Picked up, the May issue, I couldn't believe it. An English publication writing this? Freddy Adu (of course) - "... Adu is an unbelievable player. Aged just 13, many claim he can become one of the best players the world has ever seen." [They must be reading my posts ] Memo Gonzalez - "silky-smooth ... a left-footed gem able to control the pace of the game" Eddie Gaven - "good finisher and ball winner," who is described by John Ellinger as "our most consistent player at a high level" Santino Quaranta - "a magician with the ball at his feet" [A U.S. player called a ball magician?] Eddie Johnson - "brilliant with his back to the goal' The article claims that Udinese, Dortmund and others are eyeballying Memo and Gaven, while Sir Alex is contemplating a double scoop of both Quaranta and Johnson (!). Wow. To be honest, I thought this was an advertorial, but no, it's firmly tucked away in FourFourTwo's World Soccer news coverage. Haven't read so much gushing since the last 14 year old girl posted her feelings about Donovan on the Quakes board.
442 is a pretty balanced magazine, so I'm not completely surprised by this. I can't wait to get this issue.
The Tino and Johnson to Manu has been speculated for a while. Was this a story on all US talent in the youth ranks? Seems its not just the U-17's, unless they just included Tino and Johnson because of the Manu links.
It figures. Just when I let my subscription lapse... Just out of curiosity, does the article describe how they came by the information they used to make the assessment? For example, did they have a guy following the US U-whatever teams or is it info picked up from pro scouts or something else?
Information Who knows? No source given. And no, this is not specifically a U17 article. Rather, a qaurter-page sidebar about the hottest young prospects in the U.S., from the European/professional perspective.
I picked the magazine up as well. It talks a lot about Adu in that article as well, but nothing new. There is also a page about MLS that has a picture of the team uniform and a 2003 season preview right beside it. Only problem is the uni pics are from last year. They don't have the nice kits from this year.
Santino, a magician? Maybe at a three year old's birthday party. I agree--look at the tapes. he hasn't done diddly for DCU this year when I have watched.
What a waste of time it would be for them to go to manu. Why so they can sit the bench? That does nothing for you.
Johnson's now a starter, only missing out on Dallas' first game. Quaranta has started every game this year. He started every game he played last year, missing others due to injury and YNT games.
They'd acutally end up being loaned to a lower division side for a couple of years. But I must concede that training with the best players and with one of the best managers in the world is likely to have no impact on their development.
Actually, i think very highly of Quaranta. He holds the ball well, dribbles around defenders, has a good shot, etc. The problem with DC is that they are not working as a team. Quaranta, as an individual player is outstanding. If you put Quaranta in the middle of the River Plate attack, you will also say that he is a magician with the ball.
Yea, I remember those days. Now with a subscription I have my June '03 issue already. Although I have noticed that the issues seem to make it to the shelves quicker than they used when I first discovered 442 almost 5 years ago . . . at least at the local B and N around here they do. As to the article, it was nice to see. No new info, of course, for those who follow U.S. soccer closely. And I think the ideas of where these players might land in Europe is a bit overly optimistic and unrealistic. But I think the article itself as well as the speculations it contained are signs that that the US is gaining some respect in the soccer world and is being recognized as being able to produce soccer talent (or at least potential). Arkady Gelman wrote the US's top prospects. Not sure if he also did the MLS 2003 Guide or not. And I'm not sure who Gelman is.
I wonder if it's the kid on this team...there can't be too many Arkady Gelmans out there. http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/churchillhs/athletics/SOCCER/bvroster.html
it seems to me that both ej and quaranta have gone into a rut in their development. manu is not likely to be wasting time with them any more. maybe the hype got to them - ej especially.
If Man U shares your premise, they could just as easily see it as reason to become involved with them now. Because both have tremendous ability, Man U. might have been willing to wait see if they develop in MLS. But if they're not developing, and Man. U. thinks it's because of MLS coaching, environment, etc., then they might see that as a reason that they need to get involved now, before these two talent's are wasted. At least that's another way to look at it.