When you as a player are paid more than the entire payroll of most clubs in your league, there are certain things expected of you. On-field success, certainly. A meaningful connection with the fans of your club. A semblance of leadership. Rafa Marquez has none of those things.

The Red Bulls, despite a payroll that dwarfs the rest of the league, are struggling mightily in the league; they’ve won just three games since April. While other DP superstar Thierry Henry leads the league in goals, Marquez has made just 15 appearances in Harrison this season.

Under criticism from fans and the press, Rafa decided the tried and true tactic of taking it like a man and using criticism to fuel his desire to win blaming everyone but himself and throwing his teammates under a bus.

I think that this is a team game, and unfortunately, there isn’t an equal level between perhaps (Thierry Henry) and myself, and our teammates.

On second-year defender Tim Ream:

Tim is still a young player with a lot to learn. He still has quite a lot to learn, and well, he has committed errors that are very infantile and cost us goals.

Stay classy, Rafa.

Full story: Empire of Soccer