Both the ITC and P-1 visa for new Red Bull keeper Frank Rost have arrived, the Post has learned. That means that the 38-year-old German newcomer will be eligible to play tomorrow at Chivas USA, should coach Hans Backe decide to use him.
Rost is expected to practice today with the transfer window opening, and Backe said yesterday he isn’t planning to keep four goalkeepers. One of Bouna Coundoul, Greg Sutton and Alex Horwath are expected to be waived or traded, and Backe had made up his mind which one already but didn’t want to reveal which because he hadn’t spoken to the player yet.
*** Yesterday, Backe explained his reasoning for using a reserve lineup in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal, a 4-0 loss to Chicago at Toyota Park.
“It’s all about our traveling schedule we’ve had so far,’’ said Backe. “We’ve done almost all west coast trips now. It’s only Salt Lake left, so that’s good for us. I had made a decision there was no chance _ we’d been away for almost nine or ten days on the west coast _ to travel again with the first team. Normally we would like to definitely have a priority with the Open Cup, but we have to be smart now.’’
The Red Bulls are in the midst of seven games in 21 days, and in a four-week span that ends next Wednesday, they will have played seven road games, five of them in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. But that didn’t stop many irate fans from lighting up message boards ripping the decision, some even calling for Backe’s head.
Two primary complaints were that Red Bull had essentially thrown the Open Cup in favor of the Emirates Cup, playing a pair of friendlier in London at the end of the month. But when asked Backe responded that those games were down the road and had no impact on his decision, saying “No not that one; that’s far away.’’
He also came under fire for not making the trip to Chicago, and when asked if he stayed back because of his recent surgery, he said “No. (I wanted to) give some experience to Mike (Petke, assistant) and (Carl Robinson), competitive games.’’
“It’s all about our travelling schedule so far,” Backe said. “Normally we’d like to have a priority with the Open Cup.”
*** On the injury front, Backe said Luke Rodgers will be out for 3-to-4 weeks. Before the English striker rushed back to start the last two games, a source had told the Post the plantar fasciitis was far worse than was being revealed and he could miss six weeks. This timetable is exactly in line with that prediction.
Backe does hope Mexican centerback Rafa Marquez _ who pulled his hamstring in El Tri’s Gold Cup finals win over the U.S. _ can be back Wednesday in Colorado. But Backe _ who actually picks the starting lineup for the MLS All-Star game _ doesn’t plan on using Marquez.
“I don’t think we will play Rafa Marquez. He’s been away almost two months. He’s been injured coming back from the final,’’ said Backe. “If we’re lucky we can have him back for the Colorado game, but I’m not sure.’’
