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

I literally answered this in the first post your criticized. They believe that RS has the potential to be what he used to be able to show. Thats different from being certain or even thinking that is extremely likely.

 

I didn't say that. My point is that he has been dogshit for the last 2 years and he isn't necessarily a starter for them unless he proves that he actually remembers how to play.

 

Plus Brazilians have a nasty habit of hitting their peak when they're like, 24.

Ronaldinho and Ronaldo were both finished at the upper echelons of the game before they hit 30.

 

That, and in England if you do feints you get your leg broken.

 

I believe that you know that when a big club loans a 20yo prospect that they have a potential E80MM value on, are likely paying most of his large (for the destination club) salary, then the lending club stipulates that the prospect is a starter or they can be recalled.

If Sanches shits the bed then of course he will not be starting for very long.

 

Are you living in 1985?

 

Can you just admit you're full of crap and get on with it. Your argument has changed 80 ways from Sunday yet you're still acting like the people you're arguing with are acting in bad faith and/or are morons.

 

He's guaranteed a starting spot for the first 8-10 games of the season - otherwise they wouldn't bring him back - but he'll have to produce or he'll be dropped.

If he stops going 90' after six or so games, we'll know this move is in trouble

 

Not to worry folks
http://kwese.espn.com/football/baye...to-stay-at-club-after-loan-breaks-down-report
Renato Sanches will remain at Bayern Munich for the rest of 2018, according to a report in German publication kicker on Thursday which has been confirmed by ESPN FC.

 

In other great transfer news for Keaton, Forrest are apparently in very advanced talk for Joao Carvalho: https://www.nottinghampost.com/spor...tingham-forest-finalise-deal-benficas-1647906 . Benfica supporters seem less sure about this Transfer, but Nottingham Post appears very certain about this deal, as do Forrest supporters on various social media.

There's a less substantiated rumor that Diogo Goncalves will be joining Carvalho on loan... while that doesn't directly affect Keaton (Goncalves is mainly used as a winger), it could mean that Zivkovic will be moved out to the wing permanently, making even more room for Keaton in the middle.

Benfica has already bought a few players, but only one of them is a central midfielder: Chiquinho.

 

A Bola is reporting that Joao Carvalho and Diogo will travel to England early next week for medicals and final signatures: https://www.abola.pt/nnh/Noticias/Ver/734500

I only keep mentioning this because Joao Carvalho was arguably the guy keeping Keaton from making the bench more often than he did this season. If Samaris is also out the door this summer, Keaton will be fighting for serious minutes (assuming no other central mids get signed).

 

Will be interesting to see. At a team with Benfica's ambitions, I'd expect that they would want competition and depth at CM. Expect an in-flow at that position to balance the departures. It's reasonable, however, to think that Keaton will be one of the in-flows.

 

Yes but Benfica like all Portuguese teams has a limited budget. It's one of the reasons they play so many of their kids, to eventually sell them, to make money to stay financially afloat. Despite the huge paydays, and Champions League money, they won't spend like a typical title chaser would in a different league.

Parks and Gedson are highly thought of and they will clear out the players who didn't make a difference last year. Which should give both young players the opportunity to earn minutes going forward.

 

Keaton is not on the bench for the France game. A healthy scratch. Hopefully the next manager likes skilled midfielders because clearly this one does not.

 

That's giving a bum like Sarachan waaaay too much credit.

 

I mean, he could have just not brought him into camp if he didn't rate him, but leaving him off the roster twice in a row is just such a weird decision.

Well, whatever, if Keaton has to force himself onto this side I'm confident he will.

 

For those of you inquiring as to the reason for Keaton Parks' omission from the game day roster, the explanation I've been given is the dreaded "coach's decision." #usmnt

— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 9, 2018

Well, at least Sarachan has this draw as a nice feather to put in his cap... I mean, there's no way Ernie Stewart actually gives him the job, right?

 

Parks should have gotten into one of these last two games.

Corona won't be a part of the pool much longer.

On the other hand, Marsch and Berhalter are the coaches of some of the other mids that started in this game.

Parks, imo, is going to have to force his way into the lineup by getting serious minutes with Benfica this next season.

 

Parks probably would have been a bad fit for this match; it's not so much that he didn't play this game as much as he didn't play in Ireland either when we could really use him. Add that to the fact that there was no reason given for his absence either time. Not even being on the bench seems downright insulting when you consider some of the guys we put out there.

 

New article by O JOGO that references Keaton:

https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-lig...&utm_campaign=Feed:+OJ-Ultimas+(OJ+-+Ultimas)

Essentially, the article is saying that a lot of young players are not going to get their shot because the team needs to be well put together by the time Champions League Playoffs rolls around. Ferro, Pedro Rodrigues and Heriberto are pointed out as being surplus to requirements for the first team but Keaton gets a shout out and from my limited Portuguese it seems like they are implying he will be registered with the first team for the CL. That would be pretty big, but obviously any decision on that will have to wait until after the preseason.

 

I doubt he makes the step to playing in UCL.

My hope is he starts getting real time in the league matches sandwiched around the UCL matches.

 

He could in early or insignificant group stage matches, depending on how the campaign goes. Julian Green played in a Bayern Munich UCL match. Similarly, Jonathan Spector played in 2 UCL matches with Mancester United. (along with others like Jovan Kirovski, Frankie Hejduk, etc.) That said, I wholeheartedly agree that I hope he gets more time in league matches as those are a better barometer of his progress and worth to Benfica than the odd UCL match.

 

Would a team like Benfica treat UCL games like Man United and Bayern, though? Those teams are so good that they can afford to drop points and use the games for youth development.