He is definitely playing as the pressing forward on offense and ball chaser defensively. Tedesco's 3-4-3 looks very good with a mobile back 3 and Bentaleb and Goretzka anchoring the middle of the park. If that scheme continues then Weston will be in a position to continue to get garbage minutes since unlike Geis, Weston is a viable replacement for either B or G without having to change the scheme because Weston has a similar style while Geis is more of a deep lying distributor.
@Midas Mulligan @Jazzy Altidore @ussoccer97531 @bballshawn Pretty damn good start today fellas, I'm fkn pumped
I assume you mean the national team senior squad, but I don't think anyone is suggesting he should be called up for the September qualifiers.
I've seen suggestions. Look at the Costa Rica pre-game thread for example. I was arguing with Eleven Bravo there about it. His reasoning was something about him getting acclimated to the team. I pointed out we should wait because of numerous other cautionary tales recently, i.e.: Gooch, Green, CCV, etc. In his case we wouldn't even have a chance to cap-tie him. IMO it's completely pointless if he wouldn't play to shake out nerves and there are 15+ cm's more reliable than he'd be to possible contribute in the games themselves and start/further the integration process. I don't think he should be seriously considered until about November, in a friendly, if he's a rotational player for that long who looks like he belongs at Schalke. That's plenty of time to integrate him before the WC, if that would indeed be the appropriate action for him.
Granted, limited action in a wrong position, but I was impressed, having not seen him previously. He was cool, a very good header (he won at least 3 headers from defenders, not an easy task, and well above the norm for attackers) and those headers were well directed. One was angled to a teammate on the left who was not aggressive on the ball (chickened out, actually) and missed a real opportunity. WM had one outstanding dribble, maintaining the ball through 3-4 attempted tackles followed by a long diagonal ball successfully placed to the attacking right in good position. I look forward to see him playing as a midfielder.
Yes, it was limited minutes at a wrong position but I think it will improve his overall game. We know his defensive game is very good, playing higher up allows him to get a better confidence in his attacking game. I like what the coach is doing with him.
To be fair - Pomykal is more of an attacker than a CM. He has a much greater chance ending up as one of the 3 playing underneath the attacker than he does a 6 or an 8.
I almost included Pomykal but also decided he's not just / only a CM like the others. Ferreira may also be a mid but he's more of a winger / outside mid.
He plays set a little deeper, but can only be relied in to defend in support rather than as a ball winner.
He's a #10, but I think Hyndman's also a #10, so I think they both go under the CM list, as a CAM is still a CM.
Tedesco getting praise for his scheme. "The coach set us up fantastically well," said midfielder Leon Goretzka, unprompted. Keeper Ralf Fährmann, too, called Tedesco's match plan "the key to success." Schalke withstood Leipzig's considerable pressure thanks to precise movement of the defensive lines and choreographed counter-attacks that visibly accelerated their play in the final third. http://www.espnfc.us/german-bundesl...while-dortmund-thrill-without-ousmane-dembele McHead on Pulisic and Weston at 1:50 http://www.espnfc.us/german-bundesliga/10/index
James Thorogood of bundesliga.com just said on the Football Show that McKennie "impressed mightily" in his ten minutes or so on the pitch.
Did he though? That may be overstatement. I am as high on Mckennie as everyone else but I watched his 16 min cameo last night and he looked...like a dmid playing out of position. He chased, harassed and played or what I assume was his responsibility (defensive no 10/9) but there was not a ton to be done from that position. Hard to say, at least for me, that he thoroughly impressed.
Agreed, though his dribble through traffic was impressive and he won a few balls in the air. I liked the manger's approach for a first game - 2-goal lead, get him on the field where he can't do a lot of damage with a mistake. But as the minutes went on, Weston looked more and more unsure of what he was supposed to do in an unfamiliar spot.