By RYAN TOLMICH
Following the conclusion of the 2014 MLS regular season, Sean Johnson is set to continue training with a stint across the pond.
The Chicago Fire announced Tuesday that the 25-year-old goalkeeper will participate in a 10-day training stint with England’s Hull City, who currently sit 10th in the Premier League.
“This is a good chance for Sean to continue to train in a Premiership environment during the offseason,” said Chicago Fire head coach Frank Yallop. “He’s had similar training experiences in the past as a result of the relationships that we have abroad, and it’s a good opportunity for him to stay sharp as we turn our sights to the 2015 season.”
“Going to Hull City will be a fantastic training opportunity,” added Johnson. “Going over every year has proven great for me. As a player, to get better every single day, to develop, to play at that level, to see how it’s done day-in, day-out is great for myself. I think to get over there and showcase what you have can only do yourself good. Going right over there at the end of the season is going to be great for me as I’m not missing a beat.”
Johnson was named the Fire’s 2014 MVP and Defensive Player of the Year following a season that saw the goalkeeper record six shutouts in a team-leading 33 appearances.
Additionally, Johnson has been capped four times by the U.S. Men’s National Team and was most recently called in on Oct. 14 against Honduras. Johnson’s scheduled stint with Hull City is set to conclude days before the USMNT heads to Europe for a pair of friendlies against Colombia and the Republic of Ireland on Nov. 14 and 18, respectively.
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What do you think of Johnson’s training stint? How much do you think it helps young players to train overseas?
Share your thoughts below.
They should start by watching tapes of his performance in the last Olympic qualifications,….
Which was two years ago.
Do you suppose he might have gotten better since then? Probably not, huh?
Maybe,…maybe not.
Brian K.
Keepers make mistakes.
They either move on or they don’t.
Timmy Howard has made more than his share of howlers including one that got Manchester United dumped out of the Champions League and eventually led to Timmy getting fired.
In the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers Hamid was crap and Johnson was not much better. I see where Hamid seems to be better now. I don’t see much of Johnson. If he is garbage now in 2014, then that is one thing.
But holding his 2012 Olympic qualifying blunder aganist him makes about as much sense as holding Timmy’s Man U howlers against him.
I agree…why just for 10 days??? Not sure how much training u can get from that short of time.
Training ? Yawn
If it’s training to stay fit, why just 10 days? Is that really going to do a whole lot of good?
Juuuust training folks, dont go mental with assumptions that he might become a hull city player. He’d never get a work permit, for one.
Coincidently, the same thing was said about a former MLS GK who happens tends the nets at Aston Villa. Goalkeepers have a little easier time getting around the requirements needed for a WP. Rightfully so given only one plays at a time. Plus, it helps that his “competitors” internationally are both standouts in the Premier League. If Johnson was presented an offer from a PL club, obtaining a WP, on appeal, is not out of the question.
Prety sure rules have changed since then
*pretty
“Goalkeepers have a little easier time getting around the requirements needed for a WP.”
Really?
Howard got around the requirements because he has a Hungarian passport.
Guzan has a Polish passport.
MMV,
And by the way, Marcus Hahnemann has a German passport , Keller had to sweat the work permit process but he at least had been on the 1990 World Cup team and they were a little more lenient then while Freidel had to jump through multiple hoops to get his UK work permit .
Why do you think it is easier for keepers?
Rimando did not need a Euro passport to play in MLS.
Why not just make it a permanent move.
They continued: “Sean will feel right at home, since Hull is a dump, just like the part of Chicago our field is in.”
Their field isn’t in Chicago
HA! Joke’s on you! TP isn’t IN Chicago! Wheeeeee!!!!
Oh that Johnson, for some reason I was thinking Eddie. Good for Sean, a future great.
Man, we need to use first initials. Fabian Johnson, Eddie Johnson, Sean Johnson. And just to screw with our heads a little more we have Johannsson which screws with my eyes. Holy crap.
I’m not sure why we don’t put first names on the jerseys, If Brazil had strictly last names there would be too many Silva’s on the field at once
Anyone know his contract status?