great match for Gio. Started slow and made some mistakes early on but just got stronger and better as the game went on ... he was not just playing off mid ... he came back quite a bit and got stuck in. Yes the assist was great .... what was apparent to me as the game went on was Gio's potential (17 years old) compared to Thorsten Hazard's current performance .... the future is so bright for Gio at Dortmund. You just cannot coach size and speed - he has a wonderful touch and he can handle the physicality ... watching him glide through the midfield reminds me so much of his old man.
I think it's interesting that one of the biggest criticisms of him with the YNTs was that he was a selfish player. Looks like BVB is working to fix that and rounding him into a team player. He's been a willing defender and plays the smart passes
True, players change with age and coaching. It could also be that Dortmund is the first team he’s played with that he “feels” the players around him are equally or more competent than himself.
1274394402979536898 is not a valid tweet id Erling Haaland has his own nickname for teammate Gio Reyna 😉🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ppl6K43Kng— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) June 20, 2020
I will say that when dribbled around a triple team down the left flank I got annoyed but then he completely got by all of them passed the ball back and kept possession. Clearly he doesnt lack confidence. He did have some issues tracking back early on but seemed to be better 2nd half in that regard. I would give him an A. Would be an A+ if he had scored himself.
1274390253244157953 is not a valid tweet id Far from an every touch btw. Looked like a deer in the headlights the first 30 before the assist. That built some confidence. Then he looked good when he could put the effort in. But played in spurts because appears to lack starter's stamina right now. A performance to build on.
I’ve gotta remember that he’s only 17 when I’m watching him play. The nit picky stuff such as showing for the ball, but not being hyper focused to receive and not finishing a run (such as at the 74’ minute I think?) are just young player things that I know he’ll fix. What an exciting player he may become!
I had been under the impression that all these videos were "every touch." I'm probably going to have to adjust the way I view these now.
I think Sanjiv's typically are, but Watke's aren't. They're selected clips that can be positive or negative. A lot of them are 2 minutes for starts. If they were every touches they'd be really uninvolved.
I love that he and Haaland seem to have some real chemistry on the field for BVB. I just wish that he had corralled that first touch in the box on the pass from Haaland. That was a really good run to put himself in that position, so with experience he'll get there.
yeah or maybe it is great evidence of how pathetic national team coaching is in the US setup. AND how greatly different the same player can look under dfferent systems/coaches....kinda makes you wonder just how muhc you can take away from how player x looks on a given team in terms of how they might look in a different setup....I think the impact of system/team/coach on player production is VASTLY underestimated around these parts,
It’s more likely an example of what the difference in the quality of players between the USMNT and BVB is.
You nailed it. He had trouble finding the game and his space on the field for the first 20 minutes, but got on track and contributed before petering out about 60 minutes into his run out. There’s obviously a problem with match fitness and rhythm, but his slick assist was the game winner and at 17 years old, he doesn’t look a bit out of place. In my opinion, Gio has the highest ceiling of any American player ever. Put Dempseys grit in that kid and he’s a generational regular at Madrid or Barca.
Twitters 2+ minute video rule is the reason for the consolation. Watke and Sanjiv both show good and bad in them fairly.
I know they were hopeful of retaining Hakimi longer but that might not be very likely But Madrid is allowing Odegaard to stay at Real Sociedad another year so maybe Dortmund still has some hope
BVB is also set to beat a host of clubs to sign Birmingham City's, soon-to-be 17 year old phenom, Jude Bellingham. He's a dynamic two-way midfielder that burst onto the scene in the Championship. Bellingham's drawn comparisons to a young Stevie G. To me he plays little like hybrid of Stevie G and Patrick Vieira and will supposedly be a record signing for Dortmund. Nonetheless, another exciting and ready-to-play youngster for Dortmund. A midfield with Reyna and Bellingham could be something special in a year or two.
I actually thought Bellingham would be a Sancho to Reyna’s Pulisic. be interested to see how BVB develops him
Don't forget that: a) Sancho's departure is no longer certain b) Moukoko will be pushing for minutes at forward as well I am interested to see if they start using Gio more like Brandt... playing him up top in some situations and at holding midfield in others.