Depends how you look at it. Graded on a curve he was above average. However, a “3” is “satisfactory” in the German grading system (assuming Kicker is based on that 1-6 system), essentially average. A “4” is “sufficient” and isn’t failing but is below par. At any rate, we can all agree he was better than Wood last weekend, who got a 5.5 Kicker rating.
All the S04 players were missing passes in the first half; not just McKennie. It might have been something they did during training that just wasn't working in the game. Usually they were passes that were yards to far ahead of a team mate. It was so comically bad and consistent that something must have been going on. Maybe the pitch was much faster than in warmups, who knows. The thing about his second half is that it was a glimpse of what he could be. What McKennie was at the u19 level, just a dominant offensive and defensive force in the midfield. I don't know if he just decided to go for it, or if he was finally put in a position to do it, or tried a dribble and it worked and got the confidence to do it more. But whatever it was, or a combination of all three, he was the best player on the field from the start of the second half to when he was subbed out. We have to remember he is still young and it is not going to be consistent. But as the baseball prospect guys say, "if you show it you own it". He can be this in the Bundesliga. Kind of sucks that he can't immediately take that form to the next game as he is suspended. One thing he has definitely developed this year is a dominant aerial game. He routinely wins balls against players much taller than him. It has kept him on the pitch all year as S04 needs that because their offense is basically his aerial game many times.
He has played around like this everytime he had a chance to play in his position. He did it in the Champions League when he got the assists. Last time he was playing like this, he got hurt. Hopefully, he kicks on now
Sorry if this isn't allowed, but does anyone have a replay of this match? I've looked everywhere and can't find one. I was going to make a McKennie all-touch.
R/footballhighlights often has full matches, even though that’s not its stated purpose. And fullmatchreplays.com (or something like that).
I'm with whomever pointed out Schalke's poor passing in the 1st half - including Wes. I'd be interested in an all touch vid just to see if I was being harsh. Seemed surprisingly poor for 04. 2nd looked much better.
Well, if McKennie's off the ball play made the team bad (which it did), you wouldn't see that in an all touch video.
it's incredible what a few years playing for German clubs as a kid can have on a career. You'd have thought he might have gave up the love for the game when he moved stateside. Probably would have if he was born in a prior generation. I'm sure majority of kids of US service personnel (living abroad) always choose american football/basketball to keep a connection to US culture/lifestyle.
Or maybe they're pushed in that direction by their Lehrer who happen to think they are biologisch geneigt to excel in sports.
Not sure about "majority" but many US serviceman kids have played soccer, even "back in the day." Just not that many turned into pro-level players.
TBH if I was stationed in Germany I would want my kids to play soccer to get them the best chance of getting a college scholarship. Not that would be a ride or die, but it's a nice option to have.
Kinda what I meant. That so few ever went pro-level. I'd imagine probably 10x that actually went pro ball or football in the US.
Hm... I'd be surprised if it was 10x, but really have no idea if on a percentage basis kids of US service personnel are significantly more likely to become a pro-basketball or football player if raised in US vs. pro soccer player if raised in Europe. Not even sure how you would find those numbers. My guess is it's hard for both to make pro level. But I'm really just guessing about all of this. I do know a good number of US eligible soccer players over the years have been kids of service personnel, but that's just cause it means they are likely to be both raised in soccer-loving euro environment and be US passport eligible. But we digress.
More EPL interest: https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/ne...y-premier-league-club-eyeing-weston-mckennie/
I absolutely despise the European football rumour-mill. So much worse than anything we have in other sports.
Any player who looks good enough eventually ends in England, because that's where the funny money is. That move proves fatal for many a career, though. If you're not a born-and-bred capitalist you understand lots of money do not equal top class quality, though. Ask anyone who bought a Bravia Smart TV between 2012 and 2015.
Phew, I thought we were going to have to survive 20 pages of "Are they selling him?" or "he was clearly at fault on that first goal the other day so the coach is benching him, clearly an American bias."