He's young enough to have a shot at the U23 squad for the 2020 olympics, huh? Looks like we might have stepped up our game at that age group pretty nicely.
Yanks Abroad 2015-16: Jürgen's Lament
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
- Start date
Yeah, he's about 21 months under the age cutoff for the next Olympic cycle and he's clearly good enough. He should have been part of the U23 qualifiers against Colombia, had he not been summoned to the full team. However, I would not be shocked if he has played his last youth national team game. There's a strong chance he'll be with the USMNT at the 2017 Gold Cup instead of at the U-20 WC. In 2020, the US may well not qualify for the Olympics (like the last two times) and if they do, he may stay with the USMNT depending on whether the Olympics conflict with WCQ.
Of course, if we have young players who are so good that they play for the senior team instead of YNTs, that's a good thing.
The next U23 team is basically a combination of the next two U20 teams. The current U20 cycle has a number of interesting attacking midfielders beyond just Pulisic and a lot of good CB prospects. Everything else is TBD, including the next U20 cycle which is still very much shrouded in the fog of war.
15 year old John Hilton's family is bringing a case against FIFA in the Court of Arbitration for Sport next month in hopes of being able to sign with Ajax before he turns 18.
http://www.tas-cas.org/en/general-information/news-detail/article/list-of-hearings-6.html
Some background on Hilton here:
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2016/04/the-xuxuh-situation-in-the-netherlands-is-coming-to-a-head/
http://www.tas-cas.org/en/general-information/news-detail/article/list-of-hearings-6.html
Some background on Hilton here:
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2016/04/the-xuxuh-situation-in-the-netherlands-is-coming-to-a-head/
This is a very enjoyable story about Aaron "Big Celery" Schoenfeld, his adventures in Israel, and the Hapoel-Maccabi rivalry in Tel Aviv. Hey, he's unquestionably the best Jewish forward ever to come out of eastern Tennessee.
Sunderland forward Lynden Gooch signed a new three-year contract with the club. Gooch made his Sunderland debut this past fall in the League Cup and eventually went on loan in January in League One with Doncaster, though his loan was cut short last month due to injury. Based on his scoring record he seems too good for the U21 league, but isn't really in the first team picture yet, so I'll guess another loan may be in the offing next fall.
Forward Tristan Bowen, who once upon a time was the first academy player ever signed by an MLS club, has signed with Swedish second tier club AFC United (a shitty club name if there ever was one). He has been a bit player for three MLS teams, had a stint on loan in Belgium, and most recently played in Finland for KuPS.
Sunderland forward Lynden Gooch signed a new three-year contract with the club. Gooch made his Sunderland debut this past fall in the League Cup and eventually went on loan in January in League One with Doncaster, though his loan was cut short last month due to injury. Based on his scoring record he seems too good for the U21 league, but isn't really in the first team picture yet, so I'll guess another loan may be in the offing next fall.
Forward Tristan Bowen, who once upon a time was the first academy player ever signed by an MLS club, has signed with Swedish second tier club AFC United (a shitty club name if there ever was one). He has been a bit player for three MLS teams, had a stint on loan in Belgium, and most recently played in Finland for KuPS.
The Xuxuh thing is just weird to me, not being intimately familiar with the history of foreigners in european youth academies. At least here in the US, there are so-called "professional children's schools" where kids who are, say, actors or olympic gymnasts or on track to be pro-quality musicians or whatever can get access to the professional opportunities they need while still doing the basics of school on a modified schedule. There aren't a bunch, but it's not regarded as some outlandish concept. It's a way to intermediate between the needs of the state to ensure an education, and to make scheduling accommodations for the kids with promising careers in something that they can do even as children. I just assumed that it worked similarly in Europe - no child labor laws get in the way of attending these academies, because they check the academics box (in a fashion) enough for the state to feel satisfied.
Is this pure trade protectionism? Child labor laws run amok in a niche case where they're counterproductive? Or driven by something else entirely?
Is this pure trade protectionism? Child labor laws run amok in a niche case where they're counterproductive? Or driven by something else entirely?
It's not EU law, it's a FIFA rule designed to restrict sketchy trafficking of underaged players, particularly those from Africa. Soccer agents are, in general, a very shady bunch so this rule actually does some good. It is, however, not productive for players like Xuxuh and many others from the US.
#2 for Pulisic, though much easier than #1 following up a shot the keeper couldn't handle.
He also made a great defensive play earlier to keep it 1-0 at the time.
He also made a great defensive play earlier to keep it 1-0 at the time.
Comparing today's Yedlin with the model who got pantsed by Joel Campbell in the reverse fixture, he's gotten so much more solid defensively.
Yedlin has been good. Sunderland slowly crawling its way out of relegation. Still needs to improve the final ball.
Put Pulisic in front of him and you erase many concerns of a Yedlin/Zardes right side. CP tracks back well, is very conscientious on the ball, and can handle heavy lifting on the final 3rd so we aren't so reliant on Yedlin whipping iffy crosses into the 18 with not enough bodies waiting on the other end.
Put Pulisic in front of him and you erase many concerns of a Yedlin/Zardes right side. CP tracks back well, is very conscientious on the ball, and can handle heavy lifting on the final 3rd so we aren't so reliant on Yedlin whipping iffy crosses into the 18 with not enough bodies waiting on the other end.
Finally got around to reading that, and it was awesome. Just a great background on the rivalry, what it feels like to be there, how Schoenfeld has been handling the transitions, and what he's been learning of tactics.
He's also a dual-citizen, so it appears he may get an invite for the Israel national team once his passport clears. Has he been given any consideration for the USMNT or is a cap-tie situation not that concerning here?
I wouldn't sweat it. Schoenfeld may be improving with more regular playing time in Israel, but as of last year he was not a starting-caliber forward in MLS. Yes, he was stuck behind Kei Kamara, but I don't think he would have started for most other teams, either.
From what I've read, Schoenfeld may have to wait for a while to play Israel, too. He doesn't yet have his passport and depending the particulars of his family history, he might have to put in at least a few years in Israel to meet FIFA residency requirements.
Kyle Scott, an English/Irish/American central midfielder with Chelsea's U21s, has put in a transfer request. Curiously, this comes two months after he signed a new contract through 2019. I'm not exactly sure how good of a prospect he is, but I don't think he's truly elite, so going elsewhere is probably better for his development. He has played for the US U20s recently.
Pulisic was an unused sub over the weekend, but he scored a very nice goal for the U19s on Sunday.
Another goal for Haji Wright, who has gotten off to a strong start with Schalke's U19s.
Another goal for Haji Wright, who has gotten off to a strong start with Schalke's U19s.
According to Kicker, Bobby Wood was excused from training at Union Berlin today because he is negotiating terms with Hamburg. Wood has a buyout clause in his contract that is unknown, but is speculated to be around €3.5-4m. Union Berlin have been expecting Wood to leave, but they're not altogether unhappy because his transfer would break their previous record sale of (IIRC) €2.1m.
I have been a Haji skeptic for a long time and would love to be wrong.
Two more goals for him the other day:
I have been a Haji skeptic for a long time and would love to be wrong.
So with Guzan going down along with Villa, and Everton shipping Howard out of town despite him looking fine to me, who do we have left in the top division of English football, even as a reserve? Is it just Yedlin and Cameron? Or does Carter-Vickers have a reasonable shot?
Cameron and Yedlin are the only two remaining established first-teamers, though Yedlin's future is a little unclear. There are some rumors that Sunderland will try to bring him back on a full transfer this summer.
There's Matt Miazga, who will probably go on loan next year. Maybe to a smaller EPL club, maybe Vitesse, maybe elsewhere, it's impossible to know right now.
I count ten players in EPL academies (and guys on loan like Zelalem). Most of them won't break through this year (or ever), but there's always a chance that one or two make the leap next season and get a little playing time.
Rumors RE: Emerson Hyndman's destination this summer also seem focused on EPL teams so far, although he's almost certainly not going to walk in from starting only 50% of Championship games to being a first teamer.
The Mirror is reporting that Big Sam wants to keep Yedlin at Sunderland and is willing to pay £2M to do it. As the link below shows, there is no way Levy will take that price and there is a good chance Yedlin is the #2 RIght Back at Spurs next year. He certainly seems to be better than current Kyle Walker back up Kerian Trippier at this point.
So, as either a starter for a bottom of the table team or a back up getting plenty of league, cup and Champions League minutes for a big 6 team, Yedlin is going to get a bunch of high level run next year.
http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2016/5/16/11680332/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-deandre-yedlin-sunderland
So, as either a starter for a bottom of the table team or a back up getting plenty of league, cup and Champions League minutes for a big 6 team, Yedlin is going to get a bunch of high level run next year.
http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2016/5/16/11680332/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-deandre-yedlin-sunderland
2m is a laughably low offer. It's less than Spurs paid Seattle for him, and that was before Yedlin had actually shown he could play in the EPL, which he now has. There's no way Spurs are going to sell him at a loss at this point.
Hyndman has been a tough case to decipher. It definitely seemed like he was in the doghouse for a while over his refusal to sign an extension. So it's unclear to me how many of his missed starts were based on merit and how many were based on contract politics. On the other hand, even though he played well enough for Fulham, he wasn't as impressive as the similarly-aged Moussa Dembélé. He is still developing and is a player with promise, but it's weird to see tabloids throwing around big EPL clubs, Milan, Dortmund, etc. I'd love to be underrating him, but all those feel like too much to me.
He's a seriously small dude (some sources very generously list him at 5'9"), so getting out of a more physical league like the Championship might be good for him. He has a Portuguese passport (grandfather was born in Macau), so he is able to accept an offer anywhere in Europe.
I've seen articles that suggest that a move out of England would cost his new club far less in training/development compensation than what it would cost an English club. Something to do with the Danny Ings compensation decision. But it was a tabloid, so I'm not sure they have any idea what they're talking about.
Indeed. Yedlin's season has given him "solid/proven commodity for a mid/lower tier EPL club" status. That's worth more, particularly because he's young and could get a little better.
The fascinating thing is that Trippier was terrific with Burnley, so I'm not so sure Yedlin is ahead of him just because he played well this year while Trippier was kept in the squad as Walker insurance. At some point they'll have to make a decision on which one to keep, and this summer seems a good time to make that move.
Yeah, I should have included my standard disclaimer about my Yedlin prospect crush and strong presence for fullbacks who are fucking fast. I sometimes wonder what I missed when I read heavy criticism about Tripier at Spurs this year, but certainly lacks pace relative to Walker & Yedlin.
BTW, the blog post I linked makes it seem like £2M would be a net zero sale for Spurs rather than a loss. It doesn't matter because Daniel Levy isn't about to lose money on a young BPL quality starter.
BTW, the blog post I linked makes it seem like £2M would be a net zero sale for Spurs rather than a loss. It doesn't matter because Daniel Levy isn't about to lose money on a young BPL quality starter.
German promotion/relegation:
- Timothy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt survived their relegation playoff against Nürnberg.
- Jerome Kiesewetter went down with Stuttgart, but he's a fringe player who didn't make a first team appearance this season and he was always going to leave on a free this summer, as he is out of contract.
- Terrence Boyd (RB Leipzig) and Caleb Stanko (Freiburg) are heading to the Bundesliga. However, Boyd has been out for 1.5 years and RB Leipzig have a lot of money to spend. After his injuries the club can't count on him, so he'll have a real fight on his hands to get any playing time. Stanko was Freiburg's #3 CM, but played very sparingly because their starters missed very little time. Not sure if they'll look to upgrade their depth for the Bundesliga, pushing him down the depth chart. Zack Steffen has also been starting at GK for Freiburg's reserve team, though Transfermarkt says he's out of contract.
- The highly versatile Shawn Barry is heading down to the 3.Liga because FSV Frankfurt were relegated.
- Defensive midfielder Royal-Dominique Fennell (Würzburger Kickers) is heading up to the 2.Bundesliga after his club knocked off Duisburg in a pro/rel playoff.
- Timothy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt survived their relegation playoff against Nürnberg.
- Jerome Kiesewetter went down with Stuttgart, but he's a fringe player who didn't make a first team appearance this season and he was always going to leave on a free this summer, as he is out of contract.
- Terrence Boyd (RB Leipzig) and Caleb Stanko (Freiburg) are heading to the Bundesliga. However, Boyd has been out for 1.5 years and RB Leipzig have a lot of money to spend. After his injuries the club can't count on him, so he'll have a real fight on his hands to get any playing time. Stanko was Freiburg's #3 CM, but played very sparingly because their starters missed very little time. Not sure if they'll look to upgrade their depth for the Bundesliga, pushing him down the depth chart. Zack Steffen has also been starting at GK for Freiburg's reserve team, though Transfermarkt says he's out of contract.
- The highly versatile Shawn Barry is heading down to the 3.Liga because FSV Frankfurt were relegated.
- Defensive midfielder Royal-Dominique Fennell (Würzburger Kickers) is heading up to the 2.Bundesliga after his club knocked off Duisburg in a pro/rel playoff.
- Omar Gonzalez and Edgar Castillo are facing off against each other in the Liga MX Clausura final, to be played over two legs on Thursday and Sunday.
- Cody Cropper has been released by MK Dons. He is still quite error-prone and could really do with a club that can offer him consistent playing time. Whatever club that is will not be a club in the Championship. I could also see Minnesota United pursue him since he's a hometown boy.
- Zak Whitbread was released by Shrewsbury Town. He was a consistent starter, but he's old and has been very injury prone over his career.
- Cody Cropper has been released by MK Dons. He is still quite error-prone and could really do with a club that can offer him consistent playing time. Whatever club that is will not be a club in the Championship. I could also see Minnesota United pursue him since he's a hometown boy.
- Zak Whitbread was released by Shrewsbury Town. He was a consistent starter, but he's old and has been very injury prone over his career.
A US under-18 roster turned up a 17 year old midfielder by the name of Paolo Belloni who is at Genoa.
Omar Gonzalez won the Mexican Clausura championship with Pachuca last night after his team scored a stoppage time winner. Gonzalez stepped in and became an immediate starter for the Tuzos, starting all but one match. Edgar Castillo was on the losing side of the final and was actually beaten badly in the air on the stoppage time winner.
http://www.univision.com/deportes/liga-mx/highlights-pachuca-at-monterrey-on-may-29-2016-video
Club Tijuana lost in the U20 finals to Querétaro, but in the second leg they started no less than seven Americans. At my last count, they have at least 24 American players in their system.
http://www.univision.com/deportes/liga-mx/highlights-pachuca-at-monterrey-on-may-29-2016-video
Club Tijuana lost in the U20 finals to Querétaro, but in the second leg they started no less than seven Americans. At my last count, they have at least 24 American players in their system.
I can't imagine he has a big stake, though.
In other news:
- 23 year old winger Jerome Kiesewetter has signed a two year deal with Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2.Bundesliga. He came up through Hertha's system with his good buddy John Brooks, but left to sign a pro deal with Stuttgart in 2012. He never got past Stuttgart's reserve team in the 3.Liga, though, except for two cameos in the Bundesliga in the 2014/15 season. Fortuna had a poor season last year and scored less than a goal a game, so hopefully there will be room for him to establish himself in the team.
Kiesewetter was a reservist on the failed 2013 U20 qualifying team, had a more substantial role in the failed 2015 Olympic qualifying effort, and received his first two full caps in this year's January camp. Dude needs to play consistently at a decent level, though.
- Thomas Dooley signed a two year extension with the Philippines back in April. The AFC doesn't have groups of death especially in the second round of WCQs, but he guided the Azkals to a very respectable 3rd place finish in the Group of Mild Discomfort that included North Korea, Uzbekistan, and Bahrain (who finished behind the Philippines).
- Sacramento-born forward Marc Heider moved across the 3.Liga from Holstein Kiel to VfL Osnabrück, where he'll be managed by local American legend Joe Enochs. Heider is a lower league veteran at this point, with a three year stint at Werder Bremen II that was followed by seven years at Kiel across the 3rd and 4th tiers of the pyramid. Osnabrück was his first club, though, so he's going home.
- This week in Mexico, they had the Liga MX / Ascenso MX "draft". I don't fully understand it (maybe @Bosoxen can explain?) but to the best of my knowledge it's less of an American-style draft and more of a big winter meetings-esque convention during which a ton of players are swapped and loaned. Central midfielder Marco Vidal moved back up to Liga MX with Veracruz. Defender Cristian Cruz moved from Monarcas Morelia to a new Ascenso MX club Loros de Colima. Former FC Dallas and Mexico U17 star goalkeeper Richard Sanchez moved from Tigres to Tampico Madero of Ascenso MX. Sanchez is definitely a loan and Cruz may be one as well. It's had to tell.
Not about Yanks Abroad, but about Jurgen's Lament:
Pirlo was not selected for Italy in Euro 2016 because he chose MLS over a European league. Sounds like the Italians are on exactly the same page as Jurgen.
Pirlo was not selected for Italy in Euro 2016 because he chose MLS over a European league. Sounds like the Italians are on exactly the same page as Jurgen.
Does that apply to Giovinco as well? Because it is stupid if playing in MLS is why Conte left him off.
Looking at Italy's roster not sure either guy had a real claim. Pirlo maybe as just an honorary spot Tough to take guys playing well in a bad league over guys playing well in top leagues.
That's what Conte said, sure, but Pirlo is ancient and it's easier to let down an old legend gently by blaming it on the league and not just saying "he's not good enough any more".
Giovinco is a more interesting case, I think, and probably a real case of being penalized for his career choices.
If he had chosen the US MNT he might have set himself up for a big payday in MLS someday, just like Pirlo. Or Bradley.
Still quiet on some of the bigger names out there. Miazga is very likely to go on loan, but where? Zelalem should get another loan, and it's very questionable where Yedlin will end up as he's still third in the pecking order at RB at Spurs. Guzan isn't wanted at Aston Villa and although he has one more year on his contract, the sooner he leaves the better. I'm not convinced Julian Green won't spend more time playing for Bayern's reserves, but he really should get out.
- An update on a variety of (mostly) young players in preseason. In the not-so-young news, Terrence Boyd and Joe Gyau are finally back in full training. Aron Johannsson is farther away.
- Various Mexican-American players aren't happy with the new LigaMX 10/8 rule, which dictates that Mexican-Americans who aren't registered with a Mexican club before age 19 count as foreigners.
- David Yelldell signed a two year deal with 3.Liga club Sonnenhof Großaspach. The aging goalkeeper is coming off a very cushy five-year stint at Leverkusen during which he made two appearances - the first and last games for which he was eligible over that entire span.
- A few more players land in Germany's regional leagues. Left back Dallas Aminzadeh moved from a team in Luxembourg's second division(!) to VfB Oldenburg. Forward Alassane Kane moved up one division, signing with Bayern Hof.
- Two young players joined Championship clubs. GK Gabe Rosario joined Reading's academy and central midfielder James Murphy signed for Sheffield Wednesday.
- An update on a variety of (mostly) young players in preseason. In the not-so-young news, Terrence Boyd and Joe Gyau are finally back in full training. Aron Johannsson is farther away.
- Various Mexican-American players aren't happy with the new LigaMX 10/8 rule, which dictates that Mexican-Americans who aren't registered with a Mexican club before age 19 count as foreigners.
- David Yelldell signed a two year deal with 3.Liga club Sonnenhof Großaspach. The aging goalkeeper is coming off a very cushy five-year stint at Leverkusen during which he made two appearances - the first and last games for which he was eligible over that entire span.
- A few more players land in Germany's regional leagues. Left back Dallas Aminzadeh moved from a team in Luxembourg's second division(!) to VfB Oldenburg. Forward Alassane Kane moved up one division, signing with Bayern Hof.
- Two young players joined Championship clubs. GK Gabe Rosario joined Reading's academy and central midfielder James Murphy signed for Sheffield Wednesday.
Hey @Titans Bastard -What can you tell me about Murphy? I'd assume he's with the development squad for now, but what is his game like? What's his ceiling?
Last edited:
I've never seen Murphy play so I can't give a real scouting report. What I know about him is that he's been active in US youth national teams since the U14 level. He was been involved in some early camps of the current U20 cycle. However, those teams got hammered in two friendly tournaments. A number of players, including Murphy, have not been seen with the U20s since. I would not live and die by Tab Ramos' player evaluation, however.
With the U20s at least, Murphy was used at CM and RB. He's usually listed as a midfielder, so I'd guess CM is his natural position. He played his club soccer at PDA, a prominent club in New Jersey. PDA's U18 team (w/ Murphy) did very well this season, reaching the national semifinal where they lost to Vancouver earlier tonight.
I'm assuming Murphy has an Irish passport or something that allows him to sign in the UK. He reportedly trained with West Brom last summer.
My
- Julian Green started in an early preseason friendly for Bayern, scored, and helped force an own goal. They played a 5th division club called Lippstadt - he's the king of the German lower leagues! But seriously, it'll be good if he can start the year in good form. If he doesn't leave Bayern on a full transfer, a loan would be nice.
- Luca de la Torre scored the sole goal in Fulham's 1-0 win over Tottenham. I'm hoping he gets a real shot at the first team this year.
- Joe Corona's career continues its slow decline. He's back on loan at Dorados, who have been relegated and are now in Ascenso MX. He's joined there by fellow Tijuana loanee, 19 year old defensive midfielder Fernando Arce, Jr. Arce is a younger player who could benefit from a step up from the U20 squad.
- Josue Soto, a 20 y.o. left back with Querétaro, has gone on an Ascenso MX loan to Cimarrones de Sonora.
- Luca de la Torre scored the sole goal in Fulham's 1-0 win over Tottenham. I'm hoping he gets a real shot at the first team this year.
- Joe Corona's career continues its slow decline. He's back on loan at Dorados, who have been relegated and are now in Ascenso MX. He's joined there by fellow Tijuana loanee, 19 year old defensive midfielder Fernando Arce, Jr. Arce is a younger player who could benefit from a step up from the U20 squad.
- Josue Soto, a 20 y.o. left back with Querétaro, has gone on an Ascenso MX loan to Cimarrones de Sonora.