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US Men's National Team (8 Viewers)
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The year after he started getting time with Birmingham, he shattered his leg in multiple places. He was never able to recover to his previous athletic quality. He bounced around some loans in the lower divisions in England and then trialed with a handful of MLS teams, but no one offered him even a minimum deal from what I can tell.
After the 2nd goal, Spurs moved CCV from RCB to LCB, and both he and Ball settled down. Tough game to judge by - Trippier is the only sorta first teamer in the back 4, and the LB is an attacking MFer from the youth squad. Ball, who is CCV's partner, was on loan last season at Rangers, playing DM.
Yedlin played well, eventually switching to RB. Did not look out of place on defense, and had a few nice balls into the box from both sides. Comments on Spurs board were very positive - went from a player everyone wanted to sell, to now people talking about trying to keep him. Still an uphill challenge to beat out Trippier, but he did not lose ground today.
CCV played the whole game, settled down nicely after switching to LCB - showed some good ball playing ability and made a few good tackles.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
If Yedlin can play both sides wouldn't increase he value to Spurs? Has he ever played much at LB? We have a hole there on the USMNT as well (Fab is a more natural LM/LW).
He can't really play LB - he put in a couple of crosses, but both times he had to cut back and send it in with his right foot.* Spurs have no natural LBs on the tour.
*His best pass came from the left side, but it was a chip into the box that Edwards could not quite bring down. Chip was good though.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I was actually shuddering at thinking of Yedlin playing on his weak foot before I remembered that he doesn't really have a "strong" foot.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
So Yedlin was playing as an 'inverted fullback'? I know Poch likes his inverted wingers but that just seems silly.
No - he just played there because they had nobody else. In the first half, Spurs used a youth attacking MF at LB. Another youth player - Anton Walkes - came on about 70 minutes, and Yedlin moved over to RB.
But, when he was playing LB, he stayed wide - he just could not use his pace to beat anyone to the end line to put in a cross because he can't use his left foot - so he stopped, turned, and cut back to use his right foot to put in a cross from a wide position. It was not terrible, just not terribly effective.
All this to say - he could play LB in a pinch - sort of like anyone could play LB in a pinch (except maybe Brek Shea)
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
It was a joke. Just happy the Yedlin reports have been positive so far. I want him to stay at WHL (if he gets regular play) or move on to somewhere that he can be a regular.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
There are some indications that Julian Green might not be loaned out this season. He has taken advantage of his chances on the tour and gotten 3 straight starts and has played fairly well from the reports.
Here are comments from Julian and his coach
==============================
Paul Tenorio
✔@PaulTenorio
Ancelotti says Julian Green has played well, worked hard. Must continue to improve, but "he will be important for us in the season."
5:44 PM - 26 Jul 2016
=================================
Although he was considered one of the key performers for the little Bayern, Green revealed to kicker (according to Fussball-Vorort) that "it has been agreed" that he won't be playing for the reserves anymore.
With his contract expiring next summer, Green isn't interested in a transfer. "I am seeking my opportunity with FC Bayern. We'll see what happens after that." With numerous players missing part of the preseason, including the current 11-day US tour, due to playing in the European Championships this summer, or being injured, Green has a chance to show off his skills in front of new coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Here are comments from Julian and his coach
==============================
Paul Tenorio
✔@PaulTenorio
Ancelotti says Julian Green has played well, worked hard. Must continue to improve, but "he will be important for us in the season."
5:44 PM - 26 Jul 2016
=================================
Although he was considered one of the key performers for the little Bayern, Green revealed to kicker (according to Fussball-Vorort) that "it has been agreed" that he won't be playing for the reserves anymore.
With his contract expiring next summer, Green isn't interested in a transfer. "I am seeking my opportunity with FC Bayern. We'll see what happens after that." With numerous players missing part of the preseason, including the current 11-day US tour, due to playing in the European Championships this summer, or being injured, Green has a chance to show off his skills in front of new coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
If Green could get some regular first team play this year that would be huge. I just don't see him getting a lot of minutes at Bayern. Hope I'm wrong.
El Floppo
Footballguy
yeah... IIRC, 21? not old by US pro standards, but not a spring chicken any more by euro ones. as you say- he needs to get quality, pro minutes this year... as many as possible. tbh, from the little I've seen of him, I'd be astonished if those come with big-boy BM but if he can somehow pull off anything even close to Pulisic pt- that would be nice.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Hopefully seeing Pulisic's success made Green realize that he can't just go with the flow and wait for the game to come to him as a young player. He has to have the attitude of going out to make things happen. As has been pointed out, he looks to have at least matured a lot physically, which can only give him some confidence.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
correct. He just turned 21 last month so he is a "young" 21 too.El Floppo said:
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
Quality, pro minutes are what all the young guys need. We could argue about the league, or whatever, but they all need minutes.El Floppo said:
Wood should get plenty of time this season. Pulisic I'm not worried about, Dortmund seems to value him and won't let him 'rot' on the bench.
I'm starting to worry about Yedlin, Spurs are in CL, but he was a starter for Sunderland last year. He's not cracking the top 11 at WHL unless someone moves. He's looked good in the preseason, so maybe he'll get another big 4 league loan.
Any news on Zalalem? (I can never spell his name) What about Hyndman?
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Zelalem will play for Arsenal in the MLS All-Star Game tomorrow night. I suspect he has another loan in his future. The Rangers loan appears to have been mixed, but the reviews so far this pre-season are good again. I suspect he'll get another loan, probably to the Championship.
Hyndman injured his ankle and will be out for most of Bournemouth's preseason. Unfortunate.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Zegolum is always liked by Arsenal and always (last couple of years) talked about being brought into the fold, but then gets reserved or loaned out. I'd be happy with him doing another year with Rangers (didn't Rangers get promoted to the SPL?) getting good minutes in a rough and tumble league that can develop the skills not in his current arsenal.
Hyndman just signed with Bournemouth, so will hopefully get some PL experience and not just loaned out (but I'd be happy with that if those PL minutes don't happen).
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Kieswetter went from Stuttgart, where he couldn't break through to Fortuna Dusseldorf in the BL2. Probably also the type of "step down" that could be good for him if he can get minutes.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
And sounds like Boyd just scored another preseason goal for Leipzig. His injuries have been really frustrating because he's a guy who could potentially do Brian McBride things for the Nats.
El Floppo
Footballguy
every time I've seen this kid I think he could be a truly great player for the US. no hyperbole- an all-timer.
he's got the athleticism, and a great attacking mindset to go with some really good foot skills. needs to develop his awareness of the best options... but that's pretty typical for younger guys- and tbh, I'd prefer to have him try #### while going at goal than just while passing the ball square or back after 2 touches. also is pretty egregious with his diving/embellishing. really hope he gets quality minutes somewhere so he can rise to the potential I see in him.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Problem for Zelalem is that he's a pure #10. Even if he weren't pursuing his full time job of being injured when away from his hobby of playing football, Jack Wilshere isn't going to play as a #10 so long as Ozil is around. So I don't see Gedion breaking through there. And I don't see him playing as two-way CM either. That makes loans challenging because not a lot of teams really use a dedicated 10 anymore.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
HIs diving is tremendous. World class flopper, no wonder you approve. Kiesewetter seems so much like Bobby Wood, it's kind of scary. Very fast. Looks to be positive when he gets the ball. Not sure he has the technical goods to translate that into production, but he needs to play and develop confidence for us to find out.
El Floppo
Footballguy
good stuff, RHE.
I think Rangers used him as a wider player.. but I'm not certain.
El Floppo
Footballguy
the diving is just horrible- and cuts out way too many of his opportunities going forward.
honestly- what I've seen of him, I have seen the technical goods, along with the pace and will to attack... but ultimately the decision making or diving put a damper on things. both seem fixable though.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Germany Jones checking in.
=======================================================================
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- U.S. international midfielder Jermaine Jones said he is pleased that manager Jurgen Klinsmann will be sticking around a while.
Klinsmann has been linked to several managerial vacancies since leading the U.S. to the semifinals of the Copa America last month. Most were shot down quickly, but one that persisted was England, with overseas reports hinting strongly that the English FA was interested in interviewing Klinsmann.
Ultimately, Sam Allardyce got the job, and just how much interest there actually was between Klinsmann and the English FA remains unclear. That didn't stop Jones from expressing his delight that he'll continue to work under the U.S. manager.
"I'm happy that it [didn't] happen," said Jones about Klinsmann leaving the U.S. program. "I know there's a lot of critics sometimes on him, but at the end of the day, I will say that since he has been there we've changed a lot."
Jones stated that under Klinsmann, the U.S. has played more friendly games against top opposition, and highlighted the wins over Germany and the Netherlands last year.
"Of course, people always get frustrated when you lose against Colombia, we lost against Argentina," he said. "But you have to be really focused and realize these teams have a squad of 20 and Argentina brings [Ezequiel] Lavezzi out, [Sergio] Aguero comes in. [That's] not like where we are at right now, to be honest, this is the truth. But the process is going forward and I think Jurgen is a big piece why."
Jones also highlighted the U.S. performance at last month's Copa America Centenario, where the hosts reached the semifinals.
"For my eyes, what I see, we played a good Copa America," he said. "So if you take the first game away, you play Colombia, it's a good team. Inside of the team, we were talking, and we said, 'Okay, you can lose against Colombia. That's the point, but we have to beat the other two teams.' That was the main thing, to come out of the group. We lost against Colombia, but then the next two games, we were concentrated, made it out of the group."
He added, "If you look back over the whole tournament, I would say for us, as a country, it was a good tournament, especially if you look at what South American teams we left behind us."
The U.S. ended up falling 4-0 in the semifinals to a superior Argentina team. Jones was suspended for the match after receiving a controversial red card in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador. Looking back on the incident, where Jones appeared to make minimal contact with Antonio Valencia, the U.S. midfielder admitted he shouldn't have let it get that far, while also defending his continued place in the team.
"People always talked about it, how important I [am] for the national team, that maybe it's time to [replace] me," he said. "But when the games come, there's not a lot of people who will always be there and stand on the field like I do. Argentina, I wish I could play that game to see how everything would be with me on the field, but that wasn't the case. The red card? Yeah, a mistake."
The U.S. midfielder is currently nursing an LCL strain in his right knee that has forced him to miss the last three league games with his club side the Colorado Rapids. Jones said that he injured the knee on July 4 against the Portland Timbers, and the initial prognosis was that he'd be out four weeks, but he added he'll get an MRI on Monday to gauge his recovery.
Jones is eager to rejoin the Rapids, given the success the club has enjoyed this year. Colorado is currently in the midst of a 15-game unbeaten streak, and while Tim Howard has looked sharp in goal and Shkelzen Gashi has contributed to the attack, Jones feels the team's success runs much deeper than just the big names.
"Timmy is my boy, and we have a good relationship," he said. "But the main thing is it's not him and it's not me and it's not Gashi. It's the whole group, especially the guys too who sit on the bench. To keep them all on the same page and be focused, that you can make that dream really happen, that's always ... what I try to do, especially as a leader on the team.
"All the other stuff, you try to enjoy it. We have a good team, we have the people who can make the difference on the field. But then you have the other guys that I see, like Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, they are already in this league for a while, so they are still on the page, they fight for us and keep us clean in the back. It's a whole, I would say, a team effort."
No one could have predicted the Rapids' success in preseason, especially when Jones was in limbo due to a contract dispute with previous club the New England Revolution. The subsequent trade to Colorado now has him in contention for silverware.
"There was a lot of people saying, 'Let him go to Colorado. They will struggle, maybe win a couple of games, but they will not be up top,'" he said. "I'm not finished. I know that my team isn't finished too, and we want to keep that going and see [where] the stuff ends."
=======================================================================
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- U.S. international midfielder Jermaine Jones said he is pleased that manager Jurgen Klinsmann will be sticking around a while.
Klinsmann has been linked to several managerial vacancies since leading the U.S. to the semifinals of the Copa America last month. Most were shot down quickly, but one that persisted was England, with overseas reports hinting strongly that the English FA was interested in interviewing Klinsmann.
Ultimately, Sam Allardyce got the job, and just how much interest there actually was between Klinsmann and the English FA remains unclear. That didn't stop Jones from expressing his delight that he'll continue to work under the U.S. manager.
"I'm happy that it [didn't] happen," said Jones about Klinsmann leaving the U.S. program. "I know there's a lot of critics sometimes on him, but at the end of the day, I will say that since he has been there we've changed a lot."
Jones stated that under Klinsmann, the U.S. has played more friendly games against top opposition, and highlighted the wins over Germany and the Netherlands last year.
"Of course, people always get frustrated when you lose against Colombia, we lost against Argentina," he said. "But you have to be really focused and realize these teams have a squad of 20 and Argentina brings [Ezequiel] Lavezzi out, [Sergio] Aguero comes in. [That's] not like where we are at right now, to be honest, this is the truth. But the process is going forward and I think Jurgen is a big piece why."
Jones also highlighted the U.S. performance at last month's Copa America Centenario, where the hosts reached the semifinals.
"For my eyes, what I see, we played a good Copa America," he said. "So if you take the first game away, you play Colombia, it's a good team. Inside of the team, we were talking, and we said, 'Okay, you can lose against Colombia. That's the point, but we have to beat the other two teams.' That was the main thing, to come out of the group. We lost against Colombia, but then the next two games, we were concentrated, made it out of the group."
He added, "If you look back over the whole tournament, I would say for us, as a country, it was a good tournament, especially if you look at what South American teams we left behind us."
The U.S. ended up falling 4-0 in the semifinals to a superior Argentina team. Jones was suspended for the match after receiving a controversial red card in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador. Looking back on the incident, where Jones appeared to make minimal contact with Antonio Valencia, the U.S. midfielder admitted he shouldn't have let it get that far, while also defending his continued place in the team.
"People always talked about it, how important I [am] for the national team, that maybe it's time to [replace] me," he said. "But when the games come, there's not a lot of people who will always be there and stand on the field like I do. Argentina, I wish I could play that game to see how everything would be with me on the field, but that wasn't the case. The red card? Yeah, a mistake."
The U.S. midfielder is currently nursing an LCL strain in his right knee that has forced him to miss the last three league games with his club side the Colorado Rapids. Jones said that he injured the knee on July 4 against the Portland Timbers, and the initial prognosis was that he'd be out four weeks, but he added he'll get an MRI on Monday to gauge his recovery.
Jones is eager to rejoin the Rapids, given the success the club has enjoyed this year. Colorado is currently in the midst of a 15-game unbeaten streak, and while Tim Howard has looked sharp in goal and Shkelzen Gashi has contributed to the attack, Jones feels the team's success runs much deeper than just the big names.
"Timmy is my boy, and we have a good relationship," he said. "But the main thing is it's not him and it's not me and it's not Gashi. It's the whole group, especially the guys too who sit on the bench. To keep them all on the same page and be focused, that you can make that dream really happen, that's always ... what I try to do, especially as a leader on the team.
"All the other stuff, you try to enjoy it. We have a good team, we have the people who can make the difference on the field. But then you have the other guys that I see, like Micheal Azira, Sam Cronin, they are already in this league for a while, so they are still on the page, they fight for us and keep us clean in the back. It's a whole, I would say, a team effort."
No one could have predicted the Rapids' success in preseason, especially when Jones was in limbo due to a contract dispute with previous club the New England Revolution. The subsequent trade to Colorado now has him in contention for silverware.
"There was a lot of people saying, 'Let him go to Colorado. They will struggle, maybe win a couple of games, but they will not be up top,'" he said. "I'm not finished. I know that my team isn't finished too, and we want to keep that going and see [where] the stuff ends."
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I have read about almost every US player abroad but have found very little information about Wood. Has he appeared in any friendlies yet for Hamburg?
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Not sure they've had one yet. They play Bochum in a friendly on Friday according to the BL site.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Besler was dropped from the MLS all star team and Acosta was added.
Game against Arsenal is tomorrow night on ESPN at 7:30 eastern.
Here are the Americans who should be available tomorrow night
Acosta, Bingham, Birnbaum, Farrel, Rosenberry, Vincent, Beckerman, Sacha, Nagbe, Trapp, Dempsey, Wondo
Game against Arsenal is tomorrow night on ESPN at 7:30 eastern.
Here are the Americans who should be available tomorrow night
Acosta, Bingham, Birnbaum, Farrel, Rosenberry, Vincent, Beckerman, Sacha, Nagbe, Trapp, Dempsey, Wondo
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Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I should mention that Luca De La Torre is getting minutes for Fulham in the preseason, so we might have another US teenager to follow at Craven College.
Also sounds like Timothy Tillman made the Bayern preseason roster. I'd always heard that he was a big time jewel in the German youth system but he did not play for the U17s in the Euro Championships and his brother participated in a US U15 camp.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Have to say I'm shocked at how positive the news is on Green. There's no way he's going to get minutes at Bayern, right?
Am I crazy to think that Green's tantrum last year + agreement not to play reserves this year + pre-season PT + fluffing comments from Ancelotti might mean they're looking for a loan or transfer?
Am I crazy to think that Green's tantrum last year + agreement not to play reserves this year + pre-season PT + fluffing comments from Ancelotti might mean they're looking for a loan or transfer?
El Floppo
Footballguy
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
He's on the last year of his contract. Don't see how they'd loan him if he won't extend. Maybe they're putting him in the shop window for a BL2 team to get a small transfer fee. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for him.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
That seems more likely to me than he's really going to emerge at Bayern. Would love to be wrong about that one.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
That's my thinking as well. Renato Sanches and Kingsley Coman are both: 1) likely ahead of him on the depth chart and 2) younger than him. Not a good recipe for breaking through. Some of the guys ahead of him are old. Don't see Ribery and Robben being around long, but Bayern has reloaded with Costa, Coman, and Sanches. And who knows who's coming through the youth ranks. Tillman seems to sometimes play on the left himself.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Just read a report that Deuce wasn't even speaking to Sigi in Seattle and that he's ready to leave. Don't know if he'd roll the dice on one more shot as a bench player overseas or what.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
you know Luca, you saw him play in one of the US U17 youth national team tournaments.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
do you have a link? Here was an interview he gave yesterday but does not mention wanting to leave but you can easily see he is frustrated that Obafemi was transferred with no direct replacement.
================================
SAN JOSE, Calif.—No matter who’s the head coach of the Seattle Sounders, Clint Dempsey says the club needs help in the attacking third.
Hours before the Sigi Schmid era officially ended in Seattle after seven-plus years, Dempsey sat down with MLSsoccer.com ahead of Thursday’s AT&T MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal(7:30pm ET; ESPN, UniMás, RDS, TSN) to discuss the state of the Sounders in the midst of a disappointing season that’s seen the club slip from their customary playoff position to ninth in the Western Conference with 20 points from 20 games.
“It’s a frustrating time for the team. We’re not where we want to be in the table,” Dempsey said. “We’re still missing a player or two that could come in and help us, but we’ll fight until the end and try to turn things around.”
Dempsey pointed to the preseason departure of Obafemi Martins, with whom he enjoyed a productive relationship from 2013-15, as a major reason why the Sounders have failed to perform up to expectations this season.
Dempsey and Martins combined for 66 regular-season goals and 43 assists as one of the league’s most dynamic duos during their time together in the Pacific Northwest. Then, in February, Martins made an unexpected move to Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
“It’s difficult when you have such a quality player in your team and such a good relationship on the field, such a good chemistry and then they leave. It’s difficult to replace that,” Dempsey said. “Once he left as a DP, we didn’t bring in another DP in his place and I think that has hurt the team in the attacking third.”
It appears help is on the way in the form of Uruguayan playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro, who arrived in Seattle this week, as well as former Sounder Alvaro Fernandez. Though the signing is not yet official, the 27-year-old Lodeiro certainly has an impressive resume, with a Copa America championship and extensive Copa Libertadores experience to draw upon.
Still, Dempsey, who has three goals in 13 games in 2016, remains the face of the franchise. And while he acknowledged there’s pressure on him to deliver, he emphasized that any playoff push will be a collective one.
“It’s a team game. It’s on the team’s shoulders as well as myself to try to get things right,” Dempsey said. “It’s one of those things where you keep working at it, working at it until you get it right. Like I said, I think we’re still missing bringing some players in. I think that will make the difference.”
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I think Green's tantrum was 2 years ago once his head got too big after the world cup (the 2014/2015 season). I think he was mostly a good soldier last year(2015/2016 putting his head down and working hard, even in the 4th division.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Arsenal and U.S. youth international Gedion Zelalem praised the impact that his loan spell at Rangers has had on his development.
Zelalem made 28 league and cup appearances with the Scottish side last season, helping the club gain promotion to the Scottish Premier League, as well as reach the Scottish Cup final, where Rangers fell to Hibernian 3-2.
"It helped me a lot, playing in front of 50,000 [fans] every week," said Zelalem about his time with Rangers. "Just being a first-team player, the big media press around Scotland was massive as well. I learned a lot on the pitch, to play quicker. It helped physically as well. I'm happy with it."
As a result, Zelalem feels he is a much better equipped to contribute to the Gunners this season.
"I'm just more confident in my ability," he said. "I'm good enough to play in [the Premier League]. I'm just hoping to get that chance."
And he may get that chance. Goalkeeper Petr Cech has been impressed by the midfielder in preseason, and could foresee Zelalem featuring for the Gunners' first team this season.
"He's one of those players who isn't afraid to try things on the pitch," Cech told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview. "If he makes a mistake or loses the ball trying some technical skill, he's not afraid to do it again.
"Obviously he has this freedom and the technical ability to play with the ball and I think this is his main strength. Obviously as he gets more experience, it will help him to make the right choices and I believe he has a very big potential to make the team."
However, it seems likely that Zelalem will be loaned out again. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted strongly that would be the case during Tuesday's news conference, noting that the 19-year-old needed to mature a bit more physically. Zelalem said his focus is on preseason, and Thursday's exhibition against the MLS All-Stars (7:30 ET, ESPN) in particular.
"I'm just trying to train hard every day and then see what comes," he said. "After the tour I'll sit down with the boss and see what's best for my development."
As for Thursday's game, he added, "I watched all of them play when I was younger. David Villa in the World Cup. [Andrea] Pirlo, he was a legend for Italy and all the clubs he's played for so I'm definitely looking forward to it. "
Zelalem said that he hadn't spoken recently to U.S. U-20 manager Tab Ramos about being included in the squad that will try to qualify for the 2017 U-20 World Cup next winter. He has been in occasional contact with U.S. national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
"[Klinsmann] texts me sometimes, saying, good luck in games," he said. "He wished me luck tomorrow as well. We talk occasionally."
Given his time at Arsenal, Zelalem has been viewed as one of the great hopes of the U.S. youth system. That kind of hype has sunk more than a few U.S. youth players, but Zelalem said he doesn't feel burdened by such expectations.
"I don't feel [the pressure of being an American soccer prodigy], I like it," he said. "It makes me more confident in my ability."
Zelalem made 28 league and cup appearances with the Scottish side last season, helping the club gain promotion to the Scottish Premier League, as well as reach the Scottish Cup final, where Rangers fell to Hibernian 3-2.
"It helped me a lot, playing in front of 50,000 [fans] every week," said Zelalem about his time with Rangers. "Just being a first-team player, the big media press around Scotland was massive as well. I learned a lot on the pitch, to play quicker. It helped physically as well. I'm happy with it."
As a result, Zelalem feels he is a much better equipped to contribute to the Gunners this season.
"I'm just more confident in my ability," he said. "I'm good enough to play in [the Premier League]. I'm just hoping to get that chance."
And he may get that chance. Goalkeeper Petr Cech has been impressed by the midfielder in preseason, and could foresee Zelalem featuring for the Gunners' first team this season.
"He's one of those players who isn't afraid to try things on the pitch," Cech told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview. "If he makes a mistake or loses the ball trying some technical skill, he's not afraid to do it again.
"Obviously he has this freedom and the technical ability to play with the ball and I think this is his main strength. Obviously as he gets more experience, it will help him to make the right choices and I believe he has a very big potential to make the team."
However, it seems likely that Zelalem will be loaned out again. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted strongly that would be the case during Tuesday's news conference, noting that the 19-year-old needed to mature a bit more physically. Zelalem said his focus is on preseason, and Thursday's exhibition against the MLS All-Stars (7:30 ET, ESPN) in particular.
"I'm just trying to train hard every day and then see what comes," he said. "After the tour I'll sit down with the boss and see what's best for my development."
As for Thursday's game, he added, "I watched all of them play when I was younger. David Villa in the World Cup. [Andrea] Pirlo, he was a legend for Italy and all the clubs he's played for so I'm definitely looking forward to it. "
Zelalem said that he hadn't spoken recently to U.S. U-20 manager Tab Ramos about being included in the squad that will try to qualify for the 2017 U-20 World Cup next winter. He has been in occasional contact with U.S. national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
"[Klinsmann] texts me sometimes, saying, good luck in games," he said. "He wished me luck tomorrow as well. We talk occasionally."
Given his time at Arsenal, Zelalem has been viewed as one of the great hopes of the U.S. youth system. That kind of hype has sunk more than a few U.S. youth players, but Zelalem said he doesn't feel burdened by such expectations.
"I don't feel [the pressure of being an American soccer prodigy], I like it," he said. "It makes me more confident in my ability."
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Deuce story is on starsandstripesfc.com
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