BREK SHEA SWAPPED FC Dallas for Stoke City 14 months ago and, it’s fair to say, he has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old has three top-flight appearances to his name—two under former boss Tony Pulis and one under current manager Mark Hughes.

Farmed out to Championship side Barnsley in January, Shea cut a controversial figure when his loan spell was cut short three weeks early, following an obscene gesture to members of the club’s own support. More on that later.

Despite his polemical behavior and a lack of first-team action, Shea appears to remain in contention for a place in Jurgen Klinsmann’s World Cup plans—his last showing for the U.S. men’s national team coming on March 5 in a 2-0 defeat against Ukraine.

Over the last year, attitudes towards the Texas-born player have shifted wildly in the United Kingdom. Here, we look at what people have been saying about Brek Shea.

THE LEFT WINGER JOINED Stoke City in January 2013 and early opinions were positive. As seen on fan messageboard The Oatcake Fanzine, Aldershotstoke wrote on January 18, “Like the look of him. You can certainly see him fitting in up front or left wing in our set up. Not entirely sure about left back, but you never know! Best of all...he is massive and has pace!”

Samdamule added on February 14, “I don't want to expect to much from him and be let down but good god, left-footed left-mid with pace and natural ability....trials with top clubs (whether they were successful or not is hardly relevant seeing as most players don't even get a chance). I think the future bodes well for Shea.”

After two substitute appearances—1-0 defeats against Fulham and West Ham, respectively—and clearly not at full fitness, then-manager Pulis stressed that Shea had been signed for the 2013/14 campaign. He told The Stoke Sentinel on April 26:

“Brek came to the football club for next season, not this season. He's had a major operation on the bottom of his foot and he's still struggling a bit with that. We will prepare him more for pre-season and then see where we are with him. To ask him to perform now, I don't think that's fair, and physically he's not ready.”

For the rest of the 2012/13 campaign, Shea remained on the Stoke bench. The player attracted some criticism in England for posting Instagram pictures of himself holding a severed pig’s head in the team dressing room, as part of “banter” that appeared to be directed toward teammate Kenwyne Jones.

Also, a picture of Shea holding two guns attracted condemnation, as seen in this Daily Mail article by Rik Sharma.

I realize I should not have posted the picture earlier yesterday on Instagram. I sincerely apologize to all who were offended by it.

— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) June 25, 2013

However, on the international scene, he went on to enjoy a good summer with the U.S. national team at the Gold Cup. After returning from injury, he featured in all six games en route to the final and it was Shea who scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Panama on July 28.

unpredictable?

Favorite Klinsmann quote of the day, on Brek Shea: "You see a guy like Brek, unpredictable for himself and for the opponent."

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 29, 2013

The 2013/14 season began with a new manager at the helm of Stoke City—former Manchester United, Barcelona, and Chelsea player Mark Hughes. In a preseason tour of the United States, Shea was injured in a friendly against Philadelphia Union, where he suffered knee ligament damage that would rule him out for two months. At the time, Hughes told the club’s official website, “It's incredibly frustrating and hugely disappointing to lose Brek. We have been waiting a while to get Brek back here and, until the injury, he looked very bright, very dangerous and appeared to have a real understanding of what his role was on the left-hand side of midfield.”

As the season progressed, rumors started to circulate that Shea might be going out on loan, in a bid to play first-team football and with an eye on nailing down a place in the U.S. national team.

In October, Hughes told the Mirror’s David Anderson:

“My priority isn't to get Brek into the U.S. World Cup squad. My priority is to get him ready to play Premier League games here, and we are working on that every day.

He has been talking about going out on loan, and if he can get into a decent club at a good level it would benefit him and us. If we feel an opportunity presents itself, and it would be good for Brek to go out and play games, then we'll look at it.

"But up to this point we haven't seen anything that we think will help.”

In November, Shea turned out twice for the USA, in friendlies against Austria and Scotland. Commenting on Doug McIntyre’s piece on ESPNFC.com, U.S. fan Daniel Johnson wrote on November 16:

“He's Clint Dempsey.........with pace. He goes at guys and loses the ball and doesn't mind as much. As a matter fact, he plays like Dempsey did in his first 2-3 years in the Prems. Funny.......an American from Texas with an attitude and a penchant for not getting along with coaches is not getting playing time with a Mark Hughes side. I didn't see that coming (cough.......Dempsey with Hughes at Fulham).”

Daniel Tilgner added, “He's also one of the few Americans who is actually willing to go at defenders and try to win 1v1 matchups instead of just stopping and playing the easy ball back. It's not always the best decision, but it's a different element.”

In the Premier League it would take 12 games before Shea made it even as far as the Stoke bench. He was then given his chance with the first team on Matchday 13—as a 59th-minute substitute—in the Potters’ 4-0 loss against Everton on November 30. He played on the right wing and it remains his only top-flight outing this season.

Brek Shea appeared to be building some momentum, making Stoke's bench 2 straight games, but now has been out of the 18 for 3 straight #USMNT

— Seth Vertelney (@svertgoalcom) December 14, 2013

In January 2014, Shea dropped down a level to join fellow countrymen Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, and Danny Williams in The English Championship, signing a 28-day loan deal with Barnsley FC (a deal that would later be extended by two months).

After making six appearances for the Tykes, manager Danny Wilson commented in The Yorkshire Post on February 21:

“We have seen flashes of it in terms of what he is capable of doing. But we need more consistency from him, that’s a definite. With Brek, he has high aspirations of playing in the World Cup with America and, to do that, he’s got to be consistent with us. If he does that, I think he will be a certain traveler to Brazil. But first and foremost, he has got to do the business with us and, at this moment in time, he’s not firing on all cylinders like we know he can do. “There are a lot of games in front of him yet and time to progress. We’ve had numerous conversations and he’s desperate to do well for us. “When he gets over these little niggles and viruses he’s had, then let’s hope we can see the true Brek. He is frustrated with himself (at the moment), absolutely.”

Shea went on to make two more appearances for Barnsley—a 1-0 win against Millwall and a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town. It was against the latter that Shea landed himself in hot water after an altercation with a Barnsley fan, in which he was alleged to have flipped off the supporters in an offensive gesture.

After eight games for the club, Shea was sent back to the Britannia Stadium three weeks early and found himself apologizing on Twitter. Again.

I would like to unreservedly apologize for what happened at the end of the Huddersfield match last week. Although my actions were aimed at

— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014

one person who was abusing a teammate I realize I should not have reacted in that way in the heat of the moment. I regret those actions and

— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014

the offense it has caused. I did not intend to offend the Barnsley fans who have shown tremendous support for the team. The best way I can

— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014

show this and repay you, the fans, is with my performances on the pitch. #BFC

— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) March 7, 2014

Four days later Shea played in 28 minutes of the U.S. national team’s 2-0 friendly defeat against the Ukraine.

Excited to be called in to represent my country next week! #USA #USMNT

— Brek Shea (@BrekShea) February 27, 2014

Following the game, he assessed his chances of making Klinsmann’s 23-man squad for Brazil 2014 on MLSsoccer.com: “I just hope to be called into the camp in May and try and make an impression there again. I have to show I can be a player who can make a difference whenever I get called up.”

In the comments that followed, Bradley Brown wrote, “Shea is definitely not a finished product—and at this rate, he may never get there—but between our lack of true wingers and his pace and energy, I would probably make room for him on the plane to Brazil. He could be pretty valuable as a late sub.”

Bill Anderson added, “Shea is a nightmare for both managers. I like him, he is big, fast, and direct. He is not a great player, yet every time he comes off the bench for the Nats, he makes something happen. Enigma or Conundrum?”

Whereas John Lakes typed, “You're an idiot if you seriously think Shea needs to be on the WC team. Thankfully his odds are slim.”

Back in the United Kingdom, Stoke City fans were still discussing the incident at Barnsley.

On the Oatcake Fanzine messageboard, Cheeesfreeex commented on March 10:

“Might be a fantastic kick up the arse for the lad. After roughing it with Barnsley, getting whippets abuse from the terraces, he may realize just what a great thing playing for Stoke is. Buck his ideas up.

“I was expecting Brek to at least have a cup run for us. Injury intervened again. That's my main concern, but I thought he's young enough to build up/get stronger, and could be a threat perhaps in the middle of the attack.

“If he returns to provide some forward cover, has a few run-outs, and makes the World Cup squad then at least we may recoup some dosh in August. I'd like to see more of him for Stoke before I start sticking the pins in the voodoo doll.”

AlanHansen had a different opinion: “He's been trouble since he arrived and is next to useless on the pitch. We need to cut our losses ASAP. Cancel his contract and get the waster on the next plane West. Simple as that.”

Whereas Djduncanjames wrote:

“Well the manager spoke of having the fans 100 percent behind the team, and if Brek has become the fan's whipping boy/scapegoat for their team's overall performance than it's best to get him out of there. Oddly enough I still think he deserves a chance at Stoke IMO. The hatred spewed towards this lad by our supporters baffles me.”

Next up for the U.S. is an international friendly against Mexico on Wednesday April 2 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

With Shea unlikely to feature in any of the remaining eight games of the Premier League season and with Bayern Munich’s Julian Green announcing that his future lies with the U.S. national team, will Shea be on the plane to Brazil this summer?

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess.

What do you think of Laura Greene's On the Record series? And how do you feel about Brek Shea's chances at making the 2014 World Cup team? Share your thoughts below.