Two months after joining Crystal Palace on a season-long loan spell, Matt Turner finally got to make his club debut.
Turner started and played 90 minutes in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 EFL Cup Round of 16 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday. The Nottingham Forest loanee overcame a rough opening goal to make eight saves as the Eagles made it back-to-back wins across multiple competitions.
Eberechi Eze needed only eight minutes to boost Oliver Glasner’s squad in front at Villa Park, making it 1-0.
However, Jhon Duran’s near-post finish snuck past Turner to give the host Villains a 1-1 equalizer 15 minutes later.
After the teams went into the break tied, Crystal Palace eventually propelled themselves back in front. Daichi Kamada’s long-range strike nestled into the bottom-left corner to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Turner, who has been Palace’s No. 2 since his arrival, made three second-half saves to preserve the win. He will be in the mix to start the Eagles’ quarterfinal tie this December, with Manchester United, Tottenham, and his former club Arsenal all in the next round.
Crystal Palace resumes Premier League play on Saturday at Wolves, with Turner likely to drop back to the bench.
Saying Matt is flawed is giving him way too much credit. He is technically below average…he is even worse tactically…and he is absolutely atrocious with his feet. Given the way the game is played today, that makes him a huge liability to his team.
Matt is not an EPL level keeper and he is not a European top 5 goalkeeper. He is a high level MLS keeper. He is a great story, which is why the US media loves him. He is an even better / nicer person, which is why most people like him and are rooting for him, myself included, but he is not a top-tier goalkeeper, and given our history of USMNT starting goalkeepers, he is not a USMNT #1.
As for someone having to play goalkeeper, that is an accurate statement, but it should not be Matt, and I believe that under Pochettino, and in the 2026 World Cup, it is unlikely to be Matt.
He’s a gamer, he tends to come up with big saves in big games. We (the USMNT) don’t have another keeper that can do that yet. Until that changes, I expect Turner to be our #1. Your criticisms are valid, but right now we don’t have anyone better.
Matt is NOT a good ‘keeper and he lets in howlers, does not read the game well tactically, and his feet suck, which is why no one in the EPL or Championship bought him. Palace was only willing to take him on loan, which is a sweetheart deal for them. Nottingham accepted because they had no use for him…even as a 3rd keeper. They had seen enough of the negative in his game…on multiple occasions…that they took the only offer to unload him for this seasons that they could get.
The USMNT does have other ‘keepers who can do what Matt does…even better…they just have not been given the opportunity. Berhalter fucked the pooch when he betrayed Steffen and then ostracized him. Another example of Berhalter thinking he is the smartest guy in the room that backfired.
Matt will continue to NOT play at the club level, and under Pochettino, that will not serve him well. Plus, I believe if he does play, at the club level or with the USMNT, Matt will continue to show his deficiencies and will play himself out of his current #1 spot.
Why do people think Matt is our best option?…because he is rostered for an EPL team?…or because he plays EFL cup games? How do we know if others don’t get an opportunity.
I believe Pochettino will see the deficiencies in Matt’s game and it will force him to give others an opportunity.
In the end, Matt will be outplayed for the USMNT’s #1 keeper spot.
PG,
“Matt is NOT a good ‘keeper and he lets in howlers, does not read the game well tactically, and his feet suck, which is why no one in the EPL or Championship bought him. “
That is not true. Forest bought him and loaned him to Palace. Both are in the EPL. Don’t fall prey to that “facts do not matter “ disease that is sweeping America and that IV has brought to SBI.
“Palace was only willing to take him on loan, which is a sweetheart deal for them. Nottingham accepted because they had no use for him…even as a 3rd keeper. They had seen enough of the negative in his game…on multiple occasions…that they took the only offer to unload him for this seasons that they could get.”
So?
“The USMNT does have other ‘keepers who can do what Matt does…even better…they just have not been given the opportunity. Berhalter fucked the pooch when he betrayed Steffen and then ostracized him. Another example of Berhalter thinking he is the smartest guy in the room that backfired.”
Steffen did a fine job of screwing up his career without any help from Gregg.
Matt had a fine World Cup and it is hard to imagine that Steffen, who is no slouch himself when it comes to howlers, at his best would have made that much of a difference.
“Matt will continue to NOT play at the club level, and under Pochettino, that will not serve him well. Plus, I believe if he does play, at the club level or with the USMNT, Matt will continue to show his deficiencies and will play himself out of his current #1 spot.”
Maybe
“Why do people think Matt is our best option?…because he is rostered for an EPL team?…or because he plays EFL cup games? How do we know if others don’t get an opportunity.”
The only “people “ who matter in this case is Pochettino.
Matt started Pochettino’s first two games. Matt is our best option until Pochettino says he is not. And until Pochettino starts trying out all the flavors of the month out there, he may not really know if Matt is “the best for the USMNT”
“I believe Pochettino will see the deficiencies in Matt’s game and it will force him to give others an opportunity. In the end, Matt will be outplayed for the USMNT’s #1 keeper spot.”
That is possible. But it may also be that Pochettino may have bigger fish to fry. If Matt is as awful as you say he is then that means that the rest of the pool are more awful-ler.
Pochettino may think he can get away with Matt as the keeper until a viable alternative presents itself.
It may be that as the team gets better, as the CB’s become more sentient, it is possible Matt will get better as well. We’ll soon see.
Not sure who PG thinks should be playing instead of Turner for the USMNT right now.
Schulte played v. Canada – made a couple saves in a loss
Turner played v. NZ in a 1-1 loss (yes, I said a 1-1 loss – that is what it felt
like)
Turner played in the 2-0 win over Panama and the 2-0 loss v. Mexico with Ethan Horvath on the bench.
Just ranting that Turner “sucks” doesn’t get us anywhere. Last time Steffen played in England he lost the FA Cup for Man City. Alison or Ederson aren’t suiting up for the USMNT any time soon.
You lost me at “gave up a rough opening goal.” It happens way too often with him. I’m rooting for the guy but jeez, he gives up too many near post goals and howlers.
From the highlight, the shot came through three defenders and was partly deflected.
Still should have been saved. Gave up a very soft rebound on the next shot. Only completed 55% of his passes. Just not good enough.
Cliche warning: It’s not how you start it’s how you finish. Matt is flawed but he has the biggest balls of any USMNT goalkeeper candidate.
“he gives up too many near post goals”
For as long as I can remember , “they” have always said:
“Come out, make yourself larger, give them nothing to shoot at, and a near post goal is almost impossible.”
Maybe it’s just me but I’m seeing an awful lot of near post goals; a lot of them on some very good keepers like Tim Howard who gave up two near post goals to Ghana in the 2010 World Cup.
Turner is not that great but someone has play goalkeeper.