I was so disappointed after the game on Wednesday that I had to take a few days to gather my thoughts. Which is essentially that some of the guys in this game are probably past their National Team windows in their career. Namely Aaron Long, Sean Johnson (outside of a 3rd keeper), Walker Zimmerman (will be used as depth this summer) and unfortunately DeAndre Yedlin. The disappointing part was how shaky everyone looked. This was a squad of experienced National Team players that seemed shaky on the ball and not confident with the ball at their feet.
If Hudson had started Neal, Wynder, Wiley, and Aidan Morris then I would expect the nerves to get the better of them and play on their heels a bit. But these guys had some caps: Zimmerman 40, Acosta 58, Long 32, Johnson 12 (over 350 MLS aps), Yedlin 78. I expect guys with that kind of experience to look cool, calm and collected under pressure. They did not. Dest was rusty, which is to be expected. But when the moment got big in the 80th minute he looked like the best player on the field (which he was). Jordan Morris was trying to feed the ball to the 9 all game and Ferreira was playing out of position so I don't put too much blame on them. James Sands didn't look bad. The former Rangers and current NYCFC player made a good pass to JoMo dow the right side that actually looked like a soccer player.
Another positive was Alan Sonora looked really good. We haven't seen much of him with the first team, but he's gotten called in to the squad regularly. He played with fire, confidence, and skill. My entire review of the game boils down to this; It looked like an early 2000's USMNT game. We sat back on chucked it down the pitch hoping for a homer play when we got possession in the defensive third. It's not how the US plays soccer anymore. I'd still like to see more of these games, but I'd like to see younger MLS players get more chances. I also think Miles Robinson, Paul Arriola, and Cristian Roldan completely change that game. Arriola and Roldan are vets that play well against CONCACAF opponents and there's no way Mexico scores that goal if Miles is on the pitch. He wouldn't have made that pass and he would've caught the Mexico player well before the 18 yard box.
It looked very apparent the difference between our defenders and keepers playing in Europe and our guys playing domestically. The European based players are smoother on the ball and more confident in their passing on a more consistent basis.
Now onto something I've wanted to write about for a while. We have a lot of National Team players that need to find a new club this summer. Most players not playing for Leeds, Fulham, Cameron Carter-Vickers, or Joe Scally seem to be in limbo in regards to playing time with their current club. So here's what I've got:
Christian Pulisic- Chelsea: One of the most heralded American's of all time, Chelsea have been an absolute mess and Pulisic needs to find a new home. Dortmund have been discussed and I would love to see it. Athletico Madrid, Newcastle United, and Fulham have all been linked as possible destinations as well. As long as Pulisic goes to a club willing to play him and allow him to get the ball in dangerous spots, he's going to excel. He just needs out of Chelsea.
Sergino Dest- AC Milan (loan from Barcelona): We were all really hopeful that this was going to be a final destination for Dest, but he's fallen out of favor with AC. My ideal landing spot for the young right back is any club in Europe's top 8 leagues that buys him to be THE starting right back. He's going to have a massive chip on his shoulder and as long as the club puts their faith in him, he's going to do great things. I know Ajax have been mentioned, but again I'm down for any team in the top eight European Leagues.
Matt Turner-Arsenal: Turner went to the Premier League giants to work on his footwork with a massive club ahead of the World Cup. His footwork has improved tremendously but he's not going to start for the Gunners. I'd guess we will see him on loan at a Championship club, and I think it would be a great fit.
Zac Steffen- Middlesboro (loan from Manchester City): Steffen has made known his desire to leave City and Boro are currently in a hunt for promotion, I think if he stays its a perfect fit whether it's in the Prem or Championship.
Ethan Horvath-Luton Town (loan from Nottingham Forest): Horvath currently has Luton Town in 3rd place in the Championship fighting for promotion. I think either club is a great permanent fit for him.
Gaga Sloanina- Chelsea: The fourth and final American keeper under contract for a Premier League club that is going to need to find a home next season. There's a chance Gaga stays at Chelsea and plays FA Cup games and continues to learn. I love the idea of him going to the Netherlands or Belgium to be a starter.
Chris Richards- Crystal Palace: Richards made a big money move to Palace from Hoffenheim last offseason where he was a regular starter and looking to make a push for a starting center back spot ahead of the World Cup. Instead he barely saw the pitch in his first season. I'm not sure if Palace are willing to take a loss on him to sell him back to Germany or France. Leeds desperately need to shore up their defense and I love the idea of going full Leeds United States and signing Richards and Miles Robinson.
Miles Robinson- Atlanta United: He'll be free to sign winter free transfer away from MLS and it's definitely in his best interest to continue his way back to being a national team starter. Bad injury luck kept Robinson from likely being a starter in Qatar. I love the idea of him going to Leeds to better their defense. He's on a free transfer so wherever he goes he'll be a bargain. I think he's capable of playing immediately in any of the top eight leagues in Europe, but I'm wary of anyone making a jump from MLS to the Premier League.
Weston McKennie- Leeds (on loan from Juventas): McKennie got out of a crowded midfield in Juve to go play for Marsch and with Tyler Adams. Marsch was sacked, Adams is injured, and Leeds are battling for their Premier League lives. If they stay up they could exercise their purchase clause on McKennie but I also think Germany and Italy would be good landing spots for the Texan.
Tim Weah- Lile: He's still playing a ton, but at right back. Maybe that works for him and for the national team going forward. If not I'm sure any number of clubs would love to put Weah on their attack.
Gio Reyna- Dortmund: Gio has had a rough 18 months. Injuries kept him from most of World Cup Qualifying and the 21-22 Bundesliga season. Then the entire World Cup debacle and now he's barely playing (but still scoring) at Dortmund. He's maybe our most talented player, but he needs a new home. Gio could definitely go anywhere and succeed. I would prefer he stay away from the PL right now as it is an incredibly physical league, but he could contribute for nearly any Champions League club.
Ricardo Pepi- Groningen (on loan from Augsburg): Speaking of debacles, Pepi made the massive money move from FC Dallas to Augsburg, didn't play much in his first season in the Bundesliga, stopped getting called in to the national team ahead of and for the World Cup, and has been setting the Netherlands ablaze. Pepi has said he has no desire to go back to Augsburg, but Augsburg insist he's very much in their future plans. I think Pepi needs to suck it up and go back at least through the January transfer window. It's highly unlikely that anyone is going to pay Augsburg what they paid FC Dallas for him, and frankly if they aren't then he should go back. It's a top league and if he has a chance to play he should take it. If things don't pan out both parties can move on, but as it stands I think Pepi should go try and prove himself.
Malik Tillman- Rangers (on loan from Bayern Munich): Tillman has had incredible success for Rangers, who have a $5 million purchase clause on their loan deal. I would bet they take it, but I think Tillman could make a go at a team like Mainz or Shalke in the Bundesliga and hold his own just fine. I would be shocked if he's not on the 2026 World Cup roster.
Haji Wright Antalyaspor: Someone get my man Haji Wright out of Turkey. I think he could succeed in the Championship, Bundesliga, Serie A, the Netherlands, Portugal, or Ligue 1. He just needs the chance.
Auston Trusty- Birmingham City (on loan from Arsenal): This is a curious case because Trusty is 24, playing well in the Championship and has a ton of potential. I think he could land on a Premier League club next season, or even be a rotational piece for Arsenal in the Champions League and across all competitions for a season. The Birmingham fans love him, but I think his ceiling is too high to stay.
Bryan Reynolds- Westerlo (on loan from Roma): I would like to see him get a real chance with Roma. They obviously saw something in him they liked when they signed him from FC Dallas, but he never played with them. If they aren't committed to giving him real minutes then I hope he's able to find a club in the Belgium-France range that will.
Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes), George Bello (Armenia), Matthew Hoppe (Aberdeen on loan from Middlesboro), Tanner Tessman and Gianluca Busio (Venezia): EPB doesn't need to play in Ligue 2, but I think he could find a home in Belgium, the Netherlands, or a Europa League club in a lower league. The rest of these guys may do best to find their next home stateside in Major League Soccer. Hoppe has had a rough go finding a home, Bello is destined to stay in the 2.Bundesliga and I think MLS is a better league with WAY more NT exposure than all of these leagues. Richie Ledezma and James Sands just made the leap back across the pond and there's no shame in it. Guys like Jordan Morris, Kellyn Acosta, Walker Zimmerman, and Cristian Roldan have made a World Cup and played a ton of games for the National Team by being good, reliable MLS players. There isn't much case study for American's who come home going back to Europe but if the pay is good, you're on the NT radar and you're having fun then you're either going to get the opportunity to go back or you're going to make a lot of local MLS fans very happy for a very long time.
Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Brendan Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Luca de la Torre, Joe Scally, Jordan Pefok, Mark McKenzie, Reggie Cannon, Taylor Booth, Djordje Mihailovic, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josh Sargent: PLEASE STAY AT YOUR CLUB! We have to have some guys who are playing regularly at high levels and as our player pool gets deeper and more talented I believe that being fit and in form for your club is going to make a difference on getting a call up. So make the best use of your opportunity!
Comments
Post a Comment