The Rondo: USMNT form a concern, MLS plays, and Alex Morgan's status among all-time greats

Tom Hindle: Respectfully... can everyone calm down? These are friendlies, with an interim manager that most of the team don't know, in the shadow of one of the bigger coaching appointments in U.S. history, with half of the squad rested. There is no reason to get worked up about pretty much any of this, other than to be somewhat frustrated at losing to a full-strength Canada squad. But, honestly, who cares? Sure, one or two guys might feel that this window has been a chance to establish themselves in the senior setup. But once the real games come, a good chunk of these lads don't even sniff the squad. Take a deep breath, and wait for the main man to name his first team. It is going to be OK in the interim. Promise.

Ryan Tolmich: A decent amount, actually. Literally zero when it comes to tactics, but there's something to be said about passion and fight. It doesn't matter who the coach is if you don't show up to play. Let's hope the USMNT learned that hard lesson against Canada to further prepare them for Pochettino's expected arrival.

Jacob Schneider: Likely little to none, simply because of how disastrous the match was against Canada. Easy to judge and point out how terrible it was, and how nonsensical it is from U.S. Soccer to not have Poch done before the window, but that whistle has been blown too many times. It's pointless to have an international break this early in the season, these players barely touched the field with their European clubs after an overwhelmingly busy summer. Report back in October.

Alex Labidou: After a disappointing Copa America, there were two key priorities: alignment with the program’s direction and the players taking responsibility for their Copa America shortcomings. Unfortunately, neither of these has materialized - making this a significant missed opportunity.

Some of this is beyond U.S. Soccer's control. Dealing with Chelsea, given their current mess with transfers, management, and ownership, is likely as frustrating as dealing with an AI-operated customer service system that doesn’t quite capture your response despite saying it a dozen times. Understand why U.S. Soccer is waiting for a top-tier manager, and Pochettino certainly fits that bill.

However, what's hard to accept is the U.S. team playing scared against a Canada side that had provided plenty of bulletin board material heading into the match. Ultimately, it’s the players who need to pull this team out of its funk, and it doesn’t seem like the necessary urgency is there.

TH: Well, considering these games really don't mean that much, it's hard to single anyone out. But for the sake of argument, let's go with Folarin Balogun. It's pretty exhausting further unpacking how badly the USMNT needs to find a permanent striker at this point. Perhaps they just don't have the guy in the ranks to do it all. But Balogun figured to be pretty close after a good season at Reims. And after turning in a middling performance against Canada, he could do with impressing against New Zealand.

RT: The centerbacks - all of them. With Pochettino expected to come in, no one's spot is secure, particularly in central defense. Things remain a bit ugly there, which is something the USMNT needs to sort out. The spine of the team is where things begin and, right now, there are legitimately five or six players with a case to start. At this point, one bad performance might just be enough to end a centerback's World Cup hopes. Yes, it's that fierce.

JS: Has to be Matt Turner. He secured a loan move from Forest to Palace to be their backup goalkeeper. Don't know what his agent was thinking. He'll get, what, eight club games in the next seven months? Should he start against New Zealand, he cannot afford to make any errors. The young goalkeepers - Schulte, Kochen & Slonina - are watching.

AL: Has to be Balogun right? He came in with a lot of hype and fanfare and was heralded as the piece to bring the Golden Generation to the next level. So far, the verdict is out there. The talent is obvious, but neither Monaco (his club team) nor the U.S. appear to be utilizing him in the most effective way. This, and finding a reliable goalkeeper, will arguably Pochettino's among two biggest tasks should he take the helm.

TH: In the modern era, certainly. Others have scored more goals throughout their careers, but Morgan has been a constant through multiple iterations of the U.S. game, and still found the back of the net as other countries have become more of a threat. There's also something to be said for influence. A lot of kids grew up wanting to be "the next Alex Morgan" because of the way she consistently performed for her country. Throw in the impressive trophy cabinet and the considerable off-field work and you've got a pretty good case.

As for Smith, ask us in 10 years. But she certainly has the talent to make it happen. For her, it seems a question of piecing it all together on the biggest stage - she still hasn't quite found consistency in a U.S. jersey.

RT: Morgan is on the Mount Rushmore for the USWNT, but there are just so many contenders, right? Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm probably have better cases, but, depending on your generation, you could argue Morgan, for sure. The hope is that Smith can be there some day, but she has a lot of scoring to do if she wants to be anywhere near those three, who are all certifiable legends.

JS: There's a difference between best and most important, and a lot of people struggle to differentiate the two. Morgan may be the most important USWNT player of all time. She was the face of the game for more than a decade, led the march for equal pay, became a serial winner and broke barriers. In the debate of who's the best, it doesn't matter. Alex is the most important, and that's what her legacy should be. A truly remarkable career.

AL: This might be a controversial opinion, but where’s the love for Wambach? She not only holds the record for the most goals scored by a USWNT player (184 compared to Alex Morgan’s 123) but was also recognized as the top player in the world with her FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2012. While women’s soccer has become more competitive in Morgan’s era, Wambach’s records still stand as a testament to her impact on the game.

It’s true that Wambach had some off-the-pitch controversies, whereas Morgan is known for her professionalism both on and off the field. But if we’re focusing purely on accomplishments, Wambach’s achievements are remarkable.

Regarding Smith, her talent is undeniable, but it’s uncertain whether she will have the same level of dominance as Wambach and Morgan. There are several young USWNT players, such as Jaedyn Shaw, who could also make strong cases for the striker position in the future.

TH: No, not even a tiny little bit. There's been a fair bit of anger around the league over the last 72 hours about player availability during international breaks, and the disgruntled coaches all have a point. It's not OK. Managers shouldn't be bringing outfield players on to replace a goalie. But the reality is, MLS runs on a schedule that conflicts with the European game. Until that is changed - and it likely never will - there are always going to be these weird weekends.

RT: Should they? No, and everyone knows that. Do they have to? With the current setup, a little bit, yeah. It's an unfortunate side-effect of a busy schedule. With the league's current setup and multiple competitions, these games need to get played at some point. Unfortunately, that leads to some big messes. But unless the league adjusts its schedule in a major way, there simply isn't time to get all of these games in.

JS: No. It's ridiculously frustrating to see the Supporters' Shield race essentially end due to MLS declining the Columbus Crew's request for an emergency backup goalkeeper over the weekend. It's dumber than the word dumb allows it to be. It's nonsensical to play through the international break. During June and July, teams were weakened to the point of calling up MLS NEXT Pro players to fill their bench. Now, in September, the regular season title is Miami's unless they stunningly implode over the next month. Superstars play on their national teams. Playing matches without superstars means fewer fans, fewer viewers, and less money.

Simply put, MLS is hurting itself by playing through these windows. Now, understandably, a handful of matchday 31 contests were rescheduled matches from earlier in the season. You can't just not play them. However, you can also plan accordingly for moments like these.

AL: Hell no. Given the events in Columbus this weekend and the sense that the league was overshadowed by the international matches involving the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, it’s clear that MLS could benefit from pausing during these breaks. The MLS season is already excessively long, and extending it further would likely diminish interest in its matches. Reducing the number of matches each club plays or shortening the Leagues Cup window could be potential solutions. Whatever the approach, it’s evident that a more effective plan is needed to balance things better for all involved.