Yanks Abroad

[Scuba Steve]

Yeah, Cervi will probably be added to that list. I expect a couple of overseas moves by Americans come January, so this list will have to be updated.

[Scuba Steve]

A little better news for Adu as well today. He only got 21 minutes, but he was brought on when his team were looking for an equalizer. So at least he was used when it really mattered.

[Scuba Steve]

For the most part, the things I post will come from Ives and Goff, who do a really good job of getting most of the players each week.

Also, first post updated again.

[yarnbury11]

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

Eddie Lewis

He was good for Leeds!

[bostonbhoy]

Originally Posted by Mickclalala8

dominic cervi will be playing for celtic come january

forgot about cervi. hope he's good. why does the US have so many GKs?

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by yarnbury11

He was good for Leeds!

Yeah, he was. And he got on well with the supporters too right? Not like Derby, where they chanted at him about his son who has Down's Syndrome.

Originally Posted by bostonbhoy

forgot about cervi. hope he's good. why does the US have so many GKs?

Probably because of all the other sports kids play here. Baseball, basketball, and football all help out with hand eye coordination. Something pivotal for Gks.

[dena]

I didn't know there were this many Americans playing in Europe.

Interesting thread

[v3sh1]

Michael Enfield hasn't played a game for Sydney and won't play a game for Sydney this season because of an injury. He only played 1 match last season and was injured for the rest of the season aswell.
Bit of a shame, in pre season last year he was so good looked like being a great signing but injury has really stuffed him up

[Scuba Steve]

Yeah, thats what I read about him. Unlucky for him, but hopefully he can recover at some point. Do you know what the injury is?

[v3sh1]

I think something to do with his leg, bad ligament damage maybe? I met him at a pre season game few months ago him and some other players were signing autographs he was a nice guy and I got him on facebook haha and he knew who I was when I mentioned my name coz I was last guy to write on his wall haha

[Dustin]

That's a nice list, Hokie. Thanks for posting that... I could swear there was an American in Argentina, though. I don't know the club, or his name or if he's even there anymore. Maybe that will be a nice topic of research for me.

[Tio Nicci]

There is an Amercian that plays in Chilean league

[Scuba Steve]

Any information about him?

Are you talking about John Queeley with Municipal Iquique?

[Scuba Steve]

And Dustin, was the guy playing in Argentina DJ Countess? If it was, apparently, he is not playing there anymore.

[Dustin]

I did some research. American Jonny Walker played in Chile. He was a goalkeeper and played for Colo Colo and I think another Chilean club. I believe he's retired now.

And yeah, I think you're right, Hokie.

[Scuba Steve]

I do wish that more Americans would go on to South America to ply their trade. Much harder environment to succeed in, but the level of football in some countries is much better than it is here. But I don't think that too many Americans bother to look there to play.

[Dustin]

I agree. High level of football, really an entire continent of possibilities. That can really go for anyone, not just Americans, I think.

[Scuba Steve]

There has been one Yank playing abroad that has won a trophy this year. Troy Perkins and Valerenga won the Norwegian Cup this season (just a couple of days ago, if I recall correctly). Perkins played 89 minutes for the team. He was taken off in the last minute, because the game was already secured, and Valerenga's manager wanted to get the backup keeper in, who has been with the club since 1995.

[den525player]

you would think a country as big as America, and with the amount of immigrants they would produce more football players. Americans could only produce keepers at the moment, no good outfield players at all.

This might seem im having a go at the americans, but its a fact, where are some decent players?

[M1ZZ0U]

Originally Posted by den525player

This might seem im having a go at the americans, but its a fact, where are some decent players?

Playing other sports.

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by den525player

you would think a country as big as America, and with the amount of immigrants they would produce more football players. Americans could only produce keepers at the moment, no good outfield players at all.

This might seem im having a go at the americans, but its a fact, where are some decent players?

Well, of course while that sentiment is nice, its just not true. My list showed 19 GK's and the rest being outfield players. So its a bit of a stretch saying that we are only producing keepers at the moment.

However, since you brought it up, I can cover it again. There is one main reason for the excessive amounts of keepers produced by the USA. That is because, when we are young, and even into our teenage years, no one hardly plays one sport. So, all the keepers who have made if from America, have had years of playing sports where hand eye coordination is key, such as basketball, baseball, and football. (hockey as well in some cases). Therefore, those with the best reactions and hand eye coordination are trained as keepers in soccer, because of their advance training in those areas to begin with. Simple stuff here so far. And after the precedent was set by guys like Keller and Friedel, is easy to see why someone playing keeper here in the US would keep at it. There is a great possibility that they would make it overseas than outfield players.

Of course, its a bit naiive to say that America is producing no good outfield players, but with your feelings to America already known, thats a bit unsurprising. Plenty of good players have come through system in America before, and succeeded overseas. The likes of Claudio Reyna, John Harkes, Brian McBride, Joe - Max Moore, Eddie Lewis, and Tony Sanneh are all great examples of past outfield players who were trained here in America, and succeeded both overseas, and on the national team.

As of now, the national team is hardly void of outfield players who lack any quality. Bradley, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Beasley, Dempsey, and Altidore (for example) all have come through and trained here in America, and are now overseas plying their trade. Not a plethora of players, but a decent amount, and quality ones at that. However, if the numbers are bothering you, than there is a pretty simple solution for that, one that has been discussed over, and over, and over again.

America has the best athletes in the world. Olympics may come to mind when you think of that. Athletes in America receive the best training and conditioning that you can find throughout the world. Except, in soccer. And that is rather obvious. Soccer in this country pales in comparison to other sports in most facets, but that definitely includes training, and teaching of the game. Here in America, we have collegiate soccer, which, if you could imagine it, is the most Americanized version of the sport (timeouts, overtime every game.... etc). It is a terrible system, and one that produces hardly any stars. At least, compared to the other sports in America.

Also, the money. That one is obvious. No Americans, besides Donovan, get paid anything close to $1 million for playing soccer in America. A couple of foreigners do, but thats it. Unfortunately, people are money driven, so they aren't going to go with soccer. Thats a pretty simple premise. Money = fame, and whatever you want to come with it. And when you live in the slums and the ghettos of the cities in America, you don't view soccer as your way out. Football and basketball are, and that is rather obvious.

So, while our outfield players playing overseas are not the best trained, or the fittest athletes, or the most skilled, they are the ones still playing the sport because they love it. Which is fine by me. I would rather have 11 players in for the love of the game, than 100 who are playing only for the money and fame. Of course that makes for an average national team, but hey, its the price you pay.

Also, every generation of young American players just gets better. The u-17's of today are better off technical wise, than those of two or three years ago. So within 10-15 years time, we will be producing a couple of guys every few years, who will be stars on some of the bigger sides in Europe. I can wait. We only started this, about 18 years ago. Before that, producing players in America was a joke, and thats why we went 400 years in between World Cup apperances. Pretty impressive considering how far back we started from everyone else.

So good attempt with the whole 'ooooohhh America 300 million people.... where are all the outfielder soccer players ooooooohhh' argument. Time and time again, we explain ourselves, and for some reason, time and time again, it falls on deaf ears. Oh well.

Also, immigrant influence on the game in this country is minimal, and for obvious (again) reasons. For whatever reasons they came here, they did not come for the soccer, or to spread it. For the most part, they came, and assimilated into our exisiting culture, which in sports terms, is absolutely dominated by the 'Big 4'. So the immigrants = great footballers argument just does not hold water.

[M1ZZ0U]

Originally Posted by hokiegooner

So good attempt with the whole 'ooooohhh America 300 million people.... where are all the outfielder soccer players ooooooohhh' argument. Time and time again, we explain ourselves, and for some reason, time and time again, it falls on deaf ears. Oh well.

Well said and much respect for putting forth the effort to type out the response/post.

I couldn't muster the energy, will or high enough degree of care to express a similiar response because it does, indeed fall on the deaf (and dumb) ears of too many readers whom post nearly rhetorical questions such as the one proposed, albeit in a faux-serious fashion.

edit: Honestly, I've lost count how many times I've responded point for point in a condensed version on this board in relation to the topic/question.

[den525player]

Originally Posted by hokiegooner

Well, of course while that sentiment is nice, its just not true. My list showed 19 GK's and the rest being outfield players. So its a bit of a stretch saying that we are only producing keepers at the moment.

However, since you brought it up, I can cover it again. There is one main reason for the excessive amounts of keepers produced by the USA. That is because, when we are young, and even into our teenage years, no one hardly plays one sport. So, all the keepers who have made if from America, have had years of playing sports where hand eye coordination is key, such as basketball, baseball, and football. (hockey as well in some cases). Therefore, those with the best reactions and hand eye coordination are trained as keepers in soccer, because of their advance training in those areas to begin with. Simple stuff here so far. And after the precedent was set by guys like Keller and Friedel, is easy to see why someone playing keeper here in the US would keep at it. There is a great possibility that they would make it overseas than outfield players.

Of course, its a bit naiive to say that America is producing no good outfield players, but with your feelings to America already known, thats a bit unsurprising. Plenty of good players have come through system in America before, and succeeded overseas. The likes of Claudio Reyna, John Harkes, Brian McBride, Joe - Max Moore, Eddie Lewis, and Tony Sanneh are all great examples of past outfield players who were trained here in America, and succeeded both overseas, and on the national team.

As of now, the national team is hardly void of outfield players who lack any quality. Bradley, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Beasley, Dempsey, and Altidore (for example) all have come through and trained here in America, and are now overseas plying their trade. Not a plethora of players, but a decent amount, and quality ones at that. However, if the numbers are bothering you, than there is a pretty simple solution for that, one that has been discussed over, and over, and over again.

America has the best athletes in the world. Olympics may come to mind when you think of that. Athletes in America receive the best training and conditioning that you can find throughout the world. Except, in soccer. And that is rather obvious. Soccer in this country pales in comparison to other sports in most facets, but that definitely includes training, and teaching of the game. Here in America, we have collegiate soccer, which, if you could imagine it, is the most Americanized version of the sport (timeouts, overtime every game.... etc). It is a terrible system, and one that produces hardly any stars. At least, compared to the other sports in America.

Also, the money. That one is obvious. No Americans, besides Donovan, get paid anything close to $1 million for playing soccer in America. A couple of foreigners do, but thats it. Unfortunately, people are money driven, so they aren't going to go with soccer. Thats a pretty simple premise. Money = fame, and whatever you want to come with it. And when you live in the slums and the ghettos of the cities in America, you don't view soccer as your way out. Football and basketball are, and that is rather obvious.

So, while our outfield players playing overseas are not the best trained, or the fittest athletes, or the most skilled, they are the ones still playing the sport because they love it. Which is fine by me. I would rather have 11 players in for the love of the game, than 100 who are playing only for the money and fame. Of course that makes for an average national team, but hey, its the price you pay.

Also, every generation of young American players just gets better. The u-17's of today are better off technical wise, than those of two or three years ago. So within 10-15 years time, we will be producing a couple of guys every few years, who will be stars on some of the bigger sides in Europe. I can wait. We only started this, about 18 years ago. Before that, producing players in America was a joke, and thats why we went 400 years in between World Cup apperances. Pretty impressive considering how far back we started from everyone else.

So good attempt with the whole 'ooooohhh America 300 million people.... where are all the outfielder soccer players ooooooohhh' argument. Time and time again, we explain ourselves, and for some reason, time and time again, it falls on deaf ears. Oh well.

Also, immigrant influence on the game in this country is minimal, and for obvious (again) reasons. For whatever reasons they came here, they did not come for the soccer, or to spread it. For the most part, they came, and assimilated into our exisiting culture, which in sports terms, is absolutely dominated by the 'Big 4'. So the immigrants = great footballers argument just does not hold water.

I indicated in the post that i wasn't having a dig at the americans.

This "excuse" of having other sports is not an excuse at all! Football in Australia is ranked behind AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Cricket. And we can still produce great keepers and outfield players.

American's have the best athletes? really? the last time i checked China won more gold medals than USA. Americans aren't as dominate in athletics anymore, Michael Phelps is amazing, but in the pool they are not exactly dominant without him, far from it.

Well yes in the US Basketball and Baseball and Gridiron are major sports but i really don't see how in 300million people not only 1% of the population likes "soccer", i really can't see how it can be an excuse there.

My point of immigrations is obviously not to go to the us as football players, that would be stupid, people went to the us for work. BUT immigrants from the 30s - 70s were majority europeans right? and their background would all like football i would presume. There are also so many south american's migrating to the US and Mexicans all footballing nations.

Imo i don't think there have been an american that have left their footprint in the history of football, which is a shame in a way considering they are one of the powers economically and on the sporting field. (well they are rapidly declining economically...)

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by den525player

I indicated in the post that i wasn't having a dig at the americans.

This "excuse" of having other sports is not an excuse at all! Football in Australia is ranked behind AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Cricket. And we can still produce great keepers and outfield players.

American's have the best athletes? really? the last time i checked China won more gold medals than USA. Americans aren't as dominate in athletics anymore, Michael Phelps is amazing, but in the pool they are not exactly dominant without him, far from it.

Well yes in the US Basketball and Baseball and Gridiron are major sports but i really don't see how in 300million people not only 1% of the population likes "soccer", i really can't see how it can be an excuse there.

My point of immigrations is obviously not to go to the us as football players, that would be stupid, people went to the us for work. BUT immigrants from the 30s - 70s were majority europeans right? and their background would all like football i would presume. There are also so many south american's migrating to the US and Mexicans all footballing nations.

Imo i don't think there have been an american that have left their footprint in the history of football, which is a shame in a way considering they are one of the powers economically and on the sporting field. (well they are rapidly declining economically...)

Instead of picking that argument off, point by point, I will go for a simple rebuttal.

Where are all the Chinese star soccer players?

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by den525player

I indicated in the post that i wasn't having a dig at the americans.

This "excuse" of having other sports is not an excuse at all! Football in Australia is ranked behind AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Cricket. And we can still produce great keepers and outfield players.

Great for Australia. Its good that they can develop the talent and teach proper technical skill, despite soccer being behind all those sports. But Australia is not America, so I fail to see the comparison here.

American's have the best athletes? really? the last time i checked China won more gold medals than USA. Americans aren't as dominate in athletics anymore, Michael Phelps is amazing, but in the pool they are not exactly dominant without him, far from it.

China also won a bunch of medals in shooting and archery. Which is great for them, it takes a lot of skill, and years of training to be able to do what they do. But I don't fancy their chances to make it across the room running. Also, US won more medals, and consistently wins the most medals, winter or summer olympics. Plus, many of our great athletes, are left at home, since football is not an Olympic sport.

Well yes in the US Basketball and Baseball and Gridiron are major sports but i really don't see how in 300million people not only 1% of the population likes "soccer", i really can't see how it can be an excuse there.

You should actually travel here once. You would be amazed at how inundated you would be with coverage of American sports, no matter what time of year. NFL Live on ESPN airs pretty much every single day of the year, whether its football season or not. So amazing as that may sound to you, its pretty simple.

My point of immigrations is obviously not to go to the us as football players, that would be stupid, people went to the us for work. BUT immigrants from the 30s - 70s were majority europeans right? and their background would all like football i would presume. There are also so many south american's migrating to the US and Mexicans all footballing nations.

My point wasn't that they were coming over here to play soccer either. It was that they did not really bring the game over here. Or if they did, no matter what time period, there was already a well established sport, that would easily suppress any major uprisings in a new sport. Baseball is America's pastime, and was for the majority of the 20th century. And now football is. And instead of the Europeans or South Americans coming and bringing soccer, they instead assimilated into the culture, and learned to accept the new sports instead. Your immigration argument just does not hold water.

Also, back when immigration was at its height, soccer was not the power that it is today. And to think so is a grave overestimation.

Imo i don't think there have been an american that have left their footprint in the history of football, which is a shame in a way considering they are one of the powers economically and on the sporting field. (well they are rapidly declining economically...)

Well thats a shame that you think that. Also shows your lack of soccer history. First ever hat trick in a World Cup match? Bert Patenaude, who netted a hat trick against Paraguay in the 1930 World Cup. Also, 1950 World Cup? Arguably, the greatest upset in World Cup history, as an amauter USA side, defeated England 1-0, from a goal by Joe Gaetjens.

So, it would kind of tough to say that no footprint has been left by an American. But again, you are anti-America, so I don't see that as a surprise.

Also, interesting that you brought up the economy. Because amazingly enough, as the US economy fails, it is actually gaining strength compared to the Euro and British economy. But I don't really see how thats relevant, since little money goes to the sport here anyways.