BL clubs definitely seem to be making a concerted effort to scout and recruit young Ameri-boys. Interestingly enough, the club that openly stated a desire to market to the US (by featuring a US player), Leverkusen, has not had much luck doing so. My money was on them last year to buy Bobby Wood. I saw an interesting tweet after HSV's first mach this year. It was along the lines of complaining that Hamburg did not have the English web presence to exploit a Bobby Wood. They said something like, "Leverkusen bought Chicharito and were selling sombreros the next day." I get the feeling the BL would love to supplant EPL as the league of preference in the US.
As it stands, the BL is the best entrance into Europe for Americans once they hit 18 with no work permit or international player restrictions for clubs and players. Also, while the tweet about exploiting Wood's market may be true, he isn't even close to as influential as Hernandez is to their respective nations.
The commercial aspect is peripheral IMO. I think German clubs are just realizing that the US has a talent pool with players who fit in well with Buli club/academy culture - disciplined, collaborative, relatively self-educated, English-speaking (and hence able to communicate while getting up to speed on German). They want to discover the next Pulisic or Wright.
I agree all those reasons are important, not to mention we come relatively cheap. But don't discount the marketing aspect. They don't even make a secret of it. Snip: Bayer Leverkusen chairman says the club wants to sign an American star An American star at Bayer Leverkusen? That's exactly what the club's chairman Michael Schade is looking for. "If I could have a wish, I would like to get a player that really could play in the first team from America and from China because that would open new markets," Schade told reporters while discussing the club and league's international expansion. http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/us...830310/bayer-leverkusen-star-signing-transfer
Maybe pump the brakes on Wright? While I do expect it this season, he still hasn't had a first team debut yet.
Does expecting an American-born-and-raised player to make a Bundesliga debut before his 19th birthday now qualify as pumping the brakes? Sounds like I need to get caught up on the new normal.
McKinze Gaines turns provider here with a delicious cross for Wolfsburg's U19s over the weekend: pic.twitter.com/AKXLvYQls4— Nats Abroad (@Nats_Abroad) September 13, 2016 Y'all watch this pass
Just to illustrate what where some of these players may be 8 1/2 years after making their debut for Hertha Berlin as a 19-year-old.
Assuming you're not watching on a smart phone, look for the beautiful arching cross right to the head of the goal scorer and then reverse trace its ballistic path back to its point of origin. Failing that... it's the dark pixel.
To add to the German Hype, McKinze Gaines had two goals and an assist in one half for the Wolfsburg U19s today. Knocking on 1st team door.— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) September 17, 2016 That's five goals and three assists in six games now.
Anyone have a scouting report on this guy? I know he's fast, but is he a traditional get up to the end line and cross it in type of winger, or does he bring more tricks to the table?
Others will hopefully have more insight than I do, but one thing that I have noticed is that Transfermarkt has him alternating between starts on the right wing and as an out-and-out forward. Transfermarkt isn't infallible, but they are usually fairly accurate with this stuff. Not sure where he started today.
My take from a game in U17 qualifying: "Gaines - 6 - An old school American wing/forward prospect, added some energy to the proceedings." In 2014 I said that he would have probably been a starter for most past cycles. In an away friendly against France I thought he was doing good things but his passing/combination play was poor.
On a per dollar investment basis, it's a really smart business decision by Bundesliga clubs. 16-18 year olds on free contracts. You scout America. Pick the best of the cream here, believe in your coaching set up, give them the challenges they need to improve themselves and hopefully generate a first team player or two. If you get lucky and groom a star like Pulisic then they're going to bank major coin on a future transfer fee(s).
True, but Americans can't sign official contracts until they're 18, unless they have Euro passports, like Pulisic and, I believe, Gooch.