He's played in 3 more reserve games since then, two as a starter, one as a 64th minute sub. In the last game against Wehen Wiesbaden he scored a goal. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...hen-wiesbaden-122_1-fsv-mainz-05-ii-4387.html
Started for Mainz II and went 76 minutes on Nov. 23. Could we see him in Jan. camp? http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...-fsv-mainz-05-ii-4387_hallescher-fc-4440.html
How often over the years have our German-based players made the Jan. camp? Maybe I'm having trouble recalling, but it doesn't seem to be something that happens much.
Players in club limbo, etc. Jones was suspended so he played one year, Alfredo Morales played in 2013 when he was at Hertha I believe
still waiting for MLS to scoop up some of these uncommitted dual nationals who are getting no playing time abroad. think it would benefit all involved.
idk all the prospects involved probably missing a few but it would be cool to see the parker brothers, zelalem, even julian green etc in MLS.....young players who havent really broken through in first division euro soccer...offer them playing time in MLS....it would be exciting. If MLS really started targeting the dual nats that have any us eligibility, like they have done with the senior team players, i think it could only benefit the usmnt. for these players, it would be expensive, but i think it would be worth it. youth DPs have been a mixed bag but for MLS fans who are also USMNT fans, it might be a popular strategy. it could make the difference in a rossi or subotic type player actually suiting up for the us.
All these players have professional agents who will tell them to go anywhere but MLS as long as the players are young and playing in a European Top League academy. Especially not in cases like Parker who is currently playing for the German U19 NT. No agent will tell such a client that it makes sense to sign for an MLS club.
I think its a great idea, but until we have a league full of Luis Gil's starting over the Ned Grabavoy's of the league I don't see it happening. There aren't many MLS clubs (IMO) that are committed to playing young kids
It would require some kind of rule that X number of a team's players actually on the field at any one time must be MNT-eligible under 21/23, or that u-21/23s must accumulate a minimum number of minutes at various stages of the season on pain of a points deduction. If that happened, guys like Parker, Gyau and Zelalem would suddenly find MLS teams bidding serious money for their signatures. Whether the money would be enough to persuade Zelalem and Gyau to switch to MLS is doubtful though; the real money is still in Europe and so is the glamour and the fame. And beware the law of unintended consequences. With that kind of rule you're as likely to see (relatively) mediocre euro-Americans moving across the pond instead of slogging it out in upper League1/lower Championship or the Bundesliga pyramid and (again, relatively) mediocre Americans opting to come home rather than slogging it out in Europe's lower leagues, rather than possible stars like Zelalem coming home.
whatever the particulars, the USMNT and the world cup in 94 was the catalyst that allowed MLS to come into being. As bad as it was in early days, there was obvious reciprocity between MLS and the USMNT. MLS was doing all it could to help the national team in the 90´s. MLS knew back then that the better the national team, the better chances MLS had of surviving. Every player who had a remote chance of helping the national team somehow found a club situation that allowed them a lot of playing time and opportunity to prove themselves. that strategy paid huge dividends. I think that´s why 2002 is still the high water mark for the USMNT. MLS has shifted its business model away from putting the USMNT first and doing all it could to help the national team...some of the changes are only subtle and it is not as if MLS is against the USMNT now....but I feel both sides would benefit from the realisation that they are bonded at the hip and will both be better off for doing all they can to help each other. Right now, they remind me of teenage siblings who have a strong rivalry and cannot quite seem to ever fully cooperate.
But that's like being responsible for the "Deep Purple rises over Japan" concert. It's better than nothing but not exactly top of the pops. (too obscure of a reference? ... needs an explanation?)
Devante has been playing for the Mainz 2nd team in the 3rd Liga. He's played in 2 games this year (2015), started and went about 60 minutes in each. Kicker had an article about him: http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/3liga/vereine/619168/artikel_mainz_parker-ii-bald-parker-i.html
Started for Mainz II last weekend. http://us.soccerway.com/matches/201...spvgg-unterhaching/1-fsv-mainz-05-ii/1730615/
Interview with Devante on the DFB website. Anyone want to translate @Deeneaus @Hobo ? http://www.dfb.de/news/detail/devante-parker-mehr-im-kopf-als-tore-titel-traeume-118689/
Here are the quotes: (This is an article in a series about the 3. Liga) On his Bundesliga debut "A dream came true on this day. As a little boy I dreamed of one day playing in the Bundesliga" He turned 19 on Monday, is still working on his high school degree, which means school/training/homework and not a lot more. On playing in the 3. Liga: "At the moment it is perfect for me. They play real "Men's soccer" there. For my development it's optimal. Physically and mentally it is very tough. But I am progressing." On the team: "We are a very young team. It doesn't matter who we play against. Every game is a challenge. In Münster we have to give it our all in order to win." On Brother Shawn: "Shawn took the same path I am on now. He also grew up in the Mainz youth teams and he has made it to the Bundesliga. That is also my goal." "We exchange info on a regular basis either on the phone or we write each other messages, especially after games. I think his development is amazing. I am using him as my example." On playing in Germany's setup: "Every game (I play) for Germany is an absolute high point. I am always proud when I am allowed to put on Germany's jersey." (N0te: this interview in on Germany's official federation website). But it could have been more games: "I had important school work to take care of. I am focused on graduating right now, and I want to finish with a good gpa. Because who knows how it will progress with soccer. One bad injury and everything is gone."