It was the New York Red Bulls version of soccer Survivor. More than 30 players from various background and levels of experience gathered at the Giants Stadium training bubble for a five-day mini-camp with the hope of making round two, joining the first team at the opening of training camp at The Home Depot Center.
"It was very productive and very rewarding I could say," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I feel like I have done my job. We have given the opportunity for many players to come here and display their ability to play football and to see if they can come into our team."
On Friday, several players learned their fate following the final two-hour training session. Among those who will fly to California are MLS veterans like Marshall Leonard and Bill Gaudette; a USL First Division defender in Scott Palguta, formerly of the Rochester Raging Rhinos; and a few local standouts like Chris Megaloudis, Kevin Mesa and Martin Nunez.
Osorio said all the invitees -- and he figures he wants "maybe three or four players per position," will be notified by 5 p.m. Friday if they're selected.
"It's a very difficult thing to do because, as we all know, football is a matter of opinions and everyone knows and has seen the next big player in the world," Osorio said. "The only thing I can do is try to be fair to everybody and just bring those players I believe that can play and try to let them play football and show us all their ability."
Leonard, who was waived in December after six years with the New England Revolution, is one of those players. A left-footed player who can play either in the back or in the midfield, Leonard was a regular starter for the Revs in 2005, but missed nearly the entire 2006 season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in a scrimmage against Boston College at Gillette Stadium. He didn't play for New England in 2007.
"The change of scenery and everything has been beneficial," Leonard said. "I have a passion for what I'm doing now. I obviously have a couple of years on some of these guys, but it keeps me honest."
Osorio said he's been impressed with the 27-year-old veteran, who passed his first test with flying colors.
"I think he has done enough to convince me he is probably is a good candidate to compete for a position on the 18-man roster," Osorio said. "As I said to him, I want to see him against better opposition and against our top strikers and see how he does."
Like Leonard, Bill Gaudette is out of contract after three years with the Columbus Crew as primarily a backup goalkeeper. Although the Red Bulls have three goalkeepers signed -- starter Jon Conway, veteran backup Zach Thornton and Danny Cepero -- Gaudette is happy to be back in New York, even if it is temporary.
"I just wanted to come in and get some good work in," said Gaudette, who played collegiately at nearby St. John's University. "Anytime you get an offer to come in train with one of the best goalkeeping coachs (Des McAleenan) you have to take it and it's a good opportunity to get involved with a premier club in MLS."
Gaudette will travel to California because Osorio wants to train with four goalkeepers. Gaudette said he's got an Irish passport during the offseason, which opens up his options for this season.
"I'm probably the fittest I've ever been and just getting back and getting ready to see what happens," he said. "(MLS) is one of those leagues where you never really know. You play good for a while and you impress some people and you never know what's going to happen here or another club in the league or an oversees connection."
Perhaps the most intriguing player in mini-camp is Matt Kassel, considered the top prospect of the Red Bulls youth academy. The high school All-American and U.S. under-18 midfielder from Bridgewater, N.J., could be the first player promoted from the club's youth academy to MLS.
"It was a competitive atmosphere, I was just getting used to the speed of play here," Kassel said. "It's a little bit different than what I'm used to it. It was good for me to get used to and I think I did pretty well."
Kassel has certainly impressed Osorio, who is trying to weigh whether to sign the teenager, or allow him to play at the University of Maryland.
"I think he has some very good things," Osorio said. "He distributes the ball very well, he takes shots from long distance, but there's still room for improvement like everybody else. What were trying to do is prevent the temptation to bring him in very soon, sooner than when he should."
Others getting the invite to The Home Depot Center are forwards Chris Megaloudis, who played for Stony Brook and recently was named to the Puerto Rican national team; Ricky Schramm, who played at Georgetown; Kevin Mesa, who was slated to play for F.C. Schaffhausen of the Swiss Super League, but couldn't obtain a work permit; and Martin Nunez, who scored 30 goals for Georgia Perimeter College and was a junior college All-American.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
