Teen brilliance to Pochettino’s haters: Winners and losers from the USMNT’s perfect window

Winners Cavan Sullivan

So much of the discourse surrounding Sullivan’s possible debut in the lead-up to this window was centered around tempering expectations. The 17-year-old’s play, though – particularly against Mexico – made it almost impossible not to fall back into old habits and anoint him as the next big thing.

There’s plenty of data to unpack about Sullivan’s movement, combination play and even his defensive upside across this window but even the casual observer would be taken by his energy. Sullivan was eager – at times almost frenetic – when running at defenders and he “tries shit”, as Bruce Arena once said of Clint Dempsey. That’s an ideal palate cleanser for US fans after this summer’s World Cup crashout. I’m not going to drive the hype train anytime soon, but I’m considering buying a ticket. PIM

Sebastian Berhalter

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Often among the first men off the bench during the World Cup, Berhalter still looks effective in that role while faring especially well in a start against Mexico. His ability to break lines with his distribution is among the pool’s best, but the real boon is his dead-ball service. His delivery from indirect restarts and corner kicks is dependable and precise, a welcome reprieve after years of watching Christian Pulisic send his corners right at the first defender. JR

Diego Kochen

While Matt Freese and Chris Brady floundered, Kochen calmed the game down in his debut before a composed shift in the 3-0 win over Mexico. His command of his area is already arguably the pool’s best, while his defenders spoke of inherently trusting him in possession thanks to his upbringing at Barcelona. Long touted as a goalkeeper of the future, Kochen has left many wondering whether the future is now. JR

Julian Hall

The scouting report on most US strikers tends to lead with their physical traits, whether it’s their considerable strength or their pace. Hall is a rare exception, with his preternatural spatial awareness and off-ball movement allowing him to get dangerous looks, while his finishing chops continue to improve as he starts for New York. Folarin Balogun still looks like a comfortable first-choice striker, but Hall is a worthy young apprentice. JR

Losers Christian Pulisic

Pulisic was certainly the most auspicious absentee from Mauricio Pochettino’s roster this go-around, though there were valid reasons for his exclusion. Some cited Pochettino’s need to evaluate younger players, while others pointed out the fact that Pulisic was only recently recovered from the leg injury that sidelined him at the World Cup.

If only it were that simple. Pochettino was asked straight away to speak about Pulisic’s absence and he declined to do so, telling reporters he wouldn’t offer insight into any individual roster exclusion. A few minutes later, he spoke at length about the exclusion of Balogun, even going as far as to say he’d spoken with him personally – understandable given the drama surrounding the Monaco striker’s aborted transfer to Everton. He also offered some extended thoughts throughout the window about what he’s looking for in terms of senior leadership: players who bleed for the badge, are desperate to be in a US camp and don’t turn down call-ups. You’d be hard-pressed to get an actual mention of Pulisic out of Pochettino, but it’s not terribly hard to read between the lines. PIM

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Pochettino non-believers

Plenty of people argued against bringing Pochettino back for a second cycle, and they may well be proven right someday. That said, there is little reason to criticize the Argentinian this window. The mix of youngsters and senior players he gathered were a joy to watch and many of tham spoke glowingly about Pochettino, who pulled all the right levers throughout the window. The manager spoke openly about the “contagious” energy of his young charges and the effect it had on him was readily apparent. It would be hard to imagine engineering a stronger start to a World Cup window. PIM

Sergiño Dest

Dest was woefully ineffective during the World Cup at either providing width in possession up the right – a side the US failed to activate regularly in their five games – or not becoming a liability in defense, something Belgium exploited to great success in the last-16. Pochettino had seemed to find a solution by advancing Dest away from right-back to the wing, but that’s now a prime place for Sullivan to occupy opposite a left-flank playmaker (like Reyna or Malik Tillman) or the expected return of Pulisic. That also overlooks Tim Weah, who captains Marseille and was among the team’s most consistent performers under Gregg Berhalter.

Right-back is also looking like it has a new, serious contender with Alex Freeman clearly ready to be the primary option given his versatility in the role. Frankie Westfield, another debutant this window, offers a compelling alternative with his upfield passing. Dest remains ever-present for PSV, and he’s bound to stick around the pool. But now there are real questions about where he fits. Pochettino tried utilizing him as an inverted left winger in the second half against Canada, where he couldn’t change an ugly, foul-filled game. Pochettino regulars like Tyler Adams and Reyna saw regular involvement in each match, but Dest was far more peripheral than usual. JR