Five Players Poch Needs to Pick
They might not walk into his first starting eleven but these are players who Pochettino needs to look at if he wants to build a different kind of team and a balanced 23-man squad.
When he finally gets down to business as head coach of the US Men’s National Team, Mauricio Pochettino is going to be hearing from all manner of people in the American soccer world, keen to pass on their advice or, dare we suggest, influence him on behalf of their various special interests.
He'll have all the federation officials with their agendas, all the MLS suits and clubs with their wishes, the various agents hoping he will favour their clients, the media wanting their piece of his attention and the commercial partners who suddenly have a global soccer ‘name’ they can hope to profit from.
And of course, Poch should ignore them all, and instead pay close attention to what The Daily Soccer is going to tell him right now.
So here are the five players that Poch should make sure that, whatever anyone tells him, are included in that squad for the October friendlies against Panama and Mexico.
1. Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey)– for some reason the former FC Cincinnati striker, now playing in LigaMX for Monterrey, never quite won over Gregg Berhalter. That is probably because he is, essentially, an old school centre-forward, a target man, a big number 9 and didn’t fit into Gregg’s idea of how the team should be playing. But at the very least Vazquez is a great option off the bench. He gets on the end of crosses, he puts away chances and defenders don’t like dealing with him. If you are 1-0 down with 15 minutes to go, do you want to be sending on Big Brandon or Haji Wright? Case closed.
2. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)– Remember that great Spurs team you had? Remember how your midfield always had someone who could carry the ball, keep possession, keep things moving. That unglamorous player that every midfield needs? Morris is a better version of your Harry Winks, your Oliver Skipp, maybe eventually your Moussa Sissoko. He played for Columbus Crew, the only team in MLS that plays anything like modern European football. Now he’s cutting his teeth in the English Championship with Middlesbrough, where we predict he won’t be for long. He’s not your game changer, but he’ll give your midfield a solidity and degree of craft that your other options can’t offer – and unlike some of his competition for that spot, he isn’t injured half the time.
3. Julian Gressel (Inter Miami) – another player inexplicably ignored by Berhalter but there is a reason why your compatriot Gerardo Martino made him one of his first signings when rebuilding Inter Miami for the Messi era. Martino had him at Atlanta United in his previous MLS gig and knew that he can be an asset either as a right-back in a back-four, a right-wing back in a three at the back set-up and as a right-midfielder when you need to lock down that side of the field. And he’s not just solid defensively, he’s got a decent cross on him and a good awareness of space. He’s also a top professional, a serious guy and a team-player. Look, just ring up Tata and ask him. You’ll need guys like Gressel in a World Cup squad.
4. Luca Koleosho (Burnley) – you’ve got Pulisic on the left, your star man, who is going to draw all the attention from the opposition defence. You’ve got Balogun or Pepi in the middle, hunting for goal opportunities, what do you need on the right? How about terrifying raw, pace and directness, someone who can dribble and get the opposition on the back foot the moment he collects the ball? Ok, he's playing for Italy Under-21 at the moment, but you’re the big name new coach, you can tempt him. Like Vazquez, he might not be a starter from day one, but take a look at him in England and you’ll see there is something to work with there, a talent that you can develop into something fearsome by 2026.
5. Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union) – the 21-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is exactly the kind of player who goes somewhat under the radar in American soccer – he’s too calm and under-stated to be hyped up. But he’s got something lacking in too many young American players – composure. He can spot and deliver a pass with that sweet left-foot whether playing in a Pirlo style deep playmaker role or further up the field. He’s got bags of potential but has never been able to play in a midfield surrounded by quality or with a front line full of attacking options. He’ll need more physical players around him in a midfield but he’s definitely one to be looking at.
Who would you like to see called up…
Post-match Interview of the Day
There are managerial rants and there are managerial rants. This is Barnet manager, Dean Brennan, having a go at the fans while auditioning for the next Snatch movie…
Goal of the Day
No. 8 thinks No. 4 should’ve left it to him:
New Club of the Day
Once of a day players would simply retire and buy a pub or run a fish and chip shop. Nowadays they’ve a bit more disposable income and can buy into clubs - David Beckham and Inter Miami, for one. But, nobody has started a completely new club and named it after themselves. Not until Toni Kroos, that is. (Marca)
Stat(s) of the Day
Best international unbeaten runs:
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Narrator: “….and then he calls Dele (referee) a twat.”
Referee: “[WHISTLE x5] I’ll show you how much of a twat I am. [Yellow card].”
AI Translation of the Day
The Latvian U-21 squad “translated” by Ireland U-21. The forward line looks a handful:
Quote of the Day
“Erik Ten Hag said Man United cannot compete to win the EPL and UCL. As a Manchester United coach, you cannot say that. You have to mentally say to yourself, 'Listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try. You have to try.’ “- Cristiano Ronaldo.
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