One Fast Boomerang....Robbie Rogers Returning to the US...

Two weeks ago today I blogged about the recent Boomerang effect going on with American players leaving for Europe and then swinging back home a few years later. Recent news has one more highly rated youth international returning to the US from a European adventure. Yanks Abroad is reporting that Robbie Rogers and Dutch club Heerenveen will be parting ways after only six months has expired on a three year deal. The article makes it sound like the youngster was home sick, however a lack of breaking into the first team probably contributed to his yearning for the USA.

Heerenveen press liaison Tina Lagerweg:

He would like to go back to the United States. He is only 19 and wanted to be in America, so we respected his wish.

Growing up Rogers was a soccer stud. He found success at all youth levels, and won a national championship with Maryland as a freshman. I can understand how going from top dog to just another youth player with promise in Holland is tough. However, Rogers is coming back at a tough time. Most MLS clubs are getting ready to pare down rosters as opposed to taking on new trialists. The roster compliance date is March 1. Hopefully his youth status will allow him to jump onto a MLS roster with such short notice. On the other hand, if his ego is high after signing on with a European outfit, and he makes outrageous contract demands, he may find MLS coaches disenchanted.

A similar story is playing out for once highly rated MLS prospect Greg Dalby. Dalby has been bumping around Europe ever since the MLS draft where his stock fell from certain early 1st rounder to second rounder because he wouldn't sign the league's contract offered before the draft. Now he is trying to get a third trial with a mystery European club after unsuccessful trials with Italian side Siena and Swiss club FC Aarau. Frankly I think Dalby is being misled by his European based agent. Is a playing for FC Aarau really going to be better then playing for the Rapids? The club is currently last in the Swiss first division. Dalby's agent continues to release stories to Yanks Abroad in an attempt to create value for his player by making a sense of competition for his signature.

Dalby's agent:

(Siena) are still trying to get rid of one non-EU player. I think they want to come to him with something

I just don't believe that Siena is trying to dump another non-EU player to sign Dalby. If they were going to, they would have by now. At this point Dalby should be in MLS training camp, fighting for his spot. Dalby continues to depress his value by going on trial after trial. MLS' roster compliance date is March 1. After that the Rapids are probably going to have some heartburn about dumping another player for Dalby who thumbed his nose at them to begin with.

The story of Adolfo Gregorio is not ringing in enough young players' ears. Adolfo skipped MLS to go straight to Europe. He signed with a club, couldn't make things work and came back to MLS. He bombed out after one year. My point. A successful college career does not guarantee professional success. Hard work and a willingness to put in your due can. Rogers and Dalby are going to learn that.