Why Manchester City Signed 14 Year Old American Cavan Sullivan

[@JakeLandau]

Hey yall! If you enjoy my player scouting reports and tactical breakdowns please consider reading my book, Decoding the Beautiful Game: amzn.to/3LOwc7I

[@Phogadacbiet]

Jake, thanks for posting. One thing that I feel isn’t being discussed enough is how far MLS Next has come. Previous generations could complain about “pay to play” which is clearly not the case anymore. Free MLS academies are responsible for producing a ton of talent. Gio, Scally, Tyler, Richards, Aaronson x2, Mcglynn, McKenzie, Wiley, Paredes, Mckennie, Sullivan x2, and countless others are getting proper professional coaching at a younger age. And, the results speak for themselves I’m not saying we can expect a generational level talent every few years, but more talent development should now be the norm!

[@celebrim1]

Pay to pay is still the reality in rural areas and for all but the top players. For second tier players it can somewhat work out in that they can get paid back in college athletic scholarships, but I still think USSF made a very bad move in 2006 when they decided that high school and college couldn't be a path toward player development and opted to try to create a European academy system without the sporting landscape here in the USA that could pay for that. MLS ironically came in to somewhat save the day once the league got profitable, but I still think so much better outcome would have been had if they had spent their efforts getting two soccer seasons a year at the high school level and in improving training and standards for high school coaches. Like it or not, high school is still the dominate way that kids engage with sports, and the most cost effective way for most families. That we abandoned it in soccer instead of engaging with those communities had a major negative impact.

[@brandonspike]

Hopefully the people close to him keep him grounded. He obviously has all the tools to be great but he's got a lot of work ahead of him to reach his (seemingly) insane ceiling

[@forzajuve4845]

also it doesn't hurt that his grandfather Larry is the coach at Villanova and is very well known in the Philly soccer area..Jim knows him very well ..nice to have contacts

[@ericpierce3660]

It's so exciting to see young up-and-coming players get recognition and great contracts. They have so much potential and it's exciting to imagine how far they will go. But I always temper my enthusiasm remembering the cautionary tale of Freddy Adu.

[@truthbetold2146]

Just something to note, he is a U15....so only playing 2 years up. But overall nice video and very insightful!

[@robertoavila1669]

It'll be interesting who will devolved into. Someday player Sullivan or Alcala

[@RogerCouture-r1d]

thanks Jake, always great articles on soccer that no one else seems to cover in such an insightful way. Soo, if we could with the Sullivan signing to City, and all other under 16y/olds, if we can forget about them, or take 'em off the public radar, until they turn 17... let 'em be kids and let their families deal with the pressures. But how cool is it that USA soccer has such a future; Figueroa, Kimbrough ...

[@dirks6550]

Talking about a 14 year old. Let's forget about him and check back in when he is 18.

[@mcadaal]

Perhaps we can consider him a contributor at the age of 17, as Pulisic was that age when he first joined the USMNT.

[@JakeLandau]

Maybe when he starts playing first team minutes somewhere.

[@mcadaal]

@@JakeLandau Very true. We have to settle our horses and any expectations.🐴 🐴

[@bcd2233]

Seems like a similar player to Taylor Booth. Obviously for a 14 year old it just depends on progress from here.

[@k.p.8955]

Thanks for posting this. I have been wondering about who this kid is Man City signed. I knew he was with the Union but didn't know much about him beyond that. I wish him all the best. Will Pep even be there if he makes first team? Anyway, we shall see.

[@rbfishcs123]

Jakey, do you remember FREDDY ADU? My biggest hope is for all these young talents coming don't fizzle out like Freddy. He was all the 'rage' back in the day when he came into the scene, only to have just fizzled out.

[@davepazz580]

Hopefully, this one doesn't sign a full MLS contract and stars playing at this age...

[@thomasopp9104]

Could definitely happen, but I think the developmental structure is way more established now. And by that I mean more established than nothing at all, which is what we had back in the early 2000s

[@rbfishcs123]

@@thomasopp9104 very good point!!

[@noting7678]

Agree don't overhype a 14 year old but also not the same player.

[@mrfilamfishing]

That ship has sailed. Look at how many didn't "Freddy Adu" themselves and are currently playing in Europe now. Let's stop comparing these kids to Freddy Adu.

[@wydrif]

overhyped*

[@brianewing5778]

I don't think so. Watch him play, kid has mad skills and he's showing them off against much older kids.

[@karlpk3907]

I wish him all the best. But professional soccer in the European leagues is Darwinian and ruthless. IN a way, I wish Cavan was under the radar. Everyone at Man City, for example, knew that Phil Foden was going to be not just a first teamer but a kid who would be capped multiple times for England, but he flew under that proverbial radar. Then there is the issue of physical growth and development. Sometimes your body type morphs into something that is just not optimal for soccer. You could still be a good player, but not a phenom. And there is the issue of speed. Can he run with athletically gifted adults when he turns, say, 17 or 18? Doe he have a growth spurt in him that will make him less smooth and more gangly? Just so everyone is clear...I am not a hater. I hope the kid becomes the greatest soccer player we have ever produced. But I have seen first hand what can happen. Go Cavan go. Make it all come together for you!!

[@hez859]

While all of what you said I agree with... I gotta say I saw a few clips and the kid can for sure ball. Showing up kids older than him.. He definitely has that natural "touch" off the ball that makes me wonder.. Im rootin' for him! But yeah, he's definitely got a lot to prove so we shall see!

[@dwaynegregory599]

Yes parents realize this.

[@fisterhr]

14 year old soccer phenom! Now, where have I heard that before ? Ah yes, Freddy Adu, the biggest hype in American sports history that never panned out. If he's the real thing then my advice would be for Sullivan to skip Mediocre League Soccer and go straight to Europe and STAY there. Let's see what happens after that.

[@AKUNJIG]

Watch him go for £40m to Chelsea in a few years.

[@crazeamnesty8355]

Potentially playing in the epl as a teenager usa may have the best ever usa player

[@jdubb45]

True. But pretty sure Christian Pulisic also played in the EPL as a teenager

[@AKUNJIG]

I would be Surprised if he breaks through into the Man City 1st Team

[@ricopo3522]

Even as an outstanding talent, realistically the odds of him or anyone playing significant minutes as a teenager for perenially top of the PL Man City are extremely slim. Which is why I somewhat question him going there as opposed to other clubs with much better track records of developing and playing younger players. Barring him actually being a worldwide generational talent/the next Messi/Ronaldo- there is a much greater likelihood of him being loaned out to get playing time, prove his quality. That is in no way minimizing his potential. To get regular time you have to leapfrog over a MC roster that's loaded with proven world class talent rather than players with that potential.

[@JJ-nu8qi]

​@AKUNJIG You never know but most likely it's just an investment to them. Still could play somewhere great.

[@Raynax235]

@@AKUNJIG Yep , from the man city academy only foden has done that. It is very tough

[@alivenumber5]

Difficult to tell how good a player will top out at 14 when they are compared against other youth who havent peaked yet. Maybe he can beat the odds.

[@JakeLandau]

For sure there is a long way to go

[@raulbarron5250]

Alex Alcala from Stockton signed also

[@noting7678]

There are questions about his athleticism. If Alex doesn't; have the speed than I don't see him being a good soccer player at 5'5 at the age of 18.

[@raulbarron5250]

@@noting7678 Athleticism ain’t shit yet… he’s 5’7 and great IQ and tech skills

[@cityboy113]

Dang pep found his Messi...

[@noting7678]

Hopefully, someone close to him can humble him. Check his Ego.

[@JakeLandau]

If you watch the video it seems like his family is great at doing that.

[@matthewstandefer2771]

Those are pretty high expectations to place on a young man. Just ask Freddie Adu

[@JakeLandau]

Agree - he's not there yet

[@anshumansahu1087]

Man City are on their way to building a team of monsters. Echeverri and now Sullivan.

[@richardg.m.8260]

I'm afraid he peaked too soon then over hyped too early just like pulisic etc

[@RedDevilDog1207]

“Who at any league is doing this scoop pass”…😂 really?

[@JakeLandau]

But actually who?

[@RedDevilDog1207]

@ItsCalledSoccer He'll Paul Scholes does this in charity matches. Messi...go lower? My son is in college and has been using this pass for several years. Not that complicated if coaches don't mind letting players just think on their feet.

[@mrfilamfishing]

So Pulisic is not "world class"? Literally one the best player in my club AC Milan right now. Let's not get too ahead and even mention Messi's name with this kid. Let him grow and let's see where he goes. You guys are overhyping him at the moment. Recognize his ceiling but don't say he's like Messi.

[@JakeLandau]

I think Pulisic is the closest we have to World Class, but he's not a top 5 player in the world in his position.

[@mrfilamfishing]

@@JakeLandau He doesn't have to be top 5 in his position to be world class. There's way too many footballers in the world.

[@gandalfgreyhame3425]

Ho hum. More of the MLS BS Hype Train. Remember Zack Steffen going to Man City? Matt Miazga going to Chelsea? Gaga Slonina going to Chelsea? (now giving up an average of TWO GOALS PER GAME in the Danish League). I remember all these superlatives being said for Adu, Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna, Pulisic, Matthew Hoppe, Josh Sargent..... Some of these guys did turn out to be pretty good players, but none of them could be classified as a true World Class Superstar, like Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, or even a Miroslav Klose, who has the record for most goals scored total at the World Cup.

[@adonijahmorningstar493]

He won't learn anything in the EPL, accept how to play rugby style football ("soccer"), he should have went to Germany, the Bundesliga, Spain, La Liga, Holland, Eredivisie or Italy, Serie A...

[@Raynax235]

City do not play like that ? do they

[@DerekLangdon-w9e]

Wrong!! To succeed at football he needs to be a premier league player! He should also consider becoming a British citizen…..This will advance his career considerably!

[@forzajuve4845]

you have no clue what you're talking about...try commenting on another sport..there are kids all across the country making that scoop pass at 14..kids technical abilities peak at age 15 then they learn the how to read the game. he is talented but there are tons of kids doing the same in the usa and all around the world..stop putting so much pressure on this kid

[@JakeLandau]

cheers lad

[@StevenMuayGrande]

Wayne Rooney is still the best 14 year old we knew. He’s not even remotely close to that.