ASN: Inspecting the USMNT goalkeeping state of affairs in 2020. Who pushes and backs up Steffen?

For over 25 years, goalkeeping was was the halmark of the USMNT however in 2020, there are various questions surrounding the depth of the place. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears to be like on the present participant pool because it stands now and appears into the longer term as properly. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
April 02, 2020
4:25 AM

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WHEN YOU take a look at the primary 25 years of the trendy period of the U.S. nationwide staff from 1989-2014, it was spectacular how regular and dependable the goalkeeping was. Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, and Tim Howard have been stars whereas keepers like Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Jurgen Sommer, and Nick Rimando have been all excellent backup choices with spectacular resumes.

That’s not the case anymore. Over the previous two years, the goalkeeping hierarchy is as murky because it has ever been within the trendy period. We all know the first-choice keeper is Zack Steffen however he has missed loads of time the previous yr with accidents. Past him, it’s unclear what the order is. Is it an older however extra skilled veteran? Or is it somebody in his prime?

The most important cause for concern is that U.S youth nationwide groups haven’t produced beginning high quality goalkeepers at a gradual price in MLS or overseas in a really very long time. The exception is clearly Zack Steffen. Ethan Horvath as soon as gave the impression to be a really promising goalkeeper and maybe he’ll return to that trajectory. However for now, he’s a backup.

Whenever you take a look at the U.S. U-20 goalkeepers over the past eight cycles, the variety of first-team starters in MLS or overseas may be very low.

        2005: Quentin Westberg, Andrew Kartunen, Justin Hughes
        2007: Chris Seitz, Brian Perk, Steven Sandbo
        2009: Brian Perk, Josh Landbo, Sean Johnson
        2011: Zac MacMath, Cody Cropper
        2013: Cody Cropper, Kendall McIntosh, Zack Steffen
        2015: Zack Steffen, Thomas Olsen, Jeff Caldwell (Horvath launch was withdrawn)
        2017: Jonathan Klinsmann, JT Marcinkowski, Brady Scott
        2019: Brady Scott, David Ochoa, CJ Dos Santos

Steffen is the most effective of the bunch. Johnson was a 3rd string keeper in 2009 however has had a pleasant profession and is within the USMNT image now. MacMath and Seitz have often been in conditions the place they’re starters with MLS groups. Westberg is the starter for Toronto however spend most of his profession within the decrease ranges of France.

However whereas a couple of good goalkeepers have been recognized on the youth degree, the U.S. nationwide staff is at a degree the place it’d quickly need to be depending on late-bloomers who developed past the youth nationwide staff setup. And that matches what we now see in MLS the place, over the past a number of years, it has been very uncommon for younger home keepers to earn minutes.

Till a extra set hierarchy is understood amongst these choices and established by supervisor Gregg Berhalter, we will solely guess. However we do have fairly good thought as to who consists of the pool now, and the gamers who may emerge.

That is the third section of trying on the USMNT depth charg. Beforehand we did central protection and the No. 6 defensive midfield positions.

The Starter

Zack Steffen: Steffen is clearly the U.S. nationwide staff’s first alternative proper now. He’s the one American starter in a prime European league and has been a mainstay with the U.S. nationwide staff and youth nationwide groups for almost a decade. He’s lastly maturing right into a No. 1 however nonetheless must be cleaner in his distribution. However he’s very far past his backups for the time being however with him additionally coping with knee ache the previous six months, the dearth of a backup close to his degree is a large concern. Keller and Friedel pushed one another and made one another higher (and the hole between the 2 wasn’t extensive). Hahnemann, Guzan, and Rimando pushed Howard and everybody was higher for it. Nobody is actually pushing Steffen, and that isn’t good for anybody.

Prime age backup choices

Sean Johnson: If the U.S. was taking part in a World Cup this summer season, there’s a good likelihood Sean Johnson could be the No. 2. The Georgia native has been the starter for a New York Metropolis staff that’s nonetheless among the many prime tier in MLS. At 30, he’s at age for a keeper.

Invoice Hamid: Hamid and Johnson have been competing with one another within the nationwide staff and youth nationwide staff pecking order for properly over a decade. Each are dependable shot stoppers and neither are identified for taking part in properly with the ball at their toes. Hamid is probably going behind Johnson proper now however the distinction between the 2 is smally and can come right down to kind for the time being.

Tyler Miller: The New Jersey native is coming into into his prime years as a goalkeeper and had the expertise of beginning for an excellent LAFC staff the previous two seasons. Miller is now on a Minnesota staff that can also be superb. It wouldn’t be a shock if he can transfer past Hamid and Johnson if he exhibits properly in 2020 and 2021.

Matt Turner: At 25, Turner nonetheless has an extended street to go in his profession and his 2019 season with New England was his greatest thus far. However now that he’s on the map, can he proceed to develop?

Ethan Horvath: It has been a tough season for Ethan Horvath at Membership Brugge who misplaced his beginning job when the membership opted to signal Simon Mignolet. Horvath is one a couple of American goalkeepers in Europe and has had stretches the place he misplaced confidence and has been shaky. He desperately wants a transfer and to a spot the place he can rebuild his confidence.

David Bingham: Bingham has three caps to his identify and continues to be simply 30. He’s additionally the starter for a Galaxy staff that’s among the many extra high-profile groups within the league. However he has work to do to be able to go Johnson, Hamid, Miller, Turner and Horvath whereas additionally not being pushed out by the older guys too.

Older choices

There’s a superb case to be made that the third goalkeeper on a nationwide staff ought to be used on an skilled participant and never a younger prospect. After all, it could be good to provide the expertise to a youthful participant however that doesn’t think about what occurs if the third goalkeeper truly must play. If a 3rd goalkeeper must play in a crucial sport, one thing has gone very flawed both via accidents, suspensions, or a insecurity or kind.

So if one thing has gone flawed, a settling and reassuring veteran presence in aim could be a calming presence for the remainder of the staff versus a child who is just not used to that surroundings. Up to now, the U.S. staff has had nice No. 3 choices in Rimando, Hahnemann, Meola, Sommer – who all had glorious expertise and the belief of their teammates.

Happily for the U.S. staff, there are nonetheless some fairly good choices right here.

Brad Guzan: Guzan, 35, has performed large video games for the U.S. staff and nonetheless is likely to be the No. 2 on the staff for the time being. However that can’t final for an excessive amount of longer. He can be 38 on the subsequent World Cup and each participant succumbs to Father Time ultimately. Nonetheless, even at that age he would nonetheless be a fantastic presence on the staff ought to it’s compelled into taking part in the No. 3 keeper. He’s properly revered, properly favored, and has loads of expertise in any respect ranges to be a relaxing presence on the staff ought to he need to play. Based mostly on his play with Atlanta, he’s not what he was 10 years in the past, however he can nonetheless assist a staff win video games.

Stefan Frei: Frei, 33, is an effective case of “what could have been?” for U.S. nationwide staff followers. He’s the most effective goalkeepers in MLS and has helped Seattle to 2 titles. It’s not his expertise however the truth that the Swiss-born Frei wasn’t capable of attain his American citizenship till he was 31 yeas previous that’s the actual “what-if.” Had he at all times been eligible for the U.S. staff, he definitely would have earned caps and maybe have been the No. 2. However by the point he grew to become an American, managers have been taking a look at different choices. The fact, nevertheless, is that he’s nonetheless actually good and never a nasty possibility in again of Stefan because the No. 3 or perhaps even the No. 2.

Tim Melia: Probably the greatest American-born gamers in MLS to by no means have been called-up to the U.S. nationwide staff. He’s been an MLS Goalkeeper of the Yr for an excellent Sporting Kansas Metropolis and there he serves as a member of the staff’s core. At 33, his nationwide staff debut will in all probability by no means come however in a pinch, he would in all probability have the respect of his gamers instantly.

A take a look at the longer term

There are loads of gamers listed right here who pushing 30 or are past 30. Which gamers on the market are those who might emerge? Listed here are just some.

David Ochoa: The doubtless starter for the U.S. U-20 staff already has a U-20 World Cup underneath his belt. He’s additionally within the U-23 image each now and sure once more in 2024 if he continues to play properly. He additionally has substantial USL expertise with the Monarchs however can he start to make inroads with Actual Salt Lake? That has at all times been the toughest step however Ochoa has had a fantastic mentor in Nick Rimando through the years.

Brady Scott: The newest U-20 goalkeeper, Scott is looking for his means in Germany. He wants minutes and his subsequent step will doubtless be a transfer inside Europe to a decrease league the place he can begin.

Damian Las: The newest U.S. U-17 staff goalkeeper is now at Fulham the place he’s working his means up via the staff’s ladder. He’s nonetheless a methods off however he has loads of youth nationwide staff alternatives as properly to additionally construct his resume.