The tall Texan has a polarizing impact on folks—some contemplate Shea a game-changing wildcard; others surprise how he’s nonetheless within the combine for the 2014 World Cup. Right here is Laura Greene’s newest On the Report.
BY
Laura Greene
Posted
March 24, 2014
3:52 PM
SHARE THIS STORY
BREK SHEA SWAPPED FC Dallas for Stoke Metropolis 14 months in the past and, it’s honest to say, he has struggled to make an affect within the Premier League.
The 24-year-old has three top-flight appearances to his title—two below former boss Tony Pulis and one below present supervisor Mark Hughes.
Farmed out to Championship facet Barnsley in January, Shea minimize a controversial determine when his mortgage spell was minimize brief three weeks early, following an obscene gesture to members of the membership’s personal assist. Extra on that later.
Regardless of his polemical habits and a scarcity of first-team motion, Shea seems to stay in competition for a spot in Jurgen Klinsmann’s World Cup plans—his final displaying for the U.S. males’s nationwide crew approaching March 5 in a 2-0 defeat towards Ukraine.
Over the past yr, attitudes in the direction of the Texas-born participant have shifted wildly in the UK. Right here, we take a look at what folks have been saying about Brek Shea.
THE LEFT WINGER JOINED Stoke Metropolis in January 2013 and early opinions have been optimistic. As seen on fan messageboard The Oatcake Fanzine, Aldershotstoke wrote on January 18, “Like the look of him. You can certainly see him fitting in up front or left wing in our set up. Not entirely sure about left back, but you never know! Best of all…he is massive and has pace!”
Samdamule added on February 14, “I don’t want to expect to much from him and be let down but good god, left-footed left-mid with pace and natural ability….trials with top clubs (whether they were successful or not is hardly relevant seeing as most players don’t even get a chance). I think the future bodes well for Shea.”
After two substitute appearances—1-0 defeats towards Fulham and West Ham, respectively—and clearly not at full health, then-manager Pulis burdened that Shea had been signed for the 2013/14 marketing campaign. He instructed The Stoke Sentinel on April 26:
“Brek came to the football club for next season, not this season. He’s had a major operation on the bottom of his foot and he’s still struggling a bit with that. We will prepare him more for pre-season and then see where we are with him. To ask him to perform now, I don’t think that’s fair, and physically he’s not ready.”
For the remainder of the 2012/13 marketing campaign, Shea remained on the Stoke bench. The participant attracted some criticism in England for posting Instagram photos of himself holding a severed pig’s head within the crew dressing room, as a part of “banter” that seemed to be directed towards teammate Kenwyne Jones.
Additionally, an image of Shea holding two weapons attracted condemnation, as seen on this Day by day Mail article by Rik Sharma.
I understand I mustn’t have posted the image earlier yesterday on Instagram. I sincerely apologize to all who have been offended by it.
— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) June 25, 2013
Nevertheless, on the worldwide scene, he went on to take pleasure in a very good summer time with the U.S. nationwide crew on the Gold Cup. After getting back from damage, he featured in all six video games en path to the ultimate and it was Shea who scored the profitable purpose in a 1-0 victory towards Panama on July 28.
unpredictable?
Favourite Klinsmann quote of the day, on Brek Shea: “You see a guy like Brek, unpredictable for himself and for the opponent.”
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 29, 2013
The 2013/14 season started with a brand new supervisor on the helm of Stoke Metropolis—former Manchester United, Barcelona, and Chelsea participant Mark Hughes.
In a preseason tour of america, Shea was injured in a pleasant towards Philadelphia Union, the place he suffered knee ligament injury that will rule him out for 2 months. On the time, Hughes instructed the membership’s official web site, “It’s incredibly frustrating and hugely disappointing to lose Brek. We have been waiting a while to get Brek back here and, until the injury, he looked very bright, very dangerous and appeared to have a real understanding of what his role was on the left-hand side of midfield.”
Because the season progressed, rumors began to flow into that Shea is likely to be going out on mortgage, in a bid to play first-team soccer and with an eye fixed on nailing down a spot within the U.S. nationwide crew.
In October, Hughes instructed the Mirror’s David Anderson:
“My precedence is not to get Brek into the U.S. World Cup squad. My precedence is to get him able to play Premier League video games right here, and we’re engaged on that each day.
He has been speaking about going out on mortgage, and if he can get into an honest membership at a very good stage it will profit him and us.
If we really feel a chance presents itself, and it will be good for Brek to exit and play video games, then we’ll take a look at it.
“However up thus far we have not seen something that we predict will assist.”
In November, Shea turned out twice for the USA, in friendlies towards Austria and Scotland. Commenting on Doug McIntyre’s piece on ESPNFC.com, U.S. fan Daniel Johnson wrote on November 16:
“He’s Clint Dempsey………with pace. He goes at guys and loses the ball and doesn’t mind as much. As a matter fact, he plays like Dempsey did in his first 2-3 years in the Prems. Funny…….an American from Texas with an attitude and a penchant for not getting along with coaches is not getting playing time with a Mark Hughes side. I didn’t see that coming (cough…….Dempsey with Hughes at Fulham).”
Daniel Tilgner added, “He’s also one of the few Americans who is actually willing to go at defenders and try to win 1v1 matchups instead of just stopping and playing the easy ball back. It’s not always the best decision, but it’s a different element.”
Within the Premier League it will take 12 video games earlier than Shea made it even so far as the Stoke bench. He was then given his probability with the primary crew on Matchday 13—as a 59th-minute substitute—within the Potters’ 4-0 loss towards Everton on November 30. He performed on the appropriate wing and it stays his solely top-flight outing this season.
Brek Shea seemed to be constructing some momentum, making Stoke’s bench 2 straight video games, however now has been out of the 18 for 3 straight #USMNT
— Seth Vertelney (@svertgoalcom) December 14, 2013
In January 2014, Shea dropped down a stage to affix fellow countrymen Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, and Danny Williams in The English Championship, signing a 28-day mortgage cope with Barnsley FC (a deal that will later be prolonged by two months).
After making six appearances for the Tykes, supervisor Danny Wilson commented in The Yorkshire Publish on February 21:
“We now have seen flashes of it by way of what he’s able to doing. However we’d like extra consistency from him, that’s a particular.
With Brek, he has excessive aspirations of taking part in within the World Cup with America and, to do this, he’s acquired to be according to us.
If he does that, I feel he will probably be a sure traveler to Brazil. However before everything, he has acquired to do the enterprise with us and, at this second in time, he’s not firing on all cylinders like we all know he can do.
“There are numerous video games in entrance of him but and time to progress. We’ve had quite a few conversations and he’s determined to do effectively for us.
“When he gets over these little niggles and viruses he’s had, then let’s hope we can see the true Brek. He is frustrated with himself (at the moment), absolutely.”
Shea went on to make two extra appearances for Barnsley—a 1-0 win towards Millwall and a 5-0 defeat by the hands of Huddersfield City.
It was towards the latter that Shea landed himself in sizzling water after an altercation with a Barnsley fan, during which he was alleged to have flipped off the supporters in an offensive gesture.
After eight video games for the membership, Shea was despatched again to the Britannia Stadium three weeks early and located himself apologizing on Twitter. Once more.
I want to unreservedly apologize for what occurred on the finish of the Huddersfield match final week. Though my actions have been aimed toward
— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014
one one who was abusing a teammate I understand I mustn’t have reacted in that manner within the warmth of the second. I remorse these actions and
— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014
the offense it has prompted. I didn’t intend to offend the Barnsley followers who’ve proven super assist for the crew. One of the best ways I can
— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014
present this and repay you, the followers, is with my performances on the pitch. #BFC
— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014
4 days later Shea performed in 28 minutes of the U.S. nationwide crew’s 2-0 pleasant defeat towards the Ukraine.
Excited to be known as in to symbolize my nation subsequent week! #USA #USMNT
— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) February 27, 2014
Following the sport, he assessed his possibilities of making Klinsmann’s 23-man squad for Brazil 2014 on MLSsoccer.com:
“I just hope to be called into the camp in May and try and make an impression there again. I have to show I can be a player who can make a difference whenever I get called up.”
Within the feedback that adopted, Bradley Brown wrote, “Shea is definitely not a finished product—and at this rate, he may never get there—but between our lack of true wingers and his pace and energy, I would probably make room for him on the plane to Brazil. He could be pretty valuable as a late sub.”
Invoice Anderson added, “Shea is a nightmare for both managers. I like him, he is big, fast, and direct. He is not a great player, yet every time he comes off the bench for the Nats, he makes something happen. Enigma or Conundrum?”
Whereas John Lakes typed, “You’re an idiot if you seriously think Shea needs to be on the WC team. Thankfully his odds are slim.”
Again in the UK, Stoke Metropolis followers have been nonetheless discussing the incident at Barnsley.
On the Oatcake Fanzine messageboard, Cheeesfreeex commented on March 10:
“May be a improbable kick up the arse for the lad. After roughing it with Barnsley, getting whippets abuse from the terraces, he could understand simply what an important factor taking part in for Stoke is. Buck his concepts up.
“I used to be anticipating Brek to at the least have a cup run for us. Harm intervened once more. That is my essential concern, however I assumed he is younger sufficient to construct up/get stronger, and may very well be a risk maybe in the course of the assault.
“If he returns to provide some forward cover, has a few run-outs, and makes the World Cup squad then at least we may recoup some dosh in August. I’d like to see more of him for Stoke before I start sticking the pins in the voodoo doll.”
AlanHansen had a special opinion:
“He’s been trouble since he arrived and is next to useless on the pitch. We need to cut our losses ASAP. Cancel his contract and get the waster on the next plane West. Simple as that.”
Whereas Djduncanjames wrote:
“Well the manager spoke of having the fans 100 percent behind the team, and if Brek has become the fan’s whipping boy/scapegoat for their team’s overall performance than it’s best to get him out of there. Oddly enough I still think he deserves a chance at Stoke IMO. The hatred spewed towards this lad by our supporters baffles me.”
Subsequent up for the U.S. is a global pleasant towards Mexico on Wednesday April 2 on the College of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
With Shea unlikely to function in any of the remaining eight video games of the Premier League season and with Bayern Munich’s Julian Inexperienced asserting that his future lies with the U.S. nationwide crew, will Shea be on the aircraft to Brazil this summer time?
At this level, it’s anybody’s guess.
What do you consider Laura Greene’s On the Report collection? And the way do you’re feeling about Brek Shea’s possibilities at making the 2014 World Cup crew? Share your ideas under.
