange for the fish.

[Neummannator]

I know I'm not the first one to say this but if we're seriously considering Ruiz, then why not just re-sign Cleetus?! At least you know what you're getting.

[chupacabra!]

You cut to the core of the issue...wise words, onionsack...wise words.

[LUIVILI]

I once wished cancer on Ruiz while he was taking a corner at Spartan. I regret many drunken comments. Not that one.

[Joseph D'Hippolito]

At first, I thought this was a good idea with the details given that ruiz would only be a temporary fix for the rest of this season and that LA is practically givng him up for a bag of beans and willing to pay a good chunk of his salary to make room for others.

This sounds like another stupid Lalas move: make a trade in which the Galaxy either gives up too much or gets too little. If the Gals are going to pay a good chunk of Ruiz's salary, then how will that release salary for better defenders or ball-holding midfielders?

If I'm Lalas, I ask for Van Den Bergh and Stammler in return and I won't be satisfied until I get one of them.

[jloome]

I'll give even odds right now this is part of a bigger deal with TFC and Chicago, and they're just announcing it as casual interest to keep LA from asking for something ridiculus.

COnde to TFC for McBride

Conde to New York for Ruiz (and hopefully Richards as well, the little piston)

[Paul Camarda]

we don't need conde anymore

...we've moved on

[Smith]

Man, we have the whiniest, most annoying fans in MLS!

Ruiz is a proven goal scorer in MLS, can be had cheaply & can start playing immediately.

Stop whining.

Damn, my fellow RBNY fans are whiny cissies.

[paul camarda]

...YO this whole ruiz situation reminds me of Mamadou Diallo...Yo Mamadou Diallo was the MAN!!! I remember when he got traded to red bull we all hated him we were like that "f@cker broke mike ammann rib cage" and then he came out and single-handedly scored like 5 goals and we were like DAMN!!! Yo!! Yo let me get his jersey!! the guy was a beast!! he was like a scoring machine!! he would like take on whole teams and yo people would just bounce off him because he was so powerful and stuff!!! Yo we need another guy like that YO!!! YO THINK ABOUT THAT $HIT YO!!! THINK ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO WITH ANOTHER MAMADOU DIALLO!!! YO LETS GET THAT MONEY$$$

[elfurdeball]

Rumor is that Red Bull is looking at signing Carracio who was released by the Dynamo. I liked what I saw from him, but he needed space which Houston could not provide. I think he would do good next to JPA

[Eric Anderson]

I think any team in the league that can afford him would love to have Carlos Ruiz. He scores goals, plain and simple. Regardless of whether the fans like him, he's good locker room guy, etc. he'll put the ball in the net and win games for your team. He's one of the few players in the league who can win a game on his own, and New York simply isn't good enough to compete for a championship this year without him.

[daggius]

Galaxy needs to tell Ruiz to dick off and pick up McBride GG

[Calabria]

Anyone see the Santos forwards in the chivas usa game? The white guy with the mashed up nose and the fast black guy with the 80's jerry curl. how about them?

[RBNY fan]

Anyone criticizing JCO about not being able to build a team is out of place. He has only been here for half a season, and you all are talking about getting him fired! Maybe this is why we struggle year in and year out. It's hard to build a team when the fans only give you half a season and then the can. Have some patience, please! I'm sure JCO will make a practical decision on Ruiz. How bout standing by our coach for once

[Smith]

Whatsa matter, Haig? need a hug?

[RichBull NYNJ]

Now that Dane Richards is hurt, we are between the proverbial rock and hard place. Ruiz may respond to Osorio, and if there is no one else, what choice do we have? Echeverry has been a bust! Woly too.

[sublicon]

Let's sign him already!

[Scott]

Can we have a update on the Ruiz situation? Not getting much information on it. How close are they to possibley signing him?

[Scott]

Whats the update on this? How close is RB to signing him?