Lukas Podolski's Understudy Mark Uth Is Taking Eredivisie by Storm
Oct 7, 2014
Once Lukas Podolski's understudy at Koln, Mark Uth is now an early contender to become Heerenveen's third Eredivisie top scorer in the past four seasons. Who is this unknown German?
Nation
Position
Age
Height
Weight
Germany
CF
23
6'1"
161 lbs
Uth was a prolific marksman at youth level, scoring 24 goals in 26 games for the Koln U19s at 0.92 goals per game.
Inevitably, the question was asked: "Is Uth the new Podolski?"
A gunner in front of goal, Podolski was Koln's most talented player since 1990 FIFA World Cup-winning West German Pierre Littbarski. A once-in-a-generation talent, Podolski was expected to star at Bayern Munich but packed it in after three frustrating seasons.
"It was hard for me, you don't play a lot of matches [at Bayern]," Podolski said, per Matt Lawton at the Daily Mail. "I knew I could play better for Bayern, but I left and went back to Koln because football for me is fun."
"He [Podolski] made it from the youth team all the way to the national squad," Uth said, per Olivia Fritz at Deutsche Welle. "Every young player [at Koln] wants that for himself."
Podolski's return to Koln complicated Uth's path to the first team.
Elevated to Koln II—the reserve team—Uth's scoring rate drastically dipped to 0.39 (16 goals in 41 games).
The 0.53 goals per game differential from U19s to reserve level indicated Uth was unlikely to make the step up to Bundesliga level.
Sitting on the bench with eccentric Japanese centre-back Tomoaki Makino, Uth watched on as Podolski scored twice in Koln's 3-0 win over Augsburg in 2011.
It was the closest Uth got to playing a Bundesliga game. Like Makino, Uth reluctantly came to terms that he was not in Koln's plans as a starter.
Uth's dreams of emulating Podolski at Koln were dashed.
However, then-Heerenveen technical director Johan Hansma believed in Uth.
"He [Uth] is a creative player who has an eye for something special," Hansma said, per Jeremy Lim at Goal. "[He] can make goals just as well as scoring them."
Here is a notional pitch Hansma might have delivered to Uth: "You can be another Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or Bas Dost, three players whose careers were resurrected by Heerenveen."
Van Nistelrooy, a late bloomer at Den Bosch, showed world-class ability at Heerenveen, as witnessed by Darren Ferguson, who had crossed paths with the centre-forward during trials at the Eredivisie club.
Huntelaar failed to make the grade at PSV Eindhoven, used AGOVV Apeldoorn as a stepping stone, then scored goals at a Willy van der Kuijlen-esque rate for Heerenveen.
Dost developed late at Emmen, showed promise at Heracles Almelo, then bloomed for Heerenveen, becoming the 2012 Eredivisie top scorer.
When Uth signed on the dotted line, he would not have envisioned going down a Rob Friend-like path, per Steve Bottjer at Red Nation:
Friend was transferred to SC Heerenveen of Holland's Eredivisie.
After tallying five goals in nineteen games, he was loaned out to Heracles Almelo who had just regained promotion into the Dutch top flight.
Despite helping them retain their status in the league, his services were no longer needed.
Alfred Finnbogason was to Uth what Alves was to Friend.
Finnbogason, an ambitious Icelandic centre-forward hoping to emulate Eidur Gudjohnsen's career, scored 53 times in two Eredivisie seasons for Heerenveen.
Blocked by Finnbogason, Uth was loaned out to Heracles, a la Friend.
A hat-trick in Heracles' 4-1 win over Waalwijk was the highlight of Uth's season.
Turning away from Waalwijk centre-back Kenny van Hoevelen, Uth slotted the ball near post with his left foot.
Fooled by Heracles substitute Simon Cziommer's shot-turned-pass, Waalwijk's defence watched on hopelessly as an unmarked Uth finished with his right foot.
Uth completed his perfect hat-trick after he headed home a rebound caused by Waalwijk goalkeeper Jan Seda's errant punch.
It was a career-defining game because it gave Uth the confidence and the self-belief that he was good enough at this level.
He finished the 2013-14 Eredivisie season as Heracles' second top scorer (eight goals) behind inverted left-winger Bryan Linssen (11 goals).
This was the golden opportunity Uth had been waiting for.
Thanking the Heerenveen fans while clasping a bouquet of sunflowers, relief was written all over Uth's face as he soaked in the adulation of scoring a hat-trick in Heerenveen's 3-1 win over Utrecht.
It was not a one-off game as Germany's top scorer in league play does not play in Germany.
Stepping out of Podolski's shadow, Uth is on course to top the Eredivisie's scoring charts.
[1] Van Nistelrooy transferred to PSV Eindhoven, scored 62 goals in 67 games, then signed for United in a then-British record transfer fee of €24.2/£19 million in 2001.
Red Devils' Offer for Cooperation Turned Down by SC Heerenveen
Dec 27, 2008
Reigning World Champions Manchester United have approached Dutch Eredivisie-side SC Heerenveen with an offer for cooperation, according to Frysian/Dutch newspaper Leeuwarder Courant.
Heerenveen-director Yme Kuiper declared in this article that "although the club is honoured to receive such an offer, they would like to continue alone down the path they have chosen."
The Frysians haven't slammed the door shut though, as Kuiper also stated that "contacts between the two clubs are good, and this may or may not lead to any form of cooperation in the near future."
I can understand both the offer the Red Devils have made and Heerenveen's reluctance to accept it. There are always two sides to a story.
Manchester is looking for partners on the European mainland because British work permit rules are hindering the club in signing players from certain countries, particularly South American countries.
In some European leagues, there are no such work permit rules, so youngsters can be bought, loaned to a club in such a league and left there to develop for a number of seasons.
An added bonus lies in the fact that Heerenveen has made a bit of a name in South America because of the spectacular development Brazilian goal-getter Afonso Alves has made during his spell at the club.
The current Middlesborough-striker bagged 45 goals in 39 games for the Frysians, including seven goals in a single match against Heracles Almelo.
Sounds peachy, doesn't it? A club would be getting potentially world class youngsters for free, so they can develop themselves at the club.
Well, there's also a down-side to the deal. Let's just take a look at one of the other sides Manchester United has strong links with, the Belgian side of Antwerp FC.
The Belgian team has received its fair share of talented youths on loan from Manchester, but most of them were around 18 or 19 years old, so they didn't really have an immediate impact in first team.
Fair enough, that's what talents do... At the same time they did start making any real impression in first team, these youths were recalled by the Red Devils for reserve squad duties back in Manchester.
I don't think these players will develop any faster from playing in reserves matches compared to playing actual first team football, even if the league standard is lower. Some things can only be learned by playing competitive football and I'm sorry to say this, but playing in the reserves is not the same as competitive football.
It's also rather harsh to recall players halfway through a season, especially when they have started to impress. A club is starting to rely and build on the presence of a certain player, only to see him recalled as soon as he starts doing well, which effectively forces the club to spend extra money on a replacement.
Last but not least, the feeder club has no say in which players are shipped their way, which makes any form of long term planning a bit difficult.
Imagine the horror when you've spent quite a bit on two new forwards, only to find out that your parent team is shipping two Brazilian U19 strikers to your club a few weeks before the new season starts...A waste of money, wouldn't you agree?
Heerenveen-director Kuiper agrees with me on this one. "Suppose we do agree to such a deal with Manchester United. The details of such a deal are very important. Will the parent-club be able to recall players halfway into a season?
"And what about a percentage of the profit when a player is sold? These are things that need to be worked out, but this development is an interesting one."
I agree with that last sentiment. It really is an interesting development and a testimony to the excellent reputation Dutch clubs have when it comes to nurturing young talents. But should a deal be struck, I really do hope Heerenveen make sure it's a beneficial deal for both clubs and not just for Manchester United.
Michael Bradley To Play in Bundesliga
Sep 2, 2008
USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley, aka “MB”, was dealt by his Dutch side SC Heerenveen to a newly promoted member of Germany’s first division. The team’s name?
Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Gesundheit!
I think I will just stick with “BM” rather than trying to type that again. So, MB is going to BM. What does it all mean?
It means the naysayers will say “nay” and argue Bradley should have been dealt to a superior team, like an EPL or Spanish Primera club. Well, if those clubs had thought Bradley was ready, they certainly would have dealt for him. We here in the U.S. tend to be biased about our player’s ability, and in the Bradley case, clearly expectations for the lad were exorbitantly high.
But beyond the bias, I still disagree with the naysayers. I think BM is one of Germany’s most beloved teams and a great place for Bradley to land. Why wish for Bradley to be permanently on the pine for a “great” team when he could be getting experience and playing time on a good one?
Because the team was just promoted back to the first division, they somewhat have a scarcity of talent that could open up opportunities early for MB. Moreover, BM will use MB more like the Nats use him, as a linking, defensive-minded midfielder, which will only help his development.
At other clubs, he may have been used as an attacking midfielder which (despite his 15 goals last year) seems to be against his nature. He belongs in the middle conducting the offense and helping out on defense, not sitting up top waiting to cherry pick a goal.
Also good for Bradley will be the physical style of play in the Bundesliga. As talented as Bradley has looked at times, he is also clearly a player whose emotions (i.e., anger and rage) can get the best of him. Once he adapts to the brutality of the German game, perhaps he will handle confrontations with opponents more calmly, rather than retaliating every time he feels he has been attacked.
All in all, the move will likely be good for BM and Bradley’s future. A match made in heaven. Just don’t ask any of his MNT teammates who he plays for yet. They are going to need a lot more time to figure out that pronounciation.
