It’s going to be fun when the World Cup roster has a 16 year old Cavan Sullivan and a 17 year old Berchimas. But even more fun two years later in LA for the Olympics.
Well that I hadn’t realized. Given that he’ll be 18 and that he’s already likely to be playing first team minutes this year, I’d put his chances of being on the roster as higher than Cavan Sullivan. Though I don’t think his chances are very high.
I think those two extra years make a big difference and that he’s already breaking through with the first team this year it seems. For both they’d need to be in a position to make January camp 2026. But for both I put the chances below 5 percent.
Still a huge hurdle for Cavan Sullivan that he literally can't play first team games for the next two years if he doesn't sign a pro contract with Philly...
Hurdle for making 2026 but not a huge deal in terms of his career development. And while I think he should sign with Philly you can’t make career decisions based on something that has a very small chance of happening.
Well he could go the minor league route and sign with say Louisville but that doesn't increase his chances IMHO.
I hope he does, there has to be some way a deal can be made. Back to Berchimas, bogert thinks he could debut in the first 2 games. Charlotte might be a must watch early
Charlotte winger depth is very weak. They haven’t made any signing and lost Jozwiak, Meram and Gaines plus Cambridge is injured. Legit not sure they have any real options at this point to where Berchimas won’t at least have to be on the bench.
Word out of Tom Bogert is that Berchimas will likely debut in the first two games. He's apparently not looked at all out of place practicing with the first team -- I believe the comment was simply that you couldn't tell who the 15 year old was out there. Dean Smith has a strong development rep from his days at Villa, so hopefully it's a good spot for him. Charlotte needs offense, and Berchimas can provide that. I'd still expect a decent amount of bouncing up and down -- it's just very rare for a 16 year old to get big minutes in any league. (He turns 16 in 3 days.) Alphonso Davies got 1,000 minutes; Tyler Adams got 45 and then 2,000 as a 17 year old. If he gets 1,000 minutes that would say something big, even on a team with roster holes like Charlotte.
If he gets 1000 minutes I may actually start to really speculate he has a shot at at the 2026 roster.
If he gets a thousand minutes, you really have to talk about the upside. Like I said, it's Adu, of course ... but in the modern era, it's Alphonso Davies and basically no one else... although Busio was close.
From a local fan From a Charlotte FC fan perspective, it’s feeling more and more (based on our lack of signings and emphasis in pushing the homegrowns) like 16 year old Nimfasha Berchimas could legitimately get minutes at full senior team level this year.He stormed into the U-17 WC.. Now MLS? pic.twitter.com/K8WEz3X8Qs— USMNTrev (@Eyesandvibes) February 21, 2024
It becomes more clear each passing day he is a big talent and that his results as a junior player were a reflection of that talent rather than him being an "early physical development" case.
9th youngest MLS debut in the first game of the 2024 season, at age 16 years 2 days .@CharlotteFC's Nimfasha Berchimas becomes the ninth youngest player in league history to debut. 😤 pic.twitter.com/WLZR7PcTu7— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 25, 2024 At 16 years and two days old today, @CharlotteFC's Nimfasha Berchimas became the ninth-youngest player in league history to make his @MLS debut. pic.twitter.com/ePsru0jBYU— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) February 25, 2024
The difference between how old Berchimas looks bald vs with hair is crazy. In the u17 wc I think i was subconsciously thinking he was more physically developed that he actually is. He still looks his age
He’s roughly the same age that Lamine Yamal was at the beginning of this season. Not saying that he’s that level of player, but it’s definitely conceivable he could play real minutes this year.
Charlotte's wing options are pretty poor outside Vargas. The started a 20 year old off Crown Legacy, Iuri Tavaras, at LW (Vargas at RW) and although he was responsible for the goal with a header off a corner (that was headed in off the line by Malanda) otherwise his performace was forgettable. Berchimas didn't do much either in the cameo. He subbed in for Vargas at RW and has a couple of opportunities with the game stretch late to either create one on one or keep possession and burn time and instead lost possession or hit a weak shot at the keeper. Physically didn't really look out of place, but clearly has room to bulk up and become more physical. Have to think he will get more chances because their are no other options and at least physically he is able to hold his own.
Provided the announcer was right, it's bear-KEEM-mas. I was definitely going BIRCH-ee-mas, so that's good to know.
then start him Nimfasha Berchimas is on the bench once again for Charlotte FC as they take on Vancouver Whitecaps 👀 pic.twitter.com/B3Qw6rvW0y— Youth Soccer Central (@yscentral) March 3, 2024
Got in a played the last 7 minutes plus 7 minutes of stoppage time. Feel like he had a fair amount of touches in the limited minutes, but didn’t do anything with them. Wasn’t paying 100% attention though
Charlotte signed a DP Winger from Celtic two days ago. It will obviously take some time to get his paper work squared away and acclimated with the team, but will ultimately make minutes for Berchimas harder to get down the road. He just turned 16...feel like constantly playing in Next Pro this year and perhaps making an occasional appearance with the 1st Team is probably best for development anyway. He feels a year away from me based on what I have seen so far. After mainly playing with the Youth Teams last year, I think focusing on Next Pro is the right spot for him.
It's going to take him a little while to adjust but I expect to see him be an effective member of the first team in the second half. Of this season.
He's still so young. Getting any minutes is great. He's probably not all the way ready yet, but I'm not sure you'd expect a just turned 16 year to be ready. The thing that stands out a little to me though is the athletic profile. It's a little notable that he's a little on the shorter side for a winger and his speed is there but doesn't play as devastating as it does against kids. I really hope he's not done growing. A 5'7/5'8 winger with very good, not great, speed is a little different in the projection than 5'10 or 5'11 with great speed.