1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: I think although ninety four was great, I think it 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: was the culmination of the beginning of soccer being back 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: on the map. 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 2: Right. 5 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: It was eighty nine through ninety four and it was 6 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: great and it was exciting. 7 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 2: And now now we need. 8 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: To play with the big boys. 9 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 3: Greetings, folks, and welcome to Inside American Soccer with Tab 10 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 3: Ramos and Tom Boger. Of course, I'm not Tom Boger. 11 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 3: I'm Matt Doyle filling in for Tom for the next 12 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 3: couple of weeks. He's on baby duty for a little 13 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 3: while longer with his new son Theo, who I'm told 14 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 3: is already holding a hockey stick. Tab We might have 15 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,959 Speaker 3: lost one to hockey already. Man, Like I thought, he's 16 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 3: gonna be a future soccer player. Tab of course, is 17 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 3: one of the great soccer players in US history, three 18 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 3: time World Cup veteran original member of the Metro Stars. 19 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 3: And are you planning to recruit young Theo Boger back 20 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 3: to the fold, get him onto the pitch instead of 21 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 3: at the rink? 22 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think I think there's time. I think grabbing 23 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 1: the hockey. I mean, who didn't grab a hockey stick 24 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: this weekend? 25 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 2: Really? 26 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: You know, obviously we're rooting for the USA got a 27 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: big win, first one in however many decades, right since 28 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: was it since Saint Miracle? 29 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 3: Right? 30 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,919 Speaker 1: So, yeah, so we're all happy about that. We're all rooting, 31 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: and I think it's really nice that he grabbed the 32 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: hockey stick and then you know, let's just go him 33 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: a week and about a week from now, it's time 34 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: to put the hockey stick down and get back to 35 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: the soccer ball already for THEA. 36 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, hopefully there'll be some grafts to play on, though 37 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 3: it's all buried under two feet of snow in New 38 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 3: Jersey and all the parts in the Northeast where we 39 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: both are. I thought it was great in that hockey 40 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 3: game that the US won by bunker encountering, Like it 41 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 3: gave me some flashbacks if you watched that the two 42 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 3: minutes that was the entirety of overtime. It was three 43 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 3: v three and it was just like one break after 44 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 3: another by the Canadians until the US stop and just 45 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 3: countered in the other direction. Like it felt like watching 46 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 3: some of you guys in the nineteen nineties, because there 47 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 3: were so many games that where you guys had to 48 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 3: just absorb and then hit. 49 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: That's right, I think they went with long ball, which 50 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: I had not seen in hockey, so. 51 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: It was very effective. They went route one. 52 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: I think the Americans have one of the older English coaches, 53 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: I believe. I don't know much about hockey, but it 54 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: was effective and at the end of the day, you know, 55 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: as always, what matters in sports is to score one 56 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: more than the other team, and that's what it's about, 57 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: and that's what they did, so. 58 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 3: That is the best important data. Yeah, forg rest to them. 59 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 3: It is of course awesome to watch international competition in 60 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 3: basically any sport. I'm a sucker for the Olympics. Were 61 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 3: both suckers for the World Cup, which you know is 62 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 3: coming this summer. And the whole point of this show 63 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,839 Speaker 3: is try to tease apart what's happening with the US 64 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: and who has the inside traffic spots, and what we'll 65 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 3: see from Mauricio Pochettino's tactics, and what the chances are 66 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 3: for the US to have a moment in soccer like 67 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 3: the US just had in hockey. It feels like a 68 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: long shot, but crazy things have happened in this world 69 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 3: of ours, and on the Show of Ours, we'll be 70 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 3: discussing the latest news around the national team, including Josh 71 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 3: Sargent with a big move flow. Baaligan, who we talked 72 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 3: about last week was in a bit of a goal 73 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 3: scoring slump. He heard us Tab. He has had a 74 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: very good week over in France. Ricardo Pappy back on 75 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 3: the field score and a beauty of a goal. Tyler 76 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 3: Adams back as well. We're also going to have a 77 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 3: new segment where we rank all things US men's national team, 78 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: and this week, with the start of the MLS season, 79 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 3: we'll rank the top five MLS players who need to 80 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 3: impress Muricio Potchettino. And it's actually harder than it sounds like, 81 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 3: because pac has been very open to bring in MLS guys, 82 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 3: using them in crucial spots, including over some European based counterparts, 83 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: and so it's a long list, like I could go 84 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 3: ten deep on the MLS guys who need to impress 85 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 3: Punch for various reasons. And of course we will go 86 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 3: inside the locker room with Tab and talk about the 87 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 3: ninety five team. Everybody focuses on ninety four and how 88 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: that changed American soccer, but don't forget about what happened 89 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 3: in the aftermath when he took all the glory and 90 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 3: all the accomplishments of ninety four and spun it into 91 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 3: something really professional. I'm looking forward to hearing those stories 92 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 3: from TAB and I think it's one that is important 93 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 3: for our listenership because I don't think everybody knows about them. 94 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 3: But first, let's start with the US national team news. 95 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 3: Let's start with Josh Sargent TAB. He signed with Toronto 96 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 3: FC this week. Tom reported, Of course, congrats on Tom 97 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 3: for another big scoop twenty two million dollar move with 98 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 3: the incentives that could bring it up to about twenty 99 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: six or twenty seven million. I think he has been 100 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 3: in season though he has not been playing for a while. 101 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 3: He has been training. Toronto FC badly need the help. 102 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 3: Like how fast do we think this gets done for 103 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 3: him to get over here and get Like if you 104 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 3: were coaching Orld, you just put him in the eleven 105 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: next week if he's good to go. 106 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, you know, first of all, obviously always Tom 107 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: is always reporting first, so I can see. I'm trying 108 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: to picture Tom at home with a baby in one hand, 109 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: on one arm, in. 110 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: The phone on the other right. 111 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: This is I would imagine that's what Tom looks like 112 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: every day. But yeah, you know, the the Josh situation 113 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: is obviously took a while. It's been a month over 114 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 1: a month now since Josh has played. Because he's been out, 115 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: he's sort of you know, left a side by the 116 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: coach there, with which obviously the coach has is right. 117 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: You know, if a player is not happy, he doesn't 118 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: want to have a unhappy player on the field or 119 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: sometimes even in training, right, you want to have positivity there, 120 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 1: as in particular in the situation that Norwich has been in, 121 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: which is you know, battle week to week to avoid 122 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: that relegation. Right. So now Josh finds himself in in Toronto. 123 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: You know, I think it's obviously a good move for 124 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: him because that's what he wanted. So you know, you 125 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: we would assume he's going to be happy there and 126 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: that he's happy to be back back in MLS. 127 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 3: Uh. 128 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: In terms of the coaching side, and do you put 129 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: him in, I mean, I think Josh, you know, played 130 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: most of the season at Norwich. 131 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: Uh, he has been training. 132 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: You know, let's not forget MLS has just played one 133 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: game so far. So I can't imagine that where there 134 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: would be a way where Josh is further behind than 135 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: really MLS players at this point. So if I were 136 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: to coach, if I were to be coaching Josh at 137 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: this point, I would I would put him in. He's 138 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: number nine, he's ready to go, he knows his job 139 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, with a week of train he 140 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: should be ready to go. So I expect him to 141 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:03,239 Speaker 1: see him right away. 142 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 143 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 3: I think his biggest strength as a number nine is 144 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 3: his ability to combine with the rest of the attackers, 145 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 3: and that's something that we saw throughout his career. I mean, 146 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 3: I remember watching him with the twenties when you were 147 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 3: the head coach, and his ability to bring the other 148 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 3: attackers into the play and then create something out of 149 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 3: that as a group, and that's something that Toronto desperately need. 150 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: They did score two goals this week, and both of 151 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: them were just very direct off of turnover as a 152 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: bad rebound on one of them from the Dallas goalkeeper. 153 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: It wasn't stuff that they were sort of creating as 154 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 3: a unit. Josh Startin's ability to help teams create as 155 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,679 Speaker 3: a unit is his greatest strength as a center forward, 156 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 3: and it's something that kind of ties a team together 157 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 3: and we saw that with him with the twenties back 158 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 3: in twenty nineteen when he was such a big part 159 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 3: of that team as playing up an age level, right, 160 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 3: he was seventeen, and you still brought him to that tournament. 161 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, he actually played. 162 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: He played the Under twenty World Cup before he played 163 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: the Under seventeen World Cup, so he went he went 164 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: backwards on that one, just to get you know, John 165 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: Hackworth and I had a number of conversations about that, 166 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: but it was the right thing, and I think you 167 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: framed it. You framed it correctly. You know, I would 168 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: simplify that by just saying Josh is a soccer player. 169 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: He really is. 170 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: Like he's a number nine, but he's not just your 171 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: box nine. He is a soccer player, so he can 172 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 1: he makes. 173 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 2: The team better. 174 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: That's why I had no I had no issues at 175 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: all in moving him up two or three age groups 176 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: right away because I felt like he really understands the 177 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: game well and and for me, one of my favorite, 178 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: one of my favorite forwards that I had through my 179 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: you know, eight or ten years on the youth national teams. 180 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, he really has that gift of, like you said, 181 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 3: being a soccer player and not just a box nine, 182 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 3: like being able to make something more functional on a 183 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 3: collective level. It hasn't translated for the US national team. 184 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 3: It like that is not the version of Josh that 185 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 3: we've seen. I think people have focused it rightly on 186 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 3: the fact that he hasn't been a goal scorer for 187 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 3: the national team. He hasn't scored since twenty nineteen. Why 188 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 3: do you have any like having watched all of it, 189 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 3: do you like, can you pinpoint anything in particular, so 190 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 3: why it hasn't worked worked for this kid who is 191 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 3: obviously so talented. 192 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: Well, you know, obviously, you know, we can say all 193 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: the way back to you know, twenty nineteen, but it's 194 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: really not that many games that he played in the process, right, 195 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: and not that many times or he was actually a 196 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: starter and got you know, got the full game. Havn't 197 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: said that I did, you know, we did watch Josh 198 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: miss miss a couple of important chances with the national team, 199 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: and that you know, with a forward sometimes you get 200 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: very limited opportunity. And let's not forget that the number 201 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: nine position has been one which has been very competitive 202 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: for the last you know, five or six years too, 203 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: So we've been looking for that nine that kind of 204 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 1: takes over and if you can recall It was only 205 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: about six months ago when we all started to say, okay, 206 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: well we think Baligan is the guy. Right, So it's 207 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: been it's been five or six years of not actually 208 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: having the guy, and because of that, any time forward 209 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,319 Speaker 1: would make a mistake, it would sort of set him 210 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: back to be in on the being third now and 211 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: now you've got to build yourself up again to get 212 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: another chance. What I can tell you is this, Josh 213 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: is a good player. Josh could help the national team 214 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: today if he had an opportunity. But of course, you know, 215 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: he hasn't been played now for a little while. You know, 216 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: I think if he can get some consistency in Toronto, 217 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: I think it's you know, he could be back in 218 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: the fold and why not now? 219 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 3: And Toronto need him to live up to that. They 220 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 3: need him to be great in MLS. He can't just 221 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 3: be very good. He needs to be great, one of 222 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: the best center for US in the league. That's what 223 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 3: he's being paid. Like twenty two million dollars is a 224 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 3: very very big number for an MLS team, for any 225 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 3: team really for a transfer. But he's in the prime 226 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 3: of his career. Family reasons one of the big reasons 227 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 3: he wanted to come back to North America. I was 228 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 3: almost about to say the United States, but no, Toronto's Canada. 229 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 3: But wanted to come back to North America. And here 230 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 3: he is, and he's got it all in front of 231 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 3: him and a lot to prove. He's been really, really 232 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 3: good for Norwich. He had Bundesliga interest. He's obviously a 233 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 3: really talented guy. But the hope is that his best 234 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 3: years are ahead of him because the guys in front 235 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 3: of him on the depth chart for the number nine 236 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 3: for the US. We saw what Floebaalagan did this week, 237 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 3: three goals, two of them against PSG. He has laid 238 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 3: down a marker for club and for country. It's gonna 239 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,319 Speaker 3: be a hard man to catch. The number one guy 240 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 3: at Demid. I think on everybody's depth chart for the 241 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 3: US national team is Tyler Adams. That always comes with 242 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 3: an asterisk, It always comes with a caveat if healthy. 243 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 3: Tyler Adams, if healthy, is the clear choice to be 244 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 3: the starting defensive midfielder. It is just a massive load 245 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 3: bearing if and the good news to have. This week 246 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 3: Tyler Adams returned to action for Bournemouth. Were you concerned 247 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 3: about his recovery and do you feel better now, and like, 248 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 3: what's your confidence level going forward in his ability physically 249 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 3: to stay where he needs to stay well. 250 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: First, it's a little bit alarming when players continue to 251 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 1: get hurt, right at the same time, I think this 252 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: latest injury was more unlucky than anything else. To be fair, 253 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: It's not like it's your normal player, you know. I 254 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: remember it. Towards the end of my career, I kept 255 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: getting muscular injuries, right, So once you start to get hurt, 256 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: and you get muscular injuries, it's almost like, man, there's 257 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: just no turning back. There's just there's always something. I 258 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: think in this case, it's not one of those. I 259 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: think it was unfortunate this time that he got hurt. 260 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: And I think we mentioned it on this show that 261 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: they said, well it's going to be you know, two 262 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: to three months, likely March, and we said, if anything, okay, 263 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: if they said March, Tyler Adams will probably be back 264 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: in February, which is exactly what happened. Right. He's a 265 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: hard worker, you know, he will beat the expectations in 266 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: terms of work required and then getting onto the field, 267 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: and he did that and by the way, jumping into 268 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: the EPL cannot be easy. He played I think sixty 269 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: or seventy minutes and he did well. He looked like 270 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: he belonged and he was ready for that level, which 271 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: is not easy. So so yeah, am I concerned about 272 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: the World Cup? You know, I'm always a little bit 273 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: concerned with Tyler because of the history of the last 274 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: few years, but not necessarily because of this injury. I 275 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: think he'll put it behind him. 276 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 3: One of the big concerns for me with Tyler is 277 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 3: if he does get injured, it changes the way the 278 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 3: US have to play, because nobody in the pool, a 279 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 3: few players in the world man match what he brings 280 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 3: as a front foot defender. He reads those moments so quickly, 281 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 3: and you know, we think about it as defensively being 282 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 3: you know, lines of banks of four and you know, 283 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 3: put pressure on this pass, force that wide get, you know, 284 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 3: cause a turnover over here. But what Tyler is best 285 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 3: at is those transition like those red bull moments, right, 286 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 3: those energies drink soccer moments where he reads the incipient 287 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 3: turnover or chance to cause a turnover before anybody else 288 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 3: and he blows up one counter attack after another after another. 289 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 3: Without him in there, it's a cascade effect, because nobody 290 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 3: else in the pool is anywhere close to as good 291 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: as Tyler Adams about those moments that not only stop 292 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 3: an opposing potential counter attack but also have a way 293 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 3: of creating chances for the US if you're forcing a 294 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 3: high turnover like that. 295 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 2: Well, let me. 296 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: Put tactics aside a little bit on this one, because 297 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: the player I'm gonna say that's the closest to Tyler 298 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: Adams when it comes to that type of playing is 299 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: Weston McKinney. He if I had to pick one player 300 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: who's always front foot, trying to win the ball, going 301 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: for every tackle that he's gonna win and the ones 302 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: he's likely not going to win, I think Weston is 303 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: the closest thing. But Weston has not really played that 304 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: defensive midfield of a role, right. He's been wide for Uventus, 305 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: he's been the ten for events, he's been a withdrawn nine, 306 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: He's been and everything in between there, but not that role. 307 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: So that's why I said, let me leave tactics at side. 308 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: I was just thinking, you know, if I think only 309 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: about the mentality of the player, the closest to have 310 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: the mentality that Tyler has is Weston to me, that's 311 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: the closest. Now, let's say let's say, you know, Tyler 312 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: goes down, I don't think Poschettino necessarily goes to someone 313 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: who hasn't been playing there in that position. So now 314 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: that opens the door to guys like Johnny Cardozo, who's 315 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: maybe a little bit closer to just being a stay 316 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: home although at Athletico Madrid he steps forward a little 317 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: bit more. He can't do that role. And the reason 318 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: I'm saying that is because although he's another player player 319 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: who has not done well with the national team, he 320 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: did it a Raal Betty's last year, the whole year, 321 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: and he did it really well, that holding in front 322 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: of the in front of the back four, winning the 323 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: ball and playing it and not losing it and doing 324 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: it in that which is not easy. And that's the 325 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: reason why Athletico Madrid bought him. Now, from the average 326 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: American fan, we haven't you know, we haven't seen that, 327 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: But I think that would likely be the closest thing 328 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: to someone. 329 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 2: Holding that position. 330 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: But from a mentality standpoint, I think Weston is really 331 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: the only one that comes comes close to Tyler Addams. 332 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: So let's turn back to the center forwards. We mentioned 333 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 3: it at the top flow. Balligan had three goals this 334 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 3: week across two games and two different competitions, and Ricardo 335 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 3: Pepi returned and scored a gorgeous goal for PSV. That 336 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 3: was good to see because that return was a little 337 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 3: bit ahead of schedule. I think he wasn't supposed to 338 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 3: be back until March as well. I think it's time 339 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 3: to just say, all right, what's your current number nine 340 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 3: depth chart? What does it look like for you? 341 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: Tab It hasn't changed for me because even last week, 342 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: I think when we saw Augimunt score and we saw 343 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: Hajji Wright score, I think it was three to one game, right, 344 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: we're all thinking, okay, you're going to be battling. But 345 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: we did say on this show, you know, Balligan is 346 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: playing against the best defenders in the world and the toughest, 347 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: you know, competition in the world, which is the Champions League. 348 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: You know, his club is very competitive and and you 349 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: know at the top of league in France, so you 350 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: have to take into consider the competition. And then Baligan 351 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 1: goes out and scores two goals in the Champions League 352 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: and adds another one on the weekend in the league. 353 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 2: So I think I. 354 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: Think At this point, I think it's pretty clear who 355 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: we have as a number nine, and that's that's Bawigan 356 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: and everybody else is really fighting for two and three. 357 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I'll say everybody else for me right now 358 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 3: is still pad Agimon number two. And I think there's 359 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 3: not just goal scoring reasons for that, but there's tactical 360 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 3: reasons in the way that teams press now. Teams have 361 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 3: over the past three years gone back to almost strictly 362 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:37,479 Speaker 3: men oriented pressing. So there's been an uptick in playing 363 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 3: long especially in the Indian international game. There's plenty of 364 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 3: data to show it, and so you need to have 365 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 3: sometimes a center forward who can just man handle opposing 366 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 3: center backs and win that first ball. There's nobody in 367 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 3: the pool who is better at that than pat Ogimon. 368 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,360 Speaker 3: The rest of his game needs plenty of work. He's 369 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 3: not I don't think there's any chance to of him 370 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 3: usurping Flowballigan as number one. But I think just because 371 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 3: he brings an elite trait that is so salient in 372 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 3: the modern game, I think he's the clear number two. 373 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: And then for number three for me, it's still Hodgi 374 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 3: right Peppy. I was really happy to see him back 375 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 3: I think he's a more natural goal scorer, really a 376 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 3: more natural number nine than Hadgi. Right, I need to 377 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 3: see him do it against better competition. I need to 378 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 3: see him do it against I X, I need to 379 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 3: see him do it against Fayenord. I need to see 380 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 3: him do it more consistently in the Champions League and 381 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 3: international competition. And he's had some moments like that a 382 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 3: couple of years ago, but it hasn't been consistent. And 383 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 3: the other thing is I need to see him go ninety. 384 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 3: This guy's only gone ninety a dozen times in the 385 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 3: past three years. So the talent is there, the opportunity 386 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 3: is there, hopefully the health will be there, and then 387 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 3: if the goals start coming on top of that, he 388 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,719 Speaker 3: can climb those charts. But for me still, Ricardo Peppi 389 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 3: is number four on the center forward death chart. Everybody else, 390 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 3: including Josh Sargent, behind those guys trying to catch up, 391 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 3: and for us, it's time for a break. We'll be 392 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 3: right back with our first Inside Rankings segment this week. 393 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 3: It's top five MLS players who need to impress Pochettino 394 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 3: right now. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Inside American 395 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 3: Soccer with Tom Boger tab Ramos wherever you get your podcast, 396 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Inside American Soccer. Tab had a great 397 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 3: idea for a new segment called Inside Rankings, where we 398 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 3: rank our top five for all things US men's national 399 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 3: team related. So this week, in honor of first Kick 400 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 3: the start of the MLS season, we've got the top 401 00:20:54,880 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 3: five MLS players who need to impress Mauricio Pochettino right now, 402 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 3: and Tab, I'm going to grab the ball. I am, 403 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 3: I'm going to kick us off for me. Believe it 404 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 3: or not. It's Matt Freeze, and it's for a different 405 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 3: reason than I think most people would consider for these 406 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 3: top five lists. Matt Freeze, I think if he plays 407 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: well over the next month and into March camp, he 408 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 3: can shut the door. It's his job. If he continues 409 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 3: to play like he did the second half of last 410 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 3: year when he won the job for the national team 411 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 3: and when he was excellent for NYCFC, there's no more 412 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 3: discussion about who's starting in goal this summer for the 413 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 3: US national team. 414 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 2: I mean that's a good call. 415 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: I would I would disagree that. You know, if this 416 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: is someone who needs to impress, you know, you know, 417 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,959 Speaker 1: looking to impress. I would say that if Matt Freeze 418 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: goes on cruise control between now and the World Cup 419 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: and has sort of average games, I think the position 420 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: is really his to lose. I don't think Matt, you know, 421 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: with with as well as he's played for the national 422 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: team and the consistency that he's had over the last 423 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: you know, ten twelve games in which he started, I 424 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: don't think he's going to lose that position unless he 425 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: makes some big, big mistakes. So I I like that 426 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 1: you choose him as your number five, But I think 427 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: he's got his position pretty well, pretty well locked. 428 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so too. I'd like to see him 429 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 3: shut the door. I'd like to see I would like 430 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 3: to just feel really really good about what's happening in 431 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 3: goal and we're getting there. I don't think we're quite 432 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 3: there yet. We're not there on the back line. And 433 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 3: that brings us to your number five pick. Yeah. 434 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: So my number five is one that you can certainly 435 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: argue with. And the reason I will say that is 436 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: because a little bit like Matt Freeze is this is 437 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: someone who needs to be on cruise control between now 438 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: and the in the end the year, and this is 439 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: Tim reim for me, the first day of you know, 440 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: the MLS has only had one game so far, and 441 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: I didn't think it was a great one for Tim, 442 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: to be fair, and I wish I could tell you 443 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 1: it was a one off, but this is what I 444 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: saw at the end of the year last year too 445 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: in MLS. 446 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 2: For Tim Reim. I think Tim Reim. 447 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: Although I believe sort of like maybe like roll down 448 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: and to a certain extent, you know a player I'll 449 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: name later, I think Posatino is going to pick them anyway. 450 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:42,479 Speaker 1: But I do think that at some point we have 451 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,639 Speaker 1: to think about his position at Charlotte, because what happens 452 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: if Tim Reim all of a sudden doesn't start at Charlotte. 453 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 3: What does that do? 454 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: Right? But because this is and by the way, I 455 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: love Tim Reim. He's a great guy. He's been an 456 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:00,680 Speaker 1: old time national team player that represents there so well, 457 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,959 Speaker 1: all of those things, right, But I'm looking purely at 458 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: the soccer part. I mean, there could be a possibility 459 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 1: that at some point, if Tim Reim doesn't really going 460 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: on a solid cruise control where he's playing well, I 461 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: think he could lose his spot in Charlotte. And if 462 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: he does, what happens next. 463 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, what we saw this weekend and down the stretch 464 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 3: and specifically then in the playoff series against NYCFC and 465 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 3: Charlotte were eliminated. He father time has got up to 466 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,639 Speaker 3: him in terms of his speed. He is just not 467 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 3: able to stay with most attackers in the open field. 468 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 3: And Simon Betcher this past weekend looks like Gillian and 469 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 3: Boppe at times. Man just sort of blowing by Tim Reim. 470 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 3: And to me, Reim is still the best ball playing 471 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,880 Speaker 3: center back in the pool by a mile. Just got 472 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 3: the classiest left but he reads the game well, but 473 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 3: physically it's a question of whether or not he can 474 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 3: keep up. And I think, like you, I think he'll 475 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 3: be there anyway. I will be scared if Tim Reen 476 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 3: is a starter for the national team this summer. I'm 477 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 3: gonna say I would not be scared if Christian Roldan 478 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 3: was starting for the US national team this summer. That's 479 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 3: my number four pick. When we were talking about Tyler 480 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 3: Adams before, Rodan is the guy I was thinking of 481 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 3: who was closest to Tyler Adams in terms of defending 482 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 3: on the front foot, creating those turnovers. And then he's 483 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 3: also so good at tilting the field right. He reads 484 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 3: the game really quickly and is able to dump balls 485 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 3: into channels or hit those third line passes to feet 486 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 3: into the half spaces. He's the only field player to 487 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 3: have played in all six games during that great stretch 488 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: last autumn for the US national team. And look, you 489 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 3: could just tell how much Mauricio Pachettino loves him, and 490 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 3: you could tell how much the players around him, for 491 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 3: both club and country, love him. I think Christian Rodan 492 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 3: over the next month has a chance to claim for 493 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 3: his own that backup spot to Tyler Adams. Given Tyler's 494 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 3: health issues, man, that might as well be a starting spot. 495 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 3: So Christian Roldan very high on my list of guys 496 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 3: who need to continue to impress Mauricio Pochettino. 497 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: This is a good call, and I think he probably 498 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: doesn't need to do a lot to impress Pugettino because 499 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 1: of all of those things that you just mentioned, and 500 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,199 Speaker 1: above everything else, the value that he has to the 501 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: group in general. He's very well like, he brings guys together, 502 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: he allows the team to be better, He makes the 503 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: team better on and off the field, and he has 504 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 1: huge value. And besides that, you know you can always 505 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: count somehow on us soccra on giving things away, Right, 506 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: they don't send them to the. 507 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 2: Super Bowl to do all that stuff. 508 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 1: If they're not picking them this summer, that's just not happening, right, 509 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: So you can always count on who's done on commercial 510 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: to see who's gonna make the team, because this is 511 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: actually how things work. 512 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously you're not gonna pick. 513 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 1: Roll don to go to the super Bowl and then 514 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: leave him home this summer. 515 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 2: That's just not gonna happen. So you can count. 516 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 1: And that's one pick the other twenty five guys you want. 517 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 2: Right, and that's one. 518 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: But but anyway, no, I agree with you that he 519 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: has all of all of those qualities, and I think 520 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: that's that's that's a good pick. But but you know, 521 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: having said all that stuff, let's not forget you play. 522 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: The games have to be played, and he has to 523 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: continue to play well like he's done for the last 524 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 1: how many years, thirty years. I don't even know he's 525 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: going to Seattle forever, so but he has to continue 526 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 1: to do what he's doing and it's gonna be He's 527 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: gonna be in good shape. 528 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 3: Tod, bring us to your number four guys. I so 529 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 3: you have listed two guys at number four. 530 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: I have a category, and this category will be the 531 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: category of these guys are in, but be careful, right 532 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 1: and and one is Diego Luna and the next one 533 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: is Miles Robinson. Okay, these are two guys that I 534 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: think if we had a big twenty six today, I'm 535 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,879 Speaker 1: pretty comfortable in saying that both of those guys are going. 536 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: Now we need to play, and now we need the 537 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: three months of impressing Maurico Bochettino so that no one 538 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: that's playing in Europe will take their spot, right, That's 539 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: that's really what it is. Let's not forget that there's 540 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:21,800 Speaker 1: a young there's a young Banks playing in Europe right now, 541 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: No Kai Banks, who's doing really well and who likely 542 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:29,399 Speaker 1: will take a spot, and let that not be Miles 543 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: Robinson spot. I think Miles is in a good spot. 544 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:35,120 Speaker 1: I think if he continues to play well for Cincinnati, 545 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:36,400 Speaker 1: he will be there. 546 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 2: But I think he needs. 547 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: To impress, no question with his ninety minute games. And 548 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: by the way, for a team that's I think highly 549 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: competitive and that will be at the top of at 550 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: the top. 551 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 2: Of the East, competing for everything on. 552 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 1: Luna's side obviously didn't play the first game, but I 553 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: think he needs to continue to do what he does, 554 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: and that's make plays in the final third. If he 555 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: continues to do that, that is a position where in particular, 556 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: now that we haven't seen Giorna and I don't know 557 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: how long again, I think that that becomes a position 558 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: that's a little bit more up for grabs, and I 559 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: think Diego Lunad needs to continue to do his job 560 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: and make things happen in the final third. 561 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I want to see him be a little bit 562 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 3: sharper in those moments. Miles Robinson was actually my third 563 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 3: guy on the list, so I'm going to expand upon 564 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 3: the point you made really strong ninety minute performance for 565 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 3: him this weekend for FC Cincinnati and not just doing 566 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 3: the stuff that Miles Robinson we all know is good at. 567 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 3: He's devastating in the open field, running down opposing attackers 568 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 3: and maybe our best center back in the box just aerially, 569 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 3: and that's really important. Like we all know that this 570 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 3: past two years, set pieces have had There's been a 571 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 3: kind of a revolution in coaching set pieces and more 572 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 3: and more goals coming off of set pieces. So we 573 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 3: need guys who are good in the air on that 574 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 3: back line, and Miles Robinson is really good at both 575 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 3: those things. What we didn't see from him and from 576 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 3: Cincinnati last year was real pitch control, using the ball 577 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 3: and using your spacing to dictate terms. And we actually 578 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 3: saw some of that this weekend. Granted it was against 579 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 3: Atlanta's a bad team, so you don't want to read 580 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 3: too much into it. But if Robinson can sort of 581 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 3: take some of the chaos out of the game and 582 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 3: replace it with control, which I think he did in 583 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 3: Week one, that will go a long way, especially obviously 584 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 3: if it translates to the US national team. And to 585 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 3: me to have just intrinsically a pairing of Robinson and 586 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 3: Chris Richards makes a whole hell of a lot of 587 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 3: sense for the US if they're both sort of firing 588 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 3: on cylinders like those guys seem like natural partners to me. 589 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 2: Yet I agree with that. 590 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: You know, there was one particular play, you know this 591 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: this week in MLS where a ball was sent to 592 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:05,479 Speaker 1: al Maron. I think you'll remember the ball they sent 593 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: out Moron, a little bit of a longer ball and 594 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 1: you see al Moron running full speed and here comes 595 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: to Miles Robinson at three quarter speed and stick his 596 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: arms out and is a lot faster than that. Sort 597 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 1: of I think that is the situation that we'll see 598 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: in the World Cup, in particular in the first round, 599 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: where the field is going to be opened up and 600 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 1: in an open field. You know, Miles Robinson is hard 601 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 1: to beat. You know, Miles has has good speed, uses 602 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: his body well and I think that was sort of 603 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: the perfect play. And you know, it kind of took 604 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: me into the summer into saying, hey, you know, this 605 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: could happen against Paraguay against the same player, right, or 606 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: it could happen against others. But for the most part, 607 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: in the first round, it's likely that we'll have the 608 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: ball on the opposing side of the field and our 609 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 1: in our our field will be wide open, and I 610 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: think that's where i'd like to see a player like 611 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 1: Mike Miles Robinson. 612 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 3: All Right, I started this list with Matt Freeze, the 613 00:31:57,520 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 3: guy who we both think will beware of the number 614 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 3: one kit. You got a whole list of guys who 615 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 3: are desperate to catch him. Yeah. 616 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: I had to pick as almost a category because I 617 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: do feel like Matt Freeze will be a lock and 618 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: I do feel like if Turner does well in the spring, 619 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 1: I think he will be a lock also, and mostly 620 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: because I think we just can't throw his experience away. 621 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: He's coming from playing the the last World Cup and 622 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: I think that'll be important to the team. 623 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 2: Now when it. 624 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 1: Comes to the number three, I put a list of 625 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, Patrick Salty, you know Brady Celentano, and I 626 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: think all those guys, and I mean, you could potentially 627 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: throw Stephan in there if you wanted to, but but 628 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: I just think we are looking for a number three. 629 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: Don't forget Clinchman has been doing really well in Syria, 630 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: b in Italy playing for Chase and I and I 631 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: and I and I think he's a He's a legitimate 632 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: contender for the number three spot. So I think all 633 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: three of these guys, Salty, Braiding, Selling Tano are they 634 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 1: have to show and if there is there is any 635 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 1: position what we need to impress this is the position. 636 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: And those guys have to be fighting at this point 637 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 1: for me for the third spot on the roster as 638 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: a goalkeeper. But they definitely have to show this spring. 639 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 3: Are you disappointed that Gaga Slannina isn't in this discussion, 640 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 3: given how good he was a few years ago at 641 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 3: such a young age for Chicago, and then he makes 642 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 3: that big move to Chelsea and he's he's kind of 643 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 3: dropped off the face of the earth. 644 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, those moves to Chelsea, they're not always great. 645 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 1: You know, we have a lot of history with that. 646 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: Me Aska, There's a bunch of guys who made that 647 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 1: move and it didn't necessarily pan out. I am surprised. 648 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 1: I'm surprised because you know, five, six, seven years ago 649 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 1: we thought of him as the next great right and uh, 650 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: he had that potential, not saying that he couldn't be. 651 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 1: You know, goalkeeping is one of those positions where you 652 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 1: can get you get better as you get older, and 653 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: you can potentially potentially play into your late thirties and 654 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 1: play really well into your late thirties. So I do 655 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 1: think there's still a chance. I just don't think he 656 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:11,359 Speaker 1: put himself in position right now to battle, and that 657 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: is a disappointment for me. 658 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:17,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. Two guys who did put themselves in position to battle, 659 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 3: one who I think is very clearly in the pool 660 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 3: and one who's a reach. Jack McGlenn for the Houston Dynamo, 661 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:30,359 Speaker 3: who has been part of Murcio Pochettino's camp has one 662 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 3: of the best, like the best left foot in the world. Man, 663 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:38,240 Speaker 3: Like he's in that discussion, you know, non Leo Messi category. Anyway, 664 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 3: just absolutely devastating set piece delivery. Played one of the 665 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 3: best passes you'll ever see this weekend for Houston's opener. 666 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 3: Was playing deeper as number eight. Has also played as 667 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 3: a number ten. Incredible vision hits, those disguised passes across 668 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 3: his hips through ball artist. And then there's like a 669 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 3: Jack McGlenn clone in San Jose playing for Bruce Arena 670 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 3: named Niko Chakiris, who was a product of the Quakes academy, 671 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,760 Speaker 3: who was arguably the best player on the USU twenty 672 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 3: team this past year. He's wearing the number ten for 673 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:16,799 Speaker 3: the Quakes. Had an assist this weekend, was involved in 674 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 3: all three of their goals. He's a true number ten. 675 00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 3: McGlenn is in the picture. I understand shakirass a reach, 676 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 3: but we have seen this from Mauricio Pochettino. Before young 677 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 3: player gets his opportunity. Young player impresses, young player gets 678 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 3: called into camp. Do either of these guys have a 679 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:37,560 Speaker 3: chance for you? 680 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 1: Tab I'll start by saying no, that they don't, but 681 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 1: I'll follow I'll follow that by saying that I love both. 682 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 2: Of these guys there. These are good players. 683 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,360 Speaker 1: You know, Jack McGlenn, I think he's played in a 684 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: better position for himself. Now if you recall, you know 685 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 1: he did it. It seemed like for a bunch of 686 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:02,000 Speaker 1: years in Philadelphia playing that sort of with drawn number eight, 687 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:05,799 Speaker 1: but on the left side, right serving balls. You know, 688 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 1: Jack is just such a great player. He's fun to watch. 689 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,880 Speaker 1: He does everything well. If there was anything that Jack 690 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 1: lacks is getting into the box a little bit more. 691 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 1: He's not a guy that gets into the box. He 692 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,840 Speaker 1: always ends up about twenty yards out. I'd like to 693 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 1: see him do that more. But I certainly feel like 694 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 1: I know I started by saying no, they don't have 695 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: a chance, but I do feel like if they, If 696 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:34,319 Speaker 1: he in particular got picked for the national team, it 697 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,319 Speaker 1: would not necessarily surprise me because he deserves to be there. 698 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: He's a good player. So Jack being on the field 699 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:43,000 Speaker 1: in the World Cup this summer, number one would not 700 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 1: scare him, and number two he belongs. So I'll have 701 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 1: to say no only because of the numbers we have 702 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: in front of them. But not because he doesn't belong 703 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 1: in terms of securities. I agree with you that this 704 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:01,160 Speaker 1: summer or last summer in the World Cup, he and 705 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,760 Speaker 1: Brooklyn Reigns were the best two players that we had 706 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: who were consistent pretty much every game. I think Nico's 707 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:12,800 Speaker 1: a little bit more of an attacking player than Jack is. 708 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: He's a little bit more of a creator. He's a 709 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: little bit more technical in terms of getting out of, 710 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:23,759 Speaker 1: you know, tight things and being more of a true ten. 711 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: I think he's he's a creator. I think it's a 712 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 1: little bit late for him to get on this. But again, 713 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: I will say that you know you have a twenty 714 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 1: six man roster. 715 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:35,799 Speaker 2: Out of the twenty. 716 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 1: Six players, it's likely that you will play your whole 717 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:42,879 Speaker 1: World Cup with eighteen or seventeen or nineteen, right, So 718 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 1: maybe you want to add a couple of younger guys 719 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:47,319 Speaker 1: in the end to give him that experience. I know 720 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:50,400 Speaker 1: I would, and I would not be against you know, 721 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 1: Securia as being one of those, because I think he 722 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,920 Speaker 1: has the talent for that, and he's one of the 723 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 1: guys in the next generation coming along. So I agree 724 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: with both these players on you that with you that 725 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 1: they need to impress, and they will impress because they're 726 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:07,319 Speaker 1: good players. I just think that they're they're they're a 727 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 1: long shot. 728 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:10,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so too, but I felt the need 729 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,000 Speaker 3: to mention them because they are two of my favorite 730 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 3: players to watch in MLS. It's nice to see MLS 731 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:25,800 Speaker 3: academies producing really classy, sort of almost South American coded 732 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:30,920 Speaker 3: attacking players. It reminds me of the Tabromos days a 733 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,600 Speaker 3: little bit. For the longest time, tab US soccer fans 734 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:35,960 Speaker 3: gonna say, why is tab the only one we've ever 735 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 3: produced who plays like this? And now is a bit 736 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:41,560 Speaker 3: by bit there seems to be more from your lineage, 737 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:44,360 Speaker 3: like this is your legacy as a US soccer Great 738 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 3: to see players like this coming out of our academies. 739 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:50,360 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, obviously can't take credit for any of that, 740 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:54,879 Speaker 1: but it's nice to hear those things sometimes. I am 741 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 1: happy that that we do have a bunch of creative 742 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:02,040 Speaker 1: players coming along who can who can make plays out 743 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: of nothing, you know, and and that's that's encouraging. And 744 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,319 Speaker 1: certainly the two players you just mentioned are are are 745 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:09,359 Speaker 1: this way. 746 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,600 Speaker 3: Let's move a little bit deeper into midfield for your 747 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 3: next pick. 748 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:17,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, so my last two picks, and I'll start with 749 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:22,120 Speaker 1: the number two would be for me, it would be 750 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:25,959 Speaker 1: Sebastian Burrholter because I think, you know, with the way 751 00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 1: the central part of midfield is is laying out, he's 752 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,279 Speaker 1: becoming a little bit of a long shot and he 753 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:37,120 Speaker 1: has a shot at this right but but it goes 754 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,840 Speaker 1: you know, part of him having a shot is exactly 755 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,480 Speaker 1: what this list is about, which is impressing Marisa Putchettino 756 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:45,840 Speaker 1: over the next three or four. 757 00:39:45,719 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 2: Months in MLS. 758 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:48,759 Speaker 1: And I think he needs to do that, and he 759 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:50,520 Speaker 1: needs to do that game in and game out. And 760 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,000 Speaker 1: by the way, I've never seen the kid take a 761 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:55,759 Speaker 1: day off, so it's not like he's not going to. 762 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:59,359 Speaker 1: I expect him to do exactly what he's doing and 763 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:00,399 Speaker 1: continue to do that. 764 00:40:00,719 --> 00:40:01,840 Speaker 2: He is a good player. 765 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:04,200 Speaker 1: There's a lot of ways in which he can help 766 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:07,000 Speaker 1: this national team. And I hope he just has that 767 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:10,840 Speaker 1: consistency through the spring that he has always had. But 768 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,280 Speaker 1: he's certainly won the NISSA impress. 769 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:16,920 Speaker 3: All right, and why don't you give us our number 770 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,560 Speaker 3: one and then I'll bring us out with my number 771 00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:20,040 Speaker 3: one pick. 772 00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:22,320 Speaker 1: Okay, so I'll go right to the number one. The 773 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 1: number one is one that I think is a long shot. 774 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 1: But if there's someone who needs to impress, that would 775 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 1: be Josh Sargent. I think as we mentioned, and you 776 00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 1: started the show by saying, hey, if you're a forward 777 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,480 Speaker 1: and you score goals, you always have a chance. 778 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:35,799 Speaker 2: Right. 779 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:39,680 Speaker 1: He's a forward and he scores goals, and he will 780 00:40:39,719 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 1: score goals, and I think that he is the number 781 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:46,919 Speaker 1: one guy that needs to impress this spring to get 782 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:50,320 Speaker 1: into that picture of being one of likely four forwards 783 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:52,160 Speaker 1: that Mauricio Pochettino is going to pick. 784 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:54,080 Speaker 2: I think he has a shot at it. 785 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:56,880 Speaker 1: I think it's a long shot, but if there's someone 786 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:59,760 Speaker 1: out there that needs to impress, it certainly is Josh Sargent. 787 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:04,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, I feel bad for him because it almost feels 788 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:08,640 Speaker 3: like the door was closed on his opportunity last year 789 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:11,760 Speaker 3: when he did get into camp and he didn't impress 790 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:16,960 Speaker 3: and agimn did and like it almost feels like it's 791 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 3: too late. But as you said, as you know, over 792 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:22,560 Speaker 3: the past month i've been hosting this show, I've got 793 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:26,880 Speaker 3: to talk with folks like Marcello Balboa, Clint Mathis, who 794 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:28,520 Speaker 3: knows a thing or two about scoring goals for the 795 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 3: national team. If you get hot at the right time 796 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:34,800 Speaker 3: in the two months leading up to the World Cup, 797 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:37,160 Speaker 3: in the six months leading up to the World Cup, 798 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 3: whatever it is, you are a consistent goal scorer as 799 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:43,600 Speaker 3: a number nine. Everybody pays attention to that because that 800 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:45,400 Speaker 3: is the job. It's what I was talking about with 801 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:47,480 Speaker 3: the crowded Peppi before. It's what we're talking about with 802 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:49,759 Speaker 3: Josh Sargent. That's what I'm going to talk about with 803 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:54,680 Speaker 3: my number one pick, seventeen year old Julian Hall. MLS 804 00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:57,319 Speaker 3: Player of the Week from match Day one. He had 805 00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,120 Speaker 3: a brace for the Red Bulls down in Orlando. They 806 00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:04,360 Speaker 3: were the only road team to win this weekend. He 807 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:08,800 Speaker 3: was awesome in combo play and he was I thought, 808 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:11,719 Speaker 3: really polished and patient and smart in front of goal 809 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:15,080 Speaker 3: to find those tappens that the Red Bulls patterns of 810 00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:19,360 Speaker 3: play was creating. The number one skill for a center 811 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:22,719 Speaker 3: forward is to find easy chances. If you can do 812 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:26,200 Speaker 3: that consistently, then you will keep scoring. We've seen that 813 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:30,399 Speaker 3: again and again and again. It translates up. Julian Hall 814 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:35,160 Speaker 3: is just seventeen, probably not there physically, but if he 815 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:40,320 Speaker 3: plays like one of the best center forwards in MLS, 816 00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:45,560 Speaker 3: is there any reason for Mauricio Pachettino to ignore him. 817 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:48,520 Speaker 3: Is there any reason for him to say, oh, this 818 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 3: kid said, well, he's gonna turn eighteen next month. Oh, 819 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:53,880 Speaker 3: this eighteen year old kid, he's too young. He's not. 820 00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:57,400 Speaker 3: If he's doing the job, you have to pay attention. 821 00:42:57,800 --> 00:42:58,560 Speaker 3: Isn't that the rule? 822 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:03,480 Speaker 1: Wow? I really like this pick actually because as you know, 823 00:43:03,560 --> 00:43:06,440 Speaker 1: I'm not a I'm not a stats guy, but I 824 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:09,400 Speaker 1: believe he's averaging two goals a game in his professional 825 00:43:09,480 --> 00:43:13,400 Speaker 1: career and first visit. So that's pretty good, right. That 826 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:18,279 Speaker 1: will put him up with anyone. Right, So, no, I 827 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:19,960 Speaker 1: I agree with all those things, Matt. 828 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:22,160 Speaker 2: I have to say. His movement is great. 829 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:26,120 Speaker 1: When you talk about you know what what makes up 830 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:28,600 Speaker 1: a great forward, and that is someone who gets in 831 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:30,839 Speaker 1: front of in front of goal at the right time. 832 00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:34,960 Speaker 1: He does that, he combines, he has good feet and 833 00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:38,840 Speaker 1: uh so he has all the tools to be you know, 834 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:40,759 Speaker 1: if we were going to put him into I would 835 00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:44,960 Speaker 1: take him back into that that that U securies category 836 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:47,720 Speaker 1: where you say, okay, maybe the back of your roster 837 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:49,240 Speaker 1: you have some guys for the future. 838 00:43:49,680 --> 00:43:52,040 Speaker 2: Obviously, what we have to think about. 839 00:43:51,719 --> 00:43:54,640 Speaker 1: With with him at this point is that it's only 840 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:56,560 Speaker 1: been one game, right, so we have to wait and 841 00:43:56,560 --> 00:44:00,360 Speaker 1: see what the consistency looks like. But he certainly as 842 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:03,400 Speaker 1: an opportunity to impress. Uh And and you know, I 843 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:05,720 Speaker 1: think he was named the player of the week this week, 844 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,600 Speaker 1: so so because of that, the eyes are going to 845 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:10,279 Speaker 1: be on him. So he's not going to be a 846 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:14,120 Speaker 1: surprise any longer. Teams get the scouted scout him a 847 00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:16,799 Speaker 1: little bit more. So, let's see how he reacts to, 848 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:20,680 Speaker 1: you know, people sort of playing his strengths a little 849 00:44:20,719 --> 00:44:24,080 Speaker 1: bit more, right, because that obviously happens by other teams. 850 00:44:24,280 --> 00:44:27,560 Speaker 1: In terms of the physicality, which you mentioned. You know, 851 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:30,920 Speaker 1: this always happens with young players until young players are 852 00:44:30,960 --> 00:44:33,560 Speaker 1: really good and then at that point physicality. 853 00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:33,960 Speaker 2: Doesn't matter anymore. 854 00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:35,680 Speaker 1: Right, I mean, you know, you got to give you 855 00:44:35,719 --> 00:44:39,080 Speaker 1: a perfect example Pedria Barcelona. Right, He's the little guy 856 00:44:39,360 --> 00:44:42,280 Speaker 1: that if you see him at the at the bakery tomorrow, 857 00:44:42,360 --> 00:44:45,440 Speaker 1: you would never think this guy is like a world superstar, 858 00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:49,960 Speaker 1: the best player, yeah, the best player, potentially the best player. 859 00:44:49,719 --> 00:44:51,680 Speaker 2: In the world. Right, and he looks like he. 860 00:44:51,719 --> 00:44:54,560 Speaker 1: Should be working in the bakery actually instead of going 861 00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:58,280 Speaker 1: to bike bread. But so so the physicality that's something 862 00:44:58,320 --> 00:45:02,560 Speaker 1: that I think great player payers overcome because you know, 863 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:05,520 Speaker 1: let's not forget defenders are not faster than the ball, 864 00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:07,719 Speaker 1: So if you and the ball are gone by the 865 00:45:07,760 --> 00:45:10,400 Speaker 1: time defenders get there, it really doesn't matter how. 866 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:10,879 Speaker 2: Small you are. 867 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:14,719 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, young players eventually the good 868 00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:15,920 Speaker 1: ones get to that level. 869 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:18,240 Speaker 2: But I do like, I do like this call. 870 00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:22,239 Speaker 1: You know, Hall was great the first week, and I 871 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:25,160 Speaker 1: think he I don't see a reason why he's not 872 00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:27,640 Speaker 1: going to continue to be great. But let's get with 873 00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:30,240 Speaker 1: him through his ups and downs, which I think he 874 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:31,359 Speaker 1: will inevitably have. 875 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:36,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess we'll start a Julian Hall monitor for 876 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:39,840 Speaker 3: the rest of the show, for the next couple of months, 877 00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:43,240 Speaker 3: to see if he has any chance of cracking Mauricio 878 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:48,120 Speaker 3: Pochettino's twenty twenty six US World Cup roster. It would 879 00:45:48,160 --> 00:45:50,640 Speaker 3: be quite a story. I think he is pretty clearly 880 00:45:51,040 --> 00:45:54,479 Speaker 3: the best center hord prospect the US has produced since 881 00:45:54,560 --> 00:45:57,719 Speaker 3: Ricardo Peppi, maybe even longer than that. It's exciting to 882 00:45:57,760 --> 00:45:59,680 Speaker 3: see a seventeen year old play as well as he 883 00:45:59,719 --> 00:46:03,239 Speaker 3: did this week. One of multiple kids on that Red 884 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:05,520 Speaker 3: Bull team, by the way, who played excellent ball this 885 00:46:05,560 --> 00:46:09,640 Speaker 3: week and Adrian Metti, the sixteen year old defensive midfielder 886 00:46:10,960 --> 00:46:13,279 Speaker 3: arguably even better than Julie All in this one. And 887 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:16,840 Speaker 3: by the way, he's a dual national. Morocco are all 888 00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:20,160 Speaker 3: over him, so we have a real dual national Panic 889 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:22,040 Speaker 3: for the first time in a couple of years. If 890 00:46:22,080 --> 00:46:24,440 Speaker 3: you are a US men's national team, Sicco, the Red 891 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:27,640 Speaker 3: Bulls are probably your team of choice to start watching 892 00:46:28,160 --> 00:46:31,200 Speaker 3: this MLS season. And we'll be all over on this 893 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:33,520 Speaker 3: show in the coming weeks. And for now, though, it's 894 00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:35,759 Speaker 3: time for one more break and we're gonna hear from 895 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:39,239 Speaker 3: tab on a pivotal moment in the US national team 896 00:46:39,239 --> 00:46:42,080 Speaker 3: back in nineteen ninety five. Thank you all for listening 897 00:46:42,120 --> 00:46:56,240 Speaker 3: to Inside American Soccer. Please rate review, can't subscribe. Welcome 898 00:46:56,280 --> 00:46:59,480 Speaker 3: back to Inside American Soccer, where we're gonna take you 899 00:46:59,680 --> 00:47:03,919 Speaker 3: inside the locker room a little over thirty years ago. Actually, now, 900 00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:07,160 Speaker 3: we talk a lot about the nineteen ninety four World 901 00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:09,359 Speaker 3: Cup on this show. I think everybody talks about that 902 00:47:09,400 --> 00:47:12,640 Speaker 3: because it was such a seminal moment for soccer in 903 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:17,360 Speaker 3: North America, and I think we all see this coming 904 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:20,839 Speaker 3: summer through that. Lens hope that twenty twenty six can 905 00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:25,200 Speaker 3: do for the US in Canada what nineteen ninety four did, 906 00:47:25,600 --> 00:47:28,600 Speaker 3: at least in part. But there also needs to be 907 00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:31,719 Speaker 3: some thought about what comes next. And the guy I'm 908 00:47:31,760 --> 00:47:34,600 Speaker 3: with right now, Tamravos, was a huge part of what 909 00:47:34,719 --> 00:47:38,000 Speaker 3: comes next. And really, tab you were talking and it 910 00:47:38,080 --> 00:47:43,840 Speaker 3: was sort of the professionalization of the game here starting 911 00:47:43,880 --> 00:47:47,560 Speaker 3: really in nineteen ninety five, after all the confetti and 912 00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:50,320 Speaker 3: all the you know, going on a letterman in Leno 913 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:55,160 Speaker 3: and whatever else happened for you guys, stickers commercials. It 914 00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:58,799 Speaker 3: was a different era starting in nineteen ninety five. So 915 00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:02,440 Speaker 3: take us back to that time and what you guys 916 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:04,480 Speaker 3: were doing and what it meant. 917 00:48:05,920 --> 00:48:08,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I always, I always have fun going 918 00:48:08,400 --> 00:48:11,000 Speaker 1: back to these stories, although I feel like i'm you know, 919 00:48:11,040 --> 00:48:13,520 Speaker 1: I'm telling everyone the bedtime story and I don't know 920 00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:15,759 Speaker 1: how many people want to hear it, but uh, but 921 00:48:15,960 --> 00:48:18,520 Speaker 1: you know, there are Here's the important part about this. 922 00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:23,600 Speaker 1: I really I've had the you know, I've been fortunate 923 00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:26,000 Speaker 1: enough to have seen sort of the development of the 924 00:48:26,040 --> 00:48:29,520 Speaker 1: sport of the last three thirty forty years. You know, 925 00:48:29,640 --> 00:48:32,880 Speaker 1: that's that's probably the only advantage to being old, because 926 00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:35,839 Speaker 1: I can't think of anything else. But I but I, 927 00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:38,000 Speaker 1: but I can tell you that there are certain moments 928 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:41,640 Speaker 1: that I think were I could see the evolution of 929 00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:44,440 Speaker 1: soccer in this country coming along right. And and one 930 00:48:44,480 --> 00:48:47,200 Speaker 1: of those moments, obviously, is late nineteen eighty nine when 931 00:48:47,360 --> 00:48:49,200 Speaker 1: the team qualifies of the World Cup for the first 932 00:48:49,280 --> 00:48:51,799 Speaker 1: time in forty years, and then the next five years 933 00:48:51,880 --> 00:48:54,480 Speaker 1: become hey, you know, we host the World Cup and 934 00:48:54,520 --> 00:48:57,120 Speaker 1: now we're competitive, and now we beat England and we 935 00:48:57,280 --> 00:49:01,239 Speaker 1: be you know what are Italy and or Brazil or 936 00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:04,400 Speaker 1: you know. You get all these friendly, great results that 937 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:07,560 Speaker 1: you're happy about, and then work up ninety four comes 938 00:49:07,600 --> 00:49:10,200 Speaker 1: and all the lights are on and everybody's paying attention, 939 00:49:10,280 --> 00:49:13,040 Speaker 1: and like you said, everyone's going out all the morning 940 00:49:13,120 --> 00:49:15,719 Speaker 1: shows and everything else that has to do with the 941 00:49:15,719 --> 00:49:20,360 Speaker 1: publicity of great moments. And then and then that goes away, 942 00:49:20,520 --> 00:49:24,719 Speaker 1: and now we find ourselves with the reality of okay, well, 943 00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:27,200 Speaker 1: now we got to keep moving the ball forward. 944 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:28,120 Speaker 2: How do we do that? 945 00:49:28,440 --> 00:49:28,640 Speaker 3: Right? 946 00:49:28,719 --> 00:49:31,520 Speaker 1: And so I look back in nineteen ninety five as 947 00:49:31,560 --> 00:49:35,960 Speaker 1: a pivotal moment because I think although ninety four was great, 948 00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:38,960 Speaker 1: I think it was the culmination of the beginning of 949 00:49:39,040 --> 00:49:41,880 Speaker 1: soccer being back on the map, right it was eighty 950 00:49:41,960 --> 00:49:43,920 Speaker 1: nine through ninety four, and it was great and it 951 00:49:43,960 --> 00:49:46,880 Speaker 1: was exciting. And now now we need to play with 952 00:49:46,960 --> 00:49:48,840 Speaker 1: the big boys. And now we need to play with 953 00:49:48,880 --> 00:49:51,120 Speaker 1: the big boys for real. Now it's not just showing 954 00:49:51,239 --> 00:49:54,400 Speaker 1: up and being the underdog and you know, and and 955 00:49:54,680 --> 00:49:57,799 Speaker 1: and showing everybody that you know, us play soccer, and 956 00:49:57,800 --> 00:50:00,200 Speaker 1: now it needs Now we need to become competitive. And 957 00:50:00,239 --> 00:50:03,719 Speaker 1: I think nineteen ninety five was the year where that 958 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:09,000 Speaker 1: started to happen. We and that's US Soccer selected to 959 00:50:09,040 --> 00:50:12,600 Speaker 1: go to Cope America, which they they don't always participate in. 960 00:50:12,960 --> 00:50:15,680 Speaker 1: We've only been to you know what four or five 961 00:50:15,920 --> 00:50:19,200 Speaker 1: in the history, right, we don't go every time. That 962 00:50:19,360 --> 00:50:22,239 Speaker 1: was only I think the second time that US had 963 00:50:22,280 --> 00:50:23,920 Speaker 1: participated in the Cope America. 964 00:50:24,080 --> 00:50:25,680 Speaker 2: So it wasn't happening. 965 00:50:26,120 --> 00:50:29,280 Speaker 1: And and we go the Cope Americas in Uruguay nineteen 966 00:50:29,360 --> 00:50:31,759 Speaker 1: ninety five, and we go there and the first thing 967 00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:33,799 Speaker 1: that happened when we got there is we had a 968 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:38,839 Speaker 1: player's strike. We decided that we had been hearing about, Hey, 969 00:50:38,880 --> 00:50:42,000 Speaker 1: you know, there's hundreds of millions that this World Cup left, 970 00:50:42,080 --> 00:50:46,600 Speaker 1: and you know, and you know, like like player unions, 971 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:50,240 Speaker 1: players unions usually do is they try to say, well, 972 00:50:50,280 --> 00:50:52,319 Speaker 1: you know, what's in the in for the players, because 973 00:50:52,320 --> 00:50:53,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, we're the ones on 974 00:50:53,640 --> 00:50:56,239 Speaker 1: the field, right and we sort of need to get 975 00:50:56,280 --> 00:50:57,560 Speaker 1: compensated for that as well. 976 00:50:57,640 --> 00:51:00,440 Speaker 2: So we went into the first game. 977 00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:04,240 Speaker 1: We started the Cope America that year by playing Chile 978 00:51:04,360 --> 00:51:08,360 Speaker 1: the first game, but we didn't practice before that game 979 00:51:08,520 --> 00:51:10,840 Speaker 1: because we were on strike, so we're in Cope America, 980 00:51:11,160 --> 00:51:13,319 Speaker 1: didn't go to practice and actually play the game and 981 00:51:13,320 --> 00:51:15,279 Speaker 1: beat Chile in the first game, but it. 982 00:51:15,239 --> 00:51:17,520 Speaker 2: Was the first time. But we had negotiations with. 983 00:51:19,360 --> 00:51:22,200 Speaker 1: The federation where we just basically said, if if we 984 00:51:22,280 --> 00:51:24,760 Speaker 1: don't get X, Y, and Z, then we're not playing. 985 00:51:25,280 --> 00:51:28,640 Speaker 2: And at that point, you know, there comes to negotiations. 986 00:51:28,680 --> 00:51:32,160 Speaker 1: Of course, agents are always involved because they're always involved 987 00:51:32,160 --> 00:51:35,640 Speaker 1: in this stuff. I would say to make this, to 988 00:51:35,719 --> 00:51:38,560 Speaker 1: make things worse, but let's just keep that between us, 989 00:51:39,520 --> 00:51:43,839 Speaker 1: and it became a negotiation. Obviously, we all agreed to 990 00:51:43,880 --> 00:51:47,640 Speaker 1: move forward and we played in that Cope America, and 991 00:51:48,000 --> 00:51:50,399 Speaker 1: not only did we play in it, but then we 992 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:54,000 Speaker 1: showed that we really could compete. Because if nineteen ninety 993 00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:59,000 Speaker 1: four can always be chalked up to, yeah, you played 994 00:51:59,040 --> 00:52:02,560 Speaker 1: some good teams and you knocked out, you know, Columbia, 995 00:52:02,640 --> 00:52:04,840 Speaker 1: which was a great opponent, but at the end of 996 00:52:04,880 --> 00:52:07,440 Speaker 1: the day, it was the underdog, you know, getting the 997 00:52:07,440 --> 00:52:11,120 Speaker 1: big result. I think cope America now became hey, we 998 00:52:11,200 --> 00:52:13,480 Speaker 1: have our feet on the ground and we know we 999 00:52:13,520 --> 00:52:18,319 Speaker 1: can play, and we have a full professional squad with 1000 00:52:18,600 --> 00:52:21,480 Speaker 1: players playing everywhere, and now we need to compete toe 1001 00:52:21,520 --> 00:52:24,200 Speaker 1: to toe with big countries in South America. And we 1002 00:52:24,239 --> 00:52:27,520 Speaker 1: went down there, beat Chile the first game, lost to 1003 00:52:27,560 --> 00:52:30,239 Speaker 1: Bolivia second game, but then beat Argentina the third game 1004 00:52:30,280 --> 00:52:33,399 Speaker 1: in one of the great victories of US soccer three 1005 00:52:33,600 --> 00:52:36,200 Speaker 1: zero took first place in the group and ended up 1006 00:52:36,239 --> 00:52:39,040 Speaker 1: in fourth place. We lost to Brazil later on in 1007 00:52:39,080 --> 00:52:42,680 Speaker 1: the tournament, ended up in fourth place. But also so 1008 00:52:42,800 --> 00:52:45,279 Speaker 1: that was the beginning of us being okay here we 1009 00:52:45,320 --> 00:52:48,000 Speaker 1: are really competitive. But there was another side to it 1010 00:52:48,040 --> 00:52:51,280 Speaker 1: that I think was it was the birth of the 1011 00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:54,080 Speaker 1: truly good young players coming along. 1012 00:52:54,480 --> 00:52:54,640 Speaker 2: Right. 1013 00:52:54,719 --> 00:52:57,160 Speaker 1: It was the first time we got to see like 1014 00:52:57,200 --> 00:53:00,480 Speaker 1: a Clodia Arena and his skill set and what he. 1015 00:53:00,440 --> 00:53:01,120 Speaker 2: Had to offer. 1016 00:53:01,239 --> 00:53:03,719 Speaker 1: And for all of us having been on the national team, 1017 00:53:03,800 --> 00:53:06,120 Speaker 1: let's not forget there's a little generation of players of 1018 00:53:06,520 --> 00:53:09,960 Speaker 1: you know, myself and Eric Ranalo marself about Boa and maybe, well, 1019 00:53:10,000 --> 00:53:12,719 Speaker 1: I think Tony wasn't on the team by then already, 1020 00:53:12,719 --> 00:53:15,240 Speaker 1: but those guys we had been together since like nineteen 1021 00:53:15,239 --> 00:53:17,000 Speaker 1: eighty eight, so I had been seven eight years of 1022 00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:19,080 Speaker 1: being on the national team, so that's sort of a 1023 00:53:19,120 --> 00:53:22,600 Speaker 1: long time. And now we started to see these young 1024 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:27,240 Speaker 1: players like Claudia, who's we were really impressed by because 1025 00:53:27,400 --> 00:53:30,920 Speaker 1: they had all the tools. We saw Yovann Korovski all 1026 00:53:30,960 --> 00:53:33,480 Speaker 1: of a sudden signed at Manchester United and he was 1027 00:53:33,520 --> 00:53:36,480 Speaker 1: on their youth team and he was coming along. So 1028 00:53:36,600 --> 00:53:40,680 Speaker 1: I think that I think nineteen ninety five, If nineteen 1029 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:44,280 Speaker 1: ninety four became the birth of let's say, soccer fans 1030 00:53:44,400 --> 00:53:48,640 Speaker 1: following the team, nineteen ninety five became the birth of 1031 00:53:48,960 --> 00:53:51,640 Speaker 1: what we now know, all of our players starting to 1032 00:53:51,640 --> 00:53:54,160 Speaker 1: go overseas and seeing that's when we started to see 1033 00:53:54,200 --> 00:53:58,200 Speaker 1: players like, you know, obviously Claudia, I mentioned Yovann Korowski, 1034 00:53:58,680 --> 00:54:01,759 Speaker 1: who was great, Brad Friedel who came along to the 1035 00:54:01,840 --> 00:54:04,480 Speaker 1: national team and then became you know, think about it, 1036 00:54:04,520 --> 00:54:08,160 Speaker 1: who can match Brad Friedel's career. I don't think anyone 1037 00:54:08,280 --> 00:54:11,359 Speaker 1: can ken in US soccer yet with what he did 1038 00:54:11,360 --> 00:54:14,680 Speaker 1: in the EPL, So I think in a bunch of 1039 00:54:14,719 --> 00:54:19,920 Speaker 1: different ways it became a sort of a professional national 1040 00:54:19,960 --> 00:54:21,000 Speaker 1: team for the first time. 1041 00:54:22,440 --> 00:54:26,399 Speaker 3: So let's let's make an analogy then, right, So if 1042 00:54:26,920 --> 00:54:30,719 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty sixth version of what you guys did 1043 00:54:31,160 --> 00:54:34,200 Speaker 3: in nineteen ninety four, now you guys made it out 1044 00:54:34,200 --> 00:54:36,640 Speaker 3: of the group nineteen ninety four, people didn't expect you 1045 00:54:36,680 --> 00:54:41,040 Speaker 3: to played really well against Brazil in that round of sixteen. 1046 00:54:43,040 --> 00:54:46,359 Speaker 3: Brazil obviously went on to win, but it was it 1047 00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:48,960 Speaker 3: was a brave and gutty performance from you guys won 1048 00:54:49,040 --> 00:54:51,880 Speaker 3: a lot of respect. The twenty twenty sixth version of 1049 00:54:51,920 --> 00:54:54,040 Speaker 3: that for the US men's national team would be what 1050 00:54:54,239 --> 00:54:59,560 Speaker 3: making it all the way back to the quarterfinals, going 1051 00:54:59,640 --> 00:55:02,400 Speaker 3: up a against the Brazil or an Argentina, maybe even 1052 00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:05,200 Speaker 3: making it to the semi finals, and laying down a 1053 00:55:05,239 --> 00:55:08,600 Speaker 3: marker and saying, Okay, this is where we are now, 1054 00:55:08,680 --> 00:55:11,680 Speaker 3: this is what we can do when the stars align 1055 00:55:11,960 --> 00:55:13,839 Speaker 3: and everything is clicking. This is who we are as 1056 00:55:13,840 --> 00:55:17,120 Speaker 3: a national team. Then the twenty twenty seven version of that, 1057 00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:21,520 Speaker 3: the step forward professionally for the national team that you 1058 00:55:21,640 --> 00:55:25,400 Speaker 3: guys experienced and really drove in nineteen ninety five. What 1059 00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:28,879 Speaker 3: would that be for the US in twenty twenty six 1060 00:55:29,760 --> 00:55:32,759 Speaker 3: or twenty twenty seven, in twenty twenty eight and beyond, Like, 1061 00:55:32,840 --> 00:55:38,320 Speaker 3: what from your perspective, needs to happen for the US 1062 00:55:38,400 --> 00:55:40,560 Speaker 3: to make that next professional jump. 1063 00:55:42,239 --> 00:55:45,200 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, I think now we're at a point 1064 00:55:45,280 --> 00:55:48,160 Speaker 1: where you know, we have a great team. 1065 00:55:48,920 --> 00:55:50,920 Speaker 2: We're no longer the underdog. 1066 00:55:50,520 --> 00:55:53,400 Speaker 1: At the World Cup, which is already a big, big 1067 00:55:53,440 --> 00:55:56,480 Speaker 1: task to go there as favorites to win our group 1068 00:55:57,280 --> 00:56:00,319 Speaker 1: and to advance let's say at the very least around 1069 00:56:00,360 --> 00:56:03,640 Speaker 1: the sixteen is It's sort of that's assumed by everyone 1070 00:56:03,800 --> 00:56:06,520 Speaker 1: at this point, right, because if we were not to 1071 00:56:06,560 --> 00:56:09,520 Speaker 1: do that, that means that we likely lost the teams 1072 00:56:09,560 --> 00:56:12,239 Speaker 1: that we were not supposed to lose to. So it's 1073 00:56:12,280 --> 00:56:15,000 Speaker 1: a more difficult situation to be in. But now to 1074 00:56:15,040 --> 00:56:18,319 Speaker 1: answer your question, you know, I've picked some moments of 1075 00:56:18,480 --> 00:56:21,280 Speaker 1: evolution of the game. So what would be the next 1076 00:56:21,600 --> 00:56:26,319 Speaker 1: moment of evolution? And I think now for US, I 1077 00:56:26,360 --> 00:56:28,799 Speaker 1: think we can put ourselves in this World Cup by 1078 00:56:28,880 --> 00:56:33,799 Speaker 1: potentially participating in a quarterfinal or in a semifinal, where 1079 00:56:33,800 --> 00:56:37,960 Speaker 1: we can cement sort of the competitiveness of our program 1080 00:56:38,080 --> 00:56:41,000 Speaker 1: number one worldwide because I think we already have a 1081 00:56:41,000 --> 00:56:44,799 Speaker 1: lot of respect worldwide from other countries. I don't think 1082 00:56:44,840 --> 00:56:47,520 Speaker 1: there's a country out there right now that can say, hey, 1083 00:56:47,520 --> 00:56:49,200 Speaker 1: we play the US. This is going to be an 1084 00:56:49,200 --> 00:56:51,960 Speaker 1: easy game. There isn't a single one. And you can 1085 00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:55,080 Speaker 1: pick France, you can pick England, you can pick Brazil. 1086 00:56:54,800 --> 00:56:55,960 Speaker 2: Or Argentine or anyone. 1087 00:56:56,360 --> 00:56:58,359 Speaker 1: They know that they're in for a battle that they 1088 00:56:58,400 --> 00:57:00,719 Speaker 1: have to give their best, can they when Yeah, of 1089 00:57:00,760 --> 00:57:03,359 Speaker 1: course there's a good chance that those teams will beat us, 1090 00:57:03,560 --> 00:57:05,640 Speaker 1: but they will only beat us at their best. It's 1091 00:57:05,719 --> 00:57:08,200 Speaker 1: unlikely that they will beat us with anything else. So 1092 00:57:08,280 --> 00:57:10,520 Speaker 1: that's a good place to be. But I think Matt, 1093 00:57:10,560 --> 00:57:13,840 Speaker 1: if I were to say the evolution and our next battle, 1094 00:57:14,160 --> 00:57:17,640 Speaker 1: I think the next battle is more at home. Our 1095 00:57:17,720 --> 00:57:21,360 Speaker 1: next battle is how do we become a bigger sport 1096 00:57:21,400 --> 00:57:25,360 Speaker 1: in our home? And that's I think that's the toughest 1097 00:57:25,400 --> 00:57:28,200 Speaker 1: obstacle at this point, because as you continue to see 1098 00:57:28,200 --> 00:57:31,080 Speaker 1: the numbers, and you continue to see MLS grow, and 1099 00:57:31,120 --> 00:57:33,920 Speaker 1: you continue to see our players doing better and our 1100 00:57:33,920 --> 00:57:39,840 Speaker 1: players being more competitive overseas, how are we making sort 1101 00:57:39,880 --> 00:57:42,840 Speaker 1: of that? How are we making that shortcut? And I 1102 00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:45,880 Speaker 1: do see the numbers that obviously you read as well, 1103 00:57:46,200 --> 00:57:48,080 Speaker 1: But it's hard for me to believe now when I 1104 00:57:48,120 --> 00:57:50,240 Speaker 1: look at the NFL and I look at, you know, 1105 00:57:50,720 --> 00:57:53,040 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, and I look at the NBA, and 1106 00:57:53,080 --> 00:57:55,680 Speaker 1: then I look, are we more popular than golf? 1107 00:57:56,080 --> 00:57:56,360 Speaker 2: Are we? 1108 00:57:56,400 --> 00:57:56,680 Speaker 1: Really? 1109 00:57:57,080 --> 00:57:58,080 Speaker 2: I don't think we are. 1110 00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:03,000 Speaker 1: Are we more popular than college football? College basketball? I mean, 1111 00:58:03,040 --> 00:58:05,439 Speaker 1: you can name seven or eight sports that you can 1112 00:58:05,560 --> 00:58:09,600 Speaker 1: legitimately go to a bar and say those sports are 1113 00:58:09,680 --> 00:58:12,920 Speaker 1: a lot more popular than soccer. Those sports are what 1114 00:58:12,960 --> 00:58:16,040 Speaker 1: people talk about. So I think our next evolution has 1115 00:58:16,080 --> 00:58:19,520 Speaker 1: to be how do we get to become one of those? 1116 00:58:20,520 --> 00:58:23,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, And if you have the answer to that, you 1117 00:58:23,120 --> 00:58:26,440 Speaker 3: might be the next MLS commissioner, because I think the 1118 00:58:26,480 --> 00:58:29,680 Speaker 3: guys in charge they've been looking for that as for 1119 00:58:29,720 --> 00:58:32,360 Speaker 3: the long time. Obviously a ton of progress with the 1120 00:58:32,480 --> 00:58:37,720 Speaker 3: league a long way to go. I think the keyword 1121 00:58:37,800 --> 00:58:42,440 Speaker 3: is culture. Culture wins on every level in every sport. 1122 00:58:42,480 --> 00:58:45,920 Speaker 3: If your country has a good colt Tavas, Uruguay, and 1123 00:58:45,920 --> 00:58:50,360 Speaker 3: and in terms of culture, everybody asks how doesguy punch 1124 00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:53,000 Speaker 3: above their weight so consistently for such a small country. 1125 00:58:53,000 --> 00:58:56,680 Speaker 3: It's because of the culture of soccer there gave us 1126 00:58:56,680 --> 00:58:58,520 Speaker 3: one of our greatest players of all time. It gives 1127 00:58:58,600 --> 00:59:01,280 Speaker 3: us one of the favorites watch in the World Cup 1128 00:59:01,400 --> 00:59:05,200 Speaker 3: every four years, and he gave us a great talk 1129 00:59:05,560 --> 00:59:08,840 Speaker 3: today on this show. So thank you all for joining 1130 00:59:09,120 --> 00:59:13,560 Speaker 3: me and tab on this episode of Inside American Soccer. 1131 00:59:13,880 --> 00:59:17,080 Speaker 3: Will be back next week. I'll still be hosting. We 1132 00:59:17,120 --> 00:59:20,480 Speaker 3: will give you an update on Young Theo Bogert's progress 1133 00:59:20,880 --> 00:59:24,120 Speaker 3: on the for check if he has started beating Tom 1134 00:59:24,120 --> 00:59:26,720 Speaker 3: in the head with the hockey stick that he is 1135 00:59:26,760 --> 00:59:30,360 Speaker 3: trying desperately to master already. So thank you for joining us, 1136 00:59:30,360 --> 00:59:34,040 Speaker 3: and don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, do all the 1137 00:59:34,080 --> 00:59:39,680 Speaker 3: things on all the socials TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. 1138 00:59:39,800 --> 00:59:41,640 Speaker 3: And thank you for joining us, folks. We will see 1139 00:59:41,680 --> 00:59:42,200 Speaker 3: you next week.