Salzburg, the jewel of the Austrian Alps

April 9th, a month and a half ago, RBNY Managing Director Marc de Grandpre resigned. The ship has been rudderless ever since. Now, finally, there comes a word from SoccerByIves that Red Bull officials are in town, to hold talks with the club's employees. Whether that results in RBNY hiring a new head honcho is yet to be seen. And if it does, what took them so long?

Does Salzburg care? When Red Bull purchased the MetroStars, some fans dreamed of a dedicated deep-pocket owner and a relationship with a European "sister club". At this point, those dreams look unrealized. The deep-pocket owner did try early on, but sans a few billboards and newspaper ads, has been virtually invisible since. Yes, they spent the money on the two designated players, and on two high-priced coaches, but off the field, little is shown. The team attendance is stagnant, the presence in local media seemingly decreasing. There are promises of a practice facility and a new stadium seems to be on its way, but until it's erected, is Red Bull just going to tread water? Is that the sign of a dedicated owner?

And then there is the supposed "relationship" with Red Bull Salzburg. Never mind the fact that one of their players took out Metro's Dane Richards. What we're specifically talking about is Salzburg's reluctance to give up Ernst Obster, the player identified by Juan Carlos Osorio as one who can help Metro this year.

Now, we would understand if Obster was a first-team player for Salzburg. He was not. He was not even a reserve. Obster played for Red Bull Juniors, a team in the second division in Austria. Apparently, Salzburg did not want to give him up because Juniors, a supposed amateur team, was in danger of relegation into the third division. Never mind the fact that it was mired smack in the middle of the table for most of the year. Never mind the fact that by the time MLS transfer window was closing, Juniors' survival was all but assured. Never mind the fact that this was a 24-year-old player playing second division soccer in one of Western Europe's weakest leagues. To Sazlburg, Osorio's request meant nothing. Obster stayed in Austria, Juniors easily survived, finishing sixth out of twelve teams. Osorio was left without a left winger.

And Osorio seems fine with that; he is resigned for the team to tread water, until the summer transfer period opens and signings can be made. But will Red Bull open up their pocketbooks now? And if they do, what took them so long?

Metro fans are used to owners who don't care, from Metromedia, to AEG. With Red Bull, that was supposed to change. We will see if this week's meetings will produce a new Managing Director. We will see if this summer's transfer periods will produce a player or two. We will see if the supposed relationship with the "sister club" will produce more than a broken leg.

But at this point, we're not holding our breath.