The USMNT Player Performance Index has surprised Alexi Lalas, with Josh Sargent scraping into a top 50 led by Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Juventus midfielder leads the wayPSV title winners inside top fiveChampionship forwards harshly treatedGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Juventus midfielder McKennie leads the way, when it comes to the chart, with AC Milan forward Pulisic following closely behind. The top five is completed by Fulham’s bucaneering full-back Antonee Robinson, PSV loanee Sergino Dest and his fellow Eredivisie title winner Malik Tillman.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Folarin Balogun occupies ninth spot, after finding the going tough during his debut campaign at Monaco, while the only non-European based players on the list are Alejandro Zendejas and Brandon Vazquez – who play their trade in Liga MX for Club America and Monterrey respectively.
GettyWHAT LALAS SAID
Haji Wright only makes it as far as 28, despite an impressive season at FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry, while Sargent sits 48th after registering a personal-best 16 goals and helping Norwich into the Championship play-offs. Former USMNT star Lalas has responded to those rankings by telling his podcast: “Josh Sargent is what? I’m okay in terms of the first two. I think whatever calculations they are using, it came out with two appropriate choices in Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic. I can certainly argue Christian Pulisic, and I think they are interchangeable in one and two. Before I looked at the list, I had Christian Pulisic at one and Weston McKennie at two, but I’m good either way. I think everybody can agree that they have both had stellar seasons and are worthy of that one spot. Antonee Robinson? He just keeps on going and has been good for a long time – and maybe even suffers because of his continuity. Sergino Dest at four, okay. Then Tillman… Then you are getting into Chris Richards, Zendejas and Balogun at number nine. The thing about Josh Sargent, before I saw this list, if you were to ask me where Josh Sargent was, there is not a chance in hell that I would say he was not in the top 10. I would have Josh Sargent much, much higher.”
WHAT NEXT?
Sargent is paying the price for not turning out in the top tier of English football, and for suffering an early-season injury. There is every chance that he will be back in the Premier League next season, either after helping Norwich to promotion or when completing a big-money transfer elsewhere.
