The Mauricio Pochettino era as manager of the USMNT has already yielded exciting results.
While the Argentine’s first international break in charge included a disappointing defeat to Mexico, the second saw the U.S. win both legs of their CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Jamaica.
The second leg in particular would have left U.S. fans salivating with Pochettino’s side racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time.
But despite the building excitement, the new head coach has at least one real problem to solve.
Speaking with Tim Howard on their podcast ‘Unfiltered Soccer’ American legend Landon Donovan outlined the issue facing Pochettino.
“Goalkeeping to me is a massive concern, we don’t have anybody playing at a high level consistently right now that I would say, has absolutely just said, this is my spot,” said Donovan.
Matt Turner has started each of Pochettino’s four games in charge and while he has made some decent saves, he still looks shaky both when it comes to parrying shots back into the danger areas and with the ball at his feet.
Legendary keeper Howard, agreed with Donovan’s assessment and pointed to Turner’s lack of consistent club football as part of the reason for his struggles.
“A lot of our goalkeepers currently aren’t getting top minutes, I think a couple of them are getting overlooked,” Howard noted.
Turner has really seen his club career stall in recent years after signing for Arsenal in 2022. Brought in as a back-up option, he ended up making seven total appearances for the Gunners, zero of those in the Premier League.
Chasing first-team football, the 30 year old joined Nottingham Forest last season and immediately opened the campaign as in goal. But that didn’t last.
Too many mistakes eventually led to Matz Sels stealing his job as Turner was forced to watch from the bench for the final 16 games of the Premier League season.
In the summer, he was on the move once again, this time leaving Forest for Crystal Palace. It’s been another disappointment for Turner. With Dean Henderson firmly planted as Palace’s first-choice goalkeeper, the American is merely a back-up for his third club in a row.
Whether the lack of consistent first team football is affecting him, or whether he’s simply not good enough, it’s clear that the U.S. need a long term answer in goal.
Enter Gabriel ‘Gaga’ Slonina.
Still only 20 years old, Slonina is raw and needs time to develop but he has the highest ceiling of the goalkeepers available to Pochettino at this time, already earning the honor of being the youngest ever goalkeeper to play for the USMNT.
Following an impressive debut campaign with the Chicago Fire, Slonina signed with Chelsea in 2022 before spending time on loan with Belgian side Eupen.
This season he’s left Stamford Bridge again on a temporary basis, moving to Barnsley on loan in League One.
Unfortunately, his development in the English third tier has not gone as smoothly as many would have hoped. Having started the season as first-choice shot-stopper, Slonina followed a promising opening month with weeks of inconsistency.
Slonina was eventually dropped and he still has not been able to win his place back. Of course, for someone so young, growing pains are natural but for the future hopes of Pochettino and the USMNT, they need to see more from Slonina.
On the positive side, the bumps in the road have not altered his confidence.
Speaking earlier this week, Slonina reaffirmed his internal belief and put his new boss Pochettino on notice.
“I want to be the starting goalkeeper for the men’s national team. I think that’s a goal I’m gonna aim for,” he said confidently.
“I’m going to work my hardest towards and I wanna put that vision I have my in head into reality. I’m just gonna work my hardest to be the starting goalkeeper, be part of that squad, and make history with the U.S.”
Slonina will need improved form and increased regular football if he’s to reach his own lofty goals but there’s no doubt that Pochettino will have an eye on the youngster over the course of the next 18 months leading up to the World Cup on home soil.
Time is on Slonina’s side and he has the belief to carry him far in the brutal world of football. That much was clear by his bold decision to leave the MLS and join Chelsea, and it remains clear from his latest comments.
