PBP: 12/1: Wright (starts), McKennie (bench): Schalke at Hoffenheim

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad Gameday' started by ArsenalMetro, Dec 1, 2018.

  1. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    69': double change including Wright off, McKennie on.
     
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  2. largegarlic

    largegarlic Member+

    Jul 2, 2007
    Looks like Wright is off at 69', but McKennie comes on. I honestly think McKennie might be more likely to get a goal.
     
  3. Midas Mulligan

    Midas Mulligan Member+

    Jul 24, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I feel like the announcers were unduly harsh on Haji. What the hell did they expect him to do? Split the centerbacks and then dribble through the entire defense and score?

    He had one decent opportunity to create a chance, and he looked a bit stunned. But It wasn’t bad enough to pile on like that.
     
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  4. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    73': Another penalty, this time for Schalke.

    Bentaleb scores, 1-1.

    McKennie was wide open at the penalty spot had there not been a foul.
     
  5. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Even through red-white-and-blue glasses, he was awful. The only positive contribution he made was to earn a corner. His passing was bad, his touches were bad and far too infrequent, his movement was OK at best, and he should have been called for a penalty. He was clearly the worst outfield player on either side.

    He's basically playing college soccer every week, so you can't blame him, but he is not even close to this level.
     
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  6. Midas Mulligan

    Midas Mulligan Member+

    Jul 24, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not that it would have been passed in all likelihood.
     
  7. autobus39

    autobus39 Member+

    Jun 28, 2006
    Scranton, PA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    McKennie playing as a striker it seems
     
  8. Midas Mulligan

    Midas Mulligan Member+

    Jul 24, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He wasn’t good. But that means he fit in with most of the rest of Schalke. And I just don’t see the point in them piling on.
     
  9. largegarlic

    largegarlic Member+

    Jul 2, 2007
    McKennie with an open header, but straight at the keeper. Still more dangerous than anything Wright did.
     
  10. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    78': McKennie with a free (but low) header from 7 yards off a corner, and he puts it directly at Baumann. Should have scored, really.
     
  11. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not good for Wright to be replaced by an 8 (Wes) when they are down by 1.
     
  12. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I’m taking the positives out of Haji performance. No it wasn’t good. No it’s wasn’t tactically astute. No it wasn’t effective. But it was experience. Experience none of us would have pegged him for 3 weeks ago. Hopefully the opportunity, though he was a little lost, whetted his appetite to get better and grab the bull by the horns.
     
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  13. largegarlic

    largegarlic Member+

    Jul 2, 2007
    Did him getting the ball ever not result in a turnover (other than his cross blocked out for a corner)? You can't fault him for not generating chances out of nothing, but he would have been better if he had just passed the ball 30 yards backwards to his CB every time he got it.
     
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  14. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I like your positivity! Hopefully a lower-league team saw something valuable in this performance and he can get out of the Oberliga on loan in January.
     
  15. deejay

    deejay Member+

    Feb 14, 2000
    Tarpon Springs, FL
    Club:
    Jorge Wilstermann
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    I didn't get to watch the game. I have one question. Did Haji match up well physically? Strength, quickness, etc?
     
  16. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Not really. He held up the ball decently a couple of times, but he couldn't get it off his feet. Plus, they had him lurking outside the box on corners, which suggests to me that his movement and strength hasn't been good in training.

    When he had the opportunities to show his pace, he was a bit timid.
     
  17. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    McKennie is making fantastic runs in the area. Shame they haven't resulted in a goal.
     
  18. Midas Mulligan

    Midas Mulligan Member+

    Jul 24, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think Oczipka is not very good. He manages to squander any chance to get in a cross. It’s comical.

    ETA: And just as I type this, he squanders another good opportunity going forward.

    What a liability he is.
     
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  19. largegarlic

    largegarlic Member+

    Jul 2, 2007
    Aside from that missed header, I thought McKennie looked pretty sharp and lively.
     
  20. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Especially considering how little he has played lately, he looked very sharp. Good showing from him.
     
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  21. dd601

    dd601 Member

    Oct 21, 2004
    the counter leading to the penalty was started by weston smartly besting the press. had there not been a penalty, he could have scored
     
  22. KenC

    KenC Member+

    Jun 11, 2003
    Not much to add, since I only saw a small bit of the game, but when McKennie first got playing time, he too seemed to have the cloak of invisibility on his back. His teammates passed around him. And, McKennie was almost always outside of the box on set pieces, when we all know he's remarkably strong in the air. So, Haji being avoided doesn't mean alot to me, other than he has to earn it on the field.
     
  23. LouisZ

    LouisZ Member+

    Oct 14, 2010
    Southern California-USA
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I see it completely different. Mckennie first game was the last game of the previous season and he got spot minutes. Since then, he played during the preseason with the first team and did rather well throughout the preseason.

    Here we have a CF getting 60+ minutes and looking out of his playing level.
     
  24. luvdagame

    luvdagame Member+

    Jul 6, 2000
    for what?
     
  25. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    For committing a handball right before the one that was actually called.
     

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