There really isn't all that much about Reyna's introduction to the senior team that is gradual considering his age... but this weekend's match against Bremen is the perfect opportunity for his first start: a) Werder is the opponent he scored against in the cup match b) Werder has a terrible D and midfield c) It may be the best time for Hazard to be spelled a start due to his recent less than stellar form. d) They have another CL match coming up soon.
You are giving "mental toughness" too much credit. LIFE is a series of slights, slings and arrows. If you can't role with that, become a snowflake and auto-insulate in your virtual reality. Sound familiar...
Thing about good players is that they make hard stuff seem routine. Reyna's pass wasn't particularly difficult, but it wasn't that simple either. He made it look like the natural outcome of the move.
the idea behind the comment was that Haaland was back all the way because he was helping on defense, then the ball went forward and he had to put the after burners on to be in the attacking box in time - which he did. i.o.w., yeah, you can belittle him if you want to. You can find that jab and get it in there.....if you really, really wanna.
It did look natural but what i think is the most impressive part of it was the decision when to pass. He did execute perfectly but he made the decision to pass it earlier than i think most any other player would have decided to make the pass. Most players would have continued with the ball going at the D which is what the defense expected and probably wanted. If you notice the central defender who is closest to Haaland seems surprised at the pass and it’s that extra split second delay that the surprise caused in that defender that allowed Haaland the extra sliver of time and space to collect the pass and set up his shot. Not that Haaland took extra time. He was quick and clinical. But the decision by Reyna to pass when he did was to me the sign of his maturity.
Someone told me that Joah Reyna is actually a better prospect than Gio at this age. Can anyone confirm that?
Joah is 12 or 13... it literally doesn't matter right now what his prospects are. the change from 12 to 17 is massive and if he progresses like GIo, then great on him. But that thought legitimately doesn't need to be happening right now.
By now you should know how dangerous it can be to type Glo instead of Gio. But it is happening right now, before our very eyes. Right, Professor Voetbal?
W. Bremen v B. Dortmund today. Gameday thread is here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/sargent-reyna-werder-bremen-v-borussia-dortmund-2-22.2108957/
Reyna on the bench. 💺 Die Bank: Hitz - Dahoud, Götze, Schulz, Akanji, Balerdi, Brandt, Schmelzer, Reyna pic.twitter.com/8jiJxYIidG— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) February 22, 2020
Gio was good in his limited touches. Clean in possession. Good outlet passes. he was more influential than hazard. Again!!!
You can see the confidence growing and growing. As it does, he will pull away from more opponents trying to mark him and teammates. As poised as he was for 17 yr old, the body language was still fairly uptight, making him look less fast than he is. Time to take the training wheels off. Agreed he's better than Hazard already. That's why Thorgan didn't want to pass him the ball.
Liked what I saw. Didn't really put a foot wrong...unique ability to escape pressure in tight spots too with his long strides and dribbling. Almost had another assist to Haaland too but GK made a nice save.
Am I the only one who quietly wonders every time Haaland's name is called whether we should really be calling him the Netherlands instead?
His ability to keep the ball against multiple defenders is pretty impressive. We saw it in the CL game along the touchline where he drew the yellow and we saw it again a couple of times today. Really wish he had come on a bit earlier when the game was still in doubt (well.. was it ever really in doubt?) because there was no real urgency after Haaland scored the 2nd goal. This is the 3rd game in a row where Hazard didn't flash and he had 90 minutes. He did play better in the first portion of the 2nd half but Gio deserves a start over him IMO. Not saying it needs to be that way down the stretch... but I have seen enough to say he warrants his 1st start.
honest question, how much of this is HYPE and how much is he has genuine talentt and can be bigger than Pulisic?
I said he was the best prospect we've ever had based on his u17 play and during preseason that he'd probably be better than Pulisic. Got plenty of stick for it at the time. Not that I've never had egg on my face. But I thought he was as can't miss as a prospect could get based upon speed, strength, technique, pedigree, experience in higher pressure settings, and that his tunnel vision may have been a byproduct of thinking he was better than his teammates. Pulisic always played that way, and he's not tough to push off the ball.
He looked really composed in his 15minutes. Side note, has anyone mentioned that Haaland looks like Todd from Breaking Bad?
Is any of this "HYPE" anymore? We're not talking about a kid playing U19 ball. He's the 1st sub off the bench for a top 15 european club... Agreed that he looked impressive again today, albeit in few minutes with not much happening. I thought his best play, outside of his dribble around multiple defenders down the left, was right when he came on. Bodied a WB defender off the ball and put a short pass over to Haaland for a great chance. Showed some real strength and body control for 17.
I certainly would have disagreed at the start of the season... especially after the U17 World Cup performance... but now I am completely sold. He has all the size and strength necessary to handle the beating the game gives and I am dubious at best with respect to whether CP can stay healthy. He certainly doesn't have the same elite pace that CP brings... but he looks like he has better vision and ball skills.... and in limited action he appears to have a much better shot on goal. In short, props to you for predicting early what I firmly believe now... Reyna is going to be the best player we have...