JONES CALLED UP, BUT WILL HE PLAY? ... POCHETTINO SAID LEAVING USMNT FOR MANU

 STOP THE PRESSES …



The NHL Utah Mammoth recalled ZAC JONES from the 

AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners late Sunday. But, don’t hold your 

breath. There are no guarantees the 26-year-old defenseman 

from Richmond will get any ice time. So, what else is new? … 

Despite putting up some big numbers in previous AHL stints, 

including 52 assists and 62 points in 60 games to earn the

 EDDIE SHORE Award as the league’s best defenseman a 

season ago for Buffalo’s top farm team, Jones hasn’t appeared 

in an NHL game since 2024-25 when he basically was reduced 

to an afterthought by the New York Rangers … even though he 

proved to be a more than adequate replacement for perennial 

all-star ADAM FOX, among others sidelined with injuries … 

Off to another strong start in Tucson (13 games: 8 assists and 3 

goals, among them a game-winner in OT last time out), Jones 

apparently has been summoned to serve as Utah’s seventh 

defenseman … which usually means being on stand-by and 

watching from the press box … The Mammoth (10-7-1) are in 

Las Vegas (12-5-2) Wednesday (Nov.11) in a game matching 

division leaders. It will be carried by TNT (air time: 8 p.m., 

EST). Meanwhile, the Roadrunners are in the midst of a week-

long break in the schedule. They don’t play again until 

Saturday (Nov. 14) in the first of back-to-back home games 

with the Texas Stars.


YOUR USMNT, which – it says here – blew a golden 

opportunity at the 2026 World Cup, held here, now faces the 

possibility of life without MAURICIO POCHETINO as it 

prepares for the first round of qualifying for the 2030 renewal 

of soccer’s most prestigious event … Pochettino, 56, hired to be 

coach/manager in the Americans’ latest attempt to put them 

among the world’s elite, reportedly has emerged as the No. 1 

candidate to replace embattled MICHAEL CARRICK with 

Manchester United … While Carrick hasn’t been fired, with 

once-dominate United off to its worst start and, at its current 

trajectory, in danger of – say it isn’t so – relegation, it has 

become not a matter of if but when he will be let go … The Red 

Devils have won only two of their last 10 games in the English 

Premier League, including a thrilling 4-4 standoff with Aston 

Villa in which they twice overcame two-goal deficits … 

Pochettino previously coached in the EPL with Southampton, 

Chelsea and Tottenham and recently extended a rather lucrative 

deal with the USMT. According to Britain’s “BBC,” he is 

“open to taking the United job” despite a lucrative exit clause in 

his new contract that calls for more than 8 million euros or $9 

million-plus … Meanwhile, other often-mention candidates at 

United are JULIAN NAGELSMANN and ANTONIO 

CONDE. EDDIE HOWE, the early frontrunner, no longer is 

interested, according to several reports. Stay tuned.


WOULD YOU BELIEVE PEP GUARDIOLA?


Yesterday it was reported the U.S. Soccer Federation would go 

all out to sign the coach that took Manchester City to the top of 

the EPL … ifPochettino leaves for ManU, as expected. 

Guardiola, 55, retired following the 2024-25 season … and was 

said to be an early target to coach the USMT … but, like 

Liverpool’s JURGEN KLOPP, said thanks, but no thanks.


Until next time ...


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