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What is Brek Shea’s best position? Shea has always been a player with a lot of potential, yet he hasn’t truly fulfilled that potential. There was a three season span in which Shea looked like he would become the premier player in Major League Soccer, as he tallied 19 goals in 77 league games (11 of those came in 2011). However, Shea’s move to English Premier League side Stoke City was a setback in his career. His return stateside has helped to bring out the best in the tall Texan, despite an injury cutting his 2015 season short.
Yet, since returning, Orlando City manager Adrian Heath has shuttle his US international between positions. Shea featured eight times as a left-back last season for the Lions, where he tallied no goals or assists. This season Shea has played at full-back in Orlando’s 1-1 draw with Chicago, again no goals or assists, and the American’s influence on the game was minimal. Take into account his weakness at tackling and propensity to be called for fouls, and it’s easy to see that Shea is an attacking player that is being shoehorned into playing as a defender.
In week 1 of the MLS season, Shea played on the left side of an attacking three in Heath’s new 4-3-3 formation. According to <a href="https:\/\/www.whoscored.com/Matches/1041728/Live/USA-Major-League-Soccer-2016-Orlando-City-Real-Salt-Lake">Whoscored.com</a>, Shea had 50 touches, completing 21 of 31 passes at a 68% clip. The position let him cut inside and play off the left shoulder of Cyle Larin. Shea even had the assist on Larin’s goal in the Lions’ opening game against Real Salt Lake.
Looking at week 2 against Chicago, Shea took 76 touches according <a href="https:\/\/www.whoscored.com/Matches/1043694/Live">Whoscored.com</a>. He also complete 50 of 60 passes at an 83% success rate.
So what is Shea’s best position? 
At one time, due to Shea’s 6’3” frame, he could have been made into a target man striker. However, due to his skill on the ball he was used as a second striker or expert midfielder thanks to his skill on the ball.
In 2016, Shea appears to be a player that can be shuttled between positions. While he has proved he can get goals and assists in more advanced areas, he has also proved his passing statistics are better when playing at the back. However, that can be highly misleading as at left-back he would have played passes to other defenders or goalkeeper Joe Bendik. Those passes would have been under far less pressure than the passes Shea had played as an attacker.
Maybe at this point in his career, at the age of 26, Shea is a player that can fit the need for Orlando City. If Heath persists with the 4-3-3 formation, Kaka should take up one of the two wing positions when he returns from injury. Heath has a quite a few attacking options at his disposal this season as Orlando has put together a decent squad of players. Therefore, Shea maybe stuck at left-back due to the quantity of attacking options.
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Schedule of MLS games on US TV and live streaming</a>
While it may not be his best position, Shea has taken the opportunity in full stride, and is confident he can parlay his work in the Orlando defense into a starting berth with the US national team.
“I have no doubts in my ability; I think if I stay healthy I will be with the national team,” Shea insisted in a <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/03/03/orlando-city-scs-brek-shea-entering-season-healthy-and-new-perspective-after">recent interview</a>.
“That’s my mindset. Obviously I’m not the coach, but I don’t think there’s anyone who is better than me in that left-back position in the national team.”
With the confidence in his own abilities and a desire to make the position his own, it looks like the Brek Shea as a defender experiment will go on. Whether or not it is his best position, he is taking every chance in his hands to force his way into the US team.

Determining Brek Shea's best position - World Soccer Talk

Determining Brek Shea's best position

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A couple of years ago, Brek Shea was percolating through the minds of US soccer fans as 
potentially “The American Gareth Bale.” At FC Dallas, he was a young, left-footed defender who seemed like a shoe-in to develop into the quality left winger the USMNT had been missing. But ever since Shea moved to Stoke City, Shea’s stock has dipped severely. Clearly not rated well by manager Mark Hughes, the Texan has seen sparing minutes for the Potters. 
Good news though, as Shea will be moving to Birmingham City on an “emergency” loan for 
three months. It’s not hard to imagine that this could be his final audition in England. 
The talent is there, but so far he has wasted an excellent opportunity to develop into a perennial contributor to the USMNT. 
Some of his actions have come across as sophomoric, let alone unprofessional. His previous loan stint at Barnsley was terminated because of an altercation with one of the club’s supporters. There was also the infamous picture of the pig’s head that went out on Twitter. A regular contributor that impresses the manager might get away with such behavior. But for a guy on the fringes of the squads he’s been on in England, these antics do nothing to help Shea’s cause.
Barnsley were relegated from the Championship after ending Shea’s loan. It’s the same fate that Birmingham City looks to avoid as they are near the bottom of the Championship table. It’s another golden opportunity for the 24-year old to earn minutes and prove his worth, whether to the Reds themselves or to scouts for other clubs. If the Birmingham City stint fails, the logical next step for Shea would be <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2014/03/12/why-a-return-to-mls-would-be-brek-sheas-next-best-move/" title="a return stateside">a return stateside</a>. MLS 
has been quite intentional about bringing back American internationals. I have little doubt his services would be valued in MLS. 
And he seems to play his best soccer in the US. Whether for FC Dallas or in his rare 
appearances for the USMNT (think his 2013 Gold Cup goals), it may just be a comfort problem. Perhaps Brek needs the home cooking.
Plenty of people make mistakes in their career, but there comes a point where you must learn from the lapses of judgment. It will be difficult, because reputations rarely vanish and there will be some who look to take advantage. But Shea is still young enough to reclaim the future everyone saw for him. It will take a new level of maturity and desire for him to earn his place, whether it be in Birmingham City’s plans, or for those of Jurgen Klinsmann.

Prodigal Shea Getting Another Chance At Brum - World Soccer Talk

Prodigal Shea Getting Another Chance At Brum

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At just over 6ft 2in, with a blonde mohawk, it seems Brek Shea was born to stand out. An athletic wide player with the ability to glide past defenders, the 24-year-old continues to be a polarizing figure for the US Men’s National Team.
Alongside those who recognize and admire his potential are those who believe he will never realize it. Transferred to Stoke City in 2013, his move to England has not seen him earn regular first team opportunities.
It was for that reason Jurgen Klinsmann expressed happiness that the 24-year-old had agreed a loan move to Barnsley in January. Set to remain at Oakwell until April, his time at the club has been cut short following an <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/03/10/american-exports-brek-shea-returns-stoke-city-after-barnsley-loan-cut-short-?utm_source=FootballMedia&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=2014TuneIn&amp;utm_content=worldsoccertalk" target="_blank">unfortunate altercation with a fan</a>. Seen making an offensive gesture in the wake of the club’s 5-0 defeat to fierce local rivals Huddersfield Town, it soured what had been a productive loan spell for Shea.
Making eight appearances, it represented his first real consistent exposure to first team soccer in just under a year. Eager to remain positive, Shea told the <a href="http:\/\/www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Barnsley-scars-insists-Brek-Shea/story-20795962-detail/story.html#ixzz2vkXjyXm6 " target="_blank">Stoke Sentinel</a> newspaper:
<blockquote>“At the time I was upset, but now I’ve left it behind me. I can’t really change what happened. The passion of the fans over here is crazy, in a good way, but when things don’t go their way they are upset with their players and that can get out of hand.”</blockquote>
Reflecting on what the coming months hold for him, Shea added:
<blockquote>“I’ve had a lot of experiences, whether good or bad, and I’ve got to learn from them. Hopefully, I can earn a spot in this team. I have to keep my head down, work hard and hope I get my chance.”</blockquote>
While his optimism is admirable, realistically Shea’s situation at Stoke will have changed little following his return to the club. Currently six points above the relegation zone, Stoke are yet to secure Premier League survival. Thus it is unlikely that Hughes would see fit to include a player he was happy to loan out in January — even with the absence of Jonathan Walters through suspension.
Thus the question remains, what next for Brek Shea? Unable to garner another loan deal in England due to the window being shut, he could still return to Major League Soccer. With <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/video/2014/03/11/mls-fantasy-studs-duds-toronto-fc-colorado-rapids-sj-earthquakes-starting-lineup&amp;utm_campaign=2014TuneIn&amp;utm_content=worldsoccertalk" target="_blank">Toronto FC</a> currently first in the allocation order, it remains to be seen which if any MLS club would be interested in acquiring Shea.
While he remains a talented individual, there is little in the way of a long term benefit to potential suitors. For Shea however the upsides are considerable. Returning to a league that shares similarities to England, it will also give him a solid run of games right up until the World Cup in Brazil.
Realistically MLS is Shea’s only option, and it would be a silly one for him to pass up. A player it seems Klinsmann likes, the former FC Dallas man appears to enjoy a strong relationship with his coach: “He gives me every confidence every time I come up [to the squad],” he recently told <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2014/03/06/world-cup-brek-shea-seeks-direct-route-usmnt-roster-spot-little-bit-more-dyn?utm_source=FootballMedia&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=2014TuneIn&amp;utm_content=worldsoccertalk" target="_blank">mlssoccer.com</a>. “I still think playing for him is pretty cool. He was a great player so when he says stuff like that, it means a lot to me. But you still have to perform every time you get the chance or you won’t get it again.”
With a US camp in May, Shea is running low on opportunities to cement his place in the US squad ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. However if he can secure a temporary spell in MLS, the midfielder may finally begin to deliver on his potential and give the US a much needed impact sub.
So you don’t miss games this 2014 season, view the <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/schedule?utm_source=FootballMedia&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=2014TuneIn&amp;utm_content=worldsoccertalk" target="_blank">MLS TV schedule</a>. You can also watch games via <a href="http:\/\/live.mlssoccer.com?utm_source=FootballMedia&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=2014TuneIn&amp;utm_content=worldsoccertalk" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>. And be sure to stay updated on the MLS news throughout the season via the <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com?utm_source=FootballMedia&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=2014TuneIn&amp;utm_content=worldsoccertalk" target="_blank">MLSsoccer.com</a> site.

Why A Return to MLS Would Be Brek Shea's Next Best Move - World Soccer Talk

Why A Return to MLS Would Be Brek Shea's Next Best Move

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Note: If you’ve noticed, we have temporarily skipped DC United in our 2012 Season Preview. Our colleague and podcast specialist, Chris Riordan, is putting that together. He will have it soon, but until then we will move along with our series of preview articles.
Club: F.C. Dallas
Head Coach: Schellas Hyndmann
2011 Record: 15-11-7 = 52 points, 4th Place West, 4th Place League, Lost in Wild Card Round of MLS Cup Playoffs
Twitter Hashtag: #FCDallas
Bounce back will be the buzz around FC Dallas Stadium in 2012. One would think, “4th place in 2011? Who needs to bounce back?” But after an MLS Cup Final appearance, the Hoops were hoping for more. The untimely loss of David Ferreira to a broken ankle was a huge blow, but that seemed to initiate the development of Brek Shea from an average fullback to Jurgen Klinsmann’s first choice left wing for the National Team.&nbsp;Halfway through 2011, it appeared Dallas would be poised to make a second run at a Championship.
That was short-lived though, as the fixture congestion of league play, US Open Cup, and CONCACAF Champions League play took it’s toll on Shea and the rest of the squad. Late in the season the team also grieved the passing of one of its beloved alumni, Bobby Rhine. Their 4th place finish in the league table was hollow given the new playoff format. Their poor form translated to an early dispatch from the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the tumultuous follow-up to near glory was complete.
So what about 2012?
Coaching And Front Office: Hyndmann has already led Dallas to a Final, and was very resourceful by redeploying Shea into a position near the top of the formation. The fact Hyndmann could lose the league MVP early in the season and still extract a top 4 finish in the toughest conference is commendable. As far as front office, the Hunt family has been one of the long-term fixtures in American soccer. There are still some questions regarding the ability for the renamed <del>Pizza Hut Park</del> F.C. Dallas Stadium (Pizza Hut’s ties ended in January) to draw crowds, but the front office has put a quality product on the pitch, and it’s up to the city to embrace the team.
Key Losses: The highest-profile departure was George John, and that may not even be a departure. He is currently on loan to London-based West Ham United. The trouble for John is that he has yet to hit the pitch for the Hammers, and so he may return without terms being made permanent. One player who will not wear the hoops in 2012 is Jackson Goncalves, who has been loaned to Brazilian club Cruzeiro. Marvin Chavez was traded for allocation money to San Jose, while Maicon Santos moved intraleague to DC United as a free agent.
Key Additions: The full return of Ferreira will be a major step for Dallas to get back into the title fight in earnest. As far as new acquisitions, the marquee signing for Dallas was Panamanian striker Blas Perez. He should be an excellent addition up front, whether pairing with Fabian Castillo or sitting up top in a 4-2-3-1. To counteract the potential loss of John, Dallas also acquired Columbian center back Hernan Pertuz. They added another Panamanian, fullback Carlos Rodriguez. He could challenge Jair Benitez for the left back position. It’s unclear how long it will take SuperDraft 1st-Round Pick Matt Hedges to find the first team.
Projected Starters: From an attack standpoint, having both Perez and Castillo should give Hyndmann tactical options. He could go with the 4-2-3-1 shape from last season and put Castillo on the right wing with Perez as the lone forward. Alternatively he could use Castillo as another striker in a 4-4-2 system. In either system, Shea figures to be the guy making runs at the defense on the left, and in time Ferreira will return to attacking central midfield. Daniel Hernandez will be the first choice holding midfielder; in a 5-man midfield, Andrew Jacobson would also get time centrally. In the 4-4-2, Danny Cruz would likely be the right midfielder.
Defensively, Kevin Hartman will continue to be a steadying influence in goal. This will be crucial given the uncertainty surrounding George John. Ugo Ihemelu holds over from 2011 as a starting center back, and Pertuz should be a cinch to pair with him if John remains in Europe. The path forward is unclear for Dallas should John return from his loan spell. Jair Benitez and Zach Loyd should be locks to start at left- and right back respectively. One wild card could be the dearth of quality left backs available to the US Men’s National Team; with Loyd having a decent run out with Camp Cupcake on the left, it could impact Hyndmann’s decision on how he deploys his fullbacks.
Player To Watch: Whether you’re an F.C. Dallas fan or not, you should be keeping an eye on Shea. With World Cup Qualification and the Olympics looming, this is a huge year for the robust left winger. Don’t forget the prospects of a European club knocking on Dallas’ door for the youngster’s services. The term “make or break year” may be an overstatement, but in a way this could be one for Brek Shea. Depending on his performance under the intense scrutiny of American fans, his stock could well outgrow F.C. Dallas Stadium and force the team and MLS into selling him on to greener ($$$) pastures.
Best Case Scenario: We’ve seen this team when they get hot. With the addition of a lethal striker in Perez, this attack could be stiletto-sharp. If Ferreira can get back to full fitness quickly, Hyndmann’s squad could become a thorn in the LA Galaxy’s side – especially with the questions the Champions have at the back. A Supporter’s Shield challenge wouldn’t be that far out of the question if the stars align.
Worst Case Scenario:&nbsp;The Shea situation could be no-win for Dallas; if he regresses, the team probably is hurt by his lack of performance. If he is a vast success in 2012, they could lose his services to Europe outright. There are also reports that Ferreira is struggling to regain confidence in his ankle. The negatives surrounding those two situations would certainly hamper the lofty expectations mentioned above, but I can’t see Dallas finishing any worse than 5th in the West barring a major collapse.
Prediction: I’ll predict that Dallas earns an automatic spot in the Conference Semis, finishing in 3rd place in the West.

MLS '12 Preview - F.C. Dallas - World Soccer Talk

MLS '12 Preview – F.C. Dallas

httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhsgKRpWKPY
Anyone who watches MLS knows Brek Shea is having a breakout season. And as much as the British media may <a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/the-guardian-dismisses-major-league-soccer-as-not-a-big-league-12067" target="_blank">want to dismiss MLS and its talent</a>, it is now beginning to it pay attention. <a href="http:\/\/www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7233711,00.html" target="_blank">Sky Sports is reporting</a> that Liverpool and Manchester City both were scouting the U.S. national team’s 1-0 win over Honduras. In addition, Chelsea and Manchester United have also shown interest in Shea, according to the article.
Shea’s agent, Barry McLean, shared that his client would have interest in playing overseas (no surprise there). He told Sky Sports, “He has a contract with the MLS and FC Dallas for another three years so at this point it is premature to talk about a move.”
McLean said also said about a potential overseas move: “It’s on his radar. He is a young player with high aspirations and every player wants to play at the highest level. I think England would be an interesting option for Brek, but we will wait and see what happens.”
I have enjoyed watching Shea grow up professionally this year and at this point in his career he could benefit from playing overseas. In terms of fit, obviously the stability of Manchester United would be a good place for him to ease into European club football. That said, the end of the season may not be the best time for him to make a move. It’s clear that he has tired toward the end of the season with his USMNT and club responsibilities, so moving immediately into a new role and more playing time would be a bad idea. That said, if you get a chance to sign for one of the largest teams in the world, you pretty much have to make that move.
However MLS again would be the big loser. Just as the national team is getting a new star, a new face of American soccer, he moves overseas. FC Dallas would also face a major roster loss, something that MLS teams are increasingly facing as the talent level rises. Such in life in an up-and-coming league.
What do you think? What Premier League club would be a good fit for Brek Shea? Should he leave?