Is EPB able to get a work permit for England? I thought that was part the reason he was on loan instead of u23. The edited clips I've seen of his play look really good. And at least for a while he was leading the league in pass completions, even with a high rate of long balls. Doubt even with a work permit this would get him playing time with City, but I think his time in Europe is still far from being a bust.
Anyone know if there are any rumors of Nati Clarke getting a homegrown player contract any time soon? He's 15. Busio was 15, EPB was 16. From all the reports you hear on him he sounds like one they would want to lock down with a contract a few years before they plan to play him.
To qualify for a UK work permit, he'd need to appear in 75 percent of the USMNT games for two years in a row. Given that he hasn't played for the side since 2018, that would means he's now, at least 2 years away from a WP. But, realititically, he's not front and center of the mix. To get in 75 percent of the games, he'd need a lot of really drastic changes to the current group, mass injuries sort of thing. I think the notion many had of DM as his path forwards with the nats is kind of dead. At CB, he's not topping the charts, so it's impossible until six months after his contract expires. That said, no one else has that strict a WP requirement. I don't think he's been a failure in Europe. I think he's been a success, but when you sign for Man City you kind of expect to play, one day at least, for Man City, and by that measure, he's fallen quite a bit short. I think he has a chance at long and really cool career, but it looks to be at clubs about the size of Rapid Wien. Now, I love Vienna. One of the world's best cities, imo.But his current club isn't any bigger, or better, than SKC,. and hasn't helped him back onto the USMNT ( i don't know if he still wants this, but if he does it's an issue ). If he was playing at a high level, week in, week out, for SKC, he'd be more a part of the discussion than he is now. I've read a lot of folks suggesting he should move to the German Bund, with a mid table side, etc, but there is a problem there, and that is that these clubs have not come calling. The top clubs in the Eredivsie also haven't come calling. He may have found his level. It is not a bad level. he is a good player, and I believe he would be massive for us. But making the jump to the top 5 league side looks to be a long shot now, and outside of those obviously fantastic leagues, I'm not sure SKC isn't a better place for him.
Oopsie. Austria Vienna, not Rapid. I get them mixed up all the time, but Rapid is the better side, and EPB's is the side in the relegation playoff places.
Austria Wien is 6 points above the relegation spot, but is in the lower half of the Austrian Bundesliga. EPD played the whole game in Center defense. He has played all of 8 of 9 games. One yellow so far this season.
The Austrian bund puts the bottom six into a relegation playoff, or relegation league, and a championship playoff, or league, after 22 matches. Austria Vienna is a single point below the championship playoff (league) but that makes them in the relegation part of the equation.