I kind of think the Bradley comparisons may actually be pretty apt. Both are jack of all trades types. Both can score and get into the attack but aren't really skillful enough to be specialist attackers. Both cover a ton of ground and tackle a lot (at least Bradley used to), but neither is really positionally sound enough to be a solo 6. Bradley is a better passer and McKennie has better physical tools, but they share a number of traits, which may point out a bit of why they can both be so polarizing.
I don’t think Bradley is a better passer but his soccer IQ of when to play it safe is better. I think weston’s ability to play an incisive ball is outstanding. It’s his tendency to make a somewhat easy pass into a bad one that’s most troubling.
"Really bad" compared to what? It's not like we have a bevy of in-their-prime players to choose from. And by his current slump, you must be referring to two games coming during these extremely weird circumstances. I think Paxton Pomykal is the better player between the two right now, but I also think the analysis that Weston has been really bad is off. He's been really inconsistent. That has included some moments of brilliance, a lot of really good contributions, and a bunch of costly or poor errors.
I wish so badly that we had an all-touch from the Hoffenheim game last January. He had a very nice first half and was magic in the second half. Single handedly willed Schalke to three points in that game as well. edit: It was Wolfsburg, not Hoffenheim. Game date was 1/20/19.
Our XI to face @f95 this evening 📋#S04 | #F95S04 pic.twitter.com/QYCkyWZZ2B— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) May 27, 2020
I think I group passing and the necessary decision making together. Mostly, because I think most professional players are perfectly capable of technically hitting the needed pass in 90% of situations because mostly passes in soccer are unremarkable in their technical difficulty. Any decent player can hit a ball with enough accuracy. It's knowing where to hit it, when to hit it and doing so under pressure, thinking far enough ahead, making the decision, that separates good passers from poor ones. I really don't see how you can actually separate those factors once you get past a pretty basic level. They can all hit a ball 30-40 yards or more with accuracy. I mean, we see people amazed with some through ball or another and mostly the pass itself is usually pretty unremarkable, often a 20 yard pass on the ground in a straight line. But, knowing when and where to it it is what was amazing. The timing of the ball and the thought process behind it makes a good pass. When Wes mishits a simple pass when he's in space and trying to move the ball, he doesn't fail because he's incapable of hitting a 30 yard ball accurately, he fails because he hurries it or decides to hit a player to feet instead of leading him, takes too long on the ball before releasing it, etc. He isn't failing at the technical skill of making an accurate pass. He's failing at the thought process behind it. So yeah, Bradley is a better passer due to a better soccer IQ. But, no one can be a good passer without a good soccer IQ so I'm not sure the distinction matters.
I agree with most of this but what I've noticed over the years is that Bradley is very safe and his "long" passes are usually high arching balls that need to be corralled first by his teammate and often give time for defenses to adjust. I've noticed that Weston is far more likely to hit a lower, better weighted ball that an attacker can take in stride (for example, he hit an amazing pass from his end in the 1H last Sunday that easily could have been a goal as the attacker was 1v1 with the goalie). I'd guess that Weston's long passing has a better xGA and if a team values counter-attacking, he's more suited to that than Bradley whom I believe values possession vs. being dangerous (perhaps at his coach's insistence).
i have been guilty of pointing out westons mental lapses, but man he spends a lot of time cleaning up his teammates lapses
I've only been watching bits and pieces, but it looks like Schalke's playing a defensive, low pressure 5-4-1 here without a lot of attacking initiative when they have the ball. I suppose understandable when you gave up a combined seven goals in your last two matches.
MCKENNIE GOAL! 0-1! 53' Weston McKennie, at your service 👋(53') #F95S04 0-1 pic.twitter.com/sVfSTmcbuZ— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 27, 2020 WESTON!!!!!!! 😍A powerful header to give us the lead 💥⏱️ 53' | #F95S04 0-1 | #S04 pic.twitter.com/iUUGrUUahm— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) May 27, 2020
mckennie puts his head at boot level and attacks the ball for a beautiful diving header goal even if he was basically unmarked
Free kick well placed to far post outside the six yard box, McKennie falling-forward/diving header back across the face toward near post, too much for keeper to handle at fast pace and close range. Great cross, well executed finish, muscling off his defender.
Like I always say, Wes' will save Schalke through his technical skills and touch!! (So happy for him.)
Like I always say, Wes' will save Schalke through his technical skills and touch!! (So happy for him.) Weston McKennie is on the board for Schalke! The #USMNT midfielder heads home a much-needed goal for his Bundesliga club (via @FoxDeportes) pic.twitter.com/3rJxavZ4ls— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) May 27, 2020
WESTON. MCKENNIE. 🎯His second goal in four @Bundesliga_EN games puts @s04_us ahead at Düsseldorf. pic.twitter.com/GVOVZrJueY— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 27, 2020
1-1 - 40 yard shot deflected WAY in the air by Shubert, Hennings pushes Nastasic in the back and heads it into the open goal. Perhaps reviewed by VAR but upheld. McKennie got involved in some extracurricular discussion with a Dusseldorf player after the goal.