Weston McKennie

[mentalcase]

9/10 !!!!

Adams would earn plenty of criticism across social media for his role in Fulham’s first goal, with his passing suspect throughout, gifting the ball away on nine separate occasions.

That said, it was arguably McKennie who was the Yorkshire outfit’s worst performer at Craven Cottage.

As per Sofascore, the January signing would earn a disappointing 6.2/10 rating for his performance on Tuesday night, which was the worst of any outfield player to feature in the game from both sides.

The former Juventus man would lose possession a remarkable 23 times in the 90 minutes, which was comfortably the most of any player in Leeds’ side, while his push on Wilson in the first half was decisive as it cost his side a goal.


This led to the USA international registering a 73% pass accuracy at Craven Cottage, which is a decrease from the 81.6% he has averaged in the Premier League thus far, emphasising just how poor he was in west London.

While McKennie clearly struggled from a passing perspective, he was also second-best in the defensive battle throughout the game, winning just two of his ten duels in the game.

Considering he has averaged 1.6 tackles, one interception and two blocks per game in the top flight so far this campaign, his return of one tackle, no interceptions and no blocks at Craven Cottage clearly wasn’t good enough.

[Cjay]

Had we paid half the money we did for McKennie I think we'd be quite happy.

Thought he was the best of an all be it poor midfield 3 yesterday.

But a £30mil player I don't see.

Gets about well, has the odd decent touch of quality (creating space for the shot 1st half but then didn't shoot and overhit the through ball).

I just don't see how a player like him justifies that sort of money

Adams is a breaker up of play with limited on ball skills

You can accept that for £20mil.

Over that though you need a bit more imo.

McKennie needs to find more quality on the ball to justify him.

Has had decent moments but that final bit of quality needs to come and it needs to be soon.

We definitely needs a bit more power in midfield which he brings.

But atm we have 3 midfielders without any final 3rd quality between them

It's McKennie who needs to find it.

For our sake it needs to come.

[The Subhuman]

We have an option to buy, not obligation. At that point it becomes a negotiation.. Too much and we can walk away.

[Cjay]

We have an option to buy, not obligation. At that point it becomes a negotiation.. Too much and we can walk away.

From what Italian media have said its basically an obligation to buy in everything but name.

Appearance based (10 I think it was) so unless we drop him it will happen .

[The Subhuman]

From what Italian media have said its basically an obligation to buy in everything but name.

Appearance based (10 I think it was) so unless we drop him it will happen .

We also have to avoid relegation which most here have said won't happen.. So we're ok either way

[pjm2019]

another player who cannot repeat his performances for LUFC as opposed to his previous club/country

[Leeds1000]

Its early days for Weston. I haven't followed his career tbh so i don't know what level he's played at other than one of Italy's top teams. A PL relegation battle with a team low on confidence will be his biggest challenge yet. He looks like a player who operates well in a dominant team with plenty of space. He won't get that in the PL so he will have to dig deeper and be sharper at just about everything he does. He's more creative than Adams & Roca and i'm hoping Javi will try a 4-4-2 formation so he's got someone to pass to.

[1964white]

Lost possession far too many times for my liking, some poor passes too.

Made five decent interceptions.

[weasel]

Its early days for Weston. I haven't followed his career tbh so i don't know what level he's played at other than one of Italy's top teams. A PL relegation battle with a team low on confidence will be his biggest challenge yet. He looks like a player who operates well in a dominant team with plenty of space. He won't get that in the PL so he will have to dig deeper and be sharper at just about everything he does. He's more creative than Adams & Roca and i'm hoping Javi will try a 4-4-2 formation so he's got someone to pass to.

I have often made the point that if you put a competent Sunday League footballer in a team like Barcelona they wouldn't look as out of place as if you took a Barca player and put him into a Sunday League side. The reasons being that the Sunday League player would be being passed to with good quality passes, hit to him at decent pace and to his feet or into space rather than just in his general direction. He would also have options ready to pass to before he received the ball. Whereas the Barca player in the Sunday League side would be being given poor quality passes and not have anywhere near the options to pass to.

McKennie is like the 2nd player in my example. But his class should shine through as long as we don't drag him down to our level.

[mentalcase]

TBH, I'm still onside with him, but can't help but slate him for his performance last night, giving the ball away 23 times is shocking.
We need things to settle down quickly and get our best midfield sorted asap.

[The Subhuman]

I have often made the point that if you put a competent Sunday League footballer in a team like Barcelona they wouldn't look as out of place as if you took a Barca player and put him into a Sunday League side. The reasons being that the Sunday League player would be being passed to with good quality passes, hit to him at decent pace and to his feet or into space rather than just in his general direction. He would also have options ready to pass to before he received the ball. Whereas the Barca player in the Sunday League side would be being given poor quality passes and not have anywhere near the options to pass to.

McKennie is like the 2nd player in my example. But his class should shine through as long as we don't drag him down to our level.

I see the class as I watch, he has more time, strong on the ball and plays intelligent passes that, atm and like with Pablo, aren't getting seen by his team mates. He plays heads up, watch the overhead flick, just before that he sees the movement of his target player (think it was Gnonto) and almost plays him in. His passes are frequently first time too which carry a higher risk reward, some of the outside of the boot stuff was lovely

...He's better than Adams imo.

[BlackHillsPaul]

I see the class as I watch, he has more time, strong on the ball and plays intelligent passes that, atm and like with Pablo, aren't getting seen by his team mates. He plays heads up, watch the overhead flick, just before that he sees the movement of his target player (think it was Gnonto) and almost plays him in. His passes are frequently first time too which carry a higher risk reward, some of the outside of the boot stuff was lovely

...He's better than Adams imo.

You make a good point. The midfield was not great in possession last night. But McKennie had the courage to try stuff. Like you said high risk, high reward. Most of it didn’t come off. But you could see him communicating with his teammates throughout the game. Trying to figure things out. Direct traffic a bit. It’ll come.

People here are very quick to write players off. And the more expensive they are the quicker the trigger gets pulled.

[weasel]

You make a good point. The midfield was not great in possession last night. But McKennie had the courage to try stuff. Like you said high risk, high reward. Most of it didn’t come off. But you could see him communicating with his teammates throughout the game. Trying to figure things out. Direct traffic a bit. It’ll come.

People here are very quick to write players off. And the more expensive they are the quicker the trigger gets pulled.

Very fickle full stop, a month ago people were suggesting Bamford starting in place of Rodrigo. Rutter terrible acquisition then he hits the bar last night and should be starting every match. Ayling only fit for the knacker's yard etc etc

[Cjay]

Very fickle full stop, a month ago people were suggesting Bamford starting in place of Rodrigo. Rutter terrible acquisition then he hits the bar last night and should be starting every match. Ayling only fit for the knacker's yard etc etc

When teams spend big in January it's because they need/expect an instant impact.

Nature of the beast.

Rutter was overpriced and the wrong player for now (in his defence it was an Orta ego buy and clearly has potential) but he wasn't the player we needed certainly at that price. Did look brighter vs Fulham though and have to hope he builds on it.

Yet to be convinced McKennie isn't the same, wrong player and overpriced.

Said before had we spent 50% less on him it would be fine.

But for the money we spent he has to be more than some nice touches and runs.

He needs goals and assists and to grab games by the balls, seen nothing so far to suggest he can do that.

I read the previous clubs forum when we buy a player, McKennie was no different.

Juventus fans weren't keen, all bluster very little substance basically and wasn't the resounding success some of our American friends think(he was considered a bit of a flop it seems, much was expected when he joined but never really delivered).

Haven't seen anything to suggest they were wrong yet.

Not to say he isn't without talent and a role to play but I don't see a £30mil player.

Hopefully like Rutter he can build on the Fulham and Southampton positives and have a more complete performance soon.

But it does need to be soon because January signings and us don't have the luxury of 10-15 games to get up to speed

[Cjay]

You make a good point. The midfield was not great in possession last night. But McKennie had the courage to try stuff. Like you said high risk, high reward. Most of it didn’t come off. But you could see him communicating with his teammates throughout the game. Trying to figure things out. Direct traffic a bit. It’ll come.

People here are very quick to write players off. And the more expensive they are the quicker the trigger gets pulled.

Thats normal

Isn't unique to this forum or LUFC fans.

Big money signings come with expectations especially January ones.

Teams buy in January because they have an urgent need

Players signed in January are expected to fill that need very quickly.

It isn't unique to McKennie.

As a club since Orta arrived our January signings have failed to do that.

That in itself creates nerves around big money January signings.

[BlackHillsPaul]

Thats normal

Isn't unique to this forum or LUFC fans.

Big money signings come with expectations especially January ones.

Teams buy in January because they have an urgent need

Players signed in January are expected to fill that need very quickly.

It isn't unique to McKennie.

As a club since Orta arrived our January signings have failed to do that.

That in itself creates nerves around big money January signings.

You are correct to a degree. But this message board is the most fickle and trigger happy of any I've been part of. Which is not an outright criticism. Just an observation. Note: This is the only Leeds United forum that I have joined.

With regard to McKennie. His price will naturally create expectations. The question is are they realistic? He has walked right into the starting eleven. And if it's between him and Roca he won't be sitting on the bench anytime soon. He is an obvious upgrade. Having said that we do expect more from him. And I think we will see more from him. And if not I will be the first one to call him out. Just like I have with Aaronson and Adams.

[1964white]

You are correct to a degree. But this message board is the most fickle and trigger happy of any I've been part of. Which is not an outright criticism. Just an observation. Note: This is the only Leeds United forum that I have joined.

With regard to McKennie. His price will naturally create expectations. The question is are they realistic? He has walked right into the starting eleven. And if it's between him and Roca he won't be sitting on the bench anytime soon. He is an obvious upgrade. Having said that we do expect more from him. And I think we will see more from him. And if not I will be the first one to call him out. Just like I have with Aaronson and Adams.

I do think Weston has more to offer, once he settles in, Paul.

[The Subhuman]

As I say very good versus Fulham, ignore the stats, they're badly misleading in this case....

[Tom_Siffringer]

Aye, the number of PL level managers here gives me pause, unsure how Leeds are near the drop zone with the quality of management on this board

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[Tom_Siffringer]

Yes, I think he is 100% fit Kenny. What you are seeing is his body type. He will never have a body like Tyler Adams or Jack Harrison. But his fitness level is not an issue for me having watched him his entire career. This is how he looks all the time. And it doesn't matter if he is in Germany, Italy, or playing World Cup qualifying matches in the heat and humidity of Central America he is always one of the most fit players on the pitch. He's ALWAYS a 90 minute player unless he picks up a knock or something.

Perceptions are a funny thing. I know you watched him closely the other day. And you commented that he looks a bit lazy compared to Adams. But I don't see that. First, they play different roles within the squad. As you said Tyler is just a damn Terrier. A relentless runner and destroyer. Wes reads the game very well and takes up positions to close down passing lanes, find space, or create space for others. He will often look like he's just floating around the midfield. Unless he is getting really stuck in, which we have also seen so far, or getting forward into the attack, it's easy to wonder what the hell he has done in a match. Until he's not on the pitch. And then you miss all the little things you didn't quite pick up on.

I think it was 64 that posted his match stats from the Southampton game. Not too bad for a guy we all barely noticed.

Having said all that I do think he will get better. The Premier League is the best league in the world. There is always an adjustment period. It's only been 5 games with 3 different Managers. So with a bit more time with his new teammates, and with greater tactical clarity I think we will see much more of his game. Particularly his ability to contribute in the attacking third. I think he will be a very important players for Leeds United.

Now here is where I'll piss some people off. I've been talking about his pedigree. Champion's League football at Schalke and Juventus. Top Five Leagues. A clear starting eleven player in those teams. A 24 year old that has been capped 41 times with 9 goals for a top 15 ranked National Team. A midfield player that contributed to a dominating midfield performance against England in the World Cup. And we have people on this message board bitching about his $30M potential price tag???? Someone needs to explain that to me. Because you would think that people around here would be lauding the initiative of the Board to sign a player like that for ONLY $30M.

We sold the vastly overrated Kalvin Philips for 50M. A guy that had literally played only a season and a half of Premier League football. And some people around here were complaining that we didn't get enough for him.

Well said.

As for Kalvin ...he was my favorite Leeds player (other than Jack) before the arrival of Tyler, but he's been abysmal for City. His lack of quality has truly shown

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