You're right, of course. He is more skilled than Hejduk. And yes they play different positions. I love the fact BA is a starter in the Premier League, and I watch every Leeds game I can. But my expectations (and I think many others' as well) were that he would turn into an offensive playmaker, making goal contributions, and he has not. Look at the stats IndividualEleven posted. Or just watch him get pushed off the ball constantly, or dribbling into dead ends. I don't see where he fits into this team. I was trying to say in a complimentary way (come on, Hejduk is a USMNT legend) that his primary strength is his energy, speed, and tenacity.
Right but he started most games and had similar goal involvement to Dempsey at the same age. He’s worked out some of the yips he developed his first time in the PL and he’s much improved at not losing the ball cheaply and developed a nice understanding with DCL. I think BA keeps defying fans belief that he should be benched in part because he often plays smart and can make excellent plays - as well as having the Heydude insane work rate.
I just cannot square the two parts in bold. This absolutely does not describe Brendan Aaronson in 2026.
You're saying these things never happened (they absolutely did), or that it's unfair to characterize them as defining his recent form? Because I can accept the latter
I’d say that two years ago, those were fair characterizations of his weaknesses and the primary reasons he was not then a solid Premier league player. Then, last year in the championship, he stepped his game up quite significantly and was a key member of the Leeds team that dominated that season. The question was, in his return to the Premier league, with those old weaknesses be exposed again? But he stepped up his game and proved that he’s a new player. He had quite a good season last year, and he’s proven to be an effective player at very high levels.
This is super vague. Sure, he had a good season. Sure, he helped Leeds stay up and became a regular (but not lock) starter. And I think that's great! But I'd argue it's clear he has NOT developed into a dangerous attacking player who can be counted on for goal contributions, or more to the point of this thread, who would be the preferred sub for Pulisic, McKennie, Dest, etc.
He can’t be counted on for goal contributions, except for, you know, all the goal contributions he had in the PL this year.
"ALL the goal contributions." How many was that? Anyway, the more this goes back and forth, the more I sound like a hater, which I am definitely not. I'm rooting for the guy and I'm glad he's on the team. If he gets on the field I will be cheering for him. And I hope he gets a goal contribution or two