Noah Billingsley (Christchurch United | NZ)

Has been drafted in the first round of the draft and joins Michael Boxall at Minnesota United.

Number 18 as well, decent selection. Coach Adrian Heath said they were so keen on him that they were considering trading up in the draft to get him. Glad to see he's flourishing at full-back, thought he was so much better there than at ST.

Of course, they've drafted him but they still gotta sign him first. This isn't like the NBA where the draft class will contain guys who can immediately step up and be a team's key player, so a lot of MLS draftees get released.

FYI - Minnesota effectively have an affiliate relationship with USL side Forward Madison in Wisconsin, which you would think is where Billingsley will initially end up if he is signed to a full contract by MU.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/118702071/oly-whites-player-noah-billingsley-selected-by-minnesota-united-in-mls-super-draft

https://www.mnufc.com/post/2020/01/09/loon-dive-noah-billingsley

He's got a motor - broke the club's fitness test records

Great start on a mission to get that contract!

Does this mean he's getting/got a contract? Can't see too much news around on it, but I guess he's got a squad number so something must be in the pipeline. 

The new players get to press their own jersey's ahead of the upcoming season. 

And here I was thinking that was one bloody good looking toastie maker...

surely getting 2 is a pretty good look!!

Stoked for him!

Minnesota sold it like they were signing him when they selected him in the first round. Squad number confirms it. Great news.

https://www.mnufc.com/post/2020/02/11/noah-billingsley-10-things-you-don-t-know-about-me

Can't eat that many meat pies, if he broke all the fitness records at Minnesota in pre season.

Start for Noah v Timbers in a very pre-season game. Subbed around half time(?), as Minnesota go on to win.

He looks normal but lord some of his teammates look strange

The guys on the right look like they are going to play rugby

The ginger head guy on the left, well looks out of place 

What a strange kit as well

Musa’s in that photo as well. Prob don't mean much but he got 70 mins, Billingsley only 30 mins

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/02/20/united-states/timbers-preseason-tournament/portland-timbers-mls/nsc-minnesota-stars/3227553/

Minnesota verus Portland called the "Flannel Derby" for some reason.

And the only rugby any of those chaps are gonna play, is Under 85 kg grade.

I went to primary school with Noah. He absolutely smoked everyone in his year group in school cross country. I remember watching with people in my class and he was beating a year 6 when he was in like year 2/3 (can't remember exactly). 

Congrats to Noah as he signs his first pro deal

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/121707220/its-otherworldly-says-kiwi-footballer-living-in-minnesota-noah-billingsley

Am I missing something with the world war 3 comment?

USA-Iran.

Yeah I wondered what that WW III referred to as well.

I'd be more worried about USA-China, based on Trumpy's press conference the other day.

Good news is sounds like MLS will confirm Orlando, Florida tournament in the next pre days, to restart the season. MLS and players union have come to an agreement.

Interesting story out of the MLS, so I'll stick it here.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/06/05/la-galaxy-mutually-part-ways-midfielder-aleksandar-katai

https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/aleksandar-katai

What a surprise, Katai is Serbian. I presume Mrs Katai likewise.

Katai played with Collier at Chicago Fire, a number of times.

MLS to restart July 8th with a month long tourney in Florida.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/mls-is-back-tournament

This week's Flying Kiwis.

It’s now confirmed that the “World Cup style” tournament in Orlando will take place, beginning on 8 July in the USA. It’ll run for about five weeks out of, wait for this... the “ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida”. Sponsorship galore, aye? All 26 clubs will take part in a group stage leading into knockouts and the regular season will try pick up afterwards with the first three games counting towards all that as well as this unique tournament thingy. All details that have had a mention in these pages before if you’re a regular reader... which you should be. Health and safety protocols will be enforced around the virus stuff. No fans. The groups have been drawn with conferences in mind.

https://t.co/w2rTtkz6Ba

Pretty clear main group to focus on there being Group D. You’ve got three teams outta four with potential kiwi appearances. Bear in mind that only Michael Boxall actually played during the brief run of games that were played before the lockdowns but there are eight NZers signed to MLS teams for 2020.  

Loaned to Las Vegas

https://www.mnufc.com/post/2020/08/11/noah-billingsley-loaned-las-vegas

Will make his pro football debut, starting for LA Lights verus Tacoma Defiance in the USL.

One of 3 subs at 61 mins in a 3-1 win.

Vegas up 2-0 when he came off.

Unused sub in a 3-3 home draw with Phoenix Rising (Musa's old club).

Manic finish to the game. Rising scored at 90 mins, to go up 3-1.

But back came Vegas with 2 goals at 96 & 99 mins.

Back in the starting lineup, and 65 mins in a 3-1 win over Orange County FC in the USL.

Score 1-1 when he came off.

Vegas still last in their 5 team pool.

Unused sub in a 4-3 loss at LA Galaxy II.

4th game in a roll Vegas have scored 3 goals, but only the 2 wins from those 4.

I guess based in Vegas town you need to entertain.

Full game and a yellow in a 1-1 draw verus San Diego Loyal.

Vegas still last in their 5 team USL pool.

Landon Donovan coach of San Diego.

Unused sub in a 0-2 home loss to Phoenix Rising.

Both teams being in the same 5 team USL pool. Phoenix top, and Vegas bottom.

Vegas seem to go better results wise, when Billingsley gets some game time.

Full game in a 5-1 loss at Phoenix Rising, in the return fixture.

Vegas bottom of the pool, Phoenix still top.

If Billingsley could somehow enter the EU, from the US, worth a call up to Hay's Euro AWs who need a 2nd RB (behind Niko Kirwan).

USL season for Vegas is over by 3rd October (Belgium gate 8th Oct), and they really have nothing to play for. Of course Minnesota is Billingsley's parent club.

Full game in a 2-3 loss at LA Galaxy II.

Vegas were 2-0 up at one point. 

Remain bottom of their pool, with 4 games left.

Full game in a 1-0 loss at Orange County SC.

Vegas had 2 players sent off at 29 (straight red) and 59 mins (2 yellows).

Eventually with only 9 men, they conceded at 63 mins.

They remain bottom of their pool, with 3 games left.

76 mins in a 2-2 draw verus LA Galaxy II.

Score 1-1 when he came off.

Las Vegas who are out of playoff contention (last in their USL pool) have 2 games to go.

Full game in a 2-2 draw with Reno 1868 in USL

Full game in a 2-4 loss to Orange County SC. 

A striker for OC had a hat trick in the first 27 mins. They had another guy come on at 67 mins, and get sent off 9 mins later are getting 2 yellows in double quick time.

Season over for Las Vegas who are out of the USL playoffs. They were pretty shark with only 2 wins in 15 games, but hopefully Billingsley learnt a bit in his first pro gig.

As with Adams, he's a possibility for the Euro AWs in Nov, if they have 1-2 games, and he can travel there. But as with Adams, he's also contracted to a MLS side (Minnesota) who will almost certainly be in the MLS playoffs come that time.

From this week's Flying Kiwis.

https://zonecoverage.com/2020/mn-united/noah-billi...

Named on the bench for Minnesota as they host Chicago. So could make his MLS debut.

Musa also on the bench for MU, and Collier likewise for the Fire.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/11/05/united...

Boxall snr absent, which is a a shame otherwise could have had 4 Kiwis across the 2 match days squads. Though Boxall missing maybe is why Billingsley has cracked his first MLS squad.