And people say he's not a technical player. Pfft. He's the evolution from the Jozy type CF into the ST who can beat defenders with the ball at his feet and drop back to make plays OR hold the ball up in general. He will only get stronger as he gets older but the creativity, feet, shot power and movement are mainly already elite. Also looks like he could be a winger in a pinch. Thanks for this.
His game is kinda like Jozy's, hopefully he's a much better version so I can finally change my name to Haji Altidore.
He's a good finisher like Jozy, but I think he's way faster, better technically, and he's like five inches taller than Jozy. I don't know, I personally think the top level players we are producing of late are not comparable to their previous American counterparts. Its like the Pulisic and Donovan comparisons. If these players become the players that most think they can become, they probably won't be all that comparable to previous American players. And if they develop well, our NT should not be comparable to past USMNT teams. Maybe we have hit the stage of our footballing development as a country where we are bound for an improvement in quality of player production. I think we have.
I would agree and I definitely think our players are improving overall and we are producing more potential top level talent than ever before. But I do think it's going to take time before this all comes together. Even if one of the Schalke guys, Akale, or whomever turns into a Pulisic-type player, the rest of the pool is still mostly a bunch of kids who have potential, but have a ways to go. However, I think that what I like most about our talent pool is that it's deep for about the first time ever. If Wright doesn't pan out, we still have guys like Sargent, Weah, Konrad, etc who could be legitimate national team contributors in 3-5 years. It feels like we are no longer clinging to one or two prospects and hoping they turn into something. And I still think it's only going to get better
Yeah, I agree. I think 2022 we could see some improvements towards QF's or SF's, and 2026 might be the WC we start contending for the title, if we've actually improved as much as we think we are improving.
Honestly if Haji, Weston, Mukwelle, breakout does give them a chance like he did with Landon and Beasley? Young and naive is an asset in a World Cup scenario.... see deandre yedlin. Class is ageless some of your have real class.
Working in the rain ☔️😜 Die #U19-Jungs @HajiWright, @WMckennie & Luke #Hemmerich heute im #S04-Training! #GEschmiedet pic.twitter.com/BZkP5H9Phx— Knappenschmiede (@knappenschmiede) May 19, 2017
On the bench (along with McKennie): Unsere Start-1⃣1⃣ im letzten Saisonspiel bei den @Schanzer'n! #FCIS04 pic.twitter.com/JGviVxc1y6— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) May 20, 2017
Today is Huntelaar's last game for Schalke and he's on the bench so that's a sub that they're pretty much guaranteed to use right there. I'd guess Haji's chances of debuting today are much slimmer than Mckennie's
No they're not guaranteed. They gave him his game last week at home. He started, and got subbed off in the 80th minute. Now, I'm not saying it won't happen, but he already got his game. I tend to think neither are in a good position to play if this game is close, and its close right now.
I mean as a midfielder mckinnies chances are pretty high in any situation. Haji needs it to stay level or for schalke to go down
Didn't play. Kind of a douche move by the coach to bring in a striker leaving the club and a failed signing who rarely plays as the two non-McKennie subs. Its better than not being on the bench. The third promoted player wasn't even on the bench, but he deserved a debut. Should've gotten it.
I'm not too concerned about Wright not getting in today. Between the coach's comments this week and the fact that he made the bench, it seems like he'll get every opportunity to make the 1st team going into next season.
Because you are playing a player who will not provide any help to your team on the field for the rest of his career, and not giving a debut to a player who you presumably expect to (if you promoted him to the first team). And then that Tekpetey guy is awful. I don't know why any American would be happy about those two subs. That makes no sense. I'm not saying it's catastrophic that he didn't play. Carter-Vickers for example still hasn't gotten his league debut, its annoying though. There was no need for the coach's actions.
Giving a club veteran the final 10 minutes in his last match isn't what I'd call a douche move. Plus, they subbed in a 19 year old attacker shortly after. It just wasn't Haji. I think a loan is in the cards for him next year.
I posted this in the McKennie thread, but I think it applies to Wright as well. I think a loan would make sense for next season. Prove yourself as a pro, and then maybe Schalke will think you are good enough for regular playing time the season after. If they don't think so, other clubs will be interested. Realistically, the Pulisic situation is not happening for any of these guys or Taitague or Perez or Zelalem, etc. Its a minuscule amount who break through right away with perfect conditions at a big club like Pulisic did. A Julian Green situation is always possible, but you don't want to be sitting in the reserves for a year like Green did after he returned from his failed loan.
This isn't a Julian green situation. These kids just got moved up from one of the best youth academies in Europe. Julian was always a flash, anyone who follows this stuff like you do knows this.
6-1 to 6-3? 2 inches not 5. I too want our newer generations to be just alittle bit better. I do think Haji Wright and Jozy Altidore are comparable. If Haji Wright's floor is Jozy Altidore I'll take that but hope even a 5-10% improvement along with all the other top youth players coming up will make us better as a soccer playing country. I think we've already proven that our depth and quality is much improved even from a decade ago. Our WC Qualifier vs Honduras with 5-6 starters unavailable we still fielded a good squad that won 6-0. Our 2002 team had virtually everyone healthy for that to happen. Good team but can you imagine 5-6 starters from that team being injured for the whole tournament.