Bradley Carnell had ‘no problem’ with Cavan Sullivan’s frustration at being subbed off early
Sullivan played one of his better games in a Union jersey against Nashville. But it wasn’t enough to stop Carnell from taking him out when the visitors subbed in their stars.
The most talked-about moment in the Union’s scoreless draw with Nashville last Saturday was Cavan Sullivan’s frustration when he was subbed off in the 69th minute.
Sullivan had played one of his better games in a Union jersey. But it wasn’t enough to stop Carnell from taking him out when Nashville manager B.J. Callaghan sent in three stars he originally rested with a Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal on the horizon.
Carnell didn’t mince words at the time about why he made the move: he wanted Agustín Anello’s bigger body on the field.
“Definitely not performance related, because he did really well,” Carnell said of Sullivan.
And the fact that Nashville didn’t score meant he didn’t fully have to regret the decision, even though the Union didn’t find the net either.
Carnell’s weekly news conference on Thursday was a chance to assess the moment with cooler heads than there were in the heat of the moment.
» READ MORE: Ventnor City's B.J. Callaghan could be MLS's coach of the year with Nashville. Could the USMNT come next?
“I have no problem with a guy who is frustrated to come off or not,” the manager said. “I have no problem with any expectations that anyone has. But I’m not in an individual sport, I’m in a team sport, and I think anyone who knows the intensity we play at — we’ve done this for many, many months now.”
That is true, and it’s also true that Carnell almost always uses all five of his available substitutions in every game.
It has sometimes been news actually when he doesn’t.
“I don’t think we should make a mountain out of a molehill,” Carnell said. “This is something that is over in the heat of the moment, and it didn’t affect anyone but Cavan, so this is something that he’s still learning as a young pro. I think where he is in terms of his discipline and structure and work against the ball, I think you can see a lot of it now falling into place as it should be.”
That translated into the 16-year-old playmaker’s second straight start, after he’d started the April 25 loss at Columbus (and not always looked good in it).
» READ MORE: As Bimbo Bakeries moves its U.S. HQ out of the Philly area, the Union’s jersey sponsorship isn’t affected yet
The streak could improve to three this Saturday against New England (7:30 p.m., Apple TV), with Gillette Stadium having a grass surface as it gets ready for the World Cup. The home of the NFL’s Patriots usually has an artificial turf that has long been seen as one of MLS’s worst.
“It doesn’t mean, anyone’s an automatic, right? Just because anyone carries a certain name on the back of their shoulders,” Carnell said. “I’ve never been that type of a person, never been that type of a coach, and never expected it as a player myself. … Cavan’s played a big role in the last two games, so credit to him. He’s found the structure, he’s found the discipline, and then he’s found the quality to elevate the team in the final third.”
Other headlines
Centerback Japhet Sery Larsen is likely out Saturday as the pain lingers from the right shoulder joint injury he re-aggravated against Nashville. Sery Larsen first suffered the injury in the previous game against Columbus, then got hit again in an early-game collision and was subbed off after 15 minutes.
Midfielder Jesús Bueno is still rehabbing an ankle injury, and Carnell sounded like he didn’t expect Bueno to be available.
» READ MORE: Haiti dreams of bringing a party to the World Cup, even though its citizens can’t come to Philadelphia
Olwethu Makhanya has been a key part of the stabilization of the Union’s defense in recent games, just in time for the World Cup to be on the horizon. Carnell said South Africa’s national team still hasn’t paid much attention, and he wishes it would.
“Every day he puts out his business card, and he’s selling his case and making a case for himself,” Carnell said. “It’s a real pity, it’s a real shame. I think he’s good enough to be part of that roster. But let’s see how that goes over the next couple of weeks.”
Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches this summer, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries — and what those fans need to know about Philly. Click here for more.
