The Odyssey continues: Erik Palmer-Brown at Panathinaikos

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by BostonRed, Jan 24, 2014.

  1. The common comments are that EPB isnot a good player and the players on loan this time from ManCity just arenot of any quality.
    The critics (see the posted ratings by me) look at the performances in matches. So you can get thumbs down and up. The overall picture in the ratings however is a bad one. The opposite of what we saw with Matt Miazga, who generally had reasonable to good ratings with the occasional fluke thumbs down.

    What I saw of EPB comes back to the initial remark van der Gaag made towards EPB, that he's too easy going/relaxed in what he does. It looks like EPB doesnot get what professional football means in Europe. The opponent is out to murder you, so be on edge all the time, also in training. You're playing in Dutch football, where defenders even against low flyers are confronted with teams that whenever possible, come out to attack with everything they can throw on you. You cannot play with a relaxed attitude. Hell, even de Ligt cannot afford to do so.
    Several foreign defenders over the years commented on their first match experiences in Dutch football with the initial thought these people here are mad.

    It's a pity, as I wish players coming into our leagues to be successful.
    My hope for EPB is that he landed into a club at the worst possible moment and learns from this awful experience and starts rebuilding his resume.
    As I posted before that will be difficult. Foreign clubs screen all Dutch clubs constantly and look at defenders of the low flyers too to see how you fare being under constant pressure. They donot expect you to keep clean sheets, but do expect you donot buckle.
     
  2. Given the table as it is now, indeed.
    upload_2019-3-19_14-56-55.png
     
  3. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for the information.
     
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  4. Two comments from the local paper:
    first a situation against PSV:

    Bij de 2-0 loopt Don yell Malen hem er finaal uit als hij doordekt op de aanvaller die zich slim laat uitzakken. In een sprint van vijf seconden wordt Palmer-Brown op een achterstand van twintig meter gezet. Van een Amerikaans international die onder contract staat bij Manchester City mag je meer verwachten.
    Weerslag op de kleedkamer

    In vergelijking met zijn eerste wedstrijd op 16 september tegen Fortuna Sittard (2-3-nederlaag) heeft Palmer-Brown in zes maanden geen enkele progressie geboekt. Dat hij speelt, heeft ook te maken met de alternatieven, die zijn er niet. In dit geval is schraalhans keukenmeester; Daan Klomp is geschorst, Mets afgeschreven. Het egocentrische gedrag van de Est, de verdediger probeert een transfer te forceren, heeft zijn weerslag op de kleedkamer.

    In the 2-0, Don yell Malen completely finished him as he covered the attacker who dropped back. In a five-second sprint, Palmer-Brown is put at a distance of twenty meters. You can expect more from an American international who is under contract with Manchester City.
    Impact on the dressing room

    Compared with his first match on September 16 against Fortuna Sittard (2-3 loss), Palmer-Brown has made no progress in six months. The fact that he plays also has to do with the alternatives, there are none. In this case, mr Lean is rules the kitchen; Daan Klomp is suspended, Mets written off. The egoistic behavior of the Est, the defender tries to force a transfer, is reflected in the dressing room.

    From the Utrecht match:
    Niet alleen is dit het slechtste elftal uit de 50 jaar eredivisie geschiedenis van NAC, het is tevens de karakterologisch meest waardeloze selectie uit het bestaan van de club. Vooral dát is een kwalijke zaak.
    ‘Schaam je kapot’
    Met vijf verdedigers aan een wedstrijd beginnen die gewonnen moet worden, leidt tot irritatie, onrust en een broeierige sfeer op de tribunes. Wat maakt het eigenlijk ook uit? Met voorstoppers als Menno Koch en Erik Palmer-Brown ben je op voorhand sowieso kansloos. Het blijft onbegrijpelijk dat zij een basisplaats hebben.

    Not only is this the worst team from the 50 years of history of NAC, it is also the most worthless selection from the club's existence. That is particularly a bad thing.
    "Shame on you"

    Starting with five defenders in a competition to be won, leads to irritation, unrest and a sultry atmosphere in the stands. What does it really matter? With frontstoppers like Menno Koch and Erik Palmer-Brown, you have no chance at all to begin with. It remains incomprehensible that they have a starting spot.
     
  5. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ouch. That is some brutal commentary.
     
  6. But he can blend with the crowd. It's not like he's the sore teeth in a shiny mouth.;)
     
  7. luvdagame

    luvdagame Member+

    Jul 6, 2000
    #3657 luvdagame, Mar 19, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2019
    unless the opponent was exceptional, that shouldn’t be happening to epb.

    hope he’s not being mr. cool - which is how he seemed to play (very well, i might add) on youth teams.

    at this level, that relaxed attitude his coach (van der gaag?) mentioned is going to get him consigned to football’s scrap heap quicker than anything.
     
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  8. matabala

    matabala Member+

    Sep 25, 2002
    We've seen it before from young athletes; letting ego and attitude get in the way before the hard work's barely begun. Not going to brand EPB from newspaper quotes and a poster's opinion. However, given their last place in the table it isn't hard to extrapolate that soccer life isn't too rosy at Breda this season.
     
  9. kruck

    kruck Member+

    Jan 12, 2008
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    If you're crap and you're playing on by far the worst team in the Eredivisie - that ain't good.
     
    LouisianaViking07/09 repped this.
  10. Well, let's keep it to he's at the moment playing crap most of the time according to the ratings. That's not the same as being crap. He needs to fight his way out of this slump and prove he's a good player.
     
  11. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    what was the opinion of him at the Belgian club he was at a year ago? what was the thought of City when they purchased him? He can always improve; he's only 21.
     
  12. TarHeels17

    TarHeels17 Member+

    Jan 10, 2017
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Turns out his call up to the U23s didn't happen.
     
  13. I don't have the impression from interviews with him he's got an ego or attitude getting in the way. He to me makes the impression of a guy who's very likable as a person.
     
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  14. matabala

    matabala Member+

    Sep 25, 2002
    I'm sure he's a great guy off the pitch. It's been said several time he may not have the rigorous approach to his job that success at this level requires. That's what was meant by attitude and ego. Thinking you've "arrived" without the pudding's proof.
     
  15. matabala

    matabala Member+

    Sep 25, 2002
    Why no EPB on U23 team? Could USSF be sending a not so subtle message about, among other things, EPB and professional "attitude"?
     
  16. uniteo

    uniteo Member+

    Sep 2, 2000
    Rockville, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I also find this pretty judgmental, the last thing we know is what’s in EPB’s head. Inferring that his problems are the result of a lack of effort is speculation, assuming we know the psychology behind it is pretty arrogant.
     
  17. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    maybe they overlooked him. maybe they feel it's best he keeps competing for the senior squad.
     
  18. matabala

    matabala Member+

    Sep 25, 2002
    Don't take my judgement, read what's been said in the Dutch press and by first hand accounts, look at the horrible results Breda has posted this season, follow the turbulent trajectory of Brown's young career and now the shunning of the U23. How does that add up?
     
  19. Parmigiano

    Parmigiano Member

    Jun 20, 2003
    Maybe he’s more of a midfielder?
     
  20. The Irish Rover

    The Irish Rover Member+

    Aug 1, 2010
    Dublin
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    If he is, NAC would have played him there already for the simple reason that a good DM can plug a lot of holes in advance.

    If they haven't, it might be for the same reason that they didn't play him at CB either: he's a talent, but not a pro.
     
  21. uniteo

    uniteo Member+

    Sep 2, 2000
    Rockville, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You’ve said ego, you’ve said attitude, you imply he thinks he’s made it...how can you know any of that? Maybe he’s just not good enough, maybe he’s just not quick enough.

    These boards can be like listening to English game announcers who attribute every failure to a personal shortcoming (EPB lacks conviction there...)
     
  22. The discussion above is underlining how unfortunate it was that he chose ManCity over the PSV offer. The ManCity trajectory did put him on loans direct to first team challenges. At NAC he landed in a turmoil situation in which the staff is constantly runnig around trying to plug holes in the dike. Not ideal if you need real guidance to address flaws.
    The PSV trajectory would have put him into/through the Young team, where at PSV he quickly would be addressed if there's a tendency to be too relaxed. Although PSV is considered the most warm club towards young players, Feyenoord and Ajax are being described as rather ruthless including the young players themselves, PSV is still a pro environment that uses the whip if it's necesary.
    No progress would be unacceptable to the staff.
     
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  23. matabala

    matabala Member+

    Sep 25, 2002
    I do think it's significant that no where have we heard that EPB isn't good enough. He's an elite "prospect", much as I dislike that term, like many others of his international level.

    It would be helpful to get different reports on what's really going on in Breda. To be honest, reading a player "is too relaxed" is like Gertrude Stein said of Oakland, "there is not much there there". Our Dutch poster has expressed his view that Brown doesn't want to kick shins and conform to a certain idea of what an Erdevise defender should be. Well and good, there's more to defense than being a bulldog. Somewhere in all this is a young man playing soccer.
     
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  24. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    So, time for the sad trombone or not quite yet?
     
    LouisianaViking07/09 repped this.
  25. Nope. The circumstances worked against a proper environment to get the young man playing soccer out of the guy.
    He really needs a place where the circumstances are top notch to test him and where he can take this experience with him.
    Unfortunately the clubs in the Netherlands capable to deliver arenot going to spend time/slots/money on someone elses project.
     

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