He was called into the first team squad for last nights game against West Bromwich Albion who are now a premier league club. He must be improving if he is now with the first team. On the Stoke message boards it says he scored the winner for the Stoke reserve team, and in the process clinching the reserve team championship. Does anyone know if Rongen is looking at this guy? Surely at 18 he is making a big step up in class if he being considered for a squad in the English Division One?
I found this to be interesting... Stoke cast their net towards the USA By Gareth Cooper Date: 18/3/2004 Stoke City are looking to further their scouting system in the direction of the United States. Football executive John Rudge has been over to America recently to assess the sitution. Meanwhile we have news of how our US U-20 International Jay Denny did while playing out in Florida last month http://stokecity.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=944&p=2&stid=8342318
That is interesting, Denny must be doing enough if Stoke City sent someone over to the States to check other players out?
Denny was in Rongen's February camp -- played against the Crew. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=54116 So, no opportunity to rag on Rongen here.
Just a guess, but i think there is a good chance of Jay getting called into the under-20 camp when they travel to the Milk Cup in July. From earlier reports im pretty sure Jay split time between the right side of the midfield and the center of the mid for Stoke City reserves. The last camp Rongen was using a 3-5-2 formation. So Jay could fit right in on the right side of the midfield. LM-Alvarez CM-Eddie Gaven CM-Danny Szetela/Craig Capano RM-Jay Denny CDM- Danny Szetela/Craig Capano
I wasn't dissing Rongen, I think that he has done and is doing a fine job with the under 20's. I think that Denny is an attacking midfielder from the centre, his goal ratio is impressive looking at his stats from the Stoke City websites. I was surprised to see his progression into the first team camp as he seems an unknown quantity to most people, but he must have something going for him to make that step.
This seems to have more to do with Denny playing for Stoke's first team than it does about his status with the USA's Under-20's. Therefore, moving the thread to Yanks Abroad.
I agree, very strange.................................... Someone mentions that he could get called into a milk cup competition??? What is this? Just checked on the Stoke City site, looks like he has been given a first team squad number (35) also he is mentioned as 'Player of the Season' for the reserve team on a Stoke City site called Oatcake. Pretty cool.
Given the overlap of topics, I sent a copy of this thread back to Youth National teams and left it up for Yanks Abroad readers as well.
Jay has scooped the Young Player of the Year also! A new link with some more good news about Denny, this is a nice tribute to what looks like a promising young talent. Just about halfway down the page http://stokecity.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=944&p=2&stid=8347009 Well Done Jay!
Re: Jay has scooped the Young Player of the Year also! Nice Find! Named THE YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR from The Oatcake (Stoke City Fanzine Online)
The article mentions that he is "eligible" for the US team. Not that it really matters, but was he born in the US or england? Just wondering.