GOAL takes a look at some of the biggest storylines in yet another compelling weekend from Americans abroad
It's been something of a mixed campaign for Americans abroad thus far. Christian Pulisic is up to his usual stuff – scoring, assisting, and doing lots of fun stuff in between – even if he admits it's not the start to the season AC Milan wanted.
Little has changed – and not in a good way – for Gio Reyna, who remains stuck on the bench for Dortmund after electing to stay with the club during the transfer window. Meanwhile, Weston McKennie can't get into the Juventus XI after making the surprising decision to sign a one-year extension with the Serie A side.
But elsewhere, there's been an interesting range of performances. Malik Tillman has found his own for PSV, and could break into the midfield mix when, as reported, Mauricio Pochettino ultimately takes over as the USMNT manager.
Further down the pecking order, some hopefuls settled for lower-division moves, but have impressed thus far. It has all made for an intriguing season. And with an international break imminent, there will soon be a clear idea of who will be in the manager's plans – and who will have to fight their way into the side.
GOAL takes a look at the most significant takeaways from Americans Abroad over the weekend.
Getty Images SportWhy did you stay, Gio?
What does Gio Reyna have to do to get a kick? Before the opening week of the season, Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl promised that the attacking midfielder would have a role to play.
Thus far, it’s not quite clear what that role is. Reyna watched from the bench as a 10-man Dortmund played Werder Bremen to a 0-0 draw, and has now played just nine Bundesliga minutes after 2 matches. That doesn’t exactly bode well for the rest of the season, especially after Reyna stayed put through the transfer deadline on Friday.
The USMNT's next great talent may be stranded until January. Perhaps his only hope is that Dortmund have endured something of a shaky start. The 2-0 win over Frankfurt was an agreeable opening to the campaign, but a scoreless draw with Wolfsburg didn't bode well. Perhaps Reyna is the one to unlock things in those drab contests.
AdvertisementGettyWiley benefits from Boehly's transfer chaos
Any criticism of Chelsea’s transfer policy is well founded. Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have taken a scattergun approach to this whole thing, sacrificing player welfare with the view of maintaining a poorly-run club’s financial mess.
But, every now and then, one of those moves might just work out. Enter Caleb Wiley, former Atlanta United full-back and one of a select few that might actually benefit from Boehly and Company's transfer madness. He impressed against Lyon, providing a gorgeous weak-foot assist, and holding his own defensively off the bench.
Europe is undoubtedly a step up for an interesting talent still in the embryonic stage of his career. But he might just have shown enough to suggest that he deserves a spot in the USMNT setup for this international break. Antonee Robinson has the left-back spot locked down for the foreseeable future. Still, for Wiley, it a real chance for a promising talent.
USA Today SportsThe Barnsley boys get it done
Donovan Pines, elite goal scorer. OK, so maybe not. But the big center back has proved in the early goings of his European career that he has a real eye for goal. The Maryland native was at it again on Saturday, rising at the far post off a corner to score his fourth in nine games for Barnsley – a tidy return for someone who spends most of his time defending his own net.
And the man behind him didn’t do badly, either. Gaga Slonina is perhaps playing at a slightly lower level than his talents befit. After all, League One soccer isn’t always the best; there isn’t much champagne football to be found.
Still, Slonina is getting reps in goal – and doing well, too. The former Chicago Fire shot-stopper impressed again, keeping a second straight clean sheet. Pines’ national team moment doesn’t appear imminent. But Slonina, impressing among an at times unconvincing keeper corps, might have done enough to get a chance.
Getty Images SportPulisic makes an impact, but Milan need to figure it out
Merely 10 days ago, Christian Pulisic was going to be a world class No. 10. Much was made of new manager Paolo Fonseca's tactics over the summer, where Pulisic started a couple of preseason friendlies in a more central role. Zoom out, and it made sense. It figured to offer the attacking midfielder plenty of room to do all of the exciting dribbly things, while also get into areas where he might be able to create and score more easily.
Fonseca, though, hasn't quite stuck to his convictions. Pulisic played on the left on Saturday – and did so to mixed results. He started the game by grabbing himself an assist, and looked lively at times. But he also struggled for stretches.
Rafa Leao entered the fray in the second half, in which Pulisic moved over to the center. And Milan were much improved after the switch, fighting back for a 2-2 draw. The American certainly played a role – and was trusted for all 90 minutes. His best position, though, remains up for debate.