Have you any clue about the selection PSV has? Or AZ? Or Feyenoord? Or FC Utrecht? Or Vitesse? You're an Ajax fan and can be proud of your club, but please keep it to that and quit this shitting.
you know, there's a whole different thread for this discussion https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/the-containment-unit-the-ya-league-comparison-discussion.2011515/
no horse in this race but i mean the reason we are talking about this here in the first place is because one of the best left feet in the u20 world cup was available for a pittance
Eerste Divisie is FAR superior to USL. USL is honestly a low-quality league, and that is being kind. How many games have you watched Mendez play? When I was living in LA, I watched this kid play a lot, and he is one of the most talented youth players I've seen live. Trust me, if he develops correctly and improves physically, he can play at Ajax. They've had to invest money in him, and I'm pretty confident a club like Ajax has done their homework and feel he can actually contribute to the first-team.
It’s never been a perfectly functioning market/ there are a lot of variances and odd outcomes when you step back an look from 30,000 feet.
What they invested in Mendez is basically nothing. He's a lotto ticket. There are guys on that Jong Ajax bench they've invested millions of Euro on. The economics of Ajax are totally different too than 2-3 years ago. They went I believe +140m Euro in transfers this summer and are one of the most financially stable clubs in the world with tens, if not hundreds, of millions in the bank. They've also opened an office in NYC. I wouldn't underestimate that because they signed Edson Alvarez too. The idea that Ajax just signs guys and magically they become stars is wrong. Their hit rate might be better than most clubs, but they sure have some stinkers on their first team right now who they signed for way more than what they got Mendez for. I've seen Mendez play a few times, never live. I already posted my thoughts on him too many times but I see him as a luxury player. A guy who has had time pass him by. He needs to challenge more, get fitter and more athletic. Maybe he can? Ajax is the best place to try to do that. All of those skills (pressing, fitness, pace) are things that Ajax really values. Everyone thinks Ajax is all about passing and technique. They are but watch them play. All players on their attack have to run hard 90 minutes, force turnovers and press. Just my opinion he is not good enough for Ajax. He gets to prove it in training and for Jong Ajax. But the midfield they started today is just better than him at his current state. I don't think at 18 you can improve someones athleticism much but I hope I'm wrong. I'd love for another American to play for Ajax. I just don't see it. The best news is they will move on from him quick and not hold him hostage on never ending loan deals like other Americans abroad.
He signed for nothing with Freiburg for flexibility and get his feet wet in Europe. He never really signed there to play there. It was a very smart move by the guys managing him. The worst thing is to go to Europe and be stuck with a club who decides everything for you. But I also think players like him aren't that valued anymore. Teams want guys who do more on the field. You can't afford to have even one guy on a team who isn't full committed to press, win the ball back. That is something that can definitely improve on. I just don't see it -- but that's just my opinion.
Did they plan that? It seems it was a good move on Freiburg's part who signed him on a free transfer and flipped him relitivly fast. They could have held onto him as he was under contract
If he was making 1,000 Euro/month as it was reported, I imagine the contract wasn't very long and/or there was a very low release clause. Maybe even a gentleman's agreement that if a big club came, he could go? That's just my read. They took less to have a flexible situation for the next contract. I imagine the fee was probably basically nothing. Maybe a sell on clause? That's what Frieberg got out of it?
Nothing has been reported but I have a hard time believing this was Kleiban's master plan. Its probably something that just worked for all parties
You think the plan was for him to stay at frieberg for a low amount indefinitely? IIRC, Mendez himself said that everything that happened was exactly as his agent predicted. I guess you don’t believe him.
Mendez came on in the 59th minute today for Jong Ajax. He picked up an assist in stoppage time on the tying goal in Jong Ajax's 3-2 win.
On the eligible list for Champions League: Missed this the first time but Alex Mendez is also listed with Ajax! pic.twitter.com/BI6XBolM87— Alex Muncy (@muncyman_22) September 4, 2019
Ajax has so many B-list eligible players he is the very rare youth player who isn't eligible for a B-list yet. He should be next year. But it's similar to Reyna. Just isn't eligible to be on B-list, and Dortmund has a ton of B-list guys so why not put him on the A-list.
@bshredder interview: http://www.americansoccernow.com/ar...-of-u-23-team-motivated-to-return-to-olympics For this season, Mendez is expecting to play for its second team, Jong Ajax, but is not limiting himself to that level either (“I think it's Jong Ajax but if the opportunity comes, it comes,” Mendez said of the upcoming season). But for the smooth passing, attack-oriented Mendez, the move from Germany to Holland was about putting himself in a situation that fits his strengths as a player.
what the what??..... He is 18. Time has NOT passed him by and you can definitely almost 100% of the time improve someones athleticism at 18. Are you kidding me here? His body hasn't even fully matured yet most likely. I mean Mendez isn't perfect and he has his issues but being 18 and too old is definitely not one of them.