http://www.nesn.com/2011/11/juan-ag...-maintain-fitness-and-top-level-exposure.html Juan Agudelo is heading to Liverpool FC for a two-week offseason training spell. The USA and New York Red Bulls striker broke the news on Twitter Wednesday. Agudelo will fly to England on Thursday and head to Liverpool's Melwood practice facility shortly thereafter. The Colombian-born forward is a quick, technical and creative player with an eye for goal. He is also inexperienced, having played just one full season of professional soccer. The 19-year-old is the first-ever graduate of the Red Bulls' academy to appear for its first team. He burst onto the U.S. soccer scene in Nov. 2010, when he scored against South Africa in his debut for the U.S. men's national team. Former USA manager Bob Bradley called Agudelo into the team after he made just two appearances for New York. He scored against Argentina in a March friendly and he would go on to become a USA regular for much of 2011. However, the talented Agudelo struggled to hold a place in the Red Bulls starting lineup during the 2011 MLS season. Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers kept him on the bench toward the end of the season and he lost his place in the national team in recent months. He's earned 15 caps and scored two goals at this early stage of his international career. The highly-rated teenage forward is one of many MLS stars that have joined European clubs for training spells during the lengthy MLS offseason. U.S. men's national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann encourages American players to link up with European clubs and even facilitated similar moves for certain players. The Liverpool move is neither a loan nor is it an official trial. If he impresses Liverpool bosses enough for them to want him at the club permanently, they would need to negotiate a transfer fee with Major League Soccer and the Red Bulls.
Interesting. Bluff will be happy. Is he any good? Anyone seen him before? Can't say i've ever heard of him.
I am definately happy about this as we need our players, if not playing, at the least training with the World's top players. Brek Shea ( LM, highly promising youngster 19 I think) is at Arsenal doing the same. Agudelo is Colombian/American and has that Latin flair about his game, some deft touches, cheeky flicks and moves here and there. Not exactly pacy but no slouch either. Can hold the ball up well most of the time, but occasionally will get caught holding onto the ball a bit too long. I want to see him get more minutes in the USMNT, especially ahead of Altidore who is so hit and miss it is frustrating. I think he can also be a massive massive help to the two young ( only by a year or two) American players Pelosi and Bojinov(? Bulgarian American Forward) as he can provide insight into not only the National team, but the MLS, how he is a step ahead at his age, etc. He was getting a lot of time at NY until recently they went with an Henry and another forward who linked up better than Agudelo and Henry ( too similar in terms of wanting the ball, making the same runs, not reading each other well). [video=youtube;iioFGrN0x-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iioFGrN0x-Q&feature=fvst[/video]
At least he is 18-19 and loads to learn! I think he could be important for us either as a creative SS or if he gets his finishing down, our ST who can actually score goals since the days for Charlie Davies and Brian Mcbride!
