Yanks Abroad 2017-18: Pulisic & Friends

[Schnerres]

The guy ahead in the ranks at HSV, Fiete Arp(17) was the captain at Germany´s U17 WC team in India. He´s one of the youngest ever to score (older than Pulisic) in the Bundesliga and he´s already compared to the brightest german No.9s ever. I´m 100% sure the Top10 teams worldwide have him on their radar.
If he is in shape and decent form (big IF for such a youngster), he will play and Wood will sit, if they only play with one striker.

Since coming up, the young boy has impressed a lot. And Hamburg is no easy club/city/fanmarket to handle.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Jonathan Gonzalez makes the Liga MX quarterfinals team of the week:

 

[Titans Bastard]

I've never been able to figure out exactly who this guy is, other than that he's a Spaniard living in the US with some connections.


Spanish and German clubs, apparently. Monterrey isn't a club that needs to sell quickly, though.


Remember when Ventura Alvarado was a thing? He's off to Necaxa after not playing too much for Santos Laguna.

 

[Titans Bastard]

McKennie starts again for Schalke despite last week's early hook. Goretzka is on the bench, so he must still not be 100%.

 

[Titans Bastard]

cc: @jkempa

Kekuta Manneh on trial at Union Berlin


Manneh is a winger who will turn 23 later this month. He's out of contract after three seasons with Vancouver and one with Columbus. He's super fast, but the rest of his game is fairly mediocre.

If this works out for him, Berlin will be slightly more exciting than life in Point Roberts, WA, where he lived while playing for the Whitecaps in order to stay on track for US citizenship.

 

[candylandriots]

cc: @jkempa

Kekuta Manneh on trial at Union Berlin


Manneh is a winger who will turn 23 later this month. He's out of contract after three seasons with Vancouver and one with Columbus. He's super fast, but the rest of his game is fairly mediocre.

If this works out for him, Berlin will be slightly more exciting than life in Point Roberts, WA, where he lived while playing for the Whitecaps in order to stay on track for US citizenship.

Thank you for the update! I remember reading about this guy, only because of the Point Roberts thing.

I watched Union's game last night (from Sunday -- why didn't I know I could get them all on Fox Match Pass?!?), and they looked like absolute garbage, so I hope that this will help, well, something.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Thank you for the update! I remember reading about this guy, only because of the Point Roberts thing.

I watched Union's game last night (from Sunday -- why didn't I know I could get them all on Fox Match Pass?!?), and they looked like absolute garbage, so I hope that this will help, well, something.

Manneh would probably be best on a team that relies on the counter-attack or generally needs a speedy winger who can stretch the defense. His speed is scary enough that opposing teams need to think twice about using a high defensive line to compress the midfield.

If your game is about a slow buildup and tricky interplay, he's not your guy.

 

[candylandriots]

Manneh would probably be best on a team that relies on the counter-attack or generally needs a speedy winger who can stretch the defense. His speed is scary enough that opposing teams need to think twice about using a high defensive line to compress the midfield.

If your game is about a slow buildup and tricky interplay, he's not your guy.

I haven't seen enough games to really have a great handle on their strategy, but they don't seem to have that kind of player right now. Sebastian Polter is the big target up front (and scoring a ton of goals), so this might be an interesting signing to take some pressure off of Polter. Sidney Sam was a huge problem for them on Sunday (and I was honestly shocked to see him playing there), so maybe that encouraged them.

Now that I know I can see their games, I'll be tuning in every week.

 

[cromulence]

This is eerie - I just started a Manager Mode in FIFA and randomly chose Union Berlin as the team I would take from the Bundesliga 2 to winning the Champion's League (my preferred way to FIFA), and now we're discussing them here. Polter is very solid for being a 74, by the way. jkempa, are you an actual fan?

 

[candylandriots]

This is eerie - I just started a Manager Mode in FIFA and randomly chose Union Berlin as the team I would take from the Bundesliga 2 to winning the Champion's League (my preferred way to FIFA), and now we're discussing them here. Polter is very solid for being a 74, by the way. jkempa, are you an actual fan?

How funny! Good luck with your quest and I'm hoping it one day reflects reality.

Yes, I am a fan. I've been to a couple of games there. My wife and I are in the process of moving to Berlin, and I've picked them as my local team, for some really cool reasons (that fit very much with my personality).

Now that I'm able to see them on TV more regularly, I'll be following a lot closer.

 

[Titans Bastard]

This is the first real piece on Jonathan Amon, the 18 year old winger who seems to be in the process of breaking out at FC Nordsjælland in Denmark. He made his debut at the beginning of November. In his second sub appearance, he had an assist. He then started the next game and scored, then started and assisted again last weekend. From highlights, he looks like looks like a player with a similar profile to pre-injury Joe Gyau. He's short, has great speed, and some good 1v1 ability. He burned FC Copenhagen's right back in his last game, who is also Denmark's starting right back.

I don't have a read on Amon's ability to combine, but unlike Gyau who is extremely one-footed, he's already created a goal with his left foot.

"This is what I love to see—a 'street player' who challenges when he has the ball no matter who is in front of him,” said Nordsjaelland head coach Kasper Hjulmand told the media after the win over Copenhagen. “I do not think he knows the opponents. He just drives on as it was in the schoolyard. He can beat a man in a phone booth and I just love seeing the playful, immediate and somewhat innocent way it's done. He is insanely [good]. Of course, Jonathan still lack a lot, but I see a super potential, which I'm looking forward to working on.

"You can see the immediate and the intuitive player who can [attack] with his extreme speed,” Hjulmand later told Bold. “He is a dribbler and how many dribbles are there in Danish football? He has something refreshing in his game."

He's from South Carolina, a state that doesn't produce many professionals. His route to a European club is rather unusual.

FCN is very youth-focused, so if he does well he will be sold on sooner rather than later. They seem particularly excited about him, which is potentially excellent news given our paucity of decent wingers.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Keaton Parks signed a new deal at Benfica.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Jonathan Klinsmann will make his first team debut for Hertha Berlin tomorrow in the Europa League.

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/jonathan-klinsmann-to-make-hertha-berlin-debut-in-europa-league-465694.jsp

Hertha is already guaranteed not to advance. The quote says that Hertha's top two keepers are not available anyway.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Wahl reports that Gio Reyna is pursuing a Portuguese passport for which he is eligible via his mother.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/12/06/giovanni-reyna-nycfc-europe-christian-pulisic-dortmund-bosz

That would enable him to head to Europe at 16 instead of 18. He's reported to have signed with an agent, so it' either Europe or NYCFC at this point.

 

[candylandriots]

Since we were talking about Union Berlin here: I guess that game on Sunday was really bad, because they fired their manager after it. I had liked him and thought they finally had some stability. But the board evidently decided that this has to be the year for promotion. There are no super-strong teams in the 2. Bundesliga, and they're looking at some big clubs coming down from the first division (FC Köln, for example). With the expansion to the stadium coming (from ~22k to ~37k), there is no patience for 4th place.

Tough gig.

 

[cromulence]

They need to hire me (or my virtual avatar). Straight up to the Bundesliga after one year and off to a strong start there too. We've also got some very promising 17 year olds on the rise.

 

[DJnVa]

Do we know anything about Kik Pierie? He's 17, born in Boston, but played for Netherlands youth teams.

He's a CB, and played a lot for SC Heerenveen, who's in top half of the Eredivisie this season.

I did find this: http://www.football-oranje.com/top-50-eredivisie-u21-stars-watch-kik-pierie/

Pierie has shown that he is next on the conveyor belt of fine Dutch ball-playing centre-backs but has also shown glimpses of grit although his body is not fully developed. Against Utrecht in the Europa League Playoff, he was comfortable in charging out of position to make timely interventions while he also showed astute positioning and reactions to make an important goal-line clearance in the second-leg. Pierie finished the second-leg with a 91% pass succession rate and 2 interceptions as his confidence on the ball is the most eye-catching facet of his game. He displayed poise and calm to drive the ball out of the back and thread the ball through tight passing lanes into the front-line on multiple occasions. He is a player who always looks to be creatively constructive with the ball even in high pressure situations as he has the makings of a well-rounded centre-back.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Pierie seems like a good prospect, but he has very little connection to the US. He was born in the US to two Dutch parents who were working in Boston at the time and he returned to the Netherlands at a young age.

It's not for us to decide for Pierie how much of a connection he feels to the US, but players with this profile usually don't feel much. Even Aron Johannsson (two Icelandic parents, born in Alabama, moved back at a young age) spent a year or two in his teens in the US.

I don't expect him to ever suit up for the US. He'll play for the Dutch until/unless he's discarded for not being good enough for the senior team. The sweet spot for these types of dual nationals is "not being good enough for X team, but being good enough for the US" and that sweet spot isn't that big. We also have a bumper crop of CB prospects coming through right now.

 

[Titans Bastard]

McKennie started again. He's really benefited from Goretzka's health struggles this season.

 

[Quintanariffic]

Wahl reports that Gio Reyna is pursuing a Portuguese passport for which he is eligible via his mother.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/12/06/giovanni-reyna-nycfc-europe-christian-pulisic-dortmund-bosz

That would enable him to head to Europe at 16 instead of 18. He's reported to have signed with an agent, so it' either Europe or NYCFC at this point.

He’s got the same agent, or at least same agency, as both McKennie and Sargent, and if he’s pursuing a passport, I suspect he isn’t long for these shores. Given that his Dad is technical director of NYCFC, that’s a pretty damning indictment of the MLS as a place to develop youth talent.

 

[Titans Bastard]

He’s got the same agent, or at least same agency, as both McKennie and Sargent, and if he’s pursuing a passport, I suspect he isn’t long for these shores. Given that his Dad is technical director of NYCFC, that’s a pretty damning indictment of the MLS as a place to develop youth talent.

I think the quality of development is one part of it, but a proven reluctance to sell is another. When MLS clubs show that they're willing to be a middle man, able to help players jump to top Euro clubs, the prospects will sign domestically.

It's not a bad idea to sign with NYRB, who sold Miazga quickly (and going back a while Ream, Bradley, Howard, and Altidore as well) and have publicly acknowledged that Tyler Adams will be going sooner rather than later.

But not too many clubs are in the circle of trust just now. NYCFC doesn't have any track record good or bad, due to their newness.

There are still quite a few interesting prospects signing with MLS clubs, so they'll have their chance to make the case that they'll be more development-friendly in the future.

 

[Titans Bastard]

One Mexican newspaper names Jonathan Gonzalez to the Apertura Best XI.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Joe Corona moves from Tijuana to América.

 

[cromulence]

 

[Titans Bastard]

That was nice from Pulisic. He hadn't registered a goal or assist since September thanks in part due to BVB's dysfunction. Here's hoping he can take charge and put up big numbers in the spring.

 

[Titans Bastard]

This is another, more revealing angle on Pulisic's goal.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Jordan Siebatcheu, a 21 year old French/American/Cameroonian forward, scored a hat trick for Reims yesterday. He has 9 goals and 6 assists on the season; he's tied for third in Ligue 2 in both categories.

He played in a U21 friendly for France this past summer, but he's never played in an official youth game for anybody. And, well, he's not gonna play for France given the competition.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Keaton Parks just made his league debut for Benfica. He was on the field for less than 10 minutes and Benfica wasn't playing with too much urgency (already up 5-1), but his touch and passing looked clean, at least.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Conor Agnew has signed with Derry City of the League of Ireland.

http://www.derrycityfc.net/2017/11/derry-city-welcome-five-new-players/

DM from South Carolina who played at UNC Charlotte, then spent 2016 with Puerto Rico FC.

 

[Schnerres]

Pulisic to start for Dortmund in 15 minutes @Bayern in the DFB cup.
Bürki - Toprak, Sokratis, Bartra - Toljan, Weigl, Guerreiro, Schmelzer - Kagawa, Pulisic - Yarmolenko.
Very cautious by new coach Stöger it seems.

 

[cromulence]

Pulisic to start for Dortmund in 15 minutes @Bayern in the DFB cup.
Bürki - Toprak, Sokratis, Bartra - Toljan, Weigl, Guerreiro, Schmelzer - Kagawa, Pulisic - Yarmolenko.
Very cautious by new coach Stöger it seems.

Starting with 3 CBs was a huge mistake - they looked completely incapable of doing anything until they switched out Bartra for Dahoud. If they'd come out like that, it could easily have been a different result.

Also, man - Isak had a chance to start making a name for himself and work his way into the team, and he totally blew it.

 

[teddykgb]

ESPN just alerted me that United are planning to pursue Pulisic. Most transfer rumors are complete BS but if that shit hoofball team takes the best American talent out of a good development situation so he can rot on the bench or spend 90 minutes watching CBs punting passes to Lukaku while he defends his box I will lose my fucking mind. Theater of dreams my ass, stay away Christian

 

[Zomp]

Holier than thou much

 

[Titans Bastard]

Jonathan Gonzalez started in the Copa MX final, which Monterrey won 1-0. Omar Gonzalez started for Pachuca.

This kid is really off the races in his career.

 

[InstaFace]

No transfer rumors for Gonzalez yet? I have to imagine Europe will come calling pretty soon. Probably Porto first, if El Tri is any guide...

 

[Titans Bastard]

No transfer rumors for Gonzalez yet? I have to imagine Europe will come calling pretty soon. Probably Porto first, if El Tri is any guide...

There's been nothing specific yet, though I have seen reports that Spanish and German clubs are interested.

Monterrey is not a cash-strapped club, so they won't accept just any offer.

 

[teddykgb]

Holier than thou much

If Jose wanted Miazga or Brooks or even a DAM or god help us a fullback I'd be all in on an American playing in the big league. He'd ruin Pulisic.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Kekuta Manneh now appears to be on trial with Pachuca. If he signed he would be, I believe, only the second American without Mexican roots to play in Liga MX in the last ~15 or so years - the other being DaMarcus Beasley.

Over in the Netherlands, Andrija Novakovich scored a brace for Telstar in a 3-2 win over De Graafschap. He cooled off over the last six weeks, but is now up to nine goals on the season.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Pachuca has announced the signing of Kekuta Manneh:

 

[Titans Bastard]

Well, then.


Booth was rumored to be trialing at Schalke earlier, along with NYRB's Chris Gloster and Atlanta's Zyen Jones. If he has options, I'd rather he sign with a club of that caliber than try to deal with the near-impossible task of climbing the ladder at a club like Bayern.

Booth is a 2001 and doesn't turn 18 until May 2019. It won't be possible to move to Germany until summer 2019 unless he has a Euro passport up his sleeve.

 

[Titans Bastard]

More from Goff about Booth:


We'll see when he's able to join...



In other news, Freddy Adu has been linked to a Swedish club that plays in the third level of the pyramid: http://bloggar.aftonbladet.se/sillyseason/2017/12/28/avslojar-freddy-adu-pa-vag-till-sverige/

 

[Titans Bastard]

There probably won't be too much transfer activity among American players this winter. A few things, though:

• Left back Antonee Robinson has had a reasonably productive loan with Bolton Wanderers, making 14 starts in the Championship. From what I can tell, he got fairly solid reviews, although that's in the context of a rather poor team that's struggled all year. His loan expired on Jan 1, though there's been talk that it will be extended through the end of the season. I can't see Everton making any use of him year, so I hope he stays with Bolton.

• Ethan Horvath didn't just have a howler for the USMNT against Portugal; he's had a dismal year for Club Brugge too despite their runaway success in the Belgian league. After too many shaky performances, he was benched. Then his replacement sucked, so they used their third keeper (an older guy who was last year's starter, but who was supposed to be surpassed by Horvath or the other younger guy). He apparently hasn't been good, so they just bought a veteran from the Russian Premier League. I guess that makes Horvath fourth on the depth chart now?

• Right back Marcel Costly, a 22 year old German-American right back I had never heard of until this fall, has moved from Mainz II to Magdeburg in the 3. Liga.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Remember Michael Hoyos? He moved within Ecuador's Serie A from Deportivo Cuenca to Guayaquil City.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Antonee Robinson extends his loan at Bolton for the rest of the season. An obvious choice for the player and both clubs.


Kenny Saeif moves from Gent to Anderlecht on loan for the rest of the season. There is an option to buy:


Anderlecht's manager was at Gent until this past September, so he knows Saeif well. Moving from a flat four defense to a system with wingbacks should also benefit Saeif.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Emerson Hyndman made his first start of the year in Bournemouth's 2-2 draw with Wigan in the FA Cup.


Shaq Moore is making his fifth La Liga start for Levante at Camp Nou. Good luck...

 

[Cellar-Door]

Eric Lichaj has scored 2 for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal.

 

[InstaFace]

Eric Lichaj has scored 2 for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal.

...in the first half!

And Arsenal (defending champions, of course) has fielded, if not an A lineup, at least a B+ lineup.

 

[cromulence]

His second goal is absolutely ridiculous:


Slick celebration.

 

[InstaFace]

It appears Shaq Moore has broken through at RB for Levante in La Liga. I was very surprised to see someone named as simply "Shaq" starting against Barcelona (with their full A lineup) this morning - the announcers said he was American but not much else about him. Guess he won promotion from the B team in October and has been starting occasionally since. They bought Coke Andujar from Schalke to shore up RB, so minutes for Shaq may be few for the balance of the season.

Although known for defense, he had a nice moment going forward, got in a lot of space in the box and had a shot on goal neatly saved. In stoppage time, he got undressed a bit by Messi (no shame there) and gave up a cross for a tap-in.

 

[Jeff Van GULLY]

Gonzalez apparently filed a one-time switch and will play for Mexico.

What a disaster.