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Does Marcel de Jong face competition from Micheal Parkhurst?

Obinna

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Obinna Grand Master

Obinna

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/12/19/american-exports-champions-league-star-parkhurst-signs-bundesligas-augsburg

AMSTERDAM – Put away your hopes of seeing the band back together, New England Revolution fans. Former star Michael Parkhurst isn't coming home this holiday season.

The free agent FC Nordsjælland defender on Wednesday morning inked a two-and-a-half-year deal to join Bundesliga survivalists Augsburg. Parkhurst, 28, was also pursued by clubs in the EPL, La Liga and Serie A. Parkhurst leaves the Superliga club after a four-year stay that saw him help the club to its first-ever Danish title, in 2012, and back-to-back Danish Cups in 2010 and 2011.

"I would like to make my sporting contribution, so that we achieve our goal of staying up in the second half of the season," he told the club website.

In only their second Bundesliga campaign in club history, Augsburg sit next-to-bottom in the table as the Bundesliga heads into the winter break. But the club, whose history goes back to 1907, enjoys devoted supporters who pack the SGL arena on a regular basis.

"I watched the DfB-Pokal match against Bayern Munich yesterday and was impressed by the great atmosphere despite the defeat," Parkhurst said. "I can't wait to get in that atmosphere myself."

Parkhurst started 118 of his 127 games with Nordsjælland after arriving from the New England Revolution in 2008. This season, he has again impressed at the back for the attack-minded FCN side, leading the league in assists, and putting in several strong performances during FCN's ill-fated Champions League campaign.

The first chance he'll have to suit up for Augsburg will come on January 20, when the side emerges from the winter slumber with a trip to Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Parkhurst is a natural centre back, but has played all across the backline in his 15 caps for the USMNT, including left back. Would this be competition for de Jong, who was a fixture at left back last year, but has not held down the spot as regularly since his injury? De Jong still appears to be the first choice LB, but with him siting on the bench recently, does this signing spell trouble?

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Obinna Grand Master

Obinna

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I thought for FCN he was a CB that was converted to RB? I would be surprised if they brought him in for LB considering he has little to no experience playing it week in week out.

I think you are right, I thought he was a natural CB who was converted to RB but I believe I had mixed it up.

My reason for concern was that his last few appearances for the USA were at left back, but perhaps I should double check this.

Edit: looks like I jumped the gun on my concerns

"Augsburg sporting director Jürgen Rollmann stated:

Michael Parkhurst is an experienced defender who played primarily at right-back for Nordsjaelland. It’s well known that we’ve had problems in that position. However, Parkhurst can also play on the left or in the centre of defence and we’re sure he’ll help our team"

http://bundesligafanatic.com/u-s-international-michael-parkhurst-signs-with-fc-augsburg/

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Grizzly Newbie

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Yes he is being brought in to play as a right back. In the first half of the season Augsburg has played 5 different players at RB including some mid-fielders who they would much rather have playing in their preferred position.

I am a bit skeptical about the interest claimed in Parkhurst from EPL. La Liga and Serie A in the first article. Even this move to a relegation candidate Bundesliga team is a pretty huge jump for him in terms of playing level. And he signed a 2 and a half year deal with no release cause in the fairly likely case of Augsburg being relegated with a team not exactly known for signing big cheques. I would say there is an over 50% chance of Parkhurst spending two years of his two and a half year contract playing in the 2nd BL. I doubt one agrees to that if a lot of bigger clubs are interested.

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xcalibre Contributor

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Yes he is being brought in to play as a right back. In the first half of the season Augsburg has played 5 different players at RB including some mid-fielders who they would much rather have playing in their preferred position.

I am a bit skeptical about the interest claimed in Parkhurst from EPL. La Liga and Serie A in the first article. Even this move to a relegation candidate Bundesliga team is a pretty huge jump for him in terms of playing level. And he signed a 2 and a half year deal with no release cause in the fairly likely case of Augsburg being relegated with a team not exactly known for signing big cheques. I would say there is an over 50% chance of Parkhurst spending two years of his two and a half year contract playing in the 2nd BL. I doubt one agrees to that if a lot of bigger clubs are interested.

To be fair he said there's a big difference between interest and a concrete offer. After nothing else materialized he went with the offer he had on the table.

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tarnado1555362291 Explorer

tarnado1555362291

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Augsburg has offered Marcel De Jong a new 2 year contract, now that it seems starting RB Ostrzoleks is leaving the club via transfer. De Jong says he will consider the offer but there are also two other "really interesting" offers on the table. He suggests a decision will be made in the next few weeks.

 

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/604907/artikel_wird-ostrzoleks-abgang-zu-de-jongs-chance.html

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Fussball_eh Newbie

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Augsburg has offered Marcel De Jong a new 2 year contract, now that it seems starting RB Ostrzoleks is leaving the club via transfer. De Jong says he will consider the offer but there are also two other "really interesting" offers on the table. He suggests a decision will be made in the next few weeks.

 

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/604907/artikel_wird-ostrzoleks-abgang-zu-de-jongs-chance.html

 

Thanks for the update. Part of me hopes he stays, cause he is the only remaining Canadian in the Bundesliga, but the other part of me wants him to play more.

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Grizzly Newbie

Grizzly

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If he is in the coach's plans for the coming season and his competition on the squad does transfer as planned, Augsburg might be his best opportunity. At least he knows the situation there and changing teams always has risks and unknowns. DeJong's main problem is that when he wins a spot and starts playing regularly he gets injured and forces the team to bring in someone else at his position who ends up competing for his position which they may not have done if he were healthy. That may not change no matter where he plays.

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madmonte Newbie

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So after getting no playing time, de Jong now wants out of Augsburg. 

 

> http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2014/10/21/5334831/jong-to-leave-augsburg-after-losing-spot-to-in-form-baba

 

To be honest, I think a lot of us were very surprised he signed on there again in the first place.  Sort of sounds like he was told/promised one thing, and given another, but that's just mere speculation.

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Ruffian Mentor

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If he leaves Canada will have no committed players playing in any of the top 11 leagues in Europe. By top 11 I am using the UEFA country co-efficient.

 

 

1   Spain

2   England

3   Germany

4   Italy

5   Portugal

6   France

7   Russia

8   Ukraine

9   Netherlands

10   Belgium

11   Switzerland

 

 

Hutchinson plays in the 12 ranked country's league.

 

12   Turkey

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Obinna Grand Master

Obinna

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Maybe he doesn't need to leave the Bundesliga - maybe he just needs to find another club there. Augsburg no longer seem to be the struggling bottom feeder they once were. They are firmly mid table now a days.

 

Perhaps an opportunity exists for a loan to a lower table team?

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Obinna Grand Master

Obinna

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I'm not sure de Jong is really a 1 Bundesliga player.

It's kinda hard to say whether or not he is. When Augsburg were struggling he was getting a lot of playing time. Now, ever since they've been doing well his minutes have been drastically reduced. To me, that says de Jong can start in that league if he's on one of the bottom teams, but on a mid-table team he is probably plays a minor role.

 

If he was not a 1 Bundesliga player I don't think Augsburg would have re-signed him, even as a bench guy. Let's remember too that Augsburg finished 8th last season, and are currently in 12th. 

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Obinna Grand Master

Obinna

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He has started some games in the Bundesliga 1, particularly early on. Overall though he came off the bench, so yeah that is fair to say he is not a starter in that league. Then again though, you never know, he might find a situation that allows him to start, but I think it's more likely he will be a starter outside of this league. 

 

I wonder if he'd be a good fit for the French top flight?

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