ASN: Pepi and Dike seal large strikes, Dolo will get LAFC job, Reyna nears return, & far more

What a begin to 2022. – large strikes, large hires, large targets. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta presents up his ideas on two large transfers to American forwards, Steve Cherundolo getting the LAFC job, Toronto FC’s large ambitions, and extra. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 02, 2022
6:05 PM

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THE NEW YEAR solely started lower than three days in the past, however already it’s off to a bang for American soccer. Two domestic-based U.S. nationwide group forwards have earned spectacular transfers to Europe, Toronto FC is about for a surprising switch, a former high U.S. worldwide is about to get a high MLS head teaching gig, and one of the best American participant scored in opposition to Liverpool over the weekend.

Pepi joins Augsburg

It turned official on Monday morning when FC Augsburg introduced that it had accomplished a signing for U.S. nationwide group ahead Ricardo Pepi, broadly thought of to be the highest home youngsters to come back out of MLS since Tyler Adams and Alphonso Davies.

Pepi, 18, scored 13 targets for FC Dallas this 12 months after which went onto having a beginning position with the U.S. nationwide group the place he scored three targets and added three assists in six World Cup qualifiers this fall.

Augsburg paid an astonishing $18 million for the El Paso native – which smashes the earlier file of €10.5 million which the membership has ever paid for a participant. Augsburg is way from one among Germany’s larger golf equipment and it at the moment sits in fifteenth place within the Bundesliga – only one level into the routinely protected positions. Pepi is becoming a member of a membership that will probably be within the midst of a relegation battle.

“Ricardo, for me, is an excellent player,” U.S. supervisor Gregg Berhalter mentioned concerning the switch. “To do what he’s doing at such a young age means he has a lot potential and a lot of promise. To me, his big qualities are to be able to combine with his teammates and other players. He reads the game really well. He has a tremendous work rate – he’s able to run for the whole game. In the penalty box is where he really comes alive. He has good instincts to score and he doesn’t need a lot of time to get shots off. He has the skillset to be a really good striker.”

“From what I’ve seen with Ricardo, that is another good quality of his – to adapt to the level he is playing at,” he added. “When he first came to the national team, he had no experience with the team, and we put him into a qualifier – and he scored and had an assist in that first game. In the subsequent game, he was able to score and put in another good performance. We’ve seen firsthand his ability to adapt at a higher level and we’re confident he will be able to do that again in the Bundesliga.”

Augsburg’s weak point this 12 months has been on the attacking facet. By means of 17 video games, it has simply 17 targets scored. The membership’s high ahead, Florian Niederlechner, is 31 and has three targets from 11 video games. He suffered a bone bruise early in December and missed the group’s closing three video games earlier than the winter break. The opposite high No. 9 on the membership, Alfred Finnbogason, 32, is coping with a muscle tear in his thigh that may proceed to maintain him out.

No matter present competitors inside the membership, Pepi’s switch is astonishing due to the worth at which a mean Bundesliga membership is keen to interrupt the financial institution to amass. The membership is making an enormous assertion to amass him. He’s seen as the longer term and certain the current as properly.

Free transfers are all the time dangerous. Golf equipment typically take gamers on a free as a result of they’re seen as flyers. When a membership pays a switch price, it’s placing its cash behind its transfer.

What this implies is that Pepi goes to play, and play loads. The membership goes to work with him extensively.

Pepi additionally has issues in his favor for fulfillment early on. Augsburg has been underperforming with targets scored, however it’s not for a scarcity of possibilities. When trying on the metrics, it has seventh highest xG (anticipated targets) to targets scored this season this season however are one of many lowest scoring groups within the league. The probabilities are clearly there for extra targets.

Yet one more word about this transfer is that it’s also vital for FC Dallas to make use of this cash properly and construct a group that contend. The membership has shipped plenty of expertise to Europe. They misplaced Weston McKennie, however have bought Reggie Cannon, Bryan Reynolds, and Tanner Tessmann and have loaned Dante Sealy and Thomas Roberts just lately. Inside MLS, the membership traded away Walker Zimmerman and Kellyn Acosta. At Augsburg, Pepi will probably be reunited with Carlos Gruezo who transferred from FC Dallas in 2019.

Dallas nonetheless struggles to compete in MLS. Its followers ought to be happy with its academy however followers will proceed to dwindle except the group can use the expertise first to win, earlier than getting bought.

“It’s an exciting time for American soccer players,” Berhalter mentioned. “When you think about the young, talented players we have not only playing for the national team but performing in MLS and then getting that recognition on the international stage and getting transfers like this, it shows we’re heading in the right direction. The work that was done over the past 10 years is bearing benefits and now it is starting to come through. But now we need to continue the youth development programs and continue to give young players a chance – which MLS has been excellent in doing. When I look at the national team, it is also a team that has very young players and we’re giving the young players opportunities to perform at the international stage.”

Dike transfers to West Brom

Final 12 months, Daryl Dike scored 9 targets on mortgage at Barnsley within the Championship, and he helped the membership into the promotional playoffs. Many have been anticipating him to stay in England, however he returned to Orlando. After resting from fatigue and therapeutic a shoulder damage he suffered with the U.S. group on the Gold Cup, Dike scored eight targets in his closing 10 video games for the membership. Now he’s off to West Bromwich Albion, not on mortgage, however for a everlasting deal for £7 million (with Orlando maintaining a sell-on of reportedly 20%).

Whereas Barnsley’s run to the playoffs was sudden, West Brom is a membership that’s in the midst of an anticipated promotion race within the Championship. Sometimes a yo-yo membership for a few years, West Brom was relegated out of the Premier League final 12 months.

Dike, 21, has confirmed to be a profitable Championship participant, and he’s additionally a participant who has had outstanding success since his first skilled sport in July 2020 after MLS resumed from the COVID shutdown. In his whole professional profession on the membership degree between Barnsley and Orlando, Dike has scored 28 targets in 4277 minutes – and he additionally spent plenty of time in 2021 (after the Barnsley mortgage and after the Gold Cup) taking part in harm and drained after no offseason.

He generated plenty of hype after his first six months in Orlando throughout 2020 however then backed it up. In all of 2021 for Barnsley and Orlando, he had 20 targets in 2835 minutes. He was named to the Gold Cup group for the USA however performed harm for majority of the match after struggling a shoulder damage in a bunch stage sport in opposition to Canada. He completed with two targets in 5 video games.

Dike has not returned to the U.S. group since, as supervisor Gregg Berhalter has opted for different strikers in World Cup qualifying (Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent, Gyasi Zardes, Jordan Pefok, and even Matthew Hoppe have all performed in qualifying). Dike didn’t make the roster for the latest pleasant in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina as Berhalter mentioned the Oklahoma native was “beat up” and wanted break.

However Dike has one other alternative to make an announcement in West Brom and proceed his profession – which has been principally a continuing upward trip when wholesome.

As for Orlando, the group’s core has been blown up. Chris Mueller left for Hibernian in Scotland, Nani is gone, and now Dike. However the truth that Orlando stored Dike to make a run on the title is respectable as an alternative of promoting Dike and forgoing the season. 

Insigne to Toronto

In line with many reviews now, Toronto FC has comply with phrases with Napoli and Italian nationwide group winger Lorenzo Insigne. In line with the reviews, Insigne, 30, will be part of Toronto in June. The deal will not be full but with membership president Invoice Manning reportedly touring to Italy to seal the deal this week.

In line with Corriere dello Sport, Insigne will signal a five-year contract with Toronto reportedly price shut $13 million per season – with bonuses permitting for extra. Insigne has been signed to Napoli for his whole profession though went on mortgage 3 times between 2010 and 2012. He has 89 targets in 319 Serie A video games for Napoli.

For Italy, he has 10 targets in 53 caps and received the European Championships in 2021. Insigne and Italy have a tough street to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar as they should undergo the playoffs with a possible sport in opposition to Portugal in March figuring out their destiny.

Toronto is within the midst of attempting to overtake their roster because the membership was one of many worst in all of MLS in 2021. Over the previous seven years, Toronto has been one of the vital formidable groups within the league and this transfer solely solidifies that strategy.

Over the summer time, Bob Bradley was employed. There are rumors that the membership is attempting to promote Yeferson Soteldo (who was introduced in simply final 12 months) and Jozy Altidore could possibly be on his approach out.

Insigne is only one piece of the puzzle however he has, on paper at the least, the power to be among the many most dominating gamers ever within the league. Alejandro Pozuelo is one other piece and is elite on this league. The group, nevertheless, wants a core. However Bradley is aware of what is required – and proper now the issue with the group is protection.

However it’s definitely an thrilling time for Toronto followers. The ambition is there.

Cherundolo will get the LAFC gig

Former U.S. nationwide group proper again Steve Cherundolo was named the top coach of LAFC on Monday and it’s a large alternative for San Diego raised defender to make his inroads into teaching. The LAFC job is without doubt one of the greatest jobs in MLS as a result of whereas the membership is considerably new, it’s also formidable by way of its want to spend and win.

This can be a dangerous rent for LAFC. Cherundolo has by no means been a first-team head coach earlier than. Final season, he coached the Las Vegas Lights which was the reserve group for LAFC. The group received simply six occasions in 32 video games and was among the many worst within the USL Championship. To be honest to Cherundolo, that group by no means had a constant roster and was sometimes made up of younger LAFC prospects getting video games. Their intention wasn’t to win, it was to develop.

Now Cherundolo, 42, will probably be requested to win. He was an awesome participant with an extended historical past of success with Hannover, however as most know, the correlation between being an awesome participant after which changing into an awesome coach isn’t robust. This can be a dangerous stage to see if Cherundolo is as much as that degree as a coach.

For American followers, it’s definitely comprehensible to need Cherundolo to do properly. He’s among the many most beloved American gamers of all-time. For LAFC followers, it’s also comprehensible to be nervous about this rent.

However a part of growing as a soccer nation can also be creating extra good coaches – and that’s nonetheless doubtless to attract from former gamers. As Jesse Marsch and Jim Curtin will present, high American coaches of the following technology won’t be former U.S. nationwide group stars.

As for Cherundolo, it could be plenty of enjoyable if it does work out.

Pulisic scores vs. Liverpool

If ever there was a purpose that was wanted, it was Christian Pulisic on Sunday. The U.S. nationwide group winger scored an equalizer simply earlier than halftime for Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool. After falling behind 2-0, Pulisic’s purpose capped a two purpose rally to finish the primary half. That may be the ultimate purpose of the sport.

He wanted this. Pulisic scores vs Liverpool. #USMNT pic.twitter.com/2inVt2849F

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 2, 2022

It is a loopy time to be at Chelsea. There’s severe fallout now over the Romelu Lukaku interview the place he mentioned he wished to return to Inter Milan. This led to him being faraway from the lineup by Thomas Tuchel. Pulisic himself has had a tricky season coping with COVID, an damage, and being requested to play totally different positions exterior of his regular left wing (second striker, wingback, and so on).

However this purpose was a reminder of simply how good he might be when he’s assured. Maybe this purpose will put him heading in the right direction heading into the January window.

Reyna returns to coaching

Gio Reyna, 19, hasn’t performed since struggling a hamstring damage throughout a World Cup qualifier in September. He’s probably the greatest American gamers within the sport and his absence has been missed by each Borussia Dortmund and the U.S. nationwide group.

On Monday, Dortmund introduced that Reyna was coaching and was “back.” This weekend, Dortmund visits Eintracht Frankfurt because the Bundesliga resumes from its transient winter break.

The American Dream again at it ???????? pic.twitter.com/cfzgVcH7nH

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 3, 2022

Loans for De la Fuente & Hoppe?

Konrad de la Fuente and Matthew Hoppe, each 20, each joined new golf equipment final summer time however there are reviews that their golf equipment could possibly be searching for loans.

Matthew Hoppe joined Mallorca from Schalke however struggled with a muscle damage and has been out since October 31. It was additionally later revealed however the supervisor that he has been struggling to slot in off the sector. Diario de Mallorca reported {that a} mortgage could possibly be within the works. Nevertheless it stays to be seen how wholesome he’s.

Konrad de la Fuente has performed loads for Marseille this primary half of the season however after a really promising begin to the season, he has struggled to make an impression – regardless of the success of second place Marseille. RMC Sport in France mentioned that OM can be open to a mortgage ought to one be offered to the membership.