I only watched pieces of the game but for those of you who haven’t seen the game his pass that got him an assist was certainly helpful, but the guy who scored needed to do a lot of work after. I really hope he gets more time against mid-lower level opposition to see how he does on a team that will give him much better service than Schalke. I’m guessing I’ll get bashed for this comparison but the way he plays reminds me of a less selfish Timo Werner. If he can finish better than Werner he’ll have a great career.
Being good in the air is 90 percent strength and hops. It’s like being good at dunking. You either born with it or you ain’t. It isn’t taught. He’s a completely different type of player than Mcbride.
He didn’t look bad in the air in the Gold Cup. Has he missed a bunch of headers for Mallorca or something?
Only thing I'd bash you for is overthinking the assist. He earned that. Lee did a fine job dribbling and placing the shot but without the pass, and Hoppe drawing Militão out of position, Kang-In has nowhere to run and no chance of scoring. I give credit to em both
I’ll have to go back and look but he might have literally whiffed on every header he tried yesterday. One was when he was guarding the near post on a corner and it almost resulted in a goal. RM were bringing it though and nothing came easy I never thought he is dominant in the air but never really got the impression that it was a big liability either. He certainly isn’t as bad with his head as he looked yesterday. Nobody is.
Strength and hops for sure. McBride certainly had those but I swear he had a knack for determining the flight of the ball and exactly where he would need to be faster than the opposition. Something else that isn’t taught.
Werner's calling card is his speed. It made him very effective playing direct in transition with Leipzeig. I don't think Hoppe possesses that kind of speed, and "like Werner, but without the speed" is not a very flattering comparison.
One can certainly get better at heading and timing heading through practice. If you are 6' 3", it would be ridiculous not to keep trying to get better. You are going to get service, and be in situations where your height is a definite asset if you have proper technique. It seems that Hoppe has potential to be better at dribbling players and will have ability to match McBride ability to lay the ball off/continue the play. Hoppe definitely seems faster than McBride. McBride was a 'heady' player but there is no reason to think Hoppe can't emulate this. McBride (seemed to me, anyway) to be a 'functional' shooter- not particularly heavy shot, but it (again seemed) through practice that he perfected his craft, even with his weaker left foot. Spend extra time on the pitch, son. Seek the advice of experts and you will get better for sure (maybe heading never become as good as McBride, but you can get better through better technique and repetition) I do think Hoppe has a penchant to try a more risky option and play balls in tight spaces in his own 1/3. He needs to sharpen this part of his game.
No, he just lost 2-3 header battles with his back to goal against world class centerbacks. Not really a big deal. That said Hoppe is a much more fluid, creative player than Mcbride, if less athletic. I was just saying you don’t really become a world class header through training. It’s more innate.
Was Clint Dempsey a great header of the ball in college and at New England? I just remember that he scored a lot with his head at Fulham. Clint was pretty strong and a decent athlete, but certainly no freakish specimen. He's a testament to the sheer power of will, as it seems like a lot of his goals came from pure desire to get on the end of stuff. Hoppe reminds me some of Clint in play style and general demeanor. Far more than he reminds me of Werner, who like other people said, is a speed merchant first and foremost. Hoppe has some of the same tweener vibes as Clint, but also some of the same craftiness and general never-say-die "I'm going to find a way to impact the game" mentality. I see him as potentially the Dempsey of this next USA generation, though obviously it's a big comparison that he will have to work hard to justify.
I don't think he'll ever have a dominate hold up air game. That said he's not great now but can and should definitely improve. The other aspects of his game, one touch, vision, off the ball movement, running the channels, shooting, etc. is very good for a young striker and he'll improve there too. Kang-In could be very good for him as it looks like he matches up style-wise to Hoppe's game. Against teams outside the top 4 Hoppe could and hopefully will show he's good enough for La Liga. Nothing he did yesterday has me down on his future.
I doubt anyone here watched Dempsey play in college but yes he was good for a header in MLS. Poaching instincts to be sure are a big part of it, but once again that’s more instinctual than a learned skill.
For those of you who remember Super Punch Out, that's like saying he's Kid Quick without the quickness or Pizza Pasta without the knockout punch.
I saw Clint up close and personal in college. Only once though. My team played a non-conference game against Furman in Greenville. I can’t remember if I was suspended (for two yellows in a game) or injured. Both the injury and suspension were in close proximity. I just know my ass was on the sidelines in street clothes unable to play. He scorched us and dribbled around us like fools. I’d have to look it up but I think he had a goal and an assist. I had no clue who Dempsey was at the time. I remember it clear as day, our coach told us the kid who schooled us was a potential top 10 MLS draft pick. I didn’t think too much about it and just thought that dude was really good. A month later I think he was selected to the U-20 WC and a few moths after that draft by New England.
McBride wasn't afraid of putting his head in the way of harm to score a goal. For most humans it's an instinct to protect our noggin. But Brian treated it as if it were his least valuable possession. That's what made him a legend. Any man with such disdain for his brain has to be cool.
I'd also seek out Zlatan. Laugh at all his jokes. Dress like him for a couple years. Pick up all his party tabs. Go with his flow and show deference but challenge him on some stuff. Get in so tight with him and that he lets you in on his secrets at some point. He'll prolly be retired in 1-2 years. You might have to wait until then for the stream of ideas. But he'll help you some now. Invest the time and dollars now, and you'll reap priceless benefits. He'll prolly take a strong liking to a young protege who sought him out.. He'll tell it straight and direct to you. Best advisor a player could have. He'd prolly get a kick of ripping you a big one seeing technique errors in your highlights buddy mixtape from your Whatsapp message each week (pay some guy on Fiver to cut you a tape of your heading) Cause damn, Zlatan is the Jesus of the tall pro player head ball- using his 6' 4" (give or take an inch) like the soccer God he is. So many examples over the years of him getting the better of defenders in heading situations- he gains position, and he doesn't even have to jump that high- with his positioning and height + strength allowing Zlatan to beat the defender to the ball with his head. And even if he never gives you any good advice, Zlatan would be hella fun. You will always be able to re-coop your spent money with the best selling book (and later movie rights) to "Zlatan Tales- Partying with the World's Most Arrogant & Amazing Superstar" And you live in Mallorca for God sakes...perfect place to ask Uncle Zlatan to visit!