As the United States men’s national team get ready for the likely appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, it’s a good time to take a look at the striker position. A spot that has defined the USMNT for better or for worse, Pochettiono doesn’t always need goals from his striker but he does value movement and pressing ability. While Folarin Balogun has brought a new dimension to the USMNT, if he falls out of the starting XI due to club form, there will be decisions to be made. Let’s take a look at who cracks the top ten:
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1. |
Folarin Balogun |
Monaco |
Balogun has been at the top of this list by default due to the lack of a threat from players behind him but if he doesn’t improve upon a season where he scored eight goals and assisted five more for Monaco, playing time could become a concern. Only logging 63 minutes during their first two games of the season and with pressure coming from players behind him, this could become an actual battle for the nine. |
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2. |
Josh Sargent |
Norwich City |
Goals goals and more goals. The former narrative around Sargent was that he’d be a world beater if only he added goals to his game. Following up a 16-goal season with two so far on the young championship season, the 24-year-old is doing just that. There isn’t much more that Sargent can do except keep scoring to get some speculative starts at the nine for the USMNT, but he’s doing what he can. |
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3. |
Haji Wright |
Coventry City |
I’m not sure if we’re still allowed to call Wright a “striker” these days but he’s a forward who is scoring goals and can play as a nine. For Coventry City, Wright’s goals and assists are critical as like Sargent, he’s doing everything possible to beat in the door of the USMNT. |
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4. |
Brandon Vazquez |
Monterrey |
Finally back in the starting XI and scoring for Monterrey, Vazquez now has 11 goals in all competitions since joining without actually getting a serious run as a starter. If he can continue to score in limited minutes, it’s only a matter of a time until he shoots up these rankings. |
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5. |
Ricardo Pepi |
PSV |
Like Vazquez, playing time is the concern for Pepi being behind Luuk De Jong. Pepi only has one appearance this season but he has done well in limited minutes since joining PSV. |
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6. |
Brian White |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
The drop off between five and six on this list is quite stark but White does a job and has 12 goals this season. He brings something different with his ability in the air which could help in competitions like Gold Cup. |
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7. |
Jesus Ferreira |
FC Dallas |
This is quite a fall for Ferreira but he has also only featured in 13 league matches this season scoring four goals and assisting two more. Only 23, he’ll be back climbing up the ranks. |
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8. |
Jordan Morris |
Seattle Sounders |
Morris has moved to the nine for the Sounders with great effect. Able to use his speed to play on the back shoulder of a defense and make things happen, Morris may work himself back for counter attacking. |
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9. |
Duncan McGuire |
Orlando City SC |
While McGuire went to the Olympics, he doesn’t feel as close to cracking the senior team as some of the other Olympians. It’s a shame the move to Blackburn Rovers collapsed because growth in the championship would’ve been good for him. |
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10. |
Nicholas Gioacchini |
Como |
We’re pulling at straws here but Gioacchini has yet another chance heading to Italy with newly promoted Como. Only time will tell if this is the move where he puts all of his tools together. |
