Josh Sargent is making up for lost time in the Norwich City attack.
Sargent scored for the third-straight match on Saturday as the Canaries drew visiting Derby County 1-1 at Carrow Road. The American striker now has four goals in his last three appearances, which has moved Norwich City just outside of the EFL Championship top-six.
Following a goal-less first half, Norwich City grabbed a 1-0 lead after the hour mark. A positive string of passes eventually led to Emi Marcondes playing Sargent into the Derby box.
Sargent took one touch before drilling a right-footed shot into the top-left corner.
It marked Sargent’s eighth goal of the season.
However, the visiting Rams would leave Norfolk with a share of the spoils as Jerry Yates converted a 92nd minute penalty kick for a 1-1 draw.
Sargent also won three duels and drew three fouls in the match, logging his first 90 minutes since October 22, 2024.
Norwich’s busy February schedule continues with a home match vs. Preston North End on Tuesday.
Sargent’s goalscoring form should bring a major smile to Mauricio Pochettino’s face, with the USMNT down multiple forwards for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.
Lol at the “depth chart” below. We have two Champions League level strikers (or close to it) and they are both injured. Josh is a step down, but not too far at least. He is capable of doing the job when at his best, and he is looking like he is at his best right now. Let’s bubble wrap him because the dropoff behind him is steep. So steep in fact, that for me, it would require a formation change if he can’t go or gets injured. If Sargent can’t play, forget the rest of that “list” and let’s just get our more talented midfielders out there together somehow.
J Mo
Pefok
White
Novakovich
Wright
Vasquez
Sargent
Dike
Soto
Agyemang
Hoppe
McGuire
Balogun
Pepi
Uncapped – Darren Yapi, Cole Campbell, Figueroa, Johan Gomez*
*Olympics not FIFA or January Camp
14 CFs w/ @ least one cap
4 uncapped w/ Gomez exception = 18 total players who play CF. 23 man roster. 2 striker system 4-4-2; 3-5-2; 5-3-2 most logical coaches bring 4 CFs. 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, 5-4-1, 4-3-3 most logical coaches bring 3. Someone who uses 8th grade logic will post that we have no depth. WTF are you taking bout? 14 players isn’t depth? You need 12 for A, B, & C team with a 2 striker system. You need 6 or 9 for a lone striker system. Step your reading comprehension up. Step your reasoning up also. 14 players at any one position IS depth. Don’t let anyone convince you differently. I’ll say it again. If you don’t keep your own depth chart, for the system whoever coaches the US uses then you can’t even get into an intelligent conversation with me. Let alone have a disagreeing perspective that sounds intelligent. You’re the type of person who tries to convince SBI readers that 2+2 = 5.
IO2T,
This thread is about the number 9 slot for the USMNT not an intramural or a beer league pickup team.
You forgot Jozy Altidore. Like Sebastian Soto both of them are without a club. Jozy supposedly retired in 2023 but no problem, I’m sure his body has benefited from the rest, so he has time to get back into shape.
You’ve listed a number of professional American soccer players. Most of them nominally play the # 9 ( though Cole Campbell is listed as a winger or a #10).
Your list of eligible, warm bodies is not a list of USMNT “depth”. It’s a cattle call.
“I’ll say it again. If you don’t keep your own depth chart, for the system whoever coaches the US uses then you can’t even get into an intelligent conversation with me. Let alone have a disagreeing perspective that sounds intelligent. ”
If you are keeping a depth chart for the games in March, that is one thing. But in February of 2025 anyone who is keeping a “depth chart” for the 2026 USMNT WC team, needs to be pretty flexible.
You’re claiming to know what system Pochettino is using and plans to use going forward? We all can see what he has used but to my knowledge Pochettino hasn’t stated exactly what system he is going to use for the WC. Of course, he has a track record of favoring certain styles but he also does not have Kane or Heung-min here. The best thing he did so far is emphasize that getting results, winning, is what matters. I expect them to win every game between now and the start of the World Cup.
He obviously has some plan but it’s also obvious that this project will be more about winning over minds and hearts rather than just figuring out tactics.
Right now to attract as many players as possible, he is in the ” really, it doesn’t matter where you play.” phase. Or maybe MLS is making him do that.
Eventually, he’ll narrow things down and they will get into the “us vs the world phase”.
Pochettino seems to be having a great time. He’s making EPL money without having to deal with EPL level owner interference and players with Champions League level egos. It is interesting, and hopefully useful, that CP, Yunus, Weston and Weah are all getting quite a lesson in a variety of styles at a pretty high level over in Italy. Milan is allegedly looking at playing a 442 .
Obviously using the NL and the Gold Cup to help his decision making could be important but there is still a significant amount of time left before the WC. For example, all of our serious #9 candidates could be healed up and playing really well by the time Pochettino has to choose.
“You’re the type of person who tries to convince SBI readers that 2+2 = 5.”
I don’t know why you think anyone on SBI is trying to convince anyone else of anything. It’s a waste of time.
For example, IV is certain that his high school , college and select team experience gives him a keen insight into the mindset of a professional , national team player. He often just makes things up and jumps to some incredible conclusions based on very slim data. But no one, not even you, is convincing him of anything related to soccer. We all have opinions but you can take anything I post here and, in terms of the facts, look it up. For example Leeds did pay a fee of €32.84m for BA. in 2022. That’s a lot of money. Money always colors how you view the player. It is one reason why Leeds fans were so upset with the management when BA was a bust.
To his enormous credit, BA has come back and if he still hasn’t quite shown that he is worth that amount of money, he’s certainly given it one hell of a try. You can look all of that up.
“Step your reading comprehension up. Step your reasoning up also. ”
I have actually met people who were all pissed off because I did not think that their joke was funny. So they try to explain it to me because obviously, in their minds, my “joke comprehension” is defective.
Speaking only for myself, I have no problem with understanding what most people are writing on SBI.
I just don’t necessarily agree with it.
You named 18 players. Let’s start with the 14.
-Balo and Pepi both listed as out thru NL.
-Dike (since last cap in March 2023, has played just 8 matches) Pefok, Wright injured return date unsure.
– Novakovich 13g over last four seasons, Soto since his last cap in Dec 2020 has just 6 goals but more concerning just 46 appearances and is without a team. Hoppe since his loan to SJ ended in October 2023, has played 176 minutes in the EPL U21 division and has not played since August.
-Morris, Agyemang, White, McGuire, Vazquez MLSers who are just about to begin season.
-Leaving just Sargent that we have any idea what form he is in and Josh has had trouble staying healthy for more than three months at a time.
– The other four, Campbell not a CF at the adult level, Gomez 55 app in 2Bundesliga since Aug 23 3g 6a, Figueroa yet to play pro match has 1g in 5 app for Liverpool U21s, Yapi 71 app for Colorado across all comps 3g.
– if everyone is healthy yes we have enough depth to cover the 6-12 spots, especially considering Poch at times uses more a second striker/10 role that Pulisic, Reyna, BAaronson, etc could fill.
Balo, Pepi, Sargent, Vazquez, Pefok, Dike, Ferreira, Morris, Agyemang.
– How many of those would you feel confident in the starting lineup at the WC? The pool is very big, but most of it is 3 ft deep not safe for diving in.
Really, you actually think all those on your list have a shot at playing vor the USMNT? Why didn’t you add the 3 forwards from the NCAA, Emil Jaaskelainen (Akron), Alex Harris (Cornell), Alec Hughes (Massachusetts))). Not to disparage them, but they have about as much chance as many on your list of playing for the USMNT, not quite zero, but worse than Rich Strike when he was in the gate at the Kentucky Derby.
With Pepi out he has to be considered in the mix at striker.
Balo (supposedly out until April) and Wright still out as well. Ferreira, Agyemang, and Vazquez just in preseason. With all the injuries you can’t count out Jordan Morris as an option at striker.
JR,
JMO started as a central striker for Stanford when JK picked him. Seattle moved him to the wing. If he shows he can get his scoring touch back, I’d rate him over Vasquez and Patrick.
Injuries have slowed him but if he’s in form, healthy and motivated Morris has a shot.
V: Seattle moved Morris back to CF last year, Transfermkt lists him with 13g 6a from that position last year. Some of those he’d probably slid back wide after Ruidiaz and his bad knee subbed on at CF.
Damian Downs needs a look, bump him getting cut from Olympic team.