Can't imagine Chandler going to Central America and playing well there. Actually can't even imagine him going there, forget playing well part.
If they do qualification all in one location, I could see him doing it. I’m having a hard time picturing how international football is going to work.
I don’t know if it’s an underdog story or not, but there’s a part of me that wants to see Timmy Chandler become the Jermaine Jones 2.0 in 2022.
As a RB being asked to track back in the heat, no. As a winger, I think he’d be ok. Maybe not for 90 but still value.
McKennie was also the Captain at the end of the game. He seems quicker than in March. You see where he is behind a player on a throw in or free kick. The opponent thinks he has position. But as the ball comes in, Wes literally jumps around and takes the ball. You don't see that done much in pro soccer. Wes is playing the angles at the #6 for Schalke very well too and closing on players faster and smarter. He still misses some easy passes; and he gets visibly frustrated with himself when he does.
It was a nice goal, but he's a contributor to that mess. Goal aside, he's been unimpressive since the Bundesliga returned.
'Orange' pronounced in Dutch sounds pimptastic. A sporting anthem could be built around it. 'Orange' pronounced in English sounds made for children.
SMH. Our options are: - Morales - Pomykal - Holmes - Lletget - Yueill - Roldan Yeah, I'm taking Weston over all of the above and it's not particularly close. The key issue is how to we put him in a situation that accentuates his strengths and mitigates his developmental areas. The absolute worst position is for him to partner with a possession-regista-who-is-a-weak-defender-and-doesn't-cover-ground. I wish there was a reliable 6 in the USMNT pool who can cover a lot of ground, clean up mistakes and with Weston, could make the midfield very dynamic. It would be even better if we had speedy attackers who are strong on direct counters.
People in the industry, like Brian Kleiban and Susaeta, have been stating McKennie shouldn't be starter for the US.
No doubt and their wrong. We’re not using Wes well but he should still be a starter. He brings things to the table that others just don’t. Hopefully 3G figures out he isn’t smarter than everyone and creates a new “system” that actually plays to the strength of our pool.
He has mainly been paired with Yuiell, Bradley, or Trapp. As I've stated on a number of occasions, his best US game was the draw at Portugal; there he played in front of Danny Williams. If Adams can returns to pre-injury form, he and McKennie are still the top pairing. The next US match likely won't take place until next year. Plenty of time for McKennie to work on his game.
Becoming a possession-based team vs playing to the strengths of the pool. Ideally, 3G would've hit the ground running in '17, after the fiasco at Couva. He could've had post-Cuva of '17 and all of '18 and '19 to attempt to implement a possession-based system. He would've been able to cycle through a much larger pool of players to find the right fit. Instead, he only had '19. And little progress had been made. Then the pandemic struck. Qualifying starts early next year. I've read mention of the qualifying format being changed to that of a qualifying tournament. That would make for even less reason to try move to a possession-based style: no time for adjustments. In other words, there is little room to experiment with replacements for McKennie. Holmes, if he recaptures the pre-injury form, would be the only serious candidate to unseat McKennie. My three experimental picks would've been--- Tommy Thompson---seems to have really matured in his professionalism and in his understanding of the game. Showed the athleticism needed to excel at attacking fullback. gauging his level is the concern. he has little experience in international football. he hasn't played overseas. Keaton Parks--killer on aerials. elite ball skills. 360 degree reading of the game. quickness and pace are the concerns. Pomykal--elite ball skills. 360 degree reading of the game. athleticism. size and durability are the concerns.
I totally disagree. I summed my thoughts about him above. He has been fantastic on defense. Top notch.
The midfield pool has the potential to get much better, very quickly. Left / More Attacking CM: Pulisic (if he moves off wing); Reyna; McKennie; Holmes; Lletget; Pomykal Right / More "8" CM: McKennie; Adams; Pomykal; Roldan 6: Adams; Yueill; Bradley That seems to be the general potential set of suspects. I'm not sure anyone else is going to barge in anytime soon, at least on indication from Berhalter. We haven't seen hints of Parks or other folks that have been presented. Within that set... I find it hard to believe that McKennie doesn't have a spot. There's two scenarios. One, Berhalter really wants his regista + Reyna or Pomykal forces themselves in at CM specifically and Adams is healthy at CM. Two, of Pomykal, Reyna, Yueill or Holmes beat out McKennie. I think there's a place, but I'm not sure it's super likely, especially once you incorporate injury potential.
Ya know, we really do have a solid 11 today, nevermind worrying about the kids needing to grow. The problem for me is that they've never all been healthy when games roll around yet. I agree it's hard to look at that group and think that at least three of them beat out McKennie for a spot on the field. If nothing else, every team needs a workhorse to cover ground and make plays in the midfield and Wes sure looks like ours to me.
So, i.o.w., McKennie has had 19 appearances and his best game was his first, November 2017? People who say McKennie should not be a starter for USMNT today are looking at what makes him bad, not what makes him good, and they think it is not acceptable. We are all happy for Wes that Schalke has him on contract and sees the situation differently, as they should.
Me, too. But Sweater Boy thinks that #6 who covers ground well is a right back. People who think McKennie isn't a starter on this USMNT are nuts. He's not perfect, but he's aggressive, good in the air, versatile, and has that mean streak that a team needs. He can be the guy who protects Pulisic and cleans a guy or two out when needed (we know CONCACAF referees aren't very good at protecting skilled players, so you take matters into your own hands). Put him in a double pivot with Adams where he can be more advanced, and he's playing to his strengths.
Perhaps by the end of qualifying? I'm assuming that we don't get a ton of professional soccer between now and the start of the hex. And therefore, while some of the younger players who have established themselves / been called in have a shot at disrupting the depth chart, I'm not sure someone with only a few professional games is going to get minutes in WCQ unless there are massive injuries. Is Tessman going to be able to do enough at FC Dallas that Berhalter would push McKennie out of a starting spot in a WCQ when McKennie is a good player? Where's the upside in that decision? A friendly is one thing. Even an invite in a camp is another. A WCQ? I dunno. If McKennie was a problem, it'd be one thing, but while he's had some lapses, he's an asset.