Red Bulls Expert Guide: April 27, 2021

Once A Metro Red Bulls Expert Guide: April 26, 2021

Welcome to the Red Bulls Expert Guide presented by Once a Metro.

You’re still reading these? Why would you do something like that? Stop doing it.

Here’s this week’s top story.

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Did you think there would be a neat resolution to the Alejandro “Kaku” Gamarra story?

When we last checked in with Schrödinger’s Red Bull, Al-Taawoun defeated Al-Fateh in the semifinals of the King Cup of Champions, 3-2. The Argentine-Paraguayan playmaker scored the match’s first goal. However, the opponents filed an official protest, pointing to his controversial contractual status in light of the arbitrator’s ruling in favor of the New York Red Bulls.

Recently, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Discipline and Ethics Committee rejected the protest lodged by Al-Fateh “from the objective point of view.” According to Akher, “Protest fees were confiscated in favor of the [governing body].” Al-Taawoun is free to advance to the final, but the decision is “subject to appeal.” The match is scheduled for May 28th against Al-Faisaly. As always, stay tuned.

Al-Fateh might not have been able to defeat The Wolves in the appeals process, but they were able to win on the field. Al-Taawoun dropped a 4-3 decision at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. Kaku scored, of course, converting a penalty in stoppage time.

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On Thursday, AGF Aarhus defeated Randers, 2-0, in Danish Superliga action. Mathias Jørgensen did not play. Mathias Jørgensen was not on the bench. Mathias Jørgensen did not feature in the match day squad.

On Sunday, AGF Aarhus lost to Copenhagen, 2-1, in Danish Superliga action. Mathias Jørgensen did not play. Mathias Jørgensen was not on the bench. Mathias Jørgensen did not feature in the match day squad.

AGF Aarhus returns to action on Monday, May 3rd against Cophenhagen.

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Highlight tape producer and scout Bruno Villas Bôas uploaded a video of Cristian Cásseres Jr. to YouTube. Relive all of the Venezuelan midfielder’s best moments from 2020. Oh and there’s a nice phone number and email address if a person wants to discuss what he or she just watched.

What a nice video. I’m sure it’s a pure labor of love. Apropos of nothing, Cásseres signed a “new multi-year MLS contract” of unknown length in February of 2020.

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Kampala Capital City Authority FC defeated Onduparaka FC, 1-0, in the Uganda Premier League. Steven Sserwadda was named Pilsner Man of the Match. The 18-year-old assisted on the match’s lone goal, knocking down a cross into the path of Sadat Anaku.

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What do you think of when I say the words “fashion” and “lifestyle”? Is it… MetroStars?

Italian cultural tastemakers NSS Magazine have deemed the dormant brand “the coolest team in MLS in the first decade of the American league’s life.” Writer Alessandro Pagano classifies the club as having “The best kids, but the worst teams.” Praising the unique aesthetics of the jerseys, the MetroStars’ kits “encompassed all the frenzy of New York rhythms, an almost electric way of life that characterizes the ever-present logo.”

The appallingly cheerful article ends with a plea to “revive the aesthetic heritage” of the club. While that is never going to happen, Milan – or Milano, if you’re cultured – is the fashion capital of the world and all advice emanating from that city should be considered. Perhaps there is some sort of middle ground that can be reached, like a red bull driving a taxi cab while eating a hot dog.

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How did former Red Bull Vincent Bezecourt get to Armenia? The answer is a little more complicated than “an airplane.” After refusing several contracts, he planned to finish the season in the Andorran league, which also didn’t work out.

“In the end in Andorra, since it is a country in its own right, there are immigration problems,” Bezecourt told PK Foot. “I needed my French criminal record, which is necessarily blank, and American too, which is also blank, but to obtain it, you have to go through the FBI, a real mess. In the haste, I still lost a month-and-half. I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ So I called the Armenian club here, which still wanted me. So in three days I left Andorra to arrive here in Yerevan.”

In a surprisingly honest and deep interview, Bezecourt speaks fondly of his time in New York, although there is some sense of regret after missing so many matches. Thankfully his career will continue, with future destinations unknown. His current goal at FC Alashkert is to avoid injuries, after which he is open to joining any interested clubs, including a particular dream of playing in Japan.

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Sometimes you can go home again.

Former New York Designated Player Rafa Márquez has an offer from Barcelona to work as an academy coach. The Mexican legend was recently the manager of the Real Alcalá de España Cadet A side. The job would allow him to make progress toward earning the UEFA Pro license.

“It is difficult to say no,” Márquez said to TUDN. “I will have a conversation to close everything and if everything goes as it has been up to now, in July or August, I will be there to be a part of Barcelona. I still do not have the UEFA Pro license. I have a year to go and the invitation that they are making me can help my process.”

You know, by the time good old Rafa is able to become a professional manager, former teammate Tim Ream should be nearing retirement. Perhaps their future link up could be as successful in the technical box as it was on the field. Do I have to explain this dumb joke or do you guys get it?

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It seems that Jesse Marsch may not be in Salzburg next season, according to sporting director Christoph Freund. The American manager is a fixture of the rumor mill, finally receiving a real connection this week with Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite a contract nearing an end, Red Bull is not going to simply let him walk away.

“It has to be a really good overall package for him to say he is leaving,” Freund told the Daily Record. “He has a quiet environment, loves working with young players. He has a lot of fun in Salzburg, his family feels good, [and] we are successful. On the other hand, I cannot say with one hundred percent (certainty) that he will be my coach next year. No club has registered (their interest) yet. Jesse is good here, but we know that he only has a one-year contract. Some clubs have their eyes on him.”

The hottest recent rumor was Celtic, which would be a fair trade after New York received so many of the Scottish club’s players. However, a brighter, shinier position may be opening soon in the sunny (?) city of Leipzig. On Sky Sport, Marsch threw his imaginary hat into the hypothetical ring, claiming that managing the Bundesliga club would be “a great idea for [him].”

Here’s a joke that was submitted by Nell of Bergenfield.

“Not since The Music Man has a world traveler made such claims pertaining to his greatness.”

Thank you, Nell. And technically that is not slander or libel because at the end of the play, the character of Prof. Harold Hill does deliver on his promises.

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