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Episode 187: An Old Friend Returns... For Silverware · Tectonic Takes

• Episode 187 An Old Friend Returns... For Silverware : There's a earthquake that's been thinking Samark on the richer scale of football, I think. What's up Quakespans? We are back with another episode of Tectonic Takes. Today I am joined by my very special guest. not a very special guest. You are very special, Devin, but you're not my guest. You're my co host. Devin, how are you doing today? I'm a guest now. Yeah, you've been demoted. Dang it. That's what happens when you go out into the woods and don't watch earthquake scapes. no I'm good. I only like people who stay indoors all the time. I guess I gotta change my ways. No, I'm I'm great, Abram. How are you doing? I'm doing pretty well. I drove only seven hours today, which is more than most people will drive this week, but it it it just had a a big effect on me. I drove to El Sabrante two different times today. And you also look different. Yeah, I do look different. but that I don't know what that is. I j I just think maybe I lost some weight. no. yeah, I got a haircut. It was like you guys probably saw how much hair I had on the back of my head and and all all over, but it was really getting heavy. I had to cut it. It was just way too much. It looks refreshing. It definitely looks refreshing and nice. So whoever's your barber did did fantastic. It's actually my cousin who used to sponsor my old podcast. shit. I'll see if she wants to to sponsor us. that'd be pretty cool. but yeah, we are back after the One one draw in Colorado. Devin, I know that you didn't get to watch this match because you were at altitude yourself. tell us about your journey but also after that your reaction to the result when you came back. Yeah, as as much as the Quakes were in the mile high city, I was also a mile high. I f finally completed hiking up Clouds Rest after two attempts and I'm now in my mindset of conquering my fears. And and speaking of conquering fears, the Earthquakes had played Colorado Rapids, whom have a very low chance of of beating, and thankfully we walked away with the one one draw. Unfortunately I didn't get to watch it. I've only seen the highlights and I was pretty impressed with the fact that Dave Romney of all players on the field scored the the game equalizer. you know what what were your thoughts when when walking through the game, Abram, especially at that moment. Yeah, I'll start at that moment and it it wasn't looking too good. just because we couldn't really set anything up. just the way that Colorado were defending it it just we're really struggling to break them down. That goal was a really good finish. it was a back post cross off of the free kick from Luven. It hit Vieira who most people would have you know, I don't s if you saw the replay of Devin, but Most people would have tried to score from the header there, even though that they have a really tight angle. He's away at the back post, really past the post. Tomo Allen did. Sorry? Tomo Allen did. yeah, Tomo Allen did. We'll we'll talk about that soon. But no Vieira did the smart thing. He knocked it down. Thankfully Romney saw that. because all the defenders just r kept rushing towards the goal. Romney you know, held his run a little bit and Finished with a volley. A very nice finish from from I was gonna say Mitt Romney. Not Mitt Romney. Dave Romney. Nancy Pelosi to Mitt Romney. No, Romney's been having a very good year for goals. I don't know what his record is, but this is not the first goal he scored for the Quakes. but probably the best finish that he scored for the Quakes. Very good. And and he's had a really good run as well where he had to cut in onto his right foot and finish that as well. Really weird. Romney's a very strange player in a lot of ways. but did you did you get to see the highlight and what do you make of that finish? Yeah, I mean Romney comes up big in ways you don't expect him to come up and in moments you don't expect him to come up. I mean he puts on a you know, a a blast of speed out of nowhere when you'd least expect it. And he he scores goals with his left foot when it matters most. and I'm very happy that we have him on the team and have him as a a center back now on a back three. but yeah, like you said, Timo Werner I guess lofted a a cross or a free kick. Yeah, was Werner who did that, huh? Yeah. Yeah, Werner got the secondary assist. He's getting closer to putting that tattoo on on Tim Howard's butt. is he putting it on his butt or is it just Yeah, he's putting he's putting the tattoo of a what is it, a donkey and whatever it else is on his butt. cow's cow's ass with a banjo. Yeah, he's putting it's the tattoo of a cow and a banjo on his ass. Yeah. that's that's what's happening if Timo Verner gets ten goals, ten assists and he got one extra assist in the game. so that puts him one step closer to to that tattoo, which I'm really look f looking forward to seeing 'cause I think if we qualify for playoffs, that's an extra game for for Timo to get get more stats. So that being said, yeah, no, going back to going back to Romney after that that small tangent. yeah, I was really impressed with with that play and and the fact that, you know, Vieira wasn't selfish in in taking that that header opportunity for toward net. He just, sent it back to the giant gathering of players and and hoped that one of us, hits the target on a shot and and there was I almost said Mitt Ronnie as well. Dave Romney at the the penalty spot, right? I think it was this penalty spot where you scored it. Yeah, run there. Not not an easy finish. Not an easy finish for a center back to one time it into the back of the net. I wanna so a quick story, it's not it's not super important. But shout out to Dave Romero, work with the fault line. I brought my nephew to his first Quakes game, I think last season, and Dave showed up and he gave him a bunch of free cards. It was really cool of him. He didn't have to do that. I think some of them were signed by Espinoza and like a bunch of really good players. And so my d my dad and my nephew are walking back to the car and I run o back over to Like where all the players are congregating in the parking lot and you know, Dave's there greeting the players and I I'm I'm I come back to thank Dave and so I yell, Dave and then Dave Romero looks at me, but also Dave Romney, who who was greeting fans, also looks up and I'm like, no, not you, Dave and had to like specify the which Dave I was referring to. and and it was a little bit embarrassing 'cause, you know Usually when somebody's yelling Dave at Dave Romney it's it's him, but it wasn't in that case. but yeah, just just a funny story and shout out to Dave Romero who made a really big impact on on my nephew and his, you know, Quakes fan journey. and is just a a good example of what a Quakes fan should be. but back to the Colorado game. Yeah, not much to talk about. It ended one one. I'm trying to remember the the goal that Colorado scored. I I I can't really picture it in my head, but did you get to see those highlights, Devin? I did not get to see those highlights. It's been s far too busy since the moment I came back. Just the Dave Romney goal. Yeah, just the Dave Romney goal. But I did hear that there were two other Quake schools that were called off. my god. my god, yeah. And I I'm sure you can go you can go on and on about it, but the When I came home from from camping, I I got an earful from my dad about, Judd's goal, which should have been or which my family had said should have been onside because he was in his own half, but quote unquote offside by a millimeters. if this was the Ar Arson vanger rule, that would have been a a good goal. Yeah. it's unfortunate that an offside decision is called based on millimeters and and nearly an inch or so of of space because I think those those should be given as good goals. under the current rules they shouldn't because then that would be chaos. But I think that you know the rules could change and and provide that. I I have always been somebody who's like we should get more goals in the game. And so I am in favor of like making making it in a way that it's not objective But the daylight rule is ab is objective, right? Like there is daylight, that means it's good. and just as long as it's not something as subjective, whereas like a judgment call. That that's not what we are are looking to to have here. but I I I like the the daylight rule because it it it means more goals, it means that the game's more entertaining. but in in the current, you know, letter of the law We can't have goals like that stand just because, we'd like them to across all of soccer, right? We can't just 'cause that would open the door for LA Galaxy to do the same to us and they're offside and then it that would suck. I'm I'm looking here for Colorado's goal. I have it pulled up. I'm going to try and narrate it for you. so it looks like they have a corner on our right hand side. Swing it into the back post where nobody is c covering number thirty two. All of the Quakes players are at the front post covering nobody. And there are about four or five one, two, three, four, five, players in black at the back post and only Romney and I can't tell who that is on the ground there. Vittor Costa, who is not he's not the guy who you want to cover more than one guy at the back post, let alone one guy. but the number thirty two, I can't remember his name right now. Donovan Phillip. Yeah, he does a great job to get to that. But if you're looking at that replay, there are literally four guys at the front post not marking anybody. I don't know what the idea was there. It's kind of ridiculous. Like 'cause there was a lot of set piece plays from Colorado. They they did l a few things where they're like, Okay, we're gonna run around and do like weird things. but It felt like in this goal in this circumstance they just lined up at the back post and then Paxton puts it to the back post and they score at the back post. I I I don't I don't understand it. and that's something that we need to really sure up before playoffs. If we you know, we should be able to make it at this point, but this isn't like it's great that we got a result, but things like this is what's gonna knock us out, you know. in in ninetieth minute or whatever it is. what are your thoughts on on on that, Devin, and and just the philosophy of just growing and and improving little things like that that could just add games. I agree. I think there's these defensive aspects and and especially set pieces. We definitely need to clean up set pieces a lot more 'cause as you stated, you know, having a bunch of players near post and and no coverage far post, that's definitely a recipe for trouble. And if if we had, you know, Angus Gun in goal, based on the reactions the reaction times that that our fans have been talking about, that that could be troublesome. I think Earl Edwards had a pretty impressive game based on the highlights that I had seen from his saves and whatnot. shout out to Earl. we we didn't expect to to see Earl starting this game whatsoever. But I think due to the fact that it was in Colorado, Mile High City. I think Bruce was looking for rotation and he may be taking the RSL game more seriously. and that's not to say that Earl is like I guess coming on as like a a a backup for per se for the game. I think Earl is just as impressive as a starter as as Angus at the point at this point. But, you know, I'm just gonna go on a limb and say that RSL probably is more of more of a depleted squad than Colorado and we can pick up sure points at at RSL come Wednesday. but that being said, yeah, these these corners definitely need to be cleaned up, especially coming into this weekend where, you know, the the best team in MLS is is coming to town and we gotta be prepared for that on all fronts. Absolutely. I sent you a picture, Devin, of how they were set up Before the corner was kicked. So it's not like, they ran back there at the last second. you see where all our guys are and where all their guys are. Yeah, it seems like most of our shorter players are back post. Why is that? So it's Dave Romney, who was not even back post. He's kind of in the middle of the goal, and then Victor Costa is there marking all four of those guys. Right? And is that a misjudgment from me or is that accurate, you would say? Maybe they're expecting Colorado players to to run near post for momentum purposes, but I guess but run with them. Yeah, I maybe I don't know. 'Cause so okay. One, two, three, four, five, six. Six guys at the near post. Maybe one or two go back posts. Maybe just one or two of of the the six guys. Then then we can make sure we get the front post. I don't know. I I I If there is a reason for this that I don't understand because I've never played professional ball, fair enough. but I think that most people should see this and think like, this was mismanaged. And I don't think that's too, you know, hot of a take, seeing as we conceded from that goal. we conceded from this set piece and we could have won this game. you know, and and not even needed those those two goals that were called off to go in. but it's just unfortunate. I I did think that we picked up in the second half. we we started to attack more, started to attack better. but it it wasn't really great. 'cause it was weird, right? So we we were all anticipating that the major factor here was gonna be the altitude. And so that usually equates to players getting tired later in the match. But it kinda felt like for us that we got better as time went on. And because we weren't that strong leading up to, you know, sixty fifth, seventieth minute, we weren't able to make better opportunities throughout the game. wi with the exception of of Judd's very early goal. that looked like it was gonna be awesome. but didn't turn out that way. but like you said, Devin very good performance from Earl Edwards or as we call him in the Tectonic Takes Discord balloony. I don't know if if you're able to put that that picture up, Devin, but I will. Yeah. It'll be on screen right now. Can you can you explain what that references to? I wish I could explain it because Because i it it would be a a pretty funny moment, but no, I I genuinely do not know where balloonie comes from. Phineas and Ferb is a show that was on Disney Channel a long time ago when I was a kid. That was Phineas? No, th it's not Phineas as a balloon, it's just No no, but the show? Yeah. So Doctor Doof and Smirts has a balloon friend when he is young. because he doesn't have any real friends and all his fans hate him. So h his only friend is a balloon named balloony and it it reveals a balloon with like a flesh tones, like y we you showed it on the on the podcast. It's like a flesh toned balloon with like thick eyebrows and anti colored eyes and then his balloon friend d drifts off and and abandons him as well. So it's like he's so sad 'cause his his balloon friend left him too. And anyways, without any of that contact necessary, just I I happen to notice that Earl Edwards look a little bit like Balloony. Today I learned that was from Phineas and Ferb. I had no idea. That's hilarious. Yeah. but yeah. where were we? I got totally decided. Earl Edwards and his performance. he he's definitely making his case for for number one. we talked to him in the press conference because he won Man of the Match. I love talking to him. He was a very well spoken guy, very nice, pretty honest about, you know, his role i in the squad. I I we have been saying for the last two weeks, Devin, that we we want to see Angus Gunn continue getting the starting role. And I still I still think I'm leaning towards that, but I don't think I would be perplexed or or bothered, I guess is a better way to say it. I don't think I'd be bothered if Gunn is dropped for for Edwards here because he's just consistently putting up good performances. There was nine saves from from Earl Edwards. I have no complaints on his performance. He's not the best at kicking the ball out. he he doesn't have very good distribution. That's just a flaw of his game. I don't think Gunn has very good distribution either. It's like very like average. It's below average even. I think that Daniel had like pretty average to above average ball distribution whereas JT had pretty good, it was good. but just is not there. But we we make do. I don't think it's like destroying our game plan or anything 'cause he's not the guy who's expected to, you know, make plays happen. He just kind of turns the ball over a little bit too much on on those long throws or long kicks, I mean. but that's not really that's not too big of a deal. Where are you on on, you know, in between Gun and Edwards. Edwards seems pretty self aware that he's he knows he lacks the the ability for accuracy and long distribution kicks. he said that in the postgame press conference with with Zion. shout out so yeah, shout out Zion for for asking that question and and having Earl answer the way he did. but yeah, I I I I kinda think it's funny that that midweek last week we were we were asking our midweek press conference with Edward Lowen. I had asked him about the elevation and playing in elevation twice and the second time he gave me a laugh. Yeah, can I can I kinda do my impression about what he said to you? Yeah, go for it. I do not w I don't want to talk about the elevation. This is I just this is not something I'm interested in discussing. Yeah, so he he had said that he didn't want to talk about elevation. Which, fair game. if if you don't want to I think it's a factor that that is discussable, but whatever. And it is, because what happened post game when Earl Edwards was giving his his press conference, he ought he had also mentioned elevation being a potential factor in in the the outcome of the game. So haha Nunchba I do not like that Devin boy on the on the TikTonic Techs podcast. but anyways, yeah, so I th thought that was that was pretty funny listening to Earl's podcast or podcast press conference. and and it definitely did have a factor. as even though as you stated, you know, the the momentum for San Jose looked like it it increased in this increased in the second half. but that I think is because we took along four substitutions between the fifty ninth minute and the seventy third minute. So about four substitutions in about twelve or thirteen minutes time. All being Osenie Buddha, Jamar Ricketts, Nick Fernandez, and Mac Floriani. two attackers, two defendish players, specifically Jamar Ricketts, who's maybe defenses defense ish and part attack. Yeah. he's an attacking player, but he was in the defense to refresh kind of that left hand side, which I think was good. Yeah, exactly. And I think if you refresh the back line, it's easier to build up from the back. Yeah. So, that being said, the momentum kinda makes sense the way it did, 'cause Colorado didn't start making their substitutions until about the seventy third minute after our our fourth substitution. So that being said, yeah, I I think there's a a good reason why the momentum is the way it did, but elevation hundred percent played a factor and and looking at the out of the rating system, Urletter Jr. basically beat yeah, he beat eight point one rapids. Yeah. Yeah, he beat the Rapids and the Quakes. That that's impressive. Yeah. I don't even think we've seen that out of gun just yet, but Yeah, I don't think I don't think yeah. I think he had a a a game where he got minor the match. But I don't know i if his so score on the on the thing necessarily reflected that. I don't remember who it was against. Might have been like Houston or something. It was it was fairly recently, but but yeah, Yeah, great match from from Edwards I I have no complaints and and we're not really missing Gunn. That's out of the players who were gone on international duty, I would say because of the formation that we've been using, I don't really miss what's his name? Johnson because there's no place for him. but Gunn is also there. I don't think we really miss him too much. And honestly, like Viera has a very good rating, but I kind of missed the mobility and and energy that Harks provides. like i I I could tell that we were th without it. but Viera he didn't play poorly in any regards. I just I kinda missed Harks. Bolaru, not a amazing performance from him. th a lot of things I wish we could have seen better. He just i if I was to say that anybody was affected by the altitude, I would point at him specifically. no nobody else really had that hard of a time. Marie wasn't too great either. Victor Costa was doing his thing, he's very consistently how he is. but LaRue is is somebody who I think we've seen much better from. and it's going to be interesting to see how we can turn around and play another game at high altitude. against Royal Salt Lake and I don't know if you saw it, Devin, but Bruce was pretty pissed off about the scheduling about the having two matches of quick succession at high altitude. when we didn't play last week. Could have played RSL then at high altitude have a a bigger break. But no, no, we're just gonna have a bye and then Saturday and Wednesday play at altitude. What do you thought It doesn't matter 'cause Eadward said so. Yeah. Well well well Ignoring e Idwad's opinion or lack thereof, what what do you think of that? Do you think that's like just negligence or or not the what I mean is like the MLS scheduling team, whoever is in charge of that, not really considering these factors? I think in all seriousness, I I think it is slightly unfair, I guess, for us to play two consecutive games in four days at altitude. And considering also the fact that the Quakes have to fly to those locations and back in the same day, or not same day, but the night after or the the same night of the game. Right. they have to fly back to San Jose. and and that being as, you know, like a factor in that travel and match day period and recovery, I think it's fairly unfair. It'd be more fair if the if the team Just went straight from Colorado to Salt Lake City and and r rested, recovered and and trained there. however, it doesn't appear to be the case. So yeah, I think it's a bit unfair. But also, you know, I guess we're gonna get two straight games against Colorado and RSL the exact same way we're we're getting them now later on in this month. so hopefully there's there's a a moment for redemption to come towards the end of October. but obviously it's it's different for those teams to come from elevation to to San Jose, which is what, five thousand feet, four thousand feet lower than them. it's basically at sea level, right? Yeah. And like I just I just hiked over a weekend, you know, all the way up to the to the top of Yosemite and even just walking for twelve miles, like I was I was already starting to feel it in my chest and I was beating. So I can only imagine how it was for the players. When I was fifteen years old I went back to my town in Mexico and I I had a summer there. And it's in San Juan de los Lagos de Jalisco and that's like three thousand feet. I'm not sure. I could look it up, but it's not that important. It's very high, is the point. And I was so fit at fifteen. Like I I know I don't look it now, but I was very fit and I could run for days you know, here in California. But I got up from the couch on the first day and I wanted to pass out. it it's that impactful. for people who haven't really been at altitude, there is a difference. There is a reason that, you know, England was was moaning and groaning about having to play Mexico, in Mexico City. I was literally just about to say there's a reason why Azteca is so intimidating. Yeah, and it and it's twofold. It's the fact that it's the Azteca and then also it's at altitude, so you're gonna have a hard time playing there. anything else to add them before we move on? No, I think we we said what we needed to say. I was expecting a better performance from Tima Werner, despite the assist. it may have been a secondary assist, but you know, MLS counts it nonetheless. Yeah. finishing at a six point rating, which is actually the worst among all the starters. Even even worse than than Bo Larue. That's that's pretty shocking. Yeah, I mean he he wasn't terrible, but he didn't do anything at all really. I I wonder if he's like I know this isn't really how they wanna judge these things, but I wonder if he's judged at a different scale than everyone else because of who he is. I'd be surprised if that's the case, but he wasn't good. I wouldn't say he was very bad either, to be honest. just a little bit underwhelming. but before we go on to the next game, we're not gonna discuss RSL because this will come out after the Raoul Salt Lake game is played. So we will have to skip to Nashville. But before I talk about that, I want to talk about our interview with Danny Muni. Unfortunately I had a really hard time getting any connection during the interview so we will probably post that at some point. I'm not in a rush because we didn't talk about anything in particular and nothing like time sensitive. And also I have to really cut it and make it digestible for for you guys to to enjoy. I don't want to just here's the raw files. because it it was a lot of choppiness. It was a lot of my voice for him was delayed so he'd be answering a question and I'd react and then he'd hear it like thirty seconds later and then react to what I had said. Like it was it was really awkward. And it sucks because th that was at his worst when we started talking about Rocket League. he he said that he's like champ rated in in Rocket League. And I couldn't talk any Rocket League with him because I I started to realize like, he he's not gonna hear me for like another twenty seconds and it's like really awkward. but obviously huge thank you to Meanie for, you know, giving us his time regardless. He it wasn't a smooth experience for him and I apologize for that. But also I wanna thank the Quakes organization for being so patient and and they they give us a we we record on on Riverside, that's our software, but they because we couldn't get it to work, we couldn't get Riverside to work that day, they opened up a Zoom call just for me and and Muni to talk in. And they didn't have to do that. They could have just been like, All right, see you later. Obviously it's not working out. They did everything they could to facilitate the interview and make it go as well as they could. but really I was out in the middle of Gilroy, because I had to work that day. And so there was nothing that either party could do to make it any better. It was unfortunate. But again, huge thank you to Danny Mooney, for giving us the time and the answers that he was able to do. And thank you to Delmy from the earthquakes, who went above and beyond for us. And that was, didn't have to do that very big. thoughts, Devin? Dang, I miss I missed the Rocket League portion of the interview. I'm so disappointed. You you couldn't be there. You you were very busy with work. Like you were busier than me. And so you couldn't even like you know 'cause usually I have to clock out of work to to do these interviews. Well the thing for both of us is is both of our work involves around driving and The time the interview was conducted, I had to be in my car doing doing my work duties. So yeah, really unfortunate I wasn't there. but I think in the in the coming interviews we'll we'll have more of a a set not like schedule, but we'll we'll make sure that the the interview quality is is just as good as as Tomo Allen's and Oseni Buddha's and whatnot. And behind the scenes, for the Tomo Allen interview is in particular, I had really bad internet issues that day as well. Devin was fine. He he got to be at home because he took the day off because he wasn't feeling great or or something. and so Devin got to save that interview and and you know do it all on his own. but I didn't have Devin this time. But yeah. What was that Devin? I said it was intimidating because that was the first interview, you know, individually but yeah yeah nonetheless, yeah. There there were some connectivity. issues that day. But yeah, we're solved nonetheless and and from here on out I think we will have a good schedule to to make these interviews just as good as as the first ones. Yeah. and we've had some really good interviews you know, somewhat recently we had the Quakes two interviews with Coach Dan DeGeer and the Spiley brothers. Two very amazing interviews. very happy with how those went. So check those out if you haven't. we'll I think we should do more more Quakes Two interviews because what, three out of the four players who scored or two out of the three we interviewed. So I think I think we need to conduct more Quakes Two interviews and we get more goal scorers in playoff games. Absolutely. And I was gonna send Devin to this game at the playoff game. happened yesterday. But Devin was was on a mountain. he couldn't he couldn't be there. So but yeah, we we we plan to do more with Quakes 2 if we can. just a little bit of a peek behind the screen. so you know, be excited for that whenever we are able to make that happen. we'll talk about the Quakes 2 playoff run in a bit, but first we have to talk about this Nashville game. And the first thing I'm gonna ask you is there's been a lot of discourse lately of do The Quakes fan base boo Christian Espinosa. I'm gonna let you go. Why why would they boo Espinosa? I don't I don't get it. Right. to those who do want to boo Espinoza, I would love to hear from you and hear your side of the story because I'm very confused. It's not like, you know, Espinoza was on the I I'll I'll just say very vaguely, but he's like on the victim end of this situation. Yeah. You know, his contract wasn't updated. they didn't they didn't activate any clause to continue Espinoza's contract during the time it was supposed to be act activated. you know, you could you could argue and be like, Well why didn't Espinoza accept a much higher offer that the the Quakes had put forth compared to other teams? I mean, when your when your activation clause gets forga forgotten, you know, there's there's really no emotional point in staying with that team 'cause clearly it It may feel like you're a a second rate player at that point, despite, all the accolades and st statistics that you've he's giv given this team. I would probably be on the same boat as well. Like, you know, if if the team that I love so much started attacking you not attacking you, but ignoring you and forgetting that you're even on the team, I'd be upset as well and I'd be like, All right, maybe there's there's another team that values me just as much as as I was valued in the first three years. so no, I I wouldn't ever consider to boo Espinoza. you know, he made his decision and and he respected the fact that we have a rivalry with a bunch of other teams and and decided to take an East Coast team of all things. and hell of a team he went to. He could have gone to any team of the league. I've I've heard from a lot of people, a lot of pundits like L AFC one Christian Espinosa away from being an incredible, super team in this league. I I don't even want to imagine that. LA Galaxy didn't have Chucky Lozano yet. So I I believe they had a D P slot available. Who and I I I'm sure they would have you know relished the opportunity to take him from us and then also terrorized the league with with such a good player. yeah, I think one, you know the the Quakes didn't like obviously we valued him, you and I as f as fans and the fan base at large, but there was a systemic issue and there's a lot of systemic issues happening, right? It's not it's not just this, there's much, much, much worse things going on in the Quakes organization. And so they're probably a little bit distracted doing those kind of things and and hiring people they might not they maybe shouldn't be hiring. but not giving contract to Espinosa that that's that's a crazy offense. That's like a it's like it's like if somebody didn't you know, renew Wando. Like Espinosa is is huge in this fan base and will go down as a Quake legend. I like if we could put a shirt up. Yeah, it's like adding liquid IV to a fruit smoothie. Like it might not taste good, but it's not the worst thing in the world. Right, right, right. And and like you said, Devin, he he went to the the Eastern Conference and I I'm sure that there was, you know, an emotional aspect of that, like I don't wanna play against my old team two times a year or however d many times we play. It's it's it changes. It actually does change quite often, so it's hard to keep track. regardless. And also a a team that with him with him as a key piece in it can challenge for MLS Cup and look where they are now. And he is having a hell of a season. and I people are hearing this and they're g they're like, this sucks. Like this is I this is, you know, putting more things in the negative category for how I view Espinosa. But I don't know. I just I think that it's so short sighted to to boo him. 'Cause I you know, I I heard the the take of like I'll boo him just like I boo any other opposing player And sure, I I don't you don't have to give him special treatment, I guess, but you don't boo every opposing player. w like when Frederick the second was playing against us in Colorado, you weren't booing the screen every time he touched the ball. and and that's that's what I'm trying to say is just treat him like at the very least. If you don't wanna obviously I'm not gonna be like cheering every time he gets the ball. that's not where I'm at. But Just pretend he's like one of them and whatever. If he scores a hat trick and celebrates every single one by ripping his shirt off and and I don't know, mooning the ultras. Okay. Then then at that point, right at that point he has a message and it is received. But none that's not happened at this point. If he pulls a Justin Morrow, sure. You know, celebrating in the corner against his former team. Yeah, you could boo him. Sure. I get that. And he would expect you to. Yeah at that point. Exactly. He'd be lighting a fire under everyone's skin at that point and maybe we can go on and win the cup that way. So no, Espinoza and and you know, Nashville as a whole, first place, I think, you know, if if okay. I'm gonna put you through a scenario, Abram. Okay. Right? So Vancouver at the moment sit behind Nashville SC in the overall standings. And with the fact that Vancouver SC beat Real Salt Lake 3 0 on wait no. Hold on. they didn't have a game. That's why. so with the fact that Vancouver has two games this coming week, Nashville SC If they win this game on Wednesday and they head to PayPal Park on Saturday, there is a decent chance that if they don't win the supporters shield on Wednesday, they can walk into San Jose and win the supporters shield in San Jose. Which means Christian Espinosa will be lifting a trophy potentially in San Jose against San Jose. Is that is that how does that feel? Is that how they do that or would they wait until they're back at in Nashville? So they would lift the trophy back at home. But they would clinch the supporter shield. I don't feel any negative way about that. I I wanna beat them. Like I I I want us to win and so the negative feelings would be about us not winning that game. if they clinch it, they clinch it, but like the the negative part for me would be, you know, losing the game. because we weren't really in contention for supporters shield anymore. Right. So I'm not like, god, they beat us. shoot. Like I think we we weren't gonna win that that trophy. I would be it assuming that, you know, the rest after the season ends, I would be happy for Espinoza. Assuming that the Quakes go on to do well and aren't majorly, you know, derailed by losing that game at against Nashville. I would my feelings would be like I'm happy for a Christian who's always nice to me personally, right? Like I I have some unlike obviously not a as much as a lot of fans do, but I have met him on multiple occasions. He is has gone above and beyond for me and and been super nice to me at every occasion. I I I'm happy for him, but I I don't want to lose that match, I guess, is is the bottom line. Does that make sense? Yeah, I would I would much rather win that game. I I wanna hold off Nashville's chances to to to win a shield as long as possible because then that that keeps us not in contention, but you know, closer close for closer to Nashville on points the more we win. For me it's it's mo more about like the maximum amount of points that we can get. in the Western conference table. That's that's like what matters to me more than anything that I just said. I don't care about if Espinosa loses the the supporter show that whatever. I I I care about doing really well and getting closer to Vancouver or St. Louis who are on repair right now. I agree. but if if there's any fans that are listening to this podcast out out there visually or through audio And, if there's a chance that that Nashville ends up winning the game and they see Espinoza celebrating on the field, just know that the possibility is that they they may have won supporters shield and it's not like he's celebrating 'cause they beat the Quakes. He's celebrating 'cause he won potentially his first ever trophy in in MLS. So I'm I just wanna put that out there, okay? It's not it's not against the Quakes. It's just more of the fact that he's he's he's celebrating something that that he wasn't able to accomplish with us. Respect Saz, because he got to present Espinosa with the what was it? What's the trophy with with Seattle every year? the Heritage Cup. Heritage Cup. respect the Heritage Cup. Obviously not in the same league as Supporter Shield. but I guess he he he has won that. but no that game against Nashville is very scary. I don't see I I can't in good faith be like, okay, we have a really good chance that game. Nashville's been tearing it apart. They they are pretty I think everyone expects them to win supporters shows at this rate. and I don't I don't really see us disrupting that. but there is something that goes in our favor, which is the crazy stat that according to Fot Mob, we have never beat Nashville. And Nashville has never beat us. In the four times that we've played Nashville since twenty twenty two, we've played them four times and we have drawn four times. first it was two two in twenty twenty two of April, then it was zero zero in June of the same year, then it's September twenty twenty three, one one, and April twenty twenty four one one. That's that's a crazy stat. I I didn't realize that until I I was looking it up on I was on a podcast called Battered Fans, if anyone's a fan of them. I I was just looking at the stat and I I just happened to come across it, which is crazy. I I told you this stat before we started, Devon, and you were in disbelief. what is what does the stat make you think? It's a pretty crazy stat. The fact that no team could win nor lose. I don't know, maybe it just it just goes to show that that we we just have an entertaining game against against Nashville. and hopefully we're the first team to break that that streak and and come away on top. 'cause I I believe in Preston Judd. I believe he can do a pretty good job against Nashville's defence and and being assertive and aggressive and getting under their skin and you know, mentally tipping them over but And physically and physically, yeah. But looking at Nashville stats, they got two players who have ten plus goals this season. and obviously they're their leading assist assister who is second tied for second in the league in assists with Espinoza. it's a pretty attacking heavy team and I j I just hope that our defense is is ready to to take a pretty heavy beating 'cause I think that's what's gonna come. Yeah, and and looking at their squad not only do they have like a crazy offense in Surij, Mukhtar, and Espinosa, that's the crazy trident you have there. But also Andy Nahar, who I I used to cover DC United, was one of their best players at the time, but also Messi touted him to be one of the best Wonder Kids on Earth at one point. didn't work out that way. But still very interesting. And Baker Whiting, who was a Seattle kind of wonder kid. coming up. I actually have his rookie card. spoiled a lot of days for Quakes too back in the day. He w he was just like pull up from outside of the box as a fullback and just end up with a goal. so they they also have some very attacking defensive players, which is funny 'cause like their entire back line looking at this Fot Mob page, their entire back line has has at least one goal. Most of them have two goals. I I even their goalkeeper has an assist. So yeah, we gotta you gotta watch out for that. I do think that you know if the Quakes do show up for this game, like full strength, we could beat them. Like obviously I I I have full faith in this Quakes team. But Nico is injured right now. so we're not at full strength until he's ready to go. And we don't know when that'll be. I I I think that, you know, even without Nico, I I think that we could get a draw. But that's, very wishful thinking because of how good Nashville have been this season. they've only lost three times all year and nineteen wins is quite a lot of wins. your thoughts about how we might do against Nashville, Devin? I think with with the lineup that we have, the players that we have, there's a good chance that our our midfield could win the battles for the for for the Quakes. I'm pretty sure that that Louvin, you know, can provide a lot at home anyway. but, you know, that being said, looking at the record here, looking at you know, the fact that we we're heading into Nashville Nashville, but Nashville's heading to San Jose right after San Jose plays two games at high elevation. Who knows what the stamina's like? Who knows what the the recovery will look like? And who knows what will who will play at Real Salt Lake? until after this podcast goes up. or before the podcast goes up. So you know, I think if I were in Bruce's shoes, I'd be making heavy rotations at Salt Lake. playing a lot of the the the bench I don't want to say bench warmers because that's kind of like Luca Jovanovich on the field. Yes. Bring Luca please. I want to see what Luca can do versus a depleted artist team. He does. He does. Have you seen him in the hot shots video? I was just about to quote the hotshots. Yeah. He looks he's like so monotone and in in yeah, like you said, sad. I I wanna see him play more. Yeah. I need to see him score. Not for the second team, but for the first team. Yeah, for the first team. it seems like he has he has like some friends in in Jamar. And Jamar seems like he's he's very friendly with everyone, but I if there's anyone at the Quakes right now listening and I know that there there have been in the past, and it's is freaky every time I learn that, I'm like, god, what did I say? keep doing hot shots. We we love that. keep that up. More more things like hotshots as well. Like whatever you guys can think of, do more of that. but back back to the you were saying heavy rotation against RSL I think is gonna be key. not just because it's at high altitude, but also because we just played a game at high altitude and we have a very important game coming up right after that. Which again, the freaking guys setting up this this schedule it's like they like let's make them lose against Nashville to make it that that's ridiculous. any c closing thoughts on that before we move on to the Quicks two game, Devin? nope, no additional cl closing thoughts there. I just hope it's gonna be a it's it's obviously Going to be a tight game. I just hope the Quakes win that centralized midfield battle and our three man back line stays stays hot on their toes because they're they're gonna need every toe possible for for the battle against Surge, Mukhtar and Espy. Yeah. And I'm not yawning because of the analysis, I'm yawning because of what I said earlier, is a is a long day at work. And we've been doing this for almost an hour too, so but before we end the show we want to talk about the Quakes two match. like you said, Devin, we said spoken to two of the three scorers from that match that ended four four and was decided by a penalty from Zach Bohain, who maybe we'll have to speak to in the future, just to complete the set. we spoken to T Tomo Allen, I almost called him Timo. Tomo Allen who scored a brace to put his team ahead. One of the goals was incredible. I don't know if you saw the the highlights of that match, but he had the header. Obviously that's the that's what you want from a very tall forward, but also he has extra quality to cut inside and put a ball in the top corner like that. Immaculate goal. What do you think of Tomo Allen's performance? First of all, I think we need to start a conversation about his nickname. Why why is his nickname Turbo? Was it Turbo before we got Tel Timo? I don't I don't think so. I think that the the whoever the admin is is gotta find new words because we can't It was the admin's birthday. It was the admin's birthday and they're selling celebrating admin's birthday after the win. So shout out shout out to you admin. Happy birthday but we need a different nickname for for Tony. Well his birthday was then Turbo sound but yeah, I Tomo needs a new nickname. Second being yeah, I I saw the highlight of the goal. Incredible goal, for the I think the first one. the second one was the one outside the box. The first one was a header. Yeah. first was the header. Okay. So it was I I I like you had you had mentioned it, Abram, when we were analyzing the earthquakes, the the first team and and how you know Vieira made that header backpass to Robin. And, most players would be attempting to finish that from that angle and and Tomo Allen finished that from that angle. so it was a pretty impressive attempt on goal, nonetheless the fact that he scored to make it I think one thing. I I'm not sure on on the score at that point. There was eight goals across that match, so it's it's kinda hard to keep track. Yeah, it's a lot of stats to look for. But Either way to open the Quakes two scoring on that matter. it's pretty pretty cool for for Tomo. And then obviously second one. on his foot, cut inside, defender slid by, and ripped an absolute rocket far post, hit the inside of the post and and finds its way inside the other side of the side netting. to put second one away. so yeah. Happy we Happy we were able to interview him and happy he he got a brace when in a game where it mattered the most. Yeah. in an elimination game. Some will say play in is not a playoff, whatever. but you know, it's it's an elimination game. And Tomo showed up when you really needed him to show up. Yeah, I'm not sure how many goals he has on the season so far, but he told us that his goal for the year was ten fifteen, which is I think a great goal. He has nine goals on the year. so getting very close to that that to that that goal that he had. yeah, it was honor to speak to him. obviously a a young up and coming striker, lots of potential. I'm I'm disappointed that I wasn't actually able to, you know, appear in the interview, but I did do the the spiel. I I did talk to him as like a producer of that interview, but I didn't actually get to be on camera or anything, but still even with that limited role that I had, very honored to participate in that. but an interview that you actually weren't a part of Devon, I just remembering now. just y you had another busy time. it's been busy for both of us, but we spoke to Cadrian and Jermaine Spivey. Jermaine scored an absolute banger. To put us to put the Quakes two four or three up. unfortunately it didn't stay that way, but at the time we thought that was a winner, and it was definitely a goal that was worthy of winning the match. do you wanna describe it for us? Dude. okay, so Jermaine Germain had the it the possession top of the box. He played it to one of the Quakes two players in front of him. Zach Bohan. Zach Bohain. Made a wall pass, played it right back to Jermaine Spivey, who then one timed it with the outside of his right foot with a travella into the far post and just trickles into the far far post netting. it was just an absolutely fantastic finish. I don't know what it is with the earthquakes first and second team and travellers this season, but that's three in one season. We have sp Jermaine Spivey, we have Paul Marie and Nico Secaris, all involved in goals. using the Trevel. Insane. And to have Jermaine Spivey's name attacked, in connection with with Nico Sakaris and Paul Marie, you know, big big for him, but an even better goal nonetheless in extra time or over time of all things, I think in like the hundred and fourth minute. Yeah, hundred and fourth. Hundred and fifth minute of game. yeah. Really, really clutch to to have a player like that come off and make a big impactful moment. And the celebration, Abram, do you want to talk about the celebration? it was fantastic. He he he went wild. Kadrian had said during the interview that Jermaine reminds him of Gunaguero, the Argentinian striker. And it kinda reminded me of the Aguero the when he scored that that finish against QPR, I think twenty twelve, twenty thirteen around there. and They they they went absolutely ballistic, near the the Faultliners who joined in the celebration. And it's really cool to see shout out Crystal, who you could see in the celebrations with them, you know, giving the guys high fives and stuff. just, you know, so cool to see that at a PayPal park and it sounded like there was lot of people there. I j I couldn't make it on on the Sunday night. but I I really wish I w was able to because it it looked absolutely electric. And I just can't be happier for these guys, especially for Jermaine who had a really bad ankle injury. If you look at his Instagram you see three screws in his ankle, from the X ray. he it was a really bad injury that he sustained last year. To come back from that at twenty years old and and score you know, I believe his first professional goal In a game like this, i and a quality like that, I'm I'm over the moon for him. we spoke on Instagram a little bit afterwards and I just told him that I'm excited to see him do it again in Austin. and I wish that we could make the chip out to Austin, but unfortunately that's not possible. But we will be watching. Yeah, no. I don't think we have it in the budget. but we will be watching from the live stream. I I I'm so happy for for the team and what they've been able to accomplish. anything else to to talk about for Quick Stu? Yeah, absolutely. There's there's one huge con contribution to this victory that we haven't discussed yet. And even if this isn't a nickname that sticks, I don't care. It's a nickname that I find perfect for the situation. Nate Crockford. Crock the Rock. Like he's an absolute force in net for Quakes two. huge when it came to the penalty kick or penalty shootout. one of the players, you know, did for for Tacoma hit the post but Crockford did dive that direction. Yeah. and and Crockford ended up making two other saves to to help guide Quakes two into the next round of playoffs. So big up Nate Crockford. What an absolutely stellar performance. there there may have been like one small error, I think, in one of the Tacoma goals. but I don't think that was a hundred percent on on Crockford. I think Quende had an opportunity to clear the ball and unfortunately hit the the roof of the the net. I I I wanna be you know, fair to Quende too, is that that's just a situation where you you're trying to get there, but there's not much you could do to direct it out of the way. and I know that, you know I I think that he could have Done better, but it's really fine margins at that, level. I don't think that goal is his fault at at all really. it No, I wouldn't I wouldn't I wouldn't put any blame on un Quende. It's just a really unfortunate situation. Very unfortunate. By both Crockford and Quende. It's like one it like it happens like one one in a thousand. Yeah, very unlucky for both of them. hopefully we can see, you know, either of them for the first team at some point. Quende is somebody who I I saw seventeen, eighteen. he was playing left winger for them when I was coming up through Quakes two. Then he went to college, came back and now he's the left back. I always thought he had a better profile for left back, very strong, very, very physical. and also, you know, reads the game very well, very, very good at build up and and all that kind of stuff. I just felt really bad for him seeing seeing that happen. because sometimes that's soccer. Right. Y you can do all the things right. He was there. He was fighting with ferocity to to be in that position and not let the the striker get the ball. It's it's really unfortunate that it ended it ended up bouncing off of him into the goal, but yeah. Such is the nature of this sport. You can play ninety ninety two minutes of a ninety five minute game perfectly and then one situation can lead to, tragedy. Yeah. So yeah, don't we don't wanna blame anyone for that. That was just yeah, it's just a sport. thankfully it didn't matter. I thought that Kano and Quende we call him Muka. that's not something that that, you know, everyone calls him because not a lot of fans c watch Quakes too or have been watching for as long as I have, but that's what he refers to himself as. So Muka. Not his fault. I thought he was one of the best defenders on the pitch that day. He he was clearing things left and right. and he was always where he needed to be. hopefully they can keep it up against Austin. I don't know how Austin has been looking this year. I I can't say I watch a lot of Austin two matches. but I I back this Quakes two team against anyone, so Yeah. Should be a l a a good game to look forward to and if if you have Any YouTube account. You can watch the game. Yeah. I don't even think you need an account. You just need to be on YouTube and have the browser. You need the l you just need the link. That's it. That's how you get to watch Quakes too, for anyone out there listening. and that's still tuning in to this hour long podcast. you know? Go go watch Quakes too, 'cause those are the players that you may end up seeing for the first team in a couple of years' time. Yeah, and Zach Bohan, I can't believe we haven't talked about him because that was a stellar performance from him as well. He scored one penalty in in normal time and then he scored another one to win the game in penalty shootout. Absolutely great performance from him. it would be really hard I think for me to take two penalties in a day. It's like, okay, I scored one. I'm a all the pressure's off finally. Like nope, you have the winning penalty on you now. but that's the ex Stanford player. happy to see him in a quick shirt, even if Quakes two. He's the highest scorer for Quakes two right now, so another player that we're, could potentially be making his way to the first team. even though this is a very hard pathway, so we'll see what happens and I I hope the the best for him. I I agree. but that's gonna do it for today's episode. We will be back after the Nashville game. who are we playing after Nashville, Devon? That's a very good question. And the answer is FC Dallas. All right. Dallas who are in a similar spot on the table as us. I think right now they're just a little bit above us. Yeah, it's pretty crazy that the the game against Dallas October twenty fourth, and then literally four days later is against Colorado, and then three days after that is against Real Salt Lake. So we we gotta play Colorado and Salt Lake on on basically back to back game days within a single week. So this is gonna be a pretty challenging October. Hopefully we can move out of it with at least six more points. out of let's see yeah well maybe seven points out of twelve at minimum. we'll see. I I I have confidence in this Quakes team. but we need Nico whatever is up with your upper body, whatever it is. Knock it off. As if it's up to him. Yeah. but yeah, we're gonna be back after the Dallas game or or to preview the Dallas game after the national game. but until then GW out. Fisher out.