From danish www.eb.dk (With a little help from Google Translate) Vejle-talent sold to USA 23-year-old Brian Nielsen has long had more than unusually hard to hide that he would be more than happy to switch Vejle with new challenges - and now he gets them. According to Ekstra Bladet the ball gifted striker moves to the United States where he will turn out for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. With a massive U.S. dollar grin on his lips. Thus he follows directly in the boot tracks on Ibrahim Salou, who last month was shipped from Vejle to the club, which has home in Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, Springsteen-country outside New York. The contract is broadly in place, and just quirky details and a doctor can check the brake switch, which probably will be announced later today - just one day before the U.S. transfer window close. Funny scene The surprise move to God's own country solve a couple of funny scene after Vejle 2-1-cup victory over SønderjyskE, where Brian Nielsen played a noble battle and was match winner - and then also disappeared from the earth's surface in a rigid half hour after the game. Erik Soler, who was present at the stadium, has since November been general manager and sporting director at New York Red Bulls, where Hans Backe has been head coach - and just by a simple intervention has been removed gallbladder, which hardly has much to do with this. The slightly comical Vejle maneuvers to conceal Brian Nielsen's absence after the game was simply that the Vejle players were hastily to meet with Vejle-director Henrik Tønder and Erik Soler up in the sponsorship lounge. Brian Nielsen's contract with Vejle expires at the end of the year, so this was the clubs last chance to collect just a minimal transfer. It does so now from the U.S. market, which is characterized by a certain optimism and economy. With the trip across the Atlantic, Brian Nielsen is the third Vejle player in a pipeline which has previously sent Jimmy Nielsen to Kansas City Wizards. Personal note: Brian Nielsen, can play both winger and forward. Very fast, good technique, not very consistent. Brian Nielsens Wikipedia profile
If Brian Nielsen is fast with good technique, with the level of a lot of MLS outside backs, consistency issues might not get in the way of having success here. Any NY fans out there, who is likely to get dropped for him? We've been happy with Jimmy Nielsen so far. He hasn't been tested a ton, but has made a couple nice saves. If he plays decently, he's guaranteed to be a fan favorite - very positive w/his teammates (after Meola and Hartman it's a drastic switch) and shows a lot of love to the crowd. According to Thad over at backpost.net, he also doesn't get why so many fans dislike our quirky temp stadium, as he apparently likes the setup.
With the exception of the bit about "technique", he should feel right at home in MLS. BTW, was it the other Nielson's forehead that Cummings just put an Adidas logo sized dent into this past weekend? That was hilarious! That he could stay in the game, and was still up a goal, was incredible.
Forward John Wolyniec and Defender Andrew Boyens feel the most on the ropes to me. edit: I would imagine Woly's contract is guaranteed with the new CBA though? So perhaps Boyens is a likely target. Could be a few others though. We have a few guys who i wouldn't be stunned to see cut loose.
The Red Bulls have two players on Injured Reserve (Albright and Goldthwaite), so, if I'm not mistaken, no one needs to be dropped from the roster just yet. Also, according to this article, Nilsen is actually being bought (this coming summer) by Red Bull Salzburg. He'll be on loan to RBNY until the end of 2011. So he comes here on loan from Vejle, then is bought by Red Bull Salzburg in July, then is loaned back to RBNY.
Oh what a tangled web! Nielsen sounds intriguing, let's hope that he doesn't have any affray convictions in his closet.
Its not anything like that, it was just a little to much going out and lack of effort during practice. Nothing serious.
Along with the Danish keeper Nielsen (Wizards), if this guy comes, does it mean the so-called exodus of MLS players to Scandanavian Leagues is now being met with a similar exodus of players coming back the other way? I know it's only a couple of guys but food for thought. P.S. And yes, for us Springsteen heads, Jersey will always be "Springsteen Country".
I'm kind of surprised that there aren't statues of The Boss around here. I expect it's only a matter of time.
It wasn't trolling, it was a note that this is a shot across the bow, going by the news reports that the guy is already slated to be in Harrison for 8 months, then on to Austria. Austria is the priority. If this move is a success, expect more moves to turn the Jersey branch into RB Salzburg B.
Ya, I find this puzzling as well. We assume that so many Americans go to the Scandinavian Leagues because they pay better than MLS, which makes sense. But why would Scandinavians leave their more lucrative domestic leagues to play in MLS? That doesn't make sense.
Both Jimmy and Brian Nielsen (not related) left Vejle who plays in the 1st Division (2nd tier) for a team with no chances for promotion, and an urgent need to cut the wage bill. But Danish soccer salaries is going to drop a little, because of the finansiel crisis and economic downturn which also have affected our economy a little.
There is already a RB Salzburg B (called Red Bull Salzburg Juniors). Turning NYRB into a farm club would do far more harm than good to Red Bull.
How so? Before pen is even set to paper, look at how many Jersey fans are pointing to this as evidence that "finally, Salzburg's doing something for us." Yep, they're using RBS-b as a parking lot/proving ground for the primary club in Austria. But that feeling among the NJ fans that "finally, we get to put one over on MLS" goes a long way towards obscuring that. The possibility that the guy performs decently in Jersey while helping them skirt MLS salary cap restrictions is a nice side-effect, but it's not really the point.