Finally something you and I agree on. This 'friend' thing is way overrated. The little petty battles get solved on the pitch way more often than not without coach's interference. Talent wins out in the end and yes strikers are usually the prima donnas/massive egos but if they deliver everyone accepts them as such.... No minutes for Hoppe today. We will all need to be patient here, since does not seem to be front of mind as a solution for this coach. But things CAN change quickly through loss of form or injury for bench players... ....or not.....
Breaking through as a young striker must be very difficult. You have to score in limited minutes or the odd start, otherwise be glued to the bench (unless you’re coached by Florian Kohfeldt).
I'm just concerned he's fourth string for one spot. The literal #9 didn't play today either and one striker did come in off the bench.
The good thing about his situation is the defacto starter is on loan and thus won't be there next season. 2nd string is a guy who is 34 and will turn 35 before the end of the season. That leaves the 28 year old 3rd stringer who's hasn't done anything in his limited 152 minutes this season or his season prior stint in LaLiga and was not exactly prolific in Liga2. So as long as Hoppe, can prove himself between now and the end of the season to where Mallorca won't spend their limited money on yet another striker it's very possible he's the guy or at worst 2nd string to yet another loanee in the future. Hardly ideal, but also not the worst situation ever. The fact that they spent money on him should get him chances.
"Pedro, ven, traduce. Dile al yanki gilipollas éste que lo pongo en la banca porque me lo mandan de la oficina, pero que por mi se puede ir al carajo." "Mateo, the boss says you'll be on the bench today but you're going to get your shot eventually, just have some patience, okay?" "So I'm not playing at all? What's the point man?" "Lucho, dice que está bien, que él está listo."
Very true. Team bonding has always been a pillar of the English game, at Liverpool just as much as at all the other sides. Even so, Kevin Keegan and John Toshack were famously distant from each other in the dressing room and elsewhere - contrary to popular belief, there weren't any problems, but there just wasn't any warmth between them. On the pitch, however, their understanding was almost telepathic. In any case, Matt "just" needs to score goals and/or make assists. If he does that enough, everyone will love him.
You don't need to get along to win. But Matt, as a young player in a foreign country on a team populated mostly by players from that country, would be well advised to learn the language and ingratiate himself. Stars don't need to get along. Fourth string strikers trying to earn some time might want to get in good with their teammates and coaching staff.
I say we need patience. He is probably still developing his skill at chewing out the manager in a way that is understandable.
To paraphrase Muhammad Ali, "it ain't arrogance if you can back it up." Once Matt starts producing, he'll be good with everyone. Until then, he'd better be real good to everyone.
We have a famous example in the United States of John Stockton and Karl Malone in the NBA. They hardly spoke to each other (literally) during a 15 year or so career together. They never, ever hung out. But both were at the very top all-time in their profession. Many have called their 2 man game the best ever in the NBA. Same thing as Keegan/Toshack. Even closer to home, Dempsey famously talked once about how he and Landon were not close of the pitch. But he is said it (perfectly) is a way that implied "but who gives a sh*t if we are buddies...we are both ballers, know our job and play smart as we can and with heart for USMNT". Those 2 played great together as well. Hoppe should try to reach out to Clint. Clint was famously under-estimated at Fulham at different points in his Fulham career by more than 1 coach. He took it personally and went at it HARD on the training pitch to prove them wrong. And it worked. Not only did he improve as a player, but by the end of his first stint with Fulham, he was impossible to pull from the lineup- the team's best player. Danny Murphy, who was very well-respected player at Fulham and elsewhere, said once (with full admiration) that he never saw a player outwork Dempsey in training. High praise indeed! Newcastle United Flashback - YouTube Dempsey hat-trick in EPL ...and could've had 5 goals that game if they let him take penalties!
Since you were posting these on threads all over the place, may I ask what your intended purpose is? Is there a subtext here about who you think is better than Hoppe, Weah, Sarge etc?
Well, there was the off-season plus an injury. And he’s only 20. At worst, he’s in a slump. Hopefully he breaks his duck soon enough. But I’m rooting for him regardless.
Would you rather he play in a much less challenging league and have a few goals to show for it? I don't. For the umpteenth time, for strikers in the early 20s and below....their production will be inconsistent (or very inconsistent) based on a number of factors- only some of which are in the player's control. This is not just an American striker issue. (As I have implored you and others) look at the data for other young strikers as well! It is a totally useless exercise to worry about this, given what we know about Schalke's season last year and Hoppe's late transfer to a new, top league.