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USMNT fall roster reaction! Poch picks Cavan Sullivan, no Christian Pulisic

Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ...52m 6s

Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, and Joe Lowry discuss Maurizio Pochettino's 28-player USMNT roster for the upcoming international window, which features 13 uncapped players and a youth-focused approach while notably excluding Christian Pulisic, Weston McKinnie, and Folarin Balogun due to injury and fitness concerns.

Summary

The Total Soccer Show hosts analyze Pochettino's roster selection for upcoming matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. The roster includes 13 uncapped players and reflects a youth-oriented strategy, with the hosts noting this represents the start of a new cycle and World Cup qualifying period. Key omissions discussed include Christian Pulisic (dealing with injuries at Milan), Weston McKinnie (recovering from injuries at Juventus), and Folarin Balogun (recovering from a leg injury and failed deadline day move to Everton). The hosts analyze each position group: goalkeepers (Matt Turner notably excluded despite strong MLS form, with Diego Koken viewed as an exciting young prospect), defenders (Neil Pierre highlighted as an exceptional set-piece threat at 6'7", with George Campbell and Frankie Westfield providing new options), midfielders (Younes Moussa's return celebrated under Pochettino's "door's open" new cycle philosophy, with Gio Reyna in strong form at Strasbourg), and attackers (Kevin Sullivan at 16 and other teenagers including Justin Ellis, Xavier Gozo, and Cole Campbell showcasing significant youth in the forward line). The hosts emphasize that this roster serves as an audition for players, particularly those Olympic-eligible, with the expectation that many will be rotated differently in November's Nations League games. They debate the quality of striking options without Balogun, arguing the position is stronger than past cycles but not yet elite. Overall assessments range from 9 to 9.7 out of 10, with enthusiasm for the youth integration tempered only by absence of Nico Shakiris and some strategic omissions like Tim Weah.

About this episode

<p>The U.S. men's national team's first roster of the 2030 World Cup cycle is here! Ryan, Taylor, and Joe are here to break down Mauricio Pochettino's choices and sort through the omissions.</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

  • Pochettino declined to directly explain Christian Pulisic's absence despite media questioning, instead deflecting with a generic 'door's open' statement about not discussing every omission, which invited further speculation rather than quelling it.
  • The hosts believe this roster represents an audition system where 13 uncapped players will compete for spots, with the expectation that only some will return for November's Nations League games while others move to the U23 Olympic camp.
  • Younes Moussa's inclusion signals Pochettino's commitment to a fresh start philosophy, as Moussa was reportedly excluded from the previous cycle and now receives another opportunity under the same coach.
  • Neil Pierre at 6'7" is viewed as potentially the U.S. men's national team's biggest set-piece threat of all time, generating significant excitement despite being relatively raw in other defensive aspects.
  • Matt Turner's omission at age 32, despite having a strong MLS season, appears to be a calculated decision to evaluate younger goalkeeper options before the next World Cup cycle when Turner would be 36.
  • The forward group is considered stronger than historical U.S. cycles due to emerging teenage talent like Kevin Sullivan (16) and Justin Ellis, though still lacking the elite striker the team needs without Balogun.
  • Justin Ellis is characterized as an atypical U.S. soccer prospect who combines traits more commonly associated with Argentine or Spanish player development, featuring smooth technical ability in tight spaces.
  • The hosts argue that building depth requires testing alternatives to established players like Pulisic and Balogun, even though these absences make the roster appear less star-studded in the short term.

Topics

USMNT roster analysis and Pochettino's selectionsYoung player development and Olympic cycle integrationNotable omissions: Pulisic, McKinnie, Balogun, TurnerGoalkeeper depth and lack of clear starterDefender prospects and set-piece threatsMidfielder experience balanced with youthStriker position depth and emerging talentRole of new cycle philosophy in roster construction

Transcript

And we're back live during a Flex Alert. Dialed in on the thermostat. Oh, we're pre-cooling before 4 PM, folks. And that's the end of the third. Time to set it back to 78 from 4 to 9 PM. Clutch move by the home team. What's the game plan from here on out? Laundry? Not today. Dishwasher? Sideline. What a performance by Team California. The power truly is ours. During a flex alert, pre-cool, power down, and let's beat the heat together. Do you think today's world needs more bold ideas? So do we. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business can help you unlock your potential. With world-class campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, Chicago Booth is…

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