1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 1: We love them FC Cincinnati. 2 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 2: FC Cincinnati came out of the international break with a 3 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 2: slightly different look and it felt like the offensive attack 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 2: had a little bit more pep to it. Unfortunately, well, 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 2: FC Cincinnati's defensive issues persisted and the familiar result was 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 2: painful for Pat noon In club. 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: They lose at New York for too. 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 2: They're back on the road for a day match tomorrow 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 2: against Toronto and Apple TV. Callum Williams from Apple TV 10 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 2: has the call and kind enough to join us. Calum, 11 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 2: it's good to have you. How are you you get off? 12 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 3: Thenon? Guys, how are we doing? 13 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: We're doing well. 14 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: I'd be doing better if if FC Cincinnati was showing 15 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 2: off its normal form. That hasn't been That hasn't hasn't 16 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,319 Speaker 2: been the case so far this season. But I do 17 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 2: feel like Pat Noonon went out of his way after 18 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: the last match to kind of cling to some positives. 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: Do you feel like that's the right approach? 20 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 3: Well? I think they need to, don't they? 21 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 4: Because this season so far has been anything buckfulls and 22 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 4: we've seen one or two flashes, no doubt about it, 23 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 4: with the victories against the likes of Montreal, which I'm 24 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 4: going to be subtly honest. Having covered Montreal a lot 25 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 4: last season to see that Cincinnati should be beating fairly 26 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 4: certainly convincingly, not in the manner in which they did that. 27 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 4: The win in Atlanta against Atlanta rather on Opening Day 28 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 4: was was a step in the right direction. But with 29 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 4: regards to the games that they've lost, it's the way 30 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 4: that they've. 31 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 3: Lost them, in the manner in which they've lost them 32 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 3: as well. 33 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 4: I think for such a long time when Cincinnati and 34 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 4: you guys were no better than I. Well, when Cincinnati 35 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 4: first came into Major League soccer, it was the back 36 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 4: line that was the real problem, and the obvious problem 37 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 4: as well, because they were conceding so many goals. And 38 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 4: it feels as though they've done somewhat of a bit 39 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 4: of a loop really in the sense of from an 40 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 4: attacking perspective, they are delights when they are in full flow. 41 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 4: The likes of Kevin Denk and Evander when he's on 42 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 4: his day are some of the best in Major League soccer. 43 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 4: But from a defensive perspective, it at times has been 44 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 4: it's been cringeworthy. 45 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 3: They've conceidered eighteen goals in the. 46 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 4: Last four games in all competitions that that is just 47 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 4: absolutely abysmal. From a numerical perspective, you cannot expect to 48 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 4: achieve anything if you're conceiving the amount of goals. 49 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 3: That they are now. Look, obviously they've had injury issues. 50 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 4: Matt Mayaska is getting himself back into full flow. Miles Robinson, 51 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 4: to my understanding, has picked up an injury out as 52 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 4: Power is injured. I think or being a Warbardele to 53 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 4: my understanding is day by day, particularly Robinson and Wobardol, 54 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 4: those are big pieces to miss and it feels as 55 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 4: though this Sepsy Cincinnati jigsaws has yet to really have 56 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 4: all the pieces put together in it. I don't know 57 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 4: what to expect for the game against Toronto, and honestly, 58 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 4: it wouldn't surprise me if the approach is let's just 59 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 4: get back to basics, let's try and not conceive goals. 60 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 4: Let's try and stop this woeful leak and see if 61 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 4: we can hit on the counter press, and see if 62 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 4: we can hit on the counter attack and find something 63 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 4: from set pieces that's a positive. You know that the 64 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 4: set pieces from an attacking perspective have been good this year, 65 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 4: but look, this is a Toronto FC side that I 66 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 4: think for the first time since March April of twenty 67 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 4: twenty three, or unbeaten in four They've they've found their form. 68 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 4: They're amongst a huge home stretch. They've got at nine 69 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 4: home games in a row. This will be their fifth. 70 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 4: It's a tough place to go. Toronto has, particularly given 71 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 4: the fact they've spent over twenty million dollars on Jush Sargent, 72 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 4: the US national team center forward. 73 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 3: So this is not an easy place to go. 74 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 4: But I feel like FC Cincinnati can find a way 75 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 4: in Toronto. They've just got to stop conceding these silly goals. 76 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: Well you know you mentioned Toronto and I was going 77 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: to go there next. Is this the sort of team 78 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: that can expose those massive weaknesses that for FC Cincinnati 79 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: unfortunately have kind of dominated the discourse this season. 80 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: Well, we saw it, didn't weake at TQL Stadium. 81 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 4: What was it a month ago when Toronto were visiting 82 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 4: and Daniel Shallowy, who I think has been a magnificent 83 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 4: signing for Toronto FC, was absolutely sublime. In let's be honest, 84 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 4: a very average Kansas City team over the course of 85 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 4: the last five years or so, he's given them a 86 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 4: new dimension and adding Josh Sargents has put them up 87 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 4: a level even more so. So look, I don't know 88 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 4: obviously what formation in Toronto are going to play tomorrow. 89 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 4: I find it hard to believe that they would shift 90 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 4: from what's been at least in possession of four three three, 91 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 4: which does insinuate that a lot of the attacking phases 92 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 4: will come in the wide area. So I think that's 93 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 4: where Cincinnati has been beaten from the games that I've 94 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 4: seen them. It's when the fullbacks of the back five 95 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 4: are asked to push forwards, which is common in any 96 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 4: team that's playing a back five or a back three, 97 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 4: regardless of which way you look at it, there is 98 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 4: a responsibility on the wing backs. But if they are 99 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 4: pressing forward and they are being asked to join in 100 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 4: on the attack defensively, that can leave you exposed, and 101 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 4: particularly on the road in Major League soccer. And Daniel Shallow, 102 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 4: he is one of those players that he's very smart 103 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 4: in his movement both on and off football. It wouldn't 104 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 4: surprise me if he got himself involved and got a 105 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 4: couple of chances against Cincinnati over the course of the game, 106 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 4: because I think he's he's one of these players that 107 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,359 Speaker 4: that's very dynamic. He can be that traditional wide player 108 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 4: and get in behind, but he can also tuck in 109 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 4: from the left on on what seems to be his 110 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 4: favorite right foot as well, though he seems equally is 111 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,119 Speaker 4: deadly on his left, so that's a problem. But honestly, look, 112 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 4: I really think that this is a This is a 113 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 4: tough task. This is a really tough one for Cincinnati 114 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 4: at the moments. Home games on the horizon against Chicago, 115 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 4: awaiting New York City's really difficult. At home to Red 116 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 4: Bull There's some really tough age. This is not an 117 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 4: easy league. Major League Soccer is right now. In my opinion, 118 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 4: this is a top ten league in the world right now. 119 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 4: And I'm fortunate enough to have covered a lot of 120 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 4: world football during my career, and this is up there 121 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 4: now with with regards to quality. 122 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 3: And I think Cincinnati right now they just need a 123 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 3: break as well. 124 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 4: They need they need Evander, They need Denk to to 125 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 4: start combining and looking more regularly as well. A lot 126 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 4: of it rides on the shoulders of Evander, which I'm 127 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 4: not inside is sure how fair that is. And the 128 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 4: counter argument there is, well, yeah, you know, he costs 129 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 4: a lot of money. He's a designating player, he should 130 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 4: be delivering and I accept that argument for sure, but 131 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 4: it's the supporting cast that have really got to start 132 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 4: delivering around both him and Kevin Data. But I guess 133 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 4: the council argument to the counter argument is well that 134 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 4: there's a lot of players that are still getting into 135 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 4: their groove, and the likes of Blind Ramirez and and 136 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 4: they're at Chinik are showing flashes, but they just need 137 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 4: to be more consistent. 138 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 2: And you know, you know, we don't want to speculate 139 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 2: too much, but according to the athletics, we're going after Neaymar, 140 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: so that you know, that could solve everything. 141 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 3: Well possibly. 142 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 4: I mean, look, Neymar is almost like rolling your dice, 143 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 4: doesn't it. 144 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 3: I just I don't know. 145 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 4: I really don't know with Neymar because, oh my word, guys, 146 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 4: I'm in look on his day he is, He's a game. 147 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 3: Shane, You're right, he's still world class. 148 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 4: And I have a lot of friends who cover the 149 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 4: Brazil down in Brazil and have said to me he's 150 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 4: he's still absolutely top tier. He just needs to put 151 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 4: himself in the right situation. I cover a lot of 152 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 4: French football guys, and whenever I'm overcovering games in France. 153 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 4: My friends and journalists I know that that cover Pakistan 154 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 4: Chamn on a regular basis say, yeah, there were times 155 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 4: that he when he was at PHG, there were times 156 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 4: that they were convinced he was the. 157 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 3: Best player on the planets, Like he's got it in him, right. 158 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 4: But coming to Major League soccer is such an anomaly 159 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 4: for so many foreign players because it's so different. And 160 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 4: if he comes in and I'm assuming he will be 161 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 4: paid a decent amount of money, the expectation will be there. 162 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 4: And I'm not saying there's not expectation on him at Santos, 163 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 4: because there're absolutely is. Right now, he's the star of 164 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 4: the show in Brazil. But I just question what sort 165 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 4: of an attitude he would have. We've got a glimpse 166 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 4: of when he went over to the Saudi prolely with 167 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 4: Alkilal and it just didn't work. And I think this 168 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 4: might This could very well be a similar situation if 169 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 4: if indeed something happens. But look what I will say 170 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 4: about this is I'm told that it's it is legitimately 171 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 4: primary talks like that, this is preliminary talks. I think 172 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 4: is probably the better word for it preliminary in capital letters, 173 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 4: I think is probably the best way to describe it. 174 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 4: That has there's been a very very small conversation which 175 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 4: I don't know which end it was. One end of 176 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 4: the conversation saw the phone being picked up, and that's 177 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 4: all it is at. 178 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 3: The moment to my understanding. But I mean, look, there's 179 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 3: one thing it would do. 180 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 4: It would drive interest, it would it would bring in 181 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 4: international attention. We've all seen what has happened to Major 182 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 4: League stocker since Messi has been here. That this would 183 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 4: be an incredible coupe for for EDC Cincinnati off the 184 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 4: field for sure, and on the field, I'm sure it 185 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 4: would be remarkable. But I just I don't know. There's 186 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 4: something about it right now where I question him, I 187 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 4: really do. 188 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 3: I don't know. 189 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 4: Look, I'm sure he would be magnificent, but I just 190 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 4: don't know if it's the right move for FC Cincinnati 191 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 4: right now. 192 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 2: Well, it's got people talking and we'll see, we'll see 193 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: what happens. 194 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: It's interesting. 195 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 2: Nonetheless, first things first, got to show better for him 196 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: against Toronto at one o'clock, a road match for the 197 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 2: Orange and Blue. 198 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: Callum have a great call of it, man, We appreciate 199 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: the time. Thanks so much, appreciate it. Yes, guys, you 200 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: got it. 201 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 2: Callum Williams play by play voice, Apple TV FC Cincinnati 202 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: tomorrow on the road against Toronto. Of course, you can 203 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: hear the match on ESPN fifteen thirty