With soon-to-be new USMNT coach looming over all, Pulisic and top American stars were back in action in Europe
There was great anticipation to the first weekend of the return of European soccer. The summer was longer, or shorter, than anyone could have expected. Over a month-and-a-half since the USMNT's Copa America exit, the faces of the U.S. program were finally playing again at club level. Weeks of waiting. Finally.
And then midweek …. kaboom. Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly on his way to replace Gregg Berhalter, and suddenly, all the U.S. players had to be feeling the weight of the news. There's a feeling of excitement and anticipation, but also a feeling of pressure. This team is changing, and it's changing very soon.
Pochettino's shadow hung over just about everything USMNT-related to the opening European weekend. Top stars will know their places are no longer as secure as they once were. Youngsters will feel like these next few weeks will be their big chance to prove who they are. Those on the fringes are back in the picture. Everything is up for grabs again as the USMNT will begin again under the cleanest of slates.
It's all just starting to get going on the club level, but there's no time to waste, is there? Roster spots are there to be earned, transfers are there to be sealed and, for the first time in years, there's a soon-to-be USMNT manager to impress. It's going to be a wild two-year ride and, technically, it hasn't even started yet.
With that said, GOAL takes a look at the big storylines and takeaways from Americans abroad over the weekend.
Getty Images SportConcerns at the goalkeeper position?
For most of the USMNT's modern history, the goalkeeper position has been the last thing you had to worry about. These days, there probably isn't a bigger area of concern.
Matt Turner, the incumbent No. 1, was left out of Nottingham Forest's matchday squad altogether. Ther really is no route back for Turner. A potential MLS move is already gone, with that transfer window already closed, so he'll have a few more days to figure out where he can end up in Europe that will allow him the playing time he needs.
His primary backup, Ethan Horvath, let in an absolute howler for Cardiff City, not exactly the way he scripted the start to the season. Gabriel Slonina, who has worked under Pochettino before, is thriving in League One but that's … League One. Besides, Patrick Schulte started over him in the Olympics, even if he had his rocky moments.
What's Poch to do here? Does he stick with Turner if he isn't playing? Does he turn the job over to one of the two young guns for two years of seasoning pre-World Cup? Or does this open the door for someone like Zack Steffen to battle his way back?
Either way, it's what you'd expect the USMNT to be dealing with at this point.
AdvertisementGettyHot start in the Championship
Folarin Balogun is still the guy at the striker position but, with a new coach coming in, things can always change. The guys in the Championship seem to understand that better than most.
Haji Wright made quite a statement this weekend, scoring twice in Coventry City's 3-2 win. During the Copa America, and during large stretches of last season, Wright was deployed as a winger, but, realistically, he's a goalscorer no matter where he is on the field. That's largely been true with the USMNT, which keeps him in consideration.
Josh Sargent's goal record with the USMNT certainly isn't as good, but his stats on the club level have been ridiculous for the past year or so. After scoring 16 in 26 last season, he scored and assisted another this past weekend for Norwich in a 2-2 draw with Blackburn.
Any player putting up such numbers has to be considered and Sargent continues to produce more than anyone else in this player pool. He's been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent weeks… could that further his case?
Either way, the Championship is the league to watch for strikers, and that's even before Daryl Dike's return. If Wright and Sargent keep lighting teams up like this, they won't be in that league for long.
IMAGO / Just pictures Welcome to the show, Caleb Wiley
It's the start of a very, very long journey but, hey, it's started.
Caleb Wiley made his first appearance for Strasbourg over the weekend, starting on the left wing in a 1-1 draw with Montpellier. The former Atlanta United youngster and current Chelsea loanee certainly showed well for himself, looking more than ready to play at an elevated level in Ligue 1.
The 19-year-old Atlanta homegrown always showed flashes of the spectacular during his time in MLS, but consistency is the name of the game. That's his mission statement this year: good, consistent performances in the league that should allow him to adjust to life in Europe.
There are still questions over his position that need to be addressed, but we'll see how that sorts itself out. All that matters is Wiley is playing and, based on what we saw this weekend, he's off to the right sort of start.
GettyRichie Ledezma, the right-back
It feels like it's been years since Richie Ledezma broke through. To be honest, that's because it has. He initially left Real Salt Lake's system to join PSV five years ago and, to be fair, it never really worked out.
That is until right now. At the moment, it seems to finally be coming together for the 23-year-old American.
Ledezma originally broke through with the U.S. youth teams as a talented midfielder. He was at the center of a battle between both Mexico and the U.S. He balled out for the U.S. at the 2019 U-20 World Cup in a central midfield spot, setting up a goal in a 3-2 upset of France before earning his senior debut later.
As it turns out, though, he may not be a midfielder. PSV have used him as a right-back to start the season and, in these opening games, the results are good. Ledezma has looked totally comfortable there which, in turn, should result in more opportunities.
Who knows what happens going forward, particularly when Sergino Dest is healthy, but Ledezma is taking his opportunity after waiting for it for a long, long time.