Kenny Saief at Maccabi Haifa

Israel embarrassingly get crushed at home 3-0 by Albania in WCQ. Certainly solidifies Kenny's choice.

 

and beasley, and gonzalez and ream and yedlin and zusi....etc

but yeah.....i think the players who can play with the ball are in the pool but arent in favor due to factors like workrate and hustle and a bias against skill.....

the us could actually field some pretty skillful lineups if they so desired...they just CHOOSE not to....and then people think the players arent there in the pool when they are.

 

With the USA he'll be going to World Cups. With Israel, even counting on the expanded format, Israel is not likely to make it (16 spots, and they are not even Top 20).

 

Any highlight videos ? A skillful type winger to compliment Pulisic is exactly what we need.

 

Check earlier in the thread, lots of highlights of him from last season in the Champions League.

 

He's not quite that type of player. He is technically good, physically strong, plays a good ball, wins the ball. He's not a "try sh!t" guy if that's what you were getting at. See below.

 

This is from page 7 of the thread. A review of his 2015 Champions League group stage play against Valencia, Lyon, and Zenit. Haven't watched him but once or twice since then. He looked good against Spurs in the Europa League.

 

For those reading @Rahbiefowlah's insights above, please take care to account for his use of the phrase "Cutty Sark" when forming your impressions of them.

 

It was a beautiful December.

 

Interesting that he doesn't seem to have a set jersey number, there is videos of him wearing No. 15 and in others No. 10 for the same league year. Kid can ball.

 

I don't know what kind of player he'll be internationally, or much less for the US. But he has the skill, the mentality. He has a mean left foot and a disciplined aggression. He's worked on it. I want him to try out, I think he'll contribute.

 

So far he goes 100% when he plays for us, he can be an asset.

 

Goff makes it seem like he's not super likely to get the switch approved by the GC roster deadline.

 

Sounds like a similar description of what used to be said about Bedoya. Could run a lot, was tenacious, decent technique but no end game in the final 3rd.

 

As good a comparison as any in the player pool. Saief is a a little more physical and can play wide effectively, and on the backline, Bedoya is a little bit more cerebral and central.

 

Bedoya never had Saief's speed or attacking moves. Not sure who is a better defender.

 

This is purely based on your detailed description of him, I've not seen him play, but I'd put him on the backline in a back 4 or as a wingback if we play with 3 in the back. It sounds like you need an offensive player in front of him to balance the left side out.

 

I think his left foot makes him more valuable in the player pool. Very left footed player. He can cross the ball, but I never really saw him take a guy on dribbling. He's tactically disciplined.

 

Almost sounds like he could be more useful at LB....

 

Here are more highlights of Saief, some of his best goals from 2016-17.
Chip under pressure and at a ridiculous angle:

Nice 1v1 finish:

Great anticipation, run, and finish:

Right-footed volley vs. Konyaspor in Europa League:

Scored on Ethan Horvath:

 

He seems capable of LB or LW. This will go a long way to increasing our depth on that side. Purely from the highlights, I like how his game projects to fit in with our style. Powerful runner.

 

He looks nothing like Bedoya to me.

 

I'm reticent to make judgments purely based on highlights, but the highlights do show a decent degree of offensive skills.

 

He has played RW and CM, so the guy is very dynamic. I have seen him take on players either in the run of play or from a standing point. You will be impressed at his level of play.

 

Yea I agree looking at those highlights. Haven't seen him much in a couple years. One of the best things about him is he's a bulldog. So much energy.