which is the whole point. ajax is a great club and can challenge for the champions league when their brief windows of opportunity fall right and still can’t stop anyone from going to bayern or barca who wants to go
Perhaps you are intentionally ignoring my point or not understanding it: well duh. They can't stop those transfers. But the point is they can delay those transfers by a year by working with players. There is massive value in getting another year of de Ligt, de Jong, Ziyech, etc.
That's not the point, the constant shit remarks it's our MO is pissing me off. It's not our MO to be a developmental league. We want our players to perform for us to get a shot at European silverware. That's the glaring fact that doesnot come across to Americans. They confuse outcome with purpose. The fact that I have to beat this drum again is speaking volumes of the inability to grasp it.
If that's the goal, then Dutch teams need to re-evaluate their approach, because a 1-for-the-century success rate is pretty ********ing lousy.
No, it's pretty good as the one time our talents didnot go abroad at too young age we in the first place again have superstars (beating the crap out of two successive world champions with our national team) and immediately competed for a CL final spot. So the pay out of one bunch was superb.
It's probably because we've had so few with such high apparent potential. But I think we're probably in agreement that young players with "potential" don't always pan out. Of course, the Dutch have far more players with "potential" than the US has had, so it's easier for you to sit back and watch the development without such high hopes.
Gerard Romero's a fairly reliable Barca reporter and says they're interested but Barca doesn't have the money to buy anyone, so they'd have to sell someone to get cash to pay for Dest. "- Barça recognizes interest in the player - Barça know that the price is around 20M - Barça know that Ajax does NOT want players - Ajax asks CASH for the footballer - Barça does NOT have cash, forced to sell" ☎️ Sergiño Dest- El Barça reconoce interés en el jugador- El Barça sabe que el precio ronda los 20M- El Barça sabe que el Ajax NO quiere jugadores- El Ajax pide CASH por el futbolista- El Barça NO tiene cash, obligado a venderOperación no fácil #mercato pic.twitter.com/RTibtiCY7J— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) May 17, 2020
Well, I'd be super excited for him if he gets to Bayern or Barca, but just have a hard time believing it because it seems too good to be true. Oh well, I always say "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is", leaving wiggle room to get out. Maybe it really isn't too good to be true- this kid has some serious skills and ability (just not defending . . . but the big clubs don't have to defend as much). We will see.
I feel like Barca always says they don't have any money unless they're spending a TON of money. It's like they are the person who says they can't save any money but goes out four nights a week. Actions matter. They can find 20 million Euros lying around.
I love it when Americans are too expensive for Barca. Really though any club would be crazy to buy in this climate. Next season could go out the window too.
I'm American but I agree. I just think in general young US players are hyped beyond belief and you get attacked if you don't think everyone is a top prospect. I don't think most people I read on here, other places I read about US Soccer or friends I have who watch soccer can evaluate young Americans fairly. It's normally an exaggeration of how good they are and this has been going on for years. Case in point: I don't think McKennie is very good. I thought he was horrendous on Saturday (granted, it was a bad team to face after a very long layoff). But people here, other places seem to think he's a special player. I think he's whatever. Depth player if the US wants to have any chance of doing damage in '22. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think people evaluate players with a level head if they're under 22 and American.
Whom are you comparing Weston to? For most USMNT fans (and I realize this isn't the forum), he's far ahead of his domestic competition as they're not close to being a "whatever" B1 player. he is also one of the youngest CMs in the B1. when I watch him play, I keep hoping that the game will slow down for him. That will make a huge difference.
You are. No one is overhyping the guy. Do posters here have aspirations for McKennie? Yes. Does anyone think he could walk into Barca's first team tomorrow? No. Or please do post receipts. I see posters react to transfer rumors. I see folks react to his play on the field. You thought he was *horrendous* on Saturday. The vast majority of posters who watched that match (including me) disagree with you. You think he'll need to be a *depth player* for the US to have any WC success in 2022? Until we see a better player than him usurp his spot, it's not based in reality at all. Perhaps you're bending over backwards to negatively evaluate a player because he is under 22 and American? Try to keep a level head. If he was as trash as you're implying, he wouldn't be holding down a spot week in and week out. Schalke doesn't have the strongest side right now, but come on. History is gonna prove that your hot takes were wrong, but the whole point of these forums, I think, is to be excited for our players. Sorry if you're not getting the type of special analysis you want. We hype our Yanks around here. Same with Dest. I hope he goes to Bayern and I hate Bayern (hopefully that keeps me well enough on topic ).
I guess Dest, since he is the subject of this thread. Both Dest and McKennie have been talked about in the $18M range.
It's probably because I've followed this thing (and prospects in sports in general) for a long time. I know most guys don't pan out. Your post kinda proves my point though: people get strangely defensive of anyone who doesn't think an American is a great prospect. I don't want to get into a huge argument on McKennie on a Dest thread: never said he was trash. Think he's an OK player. Nothing special. In now way he is close to Adams for instance. The biggest problem is he doesn't have a position. People always whine that Schalke move him around a lot-- I agree it doesn't help him. But they keep moving him around for a reason. I don't think he's a good enough passer to be a CM. Worst of all: he seems to switch off a lot in tracking players (i.e. Gold Cup Final goal). I hope that gets better and maybe it will. You're confusing the US depth chart with what is quality. Just because McKennie is one of the better CMs doesn't mean he's a great player. You and I just think differently. I'm not into "hyping" people because their American. I'm into projecting them and guessing how good they'll be. Some you watch and like, some you don't. You don't have to hype every single prospect that comes through. I'm more interested in reality.
Horrendous. A #8 with 49/60 passes complete 82%, 4/5 tackles successful, 5 interceptions, 78 touches, dispossesed once. Sure... level headed evaluation of horrendous. I would love to see McKennie at RB, or a Dortmund, or Leverkusen. Just to see if he could breakthrough. I think it is tough to gage him at Schalke. Not saying he is good enough to be a lock starter at those teams, just that it would be interesting to see where he would land after a half season. I think Barca / Munchen would be a great thing for Dest. He is young enough if it doesn't pan out he could move. But, he will have a chance to really shine with the big boys. (weak attempt for on topic post, i'll admit)
Not sure whom you are arguing with. That's pretty much a consensus opinion. As of today he is better than alternatives. Kind of like Yedlin,a solid reliable player who has his limitations. Do we wish that let say Pomykal and Cannon proved that they are better? Sure. But meanwhile we are happy to have starters from mid table teams of the top leagues. We don't have many of those.
I mean, I actually watched the game and I didn't think he was very good or impactful. I wouldn't say horrendous but I would agree this place has a very, "my special little guy" mentality when it comes to YAs. Putting forward stats as some sort of supreme evidence is disingenuous. 82% percent pass completion? How many were backwards/sideways? I don't remember one meaningful play going forward. I don't remember him bossing the midfield or impacting the game too much at all. He was part of a team that got rag-dolled and IMO he didn't shine above the rest of the S04 XI. Kicker seemed to think he didn't have a great day either. Some of the takes you read on here though... it's like uber defensive soccer mom's out at the park on Saturday mornings. Yikes.
Ding ding ding. For anyone who actually watched the game, he was flat out bad. Maybe "horrendous" is harsh on my end but he was the #6 on a team that gave up 4 goals. A couple of goals he did zero to stop an attack. He's not great at reading the game which is REALLY important for a 6. He can switch off too. Maybe he should be a CB-- then again his issue is no real position. 82% passing as a deep CM is not good and his season passing numbers aren't good. He has good qualities (intercepting passes is tremendous) but I don't see anything more than a depth player if the US is serious about being good. As I said, US Soccer fans in general are just so defensive of anyone saying anything negative about any of their prospects. It's weird to me. I'd rather be realistic so when Alex Mendez is sitting on the bench for FC Cincinnati in 3 years I'm not shocked. (Sorry didn't mean to get into McKennie argument if this needs to be moved but it was proving a greater point).
Not going to respond to this anymore, but I will say that I'm not trying to be defensive here. I just think you're wrong and wanted to take some time to respond. I've been doing the same thing you have for a long time too. I think a lot of other folks here feel the same way I do though and we're not watching the matches or reading reports through rose colored glasses. We'll see who was correct in their assumptions later. Take what you will from my post, but I am saying that you seem to be a bit adverse towards the way folks engage with and support our players. No one is being ridiculous with their "projections" other than you. Game footage, press, and coach selection bears McKennie's standing with Schalke out in this particular instance - so the rest is conjecture not based on much reality at all. That's my opinion. Have a good one!
Sorry if I came off that way. Didn't mean to come off as adverse. I tend to stay away from most non-Ajax posts here as I watch them by far the most. There are plenty of guys I really like in our pool. I'm probably just more pessimistic than most. I've followed primarily soccer and baseball prospects for a long time and most don't pan out is the At the end of my post too I did put "Maybe I am wrong..." and hopefully I am. I want all the best for Weston. Seems like a genuinely great guy. I just don't see it like others do. But it's all just an opinion. Let's see where he is in 5-6 years.
Last season, McKennie was I believe the third youngest regular starting midfielder in the Bundesliga (after Kai Havertz and Arne Maier), and for a Champions League team no less (link). I'm not even sure I would call that hyping youth, since that puts him in some pretty rare company among even USMNT adults historically. Edit: I think he actually might still be the third youngest regular starting midfielder in the Bundesliga right now after crolling through the names in this year's list and seeing how many games they've started.