Yanks Abroad 2016-17: Pulisic GIF Repository

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Miazga to Vitesse instead.
I have no idea what this means specifically, but FWIW:


Espanyol ended up getting Diego Reyes from Porto instead. Vitesse should be a good spot for playing time, but I'm not entirely sure whether they're any better than, say, the New York Red Bulls. The Eredivisie ain't what it used to be.

The incumbent CBs at Vitesse look like Georgian international Guram Kashia and Dutchman Maikel van der Werff.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
The optimist in me says that while the Eredivisie is not a strong league, it's profile of strengths and weaknesses is different from MLS to the point where it could still get Miazga a lot of improvement by rounding his game well.

The pessimist says he got punished for Chelsea's general struggles buying a CB and then they just dumped him last minute to the island of Chelsea loanees who aren't good enough for another club to come in for them specifically.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
The optimist in me says that while the Eredivisie is not a strong league, it's profile of strengths and weaknesses is different from MLS to the point where it could still get Miazga a lot of improvement by rounding his game well.

The pessimist says he got punished for Chelsea's general struggles buying a CB and then they just dumped him last minute to the island of Chelsea loanees who aren't good enough for another club to come in for them specifically.
I agree with that. I'd also add that success in the Eredivisie is more likely to garner interest from a Bundesliga club, for example, than success in MLS.

I don't think that Miazga is being punished for Chelsea's problems, I just think that he's been a sideshow from the very beginning. There's a theory that has made the rounds that holds that Miazga is basically a minor pawn in the relationship between Kia Joorabchian and Chelsea. Chelsea occasionally signs Joorabchian clients to help him out (like Miazga and Pato) and Joorabchian steers his better clients to Chelsea. Maybe it's a little tin-foil-hatty, but given how shady agents are -- especially Joorabchain -- it doesn't seem that farfetched to me.

Hopefully Miazga can do well enough this year that a club will be willing to pay a large enough fee for Chelsea to let him go. He wasn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things, so it doesn't have to be an enormous offer.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
- Center back Shane O'Neill has gone on loan from Apollon Limassol to NAC Breda, who are now toiling in the Dutch second tier. O'Neill was once a promising homegrown defender for the Colorado Rapids, but his fortunes dipped when Oscar Pareja left for Dallas and was replaced by Pablo Mastroeni. He was eventually sold in a strange deal to a Cypriot club, who have sent him on a series of odd and unsuccessful loans. Hopefully he can straighten out his career.

- Also in Cyprus, winger Louis Bennett II has signed with Anorthosis Famagusta, leaving Marquette after three seasons. He's actually the second NCAA player this summer to leave early from a program coached by his father. (Justin Vom Steeg, who left UCSB for Fortuna Düsseldorf, is the other). Even NCAA coach dads know their kids should move on.

- Center back Robert Castellanos has signed his first pro contract with Atlas of Liga MX. Castellanos has been with Nomads SC, a prominent youth club in San Diego. Castellanos was part of the Nomads U18 team that reached the USSF DA semifinals and he subsequently was called into a US U20 camp for the first time.

- Wolfsburg winger McKinze Gaines, who bypassed a commitment to UCLA to sign in Germany this spring, was invited to train with the first team over the international break. He's started the U19 season with three goals and an assist in four games and was one of five U19 players to make the squad for a first team friendly and one of two of them to get in the game. He only signed a one year "wait-and-see" type deal, so hopefully he can make enough of an impression to get an extension.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Now that the transfer window is closed, it's time for another update (position, name, birth year, club).

A few trends I've noticed:
  • Even as MLS clubs have been spending more on bringing established USMNT talent back to the US, I think there's an unprecedented flow of youth talent heading in the other direction. Over the past 12-18 months, a ton of American amateurs have been signing abroad in Europe's big leagues. Even though there are passport-related and age-related barriers to entry in all Euro markets, there has been a combination of increased talent production in the US and increased scouting of the US by Euro clubs. Christian Pulisic is the crown jewel of this trend, but he's not the only talent out there. Many of these players are still 18 or 19, so I think 2016-17 will largely be a season of quiet progress and first team debuts, with more visible steps forward coming the following years.
  • Median salaries in MLS have risen over the last five years and it shows in the American presence in Scandinavia. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway used to have a cadre of solid MLS types who left in search of better contracts, but A.J. Soares is the only one to fit that description now (and he's a refugee from the Revolution!). The rest are fringy MLS types or worse and those who signed out of high school like Horvath and Gatt.
  • As always, there is a metric fuckton of youth players in Mexico. The attrition rate is really high, though. I've gotten the sense that Mexican academies are bloated, with far too many organizational soldier types. Liga MX runs a U20 and U17 league, but Liga MX clubs also typically field clubs in the Segunda Division (third tier). The Segunda teams serve as holding pens for players who have aged out of the U20s but haven't made the leap to the first team and sometimes as an intermediate step between the U17s and U20s. To make matters worse, Liga MX recently adopted their "10/8" rule, which states that the number of foreign-born players in a matchday squad cannot exceed 10. This ostensibly was done to promote youth development; Mexican clubs can naturalize other Hispanic players within two years and they'd no longer count as domestics. But the 10/8 rule has led to situations at Tijuana where they are starting 10 foreigners (seven Argentines!) just about every game -- and are leading the league. It's also led to the absurdity of certain Mexican-Americans counting as foreigners (if they came to Liga MX after age 19) and the extra absurdity of former San Jose player Rafael Baca counting as a foreigner....even though he only holds Mexican citizenship.

Armenia
Premier League
FW Bryan de la Fuente, 92, Shirak
FW Kyrian Nwabueze, 92, Ararat

Azerbaijan
Premier League
MF Adam Coronado, 90, AZAL

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Premier League
AM Nermin Crnkić, 92, FK Sarajevo
FW Danijal Brković, 91, Čelik Zenica

Colombia

Primera A
GK Kevin Piedrahita, 91, Rionegro Águilas
MF Juan Guzman, 88, Patriotas
FW Omar Salgado, 93, Jaguares de Córdoba (on loan from Tigres)

Primera B
CM Juan Niño, 90, Barranquilla

Cyprus
First Division
AM Louis Bennett II, 95, Anorthosis Famagusta

Denmark
Superliga
CB A.J. Soares, 88, AGF Aarhus
CM George Fochive, 92, Viborg
CM Conor O'Brien, 88, Horsens

1. Division
GK Mike Lansing, 94, Vejle
CB Babajide Ogunbiyi, 86, Hobro
FW Sammy Adjei, 93, Næstved
FW Ryan Finley, 91, Næstved

England
Premier League
GK Brad Guzan, 84, Middlesbrough
CB Geoff Cameron, 85, Stoke City
CB Cameron Carter-Vickers, 97, Tottenham Hotspur
CM Emerson Hyndman, 96, Bournemouth
AM Lynden Gooch, 95, Sunderland

Championship
RB Eric Lichaj, 88, Nottingham Forest
RB DeAndre Yedlin, 93, Newcastle United
CB Tim Ream, 87, Fulham
CB Jonathan Spector, 86, Birmingham City
CM Danny Williams, 89, Reading

League One
AM Gboly Ariyibi, 95, Chesterfield
AM Duane Holmes, 94, Scunthorpe United
FW Jack McBean, 94, Coventry City (on loan from LA Galaxy)

National League
GK Brendan Moore, 92, Torquay United

Faroe Islands
Premier League
CB Mayowa Alli, 92, KÍ

Finland
Veikkausliiga
GK Tyler Back, 93, RoPS
GK Craig Hill, 87, KuPS
AM Will John, 85, RoPS
AM Brian Span, 92, IFK Mariehamn
FW Christian Eissele, 92, Kemi Kings

Ykkönen
GK Tim Murray, 87, Ekenäs IF
CB Etchu Tabe, 86, Haka
CB Gabriel Wirz, 92, FC Jazz
LB Mike Banner, 84, KPV
MF Kyle Curinga, 93, Jaro
MF Isaac Kannah, 93, KTP
MF Daniel Stevens, 85, GrIFK

France
Ligue 2
GK Quentin Westberg, 86, Tours
FW Jordan Siebatcheu, 96, Reims

Germany
Bundesliga
RB Timothy Chandler, 90, Eintracht Frankfurt
CB John Brooks, 93, Hertha Berlin
CM Alfredo Morales, 90, Ingolstadt
AM Fabian Johnson, 87, Borussia Mönchengladbach
AM Christian Pulisic, 98, Borussia Dortmund
FW Terrence Boyd, 91, RB Leipzig
FW Julian Green, 95, Bayern Munich
FW Aron Jóhannsson, 90, Werder Bremen
FW Bobby Wood, 92, Hamburg

2.Bundesliga
CM Russell Canouse, 95, Bochum (on loan from Hoffenheim)
AM Jerome Kiesewetter, 93, Fortuna Düsseldorf
AM Joel Soñora, 96, Stuttgart
FW Fafà Picault, 91, St. Pauli
FW Andrew Wooten, 89, Sandhausen

3. Liga
GK Kenneth Kronholm, 85, Holstein Kiel
GK David Yelldell, 81, Sonnenhof Großaspach
CM Mael Corboz, 94, Duisburg
CM Royal-Dominique Fennell, 89, Hallescher FC
AM Shawn Barry, 90, FSV Frankfurt
AM Jann George, 92, Jahn Regensburg
FW Marc Heider, 86, VfL Osnabrück
FW Robbie Kristo, 93, VfL Osnabrück
FW Mario Rodriguez, 94, Chemnitz (on loan from Dynamo Dresden)

Regionalliga
CB Ryan Malone, 92, Stuttgarter Kickers
LB Dallas Aminzadeh, 93, Oldenburg
AM Junior Ebot-Etchu, 96, VfB Lübeck
AM Devann Yao, 90, Berliner AK
FW Bryan Gaul, 89, Kickers Offenbach
FW Alassane Kane, 89, Bayern Hof
FW Charlie Rugg, 90, Pirmasens
FW Matt Taylor, 81, Kickers Offenbach

Guatemala
Primera
FW Edward Santeliz, 87, Malacateco
FW Jonathan Top, 93, Comunicaciones

Iceland
Úrvalsdeild
AM Dion Acoff, 91, Thróttur
FW Jose Seoane, 89, Fylkir

1. deild
GK Will Dieterich, 87, Haukar
AM Johnatan Lama, 93, Huginn
AM J.C. Mack, 88, Selfoss
MF Alex Ainscough, 95, Leiknir F.
FW Will Daniels, 90, Grindavik

Ireland
League of Ireland
GK Ciaran Nugent, 91, Sligo Rovers
CM Pat McCann, 90, Sligo Rovers
FW Don Cowan, 89, Longford Town

Israel
Premier League
FW Aaron Schoenfeld, 90, Hapoel Tel Aviv

Japan
J.2
GK Daniel Schmidt, 92, Matsumoto Yamaga (on loan from Vegalta Sendai)

Latvia
Virsliga
CB Papa Faly, 91, Daugavpils

Luxembourg
MF Martin Ontiveros, 91, Jeunesse Esch

Mexico
Liga MX
GK Bernabé Magaña, 93, Pumas
GK William Yarbrough, 89, León
CB Ventura Alvarado, 92, América
CB Omar Gonzalez, 88, Pachuca
CB Michael Orozco, 86, Tijuana
LB Jonathan Bornstein, 84, Querétaro
LB Edgar Castillo, 86, Monterrey
LB Greg Garza, 91, Tijuana
LB Jorge Villafaña, 89, Santos Laguna
CM Jose Torres, 87, Tigres
CM Marco Vidal, 86, Veracruz
AM Paul Arriola, 95, Tijuana
AM Luis Gil, 93, Querétaro
AM Miguel Ibarra, 90, León
AM Sebastian Saucedo, 97, Veracruz (on loan from Real Salt Lake)
AM Luis Silva, 88, Tigres
FW Amando Moreno, 95, Tijuana

Ascenso MX
LB Juan Pablo Ocegueda, 93, Alebrijes de Oaxaca (on loan from Tigres)
LB Josue Soto, 95, Cimarrones de Sonora (on loan from Querétaro)
DF Cristian Cruz, 95, Loros de Colima (on loan from Morelia)
CM Fernando Arce, Jr., 96, Dorados (on loan from Tijuana)
CM Joe Corona, 90, Dorados (on loan from Tijuana)
CM Alejandro Guido, 94, Tijuana
CM Kevin Huezo, 91, Murciélagos
AM Rodrigo Lopez, 87, Celaya
AM Jesus Vazquez, 94, Universidad de Guadalajara
MF Emanuel Guzman, 86, Venados
MF Josue Soto, 87, Jaro
FW Julio Morales, 93, Loros de Colima (on loan from Chivas)

Netherlands
Eredivisie
RB Desevio Payne, 95, Groningen
CB Matt Miazga, 95, Vitesse (on loan from Chelsea)
FW Rubio Rubin, 96, Utrecht

Eerste Divisie
CB Shane O'Neill, 93, NAC Breda (on loan from Apollon Limassol)

Norway
Eliteserien
GK Ethan Horvath, 95, Molde
GK Alex Horwath, 87, Brann
CB Alex DeJohn, 91, Start
CM Cole Grossman, 89, Stabæk
AM Josh Gatt, 91, Molde
FW Ben Spencer, 95, Molde

Poland
I Liga
CB Hunter Gorskie, 91, Miedź Legnica

Portugal
Segunda
CM Keaton Parks, 97, Varzim

Scotland
Premiership
CM Perry Kitchen, 92, Heart of Midlothian
FW Bjørn Johnsen, 91, Heart of Midlothian

Spain
Segunda B
GK Benjamin Machini, 96, Barakaldo (on loan from Mallorca)

Sweden
Allsvenskan
GK Matt Pyzdrowski, 86, Helsingborg
CB Brendan Hines-Ike, 94, Örebro
FW Emil Bellander, 94, Gefle
FW Andy Stadler, 88, Östersunds

Superettan
GK Josh Wicks, 83, AFC United
CB Patrick Hopkins, 87, Sirius
MF Paul Torres, 91, Assyriska
FW Tristan Bowen, 91, AFC United

Switzerland
Super League
CM Caleb Stanko, 93, Vaduz (on loan from Freiburg)

Youth & Reserves

Argentina

Primera
MF Adam Ozeri, 98, Banfield

Belarus
Premier League
FW Philip Atbashyan, 97, BATE Borisov II

Croatia

Prva HNL
MF Zach Kobayashi, 97, Dinamo Zagreb U-19

England

Premier League
GK Brandon Austin, 99, Tottenham Hotspur U-18
RB Matthew Olosunde, 98, Manchester United U-21
CB Danny Barbir, 98, West Bromwich Albion U-21
CB Kyle Gruno, 99, Leicester City U-18
LB Antonee Robinson, 97, Everton U-21
CM Kyle Scott, 97, Chelsea U-21
CM Gedion Zelalem, 97, Arsenal U-21
AM Brooks Lennon, 97, Liverpool U-21

Championship
GK Gabe Rosario, 99, Reading U-18
RB Marlon Fossey, 98, Fulham U-21
CB Callum Stretch, 99, Aston Villa U-18
CM James Murphy, 97, Sheffield Wednesday U-21
AM Luca de la Torre, 98, Fulham U-21
AM Anthony Wright, 97, Nottingham Forest U-18
FW Andrija Novakovich, 96, Reading U-21

France
Ligue 1
FW Timothy Weah, 00, Paris Saint Germain U-17

Ligue 2
RB Kyle Duncan, 97, Valenciennes B
MF Nicholas Pergjini, 99, Troyes U-17

Championnat National
FW Dylan Romney, 96, Paris FC

Germany

Bundesliga
GK Will Pulisic, 98, Borussia Dortmund U-19
RB Ken Gipson, 96, RB Leipzig II
RB Ashton Götz, 93, Hamburg II
CB J.J. Foe Nuphaus, 00, Hoffenheim U-17
CM Sidney Friede, 98, Hertha Berlin U-19
CM Weston McKennie, 98, Schalke U-19
AM Junior Flores, 96, Borussia Dortmund II
AM McKinze Gaines, 98, Wolfsburg U-19
AM Joseph Gyau, 92, Borussia Dortmund II
FW Jalen Hawkins, 01, Bayern Munich U-16
FW Timothy Tillmann, 99, Bayern Munich U-19
FW Haji Wright, 98, Schalke U-19

2.Bundesliga
GK Justin Vom Steeg, 97, Fortuna Düsseldorf II
RB Corey Anton, 99, Kaiserslautern U-19
RB Toni Suddoth, 98, Stuttgart U-19
CB Demarveay Sheron, 97, Karlsruhe II
DF Lyonel Hyer, 99, Hannover U-19
CM Alec Becker, 98, Freiburg U-19
CM Omar Castro, 96, Eintracht Braunschweig II
CM Darian Gurley, 98, Karlsruhe U-19
CM Justin Kinjo, 97, Fortuna Düsseldorf II
CM Eric Lickert, 95, Freiburg II
AM Kevin Lankford, 98, Heidenheim U-19
MF Mevlan Lebiti, 98, Kaiserslautern U-19
FW Kevin Coleman, 98, Kaiserslautern U-19

Italy
Serie A
AM Josh Perez, 98, Fiorentina (Primavera)
MF Paolo Belloni, 99, Genoa U-17

Serie B
CM Armando Guarnera, 97, Avellino (Primavera)

Mexico

Liga MX
GK Benny Diaz, 98, Querétaro (U-20)
GK Christian Herrera, 97, Pachuca (Segunda), on loan from Real Salt Lake
GK Hector Holguin, 01, Santos Laguna (U-15)
GK Carlos Lopez, 96, Tijuana (U-20)
GK Justin Perez, 92, Monterrey (Segunda)
GK Estevan Vazquez, 96, Querétaro (Segunda)
GK Samuel Velazquez, 97, Tijuana (Segunda)
GK Luis Zamudio, 98, América (Segunda)
RB Luis Martir, 95, Chivas (Segunda)
CB Robert Castellanos, 98, Atlas (U-20)
CB Angel Uribe, 99, Tijuana (U-20)
LB John Requejo, Jr., 96, Tijuana (U-20)
LB Jesus Vazquez, 95, Santos Laguna (Segunda)
DF Jose Adame, 00, Atlas (U-17)
DF Guillermo Bermudez, 97, Tijuana (U-20)
DF Adair Casas, 97, Morelia (U-20)
DF Carlo Chavez, 97, Tijuana (U-20)
DF Alberto Diaz, 00, Necaxa (U-17)
DF Jonathan Esparza, 99, Tijuana (U-17)
DF Sergio Gonzalez, 99, Tijuana (U-17)
DF Brian Herrera, 00, Puebla (U-17)
DF Jesus Madrigal, 01, Necaxa (U-15)
DF Juan Monticelli, 97, Tijuana (Segunda)
DF Diego Nunez, 00, Tijuana (U-17)
DF Hector Ortega, 96, Cruz Azul (U-20)
DF Joseph Perez, 97, Puebla (U-20)
DF Victor Reyes, 96, Querétaro (Segunda)
AM Sergio Buenrostro, 94, Querétaro (Segunda)
AM Dennis Flores, 93, León (Segunda)
AM Jonathan Suarez, 97, Querétaro (U-20)
AM Alejandro Zendejas, 98, Chivas (U-20)
MF Juan Albisar, 98, Querétaro (U-20)
MF Luis Barrera, 00, Monterrey (U-17)
MF Marcos Carrasco, 99, Morelia (U-17)
MF Alexis de la Rosa, 96, Santos Laguna (Segunda)
MF Jose Elias, 96, Santos Laguna (U-20)
MF Ernesto Espinoza, 99, Tijuana (U-17)
MF Orlando Garcia, 00, Monterrey (U-17)
MF Irvin Gijon, 94, Morelia (Segunda)
MF Giansebastian Goicochea, 97, Atlas (U-20)
MF Jonathan Gonzalez, 99, Monterrey (U-20)
MF Leonardo Marquez, 99, León (U-17)
MF Antonio Nava, 99,Tijuana (U-17)
MF Ernest Nungaray, 92, Morelia (Segunda)
MF Fabian Partida, 00, Guadalajara (Tercera)
MF Alex Ramos, 95, León (Segunda)
MF Brayan Ramos, 00, Necaxa (U-17)
MF Jacobo Reyes, 00, Monterrey (U-17)
MF Pedro Santos, 99, Querétaro (U-17)
MF Steve Solis, 01, Morelia (U-15)
FW Kevin Cerda, 96, Puebla (Segunda)
FW Jesus Enriquez, 97, Tijuana (U-20)
FW Carlos Flores, 98, Santos Laguna (U-20)
FW Andy Garcia, 95, Toluca (Segunda)
FW Joaquin Hernandez, 94, Monterrey (Segunda)
FW Benji Lopez, 95, Santos Laguna (Segunda)
FW Manuel Lopez, 00, Santos Laguna (U-17)
FW Miguel Padron, 96, Tijuana (Segunda)
FW Osvaldo Ramirez, 97, Jaguares de Chiapas (U-20)
FW Brandon Vazquez, 98, Tijuana (U-20)
FW Ricardo Zacarias, 95, América (Segunda)

Netherlands
Eredivisie
CB Kik Pierie, 00, Heerenveen
LB John Hilton, 01, Ajax
FW Kai Koreniuk, 98, Jong Vitesse

Portugal
Primeira
GK C.J. dos Santos, 00, Benfica
RB Ethan Lotenero, 98, Belenenses B
CB Erik Palmer-Brown, 97, Porto B

Russia
Premier League
MF Valeri Saramutin, 95, Dynamo Moscow II

Spain
Primera
GK Markos Iturbe, 99, Athletic Bilbao
RB Shaq Moore, 96, Levante B
AM Mukwelle Akale, 97, Villarreal C
MF Ander Egiluz, 98, Athletic Bilbao
FW Konrad de la Fuente, 01, Barcelona
FW Nicolas Garcia-Morillo, 00, Atlético Madrid
FW Emmanuel Sabbi, 97, Las Palmas B

Sweden
Allsvenskan
RB Christopher McVey, 97, Elfsborg U-19
FW Nebiyou Perry, 99, AIK U-19
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Schalke's director of youth development says they're going to offer Nick Taitague a contract when he turns 18.

Big forward Ben Spencer has left Molde to join Toronto FC II. Spencer has been constantly injured and only made a couple of appearances for the club, back in 2013. Toronto manager Greg Vanney has a long history with Spencer, who played for him in RSL's academy and later, Chivas USA's academy.

Fullback Cody Sundquist has apparently joined Fiorentina. He's not 18 yet, so if it's true he must have a second passport (Swedish?).
 

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,463
Meeting Place, Canada
Yedlin got a sneaky goal in extra time. Newcastle set up for a short corner to kill time, but then actually launched it into the box, Yedlin pushed in a knockdown pass on the full sprint. It may have been an OG but either way Yedlin either scored or put the defender onto the ball
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,289
AJ buries a penalty right before the half to put Werder Bremen up 1-0 despite having mostly been outplayed .
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
  • Some youth are off to a hot start this year:
    • Forward Haji Wright has a goal and five assists in three games for Schalke U19
    • Winger McKinze Gaines has three goals and two assists in five games for Wolfsburg U19
    • Attacking midfielder Joshua Perez started off the season with Fiorentina's Primavera (reserve) team with two goals and an assist against Milan.
  • Matt Miazga played the first half for Vitesse's reserves yesterday and is on the bench against Ajax right now. Also playing for Vitesse's reserves (who are in the new national third division) was 18 year old Kai Koreniuk, who scored his third goal in five games so far this year.
  • Terrence Boyd started for RB Leipzig II today. This was his first appearance in a competitive game since December 2014.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
He's got a nice right-footed curling cross from the left side I've seen in a few games this year. Almost accidentally scored with it there right before the half.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
Gooch might've been Sunderland's man of the match, if only by virtue of being substituted before the team imploded.
 

Schnerres

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 28, 2009
1,554
Germany
The one and only Kevin Durr transfers from Colorado Switchbacks to SV Morlautern. It´s a district of Kaiserslautern, so if you´re visiting K-Town someday, you gotta watch them (their coach is insanely intense).

Durr is stationed in Ramstein (Airbase) and plays for the club 3km next to my home. SV Morlautern play in the Oberliga, which is the 5th League in Germany. They are newly promoted and had a decent start with now position in midfield after about 8 matches. They are sponsored by a local roofing contractor, which was one of the sponsors of 1.FC Kaiserslautern. He ended his big sponsorship, sent his money to the tiny club in the 10th league and they went off (it was rumored to be about 200.000€ at the time of his start, when other clubs had no money at all). They were in the 10th league (I played them, honestly, and missed a penalty :) like 3 years ago) and had like 5 promotions in 6 years. They built a new artificial turf for about 400k money of their own (plus public support), a new club home and are really adding substance. They have brought on some youngsters who were part of 1.FC Kaiserslauterns youth teams and Uxy National players. And now, they add Kevin Durr, who might be their first American. If you want to be updated on them, try their german facebook page, their homepage isn´t updated as regularly.

(Sorry to add this story, but I couldn´t refuse and someone might be interested :) ...)
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
That's cool. I like the strange and unusual American abroad stories.

On the more conventional side, Pulisic is starting for BVB against Legia today.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446



Gaines has five goals and three assists in six games for Wolfsburg U19 now.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
It seems like "get yourself into the well oiled German player development" machine is really starting to vault ahead of "slam into brick walls in England" for US prospects right now.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Pulisic ended up with a 2nd assist as well off a slick pass between the defenders legs into the area followed by an even slicker goal off the back heel into the goal. Goal and 2 assists for CP10.
He's dreamy.
A goal, two assists, and a role in the buildup for the second goal. The two assists:





Playing time concerns seem so three weeks ago.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
It seems like "get yourself into the well oiled German player development" machine is really starting to vault ahead of "slam into brick walls in England" for US prospects right now.
I'd like to think players are getting smarter about their choices, but structural factors are pushing players towards Germany, too. Players like Gaines, Wright, and McKennie would not have been legally able to sign anywhere in the UK because they would not qualify for a work permit. Taitague, too, who seems set to sign with Schalke when he turns 18.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Pretty chip for an assist from Aron Johannsson, who was subbed on at HT today.



He got a straight red later on, though.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Cameron Carter-Vickers made his professional debut today in Tottenham's 5-0 League Cup win over Gillingham.

Perry Kitchen was named captain at Hearts. That was quick; he's 24 and only joined them in March.

Aron Johannsson is serving a two-game suspension after a straight red that he received for mouthing off at the ref. When he comes back, he'll have a new manager after the old one got canned.

A Sounders academy kid named Diego Silvas signed for a team in the S-League...that's Singapore. His dad was hired by the club and Diego was brought in after an injury to Tampines Rovers striker....Jermaine Pennant.
 

eddiew112

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 7, 2005
4,732
Boston
Cameron Carter-Vickers made his professional debut today in Tottenham's 5-0 League Cup win over Gillingham.
Pochettino has been giving him a lot of love in the press, and he's been making the bench ahead of Kevin Wimmer, who played very well last year when Vertonghen was hurt. It may be tough to keep him away from England in a few years.
 

Schnerres

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 28, 2009
1,554
Germany
Fabian Johnson scored five minutes from the end to make it 1-1 for Gladbach @RB Leipzig. First goal of the season for him.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,837
Pochettino has been giving him a lot of love in the press, and he's been making the bench ahead of Kevin Wimmer, who played very well last year when Vertonghen was hurt. It may be tough to keep him away from England in a few years.
A few years? He's gonna get a US senior team cap long before that or he's going to refuse one. We'll know soon enough.

He's played nearly 30 times for US. England has never bothered to call him as far as we know.
 

Gunfighter 09

wants to be caribou ken
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
8,548
KPWT
I have just assumed that as soon as he started getting mid week starts for Spurs we would see CCV get named to the USMNT. I have to think we see him the Hex, based on how aggressive Klinsman has been to secure talent that could potentially get away in the past.
 

Quintanariffic

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2002
5,141
The City of Studios
I have just assumed that as soon as he started getting mid week starts for Spurs we would see CCV get named to the USMNT. I have to think we see him the Hex, based on how aggressive Klinsman has been to secure talent that could potentially get away in the past.
Have to think that Gooch falls into that category as well with his showing at Sunderland at age 20 and lingering bitterness of being left off the U-20 World Cup team.
 

Gunfighter 09

wants to be caribou ken
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
8,548
KPWT
Just to make sure I have this right, appearing in a national team shirt, even in a friendly warm up for, say, the Mexico match, would lock them in, correct? They do not have to play in a actual Hex match to get cap tied is the way I understand it.
 

wonderland

New Member
Jul 20, 2005
525
No they have to play in a match that has meaning to make it official, in other words not a friendly.

That's why Brooks came on in the Ghana match in WC 14.
 

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2005
15,568
California. Duh.
The other way they could be tied permanently is if they represented another country on youth teams and file a one-time switch. That's what Julian Green did, so he was tied to the US for good before he ever appeared in an official game.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
And the last and most obscure way a dual-national can be cap-tied permanently is if he appears in an official youth competition match before acquiring his second citizenship.

For example, there was concern that Gedion Zelalem might play in an official U19 match for Germany before he received American citizenship. Had he done so, he would never be eligible for the US.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
The train keeps on rolling...

This time off the bench against Real Madrid:

 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,837
He's really good...and he's only 17.
He's 18 now. And he's good. But we need to remember that even if he's as good as we hope, Germany and Spain (and others) have multiple guys at that level.

But it's a start.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
How excited should we get about this kid? We've been burned before.


He's the best prospect we've ever had. I don't think it's homerism or hyperventilating to say that he has a legitimate chance of being among the best players of his age cohort worldwide.
 

rguilmar

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
1,610


He's the best prospect we've ever had. I don't think it's homerism or hyperventilating to say that he has a legitimate chance of being among the best players of his age cohort worldwide.
All I do is compare what Pulisic is doing at 17-18 to what Lando was doing at the same age. I know Donovan had trouble adapting to life in Germany, but he was on the verge of his loan to MLS when he was 18. Pulisic is on a different trajectory.

Playing meaningful minutes for a team as good as Dortmund at that age is unheard of for a Yank (and Dortmund is a very good squad now)
 

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,463
Meeting Place, Canada
the question now, unless he gets injured, is whether he's merely in the USMNT first XI in 2018, or if the team is built around him. Fox must be licking their chops not only about the World Cup ratings but also Bundesliga ratings if he's still on Dortmund in 2018
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,289
the question now, unless he gets injured, is whether he's merely in the USMNT first XI in 2018, or if the team is built around him. Fox must be licking their chops not only about the World Cup ratings but also Bundesliga ratings if he's still on Dortmund in 2018
It should be built around him today. As long as he's in the lineup our attack will run through him, especially given Bradley's demise. Better question I think is will it be from the wings as it is now or centrally as he gains more strength and savvy.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
We'll see whether he sustains his performances and keeps his place. But the set of players who have got meaningful minutes over a season (not just in a few cup games and blowouts, but in big league and CL matches) for a club on the level of BVB at age 18 is actually very small. This usually only happens with real phenoms, players like Gotze, Fabregas, Pato, Messi etc. The only other 18-year-old I can think of right now in that category is Marcus Rashford at Manchester United. I'm not claiming he'll be a superstar but we shouldn't underestimate how rare it is.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,446
Here's a Transfermarkt list of players born in 1998, sorted by the site's market valuation. (The valuation should not be taken seriously, just treat it as a rough method of determining who is considered to be a top prospect right now).

http://www.transfermarkt.com/detailsuche/spielerdetail/suche/4529672


To add to MMS's point about the rarity of what Pulisic is doing, I'd add that Rashford is about 11 months older than Pulisic.
 

Schnerres

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 28, 2009
1,554
Germany
Oh my god...guys, don´t shit your pants...

He´s playing at a young age. Okay.
He can dribble past a defender. Nice, he has offensive skill.
He is from the US. Everybody shit your pants.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Honestly, players at that young age can go from top to bottom within a few weeks. It´s nice that he´s at a great developping club and gets regular playing time for now, but that won´t help him in February. If he gets an injured hamstring after the Transfer Deadline and gets out of the rotation because it spirals from there, it will affect his development. Dortmund yes, Dortmund no, if he´ll be out of form (someone remembering players like Neven Subotic/27, Adnan Januzaj/21, WC-winning Erik Durm/24, WC-winning Matthias Ginter/22? they´re at various stages of trouble with Borussia Dortmund due to declining form), he will be out of the Team and play at Dortmund II and then he´s gone.

Maybe you remember the saga about Martin Odegaard joining Real Madrid, instead of Bayern. Where is he now? He would maybe make it at Real II or Bayern II. Maybe...

And you guys are comparing him to Götze (who also has had huge troubles after a transfer), Fabregas, Messi. I´m not even laughing. Sad...Just let him develop, let him play from week-to-week and don´t get carried away after a great performance. And be honest, that wasn´t even a great performance yesterday! He was playing, he dribbled past a defender, he brought in a cross, someone (Auba?) should have been called for a foul on the overhead kick and then Schürrle stopped the ball. From there on, there was no part in the goal for Pulisic. Period. That was a superb finisher from Schürrle. He shot that thing through the roof. And Pulisic stood 25m away, he watched it, he learned how to hammer that thing home with your weak foot. That was his part in the goal. I know some of you may get carried away due to the hockey-style assist (last one who touched it before the goal), but he had no part in that goal. That´s 100% Schürrle. Some guy saying "he created the goal". Um, yes, fool yourself.

Build the team for WC 2018 around him? As a central midfielder, a No.10? The guy will be 19 years old, could finish his youth team season that summer (lol) and you want him to lead Team USA to Russia, playing in a group vs. probably two superior teams (that´s the probable scenario which looms). Klinsmann could give him the keys to the team, if he has two superb seasons. Then he (Pulisic) could fail like most guys that age would do. What would/could you expect from such a player? Nothing. He cannot lead his national team (he doesn´t lead Dortmund, he´s playing a half here, a half there and sometimes a complete match and sometimes not at all - he is a rotation option like 8!! other offensive guys and not indispensable) and would probably fail. He would learn much more in a supporting role on the wings, where he could help the team like he´s playing right now. The USMNT isn´t a team which is dominating possession and would dominate a match (other than the 3rd group match with a team like South Korea possibly), so they don´t need a superstrong No.10. Having great dribblers on the wings would help much more in a defensive, grinding system and he can play that role very good like we´re seeing. Let him there until after the WC and then change things (possibly - I would even doubt that,) after.

I mean Dortmund has Schürrle, Götze, Guerreiro, Dembele, Emre Mor, Reus (6 guys!) who are playing on the 2 wing positions in the 4-2-3-1 system. Then there´s Kagawa, Götze, Gonzalo Castro, who are regularly playing in the middle spot. There some kind of mixing with a 4-1-4-1 system, too, but they are having so many options, he could be gone without a match for 4 weeks and they have no problems it seems. Nobody remembers Spanish youth national player Mikel Merino, who had all his performances on the stadium seats - he wasn´t even on the regular 18man roster, yet.

Sorry for the rant (i´m getting a little bit carried away, so i´m writing more or less from what´s running through my head and not with much structure), but just because a guy can play a straight pass, he´s no Maradona. This is getting ridiculous.