Sports

Red Bulls head to Dallas, see Dave van den Bergh again for first time since trade

Some within the Red Bulls feel their season went sour in April when they gave up a pair of 90th minute goals to turn a win into a loss vs. D.C. But many observers say it went awry in the offseason when they dealt away Dave van den Bergh, the most consistent player in 2008.

Now they get their first 2009 look at van den Bergh since their offseason trade, playing the Dutchman and FC Dallas Saturday (9 p.m. MSG). And they’ll do it mired in an MLS-record 22 road winless streak, in a sad 2-12-4 season that might’ve been different with the reliable winger.

“I think he would’ve helped. It is a fact that is out there for everybody to see: His ability to cross the ball, we miss it. We tried very hard to keep David, but unfortunately we couldn’t manage that,” said under-fire coach Juan Carlos Osorio. “Hopefully this time around, we can manage his crossing, because he’s lethal.” Van den Bergh _ who’d initially agreed on a one-year deal _ had wanted a trade to Dallas because his son is ill, and his wife is from Texas, where her family still lives. Once FC Dallas called back with an improved trade offer, the Red Bulls dealt him for cap space, a draft pick and the since-traded Dominic Oduro.

What they don’t have is his crossing, and the player that’s missed that service the most has been F Juan Pablo Angel, questionable with a quad injury. Could van den Bergh’s loss have been the biggest factor in falling from last year’s MLS Cup to last-place?

“It’s hard to tell,” said Angel. “He had a very good year last year, and he was a very important guy. I like him a lot; we got along really well. To say he would’ve changed things, it’s extremely hard. This year has been extremely difficult for us. To say one person would’ve changed the course of things is very hard to say.

“Would he be an important player for us? Of course he would, because he’s a good player and I think that’s a big commodity in this league, having good players. But it would be hard to say things would be different if David were here. (But he provided) just the little things that we’re lacking right now.”

That’s because they have so many woes; dead-last in the league in goals (14), goals allowed (28) and goal differential (minus-14). That’s no way to go through a season.

And Saturday they’ll play with s gutted defense, bereft of Carlos Johnson (foot), Kevin Goldthwaite (groin), Carlos Mendes (hamstring) and Alfredo Pacheco (Gold Cup duty), all of whom have started at one time or another. Oh, and Angel, midfielder Albert Celades and forward Mac Kandji are all iffy, with Osorio admitting the latter probably won’t play until L.A.

Even with Dallas missing striker Kenny Cooper to the Gold Cup, this is a tall order for a reeling team needing wins. And believe me, Osorio knows perfectly well he needs to start winning.

“Obviously the results are a concern for us and for (the front office). We all know what’s at stake. I personally know. I realize what’s going on, and this is about results, and anything can happen,” Osorio said.

“It goes without saying we need to improve. That’s my own personal pressure. We need to get results here (in-league) and we need to do well in CONCACAF, and we need to start winning. Everybody realizes this team is better than what the results show. As far as an ultimatum coming to me, no they haven’t…so far.”