Parks and recreation in Lisbon: Keaton at NYCFC (on loan from Benfica)

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by Dave Marino-Nachison, Sep 24, 2015.

  1. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My guess? I don't think they have room for him in the first team. And after the coach that was high on him got fired he felt his chances were even bleaker with the new coach. He probably asked to be loaned out to MLS because he thinks NYCFC is his best chance to be exposed to Guardiola and his Spanish connection which is where he wants to end up anyway.
     
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  2. eliwood

    eliwood Member+

    Jul 25, 2016
    Benfica, not Sporting
     
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  3. WheezingUSASupport

    Dortmund
    United States
    Aug 28, 2017
    Thought I remember reading Keaton had asked for NYCFC specifically. The quality of some of the bottom half Portuguese teams is debatably under what he’s at with NYCFC.
     
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  4. zlatan_but_a_car

    Botswana Meat Commission FC
    United States
    Oct 16, 2017
    1. Gedson Fernandes, who placed 7th in voting for the golden boy and is a year younger than Keaton, happened. As of last week, Florentino Luis is also happening, so Keaton might not have much room on the Benfica first team from here on out. FWIW, I think Parks is very close to the level of both Gedson and Florentino, but the reality of being at a club like Benfica is that the margins between players are measured in inches: if you don't seize every opportunity for advancement, you will be replaced.

    2. He couldn't go to another Portuguese club because rules implemented by the FPF this year limit the number of players that clubs in the first division can loan to other clubs in the first division. Benfica had hit that limit before Gabriel arrived at the end of the summer. Keaton could've been loaned to another LigaPro club, but the whole problem is that he's clearly too good for that level.
     
  5. Thundering165

    Thundering165 Member+

    North Carolina FC
    United States
    May 1, 2017
    Raleigh
    Florentino's promotion is probably the biggest threat to Keaton's chances of first team soccer. Incidentally, it probably means the end of Alfa Semedo's chances as well. Semedo beat Parks out for the first team backup 6 position in preseason, but they are very different players and Semedo was not a fan favorite. The truth is that in any foreign league homegrown players are going to be given advantages that Americans are not.

    Keaton's best chance at Benfica is to replace Samaris as the go-to rotation midfielder who can do a lot of things well. If he is a top midfielder in MLS I think that more doors will be open to him and it may be time to move. Benfica has made little investment in him as he was a free signing so they will probably accept less than their usual fees.
     
  6. zlatan_but_a_car

    Botswana Meat Commission FC
    United States
    Oct 16, 2017
    I think that changing representation also helped: WMG is building lots of connections in Germany and has a direct connection to CFG through Steffen. Keaton's also said in a few interviews that he wouldn't be opposed to staying in NYC, but that hinges on his performance and just how cheap Benfica want to let him go...
     
  7. TxEx

    TxEx Member+

    Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, FC Dallas
    Aug 19, 2016
    DFW
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    There's also a limit as to how many loanees Benfica can have out in Portugal and they've already got a ton of other players, most of whom will be moving on soon, on loan so Parks had to go outside the country to get a loan.
     
  8. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I’m Sure another factor is that if he excels, he’s got a shot at playing for the US at least in the group stage of the Gold Cup. It’s a good shop window for him and the club.
     
  9. The Irish Rover

    The Irish Rover Member+

    Aug 1, 2010
    Dublin
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    If he moves to, say, Braga for $500k with a sell-on buyback clause and establishes himself there, where's the problem? There isn't any, really. Disappointment, of course but the guy will still be way ahead of where he was when he left Varzim and still on track to be an upgrade to the MNT midfield
     
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  10. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's where you lose me.

    You're making a resume argument, which is OK. Unless we watch 20 matches a week and have no life, we have to rely a great deal on resume, what with our players spread out to so many different leagues.

    But I think it's inarguable that starting for RB Leipzig and Schalke is a more impressive resume line than starting for Braga.

    Unless you mean he upgrades our squad, in which case, maybe.
     
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  11. eliwood

    eliwood Member+

    Jul 25, 2016
    Only Berhalter knows, but it seems logical that we can see a midfield containing all 3 between McKennie, Adams and Parks
     
  12. taylor

    taylor Member+

    Jun 9, 2000
    Fav team: FC CARL ZEISS JENA
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Can we please talk about freddy adu to finally get the mods to close this thread please. He is not a yank abroad.
     
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  13. FirstStar

    FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Fulham Football Club
    Feb 1, 2005
    Time's Arrow
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oh man, say his name three times in a row and @sidefootsitter might reappear - beware! Anyway, he’s still owned by a foreign club so his thread will stay here until he transfers permanently to MLS.
     
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  14. The Irish Rover

    The Irish Rover Member+

    Aug 1, 2010
    Dublin
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    I was making a resume argument and that is what I meant. I should have been clearer, but why bother if you're going to do my work for me. :p
     
  15. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Subbed on in the 87th for his MLS debut.
     
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  16. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    saw his 3 minutes plus 4 O.T. Did well, no errors. Not much to say for now.
     
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  17. zlatan_but_a_car

    Botswana Meat Commission FC
    United States
    Oct 16, 2017
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  18. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think it boils down to what the coach wants and sees from him. I don't think Keaton has played badly. I believe it has to do with Park's body language that is misinterpreted by the coaching staff.
     
  19. zlatan_but_a_car

    Botswana Meat Commission FC
    United States
    Oct 16, 2017
  20. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I see it differently. Is not that he doesn't have it. I have been watching every NYCFC game this season and there is no way their midfield is more composed than Parks, no way. My guess they expect him to play a certain way and he refuses.
     
  21. mattjo

    mattjo Member+

    Feb 3, 2001
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So your theory is Parks refuses to play a style or role that Domenec Torrent wants him to play? That doesn't bode well for him either whether one looks at it as professional development or coachability of an unproven player.
     
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  22. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed.
     
  23. zlatan_but_a_car

    Botswana Meat Commission FC
    United States
    Oct 16, 2017
    I could see this, but I don't think it's that he refuses... he's never struck me as particularly petulant (although I'm sure Varzim fans would disagree, and maybe they are right). But he definitely struggled to adapt to a certain role under Rui Vitoria, so it could just be that he's a stubborn student.

    The counter-point to all of this is that his role for Benfica B changed between last season and this season, and IMO he didn't lose a step despite the disappointing pre-season with the senior team. But that comes back to the quality of LigaPro...

    Either way, kid needs to shape up. I'm sure his parent club is unhappy with the situation.
     
  24. WheezingUSASupport

    Dortmund
    United States
    Aug 28, 2017
    Yea something doesn’t add up. He goes from being close to getting first team minutes with the Benfica first team, to a step back this next season, to not being good enough for NYCFC.

    Even some of the Benfica fans wanted to see him.
     
  25. zlatan_but_a_car

    Botswana Meat Commission FC
    United States
    Oct 16, 2017
    Called up to the U23s, this time as a midfielder!

    1108101515468779520 is not a valid tweet id
     
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