Youth Yanks Abroad, '01-'04 YOBs (and Younger): 2018/19 Thread

I think the way it works is one of us sees the idea on BS then spreads it to Twitter or Reddit, then one of the prominent media members picks it up and spreads it.

But if you’re not famous yet, keep trying

 

Palomino to Porto.

 

In a major about face....Slonina signs a Homegrown with Chicago. Youngest player ever signed to such a contract.

 

'01 YNT pool player and Chicago Fire defender Nicholas Slonina, the older brother of Gabriel, is currently training at Legia Warsaw. He trained with them last year as well, along with another '01 YNT pool player with access to a Polish passport, CM Tim Bielic of Sockers.

 

Another brace for Balogun, now up to 22 goals on the season.

#AFCU18 ran out 5-2 winners over West Ham in the #U18PL this afternoon 👏

Joel Lopez scored his first goal for the club, while Balogun hit a brace to take his tally up to 2️⃣2️⃣ for the season (all comps) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IWKwhKGfPC

— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) March 16, 2019

 

This is training, but inasmuch as Rotundo apparently has a Euro passport, it will be interesting to see where he goes when he turns 16.

Check out @JREskilson’s Tweet:

Evan Rotundo, one of the top U.S. '04 players, training with Caen in France https://t.co/X9corTYxJp

— J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) March 19, 2019

 

His passport is from France, and I believe that means he can sign with a French club before he turns 16.

 

does caen have a good reputation for development?

 

From glancing at transfermarkt, they seem fine. Nothing amazing, but they do play young French players. A couple of 19-20 year olds have played good minutes over the past 2 years. They also played Yann Karamoh over 2k minutes in Ligue 1 at the same age that Sargent is now.

I'm more confused why they keep going back to Caen. They're always near the bottom of Ligue 1 and are currently in dead last, and even then they're still not leading the pack in development. I know it's dumb to say this kind of stuff this early, but I'm of the opinion that Evan would start on any youth team anywhere. He's a Dortmund-caliber youth player, without a doubt. If he wants to utilize his French heritage, that's fine, but at least try to get a trial at a development stud like Monaco or Lyon, or a place that will do everything in it's power to play youth players, like Toulouse or Le Havre. There are tons of options in France alone.

 

This isn't really "youth development" but Caen did pick up a 22 year old DM N'Golo Kante from a third division club and sold him to Leicester City two seasons later.

 

Maybe his uncle is the trainer. Maybe his grandmother lives there. He has a French passport, so supposedly he has some family connection to France. Maybe they live in Caen. Maybe he has trained there every Spring break since he was 6.

Not sure it is ever bad to go to a club that really wants you. All our young guys seem to come up with different answers to this question of what club to sign with.

 

Hearing Rumors two kids from North Texas are making their way overseas as well...an 02 from Solar (with Norwich city and an 03 from FCD with FC Koln). Not sure its public yet but will update when possible. The doors to Europe are wide open.

 

Surely degrees of wide open. Whereas a few years ago, I knew of maybe a handful of youth in Europe, now there are charts, graphs and hundreds of Yanks over there in various academies it seems. Always good to have a passport though, agree.

 

Taylor Booth starts for the Bayern Munich u19s in a friendly. https://t.co/B8gb2HFi3J

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) March 21, 2019

 

Simons is an '06 midfielder. He seems to be having success in the Barcelona academy.

1109472147150389248 is not a valid tweet id

 

Barcelona had a big game against Lyon in the UEFA Youth League. I thought Konrad had a very bad game. It was a Pulisic circa-last two seasons type of performance.

He's better than that, but he has lacked some in the end-product area this season. I don't think he's bad in that area, but he was a lot better with accumulating goals and assists last season. This season he's holding onto the ball too much in areas to create attacking chances and then losing the ball once the defense recovers to close him down.

 

It was Konrad's worst game I watched recently. So isolated, not many touches, and killed attacks sometimes.

Hope he can bounce back in the semi-final. Does anyone know if he has any strong competitor to threat his starting position in the team?

 

Nils Mortimer was on the bench, so I'd think so. I would take more from Konrad starting with Nils on the bench than him not playing well in one game. I think that says a lot about what Barcelona thinks about what are their two best attackers in the '01 year that Konrad is starting and Nils is on the bench.

I'm not worried about him being able to bounce back, but I don't think he's having a good season. I calculated his stats last season, and they were very good. I haven't yet calculated his stats this season, but I wouldn't think they are all too good. As good as he is, and I would put him right up there with Araujo as the best '01 in our player pool, he has areas to improve on.

 

'01 US U18 winger Cameron Harper is flourishing at Celtic.

📸 Delighted to announce the signing of @cameron__harper from @CelticFC 📝 The USA Youth International is currently the top scorer for his Celtic U18 side with 16 goals this season 🔥🇺🇸 #TeamBeswicks pic.twitter.com/eNjJeG5Fx7

— George Mellor (@gmellor94) April 4, 2019

 

'02 left back with one U17 callup.

Congratulations to former SC del Sol player @RicksonvanHees on signing a pro contract with Dutch side @necnijmegen pic.twitter.com/akV8doSdza

— SC del Sol (@SCdelSol) April 4, 2019

 

Konrad assists the first goal with a nice floated cross in a 2-1 win. https://t.co/BBeFQWWj4Z

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) April 7, 2019

 

Those floated crosses a specialty of his