Howdy Don, not sure you're awares but the young Shea hails from College Station...another rural Texan to make it big in Europe?
What I saw from Shea in the US game looked nothing different from what I've seen of him with Dallas. FCD usually plays a 4-1-4-1 and Shea is set up out wide on the left as more of a winger. When he gets the ball in dangerous areas, he makes runs straight for the near post; from there he takes what the defense gives him. There is an occasional switch to the right side & he'll also come inside to get the ball (especially since we lost the MVP of last season, David Ferreira).
BS turned 21 recently - we drafted him when he was 18. First couple of years required some maturation & this year seems to be the culmination of the hard work from him & the manager. FCD boasts some good quality for an MLS side, who has become a top 4 Club but I believe playing with the likes of Donovan, Agudelo, Dempsey, & Holden would provide him with more space & make him more dangerous. He's listed at 6'3" but I couldn't tell you if he's a set-piece target or not - with the D.Ferreria injury, we don't have a quality s-p taker. His size combined with his skill set, especially out wide, makes him unique.
Can he make it in Europe? He recently signed a 4 year deal with Dallas, so hopefully they're willing to pay up :) This time last year I would have said, “No,” I thought he was going to be a good/great MLS player. Now, with the maturity he’s shown and most importantly the consistency he’s performed at, I think he can/will make it in Europe. It appears the FCD manager grounded him & made him realize the value of hard work – two requirements I think are important for any player going abroad. As far as becoming “the Next Big Thing,” well that comes down to where he goes, the manager, & him.
My prediction…he’ll be off somewhere this winter training with a Club and a deal won’t be struck until the summer of ‘12. Schellas Hyndman, the manager of FCD speaks Portugese & has a lot of connections South of here. Jurgen Klinsmann obviously has ties to Germany. Premier League is considered the primo League for us Yanks. It will be interesting to see, if he does indeed go abroad, where he ends up.
More reading -
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-tsn-ahn-westfall-column-mls-20110817,0,2641086.story
