In MLS people could still lose jobs by the way you perform though, even if you don't have relegation/promotion. Players on some teams are fighting it out to put food on their plates & a roof above their head.
I mean making 35k and livng in LA is as real as it gets. But I do agree with the overall sentiment. These u21 leagues/reserve leagues are usually full of guys who have no shot and just filling out roster spots. If you don't progress or got to another teams you usually are just considered fill are after a certain point.
Starting for the U18s tonight against Tottenham: #FFC U18s starting XI: Rodak; Donnelly, Burgess, Adebayo, Evans; Smile, Sambou, Hyndman, Williams; Roberts; O'Halloran. #FAYouthCup— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 30, 2014
Back with the U21s today against Aston Villa after playing with the US U18s in the Copa del Atlantico: Oberschmidt, Brister, Evans, Sambou and Hyndman are all named on the U21 bench today. #FFC— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 12, 2014
Played 28 minutes: Fulham U21s: Rodak; Donnelly, Buatu, Burgess, Richards; Roberts, Della Verde, Christensen (Sambou 78), Plumain (Evans 68); Woodrow, Mitroglou (Hyndman 62). (Subs not used): Oberschmidt, Brister. Match featured a goal from the Fulham GK.
Fulham U18s to play Man City: Rodak; Sheckleford, Donnelly, Burgess, Evans; O'Halloran, Hyndman, Sambou, Williams; Roberts; Dembélé. #coyw— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 19, 2014 FT: Man City 1-3 Fulham. It's Dembélé at the double as the Whites go marching into the last eight of the FA Youth Cup. More to follow. #coyw— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 19, 2014
#ffc U18s won 2-0 at Norwich today thanks to a goal from Aaron Redford and an Emerson Hyndman penalty #coyw— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 1, 2014
He scored from a PK earlier this week in the semifinals of the FA Youth Cup. It is around the 1:05 mark.
Emerson is starting today for Fulham in the first leg of the finals for the FA Youth Cup against Chelsea at Craven Cottage.
If Fulham are relegated one has to seriously think Emerson has a chance to make the 1st team next season. Is that a far fetched idea or is that an actual possibility?? It just reads like Emerson is progressing at a steady pace and it may be time for the next step. That next step, to me, seems a little more likely to happen in the Championship than say if Fulham magically stay in the Premier League.
The fact he signed a pro deal & an extension in 2013 within months is a good sign what Fulham think of him
American Exports: Emerson Hyndman stars in Fulham's win vs. Chelsea in FA Youth Cup final http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...n-stars-fulhams-1st-leg-win-fa-youth-cup-fina
Cross-posting what I wrote in the YNT forum: Hyndman was incorrectly credited with an assist (taker was O'Halloran), but hopefully, video of his goal will surface. It was an alert run that was followed by a deflected but solidly hit strike from distance - and a nice left-footed effort from a player who's known for his right. Against Reading in the semis, I had mentioned that he was the smallest, slowest player on the field, and against Chelsea, that was even more pronounced ... every single one of their U18s is an absolute thoroughbred. But Fulham plays very nice soccer, and Hyndman is a big part of that. His relative lack of athleticism means that he does get exposed on the defensive side of the ball, but in possession, his touches and movement continue to be first-rate.
The small, slow Hyndman didn't seem to have much trouble darting through a group of young Chelsea "thoroughbreds" to score that very intelligently crafted goal. The bigger they are, the harder they breathe.
it was also poor defending and goal keeping. all he had to do was shift to one side, jog a couple yards, and slot it home. nice control, good finish, but you have got to fault the d and goalie on that one.
It may not have been a dramatic move, but it was a nice, natural one. As the defender stepped up into him, Hyndman pushed the ball far enough to the side that the defender's line on him was erased. That's what left him enough space to shoot freely rather (perhaps) than getting fouled or rushed.
I think next year isn't out of the question, but still might be a bridge "too far." Emerson JUST turned 18 this month. Let's not forget that the team he's playing with here is the U18s. I would think that his goal for next season would be to become a consistent starter with the U21s. The Fulham U21s are currently 5th in the U21 table behind..........................Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, and Man City. So they've presumably got some ~20 year olds there that are ahead of Hyndman in the queue for first team opportunities. But that's just a guess.