"Bayern regard Schalke as their role-model - at least as far as youth development is concerned. Bayern chairman Rummenigge was particularly impressed by coach Elgert and striker Wright. The reason for the enthusiasm was Schalke`s performance in the semifinal of the German U19 Championship." http://www.focus.de/sport/videos/na...ht-s04-jugend-als-vorbild-aus_id_7119523.html
Haji Wright v. Bayern U19 #usynt #USMNThttps://t.co/5Di2XWy1oj— Joey (@USAprospects) May 11, 2017 3 good minutes of video While questions persist about Haji Wright's relationship with U.S. Soccer, he just keeps banging in golazos. https://t.co/tiIO9c3qfF— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) May 11, 2017
He could've easily had two goals and two assists in that game. What player would y'all consider to play a similar style? I've really only seen him in highlights and with the U-17s a few years back.
Huntelaar is leaving the club after this season. Might open a window for Haji. They'll be getting Embolo back from injury next season and he probably figures to feature in most games
I think it's possible he might see some BuLi minutes in the next few weeks. However, looking to next season. Even with Huntelaar leaving, it's still a log jam at Striker. Di Santo, Choupo-Moting, Avdijaj, Embolo, & Burgstaller I think will still take up all the minutes before you even have a sniff of Haji. I think Schalke will end up doing what they did with another academy player in Fabian Reese this season and loan him to a BuLi2 team.
He could be like Aubameyang, if he wanted to shape his game like that, but he's not as much of a goal-hunter or nothing player as Aubameyang. He really is his own style of player. I don't think there's a comparison that is all that exact.
Didn't Reese get some minutes this and didn't do a good enough job so he was sent out on loan in the winter? Di Santo and Choupo-Moting are not good players, at all, meanwhile Avdijaj isn't really a #9. Choupo-Moting is also out of contract in the summer. He's not good, why bring him back? Di Santo is still at Schalke because no one wants to pay his wages, and he won't get those wages elsewhere. He's a back up to back ups. There's also Felix Platte who's on loan at Darmstadt this season, but had injury problems for most of the season. He did well when he played, so he might be a challenger for playing time. I would think Schalke will try to find a way to get Burgstaller and Embolo on the field at the same time, even if those are their two preferred #9's at the moment, so that theoretically could open up a #9 spot on the bench, if Haji can beat out Di Santo and Reese, which if given a real opportunity, should not be a tough task. He was already better than Reese when they played briefly on the U-19's a season ago, and Di Santo has 0 goals all season. He'll then probably face Platte in a battle for back up CF minutes.
you also need to take into consideration that Schalke could buy a new forward. Haji also has competition from Florian Kruger who's also currently in Schalke U19. Kruger is a year younger than Haji and has better stats than him too. But he's been injured over the last few months. Supposed to return this month.
From what I read, Schalke fans don't expect Kruger to be in contention for playing time next season. They don't even seem to rate him that highly, maybe he just benefits from playing on a really good team. They also only recently bought Burgstaller, I don't know why they'd buy another CF. That wouldn't make sense, given how well Burgstaller is playing.
well if a bunch of strikers are leaving why wouldn't they consider buying a new striker. as for Kruger, I never said he would be in contention next year, he is after all a year younger than Haji. Just pointing out all the info available. He played 6 games less than Haji but only a goal and assist less than him while being a year younger. That's still competition regardless of whether someone rates him highly or not.
Jordan Morris couldn't do that. Very nice placement and technique with the left. He's developed a lot over the last year.
How did Schalke develop Wright into a dramatically different player when he was a hit as soon as he got there? Seriously, he was prolific within the first week or two, generating buzz. It seems the significant improvement came when he was with the Cosmos. Tab is kind of a knob when it comes to certain players. I think first impressions are incredibly important to him, and once you make a bad one, it's hard to overcome. When it comes to making the u-20 team, he seems over-qualified if anything. Part of me wants to take a senior nt flyer without him having gotten the shot with the Schalke first team he seemingly deserves. But you just aren't afforded many of those gambles before you effectively harm your depth. It's just not a reliable way of doing business without sufficient evidence you're viable yet.
I don't think he made significant improvements, I think he made small improvements, which are normal when you get better training, coaching and match practice. People are making it seem like he was some schlub when he went over to Schalke. He might've not had the best U-17 WC, but that whole team (besides Pulisic) disappointed in the last year of that U-17 cycle. I put a lot of that on Richie Williams who was a terrible coach. That team had so much talent, and Williams ruined it. Over the course of that U-17 cycle, Wright was the second best player on the U-17 team, and for parts of that cycle, he was outplaying Pulisic (specifically the half year-year).
Yeah, I'm gonna have to disagree. 1-2 years ago Haji looked the typical American athlete, not a footballer. His confidence on the ball, flair and creativity has massively improved. In the run of play it's quite noticeable how much more the ball is glued to his feet. I remember as a U17 Haji was incredibly frustrating with his Zardes like touches. This is not U17 Haji. This is a far more polished player. I'm tired of the Zardes/Morris types. Excited it seems we now have a legit high ceiling striker coming thru the ranks, not these athletes masquerading as footballers.
I think you are mixing up him with someone else. He still has the same play style just more polished. He was always a dribbler.
Yup, exactly what Shawn said. He's definitely more polished, but he always had good ball skills and was a good finisher. He's improved his passing, quickness in his play and hold up play. If he was just an athlete, I would've never rated him highly in the first place lol. For example, I don't rate Akinola from the current U-17 team, no matter how athletic he is and how many goals he scores for that team. Wright always had soccer skill, and a lot of tools.
It's a fact he was considered a hit pretty much off the bat. He was contributing to the score sheet regularly, which was generating the hype. Schalke can't teach you much within the course of a week or two. His trajectory since was normal for a teenager, sharpening whatever he was good at, and improving a little on the things he wasn't. But ideologues will resort to mental gymnastics. Then, wash, rinse, repeat. The only solution for others is to ignore it.