Arsenal Yankies!

They're well known on these boards. Not well known in the US. Even in the context of US soccer fans...I mean, they're just in the reserves.

I, for one, am excited that Arsenal have moved Danny to left back. The US struggles to develop quality attacking fullbacks, because in general, the best players don't start playing together until they're 16 or so, at the Bradenton camp. So players whose skills might fit play more vital positions for their club teams, and get moved "late" in their careers.

Chris Albright is a guy whom I think might have developed into a really high quality right fullback, but he always played at forward due to his sheer athletic ability, on his youth clubs and in college. When he got to a higher level of play and couldn't overpower people with his athelticism, he struggled. By the time he got moved into a position he can excel at, he's, what, 25 years old? Something like that.

Here's hoping Danny will become our first great attacking fullback. If there's one club that knows how to turn a middie/forward into a quality attacking fullback, I think it's Arsenal.

 

To the hardcore fan, yes.

To the casual fan, most likely no.

 

Simak was supposed to, but Arsenal wouldn't release him for the Olympic Tourney qualifiers. Not required. We were burned big time by players not getting released from Europe and an avalanche of injuries. We promptly got spanked in Mexico City.
The Olympics are not that big of a deal for me, but I would have loved to see Frankie in a US side facing 100K in Azteca. Can't see how that would have hurt him or Arsenal, but I guess he must be pretty important if they didn't want to let him go.
Why do you ask about these two.....just curious.

 

I may be mistaken, but Simek was not released b/c Wenger had him pegged to make his debut in the aforementioned Carling Cup victory.

 

It's very difficult for any youngster to break into one of the top 4 or 5 clubs.
I know Frankie wore the captains armband last year, and he did play first team football in the CCup, but to break into the first team he would have to be extra ordinary. I don't even think very good players get a shot at Arsenal. I would love to see him loaned out to a Championship side this year. We will see. If he doesn't get a sniff this year he has to leave and get first team experience. He will be 22 by next year, and we don't want him to be a reserve lifer.
I think Karby has to have a full year under his belt in the reserves to see where he stands. No way he plays first team football this year. If he does well a loan again would probably be the best move. Don't have much faith in Arsenal blooding youngsters.
Again - Why the curiousity?

Yes, he may have been slated for Carling Cup duty, but I wasn't sure.
(why Arsenal didn't release him)

 

by the way, we are Yanks, not Yankies. The baseball tream are Yankees, but the rest of us are Yanks!

 

But which way did the causation go? Did he get the Carling Cup opportunity because he wasn't allowed to go to Olympic qualifying? Only Arsenal really knows.

 

it was the U20 World Cup not Olympic Qualifying

 

Simek participated in the U20 World Youth Championship qualifying tournament that was held in Charleston SC at the end of 2002.

 

Some of us hate the aforementioned baseball team enough even the term "Yanks" gets on our nerves.

 

I absolutely agree. Yank should be reserved for the northeast coast people.

I hope we can see Simek and others getting on first team duties elsewhere in Europe, only so they can get a legit shot at the US mens national team.

 

You didn't offend anyone. If you are a big baseball fan here it is kind of like Man U. You are either a huge NY Yankee fan or you hate them with every fiber of your being. I'm lucky...I just don't like baseball.
If you like Yanks, here are some other players to keep an eye on in England.

Jay Denny - Stoke City - youth player of the year, just signed his first pro contract as he just turned 18, memeber of US U20 squad
John Spector & Kenny Cooper - Man U - Spector was Man U's young player of the year also, only 18 and was given a bench spot at year's end for the first team once, considered a can't miss by most observers...for Man U! Exciting stuff.
Cooper is 21 and is very large and imposing. Scored at least 12-14 goals in the reserves in I believe a half year. Will got a shot somewhere, just not sure where yet. Another half seaso, year, of this type of production will tell.
Zak Whitbread - Liverpool - left back for the reserves, very steady, looked like he was very close to getting at least on the bench or on the field if a defender was needed this year...with the change of coach, who knows, definite P'ship prospect, need first team somewhere, I believe only 20 or 21.
Jemal Johnson - Blacburn U19's & reserves last year - only know that he scored quite few golas last year, don't know of his potential

Hope that helps. I'm sure others will chime in if I missed somehting or soemone.

 

It's not a shame at all. Just takes a little time. The talent is now getting there. Most Yanks understand that EU and UK players will always get first crack. To spend money on an import a director or manager has limited spots and you want to import a difference maker, and someone who has a history.
Some African nations and of course South America fit the bill.
10 years ago the talk was that no Yank would ever make it. Keeper, field player...anyone. The progress has been slow and steady.
The way Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride have stepped right into the P'ship
from MLS and have not looked out of place, or have been overwhelmed, like many English critic were hoping, only helps give managers & directors more confidence (just like with the keepers). A matter of time, and it's coming sooner than you think. While Caudio Reyna was not an MLS prospect he obviously belongs in the P'ship.
The way Southhampton fans were and are genuinely dissappointed that DaMarcus Beasley didn't sign for them, and are very hopefull he still will, tells a lot. Even two years ago, the thought of signing a Yank field player would have been met by universal skepticism and constant slagging off. Times they are a changing.
All of the players I mentioned above are rated very highly by their teams. Almost all of them are (not sure about Johnson) expected to get P'ship opportunities, and are expected to play professionally at some level. Just a matter of where they eventually will wind up. In about 5 or 6 years the sight of an American will become common place. Don't forget young Yanks are playing and producing around Europe now, not just England.
There are prospects and players in the Bundesliga (Mathis, Cherundolo at Hannover),
Casey (Mainz) and a couple in Div Two. At Ajax (John O'Brien - oft injured but a lock when healthy, even wore the armband once last season) - Onewyu (young tough defender - Metz) Robbie Russel - Rosenborg ( just signed to play right full back, considerd to be the best right full back in Norway right now, only 24. There are others and our reach is spreading.
Three to keep your eye on...real gems.

Danny Szetela(16) - monitered and visited sevral P'ship clubs inc Man U , turned down Everton contract recently because of age, will sign in MLS for a couple of years before moving
Spector (17) of course
Eddie Gaven (17) - NY Metrostars, the kid already looks and plays like a man - Man City has been the most recent major suitor.

The great thing is that there are many other very good players, and as the league grows here they will only get better. Rememeber this post in 5 years and think of how the image has grown. It's not a matter of "if" anymore, it's a matter of when. In some cases, when is really now.

Most seem to think there will be some magical over night explosion. That wil never happen. Slowly, but surely over time. The improvement in just the last 3 or 4 years has been fantastic. As a long time US supporter it's wondefull to see. Also, do not disocunt MLS. Obviously not a top league, but on par with the mid Euro leagues. The play has greatly improved in the last couple of years, and now each team features young Americans who are the main producers on each squad. In the past, it would have been a foreigner. Not anymore. Big sign, big step.

 

however, one major problem with american players in england is the dreaded work-permit. you pretty much have to be a national team starter to get a shot at playing in the uk, thereby limiting the number of possible yanks abroad to 10-15 players. all the american youth players that are currently playing in england have some sort of eu passport via ancestry or, more rarely, dual citizenship. therefore, the vast majority of our brightest stars are actually playing in mls or attending the bradenton youth academy in florida (the place that produced adu, donovan, beasely, szetela).

in the past, young talented americans have typically gone to germany or the low countries. this trend has continued with guys like casey (bundesliga), yi (antwerp), and o'brien (ajax). but now we have several talented young players in france, denmark, and norway.

 

Speak for yourself you carpetbacking scalawag!!

Some of us are rebs!!

(channeling the ghost of Stonewall Jackson...)

 

I guess when the first American goes to a top club and fails, and then we can take that as the next step in the progression of American football. How many (your country) players go to Spain, Italy, France or stay and home and are hyped as then next coming of (fill in blank with favorite player) and then flop. This is a risk that is run into any sport, and people tend to be even more critical when you are signing a player from another country where the main sport is NOT the main sport he is to play (look to all next superstars from Eastern Europe to play in the NBA). This is just an evolutionary process though. First the flops get the door open, then come some legit players that get limited playing time but don't look too bad, then comes a good one and all is forgotten.
When will be the first 10m+ transfer deals from MLS? Good question. We might never. If Adu and Szetela pan out, maybe, but I don't really see MLS as a league to produce that many quality players. Part of the equation is to somehow spark demand enough that people are willing to pay that high of a price. This would entail, IMO, having more than one or two players that might be able to fetch that. I think MLS, at best, will develop good young talent who will likely go over while still young (see Gaven, Beasley, Donovan, Convey, ...) and relatively cheap (under 3m). They will continue to develop at the initial European club, and then maybe you will see your 10m+ transfers. If this happens over and over again then we will see more US players going over because clubs can then use them to generate profits (like many Dutch clubs do with South Americans).

Note: this has strayed from the topic and may need to be moved to a new thread.

 

Excellet question. Again, this is something that will not happen overnight. It is getting there and the US is now producing some dynamic talent, but it will take time. Perception sometimes takes a while to catch up to reality.

McBride hasn't been super, but then again he has not been bad at all when you look at number of matches played between Everton and Fulham, and number of goals scored. He has also produced and played immediately, and has forced both managers to keep playing him. McBrides' best years are behind him, and if he could have come to England when he was 22, 23 or 24 I can't imagine how much better he would be. He is not a great player, but that is my point. He is a good player who is aging (beyond his best years), but yet he has stepped right in twice, and he is has been accepted by both players, fans & the team.
His sacrifice wil help other young players get their shots earlier. Look at the way Bocanegra (24) has stepped right in. MLS player no one knew about. Scoffed at. In one half season has established himself and stepped in immediately and seamlessly.The work permit is a big problem though, and it will restrict many US players in the future. Germany, and Spain is starting to show interest in US youngsters, will be future destinations (Holland, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark contingent will continue to grow). There are also a couple of US youngsters doing well in Brazil right now for U17 squads. We are talking center mids and projected future first teamers, not part timers, by their organizations. There are also several MLS players who have turned down contracts with high profile clubs to stay at hime. Remember, the US is not Africa or SAmerica where many players have to leave to live well and make a good living.
Eddie Pope turned down Dortmund a (four year contractz) in 98 because he wanted to stay home with his family. Ned Grabavoy (21 year old playing his first pro season in LA) just turned down a 3 year contract with Monaco - yes, that Monaco who just played in the CL final.
MLS turned down Bayern Munichs low ball offer for Mathis (what Southhampton are trying to do now with Beasley). Adin Brown, a promising young keepr for New England, had a bid turned down by MLS for Eindhoven (he promptly got hurt and hasn't been able to stay on the field since - who also want Beasley to replace Aren Robben). The interest has been there and is growing. These are just some of the higher profile bids.
Landon Donovan will be returning to Bayer Leverkeusen. Being forced. He doesn't want to, but they own his rights. In January expect him to be sold somewhere (projected by Euro agents in th5-7 million pound range). Several big Euro clubs (including Man U) are tracking him. He could stay in MLS because he likes it in the states, even though there is little doubt he could compete at the highest levels.
Remember, at top clubs, even with the best players, with the best pedigree's, timing and coaching has a lot to do with success. Henry wasn't exactly a star in Italy. Veron was great in Italy, but not in England. For a non EU Yank it will certainly be harder. It is again a matter of when, not if.
Several have the potential to be stars. Beasley and Donovan at the forefront.
Gaven, Adu, Szetela, Denny and Spector stand out as some of the youngsters, but have no doubt, the pro ranks in Europe are growing yearly, with Americans becoming integral parts of teams, instead of novelties or bench warmers. As perception changes, the prices will go up.

A healthy John O'Brien (Ajax) could play anywhere in England. Not neccessarily a star, but he would not be out of place on any team. One of the best Ajax performers in the CL two years ago when they made an impressive run. Beasley and Donavon would not be out of place anywhere, but coaching and opportunity have a lot to do with it. Let's face it, a quality youngster will get a shot at Man U. Less likely at Chelsea, Arsenal or the Pool.
This group of yopungsters will have to grow up and earn their way like anyone else. At least now it looks like they will have opportunities. In the past there were very few.

As we speak Euro influence grows. Juergan Klinsman has been sending one Yank over to Bayern each spring and winter to train until he turns 18. It is expected he signs at 18, Robbie Rodgers. As more Euros are scouting the states, and as US players prove themselves to be less of a risk, the transfer of players will increase and happen more frequently, and quickly. You see this starting to happen now, and it will keep increasing, until 5 or 6 years from now you won't think twice.
Donovan will demand he biggest fee, and I'm sure Adu will evetually surpass it. Again, it's not a false hope anymore. The players and system are there. As they grow and improve everything else will.
My worry is that foreign countries are already trying to woo some of our younger better prospects because of the big melting pot here. Szetela could play for Poland and they want him. Spector for Germany. Adu for Ghana. Gaven for Ireland. This is a good problem because it means they have talent, but I don't have to like it. By 2010 the US will be considerd a footballing country by all. They may not like it because of politics, envy, etc, but the players will be there. Not bad already, but getting better.

People pay and use what they are comfortable with. There are many MLS players who would demand much more if they were from the EU. It's just a fact. If I am a director and my ass is on the line I pay for what I know. As Yanks become more known, so will everything else.

 

a healthy john o'brien could start on any team in the world.

 

for what it is worth, McBride had one of the highest strike rates in the EPL per minute. I think he had 5 goals in the equivalent of 9 games. So it is simply wrong to suggest that he was a failure.He will probably figure big in Fulham's plans. And I am not convinced his best days are behind him.