Weston is not currently playing the #6 for Schalke. In fact with Bentaleb having continuing nagging injury issues, Tedesco has not put in Weston as the #6, instead moving Max Myer a #10 to the #6 slot.
If I were Weston, I'd tell Sarachan 'now that the competition is better, we'll see what your coaching looks like." I'd put my money on Weston being a better player than Sarachan ever was as a coach.
That is not much of a bet. You will have to give 100:1 to get any takers. Am I missing something? Sarachan was very complimentary of Weston, Miazga, and CCV in the article.
A nice clip on how Tedesco has Schalke playing. Explanation on why Myer was put in the #6 slot. http://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundes...-the-tedesco-express-leon-goretzka-462534.jsp
Mckennie started as a 6 and did great, his job was simpler. In the last 3-4 games he was instructed to play higher up but still continue his defensive responsibilities, in essence, an 8 and here is where he has struggled a bit, he doesn't read the play fast enough to cut off the counter so he ends up catching up to the play which gives the impression that he is not fast enough. He will be a work-in-progress but at this point, they're ok with it because he really doesn't make fatal errors in positioning or passing.
No, he was quite complimentary. I'm just a little cynical about the coaching quality in this country in general, and a bit down on Sarachan given his role last cycle. I mostly find it humorous that a manager that has never really coached against elite managers himself is pondering how Weston will deal with the step up in quality. Especially given that WM has already faced better players in the Bundesliga than he's likely to see on Portugal's B team.
If you watch the video posted about S04 above it looks like Tedesco has Goretzka, his "more offensive" midfielder playing deepest, but not staying there. I guess it all depends on how he grows and develops and how many "bad" mistakes he makes. As long as he doesn't make the same mistakes and/or they are not punished to frequently I believe he will keep getting minutes. At his age, his sample size with men is probably too small to know where he ends up other than midfielder. For the Nats I don't think it matters which spot he plays for club as much as it does he plays and stays game fit.
Yet another Weston McKennie feature If you aren't tired of reading about him yet, I hope you enjoy it
There is a frequent assumption that there’s a step up to international play that has to be prepared for. I don’t really see it.
The way he talks in these interviews it shows why he was selected as the captain for his U19 team. Maybe he will be our cap one day.
Couldn't agree more. If you're playing at a top club in a top league or CL games... those games are far better, faster and more cohesive than 99% of national team games. Barcelona, Madrid(s), Bayern, Mcity, Tot, PSG etc... would dismantle most national teams in embarrassing ways. The only thing you match with national team games, in major tournaments, that you get with CL games is the intensity. But you still don't get the club team cohesion.
Agree with this but the challenge is that most of our players play in leagues well below top leagues, let alone CL. For them, the speed of the game is a dramatic shift from what they generally experience. Doesn't really apply to Weston directly but he'll be playing with people who won't be used to the speed.
Excellent point, not only the other guys having to adjust to the tempo but so is Weston, he may not be used to anymore playing with teammates that are not in sync.with his level of play.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the thing that I find so promising about our best youth players is how all of them are so mature already. CP, Weston, EPB, and Sargent have all displayed that they could easily be captain in the future, and that work ethic will make them better players, along with creating a great environment for new players to come into when they join camp.
I agree, what a difference from when Agudelo first got the call, he was just a goof-off off the field, he carried that tag for many years under different coaches, I suppose now he is a more matured player.
Really looked good playing in a more box-to-box role than he usually has at Schalke. Would like to see him alongside Goretzka in front of Bentaleb when everyone is healthy. Let Meyer drift in from the wing and play as more of an attacker.
Not that novel... GOAL USA 1-0 21'Weston McKennie 49th U.S. Player to score in his debut— AO New Orleans (@AONOLA) November 14, 2017
Well as for level of play, he stepped into his first NT match, easily looked comfortable with the pace/tempo and came away one of the players out there for either side.
I moved some MLS vs Europe stuff to this thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/th...ison-discussion.2011515/page-20#post-35907504