What's Going On With The Red Bulls?

The worst team in the league is tough to figure out.
Good: They are about to open the coolest soccer specific stadium in the country. Which puts them in the running to host the 2010 MLS Cup in addition to the Big East Championships.
Bad: They still don't have a head coach and the MLS Combine is starting next week with the draft on January 14th.
Good: They signed Costa Rican defender Roy Miller. Miller currently plays for Rosenborg in Norway and was a pre-season target for the Sounders last year.
Bad: Mac Kandji in this article. Well, at least we know he can score off the field.

TFC vs NYRB Highlights

I still can't believe how big of an egg TFC laid. Win and you're in. It's that simple. But lose 5-nil?

NYRB VS NE Revolution

Friday night action from MLS.

Sainey Nyassi's goal was absolutely sick. It makes me wonder if he's that much better than his brother or if Sigi just doesn't like Sanna.

NYRB Fan of the Year Contest

Are you kidding me? They expect people to do something to become fan of the year? After the years of torture and suffering through this abysmal season, they should just give the award to everybody who shows up at the last game.

No Bueno

Finally... How long could this guy of possibly kept his job. Good thing he quit.

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP)—New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio resigned Friday and was replaced for the rest of the season by assistant coach Richie Williams.

Less than a year after playing for the Major League Soccer championship, the Red Bulls have the worst record in the league at 2-16-4.

The Red Bulls said a search for a new head coach would begin immediately.

“It has been a difficult season for Juan Carlos and he felt that it was in the best interest of the team to step aside,” Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said. “I want to personally thank Juan Carlos for his efforts with the Red Bulls organization. It was under his leadership last season that the team won the Western Conference Championship and reached the MLS Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Osorio apologized to Red Bulls fans for the team’s play this season.

“I want to thank the players for their hard work,” Osorio said. “I would also like to thank the club for the opportunity to coach the team for the past two seasons.”

Williams, 39, takes over as interim head coach for the second time in his four-year coaching career with the team. He also served as the Red Bulls interim head coach from June 27-Aug. 12, 2006, taking over for Mo Johnston and going 4-3-2 over that stretch.

Osorio joined the Red Bulls as head coach on Dec. 18, 2007. In his two seasons, he led the team to a 12-27-13 record and an appearance in the 2008 MLS Cup Final.

New York was one of the original MLS franchises, with the team originally called the New York/Jersey MetroStars when they took the field in 1996. Since its inception, the team has struggled to retain coaches.

Eddie Firmani was the original coach and he was replaced that first season by Carlos Queiroz. Carlos Alberto Parreira coached the following year and Alfonso Mondelo ran the team for part of 1998 before being replaced by Bora Milutinovic, who finished the ’98 season and coached in 1999.

Octavio Zambrano and Bob Bradley followed with three-year stints. Mo Johnston coached for about 1 1/2 years with Williams taking over before Bruce Arena was hired to finish the ’06 season and 2007. He was replaced by Osorio.

Friday Roundup

There's a lot going on today and I haven't done a good job of keeping everybody updated. So we're going to just blow through some stories that I find interesting.

First off, Juan Carlos Osorio has resigned as the head coach of MLS's worst team.

Steven Goff has a look at the U.S. coaching salaries. I think anything over minimum wage is paying Bob Bradley too much.

The New York Times sat down for a little Q&A with Gooch.

Staying in the Big Apple, rumors have surfaced that Barcelona are interested in purchasing the Red Bulls.

There are reports out of France that Landon Donovan maybe heading to PSG.

The Houston Dynamo have signed their first Designated Player, Luis Angel Landin of Cruz Azul. Don't be surprised to see him in orange as soon as Sunday in the Dynamo's clash against the Sounders.

To add further intrigue, Freddie Ljungberg may now suit up for the Sounders as he has been diagnosed with hypoglycemia. The Sounders are a different team with him on the field.

A ton of new FIFA Soccer 10 screenshots have dropped on the German site Video Games Zone.

Galaxy vs. Red Bulls Highlights

Some amazing volley's in David Beckham's 2009 debut and Chris Birchall's MLS debut.

Krupnik a Red Bull

The New York Red Bulls have signed defender Leo Krupnik from Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.
The 29-year-old Krupnik can’t be added to the team’s 24-man roster until after the international transfer window opens on Wednesday. The club is also awaiting receipt of his international transfer certificate.
Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said Monday that Krupnik will add depth and experience to the defense.
Krupnik appeared in 30 matches last season for Maccabi Haifa, helping it win and 11th league title. He also had stints with three other Israeli clubs.
Krupnik was drafted in the sixth round of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars before they became the Red Bulls, but never played with the first team.

Bouna Time comes to NYRB. At the expense of Conway

Goalkeeper Jon Conway, suspended late last season by the MLS for using performance-enhancing drugs, has been released by the New York Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls made the move Monday after acquiring the rights to goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul from Colorado for allocation money and then signing him.
Conway was 1-7-1 with a 1.78 goals against average this season. Last year, the former Rutgers star started in a career-high 28 games, recording a 1.50 GAA and seven shutouts. Conway, 32, is 27-34-18 with a 1.39 GAA in his career.
Coundoul, who grew up in New York and played at the University at Albany, signed with the Rapids during the 2005 season. He has a 17-22-12 career record with a 1.16 GAA—the second-lowest all-time mark for goalies who have played a minimum of 4,000 minutes.
“We believe that Bouna has a bright future ahead of him and can immediately strengthen the squad with his ability and experience,” Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said. “We would also like to thank Jon for his long-standing service to the club and wish him the best of luck.”
The 6-2, 197-pound Coundoul has 16 career shutouts and has earned two caps for the Senegalese national team.
Conway and defender Jeff Parke were suspended 10 games in October, becoming the first players in MLS history to be suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.