Alex Yi signs with...

[BuffloSoldier]

Royal Antwerp in Belgium. More info here:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9230

[Sandon Mibut]

As I said on the thread that Buff alluded to, I think this is a good situation for Yi that, similar to Onyewu in France, will allow him to grow but where PT won't be impossible and where he'll be exposed to bigger clubs.

[johnaldo9]

Whats funny is that people criticized the college guys who played on the back line for the U20's last year, and now all 4 have signed professional contracts, 3 of them with solid European clubs.

Oguchi Onyewu RB FC Metz (France)
Alex Yi CB Royal Antwerp (Belgium)
Nelson Akwari CB NY/NJ Metrostars (MLS)
Philip Salyer LB Werder Bremen (Germany)

Im still not totally sold on Yi and Akwari, but I think that the professional environment is going to either bring out the best in them or show that they just cant cut it, I think all of us are much more hoping for the former.

Either way, Stokes and Lewis are now going to have a lot of work to do if they're going to beat these guys out for a spot with the U23's.

[DigitalTron]

Isn't Royal Antwerp owned by Manchester United or somesuch? I seem to recall Man U owning another team in another league and sometimes used that club as a feeder. Am I remembering correctly?

-Tron

[johnaldo9]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Isn't Royal Antwerp owned by Manchester United or somesuch? I seem to recall Man U owning another team in another league and sometimes used that club as a feeder. Am I remembering correctly?

-Tron

Yes, it is. Just click on the link a couple people already posted about it.

[TheSlipperyOne]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Isn't Royal Antwerp owned by Manchester United or somesuch? I seem to recall Man U owning another team in another league and sometimes used that club as a feeder. Am I remembering correctly?

-Tron

It's not owned by Manu. They have a deal in place where Manu can loan it's players out to RA to get game time. Arsenal has a set-up like this with St. Etienne in France and Beveren also. A good way to get the young guys PT.

I'm pretty positive Yi's play in with the U-23s in England in the past month got Manu interested enough to "suggest" Royal Antwerp sign him.

[TexanSoccer06]

Originally posted by TheSlipperyOne


It's not owned by Manu. They have a deal in place where Manu can loan it's players out to RA to get game time. Arsenal has a set-up like this with St. Etienne in France and Beveren also. A good way to get the young guys PT.

I'm pretty positive Yi's play in with the U-23s in England in the past month got Manu interested enough to "suggest" Royal Antwerp sign him. I'm pretty sure getting kids to sign there for a couple of years is also a way to work around the Foriegner rule in the Premiership.

And I don't think Yi impressed that much. The U-20 WYC were busting at the seams with scouts and no offers came then. I'm thinking this came without any influence from the Reds, b/c as harsh as it sounds, Yi will never be good enough to play for them.

[DigitalTron]

Originally posted by TheSlipperyOne


It's not owned by Manu. They have a deal in place where Manu can loan it's players out to RA to get game time. Arsenal has a set-up like this with St. Etienne in France and Beveren also. A good way to get the young guys PT.

I'm pretty positive Yi's play in with the U-23s in England in the past month got Manu interested enough to "suggest" Royal Antwerp sign him. Ahh, all good info. Thanks. :)

-Tron

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by johnaldo9
Whats funny is that people criticized the college guys who played on the back line for the U20's last year, and now all 4 have signed professional contracts, 3 of them with solid European clubs.

Why is it so funny? Because they sucked? Why should we not criticize players who have sub par performances? If they were such highly rated prospects do you really think that they would have signed with such mediocre Euro clubs(perhaps Onyewu could have got a better deal somewhere else)? OTOH look at someone like Casey--he signed with Dortmund. If they were all that the bigger clubs would have made offers, it's just as simple as that.

[Chachi King]

What do you think about Alex Yi's chances for joining the U.S. National team?

[stopper4]

I'm much more interested in his chances of seeing a first team match in the 02-03 season.

I know nothing about Beligian soccer, but if this club has some sort of developmental deal with ManU, I would assume they wouldn't be totally against playing rookies.

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by Chachi King
What do you think about Alex Yi's chances for joining the U.S. National team?

Toss up at this point. It's all up to him--he's got the physical attributes and the skill, he's got to get it together mentally. Now, if someone else comes along with about the same skill but more speed(possibly Stokes in the future for instance), then I wouldn't expect Yi to make it to the senior national team. However, he could have a great career like Berhalter/Ralston/Chris Henderson types getting a call up here or there. By 2006 and definitely by 2010 it's going to be tough as hell to crack the national team IMHO. They'll definitely be no shame in not doing it.

[DigitalTron]

The list of prospects is growing. Alex has the natural physical qualities, speed, size, and he's developing the marking and positioning skills. But, if he doesn't develop them soon, he'll be competing with Brandon Owens, Jonathon Spector, Hunter Freeman and Ryan Cochrane who already do have a quite advanced understanding of those principles at a much earlier age.

Then there are others like Chad Marshall, David Stokes, Ricky Lewis and Oguchi Onyewu that also have those natural physical qualities and are developing their skills. And, guys like Kelly Gray, Carlos Bocanegra, Ryan Suarez, Chris Gbandi and Corey Gibbs that already have a leg up on Alex.

Our choices for the back line are immensely improved for 2006 over 2002. While we'll be young, there will be nobody that is indispensible.

-Tron

[asdf]

This is good news b/c our back line will need a revamp by 2006.

That being said, don't forget that Eddie Pope will only be 32 in 2006. Pablo Mastroeni will be 29 but he's more of a midfielder. There's also Cherundolo and Heydude. And Reyna could play some back by then too.

I prefer going with younger guys than older guys who have lost a step, but keep in mind that the vets will have likely played in more qualifiers since those start a full 2 years earlier when they are not as old.