Photo by ISIphotos.com
By DYLAN BUTLER
Call it "Survivor -- Red Bull" or "So you think you can play professional soccer." The reality show that was the New York Red Bulls tryouts came to an end Friday afternoon with seven players voted on to the next round.
More than 40 players with aspirations and varying levels of skill converged on the Giants Stadium training bubble for a week of tryouts. When it was over, seven were asked to join the Red Bulls senior team at the start of training camp Monday at the bubble. But, with rosters cut down this year and the elimination of the Reserve League, the chances of being of making the squad are slim.
"I just told them, 'You passed the first level,'' Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "'There's no assurance you will get a contract. Now I want to bring you next week to compete with all of our players and then I will get a better idea if you indeed can play at this level.'"
So who made the cut? It starts with a familiar name for Red Bulls fans -- defender Eric Brunner. Yes, the 6-foot-4 central defender is still under contract at Miami FC (he said the club picked up his option this year), but he was given the OK to train with the club that selected him in the second round of last year's MLS SuperDraft.
Brunner was to earn a senior roster spot, but when the Red Bulls acquired New Zealand international Andrew Boyens, the Ohio State product was asked to accept a developmental deal. Brunner balked at that chance and was signed by Miami FC, where he made 13 appearances with the United Soccer Leagues First Division squad.
"It was a blessing in disguise because as soon as I left, I got called into the (United States Under-23 National Team), I had a really good camp there and got two international caps and a goal," Brunner said. "I took it as it was and learned a lot about mysef, a lot of things that takes other people two or three years to learn."
With Jeff Parke, Gabriel Cichero and Diego Jimenez gone and second-round draft pick Babajide Ogunbiyi's status up in the air (Osorio said he hasn't spoken to the 6-foot-4 Nigerian, but understands he is looking to finish up his education at Santa Clara and will likely not join the club until March, at the earliest), Brunner may have an even better chance at making the Red Bulls this year. Of course the two sides would have to come to an agreement over what is beign called "modest terms" as far as a transfer fee is concerned.
"I've learned, especially in the past season, not to count my chickens before they hatch and don't get too excited about anything unitl you sign that piece of paper," Brunner said. "I'm just taking it as it comes, playing soccer and having fun with it."
Another USL-1 product, forward Aaron King, has made the cut. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy out of North Carolina State and being traded to, but never playing for, the Colorado Rapids, King scored nine goals in 58 appearances with the Battery, but is currently a free agent.
"I think it went OK," King said before receiving word of Osorio's decision. "I definitely feel like the coaches just want to see a couple of moments of brilliance to know you can play on another level. I tried to do my best and hopefully they see it, too."
One player Osorio passed on was Kyle Schmid, a central defender out of the University of California Irvine. The son of Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid first drew the interest of the Red Bulls coaching staff at an NCAA tournament game at St. John's.
Although the Red Bulls will not sign him, the 6-foot-2 Schmid isn't immediately going to try his luck in Seattle.
"I kind of wanted to stay away from that," he said. "All my life it's been hung over my head, so I'm trying to pave my own way."
Joining Brunner and King are University of Evansville goalkeeper Alec Dufty, an All-Missouri Valley Conference select and MLS Combine invitee, local products Patrick Figueiredo, a forward from Adelphi Univeristy, Long Island University midfielder Mohammed Mashriqi, Seton Hall midfielder Jerry Saintil and Colombian forward Mauricio Turizo, who played for Giants de Carolina of the Puerto Rico Soccer League last year.
Red Bulls Notes
Osorio stated that the Red Bulls are not interested in acquiring Colombian defender Gonzalo Martinez from D.C. United. Osorio called Martinez a good player (Martinez played for Osorio with Millionarios in Colombia) but said he didn't fit into the Red Bulls plans. ...Slavisa Ubiparipovic, brother of Red Bulls midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic, was not on trial with the Red Bulls. He was simply training with the rookies and free agents that took part in sessions this week. ...Veterans John Wolyniec, Chris Leitch and Kevin Goldthwaite were among the Red Bulls first-team players to show up for a volunteer session at the Giants Stadium practice bubble on Friday. Newly-acquired forward Dominic Oduro was also in attendance, but did not take part in the session.
