Read the article above from the Italian journalist. According to this guy (who Scotty says is reputable)..........the deal is done. Erik will spend the next calendar year at SKC with sporadic trips to Italy. When he'll turn 18 he'll move over. Juve will compensate SKC in some way (incentives?) for that year of training.
Palmer-Brown came on for Aurelien Colin and played the entire 2nd half in SKC's pre-season friendly win against FC Tuscon today: http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2014/01/recap-sporting-kc-opens-2014-preseason-1-0-win-over-fc-tucson
http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2014...-u-18-mnt-copa-del-atlantico-tournament-spain He's leaving the team for Spain to join the US U18 team.
i'd read after mls cup that aurelien colin was looking to leave. that still the case? he'd have some big shoes to fill...
Doesn't look like it. And he wouldn't be the one to fill in for Collin, it'd be Ike Opara, and probably Lawrence Olum before Palmer-Brown would get throw out there.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...er-brown-plays-down-rumored-juventus-bid-eyes “No deal has been made,” Palmer-Brown told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Tuesday from Tucson, Ariz., shortly before leaving Sporting's training camp to join the US Under-18 team for the Copa del Atlantico tournament in Spain. “I am here in Kansas City for, hopefully, a good amount of time.”
Yeah, as I've been saying, this is no shocker. There was ZERO incentive for KC to make the deal under the terms that have been hinted at. This isn't brain surgery.
Here's the latest from Alfredo Pedullà (translated from Italian): Exclusive: Juve prepare the documentation for Palmer-Brown The updates on Erik Palmer-Brown, who we have reported on several times now, keep coming. For quite some time now Juve have had their eye on Kansas City’s 16-year-old defender, considered an excellent prospect for his young age and high potential. Over the past few days the two clubs have been preparing the documentation that will be exchanged, after having reached an agreement a few weeks ago. The deal will see Juventus leaving Palmer-Brown at Kansas City until he reaches the age of 18, including some training stints in Italy to help facilitate his adjustment to European football. http://www.alfredopedulla.com/articoli/38322-esclusiva-palmer-brown-la-juve-prepara-i-documenti
This is probably the best possible arrangement for someone who isn't immediately eligible for a move to Europe.
why is that a good arrangement? If SKC has a fee arranged, they have zero incentive to develop the player. Nor do they have any incentive to value long term benefits over short term (which might be a big issue for a still-developing athlete). Why would SKC agree to a fee 2 years from now for a prospect with so much potential? Why would EPB lock himself into a move 2 years down the road? There are 3 parties in on this deal and it makes little sense for 2 of them (the only reason it makes sense for Juve is that they would be locking a potentially good player in for chump change). #believeitwhenIseeit
http://www.thedailywiz.com/2014/2/1...-italy-no-deal-with-juventus-for-palmer-brown Vermes confirms there have been talks but denies a deal is in place.
I'll take SKC's word that there's no deal here yet, but let's leave room for business here: 1. SKC might want to be able to sell players in the future, so agreeing with a highly visible club in Europe to train a player and then doing a crappy job would hurt that line of business. 2. SKC might want to sign promising young Americans in the future. Getting a reputation for crapping out on kids who are being sold on to high-profile Euro clubs is probably a bad idea. 3. Juve could pull out of the deal in the future, leaving SKC with a talented prospect on their hands. In any eventI see SKC 100% behind Erik's development, regardless of any deal with Juve. For Erik, I think the decision with Juve is whether you take your opportunities now or wait to play your hand later. It's not terribly easy to get in with these clubs. On the other hand, if Juve think enough of him that they are willing to let SKC train him for 2 years and still bring him over, he must be an excellent prospect. Ages 16 through 18 are pretty key for player development.
If the Fire had a young player who would be moving to a top club in two years, I'd buy tickets to watch that player play for the Fire for two years. As it is, to the extent the Fire have no interest in developing American players to reach levels recognized in world soccer, I have no interest in the Fire. I can't imagine I am the only person who'd rather see young Americans play over journeymen or foreigners. SKC would look attractive both to fans and young talent if they sent someone to Juve.
Your first 2 points about SKC really rely on a thought process by SKC of "maybe we don't know what we're doing" which is just not an attitude I think you will find in a professional sports organization of any ambition, definitely not in that organization, from what I've seen. As for 3, that would make it an even worse deal for SKC, if Juve can pull out (unless SKC can unilaterally pull out too, in which case what the hell kind of deal is it?). As for EPB, I will agree, it probably seems pretty attractive to him, even if it is not the wisest choice (I'm pretty sure that as long as he shows promise, Juve will be happy to have him come train with them)
Robb Heineman tonight in a Twitter chat. Robb HeinemanVerified account @RobbHeineman Noooooo RT @Kennedy03024942: @RobbHeineman did you guys really agree to sell epb to juventus when he turns 18?
Take it for what you will, but Heineman also said this tonight: Robb Heineman @RobbHeineman 1h Epb RT @JaredSevers: @RobbHeineman Which young players do you expect to contribute this year that didn't last year? #skctweetandfly
Well, a look at the roster suggests that he is the #4 or #5 CB at present behind Besler, Collin, Opara and maybe Olum. It would be unusual but not unheard of for a precocious teen player to see MLS playing time at that level in the depth chart; Besler's presumed MNT absence will free up minutes, but it might also induce the team to look for a more seasoned relief option. Perhaps they could give him a few minutes on the wing as well. SKC used loans to good effect last year and now has OKC as a partner with Nielsen at the helm. That might be an option too. Lower-division rosters tend to come together later than MLS ones because the teams wait around to see who is available.
Palmer-Brown played the final half hour in SKC's 1-0 friendly win over the Red Bulls, coming on for Aurelien Collin: http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2014...s-1-0-opening-match-disney-pro-soccer-classic
Some pretty saucy & must-tweet footy scuttle: Hearing 16-year-old American hotshot Erik Palmer-Brown indeed soon to be signed by JUVENTUS— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 21, 2014
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1...r-brown-moves-closer-signing-juventus?cc=5901 Here's a story from ESPN