What do you guys know about him and his ablitities? IS he the best young keeper playing for the U.S youth teams and is he in anyway have a chance to be on the 06 team, if we make it there?
He might be the best keeper in the u20 ranks, but there is no chance he will be on the roster in 2006. Maybe 2010, it all depends on how he progresses.
And we all know how well our last "great U20's keeper" has turned out so far. 3 teams in 3 years and at the end of the season was the 3rd string keeper in Chicago.
This is a good reminder for all of us who get excited about young prospects. That's all they are at U17 or even U20, young PROSPECTS. Some will develop early and keep developing into first rate players. Others develop early and fizzle out. Still others are nowhere on the radar screen at U17 or even U20, but later blossom. I'm always mindful of something Sir Alex Ferguson said when asked if he knows if a youth player will make it big. He said that there was only one player he had in the youth ranks at Man U who he knew would be outstanding, and that's Ryan Giggs. Otherwise, he said, some of the ones who are mainstays now were good, but not necessarily standouts, as youth players. As for Westberg, just too early to tell.
Our last "great U20's keeper" was Steve Cronin, the current third-stringer in San Jose. Until they get him some games, it'll be tough to gauge his true ability. Countess (birthdate January 9th) is yet another example of how good youth prospects are over-rated when their birthdates come very early in the year.
But we're all speculating - it would be better to ask fans of Troyes - or of their reserve team - because I, at least, don't get to see Westburg play. So many of us have no idea how he is progressing.
Both Countess and Cronin, as keepers go, are quite young in their careers. Comments on their long term prospects are premature. That said, both suffer from the current state of professional soccer in the US. Without reserve teams and much in the way of loan opportunities young players can only hope to bounce around until they catch a chance to play. Maybe Salt Lake will be the next bounce for both these guys.