A weekly collection of links to satiate your Red Bull (team, not the drink) cravings. And some other links of interest.

Topping off what has so far been a week of excellent news for the New York Red Bulls, Luke Rodgers informed the world via Facebook this morning that he has received a U.S. visa and will be joining his teammates for training in Mexico later this week:

Iv [sic] got my visa, be joining the red bulls in mexico this week. Cant wait!

Rodgers' situation was always a bit of a head-scratcher. The Englishman had a great first season in New York and was a model of behavior off the pitch. The uncertainty over the renewal of his visa came as a surprise when Hans Backe, on the first day of training camp, dropped the idea that the diminutive striker may not be allowed to return stateside. But all issues seem to have been resolved now.

Rodgers' presence should be a major shot in the arm for New York, who could be without Juan Agudelo for a portion of the season due to U.S. U23 duties, and in light of Thierry Henry's tendency to miss the odd road game. With Kenny Cooper and Rodgers now in the fold, the Red Bulls have some welcome depth up front.

Joel Lindpere, much like Luke Rodgers, arrived in Major League Soccer fairly unheralded. Despite having made 75 appearances for the Estonian national team, he had spent the bulk of his club career well outside the spotlight, first with several Estonian sides, most notably Flora Tallinn, and then with Tromsø of Norway's Tippeligaen - the northernmost topflight football club in the world. Few New York Red Bulls fans expected much from Lindpere upon his arrival, and it would be fair to say that his signing was greeted with more than a few WTFs.

Two years later, Lindpere has become arguably the Red Bulls' most emblematic player since the team moved from Giants Stadium to Red Bull Arena. Thierry Henry may get a lot more press and a much fatter paycheck, but no player has been taken to heart by fans the way that Lindpere has. In addition to being an absolute iron man over two seasons in New Jersey (making a total of 63 appearances), Lindpere was the scorer of the first ever goal at Red Bull Arena and has brought his lunchpail to work every day. While the dedication of Henry and - to a greater extent - Rafa Marquez has been sometimes at issue, that has never been the case for Lindpere. New Yorkers love players who give it all for the cause and the Estonian fits that description to a tee.

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One of the sentiments repeated readily over the course of the off-season by the Red Bulls' front office was the need to strengthen the team through the middle. And if Hans Backe is right, newly signed centerback, and 2009 MLS Best XI selection, Wilman Conde should fit that role to a T.

Backe told the Post...

I almost rate him as the best centerback in the league; physical, phenomenal left foot, good in the air, tackles, good understanding of the game, experienced. I think that is absolutely a player that has almost everything.

Quite high praise for a guy who will be filling in for recently departed Tim Ream.

Conde, a Colombian international, finally gets his wish in playing for the Bulls after the Chicago Fire refused to let him follow Juan Carlos Orasco to New York in 2008. He played in Chicago in 2009 and 2010 before jumping to Atlas de Guadalajara for 2011. He has only appeared in 13 games that year due to injury and managerial change. He terminated his contact with the club prior to the start of the 2012 season.

Back on Jan. 12, Big Apple Soccer reported the Bulls had acquired Conde's rights.

The Fire will receive allocation money for their troubles.