Red Bulls to announce second DP signing within a week
Those of you wondering if and when the Red Bulls would use their second designated player slot can rest easy. Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena told reporters at practice on Wednesday that the team is planning on announcing a signing either this week or next week and that it would likely be a designated player.
"We'll be announcing a new signing either this week or next week," Arena said. When asked whether the new signing would be a designated player, Arena said, "Likely."
Who is that player? I wish I knew. Agustin Delgado has been the hot rumor, and as it stands you have to believe it will be a forward, but Delgado's current suspension in Ecuador needs to still be addressed.
The player should be a target forward, but who? I'll do some digging but the Red Bulls have been pretty good about keeping the info under wraps. Could it be Zidane? I have trouble believing that the club got a deal done that quickly, unless they have succeeded at getting Zizou to the negotiating table and are working on locking him up. I'll stop the speculation on that now because I don't want to go and get anybody's hopes up. I still put Zidane at 50-1 to sign with the Red Bulls.
Here is something else to think about. If the club is going to sign a high salary player you would assume the player would want at least two guaranteed years on his contract. If that happens then the Red Bulls have both DP slots filled for 2008, which would prevent the club from signing some marquee European. That makes you wonder whether the club is A) ready to sign a DP who it can land with just one guaranteed year or B) ready to sign a big-named player now. I know a recent report quoted Red Bulls owner Dietrich Mateschitz as saying that the Red Bulls wouldn't sign a high-profile player until the new stadium opened but you have to believe the club would pounce if the right player came along now.
Stay tuned....
A forward .... please, please, please!!!
Posted by: Tim | February 21, 2007 at 01:28 PM
What ever happened to Mateschitz's comments yesterday about not using the 2nd DP??
Half of me is kinda enjoying this rollercoaster ride, the other half is pulling my hair out!
Posted by: Trex | February 21, 2007 at 01:31 PM
This is surprising since last month it was stated that there was absolutely no wiggle room in Salary Cap and like Trex said, Mateschitzs' comments about not using the second DP, at least not until Red Bull Park opens.
Posted by: inkedAG | February 21, 2007 at 01:51 PM
He didn't say RB would not use a DP slot. What he said was that they would not buy a famous player. Everyone's version of "famous" is different
Posted by: Dave | February 21, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Actually, he said it wouldn't be used on a High Profile High Priced player. I don't think he actually said it wouldn't be used at all.
Posted by: CrazyG | February 21, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Good salesmanship 101 - keep expectations low and if you beat them you come out looking golden.
Posted by: Lalique | February 21, 2007 at 02:09 PM
NYRB could always sign a player for more money loaded up front this year with the second year at <= 300k and thus possibly be allowed to open a dp slot next year. If Delgado wanted 900k for 2 years, then 600k this year, 300k next year for example. It would creat cap problems for the other 15 players next year.
Posted by: anon | February 21, 2007 at 03:59 PM
According to MLS officials that kind of maneuver isn't allowed.
Posted by: Ives | February 21, 2007 at 04:31 PM
According to MLS officials that kind of maneuver isn't allowed.
Posted by: Ives | February 21, 2007 at 04:32 PM
According to MLS officials that kind of maneuver isn't allowed.
Posted by: Ives | February 21, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Hope y'all like Robbie Fowler.
Out of curiosity, who is NY trading to clear up cap space?
Posted by: Jason | February 21, 2007 at 04:47 PM
50-1, so you're telling me there's a chance...
Posted by: AndrewK | February 21, 2007 at 05:01 PM
Forget the salary cap restrictions. MLS isn't going to stand in the way of NY turning it's franchise around because of some silly rules (guidelines, really). They'll find a creative way to get around it. Just bring him on, whoever it is. This team has a big missing piece and it needs to be filled.
Posted by: VictorM | February 21, 2007 at 07:34 PM
All you RBNY fans with stars in your eyes need to come down from your dream cloud and realize WE DON'T NEED ZIDANE!!! WE NEED A FORWARD!!! WE NEED A DELGADO!!! someone with international experience to mentor jozy while he's still here. Forget Zidane, I don't even want him here. We just got Reyna, I want him leading this team.
Posted by: Carl | February 21, 2007 at 09:39 PM
The logic above sounds a lot like that used by the Portland Trail Blazers when they picked Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft because they had Clyde Drexler and were in "need" of a big man. Not that Zidane is going to come here anyway, just saying.
Posted by: Wamiq | February 22, 2007 at 02:33 AM
I sincerely hope you're not comparing a basketball move to soccer...
Posted by: Carl | February 22, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I heard it was Stan Collymore. Either him or Winston Bogarde.
Posted by: Andolini | February 22, 2007 at 10:48 PM