He'll definitely be starting out with their U23 team which competes in the Regionalliga (4th level in Germany league system - full 34 game schedule). Of course if he utterly dominates at that level or shows something special he could get called in to train with the first team during the winter camp (assuming his loan is that long). However the general consensus on this guy always seems to be that he's a long-term development project who could develop somewhere down the line if ever gets into a stable situation, rather than a guy who anywhere close to that level yet. My personal expectation is that he'll spend the duration of his loan with the U23s. It's a good level for him to learn consistency and get regular playing time right now. edit: The Regionalliga does play through the international break. Frankfurt II has a game tomorrow night (against SC Pfullendorf - great name) so perhaps he could already suit up.
Here it is says that Gale got a professional contract http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/sport/index.jsp?rubrik=38120&key=standard_document_41431325 +++ Professional Contract for Agbossoumonde +++ Young talent GA received a pro contract from Eintract Frankfurt as was explained by press secretary Ruth Wagner on Thursday. After he at first trained with the U23s, he should get a run outwith the pros on Saturday against Bauntal in a test match. (rest is about his resume.) Bauntal is in the Hessen Oberliga.
Wow, that'd be great if they purchased the contract outright from Traffic (though I'm sure they'd get some sell on fee).
Wow, rabbit out of a hat huh? I'll give credit to Traffic for being able to pull that off, even if I'm still uneasy at how they operate.
Traffic was running out of time. They needed to sell him or risk losing their investment. In the end I'm glad he ended up in Germany. Some stability and German engineering should do the trick
Gale gets 13 minutes in a test match against Baunatal. Clark went 90 http://www.eintracht.de/aktuell/35551/ No real mention of Gale in the Eintracht's gameday thread because they were more interested in Idrissou and Friend, their two new strikers. http://www.eintracht.de/meine_eintracht/forum/1/11185029/?page=1 And here are a few video highlights, but I didn't notice Gale. http://www.hr-online.de/website/rub...key=fs/allgemein/20110903_eintracht_testspiel
He hasn't played in either of the reserve game since he's signed. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...r-kickers-26_eintracht-frankfurt-ii-4415.html http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...ankfurt-ii-4415_fc-04-ingolstadt-ii-9715.html
He is not part of the first team's squad, so that's unlikely. He wasn't in the reserve's matchday squad yet, could mean two things: either they think he isn't ready/fit enough yet, or there's still some paperwork missing.
This, it's way to early to tell. Frankfurt has hundreds of players in their system. Even if they were short on centerbacks for the reserve team, they would use U19s or players from their first team squad rather than throw the new guy into the fire. Give him a few weeks to adjust. It's the German way.
It's not as if he has no experience - a squad member is much more likely to see the field than a youth player is. Especially this season there is no pressure at all, relegation is suspended this year, so the reserves play pretty much only friendlies.
it's a legal issue: http://www.fnp.de/fnp/sport/special...ht-in-der-u23-spielen_rmn01.c.9206055.de.html
I'd estimate that they have between 250 and 300 soccer players in all their teams - but only if you include youth players too young to play senior football. The number of players who could play Regionalliga is probably about 75 or so. As for Agbossoumonde - he doesn't have a work permit yet, it seems. The rules for the Regionalliga are much stricter than for the Bundesliga (he could actually play for the first team, but they want to have him in the reserves at this point). They should be able to get one, though - I can't think of any case in which an American player was denied a work permit.
Another knock on Traffic. A conscientious agent is supposed to take care of these things for their clients. Now Boss has to wait and twiddle his thumbs before he can play.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the new electronic visa system that was implemented in Germany as of Sept. 1. Non-EU people used to be able to apply and have the physical visa in hand on the same day, now the whole process is a complete cluserf&$k and there is about a 6-week delay to get it since everything has to go through a central office in Berlin.
Interesting. I'm having to go through the same process as a Fulbright scholar here, but would have thought it wouldn't effect Gale. Then again, I earn a pittance compared to him.
Damn they changed it? I'll never forget the day I went to the visa office, my papers were all out of order, the guy at the office laughed at me, told me what I should have had, and told me the visa would be ready in 15 minutes.