Scouting Cavan Sullivan and the USMNT’s 13 uncapped players | USMNT Weekly
This episode of USMNT Weekly scouts the 13 uncapped players in Gregg Berhalter's experimental roster for the international break, analyzing their club form, potential, and fit for the USMNT ahead of matches against Peru and other opponents. The hosts discuss goalkeeper prospects, defensive reinforcements, creative midfielders, and exciting young forwards like Kevin Sullivan, emphasizing both the promise and rawness of these players.
Summary
The show opens with discussion of Nocay Banks declining to pursue USMNT commitments and instead joining Germany's U21 program, reflecting Pochettino's stated preference for players showing complete commitment rather than hesitation about international allegiance. The 28-player roster has an average age of 22 years 9 months with 13 uncapped players, averaging just 17 caps across the group, indicating a highly experimental squad focused on youth development and evaluation.
Goalkeeper analysis covers Diego Koken (Barcelona academy product in Danish Super League), Chris Brady, and Brian Schwalke (Nashville, strong shot-stopper). The hosts note these keepers' varying strengths in shot-stopping versus distribution, with Koken potentially bringing better ball-playing ability but Schwalke showing superior defensive numbers. All four goalkeepers are expected to see minutes.
Defensive reinforcements include Peyton Miller (evolving from fullback to right winger at New England, scoring multiple goals), Neil Pierre (Union, 6'7" center back with elite set-piece threat and defensive work rate), and Frankie Westfield (Union fullback with strong final ball and two-way play). The hosts emphasize Pierre's uncommon combination of physical dominance, set-piece impact, and defensive consistency—addressing a significant USMNT gap.
Midfield prospects span multiple profiles: Mathis Albert (Dortmund, creative dribbler developing work rate), Adrian Memeti (Red Bulls, 17-year-old central midfielder with elite vision and intelligence despite physical underdevelopment), Brooklyn Rains (New England, defensive midfielder with strong metrics but limited standout qualities), and Cole Campbell (Elversberg forward on loan, explosive speed and vertical threat). Campbell is highlighted as playing the best soccer of his career with consistent starts in the Bundesliga.
Forward options include Justin Ellis (Orlando, creative second striker), Julian Hall (Red Bulls, center forward experiencing a goal-scoring slump), Xavier Gozo (Crystal Palace, 19-year-old winger with development pathway), and Kevin Sullivan (Philadelphia Union, 17-year-old sensation with 6+ goals/assists, creative movement, and brash confidence). Sullivan is positioned as generational talent comparable to Freddie Adu and Gio Reyna in terms of hype, turning professional at 14 and showing exceptional intelligence alongside technical skill.
The hosts emphasize that many of these players will appear "raw" and overwhelmed by the pace and intensity of senior international soccer, particularly in central midfield positions where physical development lags technical ability. Lineups are proposed with mixed experienced and youth players, starting Cole Campbell, Julian Hall, and Xavier Gozo against Peru on Saturday at 4:30 ET in Orlando, with Kevin Sullivan expected to feature.
About this episode
<p>The USMNT's latest roster contains no fewer than 13 uncapped players. The TSS Gang is here to analyze them all, and we also look ahead to Saturday's friendly with Peru! </p><br /><p><strong>JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/totalsoccershow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Check out our Patreon</a>, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, videos, The TSS Scouting Network, and much more.</p><br /><p><strong>WATCH TSS EPISODES ON YOUTUBE!</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Total-Soccer-Show" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">We're posting all our episodes here</a>! Smash like and subscribe etc.!</p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Key Insights
- Nocay Banks chose Germany U21 over USMNT partially due to uncertainty, prompting Pochettino to state the USMNT wants players with 200% commitment, not 50%.
- The USMNT roster has only 13 uncapped players with an average of 17 total caps, making it one of the most experimental squads in recent memory.
- Neil Pierre at 6'7" is positioned as the best set-piece attacking threat the USMNT has ever produced at center back, combining physical dominance with consistent defensive work rate.
- Adrian Memeti, at only 17 years old, captains the Red Bulls and demonstrates elite vision and football intelligence despite lacking physical development, representing a new midfielder profile for the USMNT.
- Kevin Sullivan, at 17, has scored 6 goals in 6 games with Manchester City agreement pending, showing creativity, confidence, and technical intelligence comparable to historical generational prospects.
- Cole Campbell's move to Elversberg has catapulted his development, starting all four Bundesliga games after stalling at Dortmund, representing the importance of consistent playing time for young players.
- The hosts expect many of these players to appear initially overwhelmed by the pace and intensity of senior international soccer, particularly those in midfield positions still developing physically.
- Justin Ellis and Julian Hall provide creative and center forward profiles, but Julian Hall's recent goal-scoring drought raises questions about reliability in the number 9 position.
- Multiple union players (Sullivan, Westfield, Pierre) are in the squad, reflecting the Philadelphia Union's strong academy program and player development pipeline.
- Xavier Gozo's call-up is somewhat surprising given Pochettino's stated preference for proven players, but Crystal Palace's track record of developing young wingers makes him an interesting prospect.
- The USMNT lacks experienced center backs in the pool, with younger options like Pierre being relied upon to fill gaps that traditionally would be filled by more seasoned players.
- Graham Ruffin proposes the most experienced possible midfield (Adams, Musa, Tillman) to provide framework around the experimental forward line of Campbell, Hall, and Gozo.
Topics
Transcript
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