If he does well at Antwerp, he will easily get interest from teams in top 5 leagues. They finished 2nd in the Jupiler League regular season last year.
De linksback is eindelijk geland. Drie dagen na de Gold Cup-winst met de VS arriveerde Sam Vines (met vriendin Jess) in België. Op naar zijn medische tests, handtekening en debuut. “Hopelijk snel, want ik zit in de winning mood.” (grijnst) #antwerp pic.twitter.com/0g40c7Oyti— David Van den Broeck (@david_vdb) August 5, 2021 The eagle (and his girlfriend) has landed in Belgium. Asked about about his potential debut: “Hopefully soon, because I'm in the winning mood.”
Official: Er is een akkoord tussen Colorado Rapids & RAFC omtrent Sam Vines! 🇺🇸De linksback legt zijn medische testen af en zal nadien een contract voor 3 seizoenen ondertekenen met één jaar optie! ❤️🤍#RAFC #OneRedFamily pic.twitter.com/OCMDTRzlfj— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) August 5, 2021
Profile (registration required): https://www.socceramerica.com/publi...ady-progress-of-sam-vines-us-left-back-j.html
Said earlier but I think a good move. Antwerp may not be a known team to US followers but they have a great fanbase and I believe are the oldest team in Belgium. Plus since being promoted to the top level a few years ago they have improved every year and have been playing Europa
For the record, Vines made the bench for Royal Antwerp today but DNP in a 1-1 draw (@ Sporting Charleroi).
Intro video: Nice to meet you, Vinesy! 👋🗣️#RAFC #OneRedFamily pic.twitter.com/HNJlIamytM— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) August 18, 2021
Starts in UEL play-off (against Mix): STARTING 1⃣1⃣! 💪#OMOANT #UEL #COYR🔴⚪ #RAFC #OneRedFamily pic.twitter.com/FKBpooFVKj— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) August 19, 2021
Pretty soon Vines will have his own big-boy thread, with the correct club in the title, and maybe even a pbp thread. A few first-half mentions ... "Attempt saved. Björn Engels (Royal Antwerp) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Vines with a cross." {Not a goal. so not an assist} "Corner, Omonia Nicosia. Conceded by Sam Vines." "Foul by Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp)." Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp). 1-1 @ HT
Lost 4-2. Vines was pretty neutral, so typical for him in that way. But he had issues on d, while he made almost all the right decisions in possession. The only goal he shared complicity in was Omonia's 2nd. On a mad scramble off yet another Antwerp TO up the middle, he followed his man inside & didn't rotate back to the scorer where he came from soon enough. Outside that, in general he stepped too late, and didn't have the emergency light on. That's something he was good at in GC, so I'd expect that to come w/ comfort. The passing was encouraging. He can be too passive & not see openings thru d, unlike he did in this game. That was at slower play speed. But I'd always expect him to have a little issues w/ tricky, quick wings, as he doesn't have a lot of burst.
idk... that first goal by AC Omonia seemed to be all on Vines. He pushed up to draw the goal scorer offside but the other two defenders holding the line were much further back keeping the attacker onsides. His mark was the guy who scored and he looked out of position on that goal.
His team wasn't defending. They were in possession. Vines was pushed up a little higher to receive the ball. Then his team turned it over in the center of the park, and probably no fb in the world could have recovered to thwart the chip, but Vines slowed down a little by putting his hand up to call for offsides. It's guilt by association.
We are approaching what I call Onyewu Singularity, which occurs when either all defenders in Belgium are American, or when all American defenders are in Belgium. Fittingly, which it is depends on the Oo property, where O is the growth rate of professional American defenders, and o is the growth rate of Belgian clubs signing American defenders.
The Belgian Waffle: Sam Vines at Royal Antwerp Sam Vines is a Royal Antwerp Sinjoren Sam Vines at Royal Antwerp Sam Vines on the Scheldt: Royal Antwerp Hanging on the Flemish Vines: Sam at Royal Antwerp
On the bench: STARTING 1⃣1⃣! 💪#OMOANT #COYR🔴⚪ #RAFC #OneRedFamily pic.twitter.com/8NXarGg6Ib— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) August 26, 2021
Samuel Marques Lloyd Vines was subbed on in the 78th minute. Antwerp won the 2nd leg 2-0, leaving the aggregate at 4-4. I guess this means extra time.