An article by Chris Bergin says that Danny is in the process of getting his Italian passport and expects to head to London after Independence Day. http://www.planetfootball.com/artic...itle=American+itching+to+start+Arsenal+career
he is not cap-tied to the united states yet... he is an american, he gets his italian passport through his mother’s italian heritage. http://www.arsenalamerica.com/more/page.php?item=370
He's gotta break through the ranks at Arsenal before anyone gives a rat's arse about him. Definitely not a given.
reading his comments makes me worry that MLS scouts are not up to the task identifying the best talent in USA, is this a fact ? Karbassiyoon : “MLS did try to get me to enter the draft but they didn't show very much interest in it,” he added. “I'm not quite sure why ...."
They rate other players higher. His EU passport gives him an advantage over more skilled players who don't have the EU passort. UK teams can't sign our youth because there's practically no way that they'll qualify for the UK work permit, unless they have the EU passport(residency/citizenship). I wouldn't be surprised if half of this was a marketing ploy by Arsenal to gain more fans here in the U.S. You've already seen ManUre's agreement with the Yankees, etc. They want to keep pace with ManUre, and they can afford to take a gamble.
In all fairness to MLS, it seemed like it was a done deal that he would sign with Arsenal. In addition, it has always been hard to tell who amongst teenagers is going to rise to the top. When George Best was trying out for Northern Ireland's 16 and under team, the last roster spot came down to either him or another player. The five person selection committee had a secret vote to determine which of the two final players would make the squad. George Best didn't make it. In fact, only one of the five on the committee voted for George Best. To this day, every member of that committee swears that they were the one that voted for him. Let's just enjoy Danny's opportunity and hope for the best. (I didn't really have anything important to add to the thread, I just love a good George Best story.)
Nice story, but basically what you're looking at is who can offer the most money and best footballing environment. Here's a hint Danny Boy, MLS can't compete with Arsenal...that's another huge reason they weren't interested.
No offense, but the marketing ploy theory is a pretty weak argument. I mean come on, this signing isn't going to be all over the NYTimes tomorrow morning. It'll never reach anywhere except these boards. I've never even heard of this kid. Does anyone know who he is? He's not involved with U.S. Soccer national team pools either.
Hey, if the kid makes it, Arsenal suddenly becomes a much more popular club(like Ajax) here in the states.......little things like this can even sway future players' choice on clubs("Danny K went to Arsenal, hmmmm.") It's an investment in more ways than one on Arsenal's part. The kid is a regional ODP player in VA, who is going to play in an U19 tournament with the U18 national team this spring. He's already 18, but not quite good enough for the 20s, and too old for the U17s. He'll be ineligible for the U20 WC in 2005 also because he'll be turning 21 later that year. If you're a big club like Arsenal, you can afford to take a gamble. Honestly, if he makes it at Arsenal, you don't think that they couldn't sell 1-2K in jersies in the U.S. at $75 a pop? 2K * $75 is $150,000.
point well taken. I didn't mean it wouldnt help Arsenal's popularity, but I certainly don't think it played a SIGNIFICANT role in their signing him. Thanks for the info about him tho. I didnt see his name in any of the player pools.
It looks like he has one of those wierd birthdays where he is too old for the u17's and not good enough for the older teams. Also, some players are just late bloomers that take time to grow into their body and their game. If he is good enough to play for Arsenal, I think at some point, he will be given a chance with the Nats.
Discussed in detail here before: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24980&highlight=karbassiyoon
Since he's not a legend of Adu-esque proportions, i agree that it's a possibility. But I think it's more likely that there was a conversation that sounded like this. "We really should try to sign an American if one is good enough, and has EU status. There are alot of kits sold there, and likely to be more in the future, and we can't let ManU get a stranglehold on the market." "There's a kid Karbassiyon, he's very good, getting better, not quite Arsenal material, but close." "OK, let's take a flyer on him. Plus, having him might make it easier to sign The Great One when he turns 18." But then, doesn't Arsenal already have a Yank? Simek, right? I could see it both ways.
They already have an American at Arsenal, Frank Simek, Defender, and he has been doing well, recently playing in a few reserves matches.
If you'd like to read what the scout from Arsenal who watched Danny and recommended his being given a trial, has to say about the reason they are signing him, you can read it here: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NextStep/1042297216/view I don't doubt that someone in marketing there recognizes the possibilities of having an American on board and hopes for the best, I doubt entirely that this in any way would dictate football decisions. fyi, he was in at least one Region I pool, but is generally acknowledged as something of a late bloomer. Playing for the national U18s at Chula Vista in January, he scored a hat trick against Region III after being kept off the scoresheet in the first two matches.
scoonie I have to agree with you, anything else is speculation. I have read a few articles by real soccer writers who belive that this country has hundreds of talented soccer players in the youth divisions and the inner cities. This youngsters get lost thru the cracks because there is a flaw with the system and scouting. Understandably this country is huge, the resources may not be there , perhaps. Has anyone seen this kid play soccer among us here at bigsoccer ? are there any reports to make us belive he is not realy that good but is a ploy to bring awarness of Arsenal to this shores? Is there any proof to that. Another question to answer, who was first to approch this kid Arsenal or MLS.
Thank you... while reading this thread I was wondering if someone was going to remember Frank. Hmmm, maybe Danny went there because they already had an American on the books? Anyway, I agree with the previous poster that said it sounded like a slam dunk that he was going to Arsenal and MLS never really had a chance after they showed interest.
Thats an awsome article and I love the story. Its great to hear how they treated him so well and to read about how much fun he had. I mean, how many 18 year old youth soccer players in America get the chance to score off a Thierry Henry Pass, and be matched up against Sol Cambell? Then sit down for lunch with Dennis Bergkamp? Its also pretty cool to hear the Arsenal scout say that he didn't look out of place training with the 1st Team. Good luck to the kid and I hope he continues to have fun.
?To be quite frank, when he was training with the reserves, he didn?t look out of place one bit. It was a pressurized situation for the kid, and he responded very positively,? Rowley said. ?He needs to work on a few things practically, which is to be expected, but his general play was right up to the standard. When he went to train with the first team, to be honest he didn?t look out of place. He was being marked by Sol Campbell and it didn?t worry him at all.? ... Rowley says his club will continue to scour American soil for up and coming talent. You?ve got to recognize that at a grass roots level, soccer in America is huge,? he said. ?It?s an avenue we haven?t explored too much, but my club will be doing so. You have so many players playing over there, there are certainly going to be some very talented youth. It?s very logical.? from the article - wow - "did not look out of place" about time they start scouting this soil - did Arsenal just now figure out the numbers? whether marketing ploy or the real deal - one way or the other they are paying more attention to the goings on here in the States - either they want the soccer $ from the fans - or they are looking for low cost talent opportunities. Good for Danny K.
Singing some Yank at the youth level is going to sell more jerseys? Who beside a random person or three and the kids family are going to be swayed by this?
I hate to even bring this up, but I'm guessing this kid is of Asian descent? (I'm using Asian in the British sense, ie Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan origin) There's no reason for Arsenal to take a kid just b/c of his race (they'd just sign another Inamoto or his Indian equivalent if they all they wanted was to sell jerseys) but if he's got potential and he's Asian, they would be ESPECIALLY keen to sign him up. The first English team with an Asian star will make mega-millions in the UK. There's a huge population and that chick who can Bend it Like Beckham is the most famous Asian footballer in the country by a long, long ways...
mik...the question came up at Bergin's site, and the answer there is that his dad's family is Iranian.
Ok, this whole idea of Arsenal signing a kid for marketing reasons is hysterical. The Bush administration just fired the gal who supposed to sell the US to the Arab penninsula. Maybe the Yankees could draft a Saudi kid for their AAA club and that'd do the trick.