Green's final stat line is 4 goals, 1 assist, and 8 yellow cards in 1,729 minutes (23 appearances including 21 starts) of 2. Bundesliga play. SpVgg Greuther Fürth finished in 9th. He also played 62 minutes (1 start) in the German Cup. Greuther Fürth were eliminated in the first round. Interview with Doug McIntyre that came out this week.
He was moved around quite a bit too, playing three different positions and about half a dozen different roles during the season --plus the matches he missed due to injury, of course. Overall, even though the numbers are not flattering, Green looked best when playing behind the striker(s) early in the season (Keita, Nielsen or both) in a SS/CAM hybrid role, and worst as a LM in a connecting role, where he was usually by-passed. He ended the season playing CM recovering balls (he also did the B2B bit for a while, see the vs. Sandhausen game), and he was not that good there. We all know by now the 2.BuLi is his level, but if Fürth upgrades he's going to be one of the guys in trouble.
He seems like bench warmer fringe type player in MLS. His workrate is too low to make much of an impact in a physically challenging league.
Julian had his best season of his pro career. His first half was very strong, he scored his 4 goals by November and seemed poised to have a breakout year, so much so that he turned down contract extensions from Furth expecting that he would be picked up on a free transfer to the BuLi at the end of the season. Alas, he got hurt in November, was not fit at the resumption at the end of January, then COVID ...
Eh, I said it when he had his four breakout goals, all distance bangers. That's going to come back to earth. I know he got hurt, but really, distance goals in bunches are just small sample size. He wasn't going to score 12+ bangers in a year.
Before he got hurt he played 13 matches, 12 the full 90 and 1 79 min. He had a WS of 7.09 and was considered one of Furth's top 3 players. After his injury and COVID he played 10 matches with 4 of them 45 minutes or less. He got a WS 6.53 for that spell. That data is very clear I don't believe that anyone expected Green to score 12+ goals given that he primarily played as a ball control CM (20 of 23 matches). A reasonable expectation would have been 7-8 and you would also expect 1 -2 easy/rebound chances over a full season
Who scored stats are heavily influenced by goals and assists, so I'm not sure that says anything. His best season ever at a real level is 4g and 3a last year (18/19). I certainly didn't expect him to get 8-9 goals, even with a strong start. I don't expect it next year, either.
I think Green would be a decent enough MLS player, but I just think he would be middle of the pack on salary (300K-500K). So I'd be surprised to see him leave the 2.Bundesliga for MLS unless I'm wrong about that. I think the path forward for Green is to replicate the Alfredo Morales trajectory by hoping Furth can take a step forward into the Bundesliga, and maybe he can climb back into the national team picture.
Starts 2nd half of friendly: Diese Elf schickt Stefan Leitl für die ersten 45 Minuten gegen den @SVWW_official aufs Feld!Ersatzspieler: Burchert, Mavraj, Nielsen, Meyerhöfer, Abiama, Tillman, Stach, Stefaniak, Lungwitz, Green, Gürleyen#kleeblatt pic.twitter.com/UODAhvBZBL— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 8, 2020 Pause. 1:1 stehts nach 45 Minuten.🔁In Hälfte zwei tauscht Leitl die komplette Elf - jetzt auf dem Feld: Burchert, Mavraj, Nielsen, Meyerhöfer, Abiama, Tillman, Stach, Stefaniak, Lungwitz, Green, Gürleyen.#kleeblatt pic.twitter.com/JeneFD32KA— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 8, 2020
Starts 2nd half of friendly: Unsere Startelf für Halbzeit 1 gegen @Haching_1925!Ersatzspieler: Funk, Hrgota, Ernst, Raum, Jaeckel, Kratzer, Seguin, Stefaniak, Subaric, Green, Leweling.📺Ab 14 Uhr live auf Facebook!#kleeblatt #SGFUHG pic.twitter.com/V6tw1jTUZ2— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 14, 2020 Doppelpack von Dickson #Abiama!Aufstellung 2. Halbzeit: Funk, Hrgota, Ernst, Raum, Jaeckel, Kratzer, Seguin, Stefaniak, Subaric, Green, Leweling.#kleeblatt #SGFUHG pic.twitter.com/VhDzKLDYlf— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 14, 2020
Scored: Souveräner Testspiel-Sieg!@J_Green37 packt noch einen zum 3:0-Erfolg gegen @Haching_1925 drauf.👏🏽Zum Spielbericht: https://t.co/X7sJJApDNR#kleeblatt #SGFUHG pic.twitter.com/1aZVUN5btv— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 14, 2020
I enjoy Bundesliga preseason friendlies if just for getting to learn something about the lesser known opposition. For instance, sporting club Haching 1925 is just located outside of Munich and is known for producing a number of Olympic and World bobsleigh champions.
Well, their football team isn't exactly forgotten about you know. Bayer Leverkusen fans certainly won't forget them. Ever.
Starts in friendly: Unsere Aufstellung für Hälfte 1 gegen @HallescherFC. #kleeblatt#SGFHFC pic.twitter.com/olSJ5rcO6w— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 19, 2020
On the bench for 2x60 minute friendly against BMG: Unsere Startelf für den Test gegen @borussia!Es halten sich bereit: Schaffran, Buchert, Bauer, Abiama, Tillman, Jaeckel, Stach, Redondo, Stefaniak, Kratzer, Lungwitz, Green, Subaric, Torlak. #kleeblatt #BMGSGF pic.twitter.com/zg09au4MRN— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 27, 2020 And scored twice in 2nd half: Julian Green’s goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach this morning: https://t.co/70uhwL08vr— OneGoal (@OneGoalUS) August 27, 2020 1299008844220297216 is not a valid tweet id Ended up 2-0.
Doppelpack von @J_Green37!Wir gewinnen das Testspiel gegen @borussia mit 2:0👏Hier geht´s zum Spielbericht: https://t.co/OLHOsc9t8b#kleeblatt #BMGSGF pic.twitter.com/GbftvgDDHq— SPVGG GREUTHER FÜRTH (@kleeblattfuerth) August 27, 2020
Fantastic run. Fantastic delivery. Fantastic finish. I noticed Julian wearing the armband, too. What really stuck out to me and it could be my tired eyes deceiving me but....... does it look like Julian has bulked up? During his congratulatory hug, with his back to the camera, his frame looked bulkier. His shoulders broader and his thighs more pronounced. More Joe Gyau than skinny Green.
Seems like it. Doing a quick wikipedia search, last time he suited up for USMNT was 2014, and I don't think many of us have been watching him much since he fell off the radar. That would have put him around 19 years of age. Makes sense that he filled out. As a side note and thought (not directed at you) I do notice that on BS we often have a habit of labelling/worrying about a teens size well before there early 20's. Just a random observation.
The last time he payed for the US was in 2018 not 2014. Agreed, Green has definitely filled out some naturally but it's looking like like he added some much needed muscle to his frame. I'm usually not much on the "x player needs to bulk up" train however, I often saw him get muscled off the ball or avoid contact altogether. That has been one of biggest gripes of his game.
TBF though, I've watched him a reasonable amount the last 2-3 years, and it does seem he's been getting a tiny bit more solid with each season, but it's been a slow build and an ability to bang it has been lacking in his game. He's just not quite good enough to get away with a sneaky, slippery, speedy light-weight game. A bit more bulk (long as it's the right kind) will help him overall I think.