A 19-year-old playing for some pub team in germany... stunning.

And where exactly in that article does it say ?I?d rather play for Everton than Arsenal or United??

It doesn?t... it?s journalistic nonsense. The person that wrote this garbage couldn?t even be bother to do a 10 second google search to confirm that he doesn?t play for the USA.

He’s played for Germany at U18 and U19 level and scored twice.

I’ve heard that he’s a very good prospect from my Shalke supporting German mate Stefan and that the big boys of the Bundersliga are sniffing around as well as Arsenal and Man Utd .

Lighten up Ciaran FFS

Here’s a link if you speak German

http://www.zweitligamannschaften.de/lewis-holtby-aachens-ausnahmetalent-traeumt-vom-fc-everton/

There’s quite a bit of stuff on the internet about him. The fact that he doesn’t have a preferred foot and plays on both wings sounds pretty interesting. Seems to have that versatility that Moyes looks out for and one of us to boot.

My mate in Berlin reckons he looks like a promising young player and very skillful, he tells me people have been talking about him over there since last year.

Didn’t you get any last night Ciaran?

Ciaran, just three words to say to you my friend, "Remember Tim Cahill?"

Ciaran, just read the article, he (Lewis) states, "I would prefer a move to Everton" ? That is after the journalist mentions Manure etc, etc.

What we all seem to be missing is the "Once a Blue, always a Blue" mentality.

The quote reported is "My father was born in England and was an Everton fan since the age of five. He immediately infected me with the Everton virus! Since then I have been Everton fan and have always followed their games.?

Isn?t it nice that he is linked with United and Arsenal but his heart is at GP? Makes a change for those who are linked with Everton but whose hearts are elsewhere... Much as I hate him but McDermot was asked after he won his U-21 cap his next ambition was to play for the full team and he said "No, I want to play for the Shite." (Well OK he used the team name but I just can?t bring myself to type it!) Think of Stubbsy ? what do you want? A new contract and play in the Champions League or play for Everton.

Let us be proud of those who are proud to be associated with our club. All we seem to do is moan about the journalism rather than why this letter was written.

Let?s be honest, who wouldn?t favour a move to Everton? We are a big club, have a huge history and have been getting steadily better for near on 10 years. Man Utd would offer him near on nothing and Arsenal are steadily getting worse... oh and we could stop them getting CL footy next season!!

Or could it be because he?s a blue?

Teddy,

I think you’ll find those are the words of the journo.

He’s very keen on a move to Everton, his uncle and dad have both said so here.

Ciaran's right (albeit unnecessarily dismissive in his first posting) that it's the journalist's words.

Look at the Setanta site. The lad HAS said he wants to come here. Stop being so pedantic.

The 18-year-old, who has impressed in Die Bundesliga Zwei this season, is flattered by the link to two of the Premier League?s biggest clubs, but admits his heart would be set on a move to Goodison Park should The Toffees declare an interest.

Holtby was indoctrinated at an early age by his father who was born in England and grew up supporting Everton.

?If it?s true then of course it?s a great honour for me,? said Holtby, referring to the link to United and Arsenal.

Asked why Everton were not mentioned more often in connection with him, the player quipped: ?I do not know!?

Holtby admits he dreams of wearing the blue of Everton.

?Maybe I do not fit into their profile,? Holtby told spox.com.

?I should just play my game and continue to develop and then, who knows, maybe my dream club will be waiting for me.

?Maybe I can play in the blue shirt.

?My father was born in England and was an Everton fan since the age of five.

?He immediately infected me with the Everton virus!

?Since then I have been Everton fan and have always followed their games.?




http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/03/19/Premier-League-Holtby-on-Everton/gnid-44977/

Posting from his dad later in the same thread that Barry found - its a nice feel good story for the day - thanks for flagging it up Gerry

"Hi Blues ! Thanks to my Bro for posting the Lewis Holtby thing. I?m his dad, a Blue for 42 years! Lewis spent a week at the Academy a while back, before he was given a pro contract at Aachen. Since then he?s progressed leaps and bounds, plays just about every week for the 1st Team and is a German U19 (played against England last year, lost 1-0, damn was hard cheerin for ya son in a German shirt).

Lewis is an Evertonian thru and thru too, and an England fan! He?s all the talk of new talent here at the mo, Bremen, Leverkusen, Schalke, Hamburg and more all interested, but Lewis will be staying here next year, too early for the Premier League at the mo. He will deffy leave Aachen at end of season, but not sure where to yet.

But eventually, who knows, will wear the Blue of his and my team before he ever wears red! All the best to Davey and the boys for Cup Semi v Utd, and if we're in Final, Lewis and I will be over for it! All the best, Chris Holtby"

If he?s a great prospect i?d love to see any quality Everton supprting youngster here.

And Gerry, I am in your neck of the woods in a fortnight my brother lives outside Houston so I am going to see him.

Any decent bars show the games there??

Ciaran, I wouldn?t normally bother to answer you on your comments.

What I will say, however, is that other Evertonians have shown that they can provide a broader insight into this Lewis Holtby, and continue to prove what I always knew ? that Evertonians ARE knowledgeable and DO take a genuine interest in football outside of their own world ? which is more than can be said for most of todays Sky4-type fans!

I may sound sad to some, but I do sit up (even in my late 50s!) when our name gets mentioned anywhere in the world in any form. I also breathe Everton ? the same as your fellow TW blues. Lighten up and join in positively ? if you didn?t know anything about this guy ? then like me, you do now....

Hey Mike, ask TW for my e-mail address, drop me a line - if our match is on while you’re here in Houston, we can organise something
COYB

Ciaran ? are you Marshy in disguise?

Alemannia Aachen... who are dey? Exactly...

It's a nice story and credit to him for putting his dream ahead of possibly more lucrative deals ? are you reading, Mr Rooney? Sorry, what was I thinking? ? "reading"...???

It makes me chuckle that even the most benign, feel good mailbag item can still create a bit of a slanging match on TW. Fair play Ciaran. :D

Ciaran - why do you invest so much time in spreading so much negativity on so many things? What exactly is wrong with Gerry’s article? The facts are that he is an U19 international and that what little is known of him seems positive. The fact that he is an U19 international for Germany rather than USA is not, as far as I can see, a bad thing.

"A 19-year-old playing for some pub team in germany... stunning."

Your total dismissal of Gerry’s article is pathetic & frankly obnoxious. The kid is actually 18 and playing for a team in the 2nd Bundesiga (just like our own Championship, where we acquired Lescott & Cahill). It appears he does harbor a dream of playing for Everton, but even if he didn’t, so what? You don’t know the journalist nor do you know the kid and yet you invest time and bile to write offensive crap about which you know nothing. Why the hell do you bother? Surely there’s something on telly or a book you can read or someone who’ll have a pint with you (bit presumptious I admit).

Doesn’t it ever occur to you that you don’t HAVE to contribute in such a destructive way all the time? Why bother, especially when you know absolutely nothing about the subject in hand? Is this how you are full time? 99% of what you post on this site is negative. Nothing seems to satisfy you. Some aspects of that can be debated (e.g. how the team or a player performed in a game). But some of it is just offensive drivel that serves no purpose whatsoever other than to insult or drag the thread into the gutter.

The facts are that unearthing relatively unknown gems, especially young ones, is a superb way of running a football club. Hoffenheim have built their club on that model. They, incidentally, were in the same league as Alemmania Aachen last season, got promoted and have been around the top of the Bundesliga all season. So here we appear to have a very young footballer who is a young German international, who has Scouse heritage and who seems to have shared his dream of a move to Everton. What, exactly, is there not to like? If the story comes to nothing then who cares. It’s a good news story. End of.

Seems that you just can’t resist penning poison posts on anything and everything. Why not think twice next time. SIt back and consider things such as 1) Do I know anything about this, or 2) Is there anything to be gained by pissing all over a simple good news story just, well, just because that’s what you do.

Cheer up Ciaran FFS. Or at least think about it, for the sake of everyone on TW.

Excellent story! I live in Germany and caught an Alemania Aachen game on TV a few months back. I can remember thinking he looked an excellent prospect. Granted I only saw this one game but he played wide, switching between wings. Someone above said he was two-footed, but he seemed left-footed to me. My strongest memory of him is of how sweetly he can strike a ball, his crossing was excellent and he was quite nippy.

Unbelievable, after that game I was thinking of posting on here saying we should sign him!

Ha ha! Consider yourself properly ’told off’ Ciaran!

While we?re on Bundesliga prospects, I would urge you to check out Marko Marin of Borussia Moenchengladbach. Quality little player ? similar to Arshavin. I think we?d have a reasonable chance of getting him.

Billy,
Marko Marin is an excellent player. When I was in Germany last year so many people were talking about him. Moenchengladbach will most likely get relegated this season so I suspect he would be on the market but I have a feeling he will just end up at one of the big German clubs like Bayern or Bremen. He might cost a bit to because he is so highly rated.

If what's been reported so far is true then how good would that be: Young, talented, creative midfielder who?s probably available at a reasonable price & actually wants to play for us.

I?d like to think Bill is already working on getting this fella 24/7 but that would be too good to be true!

I empathise with you Gerry Quinn! Wherever I happen to be I stand proud when Everton are mentioned. Some months back I popped into a bar in Nuremberg ? for a meal actually ? and was delighted to see there was a match on TV but not so pleased to see it was the RS playing Spurs and downright disappointed that two scousers, RS supporters, were sitting next to me.

I endured the ritual... what are you doing in Europe... before settling down to my nosh. Naturally they took the lead and things were a little uncomfortable until Spurs equalised and then got the winner. Exit RS supporters with tails between legs and one very happy Blue ordering another pint! There are compensations in life. Now all we want is for them to draw Barca in the CL.

Whatever personna you use Ciaron, you seem to make serious efforts to be obnoxious. You are a very sad arrogant man. Setanta have the quotes from Lewis.

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/03/19/Premier-League-Holtby-on-Everton/gnid-44977/

Alemannia Aachen midfielder Lewis Holtby is a reported target for Manchester United and Arsenal but the USA Under-19 international has eyes only for Everton.

The 18-year-old, who has impressed in Die Bundesliga Zwei this season, is flattered by the link to two of the Premier League?s biggest clubs, but admits his heart would be set on a move to Goodison Park should The Toffees declare an interest.

Holtby was indoctrinated at an early age by his father who was born in England and grew up supporting Everton.

?If it?s true then of course it?s a great honour for me,? said Holtby, referring to the link to United and Arsenal.

Asked why Everton were not mentioned more often in connection with him, the player quipped: ?I do not know!?

Holtby admits he dreams of wearing the blue of Everton.

?Maybe I do not fit into their profile,? Holtby told spox.com.

?I should just play my game and continue to develop and then, who knows, maybe my dream club will be waiting for me.

?Maybe I can play in the blue shirt.

?My father was born in England and was an Everton fan since the age of five.

?He immediately infected me with the Everton virus!

?Since then I have been Everton fan and have always followed their games.?

It?s a funny thing.

I always wanted to play for Everton but this was put into some serious doubt the moment I was born. Mind you, the ladies team have been doing well lately.

Thought an interesting link - saw that youtube yesterday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqN9Nca74z8 and see what you think. The Mancs and Arse are already after him. Should try and beat them to him. 6-year-old only though.