Latest / Friends on Football / Ep. 37 - USMNT Roster Reaction & Premier League Weekend Preview

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Ep. 37 - USMNT Roster Reaction & Premier League Weekend Preview · Friends on Football

• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, friends, and welcome to episode 37 of the Friends on Football Podcast.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: I'm one of your co-hosts, Brandon Johnson, and joined with me as always is my main man, Mr.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Sean Boyle.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, how are you doing?
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_02: Brandon, I'm doing well.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_02: We've got some exciting news to talk about, a roster today, and then we've got some games to preview, so I'm excited to do it with you.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: How are you?
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Doing well, Sean.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'm glad you set the preview.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: This episode is coming out a day later than our typical episodes, but we did that on purpose because of this roster reveal.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, to get us started, episode 37.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: I know I've been following this number journey.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Number 37, a guy we know very well, Mickey Vandeven.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: And I guess I'll just throw it to you, Sean, real quick.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Do you have any idea why he wears the number 37?
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_02: I so I don't know the entire backstory, Brandon, but as you started this number journey, I pointed out to you a few episodes ago.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_02: I said, hey, I know number 37 has some significance to Mickey Vandeven.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_02: I believe it's a friend of his.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if the friend was sick or passed away or something, but there's some connection to an old childhood friend and the number, and I know that's why he picked it at Spurs.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_02: Is that close to correct?
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, no, that's you're right on it.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: So his late best friend Dimitri, uh, when Vandeven was 15 years old, his best friend Dimitri passed away from after an illness.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the two of them played football together all the time, and they both dreamed of becoming professionals.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: And the day before Dimitri passed away, Mickey Vandeven promised him that he would make it as a pro footballer.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: And when he signed for Tottenham in 2023, number 37 was available.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: And because it was Dimitri's favorite number growing up, uh he chose it immediately to keep his friend's memory alive.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: So you were right on it, Sean.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Great story.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: It's cool because 37, again, is not a number that maybe a lot of people think of when they think of footballers, but a really cool way for Mickey to honor his late best friend.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's awesome.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: That's a great story.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_02: I knew there was some significance to him.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_02: I didn't know the specifics of it, but I'm glad you shared that.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_02: Awesome that he is such a good lad in addition to being our club's captain, so it's good stuff for Mickey.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you gotta love it.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: You gotta love it.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, our main focus of this episode will be the US men's national team release.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: We'll go over the the team, we'll go over sort of what this means and moving forward, and then at the end we will preview the games on the weekend.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, I guess just to start, I think there's a little bit of confusion, maybe because there was a lot of hype around this release, what this team means and and what this means going forward.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: Essentially, Mauricio Pacetino, men's national team head coach, is hosting a camp, and the US will play four friendly matches over the next two weeks, beginning September 26th as their first match.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: And this team that Mauricio Pachatino called in are players, uh, some of which have were on the World Cup team, some are newer, some are younger, some are older.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: A good mix.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: But this these games don't mean much.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's really a test for the coach to see who are these guys, how do they play?
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: I'll have them for two weeks in training and and see what they're about.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: I saw some chatter online.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe people were just a little confused and they didn't understand post-World Cup what this next team meant.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: And come the next window, the next international break, Mauricio Pacetino could call in a whole different squad of players.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: He may choose some of the same ones, some of the some different, but uh the manager uses this as a chance to see and evaluate talent firsthand because during this the majority of the year, they're with their club team, they're not with the national team.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: So uh just wanted to clear that up first, Sean.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe let's go position group by position group.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: We'll we'll name the roster and and we'll just talk a little bit about some of the guys that got called in that maybe haven't been called into the national team before.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: So, Sean, to start, we have uh four goalkeepers on the roster Chris Brady, Matt Freeze, Diego Cochin, and Brian Schwaki.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Chris Brady and Matt Freeze were both two of the three goalies at the World Cup for the U.S.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: Diego Cochen was actually called a training player for the World Cup team.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: So he was not on the roster, but he trained with them and was with them.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: And Brian Schwaki, uh, this is his first call-up and really his first uh major involvement with the national team.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: So, Sean, just what are your thoughts uh on that on that goalkeeping list to start?
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, Brandon.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_02: I think you did a good job setting the table as to what this team is there to do.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_02: It's essentially there for Mauricio Pachino and his staff to evaluate them in a U.S.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_02: setting.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_02: That's the main objective.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_02: The side effect of that is they're going to be doing it through four friendly matches, which, like you said, don't mean much.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_02: So it's not the matches themselves.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_02: They mean something to us as people who care and are interested in this player pool and evaluating these guys.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_02: That's basically all they're going to be used for.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_02: It's just another piece of data to judge these guys by.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_02: And for some, like you mentioned, a lot of this roster, the exciting parts of this roster, it's the first piece of context we're going to get with these guys in the US MNT senior team shirt.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_02: So in this goalkeeper room, you mentioned Diego Cochin and Brian Schwaki as the two newcomers.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_02: Cochin's been a guy who's been highly sought after in the United States ranks for a long time.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_02: He's been one of our best goalkeeping prospects.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_02: He was at Barcelona.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_02: He is on loan at Lingby Bold Club in, I believe it's in Sweden.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_02: It's Denmark.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_02: Scandinavia, Denmark, okay.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's somewhere in Scandinavia.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_02: And it is not the highest level of football, but he is starting regularly there.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_02: So it's good for a keeper, especially at his age, to get minutes under their belt.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_02: That's the most important thing.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_02: I'm excited to see what he looks like in the US M and T-shirt.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, we see him in a match.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_02: Goalkeeper is one of those weird positions where you don't necessarily know how Potch views it, if he's going to give these guys time or not.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_02: You would think over four matches we'll see him between the sticks in one of them.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_02: We'll see.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_02: For Brian Schwaki, he's been one of the best goalkeepers in MLS this year.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_02: So statistically speaking, he's performed well.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's good to honor that and get a guy who hasn't previously been in a camp inside the mix and see what he's capable of.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I agree.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Schwaki was an interesting one for me because seeing him in MLS has been cool.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: But he came to MLS uh a few years ago and was Nashville's backup for much of last year.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: He gave he played the Open Cup game.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: So a lot of teams will will start their backup roster for the US Open Cup, and he was the goalie for Nashville and was the best goalie in the tournament, um, helped them go all the way, and actually became the starter before this season for Nashville, um, which was I don't want to say controversial, but but kind of a big move, a changing of the guard because they had Joe Willis, and Joe Willis is like an MLS staple.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: He's he he's been around forever.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: I believe he's really been Nashville's only goalie since they've been in MLS.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: He's kind of always been the starter, and so for Schwaki to come in and take his spot is huge, and it's great that Pachatino is also okay with and accepting of the MLS player.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes with national team coaches, they don't love guys that play in in the US because they think this league's a little bit easier than maybe Europe.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_00: But it's clear, and and we'll go on with the rest of the roster, Sean, that Pachatino does value American American players playing in the MLS, not just in Europe.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think it's not something that should necessarily be held against guys.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_02: But I think if you're just judging people on merit and on level, you just need to add that piece of information into the equation.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_02: And yes, the MLS is a lower league, but if you're a standout in that league, that means you can play at a higher level.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_02: It means you're one of the best players in that league, so that you shouldn't be punished just because you haven't transferred clubs yet to Europe in some situations.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_02: In some situations, there are guys that get a bit comfortable and complacent, and I think that's where it feels a bit stale bringing those same kind of guys back into camp, and we'll mention a few of those in this window.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_02: But in a lot of instances, they just haven't broken out yet, or in their they're in the process of breaking out, and they're going to move eventually, but just haven't moved yet.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's perfectly good and acceptable to bring those sort of guys into camp.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm glad Schwaucky's here as well.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_02: I'm excited to see some more of them.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_02: I've watched bits and pieces in MLS, but I'm not too familiar with his game.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_02: I will say, as an anecdote, Brandon, this position group, it's the least exciting for me to go over.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_02: It's kind of just like don't be a storyline, you know, which we saw Matt Freeze become at the World Cup.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_02: We just don't want to know your name really, unless you're gonna do something like Tim Howard did in the World Cup.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_02: Just try your best out there, don't throw one in your own net.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: It's not the most exciting position group that we'll go over tonight, but obviously a very vital part of the team.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: So wanted to bring them up first.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, next we'll look at the defenders.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, maybe I'll break this in half and we'll go over the first five and the second five, just they're in ABC order on this list.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we have George Campbell, Serginio Dest, Alex Freeman, Peyton Miller, and Neil Pierre are the first five.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: So George Campbell, Peyton Miller, and Neil Pierre, this is all their first uh senior national team call-ups.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: Just a and and I'll let you I'll let you talk about these guys too.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: George Campbell, I didn't know too much about him.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: He was actually born in Chester, Pennsylvania, which is incredible because that is where the union play.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Not even in Philadelphia, in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, specifically Chester, yeah.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so he was born there, but he was actually involved in the Atlanta United Academy as a kid.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um and in from 2020 to 2025, he played in MLS for both Atlanta United and CF Montreal.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: He's actually he made a transfer from CF Montreal to West Brom in the championship, and he's actually the captain of uh West Brom, which is great.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: He has made one senior national team appearance before in 2025, but it was a friendly, similar to what this would be potentially.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: But this will be a good chance to see him with some other guys who have um been highly involved in the national team.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, I like that we're kind of piecing this together and we're mostly focusing on the newcomers, which we mentioned at the top of the show.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's most important for our listeners.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_02: They will have familiarity.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_02: We all have familiarity with the guys who are on the World Cup team.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_02: And in this group in particular, the guys that were in the World Cup team, they're common names that we've known for a while.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_02: So there's not a need to really dive deep into the Serginho deaths of the world.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_02: He's off to a great start this season.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_02: We mentioned how he's probably too good for the league he's playing in.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_02: We'll continue to monitor him.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_02: He's all obviously going to be around the picture.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_02: I'm excited to talk about guys like George Campbell, who, yes, you mentioned he's from Chester.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_02: I learned that today as well.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_02: I always just assumed he was from Atlanta because I knew he had come through Atlanta.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_02: So that was interesting that he was one of our own.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know how we let him get away.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_02: But he is the captain at West Brom.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_02: We took over the armband this summer.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, that shows some leadership traits, which is exciting because this room, our defender pool, could use a guy like that.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_02: Captaining a championship side that is around the top of the table, that's good news.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm excited to see what he looks like.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_02: I'm expecting pretty good things from him.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_02: I just think from a leadership mentality, you can't go wrong having a guy like that in the camp.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_02: Aside from him, Brandon, I'm gonna toss it over to you, Neil Pierre, the 6667 absolute freak of nature.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_02: He's a unicorn of a prospect in a lot of ways.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_02: He's the most dominant aerial player that I can remember in the US MNT pool.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_02: And he also likes to pick a pass, as you know.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_02: So I think there's a lot to work with with Neil Pierre.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm choosing to be very excited about him and not bring up a guy who would have been in this alphabetical listing, one of the names, Noakai Banks, who it appears is accepting a call-up to the Germany U-21 group.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna talk about the guys that are in camp and we're excited about Neil Pierre.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, no, we're very excited about Neil Pierre.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Neil Pierre, interestingly enough, uh came through the Union Academy pretty much standard, came through, played for the second team.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: He was actually MLS defender of the MLS next, excuse me, defender of the year last year, and went on loan after that season to Lingby, um, the team that Diego Coaching is now on.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: That's how I knew it was in Denmark, because the Union I think actually partially owned that team as well.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um but yeah, Neil Pierre, he he actually represented USA and Haiti at the youth levels, but I think it was always gonna be USA, and I think he can be the future center back.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: He's played only 10 games for the union this season.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: He came back off of that loan from Lingby right after the World Cup.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: He's played 10 games and already has four goals, Sean, and he's a center back.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely absurd.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_00: It's you you mentioned unicorn, I think that's a fantastic word to use because it's just something that you can't build that, you can't buy that.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: That's just that's just natural talent, and it's not 6'7, where he's like like the basketball player who's just overly tall and can't move their body and can't figure it out.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_00: He's 6'7, but like you said, he can pick a pass, he's quality quality technically, but then you add that aerial ability that you just can't teach.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, huge prospect for the national team.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: He's he's in great form right now.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: He actually has an older brother who also came through the Union Academy, now plays with the Vancouver White Caps.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_00: I believe he's on loan to actually a team in Canada right now, but yeah, it it's an incredibly, incredibly promising prospect, and it's great to see get to see him every weekend here in Philly, but now the rest of the US will get to see him in the red, white, and blue.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: I'm excited, yeah.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_02: You just don't see guys like that come around on the football pitch very often.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_02: And if you do, they're usually what I like to refer to as lumps.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, and I still think Neil Pierre is just a lump.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_02: I think he's got a lot more to his game than just that.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm excited to see him in the red, white, and blue.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and then Peyton Miller, player I did I'm not super familiar with.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: He plays for the New England Revolution, 18-year-old left back.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_00: Also, another guy came through the USU system.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_00: He's played 50 games for the New England Revolution over the past three years, which I think is incredible as an 18-year-old.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I know we we can bash MLS sometimes for being a little bit of a lower league, but it's also giving some of these players first team quality football at such a young age.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_00: To already have over 50 games for his club at only 18 years old is incredible.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: So definitely excited to see Peyton Miller in this group as well, Sean.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Peyton Miller was a guy I did a deep dive on just randomly a couple months ago because his name kept popping up and I knew who he was, but I didn't necessarily know what he was about.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_02: And he's played primarily as a winger this year for the Revs, which is not his best position, I've been told.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_02: By all accounts, his best position is at left back.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm I'm glad he's listed as a defender in this roster release because that's promising.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_02: That shows Pachatino probably views him as more of a left back as well.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_02: I think he is really dynamic, Brandon.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_02: Athletic, has a lot of power to his game, can cross in a final ball, good in one touch kind of situations where he doesn't need to dribble past you and do a bunch of intricate different different things, but he can use his strengths and play to them.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm excited to see him as well.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_02: I think the general gist for me, we didn't really give our initial reaction, we'll probably save that for after, but I think the excitement just going through these names is evident because it's new blood and it's a start of a new chapter.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_02: So those two things going hand in hand, a new cycle coinciding with a really talented group of youngsters.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's why we're so jacked up to talk about four friendlies.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's literally that because when you do think about it, Sean, it's like these are four meaningless games.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but it's beautiful that we don't have to see no offense to these guys, but the Tim Reams and the Christian Roldans again, because we know what they're gonna give you.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: We know the quality they're gonna give you.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_00: And maybe on paper, Tim Reim is still better than Neil Pierre, but in four years, I hope not.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_00: So it's you want to give that new blood, like you said, a fresh look.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_00: Just new new opportunities for some of these young guys.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: The second half of the defender list, Sean, we have a lot of mainstays: Chris Richards, Anthony Robinson, Miles Robinson, Frankie Westfield, and Austin Trustee.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: So everyone except Frankie Westfield, uh, were on the World Cup team.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_00: Frankie Westfield, I guess I'll just go over him real quick.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: Another Philadelphia Union player.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: Outside back, I think he's probably better as a right back than a left back.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: He's definitely right-footed.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I put in my notes athletic as hell.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_00: Like this guy is athletic, but I don't want that to also take away from his technical ability because that is something that I think the last year or two I've really seen him improve.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: I saw him play a lot when he was on the second team with Ryan Richter, who's now the coach of the first team.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: And you could tell he was extremely athletic, but the technical side wasn't quite there yet.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_00: I think his technical ability has just grown leaps and bounds, and I think it it's only going to help him long term.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, he's 21, and he again is another guy who's played with the US youth teams throughout the the age cycle, so he's familiar with the group and and how US soccer works, but his rise has been pretty quick, honestly.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know how long how much longer Philadelphia can keep a guy like him, same with Neil Pierre.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but it's a good it's a good problem to have that you have suitors in Europe that want your players.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_02: Well, Brandon, I think the most important person that we haven't mentioned yet, and maybe of this whole entire roster release, is actually Ryan Richter.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_02: The fact that he has come in and given these Philadelphia Union players opportunities just before this window, it's been 10 games since he took over, I believe, since the World Cup.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_02: And the fact that we have three Union Academy players in this roster are a huge credit to him because all three of these guys weren't really a mainstay in the Union side until he took over.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_02: And in those 10 games, we've seen absolute breakouts, and we'll get to the main breakout in just a minute.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_02: But Neil Pierre, he's been unbelievable under Ryan Richter.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_02: Frankie Westfield, really good under Ryan Richter, given a lot of opportunities.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_02: And you mentioned he comes from the lower level with him as well.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm just thrilled that Ryan Richter took over when he did and gave these guys the opportunity because now they're starting to shine, and we see what we're we see what we can get from them on a national team scale as well.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_02: So exciting stuff in Philadelphia, and it's translated to a really exciting national team roster.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's it's been great to see Ryan do what he's doing.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_00: Personally, I I do know Ryan.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: He was a player on the the second team when I worked for the Philadelphia Union.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: He was our uh one of our captains and just a great guy.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_00: I saw an article the other day that came out about him, and he is one of the most competitive people I've ever met.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_00: He's the kind of guy who like we could be messing around playing FIFA in the locker room, and he's like, give me the controller.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_00: He maybe has never played FIFA ever in his life, but he will do everything he can to beat you.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_00: And that's just the guy he is, and that's what you need when you have young players.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: I I think we'll talk about it when when we talk about Kevin Sullivan, but there's this thought sometimes that people have that Kevin's cocky or he's he's too much or he's over the top, and I think part of it one is he's a confident player, he's a great player, but I think it's also the freedom that Ryan and his staff instill in and say, hey, go out and be great, show them what Philly's about, and let everyone know, hey, you're here to do this.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: Like this is you're 16 or 17 years old, it doesn't matter.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: Like you're here to play because you can play.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I think Ryan does a fantastic job of of that, instilling that in the players.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, he's been the coach for 10 games, Sean, and they're eight wins and two draws.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_00: They haven't lost a game since he got here.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_00: Meanwhile, the first 15 games, they had one win.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_00: So it's it's night and day.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: And yes, there are a few different players and stuff in the squad, but giving these guys a chance, I think also, yeah, you mentioned it, has definitely helped their stock, and it's only going to continue to help their stock as long as they as long as he's the coach.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there's a pretty good chance a couple of these guys might not be in this roster if it wasn't for Ryan Richter.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_02: So he's certainly an unsung hero in this, making sure he gets his credit because it is well deserved.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_02: Brandon, the other thing I wanted to touch on, you mentioned Miles Robinson being a part of this group.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_02: Not sure how, not sure what he has against Potch and his family.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's an absolute miracle he keeps getting into these things.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_02: But I will say, I think the reason why specifically he's in this one is because of an injury to Justin Che.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_02: Justin Che's been having a really good season in MLS, and by all accounts, he's been a lot better than Miles Robinson has been.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_02: It seems like that might have been a one-in-one out situation where Che got injured.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_02: Miles Robinson was, in my opinion, the last name amongst those old, amongst that old guard to kind of get sneak his way back onto this roster.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_02: So we'll be I'll be interested to see going forward if that's still the case, if Miles Robinson is chosen again over Justin Che in a future window if they're both healthy.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_02: But for now, Miles Robinson lives to see another day in this pool.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, no, I I appreciate that.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I think for me, I put a couple notes just overall in the defender pool.
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I put young but hungry.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: I I think they do have a lot of guys that are returning, but it's those guys that are, in my opinion, dogs.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: You have desked, you have freemen, you have trusty, guys that know what it takes, but are willing to do the hard yards, are willing to do the hard work.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: It's not always cute and pretty, but it's guys that'll get into a tackle and make things happen.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: So really excited to see this defender group.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_00: I think they can do some special things.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Sean, moving into midfielders, we have nine on this list, so I'll do the same thing.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_00: I'll I'll do the first five and then the last four.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_00: We have Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Xavier Gozo, Brooklyn Reigns, and Audrey Mameti.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_00: I'll I'll let you I'll let you start if you want to pick a couple guys to.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: To break down.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_02: What an exciting group this is.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_02: This is the Sean Boyle group right here.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_02: I'm so excited for these guys, Brandon.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_02: We don't need to go into the guys.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_02: We we already know good and well what Tyler Adams can give us.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_02: And I think it's important to have a guy like him in this window.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_02: The leadership qualities he has, I think it'll be good for a lot of these young midfielders who are making their first appearance.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_02: But oh my god, am I excited?
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_02: That's my overall takeaway.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_02: Wow, what a group we have here.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_02: Audrey Mameti, of course, I'm pumped to see him.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_02: The young Bousquets, the American Bousquets.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just so happy he's in the group.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_02: He picked up, I think he had cramps where he got subbed off a couple weeks ago, and I was worried that could be, oh no, it's right before the window.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_02: What if he doesn't make the team?
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_02: So happy to see he came back.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_02: He's played since then, he's been good.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_02: He is a player in the midfield who we just haven't seen a similar one.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_02: At least in my time following the US MNT.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_02: I'm sure maybe in the past there was a guy or two like him.
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_02: He really has some rare qualities on the ball that I'm just super pumped to see come to fruition at this level.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_02: He's where I'll start in terms of excitement.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_02: But I mean, a guy like Xavier Gozo, who just moved to the Premier League and is getting minutes in the Premier League at Crystal Palace, isn't even one of the top three guys I'm most excited about in this midfielder room.
• 23:18
  SPEAKER_02: So I think it speaks volumes to just how deep it seems to be with young, exciting players.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_02: Another name we have to talk about, Brandon, Yunis Musa coming back into the fold.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_02: He's been great this year for AC Milan, one of the best players so far to start the season.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_02: He's playing in the middle of a pivot, which is his best role in the United States setup, he's played all over on the right side, and it hasn't been great, which is not where he belongs.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_02: So hopefully he comes in as a central midfielder in this situation.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_02: But then the man of the hour, Brandon.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, I'll let you kick things off with our hometown boy.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so I I guess I'll I'll let me just read the rest of the names first.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: So Eunice Musa, Giorina, Malik Tillman, and Kevin Sullivan.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm sure that's who you were referencing as Kevin Sullivan.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_00: I think this I think part of the reason why the hype was so high around this camp was would they call Kavan in or would they not call Kavan in?
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_00: And for me, Sean, of course I have hometown bias, but it's it was obvious to me that they should have called him in.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_00: To me, I see no problem in that.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_00: It is a two, three week, two, three-week camp, four games.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_00: Look, if Pachettino doesn't like him for whatever reason, you can send him back to the 18s or the under 21s or whatever, but he can play.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I took some notes, but obviously just seeing him firsthand, dude can play.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_00: And for me, it's like there's no the upside of bringing him is way higher than the downside of leaving him at home.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_00: And I think there were probably some conversations around his attitude and whatever, but everything I've seen is team first.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: He's a team guy.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I wanted to score, but I'm so glad such and such scored.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_00: Great pass by so-and-so to set me up for this goal.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_00: So it's all he's always been a team guy, Sean.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_00: He, I think, and this might be a crazy statement, but he may be the best player in MLS since the World Cup.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_00: He has in 10 games, he has five goals and seven assists, and he's a midfielder.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_00: He's not even a forward.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_00: Those are outrageous stats for a midfielder.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: He kind of plays as a 10, mainly off of the right.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so he can invert.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: He's a left-footed player.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: But I think it's his mentality, Sean.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_00: This guy's 16 years old and he plays wise wise beyond his years.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_00: He is going to Manchester City as soon as he turns 18, which is in about a year and a few weeks.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: His birthday is at the end of September, he'll turn 17.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't know what that's gonna look like, but as of now, I I mean, this guy is a star and he's really helped Philly in this resurgence under Ryan Richter.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_02: Unbelievable talent, Brandon.
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_02: I don't want to undersell him because he's obviously a guy we've known about for a while.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, he's been famous in the football world for several years now, and he's only 16, so that just shows the level of player we're talking about.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_02: But you mentioned his mentality, and I think that's just it.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_02: Some people see it as cockiness, and some people see cockiness as a bad thing.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_02: I think the balance that he strikes between being cocky and confident is perfect.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_02: I don't mind if you're cocky.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_02: I want you to be cocky on the pitch, in fact.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_02: Like, try try shit.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_02: If you're capable of doing cool shit, do it.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_02: And he is, and he's doing it against grown-ass men.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_02: The back heel goal he scored against San Diego, absolutely unbelievable stuff.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_02: Nobody else in the pool scoring that.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, this guy needs to be in the camp.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_02: He needs to play almost every match for my money.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_02: He we need to get a good look at Kevin Sullivan here.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_02: I could not be more blown away, it was just how impressive this kid is.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm with you, in every interview, him and his brother Quinn seem like lovely kids.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_02: Like just no always giving credit to everybody else.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_02: They have a a comfort in their own skin, which I think is a huge credit to their upbringing, and their skill level.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_02: But Kavan, he's a joke.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_02: He's doing shit that has never been done before, quite literally.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_02: He broke Freddie Adu's record for the most goal contributions by a player 16 or under in the MLS.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_02: He's going to smash it.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, he's at this rate, he's gonna finish this season on such a high.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_02: I could not speak higher of this kid.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_02: I will watch him anytime he laces him up.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_02: And Brandon, you sent me his pregame playlist.
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_02: Oh my god, is he an absolute ball knower?
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_02: He is wise beyond his ears.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_02: He's listening to The Smiths, Camp, Adrian Lanker.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_02: It looks like my sad boy season playlist, Brandon.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_02: This is unbelievable stuff.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_02: I would chop it up with Kavin for an hour just on music.
• 27:49
  SPEAKER_02: So I I needless to say, I I own all the Kevin Sullivan stocks.
• 27:54
  SPEAKER_02: I think this podcast as a whole, we have them all.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_02: Any anybody wants to buy you come through us.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think the on the field, the mentality stuff, it also, I mean, it's definitely familial.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_00: His grandfather coached at Villanova, his dad was a coach, played, his mom played at Penn.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_00: Like, it's in his blood.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_00: He's also the youngest of four brothers.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_00: So I think Quinn is always the one that gets mentioned, who's also in the Philadelphia Union, which is incredible.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_00: Quinn's the oldest, but they have twin brothers in the middle, Ronan and Declan.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_00: They are freshmen at St.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_00: Joe's, play play soccer at St.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: Joe's.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_00: So they're not pros, but they're playing Division I soccer, you know, at 18, 19 years old, and then you have Kavan as the youngest.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_00: So I think part of it is like dude had to dude had to do it because in the backyard he's probably getting bullied by the other boys.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_00: So he had to he had to grow up quick and sink or swim.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, sink or swim, exactly.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_00: And kudos to his brothers.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_02: Michael Phelps, he's absolutely Michael Phelps.
• 28:48
  SPEAKER_02: He's left his brothers in the dust.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_02: And his brothers are good, like you said.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_02: Like Quinn's great, and his two other brothers are Division I players, and we're sitting here talking about the youngest being the best of the bunch by far.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so but so I I think that also helps his you know development and and the family as well.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_00: It's family's it's a soccer family.
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_00: It's this kid was kind of born to be good at soccer, and it's all all the he's hitting all the steps, all the right path, and it's exciting to see everything that he's doing at this level.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_00: There's games I watch and I'm like, oh my gosh, he just did that, or he just tried that.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, it comes off sometimes, sometimes it doesn't, but it's like he had the confidence to do that, and I'm like, kudos, because not a lot of guys have the balls to to do some of the things he's doing, and he's 16, so it's like just just wise beyond his years and and has a great mentality, and I'm excited to see him now with the national team as well.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I I'm so excited for all of all of it surrounding Kevin Sullivan.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_02: So sign me up, sign you up.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_02: I'm interested to tune in just for him this window.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_02: You could have named the exact same World Cup squad and Kevin Sullivan, and that would have been sold, but instead we got all of these guys, all the best prospects, into this camp.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_02: So there's a lot to be juiced up about.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_02: Also in the midfield group, before we move on, Brandon, just a quick one for Brooklyn Reigns.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, he's a guy who's looked good in youth setups in the past.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_02: I haven't kept up with how he's doing in MLS, to be quite honest, but apparently he's fine.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_02: He's done well enough to get into this team, so that's good news.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_02: He's always looked pretty good when he puts on the red, white, and blue.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_02: I'm hoping that trend continues.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_00: Play center mid, New England Revolution, uh, same thing.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_00: Don't really know much about him.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_02: He's actually a cool story, sorry to interrupt.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_02: Quickly, a really cool story about his upbringing.
• 30:37
  SPEAKER_02: He was born in Liberia.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_02: And he, I believe, was adopted to a family in Chicago when he was a few months old, maybe a year old around there, and came up in Chicago and just balls out for the red, white, and blue.
• 30:50
  SPEAKER_02: So, hey, listen, Brooklyn, you you've got a place here if you keep doing that.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, it's it's cool to see those stories uh of these guys who find their way to the national team, and he's another one where in this window it's like, hey, maybe he doesn't play maybe as much as the other guys, but he gets a shot, he makes the most of it, and we'll see what happens.
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_00: And maybe or maybe he does play a lot because Pachatino knows the midfield group, I feel like is probably the most experienced group of the positions.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_00: So he might say, Hey, you guys let let the younger guys play, let the new guys play, and you guys come off the bench.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_00: So excited, really, really excited to see the midfield group.
• 31:25
  SPEAKER_00: I think I put in my notes, I think it's the strongest position group overall in this team, and probably the most exciting prospect-wise.
• 31:33
  SPEAKER_00: The last group, this one has a little bit of mystery to it, I think, Sean.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: The forwards.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_00: We have uh your guy, Mattis Albert, Cole Campbell, Justin Ellis, Julian Hall, and Ricardo Pepe.
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_00: So Ricardo Pepe is the only player in this group that played at the World Cup and didn't play a ton at the World Cup.
• 31:53
  SPEAKER_00: But the the rest of the group, this is all their first uh senior national team call-ups.
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think that's why this group rivals the midfield group in terms of just what I'm looking forward to, what I'm most looking forward to seeing, because it's only one mainstay in Pepe that is in the fold.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_02: So we've got four newcomers, all of which seem to be really promising prospects.
• 32:13
  SPEAKER_02: Cole Campbell, we mentioned him in the last recapped episode.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_02: He just played against Bayer Munich and Harry Kane and acquitted himself quite well, I thought.
• 32:20
  SPEAKER_02: So he had a goal world out for offside.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_02: He's on loan from Boris of Dortmund, where Matisse Albert is.
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_02: Matisse Albert, I I've been in love with him as a prospect for a long while.
• 32:31
  SPEAKER_02: He seems to check a lot of boxes.
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_02: They're kind of similar players, but Cole Campbell relies a lot more on being direct and using his pace, and Albert has a lot more tricks up his sleeve.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_02: So I kind of I like that about him.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_02: He has a boatload of skill, so you could kind of play him on either side.
• 32:48
  SPEAKER_02: I like him best off the left, inverted, coming onto his right side.
• 32:52
  SPEAKER_02: I think he does a lot of the same things we saw Christian Pulisic do when he was at his best as a prospect, when he was fit and firing and had the ability to go by you on either side, kind of use either foot and take you on 1v1.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_02: It's kind of similar to Gozo, who's listed as a midfielder, but Albert and Gozo are both guys that have a bunch of skill that they can use to get by you in 1v1 situations, which I think is super unique to this pool.
• 33:14
  SPEAKER_02: We just don't have a lot of guys that excel in 1v1 scenarios.
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_02: I think both of these guys could, so that's exciting.
• 33:21
  SPEAKER_02: And then the two strikers from the MLS.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_02: I'm interested, which one do you prefer if you were to be buying stock?
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_02: Would you be buying more Julian Hall stock or Justin Ellis?
• 33:30
  SPEAKER_02: Because I do have a clear answer in this one.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think I have a clear answer, so I'll let you cook on it.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_00: I if I had to pick one, I'd probably say Hall, and that might just be because I've seen more of him than Ellis.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_02: I would I was on on the same side as you about a month ago, but then this last month since Griezmann joined Orlando City, I've watched more of them.
• 33:51
  SPEAKER_02: I'm all in on Justin Ellis.
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_02: I think he is quality, and I'm very bullish about his future.
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_02: Antoine Griezmann recently spoke about Justin Ellis, and he completely sunk his praises.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_02: He said he's going to be a dominant player in Europe in the next few years, and we love hearing that.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_02: I think Justin Ellis has a lot to his game.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_02: His footwork is incredible.
• 34:12
  SPEAKER_02: In tight spaces, he could kind of wiggle his way out.
• 34:15
  SPEAKER_02: He is adding some assists to his game.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_02: He could put the ball on the net.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_02: He could kind of do it all.
• 34:19
  SPEAKER_02: He's more of a complete well-rounded forward than just an out-and-out striker.
• 34:23
  SPEAKER_02: I think Julian Hall, he projects to me to be more of an out-and-out striker.
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_02: He could do a bit as well, but he has just a knack for being a poacher in the box.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_02: And I think Justin Ellis, I think his all-around game, I think I'm projecting to be a little bit better long term.
• 34:37
  SPEAKER_02: But two guys to be really excited about between the two of them.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
• 34:42
  SPEAKER_00: And that and just to take a quick step back, you were talking about Mimeti and his teammate Julian Hall at Red Bull.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think a similar situation is you gotta give Michael Bradley a shout-out.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_00: And you mentioned you haven't seen a player since in the national team pull that reminds you of Memeti, but there's a little bit of Michael Bradley in him, I think.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_00: Michael Bradley on his day in his prime, technically sound, could ping a pass, but but at the same time, not afraid to break up a play, go slide in and make the tackle.
• 35:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I think he has a little little bits of Michael Bradley in his game, and it probably helps that his coach is Michael Bradley.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_00: So that can kind of bring that out.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_00: But same thing with Julian Hall.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_00: Like these coaches are just giving these guys so much time and freedom to play.
• 35:29
  SPEAKER_00: And we've never seen a generation that's gotten this much that has this much skill and is playing and showing off this much skill at MLS ever.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's always been these guys are great, but they're playing with the second team because they're not quite there yet, or we'll throw them in in the 80th minute because the game's done and dusted.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_00: So just give them a couple minutes to run out.
• 35:50
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, no, these guys are starting and contributing, and for Kavin and Mimeti and Hall, arguably some of the best players on their team.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_02: So in MLS.
• 36:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_02: Honestly, yeah.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_02: Honestly, they're in the top 20-ish players in all of MLS.
• 36:07
  SPEAKER_02: Some of these guys that we're talking about.
• 36:09
  SPEAKER_02: So you're completely right.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_02: Michael Bradley deserves a shout out as well.
• 36:12
  SPEAKER_02: Justin Chase, another one at Red Bull who he was a huge prospect, kind of what he just has gone through some rough patches with injury and other things, but he's really revitalized his career as well.
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_02: He's still only 22, and I think if it wasn't for injury, he'd be in this camp as well, as I mentioned.
• 36:27
  SPEAKER_02: So a big shout-out to Michael Bradley, still working for the US MNT.
• 36:30
  SPEAKER_02: We do like to see that.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, still still getting that US MNT check indirectly this time.
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_00: But Sean, I guess now that we've gone over the roster, we've broken down some of the newcomers.
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_00: What is your just overall thoughts about this window?
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_00: What do you hope to see?
• 36:48
  SPEAKER_00: Just give me an idea of where your head's at after seeing this team and breaking it down a little bit.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_02: The most important thing is what I'm looking to see is obviously just these exciting young players that we talked about, getting them on the pitch as frequently as possible.
• 37:00
  SPEAKER_02: So that's number one.
• 37:01
  SPEAKER_02: I think the fact that he brought them in means we will be seeing that.
• 37:04
  SPEAKER_02: There would be no reason to bring them in and then not play them in the games.
• 37:07
  SPEAKER_02: So that I'm going to assume will happen.
• 37:10
  SPEAKER_02: The other thing, my main takeaway was, wow, we really drained the swamp.
• 37:14
  SPEAKER_02: You know, we we got rid of a lot of guys that were maybe not up to the level at the World Cup or were fringe World Cup players and they're just erased from the squad picture.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_02: I'm interested to see if that's a forever thing or if that this camp is very much a trial.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_02: And then next in future camps we revert back to some of those guys where we know what they're good at, we know what they're capable of.
• 37:38
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm not even necessarily referring to the big names that were left off this roster the Balogun, the Weston McKenney's, the Pulisics.
• 37:45
  SPEAKER_02: I think there's different reasons for all three of those.
• 37:47
  SPEAKER_02: Largely a lot of them, I think, come down to fitness.
• 37:50
  SPEAKER_02: None of them have been healthy these last few weeks, and if they have been, they're just getting healthy.
• 37:55
  SPEAKER_02: So I think maybe that's the conversation there.
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_02: Even if I will say Pulisic, there does seem to be some friction between him and Pachatino.
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know exactly what it is, but since the Gold Cup, I don't think things are great.
• 38:06
  SPEAKER_02: I think also it applies to guys like Tim Reim.
• 38:09
  SPEAKER_02: Does he get a farewell?
• 38:11
  SPEAKER_02: Does he ever come back into the fold?
• 38:13
  SPEAKER_02: You'd like to give him a send-off match, I guess.
• 38:15
  SPEAKER_02: You know, he's been a nice server with US MNT.
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_02: Do I want him involved in any future plans?
• 38:19
  SPEAKER_02: Of course not.
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_02: Of course not.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_02: But guys also like Tim Weia, Brendan Aronson, those are two that I'm kind of wondering, are they out of the picture?
• 38:29
  SPEAKER_02: Because if these guys ball out in this camp, and then you still have names like McKenney and Balogun that you know are going to come back into the fold, where do they slot in, if at all?
• 38:38
  SPEAKER_02: So that's something I'm interested in as well.
• 38:41
  SPEAKER_02: But the main story, the main takeaway, Brandon, first time ever, I think, that there was a roster release, and on Twitter, all of the people I follow that follow the US MNT were just excited and happy.
• 38:53
  SPEAKER_02: There was the quotes of no notes.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_02: Like just everybody was uh Marcus Chyrez, he runs US Soccer Collective.
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_02: He is the most in-depth at scouting the youth players in the US pool.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_02: I've followed him for years, and he's been unbelievable as an asset just to get a feel for what these guys play like before watching them.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_02: And he ranked the top 50 US prospects.
• 39:18
  SPEAKER_02: And we have eight of the top ten in this camp, which is outstanding.
• 39:22
  SPEAKER_02: The two that we don't have are German-American dual nationals that haven't committed either way yet, and it honestly looks like they might be leaning Germany.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_02: So basically, everybody that's an elite-level prospect in the United States ranks is here and ready to play in these four friendlies.
• 39:37
  SPEAKER_02: That's good stuff.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you have to be happy for that.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_00: It's also something to note, Sean.
• 39:44
  SPEAKER_00: This is the first year where the this break is actually a little bit longer.
• 39:47
  SPEAKER_00: They used to do a separate September and an October window, and now with the combined window, I almost think it's better because now it's two or three straight weeks of hearing Pachettino rather than a week.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, go back to your club, play for a few matches, come back one week, go back to your club.
• 40:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now it's a little bit more of a period where it's like, all right, we can really get these guys in and develop them and see what they're about.
• 40:12
  SPEAKER_00: So it's incredibly exciting.
• 40:14
  SPEAKER_00: I I don't know if I've ever been scrolling my phone so hard, waiting, refreshing, waiting to see a uh a roster come out for something that is just four friendlies.
• 40:23
  SPEAKER_00: It's there's not even a real game in this in this window, and I was so excited when I saw it come out today.
• 40:28
  SPEAKER_00: So it it's it's great.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_00: Like I'm very, very excited for the US men's national team, and I think, like you said, it's a little bit of a changing of the guard, and maybe we have to swallow that and get used to it a little bit.
• 40:40
  SPEAKER_00: But show me on September 26th that these guys can play, and I'm all in.
• 40:44
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm right there.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's a it it's exciting.
• 40:46
  SPEAKER_02: It's the most the that this show has ever and will ever use the word excited in a single episode.
• 40:53
  SPEAKER_02: So that is that says it all.
• 40:56
  SPEAKER_02: Optimism's at a high.
• 40:57
  SPEAKER_02: I'm sure it won't go according to plan.
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_02: Something will come up, but for the time being, we are optimistic and enthusiastic.
• 41:05
  SPEAKER_02: We do have some real matches to talk about though, Brandon.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I was gonna say the excitement may only be trumped if Tottenham actually decide to do something, and we might throw a few more excited in there, but until then, this will be the most excited we've ever been.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_00: And that's a good segue because we do have a full slate of Premier League games this weekend, Sean.
• 41:25
  SPEAKER_00: I know we had some EFL Cup and some Europa League.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_00: We don't have to go over that.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_00: I think results were pretty pretty standard.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_00: I know Manchester United lost to Brighton, but other than that, I think results pretty much went as they should.
• 41:40
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, I had a couple quick notes, Brandon, but they're basically what you said.
• 41:43
  SPEAKER_02: It was the fact that Manchester United were up 2-0 within 10 minutes and lost to Brighton, and the seat isn't exactly cool right now for Michael Carrick, so that's something to monitor.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_02: They have a big one this weekend, which we'll get to.
• 41:58
  SPEAKER_02: And then the other cup news, everybody was talking about Spurs, they lost again.
• 42:02
  SPEAKER_02: End of the joke, of course.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_02: I thought they played pretty well at Anfield, to be quite honest.
• 42:07
  SPEAKER_02: They they really did create chances, and I know it's one thing to create chances.
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_02: We might have the yips, that's the problem is finishing chances.
• 42:14
  SPEAKER_02: I just think it was a difference in quality.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_02: My main example, Lucas Bergval has a chance in the box in the first half that it's harder not to score than it is to score.
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_02: He somehow finds the back of Mamadar Shavili's foot and he keeps it out, and then McAllister has a much tougher chance on paper.
• 42:31
  SPEAKER_02: Now for Alexis McAllister, it's not a tough chance, and he absolutely puts in the top in and kills it off a Liverpool goal of a goal, and then Zobo Sly scores maybe the goal of the year.
• 42:40
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's gonna be hard to beat, at least for my money.
• 42:43
  SPEAKER_02: That was completely sick, just chests it down to himself, half volley, strike from 40 yards out, how you don't keep it moving.
• 42:49
  SPEAKER_02: He he knew that was good, Brandon.
• 42:51
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 42:52
  SPEAKER_02: From the moment it left his boot.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_02: And this sicko, he's got like Steph Curry like in the gym range, where you can't be too mad at Spurs for like, oh what are you gonna do with that kind of goal?
• 43:01
  SPEAKER_02: But with a guy like Zobozly, once he steps in the gym, he's within range.
• 43:06
  SPEAKER_02: Once he steps on the pitch, you gotta get near him.
• 43:08
  SPEAKER_02: He was he was automatic from 40 yards out, absolutely fucking killed me.
• 43:13
  SPEAKER_02: So that was tough.
• 43:14
  SPEAKER_02: Those are the main things.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_02: Arsenal, they beat just absolute far Ipswich Town ran out the tractor boys, the actual second squad tractor boys.
• 43:23
  SPEAKER_02: And Arsenal ran through them and then drew Fleetwood Town in the next round.
• 43:27
  SPEAKER_02: What are we doing?
• 43:28
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, we draw one out of and they get Fleetwood Town.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_02: Elsewhere, you were right, Cup and Europa League, everything went pretty much according to plan.
• 43:37
  SPEAKER_02: I have a little Europa League anecdote for you, though.
• 43:40
  SPEAKER_02: A cool story.
• 43:41
  SPEAKER_02: We mentioned this team last year, Torriense.
• 43:45
  SPEAKER_02: They are a Portuguese second division side.
• 43:47
  SPEAKER_02: They won the Taca de Portugal last year, which is the equivalent to the FA Cup.
• 43:52
  SPEAKER_02: So they are still in the second division in Portugal.
• 43:55
  SPEAKER_02: They haven't been up since 1992.
• 43:57
  SPEAKER_02: Their stadium holds about 2,500 people.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_02: People and they went away in Europe in their first ever European appearance in the Europa League on Thursday, and they won their match 2-1 over Lilistrom from Norway.
• 44:10
  SPEAKER_02: That's awesome.
• 44:11
  SPEAKER_02: That's really cool stuff.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_02: That's a reason why we follow the game.
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_02: So that's my main Europa League takeaway.
• 44:16
  SPEAKER_00: That's fantastic.
• 44:16
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 44:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's I can only imagine the joy, and I can only imagine the scenes that are gonna happen when they have their first home game.
• 44:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's 2500 seats, that place will be rocking.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yeah, that's gonna be sick.
• 44:30
  SPEAKER_02: Like 2500 is so small.
• 44:31
  SPEAKER_01: It's so small.
• 44:32
  SPEAKER_02: It's like a high school basketball gym.
• 44:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 44:35
  SPEAKER_02: Some of which are like way bigger.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_02: So I can't even imagine what that looks like.
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_02: I will try my best to tune in when they play their home game.
• 44:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's that's must-watch TV right there, Sean.
• 44:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now, switching to the Premier League today, we have our first game of the of the, I call it the weekend, but Friday at 3 p.m.
• 44:55
  SPEAKER_00: that's come on, that's that's basically the weekend.
• 44:57
  SPEAKER_00: We have Brentford at home playing against Chelsea.
• 45:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh interested to hear what you think, and I'll and I'll fill in after you.
• 45:05
  SPEAKER_02: Last Friday of the summer, Brandon.
• 45:07
  SPEAKER_02: I still think that means 3 p.m.
• 45:08
  SPEAKER_02: summer Friday.
• 45:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 45:10
  SPEAKER_02: Is it summer?
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_02: Summer ends September 21st, brother.
• 45:13
  SPEAKER_02: Uh calendar summer.
• 45:14
  SPEAKER_02: Calendar summer.
• 45:15
  SPEAKER_02: And I'll tell you this, there's 85 and human today, so you mind yourself when you until we get considered down in the 60s, I will be going by the calendar.
• 45:24
  SPEAKER_02: But I do think also you could use that with your bosses if you want to sneak out a little early summer Friday, still in effect.
• 45:31
  SPEAKER_02: I think Brentford Chelsea's a great game to start the weekend.
• 45:35
  SPEAKER_02: Interesting on a lot of accounts.
• 45:37
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know what to expect here, other than I'm kind of assuming there will be some chaos because that's what Chelsea have given us so far this year.
• 45:45
  SPEAKER_02: I've picked Chelsea to win 3-2.
• 45:48
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think they could keep a clean sheet against Brentford, but I also don't think Brentford could keep them out.
• 45:53
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm expecting goals.
• 45:54
  SPEAKER_02: Last time I said this, it was a 0-0 draw between Liverpool and Fulham.
• 45:58
  SPEAKER_02: We'll see if I bounce back here, but I'm going Chelsea 3-2 in a high scoring affair.
• 46:02
  SPEAKER_00: Alright.
• 46:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm with you.
• 46:04
  SPEAKER_00: Different result, but very close.
• 46:06
  SPEAKER_00: Brentford, they they've tied their last three games.
• 46:10
  SPEAKER_00: They're at home.
• 46:11
  SPEAKER_00: Chelsea, so many questions defensively, like you said.
• 46:14
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think they can keep Brentford out.
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_00: Brentford, I can go hand up and say they will not keep Chelsea out.
• 46:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I went 2-2 draw.
• 46:23
  SPEAKER_00: I think I think Brentford do just enough at home to pull out a point.
• 46:27
  SPEAKER_02: I will join you in that prediction, Brandon, if Draw Pedro doesn't play.
• 46:31
  SPEAKER_02: He is a question for tonight's match.
• 46:33
  SPEAKER_02: So if he's not fit, he was in the Brazil squad for this break, got pulled from it because of injury.
• 46:39
  SPEAKER_02: So that's kind of ominous that he might not play.
• 46:42
  SPEAKER_02: If he doesn't play, I do think that's a huge difference for Chelsea.
• 46:45
  SPEAKER_02: So I will go 2-2 if he's out.
• 46:48
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 46:48
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 46:49
  SPEAKER_00: Cool.
• 46:50
  SPEAKER_00: The next game we have Saturday, 7 30 a.m.
• 46:53
  SPEAKER_00: Our boys, Tottenham Hotspur, playing host to Aston Villa.
• 46:58
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, I don't know what to think.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_00: We I talked about how people were texting me about Tottenham not scoring.
• 47:05
  SPEAKER_00: People who don't even watch soccer were texting me about Tottenham not scoring.
• 47:09
  SPEAKER_00: At work today, Sean, I had a conversation with my manager.
• 47:13
  SPEAKER_00: Uh shout out Mike.
• 47:15
  SPEAKER_00: Great guy.
• 47:15
  SPEAKER_00: But he was like, hey, I heard Tottenham haven't scored in their first four games.
• 47:18
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what's going on?
• 47:20
  SPEAKER_00: Come on, Mike.
• 47:21
  SPEAKER_00: Let me live.
• 47:22
  SPEAKER_00: Like taking the piss, Mike.
• 47:25
  SPEAKER_00: It's tough.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_00: It's tough.
• 47:27
  SPEAKER_00: I think I know I've said it four times in a row, but I think this is the week we score.
• 47:32
  SPEAKER_00: Aston Villa is so bad right now.
• 47:34
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think they're a permanently bad team, but Aston Villa is so bad right now.
• 47:38
  SPEAKER_00: There's no way we can't score on that.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm saying that, and it's gonna be we're gonna lose 3-0 on our patch, but I I have Tottenham winning 2-1.
• 47:47
  SPEAKER_00: Villa that's what I have.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_00: There we go.
• 47:50
  SPEAKER_00: Villa did Villa did beat Coventry midweek in the cup.
• 47:54
  SPEAKER_00: They played a I don't want to call it their A plus roster, but I would say like a B plus roster.
• 47:59
  SPEAKER_00: So a lot of their mainstay guys did play.
• 48:01
  SPEAKER_00: Will they be able to play again on Saturday?
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_00: Will they get rotated out?
• 48:05
  SPEAKER_00: I I would love that.
• 48:07
  SPEAKER_00: Give a kid a a Premier League debut wouldn't be the worst thing.
• 48:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but yeah, I think two on full strength.
• 48:13
  SPEAKER_01: We're gonna full strength.
• 48:14
  SPEAKER_02: People forget one of the reasons we're still in the Premier League is that Villa played their B team last season when we desperately needed a win and we played them off the pitch.
• 48:22
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think we're getting that lucky again, Brandon.
• 48:24
  SPEAKER_02: We will see their ace A squad.
• 48:26
  SPEAKER_02: And what I'm worried about is I think guys like Mbai and Monzambi are starting to work their way into that group, and that means Villa are gonna look a little bit different than they have to start this season.
• 48:36
  SPEAKER_02: There will be a more formidable opponent.
• 48:38
  SPEAKER_02: Unayamory loves a chance to play Tottenham.
• 48:41
  SPEAKER_02: He sets them up very, very well usually.
• 48:44
  SPEAKER_02: They are very hard to play through centrally.
• 48:46
  SPEAKER_02: Unayamry's whole thing is just you're not gonna beat us down the middle.
• 48:49
  SPEAKER_02: Beat us from the outside areas.
• 48:51
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if Tottenham are capable of doing so.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_02: Choosing to believe they will.
• 48:55
  SPEAKER_02: I think you have to overcome the Yips at some point.
• 48:57
  SPEAKER_02: It's the only way to do it.
• 48:59
  SPEAKER_02: I think they will get two goals in this one.
• 49:01
  SPEAKER_02: They've been playing better than some of their results, in my opinion.
• 49:04
  SPEAKER_02: It hasn't been great by any means, but it's been at least encouraging these last three.
• 49:08
  SPEAKER_02: I think we've gotten progressively better, including that loss at Liverpool.
• 49:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think they get their first win.
• 49:14
  SPEAKER_02: I really hope it happens, Brandon, because it'll be three long weeks until October 10th if they don't.
• 49:18
  SPEAKER_00: Let me pose a question to you.
• 49:21
  SPEAKER_00: If things go sideways on Saturday, are we deserve on the hot seat?
• 49:28
  SPEAKER_00: Not yet.
• 49:29
  SPEAKER_00: Is it just warming up?
• 49:30
  SPEAKER_00: Where are we at with that?
• 49:32
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think he's anywhere near the hot seat yet because of the level of investment Tottenham have put into the squad this summer, and he's been at the forefront of pulling a lot of those strings.
• 49:42
  SPEAKER_02: So whether he deserves to be or not is one thing.
• 49:45
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think he is, and I honestly don't think he should be, in my personal opinion.
• 49:49
  SPEAKER_02: I think these projects were way too reactionary in soccer sometimes.
• 49:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 49:54
  SPEAKER_02: And I think these projects can take time.
• 49:56
  SPEAKER_02: And honestly, I know XG isn't the end-all be all, but you can make an argument that Tottenham were the better team in three matches so far that they didn't get anything out of.
• 50:03
  SPEAKER_02: So I don't really want to sack a manager after four or five matches where we didn't deliver results when we haven't even had close to our full squad yet either.
• 50:13
  SPEAKER_02: That's another thing.
• 50:14
  SPEAKER_02: So give him give him this whole year, in my opinion, unless we're really in a relegation scrap once again.
• 50:20
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think that'll be the case.
• 50:22
  SPEAKER_02: I think eventually water will find its level, Tottenham will find the goal.
• 50:26
  SPEAKER_02: I don't want to start thinking those thoughts, Brandon.
• 50:28
  SPEAKER_02: If I were to start thinking those thoughts, hey Mauricio, what are you up to?
• 50:32
  SPEAKER_00: No, stop.
• 50:33
  SPEAKER_00: He's untouchable.
• 50:34
  SPEAKER_00: We cannot yank him from the US MNT in half a second.
• 50:38
  SPEAKER_02: Don't do that.
• 50:39
  SPEAKER_02: Oh my god, yeah.
• 50:40
  SPEAKER_02: Well, see you later.
• 50:42
  SPEAKER_02: And then for the US MNT, give Pep Gordiola a shot.
• 50:44
  SPEAKER_02: See what he's up to.
• 50:45
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, he'll answer the phone.
• 50:47
  SPEAKER_02: He's talking to clubs in Turkey.
• 50:48
  SPEAKER_02: His agents are talking to clubs in Turkey.
• 50:50
  SPEAKER_00: We could do better than that.
• 50:52
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, hey, we can dream.
• 50:54
  SPEAKER_00: I know he's a he likes the NBA too.
• 50:56
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll get him court size seats.
• 50:58
  SPEAKER_00: He's not going anywhere.
• 50:59
  SPEAKER_00: Let's not let's not do this.
• 51:00
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, we're on to the next one.
• 51:02
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, on to the next one.
• 51:03
  SPEAKER_00: On to the next one.
• 51:04
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the 10 o'clock window.
• 51:05
  SPEAKER_00: We have a few games, Sean.
• 51:07
  SPEAKER_00: First one I have on my list here is Everton and Ipswich Town.
• 51:10
  SPEAKER_00: The Tractor Boys are hot when they play their A-Team, which I think they will on the weekend.
• 51:15
  SPEAKER_00: But they are going to an unbeaten Everton side.
• 51:18
  SPEAKER_00: I said, I think this is a clever, classic Everton knock it down and grind it out win.
• 51:22
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think it'll be pretty, but I think Everton win this game 1-0.
• 51:26
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, I've gone for 1-1.
• 51:28
  SPEAKER_02: I'm along similar lines of view.
• 51:30
  SPEAKER_02: I don't see Everton getting beat on their home pitch, but I almost wanted to pick Ipswich.
• 51:34
  SPEAKER_02: I that's because I do think they've they've found a little something in the Premier League with that best 11 they have.
• 51:39
  SPEAKER_02: But I just there's something about Everton.
• 51:42
  SPEAKER_02: I don't trust a team to go in there and actually beat them for all three.
• 51:45
  SPEAKER_02: So I'll go for 1-1.
• 51:47
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 51:48
  SPEAKER_00: Fair.
• 51:48
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the next game at 10 a.m.
• 51:50
  SPEAKER_00: we have Brighton and Arsenal.
• 51:52
  SPEAKER_00: So the the champs go to Brighton.
• 51:54
  SPEAKER_00: I put on here, I think they'll have a little bit of trouble.
• 51:57
  SPEAKER_00: So the Amex is not traditionally an easy place to win and play.
• 52:02
  SPEAKER_00: I do think Arsenal, though, are stronger and coming off the cup win against Ipswich.
• 52:06
  SPEAKER_00: I said I think they'll want to continue that perfect start in the season.
• 52:09
  SPEAKER_00: I think Arsenal win this one 2-0.
• 52:12
  SPEAKER_02: I've gone same margin, but I've gone 3-1.
• 52:14
  SPEAKER_02: Brighton have been one of the best attacking sides in the Prem.
• 52:17
  SPEAKER_02: I think in a lot of statistics they are the best attacking side so far in the Prem.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_02: So I'll give them a goal, but Arsenal's defense is too stout and solid.
• 52:25
  SPEAKER_02: I don't I think they'll be difficult to break down for much of the match.
• 52:28
  SPEAKER_02: And then Arsenal on the flip side, I do think they'll be able to get at Brighton a little bit.
• 52:32
  SPEAKER_02: We've seen Brighton kind of get into these affairs where they just trade blows back and forth, Coventry withstanding.
• 52:38
  SPEAKER_02: And I think Arsenal will be able to land a few more punches than Brighton are, so I've gone 3-1.
• 52:42
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, yeah, fair.
• 52:44
  SPEAKER_00: The only reason I didn't give them a goal is because I believe Arsenal's defense is so strong.
• 52:48
  SPEAKER_00: But I could see them squeaking one in.
• 52:50
  SPEAKER_00: They're at home, they're gonna have the fans behind them.
• 52:52
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, same same energy there, Sean.
• 52:54
  SPEAKER_00: The last 10 a.m.
• 52:55
  SPEAKER_00: game we have on Saturday is Newcastle and Hall City.
• 52:59
  SPEAKER_00: I I'll let you start, because I have some thoughts.
• 53:03
  SPEAKER_01: I said, why not, Hole?
• 53:05
  SPEAKER_01: Let's do it again.
• 53:07
  SPEAKER_01: Hole 2-1 Tigers!
• 53:09
  SPEAKER_02: Now say this is a tough place to go.
• 53:12
  SPEAKER_02: Newcastle is a tough place to go.
• 53:14
  SPEAKER_02: It's a little easier of a trip from Hole than from London.
• 53:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's true.
• 53:18
  SPEAKER_02: But I I do worry in the trust tree, Brandon, I worry this could be a slip-up for the Tigers.
• 53:25
  SPEAKER_02: But outwardly, I'm backing them all day, baby.
• 53:28
  SPEAKER_02: 2-1 Tigers, and all those good feelings from Matthias Yisla and that warm welcome, the start he's had at Newcastle, the tone shifts a little bit here.
• 53:39
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 53:40
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, yeah.
• 53:41
  SPEAKER_00: Newcastle, I this one is weird to me.
• 53:43
  SPEAKER_00: Newcastle are such an odd team.
• 53:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they got absolutely battered on Monday's game, which we didn't cover because it was when we recorded, by Leeds.
• 53:51
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, Leeds is fine.
• 53:53
  SPEAKER_00: Like, Leeds is good.
• 53:54
  SPEAKER_00: Leeds has actually had a great season so far, but are they that good?
• 53:57
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I don't know.
• 53:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I do think they'll want a rebound, but I don't think they'll get three points.
• 54:01
  SPEAKER_00: I think the points are gonna be shared in this one 1-1.
• 54:03
  SPEAKER_00: The Tigers are flying, and they'll want to continue.
• 54:07
  SPEAKER_00: The whole City Team of the Week award.
• 54:09
  SPEAKER_00: They gotta keep up their standard, they're gonna win it again, hopefully, this weekend.
• 54:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's in the name, yeah.
• 54:14
  SPEAKER_00: It's they draw would be great.
• 54:16
  SPEAKER_00: Draw would be great.
• 54:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they've just done so well so far, and I think they do have enough quality to to at least get a point, and I think they'd be thrilled.
• 54:25
  SPEAKER_00: And it's crazy that you said, I think you said this might be a slip-up from Hull.
• 54:30
  SPEAKER_00: Uh it's crazy that we're talking about Hull in these terms, like a slip-up, and they sh they're barely in the league.
• 54:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um and they're tearing it up, so it's it's funny that you called it a slip-up, but yeah, I it's it's been an absolutely incredible start for them.
• 54:44
  SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm right there with you.
• 54:46
  SPEAKER_02: It is weird how the mood has shifted completely around Hull, but I'm here for it.
• 54:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, just ride the wave.
• 54:52
  SPEAKER_00: I'm about it.
• 54:53
  SPEAKER_00: The 1231, I think this one could be fun.
• 54:57
  SPEAKER_00: We have Nottingham Forest and Coventry.
• 54:59
  SPEAKER_00: Coventry going to Forest, lost after just losing it to Villa in the cup, Forest at home, they've had some really decent results lately.
• 55:08
  SPEAKER_00: I think this one could be a a little bit of a blowout.
• 55:12
  SPEAKER_00: I think Forest come out and win this one 3-0.
• 55:15
  SPEAKER_00: I think my guy Morgan Gibbs White decides to show the world he still got it.
• 55:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think he's had a good season so far, but in my mind, like he could be, I'm not saying he is, but he could be in that top four or five center attacking mids in the Prem on his day, and it hasn't really shown yet, but I think this might be his coming out party.
• 55:35
  SPEAKER_00: Coventry still hasn't scored a goal yet in the Premier League, just like Tottenham, and I don't think this is the game they do it.
• 55:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I have also kept Coventry out of the goal.
• 55:45
  SPEAKER_02: I've gone to nothing Forest.
• 55:47
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 55:47
  SPEAKER_02: Similar reasons for you.
• 55:48
  SPEAKER_02: I think Forest are really solid defensively, that's kind of where they make their money.
• 55:52
  SPEAKER_02: And going to the city ground is not easy.
• 55:55
  SPEAKER_02: They're always up for it there.
• 55:57
  SPEAKER_02: I think they'll be able to keep Coventry at bay.
• 55:59
  SPEAKER_02: And honestly, I'm kind of hoping they do.
• 56:01
  SPEAKER_02: I I was bullish on Forest early in the season.
• 56:04
  SPEAKER_02: I kind of want that to come true.
• 56:06
  SPEAKER_02: But mostly I've soured a bit on Frank Lampard and this Coventry side.
• 56:11
  SPEAKER_02: I've never been a Frank Lampard guy as a Chelsea.
• 56:13
  SPEAKER_02: I just I mean, I respect his work.
• 56:16
  SPEAKER_02: I think he's he was a great player.
• 56:17
  SPEAKER_02: He's done actually a better job as a manager, I think, that people have given him credit for.
• 56:21
  SPEAKER_02: But I don't think I've seen any inspiration from this Coventry side yet this year, and I'm hoping it doesn't start this weekend.
• 56:28
  SPEAKER_00: Fair enough.
• 56:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, it's it has not looked good for them at all.
• 56:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I know our guy Haji Wright is out, but even without that, it just hasn't looked together.
• 56:39
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not a huge fan of their number nine, uh Awaneewi, who got sent off last week, who actually came from Forest.
• 56:46
  SPEAKER_00: I wasn't a fan of him when he was on Forest.
• 56:48
  SPEAKER_00: I thought he would kind of do a lot of the right things, but never had that finishing quality.
• 56:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, you're in there to be a number nine, so you should probably score.
• 56:57
  SPEAKER_02: But yeah, he's a he's kind of a frustrating one.
• 57:00
  SPEAKER_02: He he's always been that way.
• 57:01
  SPEAKER_02: He's hit or miss, and usually it's more miss than hit.
• 57:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so I don't I don't think this is the game for them to score their first goal.
• 57:09
  SPEAKER_00: Switching to Sunday's games, we have a little bit of a different schedule this week.
• 57:14
  SPEAKER_00: We have three games at 9 a.m.
• 57:17
  SPEAKER_00: and then one at 11.30.
• 57:19
  SPEAKER_00: The 9 a.m.
• 57:20
  SPEAKER_00: games, uh, first one we have Liverpool going to Bournemouth to play the Cherries.
• 57:24
  SPEAKER_00: Let me know your thoughts on this one.
• 57:26
  SPEAKER_02: I'm not sure about this one.
• 57:28
  SPEAKER_02: I really don't know what to expect here.
• 57:29
  SPEAKER_02: I've gone for a draw just because it feels like the safest bet.
• 57:33
  SPEAKER_02: I think both sides have been capable of being good this year, and both sides have been capable of being frustrating.
• 57:38
  SPEAKER_02: And since Bournemouth are at home, I'm gonna give them a draw out of this game.
• 57:42
  SPEAKER_02: Liverpool, I think, will be a better side when the dust settles this year, but I don't think the dust is close to settling till well into the season for a lot of these clubs in transition, how we talked about.
• 57:50
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna say Bournemouth eke out a result.
• 57:53
  SPEAKER_02: What about you?
• 57:54
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 57:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I had similar thoughts, but I don't think they get a result.
• 57:58
  SPEAKER_00: I think Liverpool do just enough to win two to one.
• 58:01
  SPEAKER_00: Bournemouth, we've talked about them.
• 58:03
  SPEAKER_00: They've dropped points in all of their games so far.
• 58:06
  SPEAKER_00: And I think this one, maybe that maybe they drop it or they don't drop it, but I don't think they'll win.
• 58:11
  SPEAKER_00: I think Liverpool coming off the cup win during the the midweek, uh, with a with a a bit of a rotated squad as well, so they should be pretty healthy to play on the weekend.
• 58:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I can see them going into the Vitality Stadium and getting all three points from Bournemouth.
• 58:25
  SPEAKER_00: The next game at 9 a.m.
• 58:27
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, we have Manchester City and Sunderland.
• 58:29
  SPEAKER_00: Now, you know my thoughts on Sunderland, and you know my thoughts on Man City.
• 58:34
  SPEAKER_00: However, I don't know it'll I don't know if it'll be that ugly.
• 58:39
  SPEAKER_00: I think Sunderland are gritty, Sunderland or gritty, I'm telling you.
• 58:42
  SPEAKER_00: They're gritty.
• 58:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, a little a little bit, but Sunderland also did play midweek uh against AZ Alkmar from Holland in the uh Europa League.
• 58:51
  SPEAKER_00: City squad's bigger, City's rested, City did not play in the middle of this week.
• 58:56
  SPEAKER_00: I think they'll win this one pretty easily.
• 58:59
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I said three-zero out of respect for Sunderland.
• 59:02
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I think the trust tree, like you said, I think it could be five, but I'll say three zero mic.
• 59:07
  SPEAKER_00: I'll say three-zero.
• 59:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I need Holland to say like I'm the best forward.
• 59:12
  SPEAKER_00: We need to get the P2.
• 59:13
  SPEAKER_00: I do.
• 59:13
  SPEAKER_00: I hate Sunderland.
• 59:14
  SPEAKER_00: I fully my god.
• 59:18
  SPEAKER_02: I'm sticking up for my Sunderland.
• 59:20
  SPEAKER_02: I almost want to give him a draw because of this, but I have gone no, I've gone for City 2-1.
• 59:26
  SPEAKER_02: My note was City win a gritty one before the break.
• 59:30
  SPEAKER_02: Just one of those where I maybe it's a late winner, maybe it's them scoring in the 65th and holding on a little bit, but I don't think it's gonna be super easy.
• 59:38
  SPEAKER_02: I think Sunderland are always up for it, and I I think that's a credit to their manager.
• 59:43
  SPEAKER_02: He LeBrie is brilliant in my opinion.
• 59:46
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know necessarily that they have the firepower to keep up with City if City are fit and firing for this, which is what worries me.
• 59:53
  SPEAKER_02: But I think they're gonna give him a good punch and we'll see what where it lands.
• 59:57
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna go to one city and a closer one than the people expecting the people are you.
• 1:00:03
  SPEAKER_00: That's hey, fair enough, you get your choice.
• 1:00:05
  SPEAKER_00: But I think this could be the the Cherky Holland showcase game where they come out and they're like, yeah.
• 1:00:12
  SPEAKER_00: I've seen that film before.
• 1:00:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, exactly.
• 1:00:15
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you know what I'm I'm hitting at there, Sean.
• 1:00:17
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see.
• 1:00:18
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see what happens.
• 1:00:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's the first game where we not not that we're different, we have the same results, but a little bit different.
• 1:00:26
  SPEAKER_02: Way different outcomes, yeah.
• 1:00:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 1:00:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the last 9 a.m.
• 1:00:29
  SPEAKER_00: game, we have Leeds and Crystal Palace.
• 1:00:32
  SPEAKER_00: Leeds have looked good.
• 1:00:33
  SPEAKER_00: We we mentioned it earlier.
• 1:00:34
  SPEAKER_00: Leeds have looked really good.
• 1:00:35
  SPEAKER_00: Outside of their cup loss to Chelsea, they've gotten points in all their games.
• 1:00:39
  SPEAKER_00: Palace, they're tied for 15th in the league.
• 1:00:41
  SPEAKER_00: I think they're a lot better than tied for 15th, in my opinion.
• 1:00:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I do think Leeds is good in defense though, and Palace will struggle to score.
• 1:00:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I put 1-0 as my prediction.
• 1:00:52
  SPEAKER_00: Leeds Leeds won Crystal Palace 0.
• 1:00:55
  SPEAKER_02: I've gone 2-1 to Leeds.
• 1:00:57
  SPEAKER_02: I I liked what I saw early from Crystal Palace the first two weeks.
• 1:01:01
  SPEAKER_02: I thought they were okay.
• 1:01:02
  SPEAKER_02: Well, they did get smoked by City, but they looked good in the Everton game that they lost.
• 1:01:06
  SPEAKER_02: But now I'm starting to get a little worried about Crystal Palace because they have European football to contend with as well, and that squad I don't think is good enough to compete on several fronts, which we kind of did talk about.
• 1:01:16
  SPEAKER_02: So this is an important match, I think, to show some fight to try to get a point out of.
• 1:01:21
  SPEAKER_02: Ultimately, I think Ellen Road is just a little bit too tough of a place to go.
• 1:01:24
  SPEAKER_02: And I've gone for leads by a goal, but I wouldn't be surprised if this one ends in a draw.
• 1:01:30
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 1:01:30
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 1:01:30
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, similar, similar thought process.
• 1:01:33
  SPEAKER_00: The last game on Sunday, Sean, uh, the 11:30 a.m.
• 1:01:37
  SPEAKER_00: match, we have Fulham and Manchester United.
• 1:01:40
  SPEAKER_00: In my notes, I put trap game question mark.
• 1:01:43
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think so.
• 1:01:45
  SPEAKER_00: I do think Manchester United bounce back and win this one.
• 1:01:48
  SPEAKER_00: I think uh Brian Bueno and Bueno finally scores a good goal and they win this one on the road two to one.
• 1:01:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Fulham, I know it's not an easy place to play, but I do think United get their act together and pull out three points from this one.
• 1:02:04
  SPEAKER_02: I am with you.
• 1:02:05
  SPEAKER_02: I've gone Fulham one, Manchester United two.
• 1:02:08
  SPEAKER_02: I think the struggles continue for Fulham while United kind of snap that unfortunate run they've been on.
• 1:02:14
  SPEAKER_02: And they need to, or else the seat might get really warm over the break.
• 1:02:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 1:02:19
  SPEAKER_00: So those are all the games this week.
• 1:02:21
  SPEAKER_00: Sean, it seems like we're we're on similar pages, which means, as always, just bet against us because we're probably all wrong in all ten games.
• 1:02:30
  SPEAKER_00: But uh, I'm glad to know that I'm not on a complete island with my my thoughts.
• 1:02:35
  SPEAKER_02: No, it's always nice having someone in a similar spot to you.
• 1:02:38
  SPEAKER_02: At least you go down with the crew if we go down.
• 1:02:42
  SPEAKER_02: So I don't mind that at all.
• 1:02:43
  SPEAKER_02: Brandon, before we head out, the only other games I wanted to mention around Europe, there's two marquee ones, I would say.
• 1:02:48
  SPEAKER_02: On Saturday, we have the two top teams in Syria.
• 1:02:51
  SPEAKER_02: Roma hosting Inter.
• 1:02:53
  SPEAKER_02: They're tied at the top of the table.
• 1:02:55
  SPEAKER_02: It's going to be at the Stadio Olympico at noon Eastern time on Paramount.
• 1:02:59
  SPEAKER_02: That is the game of the season so far in Syria.
• 1:03:01
  SPEAKER_02: So if you don't have anything going on, get your eyes on that.
• 1:03:04
  SPEAKER_02: And then on Sunday, 7 a.m., before those Premier League games kick off, we have an old firm derby.
• 1:03:10
  SPEAKER_02: Celtic hosting Rangers at Celtic Park.
• 1:03:13
  SPEAKER_02: Celtic are already five points clear of Rangers through six matches.
• 1:03:18
  SPEAKER_02: It's kind of do or die if before Rangers if they want to contend for the title this season.
• 1:03:23
  SPEAKER_02: That's kind of how it works in the Scottish League.
• 1:03:25
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm expecting Celtic get the job done, especially at home, but that'll be that's always a great one to watch.
• 1:03:31
  SPEAKER_00: That is a good one.
• 1:03:32
  SPEAKER_00: Do you want to just quickly give a quick spark notes summary on Old Firm, uh, just for maybe listeners who aren't as familiar with the Scottish League?
• 1:03:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, the Old Firm is a rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, the two premier teams in Scotland.
• 1:03:48
  SPEAKER_02: I believe it's the oldest rivalry in European football, at least that's what they say.
• 1:03:51
  SPEAKER_02: The Celtic group are largely referred to as the Irish Catholics of Glasgow, and Celtic are more, or and Rangers are more of the Protestant group, so the rivalry transcends sport sometimes.
• 1:04:04
  SPEAKER_02: Often it gets a little ugly.
• 1:04:06
  SPEAKER_02: Anytime they play at a neutral site, there is lines of security separating the two sections.
• 1:04:12
  SPEAKER_02: They can't come in contact with each other or else it will be a scrap.
• 1:04:15
  SPEAKER_02: So always an electric atmosphere, always a fun one to watch.
• 1:04:18
  SPEAKER_00: No, thank you for that highlighting that.
• 1:04:21
  SPEAKER_00: It's funny, I remember I believe I was in maybe middle school or elementary school reading a book about the old firm, and it was the first I'd ever heard about this rivalry, and I was like, wow, that's cool.
• 1:04:32
  SPEAKER_00: And then watching a few matches, and you're like, all right, like this is this is proper.
• 1:04:36
  SPEAKER_00: And and like you said, Sean, it's funny, those teams are almost always one and two in the Scottish League.
• 1:04:42
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, very rarely do you see a third team.
• 1:04:44
  SPEAKER_00: I believe last year we all actually Hearts almost won the league and then lost it on the last day.
• 1:04:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:04:51
  SPEAKER_00: So so no, I I appreciate your your insight there, Sean.
• 1:04:55
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, anything else you want to add for for this episode?
• 1:04:59
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 1:04:59
  SPEAKER_02: Excited about the SMNT roster, obviously.
• 1:05:02
  SPEAKER_02: And then I'm pumped for this weekend of games.
• 1:05:04
  SPEAKER_02: I think there's gonna be some really good ones before we get some weeks off.
• 1:05:07
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna take them in while I can.
• 1:05:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 1:05:10
  SPEAKER_00: Cherish it while we got it.
• 1:05:11
  SPEAKER_00: But then we got the friendlies, the US friendlies.
• 1:05:13
  SPEAKER_00: So hopefully those games will hold us over, Sean.
• 1:05:17
  SPEAKER_00: But uh another good episode.
• 1:05:19
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you as always.
• 1:05:20
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate your your insight, your your detail, your analysis, uh, and and your and your excitement and your passion around this US MNT roster.
• 1:05:29
  SPEAKER_00: I know it's it's a weird, it's a weird time and a weird thing to be excited for, but we're we're looking four years ahead, listeners.
• 1:05:36
  SPEAKER_00: This is not for today.
• 1:05:38
  SPEAKER_00: This is for four years from now when we're in the World Cup in in Morocco and Spain and Portugal and and maybe hopefully bringing home maybe a maybe a bronze.
• 1:05:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 1:05:48
  SPEAKER_02: And these guys are in the Olympics.
• 1:05:49
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, a lot of these guys are in the Olympic squad in 2028 on home soil.
• 1:05:52
  SPEAKER_02: So yes, yeah, we've got several competitions to look forward to.
• 1:05:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, thank you, Sean, for that.
• 1:05:59
  SPEAKER_00: Listeners, as always, thank you.
• 1:06:01
  SPEAKER_00: Get the merch, keep listening, like and subscribe, leave us a comment.
• 1:06:04
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we love to hear your feedback.
• 1:06:05
  SPEAKER_00: And until next time, take care.