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European clubs lining up bids for Schuler

BillySchuler (ISIPhotos.com)

The NCAA College Cup Final always has its share of scouts tracking the top talent, and last weekend's matches in Hoover, Alabama drew extra attention from foreign clubs interested in the handful of top pro prospects on display.

At the top of that list was North Carolina striker Billy Schuler, who helped lead the Tar Heels to their second NCAA title after scoring the vital equalizer in the semifinal win against UCLA last Friday. Club scouts from Scandinavia, Greece and Germany were among the observers watching Schuler last weekend and sources tell SBI that a handful of European clubs have been tracking Schuler throughout the college season and are preparing offers for the 21-year-old striker.

One of Major League Soccer's top targets for a Generation adidas contract, Schuler does have the option of signing with MLS, though with increased interested in him coming from Europe, Schuler could join fellow top MLS Draft prospect Darren Mattocks among college standouts set to pass on MLS to sign in Europe.

A redshirt junior set to graduate from North Carolina this winter, Schuler earned NCAA All-American honors after scoring 16 goals to help the Tar Heels complete their championship season.

Schuler has been listed as an invitee to the 2012 MLS Combine, in part because as a graduating junior he is eligible for the draft, but with Schuler having no plans of signing with MLS as anything but a Generation adidas signee, the inclusion of Schuler's name on the Combine list was more organizational error by MLS than an actual plan of Schuler taking part in the Combine.

With Schuler and Mattocks potentially moving to Europe, the 2012 MLS Draft could wind up losing two of its top five prospects, and two top Generationa adidas targets. If Schuler and Mattocks do move on, MLS would then likely turn their attention to college forwards Chandler Hoffman (UCLA), Dom Dwyer (South Florida), David Opoku and Sam Garza (UCSB).

MLS is expected to announce its 6-8 player Generation adidas class in the next week or so, with Andrew Wenger on the verge of signing as the top prospect in the class.

Comments

  1. I’ve watched that game twice, still have it recorded on the DVR. His goal was an easy tap in off a lucky deflection. Chandler Hoffman was the more impressive forward in that game, he assisted on both of UCLA’s goals despite having the best CB in college Matt Hedges marking him tightly.

    Not that big of a difference in quality between him, Hoffman, and Townsend right now. What will make the difference for those three over the next few years is first team minutes and development.

    “He had enough clubs already sweating him.”

    So did Agbossoumonde. Fat lot of good all that “interest” and all those empty promises did him.

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  2. im thinks is lowball might not be a lowball offer if you look at the world market where talents of similar level and league are sold. It might be hard to get Altidore money again after Altidore…

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  3. You have no idea buddy what you are speaking of, you are so far off base. Many of the original statements in the top of the string got it right so you may want to go back and read them.

    It is the love of playing in the real big league that is driving Billy.

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  4. Schuler just went to Swedish club Hammarby IF. I’m a born fan of Hammarby IF and I can assure you he will be taken care of.

    American manager and the biggest fan club in Sweden.

    Laters..

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  5. Those of you that claim that he should go to Denmark or Sweden where they will pay him $200k, you need to realize that the top players in Gen Adidas class get roughly the same amount – Tchani, Mwanga etc. medyum

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  6. Kudos to both teams — to UNC for winning and to Charlotte for playing with so much commitment, energy and heart. Finals of any competition are often very measured and dull. This was the opposite

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  7. Come on, before you start calling things a disgrace, learn a little bit and take into account that Tim Ream has been offered new contracts (with very sizable raises), it has been his choice to not take the pay raise and wait out his contract, same thing with Holden, he waited out his contract

    Reply

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