Youth Yanks Abroad, ‘01-‘04 YOBs (and younger): 2019/20 Thread

Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring Gio Reyna. Nice to see the early interest, although Reyna has plenty on his plate with establishing himself in the Dortmund lineup. https://t.co/kQYwlw9Hbz

— ChuckMe92 Soccer (@ChuckMe92Soccer) May 21, 2020

 

So for a 16 year old to sign at a German club or a European club, what’s the contract like? Just ballpark what is Rotundo or someone like that making financially when they make that move? Or are they not paid yet? Genuinely asking just curious on what that first contract looks like when a us kid moves to Europe

 

It's tough to know. Depends on the talent level and leverage. I wouldn't be surprised if Pulisic and Gio's first contract were still pretty nice numbers.

Not the type that Llanez and Mendez (when he was at Freiburg) were getting paid. Which is so low it'd probably be illegal in the state of California for an 18 y/o.

It's all about getting that 2nd contract in Europe when it comes to money for these kids.

 

The same rumor has resurfaced again.

Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Hertha Berlin is showing interest in signing Konrad de la Fuente (18).

Konrad has recently moved up the Barca ranks, so unclear how concrete these talks are but a transfer would give him a look at first team soccer very soon #USMNT #OneGoal pic.twitter.com/vemp9mWzie

— OneGoal (@OneGoalUS) May 25, 2020

2:30 Eastern on FS2 for those wondering.

1264940434511536128 is not a valid tweet id

 

Depends on how good an agent is. Josh Sargent made over 100K a year in his first contract. Gio Reyna also probably makes over 100K as well. But then again, both of these players had more arguing power than both Uly and Mendez when they signed as Sargent had 2 great youth world cups and Gio had more hype behind him than Mendez and Uly combined.

 

I do think most people massively overestimate how much these young prospects make on their first contracts in Europe. I suspect that the reason most kids go to Europe instead of MLS (those that have that opportunity)....................isn't for the money anyway.

But I would say that for kids that "don't make it" like an Isaiah Young or Shaft Brewer, they're put in an awkward position. They don't have money. They didn't go to college. Academics for many wasn't a priority in high school. I remember when I lived in England there was a huge debate about what to do with this whole population pool of footballers that "didn't make it." They were young and unskilled. There were charities being set up to help them find their way.

 

Llanez didn’t play. They had plenty of subs and the game was over towards the end, but he still didn’t get in the game.

 

they did have leftover subs, but you are only allowed to use your 5 subs in 3 rounds. manager made 3 subs. worth noting he has never made more than 3 which makes speaks to his (lack of?) adaptability

 

Two clubs he won’t get a chance to break into the first team at. Where’d you rather him play? I prefer Bayern (reserve team plays at a higher level, better loan/sale system, Mourinho factor).

🗞 Football Insider: Tottenham have offered a contract to Bayern Munich's Taylor Booth ahead of the summer window. pic.twitter.com/ORUkbpbr1X

— The Spurs Web (@thespursweb) May 27, 2020

 

I don't think he can get a work permit, so Spurs would have to loan him back to the continent. Bayern can probably do the same. It is good for leverage to get the contract offer and if BM don't want to match, to sign where you are most valued. Germany is always preferable, but you have to make money too. Either path is probably a loan to Belgium/Holland/2.Bund.

 

He has an EU passport.

 

I remember him sitting at Bayern for so long, I just figured he was waiting to turn 18. That does change things. Tottenham have been good at getting CCV loans to the Championship. The problem with Spurs, like all the EPL teams, is they don't need to ever produce a youth player or play one. They have so much TV money, they can buy anything they need.

But a loan to the Championship is as good, if not better, than the 2.Bund or 3.Bund. The U23 Prem is also not a bad place to develop short term. It is hard to turn down real money after all the hard work. Hopefully, Bayern matches.

 

Hate it. I don't get it.

I guess he's out of contract at Bayern? Maybe that door is closed anyway?

I'd rather he move down the ladder in Germany than go to England. [Everywhere in Germany is down the ladder from Bayern. ]

Booth's decisions have made no sense to me for years, though. He left the RSL academy waaaaay too early, and sat around for a long time before going to Europe. Then the club he went to was one where he was unlikely to get anywhere near the first team. Now he's going to a club in England coached by Jose Mourinho, as much of a veteran's coach as there is? What's the plan here?

Granted, I hated Sebastian Soto's move even more. At least Booth can actually obtain a work permit to play for Spurs (as far as I know). There are worse things than training under Mourinho for a while I guess. There are worse things than training alongside the central midfielders that Spurs have. And I'm sure the paycheck is good.

I just like moves for kids of this age (Booth turns 19 this week) that show a first team plan.

 

What about Chris Richard's move?

 

Eh. Ambivalent.
He was sold to Bayern Munich for a decently sized fee, so Bayern does still have some incentive to continue developing him. [He didn't sign on a free at Bayern like Booth.] I don't believe Chris has a future at Bayern Munich as a first team starter either. That bar is really high. If he's loaned to another team in Germany within the next year then I think he's on a good track. A team like Hannover or Greuther Furth might fight the bill. Play really well there, then he's potentially still a candidate for playing time at Bayern. I don't see any path for Booth whatsoever.

Its always about first team pathway, and it is in the Booth case. Like I said above, I'd prefer that booth move down the ladder in Germany as opposed to heading to Spurs.
I don't know if this source has a clue what they're talking about. They're suggesting that Booth signed a 3 year contract in 2019. That suggests that Spurs can't just sign him if they want to. Hence, the report that Spurs offered him a contract doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe they have "interest" in him.
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.c...yern-munich-feldhahn-contract-extension-3liga

 

It’s worth noting that these are only rumors, and we are all discussing in hypotheticals.

 

Booth may get his debut with the reserves tomorrow.

Personal-Überblick bei den Amateuren:

Verletzt:
- Alexander Nollenberger
- Angelo Mayer
- Michael Netolitzky

Folgende U19-Spieler sind dabei:
- Lukas Schneller
- Flavius Daniliuc
- Dennis Waidner
- Taylor Booth
- Christopher Scott
- Torben Rhein
- Jamal Musiala
- Malik Tillman pic.twitter.com/sohMwrghnc

— FC Bayern News (@iMiaSanMia_GER) May 29, 2020

 

At least this SC Internacional fan account says Johnny Cardoso is the #1 U23-eligible defensive mid in their organization. In the replies, the author says he feels Cardoso is #2 overall behind 32-year-old Damian Musto. I know virtually nothing about their roster but looking through the names, it does appear they have a lot of central and attacking mids and are light on d-mids, so he might have a good opportunity eventually. Cardoso was the captain of their U20 academy team so he's been pretty valued by their organization so far.

#Inter sub23:

Emerson JR (00)

Heitor (00)
Bruno Fuchs(99)
Zé Gabriel(98)
Erik (01)

Johnny (01)

Nonato(98)
Praxedes(02)
Cesinha (00)

Peglow (02)
Guilherme Pato (01)

Netto (98)#CeleiroDeAses pic.twitter.com/31gwUF0cbb

— Bate Papo Colorado (@colorado_papo) May 28, 2020

 

I remember when Rubio Rubin signed with Twente. He had much bigger clubs after him, but a majority were of the opinion it was a good move. His career didn’t pan out to what most of us hoped, but he still saw 1st team time very quick once he was eligible.

I know it takes two to tango, but can’t some of our teens that aren’t under contract start looking at Leverkusen?

 

I’ve long wondered why they were the only big club in the Bundesliga that has taken in no young Americans. I suspect the USA isn’t within their scouting network.

 

They wanted Durkin on loan with a buy option, but DC passed on the offer. But with their structure, you'd think Leverkusen would be scouting the U.S. more hard.

 

According to @mundodeportivo, Monaco & Nice are interested in bringing Konrad de la Fuente in on loan.

Hertha Berlin remain interested as well. pic.twitter.com/2YogDmrogk

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) May 31, 2020

 

KDLF is now in the same orbit as Antonee Robinson. Some, who only pay attention to the occasional big YNT game or USMNT friendly, have a set opinion on the player. Then transfer rumors start. "AC Milan are buying Robinson for $10MM" or "Hertha/Nice/Monaco are after KDLF". They are greeted with, "what? that guy sucks".

I just heard Sam Stejskal, a supposed person paid to pay attention to American soccer, talk about Robinson with only ever recalling his game against Brazil. Even when Tenorio told him Robinson is viewed in England and Italy, as the best attacking LB in the Championship, he can't get it into his head he might be good. It is amazing how people resist new facts or think teenagers can improve.

Brian Kleiban thinks both these players have zero IQ. I find it hard to believe he has watched many Wigan games and it is strange that the pre-eminent team that plays like he thinks is the only way to play, like and developed KDLF.

 

Tenorio and Stejskal talked through several of Robinson's games, but I agree that you are right. People are way too hard on Robinson for getting roasted against a player like Douglas Costa -- it happens -- and way too quick to write off young players.

It'll be interesting to see if Berhalter wants to go dual attacking fullbacks. On one hand, he's been pretty conservative is seemingly wanting to mostly have four players stay pretty far back (DM+2 CBs+LB/CB). On the other, most of his Cbus years had two attacking fullbacks and a DM who dropped back to be the lead CB in a back three, which I can see him doing as well.

KDLF is also super intriguing to me. If he takes a step forward physically, his skill set is pretty darn good. And winger becomes absurdly loaded about a year after we were running out Baird and Lewis as backups -- we could have Pulisic, Reyna, Morris, Llanez, Weah and KDLF. Along with a couple of solid guys like Paul Arriola.

 

Konrad is an underrated prospect. The person who I think needs to speak out on this is Tab Ramos who had both Konrad and Uly together at the u20 World Cup and consistently chose to start Konrad over Uly. I think Brian is trying to downplay the ability of Konrad so he can prop up Uly who is a product of 343.

I think Uly is better than Konrad but if Uly is a 10/10 I think Konrad would be a 9/10 unlike a 4/10 which is what Brian he was. We have not had a player be as successful at the UEFA Youth League level as Konrad also. I think Uly is hyped up so much because he has the 343 guys constantly praising him and promoting him.

Simple player analysis, player positioning, and naming of depth options in the u20 video shows that Brian has not watched a lot of film on the players in this age group. The players he talks about are the ones he has seen in person and the only ones he hasn’t are Owen Otasowie (who he says he doesn’t know much about) and Jose Gallegos. He doesn’t take time to analyze the pool even further and it shows.