GOAL US writers break down the biggest storylines, with Pochettino's first fixtures with USMNT taking center stage
After much anticipation, discussion and debate, Mauricio Pochettino's first games at the helm as USMNT manager are nearly here. And there's a lot to break down. The squad has unexpectedly been hit heavily by a slew of injuries, with a handful of presumptive starters forced to watch from the sidelines. It should make for an interesting duo of fixtures with Panama (Oct. 12) and in Mexico (Oct. 15).
There are also broader questions to be asked about the state of soccer in MLS. The league broke its attendance record this season, with more than 11 million fans watching games nationwide – a historic mark in the scope of the sport's history in the U.S.
And in terms of records, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are on the fringe of breaking MLS's points record. Miami can top the New England Revolution's MLS points mark of 72 set in 2021 in their regular-season finale with a win. It would, for sure, be a significant moment for the league. Meanwhile, there are several coaching vacancies in the MLS – which one represents the most attractive opportunity?
GOAL US writers break down all of those storylines in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
What are the consequences of Folarin Balogun's injury for USMNT?
Tom Hindle: Well, for the player himself, it's not great. Folarin Balogun was, preumsbaly, Pochettino's No. 1 choice for the starting striker spot. This would seem to be an unfortunate missed chance in terms of working with his future head coach – not sure anything will change going forward. For Pochettino, though, there is a silver lining. Now he can experiment, and bring some of the guys on the fringes into the fray. Josh Sargent, for example, presumably gets a look. Then again, let's be honest, who really looks at an international team and says 'Yeah, love the state of our backup strikers'?
Ryan Tolmich: It really is unfortunate for him but, thinking big picture, it could be a good thing that Pochettino gets a chance to look at other options this camp. Sargent hasn't played meaningful USMNT minutes in two years. Ricardo Pepi has very few minutes on the club level, which makes USMNT games even more important. Brandon Vazquez, meanwhile, is a player with a unique skillset that could very well appeal to Pochettino. It's less-than ideal not having Balogun in this camp to see how Pochettino uses him, but hopefully the world can get a closer look in November.
Jacob Schneider: Say hello to Josh Sargent and Haji Wright, USMNT fans. Essentially, this opens up so many things. Ideally? It's a full-camp of a healthy Sargent, something we have not seen in such a long time. Then, on the wings, it's Haji and Christian Pulisic, with Malik Tillman or Brenden Aaronson at the 10. For Flo, though, it's brutal. Not ideal by any means, but at the same time, the U.S. needs him for November – he can miss October without any true implications.
Alex Labidou: There are two ways to look at this setback. On the one hand, it's abysmal timing for Balogun as he was starting to get in form at Monaco after months of struggles. This injury, unfortunately, takes away an opportunity for Pochettino – and U.S. fans – to see how the striker would fit under the Argentine's system. Yet, this is not all bad news. The reality is the U.S. can't solely rely on the former Arsenal youth system product as its only option. It needs to know who can step in if he should fall out of form or get struck with another injury.
Long-time U.S. fans will remember Jozy Altidore got hurt during the 2014 World Cup, and the team was scrambling for options as to who should play in his spot. This is an ideal opportunity for the Americans to figure out who best serves in Pochettino's system. Sargent, for example, has been labeled as the best striker in the English Championship this season, and there is intrigue with both Pepi and Vasquez. This is a good opportunity to potentially test all three in training and in matches.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhich U.S. player has the most to gain in this camp?
TH: It has to be Brendan Aaronson. Pochettino has already spoken a bit about the Leeds man needing to find his best position, so it's pretty clear that he rates him enough to help him find his way into the XI. A couple of good performances, presumably at a more constant position, and he could do enough to – dare we say it – put Gio Reyna's spot in doubt come November.
RT: Pick a centerback, any centerback! The only central defender who is close to a locked-in starter is Chris Richards, and he's injured. Other than him, it's a dogfight for that second centerback spot, with four contenders in camp this month. Tim Ream, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson will have chances to show that they've earned the right to play next to Richards. Goalkeeper is a close second in terms of positional battles, but it's all about the centerbacks right now.
JS: It's Sargent. He's the English Championship's top scorer in all of 2024. If he wants to prove he deserves keys to the USMNT up top, he needs to have a good camp. There's nobody but him that has such weight on their shoulders
AL: The strikers certainly could gain a lot this camp, but based on forward-thinking, Trusty has a real chance here. The reality is Ream has acknowledged he's getting up there in age, and there's no concrete successor who can step in right away and fill his large shoes. Trusty, despite being a regular starter for a Premier League club last season, appears to have been a forgotten man on the national team over the past year or so. He has a valuable opportunity here to make an impression on the new U.S. manager.
GettySwitching to MLS: How important would it be for Miami to break the points record?
TH: If you think hard, but not too hard, it means quite a lot. For the outside world, Lionel Messi is MLS. A lot of poeple only really pay attention when the Argentine is strutting his stuff. If he can lead Miami – with of help, by the way – to a record-breaking season, then it's only good for the league. Sure, it's all about lifting the championship at the end of the year, but the record ain't bad.
RT: It would be cool, but it definitely doesn't matter if they don't win MLS Cup. We've seen teams smash points records and fall short in the playoffs before. Those teams, ultimately, failed. That's the harsh reality of MLS, which places all of the emphasis on postseason play. So, for Miami, boatloads of points and goals from ex-Barcelona stars are great – but if they don't win MLS Cup, they'll be criticized, not praised.
JS: It's not going to mean a ton, to be frank. Messi is a cheat code, and Luis Suarez somehow is still kicking at an insanely high level. It will be a cool record for them to hold, but in the grand scheme of things, it won't be something they're remembered for. This team should have broken 80 points, to be honest, but record or not, winning the MLS Cup would overshadow it all.
AL: It feels like destiny, doesn't it? There’s a valid debate, raised by Apple TV commentator Maurice Edu during the Miami match, about whether this is the best MLS team ever. If Messi and his teammates succeed in surpassing New England's points record, it could be a significant PR boost for MLS, especially considering the controversial circumstances that led to New England's decline just a season and a half later under Bruce Arena's tenure.
That said, it still feels like the 2011 LA Galaxy are likely the best MLS team in history. The pressure was equally as high and each level in the starting XI was well-rounded — there were very few weak links on that team. The fact that David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane all combined for the game-winning goal to seal the championship felt like something straight out of a movie. Miami still has a chance to challenge that but for now, 2011 Galaxy are still the best all-time MLS team.
IMAGNWhat is the most attractive MLS coach vacancy?
TH: Don't overthink it, the answer is St. Louis CITY. The club have a good front office setup, loyal fan base, and enough energy to embrace a new gaffer in the dugout. There was a sense around the league that St. Louis was a sleeping giant of a soccer town. Time to get the right guy in to prove it.
JS: It's gotta be St. Louis. Brilliant in their debut season, horrendous this year, but they have the outline and skeleton of an elite roster. That, and ownership has showed a willingness to spend. Factor in they're a hotbed for U.S. Soccer and the national teams, and it's a no-brainer. Also, the openings in Texas (FC Dallas and Austin) and San Jose feel like massive uphill challenges at this point. The questionable one is Atlanta. Lots of turnover since Tata Martino left and very little success. Are you willing to risk being the next person on a short leash?
RT: It’s very clearly Atlanta, given the ownership’s willingness to spend and ambition, but the Chicago Fire are a close second. While Atlanta is a rebuild job with a war chest, the Fire are a sleeping giant with a blank slate. They’ll call for different types of coaches, but both are very attractive. Go with Atlanta, though, because that job is proven to be good with a huge stadium, fantastic infrastructure and the support needed to build a contender
AL: Chicago has been a sleeping giant of an MLS club – it's the biggest market that has failed to make a significant footprint due to missteps on all levels. Hiring former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter would be a step in the right direction, but he's not a cure-all and outside of taking a big swing on a Neymar-level signing, there is no overnight fix for this team.
Considering all of the above, how about Austin? This is a club that had everything going for it when it first launched and is descending into chaos this season. On paper, former NYCFC coach Domenic Torrent would appear to be a strong candidate due to his ties to sporting director Rodolfo Borrell, both serving as assistant coaches under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Yet, a more prudent choice might actually be Sporting KC's Peter Vermes. Saturday's loss to LA Galaxy, which painted Austin in a disappointing light with several skirmishes, pointed to a need for a strong culture. Vermes, even in this disappointing season in Kansas City, has run an extremely tight ship during his nearly two-decade tenure at the club. With SKC likely needing a fresh voice, Austin should strongly consider working out an agreement with Sporting to bring someone who is well-respected around the league. Vermes would be the perfect fit here.