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.
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.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.
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.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?
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.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.
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.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?
Two more goals for him the other day:Another goal for Haji Wright, who has gotten off to a strong start with Schalke's U19s.
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.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?
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.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
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.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.
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.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.
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.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
"There's no discussing Andrea," Bonucci said. "He's football personified. As the coach has said, when you make certain choices [like moving to MLS], you can imagine what the consequences will be. I'm sorry because he was an important figure in the dressing room and he would have been important for us."
YupDoes that apply to Giovinco as well? Because it is stupid if playing in MLS is why Conte left him off.
http://www.espnfc.us/italy/story/2879294/andrea-pirlo-and-sebastian-giovinco-omitted-from-italy-squad-due-to-mls-play-antonio-conte
Italy coach Antonio Conte said that he left Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco out of his squad of 30 players leading up to Euro 2016 because they opted to play Major League Soccer.
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".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.
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.What about Giuseppe Rossi?
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.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?