Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel Akinpelu (Promise David)

[El Diego]

I've watched USG a few times over the past couple years, certainly nowhere near enough to make any comments on their current players... but doesn't it seem like the starting striker spots are there for the taking, especially now with Nilsson and Amoura gone? Those guys started 26 and 25 league matches, respectively. They have a new manager but judging by their pre-season, they are sticking with two strikers (I'm going based on how the apps have them lined up but this could easily be wrong). None of their current strikers seem like obvious starters. Would be crazy if he got regular playing time for a top Belgian club after playing in Estonia.

[CanadaFan123]

It’s easy to say it’s a big leap but he didn’t just play in Estonia - he dominated. He was basically the Haaland of Estonia so I expect he’ll get his chances.  

[ahmedou]

🤔

[Stryker911]

From what it looks like the 2 defenders he split are Diomande and Reis. Reis is 29 and has played over 100 times for Sporting over the last 4 seasons. While Diomande is 20 and is already an Ivory Coast international and one of the most valuable players in all of Portugal. While the keeper is 26 year old that Sporting just paid nearly 5 million for. All this to say none of these guys are scrubs. Even in preseason the fact he could do this is pretty incredible.

[Unnamed Trialist]

27 minutes ago, Stryker911 said:

From what it looks like the 2 defenders he split are Diomande and Reis. Reis is 29 and has played over 100 times for Sporting over the last 4 seasons. While Diomande is 20 and is already an Ivory Coast international and one of the most valuable players in all of Portugal. While the keeper is 26 year old that Sporting just paid nearly 5 million for. All this to say none of these guys are scrubs. Even in preseason the fact he could do this is pretty incredible.

You just have to look how disgusted they are with themselves for letting him do that. 

 

[El Diego]

3 hours ago, CanadaFan123 said:

It’s easy to say it’s a big leap but he didn’t just play in Estonia - he dominated. He was basically the Haaland of Estonia so I expect he’ll get his chances.  

Who else has come out of the Estonian league to play at this level? Not asking to be a jerk, genuinely interested if anyone knows off hand. A really quick look at the most expensive transfers out of the Estonian league (via Transfermarkt):

1	Andres Oper Centre-Forward	21	99/00		Aalborg BK  Faxe Kondi Liga	€950k
2	Dmitri Kruglov Left-Back	21	05/06		Loko Moscow  Premier Liga	€600k
3	Yvan Dibango Left-Back	21	23/24		Kryvbas  Premier Liga	€500k
4	Erik Sorga Centre-Forward	20	19/20		Loudoun United  USLC	€450k
5	Promise David Centre-Forward	23	24/25		Union SG  Jupiler Pro League	€400k
6	Rauno Sappinen Centre-Forward	25	21/22		Piast Gliwice  Ekstraklasa	€400k
7	Nikita Andreev Centre-Forward	20	09/10		UD Almería B  Spain	€400k
8	Tarmo Neemelo Centre-Forward	24	05/06		Helsingborgs IF  Allsvenskan	€400k
9	Urmas Rooba Left-Back	21	00/01		FC Midtjylland  Faxe Kondi Liga	€275k
10	Sergei Zenjov Right Winger	18	07/08		Karpaty Lviv  Premier Liga	€260k

I have to run to my own match, but I'll be curious to see how these guys ended up.

[jordan]

15 minutes ago, El Diego said:

Who else has come out of the Estonian league to play at this level? Not asking to be a jerk, genuinely interested if anyone knows off hand. A really quick look at the most expensive transfers out of the Estonian league (via Transfermarkt):

1	Andres Oper Centre-Forward	21	99/00		Aalborg BK  Faxe Kondi Liga	€950k
2	Dmitri Kruglov Left-Back	21	05/06		Loko Moscow  Premier Liga	€600k
3	Yvan Dibango Left-Back	21	23/24		Kryvbas  Premier Liga	€500k
4	Erik Sorga Centre-Forward	20	19/20		Loudoun United  USLC	€450k
5	Promise David Centre-Forward	23	24/25		Union SG  Jupiler Pro League	€400k
6	Rauno Sappinen Centre-Forward	25	21/22		Piast Gliwice  Ekstraklasa	€400k
7	Nikita Andreev Centre-Forward	20	09/10		UD Almería B  Spain	€400k
8	Tarmo Neemelo Centre-Forward	24	05/06		Helsingborgs IF  Allsvenskan	€400k
9	Urmas Rooba Left-Back	21	00/01		FC Midtjylland  Faxe Kondi Liga	€275k
10	Sergei Zenjov Right Winger	18	07/08		Karpaty Lviv  Premier Liga	€260k

I have to run to my own match, but I'll be curious to see how these guys ended up.

Mart Poom left the league for 128000 pounds in the early 90’s and did pretty well.

Promise’s ex team mate Alex Tamm could probably go for a good transfer fee.

[The Real Marc]

Ragnar Klavan?

[Metro]

USG plays Club Brugge in the Super Cup this Saturday.  Won't be surprised if David starts.

[Obinna]

If David is putting in work with the USG first team he needs to be called to Canada next window.

[FC_Hali]

1 hour ago, Obinna said:

If David is putting in work with the USG first team he needs to be called to Canada next window.

If he explodes out of the gates, sure, but he would have to be scoring at a Tani level clip. Even then it may be more prudent to let him fully settle in with his new club. A September call up likely means he surpasses Bair and/or JRR (not to mention Ugbo, if he decides to get off the couch). 

Early days but he’ll be a fun one to track. Fingers crossed that he’s our next break out player.

[VinceA]

6 minutes ago, FC_Hali said:

If he explodes out of the gates, sure, but he would have to be scoring at a Tani level clip. Even then it may be more prudent to let him fully settle in with his new club. A September call up likely means he surpasses Bair and/or JRR (not to mention Ugbo, if he decides to get off the couch). 

Early days but he’ll be a fun one to track. Fingers crossed that he’s our next break out player.

I think also if Jebbison is playing, not even needing to score in the Prem, Marsch will try to call him up for September.

There's also a slight argument that maybe Larin needs to be left with Mallorca for a window since he needs to start strong there.

[narduch]

Belgian league starts last week of July.

He will have quite a few weeks to make an impression 

[Obinna]

Good points by both of you. And while I agree, we probably want to keep him out of Nigeria's hands. 

Same scenario as Tani, but with USG you have a European team that's upper table in Belgium. That could make Promise David more visible to the Nigerians than Tani was.

[narduch]

USG also have Champions League qualifying. They start around August 6 (and could draw Lille too).

So they may need to rotate the squad. Increasing his chances 

[Watchmen]

3 hours ago, Obinna said:

If David is putting in work with the USG first team he needs to be called to Canada next window.

It sounds simple, but the follow up is "Ahead of who? The striker whi just transferred to Ligue 1, the striker about to transfer out of Ligue 1 to either the PL or Serie A, the striker in La Liga, or the striker who's been scoring in MLS and was a regular substitution at the Copa?"

What a time.

Edited July 18 by Watchmen

[FC_Hali]

Rolling out the David/David striker pairing may be too tempting for Marsch to resist. 

[TGAA_Star]

24 minutes ago, FC_Hali said:

Rolling out the David/David striker pairing may be too tempting for Marsch to resist. 

This is pretty funny

[InglewoodJack]

Funny how things change- 8 months ago, arguably our third best player played in Belgium. Today? Even if a guy starts in Belgium he’s not a lock.

We have so many guys in this emerging category, but I’m inclined to believe that if he starts his season off similar to Tani’s with Minnesota, you have to give him a look, especially in those friendlies. That physical profile is just so unique. If he’s good, he’s going to be *really* good. 

[CanadaFan123]

Did David know Promise was coming hence why he always had a J before his last name? Unreal vision. 
 

But seriously it is great that we’ve already cap tied JRR, Bair and Tani - pressure is off and we can focus on getting Promise in the fold. 

[Unnamed Trialist]

4 hours ago, VinceA said:

There's also a slight argument that maybe Larin needs to be left with Mallorca for a window since he needs to start strong there.

I don't think Larin would want to miss an international window, but it is true he needs a break, and since he hasn't been scoring easily for over a year, he needs a re-set.

Mallorca will pause for the international break, it is true. But if they agree with Marsch he won't go, it would not be terrible for his club situation

[RandomGuy]

3 hours ago, FC_Hali said:

Rolling out the David/David striker pairing may be too tempting for Marsch to resist. 

Welcome to the Boomtown!!! I need this combo in my life, it's destiny.

 

 

[youllneverwalkalone]

Glad to know someone else is suffering from OLD.

[red card]

Brugge vs USG in Belgian SuperCup is on DAZN on Saturday 1400 EDT.

[VinceA]

Now we just need to find a Jonathan Promise\Promise Jonathan and the prophecy will be complete.