interesting info, straight from the horse's mouth. What type of player was he before he went to Europe? Was he at the ODP regional or national level, just state level? How good is he really? EDIT: looking through this thread, it appears he wasn't in ODP at all or got cut proir to showing up on regional rosters. Interestink.
Doesn't this sound like a wild scenario for an unknown 16 year old American? Have we had any confirmation of this other than at his own website? I really want to believe!
A very important tactical point - crossing from near the touchline, so the defenders have to have backs to either the goal or forwards they are marking. That is rarely done in MLS also.
Fingers crossed on this kid. Sounds like he could be special, but it's easy to sound special on paper based on where you play as a teenager. Not ready to pencil him in as a starting right mid in South Africa, but I hope our YNTs start integrating him into the US camp ASAP.
He was never really allowed to play his style here in the US. Pass, Pass, Pass was what he was told. Therefore he appeared to be a very average player. It wasn't until he was in England that he met several people that saw what kind of player he really was that were willing to give him these opportunities.
Something like his Mom paid for all the soccer channels, so everytime he saw a move in the game, he would try it right away in the living room. He would do it repeatly until he is good on it. By himself, he is C. Ronaldo style. I don't think he can survive any US youth Nats where one and two touches are kings.
Whoever becomes our new senior national team coach needs to have control of the youth programs as well. We need to get this kid into U-17 camp STAT and get new coaches that will not stifle his creativity.
He has no problem with one and two touch because that is exactly what he was taught to do at his club, but he is just capable of so much more.
Unfortunately, he's about nine days too old for the current U17 national team. He was born 12/23/89 and the current 17s are for kids born 1/1/90 or later. He is eligible for our U18 National Team, and while the 18s don't have a world championship to play in like the 17s and 20s do, they do have a lot of camps and play in tournaments around the world, etc... So, hopefully the next time they get together, he gets a call. In theory, he could also play with the current U20 team - Freddy and Jozy and 89s, and Jozy is fairly late, though not as late as Manzo - so it's not impossible he could get a look from Rongen. And, if you pencil in a lineup for the 20s, rigtht mid is the one position w/out a glaringly obvious answer (presuming Quavas Kirk plays right back) so it's not that outlandish an idea. Perhaps after qualifying, Rongen will give him a look, too.
Anyone ever post this link? Here's the kid! http://www.manzosoccer.com/ About Me (Eat your heart out, Brad Davis I HAVE VERY, VERY QUICK FEET. I can do lots of tricks with my Freestyle Juggling. I have many soccer tricks/moves in my locker. Moves: Castro (Elastica) Swerve Cruyff Garrincha Stanley Mathews Scissors Move Rivelino Precki Roll Over Shuffle C. Ronaldo Precki Cut (My comment: Yowza! Why hasn't Adu learned this?) Behind Back V Scissors Turn Sniper Block Turn Inside of Foot Turn Drag Scissors Half Garrincha Drag Shuffle Double Shuffle Castro Step Pull Turn Double Lunge Precki Scissors Outside Foot Flick Behind Back Swerve Shot Fake Cut Stepovers Scissors, etc....
I don't think this is a very fair statement. If our next U20 coach brings in a Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen and Marvell Wynne - all of whom weren't in the YNT system till Sigi brought them in - I think we'll all be pretty pleased. Sigi isn't perfect but he's got a good eye for talent (though cutting Charlie Davies was questionable) and he certainly can identify good talent. Look at his first U20 team - Cherundolo, Bocanegra, Gibbs, Howard, Albright, Twellman, Rimando, Califf, Garcia, Pierce, Thorrington - that's a pretty talented core. He may not be the best at grooming that talent, but really, a YNT coach doesn't really spend that much time with the players and it's the job of their club coaches to do that.
December birthday. Those guys generally quit ODP after a couple of years. They have no chance at being selected unless they are really big & really fast for their age, especially in Region 2, which is even more interested in brute-strength players than the other Regions. As for the other topic of discussion, about how Brandon was allowed to dribble in Spain but not in the U.S., I doubt it. That doesn't ring true to me. I think that the real story is, he dribbled a lot as a winger in the U.S., he went to England and played in that style and they dinged him, he went to Spain and played in that style and they liked him.
I think "grooming" was what I was trying to address. I just didn't see much improvement from his Galaxy players while his Crew team was just awful from day one. I mean, we're just showing/talking about Manzo's coterie of moves (though he could have just said, "I copied Garrincha and his 100 moves" and that would have sufficed) and I can't think of a single Galz/Crew member who has become an expert at any of this. It was all 1960's German style long-ball.
Valid question. I've actually never seen a "official" article or link from Villareal saying the kids on the team. If he isn't man did this kid get us good.
It's mentioned on Scott Gallagher's site: http://sgscmember.teammania.net/announcement-info.do?view=3&grpId=1325&announcementId=4542
What exactly are you looking for? Confirmed in what way?....that he actually exists and is at Villareal or that he is talented? Do you think he's making all of this up or do you doubt Villareal's scouts' ability to recognize talent? What do you mean?
Well the STLSoccer.net is not his web site so it isn't as if he is posting this info on his own site. His site is ManzoSoccer.com The news is also on his old youth club site. ScottGallagher.com which also isn't his site. He is a flair dribbler, but can also one and two touch. That is what his old youth club is known for. He also is a good kid with a terrific personality and if his luck continues he will be the sort of person you would want to see succeed.
From his own web site... Brandon Manzonelli Family: Manzonelli, Catherine Primary email: CManzonelli@ScottGallagher.com Number: 7 Nickname: Brandinho or Manzo Position: Wing-mid/Forward School: Lafayette High Grade: 10th Graduation Date: May 28, 2008 Height: 5'7" Weight: 150 Birthday: December 23 Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri US <<<<<<<********** Web Site: http://www.manzosoccer.com/ My Favorites Athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Sports Teams: Manchester United, Barcelona Career Highlights Missouri (1989) State ODP Team 2004-2005 Missouri State Cup Winner 2003, 2005 Missouri State Cup Runner Up 2004 US Club National Runner Up 2004 Named to Top Drawer Soccer's Top Collegiate Prospects of 2008 Varsity High School Player/Starter, Freshmen and Sophomore Years Lafayette High School's Single Season Top Goal Scorer and Assist leader of 2005 Will be featured in a UEFA-Grassroots Film Documentary which will be streamed later this summer on their UEFA.COM website to potentially 2 billion people Will also be featured in a MATRIX ACADEMY DVD (Lancashire, England) Has had a training session with Blackburn Rovers (Blackburn, England) and has been invited back this summer for tryouts Have done camps with Manchester United, AJAX and Arsenal About Me I HAVE VERY, VERY QUICK FEET. I can do lots of tricks with my Freestyle Juggling. I have many soccer tricks/moves in my locker. Moves: Castro (Elastica) Swerve Cruyff Garrincha Stanley Mathews Scissors Move Rivelino Precki Roll Over Shuffle C. Ronaldo Precki Cut Behind Back V Scissors Turn Sniper Block Turn Inside of Foot Turn Drag Scissors Half Garrincha Drag Shuffle Double Shuffle Castro Step Pull Turn Double Lunge Precki Scissors Outside Foot Flick Behind Back Swerve Shot Fake Cut Stepovers Scissors, etc....