Alex Mendez @ FC Vizela

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by TheFalseNine, Jul 13, 2018.

  1. 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.
     
  2. uniteo

    uniteo Member+

    Sep 2, 2000
    Rockville, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  3. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    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
     
  4. Eredivisie 18 teams:
    upload_2019-8-23_13-51-13.png
    Mls 24 teams:
    upload_2019-8-23_13-51-48.png
     
  5. Gacm32

    Gacm32 Member+

    Chelsea
    Switzerland
    Nov 28, 2010
    Geneva
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    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.
     
  6. FirstStar

    FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Fulham Football Club
    Feb 1, 2005
    Time's Arrow
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  7. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    Mendez on the bench. If anybody has a stream, can they PM it to me?
     
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  8. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    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.
     
  9. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    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.
     
  10. Dr.Phil

    Dr.Phil Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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
     
  11. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    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?
     
  12. Dr.Phil

    Dr.Phil Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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
     
  13. autobus39

    autobus39 Member+

    Jun 28, 2006
    Scranton, PA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mendez was an unsued sub today for Jong Ajax.
     
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  14. DHC1

    DHC1 Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    NYC
    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.
     
  15. autobus39

    autobus39 Member+

    Jun 28, 2006
    Scranton, PA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  16. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    sounds like a wild finish
     
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  17. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 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.
     
  19. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    What is B-list, what is A-list? Thanks.
     
  20. Dr.Phil

    Dr.Phil Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #272 Dr.Phil, Sep 4, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2019
    https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2568290.html
     
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  21. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    @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.
     
  22. ChicagoVT

    ChicagoVT Member

    United States
    Jun 26, 2019
    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.
     
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  23. kruck

    kruck Member+

    Jan 12, 2008
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    He is 19
     

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