Latest news with #AntoneeRobinson
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Antonee Robinson's injury timetable underscores his importance to USMNT
No doubt, Fulham will feel a bit up against it heading into the club's Premier League opener, away at Brighton. The 2024-25 season saw Antonee Robinson cement his place as one of Marco Silva's most vital charges, arguably the best pure left back in the Premier League. Nicknamed 'Jedi,' he's proven capable of containing Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah on one end before dependably squaring crosses right into his striker's stride. He gutted out an injury to his right knee until season's end, finishing third in the fan-voted Player of the Season pageant after a 10-assist campaign. Advertisement On Thursday, 48 hours before a trip to the AmEx, Silva confirmed that Robinson would not be available for selection as he works back from an offseason surgery on that vital plant-leg knee. So, too, would Ryan Sessegnon, leaving the Portuguese manager without his two top options at left back. Mauricio Pochettino may still be envying Silva's situation. At least the Fulham boss has a viable alternative in the role to Robinson. It's hardly a new phenomenon that the U.S. men's national team is dangerously thin at left back. In fact, the program went over a decade with makeshift solutions, forcing players like DaMarcus Beasley and Fabian Johnson to own the role despite spending their careers up until that point further afield. While U.S. Soccer can't take credit for Robinson's development, his commitment was a clear end to holding the left side of the back line together with duct tape and chewing gum. While Robinson has amassed a tidy 50 caps to date, he's been absent for the last four camps under Pochettino, a 12-game sample from which the coach has learned plenty about his player pool. He's had his initial trust in Diego Luna validated by a star-making turn at the Gold Cup. That same tournament gave reason to think Matt Freese could be a shot-stopping alternative to Matt Turner in goal. There have been frustrating realizations, too. Mexico is back on the ascent, although that's a bit more of a subplot than usual as both nations will abstain from World Cup qualifying this cycle. His faith in the core that helped qualify for the 2022 installment has potentially been rocked by Christian Pulisic and others opting our or missing out on the Gold Cup. And, more relevant to today's news via Silva: he doesn't have a clear alternative to Robinson at left back. Unlike other USMNT mainstays like Gio Reyna, Pochettino and Robinson have already logged a bit of collaboration. The left back was on Pochettino's first squad last October, and started both legs of the Concacaf Nations Leg quarterfinal against Jamaica the following month. In the second, Robinson assisted on the second goal of a 4-2 win that sent the U.S. through to the final four. Advertisement Since then, however, Pochettino has had to play alternatives to Robinson. When an ailment kept Robinson out for the Nations League's business end in March, it became a calamity: Panama targeted out-of-position Max Arfsten and, later, Joe Scally, exploiting the latter's lack of awareness to score a last gasp winner in a 1-0 semifinal upset. Scally went on to start the third-place game, putting in such a poor shift that he got a halftime hook. In the 12 games that have passed since Robinson's last U.S. appearance, four players have been called upon in his absence. Arfsten has been Pochettino's most relied-upon alternative, appearing in nine of that dozen, most often as starter. John Tolkin, of recently relegated Holstein Kiel in Germany, has made five appearances, while Scally and DeJuan Jones have each appeared twice in the role. None have made a terribly compelling case for further looks. Throughout the Gold Cup, Arfsten and Tolkin — as indicated by their higher utilization — were the two options on Pochettino's squad. Arfsten, a winger with the possession-dominant Columbus Crew, has fared about as you'd expect for a player who usually sees the game from a vastly different perspective. His attacking contributions were that of an ideal wingback, logging assists and chipping in goals as an auxiliary threat from wide. His defensive performances were riddled with the kinds of mistakes coaches have to drill out of defenders in the youth ranks, taking the bait and making needless fouls (like one just inside the box against Costa Rica that resulted in a penalty). Tolkin, largely as a substitute, has at least spent his career in the role since debuting with his boyhood New York Red Bulls. His issues more closely mirror the struggles recently seen from young left backs George Bello, Kris Lund and Sam Vines: bona fide left backs, but unable to prove themselves at the international level. Advertisement There's a paucity of alternatives, too. Unlike other spots, there's no alternative who hasn't been tested and is flying under the radar. The closest to matching that mold is Caleb Wiley, the Chelsea prospect who earned three caps in 2023 and 2024 but hasn't been in a national team camp since Pochettino took charge. While it's impressive for a 20-year-old to have amassed 135 club appearances, mostly with Atlanta United before the club from London came calling, his first loan with Strasbourg was inconclusive. He's at Watford now, and could very easily work into the fold in the months to come. The other alternatives to Scally are, in the program's grand tradition, playing out of position. There's Arfsten, still tapping into his winger's instincts at the expense of his team's defending. There's Scally shifting over from right back (and Sergiño Dest before him, the first-choice option in that spot), who fancy themselves to put in a shift on the left. Even then, it weakens the right back contingent that is seemingly three players deep: Dest, Scally, Alex Freeman. If Robinson's recovery timetable will keep him out of the next international camp spanning from Sept. 1-9, the fifth-to-last camp before the 2026 World Cup, those speculative alternatives may get another chance to log starts and fortify their cases for inclusion. Pochettino and a fanbase starved for optimism will rightfully hope for a pleasant surprise. As it stands right now, it's a bleak reality for the USMNT: against ideal operational standards, this is a Jedi without a worthy padawan. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Silva on 'passive' transfer window, Muniz's future and Brighton
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:There are no injuries but Silva confirmed full-back Antonee Robinson would not be eased fitness concerns about Ryan Sesssegnon who was substituted during the final pre-season friendly: "It was just a precaution as he felt something. I think he took the right decision, he was involved in the morning session and let us see how he is going to react."He explained Fulham had two plans during the transfer window. Firstly, the plan was to renew the contracts of players such as Kenny Tete, Josh King, and Tom Cairney as these were "very important to do". The second plan was to improve the squad depth by bringing in numbers. Having only signed one player, Silva said it is "not the ideal scenario" and that the club "has been too passive." On whether he expected such a window: "If you ask me if I expected, of course not. It is what it is. The good thing was not having injuries during pre-season as in some positions we are very short. We want to have a squad that can play Premier League and are ready for what the league demands."He remains hopeful Fulham will make more signings before the window closes. On the future of Rodrigo Muniz following a bid from Atalanta: "It is not for me to comment on any type of offers, but he is going to be in contention for the Brighton game. Rodrigo knows what I think about him and how important he is." He said the ambitions for this season are to "want more and try to break records" after finishing with Fulham's highest Premier League points total in Brighton: "Saturday is going to be a very tough game. They have a top and very mature striker. It is going to be demanding, but we are going to be ready for it. Both teams are going to be anxious for the first game of the season." Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who will start for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup as tournament hits one-year sign post?
The United States men's national team knows they'll be playing at the 2026 World Cup on home soil, and that's terrific considering the state of the team right now. The Yanks don't look great, and a sea of players are missing out on the 2025 Gold Cup thanks to injuries, rest, and even the Club World Cup. Advertisement MORE — USMNT 0-4 Switzerland recap | USMNT player ratings The talent and experience pools are as deep as ever, so precious few starting spots are assured players who remain healthy over the next 12 months. Christian Pulisic? Of course. Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson? Yep. Beyond that? Who will start for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup? Goalkeeper The United States has very little top-end experience outside of Matt Turner and Zack Steffen, as the position once-laughably strong is very uncertain — Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, nor Tim Howard are walking through that door. Defenders The back three trotted out by Mauricio Pochettino in the second half of the Yanks' 4-0 loss to Switzerland offered some intrigue, though Switzerland wasn't exactly hunting goals 5, 6, and 7. Still, right now Tim Ream might be one of the two best center backs in the pool despite his 37 years. Chris Richards is a near lock, but there's room to impress for Cameron Carter-Vickers and a handful of others. Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, and Joe Scally help produce a solid group of fullbacks. Holding/defensive midfielders Johnny Cardoso's the name of the moment while Tyler Adams when healthy is a no-brainer. But there's a lot more here. Yunus Musah, Luca de la Torre, Gianluca Busio, and Tanner Tessmann will surely be joined by others. Weston McKennie could count in this camp or the next category. Attackers/wingers There's plenty to like beyond Pulisic. Diego Luna and Malik Tillman are top of mind right now given their strong showings against Turkiye and then off the bench versus Switzerland. Timothy Weah has often impressed in a U.S. shirt. Center forward Pochettino clearly likes Patrick Agyemang, but Folarin Balogun is the front-runner in a crowded field of players which includes Haji Wright, Josh Sargent, and more. Predicted 2026 World Cup roster for USMNT Matt Turner Advertisement Sergino Dest — Chris Richards — Tim Ream — Antonee Robinson Tyler Adams — Johnny Cardoso Timothy Weah — Malik Tillman — Christian Pulisic Folarin Balogun Bench: Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman, John Tolkin, Joe Scally, Luca de la Torre, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Giovanni Reyna, Jack McGlynn, Haji Wright, Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi
NBC Sports
11-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Who will start for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup as tournament hits one-year sign post?
The United States men's national team knows they'll be playing at the 2026 World Cup on home soil, and that's terrific considering the state of the team right now. The Yanks don't look great, and a sea of players are missing out on the 2025 Gold Cup thanks to injuries, rest, and even the Club World Cup. MORE — USMNT 0-4 Switzerland recap | USMNT player ratings The talent and experience pools are as deep as ever, so precious few starting spots are assured players who remain healthy over the next 12 months. Christian Pulisic? Of course. Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson? Yep. Beyond that? Who will start for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup? The United States has very little top-end experience outside of Matt Turner and Zack Steffen, as the position once-laughably strong is very uncertain — Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, nor Tim Howard are walking through that door. The back three trotted out by Mauricio Pochettino in the second half of the Yanks' 4-0 loss to Switzerland offered some intrigue, though Switzerland wasn't exactly hunting goals 5, 6, and 7. Still, right now Tim Ream might be one of the two best center backs in the pool despite his 37 years. Chris Richards is a near lock, but there's room to impress for Cameron Carter-Vickers and a handful of others. Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, and Joe Scally help produce a solid group of fullbacks. Johnny Cardoso's the name of the moment while Tyler Adams when healthy is a no-brainer. But there's a lot more here. Yunus Musah, Luca de la Torre, Gianluca Busio, and Tanner Tessmann will surely be joined by others. Weston McKennie could count in this camp or the next category. There's plenty to like beyond Pulisic. Diego Luna and Malik Tillman are top of mind right now given their strong showings against Turkiye and then off the bench versus Switzerland. Timothy Weah has often impressed in a U.S. shirt. Pochettino clearly likes Patrick Agyemang, but Folarin Balogun is the front-runner in a crowded field of players which includes Haji Wright, Josh Sargent, and more. Matt Turner Sergino Dest — Chris Richards — Tim Ream — Antonee Robinson Tyler Adams — Johnny Cardoso Timothy Weah — Malik Tillman — Christian Pulisic Folarin Balogun Bench: Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman, John Tolkin, Joe Scally, Luca de la Torre, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Giovanni Reyna, Jack McGlynn, Haji Wright, Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'We need to break the cycle' in this transfer window
This summer, we want to break the cycle of offloading our most valuable asset. Since we returned to the Premier League, it has happened each there was Alexander Mitrovic, then last year we lost Joao Palhinha. This year, the vultures are circling Antonee we retain the services of the man affectionately known as Jedi, then not only do we skip a window or two's worth of rebuilding, we send out a statement of Robinson's departure isn't the only dark cloud looming. After committing his future to Fulham, Marco Silva finds himself the object of many a top club's affection - most notably Juventus and Tottenham if any, Fulham fans would begrudge him the move, even after his recent comments that he would be here next season. He has rehabilitated his reputation at Craven Cottage. No longer is he a man whose head is turned at the first sign of future aside, I would like to see us bring in some attacking reinforcements. Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez performed admirably, with 20 goals between them, but a few more goals in crucial moments would have resulted in European football.A true number eight must also be on the midfield pairing of Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic have performed admirably in filling our Palhinha-shaped hole in the middle, but we need an injection of dynamism; someone who will drive the ball up the pitch and bring others into that end, a winger or two would not go amiss, either. We have real quality in Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi, but Willian looks set to leave - again - and Reiss Nelson headed back to Arsenal injured months ago.A tricky two months ahead, then. But there are real rewards to be had if we navigate those obstacles and break that more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external
