There are more excellent footballers WITHOUT "hops" than with, by a large percentage. It's like a heated toilet seat, nice to have but not indispensable to the task.
How is his "reckless" playing style going to age? He's only just getting started and already showing usage wear and tear. Just saying
That would be an interesting theory to test. Often I tend to disagree but it is not based on anything scientific. In my opinion, "wheels" usually go along with "hops" (or vice versa). A big part of being good in the air is timing, anticipation and using your body. (by using your body, I mean giving that little bump or push just when the other player is getting ready to jump so it throws him just a little off balance.... I say this as a guy that was relatively short, with very little in the way of "hops" who was relatively good in the air. I was good at using my body to slightly throw off the other player. If I went against a player that was taller or had better hops AND knew how to use it, I had very little chance...but I could win balls in the air against many others. I'm not trying to say McKennie doesn't have hops....I think it is obvious that he does. I am trying to say that many others probably have similar hops but don't use them to their fullest as he does.
I, on the other hand, am looking forward to Wes' involvement in the 2019-2020 kit Schalke kit launch... 1104593346088108032 is not a valid tweet id
Dieter says, "now is ze time on Sprokets vhen ve dance!" A memorable Sprokets episode with Kyle MacLachlan, he played a character named Schalke. Why? Dunno. But hey, Schalke.
I'd like to hear bsky's take on this as I think he disagree that there is an American style and if there was one, it's not necessarily what you've laid out. Apologies, bsky22 if I misread your perspective.
Cool. And for the record, I am not suggesting this is an "American style" as in it is something all American players aspire to, or that "the best" American's play - like say a Dutch "total football" style that every Dutch school-kid can put a name to and aspire to, even if very few can actually pull off - but more that it is the "most" like how the majority of the "good" American soccer players I played with and watched over the years tended to play (and are the qualities most coaches - usually not raised in America - noted as "American" attributes.) The main thing, to me, about Wes is he doesn't seem to aspire to positional "sophistication" or "beautiful" play - he just tries to get 'er done.
I'm somewhat receptive to the idea of Wes as a next generation model of a traditional Yank midfielder, with the physicality and effort inherent in that group. His technical ability is a huge leap forward though; in his ability to hold the ball and move with the ball under pressure (and he has shown an ability to hit a defense-splitting pass). So yeah, YA midfielder model 3.0 for me. What will set him apart even from that group of players is his awareness of what is going on around him on the field....he always seems to know the position and movement of those around him.
Made team of the week: 🇩🇪 #Bundesliga Team of the Week 📊GulácsiKimmich | Orban | Elvedi | Halstenberg@JulianBrandt | @WMckennie | Sabitzer⭐️@andrejkramaric9⭐️ | @lewy_official | @KeVolland#RBLeipzig #FCBayern #Gladbach #S04 #B04 #TSG pic.twitter.com/dGt1ZDKOx7— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) March 12, 2019
That's amazing. To get that recognition while his low-in-the-table team takes a 4-2 loss, and without the benefit of a goal or a good team defensive performance takes some doing. For what it's worth, I think he played very well, but this seems like overstating his effectiveness to me.
Representing! View from the office window, couple of Schalke fans en route to the Etihad.... pic.twitter.com/WEF2YsilGc— Gary (@GashB76) March 12, 2019 Lets get it on! #TuesdayMotivation by @WMckennie & Breel #Embolo! ⚽️💪#UCL #MCIS04 @s04 @s04_us pic.twitter.com/VAnoOdEDVT— UEFA.com DE (@UEFAcom_de) March 12, 2019
Starts: Unsere Start-1⃣1⃣ für das Duell gegen @ManCity! Glück Auf, Jungs! 🔵⚪️ #S04 #MCIS04 pic.twitter.com/R3qH7PRJyp— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) March 12, 2019
Our Little Panzer has a new look! 🔟 minutes until we're off! ⏱️#s04 #UCL #MCIS04 pic.twitter.com/jrI5NEnxxa— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) March 12, 2019
Weston played Sterling on and Man City makes it 2-0 and 5-2 on aggregate. unless Mckennie leaves he's not playing any Europe after today for awhile.