The USMNT camp of new faces has added another national team newcomer to the mix, with Bob Bradley calling in Russian-based striker Eugene Starikov.
Born in Ukraine, Starikov was raised in Florida and played for Stetson University before signing with Zenit St. Petersburg in 2009. He went on loan to Russian First Division side Tom Tomsk, where he scored one goal in nine appearances.
Starikov brings the number of players in camp to 25, with Juan Agudelo also joining the camp after taking part in the U.S. Under-20 camp in Florida.
What do you think of Starikov being added? Like seeing Bradley taking a look at so many new faces?
Share your thoughts below.
funny
Well it doesn’t matter what this guy got his citizenship by. either was born here or by american parents or naturalization. What matter the most is that is great that we getting kids that are willing to play for the USA, We had lost other players like G.Rossi, Subotic & Ibsevic even tho Ibesevic didn’t get his Citizenship yet. We have critized Bob Bradley for not given chances to other people for call up for the USNMT and that he only call guys that he feel comfortable. Well now that he is calling other guys we start asking question if this guy is good or does he had a citizenship or how he obtain it. Don’t you think if he was not a citizen or good player Bob Bradley waste his time calling him up for the USNMT. I’m glad he is doing this, now I just want him to give a chance at the kids from the U20 & U17 I think there are good talents there also to be call for the Senior Camp.. Like the Kids from Germany.
RE: Ryan Smith (from the Shin Guardian, 9.9.10)
TSG: You’re eligible to play national ball for the States. Would you consider playing for the Yanks?
Smith: I would. I definitely would.
I just. You know, it’s up to the guys at U.S. Soccer. If they came and asked me, I’d definitely consider, but I’ve heard nothing yet.
So he gets called in, but George John still can’t get a look
Isn’t Ryan Smith’s dad an American?
I enjoy talk radio, especially sports radio but anyone who can listen to him regularly or irregularly should be given a medal.
To say nothing of his general ignorant stance, opinions and viewpoints on the sport.
Adding to Aaron STL’s on his revolutionary commentary…it must have been typed up by an intern for him about a month ago and him just getting to it shows how much credence we should give to anything he says on the topic.
Regardless if the opinion was typed up for him by an intern.
Thought the name sounded familiar. I remember reading about him in the local papers. Palm Harbor is near Tampa/St.Pete metro area.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/17/Sports/PHU_s_Starikov_named_.shtml
Went on to play at Stetson (near Orlando). By perusing the Stetson website, it looks like he left after his soph year.
Yes, bored on Friday.
Cowherd is the same person (a la Jim Rome) who used to sh*t on soccer, so his word means nothing to me.
But, the Qatar situation has been updated recently, given Blatter’s current comments about how he “expects it to be held in Winter”.
BB had a dream two nights ago and in it he was picking his WC squad and his striker pool was abhorrent and he ended bringing Robbie Findley and PLAYING him, lots. Upon waking up shaking with fear he realized that this actually happened (insert NOOO! scream as he looks heavenward). He decided that would never happen again and put in a call to Russia.
Well, it could be a situation like Alejandro Bedoya’s. Maybe he had a previous engagement. Just thinkin’ aloud, here…
Knowing nothing about the kid, when I had looked him up on FIFA a few hours ago, I believe his listed height was like 5’8.
Not that FIFA 11′ is the gospel but just throwing that out there since information on him seems a bit scarce.
haha, awesome. that is all i can think about when I heard “the Ukraine”.
Revolutionary thought by ol’ Cowherd. Good thing he’s breaking the news, just one month late
pretty sure it makes sense regardless.
haha, yea, its so easy to blame the USSF without actually looking at the facts.
+1 but isn’t Juan Agudelo a 58 or something.. that number doesn’t include potential
Are you sure?? Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLtF_PxbYw
He said that the decision to go to Quatar with the WC was halariously stupid. Not involving USA in the making of soccer bigger is stupid… Also that the decision to move it to the winter would make sense but that it should have never been given to Quatar in the first place. Smells of foul play in the decision.
the only question is: why the late call-up? was starikov initially holding out, then changed his mind? or did bradley look at this strikers on day 1 and decide “hey, we need some more talent here.”
Who cares what he thinks?
It doesn’t matter how well you know certain players, a good player will always stand out above the rest.
No he’s an 88, cutoff for the Olympics is ’89 and younger. I guess he could be an over age player though.
Is he eligible for the Olympics? This would make a lot more sense if that is the case.
care to go into it further? I missed it.
You are TOO NICE jonk. If this keeps up you are going to be voted out of the SBI Mafia!!
Thanks for the tip. I just found a whole article explaining how this mistake came to be. http://www.infoukes.com/faq/the_ukraine/
Was wondering why he wasn’t brought in to begin with. Tidy young player, always good to give those abroad an opportunity. Hope to see him make his mark.
The only way to get that rating up is to cap and work him in!
The country that is was born in is Ukraine not “the Ukraine” – just like Messi is from Argentina not the Argentina.
Anyone just hear Colin Cowherd’s rant on the world cup just now? He’s right on.
My bad…just turned 22 not too long ago.
We in no way lost out on Ibisevic, unless you know of a magical citizenship-granting procedure that the USSF refuses to use.
Love it
Haha nice. It’s the first thing we all always do in this situation…is it not?
It might be hard for you and me to judge talent when it’s a bunch of players thrown together for the first time (that’s why we won’t be scouting the MLS Combine and will instead be reading Ives and other experts) but the players will be together for a couple of weeks and the coaches are professionals…if they only looked at one or two new faces per camp they’d never get a chance to evaluate half of these guys in person.
He’s eligible for Ukraine and Russia as well IIRC
Has anybody ever seen this kid play w/Tomsk? Looks like a big kid. Always interested to see some new names
How is it that I have never heard of this guy and I am usually in on these things. Way to go Bob Bradley!
Answered my own question…should have asked Google before the SBI Mafia.
http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=players&id=218
Starikov was born in Soviet Union in the Black Sea port of Odessa, now part of Ukraine. However, his family moved to the United States when he was a young boy, so he has hailed from Palm Harbor, FL from an early age.
After high school, Starikov took his talents to Stetson University, where he remained for two years.
You are a U.S. citizen if one of your parents is a citizen, even if you’re born in another country.
I saw Zenit play in the Europa league. They play the game beautifully. They won every game in there group. Those are good surroundings to pluck a player.
22. Broke into the starting lineup at Tom Tomsk midway through the fall and had a decent run of form.
21 years old.
Worth a kick of the tires I suppose.
Anyone know how he got to be American? He was born in what is now the Ukraine and was only in college for a year. I’m guessing he got here a while before then, but does anyone have the details?
Damn. I thought I was pretty up on USMNT prospects and Yanks abroad, but this is the first I’ve ever heard of this guy. How old is he?
My one issue with all of the fresh faces is that it’s difficult to evaluate players when the entire side is new. It’s much easier to judge talent when the player is the variable in a well known side.
After losing out on Subotic/Ibsevic, I’m just glad BB is leaving no stone unturned.
How did he obtain citizenship or is his mother American.
That leads to another question. Do you have to be a citizen or just have a parent that is?
Starikov’s Fifa rating is only a 59 overall.
What’s that mean? Absolutely nothing other than he wont be capped by me anytime soon!
Dude. Ives. I distinctly remember asking you about this guy two months ago and how he should be called to an USMNT camp but you refused to answer. I’m hurt.