Alex Mendez @ FC Vizela

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by TheFalseNine, Jul 13, 2018.

  1. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    maybe jong ajax is getting smaller, but mendez looks bigger out there
     
  2. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    Did you find a link? Can you PM me if so?
     
  3. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    half time and im guessing that will be it for mendez, which is great cause my stream went down. largely anonymous with at least minorly embarrassing moment when he stepped on the ball and tripped himself when running at central defense from the right wing. frankly not a lot to show he is ready for bigger things in that performance.
     
  4. BGSUSoccerFan423

    Jul 2, 2011
    Cleveland
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Oof

    FTR, you were spot on with Dest’s rise at Ajax. It wasn’t as clear cut as people were making it out to be at the time.

    Currently watching this match and they’re playing Alex on the right wing. Not much going in this match and he just looks uncomfortable out there. Maybe, I don’t know... they should maybe play him where he’s comfortable or skill set makes sense?
     
  5. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    I'd guess he is still learning their tactical set up. Getting to play in another would probably help with that process.
     
  6. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    they had him on the wing at times last season too (are we calling it last season?), so he has been there before. he just doesnt seem very good out there since that doesnt seem to play to his strengths and amplifies his weaknesses
     
  7. bsky22

    bsky22 Member+

    Dec 8, 2003
    Agreed... it forces him to work on weaknesses. That is a good thing.
     
  8. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    Unuvar is tiny (5'4 or so) but supposed to be the biggest attacking talent in the academy in a long time.
     
  9. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    He played RW a bit last year. Ajax likes wingers who are more passers vs. dribblers. Especially a left foot on the right side a la Ziyech. They've played him as a MF the first couple friendlies.

    The truth is he's just not a priority at all there. He's filler. So other players will get to play their preferred positions.

    The other side of it is what is his best position? That's part of my issue with him. You just don't know the best part to put him on the field. The optimal position would be a deep MF but in that scenario, you need to pair him with a ball-winner who can cover loads of space.
     
  10. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    fwiw he didnt get subbed and did get credit for an assist
     
    jnielsen repped this.
  11. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    that said, the guy they had playing the 10 timber was thoroughly unimpressive himself
     
  12. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    Yeah this was a weird lineup. He's not an Ajax 10. Not known for creativity. Kinda a utility player. I don't think the academy has a 10 that is close. The best prospects are at other positions.

    If you watch the hi's of the previous friendlies, Mendez played 10. Had a bunch of chances at the top of the box.
     
  13. BGSUSoccerFan423

    Jul 2, 2011
    Cleveland
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    I see what you guys are talking about him defensively. He’s not particular athletic in the likes of McKennie and Adams and so when they take bad angles or have poor discipline in their pressing, they have really great athleticism that can help them recover. Alexis doesn’t have that. I don’t think him not having Uber athleticism is a problem as long as he learns to take better angles and read the game better in terms of his own athleticism of when to lunge and when not to lunge. He’s also going to need to be come stronger as well.

    As far as his outlook with Ajax, Ajax bought him from Freiburg relatively cheap. So while I’m sure they bought him so that he could one day be apart of their first team, they also have a million other youngsters that they are trying to develop to do the same thing. He’s not going to learn and progress from a better club than the one he’s at right now. And not being able to crack into Ajax’s first team doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a bust of a prospect. You have to evaluate every situation by a case by case basis. I feel his development is going to take longer. And that’s okay. But the sky is falling posts in here are really confounding.
     
  14. sXeWesley

    sXeWesley Member+

    Jun 18, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This thread is so weird. I never thought we would have US "fans" crapping on a 19 year old playing and getting on the score sheet for Jong Ajax, bizarre.

    He is smack in the middle of Jong Ajax age wise, you make it sound like he is over the hill lol. Spinning his situation negatively takes serious effort, unless someone is deluded enough to think that extraordinary talents and development schedules like Dest, De Jong, Pulisic, Reyna, etc are the rule rather than the exception.

    He is at the best development club in the world making bank relative to most of his age cohort, guys like Aaronson and if he washes out here he will easily have the type of opportunities guys like Cannon and Aaronson are hoping to transfer into eventually. What's not to like exactly?

    I hope he succeeds if only to shut up all the supposed experts in this thread that have no more insight than anyone else. He is a decent prospect, he might succeed, he might fail, the end.
     
  15. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    No. He doesn't make more than $100K and probably less. He isn't at the level of Cannon and Aaronson. If he washes out MLS level team will be hard to achieve. Eventually he might succeed, but so far he isn't on the right track.
     
    frankburgers repped this.
  16. sXeWesley

    sXeWesley Member+

    Jun 18, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You have no idea what you are talking about.

    The non EU minimum in the Eriedivisie is $515,000, For players under 20 it is $258,000. Mendez is on a 3 year contract and as keeps being pointed out he is soooooo old and about to turn 20 lol.

    Again, he’s at the absolute best club for youth development possible and will make at least $1,000,000 at Ajax.

    Care to explain how if he’s such a mediocre prospect the best club at evaluating talent would invest that much into him?
     
    ChicagoVT, CA23, Winoman and 1 other person repped this.
  17. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    No that's you have no clue. He isn't in the Eredivisie. If he was there his salary would be $258K as he is a young player. He is in Eerste where average salary is below $100K and for foreign players playing there that would be the minimum salary. As he is a young player his minimum would be just a half of that. Below $50K. And be sure that's his salary. He isn't a prospect, he is a filler. He might make $100K at Ajax or not.
     
  18. de Kromme

    de Kromme Member

    Jan 26, 2009
    Burbville
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Maybe Alex doesn’t work hard enough off the ball and that’s why he’s being tried on the wing at age 20.

    Maybe he’s got an entitled attitude and doesn’t get along well with others, or the staff, like others from a certain training outfit.

    Maybe he’s stopped taking his Dutch lessons and doesn’t show enough commitment.

    Maybe he’s on a short leash right now and is wearing out his welcome.

    Maybe. Maybe not.
     
  19. TimB4Last

    TimB4Last Member+

    May 5, 2006
    Dystopia
    Hope you're just spitballing. though sadly it doesn't sound like it. Source of your information?
     
  20. de Kromme

    de Kromme Member

    Jan 26, 2009
    Burbville
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I won’t burn my source but it’s as solid as they come. And it confirms that these training company players have been taught they are special when they’re really not. Their path has been cleared for them and they’re not used to having to deal with reality. There will be a piece coming out relatively soon on this subject.
     
  21. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    how is alex a 'training company' player though?
     
  22. de Kromme

    de Kromme Member

    Jan 26, 2009
    Burbville
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I’ll give you three hundred and forty three guesses.
     
    justinpaul10, Winoman and dougtee repped this.
  23. TimB4Last

    TimB4Last Member+

    May 5, 2006
    Dystopia
    Very sorry to hear that. Even those with elite talent need to stay focused and work hard, and those who are not quite as gifted and those who have yet to succeed need to work even harder.
     
    de Kromme repped this.
  24. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    kind of wild how in the pulisic thread the debate is over how much of hands on or hands off father mark was. one thing you can say is that mark was never out on the record saying other kids were terrible and to pencil christian into the national team xi. having support networks that are support networks without being hypepeople does seem like an unalloyed good.
     
  25. de Kromme

    de Kromme Member

    Jan 26, 2009
    Burbville
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    This is an exceptional take, and spot on.

    When your success as a brand depends on getting your players into the spotlight, and eventually morphs into actually representing those players as their agent, there is nothing (and I mean nothing) you won’t do to make sure you succeed.
     
    wynaldaisagod repped this.

Share This Page