NEW NEWSLETTER: AMERICAN STATES UNITED

AMERICAN STATES UNITED

Hail, Raven Reader. We are sending you this copy of our new newsletter, “American States United” because you tolerate our other weekly missive and we wanted to offer you the chance to subscribe to the latest offering from MiB World HQ. This will be a weekly newsletter, reveling in the narrative surrounding our Baby Eagles and World Cup Champion U.S. Women plying their trade in some of the world’s biggest leagues. If you want to subscribe, you can do so HERE. If you don’t wish to subscribe, fear not. THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME THIS IS DISTRIBUTED TO GFOPs WHO ARE ALSO SUBSCRIBED TO THE RAVEN. MOVING FORWARD, YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE IT IF YOU ARE SUBSCRIBED TO “AMERICAN STATES UNITED.”

It is a remarkable time for football in this country, as we hurtle toward World Cup 2022 and next summer’s competition in Australia/New Zealand. Right now, more than any time in history, Americans are not just playing abroad, but doing so at some of the world’s biggest clubs. We used to get excited when they lined up against the likes of Chelsea, Juventus, AC Milan, Dortmund. Now they’re playing key roles in those teams. And this newsletter is designed to help you keep track of it, providing a succinct recap of the previous week’s action, highlighting our heavy-hitters, and some under the radar stories alike. So without further ado, we newsletter…

AMERICAN DIMES: GREAT WEEKEND FOR FDR

If Christian Pulisic were to list his relationship with Chelsea on Facebook, he might choose the old… “It’s Complicated.” But some encouragement last week when new boss Graham Potter said he had an open mind when it comes to Christiano’s role. “I'm not going to judge anybody on what has happened in the past, I'm going to make my own mind up,” Potter told Goal.com when asked about Pulisic. “Football hopefully decides."

And after getting our hopes up, GP left CP on the bench again Saturday against Crystal Palace, a team that Puli loves to face — prior to the match, Pulisic had scored five goals in six games against Palace, including three in three at Selhurst Park (that stat presented by our mate Paul Carr, who, if you didn’t now, blows yer mind).

But in the 84th minute, with the game tied 1-1, associate professor Potter introduced Pulisic and his impact was almost instant. In the 90th minute, Hershey Jesus picked the ball up out on the left and drove at the Palace defense before laying one off to Conor Gallagher for the game-winning goal. And really, how could CG miss from there?!? 🤣

Will be fascinating to see if Pulisic starts this evening against former Beard Daddy Olivier Giroud’s AC Milan.

Pulisic wasn’t the only American in the assists this weekend. Weston McKennie earned his fifth straight start for a Juventus team in desperate need of a win against Bologna. With his team leading 1 - 0, Weston uncorked a lovely one-touch cross to Dusan Vlahovic who made it 2 - 0. This is the type of overlapping run and first-time ball that deserves to be savored. To hit Vlahovic with a perfectly weighted cross at the back post… MADONE!

A lively McKennie was heavily involved throughout what ended up a vital 3 - 0 win for the Bianconeri.

CRYSTAL PEPI

Fair or not, Ricardo Pepi was at the center of the criticism surrounding the U.S.’s flat offensive performances against Japan and Saudi Arabia, in which the combined numbers across both friendlies were: 0 goals scored, and two shots on goal. Pepi started against KSA, but only managed 13 touches and 0 shots in 59 minutes. In very technical football terms: not good, Bob.

But getting his second straight start for FC Groningen Saturday, the 19-year-old from El Paso unfurled a gritty piece of offensive play that even U.S. Soccer Twitter can agree was lovely to see. His second goal in as many games in the Eredivisie.

Regardless of whether you think Pepi should be on the US World Cup roster, it’s great to see him approach his football with this level of tenacity. You also have to love seeing FC Dallas fans traveling all the way to Holland to watch one of their own play. And then get Pepi’s shirt afterwards. Hala Groningen.

GGG NEEDS TO DISPATCH JIMBO FISHER

USMNT-eligible Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun is hotter than ever, as the 21-year-old striker scored his sixth goal in nine matches for Stade de Reims Sunday in a 2-2 draw at Troyes. Balogun was born in NYC to Nigerian parents, and moved to London when he was two years old, meaning he can steer his international career towards either the U.S. or England. While he represented England’s U-21s as recently as last month, he has yet to make a final commitment to either senior side. GGG needs to get Jimbo Fisher over to France on a recruiting trip immediately, as Balogun is U.S. Soccer’s equivalent of a five-star WR from Mater Dei.

Quick MiB PSA: We are hitting the road for a coast-to-coast, sea-to-shining-sea USA This Cup’s For You Tour. We’ll be coming to theaters in New York, Philadelphia, D.C., Austin, Atlanta, St. Louis, LA, San Francisco, Seattle and Nashville as re-live the day's on-field narrative, celebrate each city’s distinct football culture, and chop it up with a slew of very special guests. Tickets to our This Cup’s For You Tour go on sale TOMORROW, Thursday, Oct. 6 to subscribers of this very newsletter. Be on the lookout around 3 p.m. ET.

OUR SELF-IMPOSED GOALKEEPER CONTROVERSY

Despite Matt Turner being one of, if not our best, players in the Japan and Saudi Arabia friendlies, it still feels as though the starting U.S. goalkeeper spot is up for grabs. Meaning the right string of performances could be the difference in determining who gets the nod on Nov. 21 against Wales.

Zack Steffen started his second straight game for Middlesbrough — a 1-0 loss at Coventry — meaning he’s getting games, which should help his cause, but he hasn’t looked fully convincing in net. In fact, his decision-making was spotty at times Saturday.

Boro boss Chris Wilder was sacked by the club Monday, so it will be interesting to track Steffen’s (and even striker Matthew Hoppe’s) minutes going forward.

Also in England, Ethan Horvath had an up-and-down week, with a 2-0 win at Hull, and a 3-3 draw at Huddersfield, while Matt Turner could get the start for Arsenal when they host Rog and Rory Smith’s Bodo/Glimt in Europa League play Thursday (3 PM ET on Paramount+).

BABY EAGLE ROUNDUP

An additional number of key U.S. players were in action across Europe this past weekend. Here’s a roundup of their performances:

• Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson both started in Leeds’ scoreless draw with Aston Villa. Adams was voted Man of the Match by the fans.

• Jordan Pefok was held goalless in Union Berlin's tough 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt.

• Sergino Dest came on as a 72' sub in AC Milan's 3-1 win at Empoli. Milan's starting RB Davide Calabria was hurt in the win and reportedly could be out for three months, meaning Dest could see additional playing time.

• Luca de la Torre was a 70' sub in Celta Vigo's impressive 1-0 win over Real Betis. A look at his ability to break the lines promptly appeared online.

• Tim Ream started and played the full 90 in Fulham's 4-1 loss to Newcastle. A rough outing for the Cottagers, but we should note, today is his birthday - and you'd think his 25th based on his form. Ream is top 10 in the league in clearances (32) and interceptions (16)(another thanks to Paul Carr). Happy 35th to the ginger Brede Hangeland! 🎂

• Mark McKenzie (KRC Genk), Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp), and Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach) all started on defense in league matches.

• And John Brooks came on as a 92' sub for Benfica. At striker.

THE STATIONARY BIKE SET  

The USMNT isn’t without its fair share of walking wounded, especially on defense. Here’s the latest on the stationary bike set.

• While he didn’t play, Timothy Weah was in the lineup for Lille for the first time this season on Sunday, hopefully meaning he’ll be back on the field soon. Weah hasn’t played a competitive match since June 14 (El Salvador vs. USA).

• Dortmund provided an update on Gio Reyna’s injury suffered in the KSA friendly and said they expect him to be out 7-10 days.

• After missing both USMNT friendlies due to injury, Yunus Musah is back in training with Valencia. 🙏

• Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Reggie Cannon (Boavista), and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) all sat this weekend due to injury. But on the plus side for the U.S. defense, starting LB Antonee Robinson is back in training with Fulham.

WORLD CUP WINNERS IN EUROPE 

Life isn’t too bad for Lindsey Horan these days. On Saturday, she came on as a 71’ sub for Lyon in their 2-0 win over Rodez Aveyron. Then on Sunday, she caught the Vikings-Saints game in London with Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and the rest of AFC Richmond.

The Great Horan wasn’t the only American to play in Division 1 Feminine over the weekend. Celeste Boureille started for Montpellier in their scoreless draw with Bordeaux, Rachel Corboz started up top for Reims in their 3-0 win over Guingamp, and Deja Davis also started in Le Havre’s 2-2 draw with PSG.

Elsewhere in Europe, Erin Simon started for Leicester City in their 1-0 loss at Everton, Athena Kuhn and Mariah Lee played for Huelva in their scoreless draw with Valencia, and Genessee Daughetee started for Koln in their 4-2 win over Turbine Potsdam.

GOOD, JULIAN, GOOOOOD!!!

On the recent nostalgia tip, Julian Green scored the equalizer in Greuther Furth’s 1-1 draw with Sandhausen. It was Green’s second goal in the German second division this season. Feels like 2014 all over again. GOOD, JULIAN. GOOOOOOOOOD.

SUBSCRIBE AND SEND FEEDBACK!

That is it for our first edition of the American States United newsletter. Like everything we do, we’d love it to be an ongoing conversation between the team in the CPOS and you, dear GFOPs. So if there is anything you’d like to see in these newsletters going forward, EMAIL US AT [email protected]. Any and all feedback is welcome. We want to create something together with you that will allow us to celebrate this remarkable time for football in America. Courage.