Osorio discusses his future, wanting just one DP and the return of Rojas and Pietravallo

 

Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio spoke to the local Red Bulls media on Tuesday and removed any doubt about his intention to return in 2009. He also made some revealing comments about his plans for the 2009 Red Bulls.

I will post quotes shortly but for now, here were the main talking points from Osorio:

Osorio plans on returning in 2009. He has received job offers and interest but has turned down the offers and rejected requests to be interviewed. The Red Bulls approached him about an extension beyond 2009, but he is not ready to discuss one yet.

He revealed that it is his preference that the team only has one designated player and that the second DP slot would be better served on acquiring multiple players. While he didn't come out and say he wants to trade the second DP slot, he basically agreed that in order for the team to be strong enough to compete in multiple competitions, it needs to deal the second DP slot to acquire multiple players.

Osorio revealed that he plans to bring back Jorge Rojas and Juan Pietravallo. He believes that both showed signs of being productive players early on and that they should be able to contribute more with a pre-season under their belt and a chance to adjust to the league and living in the United States.

Osorio stated that he plans to bring Jon Conway back next season and cited the team's participation in the Champions League, U.S. Open Cup and MLS as a reason for keeping Conway and Danny Cepero.

Osorio said the Red Bulls are doing everything they can to bring Dave Van Den Bergh back (though team sources tell me the club are trying to bring him back at a lower salary than the $240K base salary he earned in 2008). The impression I got from Van Den Bergh last month is that he is ready to head to Europe if he has to rather than take a salary he doesn't feel is fair.

What's my take on all this? It makes plenty of sense for Osorio to want to wait on an extension. I also think the idea of dealing the second DP slot is very smart because, let's face it, carrying two DPs on an MLS salary cap doesn't leave much room for upgrading the squad as much as the team needs to be upgraded (especially with CONCACAF Champions League looming). As for Rojas and Pietravallo, both players did show well early on because struggling late. Rojas played well in his playoff run vs. RSL and I do think both players could be solid starters if given a full pre-season with the team. I also think it wouldn't shock me if one or both of them is sold to Latin American clubs before next season.

What do you think of these developments? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[stu]

VdB > Rojas
VdB > Pietravallo

Get your priorities straight JCO

[Connor B]

Word stu

[Peter]

Dave Vandenbergh was the glue that kept RBNY together this past season. I hope the FO pulls their heads out of their a** and makes the guy an offer he deserves for '09 rather than trying to low-ball him.

[Reid]

Although i would love VDB to stay in MLS, i wouldnt blame him at all if he went to europe especially if RedBull low balls him and then pays others that arent as good to be bench warmers.

[Ives Galarcep]

Stu, I don't think anybody, including Osorio, has suggested otherwise. The difference between those three is that Rojas and Pietravallo are under contract in 2009 and Van den Bergh isn't. The club is negotiating with Van Den Bergh.

[Allegre]

For what he did for the team VdB was a bargain this year. He always had hustle, plays injured, and is useful on set plays. Money should not be an object if they don't get another DP. Sign him!

Maybe they are giving a contrarian message in order to bring down the price of a DP they have their sights on?

[Steve]

I agree with the 1 DP idea, but who will that one DP be? Is Angel staying?

[docsoccer]

would you give VDB over 250k cause thats what he'll cost?

[sack]

I agree with him on Rojas but not Pietravallo. Nothing irks me more than coaches holding on to tight to "his guys".

As for the other DP - i am not completely against dealing it, but if we do deal it it would need to be for 3 starting cailber players because if its just for a top level MLS player then we are better off just signing a DP.

All in all these issues are exactly why i support a players strike in 2010 if the league refuses to expand the cap signifigantly and reduce roster restrictions.

[mikeK]

What's a DP slot go for these days?

[Chrös]

I'd really hate to see Dave Van den Bergh leave New York, especially all the way to Europe. He is really a player New York can build on, both on the field and off.

[Blondie]

Does anyone know what kind of roster restrictions or new rules that might be put in place, larger rosters,salary cap increases.

[Matt]

What about Angel? Any news on his situation?

[Blondie]

Oh one more thing use the 2nd dp on a quality midfielder(VERON)he is probably gonna help Angel score 30 goals next season, and let the youth players go at it in the open cup.

[Marc]

If the allocation money had not been wasted on mediocre players like rojas and pietravallo (especially him, I actually agree that Rojas can be prodictive and my recollection is that he is cheaper than the other guys that JCO brought in), than there would have been ample funds for a 2nd DP.

[Haig]

"All in all these issues are exactly why i support a players strike in 2010 if the league refuses to expand the cap signifigantly and reduce roster restrictions."

Absolutely correct. We're not talking about greed here. We're talking fair compensation for players, and developing a better product.

[kahlva]

If we're actually not using the 2nd DP slot... WHAT is the argument for letting VDB go?

Red Bull insults him by offering him a lower salary than he just had?? Terrible. Everyone knows that he was our best player last year, and RB needs to acknowledge that.

I guess the question is what amount will Dave feel good about? $250,000 base? Sign him. $275,000 or more? In any other league, absolutely. With the MLS salary cap, though, that has to start giving us pause...

[Blondie]

Ives why doesn't Red Bull maximize it's resources to get quality players in a market like NY - there sitting on a goldmine with that new stadium.

[Blondie]

MLS is about to charge these new teams 50 million for a franchise = Higher cap = Better salaries have to be put inplace, i think this is the most crucial part of the MLS existence .

[Blondie]

Don't forget if DC would have won , Red Bull would have never made it to the finals, so improve the damn team or maybe next year we become DC.

[Tim F.]

To compete at the "next level," New York needs a difference maker in center midfield and to attract such a player, I think you need to pay that player DP money. It's a miracle that GBS did not command DP money and I'd be very surprised if he doesn't get paid that amount in 2009. I don't think that Rojas, Ubiparapovic or Magee can be the answer in center midfield. Stammler is fine in a d-mid role and as a back-up d-line option.

With the roster size reduced to 24, there's a little more money to go around and a little more importance on two quality players at each position. I would rather use the salary space occupied by Rojas and Pietravallo toward one more option at forward, center back and right back.

In August, Rojas, Pietravallo and even Cichero looked very good (Pietravallo started off slow but got better and better); however, in one of the team's most important games, the final regular season match against Chicago, the three amigos were either invisible or making horrible mistakes. I was sick for a week after that game.

Like others, I'd like to see Dave van den Bergh return if his salary is similar to this year.

[Tim F.]

We need to have Angel back but we need a DP quality center midfielder as well.

It's time for Dietrich Mateschitz to facilitate another Designated Player signing for the New York Red Bulls to accompany Juan Pablo Angel and to facilitate more loans between his soccer investments. In addition to more depth at all positions except goalkeeper, the New York Red Bulls desperately need a center attacking midfielder to provide consistent playmaking abilities like a Guillermo Barros Schelotto as well as a reliable center back who can help the team to play on occasion with three defenders.

Does the owner wants his club to "crash and burn" in its first Champions League competition and in the months before moving to a new stadium??? That's what could happen if these investments are not made.

[Cosmos Forever]

Thanks for the update Ives. I was wondering about what was happening behind closed doors.

As for VdB, he was either our best player or second best the past two years. Losing him over $50k would be a mistake. The guy was super consistent and played multiple positions. Can't beat that!

Can't we save a bit of money by bringing in someone a bit cheaper than Conway? I've never been convinced by him and Cepero showed enough during his run for me to think he's at least at Conway's level.

[ChivasUSA]

We'll trade you for that DP slot.

[Richard, UK]

New York needs some level of continuity within the squad. MLS sides can suffer with all the chopping and changing, so keeping Rojas and Pietravallo is a gamble worth taking. Especially as Rojas is on less than $100,000 ($97,000?). Ideally Pietravallo's contract would be renegotiated down a notch, but it's worth keeping him for one more season at least to see how he pans out, considering he did look decent in a few of the 14/15 games he appeared in for NYRB's.

[Richard, UK]

I also don't agree with keeping Conway. Give Cepero a payrise, keep either Boss or Patterson-Sewell, and get in an older veteran for a small wage. You'd think Conway would fill that gap, but he's bloody useless.

[.]

Someone asked what a DP slot goes for.

New York traded Amado Guevara to Chivasusa for it and he tanked as did Reyna who became the DP. (Angel, the other DP has been outstanding.)

DC traded Christian Gomez to Colorado for it and he tanked. Emilio, the resulting DP was moderately successful. However, Gallardo the other DC DP, who was supposed to be the Gomez replacement, tanked.

Not a stellar track record for what teams have received in exchange for their DP slot.

[eric]

As a neutral fan, the idea of cutting Van Den Bergh's salary is an insult, especially when you know he's already playing for less than he could earn. He sure looked like a major part of what held NY together last year. I'd take him on my team for $250k, and don't understand why you wouldn't spend that on a player that you know is going to be in the upper class of that position in the whole league.

Definitely agree with going with Cepero, he was a revelation down the stretch, and that's where I'd save money, not by low-balling VDB.

I have to say that I'm disappointed that NY isn't go to find another DP to pair with JPA. It might be the best decision, but they could have built a fun team to watch.

[OgreDave]

there are a few issues here and a question:

1. doesn't MLS give the team a salary budget + DP allocation slots? So this means that RB is limited in negotiations with VDB. that being said, it would be a BIG mistake not to do ANYTHING (think outside the box RB!) to bring VDB back next season.

2. Since (don't take this the wrong way) there was no roster consistency it is hard to determine which player is consistent on the field; they are moved in and out so much. I think that Osario needs to end the tinkering, see potential and use it, put a system in place that will allow players to get playing time, as well as allow them to establish themselves, and then bring up the really great prospects (case anyone forgets, there was borman, ubi, and cepero) who stepped up to the plate this season. clean up the stragglers save the cash.

3. Now the haters always hate NY, the tristate area, and New Yorkers. Let's rise up, get our new stadium, and win the cup, CL, and the open cup next year!

[brett]

OgreDave- "Now the haters always hate NY, the tristate area, and New Yorkers. Let's rise up, get our new stadium, and win the cup, CL, and the open cup next year!"

HAHAHAHAHA

to go from a team who has no hardware to winning the Cup, CL and USOC seems a bit ridiculous.... :'D...

at least you didnt say the SS... at that point you were at least putting SOME things into perspective...

[OgreDave]

Aiming High and hope are 2 things a RB fan needs in this life. Stranger things have happened, I am a NY Giants fan as well :) lol

[A.S.]

Van den Bergh deserves a raise, not a pay cut.

[Travis in Miami]

Hmmm....Dave Van Den Bergh was the most consistant, least injured, dangerous, not illegal-drug-taking, not collecting-a-paycheck-waiting-to-retire and creative player on the team in 2008. For this he is getting offered LESS money - not even the same money but LESS? Huh (Scooby voice)?

The rest of the article makes sense. i don't get this part though. Must be a mistake. i can't think of any other reason for something so strange. I can't think of another instance something like that has happened. i've heard of players staying on a team for less money than they would have received from another team but to actually take a pay cut after being arguably the best player on their team is something different.

[ag nigrin]

Give VDB that well deserved raise and be done with this RBNY! Don't be dicks!

[socmin]

Yeah, a strike for a 15 year old league that is finally starting to get some real public notice and experiencing positive growth is the way to go......not. Easy to call for something that really doesn't affect you. Fully mature sports leagues have seen negative impacts from such stoppages- but at least they had some history to ride it out. But it is very simple to posture as a fan, I suppose.

[Travis in Miami]

socmin, there's going to be quite the poker game between the league and the players. Should be interesting to watch.

[sublicon]

They are dealing the DP spot, but they won't give VDB a raise? Wowsers, man. Gotta be kidding me. I'm pleased about the extension idea, it shows they want some consistency at the helm. Vamos Metro! Vamos!

[Larry]

Dave VDB is the only player on the RB I really like to watch. IMHO, he's the most underrated player in the league, the go-to guy for the RB who is most consistently productive. Reduce his salary? How odd, but definitely a tactic consistent with the history of the club.

[Ives Galarcep]

Sublicon, there is also the possibility that Osorio wants to deal the DP slot so that he can pay Van Den Bergh, among others. Just a thought.

[Supsam]

despite being a neutral fan regarding LA and NY, i think the best way for MLS to take a huge step in gaining respect and exposure to the rest of the world leagues and players is for both those clubs to be highly successful and gain fans worldwide. LA is an off field success while i think NY has not achieved either on the field or off the field success as of yet. NY needs to gain the kind of love LA gets from casual fans here and worldwide and have all the potential to do so.

Whats am i getting at? Seeing whats actually occuring at the moment, if VDB goes, DO NOT TRADE THAT DP SLOT. USE IT. There are many talented players who would rather play in NY than any other club besides LA (Henry is a great example). Starting off in a new stadium with 2 good DPs is bound to boost attendance dramatically. However if VDB accepts 250,000 then keep him and get rid of pietrivallo and if possible conway as well.

[Mark]

Ives,

Great work dawg! It's hard being a NYRB in Vancouver but your site helps me keep up to date. Thanks.

If you see Osorio, tell him to RESIGN Van Den Bergh or else I'll start cheering for Seatle.

Mark

[Supsam]

Another thing. This would be a good time for Don Garber to save NY's ass and make the DP slot not count against the cap at all.

[Supsam]

another thing lol. If the DP does not count against the cap, that would not only make the 2nd DP a must use, but the 1st DP occupied by Angel will free up $400,000 in cap space which the DP does cost against the cap at the moment. WIth that extra $400,000 they can easily resign VDB with chunks of change to spare

[Ed]

I got it--use the other DP slot on Dave!

[gerald]

I want to keep DVB but if he wants anything more than 300K then he needs to move on with or without the DP slot. The cap can only stretch so far

[CD]

2 DP spots cost you 800k against a 2 million dollar cap leaving 1.2 million for the rest of your roster. That isn't a lot of cash. I agree with Osorio don't use the second DP there isn't a return on the investment. You can get 3 or 4 good players for the money you would invest in a second DP.

[Paul]

what is status of stadium? ie. expected completion date?

based on comments, doesn't sound like a big name like Henry will be joining the Red Bulls...wouldn't they want to pick-up a big name somebody in July after Euro season is complete?

[eric]

I totally agree with gerald that $250 - $300k is the right slot. I can see playing hardball to keep him at $250k, you just can't ask the man to take less for next year.

And the best next step for MLS and salaries, if they aren't ready to raise the cap, is to take DP's totally off of the cap number. As is, it's almost suicidal to use both DP slots unless you've perfectly judged the rest of your team, there is no margin of error with any of your middle class signings not turning out.

DP's should work such that teams are rewarded for bringing in talent, not jeopardizing their roster.

[Mr. Fish]

As with others above, I support re-signing vdB and keeping Rojas.

Pietravallo reckless play cost RBNY down the stretch. Loan him or sell him.

Would love to trade the 2nd DP slot for a true strike partner for Angel, if Rojas can step up and become the a-mid NY needs him to be.

Can't argue against keeping Conway.

Keep in mind, our CCL experience starts with a 2-game series that we must win.

[guillermo]

I would take Vandenbergh for Lider Marmol :)

[Alex]

DVB deserves a raise, its ridiculous to offer him less they need to cut petravhallo he was garbage and use that money to up DVB's salary and ubiparipovic and cepero then get someone whose cheap like a USL guy like DC did. Red Bull sucks they don't see that this next year is the year to make or break, the new stadium coming on this is it, you need to keep your best players.

[Mark]

Give DVDB a raise, or at least a renewal on his current deal.

Get creative, have RB Salzburg sign him and then loan him back to us a la Marcus Schopp. At least we know VDB isn't washed up, and maybe there are some budget shenanigans that can be done to reduce the cap hit due to the loan. Or reduce his salary and sign him to a Red Bull endorsement deal and have him plastered up around New York selling product. There has to be a solution to this that is fair to the player and gives Red Bull some sort of advantage.

I understand why trading the 2nd DP makes sense, but at the same time having another star in NY would be good for the team and the league. Paging Thierry Henry, please pickup the white courtesy phone...

[John]

Van Den Bergh should be top priority to be re-signed! I say give him something near 400K a year. He not only gives credibility to RBNY but to the league as well. He was a Dutch international; players like DVB are the ones who the league should keep. If RBNY can't keep him, I hope some other MLS team picks him up so that he stays in our league (though I wouldn't be happy being a RBNY fan). Here's a shout to the RBNY management: follow the Crew's lead! Columbus has proven itself to be a classy organization after making GBS their top priority and signing him to a DP contract.

[Travis in Miami]

Henry will be playing in Miami for Barca/Miami! :)

[Ceez]

Some people here are suggesting that if VDB doesn't take a certain amount, he should move on. Or that RBNY should trade the 2nd DP slot. I say all that is nonsense ESPECIALLY considering that VDB is our most valuable player. Angel is without a doubt our most prolific scorer but few will disagree that VDB is our most VALUABLE.

The issue here is clearly money (and when isn't it?). Having said that, one thing is clear: the league is growing and it needs to change its salary restrictions. $2 mil is NOTHING. The average pay per player in the EPL is 1mil and change. Granted, MLS is no EPL but clearly changes need to be made.

Now, this isn't just to benefit RBNY or LA but it is something that needs to be done to benefit the league as a whole. We have owners in place that can afford to spend some extra cash. Owners' hands are tied by these restrictions and the league needs to loosen up.

One more thing, strictly RBNY: GET RID OF CONWAY! Trade him away for a decent prospect. Cepero has shown he can hold the fort making Conway a non-factor. Also, we MUST bring in a top DP next year. Henry anyone?

[martha in miami]

Plus one to . if that is your real name, lol! what is your last name, com? haha! His analysis of dp trading/ tanking is sharp and on the money. Also plus one to Travis in my hood...although being Italian I hate Henry!

[brad]

Ives,

Can you look into VDB's salary structure? I seem to rememeber when KC gave him up for virtually nothing that they also picked up a hefty portion of his salary in the deal as well? Somewhere around 30% hit their cap?

On another note, all indications are not only that VDB was the Co-MVP of the team last year, but that he was also a great locker room guy, one that pretty much everyone got along with. So let me get this straight, good on field work ethic, co mvp, good locker room guy = NY lets him go. I think we call that par for the course?

[robertosandwich]

JCA is all smoke and mirrors. his players were benched during crunch time. The young guys are what got RBNY through. get rid of his signings and get a decent CMF player in a DP slot. Selling his signings will be tough...who would want them? You can get young american kids to do their job for less than 1/2 their salaries. Could veron be a possibility?? That would be nice...esp with the new stadium. JCA with job offers???? more smoke and mirrors. he got the team to the finals with all the prior coaches players - apart from Sasano. If JCA gets another job offer(unlikely) let him go.

[David Berger]

I would be fine having Pietravallo and Rojas on this team if they didn't make a combined salary of 276K. We could get two Americans to do what those guys do and pay them a combined salary of 100K or less. They should both be cut.

Asking VdB to take a pay cut is insane.

[aavernal]

Pietravallo was a liability all last season and I can't see the justification for keeping him, I really can't. Vandenbergh was the opposite, probably our most consistent player, alongside Angel. I would consider the loss of either those two a complete failure.

On a side note, I have no confidence in Osario. I felt the team was too easily defeated, too easily beaten in confidence after going down a goal, and that's down to Osario's motivational skills. What I saw in preseason was a time working from inside out--the team sticking up for one another and motivating themselves, with Osario watching on the sidelines wondering if it was something he'd done.

[Jonny G]

I think we should trade for a third DP slot. Trade conway, get rid of dvd, rojas and petri dish. we can win this with ronaldo, angel and ronaldinho.

[Captain Haddock]

VDB and Rojas are both more comfortable on the left wing, so maybe RBNY think that they don't need both of them. When they were both on the field JCO tried Rojas in the middle and he would just drift more and more left. VDB actually did OK the one game he played in central midfield but it is also not his strength.

[inkedAG]

If Dave van den Bergh does not come back next season, RBNY are dumber bastards than I could ever imagine!!