Which young American makes their European first-team breakthrough next?

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad Academy' started by Sandon Mibut, Feb 7, 2020.

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Which young American makes their European first-team breakthrough next?

Poll closed Feb 21, 2020.
  1. Folarin Balogun, F, Arsenal (England) - 01

    3.1%
  2. Konrad de la Fuente, W, Barcelona (Spain) - 01

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Chris Gloster, D, PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) - 00

    3.1%
  4. Cameron Harper, W, Celtic (Scotland) - 01

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. Richie Ledezma, M, PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) - 00

    59.4%
  6. Uly Llanez, W, Wolfsburg (Germany) - 01

    34.4%
  7. Alex Mendez, M, Ajax (Netherlands) - 00

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Chris Richards, D, Bayern Munich (Germany) - 00

    3.1%
  9. Owen Otasowie, M/D, Wolverhampton (England) - 01

    15.6%
  10. Nick Taitague (No, really!), M, Schalke (Germany) - 99

    6.3%
  11. Other (please elaborate

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Never a bad time for a poll like this, but with a bunch of YNT players on the verge, felt like a good time for it.
     
    taylor repped this.
  2. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    Ledezma seems closest. Uly is my wildcard.
     
    uniteo, glutton4Bolts and scholes181818 repped this.
  3. glutton4Bolts

    glutton4Bolts Member+

    United States
    Mar 18, 2019
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There is certainly a big difference between who we think will get their shot and who deserves it the most. Richie is the most probable and has played pretty well... but Uly deserves it the most based on his 1st half stats and performance against CR for the USMNT. Not at all sure what Wolfsburg is waiting for? I would say that Konrad has earned it as well but getting on the Barca first team is one tough nut to crack... he will need to produce for Barca 2 first and even then I wouldn't hold my breath. The player that got the shaft the most is Owen as Wolves dangled bench time in front of him until he re-signed and then promptly sent him back down. There is some buzz that he could be back but Wolves use very few players and Owen will likely not see the pitch this season unless there are a few injuries.
     
  4. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
  5. Jazzy Altidore

    Jazzy Altidore Member+

    Sep 2, 2009
    San Francisco
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    konrad has done nothing to deserve a shot at Barca
     
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  6. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Does anyone think Richards will never get a shot at Bayern and will eventually be sold to another Euro team to get first-team minutes?
     
  7. mattjo

    mattjo Member+

    Feb 3, 2001
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It is such an inexact "science", i find it hard to predict and always wonder how it compares to thinks like the NFL draft where last year for example the top 5 athletes drafted were 4 or 5 star recruits. But #6-8 were a three star, two star, and no star recruits coming out of high school.

    I think Uly's inclusion on the Europa league roster suggests he could get some time. As for Richards, it is so hard with the top tier teams. Not only do you need to beat out all the other CBs on the roster, you also will need to beat out CBs who have shined for teams with smaller payrolls that Bayern could also pick up on the transfer market. Not saying it is impossible, but it is a tough road. I believe that two of Bayern's defenders on the current roster rose through the youth ranks to the first squad.
     
  8. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    i think most people believe this
     
    ChicagoVT repped this.
  9. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Still time to vote before this poll closes...!
     
  10. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does “break through” mean the same thing as “debut”?

    For example, I don’t consider Vassilev to have broken through at Aston Villa yet, just as Josh Pérez never “broke through” at Fiorentina despite playing for them in a game or two.
     
    ielag repped this.
  11. Jazzy Altidore

    Jazzy Altidore Member+

    Sep 2, 2009
    San Francisco
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Breakthrough means becoming a part of the regular squad on a continuous basis.
     
    dougtee repped this.
  12. mattjo

    mattjo Member+

    Feb 3, 2001
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So does that mean Chris Durkin has already done so?
     
  13. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    I don't want to get into a semantics debate.

    I meant "debut" when I said "breakthrough" though Jamie raises a very good point. Big difference between debuting and playing regularly, as his examples point out.
     
  14. mattjo

    mattjo Member+

    Feb 3, 2001
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How are you defining semantics?... I kid I kid
     
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  15. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cool. Happy to play by whatever rules!

    I agree with Ledezma and Llanez as the top two picks, though not necessarily in that order. I think Harper is a sleeper pick, though, despite his current total of zero votes.
     
  16. ChicagoVT

    ChicagoVT Member

    United States
    Jun 26, 2019
    I hope he at least gets loaned out next season so he can play some first team minutes. One season in the 3 bundesliga is no big deal but, for people that want to see him develop (US fans and Bayern for that matter) we should really hope he's not playing Bayern II next year.
     
  17. UniversalAdvice

    Apr 18, 2018
    Just a reminder about this Richards fellow.

    ;)
     
    Sandon Mibut repped this.
  18. Lookingforleftbacks

    Galaxy
    United States
    Dec 17, 2016
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There are still rumors that he’s not going to be with Bayern in the fall. I still think it’s likely that Ledezma is the one to pick from this list. I think it’s also reasonable to expect Uly and Otasowie to be first team regulars at the start of next season, and Richards might be wherever he is playing
     
  19. TxEx

    TxEx Member+

    Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, FC Dallas
    Aug 19, 2016
    DFW
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Richards gets a loan and soaks up the most minutes. Llanez starts getting token minutes off the bench. KDFL earns his stripes in the Segunda which will get him noticed by other teams in Spain.
     

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