ASN: Marlon Fossey Makes a Dream Debut for U.S. U-19s

The twin-national who performs for Fulham’s youth staff obtained the decision from U.S. U-19 coach Brad Friedel and responded with a powerful efficiency. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with the promising proper again.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Could 12, 2016
7:15 PM

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COLLECTING SILVERWARE in your worldwide debut may seem to be one thing straight out of a Hollywood movie, and that is precisely what occurred to Marlon Fossey final month when he helped the US U-19 staff win the Slovakia Cup.

And it simply so occurs that this 17-year-old proper again hails from Hollywood.

From the US youth nationwide groups to the senior squad, the background of gamers has turn into more and more various over the previous decade. Fossey is emblematic of that phenomenon. Born in Tinseltown, Fossey moved again to his mom’s hometown on the island of Jersey on the age of 4. It was there, on the tiny British Crown dependency off the Normandy coast, the place he blossomed as a soccer participant earlier than being noticed by Fulham on the age of 11.

His first event on the worldwide stage was an unqualified success as the US claimed the Slovakia Cup with wins over Georgia and Ukraine within the group levels together with a 2-1 win over Russia within the closing.

“Obviously it was my first time playing international football and overall, it was a very good experience,” Fossey informed American Socccer Now. “It was more physical than my academy football. The people there were very welcoming. I got a long with pretty much everyone there. It was a good team, as you could tell from our victories and the win.”

His call-up was not fully sudden as U.S. Soccer had been monitoring Fossey’s progress at Fulham for fairly a while. The addition of the brand new U.S. U-19 staff supplied an ideal alternative for head coach Brad Friedel to herald the younger Fossey. Lengthy-time U.S. youth worldwide Luca de la Torre is Fossey’s teammate at Fulham and was additionally referred to as into camp. Because of this, Fossey had a straightforward time assimilating into the staff off the sphere.

On the sphere, the transition was additionally very clean due to Friedel whose teaching model match Fossey’s sport. As a youthful participant, Fossey featured at ahead and on the wing. It wasn’t till comparatively not too long ago that he transformed to proper again, and it took him awhile to regulate to his defensive tasks since he had a powerful inclination to get ahead.

 Friedel, nonetheless, inspired Fossey to get ahead and he proved to be a harmful offensive weapon. He picked up an help within the 2-1 loss to Slovakia within the group levels.

“I really liked Brad Friedel as a coach,” Fossey mentioned. “One of his main points was to get players to express themselves—giving players the freedom to do what we do best on the pitch. There are some coaches out there that want things done in a certain way. But he highlighted he wants us to show our individual skill, which helped me a lot confidence-wise.”

It has been an thrilling time in each Fossey’s life and soccer profession. Along with the Slovakia Cup, Fossey was additionally a part of Fullham’s Dallas Cup staff, which superior to the finals of the Tremendous Group, together with a win over the U.S. U-20 staff, earlier than falling within the closing to Everton 2-1.

Held in April, the Dallas Cup had added which means for Fossey because it marked the primary time he had returned to the US since leaving Hollywood 13 years in the past. His American ties are clearly blended, nonetheless, as he has no contact and is aware of little or no about his father. His mom was working within the psychological well being occupation in California earlier than returning to her native Jersey. 

Ought to England come calling in soccer, it will be a tough alternative however the US has made a powerful first impression.

“I do feel American, to be fair,” Fossey mentioned. “It will be a hard decision when I have to choose. I guess it will come down to where I feel most valued. I don’t want to be on a team that doesn’t really use me that much. When I was with the USA, they valued me. I felt wanted there. It was a good first experience with the USA.”

His teammates agree. West Brom central defender Danny Barbir was the U.S. U-19 staff’s chief on the backline (and wore the armband in opposition to Slovakia) and is a powerful contender to be on the U.S. U-20 World Cup staff. Taking part in alongside Fossey within the win over Russia, he got here away impressed.

“At first he was a little shy, which you expect from a guy coming into his first camp,” Barbir mentioned. “But I was surprised how good he actually was. He’s really strong attacking-wise. He uses his pace and he has good creativity linking up with the wingers and midfielders.  Defensively he was strong as well and positioning-wise, he was on point. I didn’t really have to tell him much because he knows his position really well.”

The primary half of 2016 has been essential for Fossey however the second half of the 12 months may be transformative. Not too long ago he moved up inside Fulham’s group from the U-18 to the U-21 staff, which has required a bodily adjustment.

Luckily for Fossey, his athleticism is a powerful level. Along with soccer, Fossey spent years additionally competing in gymnastics at a excessive stage. This has helped together with his energy which is on full show in his common objective celebrations at Fulham. After scoring dramatic targets he generally can do a string of 10 straight backflips in fast succession.

Beginning subsequent season, he has his sights set on the Fulham’s first staff which is able to play within the second-tier English Championship. If he makes it, he’ll be a part of the lengthy record of People who’ve suited up for the Cottagers, together with Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride together with present first-team gamers Tim Ream and Emerson Hyndman.

“To be honest, I think I’m pretty close,” Fossey mentioned. “I watch them quite a bit. I think what I need to work on most [to get there] is the physical side. We’re technically trained very well at Fulham.”

In fact, the 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea is now on his radar and he lists it as a prime precedence of his. Making the staff can be tough and the present U-20 proper again, Matthew Olosunde, performs for Manchester United’s youth groups.

But when he continues to progress as shortly as he has over the previous 12 months, Fossey is assured and desirous to make that staff.

“Most definitely, that is one of my goals,” Fossey mentioned. “I love playing on big stages and the U-20 World Cup, there will be big crowds and big publicity there. I am definitely striving to get into that squad for sure.”