played the full 90 last night for liverpool reserves in their win 1-0 against wolves. he was named man of the match. <Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Zak Whitbread, outstanding at centre half and made two last ditch saving tackles to deny Wolves. > so three youth yanks abroad started in reserve team action last night, for three of the biggest clubs in england. cooper with man u, simek with arsenal, and whitbread with liverpool. whitbread has been playing reserve games all season, and i bet he will make his first team appreance this season in the beginning stages of the fa cup or worthington cup.
Quite an accomplishment for these young Yanks. I hope that in two years time we have Yanks (field players) starting for all three of the big EPL clubs. I have high hope for the US in '06 and '10, given all these young players pan out.
Too bad that Liverpool won't let him play in the U-20 World Cup. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NationalTeams/20031007205641/view
yeah, ain't that some garbage?? i wonder if english teams are stopping other reserve players who play for the english squad from going to play. this seems to be a very meanspirited thing to do to a young player.
Long term. it's in the kid's best interests. If he goes all over playing for youth teams, he may not mature into a first team player. So, he plays internationally for the U-20s, but who knows what happens later. If he stays put and becomes a solid part of the Liverpool squad, you can bet on his seeing action on the full US team. I have no problem with leaving guys with their clubs, as long as they are with good teams. Long term, becoming an integral part of a top flight club is going to be much more valuable than playing in a couple of youth tournaments.
Yeah, seriously, because those two weeks that he would miss at the cup, as we all know, are pretty much vital to a young player's development. If he just goes holidaying, slacking off playing international tournaments, he'll never amount to anything.
I thought that it is country over club under a FIFA rule. In this case, it is a FIFA official event over some reserve matches. Have Whitbread been cap-tied to the US? I knew he had played for the US U-20, but official games?
No he's not cap-tied to the US. He did play in a summer tournament in Spain with the U20's, but it was not a fifa sanctioned tournament. That means that if there was ever a time to cap-tie him, it would be for this up coming U20 tournament. If it doesnt happen there, it might/probably will never happen.
Considering the number of injuries in the back line that Liverpool have had lately-- eg., to Carracher, Henchoz-- and Hyppia and Biscan being on bad form, could Whitbread be held behind at Anfield for the possibility of getting a shot in the first eleven? Worth thinking about, at least as a cover, that's for sure. I took the linked article as saying that Whitbread is being denied clearance for the U-20s camp, but not necessarily for the upcoming World Championship.
It's not specifically about what would get him playing more or better soccer for those two weeks. It's about showing dedication and committment to his club and making himself a part of things, which enhances his standing at the club and makes him more likely to grow into an integral part of the team. And, yes, growing into an integral part of a top team is more important than playing a youth tournament.
true usually but not in this case as far as the USA goes.Zak is a dual US/UK citizen and there will not be another "official " game until Olympics or Olympic quali, when he maybe MORE important for Liverpool.He was brought up in England from what I understand, so if he is REALLY good, I would not assume he will choose to play for the USA.If he is as promising as we hear, I would LOVE to see him capped by Rongen right here, right now.
Do you really think England has a greater chance of winning the World Cup than the US? It is much harder to qualify and there is so much more pressure for them to do well. Also since he has already played for the U20s, I take that as a pretty good indication that he wants to play for the United States.
They may or may not have a better chance of winning the World Cup. That doesn't matter. What matters is that most people believe that England has a better chance of winning a World Cup before the U.S.. Especially if we are talking about a kid who grew up in England.
This may perhaps be too practical a consideration, but for a player expecting to play his career in the EPL (or even MLS for that matter) Concacaf call ups are problematic since they don't always follow the international calendar, are further travel than many (tho not all) of the Euro countries etc. I don't know that that would affect me as a player, but if I was the club I'd prefer my kids play for England. That said, the "luster" of playing in the EPL is a bit higher for a US international at the moment than for an England international. Not that it gives youa free pass, but it will get you a longer look. Hopefully, in the end the kid plays for the country he feels most passionately about...
Unless it has changed the policy, CONCACAF qualifiers do follow the international calendar and Bruce Arena almost never calls up players for friendlies, or even the Gold Cup, when they are playing for their club. The latter could change with a new coach, but right now it is not much of an issue.
Could be my memory's gone. Maybe it's only that MLS doesn't adhere to the interenational calendar, but I thought there were some comflicts in the past. Nonetheless, playing concacaf q's certainly has been an issue. Both Reyna and JOB (as well as Wanchope and other CAF players) have had problems getting good-grace release at various points in their career. Even Euro players are often very strongly discouraged by their clubs from playing internationals, especially in the midst of CL/UEFA season. And those that have further to go - CAF, SA, Asia are pressured more. But again, I doubt that kind of scheduling issue carries much weight when a kid is deciding what country to play for.
Agree. Either the English have alread set sights on him, and/or the kid is not certain he wants to play for the US...Anyway, Rongen better talk to the kid and discuss what he really wants...This whole Liverpool excuse/"explanation" seems absolutely ludicrous....Two weeks is nothing for Liverpool to miss a reserve player....
I cannot stand the mentality of "let's cap him before England gets a chance." If Zak - or any other player - is not 100% sure he doesn't want to play for the US, then the US should wait for him to make up his own mind. If he leads England to the WC, more power to him,
It would also be better chance for Whitbread to play for the USMNT than England. I never saw him in action. If he is good enough for England, I don't know. But if I were him, I would think..... what if I got capped by England U-20 team but never made it beyond the U-20.... I would have played in a WC Finals with the USA. And what if i got capped by USA U-20 now, I become so good that I miss my chances with England where I could win the European Championship or WC. I do not blame him. If my father is English, I would consider England as much as the USA. And he is so young and still plays in the reserve, the future is very uncertain. It's liked a HS student without a college acceptance(never mind a college degree) making a decision on Merrill Lynch or JP Morgan.
The US has more potential than does England for winning regional and world championships. For all the prestige asociated with playing in a top European league it doesn't translate into greater success internationally. England has gone a long time (since 1966) without reaching the heights of the world game. They do always seem to be on the cusp of reaching that level and there is certainly that expectation, at least within England. Yet for all the talent and experience that the players have, they somehow have fallen short many times in recent years. If I were a young player with dual nationality and saw all the young talent the US is beginning to turn out every year, I would have to give the edge to the US, it would certainly be tough decision; but the US is a legitimate choice.
Whitbread would definitely have a better chance of getting playing time for the USA than for England. England has a lot more potential than the USA to win international tournaments like the World Cup. You are totally out of your mind if you think the USA has a better chance.
England pruduces better players, and more of them in almost every generation compared to the USA. Just on the Senior team England 23 - 25 Paul Robinson Wayne Bridge Ashley Cole Danny Mills Phillipe Neville Keiron Dyer Steven Gerrard Frank Lampard James Beattie Emile Jeskey Michael Owen Darius Vassel England 20 - 22 Joe Cole Owen Hargraves And then Wayne Rooney, who is around 18 This isn't including stars in their youth teams like Bobby Zamora and Jermaine Pennant. These guys easily have more talent then the US does. They have no holes at any position.