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Wenger talks Shea, soccer in USA

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e58LIxBOdZc]

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  1. I would love to see him as an outside back for the national team, even though he is a great winger – we just have such a need for speed on those flanks, especially out of the back.

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  2. The former is probably more likely, unless MLS starts to match up in popularity with American football. This is definitely possible in the next 30 years, but just the simple facts that MLS runs on a different schedule than basically the rest of the world and that it’s so far from many top players’ countries of origin are enough to cause headaches for lots of players with international duties as well as club aspirations.

    Then again, the top players in the world might have a different geographical dynamic in the next 30 years, as well. I guess it’s all predicated on the growth of the sport in America in that time frame.

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  3. I would call the following places potential ‘regions’ that can be said will make / have made an impact in world football (aside from Western Europe, where the ‘big 4’ leagues of the world lie): Eastern Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa, The Pacific (Australia and etc.), Central America. He clearly identifies ‘the States’, so based on that and the above consideration, I tend to disagree that there are only two regions that can be counted.

    I believe what Arsene means is that of the potential areas above (and maybe some other ones if his interpretation varies from mine), the US looks ripe with the most current talent, or among the ripest. Is he correct, though? I’m not sure, but I think he’s saying more than ‘the US will produce players’ (because you’re right, everyone will produce top players). I think he means the US will IMPACT world football, perhaps beyond just producing a few starlets, and in more ways than just adding to the player pool?

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  4. Or in 30 years will the MLS be filled with European players looking to play at the highest level?

    30 years is a long time from now. And just as world economics are changing, who knows what the world futbol landscape will look like.

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  5. No way it would cost FCD, or else they are insane; playing for your player to get a reserve match in another league is a dubious idea. He must mean if it will cost Arsenal anything, or is even within the rules.

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  6. Maybe FCD is paying for Shea’s education. Wenger did mention that he needed to check out the legal situation with putting him into a reserve game…meaning that might cost FCD.

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  7. I do worry about his touch on the ball. His first touch often winds up several feet away. Like Deuce, he is so creative and has such good anticipation that he is able to make that work for him. Deuce’s touch has improved so much that it’s not an issue for him, but I think Shea has to learn how to deaden and rein in that touch in order for him to star in Europe.

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  8. Great experience for Shea, getting training and game experience with the Arsenal reserve squad. He will no doubt make an impact, unless he is deployed as a defender as stated in the interview.

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  9. He was talking about the US and Asia, and he said country and continent the first time, and just country the second time… it was pretty obvious what he meant.

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  10. Shea is the real deal, but no way is he at the level of an Arsenal, not even Ajax. If he continues to grow he could break into an Ajax level club over the next season but not yet. He allows himself to become invisible too often at this level to play on a Champions League squad.

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  11. Funny, but before WC 2010 I don’t think there was quite so much enthusiasm for the Eredivisie as a destination for young American players.

    I think the key is due diligence on the part of a player and his agent as they scrutinize an offer, including assessing the playing style and real opportunity a player has in his position at a given club to get playing time. Some Dutch clubs may be a good fit, but not all; some clubs in other leagues may also be a good fit for a given player – look at how Adu finally went about rehabilitating his career.

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  12. Glad to hear someone agreed. Seems most of our guys go for that payday (EJ) and end up riding the bench or simply flopping outright. Holland is a top8 league but it’s easier and more in tune for scoring, which is great for our young guys.

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  13. I really agree wit NATO saying i feel like players like ream agudelo shea bunbury and etc should start in holland its giving them experience and time to learn proper technique and playing consistently and chances to play in the europa or champions league just think if jozy’s team win the league they will be in the champions league you seem what holland has done for players like Bradley started in Germany and now in Serie A Beasley when he was at his best for the national team and some great players played in that league van der varrt, van persie, ibrahimovic, luis suarez etc

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  14. Is Brek Shea the real deal? A lot of hype about this kid. I’d say head to Holland. Teams like Utrecht, Groningen, Den Haag are all decent and would use him effectively. 2-3 years there and then on to bigger teams in England, Germany or Spain

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  15. in 30 years the European leagues will be filled with hundreds of American players, some playing for Real Madrid and quite a few playing in leagues like Poland and Ukraine

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  16. It’s kind of an easy comment to make though. What two regions of the world do not produce many top players? There only are two. (Assuming that you can even count “Asia” as a region, given how large and diverse it is).

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  17. It’s great to hear Arsene say America is one of two regions that will have a major effect on the future of world football.

    I’d love to see Ream in a reserve match. Sounds unlikely but possible.

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