New York Red Bulls

Another star is set to join MLS, and it might surprise you. It certainly surprised me. According to BBC, Everton have accepted a bid of roughly one million pounds from the New York Red Bulls for Tim Cahill.

The Australian international has been a mainstay at Everton and a fan favorite for years, but he only managed to find the back of the net twice last year.

At only 32 years of age (relatively young for a highly respected European player to make the move to MLS), Cahill is the latest of players to join MLS at a younger age. Scoring 68 goals in 278 appearances in the EPL and 24 goals in 55 caps for Australia shows that Cahill knows how to find the back of the net, something that could be desperately needed come playoff time.

Two of the Red Bulls' designated player spots belong to Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez (the former has been outstanding this season, the latter not so much), and Cahill would likely occupy the third.  

The Red Bulls already made noise this month by trading speedster Dane Richards for the veteran attacker Sebastian Le Toux.

By adding Tim Cahill to the mix, the Red Bulls will be in competition with only the LA Galaxy for the best offensive team in the league. This move solidifies the Red Bulls as a serious contender for the MLS Cup.

Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry up front with Sebastian Le Toux on one of the flanks and Cahill as the attacking midfielder will give New York a potent offense. Dax McCarty in the defensive midfield will protect a solid back line.

However, Hans Backe does have a tendency to mess up good things, and that would be my main concern for the Red Bulls' MLS Cup hopes.

Tim Cahill will be entering a team that is currently on top of the Eastern Conference table, and it shouldn't take long for him to get integrated into the side. With all the potential this Red Bulls team will have offensively, I really feel sorry for opposing defenders.

It'll be a miracle if anyone can keep a clean sheet against the new-look Red Bulls.

Today, the New York Red Bulls completed a shocking £1 million deal to acquire Everton and Australian midfielder Tim Cahill.

Cahill was one of the more notable names to play at Goodison Park in the Premier League era. Though he will leave Merseyside without any silverware, Cahill was still among the top midfielders in the EPL during his eight-year stint at Everton.

In that stretch, Cahill played 278 times for Everton, scoring 68 goals. He also was a part of the Everton squad that reached the 2009 FA Cup final, where they lost to Chelsea 2-1.

The capture of Cahill is certainly surprising, even though Everton are short on cash. But securing Cahill's signature is a coup for the Red Bulls.

The Red Bulls, who already have designated players Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez, will likely give Cahill their final DP spot. 

After he arrives following the MLS All-Star game, Cahill will give the Red Bulls an attacking threat in midfield, something that they have been sorely missing.

Though Kenny Cooper and Henry have worked well together, both players have faced their droughts this season, which is partially at fault for a disappointing June. But now, with Cahill, he will replace Mehdi Ballouchy and bring in a new feature into the offense.

This is the second major offensive move that New York has made in the past month. Ten days ago, Sebastian Le Toux was traded to the Red Bulls from the Vancouver Whitecaps in place of speedy Jamaican winger Dane Richards.

Considering how well the Red Bulls have played, Cahill doesn't need to immediately play his best. If it is needed, he could get some time off to acclimate himself, though that is unlikely considering his mentality.

Outside of the Red Bulls, this move is great for MLS. Cahill was linked to a move to the Middle East. But instead, he is now working his trade in MLS.

In recent years, MLS has been unable to capture some marquee European names because of the rise of leagues in the Middle East and China. But bringing in Cahill is a prize for a league that is the third-best attended American sports league.

If Cahill can remain on top of his game, MLS will only continue to gain international credibility as a league.

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Thierry Henry's still got it.

Proof comes in the form of today's B/R Viral Video of the Day. It's a clip that needs little introduction.

The basic facts are these: Henry scored on Wednesday during the New York Red Bulls' 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer action.

Simply put, the goal was stunning.

Watch and you'll agree. Henry can still bring the genius after all these years.

In this clip, it's Red Bulls teammate and fellow Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux who provides the cross. Henry brings down the cross-field ball with his chest, and with his second touch, unleashes an unstoppable volley off the far post and into the net.

Yes, unstoppable. This isn't a case of Henry scoring a soft goal against a weak MLS keeper. Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon wouldn't have stopped that shot.

If you're an Arsenal fan, you probably watched that and felt a wistful twinge in your gut. As Gooners, we became accustomed to seeing goals like this one regularly during Henry's eight-year spell with Arsenal (and sort of again last winter when he was on loan).

Some memorable goals that immediately come to mind are Henry's turn and volley against Manchester United in 2000, the outrageous preseason juggle and lob, the back-heel against Charlton, the half-volley laser against West Ham and the mazy dribble against Liverpool.

So yeah, this guy has been doing stuff just like this for a long, long time. But in all fairness, Wednesday's goal ranks right up there.

What do you say, readers? Where does Henry's latest wondergoal rank in his illustrious career?

[video: MLS]

Follow @MikeCummings37

Thierry Henry's glittering resume boasts 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 success with France, two Premier League titles won at Arsenal and a Champions League triumph with Barcelona.

The striker, now 34 but still going strong, can now be found playing in the MLS with New York Red Bulls—for whom he's scored nine goals in nine appearances so far this season.

Here's what Henry had to say when I caught up with him on the phone.

WILL TIDEY: Hi Thierry, thanks for taking the time to talk today. Let's start with life at New York Red Bulls. Is it everything you expected it to be? What have been the biggest surprises so far?

THIERRY HENRY: When I first arrived I had no expectations. I didn't know what the league was about or anything. I just wanted the guys to accept me. Now it's different. Now I know about the MLS and I'm ready to perform. I know my teammates better and it's going really well.

WT: How does the regime and training schedule at the Red Bulls compare to those you experienced at Arsenal and Barcelona?

TH: It's difficult to compare. I used to play at teams who had three games a week. When you play for Arsenal or Barcelona you just maintain your form. You have lots of games and you don't really have time to train like we do here. Here we play on a Saturday, then the next Saturday. It's different because we can train properly.

WT: How do you like the New York lifestyle?

TH: I live a simple life. I train; I go home; sometimes I go to the cinema. It's New York and it's great, but my life is just like yours. (WT thinks this rather unlikely.)

WT: What do you say to those who continue to undermine the standard of play in the MLS? How does it compare to the Premier League and La Liga?

TH: I don't know why people are trying to compare these leagues. Even during my time in England, people would ask me if the Italian or Spanish leagues are better. I don't see it like this. It goes without saying the MLS is not at the level of the big leagues in Europe, but we have some amazing players here and some who've gone on to prove themselves abroad.

WT: Which players have particularly impressed you in the MLS so far?

TH: Brek Shea is one. Tim Ream is another—he left to go to Bolton and it was a shame to see him relegated. (Dwayne) De Rosario is a clever player on the ball. He can score goals. There are certainly some guys here who can do more than the job. Many more I could mention too.

WT: Your return to Arsenal earlier this year must have been really special for you. Having had a few months to reflect on it, do you think you'll look back on it as one the happiest periods in your career?

TH: The thing that changed this time is I only played five or six times. I didn't do something amazing. But it was the first time I played for Arsenal as a fan.

WT: What does the future hold for Thierry Henry? How many years do you want to play on for? And, when you do retire, what comes next? Can we expect to see you back at Arsenal one day?

TH: I would love to one day go back to Arsenal, but it's not only up to me. It's only a dream to me right now. After I stop playing it would be a wish and a dream to go back to Arsenal in any capacity, but I have two more years here. I'm just trying to finish my career and win a title in the MLS.

Thierry Henry was speaking at the launch of a nationwide U.S. tour to promote PUMA's evoSPEED Collection—a new range of sports shoes designed with the attributes of "light," "fit," and "flex." Henry will be wearing PUMA king boots—in red, white and blue—this summer in the MLS.

In the Red Bulls 1-1 draw with Chivas USA, it was Kenny Cooper who scored the equalizer. In the team’s first U.S. Open Cup game against the Charleston Battery, he scored the first goal of the game—one that would eventually be the game-winner.

The tally against the Goats was his 11th of the season, and ties him with San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski for the league lead. He’s also tied with Wondolowski for the league lead with four game-winning goals.

The two share the same amount of goals, but what is different is that only one is currently in camp for the United States Men’s National Team in preparation for its upcoming friendlies ahead of World Cup Qualifying.

Chris Wondolowski and former MLS forward Herculez Gomez were both called into camp, and deservedly so—they’ve been on incredible scoring streaks.

It is well-known that players getting consistent minutes for their clubs and playing in good form are favored for spots with the national team. So with Cooper playing his best soccer in years, the time has come to once again ask: When will Kenny Cooper get called up?

Cooper has been a scoring machine in his time with MLS, and is playing his best soccer since 2008 when he scored 18 goals in 30 games (19 goals in all competitions) for FC Dallas.

The Red Bulls acquired him in the offseason for a 2013 first-round draft pick and allocation money, which it seemed like a lot to give up for a guy who plays a position the team was pretty deep at. But Cooper quickly rose to the cream of the crop and has been much needed since Luke Rodgers was denied a visa, Juan Agudelo was traded, Corey Hertzog was loaned out and Thierry Henry missed several matches due to injury.

Cooper has consistently delivered for the Red Bulls this season. He is on his second four-game scoring streak of the season, and he has been able to make an impact on the game from both off the bench—where he was the first two games of the season—and starting.

As the United States struggled to finish against Brazil Wednesday despite plenty of chances, the team is still looking for answers on the offensive side of the ball.

The 27-year-old Cooper—once a Manchester United prospect and reserve squad member—has had fans clamoring for the team to give him a shot since the beginning of his career. And in those chances, he’s risen to the challenge.

He’s made 10 appearances for the USMNT, and scored four goals. In his first World Cup Qualifying start for the Yanks in 2008, he scored. He also scored twice in the 2009 Gold Cup.

The consistent snubs are puzzling, but Cooper just keeps playing and scoring.

“I’ve had the honor to represent my country and it has been some of the highlights of my career, there have been some amazing moments and I’m hungry for more of those opportunities,” he said in an interview with the press after practice in late May.

Cooper is a big forward who can play with his back to the goal, but is actually a better technical player than his size suggests. As he’s shown in his partnership with Henry this year, he does a good job of playing alongside another forward and sharing the ball, not only scoring for himself, but feeding and creating space for his partner to score as well.

He also just has a nose for the goal, putting in some rebounds and so-called “garbage goals” as well.

He’s in his prime and getting lots of playing time for his club. He says he has never been contacted by Jurgen Kilinsmann, but the question is: why not?

What else does Cooper have to do to earn just an opportunity?

Juan Agudelo is currently one of the United States’ most popular and exciting young soccer players.

New York Red Bulls fans were excited to call him their own. Their opinions were heard when Hans Backe wouldn’t play him. Many were surprised and disappointed to hear that the club favorite was traded to Chivas USA.

But after the shock subsides, Red Bull fans should know one thing: the trade actually works in the team’s favor.

The deal that has been reported is that the Red Bulls will send Agudelo to Chivas USA in exchange for defender Heath Pearce. New York will also receive allocation money, a cut of any sale of Agudelo to a foreign league and Chivas will pay for part of Pearce’s salary.

It’s quite a haul for a player that has only appeared in four games this season and isn’t considered a starter when the entire first team is healthy.

Fairly or unfairly, whatever the case, Agudelo has been stuck on the bench and in head coach Hans Backe’s doghouse the past two seasons.

Last year Agudelo managed to score six goals and had two assists in 27 games played (12 starts), but even when forward Luke Rodgers was injured (which was often) Backe preferred to play Dane Richards up front before letting the young American into the lineup.

This year he spent time with the US team that attempted to qualify for the Olympics and there he picked up an injury. Agudelo was available to play in the team’s past two games, but came off the bench, even with Thierry Henry injured.

The Red Bulls will get Pearce, another member of the USMNT player pool, as well as a versatile defender, to shore up the patchwork and inconsistent defensive line.

Although the Red Bulls had three straight shutout victories prior to Sunday’s 3-2 win over Philadelphia, only two teams have yielded more than the 16 goals the Red Bulls have surrendered over the course of the season.

They have started an inexperienced back four of Markus Holgersson, Tyler Ruthven and Conor Lade recently along with Jan Gunnar Solli or Roy Miller.

Pearce is a versatile defender that is one of the league’s best at either the left back or center back position. He also does a very good job of getting forward and crossing the ball while not compromising his defensive responsibilities.

For Chivas to pay part of his salary helps free up cap space to use on additional help, as does the nice sum of allocation money the team receives.

The Red Bulls front office is notorious for preferring to sign international talent, so having extra allocation money will help bring in the additional midfield playmaker and depth at forward (possibly Rodgers if he can get his visa issues straightened out) that the team needs.

Another question is how long Agudelo will stay in MLS. European clubs came calling this winter and they probably will continue their pursuit of the American prospect this summer. If Agudelo does in fact get sold, the Red Bulls will still get a cut of that transaction.

It’s not to say Agudelo isn’t or won’t be a good player. He could have great success with increased playing time and support. But New York received plenty of value in exchange for him. They received assets that can immediately help the team in pursuit of its first trophy.

For a player that was having difficulty coming off the bench and making an impact receiving this much compensation—essentially selling high—is a best-case scenario for the Red Bulls.

All hands on deck again as the shorthanded NY Red Bulls managed to gut out a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.

The Red Bulls gained a tenuous lead seven minutes in as Kenny Cooper scored an ugly goal chasing down a Cory Ashe back pass, which Houston Goalkeeper Tally Hall cleared into the big striker, causing the ball to bounce into the back of the net.

From then on, Houston looked the more likely to score, particularly down the final stretch of the game. Brad Davis will be kicking himself after missing three golden opportunities to level the score, but ultimately, Houston couldn't find the final ball. This is the Red Bulls' third straight 1-0 victory and their second straight with without injured Thierry Henry.

Player Ratings

GK Ryan Meara

Another solid performance from the rookie keeper, which was capped off by an impressive 93rd-minute save to seal the Red Bulls win. He did show a lack of concentration, failing to catch a 57th-minute cross, but fortunately, the Dynamo were unable to pounce on the mistake.

Player Rating: 6.5

RB Brandon Barklage

Played another solid game. Defended the back post brilliantly clearing away cross after cross. Found Juan Agudelo with a great cross late in the game that almost turned into a spectacular goal.

Player Rating: 7

CB Markus Holgersson

Seems to have shaken the yips that lead to a number of mistakes earlier in the year; was solid throughout the game.

Player Rating: 6.5

CB Tyler Ruthven

Gave away the ball too easily in the 15th minute, and his poor clearance late in the second half almost lead to Dynamo equalizers, but outside of those two moments, was confident and effective on the back line.

Player Rating: 6

LB Connor Lade

His solid performances have allowed him to maintain his spot despite Roy Miller's return. Nothing changed in this game, as he defended well and offered some good service into the box going forward. 

Player Rating: 7

DM Dax McCarty

Had a solid game as he continued his fine run of form. Did brilliantly defending the back line again, even managed to launch a vicious strike from long range that missed just a bit wide and found Juan Agudelo in the box, which was just cleared by the Dynamo back line. His rating would have been higher, except for a few erratic passes that gave the Dynamo the ball in the Red Bulls' half.

Player Rating: 7

RM Dane Richards

Was an outlet for the Red Bulls helping to relieve pressure as the Dynamo pushed forward for the equalizing goal. Had a few dangerous moments, but still lacks ideas when taking an opposing player on in front of goal.

Player Rating: 6.5

CM Medhi Ballouchi (Off 45')

Outside of the pass that set up Kenny Cooper's strange seventh-minute goal, he was almost completely anonymous. Didn't defend great and didn't help win the battle of the midfield. Was mercifully substituted on halftime.

Player Rating: 5

CM Joel Lindpierre

Didn't really put his mark on the game. Won the ball a few times, but was a big reason the Red Bulls couldn't maintain possession in the Houston side of the field.

Player Rating: 5.5

LM Jan Gunnar Solli (Off 87')

Looked tired and didn't really add much to the game.

Player Rating: 5.5

ST Kenny Cooper (Off 90+1')

Put in the hard work and deserved his goal just based upon effort alone, as he chased down a Cory Ashe back pass and forcing the ball into the back of the net. Was mostly cut off throughout the first half, but dropped deeper when Juan Agudelo came on and was able to help move the ball through the midfield in the second.

Player Rating: 6

Substitutes

ST Juan Agudelo (On 45')

Freshened up the Red Bulls attack and put pressure on the Dynamo defense. Had two shots on goal saved brilliantly by Tally Hall, almost found the end of a Dax McCarty chip and almost connected with Kenny Cooper on another chip into the box.

Player Rating: 7

LM Roy Miller (Off 87')

Came on late, almost found another goal very similar to Kenny Cooper's seventh-minute strike. Didn't have a lot of time to make an impression.

Player Rating: INC

ST Jhonny Arteaga

Came on late for Kenny Cooper; didn't have time to make an impression.

Player Rating: INC

The New York Red Bulls are placed second in the Eastern Conference after three consecutive shutout wins in MLS. The Red Bulls won all three games by a 1-0 margin, the first coming at home on April 28 against the New England Revolution (3-6-0), then away at Los Angeles against the Galaxy (3-5-1), and finally, back on home turf against the Houston Dynamo (2-3-2).

The Red Bulls (6-3-1) won a crucial game against the Dynamo which put them on top of DC United (5-3-3) with a game in hand. If New York were to win against Philadelphia (2-5-1), which seems very likely, they would solidify their lead against rivals DC. 

The game on Wednesday night was the Red Bulls' second night without world-renowned striker, Thierry Henry, who currently is recovering from a hamstring injury. 

An early seventh-minute goal by Kenny Cooper was the only goal of the game. 

Cooper's eighth goal of the season came from a horrible back-pass from Dynamo's left-back Corey Ashe. The Red Bulls forward deflected the ball into the back of the net as goalkeeper Tally Hall cleared the line. 

New York played a watertight defense, even with their makeshift back line. The young defenders were able to clear the ball time and time again against dangerous set pieces taken by Dynamo.

Houston's Brad Davis rallied the team in the final ten minutes, but it amounted to nothing. He should have been able to score two goals, but his concentration seemed lacking. 

With this loss, Houston has not posted a win in five straight games. Their form currently stands at: L-L-D-D-L, placing them in seventh in the Eastern Conference of the MLS.

This is the third consecutive game that New York goalkeeper Ryan Meara was able to record a clean sheet. 

Four yellow cards were shown throughout the match—three for the Red Bulls: Kenny Cooper for a rash challenge in the 45th minute, Connor Lade for a challenge in the 55th minute and Dax McCarthy for arguing with the referee in the 59th minute. Houston's Calen Carr was shown the yellow in the 12th minute of the game for a rash challenge.

The Red Bulls play against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, whereas the Dynamo play against third-placed DC United. A win by both New York and Houston ensure the Red Bulls holding on to second at the end of the week.