“An unexpected playoff run and a trip to MLS Cup can mask a lot of problems, but the fact is the [New York] Red Bulls are in the same place they were a year ago at draft time,” writes Frank Giase. When coach Juan Carlos Osorio was hired a year ago, he said the team needed a tall, left-footed central defender. “One year and a wasted draft pick [Eric Brunner] later, that hasn’t changed as Osorio prepares for the SuperDraft Thursday in St. Louis.”
Despite a tight defensive performance in its first three playoff games, “the three [goals] they allowed to the Columbus Crew in the final were a more accurate reflection of the play of the defense throughout the year.” Since then they’ve allowed defenders Jeff Parke (who was suspended for the playoffs) and Diego Jimenez to leave, for Seattle and Tecos UAG respectively.
Although they’ve re-acquired the aging Mike Petke off waivers from Colorado and re-signed Carlos Mendes, “a dominating central defender still seems to be the club’s top priority,” says Giase, “although a playmaking midfielder and a forward who can score 10 to 12 goals a year to take some pressure off Juan Pablo Angel are also high on the list.” New York has four selections in the four-round draft to make good on its wish list — numbers 11, 18, 29 and 44. (On Tuesday, the Red Bulls sent Dave van den Bergh to FC Dallas for Ghanaian Dominic Oduro that also included a swap of first-round draft picks and New York’s acquisition of FCD’s second-round selection.)