Because Canada only had one game during the last international break, so he got back to Munich a week ago. If I'm being condescending, it's because you don't seem to know what you're talking about. You're sure confident in your ignorance though, I'll give you that. McKennie has started 7 of 12 Bundesliga games this season (58%), missing two games due to injury. Last season, he started 19 of 34 (56%), missing seven games due to injury. So no, he has not "been on the bench more often than normal."
We will see going forward... I hope you are right and I am wrong. But you are certainly arrogant. How does the ignore button work? Oops... showing my ignorance again. EDIT- BTW... is 58% of starts what we are really looking for from Weston?
73' Schalke First sub:⬅️ Uth➡️ McKennie #SVWS04 0-2— Schalke 04 Canadian Fan Club (@Schalke_Canada) November 23, 2019
Played pretty well coming in as a sub... replacing the forward Uth. He had a couple of good runs but did not get the crucial pass. He is so good in the air... I wish he could get a bit more time playing up front so he can get a chance on some swing in passes. Played well defensively and had one long ball pass that the forward just got muscled off at the last second. Good showing.
He’s been on the bench needing rest or like this game coming back from international break. If he’s on the bench next week then we have reason to worry, but the times he’s been on the bench have been justified by reasons other than form.
Not playing CB means big win. He replaced the acm but don’t know. He’s got to nail down a bloody position. This box to box thing doesn’t get results.
Weston starting against Union Berlin. Hasn’t really been too involved thus far except for a couple fouls and some decent footwork to keep corners alive.
I thought he played pretty well... I think he may be 100% on pass completions outside the 1 cross attempt and he kept the goal play alive twice on the edge. He may have made the wrong decision on that single cross attempt... perhaps should have dished it off to Kinney instead of trying the penetrating run but I like that he made the attempt.... he can be too safe at times IMO. But all-in-all, a good half of football... doing his job as the 6... winning challenges, resetting the play and occasionally finding the key forward pass.
It not just the coach at Schalke, the players are bad and they are a bore to watch still. Also, for USMNT purposes, I’m ready to say Paxton > Weston.
Well, for today at least Schalke is #2 in the #3 league in the world. And Wes was vital in: a) covering the CBs; b) keeping the threat when Berlin took control for the first 20 minutes of the second half. It's not small potatoes, although I agree they're not exactly fun to watch.
Agreed. Wes is not being asked to create nor have did I see much creativity from anyone else on the team. A certain #22 in blue for a different team would have helped...
McKennie was the joint highest-rated player for Schalke today at 8.0.Stat that impressed me most: 10 aerial duels won and 9 ball recoveries.Good performance on the day. pic.twitter.com/yMcGxA7lFm— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) November 29, 2019
Agreed. Wes is playing a pretty integral role in a much better league and he too is still very young. Perhaps if you want to argue ceilings I could see the whole Paxton > Wes... but I am still not ready to say even that. Back to the game... Wes had one fantastic through ball into the box that could have easily been put away... that was a great play. He had another couple of good and bad plays in the 2nd half.... thought he played pretty well overall... but that left-footed squib was really bad... Just not sure he will ever be a guy who can strike the ball well... seems more inclined towards winning challenges and starting counter-attacks.
The aerial part of his game is great w/ respect to winning the ball... he is awesome at that. I still think Schalke are terrible at getting him the ball on set pieces... it never seems to be placed where he can have a true shot at it. Not sure why they are not focusing more on him on corners. That is a fantastic rating... not sure I would have given him an 8... but whatever. Too bad he picked up his 4th yellow towards the end... he is one away from a vacation.
I caught the last 30 minutes or so and thought McKennie was pretty good. I don't know that there were super memorable moments from him, but he was pretty involved offensively and defensively doing all the little stuff well. Comparing his performance at Schalke to that with the US, I think it might just be that he thrives in a more dynamic (maybe even chaotic), back-and-forth type of game. He doesn't seem comfortable with the slow build-up style of Berhalter or the rigidity of the roles in that system.
Wes’ issues, such as they are for the USMNT, have been more with focus than anything else. Every once in a while he will make a lazy pass or not track back at the wrong time. He’s actually been super productive this year otherwise, and not just against Cuba. I love Paxton, but he’s benefiting from not having the chance to have his warts exposed like Weston. Wes has been playing as a focus point for the US — both often as our best defensive midfielder and often being asked simultaneously to create as a forward midfielder. It’s a lot, and it’s because he’s talented. A healthy Adams will go a long way to helping cover some of his mistakes and allowing him to focus a bit more on the rest of his game.
Honestly, I think Schalke being incredibly boring actually plays a role in how good WM looks. And, by contrast, FCD plays some fairly open, entertaining soccer, especially when they let all their kids go out there and play, and when it's not 100 degrees out there. So, while I don't agree in the slightest that Pomykal is better than WM, I can understand how someone could reach that conclusion by slogging through Schalke games and contrasting that with the fairly open and frenetic style of good MLS teams like FCD. Which isn't to say that every Bundesliga team is boring (BVB and Bayern come to mind as very exciting), or every MLS team is exciting (Montreal and Vancouver could put me to sleep any day), but being on an exciting/boring team certainly makes players look better/worse.