Brek Shea Scouted by BPL Clubs
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhsgKRpWKPY
Anyone who watches MLS knows Brek Shea is having a breakout season. And as much as the British media may want to dismiss MLS and its talent, it is now beginning to it pay attention. Sky Sports is reporting that Liverpool and Manchester City both were scouting the U.S. national team’s 1-0 win over Honduras. In addition, Chelsea and Manchester United have also shown interest in Shea, according to the article.
Shea’s agent, Barry McLean, shared that his client would have interest in playing overseas (no surprise there). He told Sky Sports, “He has a contract with the MLS and FC Dallas for another three years so at this point it is premature to talk about a move.”
McLean said also said about a potential overseas move: “It’s on his radar. He is a young player with high aspirations and every player wants to play at the highest level. I think England would be an interesting option for Brek, but we will wait and see what happens.”
I have enjoyed watching Shea grow up professionally this year and at this point in his career he could benefit from playing overseas. In terms of fit, obviously the stability of Manchester United would be a good place for him to ease into European club football. That said, the end of the season may not be the best time for him to make a move. It’s clear that he has tired toward the end of the season with his USMNT and club responsibilities, so moving immediately into a new role and more playing time would be a bad idea. That said, if you get a chance to sign for one of the largest teams in the world, you pretty much have to make that move.
However MLS again would be the big loser. Just as the national team is getting a new star, a new face of American soccer, he moves overseas. FC Dallas would also face a major roster loss, something that MLS teams are increasingly facing as the talent level rises. Such in life in an up-and-coming league.
What do you think? What Premier League club would be a good fit for Brek Shea? Should he leave?
9 Responses to Brek Shea Scouted by BPL Clubs
In my honest opinion, moving to a top tier EPL side would be a
terrible move for Brek Shea. He needs a place where he would get
regular playing time. A mid table EPL team (Or one that gets the
Europa leagues) like Fulham, Villla, Newcastle, or Spurs would do
extremely well with Shea on the pitch. At Manchester United, City,
Liverpool, or Chelsea, he would just be bench fodder.
I don’t think it would be terrible as long as he is loaned out. If
he stays with the first team and only gets reserve action, it won’t
do him any good. But let’s say Liverpool buy him in January and
then loan him to Aston Villa over the summer. Shea could then spend
a season or two on loan, playing in the First XI frequently and
gaining experience. Then when he’s ready, Liverpool (or whoever)
bring him back from loan and insert him into their XI. Chelsea did
the same thing with D. Sturridge (loaned to Bolton last year), and
it’s paid off remarkably well. I think Shea could benefit from
similar treatment.
Thats the best case scenario, Daniel was playing first team with
Bolton and had a successful loan(8 goals in 12 appearances). Alot
of players struggle to find playing time because of injury, change
of management, changing to different roles in managers tactics. I
would hate to see Brek go to Europe to one of the bigger teams like
Chelsea or Manu to sit on the bench. He would benefit to joining
one of the Premier Leagues lower table teams like L.Donovan at
Everton.
MLS might initially be a loser, but the health of soccer in general
in America would be helped in the long run if Shea were to become a
fixture on a big English club like Liverpool or Man City. It would
get more people interested in the sport, which gets more people
watching USA matches, which should get more people watching MLS
matches. It may suck for MLS fans, but the best way to grow
interest in soccer is through a successful USMNT, and the best way
to do that is to elevate the level of play by letting you best
players play club ball at the highest level.
I have never bought this arguement. Who exactly is going to go to
an MLS game now that Holden is a very good player in the BPL,
moving on from MLS ? No one. First of all, almost no one knows he
moved on except soccer fans, who are already at least following
MLS. Second of all, are there really that many stupid people who
don’t know that Shea and many others are very good players ?
The sale of shea would actually be great for FC Dallas. The team
they have now was built with the money from the kenny cooper sale.
I can only imagine what kind of team they could build with the
money they get for Shea. Although we would lose a great player
short term, FCD and MLS WOULD EVENTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS, as we
could bring in more young talent
I hope he gets playing time, or else I hope he stays.
The way that any American player moving onto a bigger, more
lucrative league can be good for the MLS is this: it shows American
players that they can peddle their talents here for a while and
still be noticed by the larger leagues offering tougher competition
and, more importantly, a bigger paycheck. So, that way, we at least
get to know our American stars on home turf for a while, instead of
them playing in Sweden or Turkey from the starts of their careers
because they figure that’s their best chance of getting noticed by
the big leagues and earning a big payday. So, good players see
players like Brek Shea getting noticed and, perhaps, good players
will be more willing to sign on with MLS in hopes of also getting
noticed. This works across the board, of course, and not just for
American soccer players. Just a theory, anyway.
MLS should let their best players go for the right price. That
money could then be put into player development which in the long
run would make the league stronger. MLS also needs to get rid of
this rule where contracts are signed with MLS instead of the
particular team and also do away with the rule that makes teams
share the money they receive from selling a player. The latter
takes away one of the incentives of developing and selling talent.
If i’m an organization why should i put $$$$ into development if i
cannot reap the full rewards when it is time to sell the player.
The team does all the work but in the end they must share the
transfer fee with other teams. It’s a horrible system and it must
change.