Samuel Petrone might be getting some american teammates. A reliable Mjällby blog is reporting that two unnamed american college players in their early 20's will be arriving a few days from now. The trial will be for a limited time (whatever that might mean?) after which a decision will be made on whether to sign them or not. The club has already lost/will soon be losing one forward and two midfielders this season, so I'm guessing those are the positions that they're seeking new players in.
The names were revealed today, it's two forwards from Virginia Cavaliers: Brian Ownby http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=1552792 Will Bates http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=204763808 They will stay and familiarize themselves with the club for 10 days and it is still unclear if they are seen as potential signings for this summer or the future.
The director of sport comments: "The american guys haven't been scouted and we're not bringing them in as El Kabirs replacements. This is mostly to maintain our US relationships. The boys do have some really nice merits and if it turns out that they are really good I think we can work something out. It's an exciting market and there's alot happening with football in the US." Typical "we're not looking to sign them but of course we might sign them" quote there
Will Bates was national Freshman of the Year after the 09 season, when he helped UVa to a national title. He's a rising junior. Ownby is arguably the fastest player in college ball right now but has battled injuries. He's a rising senior. Ownby, who scored a goal for the US in the 09 U20 WC, was All ACC last year after scoring 7/3 in 20 games. Bates had 8/4 in 17 games. Both are - or were - playing PDL ball this summer for the Reading (formerly Rage) United. In 5 games, Bates has 6 goals and an assist. In 3 games, Ownby has 3 goals and 3 assists. Virginia has had plenty of players leave early over the years, going all the way back to Harkes and Meola up through Tony Tchani so if there is interest from Mjalby after their trial, I could see them signing this summer as, unlike some coaches in college soccer, George Gelnovatch doesn't discourage his players from going pro when there is a good opportunity.
Also a Cavalier. Also playing for Reading this summer. A goal and an assist in three games for Reading. Scored 5/3 in 20 games as a freshman MF for UVa last year. http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=204972439
I think american college players might have discovered that Sweden got rid of all non-EU player limitations a couple of years ago
Well, the clubs still have to have 50% (I think) homegrown players in the squad, but there is no longer any difference made between EU/non-EU players.
The swedish FA probably kept it on the low since they were against the decision. They're very old fashioned and imagined that this would be the end of all upcoming swedish talent and other doomsday scenarios. Here's a short article from their website about the decision: http://translate.google.com/transla...epskapet-stort-ansvar-vilar-pa-elitklubbarna/
So, it's been in effect for 3 years now, 2008 - . Did the Swedish clubs immediately jump on this rule or were they slow to adapt?
Actually, the clubs seem to be using more young swedish talent then ever before in their games. I would almost have expected a club like Kalmar FF, who are well known for their fondness of brazilians, to really go wild but even they are bringing in a couple of interesting young swedish players instead. I imagine though that signing large numbers of college players is a niche that sooner or later one of the smaller clubs like Mjällby, or maybe someone in Superettan, will go for.
I brought this up today on the US Youth Team forum that Sweden sort of hits that sweet spot with the young American players in terms of wages and quality of play. MLS rarely offers above $100K/Y to anyone outside the top 3-5 players in each draft and even then it will hold them to 4-5 year contracts. I think a lot of talented kids with European ambitions but no European passports would like to trial with the Swedish clubs (or really, with any clubs that offers them a trial but with Sweden known as a reputable league and with a lot of Americans there already, this gives them a leg up ... so to speak). The style of play in Allsvenskan isn't that dissimilar and the proliferation of the English language in the country makes the adaptation to the Swedish lifestyle a lot easier.
A Mjällby blog described todays training which included the two american trialists. Bates apparantly scored some really nice goals and Ownsby also got a couple. After the general training was over the trialists were kept there for further exercises to evaluate their skills. One such exercise consisted of being the lone striker going up against one defender and one goalkeeper and trying to score. Will Bates said to the blog: "Things have been going well. You really gain alot of experience by getting the chance to play abroad and I believe that I'm ready to take that step. I didn't really know anything about the Mjällby players except for Samuel Petrone since we have a friend in common." Brian Ownsby said: "Having Petrone and Osiako here who have english as their first language makes things alot easier. They tell me what the coaches are saying and it's easy to speak with them. I've only picked up a couple of swedish word so far. I know how to say "hej" and "hejdå" but not much more. It's a very difficult language."
Any details on how they did on those? Ownby wasn't known for great skills but he could often kick the ball and run around the defender. Brian Ownsby said: "Hej" has a very confusing spelling. Plus, unlike the Canadians, you Swedes probably say it at the beginning of a sentence.
The only further details in the blog were that they were up against mediocre defender Jesper Westerberg but also veteran and former national team backup-keeper Mattias Asper. So maybe them getting past the defender and then having all their shots blocked would be an educated guess
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpD60rr9T7M"]YouTube - Will Bates & Brian Ownby at Mjällby AIF‏[/ame]