USMNT vs Ecuador Preview with Vamos' Herc Gomez: Men in Blazers 10/09/25

0:00You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network, Suboptimal Radio. He's leading every statistical category there is in Serie A in almost half the minutes. He's been one of the most productive players. No, I'm sorry. The most productive player in Serie A. More productive than Letaro Martinez, who was on the shortlist for Boulogne d 'Or. So I'm hoping that translates to the U.S. men's national team.

0:27The U.S. men's national team are back after being outclassed by Korea in a stadium full of ecstatic South Koreans in Harrison, New Jersey. And then our feel-good sugar high of a beating against, let's call them, A-Japan 11 in Fortress Columbus. In the last window, we continue our axe-ridden hero's journey towards World Cup 2026 on home turf. Now just 246 days away, Ecuador and Australia lie ahead of us, 24th and 25th in the world. Two further friendly tests to prove ourselves, really to ourselves. Let's pray. Oh, let's revel. Let's yearn for glory. And it's amazing to break all of this down with my friend, former US international turned ESPN wonder broadcaster and star of Vamos.

1:15A show that's become an entire platform on our network. Follow it on every single media platform now to join us a go, go USA to Mr. Hercules Gomez. Raj, I couldn't be more excited. By the way, so excited how the channel has grown, what we become and what we can continue to be. So I'm happy to be here. Good Lord, I'm happy to sully Vamos. May I be the weakest link of everything you and the guys are building. Herc, our boys of Avenger assembled. And what have we got before us? We got the strongest squad. I believe possibly, could you make the case, the strongest squad of the modern pot share? I don't think it's arguable.

1:52This is the strongest squad that he's had. Maybe the March window, his opening window that he had when he first signed. but it doesn't come close to this. And you're still missing a few key players. So I think for the first time in a long time, if you're a US Men's National Team fan, you have something to really feel good about. I want to see what this poach era is about. They promised us it would be different. Six million dollars a year difference. Here we go. It's go time. Herc, we doing this. We US fans have two moods. We talked about this often. We have disaster class. We're in free fall. We are the worst of all time.

2:26Or we are unstoppable. ball. No one can live with us. We're going to win it all. So as we loll up into this window, Gaines' Ecuador squad, who we'll talk about in this show, finished second in South American World Cup qualifying, fresh off beating Argentina, really a brave, steely team on the rise. We'll then face a well-organized Australia. Where are you mentally big picture? Big picture. I think we're close to the finish line of what we've been waiting for for the last seven to eight years. this team was being constructed, being built off of the 2018 World Cup failure for the sole purpose of the 2026 World Cup.

3:05We gifted, we handed kids call-ups, national team appearances with the sole goal of on home soil doing something special. So I'm excited. I'm excited as you can be with the finish line in sight. And I hope the players are excited. I hope Pochettino knows the responsibility that lies ahead. And I hope the fans can feel it because it's been a long time coming that you can feel the excitement of a World Cup. And I remember 1994. It was amazing. So I can't wait for 2026. So let's start in the beginning with the happiest club story, really the happiest club story of the season. From the United States perspective, Christian Pulisic is in the form of his life outside of really lockdown.

3:45Pulisic, that bond storming surge. The prince who was promised from Hershey, Pennsylvania, is top scorer in Syria. As dominant in Italian football, I mean, he's been so just lethally clinical. All right, not from the penalty spot. We all have our weaknesses for Milan. We don't see that same freedom, that same impact when he pulls on a US jersey. Well, we haven't in this cycle. So to me in this window, and we'll talk a lot about the different priorities, the different emphases, the different questions, but nothing is more important than this. What do we need to do to set Christian Pulisic up to hurt opponents in the US lineup?

4:23I'm so glad you brought up the caveat of this cycle because if we saw Christian Pulisic in the past, he was the US men's national team. And since Copa America, in Copa America, where I don't think anybody really shined, he had a goal and an assist. After that, it was just Nations League and a few friendlies here and there, but nobody played well in Nations League. So we've not seen the best of Christian Pulisic because he's not been around with the U.S. men's national team. He decided that this summer he needed to take a break. And it was a very polemic decision from Christian Pulisic and U.S.

4:52soccer. And the fallout that has made, I think, a lot of the fan base feel a certain type of way about the best American product that we probably have ever seen. That's where he's heading, if he's not already there. And I'm so glad he's proving many people right. Raj, you and I have had discussions off the air about his level. in the past couple seasons in Serie A and how good he's been. I've been very adamant that he is close or as close to world class as we've ever seen. He's leading every statistical category there is in Serie A in almost half the minutes. He's got six goals, two assists in eight games.

5:31All competitions. This man right now is on another level. And for the past two and a half seasons, and I only say half because we just started this season, he's been one of the most productive players. No, I'm sorry. The most productive player in Serie A. More productive than Lataura Martinez, who was on the shortlist for a Ballon d 'Or. So I'm hoping that translates to the U.S. men's national team. I'm hoping, because I know Christian Pulisic can do it, he's proven it with countless managers, different types of tactical setups, different types of formations, different types of positions, different types of ask of him, that he can be productive.

6:06So I see no reason why with Mauricio Pochettino being the focal point, he can't do the same. He's American Scott McTominay is what you're saying.

6:41these days. With a bigger summer in soccer, fast approaching, I can't wait to see their incredible footballers pave their path on the world's biggest stage. Whether it's Endrick cutting up opponents in his Takellas or Bakayo Saka banging in goals left and right in his Furons, we're here for it all. Grab yourself a pair today at newbalance.com slash soccer. But look, I mean, Potch has Christian on the right, but against Japan, he had him play under the striker. changed the system, went to a 3-4-2-1 lineup. We know Christian thrives when he has the space, the freedom to run at opponents. In that game, he created a goal with a flourish.

7:24Three at the back. Is that it for you, Herc? What do we need to do? And where does he need to play so that he can lead us? So it's not it for me, as in this is set in stone. we can't confuse formations and tactical setups with this is the coach and who he is let's fit that in this is a national team it isn't a club team you can't go out and get the players you need for a certain formation a certain style a certain tactical scheme you have to cater that with what you have so if at the point in time the player pool demands three center backs because that's the way you need to play with set players.

8:04You do that. Christian Pulisic can play, and I do agree with you. He looked very good in that five-man back line because he's one of two tens underneath what I thought was a very mobile and linked up center play from a follower in Balogun. That set Christian Pulisic up very nicely, but he can play anywhere. And if we're talking about what really suits these players, well, maybe three center backs at this point in time does suit the setup. You've got centerbacks who are, some of them, very good passing centerbacks. Some of them very athletic. And most importantly, out in the wings, you've got a few players that you know can be very special.

8:40An Anthony Robinson on the left-hand side. A Sergino Desk. And I'm talking big picture. I'm talking big picture. Right now, there is no Sergino Desk. You have a Freeman. He plays that way anyways. He can man the right-hand side. But you've got good central players that are dual threats, box-to-box. And you've got special players underneath. Christian Pulisic, we've already said it. how special he is. Alejandro Zendejas is coming into his own. And as good as Christian Pulisic has been in Serie A in the past two plus years, Alejandro Zendejas has been that good in Liga Amekis for two and a half years.

9:13He's been that type of player for one of the biggest clubs in this side of the hemisphere. So you do have the personnel at this moment, this player pool, to play that type of way. So God bless Zendejas. And Godspeed to Christian. But let's look at the squad big picture for a moment. You know, there's two things going on. Potches, both trying to work out the depth chart, the personnel. And at the same time, it's quite clear he's attempting to create a cultural change for the entire squad. He told us last camp that that would be the last one in which there was open auditioning. There's a lot fewer MLS players in this squad.

9:49But we should start to look at who's here and who's not. We should start to take it very, very seriously. Weston McKinney is back. So is Brendan Aronson. Big, big camp for him. Leon's Tanner Tessman had a strong start to the season in France. He returns also. Middlesbrough's young warrior, Aidan Morris. We talked about him being a shocking absence last camp. He's back in. James Sands returns to the U.S. camp for the first time under Pochettino. Incredible to see. I think the most important player not named Christian Pulisic back, Anthony Robinson. Not quite fit. I think he's played the full 90 just once this season for full.

10:28And beautiful to see Cameron Carter-Vickers back from exile. We'll talk about Hadji Wright in a moment, but let's start with the striker position. I feel like every international break window, we talk about the same question first on repeat. Who will score the goals? Who will be on number nine? Herc, Flo Balligan has to be the leader in the clubhouse right now, right? Brooklyn-born, London-bred, back from injury, feeling dangerous for Monaco, looking good off the bench against Korea and scored that second goal in a 2-0 win over Japan. I think it was his first goal since the Gold Cup. And this is incredible.

11:04His first ever start under Mauricio Pochettino. How do you handicap it? It's interesting because we're going off the eye test of what we last saw with the US Men's National Team. Foller and Balogun has pole position. It's his to lose with the players in camp. but if we're going off being the hottest striker out with this club team, he may be the coldest. He lost his starting position in Monaco. He's been coming off the bench. He did draw a PK. Thoughts and prayers out to Moses Bombita, who took the brunt of that right there, broke his tibia, his leg. He did have some good moments, but he's been pretty cold for club.

11:41But we can't ignore, Raj, what we saw, especially with Christian Pulisic, how comfortable they look with each other. They linked up very well. He's blazing fast, good, hard, crisp runs. He knows how to play the position, and he is lethal in open space. That said, he needs to continue to be dangerous for the U.S. men's national team when he has an opportunity. Because if we're being honest, if we're being critical, as critical as we can be with Farron Baligan, he's not quite been as advertised. Remember how fans flooded his Instagram, flooded his social media with American flags in an effort. The players did.

12:21The players did. The players recruited him. Every single post he did as he was teasing his way around Orlando, just hanging out there. Yeah, the players were in there dropping the American flags. It was an open recruitment. My Lord, those were happier days. Those were great days because we thought that he could be a player to lead the front line for years to come. If we now assess the body of work since, there's been one bright moment, and that is a losing effort against Panama in the Copa America. One of the most humiliating moments in U.S. men's national team history. That's been the silver lining of the Foller and Balogun era.

12:59So he's a player that offers you distinct things, you know, certain things that other players maybe don't offer you, but he's not quite put it together in a U.S. shirt. So Foller and Balogun right now is in a position because there is no Ricardo Pepe, players who have had that equity, where he can say, hey, I'm the last guy to make you feel good about this position because that's the last time, this last window or the last September window where we felt good about the nine position. He can remind people he's still here. I'm listening to you and I'm pulling faces, sad faces, because the flu, I remember interviewing Gio Reina on this show when they were actively, the players publicly recruiting flu with the American flag barrage on his Instagram.

13:41But you talk about Flo Balogun, this massive moment. Also fascinating in this camp on the undercard, Hadji Wright this season, 27 years of age, a Californian from Los Angeles leading the goal scurrying in the English second tier, the championship. Eight goals for top of the table Coventry, who are unbeaten, sizzling on this season. Hadji's not featured for the US since June 16th, 16th, I think, in the Gold Cup. Often been kind of given the super sub mantle. Come on, 15, 20 minutes to go. Use your speed. Try and be a difference maker. But he has not been a cameo for Coventry. He's been the man for Frank Lampard and that club this season.

14:26What do you see in his game? And can you make the case for Hadji to be on number one, number nine? I can easily make the case. Let me tell you what I see first in his game. He's more confident. I don't know what Frank Lampard has done, but he's made Haji a more confident central player, and it's oozing out of him. You can see the type of goals he's scoring. He's a player who's very interesting in the profile. He's got the speed, athleticism to play the line, yet he has the link-up play to be a player that can easily very well get along with somebody like a Christian Pulisic or anybody else playing underneath.

14:58And he's also, if I'm being honest, being a little bit disrespected. People forget, since Brian McBride, he's the only nine to score in a World Cup. It's crazy. And when you've needed him, he's come out and he's been there for the U.S. Men's National Team. Let's not forget, the U.S. Men's National Team was 10 seconds away from losing to Jamaica in a Nations League semifinal. The game gets tied, sent to overtime, and who comes on and helps you win that game? It's Haji Wright, who scores a pair of goals off of a Giovanni Reina pair of assists. So he's been that player when you've needed him. He has that equity built in with the U.S.

15:34Men's National Team, and he's of a profile where he's not just the guy who's athletic. He's not just the big center forward. He's a guy who's got a nose to go and is playing with, I would argue, as much confidence as anybody in this pool. A confident Hadji. I've got to say, I still think his brand is tarnished by his rather shock inclusion into the 2022 World Cup squad when he took a lot of disrespect from fans who were like, what? How know Ricciardo Pepe? You know, and in our love for Ricciardo, I think to some degree, we're all guilty of disrespecting Hadji and what he can bring for real to this squad.

16:07And I hope he gets a chance to prove it in this window. We've hit the returning heroes to this squad. We have to say a quick word on the not returns. And among those out with injuries, Seginho Dest and the great Ricardo Pepe. I cannot wait for him to pull on a US jersey again. Left out with Younis Moussa, Josh Sargent, Joe Scali, all have been playing and playing quite well in moments for their clubs, even in difficult situation for Joe Scully. Munch and Gladbach talking about Gio Reyna, not really yet found his rhythm, his fitness, his playing time. Also not here, Sebastian Berhalter on the outside looking in.

16:45Jack McGlynn not called up, now injured. I believe we will not see Eunice Moussa in a US jersey under Poch again outside of the direst emergency. It feels like Eunice has been the scapegoat, almost the example of warning to the other players after the no-shows over the summer at the Gold Cup. Is there anyone not called up that you were surprised by her? Yes, I was surprised by Joe Scali. I know that Jeff Carlisle at ESPN during one of the press conference asked about Joe Scali and Eunice Moose's omission, which is a very valid question. And coaches all around the world have to answer these type of things and do it in a respectful way.

17:24I thought Pochettino was very defensive in how he answered it. He even asked Jeff Carlisle to next time bring out his own roster and they would sit there and compare. And then he thought it was disrespectful to ask about the players who aren't there because you're not focusing on the players who are there. Very simple question. Maybe you don't feel Eunice Moussa should be there. Listen, I once said Eunice Moussa, and I took a lot of heat for it, is a poor man's Darlington Nagby. Shout out to Darlington Nagby on an incredible Major League Soccer career who just announced his retirement. But he's proven me right so far.

17:54He's very good in between the boxes, not a productive player in terms of assist or goals, and not the type of ball winner where you say that's a six who needs to be on the field. He's almost a bit of a luxury player that you need the right system to fit him in. So I can see Eunice Moussa not being there. I don't know why Joe Scali's not here. You only brought one nominal right back, and that's Freeman. Joe Scali has been, out of this pool, probably the most consistent player in terms of playing time over the last three, four years in a top five league. And I know Gladbach is struggling right now, but they've not always struggled.

18:33And he's always been a big part of their team in terms of being there when they need him. He's a player that I was very surprised isn't on the roster. And I don't want to speculate as to why. There are lots of stuff you read online, reports of indiscipline. I wish he would have answered why. I wish it was more context to the Joe Scali. He's the one player that I'm really scratching my head as to why he's not here. If you're telling me Freeman is a better player than Joe Scali right now, I don't buy it. Could he be? Maybe, but not right now. I don't see that. So if we're purely calling players in based on ability and based on availability, I'm really asking myself and scratching my head as to why Joe Scali isn't here.

19:20Because Poch hates the golf. That's all I will say. Poch hates the golf. Well, then let's just go out and say it. I'd respect Poch. Listen, nobody is above the team. And I'll get to a few comments Pochettino has, or his staff has said, which I'm 100 % on board with. Like, you should, for the better, you know, lack of a term, police your team. You should be that leader. but give people the context so they're not just thinking you're just seeing what sticks we'll talk more about that in one moment i do think you know you cannot say trust the process and not articulate at the same time you can't say boo for those things and get the the fans to start believing if you are trusting the process you have to articulate give a sense the contours the vision the mission the strategy of that process because we all want to buy into it we all want to trust the process, but when it's process without clarity, process without vision, process without transparency and insight, we're building a rod for our own back.

20:22Staying with the players who are not there, my friend Tyler Adams has been given personal leave. Tyler and his wife Sarah are about to have their second child. We will miss him personally. I think his leadership on the field is an enormous intangible for this team. but also he's in the form of his life in the Premier League, the most consistent set of performances for Bournemouth who are living in the promised land, top four in the Premier League table, which leads to who will fill in for him. I mean, this is a massive, massive moment for Weston McKinney. When I say those names, conjures the image of a man who is one of the faces of the team in our imagination.

21:08It's pretty clear at this point. Pochettino sees it very differently. He was left out at the last camp. Very much a warning shot to the player from a manager, trying to emphasize the discipline and commitment culture. Pochettino and Weston have had a fractious relationship. In this camp, one of the biggest stories not really being discussed because we still see Weston as the 2022 cycle, Weston undroppable. But he is a man right now who must prove himself to Poch on the field. I think an off it. I mean, he just showed that he's a serious footballer who can lead this team in training in a positive way.

21:41Yeah, I mentioned earlier that there are some things this coaching staff does that I'm on board with. It's for the betterment of the group. The Athletic had a report where they spoke to Jesus Perez, one of the assistant coaches for Marisa Pochettino. And it's about the culture. And he says the previous regime was based on a small group of players. They thought that the more together they were, the better they will get. we felt like we didn't agree with that. And we wanted to provide the same level of care to everyone in terms of tracking analysis and business. Listen, this is a direct shot to whoever thought they were the core group under Greg Berhalter.

22:20And that includes Weston McKinney. I do think there are good things that they have done in terms of trying to establish a culture. We know how good Weston McKinney is. Nobody's going to come here and tell us how good Weston McKinney is like it's going to be a surprise to us. We've seen him at his best. Guess who's not? Marisa Pochettino and his coaching staff. So Weston McKinney is probably the player with the most to prove in this October set of friendlies. He's a player who I think has to be on the field. But let's be real. Marisa Pochettino and his coaching staff, they've not seen the same Weston McKinney.

22:56So how can we argue he needs to be there? He needs to prove he needs to be there. We know how good he is. He needs to show the staff how good he is. Who replaced Tyler? Who is this a massive opportunity for in the American midfield? Christian Roldan called up again, spent time with him last week in Seattle, not met him before. What an astonishingly great human being he is. You have Malik Tillman back, McKenney, Tessman. Who'd you start on one? Well, very quickly on Christian Roldan. He's not a like for like with Tyler Adams, but it's no surprise that multiple coaches, I mean, whether it's Greg Berhalter, whether it's Anthony Hudson, BJ Callahan, and now Mauricio Pochettino and staff have all loved Christian Roldan.

23:39They've all appreciated Christian Roldan. So that tells you something about the player. He's like, to me, he's to me like the Kyle Beckerman in the 2014 cycle. That's a great shout. A player that like was in exile for a long, long time, written off his own international career, was brought back in a moment of need by a coach. the fans were like, what? How? Why? And just you did not see unless you watched training. Kyle Beckerman drove that team on. He was always going to be like the 22nd, 23rd guy on the roster. But like beat tests, he was outlasting them. Every single practice, every single game.

24:15I mean, I laugh. I'd always tell the story of the Panama game when the US shot Panama came from behind one and knocked them out of World Cup qualification. And Kyle told me the story right afterwards because I saw him right after the game. And he's like, the player, the Panamanian players were coming up to me being like, bro, take it easy. You're already in the World Cup. You've got nothing to prove. And I said, what did you say to them, Kyle? And Kyle said, bro, we might be in the World Cup, but I'm not in the World Cup. I'm coming hard, bro. And that is Christian Roldan as well. That same mentality.

24:46Exactly. Same mentality. Kyle was my teammate for the Copa America in 2007. And also briefly on the Colorado Rapids, I can attest to his work ethic and quality. Funny story is 2010, you mentioned he was exiled. 2010, I make it to the World Cup team without playing a single minute or a single appearance in that cycle. We're at a banquet dinner, and U.S. Soccer rolls out this video of everybody who's helped the national team get to the World Cup, and it's highlight video of the cycle and the friendlies and whatnot. And I'm sitting in a group with Marcus Hanneman. And Marcus Hanneman is one of the older players at this time on the U.S.