The U.S. men’s national team’s first window since its Copa America disappointment wasn’t really a step in the right direction.
Mikey Varas’ squad suffered a 2-1 loss to rivals Canada before conceding a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand. While the most exciting news of the international window was Mauricio Pochettino’s official hiring as head coach, the performances from the USMNT players did not follow suit.
There were a few bright spots though with Aidan Morris and Marlon Fossey headlining the difference makers in the camp. However, a few failed to rise to the occasion like Josh Sargent and Tim Ream.
Here is a look at the USMNT players who boosted or lowered their stock the most in September’s window:
Winners
Aidan Morris
Aidan Morris is certainly enjoying a positive period in his career.
After a fast start with English second-tier side Middlesbrough, Morris delivered two positive performances against Canada and New Zealand. The two-time MLS Cup winner assisted on the USMNT’s lone goal against the Canadians before delivering a strong 86 minutes against New Zealand.
Morris now heads back to Teesside with even more confidence under his belt.
Marlon Fossey
Five years after his last inclusion in a USMNT camp, Marlon Fossey left a positive mark in the squad.
Fossey, 26, logged 90 minutes against New Zealand in his first senior international appearance. The Standard Liege full back was strong on both ends of the field against the All Whites, holding firm defensively, while also linking up with his offensive teammates in the final third.
If not for Ricardo Pepi’s offsides call, Fossey would’ve had his first USMNT assist on Tuesday.
With Sergino Dest remaining sidelined, Fossey has a strong chance to stay in Pochettino’s plans this fall.
Patrick Schulte
Matt Turner’s lack of playing time at club level could open the door to a competitive race for the USMNT’s No. 1 shirt. Enter Patrick Schulte.
Schulte made five saves in the 2-1 loss to Canada, bailing the Americans out on several occasions. The 2023 MLS Cup winner also made a pair of important claims on corner kicks, while completing over 95% of his passes (short and long passing).
Schulte has enjoyed a quick rise in his career and could be in the mix for more caps in October.
Losers
Tim Ream
Tim Ream did not have a good day against Canada.
Ream played 90 minutes in defense, but made one major error which led to Canada’s second goal of the match. Although he wasn’t fully at blame for Canada’s opening goal as well, his quick pass to Johnny Cardoso eventually led to Jacob Shaffelburg’s strike.
The 36-year-old will try and stay in Pochettino’s plans come October, but with a new coach at the helm, it may also mark the end of Ream’s international career.
Johnny Cardoso
Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie’s absences opened the door for Johnny Cardoso to boost his stock with the USMNT. Sadly, he did not take advantage of that opportunity.
Cardoso’s error against Canada led to the visitors opening goal of the match. While at times Cardoso looked for passing lanes and opportunities, he also took the safe way out with his passes at times.
He played a total of 66 minutes over the two matches, but didn’t truly impact either match.
Josh Sargent
Josh Sargent might be scoring goals for Norwich City but his USMNT role has remained stagnant.
Sargent did not feature in either match of the September window, continuing what has been a frustrating time for him on the international level. The 24-year-old has been impactful for Norwich City, there’s no denying that, but potential fitness issues could be what’s holding him back from a larger USMNT role.
Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright all remain in front of Sargent in the USMNT striker pecking order.
Which players impressed you the most in September’s camp? Who disappointed?
Share your thoughts below.
i’d think the last 2 games would have outsize influence, good or ill, which would favor morris and fossey, and disfavor ream, johnny, turner, and others.
i think sargent comes out probably neutral. if you don’t play much and the coaching changes, you can’t be blamed and didn’t visibly play bad in the transition period. now if it had been more coaching from the GB tree, this extended period of getting called then dumped to the end of the bench would have boded bad.
if this is going to trend either frontline firepower or high press it’s gonna favor guys with that skill set. i can’t imagine a coach as good as poch will have as bad a disconnect between his ideas and who he calls to execute them. he may do the nicer version of it but he’s gonna call people who do what he wants.
Musah really struggled mightily.
Interesting all 3 in the winners section have seen consistent minutes with their clubs. Ream 180 minutes since July 1, Cardoso only 2 starts in 7 matches for Betis, Sargent injury again.
I feel this is Ream last window, we gotta move on.
Chris Richards and Mark McKennzie were also losers. They did not play well.
Agree…McKenzie’s freak mistake was weird, but he still didn’t play well overall. Richards tried too many forced passes straight into crowded areas. He didn’t move diagonally with the ball at all to keep the play moving.
Even though McKenzie kicked it off a NZ player for a goal, Wiley was the reason it happened, he should have headed the ball back to Turner harder, but didn’t clear nor head it back to Turner.
Morris did look very composed on the ball as a deep laying #6. He did seem to fade a little late as his fitness looked to slow down a little but that can also be due to a lot of minutes with his time at Columbus and then moving straight to Middlesbrough. But if he keeps it up, definitely deserves more chances.
I thought the same about Ream. It looks like the sun is setting on his international career. His past few years before 2024 went well but that age and slowness is catching up as he doesn’t have any speed and his ball movement is now waning.
Cardoso really botched his chance to stake a claim. That error was 100% his fault but I’m surprised that Musah wasn’t mentioned here. Yeah he looked lively but too many times his habit of over dribbling came into play and he lost the ball in bad spots.
I can tell you in weird situations like this, you can take what you see as a data point but it’s not much more than that. I really don’t think you judge anybody on this window, which was completely messed up thanks to the USSF, though the guys who stood out – Morris and Fossey, especially – did show they deserve longer looks.
” I really don’t think you judge anybody on this window, which was completely messed up”
100% Your comment sums up the entire window.
The USMNT didn’t know why they were there and didn’t want to be there.
Every flaw on display was something we’ve all seen and bitched, whined and moaned about for years. Gio hurt? CB’s mistake prone? Team generally aimless? Keeper frightening? Tactics and Caretakers not up to IV’s exacting standards?
No shit.
At the best of times, absent the World Cup, this USMNT version of Gregg’s Core Crew was always pretty listless, pedestrian, lost as soon as adversity hit; name the flaw, they showed it.
And to top it all off, they were under the management of someone whose mind was already elsewhere.
The good news is they aren’t any worse than what we have all seen for years.
So far, Pochettino hasn’t run away screaming so maybe there is hope.
For those of you who have already climbed up on ledge because of the USMNT here’s something you should read before you jump:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5755854/2024/09/10/mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-us-soccer/
Not sure how Sargent is a loser here. I’m not sure what happened, he was an unused sub against Canada and then wasn’t listed on the team against NZ. Did he get hurt? Returned to Norwich early?
Anyway, his competition (Balogun, Pepi, Wright) failed to score in either game. The starting striker spot was pretty much Balogun’s to lose, and he might be in the process of losing it.
Who knows how Pochettino’s going to see the striker spot, and who he’s going to like there.
Sargent picked up a knock in training and did not dress vs NZ
I am noticing that alway happens to Sargent, picks knock up in training and benched.