Re: Manchester United Supporters Thread.
Johnson off to England
Aris Ohanessian, USSOCCERUK.COM
Fresh off strong performances for the U.S. national team, midfielder Clint Dempsey and striker Eddie Johnson are set to spend parts of their November and December with some traditional European powers for some training.
Dempsey, 21, and Johnson, 20, are part of the new breed of American player - whose development has only been helped by the presence of Major League Soccer. While Johnson was always primed from stardom with a pedigree from youth national teams, Dempsey was a bit of a sleeper that exploded onto the scene in his first season with the New England Revolution.
Now coming off his first cap against Jamaica Wednesday, Dempsey is set to wing his way to Holland to train with Feyenoord starting today. The versatile Dempsey played in midfield, and at striker for the Revolution in a Rookie of the Year campaign.
"I made some rookie mistakes, giving the ball away, but I got positive feedback," said Dempsey to the Boston Globe. "I did some good things, as well. We were playing to win and (Arena) told me he wanted me to get involved in the attack, that the defensive midfield was a little too conservative, and to take it at them a little."
Johnson is headed for two straight two-week training sessions; the first is with Manchester United, the second with DaMarcus Beasley's PSV Eindhoven. Both of these individuals are purely set for training sessions, with neither eligible for a work permit in the United Kingdom. Johnson has five goals in his three appearances in the red, white, and blue, and while in the proverbial zone for the national team the FC Dallas striker is happy to keep his 2004 rolling.
"I had a good year in MLS and got some goals and got my confidence up," said Johnson. "I try to put myself in position on the field when I'm here with the National Team because at this level you have guys that can take you out when you make a run with the ball. It was my first start and I was just happy to be out there."
Both Dempsey and Johnson will be available for national team training camps in January, which manager Bruce Arena mentioned Wednesday evening. These training sessions are expected to be based heavily with MLS players, especially in advance on the opening match of the Hexagonal set for early February. With Major League Soccer out of season, these camps should be fierce competition in order to catch Arena's eye. Meanwhile, it has been reported that New England's Pat Noonan is also heading across the Atlantic, to train for two weeks with Chelsea.
SO gusy does this mean anything? I mean does this happen often, where players train with United just for the sake of training?
