Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
The silly season may be over, but that doesn't mean speculation about American players' club futures has ended.
Orebro SK midfielder Alejandro Bedoya will join Birmingham City for a week-long training stint. Bedoya has been partaking in Orebro's preseason preparations, but will now temporarily prepare himself for the upcoming Swedish season with Birmingham.
The term trial isn't being used, but with Bedoya entering the final year of his contract with Orebro, this might be an opportunity for Birmingham to get a closer look at him before the summer transfer window.
Birmingham is currently in 14th place in the Premier League, but is just three points clear from the relegation zone.
What do you think of this development?
Share your thoughts below.
According to Fox Soccer, it’s now a trial.
Nice!
Holden and Donovan were/are always at the top of the fitness ratings for the US players.
Given how impressed the Everton guys were with Donovan’s fitness that should have been a clue that pace and physicality (he played in the MLS remember?) were the going to be the least of Holden’s ( and just about any USMNT player’s)worries about the EPL.
But the single biggest thing Holden had going for him was Coyle’s unshakeable faith in him. You can’t underestimate the importance of that. Look at what Moyes did for Donovan and Pruedhomme is doing for Gooch.
I think he needs further development. Realistically, I don’t see him getting playing time if he gets a contract in the EPL. Thusly, he would be riding the bench and his career would suffer a big setback. I would love to be wrong.
Lol, WOWWWWWWW I did it again????? 🙁
although in my opinion the jury still out on bedoya’s ability, he hasn’t done much lately to convince me that can crack the starting 11 anytime soon or long term future.
Dax.
Its is good for him,but lets keep in 100 he is not good enough. Sometimes the truth hurts.
And Never say Never (Sung in Justin Bieber voice).
LMBO Whoops I screwed up his name. -___-. Dex McCarty.
Man, everyone always seems to love hating on Bedoya. This training is a good chance for him to get a taste of the level he’ll have to get his game to if he wants to move to the EPL. I’m not sure if the EPL is a great fit for him, but we’re not talking about a loan, transfer, or even an official trial at this point – just training. From a national team standpoint, this is an awesome opportunity for Bedoya – hope he does well.
A lot of you seem to be against this, but I for one think this is only a good thing.
He has a chance to show who he is and would be a fool not to take it.
You don’t know when you’ll get a chance like this again so if you don’t take it you could never see the same chance again. I personally may not feel he is good enough for the level, but if he has a future with the USMNT he needs to be moving to a high level, especially if he feels he is ready.
+1. Dex McCartney, the Beatle that never was.
when have you seen him play last exactly? young players sometimes develop in spurts and it seems like he’s doing extremely well in Sweden. Why wouldn’t Birmingham want take a look at him? Letting him train for a week is a cheap way to get a look at a guy who’s under contract. Birmingham look at lots of players. So does everyone else. The point is you can’t just blithely say “I don’t see anything coming of this” unless you’re maybe an Orebro supporter? Didn’t think so.
Chris,
Exactly right, by 24-25 you are either – real good – or not.
Bedoya moves up from Sweden this summer to the level he is capable of, and that’s likely it for his career peak.
Well, very small chance he makes one more move.
Exactly. And I’m not positive he’ll be on the 23 man roster. I think he goes, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him left off.
He’s definitely at best the 7th midfielder taken after Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Holden, Jones, and Edu. 8th best, if you consider Spector to be a midfielder, but I’ll consider Spector to be a defender.
And then he still has to compete with Feilhaber, Kljestan, Diskerud and I guess Chandler, Shea, Rogers, Alexander, and Convey as well for the 7th and possibly 8th midfielder spots (depends on if Bob brings 3 or 4 strikers, and 7 or 8 defenders)
I could see Feilhaber and Diskerud/Kljestan beating him out
is that Paul’s brother?
Bedoya isn’t really that young of a soccer player. 24? Maybe in US soccer that’s young, but in international soccer he’s a mid-career pro. Same with Charlie Davies. If these guys aren’t playing European big league ball within the next 18 months, they’ll probably never be. Because there’s plenty of 20 year olds from all over the place who offer the same thing, but faster, bigger, and more upside.
good find. that’s some twilight zone shiz right there
from the little ive seen of Bedoya (basicaly only in a NT uniform) he has done nothing to impress me. Hopefully he catches on and proves me wrong
If he could learn to play in the EPL, he would be a much better player. He has the body type to succeed, but not the aggression and never-say-die attitude that could go with his skill and speed.
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2010/01/holden-move-to-bolton-complete.html
exposure exposure exposure!
it always great to see 1. a player of his age/current stature get the opportunity to see first hand how things work at the top level and what might await him someday 2. for him to get himself in front of some very experienced and keen eyes . . . you never know what something as simple as a week of training can lead to down the road, maybe he piques some interest and starts pinging on radars in europe
Obviously not the same situation. But many said that Holden wouldn’t be able to cope with the physicality and pace of the EPL. Just simply pointing out that Ale has just as good of a chance.
A) different positions on the field B) different times in their life (bedoya upcoming, Buddle plateau’d) C) different times of year, and expectations. perhaps now they’re viewing him as a player they can get next year if they drop down?
+2.. well said.
link?
That’s the most salient point. He’s going to have to get a lot of USMNT appearances just to be eligible.
Interested to dig up the old “Holden on trial with EPL team” SBI entry and compare the skepticism. Midfield is a position we can gamble on for guys being great or rotting on the bench.
Bedoya possibly getting a trial with Birmingham, lol he is not good enough. Lets get Brek Shea a trial with Arsenal and Dex McCartney a trial with Chelsea, lmbo.
It’s good experience for Bedoya, but I don’t see anything coming out of this.
He’s not good enough for the EPL, at least not yet. He’ll probably move this summer, but probably somewhere like Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, etc.
I hope he does well, but I wouldn’t say he’s more talented than, say, Edson Buddle, who didn’t get an offer from Birmingham City. Good experience though.
People did say that same things about Holden, but he’d also proved himself more–I don’t think that you can really compare the situations. Holden had had a very good run at the Olympics and 2009 Gold Cup (despite the outcome of the tournament) and was a standout player at the Dynamo. He also had the devout faith of Owen Coyle in him, which should not be discounted.
I’m not saying that Bedoya won’t make it–and I do think that this is a great thing for him–but I don’t necessarily think that the situations are the same. I feel like Bedoya going straight to the EPL would be like him missing a middle step in his career.
It’s not a trial–it says that specifically in the article. Agree that Feilhaber has got to get out of Denmark, though.
Really?
I think a lot of people were convinced Holden would do well (although few probably thought he would be this successful). I was pretty confident of it at the time having watched him a lot at Houston. I haven’t watched enough of Bedoya to be nearly as confident. I still hope he gets a shot, maybe in the summer transfer window?
yup
h8rs
Bedoya is overrated. He would be embarrass himself in the EPL. This guy is Belgium, Scandinavia, at max Dutch league level talent.
As a USMNT supporter: Interesting. Let’s keep an eye on it.
As a Villa fan: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I’m for it. It’s just a training stint, so everything is speculation at this point. By next WC, our midfield will be composed of EPL veterans and up-and-coming stars though. How could we be against that?
I can’t see him signing unless he plays A LOT in the Gold Cup this summer. He won’t be able to get a work permit unless he does. However, it’s just a training stint.
Nothing wrong with putting yourself in the shop window, but I’m not sure if this would be a good fit.
Birmingham are not a very good team; decent defensively but the worst attack in the EPL. If they don’t start finding the back of the net, they’re a good bet to be relegated. The Championship is certainly be a step up from the Swedish league, but if Bedoya is going to join a team there, I’d hope it would not be with these cloggers.
On the other hand, if he does well, other clubs may take notice too. Good luck to him regardless of what happens.
bedoya gets a trial with an epl team and feilhaber can’t move out of the danish 2nd tier?
I don’t see Bedoya as being all that special but I certainly hope he proves all the doubters wrong.
Many said the same things about Stu Holden, who has blossomed under a very good manager. Go for it Ale!
I’m in favor of it. Even if Birmingham City get relegated, the Championship is a step up from the Allsvenskan. Like others here, I haven’t been overly impressed in his USMNT matches, but I also haven’t written him off.
He’s soon to be 24 and has been pro for a couple years now. I think the time is right for a step up. If he can’t handle it, oh well, he’ll still be young enough to find a landing spot. But if he’s gonna prove himself, now is as good a time as any.
great for him! im not sure its the right fit at this time. id rather seem him at a 2nd tier league where he can get quality playing time. he has shown flashes but needs to work on his consistency
Is he really EPL worthy? I’ve only seen him in a few USMNT matches and he didn’t look very good in them.
I’m not sure EPL would be a better fit for him than spain, germany, or a 2nd tier league like the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, or France. Given his usmnt appearances, this might be too big a jump too soon.
I don’t see anything coming of this. Bedoya still remains a very unfinished talent. He has the pace and the ambition for the EPL but not the passing and defensive discipline.