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To Hire You Need Indeed! Pulisic had asked not

1:01

to start because he was tired from international

1:03

duty. I mean, there had to be protruding

1:05

bone for me to

1:07

voluntarily give up

1:10

a spot on the field. I

1:12

was in constant fear

1:15

that somebody else was going to

1:17

take my spot. Hello

1:32

Sunshine. I'm Alexi Lawless and welcome

1:34

to the State of the Union podcast where

1:37

we look at the beautiful game on and

1:39

off the field through the lens of red,

1:41

white, and blue colored glasses. This show will

1:43

be talking the EPL title race. Very close.

1:46

Malagan, Adams, Sargent, Shielding, Bike Riding, Vegas, Corner

1:49

Art, 94 Reunion,

1:52

Vision Quest, Roadhouse, all

1:54

sorts of different things and so much more.

1:56

But first joining me as always my friend,

1:58

my colleague, my guiding light, David. Mossy, a

2:00

soccer savant and a Fox Soccer researcher and

2:02

writer. Extraordinary! Mossy, how are you doing on

2:04

this Sunday, March 31st in

2:07

the year 2024? I'm

2:09

doing well. Happy Easter to those who celebrate.

2:11

Happy Easter to everyone out there for those

2:13

that celebrate and a special thanks to all

2:15

the men and women and to you Mossy

2:18

for coming in here on a Sunday and

2:20

recording this on Easter Sunday. We wanted to

2:22

get a show out. I am heading out

2:24

on the road this week so I will

2:26

be on the road this week but we

2:28

want to make sure we have content for

2:31

you so everyone graciously agreed to come

2:33

in here on Sunday afternoon

2:35

slash evening and record a pod after

2:37

all of these soccer that has happened

2:39

over the weekend. Have you seen anything

2:41

interesting my friend? Yeah, pleasant

2:43

surprise. Last night I caught this

2:45

CNN documentary on Las Vegas. It

2:48

was called the Story of Sin

2:50

City. Four-part documentary, very

2:52

well done. I enjoyed it. Watched

2:54

already all four episodes. They take

2:56

you from the beginning, the mafia,

2:59

Bugsy Siegel, Sinatra, Liberace, Elvis, Wayne

3:01

Newton, sports, boxing, etc.

3:03

The whole evolution of the place.

3:05

So I recommend it. It's such

3:07

a quintessential American story in the

3:09

way that it just, like

3:12

a mirage, appeared out of nowhere and all

3:14

of the different twists and turns and the

3:16

good bad and I suppose the ugly of

3:19

it but it's incredibly American. All right so that's on CNN. I want

3:21

to check that one out. I got

3:23

two things. One, and we

3:25

continue to wait on our collective review

3:27

of The Matrix. I know we mentioned

3:29

that in our previous show. I

3:32

have seen it. You have yet to see it. So that

3:34

is still your homework and I don't want to talk about

3:36

it until you have seen it so we can talk about

3:38

it together. But a couple of things. One, the remake

3:42

of Roadhouse. You remember Roadhouse? You don't remember

3:44

this movie. I do. Okay so Roadhouse,

3:46

you know, an 80s movie, has

3:50

turned into kind of a cult

3:52

classic starting Patrick Swayze, Sam Elliott,

3:54

Kelly Lynch and it's just

3:57

a fun type of hour and a half

3:59

type of movie. They

4:01

remade it with Jake Gyllenhaal

4:04

and Conor McGregor, I guess he's the

4:06

MMA guy or whatever, as

4:08

one of the bad guys there.

4:13

For something that has become so iconic

4:15

and so synonymous with that decade in

4:17

the look and the feel and the

4:19

content that is Roadhouse,

4:22

it wasn't great. I think Jake Gyllenhaal

4:24

is an incredible actor and actually I

4:26

really enjoyed Conor McGregor as the heavy

4:29

and he was good in it, but

4:31

overall it was flat for a number

4:33

of different reasons, not the least of

4:35

which is the whole premise of this

4:37

movie is this badass, corrupt,

4:40

dirty, dark, dangerous

4:42

type of establishment that

4:44

is the Roadhouse. In

4:48

the original, it is all of that and

4:50

yet in the remake, it is on

4:53

the side of this, alcoholic,

4:55

beautiful, Florida Keys

4:57

type of setting and it's too

4:59

bright and well lit and it's

5:02

not dirty and disgusting

5:04

enough to make it plausible that

5:06

all of these problems are going to happen there.

5:08

So that's one of the problems that I have

5:10

with it. Kate Abdo is a

5:12

big boxing fan and like all boxing

5:15

fans, she hates MMA. So I remember

5:17

years ago, I drove her

5:19

crazy by starting an office debate as

5:21

to who is more famous, Canelo Alvarez

5:23

or Conor McGregor. It

5:27

was split in the room which drove her crazy because

5:29

she thought it was clearly Canelo. I've never

5:31

heard of this person. I've

5:34

heard of Conor McGregor for all the craziness that

5:36

he has done. I

5:39

also mentioned this and this is a

5:42

repeat viewing of a movie

5:45

that is near and dear to my heart, but

5:47

it clicked in my brain because I was watching

5:49

an interview with Dana White speaking of MMA, right?

5:52

He does all that? Correct. And

5:55

he, in a really interesting

5:57

and sincere type of way,

5:59

talked about the movie Vision

6:01

quest as really much

6:04

more than just a movie and for those that don't

6:06

want to movie about a high school wrestler that

6:08

uses the final season

6:10

to kind of really establish himself

6:13

and to be bold

6:15

and great in the things that he's done.

6:17

But you know Dana White was talking about

6:19

how the message of the

6:21

story was you

6:23

know ground shaking to him and

6:25

to this day he still looks at

6:27

it as a real important type of

6:29

movie. So I watched it again to see

6:32

if it would hold up. Number one the

6:34

soundtrack is just incredible you know whether it's

6:36

Red Ryder and Sammy Hagar and Journey and

6:39

that type of stuff. I think it's Sammy

6:41

Hagar but Journey the soundtrack is awesome from

6:43

start to finish including the first time we

6:45

ever see Madonna in a bar scene. This

6:48

is the first time the public saw Madonna

6:50

she's singing a song in a bar scene.

6:53

Anyway it still holds up

6:55

and it's a really to his point I didn't

6:57

realize this when I was watching it until

7:00

I rewatched it here how prolific

7:03

it is but how inspiring it

7:05

is and it's gotten beyond a movie.

7:08

I always thought of it as much more of a

7:10

teenage type of thing but it is much more so

7:12

and so who knew Dana White you

7:15

know informing us about things to watch or

7:17

at least to go back and watch. So

7:19

it still holds out Matthew Modine the star

7:21

of it. I don't know if they have

7:23

ultimately remade that but it's probably

7:26

going to be remade at a certain point and

7:28

I'll probably grumpy old man the way

7:30

I just did Roadhouse. My friend should we like to

7:32

scandal. Let's do it. All right

7:34

where should we start all sorts of soccer

7:36

this weekend. Yeah we begin with the Premier

7:38

League title race major developments on Sunday Liverpool

7:40

beat Brighton 2-1. Welbeck scored

7:42

for Brighton but Diaz and Salah found the back

7:44

of the net for the Reds and

7:47

then Manchester City and Arsenal played to a no-no draw at the

7:49

at the at the at in a game that did not live

7:51

up to the billing. So the

7:54

weekend ends with Liverpool on top

7:56

Arsenal two points back City three

7:58

points back. First

8:00

off, the Liverpool Brighton game,

8:03

a couple things that were interesting about

8:05

it. Number one, the comeback

8:07

type of kids and not kids, but the

8:09

mentality of Liverpool that is now a consistent.

8:11

And that's a great quality to have. It's

8:13

dangerous because you can go to the well

8:15

and not find it. And yet they continue

8:17

to go to the well and they are

8:19

able to come back. Because when

8:21

Brighton scored that goal, you thought,

8:23

oh wow, is this going to be one

8:25

of those days for Liverpool? And they never

8:28

panic. Klopp was asked about it again after

8:30

the game. And you could see him, his

8:32

mind working and the machine going saying, I

8:35

don't want to accept the fact that

8:38

we are letting in goals and we go

8:40

down. But I also don't

8:42

want to take anything away from the

8:45

important mentality that this team obviously has

8:47

to be able to come back. And

8:49

then the other thing that I will

8:52

say on the other side is Brighton

8:54

is an incredibly romantic team in the

8:56

way that they play. And sometimes I

8:58

look at romantic teams and the lack

9:01

of pragmatism and

9:03

the idealistic way that some

9:05

of these teams try to play doesn't

9:07

match the actual talent that they have.

9:09

But I got a lot of

9:11

time for Brighton and the way that they

9:13

want to play and at times

9:16

the way that they actually do

9:18

play. And even in this where

9:20

they could have been forgiven of betraying

9:24

who they are, they didn't. And I got a

9:26

lot of respect for a team that does that.

9:28

We'll get to this later in the pod, but

9:31

with Shabi Alonso staying put, the Brighton coach, Roberto

9:33

D'Zerbi, is now being mentioned as a possibility for

9:35

Liverpool. All right. Shall

9:37

we talk a little bit about the Man City Arsenal

9:39

game? Let's do it. Okay. You

9:42

know, they say, Mossy, that a

9:45

game of crap soccer is better

9:47

than a game of no soccer.

9:49

Okay. This really

9:51

kind of tested that. All right. It

9:53

was not anything that's going into a

9:55

time capsule and it

9:57

was, dare I say, one of the best teams in the

9:59

world. of the more boring games that I

10:01

have seen in a long time.

10:04

Not because there isn't talent out there, not

10:06

because there isn't something at stake, but

10:09

this was maybe the boring

10:11

that Arsenal wanted and

10:14

the boring that Manchester City

10:17

is in danger of

10:19

harnessing to a negative effect. That's

10:21

my overall opinion of the game.

10:24

I will say I think Liverpool are going to

10:26

win the title, but in the head-to-head

10:28

match-ups between the three, Arsenal have fared the best.

10:30

They took four out of six points from Liverpool

10:32

and four out of six points from City this

10:34

season. So if you had to predict today and

10:36

has it changed over the last few hours given

10:38

this result in terms of what the top three

10:41

is, you just said you think Liverpool is going

10:43

to win, that's not changing, right? Yeah. And

10:45

then you think it's going to be Arsenal and then Man City.

10:49

I could go either way on that, but I'm feeling more

10:52

and more like Liverpool is going to win the title. Was

10:56

it, were you this Man

10:58

City type of performance in

11:00

that they, speaking about going to the

11:02

well, especially up top with Erlen Holland and

11:04

the lack of dominance

11:06

that we kind of expect and maybe it's not

11:09

fair to expect from him, but he is Erlen

11:11

Holland. Yeah. This is the time of the

11:13

season where they usually kick on and play their best and that's

11:15

not happening. They gave a great stat on

11:17

TV today. They haven't beat any of the teams in

11:19

the current top five. And

11:21

yeah, you mentioned Erlen Holland, man. If he doesn't get

11:24

the service, his lack of

11:26

involvement in matches is stark. I

11:28

might've missed it, but it was coming through. Did

11:31

Keene say that he looks

11:34

like a second division team or a player

11:36

or something like that? To

11:38

be fair, once I read the whole quote, he

11:40

did couch it with, he's a brilliant goal scorer

11:43

and you have to admire what he does in

11:45

the box. Nobody cares, Mossy. It's all about the

11:47

headline. It's all about the quote. How dare you

11:49

even read and get any type of context and

11:52

layered nuance when it comes to any type of

11:54

report, whether it has to do with soccer or

11:56

news out there. What is your problem? I apologize.

11:58

Yeah. at one point in

12:01

his whole spiel that Erlan Holland looked like

12:03

a fourth division player. Oh, wow,

12:05

them fighting words, regardless of what the context

12:08

or the rest of the story is. But

12:10

to his point, Erlan Holland has not looked

12:12

the dominant force that we expect it to

12:14

be. I still think that Pepin

12:17

company has something to say before the

12:19

end, but this is exactly what certainly

12:21

Klopp and Liverpool would have wanted to see. And

12:23

to your point, for Arsenal to

12:26

do this, which is very rare, given the

12:28

record, and to come in and to get

12:30

that point, well done, Arteta. On

12:32

the American front, Tyler Adams played

12:35

all 90 minutes and played very well in

12:37

Bournemouth's 2-1 home win over Everton, so

12:39

he is all the way back. Yes,

12:42

and again, this is

12:45

great for him from an individual

12:47

perspective. Again, if we look at

12:49

through the glasses of the US

12:51

national team, bodes well for this

12:54

summer. But again,

12:56

the seriousness of this injury, and

12:58

he's young, we

13:01

know he has taken a good

13:03

amount of time to come back.

13:06

I'm still holding my breath,

13:08

hoping that it holds in terms of

13:10

that hamstring, that everything is healed. But

13:13

certainly in the break, the way that he

13:16

talked, he was back in terms

13:18

of being a positive mentality. Obviously, he made

13:20

his impact on the field for the US.

13:22

And now to follow that

13:24

up with flying home, flying

13:26

across the pond there, and

13:28

going right back onto the field, that's a

13:30

good thing. So knock on wood, he is

13:33

heading in a much more positive direction. And

13:35

hopefully, it just gets better and better and

13:37

better from the US perspective leading into the

13:39

summer. Gio Reyna came on

13:41

for the last 30 minutes of

13:43

Nottingham Forest 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace.

13:45

In the press conference ahead of this match,

13:47

Nuno Espirito Santo was asked about Gio's exploits

13:49

with the US and whether he was deserving

13:51

of more playing time. He was non-committal, which

13:53

I know annoyed a lot of US fans.

13:55

But I took it as a positive sign

13:57

that he brought him on when he did.

14:00

Gio played well, Nuno praised him afterwards. So I

14:02

think this weekend might have been a step in

14:04

the right direction. What

14:06

I wish Nuno would have said is the

14:08

US is not playing this game, okay? The

14:11

US is not what

14:13

is going to decide my future. I

14:20

understand how we, and I

14:22

would lump myself into this group, we

14:24

see a US player do really well.

14:27

And the form of fallacy works both ways. But

14:31

Gio Reyna is going back into

14:33

not just a completely different environment,

14:35

but a drastically different dynamic

14:38

and situation. And so I

14:41

think it's unfair and it

14:45

lacks understanding of

14:48

what the reality is to say,

14:50

well, he played well with the US, they won

14:53

a title, they showed how important he is. So

14:55

then obviously he's going to come back to that

14:57

situation for Nottingham Forest, should be starting, should be

14:59

playing, and they'd be in better position as opposed

15:02

to where they are right now, tied with Luton

15:04

at 22 points for that last

15:06

position. And it looks like it's going to come

15:08

down for the next couple of months being in

15:10

a relegation battle. Staying

15:13

in England, but dropping down a level

15:15

to the championship, Josh Sargent, healthy again

15:17

after missing the US's two games, he

15:19

scored for Norwich and their 2-1 home

15:21

win over Plymouth. He has scored in

15:23

his last eight home games, 14 goals

15:26

and 19 championship matches this season.

15:29

Let me lump these two together. Yes. Haji

15:31

Wright, also on target for Coventry in

15:33

their 3-1 away win over Huddersfield. Haji,

15:35

six goals in his last five matches

15:37

for club and country. I'm

15:40

glad you lumped them together because they are

15:42

so kind of intertwined, Josh Sargent

15:44

and Haji Wright, because in an

15:46

alternate universe, and

15:49

actually one that I think a lot of people

15:51

had predicted and expected, it was

15:53

going to be Josh Sargent that came

15:55

in and played the role of Haji

15:57

Wright and come out of that win.

16:00

window looking golden.

16:04

Obviously Josh Sargent, we were deprived that because

16:06

of his injury and what ended up

16:09

happening is Haji Wright said, fine, I'm going to take

16:11

this opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands.

16:14

So much so that a guy that many

16:16

of us, including us here, had looked at

16:18

as the ship had

16:20

sailed on him is right back into

16:23

the conversation. Now it's because there's a

16:25

continued vacancy

16:27

in that spot up top. But

16:29

Josh Sargent, from

16:32

a US perspective, missed that window. I don't

16:34

think that this changes anything in terms of

16:36

the way that Greg Berhalter is going to

16:39

be thinking about the value of

16:41

bringing in Josh Sargent. It

16:43

just whets my appetite that much more to see

16:45

what Josh Sargent can do. And again, more,

16:48

in my expert opinion, Mossy,

16:50

the more Americans that have

16:52

American passports, that

16:54

play soccer, are scoring goals, the better off

16:56

it is, especially with this competition that's coming

16:59

forward. So I'm glad that Josh Sargent's injury

17:01

wasn't something that was going to keep him out a long

17:04

time. And I'm glad he's right back

17:06

to doing why we got excited about him in

17:08

the first day of just scoring goals. Norwich in

17:10

sixth place, there are four points above Coventry for

17:12

the last promotion playoff spot and Norwich have a

17:14

massive midweek game coming up against Leicester, staying

17:17

with the American center forward theme. Volladin

17:19

Balagan came off the bench from Monaco

17:21

and scored twice in their 5-2 away

17:24

win over Metz. According to Opta

17:26

Jack, that made him the first US players to

17:28

score two goals as a substitute in a match

17:30

in the top five European leagues since

17:33

Charlie Davies did it for Sosho back in 2009.

17:36

So this is the opposite, right? A player that I

17:38

don't think had a good

17:40

window. And as a matter of fact, I think brought

17:43

up a lot of questions and doubts in

17:46

Florian Balagan, then goes back

17:48

and does something like this. So again, it's

17:50

a very different type of situation. But

17:52

to come on as a substitute, as a goal

17:55

scorer and to make that type of impact, again,

17:58

it's good from a US perspective. But

18:00

it just shows that these

18:03

different environments can produce

18:06

different types of players. Not that that should

18:08

be a surprise to anybody, what I'm telling

18:10

you. We go to Italy

18:12

next. AC Milan with a 2-1 away

18:14

win over Fiorentina, Loftus, Cik and Rafael Lleán

18:16

with the goals. Neither Pulisic or Moussa started.

18:18

They both came on as subs in the

18:20

second half. And Stefano Pioli

18:22

intimated afterwards that Pulisic had asked not

18:24

to start because he was tired from

18:27

international duty. Oh, God. All

18:30

right, where do I start with this? Look,

18:35

Christian Pulisic is heading

18:38

in the direction of possibly being the best male

18:41

US player ever to play the game. Okay?

18:44

Still got a long way to go and there's still

18:46

argument and discussion and there'll still be others that will

18:48

probably have a debate

18:51

about that. So

18:53

I was never in a position where

18:57

I was comfortable. And

19:00

maybe that's just an inherent insecurity

19:02

of who I was

19:04

as a player, maybe who I was as a person,

19:06

maybe the era in which I came up in.

19:10

In that I mean,

19:12

there had to be protruding bone for

19:15

me to voluntarily give

19:18

up a spot on the field. I

19:20

was in constant fear

19:23

that somebody else was going to

19:26

take my spot either because

19:28

I wasn't playing, because I did

19:30

something wrong, or

19:32

because I got hurt or because I got sick or

19:35

something like that. And so

19:38

I can't put myself in that mindset.

19:40

And maybe it's progress. Maybe it shows

19:42

how good he is and how far

19:45

American players have come where they

19:47

are comfortable saying, no, it's okay.

19:50

And to be fair, the year that

19:52

Christian Polisic is having, I think

19:54

he certainly gets the benefit of the doubt and

19:56

would have much more leash than

19:58

other players out there. there. So, but it's

20:01

still, it just

20:03

rubs me the wrong way. And there's people

20:05

who say, well, he's being professional. He's doing

20:07

what's good for the team. All

20:09

right. But there is a value

20:12

to selfishness in

20:14

players if it is harnessed and used in

20:16

the right way. Yeah. Jay

20:18

Leno famously never took a night off because he

20:20

was paranoid about getting Wally pipped. Two Kuwezis started

20:22

in place. The Pulisic didn't score, so it worked

20:24

out. But imagine if he had gotten a hat

20:26

trick. Yeah. I mean,

20:29

again, I think Christian Pulisic has shown

20:31

how valuable he is

20:33

to this team. And we've been talking

20:35

about it now for months. But, and

20:38

maybe I'm a little Pollyanna here in that

20:41

I thought it was kind of an American trait to

20:44

say, no, you had a priet from my cold,

20:46

in my case, my cold, dead, redheaded hands. And

20:50

I just never, ever, ever wanted

20:52

to give anybody the opportunity to

20:55

take it away from me. And I, and

20:57

maybe, you know, I played in fear. And who

20:59

knows what the player I may have been had

21:02

I not played in fear. But that

21:04

type of apathy,

21:07

it's not apathy, but release

21:10

of, of that

21:12

fear. I wish I wish I had the

21:14

ability to do that, but I didn't. All right. Anyway, he's going

21:16

to be fine. I think he's going to be back in a

21:19

starting capacity anyway. The Juventus continue their

21:21

recent struggles. They fell one yellow way to Lazio,

21:23

Maruszczyk, where they go in second half stoppage time.

21:25

Neither McKinney or where I started. McKinney came on

21:27

at the start of the second half, where I

21:30

came on later in the second half. And I

21:32

have to say reading the comments on X, some

21:34

of the back and forth between UVA fans and

21:36

US fans, this contract situation with McKinney is all

21:38

of a sudden created some bad vibes. But

21:41

between who? UVA fans

21:43

and US fans. This had been such a feel

21:45

good story, but now US fans

21:47

are annoyed that UVA are low balling them and

21:50

UVA fans say you're making too much out of

21:52

this. McKinney is not that great. And so it's

21:54

turned into an argument. Yeah. Again,

21:57

I think I said this before. think

22:00

that there are lots of teams around

22:02

the world that will pay Weston McKinney

22:04

to play soccer and will pay handsomely

22:07

and they will recognize his value. If

22:12

Weston McKinney really isn't that valuable to

22:14

U of A and U of A

22:16

fans don't believe that he is that

22:18

valuable, then he will

22:20

take his services elsewhere. But

22:25

if everybody recognizes that he is being

22:27

lowballed and he is the money that

22:29

they are offering him, and this is

22:31

all speculation as to what it is,

22:33

but if it is something that isn't,

22:36

I guess, what he would consider fair

22:38

to what he brings to the table,

22:41

that's fine. It's a calculated type of

22:44

move and a strategic move

22:46

from Juventus. And who knows?

22:48

I mean, it's Juventus. So they can

22:51

certainly replace him, but

22:54

he has been one of the go-to

22:58

players for this Juventus team. And

23:00

I think he would be paid accordingly. But

23:03

that's for him and his agent to figure out and

23:05

for Weston to figure out, you know, what

23:09

am I valued? And am

23:12

I okay taking less to stay with

23:14

this team that I enjoy? By all

23:17

accounts, he enjoys living in Italy, enjoys playing

23:19

for Juventus. There is a value to that

23:21

that you have to add in,

23:23

but they're either going to pay him or they're not. In

23:27

Germany, Leverkusen heading towards their first ever

23:29

Bundesliga title, they came from behind for

23:31

a 2-1 home win over Hoffenheim. They're

23:33

unbeaten in 39 matches in all competitions

23:36

this season. Then Bayern suffered

23:38

a 2-0 home defeat to Dortmund. So

23:41

the gap is now 13 points with 7

23:43

to play. And this all occurred on the

23:45

heels of Shabi Alonzo making news

23:47

on Friday. He announced at his press conference

23:49

that he'll be staying at Leverkusen, not going

23:51

to Bayern or Liverpool. Some

23:53

interesting reaction. Most people found it

23:56

refreshing in this era in which super clubs seem to get

23:58

whatever they want, whenever they want, and everyone else. but

24:00

he's in a rush to move up. Shabi, it

24:02

sounds like, feels like he needs more seasoning and

24:04

he wants to coach Leverkusen in the Champions League.

24:06

But there is this narrative emanating from England that

24:08

he really blew it. How could you turn down

24:11

clubs like Liverpool and Bayern? You gotta strike while

24:13

the iron is hot. He's gotta understand that this

24:15

Leverkusen season is an aberration and his stock might

24:17

go down. How do you see it? Well,

24:20

you know how I said that when I played,

24:23

I would play with a fear and be

24:25

insecure. You know who doesn't

24:27

have any insecurity in terms of his ability

24:29

and his talent and his belief that there

24:32

are going to be opportunities. And in

24:34

this case, looking at a bird in the

24:36

hand with what he has, that's Shabi Alonso.

24:39

And I think this

24:42

only enhances his value. I

24:48

think he sees he has a good thing going

24:50

here. I also think there's an element of, you

24:53

don't wanna be the guy that replaces Klopp. I

24:55

mean, you don't. The

24:58

English can say what they want and it comes from a place

25:00

of arrogance in how

25:03

dare he or anybody turn down

25:05

an EPL opportunity. Well, the

25:08

world is bigger

25:10

than England. And certainly the world when

25:12

it comes to the game is much

25:14

bigger than the EPL. And I think that

25:16

this is an example, but I also think

25:18

this is Shabi who, by all accounts, is

25:20

also very intelligent and smart. And

25:23

I think he is seeing around the corner. I think

25:25

that this is a long-term type of

25:27

play that he is making. And like

25:29

I said, the brand of Shabi, I

25:32

think is only enhanced by this. I

25:34

have a sneaking suspicion that his dream job

25:36

is Real Madrid. Ancelotti just signed

25:39

a two-year extension, so maybe he'll wait

25:41

that out. Also, Pep's

25:43

contract with Citi runs out in 2025, so

25:46

some people have linked him to that job. So maybe

25:48

he thinks he can do even better than Liverpool or

25:50

Bayern. Are You willing to

25:52

concede that they've won the Bundesliga? Yes,

25:54

and they're now going for an Invincibles.

25:57

You Know who was also going for

25:59

an Invincibles? PSG. The but they lost

26:01

the last weekend so at a

26:03

saw three one to any see

26:05

Pepe did not score to complete

26:07

the U S centre forward circle.

26:09

Ah, so now it's just Leverkusen

26:12

going for an unbeaten league campaign.

26:14

Do you. Do.

26:16

Think. That. Is

26:19

obvious. It's warranted all

26:21

of the praise. Or

26:24

do think that this is an anomaly

26:26

type of thing when it comes to

26:28

how good For how how talented he

26:30

is I think it's warranted is very

26:32

impressive. Know a means of the a

26:34

result standpoint for sure. But.

26:37

Since he is staying were also went to get.

26:40

To. See. Whether. This

26:42

was just one one year

26:44

and damn. I like.

26:46

I think it's fascinating. I think that

26:48

that decision cost into your point. They're

26:50

very few that if they were offered

26:52

that type of opportunity in England would

26:54

say no, I'm gonna, I'm gonna hold

26:56

off. But. It takes. Except

26:59

at a very confident and secure type of

27:01

individual which I think he is and I

27:03

like I said, the cache and he has

27:05

acquired with what he has done so far

27:08

and yeah well, it's still have a short

27:10

period to judge of mine. I think he's

27:12

gonna have plenty of offers and to your

27:14

point, maybe he's got an even bigger one

27:16

down the line that he is holding out

27:18

for some graduations to. Ah, The.

27:21

Xabi. Labor coups and

27:23

for the incredible year and you get to

27:25

keep your friend for a little longer. Which

27:27

means that. Was. Replacing

27:29

club that gets more interesting as we go for anything

27:31

else. Must net Is it our that's going on A

27:34

quick break our our first quick break of the show

27:36

and when we come back. Stateside,

27:38

as was all sorts of interesting action

27:40

going. Okay,

27:43

welcome back! Ah A we had a little

27:45

interesting a. Break. Right there right there

27:47

you know the at which we can people

27:49

little peak of what's going on behind the

27:51

scenes. So for those that watch the show

27:54

you will know that we are behind this

27:56

desk and often times in a situation like

27:58

this there is a mark. Or how

28:00

it. that's what they call us here. And

28:02

Mossy was on his mark. But evidently

28:05

it was not looking good. so we apologize

28:07

if you did not get the full effect

28:09

of mossy in that first segment. We had

28:11

all sorts of crazy is going on behind

28:13

the scenes but I think we have worked

28:15

it out to give you the best possible

28:18

Masih centric, not asymmetrical or anything like that

28:20

that I sufficiently and cover that are we

28:22

good. We. Are good bye to we

28:24

go? Talk about some Mls yes or a

28:26

busy weekend of Major League Soccer? A D

28:28

L A Galaxy with a one hour home

28:31

when over Seattle Brazilian gabrielle pack with the

28:33

only go on the opening match the Galaxy

28:35

unbeaten and in first place in the west

28:37

while Seattle or dead last with no wins

28:39

from five games. Will. Look ah

28:42

below the Galaxy talked about. Making

28:44

changes which they did. The

28:47

Galaxy talked about. Sticking.

28:49

With. Greg. Van He which they

28:52

did. And. While it still is

28:54

relatively early days, It looks

28:56

like that was the right thing

28:58

to do. And we've talked

29:00

about painful and how important he

29:03

is. Packed. With

29:05

scored today. This. Is.

29:09

I. I hesitate to. Go.

29:11

Overboard in terms of praising the Galaxy,

29:13

because the reality is that since Nineteen

29:15

Eighty Six, This. Is what you've

29:17

promised. So when you live up to

29:20

what you have promised, That.

29:22

You get a we. Thank. You.

29:25

But. You don't go overboard, so I'm

29:27

glad the Galaxy is back. With.

29:29

My Galaxy. Background. I

29:32

think this is good for the league. They

29:34

are doing it in the little difference. Way.

29:37

It's certainly not a perfect team and they

29:39

will have their ups and downs through this

29:41

season, but this is kind of what we

29:43

expect. I'll be interested to

29:45

know how much of it is. In.

29:48

Own says. Though. The. Way

29:50

that this is all com about very early.

29:52

and if you really talk to Greg, Van

29:54

and company there. Are they doing

29:57

something different? Have the seems the

29:59

recipe? The. This, or is it just

30:01

the signings that they have now actually

30:03

are good. and are impactful in

30:05

the in the league. Defensively they been

30:08

very very good. And.

30:10

So. This. Is. This.

30:13

It's not rarefied air like I said for the

30:15

Galaxy, but certainly after what's happened over the last

30:17

few years. And. I wasn't a big step

30:19

in the right direction. A

30:21

rails Salt Lake trailed St. Louis one

30:23

elon a second half, but Christian around

30:26

go scored a hat trick. So.

30:28

Rsl tickets three to one. He

30:30

did. Ah, and.

30:33

There's lot people that feel the he

30:35

probably shouldn't have been on the field.

30:37

There was a moment where. You.

30:40

Know in the in the craziness that happens in

30:42

the box. even in this day and age, with

30:44

V A R it's still difficult to see some

30:46

of the things that going on. But there there

30:48

is. A video of

30:50

him. A

30:52

guess striking. The

30:55

guy that was marking him. And I

30:57

was watching in some of the Mls

30:59

over there on not Apple and such

31:02

a question company talking about and there

31:04

was a a disagreement between. Rather

31:07

I phillips and such a question about.

31:10

Was. It actually him hitting it. What

31:12

is a great goalscorer? And.

31:15

In this moments I think he

31:17

probably. Deserved. A red

31:19

card you you can't even straight out

31:21

at a player, which is ultimately what

31:24

he did. but. Rsl. Won't

31:26

care because he stayed on the field,

31:28

got his hat trick and we've seen

31:30

him what he has been to mls.

31:32

But now. Doing it

31:34

for Rsl. That was

31:36

that was step is something to be.

31:38

Whole bunch of different types. The Goals:

31:40

Yeah, that incident notwithstanding I find them

31:42

to be one of the most underrated

31:44

players and recent am under arrest Really?

31:46

Yes, off to another great start the

31:48

season. Five goals horses already? Underrated.

31:51

I don't think he gets the respect he deserves.

31:53

We talked about this when he was at Las

31:55

even referred to as the Rodney Dangerfield of Mls

31:57

as a you agree with me at one point.

32:01

I'd. Well, he was under rated by

32:03

Las C in that. They. Were

32:05

constantly talking about a move and again to

32:07

your point we were look we were saying

32:09

hey you you got this great player fear

32:11

and to be able to do it well

32:14

everybody's talking about they need to upgrade the

32:16

need to move on so I guess I

32:18

get other yeah I guess he's underrated are

32:20

you felt so strongly about it? You ripped

32:22

off your glasses. That was a sin and

32:24

sharper. Skip Barrel home and is at the

32:26

moon A famously had a are running when

32:28

the when the glasses the out. I was

32:31

it a healthy body you know even. with

32:33

your pluto. Or

32:36

takes. Yeah, I I don't think that he

32:38

is on undervalued from an Mls perspective, which

32:40

is why I think Rsl said yeah. We

32:42

will take that dice no problem. And this

32:44

is the type of stuff. With. Another

32:47

guy would no trouble finding the back of

32:49

the name is Luis Suarez. He bagged his

32:51

seventh in all competitions a header off a

32:53

set piece in Inter Miami's one one home

32:55

draw with and Y C. C. Martinez scored

32:57

for a New York messy did not play

33:00

due to injury. So.

33:04

When. Miss he doesn't play. See.

33:08

The level of interest,

33:11

That. I know people have and and

33:13

including myself has. Is diminished and

33:15

to be expected. Again,

33:20

you know we've seen this team

33:22

kind of fluctuate be without mercy

33:24

being at times good. And. At

33:26

times bad, And. This was kind

33:29

of a mixture of both, But

33:31

suarez. Right. He still. Scores.

33:34

Goals and she still is a pain

33:36

in the Us out there. Whether he's

33:38

running through the boxer with these, just

33:40

running around and screaming and yelling and

33:42

complaining about I, I think that Miami

33:44

probably should have lost this game. And

33:47

infirm and and y c of see

33:49

at a bunch. Of of

33:52

opportunities there. But. If.

33:55

A good if if an inter Miami game happens

33:57

without messy does it really has for this. There's.

34:01

An Nashville and Columbus played to

34:04

to to draw the line He

34:06

and his throws up for a

34:08

Columbus bookstore and good die for

34:10

Nashville the good ole boy. Spectacular

34:12

acrobatic kick. You

34:15

know I mention vision quest at the

34:17

beginning of but the show there's a

34:19

scene and vision quest. Were.

34:22

Matthew. Modine and his. Boss.

34:26

And. His bosses. Describing.

34:28

How in his little apartments? He

34:31

had seen Pele do a bicycle

34:33

kick and tears streaming down. this

34:35

guy who's of. A. Chef Fiddle

34:37

Italy's A he works in the kitchen

34:39

that they at the local hotel and

34:42

he he knows nothing about soccer and

34:44

yet seeing. The.

34:46

Joy and the artistry and the

34:49

talents. And the incredible mastery

34:51

of your body and skill of

34:53

Pillay doing the bicycle bicycle kick

34:55

Never get old. Some. Of

34:57

some of them are they're not all created

34:59

equal but they still require. Just

35:01

when. You really look at it an

35:03

incredible amount. Of. Ability

35:05

and timing and concentration.

35:08

And. Talents. And. They

35:11

are magical. And.

35:14

The. Doj will have that for the rest of his life. to

35:16

be able to say I want to see me throw a bike.

35:19

There. It is and he he he

35:21

hit it so well it wasn't it

35:23

was so pure. And.

35:25

It's going to go down as one

35:27

of the great goals or of this

35:29

year so well. Nashville let three points

35:31

get away against albeit a very good

35:33

Columbus Crew team. This. Game

35:35

is gonna remember for the Doj goal

35:38

and so Weldon thank you for providing

35:40

get another moment of magic and like

35:42

and vision quest. Maybe there was somebody

35:44

else out there that in that brief

35:46

moments. And about the

35:48

Doj gave a magical moment to

35:50

and may be affected them personally

35:52

and emotionally in a positive positive

35:55

way. Couture. Hernandez who was

35:57

not injured did not play in this game

35:59

when will for Nancy was as better after.

36:01

as he said team policy. And.

36:03

Then when he was asked about

36:05

Tuesday and could show he said

36:07

we'll see the Tuesday he's referring

36:09

to his Columbus hosts he got.

36:12

And. The Concacaf Champions Cup Quarter Final

36:14

first leg also that night New

36:16

England host Club America. Then.

36:18

Wednesday, Inter Miami, Monterrey had a piano

36:21

Pachuca all four matches on Ss one

36:23

doubleheaders to then when they were excited

36:25

about what what was the reason given

36:27

team policy. So

36:29

that narrows it down. that a

36:31

him. So obviously he did something.

36:34

That's. A No No. Could. Be

36:37

anything from showing up late

36:39

to. Taking. A swing

36:41

at somebody and anywhere in the overdose may be

36:43

even more. We'll. We'll find out. What?

36:46

Is what is happening but. It. Has

36:48

to have been serious enough. Where.

36:51

Wilford. Nancy said no that's not going

36:53

to happen here and and an important player

36:55

we were talking about are around going home

36:58

port and see is. A

37:00

So. Now I'm.

37:03

Now. So curious and you to find out

37:05

what it is. Hopefully it of we it

37:07

comes out and hopefully it's not too bad

37:09

as Freddy Concacaf Champions Cup I mention that

37:11

we've had for Mls first Liga Mx matchups

37:13

In this edition of the competition, Liga Mx

37:15

is one of four. We have three more

37:18

in this round, so Mls really needs to

37:20

step up your i don't think it's going

37:22

to come in. New England Club America. New

37:24

England last in the East, winless to five

37:26

games. Could America level on points of top

37:28

Liga Mx? I think America are solid favorites

37:30

in that type. Sickly since the second Lego

37:32

bed the Aztec Us. Because they scattered a

37:34

motor cross a very Gillette stadium that nights.

37:36

So I like America to move on there.

37:39

but the other to Columbus take it as

37:41

an answer. Miami, Monterey. Pretty. Close to

37:43

fifty fifty and it's or Miami Monterey If you

37:45

told messy is gonna start and be close to

37:48

one hundred percent for both games, I would actually

37:50

favor Inter Milan. Or. And I

37:52

would care. Christmas is point. Yeah,

37:54

okay so I got put Zuko coming through with

37:56

not a problem smoke in a coffee against Harry

37:59

Day. I know. I got. Into.

38:01

Miami. with or without mercy coming

38:03

through against Monterey, I have Club

38:06

America coming through against New England.

38:09

Are ultimately and I would have said

38:11

that even if doing a was playing

38:13

the second game and home and abroad

38:15

and I do have yeah I think

38:17

I. I think I'll put Columbus. Over

38:20

Tigress which would have to Mexican teams and

38:22

to Columbus or to of Mls teams. Ultimately

38:24

in the fucker And the semifinals There and

38:26

then do we know who they play? Do

38:29

we know how yes is over? Then it

38:31

would be Club America versus Pachuca and and

38:33

all Mexican semi final and moment and then

38:35

answer Miami, Columbus and and I'm less I'm

38:37

in front of a goes the way you

38:40

just said slim as you from a club

38:42

for his country perspective if Monterrey knock off

38:44

into minor but it's because Brennan Vasquez goes

38:46

nuts in both games. Will you be happy?

38:48

even know it's illegal Magazine. Knocking off an

38:51

Mls team or I will be. I

38:53

think I will be born would.

38:55

Okay, so would you rather have.

38:58

Brandon. Vasquez. Do

39:01

well, Or. An Mls. Well.

39:06

And and obviously like said at the expense of. So.

39:09

I I think. I. Am.

39:11

While. While I wear my mls

39:13

on my sleeve. I

39:16

think. America and

39:18

American players. I

39:21

think that expressiveness? I I think I would.

39:24

I would still be happy. If.

39:26

Brandon Baskets if he is going to

39:28

be. The.

39:32

The. Source of our failure when I

39:34

say mls his failure. I'm.

39:36

I'm happier about that. I'm happy for him.

39:39

And from a. Big. Picture

39:41

perspective, I think it's.

39:44

A bigger has benefits if if they berhalter

39:46

at some point decides to reagan Paul I'm

39:48

in. Which. I hope that he does.

39:51

We will see what happens that is it

39:53

our a sick of other quick break we

39:55

come back in time for Ask us Okay

39:57

welcome back it's time for ask Alexi that

39:59

part of the show where yes and in

40:01

your comments, questions and concerns keep in mind

40:03

that are Feel Union Podcast ah handle out

40:05

there on social media is S O t

40:07

you with Alexa use that hashtag ask like

40:09

see what they're on the social media platforms

40:11

or you can call in to our state

40:14

a Union podcast hotline which is Six Five

40:16

seven five four Nine Two Two Nine Seven

40:18

Six Five Seven Five Four Nine Two Two

40:20

Nine seven months sort of. The folks wanna

40:22

know this show. We. Have to voicemail that

40:24

listen to the first one right now. They.

40:28

Like they might be a gym from

40:30

Kalamazoo. I got a quick question on

40:33

the last five girls. You mention the

40:35

that Chris was equity third Corners or

40:37

how can you be a pro athlete?

40:39

How can you be a world class

40:42

athlete and have. A

40:44

whole your games such as free kicks. Could you

40:46

please tell me what you do Actually do it?

40:48

Back to. And how anybody could be

40:50

bad if reject from from of them are they by.

40:53

Love. The show. Okay, Thank

40:55

you Jim some Kalamazoo! It's a it's

40:57

a good question and I share your

40:59

frustration and I think a lot of

41:01

people out there that in particular when

41:03

it comes to this Us Men's National

41:05

Team. When when Christian Ballistic walks out

41:08

to the corner. Ah, You,

41:10

it's it's a fifty fifty chance that first

41:12

episode going to clear the first. guts. I

41:15

think. It's easy

41:17

to blame the kicker, and believe me,

41:19

at times it is completely fair and

41:21

valid to blame a kicker in a

41:23

situation like this. But. The

41:25

coordination and the understanding as

41:28

to. What is?

41:31

At least at being a attempted to

41:33

have happened there I think is important.

41:35

So in a through through a week

41:37

of training there are moments during your

41:40

training days. That. Are devoted.

41:42

To. Set. Pieces. And.

41:44

Whether that's the end of see individual

41:47

actually ticking and taking a shot on

41:49

goal, that's much more of a solitary

41:51

type of thing and a lot of

41:53

time that happens after after training. But

41:55

the ones that are drawn up, the

41:58

ones that are. Obviously. Warner

42:00

Kicks or set pieces were you're putting a

42:02

kind of into the box that has to

42:04

be kind of part of the training session.

42:06

Sometimes it's with in an actual game the

42:08

you're playing and then there's some stoppages. Sometimes

42:11

they move it around to have multiple multiple.

42:14

Bites of the Apples sometimes that the at the

42:16

end of the training and. The

42:18

first and foremost Elise. The way that I look at

42:20

these and and in I would be brought up. Because.

42:23

Of my ability in the air, my height, I

42:26

need to know. Where. The

42:28

ball is going where you're attempting to put it.

42:30

I don't need to know be exact place but.

42:32

He's. Are professionals to your points A gym

42:34

and you would like to think that on

42:37

a consistent basis they should be able to

42:39

put it in an area. But I will

42:41

say this when you see players hit free

42:43

tix. More often than not

42:45

it doesn't go where they wanted to go. You

42:47

see it going all over the place. so it's

42:49

it's harder than people think. That

42:52

what? Irritates me. Is.

42:55

When it doesn't clear the first guy

42:57

because either. In. A situation like

42:59

this occur simplistic is taking it, he has

43:01

he doesn't have the skills your point to

43:03

get it over that for Skype. There.

43:05

Is not somebody there that

43:08

is. Told you need to

43:10

get in that first post and get in

43:12

front of somebody and that to me. His.

43:15

Lack of planning keep in mind. That.

43:17

This is a national team now in

43:19

this era that has ten thousand coaches

43:22

including by the way set piece coaches

43:24

that we've talked about before on the

43:26

program but we are at said these

43:29

coaches but there are people men and

43:31

women out there who specific job is

43:33

to do things right on ah set

43:36

pieces I. I. Don't know why

43:38

Chris Simplistic continues to be put out

43:40

there. If it is truly a situation

43:42

where you've told Chris implicit, this is

43:44

where the bombings to go and he

43:46

does not have the ability for whatever

43:48

reason ah of putting up there a

43:50

look. There are some blind spots out

43:52

there. There are some weaknesses out there,

43:54

even for great players like got like

43:56

Chris Impalas. Star players

43:58

like to take said. Shouldn't the

44:00

status thing. As. So I can be

44:02

a tricky conversation for a manager to take him

44:05

off of that. You think we're at that point

44:07

would berhalter and Policy I. I don't think that

44:09

that is the reason I think they truly believe

44:11

Gregg Berhalter in his staff, truly believe the Chris

44:14

and Public Sick is the best and sometimes. If.

44:16

The best player taking it is actually also really,

44:18

really good in the box. I don't think that's

44:21

the case here, like I don't think that they're

44:23

losing anything by having Christian ballistic, But obviously you

44:25

need someone. That consistently.

44:28

And I mean if I. As.

44:30

A player coming up for of set piece.

44:32

If I in my mind know. That.

44:34

Nine and a ten times. This is where

44:36

it's going to be. The. Advantage that

44:39

I have. Is. It

44:42

so valuable. But. When.

44:45

I watch this team. Is. A

44:47

I get frustrated because I see time and

44:49

time again. these wasted opportunity. I didn't concentrate

44:52

on set pieces until I probably got to

44:54

college Growing up I didn't think about them

44:56

or was like I was floored in the

44:58

mix of see what happens right? But. The

45:01

Pics. And the the

45:03

roles and the. In.

45:05

Older by hand signals and the understanding

45:08

and be array of different plays that

45:10

you had that didn't come into my

45:12

thinking about the game until much later,

45:14

but ignored at your own peril. You.

45:17

Scored against England Foxborough of are you member

45:19

who took that as a tab ramos. The

45:21

great tab ramos So we discuss stuff before

45:24

he put that exactly where it needed to

45:26

be and it's like you're basketball guy right?

45:28

Masih, I'm I'm I think I know enough

45:30

about basketball where sometimes in the alley oop

45:33

you just kind of throw it up in

45:35

that area let the guy go get it.

45:37

Same with football sometimes as legacies was wide

45:39

receivers you throw up in that area and

45:42

just let the guys go get it. Just

45:44

give me a chance. What used to drive

45:46

me crazy was. Here we come were

45:48

rather not as center backs. Often times in

45:51

his into the in into the eighteen right

45:53

we get all set. We all know what

45:55

the players getting a signal. and then

45:57

it gets cut off with the your post

45:59

and. The protein powder down the other

46:01

way and I got a whole my

46:03

ass back and I vividly remember turning

46:06

around and running. And cussing

46:08

out. Iraq. When older whoever ends up

46:10

be a good of it's absolute as he

46:12

could have screwed up to cause I gotta

46:14

get my ass back and and now defend

46:16

because you couldn't clear the first guy at

46:18

the post, you couldn't put it where we

46:20

wanted it to be. so. It's

46:22

it is an art. It. Is a

46:24

skill. I think it's an important one,

46:26

especially in this day and age. Ah,

46:28

were. In a. Fouls

46:31

are. I

46:34

guess they're easier to come by. In

46:36

terms of the way that pizza teams play

46:38

and they can be that the the differentiation

46:40

between winning and losing and from it for

46:43

a team like the U S that nice

46:45

every little advantage you can possibly. Eat

46:48

out. Against. Especially against

46:50

elite teams. And we better.

46:53

We. Better improve. Very. Quickly

46:55

you mention basketball. We came in today.

46:57

Tennessee had just lost to produce the

46:59

Elite Eight. I have never seen Sean

47:01

Sullivan so annoyed. Wow I I I

47:03

didn't even realize that was going on

47:05

in. I didn't really follow it as

47:07

I say. Made the mistake of asking

47:09

him about it. Man or man he

47:11

was. So he was he or and

47:13

Bill somebody you know what news oh

47:15

he was. if it was bad, is

47:17

is down and else what? I.

47:20

He explained it to me that there was was

47:22

the first time they were possibly going to be

47:24

in the final four and so that was ripped

47:27

away from them. So condolences. Is not a fan

47:29

of Zach Edi know he said that they he's

47:31

they don't know how to referee again on this

47:33

big seven Foot got correct A Speaking of college

47:35

sports, a gym is from Kalamazoo, Michigan. That's where

47:37

Derek Jeter grew up which is why he's a

47:40

big Michigan sports fan. He was at the National

47:42

Championship game which I went to Nick I'm ah

47:44

women. other ones we do was take a listen

47:46

to the other voicemail. Three.

47:49

As as as the Hogan and

47:51

Asheville North Carolina. On.

47:54

Enjoy watching the podcast on you

47:56

tube a couple times a week.

47:59

A. Lucky Man! There are unions

48:01

for the thirtieth. Anniversary

48:03

of the Ninety Four World Cup

48:05

Team this morning on the podcast.

48:08

Managed. To put that together, she get

48:10

those guys together, have them tell some stories.

48:13

And. I. Keep.

48:15

A legacy going. To say

48:17

try all those do and look for

48:20

to the next. That said thanks. Oh.

48:22

Thank you thank you Steve from Ashville and

48:24

also thank you for for watching the pod

48:26

over there are no on you tube and

48:29

and look I know people get it different

48:31

ways. It it is.

48:33

It amazes me. How many

48:35

people actually watch the show? Ah and

48:37

in a my kids get their news

48:39

from tic toc and and you tube

48:41

and and all that kind of stuff

48:43

in what you tube is to. Multiple.

48:46

Generations now is pretty pretty amazing celts. I'm

48:48

glad that you watch it on, got it

48:50

you? But you're listening or watching and I'm

48:52

just glad that you up. The. Like

48:54

the show when it comes to us the

48:57

Eighty Four region. As I as I mentioned

48:59

it is thirty Years and. It's

49:01

the sort of, I think because of

49:04

what twenty six is going to mean.

49:06

I think there's so much focus, rightfully

49:08

so on. That. Summer.

49:11

And there will be plenty of celebration

49:13

of what Ninety Four was an to

49:15

be fair what Ninety Nine was in

49:17

terms of previous World Cups in the

49:19

Us, both men's and women's and where

49:21

we are in Twenty Six. But there

49:23

should be something. This summer.

49:26

And the fact that we have a big tournament

49:28

in the form of Copa America, the fact that

49:30

it is here in the United States, I think

49:32

it is ripe for something like that. You'll.

49:35

Maybe I'll try to figure out

49:38

a way to bring everybody together.

49:40

Knock on wood and thankfully everybody.

49:42

but as the late great Fernando

49:45

could be, how are still around

49:47

and with us? And.

49:51

But. In the past thirty years, Plenty

49:53

of happened in all of our lives.

49:56

good and bad. The.

49:58

Interesting thing also when it comes. That generation

50:00

in that group is almost every single

50:02

one of them. Ah, Continued.

50:05

On working in soccer and in in one way

50:08

or the other is working in soccer. I see

50:10

many of them when it comes to the stuff

50:12

that we do. whether it's Tony, Meola, Cobi Jones,

50:14

or Eric. When all the I heart says in

50:16

the coaching ranks, Tab Ramos is the coaching ranks.

50:19

the list goes on. I just saw my sober

50:21

in a few months ago and now in St.

50:23

Louis so we all. Keep. In

50:25

touch in that's if I needed something or

50:27

fat a question of I just wanted reach

50:30

out and say hello. I. Certainly have

50:32

that at my fingertips, but. It

50:34

would be nice to kind of get everybody and in a

50:36

room together and. Talk

50:38

about the old days I guess. They

50:41

put out a video of your comments about

50:43

Tab Ramos. You were singing his praises. In

50:45

our last podcasts are both Tony Meola an

50:47

era when older agreed with you, but there

50:50

are some younger fans pushing back looking at

50:52

tabs. Resume the club pedigree. How good could

50:54

he have been? So Eric was arguing with

50:56

those people so your Tab Ramos Com answer

50:59

triggered some interesting conversation on X look in

51:01

the in the litany of of but takes

51:03

that I have had. I feel that that

51:05

is. While. Incredibly true when

51:08

I stand by it. also not even close

51:10

to one of the hottest takes out there.

51:12

And if if you are. Either

51:14

young or old. And. You

51:16

disagree. Okay fine I can respect

51:18

the fact that you have the a differing opinion

51:20

as asinine he is it as it may be.

51:23

Your. Single hottest take is that you

51:25

don't think the Naked Gun movies are

51:27

funny up know? I think they're They're

51:29

stupid. I. Think that they're

51:31

yeah, I think they're completely stupid. smile. I'm.

51:34

Okay, Or anything else must not that.

51:37

Are. What we come to the end of are shown at

51:39

the end of each and every show I give you my

51:41

out one for the road in the I thought about this

51:43

for a while but it's requires a little bit of a

51:45

setup. Must see what the what? I'll let you do that.

51:47

He. Had a best Premier League game on

51:50

the weekend. took place at St James' Park.

51:52

Newcastle trailed West Ham three one in the

51:54

second half. They rallied for a for three

51:56

victory, but their comeback was aided by very

51:59

controversial penalty. The. The Region When they

52:01

were down three one Calvin Phillips

52:03

went to clear a ball in

52:05

his own box. Anthony Gordon stepped

52:07

in front of mode the last

52:09

second so Phillips ended up kicking

52:11

Gordon. Newcastle were awarded a penalty.

52:13

Most people disagreed with this. what

52:15

say you get So I I

52:17

thought about this and. You

52:19

know there's There's a. And

52:21

I was kind of be a smartass as I am. Often.

52:25

Asked to do over there on the X machine

52:27

and I. Said.

52:29

Oh ridiculous. These replace the referees

52:32

are horrible. Obviously these are not

52:34

replacement referees. Couple. Of

52:36

points I was I was trying to

52:38

make and you during the whole replace

52:40

the referee thing in Major League Soccer.

52:43

Or. Ill do the way

52:46

that's. Countries. And cultures

52:48

referee the game. The way that we

52:50

look at referees. The. Value.

52:53

That we do or don't

52:55

attach to referees and. The

52:58

different ways that the laws of

53:00

the game or interpreted and Avi

53:02

refereed relative to where you are

53:04

in the world and different leagues

53:06

and all that. In this particular

53:08

instance I just thought it was.

53:10

It was so interesting. The.

53:12

Different ways that people

53:15

saw this play and

53:17

completely. Differently.

53:20

Ah, then in or somebody else.

53:24

The. The. Active shielding the

53:26

ball. Is. Something that you are

53:28

taught. At a young age.

53:30

But I do think that the general

53:32

consensus out there when it comes to

53:34

shielding a ball. Is

53:36

putting yes your body in between

53:39

a player and the ball? But.

53:42

What? Makes this instance really unique

53:44

is that. The. Body.

53:47

Is. Turned. Towards

53:49

the player. And. Away from the

53:52

actual ball. And. I

53:55

mean, I know I'm old, but I don't think

53:57

it seems that much that when you are taught

53:59

to shield the. Wall. It

54:01

is always in the context of you

54:03

facing the ball with your back to

54:05

the player that you are still making

54:07

the ball to. I also. Don't.

54:10

Deny that. You. Have a

54:12

right to space. On.

54:14

The Field. And. A lot of people

54:16

argued that What? This guy saw

54:18

the ball was in the process of

54:20

kicking it but the space between a

54:23

foot and the ball. Changed.

54:25

In that a player then occupied that

54:27

space in which case the person kicking

54:30

the ball. Theoretically.

54:32

Is responsible now. For

54:35

their. Follow. Through

54:37

into the ball and that's why this

54:39

was this was called. I think there

54:42

are. Smart. People

54:44

out there the could probably go

54:46

either way on this thing. I

54:48

did think. That. In this instance,

54:50

turning around and putting your ass

54:52

to the ball and your chest

54:54

to the player. Was. Not

54:57

a situation where that you were shielding the

54:59

ball. I do get. That.

55:02

Sitting a player. In. It

55:04

of itself can certainly be

55:06

called certainly be called a

55:08

foul. But. Ultimately,

55:11

What? They showed his. Is. Whether you

55:13

have. Replacement. Referees.

55:16

Or. Regular Referees. You.

55:19

Are always going to have disagreements. You

55:21

are always going to be faced. With.

55:23

Subjective decisions to be made.

55:26

And. And. So the Schumann's

55:28

are taken out of the equation

55:30

and who knows with Matt may

55:32

not be far off. But until

55:34

that happens, You. Are going

55:37

to be faced with a situation where humans

55:39

are going to make decisions based on their

55:41

background and based on their baggage and based

55:43

on their history that you may. Or.

55:45

May not like and may not agree with. and

55:47

there was a time. Where. We actually

55:50

encouraged and wanted that in the game.

55:53

And. I. Don't think that that

55:55

has gone away necessarily with to a are we

55:57

just argue about different things and I hope that

56:00

it. But. It never goes

56:02

away. And this is

56:04

arguably the best league in the world. Lot

56:06

of people argue that and yet on a

56:08

consistent basis. We are screaming and yelling at

56:11

route referees about this call or that call

56:13

in they make for because they don't do

56:15

that. I

56:19

don't know what's ultimately the

56:21

answer is. I do think

56:23

that even. While.

56:25

I can grumpy old man things. I.

56:27

Like with the game is today. In.

56:30

Terms of the technology that is implicit

56:32

implemented and even the technology that maybe

56:34

hasn't been implemented. I like where it

56:36

is today because there is still and

56:38

Masih You Here member When we talked

56:40

about the fear. Of

56:42

the gray area. Going.

56:45

Out of the game, there are still

56:47

gray areas in our game. There are

56:50

still subjective parts of our game. And.

56:52

I think that's a good thing. And. I don't think

56:54

that any time soon that's gonna go away. At

56:56

least I hope that it doesn't go away, but

56:59

it also means that come. Monday. Morning.

57:02

Like a lot of sports. Are. Going

57:04

to be arguing and disagreeing. About.

57:07

The men and women that we put in charge

57:09

of making these ultimate decisions. But that's kind of

57:11

what. Sports. Is and

57:13

I know when you have a a horse race.

57:15

In this case when you have a team that

57:18

you're that you're that you love. Those.

57:21

Those. Calls. A hurts

57:23

you that much more. But. In

57:25

the greater scheme of things, this is ultimately what I

57:27

love about sports. A

57:29

couple of miscellaneous notes Before we go, I

57:31

received a phone call Usa from our former

57:34

producer Luis Aguilar. Get really? Now it was

57:36

an accident. He was trying to call his

57:38

mother and accidentally called me this. Nevertheless, we

57:40

chatted for a few minutes. you doing well.

57:42

He wanted me to say hi to you

57:44

and everybody. ah love him or also you

57:46

mentioned at the top of the pod that

57:49

you're going to be going away this week.

57:51

I'd like seat tell the folks why because

57:53

I have a couple of thoughts. Okay so

57:55

I have but. Teenage children.

57:58

And one of them has reached. The age

58:01

when they have the

58:03

opportunity to go to

58:05

college either offers real

58:07

problems. Okay, but. We.

58:09

Are taking a little trip and I am

58:11

going out to the east coast to look

58:13

it's much different schools with her and to.

58:16

Literally. Get the lay of the land

58:18

to a figure this, figure this all

58:20

out. I think we have come to

58:22

the conclusion that she wants to get

58:24

as far away from me and her

58:26

mother as possible and I'm okay with

58:28

that. A water. She's a Southern California

58:30

raised girl and I want her to.

58:33

Spreader wings and go out. And.

58:36

We'll. See. See other

58:38

parts of the country and one of the

58:40

ways she can do that is to college.

58:42

So yeah I will be on the road

58:44

this week. Don't worry, we are plenty of

58:47

content that we will put up. Ah, but

58:49

yeah but I had our mossy suggestions or

58:51

concerns and two things. One of the greatest

58:54

episodes and Sopranos history was an episode in

58:56

the first season in which Tony takes Meadow

58:58

to see colleges. Or though I know you

59:00

don't care for that show, I would recommend

59:03

you watching that episode tonight with your daughter.

59:05

I think that would be fun. Ah, Number

59:07

to ah On Tuesday night at, You and

59:09

I attended an awards show in downtown L

59:12

A along with Sean Sullivan, an errand sector.

59:14

We went to a bar afterwards and the

59:16

most endearing moment of the evening for me

59:18

was when you pulled Erin aside, explain they

59:21

are going to be taking a teenage daughter

59:23

to see colleges in your a bit overwhelmed

59:25

trying to wrap your head around this whole

59:27

process and she'd talk you through it and

59:30

dropped all these pearls of wisdom. Cixi was

59:32

wonderful and you know she is obviously a

59:34

whole lot younger and and much closer to

59:36

it. And. It's

59:39

the world. Marcy as changed so

59:41

much since when I was going

59:43

through it and my particular situation

59:45

was was rather unique. And

59:48

look, I know a guy said these are first

59:50

world problems and she's very, very fortunate to be

59:52

able to have to do this. But. It.

59:55

Was nice to have to hear

59:57

Aaron talk about her experiences and

59:59

the know to to to say

1:00:01

but first and foremost that. It's.

1:00:04

Gonna be fine and this was Aaron

1:00:06

Sector at eleven pm after downing tied

1:00:08

putting as imagine how wise you must

1:00:10

be in the middle of a day.

1:00:12

That's true and I think she's why

1:00:14

is no matter what's she's A She's

1:00:16

a wonderful wonderful young woman and we're

1:00:18

so fortunate to have for a here

1:00:21

at at Fox. She did make an

1:00:23

incredible revelation. Wisconsin was her dream school.

1:00:25

not you se yes exactly but she's

1:00:27

to turn out okay to write Wisconsin's

1:00:29

really hot sauce. Lots of Vod people

1:00:31

like Guy. Was. Concern and just

1:00:33

as it and that's your thing like some

1:00:35

of these places that back in the day

1:00:37

when I was you know, coming out at

1:00:39

the only places I thought it was Rutgers

1:00:41

but. Some. Of these places

1:00:44

that we didn't even think about as who and

1:00:46

ah when it comes to it's but the world's

1:00:48

changed machine that sir. I guess that's a good

1:00:50

thing. So anyway I'll

1:00:52

be on the road and in all check in

1:00:54

and which know how things are going out there.

1:00:57

Anything before we go medicine or as I said

1:00:59

there will be a show later on this week

1:01:01

we are with. It's something special that I know

1:01:03

you're going to like. Everybody

1:01:06

Mr. Corbyn today on or see the

1:01:08

In Podcast hotline as if by seven,

1:01:10

five four nine Concern that seven Thank

1:01:13

you everybody including those that watch it

1:01:15

on you tube or over there on

1:01:17

Spot of Fire apple with all the

1:01:20

different places that that. You have out

1:01:22

there. It's a and in the world

1:01:24

who have lost the new join us

1:01:26

of of harm's way a year and

1:01:28

still we we talked about this growing

1:01:30

from a little closet and what it

1:01:33

is but we still have a lot

1:01:35

of growth I think systems for that's

1:01:37

wonderful things from an illness I I

1:01:39

will thought that he saw the wonderful

1:01:41

week of of of soccer both on

1:01:43

and off the field and in silver

1:01:45

the song. Five.