CARSON, Calif. -- The New York Red Bulls played in the MLS Cup Final for the first time in the club's 13-year history on Sunday, and while the magical postseason run came to an end following a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew at The Home Depot Center, preparation for next year started even before the team boarded its charter flight back to New Jersey.
"We'll take a couple of days to absorb the situation here and then starting preparing for 2009. It's right around the corner," Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said. "We have the college combine coming up, some scouting to do. It hurts to lose this one, but we have to start preparing for 2009 fairly quickly."
Even before they get to New Jersey, the Red Bulls have to submit their list of 11 players to protect in Wednesday's expansion draft for Seattle Sounders FC.
"We're 95 percent there," Agoos said on Sunday when asked if a decision has been made on who to protect.
There are other difficult decisions to make, like will Dave van den Bergh be back in 2009?
"I would like to have Dave back," Agoos said. "He has had a great year this year and we have to sit down with him and figure out what that means."
The Dutch midfielder enjoyed his best season in Major League Soccer, scoring eight goals and setting up five others. But van den Bergh is out of contract and his future with the Red Bulls is uncertain.
"I'm just disappointed that I haven't brought the trophy to New York yet," van den Bergh said. "We still have a couple of days. I really don't want to go there yet. I had a lot of adversity this year personally and I just wish I could have brought the trophy for my family and unfortunately I didn't."
Juan Pablo Angel said he'd like to be back in 2009, but the club would have to pick up his option.
"We have to sit down at the end of the year and see where we all stand," Angel said. "You never know what's going to happen and what the company wants from me and the rest of the players."
By advancing to the MLS Cup Final, the Red Bulls qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League next year, which means upgrading its depth is an even higher priority for next season.
"We not only have the league but we have Champions League next year and Open Cup," Agoos said. "We need to be as deep as we possibly can."
Then there is the matter of possibly signing a second designated player following the retirement of Claudio Reyna.
"The designated player slot is a very important decision and we have to make the right decision," Agoos said. "If there's a player that makes sense, we'll take a look. But if not, I don't think we feel pressure to have to use that slot."
However the Red Bulls are constructed for next season, veteran John Wolyniec, who scored the team's lone goal on Sunday, is hungry to get back to the MLS Cup after getting his first taste on Sunday.
"I'm not done and I'll look to get another opportunity because it's tough to take a loss like this with all the work that's gone in the whole year," Wolyniec said. "We did play well and put a pretty good effort out. I hope we learn and this experience can spark something in this team to make a run and make it to the finals a couple years in a row."
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