missed the first 25min. He was trying to play the hero in the 1st half and kept shooting every chance he got. Most were on frame, nothing spectacular but still decent shots. 2nd half he was somewhat invisible for awhile and then got his mojo back that’s continued into the 1st half of extra time. His burst of speed at 15yrs old is incredible; it’s only going to get better. He also linked up better with his teammates showing vision I wouldn’t expect until 19/20 from a good player.
He acquitted himself quite well. Granted it is a USL-C team, that said, it's still grown professionals. He didn't look out of place and routinely got by defenders. Let's see if he can carry this performance over to MLS play. Just an FYI, Paramount + allows you to start the game from the beginning if you tune in late.
Yea it’s still a step up from MLSNP. I don’t expect him to get a lot of minutes this Saturday, but I do expect him to see a 30+ min outing in one of their next 3 games given the congestion.
He did well, should have scored one of those chances and caused Indy some problems. He was forced to play wider than usual and obviously wasn't given the pass to roam around- like with Union 2 or the youth teams. Indy were happy to sit back, even when down 1-0. Philly had issues creating quality chances -considering they had 33 shots. The lineup was very strange- with Vasquez playing left back, Rafanello playing DM, and Bedoya going the full 120. We'll see how they lineup for the Riverhounds in the next round.
At least as a pro, Sullivan tends to operate in more wide spaces than central ones. This is his heat map from 2025 so far:
Do you think that might be because of his age? Easier for a younger player to stick to the outside of the field where there’s less bodies and opportunities to get crunched. I think he’s relatively tough in his approach for his age, but that may just be what heat maps look like for mid teens #10’s in the pros?
Good question. My feeling is that his tendencies as a player. and his desire to take opponents on in particular, make it sensible for him to play more in the half spaces and wings where he can isolate defenders and make them make difficult choices. For comparison, here's Carrizo - obviously has the right side bias, especially in buildup, but much more involved in Zone 14: And Santiago Morales, who operates on the left in buildup but very central in the final third:
got it. was curious to see if its at all related to formation/tactical guidance within the union structure or to your comment moreso due to his tendencies
I am able to read graphs at an 8th grade level, it was a joke because of the meme that Messi is always in the top right in these things, and here he is only because it's based on age Bad news for Cavan is he can never catch Messi either
Curtin had the first team and Union II playing a diamond midfield- Cavan was at the 10 (top of the diamond). Carnell has them playinga the empty bucket- or whatever it's called- with two 6s and the two 10s out wide (Cavan has a wider role now, which I don't think suits him as well). Vazquez has been playing the 6 for Union II, but he does get forward more than a typical 6 when in possession.
This is more what I expect from a young player. For example, Tamal is very right sided. Sullivan's map is really quite unique and intriguing.
No. Last year the first choice midfield for Union 2 was Cavan Olney- Vazquez Pariano Vazquez didn't play the double pivot until this year.
DC fan here. If not for the risks of playing such a young player heavy minutes, he’d walk, and I mean walk, into our first XI. He’d be our best creative mid except for Peglow.
Got a short outing last night. Was technically involved in the goal with a “hopeful” overhead backwards kick, but wasn’t as effective as he was a week ago.
I mean... you said it yourself.... it was a short cameo so he didn't have much time to make an impact..... but IMO he certainly deserves credit for the "hopeful" ball you mentioned. He had to juggle it once before putting it back into the mixer and he was under pressure. That goal is not scored w/o that two touch movement and it was the game-winner.... so I think he was effective enough.
That's not a spectacular play but it's a heady play especially for one as young as he is. Most would have probably back passed and the team would have passed it around harmlessly.