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Why Brek Shea Missed MLS All-Star Game
What’s Shea doing in Central America?
In their 4 – 0 loss to Manchester United last night, the MLS All-Stars were missing one of the most exciting and dangerous scoring threats in MLS this year. FC Dallas fans will know who was missing from the lineup: Brek Shea. To be certain, the 21-year-old forward/midfielder was voted onto the All-Star roster by MLS fans, but he missed the game for international duty of the club variety. Shea is in San Salvador with FC Dallas to kick off their first ever CONCACAF Champions League game against Alianza FC Thursday night. The match will air live on FOX Soccer at 9:00 PM (CT).
Shea is currently tied with Landon Donovan for second most goals scored (9) in MLS this season (Thierry Henry is in first with 11 goals). Shea has quickly established himself as a player to watch. Already a vital starter for FC Dallas, he got his first call-up to the U.S. National Team late last year (friendly against Colombia) and played 60 minutes for the U.S. against Chile in January of this year. With the U.S. team in need of some re-tooling after the Gold Cup, Shea would be a good place to start. If you’ve not seen Shea play, he is tall, physical, fast, and a scoring threat in the air and from distance.
I was surprised to read that Shea spent some time training with Bolton in 2007 – surprised because in thinking I’d like to see him loaned to an EPL club during the next MLS off-season, I thought Bolton might be a good fit. Another American, Stuart Holden, has thrived at Bolton. Shea could possibly earn some decent playing time there, especially if Daniel Sturridge remains at Chelsea (he was loaned to Bolton last season). Stoke, Wigan, or Wolves might be good matches for Shea as well. You heard it here first EPL teams (okay, probably not) – but just in case – do yourselves a favor and give this Brek guy a look. Just don’t get too attached. We want to keep him in Dallas as long as possible!
It’s a big honor for FC Dallas to be in the CONCACAF Champions League, earned by way of being MLS Cup Runners-Up in 2010. I haven’t tuned in to CONCACAF Champions League play in the past, admittedly due to my bias against CONCACAF teams in relation to the quality of UEFA’s Champions League competition. But now that FC Dallas is in the CCL, I am newly motivated to follow the tournament and cheer them on. FC Dallas is good enough to go far. It will be interesting to see how they perform in such a different environment. It won’t be like playing at Pizza Hut Park, that’s for sure. At least they’re already used to the heat. You can hear some of the players’ thoughts about the match here. Check back tomorrow to find out how Shea and FCD fared in their first Champions League adventure.
Should Brek Shea be a regular on the U.S. National Team? Which Premier League team would be a good fit for Shea if he were to go on loan this winter?