Red Bulls to offer Sam deal
Newly signed goalkeeper Luis Robles arrived at Red Bulls practice yesterday, while the team decided to move forward and offer trialist Lloyd Sam a contract.
The 27-year-old Sam did enough in a one-week trial — and in 90 minutes of reserve action Monday against D.C. — to earn a deal. Now coach Hans Backe said the two sides will try to hammer out a contract and get the versatile midfielder on the field as soon as possible.
“We will have a chat with him about contract. But if everything looks good, we will try to sign him,’’ Backe said. “He made some decent [plays], he played absolutely OK in that game. That’s why I said, ‘OK, he’s done well in our training sessions.’ If we can come to an agreement, then we will sign him.
“He’s a pacey guy, and he can get hold of the ball, good in possession, but also a good crosser of the ball: Quite a tricky wing.’’
The Red Bulls already have added Robles, though that courtship took longer. They wanted to acquire the keeper back in January on a discovery claim, but when MLS changed its stance and told the Red Bulls that Robles needed to go through the allocation process, the pursuit cooled and the team drafted Ryan Meara.
With Meara just returning to practice from a hip injury, it added Robles, 28, via allocation. He had been working out in his native Arizona since July after last playing for the German team Karlsruher. He will be one of four keepers on the Red Bulls’ roster. Bill Gaudette and Jeremy Vuolo also are on the roster.
“Competition’s always good. It doesn’t matter what position,’’ said Robles. “When there’s someone that’s at a good level competing every day against you, it’s going to bring the sharpness and the best out of you.’’
