.... "McLoughlin will join the team in January, 2008, due to his academic schedule and a pending FIFA U-17 World Cup opportunity. McLoughlin, one of the top youth forwards in the nation, is currently in the U.S. Under-17 National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. ... He was a Washington state ODP team member from 2003-05. "Currently regarded as the top forward in his age group, Ellis is a special player ...," {UW coach} Wurzberger said. "Skillful, quick, athletic and `instinctive' around the penalty area, Ellis is a threat to score or assist at any time." ********** Just making his folks happy, or will McLoughlin actually (1) enroll at UW in January 2008; and (2) play for the Huskies in September 2008? Anyone here care to offer EM some free career advice? Also, who can tell me more about coach Wurzberger?
In our article posted a week or so ago, it was pretty clear that options are open. There's already been significant pro interest and most likely this will continue through qualifying and the summer's world championship. Something to consider, if Ellis graduates from this school this May (still uncertain), he could still play a freshman season at UW before turning 18. You have to be 18 before signing as a pro overseas. If he opted for MLS, he wouldn't be spending any time to speak of with that team, because he'll be tied up through August with the U17s. The development issue with college soccer is much more about the offseason than the season - so there' really nothing lost in doing this If he chooses to play college soccer, for however short or long, there's certainly nothing wrong with UW compared to any other program. But I expect him to receive some good offers from overseas.
One year of college ball is not a bad call at all for him (or most any player). Still, if he's from that area, you'd think Portland might have more appeal with its track record of sending players to Europe.
UW has been the more successful program in the past few years. UP is finding it hard to replace the legendary Clive Charles at least on the men's side.
I've seen some of his play ... and he is very solid and dynamic technically. He appears to be a game-breaker. IMO, as long as he keeps progressing and stays injury free, he WILL make it to the USMNT pool by the time the next World Cup rolls around ... (Both he and Jeffries have impressed me on the U17 team.)
It won't be the school that sends him there. Those connections are already made through extensive travel by the U17s.
CONCACAF Group B U-17 World Cup qualifier in Kingston, Jamaica, which has been pushed back one week to April 28-May 6. U-17 World Cup is in South Korea in the summer. Having a hard time finding exact dates
Per FIFA, it's Saturday, August 18 to Sunday, September 9, 2007. http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/U17/tournament/0,5364,U17-2007-54,00.html {Click on English PDF file.}
The World Cup will be once again a testing ground, heavily infested by scouts. If he does well, he should get offers. If he gets offers, they may be tempting enough for him to skip UW. Zimmerman kept flying to Hamburg for almost a year because HSV wanted him to train with the club even if Preston couldn't sign or play for them until recently. McLoughlin seems to be an even bigger talent than Zim.
Also, classes don't start there until 9/26, so he wouldn't have any conflict between academics and the U-17 World Cup. The only problem with UW is that come tournament time, they usually get a raw deal. Last fall, they deserved a seed but didn't get one, and the previous year, they didn't even get an invitation. This coming fall, they return solid starters in every position, with the exception of both of last year's central defenders. I'm not sure how they plan to fill those holes -- Harden and Fischer were rocks -- but if they can find an answer, they will again be one of the best teams in the country.
Actually what i wrote before about the coming fall, i thought the u17 worlds were done in late august, not early september. I think that makes it fairly certain he will not be playing for UW this fall. I don't think the coach would want him to come in after missing all of preseason and 2-3 weeks of matches. No EU passport for Ellis.
I imagine he wouldn't be starting right off the bat because of team chemistry and related issues but, as a coach, why would you NOT play a US 17 quality player and starter for a partial season? Especially since he will probably not be there for more than a year or two anyway before going pro? My guess is he will play the season -- and maybe next one, before turning pro ...