Bison2002
Masters Student
Posts: 404
Loc: Annapolis, MD
Reg: 11-14-07
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05-02-12 10:00 AM - Post#128846
Good article in the NYT today about Bucknell's Conor O'Brien '10 playing soccer in Europe.
http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/obrien-bl...
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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05-02-12 10:45 AM - Post#128851
In response to Bison2002
Thanks for posting that. Very good article about one of the top soccer players in BU history. The Danish Super League is a strong one - probably borderline top ten in Europe. I imagine the level of play exceeds that of the MLS.
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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mattie g
Senior
Posts: 390
Reg: 03-21-06
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05-02-12 12:20 PM - Post#128857
In response to Bison137
I'm not sure I'd say the Danish League is stronger than MLS - it's probably about on par. The dropoff in overall quality from the top leagues (English Premier League, Budesliga, Serie A, La Liga) to the next tier (Ligue 1, Eredivisie, Russian Premier League) isn't too terribly sharp, but the drop from there to the other leagues is. There might be some very good teams at the top of those leagues, but the other teams in those leagues are pretty weak.
You tend to see a lot of American players playing in Scandinavia nowadays because American players are generally inexpensive (in terms of transfer fees and salaries) compared to most European and South American players. Scandinavian clubs simply can't afford big wages and fees for those other players, so they scour places like the US and Africa in order to get better bang for their buck.
Either way, it's great to hear that Conor is doing so well in Denmark. It seems like he's really making a name for himself, and if he continues to grow as a player it wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility that he could move to a bigger league in a couple years.
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BisonInsider
Sophomore
Posts: 108
Reg: 12-04-08
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05-04-12 11:43 PM - Post#128948
In response to mattie g
Yea, Conor would most likely not be starting in the MLS at this point. FC Copenhagen (the perennial Danish champions) would b ea mid-table club in the MLS.
Having said that, it doesn't mean his dreams of playing in the Champions League is far fetched. I highly doubt that when he said that he was talking about playing for Manchester United or Barcelona but I don't think it's crazy to see him progress to a team like Copenhagen or the top of some other lower league in Europe. Even getting to the Europa League with a lower level outfit would be impressive for somebody passed over in the MLS draft
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mattie g
Senior
Posts: 390
Reg: 03-21-06
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05-06-12 09:55 AM - Post#128959
In response to BisonInsider
Well said, Insider. I agree completely.
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BisonInsider
Sophomore
Posts: 108
Reg: 12-04-08
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05-06-12 04:25 PM - Post#128969
In response to mattie g
My apologies for the horrific grammar in my last post.
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JDBison2010
Senior
Posts: 365
Age: 25
Reg: 11-23-10
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05-06-12 04:32 PM - Post#128970
In response to BisonInsider
Apologize for the subject matter first
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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06-27-12 05:22 PM - Post#130327
In response to JDBison2010
Conor O'Brien is #7 on this soccer site's new list of the top ten uncapped Americans (i.e. players who have not played for the U.S. National Team).
http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&...
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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07-23-12 12:12 AM - Post#130913
In response to Bison137
More on O'Brien from another soccer site, as he starts his second season for a good squad in the Danish Super League:
Six Americans Poised for a Breakout Season
Excerpt:
"More is expected of Sonderjyske this season, and as the team’s starting central midfielder, O’Brien will be a major determinant of whether they succeed. His story is compelling. O’Brien was overlooked by MLS clubs and went undrafted. He moved to Denmark to start his career on his own even without an agent. Now he is one of the most promising young players in the Superliga.
The 23-year-old Long Island native started the 2012/13 season on a great note, scoring a goal and commanding the midfield in Sonderjyske’s 6-1 win over Randers. His contract expires in December, and if he plays as well as expected the first half of the season, he could be on the move to a bigger club in January."
- - - - -
Interesting that his contract allows him to leave in January. There have been a few reports that a couple teams in the top European leagues, including the English Premier League, have shown some interest in him.
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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mattie g
Senior
Posts: 390
Reg: 03-21-06
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07-23-12 09:58 AM - Post#130918
In response to Bison137
Chipped in with an assist against FC Copenhagen on the weekend.
A lot of US fans are thinking he'll be called into the January national team training camp. He may be left out of the final squad for the next few games after that, but if he's called up, it would be a huge deal.
Right now, the US is very deep in central midfield, so he'd really have to up his game to break into the gameday squad. Guys like Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, and Jermaine Jones won't give up their spots easily, but I could see him being called up ahead of guys like Graham Zusi or Joe Corona. At that point, it's all about impressing Klinsmann and his staff and seeing if he can force his way into their reckoning.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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08-25-12 10:39 PM - Post#131812
In response to mattie g
O'Brien had a great left-footed goal the other night, listed on this site as the "goal of the week" in Denmark's top league. Video of the goal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_ embedd...
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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09-23-12 11:59 PM - Post#132750
In response to Bison137
Great game for O'Brien Friday night, as he led his team back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw. Had a very nice left-footed goal and then, in stoppage time, made a brilliant left-footed chip across the goal mouth to set up his teammate for the tying header goal.
Video: http://www.socceroverthere.com/?p=10205
(O'Brien's team in in the black uniforms.)
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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10-31-12 07:00 PM - Post#134014
In response to Bison137
Very interesting article on O'Brien on the MLS website, discussing his likely move up to a higher-level European club in January, plus his National Team aspirations, and a position change.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/ 31/p...
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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mattie g
Senior
Posts: 390
Reg: 03-21-06
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11-01-12 08:10 AM - Post#134040
In response to Bison137
Nice article on Conor. Great to read that he's working on developing and expanding his game, and that he's not content with the status quo.
As I've said before, the US is pretty deep in central midfield, but we do have some holes that need plugging. But if Conor can establish himself as a holding midfielder, and show Klinsmann and his staff that he's playing wekk-in and wek-out at a good level, he just might get that call up he's looking for. Being able to play all across the midfield is incredibly valuable, but I'd really be interested to see if he could work well alongside our current central midfield anchor, Michael Bradley.
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bison1734
Freshman
Posts: 19
Age: 24
Reg: 10-13-11
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12-11-12 11:27 PM - Post#137084
In response to mattie g
Interesting discussion on Conor's future:
http://locker.yanks-abroad.com/?mode=topics&to...
Also an interview from the same site:
http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&...
I'm hoping Conor signs with a Dutch team. Seems to fit his style well and they are known for doing a great job developing players.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 8363
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-29-13 12:47 PM - Post#141174
In response to bison1734
Conor has now joined the defending champs of the top Danish league - Nordsjaelland. His team will likely have a chance to play in the qualifying rounds to get into Europe's Champions League.
http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&...
2012-13 Attendance: 19 games and 8,354 miles driven.
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mattie g
Senior
Posts: 390
Reg: 03-21-06
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01-29-13 07:37 PM - Post#141213
In response to Bison137
Great move for Conor. He'll not only be joining the Danish champions and have a chance to play in the Champions League, but he'll also be taking place of a fellow American, Michael Parkhurst, who just left Nordsjaelland for Augsburg.
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