Balogun expected at USMNT training tomorrow morning, per @DiegoMendoza29_ 😭😭😭🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4NY1gWWqSO— 🇺🇸 USMNTvsHaters (@USMNTvsHaters) March 23, 2023
The comment section on Folarin Balogun’s latest IG post 😂🇺🇸(h/t @CollegeVenueHub) https://t.co/gUqvcSItgh— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) March 23, 2023
I think this is absolutely an honest weight of options with the United States. I dont think there is any ulterior motive here to get England to act. I think he recognizes hes behind Kane, Rashford, and probably now Toney (who has become an absolute monster for those watching EPL this year). He likely also recognizes he is the ironclad #1 for us up top too. Penciled in every healthy match ironclad number one.
So…we have out-recruited Mexico for Pepi and Zendejas, out-recruited Holland for Dest, out-recruited Nigeria for Dike, Italy and Ghana for Musah…if we get Balogun from England we’ll be on quite a run.
Has the US even contacted him? How many days transpired between Anthony Hudson being asked about Balogun and saying they're in communication with him, and Balogun showing up in Orlando where the USMNT camp is happening? The last we've heard about Amir Richardson was his interview with Brian Sciaretta from 2021 where he said the US has never contacted him... has that changed? Maybe some journalist should ask about him? Does the USMNT staff not consider him worth bothering with because he's in the French second division (with Le Havre who are top of the table, and on loan from Reims so will be in Ligue 1 next season no matter what). Do they view him as the equivalent of Lennard Maloney? We know he's played for French youth teams, and Morocco youth teams... but we also know that his dad Micheal Ray Richardson advises him and said he wants Amir to play for the US.
I think its honestly to check out the American program and to see if he wants to be part of it. Which is awesome, and obviously the best sign we've had in years on this recruitment. Doesn't mean he'll sign on the dotted line, but he's obviously thinking about it. England is so wonky at times. Southgate literally complained the other day that there was so little England-eligible depth to look at in the Premier League that he might have to call up some players from the Championship. Meanwhile, he's not calling up the leading scorer in France to their senior team. You don't have to call up Harry Kane to play Malta for Pete's sake. The way you build depth is by.................expanding the net. Southgate will probably come back with an opportunity at an upcoming camp. Hopefully that'll be too little, too late. What the US has been offering these young players is simple. An opportunity. We can't win 'em all. That's one I think will get away. Richardson is pretty far from France's first team. Very far. They have such ridiculous depth in central midfield. Not guys playing in the French 2nd division. Real-Madrid level depth. Amir is currently with Morocoo U23s, though. They're playing in the CAF U23 Championships that will serve as Olympic qualifiers. The tournament is in Morocco I believe. Is that provisionally cap-tying? Maybe. Who the hell knows sometimes. 🧐 21 yr old 🇺🇸🇫🇷🇲🇦 tri nat midfielder Amir Richardson called up to Morocco's u23s https://t.co/Aj0HEhSpTj— 🇺🇸 ⚽ east (@eastdeflection) March 16, 2023
I agree with people that are saying he sould play for a country that his heart is at. We all know that country is England. Likelyhood for Balogun to play for Enlgand and maybe start is very low maybe as low as me been a pro soccer player. Balogun at best is 6th in England detph and has really only had one good sesson. We also know southgate does not rate any leauge outside of EPL unless you are a World class player. Balogun might not commted to the USMNT or ever but I like where thus is going.
I think the one thing we can't doubt the USMNT coaching staff about is contacting eligible players. He's gonna be a tough get, but we can't spend cycles worrying if the US has even reached out.
Yeah there is no doubt in my mind that if there is a dual national that we can contact and try and sway... we will do it. It may be our confederations best skill overall lol.
Indeed. Dual-nat recruiting is one aspect of the program that none of us should have any complaints about. And that's going back cycles actually. Back to when Thomas Rongen convinced the USSF to take it seriously and actually have a budget for it. We really don't know what's going on behind the scenes with players/agents in many cases.
Absolutely. The old "I haven't talked to them" can often mean "they are talking to my manager or my coaches or my parents." Or sometimes people aren't being honest.
England strikes me as the type of federation that would think, if you’re entertaining the USMNT, we definitely won’t consider you now.
If there was ever a federation to be overly petty to the point of shooting itself in the foot.... it'd be England.
I know everyone says to follow your heart but when you have connections to multiple places that's much easier said than done and many players just aren't super patriotic regardless of country or connection. I have no issues with a guy making a more practical decision based on what's best for him. Frankly, were I in his position I think soccer, lifestyle and financial reasons would be the primary drivers of my choice more than loyalty to a specific country. I think it's a tough call for Balogun. It's a clear path to being a top player for the US against maybe getting there someday for England. That's not an easy choice. He could end up being a guy who would play a ton for England in 3-4 years but he has no way to know that. Injuries, new options emerging, and just random chance could all conspire for or against him over time. He knows he likely walks into a starting role with the US where he will be appreciated right away and can perhaps get some additional sponsorships in the US market. But there is greater status and prestige playing for England, the travel is easier, and it may help him financially as well since England players often get paid a premium if he eventually wants to play in the Premier League, although I'd think US marketing opportunities make this more of a wash. Not an easy decision and one that will have significant effects on his life.
Yeah I suspect this was one of the big reasons we got our other dual-national son of a pro basketball player, CCV as well as Julian Green and others. Obviously differences in the situations, but having a relationship with a parent living in, and pushing for, the US can be a pretty major factor.
If Balogun carries on the performances, then he could very well force his way into the England lineup, especially if he returns to England. But how long does he want to wait? Seemingly, not long. Amir Richardson looks a promising player, but tbh, central midfield is our strongest area.
when I say "follow your heart" (quoting Steve Jobs) ... I mean he should go where he feels the most welcomed and with players he can really click with. We have a young squad (we don't have a Harry Kane or Marcus Rashford we have to worry about always slotting in as the #1) and there is great potential and if Flo gets along well with them - then following his heart could lead him to the US .... maybe he just wants to train and play with Dike, Pefok, Adams, Wes, Yunus, Pulisic and Reyna ...
Here are 2 articles any future usmnt dual-national should read: https://vault.si.com/vault/1994/05/...ooley-joined-the-us-team-to-pursue-his-dreams https://www.espn.com/world-cup/story/_/id/4937012/ce/us/real-story-1950-world-cup-hero
red teaming, if I’m Balogun and I’m trying to hold out for England a little longer, next season I demand an EPL loan. Demand to wolves, Leeds, west ham, Everton, somewhere like that and bet in yourself. Gatecrashing France set the foundations for greatness. Now to do it in England. of course…… if a big French like Monaco or Marseille came in at 30 mil or above, he might not have much of a voice to go back over to Ligue 1. But for both arsenal and Balogun as sake, it Would need to be a permanent transfer to a French heavy hitter Orrrrrrr he could just sign the dotted line for switch this week too that’s be swell as well
From the England camp, re: Balogun: 🗣 "He's been an integral part of our campaign."Lee Carsley highlights the importance of Folarin Balogun, with his international future up in the air pic.twitter.com/jDUvjktxlC— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 23, 2023