Goalkeeper Ryan Meara -- A- If Ryan plays the 2nd half of the season like he played the 1st half he will get rookie of the year for sure. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Defense Brandon Barklage -- B+ Barkla has been a revelation and has been one of the best and most consistent defenders for the Bulls the 1st half of the season. Markus Holgersson -- C Backe's baby the Swedish Statue, Hulk, Holgerslug, etc has been a disappointment but to his credit he did get better before the injury. Wilman Conde -- C+ Conde has been pretty good when he has been playing only problem is he hasn't been playing much because his body is a like a broken jalopy. Roy Miller -- C- Roy has just made too many mistakes and is a liability. The Bulls should not renew his contract. Heath Pearce -- B+ I was never a big Juan Agudelo fan so I was not that upset when he was traded for Pearce. Time has shown this was a good move for the Bulls. Heath is a proven veteran of MLS and he gives the Bulls a calm presence in the back. Connor Lade -- B After a shitty 1st game vs DC this little guy has greatly improved and deserves much more playing time. He is tenacious and plays with a lot of spirit. Stephen Keel -- B- Keel is a good back up but his marking on set plays in the box can be poor at times Tyler Ruthven -- B I like this kid. He is tough as nails and he is a greater header of the ball. I am not sure why Keel is ahead of him on the depth chart. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midfield Dax McCarty -- A I wrote earlier in the year that Dax is the true leader of this team. He is the glue that holds the team together. Why he is not Captain is beyond me especially when Titi is not playing. I am glad we traded DeRo for him now. Dane Richards -- C+ Dane blows hot and cold and if he is matched up with a speedy midfielder or defender he doesn't do so well. To be honest I don't feel like he has grown at all with the team in his 5 years here but he does have 4-5 excellent games and that might be enough to keep him here. Joel Lindpere -- B- "Gutsy, a gamer and tenacious, injuries have limited his effectiveness in what is now his third year with the Red Bulls. But he has been making important contributions in the midfield, whether centrally or on the left wing and defensively his marking is much more focused this year. Still waiting for him to click in the offensive end, however." Lewis/Dyer Teemu Tainio -- Incomplete Miss the guy although I think Dax has taken over his spot so if he ever sees the field again it will be elsewhere or on the bench. Rafa Marquez -- C This guy has phoned it in and is the latest version of Metro's Matheus! A bad DP move if there ever was one. Mehdi Ballouchy -- B He has played well of late. Can he keep it up? Victor Palsson -- C Eh... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forwards Kenny Cooper -- A- "The best acquisition of the offseason for New York as Cooper carried much of the scoring load during a spell of injuries to the attack. Even when he’s not scoring, he’s working hard defensively and making smart runs into space. The consummate teammate, Cooper should be an all-star. Scoring has tailed off this past month but still a stellar trade for the Red Bulls." Lewis/Dyer Thierry Henry -- A "This season, Henry seems like he can single-handedly take over games and carry the team. His scoring has been clinical and his vision is elevating the likes of Cooper and McCarty. Should be a legitimate MVP candidate despite battling nagging injuries." Lewis/Dyer Johnny Arteaga -- D Hard working but not too bright, Arteaga has shown hustle but he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy Vuolo, Ryan Maduro, Jose Angulo, Jonathan Borrajo These players have not played or have gotten so little playing time that they cannot be graded at the moment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COACH Hans Backe -- B Hans has done a better job this year than the last two. He is starting to figure out the league and he is grwoing on me but not too much yet! See Lewis and Dyer's grades here: http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=30759
Let analyze this for a moment: 1.-You will give a B to Ballouchy and a B minus to Lindpere.....WOW.... 2.-Henry has play only 50% of the games this year, so, he only deserve 50% of that A you are giving to him...a B on my book..... 3.-Lade deserve a B plus.... 4.-Meara has done very, very phew mistakes, even Henry has done more mistakes and unethical plays than him...so, he deserve at least the A..... The rest they qualification are very appropriated....
I'd change these grades. Holgersson D, he sucks. Conde D, never plays and becoming a waste of a spot. Miller F, sucks and needs to be sent packing. Marquez F, bum. Would have some small changes, but those are the big ones.
1.-Holgerslush a "S" from Sucks.....You rank him, 20 letter to high.... 2.-Conde; Since he was signed I say, that the man was ready fry, that he willbe and stay mentally ill after the accidente in Mexico and that he never will perform as the Chicago Conde we used to know.... So, no surprise here... not for me.... 3.-Miller: what I can say, since they sing him, I have been saying that he is a garbage.... 4.-Marquez, well, what I can say; After saying everything against him....
This has been the best first half of a season in terms of ppg in this team's history. Shit could be a lot worse for us.
Whit all the money and fanfare spare off, isn't enough, some teams with spending a 10% of what we are spending; like DC-United are doing much better than us.....
And consider the adversity this team has ha to fight through. All the injuries, suspensions, Marquez's antics, etc. DC also has two DP's and another max player in Dero. So they are under the same cap constraints as we are in filling out the rest of the roster. With the insanely inflated salary of Marquez and Henry we are spending a lot but it's only on two guys, one who has barely contributed anything to the team.
DC doesn't even start their DPs all the time. So what's that say about us who insist on starting a bum like Marquez every time he can play?
Who insist?... Backe and Soler have to justified the $ 4.6 Millions they are expending on him, I will love to see that they buy his contract and part side with the team, but Backe and Soler knows that if they do that, they will get fired....