Folarin Balogun set to hand Mauricio Pochettino a huge USMNT boost but Frank Lampard needs more from Haji Wright
It was another considerable weekend of football action from Americans plying their trade abroad. Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah’s AC Milan comfortably beat Empoli 3-0. GettyFolarin Balogun is on the rise with the USMNT[/caption] Both started with the USMNT captain providing an assist, his fifth of the season, to go with five goals. Elsewhere, Malik Tillman started while Ricardo Pepi came off the bench as PSV won 5-2, and there were also five goals for Cameron Carter-Vickers’ Celtic against Ross County, with the defender helping the Scottish giants keep a clean sheet. Brenden Aaronson played 69 minutes as Leeds were surprisingly beaten by Blackburn, but Antonee Robinson’s Fulham survived captain Tom Cairney’s red card to claim a decent 1-1 draw with Tottenham. So as the latest weekend comes to a close, whose stock is on the rise and whose is declining from the cohort of Americans across the pond? STOCK UP Folarin Balogun There’s been quite a lot of disappointment involved in the early stages of Folarin Balogun’s 2024-25 campaign. After choosing to represent the USMNT in May 2023, Balogun almost immediately became the first choice striker for Gregg Berhalter, proving to be one of the few bright spots of the United States’ underwhelming Copa America group stage exit. Entering his second season for Monaco, the runway appeared clear for Balogun to take steps forward for both club and country. Getting a major upgrade on the national stage with Mauricio Pochettino taking over after Berhalter’s unsurprising departure couldn’t hurt either. GettyHaji Wright could be limited at Coventry under Frank Lampard[/caption] GettyBalogun, left, and Christian Pulisic celebrate at a US friendly[/caption] Despite having Josh Sargent, Haji Wright and now Ricardo Pepi to call on, Balogun seemed to have a mini-stranglehold on the starting striker role for Pochettino, and that was earned through the impressive form he had already shown. But the season started with three scoreless Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco, as well as a pair of goalless starts for the U.S. in their September friendlies. Finally though, he started to ignite at the end of September, scoring in three straight Ligue 1 appearances. On the third of those, however, he dislocated his shoulder and has been sidelined ever since, missing all of Pochettino’s opening four matches in the process. It was a huge blow for Balogun, halting his improving form while completely taking him out of consideration for Pochettino just as Pepi started playing the best football of his career. At long last, Balogun is back. GettyWright’s stock is trending down[/caption] On Saturday, he played 68 minutes for Monaco against Marseille. Even though his side was beaten 2-1, Balogun showed flashes of the player he clearly is at his best, having a crucial role in his team’s lone goal. It wasn’t a great appearance, but it’s a step in the right direction. Now, Balogun needs to stay fit and build on his first start in nearly two months. Despite the emergence of Pepi, having another strong option up front will only be good for the U.S. STOCK DOWN Haji Wright Injuries seem to be following USMNT strikers around at the moment. Josh Sargent and Haji Wright have joined Balogun on the treatment table in recent weeks. Balogun returned but Sargent has missed the past six games with a groin injury. Wright has been absent from each of Coventry’s last three Championship matches due to an ankle problem. Not deemed to be very serious, new Coventry boss Frank Lampard still said that he’s expecting Wright to be out for some more time. “We’re expecting a bit of time. It’s an ankle issue,” Lampard said. “I have seen the injury when it happened, watched it back so it’s a difficult one to give a timeline for, but it’s not a terrible injury and we will just have to make sure he’s right. “But he’s obviously a miss and I am aware of his quality, too.” Unfortunately, that’s not the only reason why Wright’s stock is trending down. Longtime manager Mark Robins departed at the start of November, taking stability around the club with him. In his place, Coventry have opted for Lampard, a big name but a manager with a murky track record, particularly for forward players. In his first managerial stint with Derby County, he failed to earn promotion with an extremely talented group, and striker Martyn Waghorn managed just nine Championship goals across the season. The following season with Chelsea, Tammy Abraham had a breakout campaign, scoring 15 Premier League goals. That would be the ideal blueprint for Wright and Lampard’s relationship. Things went far worse in every respect for Lampard at Everton, as his side continuously struggled for goals. Lampard will get the benefit of the doubt and a fresh slate with Coventry, who sit 18t
It was another considerable weekend of football action from Americans plying their trade abroad.
Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah’s AC Milan comfortably beat Empoli 3-0.
Both started with the USMNT captain providing an assist, his fifth of the season, to go with five goals.
Elsewhere, Malik Tillman started while Ricardo Pepi came off the bench as PSV won 5-2, and there were also five goals for Cameron Carter-Vickers’ Celtic against Ross County, with the defender helping the Scottish giants keep a clean sheet.
Brenden Aaronson played 69 minutes as Leeds were surprisingly beaten by Blackburn, but Antonee Robinson’s Fulham survived captain Tom Cairney’s red card to claim a decent 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
So as the latest weekend comes to a close, whose stock is on the rise and whose is declining from the cohort of Americans across the pond?
STOCK UP
Folarin Balogun
There’s been quite a lot of disappointment involved in the early stages of Folarin Balogun’s 2024-25 campaign.
After choosing to represent the USMNT in May 2023, Balogun almost immediately became the first choice striker for Gregg Berhalter, proving to be one of the few bright spots of the United States’ underwhelming Copa America group stage exit.
Entering his second season for Monaco, the runway appeared clear for Balogun to take steps forward for both club and country.
Getting a major upgrade on the national stage with Mauricio Pochettino taking over after Berhalter’s unsurprising departure couldn’t hurt either.
Despite having Josh Sargent, Haji Wright and now Ricardo Pepi to call on, Balogun seemed to have a mini-stranglehold on the starting striker role for Pochettino, and that was earned through the impressive form he had already shown.
But the season started with three scoreless Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco, as well as a pair of goalless starts for the U.S. in their September friendlies.
Finally though, he started to ignite at the end of September, scoring in three straight Ligue 1 appearances.
On the third of those, however, he dislocated his shoulder and has been sidelined ever since, missing all of Pochettino’s opening four matches in the process.
It was a huge blow for Balogun, halting his improving form while completely taking him out of consideration for Pochettino just as Pepi started playing the best football of his career.
At long last, Balogun is back.
On Saturday, he played 68 minutes for Monaco against Marseille.
Even though his side was beaten 2-1, Balogun showed flashes of the player he clearly is at his best, having a crucial role in his team’s lone goal.
It wasn’t a great appearance, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Now, Balogun needs to stay fit and build on his first start in nearly two months.
Despite the emergence of Pepi, having another strong option up front will only be good for the U.S.
STOCK DOWN
Haji Wright
Injuries seem to be following USMNT strikers around at the moment.
Josh Sargent and Haji Wright have joined Balogun on the treatment table in recent weeks.
Balogun returned but Sargent has missed the past six games with a groin injury.
Wright has been absent from each of Coventry’s last three Championship matches due to an ankle problem.
Not deemed to be very serious, new Coventry boss Frank Lampard still said that he’s expecting Wright to be out for some more time.
“We’re expecting a bit of time. It’s an ankle issue,” Lampard said.
“I have seen the injury when it happened, watched it back so it’s a difficult one to give a timeline for, but it’s not a terrible injury and we will just have to make sure he’s right.
“But he’s obviously a miss and I am aware of his quality, too.”
Unfortunately, that’s not the only reason why Wright’s stock is trending down.
Longtime manager Mark Robins departed at the start of November, taking stability around the club with him.
In his place, Coventry have opted for Lampard, a big name but a manager with a murky track record, particularly for forward players.
In his first managerial stint with Derby County, he failed to earn promotion with an extremely talented group, and striker Martyn Waghorn managed just nine Championship goals across the season.
The following season with Chelsea, Tammy Abraham had a breakout campaign, scoring 15 Premier League goals. That would be the ideal blueprint for Wright and Lampard’s relationship.
Things went far worse in every respect for Lampard at Everton, as his side continuously struggled for goals.
Lampard will get the benefit of the doubt and a fresh slate with Coventry, who sit 18th in the Championship.
The Premier League legend oversaw a 2-2 draw in his first game in charge of Coventry, an 88th minute penalty earning the point.
He needs Wright back though to truly reach this team’s ceiling.
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