We shall see. It’s good news for Gio Reyna and Tim Weah.
We don’t have anyone who can control the ball facing goal and create chances while inside the box. This kid has that ability - at least in the lower divisions. We’ve got a few good athletes who can run at goal and score facing forward, but nobody that can control a ball, create a chance and score from inside 18. We really haven’t had that since McBride though Dempsey tried to be that player and most US fans didn’t know better.
That said, he does a lot of outside shoulder runs versus center backs, just looking at his highlights. And we don’t really have anyone that can service that and that’s one of the reasons we brought in Berhalter to build up in a different way wide.
If they can retool the tactics and lineup and get him service, we could become dangerous. But then you question the wisdom of rearranging the team for a merc and how guys like Pulisic and McKinney who have been around since they were teenagers handle that.
He had a hat trick the other day and scored against PSG. That’s an upgrade from Ferreira and Sargent. And more reliable, perhaps, than a poacher like Pepi, but he’s young and there’s a reason why he was essentially let go by the EPL and isn’t in England’s plans.
Let’s hope he tidies up nicely. It’s needed.