sluggo said:

---

OneKeg said:

---

Thanks for the great posts, sluggo. I just got home from watching the absolute abomination that was the Cal-Clemson game and needed that.

Honestly, the rivalry high school soccer game I attended beforehand (4pm) in the Presidio in San Francisco was much better despite finishing 0-0. My son's HS Bay and rival International HS, very good teams, both ranked in the top 5 in North Coast fall soccer rankings, and league rivals in a well-played defensive struggle with some near misses and very physical play. Undefeated Bay now has 7 wins and 2 ties in 9 games, 2-0-1 in conference. Bay curled a free kick inches wide in the final seconds of this one.

Really looking forward to watching US vs Peru tomorrow. Can't remember ever being anywhere close to this interested in a friendly match. Hopefully we see a couple of the young guns. I could see Cavan Sullivan, at least, starting with Pulisic, McKennie and Balogun all held out of this camp as they recover from injury.

---

I went too. But is was for the last time until some heads roll. The current staff is fan abuse.

Sounds like a fun soccer game. I miss my soccer dad days. I have to stay healthy for the future grandchildren.

Yes, I think Sullivan could start. Or Ellis.

---

I haven't posted on Growls in years because I got tired of being moderated for pointing out that the emperor had no clothes while a bunch of Very Smart Homers insisted that we had the right coach in place. But seriously, every year it's the same thing (only this year the twist was the board braintrust finally admitted what was obvious years ago that the coach needed to be replaced). But then the same donors who told you for years that Wilcox was a good coach and that we just needed to buy better talent were the ones who also told you that Tosh Lupoi was the only option for coach. Mind you, these were the same donors who pushed hard for Joe Pasternack to be head coach for men's basketball or they were gonna revolt (meanwhile, he hasn't done jack **** in the Big West Conference in years).

There are two truisms about college sports that have been true forever:

1) You will never have long-term top-level success in college sports trying to outsmart the other team. Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick coming back to college football after proving they weren't dummies in the pros is all that need be said about that. You win by having more talent than the other team in at least 80-85% of every game you play and then the last 10-15% is the games you play against teams that have as much talent as you.

2) The head coach is EVERYTHING at the college level. He makes all the important decisions for your program. Who the assistants are, which recruits to go after, closing the top end guys. If you don't have a good head coach, nothing else you do is going to matter.

Meanwhile, the usual cast of characters are doing what they always do in these situations. Blaming coordinators. How many years did Cal fans think that Wilcox was the right offensive coordinator away from turning things around? I think it probably was a mistake for a first-time head coach that never was a great tactician anyway to hire two guys that were first-time coordinators. Wilcox didn't do much right as a head coach, but starting off his tenure with a very experienced staff was one thing he did that was very smart. But throw the blame where it belongs.

If Lupoi ever does succeed as a head coach, it'll be because he finally got the big-time talent that Cal hasn't had here since the beginning of Tedford's tenure. I refuse to pay attention to Cal recruiting because it's historically oversold and underdelivered. But when you run out an offensive line that returned four starters from last year's terrible offensive line, maybe you shouldn't be expecting the 9 win seasons that you expect every year, only to be massively disappointed by the end of September/early October when the bodybag games are over.

@Aunburdened, I hear you, trust me, but let's get back on topic here.

So if it's a 4-2-3-1, what do we see? Maybe something like this?

Goalie: Freese (would not have minded Freese against Mexico, but give Schwake or even Kochen a chance here, though Kochen has some Peruvian heritage, so that might have been weird).

Right Center Back: my guy George Campbell (I think Richards was late arriving to camp)
Left Center Back: Auston Trusty
Right (outside) Fullback: Alex Freeman
Left (outside) Fullback: Peyton Miller (under the radar, but this is a bit of a shocking pick for the youth movement, to choose Miller over Antonee Robinson here)

Holding Midfielder, defensive "6": Tyler Adams
Midfielder, box-to-box "8": Yunus Musuh (going to be very interesting to see how he does)

Center Attacking Midfielder: Gio Reyna
Left Attacking Midfielder: Malik Tillman
Right Attacking Midfielder: Cavan Sullivan (obviously the most interesting player to watch here)

Striker / "False 9": Justin Ellis (another very interesting youngster)

My biggest question is: where do the goals come from? Sullivan and Tillman are kind of the only scorers in this lineup.

Gooaaaaal!!!! JUSTIN ELLIS, assisted by Gio Reyna!!

I think he heard me say that only Tillman and Sullivan can score goals in this US lineup.

Peru ties it up. Also an header. Arguably Peyton Miller's fault.

Looking at it again, in the lead up, my guy George Campbell had the giveaway that led to that whole sequence. There's been both good and bad from Campbell, but it's only his second cap, so he's in the same boat as many of these first-timers.

Mathis Albert and Zavier Gozo in. Albert draws a penalty which Tillman converts for a 2-1 lead about 20 mins into the second half.

Julian Hall also in and finishes for goal number three for the US! Teenagers heavily involved in all three goals. The penalty that Mathis Albert drew for the second goal may have been outside the box, but still was a good move, which we need more of. Beat your man!

4-1 final. Sebastian Berhalter played well after coming in and put in a long banger at 90 minutes or so.

In addition to Berhalter as a sub, Mathis Albert, Julian Hall and even Brooklyn Raines seemed to play well. Raines may actually have looked better than Yunus Musuh who had a rough match. Diego Kochen also came on as goalkeeper to start the second half and wasn't really tested, but you know what? You can argue he looked better than Matt Freese!

Cavan Sullivan with a quiet game while he was in. Reyna looked decent. Tillman and my guy George Campbell had some shaky moments but some good ones too. Auston Trusty may have been our best center back (if you consider Freeman as playing right back).

Will have to rewatch the game on my actual TV and not my phone later tonight. Of course, everything should be with a large grain of salt since it's a friendly and Peru is pretty bad, I think.

OneKeg said:

---

@Aunburdened, I hear you, trust me, but let's get back on topic here.

So if it's a 4-2-3-1, what do we see? Maybe something like this?

Goalie: Freese (would not have minded Freese against Mexico, but give Schwake or even Kochen a chance here, though Kochen has some Peruvian heritage, so that might have been weird).

Right Center Back: my guy George Campbell (I think Richards was late arriving to camp)
Left Center Back: Auston Trusty
Right (outside) Fullback: Alex Freeman
Left (outside) Fullback: Peyton Miller (under the radar, but this is a bit of a shocking pick for the youth movement, to choose Miller over Antonee Robinson here)

Holding Midfielder, defensive "6": Tyler Adams
Midfielder, box-to-box "8": Yunus Musuh (going to be very interesting to see how he does)

Center Attacking Midfielder: Gio Reyna
Left Attacking Midfielder: Malik Tillman
Right Attacking Midfielder: Cavan Sullivan (obviously the most interesting player to watch here)

Striker / "False 9": Justin Ellis (another very interesting youngster)

My biggest question is: where do the goals come from? Sullivan and Tillman are kind of the only scorers in this lineup.

---

You nailed the formation, 100%.

Overall, very good game. So much to like. Even if Peru is bad.

Here are my thoughts:
Freese: Goal not his fault, not otherwise challenged.
Miller: I go back and forth. Has more offense than Robinson. But needs to play much more aggressively to make up for his size. I don't think he has it in him.
Trusty: I think he dropped too far in on the cross the led to the goal, second most to blame on the goal. Otherwise did not do much good or bad.
OK's Guy: Solid if a little awkward. Should be considered as a backup center back. I want to see more.
Freeman: Great, except that he is most to blame for the goal by not pressuring the crosser. Was born to play center back, I hope he ends up there some day. Ready for the top 3 in Spain or the Premier League.
Adams: So sick of his Russell Wilson act, he is always playing to the camera. We can do better.
Musah: Nice to see him back. I thought he was good as the engine of the team.
Reyna: Finally appears fit and has gotten some of his athleticism back. He is a magnificent player and should be a starter when not injured.
Tilman: Dangerous as a winger, but also can play Musah's engine position. Should be a locked in starter. Not sure what that means for McKennie.
Sullivan: Already one of the five most dangerous passers in USMNT history. (I really think the most dangerous, but I am trying to avoid hyperbole.). Could have been more selfish. His dribble game will have to go up a level, these are not MLS defenders. At 16 thinks the game better than anyone we have ever had, he is a soccer genius.
Eliis: Beautiful goal. Never loses confidence. Orlando deserves some kind of fine for keeping him and Freeman down for so many years. I think he is ready for the Premier League.
Albert: The penalty was outside the box. Looked confident and good. Needs to get faster.
Berhalter: Has some skill. Had a banger. Good player for bad competition, not up to top competition.
Gozo: Flew too close to the sun. Needs to rebuild his confidence. If you could put his athleticism in Albert's body you would have a world class winger.
Hall: Goal was lucky bouncing off his knee. But with so many guys setting up plays, has a role, maybe, as a guy who finishes plays, which is his only skill.
Robinson: Was himself.
Raines: Looked like he belonged but that was after Peru had given up. I want to see more.
Westfield: Existed. As he usually does.
Pierre: Won a duel and had a line breaking pass. Should become a starter soon.
Mehmeti: Made a couple nice passes. Needs a start. Can attack and defend and hopefully takes Adams' place.
Kochen: Not tested, but did look very quick. I want to see more.

Last, I am sick of almost every game in a red state with either bad weather, a bad field or both. I was in Seattle and there were literally millions of people on the street. Portland would be the same. I am going to try to not let this get to me. It is not the players fault. But I am looking at you, Furd grad, JT Batson.

I agree with most of your analysis. Couple quibbles:

Quote:

---

Freese: Goal not his fault, not otherwise challenged.

---

I disagree a bit with this. It was a long, looping in-swinging cross from the defensive right side. Agree that Freeman should have challenged the crosser, and the initial give-away leading to the sequence was my guy George Campbell. Peyton Miller should have stayed goal/center-side and gotten a body on the scorer, or maybe Trusty should have cut him off as you said. So the goal is not directly Freese's fault, but he had a chance IMO, if he reacted quickly, to charge out, cut in front and punch the ball away to the left side. He did not react quickly.

Furthermore, I think Freese was challenged - by the ball at his feet. You called my guy Campbell awkward, but Freese makes Campbell look like Vini. Freese made multiple shaky passes with his feet during the first half. I thought Kochen looked much more fluid and comfortable playing the ball with his feet in the second half.

Quote:

---

Hall: Goal was lucky bouncing off his knee. But with so many guys setting up plays, has a role, maybe, as a guy who finishes plays, which is his only skill.

---

Well, it wasn't exactly some high skill goal by Julian Hall there - agreed. Very good cross by Berhalter, and what I would say is: in that situation, Hall just has to get some part of his body on it, while being jostled (and perhaps dragged down) by the defender running with him to the far post. Good job getting a knee to it. That's a poacher's job. I think you might be underselling it slightly by painting it as a lucky ricochet. Get a body part to the ball under duress and full run there, and it is very likely to go in - Hall did that.

I also think Trusty had a little better game overall than you said, and Musuh a worse game than you said, especially in the second half.

I also was not as bothered by Tyler Adams as you seem to be. I do think Adri Mehmeti starts next game (per your wish) against Chile and Adams rests to be ready for Mexico. Not sure if Mehmeti plays the "6" or the "8" and who plays alongside him at holding midfielder. Perhaps start Berhalter as an "8" as a reward for the goal and the assist, then later in the game, sub in Raines at the "6" and Musuh at the "8"?

OneKeg said:

---

I agree with most of your analysis. Couple quibbles:

Quote:

---

Freese: Goal not his fault, not otherwise challenged.

---

I disagree a bit with this. It was a long, looping in-swinging cross from the defensive right side. Agree that Freeman should have challenged the crosser, and the initial give-away leading to the sequence was my guy George Campbell. Peyton Miller should have stayed goal/center-side and gotten a body on the scorer, or maybe Trusty should have cut him off as you said. So the goal is not directly Freese's fault, but he had a chance IMO, if he reacted quickly, to charge out, cut in front and punch the ball away to the left side. He did not react quickly.

Furthermore, I think Freese was challenged - by the ball at his feet. You called my guy Campbell awkward, but Freese makes Campbell look like Vini. Freese made multiple shaky passes with his feet during the first half. I thought Kochen looked much more fluid and comfortable playing the ball with his feet in the second half.

Quote:

---

Hall: Goal was lucky bouncing off his knee. But with so many guys setting up plays, has a role, maybe, as a guy who finishes plays, which is his only skill.

---

Well, it wasn't exactly some high skill goal by Julian Hall there - agreed. Very good cross by Berhalter, and what I would say is: in that situation, Hall just has to get some part of his body on it, while being jostled (and perhaps dragged down) by the defender running with him to the far post. Good job getting a knee to it. That's a poacher's job. I think you might be underselling it slightly by painting it as a lucky ricochet. Get a body part to the ball under duress and full run there, and it is very likely to go in - Hall did that.

I also think Trusty had a little better game overall than you said, and Musuh a worse game than you said, especially in the second half.

I also was not as bothered by Tyler Adams as you seem to be. I do think Adri Mehmeti starts next game (per your wish) against Chile and Adams rests to be ready for Mexico. Not sure if Mehmeti plays the "6" or the "8" and who plays alongside him at holding midfielder. Perhaps start Berhalter as an "8" as a reward for the goal and the assist, then later in the game, sub in Raines at the "6" and Musuh at the "8"?

---

I think we watch the game differently. Because it is a friendly I am watching what skills players are showing, you are watching how they actually play. So we are both kind of right in our own way.

You said Reyna was "decent" and Sullivan "quiet." Sullivan was both quiet in terms of influencing the game and magical in his incisive passing. (And for a 16-year-old off the freaking charts.). I think you are wrong about Reyna who was great both in the game andin what he showed. He is starting every week in France, I hope it keeps up.

I don't think one should compare a goalie to a field player in terms of confidence on the ball. I just don't remember either goalie playing so much with their feet. Kochen is from Barca, so it is a given he is good with his feet. What I loved was how quick he was off the line, world-class quick, I think. He is a little small, but not David Raya small. If he can stop shots, a big if, then he should become the #1. I think Campbell projects awkwardness and lack of confidence. He was not under much pressure so he played fine. The giveaway should not have led to a goal but I think Freeman gave the crosser too much space. I am not sure if any goalie could have knocked that cross away, but you could be right.

Hall made a nice run and a nice slide. But getting it off your knee means it missed your foot so I think it was lucky. Either way, there are more table setters than finishers on the team, so a finisher other than Balogun is welcome.

I liked Musah's best plays where he progressed the ball up the field. But maybe his average play was not as good, I don't know.

Mehmeti (Modri) is a #6 and only a #6. Berhalter is for playing Honduras and El Salvador. I don't want to see him starting against anyone. I think Raines is a 6/8 who I would like to see more of to see if he is a backup option. My dislike of Adams is not totally rational, but it will not go away. I can't wait to see him gone.

2018 was the low point in the program. Other than a young Pulisic, who was already the best player, there was little else. This is not the first team squad for the last game against Peru, but still it is shocking to see the players.
Sargent-Still around and in his 20s playing in MLS and not likely to be called again.
Amon-Had a run of form in Scandinavia, came here and showed he was not at the level.
Acosta-Decent midfielder, MLS lifer
Delgado-Less than decent MLS lifer
Weah-On the upswing then, his USMNT career is likely over.
Trapp-Oy.
Sweat-I think this was his only game, was so obscure I can't say anything else.
Long-Decent CB until a debilitating injury.
Carter-Vickers-Plays next to Trusty at Celtic, won't get called again.
Cannon-Had a run at right back, went to Europe and was not really heard from again.
Guzan-Was #1 keeper I think for a few years until age got him.

Tonigt's team beats them by 5-10 goals.

The USMNT starting lineup last time we faced Peru on October 16, 2018 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FMQb88JiDJ

— American Ultras Talk (@usmntaut) September 26, 2026

I will concede that both Reyna and Sullivan looked better than I had thought on my rewatch. And I already didn't think either one was bad at all. Sullivan especially in Q2 (second part of the first half).

I think you are exactly right that Kochen comes off his line well, which is one thing Freese really does not do. He was rooted to his goal line on the Peru goal (not letting that go). But I think you are also underselling how bad Freese is with his feet. Inaccurate passes, lack of confidence.

I'm not even saying Kochen is amazing with his feet, but he makes those plays look easy and unremarkable and looks confident doing so, at least to me. As any good goalie should. So we say Kochen was not challenged, but I think Freese would have frantically booted 50-50 balls in a couple of those second half situations. Now, we just have to see if Kochen can make saves and go up aerially. I would like to see him start against Chile at least. If he starts letting in howlers, at least we'll know early, but if he doesn't… maybe, just maybe he is the solution at goalie.

Interesting scouting report on Justin Ellis. Ellis is not the best physically, but his skill is fantastic, and his brain is off the charts. How did he get this way? Of the two other players who are at the very high skill/brain level, Reyna' father was the most technical player on the team in the 90s and Sullivan comes from a family of coaches and players, including a brother who I think has a cap or two.

I did not know Ellis started with Inter Miami. Not sure if he decided to move on or his family moved. Miami is not so interested in young players. Orlando really isn't either, unless they cannot be denied like Freeman and Ellis.

I think Ellis (and Freeman) are ready for the Premier League. I am not sure about Gozo.

https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile

I was just reading the same article!

Speaking of Justin Ellis' play, I thought you'd like this short (<2 min) video on 11 yanks analyzing two sequences for the US against Peru in which Ellis was heavily involved.

OneKeg said:

---

I was just reading the same article!

Speaking of Justin Ellis' play, I thought you'd like this short (<2 min) video on 11 yanks analyzing two sequences for the US against Peru in which Ellis was heavily involved.

---

That was great. Thanks. It is perplexing that Ellis has so much skill, he is really our Muller, and just kind of showed up out of nowhere. Our combination play is beautiful. This is what real teams do. We just need to figure out how to turn those nice combination into goals. I think it will happen.

The reason Pepi can't make that play is because he does not have skill.

Maybe we should try Ellis' teammate Daryl Dike. He was on the team like five years ago. Then he went to the Championship and had multiple injuries. But he is physically imposing and had some skill. I am not sure where he is at right now is his play. Or maybe Hall and Balogun can finish.

I skipped the Union-Orlando City match this week because they guys I wanted to see were not there. Without Sullivan and Pierre, the Union won again, this time 4-2.

It is crazy but they are undefeated under new coach Ryan Richter, 10 wins, two draws. Under the previous coach, who sat Sullivan, they were one win, 10 losses and four draws. Coaching matters.

Maybe Tosh should listen to Richter on the Scuffed podcast from last week. He mentions that he is no Pep Guardiola, but he is focused on doing simple things the right way over and over with maximum effort. That can be a winning formula.

Cavan Sullivan turns 17 today. Some day it will hopefully be a national holiday.

sluggo said:

---

Cavan Sullivan turns 17 today. Some day it will hopefully be a national holiday.

---

Sullivan and his generation are indeed the hope for the future of US Soccer. And I know you weren't expressing a necessarily rational hope, but I won't hold my breath on the national holiday thing. We don't even have national holidays for the birthdays of athletes who won multiple championships for club and country in a sport at least as popular as soccer in the US (Michael Jordan, for example - do you know when Michael Jordan's birthday is without looking it up?).

Quote:

---

That was great. Thanks. It is perplexing that Ellis has so much skill, he is really our Muller, and just kind of showed up out of nowhere. Our combination play is beautiful. This is what real teams do. We just need to figure out how to turn those nice combination into goals. I think it will happen.

The reason Pepi can't make that play is because he does not have skill.

Maybe we should try Ellis' teammate Daryl Dike. He was on the team like five years ago. Then he went to the Championship and had multiple injuries. But he is physically imposing and had some skill. I am not sure where he is at right now is his play. Or maybe Hall and Balogun can finish.

---

Ellis does indeed have skill in a way that most US players do not. In a 4-2-3-1, once we get Balogun back, maybe he should play the middle attacking midfielder (rotating with McKennie and/or Tillman there) or right attacking midfielder (rotating with Sullivan and/or Dest there).

As for Daryl Dike, I guess I never watched him pre-injury, but I have watched him in Orlando matches since the WC. He reminds me of, say, Rick Mahorn, to mix sports comparisons. But Rick Mahorn played for the championship "Bad Boy" Pistons, so maybe we can win with Dike. No question I'd rather have him on the roster at center forward than Damion Downs. Would I rather have Dike than Pepi? I'm not sure.

But I do think you have to give Julian Hall a shot here. Hall is not highly skilled and he does not play a beautiful game as Ellis and Sullivan and Mehmeti and Reyna do, which I know you value even more than most. But he plays with a desperation to score that I think has value. The difference in our reactions to Hall's goal against Peru I think is interesting. I was impressed at how he threw himself at Berhalter's cross while being shoved and dragged down, lunging desperately to get a part of his body, any part, on the ball to knock it into the net, some way, somehow.

(Edited to add: in a play shortly afterwards, on a cross, maybe from Gozo, Hall did NOT seem to fully lay out for a ball just out of his reach... so that might contradict my impression of him as a player, or maybe it was a dummy as there was another US player beyond Hall, but I need to see more from Hall to form a full impression. He's only had 30 or so minutes of play for the USMNT against an inferior opponent.)

Hall kind of reminds me of a different German Muller: Gerd Muller from the late 60s and 70s. Hardly the most skilled or elegant player and lunged awkwardly for balls. But man could that guy score. Of course even if Hall develops well, he will almost certainly never be close to the player that Gerd Muller was, but teams, especially teams with multiple creators (like Ellis and Sullivan) benefit from having desperate, goal-hungry strikers like that, and given our lack of healthy strikers, I think Julian Hall deserves a chance to show what he can do. I actually would like to see formations where Hall and Ellis are both on the pitch.

Quote:

---

I skipped the Union-Orlando City match this week because they guys I wanted to see were not there. Without Sullivan and Pierre, the Union won again, this time 4-2.

It is crazy but they are undefeated under new coach Ryan Richter, 10 wins, two draws. Under the previous coach, who sat Sullivan, they were one win, 10 losses and four draws. Coaching matters.

Maybe Tosh should listen to Richter on the Scuffed podcast from last week. He mentions that he is no Pep Guardiola, but he is focused on doing simple things the right way over and over with maximum effort. That can be a winning formula.

---

Since I am the one guilty of originally injecting (American) football into this discussion, I'll respond to the part about Tosh. I actually think it's possible that in relation to the coaching he knows about, Tosh does focus on doing simple things over and over again - ON DEFENSE. I think the defense under Tosh and Hutchings is doing ok this year (not great as some people seem to think, but ok) considering how young and inexperienced it is and how most of the players have not played together much.

The problem is, he hired an OC in Somerville that doesn't do this. Somerville, like Musgrave, is one of those coordinators who has to outsmart his opponent with his "brilliant", complex schemes. That does not work well in college, particularly at place like Cal where kids have to at least somewhat focus a little on academics. It might work in the NFL, or at football factory colleges where academics are "taken care of" for the athletes, so the athletes may (or may not) have time to master complex schemes so they can run them instinctively. Because that is what it takes. If you are forced to stop and think during live play in team sports, you're dead. And that's what's happening to Cal's offense. To JKS, to our O-line, to our receivers, everyone.

Olise scores a beauty on the road against Belgium in Nations League play on a solo run from his own half, watch the first touch:

Pero qué golazo de Olise para darle la victoria a Francia pic.twitter.com/pzJuXcLZTx

— TiroBombeado (@fifapatia1) September 28, 2026

Great sequence to release Olise:

Regardez cette séquence de l’Équipe de France juste avant le but d'Olisé. Cette Équipe est fantastique. pic.twitter.com/6IkCAcuUiN

— Mister Anderson (@Doc_Rogno) September 28, 2026

Earlier this week he almost scored a stunner at Turkey, great save to keep that from going in, watch how he creates this shot:

Michael Olise Chance vs Turkiye | Türkiye vs France | UEFA Nations League pic.twitter.com/nFt0UXc2Ho

— StatPad Football📊📈📉 (@StatPadFootball) September 25, 2026

QUASE UM GOLAÇO DO OLISE! 😳🇫🇷

Olise quase abriu o placar para a França na Liga das Nações! O francês chutou "na especialidade da casa", cortando para dentro e batendo de chapa. O goleiro Cakir estava atento e pulou para fazer a defesa na ponta dos dedos. Que lance, torcedor!… pic.twitter.com/yaMQbmDRU7

— sportv (@sportv) September 25, 2026

Olise highlight reel vs Turkey:

Olise vs Turkey: 90 minutes of technical brilliance 🇫🇷🔥 https://t.co/lFTWiL5z0y pic.twitter.com/8MitgBACEN

— Olise (@OliseHQ) September 26, 2026

Italy bouncing back with a 4-1 win vs Turkey...

How the Turks saw the Italian squadpic.twitter.com/xRHGX7mMLj

— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) September 28, 2026

OneKeg said:

---

sluggo said:

---

Cavan Sullivan turns 17 today. Some day it will hopefully be a national holiday.

---

Sullivan and his generation are indeed the hope for the future of US Soccer. And I know you weren't expressing a necessarily rational hope, but I won't hold my breath on the national holiday thing. We don't even have national holidays for the birthdays of athletes who won multiple championships for club and country in a sport at least as popular as soccer in the US (Michael Jordan, for example - do you know when Michael Jordan's birthday is without looking it up?).

Quote:

---

That was great. Thanks. It is perplexing that Ellis has so much skill, he is really our Muller, and just kind of showed up out of nowhere. Our combination play is beautiful. This is what real teams do. We just need to figure out how to turn those nice combination into goals. I think it will happen.

The reason Pepi can't make that play is because he does not have skill.

Maybe we should try Ellis' teammate Daryl Dike. He was on the team like five years ago. Then he went to the Championship and had multiple injuries. But he is physically imposing and had some skill. I am not sure where he is at right now is his play. Or maybe Hall and Balogun can finish.

---

Ellis does indeed have skill in a way that most US players do not. In a 4-2-3-1, once we get Balogun back, maybe he should play the middle attacking midfielder (rotating with McKennie and/or Tillman there) or right attacking midfielder (rotating with Sullivan and/or Dest there).

As for Daryl Dike, I guess I never watched him pre-injury, but I have watched him in Orlando matches since the WC. He reminds me of, say, Rick Mahorn, to mix sports comparisons. But Rick Mahorn played for the championship "Bad Boy" Pistons, so maybe we can win with Dike. No question I'd rather have him on the roster at center forward than Damion Downs. Would I rather have Dike than Pepi? I'm not sure.

But I do think you have to give Julian Hall a shot here. Hall is not highly skilled and he does not play a beautiful game as Ellis and Sullivan and Mehmeti and Reyna do, which I know you value even more than most. But he plays with a desperation to score that I think has value. The difference in our reactions to Hall's goal against Peru I think is interesting. I was impressed at how he threw himself at Berhalter's cross while being shoved and dragged down, lunging desperately to get a part of his body, any part, on the ball to knock it into the net, some way, somehow.

(Edited to add: in a play shortly afterwards, on a cross, maybe from Gozo, Hall did NOT seem to fully lay out for a ball just out of his reach... so that might contradict my impression of him as a player, or maybe it was a dummy as there was another US player beyond Hall, but I need to see more from Hall to form a full impression. He's only had 30 or so minutes of play for the USMNT against an inferior opponent.)

Hall kind of reminds me of a different German Muller: Gerd Muller from the late 60s and 70s. Hardly the most skilled or elegant player and lunged awkwardly for balls. But man could that guy score. Of course even if Hall develops well, he will almost certainly never be close to the player that Gerd Muller was, but teams, especially teams with multiple creators (like Ellis and Sullivan) benefit from having desperate, goal-hungry strikers like that, and given our lack of healthy strikers, I think Julian Hall deserves a chance to show what he can do. I actually would like to see formations where Hall and Ellis are both on the pitch.

---

I was kidding about the holiday.

Agree on Dike. The idea is that he is so strong he can beat his defender 1-on-1 in front of the goal. But even with superior size you still have to beat the defender to the spot, and he not shown that instinct like Hall has. Which is why Hall scored last game and Dike is not in the picture right now.

Spain scores the most tiki taka goal, from a tough angle, beat Croatia 3-1

🚨Lamine Yamal with brace.

🇪🇸 Spain 3-1 Croatia 🇭🇷pic.twitter.com/D7iwEjpyhj

— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) September 29, 2026

First Yamal goal was pretty nice as well:

Spain 1-0 Croatia. Lamine Yamal scores in the first two minutes in Seville, just like he did at Wembley. 🇪🇸

Follow for more live updates! 🔔#Spain #Croatia #Yamal #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/s46SAPj9Eb

— VIBE VERSE (@vibeverse_HQ) September 29, 2026

Too bad these clips no longer appear to be available. I believe Lamine Yamal and Mbappe are the two best players in the world by a considerable margin. The LY in the WC was injured and not himself.

the third goal, tight angle but for a left footed player coming from the right not nearly that hard to hit the near post :

🚨 YAMAL MASTERPIECE 🤯

Lamine Yamal scores his second for Spain against Croatia with an absolute beauty 🔥
pic.twitter.com/C0TKSRuSxN

— Football on Predict (@FConPredict) September 29, 2026

The scoring sequence on that goal above was gorgeous, with a dummy deflection for the assist, at 1:29 below:

لامين يامال ضد كرواتيا اليوم

هدفين وصناعة 🥶❤️ pic.twitter.com/6oeQjvpRNK

— Leo Abdullah (@BUDY__2) September 30, 2026

First goal:

🎥 | Lamine Yamal’s goal against Croatia during today’s match. 🤩🔥 pic.twitter.com/97KIEe5xdD

— Access Yamal (@AccessYamal) September 29, 2026

US rotated side beats a Chile side also rotated by necessity due to two suspensions, 4-2 after Chile scores in the dying seconds of the first half and the opening minutes of the second.

Scrappy/sloppy game and not that impressive. 18yo Julian Hall started at striker missed multiple great chances, but did score to become the first USMNT player ever to get a goal in both of his first two appearances. It tied the game 2-2, a header off a perfectly weighted cross by Gio Reyna (weak marking by Chile on that play not to get a body on Hall).

Hall's most impressive play may have been on the first US goal though - where Dest got the assist after a beautiful give and go with Reyna to cut into the box and square it, seemingly to Hall, but Hall executed a perfect dummy, with the ball sliding between his legs on out to the right for a wide open Sebastian Berhalter, who also scored his second goal in two matches (Berhalter's ball control and defense were shaky, though).

Relative veteran Chris Richards came on as a sub and scored the winning goal to put the US ahead 3-2 on a typical center back header off a corner, with Chile again doing a terrible job getting a body on him. And Mathis Albert scored off another corner to make it 4-2 with a couple minutes left in the match after a corner lofted back post to the other center back who came on as a sub, Auston Trusty, who headed it back in and Albert booted it in one-touch off the bottom of the crossbar. Albert becomes the youngest ever USMNT player to score (17yo).

Other teenagers who played: Neil Pierre (started), Adri Mehmeti (started), Cavan Sullivan (subbed in and had a tremendous run down the right side, and almost sneaked a through ball into the box where Tillman likely would have scored). Neither Pierre nor Mehmeti stood out to me, though perhaps they will on a rewatch.

Other first impressions:

The good (besides some of the above): I thought US midfielder Gio Reyna was the best player on the pitch, with honorable mention to left wingback Antonee Robinson. Both very solid in an otherwise sloppy match.

The bad: US defense looked horribly shaky for much of the match. Miles Robinson started and was his usual subpar self, ball-watching on several occasions. Somehow, he always passes his teammates into trouble. Frankie Westfield was also very shaky and often out of position. You are right, sluggo. Westfield needs to learn how to control the ball and dribble. I think the 2028 Olympic U-23 team might be the last time he plays for the USMNT. Chile hit the post and bar a couple times in the first half and looked more threatening than they should on long through balls and runs. Poch played the other two goalies, starting Chris Brady in the first half (shaky, though one good save... like Freese, not good coming off his line) and Brian Schwake (no real indication one way or the other, second Chile goal was a great strike into the corner from distance and maybe not his fault... would have taken a great save... will have to rewatch... selfishly, I want to see Kochen!).

The ugly: Fracas at the end of the match as a frustrated Chile clearly wanted to fight. After Schwake picked up the ball in his box and dove to the ground, a Chilean substitute forward trotted up to him and (gently) kicked Schwake in the arm while the goalie lay on the ground, eliciting a reaction from Chris Richards who ran up to shove the Chilean, and a free-for-all ensured. In the end, only that Chilean forward and Richards got yellow cards, though it could have been much more.

It will be a different US side against Mexico, but I want to say that if the US play like they did today, they probably won't win. Of course, Mexico only got a 1-1 draw against Peru, but Mexico's side was also rotated and they did not play their wunderkind 17yo Gilberto Mora, who is arguably better than any one of the US prospects and will probably play for a top European club when he turns 18. Difference is, even if Mora is better than the US teenagers, many of the US teenagers would then be second through seventh place in terms of promising prospects between US and Mexico, so the US has numbers in terms of the youngsters.

My review of the game:

This team has the best vibes ever. Now the players:

Brady: A disaster. Every time I see him it is the same. No more, please.
A. Robinson: Was fine. I think I like Miller better, more skill.
M. Robinson: A disaster. I feel bad that he has lost his ability, but reality is reality.
Pierre: Looked like he belonged. Still wins everything in the air.
Westfield: Is still breathing, last time I checked.
Berhalter: Put up some stats. Does not change that he is fundamentally limited.
Raines: Showed amazing speed at the end. Needs to put on 20 pounds. Not ready.
Mehmeti: Looked like he belonged.
Reyna: Only thing he could do better is be a little more selfish. He unlocked the defense over and over. So nice that he is back. He should be playing for Arsenal instead of that Spanish guy whose name I forget, he is a better player.
Dest: Played fine. But now I am sad when Sullivan is not the right wing. I have been spoiled.
Hall: Scored one, should have scored three. Also made a beautiful dummy to set up a Berhalter goal. His skill is low, his brain is immense, I don't know what to think.
Schwake: I thought he should have saved the goal, though it would have been a very good save. Does not control the box well. Next.
Adams: Made a nice slide tackle to prevent a goal. I can't help myself, I am so sick of him.
Freeman: Seems to get better literally every game. I wish we could clone him.
Richards: Nice of Chile not to mark him on the corner leading to the goal. Struck the ball well but in the Premier league that is saved because it was not in the corner.
Tillman: Instant danger, I like him.
Trusty: Did little good or bad.
Albert: Smooth as always, got a tap in goal that he almost missed. He needs to get faster.
Downs: Was on the field. Almost scored off a Sullivan run but the defender slid and luckily blocked it.
Sullivan: Smoked three fools in a row on a 60 yard run. He is ridiculous.

Even though they are friendlies, I am looking forward to Canada and Mexico as much as anything in my life right now.

More is not in the same universe as Sullivan as a player.

Bit of a rewatch (need to do a fuller one later). My comments on your comments.

Quote:

---

Brady: A disaster. Every time I see him it is the same. No more, please.

---

Agree. This was reinforced by re-watching two key first half moments. First is when a Chilean attacking player is played through and the entire world is waiting for the goalie to come off his line and take the ball, and Brady is cowering back in his own goal. Sure, then when the Chilean guy shoots, Brady makes a good arm save, but it should never have come to that. Second was the first half goal - just terrible aerial play by Brady.

Quote:

---

A. Robinson: Was fine. I think I like Miller better, more skill.

---

Jedi was actually a little worse than I thought with a giveaway early. I do want to see Miller (will Miller start against Mexico?). But Jedi is more solid on D than Miller and makes better choices right now, and man does this team need solidity on D. I want both on the roster. Wish that each had the others' best qualities.

Quote:

---

M. Robinson: A disaster. I feel bad that he has lost his ability, but reality is reality.

---

Miles Robinson was even worse than I thought. In addition to the giveaways and ball-watching, On Chile's first goal, with Brady punching the ball up, and then backwards (oh god), Robinson heads the ball DOWN into the six yard box right in front of the goal. As a defensive player and my son playing on defense in HS, this drives me crazy. Head it up, head it away, head it to the side, ANYWHERE BUT THERE.

Quote:

---

Pierre: Looked like he belonged. Still wins everything in the air.

---

Pierre also had a couple bad passes and decisions in the first half, but improved as the match went on. Clearly the US' second best defender after ARob until Richards and Freeman came on in the second half, though with Miles Robinson and Frankie Westfield (see below) making up the rest of the back four, that's a low bar. But yes, great in the air, and grew into the game. And he's just 18 and a physical freak.

Quote:

---

Westfield: Is still breathing, last time I checked.

---

You are actually being too kind to Westfield. He had an actively poor match. Berhalter did not do a good job defending on Chile's second goal, but he was only forced into that position while covering for Westfield flubbing (heading it backwards to start the Chilean break) and losing his man. Based on this performance alone, I wouldn't even put him on the 2028 Olympic U-23 team, though unfair to judge on one game.

Quote:

---

Berhalter: Put up some stats. Does not change that he is fundamentally limited.

---

Agree, actually. This match actually revealed his limitations more than last match, despite putting away the goal that Reyna, Dest and Hall all created for him and getting the assist on the corner to Richards.

Quote:

---

Raines: Showed amazing speed at the end. Needs to put on 20 pounds. Not ready.

---

Needs to improve his passing. Solid Olympic U-23 team guy for 2028, but I agree, not ready for the senior team.

Quote:

---

Mehmeti: Looked like he belonged.

---

I actually don't agree fully. Game looked too fast for Mehmeti and he made a couple poor passes. Pretty disappointing, though I expect him to be much better in future games as he is obviously very talented.

Quote:

---

Reyna: Only thing he could do better is be a little more selfish. He unlocked the defense over and over. So nice that he is back. He should be playing for Arsenal instead of that Spanish guy whose name I forget, he is a better player.

---

As I said, Reyna was my player of the match. He should have had 3 assists, not 1. I think he would get physically pounded into the dirt if he played for Arsenal, though. Ligue 1 seems like a fine spot for him.

Quote:

---

Dest: Played fine. But now I am sad when Sullivan is not the right wing. I have been spoiled.

---

I actually don't think Dest played well. His timing seemed off on both passing and dribbling, with the huge exception of his combination with Reyna followed by his assist (w/ Hall dummy) to Berhalter for the first goal.

Quote:

---

Hall: Scored one, should have scored three. Also made a beautiful dummy to set up a Berhalter goal. His skill is low, his brain is immense, I don't know what to think.

---

Most US commentators are going crazy for Hall. I am higher on him than you are as I have said, but I think he is being overhyped now. He had some very good moments obviously (the dummy was even better than his goal, which was quite good) and hustled on defense/press, which I like in a striker, but he also missed several goal opportunities. And his hold-up play seemed below average. Maybe because he lacks the skill as you say. Now, these are harsh critiques for an 18yo, and he could improve. Hope he does.

Quote:

---

Schwake: I thought he should have saved the goal, though it would have been a very good save. Does not control the box well. Next.

---

Tony Meola, whose analysis I usually don't care for, made a good point about Schwake's footwork on the second goal. Meola basically said, even if you are out of position, once the offensive player is obviously going to drive the ball on a shot, you don't try to readjust on the fly. You set yourself to launch. And Schwake was retreating as the Chilean winger took the shot. Maybe if his footwork were better, he saves it.

Also, the youtube channels I listen were all over Schwake's demeanor and body language, saying he looked like he was about to crap his pants. So if we're going to have a goalie who has bad footwork and doesn't come off his line, let's at least have one that instills a little confidence like Freese. Though Kochen is the guy we really need to find out about, because if Kochen can make some saves and play the ball aerially, the footwork, on-ball play and confidence all seem to be there for the youngster.

Quote:

---

Adams: Made a nice slide tackle to prevent a goal. I can't help myself, I am so sick of him.

---

Man, you really hate him. I thought Adams played well as a sub, even other than that goal-saving tackle.

Quote:

---

Freeman: Seems to get better literally every game. I wish we could clone him.

---

I dunno. This actually wasn't Freeman's greatest game I thought. He did have one great moment going forward when Chile gave him room and he got a shot off that almost went in. And he was decent on D, but he is starting to get into the bad habit of dribbling too much, which is not his strength.

Quote:

---

Richards: Nice of Chile not to mark him on the corner leading to the goal. Struck the ball well but in the Premier league that is saved because it was not in the corner.

---

Richards played all right, but also set of the end-of-game fracas by coming to Schwake's defense when the Chilean substitute forward nudged him with his foot when he was down. Good or bad on that is in the eye of the beholder. I guess it's probably good - you need to stand up for his goalie.

Quote:

---

Tillman: Instant danger, I like him.

---

Should have had an assist to Downs as you said. Had a couple other good moments. I wonder if he slides back into defensive midfield with Adams against Mexico. I'd like to see Ellis start at right wing (replaced by Sullivan later, with Ellis moving to the 9, replacing Hall who starts there). Start Reyna at the 10, if he's not too tired after starting two games, and Albert at left wing. Or maybe bring Albert in once Mexico are tired, which he has seemed to feast on against Peru and Chile? Dunno.

Quote:

---

Trusty: Did little good or bad.

---

Pretty much, but you have to give Trusty at least a bit of credit for the assist for Albert's goal, heading it back from past the far post into the most dangerous spot.

Quote:

---

Albert: Smooth as always, got a tap in goal that he almost missed. He needs to get faster.

---

I'll take your word for it. All I know is that I want to see more of him.

Quote:

---

Downs: Was on the field. Almost scored off a Sullivan run but the defender slid and luckily blocked it.

---

Yes, got unlucky there, but really, why is Downs on this roster? There are others (like Daryl Dike who you brought up) who would be better choices after Pepi's injury.

Quote:

---

Sullivan: Smoked three fools in a row on a 60 yard run. He is ridiculous.

---

I would have given Sullivan second place for man-of-the-match had he played more than a few minutes.

Quote:

---

More is not in the same universe as Sullivan as a player.

---

I don't know who this More character is! =) But we will see. I think Gilberto Mora is on his way to being one of the top 20-30 players in the world. So if I am right about that and he is not in the same universe as Sullivan, then Sullivan is going to be a top-10-in-the-world type player.