re: Young Players Tracker and Americans Abroad Thread

Spin that move. I'm still waiting.

quote:

---

Dude, you're making a straw man argument with a bogus summer transfer window article from a British rag. You've already spun it for me.

---

I really hope that it doesn't happen. But if it does (and Jackson - the guy who broke it - normally has decent sources), then I await your spin.

quote:

---

There's a massive difference between the SPFL and the Scottish Championship. The Scottish Championship involves a number of clubs that play part-time. The SPFL is all professionals. Sending him to the Scottish Championship is no different than sending him to the Conference.

If you think this move is anything other than Arsenal giving up on him, you're deluded.

---

The SPFL is League One quality then you fricking mug

quote:

---

@jeorgebird: Surprising move if it does happen, but would perhaps allow Zelalem to have more influence than in a physical league like the Championship.

---

It's against part-timers

Houston Dynamo sign academy product Christian Lucatero. Possible US/Mexico player. He's called the best player to every go through the Houston academy system (18 with 57 goals as a CAM in the past 3 seasons). Has been there for 5 years. Won a U-17/18 award for Best Player from the US Soccer Development Academy.

He's also seen some time for the USA U-18s. Will likely bypass college now.

Zelalem move is official

quote:

---

Earlier today, sources were saying it looked like Gedion Zelalem was going on loan to Rangers. Now, the Guardian is reporting that the move is official.

David Hytner is reporting that the deal is initially set to go to January with an option to extend for the full season. Hytner does not state which club has the option, or if it must be agreed upon by both clubs.

Many have speculated on potential reasons as to why Arsene Wenger would send Zelalem to Scotland, but, according to the report, "Wenger believes that he will benefit from playing in front of big crowds at Ibrox."

---

Why? This move is to acclimate him to British football while introducing him to a pressure filled atmosphere where the stakes are simultaneously low. In MLS he'd have a lot of pressure to perform. It's a very unique situation. He's been superb with the U-21's and needs to understand how to ride challenges and learn the physical side of the game. His technical level is already highly developed, and if he's to make it at Arsenal (or as a pro at all), he'll have his ankles kicked to death. The fact that it's short means that it's just an experiment, and that if he does well he can go right into the first team.

I wonder how much it has to do with them trying to get him to play deeper back.

I could see a championship side taking him on as an attacking player, but maybe not in that Cazorla-like deeper role.

the championship is a pretty physically and mentally exhausting league as well. pretty much the whole football league is, so i'm not opposed to him going there, especially under the guidance of warburton who is a really good coach.

It'd be an odd place to put him in the shop window. From the way we've seen Winger handle youth prospects before, it's much more likely that this is about acclimating Zelalem to British football. Both of our other 16 year old prodigies in Fab and Wilshere spent a good portion of their early twenties on the injury table and I think Winger would like to avoid this with Zelalem, who showed as much promise with his vision and touch at that age. Zelalem's whole career has been about acclimatization, given that he's our first non-European prodigy.