Thought we might watch for Americans turning up in foreign YNTs during this cycle. Here's one to start: ISAIAH FERGUSON, an American-born midfielder, is due to return home tomorrow to join the national Under-20 football team. He's playing with T&T. http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,92423.html
Shawn Parker (FSV Mainz) is invited to a German U16 training camp in January (La Manga, Spain). American-born Fabian Hürzeler (Bayern Munich) is invited too.
Don't know yet. Only know that he was born in Houston. http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=5041...ayer=huerzeler_fabian&lang=E&cHash=6317828a05
smithfan, I've been trying to confirm this one for a while now. Have you seen it written anywhere that confirms that Parker has American blood?
Adam Lysak from Milton, Wis., is a Marquette recruit. He was born in the U.S., but both of his parents are Polish, and he's played for Poland's Under-17s twice. More details
Also -- there is a Devante Parker at Mainz. I assume he is a younger brother; any idea? (And an Andre Thomas and Aaron Seydel I have been trying to find out more info about.)
I'll try to get you an official statement from Mainz. I'm pretty sure he's German-American. Devante is his brother, yes. The other two are German, as far as I know.
From the very same story: Lysak has been on the Wisconsin ODP team the last four years, but had never been selected to the regional team. This year, though, he was picked for the Region II extended pool list and was invited to the holdover camp — but missed it to head to Belgium. No idea whether he should (or shouldn't) be on a YNT roster, but at least he's been seen.
Short update on Luxama, a senior in HS: The Pelicans are spearheaded by a senior-laden lineup, including Mark Luxama, who is being heavily recruited by several Division I schools as his final campaign comes to a close. Link: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/archive/category.php?category_id=8&id=24307
Okay, so Lysak has a long way to go before he ever amounts to anything. I assume if he was really good he would have been in Bradenton right now, but the fact that the USSF is blowing people off is cause for concern. The US has a large population and sifting through that is very difficult I'm sure, especially for the staff that the USSF allocates to this task. But, to turn away somebody that presents themselves to you? You certainly don't "blow them off" even if they can't rise through the ranks of ODP, because you never know at what rate they'll develop.
The Mexican U-15 national team has 8 kids born in the US playing for them. Here's an article talking about it. http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=765987&s=mundial&type=story One of the kids named Richard (U-15 goalie) got scouted by Atletico Madrid while on the Mexican national team and is now playing for them.
They probably knew that Mexican keepers suck, but when they saw the name Richard, they were confident that they were getting a good keeper.
I could have sworn that somewhere in either Yanks Abroad or in Youth National teams their was a young 12-13 year old American kid named Richard who was getting scouted by Atletico MAdrid about a year ago or more. Is this the same kid? And no i am not confusing this kid with Phillip Speigelberg.
I dont know. This kid got scouted by Atletico after the Mexican U-15 national team won a tourney in Spain.
Which ones? The ones in the Mexican U-15. Im sure they do. Most of the Mexican American kids grow up as spanish being their first language.
I am really getting sick of Mexico's actions. First they want to brake our players ankles and Knee's and skulls to (Cobi,EJ and now Howard) with obvious intent to end their career's. Then their coach Paco the Taco slaps our smallest and thinnest player, then Mexico goes and steals our youth's in mass numbers. 8 players on your U-15 team from USA is alot. not to mention all the other Americans on their U-20 teams.
While I do agree Mexico has done some retarded fouls (Cobi) Rafas foul against Howard was hardly career ending. He did deserve the red card. Mexico is not stealing anything from anybody, these kids, like most Mexican/American kids think of themselves as Mexican not American and grow up having Mexican soccer players as their heroes. Its only natural that they want to play for Mexico. Plus its not like the US wants them anyways, and why would the US want kids who rather play for Mexico anyway.