Posts Categorized as ‘Featured’

Featured, United States

Gyau on Verge of German Debut

Joe Gyau’s German debut could come as soon as Wednesday, when Hoffenheim squares off against Furth in the German Cup. The chance to rest some regulars as Hoffenheim fights its way into the top half of the Bundesliga table may mean a chance for the young American.

Whether he sees the field or not on Wednesday, though, Gyau’s rapid rise to the first team has been nothing short of spectacular.  Just 19, Gyau is proving to be a rare American prospect who looks capable of living up to the expectations around him.

Gyau left U-17 residency in 2009 to head for Germany, by way of Vancouver. He played with the Whitecaps’ academy, alongside fellow youth prodigy Charles Renken, until he reached 18 and became eligible for the move overseas.

“When I was in residency I was getting a couple offers, but it was the Spain trip where there was a scout there from Hoffenheim,” Gyau revealed. “He contacted my agent and they worked something out where I would train in Vancouver for a year, because I wasn’t able to transfer at such a young age, and then I went over to Hoffenheim.” (more…)

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Featured, United States

Dynamo Kiev in Stealth Shea Bid?

A source with knowledge of the dealings told 10Kit Thursday that FC Dallas winger Brek Shea is in the sites of Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev.

The perennial Champions League also-rans are supposedly prepared to pay $10 million for the Hoops star, but Shea’s camp isn’t convinced by the idea of going to Eastern Europe, and seems to think they can negotiate a better deal elsewhere, the source said.

A $10 million fee would match the most paid for an MLS player, dished out when Villarreal purchased Jozy Altidore from NY Red Bull. (more…)

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Featured, United States

Cunningham scores in Comunicaciones debut

While most American eyes were on last night’s U.S.-Panama friendly and other soccer fans has watched a certain other clásico earlier, but in Guatemala they were watching Comunicaciones-Municipal.

The 265th playing of the match also marked the debut of American striker Jeff Cunningham. Earlier in the week he had promised to score golazos for his new club. Well, it looks as though he’s a man of his word. Cunningham came on as a second half substitute and opened his account for the team, helping them secure a 2-0 victory after going a man down just after he had come on the field. He had an earlier chance (seen at the 1:55 mark of the clip below), and if nothing else just enjoy the LMFAO remixes playing in the background.

See it here:

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Featured

Hyndman Learning the Ropes at Fulham

Still just 16, it’s no wonder Texas native Emerson Hyndman is fearless. Somewhat undersized on the field, he comes from an international soccer tradition that has opened doors for him from a young age. Now in England with Fulham’s youth academy, the technically gifted young American looks to have a bright future.

“Emerson since the age of 12 has been recognized as a very technical player and excelled in some areas,” said FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, also Emerson’s grandfather. “The thing that’s always been kind of a hamper to it all is that much like his grandfather, he just grew slowly. Just more immature for the age and the body.”

As the photo at left (from www.texasfutgol.com) proves, Hyndman had plenty of growing to do a few years back when he was already training occasionally with FC Dallas’ full team as a member of the Hoops academy. But mentally, the soon-to-be 17-year-old was looking for bigger adventures. (more…)

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Featured, United States

Orozco Continues Battle for Tigres First Team

Earlier today at ESPN.com, I reflected on the paucity of Mexico-based Americans in contention for the Olympic team. There are plenty of U-20s who looked very promising during the last U-20 cycle, but haven’t taken a step forward the way MLS-based U-23s like Perry Kitchen, Zarek Valentin, and Ethan White have over the past year.

Along with several others, Moises Orozco is a promising young American on the roster at Mexican champion Tigres. But the quality at Mexico’s latest top team has been barrier to the half dozen or so American in the youth ranks in Monterrey, and Orozco seems to be on the outside looking in to America’s U-23 team, like fellow Mexican-Americans Adrian Ruelas, Ernest Nungaray, and Victor Garza, among others. (more…)

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Featured, United States

2012 Potentially a Big Year for Gatt

A lot of expectations are surrounding the United States U-23 squad for the Olympic qualifiers, and eventually the Olympics. One of those reasons is 20-year-old Joshua Gatt, who has dazzled US fans with his highlight real goals playing in Norway for Molde FK. The Michigan born winger/outside back is currently in California with his U-23 teammates for the January training camp.

“I have had a great time so far, it is great to be able to get out and play again because of my injury and the guys are great,” Gatt said about the U-23 camp. “We have a very talented team here and I think we are looking very good for the upcoming qualifiers.” (more…)

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Featured

Old Man Adu Ready for Olympic Leading Role

Old man. Grizzled veteran. Elder statesman.

These are not the usual characterizations US soccer fans make when talking about Freddy Adu. For the longest time Adu has always been the youngest player just about anywhere he has played. He was the youngest player in MLS. The youngest player at the Under-17 World Cup, the youngest on the US Under-20 team and the youngest ever to be capped on the US senior national team.

But time has a funny way of changing things. Four years ago, at age 18, Adu was on the US team at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.  Now 22, Adu stands to make his second Olympic team and suddenly finds himself as the most experienced man in Caleb Porter’s Under-23 camps.

He cannot help but laugh when thinking of himself as ‘the old guy’ on the team, but for a player who has had a nomadic career such as his, Adu can provide a great lesson to his Olympic teammates on the pitfalls that soccer can bring.

“That is something that we we’re talking about at the last camp,” Adu told 10 Kit. “It is kind of strange to be around guys who are actually younger than me but it is a great opportunity for me to be a leader and bring not just my Olympic experience but also my national team experience to the table.” (more…)

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Featured, U.S. Soccer

About That Donovan Non-Dive (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.)

Tim Howard scored for Everton, which is the United States soccer story of the day. (And it should be. That was crazy.)

Had the American keeper not booted the ball 100 yards, however, you have to think we’d spend at least a little (read: too much) time discussing Landon Donovan’s non-dive in the first half.

If you haven’t seen the play, get to your TV at 8 p.m. tonight and watch FSC’s replay. Or just know that Donovan beat Sam Ricketts, who crossed behind the Everton midfielder and looked to trip him up… expect the referee did not agree and did not blow his whistle.

We don’t want to get into the “did or didn’t Donovan dive” discussion–although we’re inclined to agree with SBNationSoccer just a bit…–because there is a bigger point. (more…)

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Featured

Does Cabrera’s Departure Signal Nail in Coffin for Bradenton?

It’s always an odd thing for a coach who by all reports is doing well to depart mid-cycle. The U.S. U-17s seem to be on the up, having samba’d around Brazil to win the Nike Friendlies last month playing a brand of soccer that can only be described as aggressive and attractive.

Cabrera could be edgy and had his detractors, but by most accounts was doing a pretty good job. Now he’s out mid-cycle, reportedly by mutual agreement.

Put the pieces together and it likely means Bradenton’s done after this cycle.

The rumblings have been making the rounds inside the USSF for some time. Though officials won’t say it — Sunil Gulati staunchly maintained that there is no specific date to get rid of the program when I spoke with him last summer — you’d have to think at this point the deal is done. (more…)

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Featured, U.S. Soccer

Chatting with U.S. U-23 Coach Caleb Porter

Olympic qualification is more or less right around the corner (starting at the end of March) and U.S. Soccer’s preparations were in full swing this past week with a training camp in Florida.

I spoke to U-23 coach Caleb Porter for this piece giving a snapshot of where things lie with the prepartions for the CONCACAF Tournament in March.

There’s no question that there is plenty of talent to go around at this level, and that the U.S. should have little trouble making the Olympics. But you never know – just ask Thomas Rongen – how things can go down and the perils of qualification.

This camp wrapped up Thursday evening, and the schedule is for at least two, possible three more camps before qualification. The next one is going to be in January in LA, with a trip to Central America tacked on the end of it for a couple of friendlies.

Over the past two years I’ve talked to Porter a good bit, and he’s a very sharp guy. Here are plenty of leftovers from our conversation.

(more…)

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