By RYAN TOLMICH
While Orlando City have remained quiet on a rumored move for Brek Shea, Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has opted to spill the beans.
Hughes revealed Thursday that Shea is finalizing a move to Orlando for the franchise’s upcoming debut season. The deal is anticipated to be a complete transfer.
“We envisage Brek completing his move to Orlando,” Hughes said in a press conference. “It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but he was in the building yesterday trying to tie it up.”
Hughes’ comments come in the wake of reports from the Orlando Sentinel linking the American winger to the 2015 MLS expansion club. The move will see the 24-year-old Shea reunite with Orlando City after spending several weeks training with the team this past summer.
Shea, who last featured in MLS in 2012 with FC Dallas, has made just five league appearances during his time at Stoke City. Shea, who also had loan stints at Barnsley and Birmingham City during his time abroad, was an MLS MVP finalist in 2011 with 11 goals and four assists.
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What do you think about a potential Shea move to Orlando City? How would Orlando City stack up going into the club’s opening season?
Share your thoughts below.
I get that Shea hasn’t been great for us or in Europe, but the kid still has serious potential. Potential is a weak argument for someone who is 24, but in his games early on in the Klinsmann era he was consistently dangerous when running at defenders and showing a great turn of pace. He should have had an assist to his name against Costa Rica when Landon flubbed a great chance.
What he needs now is consistent playing time. Fighting for a place in the first XI is a good thing, but there comes a point where if it isn’t working out, your form and fitness start to deteriorate. People seem to really forget what that turf toe did to Brek’s development and his chances for a spot on the plane to Brazil (and I would have preferred him at least off the bench over Brad Davis any day). Once he starts playing more often we should really see the player who impressed us all in MLS a few seasons ago.
The only negative is that Juergen seems to have a particular distaste for players who give up on Europe, even if its only for a little while. Its entirely possibly that Brek finds his way back across the pond in a few years time, but right now the kid needs to be playing. Juergen really doesn’t seem to get that and I imagine that has scared at least a few of our guys into staying in European situations that may not suit them. He regards it as a sign of weakness or just lack of talent when someone can’t crack it overseas, even though one of those players who struggled over there was this country’s leader in assists and goals – and ended up proving himself overseas anyways. Anyone remember Donovan’s Everton beating Dempsey’s Fulham with two assists to Landon? I sure do…
I think Shea is going to do well in Orlando. Very good manager plus he might even learn a thing or two from that Kaka guy–whoever he is.
In my opinion Brek is simply not good enough. He’s big, fast and very athletic but as you all know there are thousands of big, fast, athletic players. He probably doesn’t have the skill. Same with Jozy. This is not to say the Brek and Jozy have not scored some spectacular goals, but these goals have not been replicated in higher quality leagues. Dempsey, on the other hand, is not very fast but he is technically legit. He earned his consistent starts in the Prem because he is good enough.
Jozy has had a bad 1 1/4 years in the EPL, but he is a lot more accomplished in Europe that Brek. Over a 2 year period he was the 3rd most prolific player in his position in Netherlands (including the last 6 months with overlapped with Brek’s 1st 6 months in Europe). The 1st was Wilfred Bony who is a star in the EPL and the 2nd is a starter and double digit scorer in Napoli in Serie A. I wanted Jozy to move to bigger things, but I have always thought Sunderland was a band place to land. It became painful for me to watch them.
Keep in mind that they are both the same age. Jozy is only 4 months older that Brek to put things into perspective.
Jozy doesn’t have the technical ability to succeed in the EPL at the striker position. The further up the pyramid of competition you go, the 2 things that diminish are time and space – Jozy had a lot more of both in the Netherlands for sure, and in a less physical/tactically rigged league.
That isn’t to say Jozy isn’t great, and could still do well somewhere else in Europe. The reasons he hasn’t succeeded at Sunderland aren’t Sunderland centric, they are Jozy centric. He doesn’t have the tight control/first touch to create for and capitalize for himself in situations. You don’t get 5 chances a game in England, and you DEFINITELY don’t get those at Sunderland. But Stephen Fletcher finds a way to poach what he can for them, and thats why when he is healthy he is always there over Jozy.
And, in a league where you habitually find yourself standing in between 2 center backs and 2 Def Mids of a 5 man midfield, you have to be very good off the ball to make space and find space. Jozy is not good off the ball, and that hurts him at Sunderland, and in high level international games of USMNT.
Jozy has had a bad 1 1/4 years in the EPL, and that timeline will extend for as long as he is there, because he won’t ever do well there.
Bony also took a month off that season for the Cup of Nations and still was the leagues leading scoring.
Bony with 31 goals in 30 starts, Jozy with 23 goals in 33 starts.
WHAT A FLOP?
Dempsey didn’twhen he was in the PL. He fought for PT and earned it.
why didn’t he try for a full transfer to a Championship club or a team in Belgium or Holland or Portugal.
oh wait all he cares about is the cash and easy living.
“Cash and easy living” ….doesn’t sound half bad. Good work if you can get it!
And you can get it if you try!
“oh wait all he cares about is the cash and easy living.”
um…sign me up?
I’m first in line for the cash and easy living combo!
really want to know how this will work. they have 2 DPs and are trying to beat out the Revs for Robinho’s signature. if we end up with 4 DPs per team, no issue. but is Shea really worth a DP spot? if they raise the minimum DP salary, would he even be a DP? in the one article, sounds like Heath is hinting Shea makes a lot of money. if there is a transfer fee, then he’s likely going to be a DP no matter what. or will this be a loan deal with an option to buy?
the other day Greg Seltzer said a few Championship clubs were trying to sign him and that Orlando should not be considered the front runner. i’d say that is no longer the case now. it seems Orlando is going to happen.
while it’s a bummer to see yet another US prospect die hard in England, i am glad to see him come back to MLS at 24. if he can get himself together, maybe by 26-27 he can get a move back to a top league and actually get playing time. for now though, i think this is the right move.
from an MLS rules standpoint, how does Orlando have first dibs? are they at the top, or near the top, of the allocation order? if they aren’t at the top, i’m assuming they have made a deal/trade or that team just passed on him?
Right there with you. Shea is very much questionnable as a DP signing, but would also be a no-brainer for me as a non-DP.
I can’t imagine they’re gambling on 4-DP slots becoming available. Maybe they know that they won’t get Robinho. Should Kaka have some pull?
i agree. either they know there will be a 4th DP or, like you said, maybe they know Robinho isn’t happening. guess we’ll find out soon enough…hopefully.
But if they know there will be a 4th DP slot, then we have to wonder why a) no other teams seem to be jockeying for a fourth signing, or b) why no other teams know about the change.
Maybe they are and do but we just don’t know.
From a sporting prospective, I don’t see how this make sense on the field. Really, I think you need more proven and established players . . . ‘pro’s pros’ to see you though those first few years. This is a player who has a proven track record of immaturity, inconsistency, and inability to perform on a larger platform – which I consider being a ‘marquee signing’ for an expansion team in MLS to be at this point.
He is young though – very young at 24 considering he hasn’t played much at all for the last 1.5 years, and at least trained at a high level, and in a high level environment. I could be completely wrong, and Shea ends up bringing that integral ‘young veteran’ attitude to the team, as a guy who has seen his name put up in the bright lights of a world cup qualifying, and now finds himself very far out of the picture, and is absolutely burning to prove his point. That is hopefully the way this goes for Orlando.
Does he play at Left Back? Is that his future USMNT path? I am always of the decision that defending is 85% choice and commitment to the process, and he could make the choice and commitment to re make himself into a bigger and more dynamic Beasley – a guy by the way, who is THE consummate pro, and a huge example to any player in the USMNT set up.
We will see – exciting year ahead for the league.
If only Orlando had a world class attacking player with similar speed and build who Brek could learn from.
Shea isn’t going to get better. I believe he’s already plateaued after seeing no discernible progression physically or mentally to his game.
You think a 24 yr old has plateaued???
If players work hard, they always improve. The problem with athletes is that bodies start to breakdown or they loose speed/quickness. You want quick development so peak physical fitness and game understanding/experience overlap.
I’m 34 and still haven’t reached my peak yet. Its possible that I have world-class talent that is currently being underutilized in my Co-rec Division 3 league? I’m still waiting for a top level manager or scout to see my talent…I guess I’ll keep on waiting…:)
Sorry Joe, the problem is you do not have professional level talent….
Keep living the dream, brother, keep living!
🙂
You think a 24 yr old has plateaued???
The devil is in the details. I said: I think a 24 year old Brek Shea has plateaued.
To clear up any confusion: Yes, I do.
Subject to re-entry draft?
Whatever The Don decides I’m sure it’s reasoning will be clear as mud.
This is disappointing. He “should” have found his way into that lineup eventually with enough hard work and dedication. I’m a big Shea fan and think he has loads of potential, but what a wasted spell at Stoke. Very little playing time and when I’ve seen him play recently he looks lost and slow. I know not playing has its impact, but its also completely possible that he’s simply not good enough to compete at the EPL level.
Best of luck in Orlando Shea.
“but its also completely possible that he’s simply not good enough to compete at the EPL level”. Try entirely possible
Kmac – Please explain the difference between completely and entirely. Im partially curious.
i think you mean “somewhat curious”
You’ve just been pulled over by the grammar police!
🙂
Well, really it was the Thesaurus Police.
Shea is a racehorse on ice.
I assume you’re not referring to the drug…
Haha. No, I am not.
Deer on roller skates also works.
Sounder just lost (due to retirement) their giraffe on roller skates, so….
He has the exact build of Ronaldo and Bale; he’s just missing the mentality. Ronaldo is still the first one to training and the last to leave. He lives to improve his game.
Shea is happy to play with guns and paint. Instead of busting his gut day in-and-out he gets into attitude fits and looks childish. I remember when he was linked publicly with Manchester United. Fergie would have knocked his attitude into place.
He should have found his way in the Netherlands first to find his soccer IQ. Now, let’s hope he finds enough confidence to be an impact player late in the game. He’ll never be a starter for the US.
Hyperbole much? I’m not Shea’s biggest fan, but you make a lot assumptions. I also don’t like it when people talk about and assert their opinions on player’s attitudes when they don’t have direct interaction.
OMG. The only thing missing between players like Ronaldo/Bale and Brek Shea is mentality? I’d agree that mentality is a part of it, but I’d have to think that Shea is somewhat lacking in the whole world-class talent part of his game.
Build and physique are great, but they are useless without talent. Shea is miles apart in terms of talent from the players you mention.
I did find our part about how he likes to play with paint hysterical. I know its true and all, but it was quite funny. I’ll admit Shea’s Left foot studio is pretty cool though.
Hmm, skill is something developed through hard work/practice. Everyone has a peak but uh… Brek doesn’t appear to have really tried to reach his.
Partially that’s from the US not having great coaching and partial because he has Balotelli disease.
Brek has had some fairly high profile moments. Giving the finger to the fans of the team you are on loan at? Yeah… that’s not gunna create a good impression. Do that at 17-18? Whatever. Do that at 24?
I do understand what you mean but he clearly isn’t 100% locked in.
Coach Jurgen says if I should try to find Juan A. b4 I get on the airplane home. Ha ha. Who is Juan?
My favorite dinosaur is brontosaurus.
Brek Shea, as a young boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y
Amazing. Has to be him.
I was expecting robinho or another Brazilian to pair up with kaka.
Robinho isn’t a professional. He’d be a horrible signing.
But…but he’s so good in my video game! Ughhh…
I haven’t bought a FIFA in a few years, but yes…last time I had FIFA he was a BEAST.
If Robinho is a horrible signing what do you call Shea? I don’t get the hype with this guy. He sucks, complete garbage. We completely over hyped him. There are way better signings out there.