Henry Wingo at Ferencvárosi TC (Hungary)

They advanced to the next round rather easily, 6-1 on aggregate.

In another era, starting UCL qualies would almost guarantee you a look with the #USMNT. This poor dude is like eighth on the RB depth chart.

 

Not sure about that.

Robbie Russell started in the actual group stages of the Champions League against Arsenal but (due to Dolo and Spector) is without a cap.

There is probably a decent list of uncapped Americans in UCL qualifiers (the Neal Horgan, Cobi Span, and Bryan Gerzicich types). The early rounds of UCL qualifiers are still small clubs.

Part of it is due to the improvement of MLS. Wingo isn't just behind Dest, Cannon, Reynolds, and Yedlin (and Moore). He's also behind Araujo, Duncan, Herrera and probably a bunch of others in the USA.

In another era, guys would turn down offers from MLS teams to go to places like Norway (Bedoya) or Sweden (Davies). It's like that for a lot of other leagues too. Now those leagues typically only have Americans when they're not good enough for MLS teams.

In a modern age, I seriously doubt Bedoya or Davies would have signed for Orebro or Hammarby right out of Boston College. They probably would never have gone to college and would have signed homegrown deals during the 16-18 age range. Then if they were good, they would move abroad to a big 5 league or top team in the middle leagues (Like Gent, Salzburg, one of the Old Firm teams, one of the Istanbul clubs or a Championship promotion contender, or a top half Portuguese team).

 

Word.

Most of MLS is as good as the Championship of BL2 and some are a bit better. Salaries are rising Stateside, so why go abroad unless you're a YNT wunderkind like Pulisic or a better-every-season grafter in his mid-20s like Deuce or Bryan McBride?

Go when you're an already-established MNT contender that European clubs have to spend $$$ on. That way they'll value you more.

 

Do you have any idea whether Russell got into or finished med school? After retiring, he enrolled in a course (at Georgetown IIRC) that prepares graduates for med school. It'd be interesting to know whether he completed the course.

Might be an interesting topic for an article - turning pro in your sophmore year needn't be the end of study. you can keep your options open, etc.

 

Starts yet again in a CL qualifier. Go Henry!!

 

Ferencvaros up 2-0 already in the 40th!!

 

Ferencváros advanced 5-1 on aggregate. They play Slavia Prague on Aug 4th and 10th.

 

Ferencvaros takes the lead before half on one of the bigger goalkeeping howlers you'll ever see. Just let the pass back bounce over his foot into the net. Earlier he had a comical dribbling attempt where the ball just went flying off his foot. He's making Matt Turner look like Jorge Campos.

Edit: Video proof...

Ferencvaros 1-0 Slavia
Own goal (FullReplay)
Share link: https://t.co/ASTtA1JCzA#FTC #SPR #sofascore

— SoccerLiveGoals (@goal2_live) August 4, 2021

And Ferencvaros take a 2-0 lead now. Likely will advance to the final playoff round again.

Wingo's been decent from what I've seen.

 

Ferecvaros are down 1-0 in the return leg and under assault by the mighty Slavia Prague. Raucous atmosphere for this one.

If Ferencvaros can manage 1 goal, Slavia would need 4 in regulation to advance. So really they should be more aggressive. They're holding on for their lives instead.

 

Ferencvaros survive the assault, and will play the winner of Young Boys and Cluj in the final playoff round. Could be some Yank-on-Yank crime.

Off what I saw, Wingo was okay. Would have been a plus, but there was an odd moment late where he didn't clear the ball & lost it in the corner of the box. He rotated well on d, won aerials, & didn't have any bad giveaways other than that.

 

Rested ahead of the UCL qualifiers

 

2-2 now and Ferencvaros down on aggregate. Wingo just tried an overly ambitious 30 yarder.