USA goalkeeper discussion thread - Episode IV: A New Hope

Seattle and Portand are also west coast.

 

So I hadn't really been following the U-23s in the runup to the Olympics and just assumed Slonina was their #1. If Schulte is actually starting above him that changes things....then again Schulte didn't exactly light it up vs France.

 

Yeah, that first goal Schulte let in makes it tough to think a younger player is going to come along and save us in goal. Either the Olympic coach got his selection wrong or we're not likely to get any help from the next generation for a while. Could have just been an anomaly but I've never been particularly impressed with Schulte. I don't see any special physical tools and skill wise he seems solid but nothing spectacular by any means. If that's the best we have in the next batch, we're not going to have some young kid ride in and rescue us in goal. I suspect another coach may rate the younger group differently. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

 

Schulte starting probably has more to do with the fact that he's been with the U23 group throughout the camps and Slonina hasn't. Slonina wasn't at a single U23 camp. He was with the senior team in one of those windows. What I'm trying to say is I don't think Schulte over Slonina necessarily has to do with the USSF's evaluation of the pecking order. Just Schulte's experience with the group..........................

Of the six U23 friendlies since last October:

Shulte started two games (France, Mexico)
Brady started three games(Guinea, Morocco, Japan)
Pulskamp started one (Iraq)

[The France game really seemed like Mitrovic's "A" lineup in his mind, without the overage players. When Schulte started that one, it seemed like he'd jumped atop the depth chart.]

 

Another youngster in the hopper. Beaudry of the Rapids saved the U20s today.

Adam Beaudry was the MOTM for this save 🫡🇺🇸

On to the next round + qualified for the 2025 U-20 World Cup 🏆

pic.twitter.com/y9J8zglp0q

— 🇺🇸USMNTvsHaters (@USMNTvsHaters) July 30, 2024

 

He had a great game.

 

One wonders whether we'll be able to get Kochen for the actual World Cup.............................

Within Barcelona, they believe Diego Kochen will be Marc ter Stegen’s successor. He is also considered the most promising goalkeeper in La Masia in recent years. Kochen’s role model is Ter Stegen as well. 🔵🔴 🇺🇸

[🌕: @relevo] pic.twitter.com/0T4oiR6G5K

— USMNT Otaku 🇺🇸 (@USMNTOtaku) July 30, 2024

 

There’s still so much to happen, but this young generation of keepers must be our deepest yet…

Kochen, Beaudry, Eyestone, Ferree, Rick, and Beavers all project to be good keepers.

I would rate Ochoa, who has switched to Mexico, currently, at the bottom of this list. Maybe ahead of Ferree. But I don’t know. Ferree was decent enough at the u17’s.

Meanwhile, Tim Howard was born in 1979. Crazy that we have over a 20 year gap of not being able to produce a decent goalkeeper. (maybe or maybe not, that’s harsh on Guzan, Turner, Steffen, Horvath, etc. but neither have had consistent success).

 

Right now I'd settle for Schulte if for no other reason than he can handle a back pass.

 

2007-born GK Giorgio De Marzi 🇺🇸🇮🇹 is on the bench for AS Roma’s first team in their preseason friendly today against Barnsley. De Marzi was born in Lancaster, California and has been at Roma’s academy since age 13, winning the U17 Scudetto the last two seasons. https://t.co/qjrvUmSVfV

— American Ultras Talk (@ameriultrastalk) August 6, 2024

 

I totally get this sentiment. Questions in the twitterverse about Kochen's role at Barca. He's at best #4 on their depth chart based on preseason usage. I've seen more press articles about how great Kochen is than actual matches that he's played in.

I think Diego is very good, but apparently so are Astralaga and Yaakobishvili b/c they played over him last season. Now Yaakobishvili got all the preseason reps for Barca B and Astralaga got a first-team preseason run.

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) August 7, 2024

 

More than anything he just needs to play games.

 

They should loan him out if they know he won't get those minutes this year. He's at an age where playing games, making mistakes and learning from them is more important than sitting on a bench for a good team.

 

Completely. If he’s not going to be the starter for Barca B they should find him a loan where he would be.

 

Chelsea have signed yet another keeper. Seriously, how many keepers do they need? Iis there a plan for Slonina? No. Just loan army shenanigans.
Chelsea agree fee to sign Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders - BBC Sport

Chelsea are set to add an eighth goalkeeper to their squad after agreeing a £17m fee with Genk for Mike Penders.

The 19-year-old will sign a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge and is then expected to go back on loan to the Belgian club for the forthcoming season.

Chelsea signed Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal last month for £20.7m and have seven keepers listed in their first-team squad, including last season's number one Robert Sanchez and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is back after a year on loan at Real Madrid.

The eight first team goalkeepers. Kepa, Sanchez, Petrovic, Jorgensen, Penders, Slonina, Bettinelli, Bergstrom.

They've already sent four other keepers out on loan, including Wales U21 international Eddie Beach.

 

And now they’re talking about Petrovic to Strausburg as well.

 

Slonina isn't even listed with the first team on the Chelsea website.
Currently there are 6 there.

He's listed with the U21s....................

Men's Profiles | Team | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club (chelseafc.com)

Luke Campbell on that team has been loaned out. So you wonder.....................is Slonina being kept at Chelsea with the U21s this season????

I just wonder how much money Chelsea has spent on goalkeepers since Cech. Probably a crazy number.

 

twitter said (this morning) either burnley or barnsley want him on loan

(not both, i just cant remember which)

 

Tbh, that makes a lot more sense than Slonina.

 

I mean he’s definitely better than Slonina at current. Though other clubs are interested in him as well.

Slonina is off to Barnsley which is not great. Might as well as sent him to Wrexham.

⚪️🔴🇺🇸 Gabriel Slonina has signed in as new Barsnley player on loan from Chelsea.

No buy option clause included in the deal. pic.twitter.com/xHTJkkgUuJ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 9, 2024

 

If he plays, Barnsley is fine.

Perfect? No. But fine.

He is only 20. A baby for a keeper.

If he plays, and plays well, this could be a good stepping stone.

It's not better than starting for the Chicago Fire. But whatever.........................

 

That's not the end of the world as long as he plays but League 1 is disappointing when we were hoping for, um, Ligue 1....probably a step down from Belgium as well.

 

Is this more of an indictment of him or of Chelsea's loaning ineptitude?