Herc Gomez on Cavan Sullivan, Pochettino's Tension with Pulisic and Previewing the USMNT’s Friendlies: Men in Blazers 09/25/26

0:00The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? I'd start by saying, articulate what you love the most and then build on it. First step, find the team that will most probably break your heart. And then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition. The key to so many of mine, it's Walmart, the place that has it all. The snacks, the coffee, the pies. You can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch. Get the couch if you need it. And wait, it gets better. Because their express delivery can get it right to your door so you're all set for kickoff.

0:40Whatever your matchday needs are, you can find them at walmart.com slash soccer. Delivery timing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand. Subject to availability, fees and terms apply. You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network. Suboptimal Radio.

1:07the Kavan Sullivan here is upon us woo woo unto us a child is born 16 year old man boy from North East Philadelphia poised to become the youngest senior men's national team player since Freddie you do we've seen the MLS clips we've seen the flick swagger at levels last demonstration by well Tom Cruise in the early scenes a top gun. Is he ready for the step up to the international level before we can legally buy a lottery ticket?

1:33Herc Gomez:I love how you say ready to do like it's Beetlejuice. Like you can't say it too much. It's a Scottish play. You know what I mean? But that's exactly like the type of temperament we want to have with Cal and Sullivan. Like he's so promising. He's so good but you want to be careful. Is he ready? I think he's ready. Is he ready to start with the national team? Probably not. Is he ready and deserves minutes? Probably so. You've got to earn that start with the minutes you show us. By the way, Kavan in England, there was no doubt he'd already be called Little Kev. And they've mispronounced that name horribly.

2:09But God bless America. And God bless the bubble of the U.S. fanosphere. Well, I've got to say excitement levels are at 11. It's like one of those movies experiencing this run up to the international window where they find a young child Dalai Lama. For those of us who've only seen the 45-second MLS banger clips and there have been a number week on week, give us a sense of Kavan Sullivan's all-round game. What player in global football do you compare him to?

2:36Herc Gomez:So I saw my friend Benny Falchoper say Phil Foden and I said, whoa, that is an unbelievable comparison. I really like that comparison. We're better goal sellies. Better goal sellies. But if you think about it, left-footed, very, very technical, He plays with a bit of an edge. There's an extra gear to that, but there's also a bit of bite. There's a bit of I'm willing to work, roll up the sleeves, but he doesn't take the flair away. He's always going to give you that something that leaves you wanting more because you're like, whoa, where did this come from? I love the Phil Foden comparison. I really think that's pretty spot on.

3:11Herc Gomez:I tried to rack my brain. Who else besides Phil Foden? I can't give Benny Falhaber all the credit here. Give me somebody else, but it's the best comparison I could think of. The Phil Foden comparison knocked it out of the park, and I'll tell you what. But Phil Fodum, you can put him on the left, on the right, underneath the striker. You can even play him as a false nine where he's played before. I think he's got that capability. Anywhere he plays, Calvin Sullivan, he can be dangerous. And if he's not dangerous, he's going to give you something to talk about. There are games where you can't be as dangerous as you want, but you've got to be productive for the team.

3:42Herc Gomez:I see that in Calvin Sullivan's game. Yeah, I'm terrible at comparisons because to me, every football is unique, like a fingerprint. So I typed it into AI and it said Michael Alise. Don't want to make you lose your mind. So let's say Philadelphia Alise. Fill the Alise people in his skills, in his impudence. Also his mindset, which is really fascinating, how he attacks the game. Who could you see medium term, medium term, Kavan Sullivan replacing in the starting lineup if he saw us? I don't see him replacing anybody in the starting lineup because in my starting lineup, the three up top are Fala and Balogun at the nine, Christian Pulisic on the left, Serginio Dest on the right.

4:22Unless Mauricio

4:24Herc Gomez:Pochettino changes what seemed to have worked for him in the World Cup in formation, I do not see him replacing anybody immediately. Who I do see him replacing, and if I were these players, I would be very worried, are the Timothy Weas of the world, are the Brendan Aronsons of the world. That is who has to be worried here. Kevin Sullivan's going to come in, earn his stripes, earn the respect. And I think Tyler Adams has said this in the press conference where players need to be humble. They need to come in and work. Calvin Sullivan's got some flair. And I love that. Don't lose the flair. Don't lose that borderline arrogance on the field, on the field, but you got to come in and earn it.

5:03Herc Gomez:And I think Calvin's about that. I don't think there's any part of him where he doesn't say, I want the opportunity to earn it. No kid sees himself as a disruptor, creative catalyst, runner off the ball I do hope he can bring all of that through to this level I'll be honest, I can't wait to watch him after the frustration of the World Cup exit, I know we all crave an instant hit, a feel good adrenaline, but I'm also aware at the same time, that's the emotional, I'm aware of the rational and when you look at us, big picture as a fan base we dream of being great before we are good and that has led us to constantly I said it earlier, Freddie Adu talent.

5:43There's that incredible, it's almost biblically long list of raw wonder who creep into the periphery and we crown them as our savior before discarding them. Juan Aguadelo, Breck Shea, Julian Green, Gedeon Zell and Lemon, on and on and on. We don't let people develop. We place them instantly on pedestals. When you do that at the outset, Herc, the only way can be down. Do you have any fear of that here?

6:12Herc Gomez:Of course. How could I not? How could we not, Raj? You see such a promising player, but you forget. It's only been the second half of the season. And by the way, only a few months. Bradley Cornell, the coach who led this team to, you know, be one of the best teams in Major League Soccer, didn't play him for the first half of this season. And they were terrible. And then this kid starts playing. He starts playing. and he's doing well and he's the best U39 player in the league because the only 39 and over player who's running the league is Messi. Only Messi has his numbers right now. That's where he is.

6:45Herc Gomez:So we've got to be a bit cautious with this kid because it's so fresh, so new. I'm going to throw a name at you. Okay. Would you? You tell me if this name rings a bell. Alex Alcala. Does it ring a bell at all? Double A. Yes. Alex Alcala. I'll be lying if I said yes. Alex Alcala is a Mexican-American kid who as a teenager signed with Manchester City. He played for Los Angeles Galaxy 2. He went to Man City from Galaxy 2 when he was of age, like the contract that Kevin Sullivan signed for$5 million states he will do. He played first division for the first time in Querétaro Liga MX as a 20, 21-year-old.

7:24Herc Gomez:Just because they see value in you as a 14-year-old, just because they see something in you that maybe they can develop, doesn't mean that's the way it's going to transpire. Ask Cole Palmer how it worked out for him at City. It doesn't mean you're going to be a City player. Now, it'd be great if he was Cole Palmer. That'd be something else. But it's no guarantee. You've got to take this step by step. Yeah, I don't believe Kavan's going to start against Peru. I think Potch is trying to tamp it all down. I think there's been almost a player-wide, let's not talk about, well, anybody. Let's talk about the collective.

7:54And that's good. He should be protected, by the way. And we've watched Arsenal treat Max Dowman. You know, bring it through. Ease him in slowly. slowly slowly but those who know uh kavan know that the second he takes a field he's going to charge into battle um with songuku energy um so let me ask you three quick hits how many of these

8:14Herc Gomez:four u.s games will kavan sullivan start one he'll start one raj and which game he starts will most likely be the first two games the peru game or the chile game because of who you're facing and the generational change that they'll have themselves. I don't think Pochettino, if he is going by his own words, preaching calm, preaching work, preaching you have to earn it, I don't think he'll give him a game like Canada or Mexico. Those are games are going to be a bit more on the hostile side. If you want to ease him, if you want to protect him like I think Pochettino does, you give him one of the first two games.

8:53Yeah, you can't give him the first game if he He has a quiet first half. The pressure on him already, an insane piece of narrative. Ease him in. And if he does well first game, take it from there. But God bless. How long will it take him to score his first goal?

9:10Herc Gomez:Should we put that pressure on him? And I only say it's not because of his age, but the position. Like, I look at him, and I don't see goal scorer. I see playmaker. So, like, I'm not looking for the goal here, Raj. I think he gets his goal in the first five, six games that he plays with the U.S. Men's National League. He'll get his goal. I think so. Depending on the competition, I think he'll get his goal. But I'm more interested in what he does for others. His playmaking ability. Because that's where you're going to use him. I don't want to depend on Covins Sullivan for a goal. I want to depend on Foller and Balogun for a goal.

9:40Herc Gomez:I want to depend on the players like Covins Sullivan to set those players up. That's what I'm looking for. Covins meant to head over to Manchester City when he turns 18. Will that happen? Yes. Yes. It'll happen. He'll go. What happens from there is totally up to him. And sometimes these things aren't fair. I mentioned Cole Palmer. He's a fabulous player. Ridiculous talent. You don't think Manchester City would love to have him? Sometimes things don't transpire. They don't happen the way one would hope. You develop when you're supposed to develop. That is a complicated minefield. City group. He's one of hundreds of kids that they have signed hoping one pans out.

10:19Herc Gomez:That's a reality here. It is a numbers game. $5 million, maybe a lot of money for us. That is a dime and a drop of a hat for a team like City. That's a reality here. So will he go? Yes. Yes, he will go. From there, it's not just up to him. There are so many different factors that come into this to see if he stays. Godspeed, Kavan. I'll say one last thing about him, almost to myself, which is that we U.S. fans, we crave that instant fix. We crave that shiny new thing. Fresh meat. Kevin's a kid. This team rebuild is a project. He can be part of it, but he can't be the sun part of our hopes, dreams and desires.

11:01The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? I'd start by saying, articulate what you love the most and then build on it. First step, find the team that will most probably break your heart. And then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition. The key to so many of mine is Walmart. The place that has it all. The snacks, the coffee, the pies. You can also get the TV at Walmart. The hoodie to wear on your couch. Get the couch if you need it. And wait, it gets better. Because their express delivery can get it right to your door.

11:40So you're all set for kickoff. Whatever your matchday needs are, you can find them at walmart.com slash soccer. Delivery timing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand. Subject to availability, fees and terms apply. Let's get to the wider stories. Kavan is one of 18 players in this raw young squad. We are back prospecting again, people, as we begin the 2030 cycle. But we do need to begin with who's not here. Weston McKinney, Riccardo Pepe, Flo Balogun, all different stages of return from injury, and Christian Pulisic, who just scored his first goal for AC Milan since December 28th, 2025.

12:20Drought over. It's actually taken him time to earn minutes on the field at Milan after his micro fracture at the World Cup. Doug McIntyre at Fox wrote about the friction that still lingers between Pochettino and Christian Pulisic after his decision not to report for camp in summer 2025. Look, Potts has been very clear that this camp is about finding new blood, new energy. This is his quote. Now it's not what I did in the past. Now it's about football. Football is about today. Soccer is about today. Use both football and soccer, Herc. So we really understand. And he said, and that is the way we want to build in this cycle.

12:59He's telling them reputation is nothing. Everything is everyone starting again. It's a real warning in this cycle.

13:06Herc Gomez:There is. And I love that he's keeping players hungry. I really respect what he's trying to do with the culture of this team and what he's trying to establish with a new generation. That said, that's not the way life operates. That's not the way the world works. There are players he knows that if the game was on the line, he would call in. He would depend on. you and i know like other people in the industry know that christian pulisic is coming off a micro fracture and that is why he wasn't playing with milan his own coach has said it in the two games he has played an assist and a goal a worldly of a goal on display the brilliance of christian pulisic the explosiveness the touch the vision the finishing ability the ruthlessness all of that But when asked about Christian Pulisic, Mauricio Pochettino, instead of putting out a fire, instead of putting that fire out, he says, I don't want to talk about who's not here.

14:09Herc Gomez:He allows that fire to spread with his marquee player in a time where, correct me if I'm wrong, I have never seen this with the U.S. Men's National Team fan base. the toxicity within the fan base a majority of it and Christian Pulisic how the marquee player is seen to some sectors as a player who gave up on them in the most critical of moments is seen in a way where they want nothing to do with them at least in the immediate and if you're the head coach you've got an opportunity to put that fire out before it forget starts before it grows and you choose not to to me that's a bit telling but also a bit unfortunate it feels very personal um you know potch almost goes out of his way to avoid and has done for a while saying positive things about politic um at all in the second cycle we know we're going to see a real change of the guard um and it was a disappointing world cup in general um and to a large degree christian was, I mean, he soared in those first 45 minutes and then some, that chop back was the chop back of our dreams.

15:24Then it was mostly dominant Michelob Ultra commercials. By the way, every time I see one of those commercials, because they're still in rotation, it is like seeing a wedding video when the couple have just got divorced. It is that kind of an agony. What do you see the role for Christian Pulisic going forward? He's going to be 31 at the 2030 World Cup. Will, should Poch continue to make him the moon and the stars of this team? If not, then what?

15:47Herc Gomez:I don't think anybody's the moon of the stars here, Raj. I don't think the U.S. men's national team has that luxury. Christian Pulisic's the best player they have. I don't think it's close. I don't think it's arguable. Nobody comes close with his pedigree, with his resume. You could say what you want if he doesn't show up for the U.S. men's national team. What are you talking about? Of course he showed up for the U.S. men's national team. He's just not the player mentally that you want him to be. He's not the player who's tough like you want him to be. you want old school clint dempsey you want old school tim howard college boca negra these these players in the field where maybe they didn't spend time in the platforms of christian pulisic the chelsea's who won the champions league the dortmans where he was sold for 70 plus million dollars in the transfer fee the the ac milan's one of the biggest sporting brands this sport has maybe they weren't there but i'll tell you what they played like it was the last game they'd ever play every single game.

16:43Herc Gomez:And that's what some of these fans want. And I respect that. I dig that. That's just not who he is. And that's okay. But to act like he's not going to be an important cog piece to this puzzle for Marisa Pochettino, that's just being naive. He's going to be one of the biggest players that the U.S. men's nationally have. 31 years of age, if he's physically fit, and I know that's a big if but if he's physically fit he's going to be the most important player you have because of what we've seen and because of what you have today which players who've been starters on the team in the last two cycles and do you see being eased out of the program in this march towards 2030 man this one is going to hurt but i said it for quite some time in this last two-year cycle with marisa pochettino that his change of system there were going to be a few casualties One I thought would be Weston McKinney.

17:38Herc Gomez:He survived. And he, I thought, didn't have statistics to back it up during the World Cup. But I thought he was very good in the World Cup. The other is Timothy Weah. Statistically, can't get on the field. Timothy Weah doesn't have a position where it suits him. Where if he gets on the field and you think it's going to help him, it'll be as a right back. It'll be as an outside player. But if you look at how he plays, this team doesn't play with wingers anymore. Not the way they played in the World Cup. And if that's the way that it's going to be going forward, well, Timothy Weah is one of those odd man out.

18:09Herc Gomez:The other one is Brendan Aronson, and who's had a resurgence with Leeds. And I really like it. It's crazy. Yeah. It's crazy that we're saying this. Young, potent. We have how many attacking footballers in the Premier League, the best league in the world? How many? Attacking players in the Premier League, you have Brendan Aronson. And then that's it. well had you right God bless come back to our loving arms when you can I forgot Hadji Wright was in the Premier League I forgot Hadji Wright was in the Premier League he is yet not and God Flo Balogun pretended he is not played yet God bless you Everton Flo Balogun too soon it's Brendan it's Brendan and nobody else right now it's crazy to me but do you agree with that if you look at the players coming up if you look at the talent Brendan Aronson's a player that for the US Men's National Team when he had his moment was with Greg Berhalter, World Cup qualifying, and that is it, Raj.

19:06Herc Gomez:I love the kid, his infectious attitude, how he works his tail off. I want that player on my team every single day. When has it been his moment post that World Cup qualifying with the US men's national team? With Mauricio Pochettino, that is the question. Games loom ahead against Peru starting Saturday, 4.30 p.m. Eastern Time on TNT, then Chile, Mexico, Canada. We have to start with the manager for one moment because, Herc, few people seem to be more surprised that Mauricio Pochettino is still manager of the United States team than Mauricio Pochettino. All of the signals running into the tournament were that he was one and done, made no secret of how much he missed club management in general, the Premier League in particular.

19:50English media reported that he interviewed for the Brentford job last cycle and he admitted that he'd been interviewed for the AC Milan job on the very cusp of the World Cup. Yet Potts is still with us. Second cycle is his. By the way, second cycle, not because the team succeeded at the last tournament, more because possession is nine-tenths of the law. You know, we kind of flicks attitudinally between loving pulling on that kind of dictator-beat-cheat US soccer shirt and making noises that he could go if something bigger comes along. What do you want to see? What do you want to hear that shows us that Potts is having body and mind and four-year commitment, or does that not matter?

20:29Herc Gomez:It matters to me. It seems to not matter to most. They want the utmost commitment from their players, these fans. They just don't want the utmost commitment from their coach. And that is insane to me. Like, they demand that their players want to be with the national team. But they don't demand that their coach want to be with the national team. Like, every game the Serbian loses at Spurs is inching Marisa Pochettino closer to London. He spurs curious. He spurs curious. And that's fine. And that is great. If that's what you got to do because you think he is worth it, then fine. I happen to think this program has lost so much time when they waited 13 plus months for Greg Berhalter.

21:16Herc Gomez:So much time in the second go around with Greg Berhalter with Anthony Hudson, BJ Callahan, when they waited for him to come back. And here we are again. What I will say is, if this is the road we're going down, what I would like to see out of Mariso Pochettino is a clear path, clear objectives. You said the road to the World Cup did not matter. Trust the process. We'll see at the World Cup. Okay. Mixed results at the World Cup. Mixed results. Some would tell you, Mariso Pochettino would tell you because he's touted this out, that they have the most wins for a manager in World Cup history. Yeah, they increased the games.

21:52Herc Gomez:I understand where you're going with this. You also have the biggest blowout loss in the knockout rounds for the U.S. Men's National Team. No, no. But what I'm saying is that's the case. Perfect. What we want to see now, what I would love to see now is clear objectives. Lay them out. This is where we want to be in World Cup qualifying. Top two. Top one. Lay them out. We want to win the Gold Cup. Lay it out. Lay it out. We want to win Nations League. That is the objective. We have to win Nations League. You have to win Gold Cup. He already said, we want to win the Olympics. It's one thing saying you want.

22:26Herc Gomez:It's another thing saying you're going to do it. That is an objective that we're being held to. I want to see clear objectives going forward. Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I mean, this is what we need right now. Vision, mission, strategy, articulate it. Pochettino, I'm super fond of him. I really enjoy him back from the Premier League times as a human being. But it does feel like the vision is that we have Pochettino And then Potch himself kind of says stuff. But we need the big vision. We need the real plan. And the fans honestly deserve it. We yearn for it. The World Cup was not a success, no matter how you shape it.

23:02It was frustrating. It was deeply disappointing. It was a blown opportunity. And then today, for the first time, he started to talk about how he wished he'd handled the Balogun situation differently. He was saying that months afterwards when it was a very different tune. At the World Cup, let's start talking honestly, clearly, smartly we can do this i'd also love to see him battle for dual nationals with more care you know the knockout banks decision to represent germany where that kid is going to have a battle to get near that squad yeah over the u.s where he wouldn't um you know that needs and this is i think that's the indicator for me our talent debt cries out for dual national recruitment we're not argentina a trout farm where you bellow to play you yearn we no longer have by the way the commercial carrot of a World Cup on home turf to dangle and sweeten the deal for a young talent who are thinking about their future.

23:54Poch giving that the time, the passion, the energy, closing those deals. To me, we need it, but it's also the indicator he's here for more than a short term.