USA goalkeeper discussion thread - Episode IV: A New Hope

A little of both?

 

🇺🇸 Julian Eyestone is on the bench for Brentford in their preseason friendly today against Wolfsburg 🇺🇸 https://t.co/jpeGTz0XZs

— American Ultras Talk (@ameriultrastalk) August 9, 2024

 

I guess you'd have to check and see how other keepers that age have been treated. May explain why none of our keepers in England at a young age have worked out. Could be completely a thing to stay in MLS and get 150-200 games before moving on. Turner was a later developer and didn't get anywhere near that many games and still got an offer to Arsenal.

 

Yeah goalie is a tough position to go abroad for because it’s a late developing position and it’s so hard to break through.

And if you look at the elite clubs globally they are all basically starting someone they paid a lot of money for versus someone who came up through the youth academy or a prospect they bought at a young age.

 

BTW, the way our keeper pool is going does the thread title need to change to Lost Hope?

 

I think the good thing is there are so many young up and coming prospects some are bound to hit.

 

We'll see but none of them will be ready for '26.

 

Unlikely but I like what we’re seeing out of Freese and Schulte is also a bit older and may a progress a bit more over the next two years.

 

Our guys need to go abroad but as @Pegasus has said, a few years (3-5) in MLS would def help this and with some NT caps to hell sell them to a top 5 league.

 

We might have (a little under) two years left in the cycle, but I'd say any of the names you're throwing out would have to be a realistic starting option by the time the Gold Cup rolls around in June next year for our coaches to feel comfortable starting them in the World Cup.

Every prior WC starting keeper in the modern era had played crucial minutes in World Cup qualifying, and all of them except for Tony Meola had 20+ caps and experience in multiple USMNT tournaments prior to their WC debuts. (Meola had 16 or 17 caps heading into the' 90 tournament.)

I don't expect anyone with a single cap or less right now (Frees, Schulte, Slonina, etc.) to catch up with even Meola's pre-90 cap tally, but it's possible a strong showing at the Gold Cup, coupled with a lack of playing time (or continued poor form) from Turner, could tip the scales in a dark horse's favor. But I just don't think there's enough time or meaningful competitive games after that for a new keeper to take over if they haven't made their case prior to that.

 

I think that’s generally right and I think it’s unlikely any of the MLS guys supplant Turner.

And the younger crop just isn’t going to be ready by 2026 (Slonina, Kochen, Brady, Beavers, etc).

But I do think we should take a look at Freese specifically this fall and go from there. I’m not against Schulte also being called either but I’m less high on him. We sort of know what we have with Horvath and if he’s still the number 2 come 2026 that’s fine but no harm in exploring alternatives.

 

Turner and Horvath aren't ready for '23, let alone '24 or '25. We have to turn the page, ready or not. Only thing that changes that is if Turner gets a move and plays like '21 and '22 Turner. I'm not holding my breath. Turn the page, ready or not, as Sarah Cracknell sang.

 

That third movie in the "Rey series"?

 

Apparently Turner is being looked at by a Bundesliga club. Let's hope this happens!

 

But you have to have someone to turn the page to. Just because you throw someone else in there doesn’t mean they will be any better. If the best loan Slonina can get is to League One, he’s nowhere close to ready.

I have no issue with exploring our options and I’ve been pretty clear Freese would be on top of the list for me based on his play this season. But it’s a very real possibility that none of the current alternatives are better. Our best hope is Turner gets a move elsewhere and plays at a decent level.

 

Gabriel Slonina is set to make his Barnsley debut Tuesday in the #EFLCup. #USMNT https://t.co/En37cy4LOX

— SBI Soccer (@SBISoccer) August 12, 2024

 

The ideal I think would be if Barnsley gets promoted to the Championship and would want to take him on loan again next season.

 

Also kept a clean sheet aside from a penalty.

Barnsley's goal was scored by none other than Donovan Pines

 

That’s like 5 games three goals for Pines dating back to last season. He’s a giant, why couldn’t DC make that happen? Oh, that’s right, they’re terrible top to bottom.

 

Ask Yow?

 

Or being good in League One doesn't necessarily mean anything vis-a-vi MLS.

Anyway nice to see Slonina have a good game in his debut.

 

I think it’s more shameful that some league one mook can pick out the 6’5” guy on set pieces where DC couldn’t, that’s the point.