Just finished the all-touch video. Had a really solid game as far as I could see. A few errant passes but mostly very good play from him. He's a hoss. Born to be a number 8.
75% passing success is not good for a guy playing DM/defensive CM. That's more of a winger/AM number.
Isn't he usually playing all positions though so his success in 1 particular position might be lacking than in another.
I'm starting to wonder if he would better off in system/club that would focus on his development as CM/DM.
Jones (at his best) was a creative attacking defensive-midfield box-2-box general. (lol!) Or, more accurately, a hard-tackling, kinda nasty, deep-lying play-maker. Wes, to me, is more of a true B-2-B with only mediocre "top level" holding/passing/playmaking skills, but enough "extras" - stamina, heart, ups, smarts - to compensate for lack of touch and vision. If could improve his touch, vision and technical precision, he'd really be something. As it is he's very effective, but a bit of a wild card. The plays that run through him don't have the normal predictability of plays run through a holding midfielder or deep-lying play maker. And he doesn't have the confidence, vision and touch on the ball to be a true "conventional" AM. At the same time, he can really add to and impact a game. No wonder coaches can be a bit unsure where exactly to slot him.
I think at times McKennie does show some good vision and makes a great long quick diagonal or through pass. I now wonder what we see as lack of attention is really him trying to do too much all at once and because he's between thoughts he makes dud passes. He may need to learn to slow his mind slightly or make a quick decision and stick with instead of thinking too many things and pulling off none.
Honestly they really all did not play together at the same time. Cannon and McKennie were an age group above and won the U16 and U18. Pomykal would be called up to the U18’s on occasion with injuries until he became a permanent player. When the U18 were in the playoff run and McKennie left for Germany Pomykal was key. Players were often moved around. It was seldom that they were on the field the same time. Same goes for Ferreira. It was not until Dallas Cup that the Cannon, Ferreira, and Pomykal were all on the field together other than a scrimmage or training. I remember when the U18 for FCD won National Championship and watching Ferreira who was playing up a year score a goal for the 16’s. He was still rather small. It was a big deal for him to be playing up a year and starting a National Championship final for the U16’s. Look where they are now. Now we have guys like Pepi playing first team minutes, NTSC....we have made progress! Before it was Dallas Cup, a rare loan, and a bench for along time. Ask Coy Craft, Alex Z. Victor Ulloa, etc.
Uh ok, but 9 recoveries, 14 duels (10 aerial), 2/3 dribbles, and managing four shots makes the 75% completion reasonable. He has an instense work rate on both sides of the ball and often is tasked with winning or recovering the ball inside the opposition half. At that point, he’s gotta try something. If he even improves above 80% it would be amazingly effective.
Yes. Given how strong so many of his "intangibles" are if he could improve his "decision on the fly" passing it would really bump his game up. He is very decent when he knows where he is going to hit the ball before he gets it - either those long speculative balls over the backline or clean little passes wide or simple touches. It's when he has to make a decision while moving with the ball - and has to get his head up and see his options and choose quickly - that he appears to the have the most issues (to my eye.)
Yeah. The quick decision making comes with experience. Wagner gently praised McKennie’s raw talent, but also said he “could” really become special. I think this conversation highlights one of his biggest opportunities. He was linked with Liverpool awhile back and it wouldn’t surprise me at all that he might be on their radar. His skill sets matchup well for the aggressive press. The turnovers need incremental improvement though, because some of them are just plain bad at times.
What is the best set up / playing environment for Wes that accentuates his strengths while giving him cover for his developmental areas? Conversely, what systems are a poor fit for him? I think that Spain and Italy wouldn’t be great for him but would love to hear more knowledgeable posters.
I think the Bund and the EPL (and Ligue 1) allow for formations/styles that work well for Wes. He is an "athletic" player. My guess is works best in a 2 B2B system of some sort, whether he's one of the pair that presses more, or you have two super-active, fast-counter style mids. He's not all that "special" on a build-up team. Some people won't like this, but he's a bit similar to Bradley - it's his work-rate, intensity and quick play that are most impressive and he's most exposed when he or his team slows down and play "chess." If he can become a better holding/distributing player to complement his great strengths he could be really dangerous in more technical/tactical set-ups like Spain or Italy as his work rate will pressure teams used to having some time on the ball. But he needs to be more consistent in possession.
Yeah, I think a young Bradley isn't the worst comparison for McKennie's game. They both had/have the ability to pop up in the box on late runs and score some goals too. And I've always thought that Bradley's game became more refined when he went to Serie A. Maybe the same could work for McKennie, but it would be a risk to go for a move to Spain or Italy.
Yes, I'm particularly remembering the helter-skelter Bradley of the Heerenveen days, when he ran without stop from goal line to goal line - poaching goals and breaking up plays on D. The more vision and control Wes adds (no kidding freis ya genius) the more dangerous (and long-lived) he will be.
I think he needs to stay there for now but we don't know what his ceiling is right now. Having to play Swiss army knife is great for the long term development but he's ready to nail a position down and develop the skills to master that position. Maybe Schalke isn't his place in BL1. Maybe a lessor team for a couple years where he's focused on a position. He could easily be an EPL guy down the road. Has the desire, athleticism and attitude. Skills are still a work in progress.
If anything, I think he needs to move to a better team... not a worse one. Schalke is over-achieving right now and I would like to see him on a team where he is tasked on the offensive side of the ball more often. He plays quite well when pressing up front because his tenaciousness can lead to turnovers in the final 3rd and his aerial challenges can lead to one-ones for his striking teammates. This is the role he played against Leipzig and it was his best game of the year IMO.... but even when he plays that way, when his team gets up in the game he is often tasked to drop back and serve as another defender. Now, I don't think he is a natural defender... again, he wins challenges by hustling w/ pace and being physical in the air... but his technique is not the best. As such, putting him higher up the pitch would be better because the turnovers he causes have a higher chance at turning into goals and when he over-commits or makes a bad pass it likely won't result in a chance the other way.
Maybe I’m wrong, because I seem alone in what I’m seeing, but I think he’s doing just fine. He’s starting constantly in the Bundesliga, on a pretty good team, under a coach that clearly believes in him. Yeah he is played in a number of different positions, I see as many ways that helps his development as not. Yeah he is raw and aspects of his game that need improvement, seems totally normal for most players his age and on balance he’s a good player. Of every American prospect who is better than he is, or in a better situation? Pulisic and... Adams maybe? I think Schalke and Bundesliga are great for him, he’s playing fine and he’s getting better.