If it seems like things with Metro have been pretty quiet of late, that is probably because they have been.  With the team in preseason down in Bradenton Florida, things have slowed down a little bit.  Still, the camp hasn't been entirely uneventful.

New York finished up a 9 day stint in Bradenton yesterday, before heading to Orlando for a Disney sponsored MLS preseason tournament.  The team has continued with its steady flow of trialists, including Maynor Suazo (brother of much more famous/talented David Suazo) who was kicked out of camp after only one day for being unfit.  That is slightly refreshing compared to Juan Carlos Osorio, who signed Walter Garcia even though he was visibly pregnant and at least 40 pounds overweight.

As well as bringing in trialists, Metro also played a couple scrimmages to stay fit and try out players.  The team demolished the US under 17 youth team, 6-1.  Although this isn't really something to brag about, it is a definite upgrade over last year, when Red Bull lost to the same team.  Particularly pleasing about the game was the strong play of John Agudelo, who is part of the Red Bull youth academy and is training with the team.  He registered two goals and an assist, and played well with Juan Pablo Angel up top.  It looks like the team is poised to sign Agudelo, but he is also considering an offer from Colombia's Millonarios.

After celebrating the defeat of a group of sixteen year old boys, the team followed up with a game against arch-rivals DC United.  It was New York's first preseason game against an MLS opponent, and ended a 0-0 draw.  Although New York played fairly well and created chances, the game was chippy and neither team dominated in possession.  Hans Backe and co have been working hard on organizing Metro's defensive shape, but still have some work to do on the attacking portion of the game.

More updates will come as some of these trialists either make the team or get cut, and as New York begins playing the "Walt Disney Pro Soccer Classic" in Orlando, with games on the 25th and 27th.

Dave Braneck is a blogger and an all around soccer fan who represents North Jersey to the fullest and contributes to Dailyharrison.com