FIRST KUIP TRAINING FOR DEMPSEY http://www.feyenoord.com/domains/fe...2.asp?content=12820000003055_2_12770000000008 "American trialist Clint Dempsey trained with Feyenoord for the first time Monday afternoon. The youngster is at De Kuip after making a good impression in his debut MLS season in the uniform of New England Revolution after graduating from college side Furman..." Anyone find it odd that someone there simply to train would be front page news on the club's official web site? The Magpie
FYI, but Dempsey also played in a training match for a combination team from Feyenoord against Excelsior yesterday: http://www.feyenoord.nl/domains/fey...2.asp?content=12790000010196_2_12770000000008 The Magpie
Well, I was going to point out how the training item was below the fold if you were reading the Dutch site, but then they go and post that, complete with highlight graphic. Uh... Also, I don't care how obvious a cognate it is, "middenvelder" is my new favorite word.
I tried to bablefish "balvaardig", it came out in English as "balvaardig." I guess I missed school that day....
Someone who speaks actual Dutch and not its cousin could probably clear this up better, but I'm told the article uses a verb construction that, in German, means he's "just training for now," with an implied "but we might could keep him."
I did the same. But from now on, whenever someone asks about Dempsey, we should just point out how balvaardig he is.
A translation from the YA pileofdogmes..er...thread on the topic "Dempsey made a somewhat unaccustomed but further in every respect reasonable impression in the trained duel. The middenvelder is long, physique very strong but nevertheless also awful balvaardig. The coming days will try he on the training with the first yet more impression to make." also another post
"balvaardig" means good ball skills. Vaardig= skilled, bal=ball. The "awful" part I asume is the same way it does in English: "He is an awfully good player" means very good, not awful in the literal sense. I wonder how many Dutch swear words he's learned by now... Tom
If anyone's interested in the current list of whose training abroad: "AMERICANS ABROAD: Several M.L.S. players will spend part of their off-season training with clubs in Europe. The list includes: Eddie Johnson (FC Dallas/Manchester United), Clint Dempsey (New England/Feyenoord), Ramon Nunez (FC Dallas/Glasgow Celtic), Pat Noonan (New England/Chelsea), Damani Ralph (Chicago/Feyenoord), Steve Cronin (San Jose/Chelsea), Nelson Akwari (Real Salt Lake/Bochum) and Ricardo Clark (MetroStars/Wigan Athletic). Three other MetroStars, Kenny Arena, Michael Bradley and Jeff Parke, will train with Sunderland. Also, 8 of the 10 players selected by CD Chivas USA in the expansion draft will be in Guadalajara, Mexico, training at the club's facilities." http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/s...x=1101244841-UtrXMw7NhFUS+tyQozVzGg&oref=regi
A decent body on the practice field. Noonan gets some exposure and training time with what I consider to be the world's best club (right now at least). It's a win/win situation.
Not to mention reassurance and confidence. For Noonan and Dempsey, the Revs are their first professional team, and it's in the US. Letting them train abroad with other teams (that are known to be top professional clubs) will reassure them that the Revs (or any MLS club) are just as professional as other teams and that boasts well with them. It also allows the players to remain sharp, pick up new skills, and get their name out in the small world of soccer.
It helps them gauge the quality of MLS and young MLS players. Not sure if Noonan is the best choice for that (I'd imagine they are apalled at his first touch), but that's another discussion.
Maybe so, but at least he might have some new, interesting things to say to "De Grote Kaas"--or should we now call him "El Queso Grande"--when he's chain smoking and nervously pacing back and forth on the touchline for Los Goatos... Tom
Gezellig is a favorite of my Dutch friend. Southern Dutch of course. http://www.atyourpace.com/gezellig.html
even though the players/MLS may only have the intention of being there to train, why would these clubs bother unless they're going to consider an offer now or in the future?