TWTD has learnt that US midfielder Devann Yao spent last week on trial with the Blues. The 19-year-old wideman is a free agent, having previously spent time as a youth player in France, Italy and Scotland.
Yao, born in New York to an Ivorian father and Italian mother, which qualifies him for an EU passport, was with French side Metz’s youth academy for three seasons having joined them at 13.
A year in Italy playing in the reserves with Livorno and Pisa was followed by a short spell in Scotland with St Mirren’s youth set-up before he returned to the US, where he has spent time on trial with the New York Red Bulls.
el_nino - I have read that long, rambling news article. Devann seemed diffident when I chatted to him at the training ground on Thursday. To be here suggests he is keen but his CV is so patchy and his manner rather disengaged - he would have to be one hell of a player to make an impression; I saw him doing physical training, not demonstrating skills, so I cannot judge his ability. He looked 'cool'.
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I doubt there is much in this. We have quite a few wide players already, and unless this guy is better than them, there probably isn't going to be a place for him.
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Thanks for the link, Niño. Bit of a sad story really. It sounds like he has had terrible advice: he should have been in school and playing there (there is fantastic youth soccer in Harlem). After that, the American route would have been a scholarship to a college, and, as a talented player and an African-American, he could have had his choice. It says all you need to know about US soccer that he can't find a club, and they are talking about his place in the 2014 national team. Perspective!! Structure!!
I doubt we have a place for him: the job of tricky, ineffectual winger is taken (hello, Lee Martin).
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Get Yao in ...He is the unknown and well Martin - the less said about that piece of garbage the better - Nice one Keano - paying another favour back to yer former employees..Great story and the type of guys who should get a chance , Thing is he may be one minute late for training one week and ciao yao Great name , Great story and could be the great discovery Yao and Civelli Wickham up front all out attack ..... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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US Youngster on Trial
