Yanks Soccer

Two of the most well regarded US U-17 prospects are set to pack their bags and head of to join Hoffenheim’s youth academy.  Joseph Gyau and Charles Renken who have spent the last two years at Residency will both head to Germany next month.  Read on…I really like this move a lot.  Hoffenheim are a team on the rise backed by SAP creator Dietmar Hopp, and the two will be in a competitive environment that will nurture their development.

One interesting thing to note is the notable difference in career path as opposed to Freddy Adu.  At 14, Adu was playing in MLS, and six years later, it’s clear that maybe he would have been better served developing in a European academy.  The path taken by Gyau and Renken as well as Lleget who joined West Ham, and Luis Gil who recently joined Arsenal, is far different.  They don’t have to deal with the pressures associated with being a young star being pushed to produce before they are ready.  For this reason, I support any US youngster’s move to a European Academy.

While I really should hold my tongue on this because I might jinx are chances, I’m really looking forward to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.  With many of our youngsters joining big European clubs, we may have the most talented World Cup roster yet come 2014.

That’s all for now, if you want more information, you can look here.

–Max Zeger