| Brian Sciaretta - Tuesday February 23, 2010 |
 37 Comments Add a comment? |
Is Michael Hoyos a future Albiceleste?
| Over the weekend Argentina Under-20 boss Sergio Batista announced a 43-man roster for a U20 camp which included California-born and raised Estudiantes de La Plata midfielder Michael Hoyos.
This news will surely come as a bitter disappointment for US national team fans who have taken great interest in Hoyos and his sudden rise with the powerful Argentine club.
Hoyos, 18, has been with Estudiantes' youth teams the past three years but began his ascendency to the first team with a stunning goal against Boca Juniors during a preseason tournament. Since then, he has earned regular time with the first team to start the season.
The news will also serve as a setback for USSF officials who have tried to incorporate Hoyos into US youth national teams in recent years. In the fall of 2008, Hoyos was named to a roster for a US Under-18 camp. Also within recent weeks, US Under-20 officials have invited Hoyos into U20 camps as the they build towards the 2011 U20 World Cup.
Hoyos told YA earlier this month that he appreciated the US U20 invitations but he had to decline because he did not want to leave Estudiantes as he was trying to earn his place with the first team. He also said that he wanted to attend a US U20 camp in the future. This annoucement that Hoyos will take part in an U20 camp for Argentina will mark a change in direction for him.
It is important to note that Hoyos is still far from being cap-tied to Argentina. As a dual citizen he is eligible to represent both the US and Argentina. He will only be permanently cap-tied to a nation once he plays for a national team in an official competition.
Still, the news is a setback as it shows that Hoyos is on the national team radar for Argentina. It also most likely means that Argentina is his priority at the moment and playing for the US will probably only enter the equation if Argentina no longer appears to be an option for him.
YA has a clear policy in following only American players overseas who are either playing for the US national team (or youth teams) or have an express desire to play for the US. While Michael Hoyos may one day again fall into this category of being a US player, we now must consider him more Argentine than American in terms of soccer.
We will no longer be covering Michael Hoyos unless circumstances change and he either decides to attend a US camp or makes affirmative statements that playing for the US is in his future.
Tags: Argentina, Estudiantes, Michael Hoyos, Primera Division, Under-20 National Team, Under-20 World Cup, USMNT
|
Saturday March 27, 2010
3:32 pm |
We should be pulling out every freaking stop we can to get the best players into our national team system AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Watching us get thrashed 5-0 by Mexico those few short months ago shows our talent pool is still comparitively thin, and if we had guys like Hoyos in the system, this wouldn't be the case.
I don't want Hoyos, or any similar kid, to be left out in the cold when clowns like Brad Evans are making national team pool rosters prior to competitions.
Balls-to-the-wall in our search for talent. Every nook and cranny.
— Lord Flashheart
|
|
Tuesday March 23, 2010
1:04 pm |
People need to stop saying we dont produce certain types of skilled players. Where do you think Hoyos or Donovan or Subotic or Rossi or Tores learned their skills?? HERE! On our streets, on our fields. That argument that we dont have smart coaches is dead too. You talk about Bradley not having international experience... WELL, he has been the coach for one of the top 20 national teams in the world for years now. And has won the CONCACAF title and finished 1st in qualifying for the world cup. Isnt that experience??? Why doenst that count to some of you?
Anyway, we need Hoyos. Look how much we appreciate him.. You think there is a website in Argentina with fans getting so passionate about his decision? I dont think so.
— Jersey Mike
|
|
Sunday March 14, 2010
4:59 pm |
Hello Yanks
A few years ago, the idea of thinking between playing for the US and a superpower usch as Argentina (two time world champions) would have been inconceivable. The US should continue to look and follow young players abroad - with US citizen parents - to keep them in the radar of the national team. That's how France won a title - by playing a bunch of nationalized players from Argentina, Caribbean, Armenians, etc. We should support player like Michael and not punish him - he was only invited - he is not an official starter like Messi. Argentina and Brasil - have a very unique problem - they both have so many great players that they can put together 3 or 4 competitive national teams.
We need to develop more offensive players. We have plenty of defense and 4 goal keepers playing in the premier. I was always a propenent of creating an exchange program between our young players and sending abroad to south america - to develop their skills.
Luis V. from West New York.
— Luis V.
|
|
Monday March 1, 2010
1:39 pm |
I'm a Brazilian and have lived in the US for 20 years now...I'm only 29 so I grew up with the US soccer system...All I have to say is the US system needs to change so the kids that are not rich can have a chance...and sothose MLS needs to start signing these kids like the rest of the world...Out of College is weasting time in development..BUT like the US every country lets good player go...look at the great Ronaldo he was also told by many soccer coaches in Brazil that he wasn't good enough until he went to the tryouts at Cruseiro....true story not making this up....And another problem is these kids that are born by immigrant parents want to play for there parent country because their parents put it in their heads...I know because that's how my parents were when they thought I was going pro...Hopefully the US will gets true players that want to wear US colors...Go USA GO USA and yes I'm hoping a BRAZIl vs USA in the Final...I'll probably get crushed for that
— Marcelo
|
|
Monday March 1, 2010
12:19 pm |
Please continue to cover him, and let's find a way to get him to play for the US team. Heck, send a scout down their to talk to him. If he was a college basketball recruit, then he'd be not only visited, but given some money under the table. Obviously, I do not condone or advocate underhandedness, but anything else just short of that needs to be tried. Get it done. Let's get this guy playing for the U.S. PLEASE!!!!!!
— Vincent J Vaiano
|
|
Friday February 26, 2010
9:26 pm |
I agree if someone can try facebook to communicate with him it would really help. I don't want us to lose this kid!! I know that Argentina's U-20s are some of the best in the world so this kid has to be very talented.
— J.Lopez
|
|
Friday February 26, 2010
2:04 pm |
hi, my name is pablo and im argentinian, i know michael hoyos and hes one of my bests friends, dont give up hes an excellent player and i believe hes going to choose argnetina instead usa, dont confuse, he loves us cause he is american but he isnt much convinced to play for his country so, i would suggest you to convince him by facebook him and try to convince him he is great and he is only 18, dont lose such a great player
— pablo
|
|
Friday February 26, 2010
12:23 pm |
You guys need to relax. US Soccer is what 20 years old. Honestly it is cause we started evolving after the 1990 WC. Before that, Argentina was already a superpower in the sport and CONTINUES to be so. We are in the right path. The kid is tied to two nations. I as an Hispanic/Latino completely understand him. Unless you guys are not in his shoes then stop blasting the system or the kid. And I say we are in the right path because look at the Mexican-American kids. Same situation, but you have them choosing us. All of them. I bet you if Vidal was called he would choose the US. Torres did, Orozco too (although he was never asked to be with Mexico), and eventually Castillo came to his senses. Why? Because US is better than Mexico. You guys would actually think they would choose US if 'soccerwise' we were not in par with Mexico. Of course not! That doesn't mean they don't love Mexico. They can love both countries.
I also support YA decision no to cover anylonger. Why cover him? Seriously. Why? The kid will play for Argentina. If that's the case let's cover Messi too...hehehe.
— Juan from L.A.
|
|
Friday February 26, 2010
12:45 am |
Although I respect YA's decision to not cover the lad, I do not believe it is the right thing to do. Because I feel that it is putting fault on an 18 year old kid who is playing at a level that the MLS will not be at for another 10 or 15 years. I mean this kid gets to play for an Argentine legend of a player now coach, he gets to play along side Juan Sebastian Veron, a veteran of World Cups and a distinguished European career, who wouldn't want to stay in Argentina.
That being said, he is still American, not covering him only ignores the real problem and that would be a definite xenophobia with Latin players in the US system.
— LiverSpursFan
|
|
Thursday February 25, 2010
2:51 pm |
Brannan....Thank you for giving voice to what I have been saying for YEARS.I coach at an inner-city high school where I have seen amazing talent that gets over looked by colleges, clubs and ODP programs for lack of funds.
I played in the ODP program and experienced coaches that selected their own club players or high school players a head of more talented players. I was fortunate enough to play with an amazingly talented player who ended up having an award winning college career in football and track after he was told by the soccer coach, "I've never heard of you" when he attempted to walk on to the team.
The US system is broken! The US has immense talent at the youth level, no we are not Brazil or England, but there are some really talented young players that are missed because of coaches and programs that cater to, and I apologize for offending some people here, rich suburban white kids. Yes, we do have the occasional Adu, but there are a lot of American born kids that are playing on crap fields or streets in the inner city that, if focused, could become truly amazing talents.
— Brian Flood
|
|
|
| Register for Email Alert to receive news, interviews, and more directly to your inbox without spam. Ever. |
|
|
|
Currently visting YA: 534 
