It's not quite the same as Paul Revere's message through the streets of Boston on an April evening in 1775, but new New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio has this message for the team's long suffering fans.
The reinforcements are coming, the reinforcements are coming.
But who and when? That he can't say right now.
What Osorio, the former MetroStars assistant who returns to New York after coaching the Chicago Fire last year, can say is the type of positions he's targeting: a holding midfielder, a left-sided defender and a left-sided midfielder, one of whom is playing in Europe.
"It's difficult for me to stand here and promise our fans what we'll do, but I've been assured that one of those three players will be definitely be with us in the next two weeks or in the middle of the season, and the other two we're working very hard at the moment," Osorio said at the team's annual media day. "The conversations that we've had with those players have been very positive. I think we still have enough time to deliver those and hopefully, we will."
While Osorio understandably isn't quite ready to reveal the mystery players, one player who it certainly is not is Ronald Vargas, a 22-year-old Venezuelan attacking midfielder who plays for Caracas FC and who was linked to the Red Bulls by a Venezuelan website.
"He's a very good player, but he's out of our range," said Osorio, who watched Vargas play in person on a recent scouting trip to South America. "He's not someone we can afford. I'd like to say yes but it's impossible. It's difficult for us to compete with those European teams that are trying to get him and even some Argentinean teams."
One player who could fill the void at holding midfielder alongside Seth Stammler is Lider Marmol, the 22-yea-old Paraguayan who is already on trial with the Red Bulls. But the Chicago Fire put in a discovery for Marmol one day before the Red Bulls and, by league rules, have first right to acquire him once, or if, the league signs him.
Without the mystery trio, the Red Bulls don't appear to be as strong on paper as they were last year when they lost to the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Gone are midfielders Dema Kovalenko and Joe Vide, goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus retired and attacking players Clint Mathis and Francis Doe are gone, as well.
While the Red Bulls believe they had a stellar SuperDraft, the only significant player they've signed thus far is Oscar Echeverry, a Colombian forward who will back up one of the league's best tandems in Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore.
Last year, though, the Red Bulls had arguably the best player of the first class of designated players as Angel finished second in the league behind D.C. United's Luciano Emilio in scoring with 19 goals. Altidore rounded into the one of the top young players in America, drawing the interest of some top European clubs when he played well at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada last summer.
Altidore turned 18 in November, meaning he is free to make the jump overseas if he so desires. And that very well might happen if he impresses at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Because of his commitments with the U.S. under-23 national team, Altidore, who already has a goal with the full national team, could miss up to nine games with the Red Bulls this year. And he could be gone for good in the summer transfer window.
"Watching him play, he does all the little things the right way and he scores a lot of goals, which isn't too bad either," Altidore said of Angel. "But most importantly just the way he conducts himself as a professional, his practice habits definitely rubs off on you. It makes you a better player, makes you understand situations better."
Angel, arguably the best striker in the league, is anxious to get his first full MLS season started.
"Preseason was far too long for me," he said. "This was my first experience in MLS preseason, but in one way I think it was good because it gave Juan Carlos the chance to get to know the players, to set the squad, to see what he needs and try to build up to the beginning of the season and for the rest of the year."
Claudio Reyna, the Red Bulls' other designated player, is back for his second season in MLS after an injury-plagued 2007. The Red Bulls captain is reunited with Osorio, who was on the coaching staff at Manchester City, and the 34-year-old isn't ready to talk retirement.
When healthy, Reyna's vision and passing made him a solid playmaker. And Osorio appears set to keep Reyna fresh by limiting his defensive responsibilities by playing a 3-5-2 formation that calls for two holding midfielders, currently Seth Stammler and Dave van den Bergh. That would allow Reyna to concentrate on the attack.
If Reyna again misses time because of injury, Mike Magee, no stranger to the trainer's room, would play an important role.
The Red Bulls don't open the 2008 season until April 5, but have already suffered two key injuries. Dane Richards, a finalist for rookie of the year last year, will be sidelined for three months after suffering a torn right MCL as a result of a reckless tackle in a so-called friendly against sister club Red Bull Salzburg earlier this month.
Hunter Freeman was next on the depth chart, but he sprained his left ankle with the U.S. under-23 national team in an Olympic qualifier Sunday and he'll be out 4-6 weeks.
And, as was the case last year when Richards replaced Markus Schopp, a rookie will start on the right side of midfield as Luke Sassano will get the nod against the Columbus Crew on April 5.
"He's one of those players who does the basics really well," Osorio said. "He controls the ball very well, he passes the ball really well and on the other side he competes really well, he likes the competition and he thrives on challenge. He has the tools to be a very good player. He has really instantly become one of the players here."
"I was just coming in hoping to make an impact with the team any way I can," Sassano said. "But now I've got the chance to play and I've just got to most important put it on the field for the guys."
Until a left-sided midfielder clears customs at Newark International Airport, Danleigh Borman will likely start. The former South African youth international was picked in the Supplemental Draft, but has enjoyed a solid preseason. He has good pace and is a pretty good crosser of the ball, but, like Sassano, doesn't have any professional experience.
Perhaps the biggest question mark is in the back, where Kevin Goldthwaite and Chris Leitch, the two candidates to play on the left of Osorio's three-back formation, both struggled a year ago. Jeff Parke has been quietly consistent and has partnered well with Carlos Mendes, who will move from the center of a back four to playing on the right.
"We've been stressing that defending starts from up top," Mendes said. "Whether you begin with three in the back or four, whatever system you play, it's kind of a group effort. I think in the past we've done well at time and we've been a little inconsistent as a group. I think this year we're just looking for more consistency and hard work from top to bottom."
After backing up Tony Meola and Waterreus -- and starting by year's end -- in the last two seasons, Jon Conway is the starting goal from Day One. He was the best statistical goalkeeper two years ago and in 14 games a year ago, the lanky veteran had a 1.10 GAA with four clean sheets.
Is Conway ready to be a regular MLS starter? It's yet another question the Red Bulls face entering the 2008 campaign. If not, veteran Zach Thornton has been brought in as a backup, but is in the twilight of his career.
While there are plenty of questions, Mendes said there is one certainty this year.
"One thing I think we're going to have this year is the most passion we've had in terms of how intense this squad is going to be," Mendes said. "(Osorio) demands a lot."
The same could be said of the long-suffering Red Bulls fans.
"It's been two years in a row now, the first round and we're out of here," Altidore said. "I just think the mindset has to be to make the championship with this team. Just to get past the first round, that's not the goal. The goal is to win a championship here. That's what we're all about."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
