GOAL US writers discuss the USMNT's camp, Neymar to MLS speculation, and Arsenal's status after an FA Cup loss
There is one word on every MLS fan's lips this week: Neymar.
The Brazilian attacking midfielder is once again being linked with a move to the U.S., and after admitting that he would love to link up with his old Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami, the possibility of the trio strutting their stuff together has dominated the conversation.
But that's not the only storyline in the scope of U.S. soccer. There is a January camp and two friendlies over the next week for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT. Previously dubbed "camp cupcake", the winter window is an odd thing for the national team. It's low stakes, sometimes low energy, and largely ignored by the global football calendar. Can we really take anything from these games with a MLS-heavy roster? Or are they just individual tryouts? It will be interesting to see if anyone can seize a starting spot going forward.
At the club level, Weston McKennie is back in the fold for Juventus, but is having to settle for minutes at left back. That could be an issue for a player who could do with operating in his natural position. Meanwhile, FA Cup action in England failed to deliver many major surprises, but Arsenal's loss at the hands of Manchester United might have just left the Gunners facing the reality of another trophyless season.
The state of soccer is as intriguing as ever, and GOAL US writers tackle all in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
IMAGNWhich player are you most excited to watch in January camp?
Tom Hindle: Pickings tend to be rather slim for January camps. Despite the big names that have gotten their starts with the USMNT in the winter months over the years, this isn't the most compelling roster. Diego Luna is perhaps the obvious answer. The attacking midfielder is a real live wire with the ball, and hasn't been given a proper look for the senior side yet. He's probably the only attacking player here who can realistically use the next couple of weeks to establish a USMNT future.
Jacob Schneider: Yes, it's Luna. It's his time to shine and convince U.S. Soccer that he deserves more than just a January camp. More than that, he needs to impress potential European suitors. The RSL winger/attacking midfielder is creative, unique and presents Pochettino with another weapon in the attack, especially when attacking depth is the biggest issue at the moment.
Ryan Tolmich: Give me Jack McGlynn. The Philadelphia Union midfielder is blessed with vision that might just be the best in the pool, but there are questions about how his game will translate to the international level. Will his brain work fast enough against top, top players? More importantly, will his body? We'll have to see if McGlynn's ability with the ball at his feet can make him a USMNT regular, but a strong performance in these upcoming games would be a good start.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWho should start in goal for the USMNT in this camp?
TH: Zack Steffen. He's been here before and deserves another shot after a solid season in MLS. It might also be worth giving Patrick Schulte a look, who has been knocking on the door for a while now. Give them a game each and see what happens.
JS: Schulte should get the minutes, but if rotation happens, Matt Freese absolutely deserves a nod. Neither Drake Callender or Steffen were good enough in 2024, and simply put, are in camp due to previous experience and name recognition. Freese was brilliant for NYCFC in 2024, and Schulte is still competing with Turner for the No. 1 spot – they should be the two in January.
RT: Schulte should start at least one game and, in an ideal world, probably both. Freese has an argument, to be fair, but Schulte is the one fighting hardest for that No. 1 spot. This camp should be his chance to show Pochettino why he should be right up there with Matt Turner – who got a rare start with Crystal Palace last weekend, and is not in this camp – and not just a distant backup. Two good performances from Schulte, and continued non-action from Turner, would open up a very interesting conversation come March.
Getty Images SportWould Neymar be a good fit for Inter Miami?
TH: In terms of jersey sales, of course. Tactically? Not even a little bit. Let's be honest, the thing this team needs is another attacking player with zero work rate. They are already carrying too many passengers to push for MLS Cup – something Atlanta United exposed in last year's playoffs. The PSG affliction of adding a ton of stars into one side and expecting success is a widespread thing. Signing Neymar would be a perfect example of subtraction by addition. Then again, Neymar in Miami would be box office. Make it happen, even if it blows their MLS Cup chances to smithereens.
JS: If the finances work, Neymar should be good anywhere. It's a hands-down yes. Even if he plays 50% of the matches, it's a win for any club simply due to marketing. From a performance perspective, he would fill Diego Gomez' spot well, and the chemistry with Messi and Suarez would be fun to watch.
RT: Make it happen, MLS! When healthy, Neymar is one of the most electrifying players of this century, although, to be fair, health has been an issue. He has all the money in the world due to his stint in Saudi Arabia, but can you really put a price on playing with your friends in Miami? Questions remain if that friendly atmosphere would help or hurt his on-field focus, but it sure as hell would be fun to find out, right?
Is McKennie playing left back good for his footballing future?
TH: No. And stop rationalizing it with the "well at least he's playing" argument. As soon as he played a decent winger – his best buddy Christian Pulisic when Juventus played AC Milan – he got absolutely torched. Go somewhere that will let you play in your best spot, Weston. Preferably as far away from Thiago Motta as possible.
JS: It literally does not matter – at all. Good for him that he's providing value to the team, expressing versatility and showing that he's willing to do whatever it takes for the club. He did that in 2023-24 under Max Allegri at RB, RWB and RM, too. Neither McKenie fans or U.S. Soccer should care. He's playing, performing, and expressing versatility – not many players can say that.
RT: It's definitely not a bad thing. McKennie isn't a traditional left-back by any stretch, so it's not as if he's interpreting the role the same way Paolo Maldini did. No, McKennie is playing it in a more modern sense, serving as a pseudo-midfielder for a Juve team that has a whole lot of the ball. He's not being asked to do things he's uncomfortable with. Instead of molding his game to the position, Juve are molding the position to his game to keep him on the field, and that's about as big of a compliment as you can get.
