Brave Nieuw World: Mark McKenzie at Genk

McKenzie played 90 minutes. Genk won 3-0.

 

Genk wins 3-0. After a cagey first half the game became all Genk right before half time and the rest of the game was a simple exercise after that point.

When the game was still in doubt McKenzie won a few duels and overall looked secure and steady.

Stats look good - 8.1 on FotMob. 75 touches. 52/64 passing. 4/7 long balls. 9/11 duels, 4/4 tackles and 4/5 aerials.

 

Since the last international break, McKenzie has started 2 matches, subbed into 2, and had DNPs in 3. He's played about 226 minutes or so out of 630 possible.

Genk has gone 2-0-0 in the matches that he started, 1-1-0 in the substitute appearances, and 0-0-3 in the DNPs, including a very poor 3-2 loss today to a 10-man Eupen who scored two goals to win in the final minutes.

 

Yea, I have to believe they're prioritizing keeping Lucimi's and/or Cuesta's value high enough of a sale before transitioning to McKenzie. Otherwise it's just a stubborn manager.

I don't think we should hold this against McKenzie when it comes to nat'l team usage. Because he can only control his play, which has seemingly been solid.

 

Starts:

Ons 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠. 💪#krcgenk #mijnploeg #chagnk pic.twitter.com/t0Lubyxjdp

— KRC Genk (@KRCGenkofficial) October 17, 2021

 

Lost 2 0 and Shavar Nicholson scored one of the goals. Mark was subbed out.

 

Not starting today in Genk's Europa League Group H match @ West Ham.

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Game is not officially over, but it basically is... 3-0 to West Ham.

The hilarious thing is that the first two goals were on set pieces. And surprisingly, Genk subbed in Sadick in place of Cuesta after the first goal. With McKenzie looking displeased when he was subbed out the last game, I wonder if there isn't some rockiness between coach and player going on.

But regardless, Genk fans are not happy and the coach is under fire. At this rate McKenzie is going to have to start to focus on impressing any new coach they gte.

 

FWIW, the coach subbed the right footed CB for another right footed CB and left McKenzie, a left footer on the bench. West Ham just too good on the night and the Genk set piece zonal marking left them (Genk) out to dry

 

On the bench:

🇧🇪 Jupiler

🧐🇺🇸 Mark McKenzie on the bench for KRC Genk pic.twitter.com/tFHGoyXXPK

— 🇺🇸 ⚽ east (@eastdeflection) October 24, 2021

Down 2-0 in 64th.

 

Lost 3-0.

Time to start McKenzie. Or fire the coach.

 

They're up 4-0 on Winkel Sport, who may be amateurs?

 

6-0 final. Presumably due to McKenzie's defense.

 

On the bench:

🇧🇪 Jupiler

🧐🇺🇸 Mark McKenzie on the bench for KRC Genk pic.twitter.com/XumbgFl0Yw

— 🇺🇸 ⚽ east (@eastdeflection) November 7, 2021

 

They lost 2-0.

 

Did they? Fotmob says a 1-1 draw... though it was against the second to last team in the table and it took a 89th minute equalizer.

Genk as a whole is not doing so hot, I'm sure their entire situation is not going the direction anyone in the team expected. Including McKenzie of course.

 

Sorry, I somehow extrapolated what I wanted from when I saw them down 1-0. They did pull out a draw.

 

Starts:

Onze 𝗲𝗹𝗳 starters 🔵⚪️#krcgenk #mijnploeg #dingnk pic.twitter.com/VucljYDy9I

— KRC Genk (@KRCGenkofficial) November 25, 2021

 

Good to get minutes. Will be a challenge coming into the lineup for with Genk being in such rough form and them going up a probably better team in DINAMO ZAGREB but any minutes are good minutes when you have been seeing the bench as much as he has.

 

McKenzie went 90’ against Dinamo Zagreb in 1-1,draw. He had a 7.3 whoscored rating, fwiw.

 

DNP in 3-2 loss:

Onze 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 🔵⚪#krcgenk #mijnploeg #gnkclu pic.twitter.com/B0ZEdQLh9A

— KRC Genk (@KRCGenkofficial) November 28, 2021

 

Looks like Brugge got a red card last in the first half and still proceeded to score two goals in the second half to win? That's a major yikes.

When watching their game against Dinamo the announcer said the Genk coach was on the hot seat for the next three games. This can't have helped. Looks like there will be a coaching change soon.

 

The stadium atmosphere was poor from the start and didn't improve after the half, despite the team scoring two scorchers. When they went a man up they still looked wide open, as if Brugge was the side with the man advantage. Genk have won two titles in the last 10 years, with the most recent coming two seasons ago, and they were runners-up last season. They have a history of pulling the trigger on coaches who've been more successful than the current incumbent, so expect McKenzie to have a chance to impress someone new.