Antonee Robinson concluded the U.S. men’s national team’s November window as the top performer in Gregg Berhalter’s squad and now the 26-year-old’s focus has quickly shifted back to his goals with English Premier League club Fulham.
Robinson is back in London ahead of the Cottagers’ resumption of the first half of the league schedule. The American left back scored two goals and registered one assist in two CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal ties against Trinidad & Tobago, helping the USMNT advance to the final four of the competition and reach the 2024 Copa America.
Robinson has remained a key starter for the USMNT in 2023 and was pleased with his performances on the international stage this month.
“It was enjoyable,” Robinson said in a club interview. “The way the second game went, it was a bit unfortunate we didn’t win, but our job was to reach the Nations League semifinal and final, as well as Copa America.
“It was great to put the ball in the right net for once,” Robinson added. “It was enjoyable to score twice in a row. I have a pretty good license to go forward with the U.S. Both fullbacks are allowed to fly upfield and I was able to take my chances.”
Robinson has made 11 EPL appearances this season for Marco Silva’s squad, but Fulham’s form has dipped a bit over the past month. The Cottagers have only won three of their 12 league matches to date, only earning one point out of their last 12 available since late-October.
A busy schedule continues for Fulham on Monday against Wolves, before an eight-match December slate features matches with Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Arsenal. Robinson knows the importance of the busy festive period in England and is ready to help Fulham turn things around heading into 2024.
“Now that I got a few goals and an assist during the international window, I want to bring it back to Fulham and help us,” Robinson said.. “We want to turn the tide of the results lately and try and get some good results.
“It’s pretty much known that this period is busy, we’re going to have to dig in and grind out as many results as possible,” he added. “Knowing you have another match quickly after the one that just finished is a good opportunity and something to look forward to.”
The real concern is whether Castagne takes over left back when Tete returns for Fulham
I have a 2 part challenge or mission for the community or for any who read this. There are 20 clubs/teams in the EPL, right?! Your challenge should you choose to accept… is to name all the LBs in the EPL, who you think are better than Jedi. If you can only name, X number of players, ahead to of him, then Jedi is the number after, Example- if you name 10 LBs, then Jedi is 11, or if you name 19 LBs then Jedi is 20 etc). Then name 30 LBs in the world better than Jedi. You are going to have to go out of your Top 5 league comfort zone in order to do it because LBs are found throughout the whole world and not just in 5 leagues. Let the reassessment of Jedi’s talent at his position in the world begin. This is your challenge should you choose to except it. This message will self destruct in 10 seconds upon reading this. Bonne sharnce!!
Shaw, Chilwell, Robertson, Zinchenko, Estupinan. I’d say Jedi is somewhere in that 5-10 range in his league and probably 20-30 in the world. If you asked 14 months ago I’d say Cucarella was above him but that might bring up the point that for a lot of players it’s the situation and tactics that either allow them to shine or drop to the shadows. I thought Jedi would never get past the Yedlin level of just rely on speed and not worry too much about reading the game or fundamentals. Jedi has gone beyond Deandre by a ways. However, given how much of the NT offense depends on the fullbacks to run the offense his touch, passing, and reading of combinations has to get better if the US is going to move up to having a chance to regularly beat top 10 teams. Some of that is on Pulisic because he doesn’t really try to play with him but just go alone. The two have been playing together for 3 or 4 years they really should know how to play off each other. Jedi is currently the best we have, but we do need to keep eyes on Tolkin and Lund. That also doesn’t mean he can’t have poor outings.
Does that include Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz?
Teams with a back three don’t exactly play with a left back per se.
For teams that use a left back the way Fulham use Jedi he’s probably in the top 15.
But these guys do not play in a vacuum.
It is not a coincidence that Jedi and Timmy both hit their best with Fulham (and the USMNT) once they partnered.
My self absorbed take – you’re late on your analysis on Jedi. You’re 2018 late, that’s 5 years ago.