While die-hard U.S. men's national team fans probably already have the lowdown on young West Ham United defender Dan Potts, the reaction to some tweets about the 17-year-old left back suggests that not everybody is aware of the story behind the latest promising foreign-born prospect eligible to play for the United States.
Potts is the son of West Ham United legend Steve Potts, a defender who played more than 500 matches for the Hammers, and someone who happened to be born in the United States. The elder Potts never got the chance to play for the U.S. national team due to being cap-tied by some youth national team appearances for England, but his place of birth has made his son Dan eligible to play for the United States.
Potts has emerged as hot prospect after being handed his first start for West Ham, and delivering a first-class performance against Barnsley. He earned another start in West Ham's 1-1 Boxing Day draw vs. Birmingham and held his own yet again.
As if Potts' story weren't already a good one, Potts also carries the storyline of having overcome leukemia, which he was diagnosed with at age 12.
Born and raised in England, Potts is eligible to play for the United States and England, but he has yet to be involved in the England youth setup. U.S. national team coaches were well aware of him and called him in earlier this year to a U.S. Under-20 camp, which he took part in.
No, Potts isn't cap-tied to the United States, and indications are that he is far from making a decision on which national team he will ultimately represent, but having impressed as a starter for West Ham at the age of 17, and having recently signed a new contract with the Hammers, it shouldn't be long before England coaches begin calling to make inquiries.
On the bright side, Potts has stated that he enjoyed his experience with the U.S. Under-20 team, and he counts West Ham teammate and U.S. Under-23 national team midfielder Sebastian Lletget as a friend (the two spot on the phone the day of Potts' first West Ham start).
For now, all U.S. fans can do is watch Potts develop and hope he ultimately chooses to play for the United States. Given the lack of left back options in the U.S. national team pool (from the senior level down to the lower youth levels), Potts is certainly someone who could potentially make an impact for the United States if he continues to develop, and if he chooses to play for the USA rather than playing for England.
are you positive about this? Fifa documents state that players with grandparents born in the country in question are eligible and mentions nothing about passports (its on page 31).
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf
(SBI-Players must be able to gain citizenship of the country they choose to play for, which means securing a passport (Passport as an official document verifying citizenship). The USA has some of the tougher qualification rules for citizenship.)
Well he’s a starter in the Championship at 17. There’s really not that far he has to go to “pan out.” It’s an easy bet that he’ll go on to have a solid career as long as he can avoid injury. *knock on wood*
What! can’t I dream?
Do some people really think not wanting foreign players on your national team makes you xenophobic?
Or is it just what they think is the ‘PC’ response? It’s ok to think for yourself! What is the point of NT’s if anyone can find some reason to be capped for any NT then?
I don’t want to too many foreign players on our NT either (Agudelo,Adu, and Holden aren’t foreign btw,they grew up in the US and really developed their pro Soccer here) It’s a matter of pride really…I’d rather lose with Americans than win with mercenaries.
Like exposing the cultural heritage of say players like Gooch and Jozy who could’ve potentially played for other nations, or like Landon for Canada.
True, if we just get our development programs right. There is no reason a nation of 300 million shouldn’t be able to field a strong team of native born Americans.
You say that as if Potts can just waltz onto the Olympic team if he wants to.
That is hardly a certainty. He has one or two games for a Championship team and those mostly because of injury.
How about letting him win a job at West Ham and then the Under 20’s before anointing him the next saviour.
I want nothing more than for the US soccer program to be among the best in the world and hopefully win the world cup.
Saying that, there is something dissatisfying with the continued use of either foreign born or half-American players. I’m not taking a stand on Potts but I’m suggesting that it would be more gratifying for a nation of 300 million people to win a world cup with 11 American born and bred players.
I’m sure Landon will welcome Fabian with open arms and would do the same for Potts, should that happen. That’s because Landon is a true American.
Study the history of US soccer. Unlike most people here go back before the 2006 World Cup and you will find it was always heavily influenced by immigrants.
The whole FIFA dual national thing has just made it a bit more obvious.
Thank you for taking your sheet off.
If you guys have been paying attention to English politics during the past year I think you would agree there are plenty of reasons to distance yourself from the nation. (Not that the US has been much better).
I’ve got to agree. As much as i appreciate all of the German-American players and what they do for the team i would prefer a team of landon donovan’s than fabian Johnson’s.
I mean, kid could turn out to be a star, and England surely have half an eye on him, but I highly doubt he’s getting the media coverage there that he’s getting here, simply because there are so many other youth players there.
Timely clearance to preserve the draw on Boxing Day. Other than that I didn’t see much of him in the match (the camera seems to always be fixated om Suarez making a whiny face).
Soon the US mens team wont have any true americans on its team….
+1
inspiring stuff all the way around
and right backs…Manfred Kaltz bent it like Beckham before Beckham did 🙂
the Germans produce top shelf talent at all positions, and over time, methodically, yes?
Nice, Very nice!
But I don’t mind getting a history lesson if I’m off base. I’m no England expert.
With England I may just be thinking about the fact that they have rarely had a surplus of left sided players.
But I’m also thinking about World Cup 2002. I don’t remember Cole being that strong. (Of course he made up for it in subsequent tournaments.) And if I’m not mistaken, they had almost no suitable back up.
It’s kind of funny how we just have to hope that he is good, but not good enough for England. Because you’re an idiot if you think he’d choose the U.S. if both teams came calling
I agree MC. He wasn’t terrible, there are times when Bale is impossible to stop, I have seen him destroy some of the best defenders in the world.
I’ve been watching Whitbread closely the last few weeks and he has certainly looked good enough for a call up. Today was not his best day, but he also was not terrible
England had little problem at LB before Ashley Cole. LeSaux had the #3 shirt and there was only a short spell between his exit from the international stage and Ash’s call-up. Not quite as bad as some other team’s have had it.
I think he’d be easier to call up younger than most just because of his background and his family, having a father who has been through it all in his career makes it a lot of easier on being ready to make the jump.
In the highlights I saw of Pelosi, he was playing attacking mid.
No doubt the US program will soon try to call him in. Here’s a preemptive “Try Harder” demand.
Don’t forget about Adam Henley!
Incredible story. He was extremely brave at 12 and fought the cancer head on. Surviving that experience will be carried with him for the rest of his life. Wish him nothing but the best even if he chooses England 😉
Very promising LB, but it seems people don’t know that Marc Pelosi who is currently playing for Liverpools U-19 Academy team has been getting rave reviews while playing LB. There is also Cunningham who currently plays for Molde in Norway and looks to be in the door for getting a lot of first team minutes next season. Not only that jaun Pablo Ocegueda at Tigres is a very promising LB, as well as Fabian Johnson who has been playing LB at Hoffenheim lately. There is also Matt Garza at Culb Tijuana, and Michael Ambrose at college. U-20 player Hernanadez with FC Dallas, and Zach Loyd can play either fullback position as well. It wil be nice if he chooses the USA, but their are many other options coming down the pipline if he doesn’t choose the USA.
What about the Pride of Tennessee, Adam Henley of Blackburn Rovers? Has the USSF come calling for him?
yep, he isnt in the same class as some of the youngsters they have produced recently (wilshere, mancienne, taiwo, gosling) just to name a few. heck, he even has a teammate, defender leo chambers, who got a look back in october for the u-17’s…
Guys, we’re paying attention to Potts because he’s eligible to play for us. And that’s great. And he might choose to play for us. And he might choose to play for England. But, for those of you saying “England will definitely scoop him up,” it’s not as if he’s their only young prospect in the position. They may be keeping an eye on him too, but it’s not as if he’s already this superstar in the making.
Have you seen him play?
It’s not like he’s the only English left back prospect. We’re only paying attention to him because he might play for us, which is awesome, but it’s not as if he’s England’s only hope either.
Call me a skeptic, but I don’t see anyway (if he pans out) that he plays for the US. He was raised in England and would be a god there if he ends up on the three lions. The only way I see him playing for the stars and stripes is if the English screw up somehow.
ha, the ziegler experiment..oh my. i knew i had that extra comma in there for a reason…anyways, you are correct, the 6-8 years before lahm were a disaster at times. i guess there is a reason he went from right to left in the first place.
Not true at all. FIFA goes by passports. Their rules only come into play with dual nationals.
While all of that may be true, it’s irrelevant. FIFA has its own (and frequently changing) rules with respect to nationality. National citizenship laws have little if anything to do with them.
Will be seeing him play on Jan 2nd!
Genius!
The kid’s a good left back. Better than any of the true LB’s we have currently. Call him up in June to play against Antigua with a group mixed of veterans and youngsters. He’d be cap tied and I think he’s gonna be a good one.
I meant shortly before Lahm. But good points.
Thinking more of Christian Rahn, Tobias Rau, Ziege, Joerg Boehme even Bernd Schneider.
All were (very) poor candidates for left back before Lahm established himself as the go-to guy.
Also… you forgot Paul Breitner.
I see that you are well versed with immingration laws. I think he should give us a try for the Olympics, he has nothing to lose, he wouldn’t be cap tied.
i think you dont remember germany before lahm, they have a history of some of the greatest left backs to ever play the game…brehme, Schnellinger,
Does the kid have a US passport yet? Just b/c you have an American Citizen parent doesn’t immediately make you an AMCIT. Usually, a parent must demonstrate 5yrs of physical presence in the US to transmit citizenship to a child born overseas. He could also qualify under the child citizenship act of 2000 for immediate naturalization since he’s under 18.
Regardless, great story. Hope he continues to develop and picks the red, white and blue.
Its a great story, and we have to remember, he’s very young, not every promising 17 yr old prospect pans out.
That being said, I’d be shocked if he ends up with us (USA). Left back is a hard position to fill for most nations – England will eventually scoop this kid up I’m sure.
Lots of teams struggle to find a good left back. Remember England before the emergence of Ashley Cole, and Germany before Philip Lahm?
Regardless of whether or not we get these two dual nationals, Lichaj (not to mention Chandler) looks to be capable of making the position his own.
Oh danny boy, the stars and stripes are calling.
Great story. If he keeps this up it’s going to be tough for him to turn down an England youth call-up. If him and Henley turn out to be BPL studs and play for England and Wales, respectively, then the left back position is officially cursed for the US team
Would love for him to choose usa