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

The Desert Diamond Cup kicks off today, and you can watch the matches on MLSsoccer.com. And speaking of preseason games, the Red Bulls' match against Pumas UNAM is going to be on MSG+ tomorrow night at 10 pm. [MLSsoccer.com]

Juan Agudelo, Hans Backe, playing time and development. [ESPN]

Wilman Conde's long road back to MLS. [Soccer By Ives]

After the Luis Robles drama, why the allocation order should be scrapped. [SB Nation]

Tim Ream and the Bolton Wanderers are one win away from Wembley. [Daily Mail]

Ok, on second thought maybe getting rid of Matt Kassel and Sacir Hot wasn't the worst move in the world. [Big Apple Soccer]

Thierry Henry is remodeling his North London home and wants to build a four story fish tank in it. [Telegraph]

No one travels further than MLS supporters. [Guardian]

More South Ward love from the NBC Sports Network. [MLSsoccer.com]

Sweet, sweet schadenfreude: John Harkes to take over color commentary duties for D.C. United. [Washington Post]

Where is the Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City's 2000 MLS Cup? [Free Beer Movement]

We know the Red Bulls' goalkeeping situation is in flux (despite how highly the organization is talking about Ryan Meara) and we know MLS doesn't always have the simplest roster rules. So when the Red Bulls put a discovery claim on Luis Robles everyone in New York just shrugged and accepted it, while down in D.C. there was head scratching over how the Red Bulls could have possibly discovered a former D.C. United draft pick.

Empire of Soccer has a nice breakdown of the rules of allocation process versus discovery claims. Usually when a player has a USMNT cap and plays abroad - as Robles did against Haiti a few years back - he has to go through the allocation process. But apparently that wasn't the case. At first anyway.

Wednesday it was reported here that Robles would be in Harrison today to talk about a contract, but that same day, the Washington Post reports, the league told the Soler and Company that he would have to go through the allocation process.

So apparently he's not here, and he canceled his trip.

The Bulls certainly could use another goalkeeper, especially since Meara is inexperienced and Jeremy Vuolo is new to the league, but it's looking like that depth isn't coming from Robles.

In more of a dress rehearsal for the season (note, they're wearing their actual jerseys), the Red Bulls scored first, but couldn't hold onto the lead, playing to a draw in the final game of their Mexican preseason.

Kenny Cooper scored the Bulls' only goal.

The line-up: Ryan Meara; Roy Miller, Jan Gunnar Solli, Stephen Keel (Leobardo Alvarez 82'), Marcus Holgersson; Dane Richards, Rafael Marquez (c) (Ryan Maduro 66'), Dax McCarty, Joel Lindpere; Kenny Cooper, Jhonny Arteaga (Juan Agudelo 75')

Marquez was shown a yellow in the 51st minute and Miller was shown a red in the 82nd.

Karlsruher SC's American goalkeeper Luis Robles - once drafted by D.C. United - confirmed yesterday that he will be traveling to New York on Friday to continue discussions with the New York Red Bulls over a possible move to MLS. News of New York pursuing Robles was broken last week by the Washington Post's Steven Goff, but now that the player and Red Bulls General Manager Erik Solér have confirmed their mutual interest, we can probably move this one from the "speculation" column to the "possible signings" column.

The Red Bulls currently have two young American keepers under contract in Jeremy Vuolo and rookie Ryan Meara. But neither has as much professional experience as Robles, who spent three seasons at Kaiserslautern before joining Karlsruhe in 2010. With Karlsruhe struggling against relegation under a new manager, Robles hasn't played in months. Moving back to the U.S. would provide him with a fresh start and give New York three fairly solid options at goalkeeper, though perhaps no clear #1.

Though Robles has one cap for the U.S. National Team (a 2-2 draw against Haiti), if he does sign with New York he will be counted as a "discovery signing." Because he is neither a U.S. national team player pool nor a U.S. youth international, he will not be subject to the allocation process or a weighted lottery. A little more clarity on what makes Robles' case different from Lee Nguyen's, for example, would be welcome. But this being MLS, we may have to learn to live with murky rules and inconsistent interpretations.

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

Rafael Marquez to retire after the 2014 World Cup? [Goal.com]

Oh, dear God please don't let these be the USMNT's new away shirts. [Football Shirt Culture]

FC New York lives... in the NPSL. [Empire of Soccer]

In his last Premier League game with Arsenal (for now, anyway), Thierry Henry scores the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute to put the Gunners past Sunderland. Henry's goal starts around 2:10 in the video.

Henry is expected back Feb. 17 ahead of the Red Bulls' preseason match against Pumas UNAM in Phoenix.

Rookie Connor Lade scored the Red Bulls' only goal in their preseason draw against the Mexican side in their penultimate training match south of the border Saturday. Lade's 80th minute goal was assisted by Giorgi Chirgadze and Victor Palsson.

1st half lineup: Jeremy Vuolo; Jonathan Borrajo, Markus Holgersson, Stephen Keel, Leobardo Alvarez; Brandon Barklage, Dax McCarty, Rafa Marquez, Joel Lindpere; Corey Hertzog, Kenny Cooper

2nd half lineup: Ryan Meara; Jan Gunnar Solli, Matt Kassel, Sacir Hot, Roy Miller; Dane Richards, Ryan Maduro, Palsson, Connor Lade; Jose Angulo (Chirgadze 77’), Jhonny Arteaga

...We are one month away from the start of the season.

The Red Bulls kick off their season March 11 at 3 away against FC Dallas. It will be the first MLS game on the new NBC Sports Network.