[wrightcor]

I didn't see this posted.

"Club officials said they are planning to sign left-side midfielder-forward Yinka Casal, a 19-year-old Englishman with Nigerian roots who had played for Fulham's reserves. He has joined United at training camp in Bradenton, Fla."

Does anyone know anything about him except that he was a fulham reserve??

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...020600718.html

[JayRockers!]

Originally Posted by wrightcor

I didn't see this posted.

"Club officials said they are planning to sign left-side midfielder-forward Yinka Casal, a 19-year-old Englishman with Nigerian roots who had played for Fulham's reserves. He has joined United at training camp in Bradenton, Fla."

Does anyone know anything about him except that he was a fulham reserve??

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...020600718.html

That's because you didn't check the Near News and Rumors thread.

Discussion about him, Fulham, relay times and meat pies can be found there.

Thx,

Jay!

[Jabinho]

A little over a year ago, his goal beat Chelsea's reserves..
That's enough..

http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/loa...TMNW&id=257302

He also has played youth international for Nigeria..

also named some foreign-based players likely to make the final list like Salihu Mohammed of B team of FC Barcelona, Zenke Simon Jerwase of Strasbourg, France, Bala Ezekiel of Lyn Oslo, Norway, Yinka Casal, Fulham feeder team and Emmanuel Seriki of Chelsea, now on loan in Belgium.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/20...12_340602.html

[wrightcor]

Thanks, I haven't checked that thread in a while. I will know for the future. Thanks,

[CrazyDCFan]

I did a little (well a lot) of "stalking" AKA "Goolgearching" of Yinka and here is what I have come up with. I'm not sure if anyone has posted the same information somewhere, but here you go:

Yinka Casal is a former member of Fulham's reserve squad. He also was called up, and did not report/play in for the Nigeria U-20 team.

In the News
He was called in by Head Youth Coach Godwin Uwua for the African Youth Championships, it is uncertain whether or not he reported.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/20...12_340602.html

Match Reports/Opinions
A match report posted on a Fulham fan site on 12/20/05:
"Fulham's reserves have Yinka Casal's solitary goal to thank for a 1-0 win over Chelsea."
http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/loa...TMNW&id=257302


An analysis of Fulham's reserve squad, including Yinka, posted on 1/9/07:
"Yinka Casal – Left Winger (yes I did say left wing). Extremely athletic & quick. Good passer of the ball, can score goals & can jump pretty high too (next to Boa, this is the only over left footed winger in the club).
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/Message...ID=6360&page=2"


I located via the Fulham message boards a tidbit that may be a decent judge regarding his talent level:
"Yinka Casal - A regular for the reserves last season and was top joint goal scorer. An extremely quick left winger who can make runs and pass well. Good athelete all round who can jump high. Could do with a run in the cup for experience?"
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/Message...d&TopicID=7414


Another Analysis of Yinka in a reserve match versus West Ham from 1/23/07:
Commentary starts when Yinka Casal enters in the 2nd Half-
"Yinka Casal came on for Robert Milsom and made an immediate impact. Made two darting runs into the box, in which on the 2nd run (from a great pass by Collins), shot at goal by nutmegging the goalkeeper. Unfortunately the goalkeeper managed to save it with his hands behind, then Casal took another shot at goal which hit the post. Runstrom was on hand for the rebound to place the ball in the back of the net."

"Casal again made two good through runs into the final 3rd, to cross into the middle of the box and no-one was there to slide the ball into the net."

Rating-
"Yinka Casal - A super sub who changed the game. A constant threat on the leftside of midfield with his pace."

Official Fulham match report-
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/Ne...svWestHam.aspx


In addition to previously mentioned reserve game against West Ham, I could only find documentation of Yinka appearing in two reserve games this season: a starter in the reserve opener against Chelsea on 8/29/06 and an 81st minute substitute against Portsmouth on 10/31/06.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam.../Fixtures.aspx


He also appeared for the Fulham U-17 team and the reserve team in at least two matches in the 05/06 season.


Videos/Pictures
Apparently, there was a video posted on "YouTube" as near as 1/24/07 but it has now been deleted by the poster.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/Message...d&TopicID=7497

I wasn't sure if I could still play the cached versions of the videos, but I decided to try. Unfortunately, I can't get "Part 1" or "Part 2" to work. Instead we are stuck with these two small images:



Random Information:
I started a topic on "FulhamFC.com" asking for any information on Yinka from the Fulham faithful.
You can find it here:
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/Message...d&TopicID=8293


I have also started a topic on the Fulham Forum on 'BigSoccer":
You can find it here"
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476681

Finally, on "NeoSeeker.com" there is some "little bloke" who claims that his cousin is his "m8" (mate for all you over-40 crowd). I thought for a second about creating an account and trying to contact him, but then I really figured there must be an end to my madness...

(If you really need attribution for that, PM me... )

PS: He isn't on "Myspace", so don't bother checking.

BEHOLD THE COMBINATION OF BIGSOCCER AND LATE-NIGHT COLLEGE PROCRASTINATING!

[Bolivianfuego]

Interesting.... Picking up a young player stuck in the reserves/ bench of the EPL.... maybe we can have a moreno second coming?

[CrazyDCFan]

He seems pretty talented, but I wonder why the leading scorer for the reserves in 2005 plays so little in 2006. Is he injury-prone?

Regardless, it is nice to see a young, left-footed player who apparently has pace AND can cross.

I will keep everyone informed as I receive more information.

[jason1551]

I would try here as well:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=204

[CrazyDCFan]

Originally Posted by jason1551

I would try here as well:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=204

Good idea, I'll add it to my original post.

[JoeW]

Knave (and other mods), perhaps the name of the thread needs to be changed to....(drumroll please)...the MEGA Ultimate Yinka Casal Thread!

I'm also ashamed and dismayed that so far there has been no speculation on how to pronounce this lad's name. Is it Kah-SELL' or is it Cas'-sell? Are people asleep at the switch here? CrazyDCFan--what, no phonetic analysis here--it's not as if you had sleep or something to catch up on--get with it big guy! Just b/c you spend your night digging up a gazillion internet references to this kid, does that mean we're going to cut you some slack here--ha! This is big soccer.

And his lineage is Nigerian. Does that mean he has Ibo, Hausa or Yoruba roots? Does he dig casava smoothies or has he completely given up on the "old country" cuisine? So many unanswered questions

Will it be long before we then see...."The Implications of Yinka" thread? I'm just waiting to see which intrepid poster is willing to defy the wrath of the Gods (ie: the Mods) and be the first one to start this essential "implications" thread in the great tradition of thousands (okay, dozens...well, maybe 4) of implications threads before it. There is no action involving our beloved DC United that does not have myriad implications. Afterall, don't we all agree that the world revolves around DC United (nay--there is no world--it's all about DC United).