By BRIAN LEWIS
For much of the offseason, much of the talk around the Red Bulls was about how coach Juan Carlos Osorio was going to bring in two or three foreign starters, how Dave van den Bergh _ too old, too slow, too expensive _ would have to go to make way for the new blood.
But there he was leading the way in last night’s 2-0 season-opening win over Columbus, with a goal, assist and the Red Bulls’ only solid wing play of the night. Maybe this roster doesn’t stink so bad, after all.
He had a 25-yard golazo _ OK, GK Will Hesmer should’ve done better, but he blasted the heck out of that shot _ and set up another with a great corner. With Dane Richards likely out another two months, Hunter Freeman still sidelined and Osorio struggling to sign his targets, he might stick around.
“I never had an issue with (wanted to leave). I always wanted to play with New York,’’ said the 31-year-old van den Bergh, considered pricey at $240,000. “I’m just happy I’m here right now, that Bruce Arena brought me here and that Juan Carlos keeps having the same faith in me the last coach had. I just keep doing my job.’’
Van den Bergh had missed several preseason matches with personal issues, but Juan Pablo Angel said “It was great. He’s been having a very difficult time, and I think it was great to see him score and put in a solid performance. He’s a big player for us.’’
When asked if last night showed that the players on the roster might not need any help, that they can get the job done, Angel agreed.
“It’s up to us,’’ Angel said. “Obviously the better players you have the better chances you have. But it’s up to us, all the players that are in here to show we’re going to fight for our places and we’ve got to show the manager we don’t need anyone else. And if someone else comes they must fight for his place. That’s what we’re trying to do here.’’