BRADENTON, Fla. -- New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio has made a bold decision in February that could very well affect the fortunes of the club this summer and beyond.
Osorio has decided to keep star striker Juan Pablo Angel away from the Florida part of preseason training camp to ensure the former Colombian international has a full, productive MLS season.
Angel, whose back problems early last year almost shelved him for the season, has remained home in New Jersey working out on his own with a personal trainer.
"What I said to the other players is, basically, we're giving Juan and everybody else to not only to have a good start of the season, but a good season," Osorio said. "Last year Juan struggled at the beginning and we also struggled as a team. Now I have a better [idea] of what we need to do.
"We are trying to assess everybody individually and try to decide what is the best thing for each player to be doing. At the moment Juan is OK on what he is doing."
Asked how Angel took the decision, Osorio replied: "He's pleased with that. He has been working with his special trainer on specific things that we believe and he certainly believes is going to make him a better player athlete and hopefully a better footballer."
Last season Angel got off to a horrendous start, finding the back of the net just twice early on before rebounding with 12 goals in a 14-game stretch. He finished with 14 goals. Combined with his stellar 19-goal performance in 2007, Angel has scored more goals (33) than any other player over the past two seasons.
"Now I have a better [idea] of what we need to do," Osorio said. "That has been the case not just for Juan. that has been the case also for Jorge Rojas. By the way, he looks very sharp, very good. He had the benefit of doing some training in Venezuela."
Without Angel, the Red Bulls still scored four goals Saturday in their second scrimmage of the preseason, playing to a 4-4 draw with the Kansas City Wizards.
Their first scrimmage on Wednesday did not go as planned as the Red Bulls dropped a 1-0 decision to the U.S. under-17 national team. Now before anyone says that Osorio should be fired, it should be noted that only three starters from the Red Bulls' MLS Cup team played in the match -- goalkeeper Danny Cepero and defenders Kevin Goldthwaite and Carlos Mendes. Osorio was more than concerned about individual performances than team results in the team's first competitive match of the season.
Translated: No key attacking players such as Dane Richards, Dominic Oduro and Angel played as much as a single second.
Osorio looked at 22 players -- 11 in each half.
"At this particular time I am honestly ... assessing the players that we are not sure we are going to keep," he said. "We all know the limitations, the amount of players we can have on the squad, the roster."
Teams will be allowed to keep 24 players, compared to 28 last season.
"With that in mind, there are 10 players we know for sure that will be here," he said. "We have to make the decisions on the other players. That's why we gave them a chance to play 45 minutes. The score is not an issue for me at the moment. I will grade those players and will have a conversation with the other coaching members and then start making decisions."
Osorio admitted he was not happy with the Red Bulls finishing ability in that opening game. They dominated the game, but could not find the back of the net.
"We had plenty of chances [Wednesday], 10 good chances," he said. "I am looking for the guys who can score and today we failed to do that. That is a minus for the forwards and the offensive players."
But at this juncture, that is not necessarily Osorio's top priority.
"There are other things that I was interested in looking at," he said. "There are two or three good performances today. So I will rather keep that in mind rather than in all the chances that we missed." One good performance was by first-round draft pick and midfielder Jeremy Hall, who ran up and down the field, playing well both sides of the ball.
"Jeremy looks good," Osorio said, without elaborating. "The back looks OK. We have to work more in different things. In general it's good to do this. I personally feel I have better facts for my final decision."
Osorio gave some quick assessments about the trialists practicing with the team during preseason camp:
Saja Leigh, Ghana, defensive midfielder who played in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2005: "A player that was recommended to us from a good coach [who is] a good friend of Des [McAleenan, goalkeeping coach]. He does his coaching in the Middle East. Recommended Saja as a good defensive midfielder. I can see he is a good player, gets good tackles in and regains possessions and can hit the ball quite well."
Ryan Mirsky, Southern Methodist University defender: "We identified him at the combine. Good in the air as as a center back. Right-footed. Again a good competitive player."
Tom Parrett, former Queen of the South defender: "Right fullback in Scotland. Has some experience. He is aggressive, strong and good in the tackle, too."
Juan Manuel, midfielder: "Left-sided midfielder ... strong winger. Played in Hungary last season. FC Tatabanya (coached by former MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano). Mexican-American. Good ability on the ball. Quick. Sort of like a sharp player."
Carlos Gutierrez, Colombian midfielder: "Just doing preseason with us. Played in Colombia. Experienced player. Midfielder. hard-working player. Has won a few titles with Nacional in Colombia. Good utility player.
Jerry Saintil, Seton Hall defender-midfielder: "Left-footed. Can play as an anchor man. Can play as a defensive midfielder. we are looking at him as a possible left back. We are in the early days of discovering him, putting him through certain sessions and see if he can play in that position."
Lionel Saint-Preux, a forward who played for Haiti during World Cup qualifying and scored two goals Saturday in the draw with K.C.: "I spotted him on that Caribbean tournament [Digicel Cup in Jamaica] after that season was over. Haitian national team. Good striker. Quite aware what is around about him. Quick feet. Strong, good ability on the ball."
Nico Colaluca, former Colorado Rapids midfielder: "Richie [Williams, assistant coach] recommended him. Richie had seen enough of him. Wide player on the right side. Short quick and good ability on the ball."
Mohammed Mashriqi, Long Island University midfielder: "According to some people in the New York area, good talented player that for some reason never made it. We're giving him a chance. He has good ability on the ball. He's almost like a playmaker."
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