Pablo: Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Diego Kochen (Lyngby) Jeff: Turner, Schwake, Kochen, Andrew Thomas (Seattle Sounders) Maurer: This is probably the easiest position on the field to predict, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. Turner seems likely enough to retain his starting role for the time being, though Kochen’s age (20) and form seem likely to earn him minutes this window, given Pochettino’s insistence that he wants to use this window to season several Olympic hopefuls. I’d be shocked not to see Schwake in the picture; he has been lights-out for the presumptive Supporters’ Shield winners.
Pochettino did mention Nashville last week in a list of players producing promising young talent – at 25, Schwake doesn’t quite fit that descriptor, though as a rule, US keepers tend to skew a bit on the elderly side. Otherwise, I have no idea who on earth Poch could be talking about. Rueter: Turner is the only returnee from the World Cup trio thanks to his excellent record in MLS, leading all goalkeepers with 10.7 goals prevented (per FotMob).
Andrew Thomas (9.6) and Brian Schwake (8.2) rank second and fourth in that metric with Seattle and Nashville. Both are mid-20s alternatives to Matt Freese with success at the club level, with Thomas having won the Leagues Cup final over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Schwake having backstopped Nashville to the U.S. Brady’s positioning leaves plenty to be desired with Chicago, while Diego Kochen began the World Cup as a training goalkeeper and is now getting regular games on loan with Lyngby.
Maurer: Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Justin Che (Red Bull New York), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Tim Weah (Marseille), Max Arfsten (Middlesborough), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Rueter: Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Luca Bombino (Stoke City), Alex Freeman, Neil Pierre, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah Rueter: Robinson (left) and Freeman (right) should enter this cycle as the presumptive starters on their respective sides of the defensive line. Their alternative on each side also considers where each is at in their career: Robinson is 29 and a younger backup should be identified soon, so I’m going with Luca Bombino, who earned a move to Stoke City on the back of his breakout with San Diego FC. Bombino has been comfortable operating as a left back in a back-four, dependable in his positioning and a lesser factor for chance creation than most modern wide defenders.
Freeman is the rising option where a more veteran alternative makes sense, and Marseille captain Tim Weah should remain part of this core regardless of a disappointing World Cup. All of his starts this season have come as the right back in a back four. Centrally, Richards enters this cycle with clear status as the defensive bedrock, and Auston Trusty larged fared well this summer.
Tristan Blackmon struggled to acclimate in a September crash-course, but has continued to perform at a high level as the lead defender in a possession-dominant Vancouver Whitecaps. Maurer: Ream – the oldest player in USMNT history to appear at a World Cup – would seem easy enough to leave off of this (and future) rosters but he has said he won’t retire international until he retires completely, and Pochettino clearly values him. I also believe he’ll prove a useful tutor to players like Miller, Pierre and Che as they get their footing with the national team.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
