At 10:00 am EST this morning, Barnsley play Coventry in Matchweek 42 of the English League Championship, the second division of the island's professional soccer pyramid. The Tykes have spent but a single season in the Premier League, going up and down in 1997 and 1998.
Now, though, they're in position to make the four-team playoff for the final Premier League promotion slot. And one of the major reasons comes from Edmond, OK.
Momentary interlude for cultural purposes: Barnsley is a town of 90,000 in South Yorkshire, bang in the middle of England. It's eight miles east of Penistone, if one is juvenile. So, really, all of the male Gheorghies. It's a textile town, historically, but it thrives today because of bakeries and the service economy, as I'm told.
But we're here for the Edmond part.
Barnsley's on the precipice of promotion for many reasons, but there's no question that American striker Daryl Dike has made a huge difference. Since he joined Barnsley on loan from Orlando City in the MLS, he's scored eight goals in 14 games. Dike's headed goals in, he's finished sublime buildups, and he's scored goals like this banger against Birmingham (start at the 1:35 mark):
Dike's story is a uniquely American one. His parents emigrated to Oklahoma from Nigeria in that time-tested pursuit of the American Dream. His older brother Bright played in the MLS and for the Nigerian national team. His sister Courtney also played internationally for the Super Eagles. Dike played two years at UVA (not holding it against him) before turning pro. He got his first two caps for the USMNT this year.
And in addition to his athletic prowess, he's an impressive kid, as this interview with Roger Bennett shows:
I going on record here. Daryl Dike is gonna be a household name, at least amongst those who follow American soccer. He's the next Jozy Altidore, and not just because he's a big, strong, striker of African heritage. This generation of American soccer players is building to something promising, and Dike will take his place alongside Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Zach Steffen, Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent and a bunch of other talents. The times, they are good.
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9 comments:
Are you predicting that the US will qualify for next year's world cup?
i am, rootsy. when we field our best eleven, we could plausibly have every starter playing important minutes for european first-division clubs. we've never been able to say that before. we have a chance to be pretty good.
earned the very first yellow card of my coaching career this morning after a particularly egregious offside call by a grossly out of position linesman cancelled out a clear breakaway for my kids. not proud. but not not proud. the kids' parents seemed pleased with me after the game, which was interesting.
what team are you coaching?
this one's a u14 girls travel team.
AFC Richmond
Tottenham job is now open if Rob is looking to get on the Ted Lasso fast track.
The SEC ADs have to be looking at the Super League model and salivating. How long can the NCAA hold the house of cards together?
Watching Steph right now is unbelievable. He’s somehow better than ever.
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