You know how it works, I may add as the day goes...
#1 - English outlets are now talking up young Charles Renken-to-Arsenal academy. It should be quite fun to watch this young man's career unfold.
Infamous (trust me... he'll like that modifier) BigSoccer blogger Bill Archer talks about the fuss and argues that he should forgo Euro-training to remain in the USSF Bradenton Residency program.
While I agree Bradenton is a terrific set-up with plenty of success to crow over, I'm not so convinced that a truly special prospect should pass up an opportunity like the ones being offered to Renken. To wit, a portion of the USSF release from this year's Bradenton class announcement earlier this month:
"Since its inception in 1999, nearly 200 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, many of whom have moved on to Major League Soccer, or professional leagues in Europe. Fifteen players have also registered at least one cap with the full MNT: Bobby Convey, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Jonathan Spector, Oguchi Onyewu, Eddie Johnson, Eddie Gaven, Santino Quaranta, Chad Marshall, Heath Pearce, Justin Mapp, Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley."
Now, fifteen out of nearly 200 isn't exactly the best ratio ever. Granted, many of those kids have yet to reach an age where a cap would be feasible, but also consider this: eight of those 15 'Nats had at least an appreciable amount of their growth - if not, most of it - in European systems.
So what's your next chance to see the 15-year old wunderkind perform on a big stage? That would be the CONCACAF 2009 U-17 World Cup Qualifying tourney in Mexico next spring.
#2 - Pop over to Soccer365 to catch my interview with USWNT gold medal game winner Carli Lloyd, as well as a check on injured AGF midfielder Benny Feilhaber and a quick talk with Hansa Rostock left back Heath Pearce about their weekend comeback draw.
#3 - Okay, I'm feelin' froggy, so let's have another round of predictions just for the hell of it. Today, I'm going to take a run at calling Matchday One of the Champions League group stage. Deep breath...
Tuesday
Chelsea 2-1 Bordeaux
Roma 2-0 Cluj
Panathinaikos 1-1 Inter Milan
Werder Bremen 3-0 Anorthosis
Basel 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Barcelona 2-1 Sporting
PSV Eindhoven 0-1 Atlético Madrid
Marseille 0-1 Liverpool
Wednesday
Man United 2-0 Villarreal
Celtic 2-0 AaB
Steaua Bucharest 2-3 Bayern Munich
Lyon 1-2 Fiorentina
Porto 0-1 Fenerbahçe
Dinamo Kyiv 1-3 Arsenal
Juventus 1-2 Zenit St. Petersburg
Real Madrid 4-0 BATE
#4 - In fact, I'm feeling so nutty, I'm gonna make 2008 Emmy comedy category picks, too. But these won't be predictions; these wil be who I would hand the statue to on Suinday night if suddenly appointed lord of all sitcom-ery.
Outstanding Comedy Series - Curb Your Enthusiasm
Outstanding Lead Actor - Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Outstanding Lead Actress - Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Outstanding Supporting Actor - Rainn Wilson (The Office)
Outstanding Supporting Actress - *
* - I refuse to pick from the nominees because neither Jenna Fischer (The Office) nor Vivica Fox (Curb Your Enthusiasm) is among the final five.
And for crying out loud, stop embarrassing yourselves by nominating Two and a Half Men!!!!! Seven nominations??? Really???
- Greg Seltzer
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3 comments:
Bradenton is a self fulfilling prophecy. Of course they are going to have a number of players go on to play with the Nats, the same players are picked year after year.
Ever since I visited the Ajax, Vitesse Arnhem, and Feyenoord academies, I've always thought the Dutch way of raising soccer players was outstanding.
Is Bradenton like those academies in any way, shape, or form?
Also, Gerrie Mühren still head of scouting at Ajax? One of the coolest old guys I've ever met!
I just now saw that question. I am not well versed enough on Bradenton to know, but I'd assume there are both similarities and wild departures.
Gerrie is still there, and still as fun to talk to as ever. It's great to know that anytime you go to De Toekomst, you may run into one of the greats. One of my idols, Piet Keizer is almost always there on Mondays.
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