Caleb Stanko vs Weston McKennie 11/4

If he plays left back going forward, and can build on this performance by getting a few more starts in the Bundesliga, who is he behind?

 

Not sure what ypu expect. Schalke is in another Tedesco experiment, a 3-1-4-2 with a #10 Max Myer playing as a Pirlo-esque #6!

The other #8 is Konoplyanka who is normally a #11. Of course it is chaotic.

 

He isn't playing as a LB. He is a LCB right now and has not done much of anything in the attack.

 

On a 3-man backline, there are few chances for him to attack. He should be able to start the passing sequence but this game is not well organized by either team.

 

Another chance for Freiburg and again they don't score.

 

Mckennie is doing a bit better, specially if he is starting further back. The issue that I see, is he is committing too much forward when the ball still up for grabs.

 

Nice sequence from Mckennie, for the dangerous cross that wasn't reached by the running teammate on the far post.

 

Stanko played primarily as CDM before.

 

And Schalke gets a fortunate deflection for the score.

 

Both yanks need to do better defensively.

 

Weston committing too many fouls and Stanko getting beat on the wing.

 

Mckennie does well with his chances. Is just positioning that is a work in progress when playing the 8.

 

That has always been Mckennie's MO

 

And Schalke squeezes a win 1-0. Not a pretty game but they will take it. No major error from either of our yanks just something for them to build on.

 

Overall he was decent. Stanko did alright, hope he gets more playing.

 

Stanko wasn't in anyone's radar to break into first team. It was a pleasant surprise. I wonder if it was good enough to get a call for next week's camp.

 

Hope not. If he's actually in a place to get first-team minutes at Freiburg, I want him to stay there and lock down minutes.

Though I'm not sure how much his appearance today is down to his own play in training versus the injury crisis at Freiburg right now. According to Fotmob, they had 8 players out injured (3 defenders, 4 midfielders), and 1 defender suspended.

 

Agree, Stanko needs as much PT as he can get and if they're that banged up, he should. He did nothing to hurt his long term chances at playing time today. He pretty much looked like he belonged out there.

 

idk if anyone cares, but the title of this thread should read "11/4" not "10/4."
(Unless I'm just drunk or something.)

@dark knight @bungadiri