Latest / Friends on Football / Ep. 41 - USMNT vs. Canada Recap, Fall Window Debrief, Premier League Weekend Preview, An MLS Minute & Atleti's New Owner

Transcript

Ep. 41 - USMNT vs. Canada Recap, Fall Window Debrief, Premier League Weekend Preview, An MLS Minute & Atleti's New Owner · Friends on Football

0:22
SPEAKER_01: Hello, friends, and welcome to episode 41 of the Friends on Football Podcast.
0:26
SPEAKER_01: I'm one of your co-hosts, Brandon Johnson, and joined with me as always, my good friend, Mr.
0:30
SPEAKER_01: Sean Boyle.
0:31
SPEAKER_01: Sean, what's going on?
0:32
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, not much is happening on my end.
0:35
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to get back into some real proper football.
0:38
SPEAKER_00: We're back to club football.
0:39
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to talk about it with you.
0:41
SPEAKER_00: How are you?
0:42
SPEAKER_01: I'm a little nervous today, I will say.
0:44
SPEAKER_01: I'm a little nervous.
0:45
SPEAKER_01: We are back to club football, which isn't look, I'm excited, but at the same time, I know what that comes with.
0:52
SPEAKER_01: And the peace that I've had over the last three weeks, Sean, has been incredible.
0:57
SPEAKER_01: And to watch all of that wash away this weekend is is gonna be rough, but nonetheless, we persist, and maybe it'll be a different result.
1:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Brandon, I am also very nervous.
1:10
SPEAKER_00: You could even say scared, I would toss the word scared out there.
1:12
SPEAKER_00: I think the what makes it worse is we talk this whole season about how why are Spurs always in like this standalone primetime game.
1:20
SPEAKER_00: And coming back from the break, of course, we're 12:30 on Saturday again against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
1:27
SPEAKER_00: And then the following week, we play Monday.
1:30
SPEAKER_00: It's a disaster.
1:32
SPEAKER_00: So we're two standalone games coming back from break.
1:35
SPEAKER_00: They need to go well, and like you said, I'm not so sure they will, but we're here to talk about it anyway.
1:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we'll we'll do our best, Sean.
1:42
SPEAKER_01: Sean, this episode we'll do a quick recap on the US men's national team, final game against Canada.
1:49
SPEAKER_01: As you mentioned, Sean, the 1230 game for Spurs this weekend.
1:52
SPEAKER_01: We'll go over that game, but also all of the others, and then just a quick around the world, different leagues, what we've been seeing, and games coming up in other countries as well as uh England.
2:03
SPEAKER_01: To start, Sean, we'll start with our number journey and 41, Sean.
2:09
SPEAKER_01: Is there a player that comes to your mind?
2:11
SPEAKER_00: The only player I think that I and I could be wrong, I think Jacob Ramsey wears 41 or War 41 for Aston Villa when he played there.
2:19
SPEAKER_00: I don't know anybody else off the top of my head.
2:22
SPEAKER_01: Well, that's funny you say that because uh Jacob Ramsey, not in my notes, may have worn 41.
2:28
SPEAKER_01: Can't confirm nor deny.
2:31
SPEAKER_01: Uh the obvious answer to me was Declan Rice.
2:34
SPEAKER_01: Uh Declan Rice wears 41 for Arsenal.
2:36
SPEAKER_01: But I'm glad you did not say Declan Rice because we are not profiling him.
2:41
SPEAKER_01: We are going to talk about Estee Estee Val.
2:44
SPEAKER_01: Uh Estee Val plays at Chelsea, uh, used to play for Palmyrais, he's a winger, he is only 19 years old, has 14 Brazil caps, which is pretty impressive for being only 19, and has 26 appearances for Chelsea since joining at the beginning of last season.
3:01
SPEAKER_01: He wore the number at Palmeiras, wanted to keep it, and has kept it at Chelsea.
3:06
SPEAKER_01: A cool little fun fact, I guess.
3:08
SPEAKER_01: I actually saw him play last summer in the Club World Cup.
3:12
SPEAKER_01: Uh, they played it in the quarterfinals on the 4th of July against Chelsea.
3:15
SPEAKER_01: So he was still playing for Palmyrez.
3:17
SPEAKER_01: It was actually his last game with Palmyrez before going to Chelsea.
3:20
SPEAKER_01: The deal was already done, but because the window wasn't open, he couldn't go yet.
3:24
SPEAKER_01: And they let him play, and he actually scores against Chelsea uh in his final game.
3:29
SPEAKER_01: Chelsea won the game and ended up obviously winning the Club World Cup.
3:33
SPEAKER_01: But it was pretty cool to see that guy playing against his future team.
3:36
SPEAKER_01: He ended up going to Chelsea at the beginning of August, so just a few short weeks after that game.
3:42
SPEAKER_01: But he was he was really good, and now he's at a point where he's definitely a bright player, has a big future, but maybe alone might be best for him just with the way Chelsea's front four are.
3:54
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of tough to break into that team.
3:57
SPEAKER_01: But I think he's a guy that we'll probably be talking about uh for years to come.
4:01
SPEAKER_01: He's obviously very young still.
4:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Esteval is certainly an exciting player for now in the future.
4:07
SPEAKER_00: He's not really getting the run of games you would like to see a young player get.
4:11
SPEAKER_00: That's what happens when you go to the Blue Co, which is like we said, it's like Ellis Island for football players.
4:17
SPEAKER_00: It's you have to stop there, it's mandatory, and then you'll eventually get loaned out or sold.
4:22
SPEAKER_00: I like that you went in that direction, Brandon, and not Declan Rice.
4:24
SPEAKER_00: That was a big oversight by me.
4:26
SPEAKER_00: When you said there's a popular number 41, I'm like, there is, but I don't know who it is.
4:29
SPEAKER_00: I'm glad I blocked that bum out of my mind.
4:32
SPEAKER_00: And I can confirm Jacob Ramsey wears 41 for Newcastle and he wore 41 at Aston Villa.
4:37
SPEAKER_00: So it was not completely crazy.
4:39
SPEAKER_01: There we go.
4:40
SPEAKER_01: Now that would have been a good uh alternate choice as well.
4:43
SPEAKER_01: So I appreciate you bringing that to the table.
4:45
SPEAKER_01: Sean, let's just have a quick, quick chat about the US men's national team to start.
4:51
SPEAKER_01: We had uh the final game on Tuesday, they win 1-0 versus Canada.
4:56
SPEAKER_01: Just give me your overall thoughts around that game, and we'll get into maybe at the end, we'll do maybe a bigger recap on the whole camp, but just specifically this game.
5:05
SPEAKER_01: What did you see?
5:06
SPEAKER_01: What did you like?
5:07
SPEAKER_01: What things did maybe you want to see improved?
5:09
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I thought it was pretty miserable to watch.
5:12
SPEAKER_00: I think that was my main takeaway.
5:14
SPEAKER_01: Would you would you agree with that?
5:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it wasn't the most fun game to watch.
5:18
SPEAKER_01: I think my big takeaway was that we did match the physicality of Canada.
5:24
SPEAKER_01: Jesse Marsh clearly in the locker room was like, hey, go throw in some tackles and have some late challenges.
5:31
SPEAKER_01: And the US didn't crumble.
5:34
SPEAKER_01: I think sometimes you see teams, they start to get fouled, and the referee they start complaining to the referee, and the referee sometimes calls it, sometimes doesn't call it, maybe doesn't use its yellow cards as much as he should.
5:45
SPEAKER_01: And I feel like the USA kept a pretty level head.
5:48
SPEAKER_01: Of course, there was a couple of skirmishes, and you'd expect that, but for the most part, I think they kept it clean, and I think it frustrated Canada because it seemed like that was their their game plan, and it didn't really go as well as they wanted it to.
6:01
SPEAKER_01: And I don't know how if they knew how to pivot from that afterwards.
6:04
SPEAKER_00: I think that's a good takeaway.
6:06
SPEAKER_00: And it was largely what I had similar notes of.
6:08
SPEAKER_00: It just was a game that was choppy, hard to get into.
6:11
SPEAKER_00: There wasn't really a ton of momentum in either direction, there wasn't a ton of rhythm in either direction.
6:16
SPEAKER_00: I was happy the United States were on the winning side of it.
6:18
SPEAKER_00: I think that because we had the goal and didn't have to chase the game like Canada did, we were kind of content with letting Canada play those stupid games to win stupid prizes.
6:28
SPEAKER_00: I thought that there was 21 fouls apiece, I think, was the final number.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: It just felt like a game of that kind of foul level, that kind of choppiness.
6:38
SPEAKER_00: It just wasn't very pleasing on the eye, but the most important thing was that we came out on top.
6:43
SPEAKER_00: I would have hated to have that kind of insufferable watch and then ended up with a loss and having Jesse Marsh run his mouth in the post-game.
6:51
SPEAKER_00: So I'm glad that wasn't the case.
6:53
SPEAKER_00: I think that the Canada goal tweet was a big takeaway for me as well.
6:57
SPEAKER_00: I thought that was one of the funnier things I've seen, Brandon.
6:59
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if you caught this, but the United States scored alone goal in the match, and it's Justin Ellis.
7:05
SPEAKER_00: He gets on the end of what might have been a pass from Alex Freeman.
7:09
SPEAKER_00: I think it was a shot, but he gets on the end of it, scores, and Canada sent out a tweet along the lines of goal 1-0 US, possible offside, but no V A R was the exact tweet.
7:21
SPEAKER_00: They couldn't just announce the goal.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: They it was almost like Jesse typed it from the touchline.
7:26
SPEAKER_00: It was like he had to get his fingers on that one.
7:28
SPEAKER_00: It was hilarious, and that was the biggest takeaway for me.
7:31
SPEAKER_01: It's almost like they put it into Chat GPT and said, Hey, write this tweet in Jesse Marsh language, and that's what it spit out, and then they they hit send.
7:39
SPEAKER_01: That's hilarious.
7:40
SPEAKER_01: I I'm also confused why we don't have VAR.
7:43
SPEAKER_01: We have VAR for everything else.
7:44
SPEAKER_01: There's VAR, they have video assistance in college soccer now.
7:48
SPEAKER_01: Not as detailed as VAR, but like the referees can go to the monitors and watch that.
7:53
SPEAKER_01: So what are we doing?
7:54
SPEAKER_01: National team, we we can't get VAR for these games.
7:57
SPEAKER_00: It's a good point because you would like just some uniformity just across the board.
8:01
SPEAKER_00: We either have it or we don't.
8:02
SPEAKER_00: I am now shifting into this.
8:04
SPEAKER_00: This might be I'm an old man take, but I think we might have lost a plot with VAR just in general, and I'm shifting more towards the get rid of it approach, where entirely like you hear about these people in the championship and league one and league two, and they're able to celebrate goals so freely.
8:21
SPEAKER_00: They said their life changed.
8:22
SPEAKER_00: Like West Ham fans are talking about how amazing it is to be in the championship simply because there's no VAR.
8:27
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, you know what?
8:28
SPEAKER_00: That sounds lovely.
8:30
SPEAKER_00: Because like it's so brutal now to score a goal and then wait with bated breath to see if it actually counts or not.
8:35
SPEAKER_00: We don't get a ton of goals the way it is in soccer, so that's the biggest thing for me.
8:39
SPEAKER_00: That the fact that they might not count when they do go in the net and you have to wait, that's what really bothers me about it.
8:45
SPEAKER_00: But that's a discussion for a whole different day.
8:47
SPEAKER_00: I do agree with your point.
8:48
SPEAKER_00: If we have them in some matches and we're going to have them in World Cup qualification, and most of the times the national team gets together, we should have it at all the time.
8:56
SPEAKER_01: I think I think we found a topic for our next international break dead content conversation, because it's funny you say that, and I hear your point, but I almost completely disagree.
9:09
SPEAKER_01: I I understand where you're coming from from the fan perspective, but if we have the technology to get it right, let's just get it right.
9:16
SPEAKER_01: I was listening to actually the other podcast, uh, Tortured Fans Department, and you guys were talking about I think it was a field gold in college football, and you couldn't tell if it was good or not.
9:26
SPEAKER_01: And it's like some referee just standing under the net saying, I think that went over maybe yes or no.
9:32
SPEAKER_01: Just add the technology.
9:34
SPEAKER_01: We have we have the capabilities to do it.
9:35
SPEAKER_01: Just add the technology, get it right.
9:37
SPEAKER_01: I get that sometimes as a fan, it's hard because trust me, I've seen plenty of goal, I've celebrated plenty of goal.
9:44
SPEAKER_01: Probably would have gotten a yellow card at home, taking my shirt off, yelling, running around, just to have to put it back on and feel shamed because it didn't count.
9:52
SPEAKER_01: But I'd rather it be correct because I've also been on the other side where we didn't have VAR and something that clearly was a handball or clearly offside didn't get called, and the other team benefits from it.
10:03
SPEAKER_01: So for me, I'm almost like, just give it to me correct.
10:06
SPEAKER_01: I understand we have to wait, and we gotta improve that.
10:09
SPEAKER_01: We do have to improve that absolutely.
10:11
SPEAKER_01: But I want the answers, the correct answers.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: See, it's tough because this is such a nuanced conversation, and I feel like I'm the pot calling the kettle black now because I did say on the other podcast that the exact opposite just a week ago.
10:24
SPEAKER_00: It might have been this week, even.
10:26
SPEAKER_00: It was very recently.
10:26
SPEAKER_00: I said we need to get this right on replay.
10:29
SPEAKER_00: Here's where I would make the argument in that situation and in football, American football, the game's nature is very stop start.
10:37
SPEAKER_00: So whether or not that kick was good or not, they were going to a commercial break, the other team was coming on the field or the game was ending, a thing of that nature.
10:44
SPEAKER_00: In soccer, it's not the case.
10:46
SPEAKER_00: So for me, I hate the way it disrupts the flow of a game.
10:52
SPEAKER_00: Even if I think, yes, it's better to get the right call than the wrong call, I'm almost of the belief that over time things will work out.
11:00
SPEAKER_00: Yes, you might get screwed today, but a year from now you might not.
11:04
SPEAKER_00: And I know that's a frustrating thing as a fan, and there's gonna be times where, God, it feels like we don't get one to go our way.
11:11
SPEAKER_00: But at a certain point, some of these things that they're calling back for VAR, back for these rules that they're reevaluating, it just doesn't seem consistent, Brandon.
11:21
SPEAKER_00: It's implemented for clear and obvious errors, but then we see it not picking up on clear and obvious errors, or doing the opposite where I where I say how it likes to have a word in at the dinner table where it's not a clear and obvious error, it's a maybe a little baby error, and they come in and they say, no, no, no, huge error penalty.
11:38
SPEAKER_00: And things like that.
11:39
SPEAKER_00: That's what frustrates.
11:40
SPEAKER_00: I don't think we have a good handle on how to use it, and that's why I would push back.
11:44
SPEAKER_00: If you're saying yes, if we have the like the capability to get it 100% right quickly, sure.
11:49
SPEAKER_00: I just feel like since it's been implemented, we have been nowhere near 100% correct or very efficient.
11:55
SPEAKER_00: So that's where I've grown frustrated, but I could see both sides.
11:59
SPEAKER_01: Okay, no, I I I see what you mean.
12:01
SPEAKER_01: And I feel like turning to another sport baseball, where they've done the balls in strikes.
12:06
SPEAKER_01: I feel like they've done that in such a way, though, that it really doesn't add anything to the game time-wise.
12:12
SPEAKER_01: It's very quick, it's efficient, and it's honestly pretty exhilarating when your catcher challenges it a strike.
12:18
SPEAKER_00: It's really great.
12:19
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, and it's like you said, it's so quick, it's seamless, it all it creates these moments of excitement throughout the game.
12:24
SPEAKER_00: You almost get a little like clap your hands going from the fans, like, oh, here we go, here we go.
12:28
SPEAKER_00: And then they zoom in on the review, and you're like, oh, ball, or oh strike, it's great.
12:32
SPEAKER_00: And if we can do something like that, yeah, that semi-automated offside technology.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: I want to see the lines though.
12:40
SPEAKER_00: I'm not seeing lines anymore.
12:42
SPEAKER_00: So I don't know.
12:43
SPEAKER_00: I feel like we've lost it, Brandon.
12:44
SPEAKER_00: I hate to say the game's gone.
12:47
SPEAKER_01: I mean, the game's always been gone, Sean, and yeah, I I don't disagree there.
12:51
SPEAKER_01: I think with some work we can get it better, and maybe we'll figure that out in the next couple years.
12:56
SPEAKER_01: But uh definitely a topic we should dive into more.
12:58
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think something else was on side, by the way.
13:01
SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't even think that was going back to this game.
13:03
SPEAKER_00: I think he was on side.
13:04
SPEAKER_01: Okay, it was close for me.
13:06
SPEAKER_01: It was close.
13:07
SPEAKER_00: It was definitely close, but the the where the camera was situated, he looked on.
13:12
SPEAKER_00: I if I could see another angle, maybe Jesse, I'd agree with you, but I don't know.
13:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it was definitely close, and it was kind of weird because when I watched it live, I honestly thought he was way off side.
13:22
SPEAKER_01: I was like, But then they showed the replay, and it was definitely whether he was off it's by this much.
13:28
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
13:29
SPEAKER_01: It yes or no, but he the way he just timed the run was incredible because it looked to me in live speed, it looked horrible on TV.
13:37
SPEAKER_01: But when they slowed it down and showed it again, and I was like, Oh, all right, he actually might be on.
13:41
SPEAKER_01: Uh so yeah, I but look, regardless, offside, onside, you have to credit him.
13:47
SPEAKER_01: He's a striker, he gets in the right spot, just like his first goal in the in the first game, he's in the right spot, flicks the header in and scores.
13:54
SPEAKER_01: So I think he had a good camp.
13:56
SPEAKER_01: Uh he was a guy that obviously you were very high on and and knew a little bit more about than I did, but overall, two goals in four games.
14:05
SPEAKER_01: I don't think he played in all four, so really probably only three games, but you have to you have to be proud of that.
14:12
SPEAKER_01: And he probably goes back to his club in in decent form.
14:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think that if we could just transition to the camps takeaways in general, Brandon, I think that was one of the things for me was we saw the big story being all of the young guys making their debuts, and then the aftermath of that which guys performed, which ones stood out, which ones we wanted to see a bit more from.
14:31
SPEAKER_00: I had a pretty firm group of guys that I think stamped their name as guys who will be invited back to future camps.
14:37
SPEAKER_00: And I think Justin Ellis is in that group.
14:39
SPEAKER_00: I think alongside Julian Hall, another guy who scored in his first three games for the United States, I think he's a clear winner from this camp.
14:45
SPEAKER_00: And I think Kevin Sullivan is as well.
14:47
SPEAKER_00: And it's not to say that maybe the rest of the guys are losers, but I just think that these three, it would be shocking to me if they weren't invited back immediately and time after time.
14:57
SPEAKER_00: They really took the leap and they proved, hey, we're here to stay at this international team level.
15:02
SPEAKER_00: I think there was a range of outcomes for the other different guys, all of which were generally pretty positive.
15:07
SPEAKER_00: Nothing really negative.
15:09
SPEAKER_00: Some guys that, you know, hey, it was a learning experience.
15:12
SPEAKER_00: This is the level.
15:12
SPEAKER_00: Go back to your club, work harder.
15:14
SPEAKER_00: You're not out of the picture, but you're not ready quite yet, which is fine.
15:17
SPEAKER_00: And then there are some guys that showed a couple moments where, yeah, wow, I could see it.
15:21
SPEAKER_00: And a couple moments where it's like, okay, I want to see more of it.
15:24
SPEAKER_00: And I think guys like Matisse Albert fall into that category.
15:27
SPEAKER_00: Audrey Mametti, who I'm really high on, I thought he had a camp where, yeah, you wanted to see a bit more from Audrey, you know.
15:35
SPEAKER_00: And I think even Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield and some of these Philly guys, like they got what was required in terms of they got a taste of it, you know, and they know what it's like now.
15:46
SPEAKER_00: And now they can go back and work on what they need to work on and be ready for the next call-up.
15:50
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:51
SPEAKER_01: And like we talked about when the rosters came out, Sean, this is the perfect environment, the perfect lab for that, where you bring in a player like Neil Pierre, who has been on a tear for the last three months in Philly, and say, Hey, you've been great in Philly.
16:06
SPEAKER_01: Let's see if you can do it on the national team level.
16:08
SPEAKER_01: And I don't think he failed, but it wasn't his best showing.
16:11
SPEAKER_01: And I think he can go back still with his head up high and say, Hey, all right, like I'm not that far off from these guys.
16:18
SPEAKER_01: Six months ago, he wasn't even playing in MLS.
16:20
SPEAKER_01: Now he's a starter in MLS, and now he's even potentially cracking the national team picture.
16:27
SPEAKER_01: That's huge.
16:28
SPEAKER_01: And he can come back six months from now.
16:30
SPEAKER_01: He probably doesn't get called up for the Nations League next month.
16:33
SPEAKER_01: I actually, we can talk about that.
16:34
SPEAKER_01: I don't know who they're gonna call up because it's gonna be in the middle of MLS playoffs, but whatever.
16:39
SPEAKER_01: So someone like him probably doesn't get called back up, but it's okay because in a year from now, it it's a gold cup or it's an Olympics in two years.
16:47
SPEAKER_01: Like these guys are still young, and I think that experience, which we preached upon before before the camp, uh, really showed, and just just getting them a taste of the national team meant I think more than really the performances.
17:01
SPEAKER_01: I also think we have to mention uh not necessarily a young guy, uh a newcomer, not not a newcomer, but a young guy, Alex Freeman.
17:10
SPEAKER_01: I think Alex Freeman is the starting right back.
17:12
SPEAKER_01: I I think nailed on Sergio Des probably plays a little higher on the field now.
17:19
SPEAKER_01: And you if you if you play four in the back, a flatback four, I think Alex Freeman has to be your first choice right back, just as Jedi is on the left.
17:27
SPEAKER_00: I think that's a really good takeaway, Brandon, because I had a similar note, and it was it was twofold.
17:32
SPEAKER_00: It was what we just talked about with the young guys and how they kind of all got good experiences, just the levels of which varied.
17:38
SPEAKER_00: But then the other takeaway I had was there was a couple of guys who were veterans in the camp, or at least this was not their first appearance.
17:45
SPEAKER_00: They've been a part of the team before, they've been a part of major tournaments before, but they really stamped their starting roles.
17:51
SPEAKER_00: And I think Alex Freeman was the number one for me, obviously.
17:54
SPEAKER_00: His performances at right back, I think that's the best he's looked for the US.
17:58
SPEAKER_00: He uh I think again, his best position is a right back and a back four.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: I think you're trying to put a square peg into a round hole when he's forced to play a right wing back, or even as a right center back.
18:09
SPEAKER_00: I like him better as a right center back, I would guess, between those two.
18:12
SPEAKER_01: Me too.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: But it's still not perfect, you know what I mean?
18:16
SPEAKER_00: Because he's capable of more going forward.
18:17
SPEAKER_00: And we saw a couple of balls from him that were outrageous, that led to goals, especially the one that he played into Geo in the channel and Geo Squared against Mexico.
18:25
SPEAKER_00: I think Alex Freeman's a big stock riser, or at least a guy who we all feel super comfortable with being a starter for this team.
18:33
SPEAKER_00: Another guy I would lump into that same category is Malik Tillman.
18:36
SPEAKER_00: I think he just continues to come in and do his job at a pretty high level.
18:40
SPEAKER_00: And he looks so casual and cool sometimes on the ball that it's frustrating when it leads to a turnover.
18:46
SPEAKER_00: But then there's other times where it creates a moment of brilliance.
18:49
SPEAKER_00: And I think the only thing he needs to do is just work on consistently giving that level for club as well.
18:55
SPEAKER_00: And I think that'll come over time.
18:56
SPEAKER_00: It it takes a while to adapt to new clubs.
18:59
SPEAKER_00: He was just in his first year at Leverkusen last year.
19:01
SPEAKER_00: I think we'll see more encouraging signs from him this year.
19:04
SPEAKER_00: And another guy who I don't know if he stamped out a starting role because it's a competitive position, but it's a similar thing where it's a veteran who came in and he's clearly trusted by the coaches.
19:13
SPEAKER_00: I think Gio Reina had a really good camp starting all four matches.
19:17
SPEAKER_01: I agree with you.
19:18
SPEAKER_01: I think all of those names are interesting shouts.
19:21
SPEAKER_01: Also, want to just have the conversation about the number nine position.
19:28
SPEAKER_01: Coming into this camp, that was really an unproven role.
19:31
SPEAKER_01: And Downs, Damien Downs didn't really do much, which honestly, I don't know how much we really expected from him.
19:38
SPEAKER_01: But but then you have Julian Hall who scores three goals in three games, and it's you know, potentially him, Balogun, Peppy when healthy.
19:47
SPEAKER_01: But but I think Hall is now in that conversation, and while he's very, very different than Balogun, he gives you something that's a little bit interesting.
19:56
SPEAKER_01: And I don't know if either of us thought he was gonna take that jump that quickly.
20:01
SPEAKER_01: We knew he would be in the picture at some point, but his rise has been really good, and it's another one where he's a guy in a position that's not necessarily super, super nailed down depth chart-wise.
20:16
SPEAKER_01: He could be our second best forward.
20:19
SPEAKER_00: For sure.
20:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm with you.
20:21
SPEAKER_00: I I think he you could argue he had the best camp of anyone, just because it's his first time coming into a senior camp, and he gets on the score sheet in each of his first three games.
20:32
SPEAKER_00: That's not easy to do.
20:33
SPEAKER_00: It's not been done for a long, long time.
20:36
SPEAKER_00: I think that was impressive, and it's also just the manner at which he goes about scoring these goals.
20:41
SPEAKER_00: It's a lot of him being in the right place at the right time, but that comes from effort and intelligence, and that's not something our strikers have in spades.
20:49
SPEAKER_00: So I think I think you made a really good point.
20:52
SPEAKER_00: I think Balo's still the guy when fit and firing, but he needs to be pushed for competition.
20:57
SPEAKER_00: We haven't seen Ricardo Pepe take that step that we've wanted him to in the last couple of years.
21:03
SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
21:03
SPEAKER_00: He's a good goal scorer in the era divisi.
21:06
SPEAKER_00: Okay, that that's fine.
21:07
SPEAKER_00: We're we want more if we want to be one of the best national teams in the world.
21:11
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
21:11
SPEAKER_00: I'm not ruling Ricardo Pepe out for making that step, but he hasn't done it yet.
21:16
SPEAKER_00: And that leaves the door open for guys like Julian Hall and guys like Justin Ellis, who maybe isn't an out and out number nine, but can offer something in that position.
21:23
SPEAKER_00: And I think both those guys really took their chances this window, which I was really, really happy to see.
21:29
SPEAKER_01: Mm-hmm.
21:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it's different.
21:31
SPEAKER_01: And Pachatino was my final topic I want to talk about before we transition.
21:36
SPEAKER_01: He mentioned it before the camp that, or I'm sorry, as the camp began, when he started to work with the players, that the MLS coaches and these European coaches were doing a great job of training these young guys.
21:46
SPEAKER_01: They understood the concepts, they were able to pick it up very quickly.
21:49
SPEAKER_01: And I think Pachatino enables those guys to take another step.
21:55
SPEAKER_01: And throughout the camp, he's encouraging them, he's praising them in the media, he's he's really getting Giving them their flowers.
22:01
SPEAKER_01: And I think this next generation of players, the confidence is already there.
22:06
SPEAKER_01: I think they just have it's just their natural being where they're like, yeah, I'm a US soccer player.
22:12
SPEAKER_01: We should be good.
22:13
SPEAKER_01: We should be making it to quarterfinals of World Cups.
22:16
SPEAKER_01: And it's something we haven't seen before, but I think it's a very good fit of manager and player style.
22:22
SPEAKER_01: And I'm excited to see what he continues to do with these guys because they just came in fearless.
22:28
SPEAKER_01: And now you take that fearlessness and mix it with Pach's tactics and style and how he wants to play.
22:35
SPEAKER_01: And it's like the sky's the limit for these guys.
22:38
SPEAKER_00: That's what it's got me thinking as well.
22:40
SPEAKER_00: You know, when you get a window where you win four consecutive games, even if the performances weren't dominant or even the most easy to watch or beautiful on the eye, it gets you this sense of positivity around not only these players, but just the culture that's being created, the coaching staff.
22:57
SPEAKER_00: And I think you're right.
22:59
SPEAKER_00: Like, I really don't want to put a limit on what these guys are capable of under a full four-year run with Pachettino here.
23:06
SPEAKER_00: So it's a great start to this new tenure.
23:09
SPEAKER_00: I think we built upon the good from the World Cup while also trying to move away from some of our deficiencies.
23:16
SPEAKER_00: And I think that's going to be the key is in those areas that have given us trouble in these major tournaments, can we get to a level where not only that we can compete, but that we look the same as a team like a Belgium, where we look like our quality is the same as theirs, and we don't look second best in a big spot in the big moment that would really capture the nation by storm.
23:40
SPEAKER_00: Those type of matches are where we've come up short.
23:42
SPEAKER_00: I'm choosing to buy into Pacetino in this process that he will eventually get us over that hump.
23:48
SPEAKER_00: And listen, we might do a four-year cycle where we get all excited and it ends in a very similar fashion.
23:54
SPEAKER_00: That's very possible.
23:56
SPEAKER_00: But I'm choosing to believe that this time it'll be different.
23:58
SPEAKER_00: I'm an optimistic sports fan.
24:00
SPEAKER_00: Listen here, folks.
24:02
SPEAKER_00: I have another podcast called The Torture Fans Department.
24:04
SPEAKER_00: So it hasn't gone well, all this optimism I have.
24:07
SPEAKER_00: But Brandon, I'm feeling it now.
24:09
SPEAKER_01: No, I'm glad you are, because I am as well.
24:11
SPEAKER_01: And I think you may have hinted at it a little bit more when the window started that you were like very, very high on these guys.
24:19
SPEAKER_01: And I was like, all right, Sean, I hear you, but let's kind of see it in action a little bit.
24:23
SPEAKER_01: But leaving this camp, so many bright spots, it's it's gonna be really, really interesting to see how they move forward.
24:30
SPEAKER_01: And then also, we we haven't talked about it and we don't have to hit on it too much, but there's still a core of guys that weren't even in this camp that are probably on paper better than some of the guys that were in this camp.
24:41
SPEAKER_01: So it's not even like we were playing our quote unquote best 11 every game.
24:46
SPEAKER_01: So add those guys into the mix too, and it's like, wow, like this could be this could be special.
24:53
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
24:54
SPEAKER_00: And that's the exciting part is what we talked about earlier is you need guys to compete, those guys that have been comfortable.
25:01
SPEAKER_00: And once the competition comes in, then their level has to raise as well.
25:05
SPEAKER_00: And competition is key to growth.
25:09
SPEAKER_00: And I think we're starting to see enough capable, capable people in these positions to push one another and raise the level of the national team.
25:19
SPEAKER_00: Because what we've dealt with the past couple of cycles was there's one guy kind of at each position, and sometimes a half a guy at a position that are at a certain level, that are at a good enough level, but there's no one else behind them.
25:31
SPEAKER_00: And that could be fine.
25:33
SPEAKER_00: It could work for a couple of games here and there.
25:35
SPEAKER_00: But if you want to really build something over time, you need several players at each position pushing one another so that the best person at that position has truly won the job and is scared to lose it, so that they need to keep performing.
25:49
SPEAKER_00: And I just don't think we've been functioning at that high of a level as a soccer country.
25:53
SPEAKER_00: So this is the change we need.
25:55
SPEAKER_00: This is the culture shift we need.
25:57
SPEAKER_00: I'm choosing to believe in it.
25:58
SPEAKER_00: I think you are too.
26:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
26:00
SPEAKER_01: I want to see us in four years, Sean, when the World Cup roster comes out, we are complaining because the 27th guy who didn't make the team should have made the team.
26:08
SPEAKER_01: And we probably had that a little bit with Diego Luna, but after that, it was like maybe one or two other guys.
26:15
SPEAKER_01: I want to see us have 40 guys in this pool, and it's like, yes, shoot, Patutino's really gonna have to make some choices.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: And I want that.
26:22
SPEAKER_01: And we need that as a country, and maybe we're on that path, and it seems like we're on that path, but obviously time will tell.
26:29
SPEAKER_01: Sean, let's transition into the Premier League.
26:33
SPEAKER_01: We're back, like you mentioned.
26:35
SPEAKER_01: Spurs playing this weekend, all the other teams are playing this weekend.
26:39
SPEAKER_01: Match day six.
26:41
SPEAKER_01: How are you?
26:42
SPEAKER_01: How are you feeling overall?
26:44
SPEAKER_00: I'm first of all, I'm thrilled that we're back, like I said at the top of the show.
26:47
SPEAKER_00: I'm thrilled that the Premier League is back.
26:49
SPEAKER_00: That's the most important thing.
26:51
SPEAKER_00: Happy to have it back in my weekend mornings.
26:53
SPEAKER_00: I don't really want to talk about Tottenham, if we're being honest.
26:57
SPEAKER_00: Like I know we have to, but I'd I'd like it if there were nine games this weekend and not ten.
27:03
SPEAKER_00: Uh it's one of those things where I'm excited to see Tottenham play again because it's been so long and I miss them.
27:08
SPEAKER_00: But it's an abusive relationship that they've got me in.
27:10
SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
27:11
SPEAKER_00: Like I long for them when they're away, and then when I get back home, they hit me.
27:14
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's really tough.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: It's really tough.
27:17
SPEAKER_01: Jeez.
27:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so let's let's go through predictions.
27:20
SPEAKER_01: Do you want to explain also what we did this week that's a little bit different?
27:23
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
27:24
SPEAKER_00: So, listeners, as you know, we like to break down every match.
27:27
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna continue to talk about each one, give a little preview, and then we give what we think will happen in the match, but a lot of times we're kind of grasping at straws.
27:35
SPEAKER_00: We don't have a firm feeling on these games sometimes.
27:38
SPEAKER_00: We have what we think might happen, and we're gonna continue to give that.
27:41
SPEAKER_00: But there's gonna be one game each week now that we're putting our foot down, we're saying, this is this is going to happen.
27:48
SPEAKER_00: This is what we believe.
27:50
SPEAKER_00: I think that it's more difficult than I thought it would be.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Just going through the first week of matchups here.
27:56
SPEAKER_00: I really thought this would be easy.
27:58
SPEAKER_00: There's gonna be one that sticks out as one I really believe in.
28:01
SPEAKER_00: I have a few that I'm still second-guessing, and I don't know where I'm going at the moment, but each of us will have a best pick for you, so to speak.
28:09
SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes, we will have a best pick.
28:11
SPEAKER_01: Sean, to start, we have uh 7:30 a.m.
28:15
SPEAKER_01: on Saturday, the early game.
28:18
SPEAKER_01: Arsenal plays Leeds.
28:20
SPEAKER_01: Leeds will have to go to the Emirates.
28:22
SPEAKER_01: I'll I'll I'll take this one just to start.
28:24
SPEAKER_01: I think Leeds have had a really, really good start to this season, first five games.
28:29
SPEAKER_01: But going to Arsenal's it's a little bit different.
28:31
SPEAKER_01: It's not it's not the same as playing at Ellen Road or some of these other grounds.
28:36
SPEAKER_01: I I do think both teams are very, very strong defensively, but I think Arsenal win this one with a late goal.
28:42
SPEAKER_01: I went Arsenal 1-0.
28:44
SPEAKER_00: I went two zero.
28:45
SPEAKER_00: I I don't see Leeds scoring at the Emirates.
28:49
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I should also preface this weekend, Brandon.
28:52
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you would agree.
28:53
SPEAKER_00: It's a wonky one coming back from an international break, and it's usually weird coming back from a two-week international window.
29:00
SPEAKER_00: This is almost a three-week, a month-long international window.
29:03
SPEAKER_00: I think we're gonna see some weirdness.
29:05
SPEAKER_00: If not in the results, we'll see it throughout some of the gameplay.
29:08
SPEAKER_00: There's gonna be injuries, there's gonna be guys that traveled from South America or Africa or Asia back to play in these Premier League games, and that's a lot on their bodies.
29:17
SPEAKER_00: A lot of these guys played for their national team on Tuesday.
29:20
SPEAKER_00: They get into the camp on Wednesday evening.
29:23
SPEAKER_00: It's it's weird.
29:25
SPEAKER_00: So I would expect some wonkiness, but I don't see that happening in this first game.
29:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that as well, because that will definitely have an impact on some of these games.
29:34
SPEAKER_01: Uh, but I agree with you.
29:36
SPEAKER_01: I don't I just can't see Leeds breaking through.
29:38
SPEAKER_01: They haven't been great offensively this season.
29:41
SPEAKER_01: Defensively, Leeds have been solid, but they just, in my opinion, still don't quite have that that goal scoring capability that that they'll need at the Emirates.
29:51
SPEAKER_01: Arsenal defensively is solid.
29:53
SPEAKER_01: It's probably their biggest strength, honestly, and it's Leeds' Leeds' biggest weakness.
29:58
SPEAKER_01: So uh I don't see them scoring in this game, and like I said, 1-0.
30:02
SPEAKER_01: I had as a prediction.
30:03
SPEAKER_01: Moving to the 10 a.m.
30:05
SPEAKER_01: window, Sean, the first game, we have the Tractor Boys playing host to Fulham.
30:10
SPEAKER_01: I'll let you start.
30:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, interesting one here, Brandon.
30:14
SPEAKER_00: Uh, this is one where I think my theme throughout the week is going to be with my picks.
30:19
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be I'm gonna pick a lot of home teams that I might not otherwise pick if it was a normal week.
30:25
SPEAKER_00: And since there's this travel mixed in, and I'm not sure how many internationals Fulham actually have in their 11, but it's still a wonky one.
30:33
SPEAKER_00: And I think Ipswich will be able to get something out of this game.
30:36
SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna guarantee a win, so I've gone for a 2-2.
30:39
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
30:40
SPEAKER_01: I actually did take Fulham in this one.
30:43
SPEAKER_01: Uh, also 1-0.
30:44
SPEAKER_01: I think I'm really not interested in this match too much.
30:47
SPEAKER_01: This will not be the game that I'm watching at 10 a.m.
30:49
SPEAKER_01: There's three others, and I might go three box on the TV and watch those three and skip this one.
30:55
SPEAKER_01: But Fulham's tied their last two matches.
30:57
SPEAKER_01: I think this is the one where they do break through and get their first win of the season.
31:01
SPEAKER_01: It switch hasn't been great lately.
31:03
SPEAKER_01: I mean, they do still have six points in their first five matches, which for them is probably pretty commendable, but I I just don't think they have enough to break through against Fulham.
31:14
SPEAKER_01: I think Fulham do just enough on the road and pull out a one-zero win here.
31:19
SPEAKER_00: It's certainly not the best game on paper, Brandon.
31:21
SPEAKER_00: I'm with you.
31:22
SPEAKER_00: I'm with you there.
31:22
SPEAKER_00: This won't be making one of my screens.
31:24
SPEAKER_00: I'll be watching the highlights.
31:25
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
31:26
SPEAKER_01: The next one, Sean.
31:28
SPEAKER_01: This is my big bet game.
31:29
SPEAKER_01: So sound the alarms, add the sound effects.
31:32
SPEAKER_01: This is the one I'm picking.
31:33
SPEAKER_01: We have Sunderland and Brighton.
31:35
SPEAKER_01: And to no surprise, I am picking Sunderland to lose.
31:39
SPEAKER_00: This guy.
31:40
SPEAKER_00: He should be three to stay in the light.
31:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he really should.
31:43
SPEAKER_00: You should never be allowed to set foot.
31:45
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they won't welcome me there, but that's okay.
31:46
SPEAKER_01: That's alright.
31:47
SPEAKER_01: I picked Brighton on the road to win this one.
31:49
SPEAKER_01: I picked three to one.
31:50
SPEAKER_01: Uh, I put Brighton's been flying this season, and I expect it to continue.
31:54
SPEAKER_01: Sunderland does give up a lot of goals.
31:56
SPEAKER_01: They've given up seven in their last two games.
31:59
SPEAKER_01: And I think they'll give up a few more here.
32:00
SPEAKER_01: I said coming off the break, Fabian Hertzler, Premier League Manager of the Month, Pascal Gross, Mike King, Premier League player of the month.
32:08
SPEAKER_01: I think they're gonna shine.
32:09
SPEAKER_01: Sunderland also do have some injuries from the international break.
32:12
SPEAKER_01: You you prefaced with some injuries earlier.
32:14
SPEAKER_01: Both Broby and Ballard are injured.
32:18
SPEAKER_01: Not sure if they're gonna play.
32:19
SPEAKER_01: And if they do play, I would assume maybe it's more of a cameo roll off the bench.
32:24
SPEAKER_01: So I picked Brighton to win this one 3-1, and that is my my big bet of the week.
32:30
SPEAKER_00: I I hate to go against your big bet, Brandon, but I'm gonna That's fine.
32:34
SPEAKER_00: I don't have as much conviction as you, which is why it's not my big bet.
32:38
SPEAKER_00: I I thought this one was gonna be a tight affair.
32:41
SPEAKER_00: I still think it's going to be.
32:42
SPEAKER_00: I I gone I've gone for Sunderland 3-2.
32:46
SPEAKER_00: Wow.
32:46
SPEAKER_00: That was under the assumption that Broby does play.
32:49
SPEAKER_00: I would probably predict a draw if he doesn't start the match.
32:53
SPEAKER_00: But if Broby is in that starting 11, I think Sunderland are gonna give Brighton problems.
32:57
SPEAKER_00: Brighton have been great, but I think unfortunately for them the international break came at a poor time and really could have interrupted their flow.
33:04
SPEAKER_00: I think the Stadium of Light is a really difficult place to go, so that's why I've picked Sunderland in this one.
33:09
SPEAKER_01: No, that's fair.
33:10
SPEAKER_01: That's that's definitely fair, and I think the injuries will definitely play a huge factor in this one as well.
33:16
SPEAKER_01: Two more games at 10 o'clock, Sean.
33:18
SPEAKER_01: We have Aston Villa and Brentford.
33:21
SPEAKER_01: I picked in this one Brentford to win 2-0, even though they're they're on the road.
33:26
SPEAKER_01: Uh Villa has improved, but Brentford and Nakeith Andrews, it's it's just been special.
33:31
SPEAKER_01: I I don't know what to say.
33:33
SPEAKER_01: I didn't necessarily think they were gonna be as good as they've been.
33:37
SPEAKER_01: Uh, nine points in five games, no losses.
33:39
SPEAKER_01: They really don't concede much, and their midfield and attack have been great.
33:44
SPEAKER_01: I I do think they win this one fairly easily, even though it's a road match 2-0.
33:48
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, I was really close to making this one my best bet.
33:51
SPEAKER_00: And I would I'm with you.
33:52
SPEAKER_00: I'm on the B's, baby.
33:53
SPEAKER_00: Brentford.
33:55
SPEAKER_00: I just feel like the institutional control they have as a group.
33:59
SPEAKER_00: I feel like they view these international breaks as a time of chaos for other clubs, and they thrive in chaos, but they create it in the matches and they do so in a very smart way.
34:09
SPEAKER_00: I like Brentford in this spot.
34:10
SPEAKER_00: I went for 2-1.
34:11
SPEAKER_00: I think Villa will get something.
34:13
SPEAKER_00: I think Brentford will end up with a late winner, though, and it'll be another another feather in the cap for Keith Andrews, which is experiencing a great start to the season.
34:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Brentford's just one of those teams, Sean, where you see their name on the team sheet, you know what you're gonna get.
34:29
SPEAKER_01: It's it's a consistent performance, and you feel safe.
34:33
SPEAKER_01: There's just a safety net around them.
34:35
SPEAKER_01: And obviously, they're not gonna win every game or tie every game, but they know their style, they play their style, they're coached well, their front offices run well.
34:45
SPEAKER_01: It's just one of those things where maybe they get an influx of cash and can sign a couple of stars, and you have to be talking about maybe a title contention until then, because of how they their style and their club is arranged, they're probably in that second tier of teams, but they are a darn good second tier team in the Premier League.
35:04
SPEAKER_01: So I yeah, I would expect I'd expect them to win this one.
35:10
SPEAKER_01: The last game at 10 a.m., we have Bournemouth going to Chelsea, Sean.
35:14
SPEAKER_00: I'll let you start.
35:15
SPEAKER_00: This is gonna be a fun one, Brandon.
35:17
SPEAKER_00: I have this pegged as a fun one because Chelsea have only played bangers to start this season.
35:21
SPEAKER_00: So I'm just kind of expecting that from Chelsea at this point.
35:25
SPEAKER_00: I'm also gonna say this.
35:26
SPEAKER_00: If we weren't trying to be a little bit edgy with these best picks, I would be taking Chelsea as my best pick.
35:33
SPEAKER_00: But I think because they're such a heavy favorite, that would be disingenuous.
35:37
SPEAKER_00: I think Chelsea control this game and get the job done.
35:39
SPEAKER_00: I think it's gonna be a 3-1-4-1 type of game.
35:43
SPEAKER_00: I really just feel like under Jabi Alonso, they've they've figured it out in attack.
35:47
SPEAKER_00: They just need to start piecing together how to keep teams out of their own goal.
35:52
SPEAKER_00: I think we'll see some signs of that to start this kind of next phase of the Premier League.
35:58
SPEAKER_00: And I'm gonna go Chelsea in a big one here.
35:59
SPEAKER_00: What about you?
36:00
SPEAKER_01: Actually, the same.
36:01
SPEAKER_01: I had three to one as my score.
36:03
SPEAKER_01: Like you said, Chelsea haven't looked great in the in defense, but I think this is where they start to put it together.
36:09
SPEAKER_01: Alex Scott is out for two plus months for Bournemouth, our star midfielder, one of their biggest creators, so I think that's really gonna hurt them.
36:16
SPEAKER_01: And even though Chelsea is probably without Jal Pedro, it does appear that Cole Palmer will play.
36:21
SPEAKER_01: This is, of course, as of today, Thursday, so things may change and before Saturday.
36:26
SPEAKER_01: But I think if they have Cole Pedro, Morgan Rogers is healthy.
36:30
SPEAKER_01: I think that's enough to give them a few goals.
36:32
SPEAKER_01: Uh obviously, they would love to have Giao Pedro as well, and I think they end up taking this one 3-1 at Stanford Bridge.
36:39
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't want to go as far as say is I'm gonna guarantee goals because I believe the last time I did that we experienced a nil-nil.
36:44
SPEAKER_00: But I think there will be goals in this one.
36:46
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, I would highly, highly agree that I think there will be some goals in this one.
36:53
SPEAKER_01: Alright, 1230, let's just do it.
36:55
SPEAKER_01: Spurs go to Manchester United.
36:58
SPEAKER_01: Do I do I have to talk about it, Brandon?
36:59
SPEAKER_00: Is this in is this in my contract?
37:01
SPEAKER_00: I you guys are gonna the listeners have to be so sick of me at this point because it's pure delusion.
37:07
SPEAKER_00: And at least I'm admitting it.
37:09
SPEAKER_00: But I'm gonna pick Tottenham to win.
37:11
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna do it to myself once again.
37:14
SPEAKER_00: I think Tottenham win a football match that will require us scoring a goal.
37:20
SPEAKER_00: People forget we scored two in the last time out before the international break.
37:23
SPEAKER_00: We gave up three, but I think we get a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, Brandon.
37:29
SPEAKER_00: I don't know how, I don't know why.
37:31
SPEAKER_00: Actually, I do know how.
37:32
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
37:33
SPEAKER_00: You know how we've been playing some decent football in build-up and we've gotten in a good spot, and then we just kind of have been shitting ourselves in front of Nett and not shooting, and there's been a lack of confidence.
37:43
SPEAKER_00: I don't know that going to the biggest venue in the Premier League away from home is going to suddenly make us the most confident team, but our run against Manchester United in the last few years hasn't been awful, especially at home.
37:57
SPEAKER_00: So I feel like they're also a very gettable side at this point.
38:01
SPEAKER_00: Under Michael Kerrick, they also are disappointing, and they're not this scary team that they once were.
38:07
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna go Tottenham 2-1.
38:09
SPEAKER_00: I'm saying it as I say it, I don't love it, but I have to do it.
38:13
SPEAKER_01: No, I appreciate your confidence and your belief in Spurs.
38:17
SPEAKER_01: I unfortunately did not pick us to the couple of things.
38:20
SPEAKER_01: I actually picked I picked us to lose two to one.
38:24
SPEAKER_01: I think well, first of all, I think United fans are gonna be really up for it.
38:29
SPEAKER_01: Uh coming out of the international break, they they need to s like uh pun no pun intended, but like spur their team on, get them really going.
38:37
SPEAKER_01: And with everything going on across town at City, they're probably a little bit happier than than those fans are.
38:42
SPEAKER_01: So I I think they're gonna it's gonna be a raucous atmosphere for Spurs, and unfortunately, uh I think that'll energize the United players.
38:52
SPEAKER_01: I think uh Bruno set piece is one that can get us.
38:56
SPEAKER_01: And I know the Spurs center backs, the Dutch boys got injured in international break.
39:03
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if they're gonna be in the team.
39:05
SPEAKER_01: So I think there's a lot of question marks to Spurs.
39:07
SPEAKER_01: I think Michael Carrick, like you mentioned, there's a lot of question marks around him as well.
39:11
SPEAKER_01: I think he rallies his guys and gets just enough out of them, and they beat us two to one.
39:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I could certainly see that being the case, Brandon.
39:18
SPEAKER_00: I I am lacking a ton of conviction when picking Spurs, as I think anyone in their right mind should be.
39:23
SPEAKER_00: I don't think anybody could sit there and be super convinced that this team is going to get their first win of the season away from home.
39:29
SPEAKER_00: I do sense that both of these teams are kind of rudderless, and it's kind of the it's kind of a derby of oh god, who's the best of the worst right now?
39:39
SPEAKER_00: And I'm just choosing to back our guys.
39:42
SPEAKER_00: I do really have hope that the Dutch defenders are gonna be able to play because that's key.
39:46
SPEAKER_00: Mickey Van Ven had his hand stepped on.
39:49
SPEAKER_00: I mean, Mickey gun get back out there, okay?
39:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we're sitting 20th.
39:54
SPEAKER_00: Club captain for clubs.
39:55
SPEAKER_00: Club captain.
39:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
39:56
SPEAKER_00: If he's if let me tell you this, if he doesn't play, take the armhanged.
40:00
SPEAKER_00: Because that's a joke.
40:01
SPEAKER_00: If you think Roy Keane would miss a match like this, yeah, no chance.
40:05
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
40:06
SPEAKER_00: So if you get your hands stepped on and don't play the following week, you can't be you can't be captain.
40:11
SPEAKER_00: So I'll go Tottenham Brandon, but boy mine I'll look forward to it.
40:15
SPEAKER_01: No, it look, we we have to believe.
40:18
SPEAKER_01: And well, you don't.
40:22
SPEAKER_01: You don't.
40:23
SPEAKER_01: You don't.
40:23
SPEAKER_01: I do believe.
40:24
SPEAKER_01: I do believe.
40:25
SPEAKER_01: Maybe not this weekend.
40:26
SPEAKER_00: I don't think we're gonna get relegated, but yeah, you're a long-term guy.
40:30
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
40:30
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, a long-term guy.
40:31
SPEAKER_01: And especially because one of the teams getting relegated probably is about to uh face a large point deduction.
40:38
SPEAKER_01: So hopefully they can go down.
40:40
SPEAKER_00: Could be huge, could be huge for us.
40:43
SPEAKER_01: Who knows?
40:44
SPEAKER_01: Stranger things have happened.
40:46
SPEAKER_01: Moving to Sunday, Sean.
40:48
SPEAKER_01: We have two games at 9 a.m.
40:49
SPEAKER_01: and then one at 11:30.
40:52
SPEAKER_01: Starting with the 9 a.m.
40:53
SPEAKER_01: games, we have Crystal Palace playing host to Nottingham Forest.
40:59
SPEAKER_01: I put this one as a 0-0 draw.
41:02
SPEAKER_01: I Sean, I just have not been really impressed with Morgan Gibbs White at Forest.
41:09
SPEAKER_01: He's that's my guy.
41:10
SPEAKER_01: You know, I love Morgan Gibbs White.
41:12
SPEAKER_01: He just hasn't done it for me yet.
41:14
SPEAKER_01: Palace's offense has been like the Tyreek Mitchell show, and Tyreek Mitchell is their left back.
41:19
SPEAKER_01: You can't really rely on your left back to score all your goals.
41:22
SPEAKER_01: I can just see both of these teams going for it.
41:25
SPEAKER_01: I think it will be an interesting game.
41:26
SPEAKER_01: It'll be one of those zero zeros that you're watching, you're like, oh wow, that could have been 3-3.
41:31
SPEAKER_01: And just guys just missing chances and whatever.
41:35
SPEAKER_01: But I just put 0-0 because I don't think either team can break through.
41:39
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm not far off.
41:40
SPEAKER_00: I went 1-1.
41:42
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I do lean taking Nottingham Forest here, but I think the conversations around Crystal Palace being a relegation candidate really start to heat up if they drop points at home here.
41:53
SPEAKER_00: They haven't been good at all.
41:54
SPEAKER_00: And it's kind of been teetering on a disaster, but it's kind of being swept under the radar a little bit.
41:59
SPEAKER_00: I think there is a chance with Nottingham Forest squeak this one out, and then those conversations start to heat up around Palace, but I've given them the benefit of the doubt I've gone for a goal apiece at home.
42:09
SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
42:10
SPEAKER_01: Now that's a good shout.
42:12
SPEAKER_01: And I think, yeah, it's not gonna be the most I don't think it'll be the most technical game.
42:16
SPEAKER_01: I think it'll be a little messy, but we'll see what what happens at the same time.
42:22
SPEAKER_01: Hull play Everton, Sean.
42:23
SPEAKER_01: And this is an interesting one because Everton really just don't lose as weird as that sounds.
42:30
SPEAKER_01: And Hull really haven't done much losing either.
42:33
SPEAKER_01: So I picked 2-2 draw for this one.
42:36
SPEAKER_01: I think Everton seal goal late to secure the draw.
42:40
SPEAKER_01: I think Everton just does they just know how to do enough to not lose.
42:44
SPEAKER_01: And in a Premier League season where teams like Hull, promoted teams, Ipswich Town, Coventry City, are expected to sort of turn around and go back down.
42:55
SPEAKER_01: I think you have to get points out of these games.
42:57
SPEAKER_01: And I think Everton do a great job of it, and I think they find a way to steal a point.
43:01
SPEAKER_01: I think Hall at home will be energized and they'll feel like they'll really come out on the front foot.
43:06
SPEAKER_01: Uh, but I don't see them pulling all three points out of this one.
43:09
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, it's funny you say that because you basically nailed how I was going to talk about this game.
43:14
SPEAKER_00: And this is my best pick of the week, but it is a draw.
43:17
SPEAKER_00: I think I am taking my first one, first best pick of the week.
43:22
SPEAKER_00: I'm doing a draw, which is risky.
43:24
SPEAKER_00: It's of course risky business, but I just don't see how this one ends any other way.
43:29
SPEAKER_00: I think the Tigers are pesky, especially at home.
43:32
SPEAKER_00: I think they're difficult to beat.
43:34
SPEAKER_00: And then you flip it around, and Everton, like you said, they just find ways not to lose.
43:40
SPEAKER_00: So I don't think it'll be pretty.
43:42
SPEAKER_00: I don't think I'll find myself rooting for Everton at any point in this match, but I do think that this one ends in a draw.
43:48
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna go a goal apiece.
43:49
SPEAKER_00: 1 1.
43:50
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, fair.
43:51
SPEAKER_01: It's just both teams, I think, just do enough to to see how to draw.
43:57
SPEAKER_01: I think it'll be fun.
43:58
SPEAKER_01: I think it Any game where Hull's at home, uh, the energy is high, the team they have to feel great.
44:05
SPEAKER_01: They're in eighth place right now, they're flying.
44:09
SPEAKER_01: People expected them to be the worst of the premier the worst of the promoted teams to the Premier League, and they are in eighth place.
44:15
SPEAKER_01: So there's a lot of energy around Hull right now.
44:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I was one of those bozos, so I that's why I was tossing.
44:21
SPEAKER_01: I I'm in the same boat.
44:24
SPEAKER_00: I I I went pretty hard on Hull, and I've apologized profusely.
44:28
SPEAKER_00: Uh I'll do it one more time.
44:30
SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry, Hole.
44:30
SPEAKER_00: And that's gonna be the last you hear of it, okay?
44:32
SPEAKER_00: I've said I'm sorry enough, okay?
44:33
SPEAKER_00: You're better than I thought.
44:35
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they they've they've been great.
44:38
SPEAKER_01: And with a good performance, they could still be in the running for the whole city team of the week.
44:42
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
44:43
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
44:43
SPEAKER_01: So we'll see.
44:44
SPEAKER_00: Not too good.
44:45
SPEAKER_00: Let's not let's not let's not get crazy here.
44:47
SPEAKER_00: Let's keep in between.
44:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
44:51
SPEAKER_01: Now, Sean, the 1130 game, the game of the weekend.
44:55
SPEAKER_01: This might be the game of the season, the way it's being pegged.
44:58
SPEAKER_01: This is the first game since all of the Manchester City mess came out.
45:04
SPEAKER_01: They have to go on the road to Anfield to play Liverpool.
45:08
SPEAKER_01: I'll let you start.
45:09
SPEAKER_01: I have some thoughts on this one, but I'm interested to see where your head's at on this game.
45:14
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, this game palpable, palpable buzz, is what I would say.
45:18
SPEAKER_00: I'm juiced up for it.
45:19
SPEAKER_00: 11:30 on a Sunday, it's a perfect time for this occasion.
45:24
SPEAKER_00: What do City look like from all this off-the-field drama?
45:28
SPEAKER_00: That wasn't really any fault of the players that are currently on the team, but it's gonna be the players that are currently on the team that have to deal with all of it.
45:35
SPEAKER_00: And my guy Enzo, how does he respond?
45:39
SPEAKER_00: I don't think it's gonna be too well.
45:42
SPEAKER_00: I think Liverpool gives City some real trouble at Anfield.
45:46
SPEAKER_00: I think their fans are gonna be up for this occasion.
45:49
SPEAKER_00: I think this is the most raucous atmosphere of the weekend.
45:52
SPEAKER_00: I think they're gonna feel pretty aggrieved from all the years that they competed with City and didn't end up winning the Premier League.
45:58
SPEAKER_00: This might be football justice, to coin a term from the great American football coach Mike Tomlin.
46:03
SPEAKER_00: I think I'm gonna edge this one.
46:04
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna go 3-2 Liverpool in Manchester City's first defeat of the season in what could be the start of just a bit of a downward spiral.
46:12
SPEAKER_00: It's such an interesting game because you could see City's season going one of two directions.
46:17
SPEAKER_00: If they walk into Liverpool and win this one, it's like they just might be the bad boys saying we're running the league.
46:23
SPEAKER_00: Relegate us if you want, we're not losing.
46:26
SPEAKER_00: I just have to I have to err on the side of justice.
46:29
SPEAKER_00: Give me Liverpool 3-2.
46:31
SPEAKER_00: It's funny.
46:32
SPEAKER_01: I actually don't disagree with with what you're saying, but I actually went the opposite way.
46:38
SPEAKER_01: I think they go into Anfield and they are buzzed.
46:42
SPEAKER_01: They're like the world hates us, everyone hates us, they do, they just wear the villain role and they just accept it.
46:48
SPEAKER_01: I think they go in, and of course, we can talk about injuries and players because that will factor into this game a bit too.
46:54
SPEAKER_01: But they like we're talking about it now.
46:57
SPEAKER_01: They they also know they know what they're walking into, so I think there's a little bit of an advantage to that where they know they're gonna get heckled and it's gonna be more hostile than a typical away fixture.
47:09
SPEAKER_01: But I think I think they go in and they win two to one.
47:12
SPEAKER_01: I think they'll pull it out.
47:14
SPEAKER_01: They've been on fire to start this season.
47:17
SPEAKER_01: The team is strong.
47:18
SPEAKER_01: Liverpool may be without both Isak and Cody Gakpo.
47:23
SPEAKER_01: So they're missing some of their attacking prowess right there.
47:26
SPEAKER_01: Maybe they'll have to rely on your guy, Bradley Barcala, who hasn't had a great start at Liverpool, but I I do think if Holland plays, he scores, he just eats up the villain role.
47:39
SPEAKER_01: He does his little, you know, his calm yoga celebration in the corner.
47:43
SPEAKER_01: I I think I think it could be a fun one for them.
47:46
SPEAKER_01: And I think this is one they they mark on their calendar at the end of the season, and they were like, hey, we might be going down because of these rules or whatever happened, but that game at Liverpool on whatever October 10th or 11th, I'm sorry, that was the game.
48:02
SPEAKER_01: And and I think this is this is one they they have highlighted and they'll be able to look back on and be proud of.
48:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm certainly excited for it.
48:09
SPEAKER_00: I have it highlighted myself, Brandon.
48:10
SPEAKER_00: This is the game of the weekend, I think for everybody, just because of the off-the-field stuff, but it's also just entertaining on the field where Liverpool are still trying to have that statement win under Areola, and City are just trying to get everybody back on board rowing in the same direction.
48:26
SPEAKER_00: It's fascinating.
48:28
SPEAKER_00: I hate I'm I'm expecting fireworks.
48:30
SPEAKER_00: I just hope we have a good, clean match.
48:32
SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't know what I want in my heart of hearts because I don't want City to just give the league to Arsenal this year, but they this win might mean nothing if there's a points relegation coming around the track.
48:44
SPEAKER_00: So I don't I don't know what the right answer is, but I'm excited to watch.
48:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, it'll be a fun one.
48:48
SPEAKER_01: Listeners, if you have a chance to just watch one game this weekend, this was the one I'd circle.
48:53
SPEAKER_01: The Eagles play actually early, they're playing actually at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
48:58
SPEAKER_01: So if you're worried about that, watch those guys.
49:02
SPEAKER_01: Two bad two two bad teams, yeah.
49:05
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the Eagles the Eagles playing in Tottenham Stadium, uh, which a year ago that's a dream collab.
49:10
SPEAKER_01: Now we're like, oh god.
49:12
SPEAKER_01: So so yeah, the timing works well.
49:14
SPEAKER_01: Watch the 11:30, then you still get your one o'clock football windows.
49:17
SPEAKER_01: Nothing happens in the first 10 minutes of the NFL game, let's be real.
49:20
SPEAKER_01: So that's the game to watch this weekend.
49:23
SPEAKER_01: And then we do end up, Sean.
49:24
SPEAKER_01: We have one more game on Monday afternoon.
49:27
SPEAKER_01: We have Newcastle going on the road to Coventry City.
49:31
SPEAKER_01: This one, I don't have great vibes about either way, but I do think Newcastle win this one two to one.
49:38
SPEAKER_01: Coventry will be up for it.
49:40
SPEAKER_01: They just won their last game.
49:41
SPEAKER_01: Obviously, that was now three weeks ago, so there was some time in between.
49:45
SPEAKER_01: But I just don't think they have the attackers to score enough to win a game.
49:49
SPEAKER_01: And I think Newcastle, even though they are shaky, they've been in decent form.
49:54
SPEAKER_01: And besides getting absolutely smacked by leads four to one, they've looked pretty good overall this season, and I think they'll carry that into Coventry City and uh take three points from this one.
50:07
SPEAKER_00: I've gone for Newcastle win as well.
50:09
SPEAKER_00: I went 2-1.
50:10
SPEAKER_00: I I just think they're a better team at present.
50:13
SPEAKER_00: I think Coventry showed some good signs that maybe eased some of the pressure on Frank Lampard heading into the international break, but I think that pressure might start to ramp up pretty soon again, with some poor results.
50:26
SPEAKER_00: That being said, they play Tottenham next Monday.
50:29
SPEAKER_00: So I think this is back-to-back Monday night kicks for Coventry.
50:33
SPEAKER_00: I think they will suffer a defeat in this one in Newcastle.
50:37
SPEAKER_00: It remains to be seen how they'll do next week.
50:39
SPEAKER_01: Fair enough, Sean.
50:41
SPEAKER_01: Before we transfer to the rest of the world and some other games outside of England, I just want to ask you right now, if if you had to pick, what would be the manager you'd fire?
50:54
SPEAKER_01: Because we've seen Manchester United, Michael Carrick being talked about, but Manchester United, they are mid-table.
51:02
SPEAKER_01: They're in 12th.
51:03
SPEAKER_01: We've seen Coventry, talked about Frank Lampard, they are in 18th, but also they are a recently promoted team.
51:09
SPEAKER_01: They're probably expected to struggle a little bit.
51:12
SPEAKER_01: Fulham, still no wins at 19th.
51:14
SPEAKER_01: Spurs, no wins, also tied with Fulham at 9 in 19th with two points.
51:19
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to hear your thoughts on if you had to pick somebody to get fired today, who would it be?
51:25
SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's tough, Brandon.
51:26
SPEAKER_00: I think I'm gonna go for my guy, Arbaloba.
51:29
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to do it to him, but I just I haven't seen a ton from Fulham.
51:33
SPEAKER_00: They've gotten better in the last couple performances where they eked out a couple of draws.
51:37
SPEAKER_00: But I just I think that seat's awfully warm.
51:40
SPEAKER_00: And I just it's maybe because he hasn't done it at this level before that I I don't know what it looks like, and that's why I'm left guessing and kind of hypothesizing and not really knowing.
51:52
SPEAKER_00: But if you look around, I think Coventry were expected to be pretty bad this year.
51:56
SPEAKER_00: They're expected to be in a relegation scrap.
51:58
SPEAKER_00: So you can kind of chalk up what Frank Lampard's done so far to okay, they're in a new league, there's gonna be some growing pains.
52:05
SPEAKER_00: I think that would be another option of where you could look, but I don't I think that'd be harsh on him, especially coming off the back of a win in the last game.
52:12
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna go for Arbalowa, but I don't think I would sack him yet.
52:15
SPEAKER_00: I think that would just be the name I'm still most closely monitoring.
52:19
SPEAKER_00: But there's a lot of ways this answer could go.
52:21
SPEAKER_00: It could be a guy like Kerrick, like you said.
52:23
SPEAKER_00: I don't think Spurs' front office is very much in the they're not looking to sack a manager quickly again after what happened last season at debacle.
52:33
SPEAKER_00: They see a long-term plan with De Zerbi, but that's another direction where if Tottenham's still our 20th three weeks from now, there's going to be real pressure on Roberto De Zerbi.
52:42
SPEAKER_00: So that's another name to throw in the mix.
52:43
SPEAKER_00: But for now, that'll be my answer.
52:45
SPEAKER_00: I'm interested if you have one.
52:46
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I do think Arbaloa is definitely a candidate at Fulham.
52:54
SPEAKER_01: With De Zerbi, like you said, of course he's a candidate.
52:57
SPEAKER_01: You look at the table there in last, you have teams like Hall and Coventry ahead of them.
53:03
SPEAKER_01: But there's so much money placed into this team, and we still are still thinking about Spurs, probably in the Daniel Levy mindset, where it was like, hey, if you don't play well for three weeks, you're probably gone.
53:17
SPEAKER_01: And under new man new ownership, I think they have taken this sort of long-term approach, sort of like how I am with this team.
53:24
SPEAKER_01: And maybe there is a little bit of naivety in that, but I can't see them doing something super early unless they have a guy that will come in that they know can come in and crush it.
53:38
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Pachettino.
53:39
SPEAKER_01: I don't I don't I can't see Pachettino getting up right now to to take the Spurs project because that's what it is right now.
53:47
SPEAKER_01: It's a project.
53:48
SPEAKER_00: He would he said he would manage him in the championship, Brandon.
53:52
SPEAKER_00: He loves Tottenham.
53:54
SPEAKER_00: I said, hey Pach, come back.
53:55
SPEAKER_00: You don't have to, we don't have to worry about the championship.
53:57
SPEAKER_00: You'll save us this season, King.
53:59
SPEAKER_00: I'll once again rip him right from US's hands if if that's what it comes to.
54:03
SPEAKER_00: Listen, if it's November 8th, it's a month from now, and the first still don't have a win, I will I will be sending anything I could get my hands on to Potch's house, to his out any bribery, any form of bribery I can do to get him in the job, I would do.
54:20
SPEAKER_00: We would need to be saved at that point, Brandon.
54:22
SPEAKER_00: I don't think it'll get to that point, but I I'm with you, they're gonna they're gonna take a long-term approach, but there's gonna be real problems if we're two and a half months into the Premier League season and Tottenham don't have a win.
54:34
SPEAKER_01: My follow-up though to you now is maybe this is just me thinking out of the box a little bit, but everything goes down with Manchester City, a punishment comes out, let's say the punishment comes out soon, next week, the week after, and they have a 60-point deduction or some ridiculous number that will automatically pretty much send them to the championship.
54:56
SPEAKER_01: Is there a little bit less pressure then on De Zerby?
54:58
SPEAKER_01: Because it's like, all right, well, one of the three teams is probably is already down, and then you still have Coventry who's struggling and is expected to struggle.
55:07
SPEAKER_01: Ipswich and Hall are definitely better, but they're still promoted sides, and Fulham's struggling, so it's like, do you almost just take it as the approach of, all right, well, one of the worst teams is already quote unquote out on paper, so we just have to be not as bad as two, you know, the two next two worst teams.
55:24
SPEAKER_00: I guess that would certainly help the equation.
55:27
SPEAKER_00: They don't love thinking about oh, one of those three relegation spots is already gone, so we're really just fighting with two others.
55:34
SPEAKER_00: I don't love that, but I do think you're right.
55:37
SPEAKER_00: I think it might factor into their decision making.
55:40
SPEAKER_00: I I do think if you zoom out, Tottenham, they're going to be patient with the Zerbi.
55:45
SPEAKER_00: They've given him a boatload of money to manage this team, they've invested a boatload of money into the team itself.
55:51
SPEAKER_00: Uh they haven't even gotten all of these guys playing together.
55:54
SPEAKER_00: There's still a ton of guys coming back from injuries and working way into the squad.
55:57
SPEAKER_00: So I think if you look at the situation two months from this moment in time, it'll look a lot different.
56:04
SPEAKER_00: But those conversations are still interesting to have in the meantime because it's a big club sitting 20th.
56:10
SPEAKER_00: And this break made it so that they're we're gonna be in the middle of October by the time they play again, and they're still in 20th place.
56:17
SPEAKER_00: So especially if they continue to stack up losses, that's where it gets more intriguing.
56:22
SPEAKER_00: But I do think we have a ways to go before anything drastic happens.
56:25
SPEAKER_01: Okay, no, fair enough, fair enough.
56:27
SPEAKER_01: I just wanted to throw those questions out as I'm looking at the table and we're talking managers as always.
56:34
SPEAKER_01: Sean, I'll do a quick MLS minute, if you don't mind, and then I'll go for it.
56:43
SPEAKER_01: So MLS games uh this weekend, first on Tuesday, the game we had previewed, Chicago did beat Vancouver on Tuesday 3-1.
56:51
SPEAKER_01: So now Chicago is fourth in the east.
56:54
SPEAKER_01: They play host to New York City FC this weekend, who's tied for ninth.
56:58
SPEAKER_01: So definitely some playoff implications there in the east.
57:00
SPEAKER_01: In the west, Colorado, San Jose, LAFC play Vancouver, and St.
57:06
SPEAKER_01: Louis play the LA Galaxy.
57:08
SPEAKER_01: All three of those games will have definite playoff implications.
57:12
SPEAKER_01: Sean also on Saturday, Philadelphia host Real Salt Lake.
57:15
SPEAKER_01: Uh, I'll be at that game.
57:17
SPEAKER_01: I was really excited when we were first got tickets to this game because I wanted to see Diego Luna.
57:22
SPEAKER_01: I've never seen him in person.
57:23
SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately, he's out for the year with an injury, but it'll be cool to see the Philly guys back from World Cup.
57:29
SPEAKER_01: I'm sorry, not World Cup, the international break.
57:31
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
57:32
SPEAKER_01: And playing with the USA and some of their other guys, their goalie, Andre Blake, played for Jamaica, had a midfielder play for Haiti.
57:38
SPEAKER_01: So it'll be cool to see those guys back, and hopefully Ryan Richter can keep them in the great form they're in.
57:43
SPEAKER_01: They're on the longest current unbeaten streak in club history with 12.
57:47
SPEAKER_01: So they'll look to continue that.
57:49
SPEAKER_01: And then we also have some more games on Wednesday.
57:51
SPEAKER_01: The end of the MLS season is kind of wild, Sean.
57:54
SPEAKER_01: We have seven games left for all the teams, and Decision Day, which is the last game of their last day of their season, is on November 7th.
58:02
SPEAKER_01: So every team plays seven games in one calendar month.
58:06
SPEAKER_01: Uh, so we'll see a lot of double double game weeks, a lot of teams jockeying for position to get home playoff games, and it'll be really exciting.
58:14
SPEAKER_01: So I'm excited to keep filling you in and reporting on this because the MLS season is just one that's it's so different and it's so wild.
58:24
SPEAKER_01: And then you have a playoff after all of this.
58:26
SPEAKER_01: So it's not just like the season ends on November 7th and we're done.
58:30
SPEAKER_01: There is a trophy that will very most likely go to Nashville for having the most points in the regular season, the supporter shield, but the playoffs are a different beast, and very rarely, Sean, do we see teams that win the supporter shield win the MLS Cup.
58:43
SPEAKER_01: So a lot to play for in the coming weeks in MLS, and I will be sure to keep an eye on it and updating the listeners.
58:49
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, I do appreciate you doing that as always.
58:52
SPEAKER_00: I think this is a good time of year to really dive into MLS because, like you said, the fixtures are hot and heavy, often two times a week for this month leading up to the playoffs.
59:01
SPEAKER_00: Always across all of American sports, the fight for the playoffs is always intriguing.
59:05
SPEAKER_00: And then I think once we get into the playoffs, that's when MLS is at its best.
59:09
SPEAKER_00: So those matches are really good, and I always do make an effort to watch them.
59:13
SPEAKER_00: So I appreciate you getting me prepared.
59:15
SPEAKER_00: There's not a ton happening around Europe this weekend, Brandon.
59:18
SPEAKER_00: At least on the paper, there's not a ton of marquee matches that I would point to.
59:22
SPEAKER_00: I've got a couple for you Saturday, then one for you on Sunday.
59:25
SPEAKER_00: On Saturday, outside of the Prem, we have Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid all playing on the same day, with in what feels like a rare occasion for these three teams, at least to start this year so far.
59:36
SPEAKER_00: La Liga did a staggered start, and we saw games popping up on all different days of the week, and it's led to these three big clubs not playing often on the same day.
59:46
SPEAKER_00: So starting at 1015, Atleti go to Deportivo Aleves.
59:51
SPEAKER_00: And the big news here is there's a new owner of Atletico Madrid, a new part of the ownership group, and that is American basketball player Shea Gildit Alexander.
1:00:00
SPEAKER_00: He's actually Canadian.
1:00:01
SPEAKER_00: I know he plays American basketball, but yes, Shea Gildis Alexander has joined the ownership group at Athleti.
1:00:07
SPEAKER_00: Pretty interesting.
1:00:09
SPEAKER_01: That is interesting.
1:00:10
SPEAKER_01: Wow.
1:00:10
SPEAKER_00: Good for him.
1:00:11
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, Brandon, a good fit because we know Shay's into the dark arts of foul baiting, and Diego Simeone is into the dark arts of just having his guys flop around like fish.
1:00:22
SPEAKER_00: So I think that's a pretty good match.
1:00:24
SPEAKER_00: Match made in heaven, you might say.
1:00:26
SPEAKER_00: I I like that.
1:00:27
SPEAKER_01: That is an absurd, absurd take for me.
1:00:31
SPEAKER_00: That's a good pick, Shay.
1:00:32
SPEAKER_00: If you could invest in any team, I think that was a good one for you.
1:00:35
SPEAKER_00: And I like Shay.
1:00:36
SPEAKER_00: Listen, he's a Kentucky guy, I like Shay a lot.
1:00:38
SPEAKER_00: But I think the way he plays basketball can be frustrating to watch.
1:00:42
SPEAKER_00: And uh Diego Simeone teams are frustrating to play against.
1:00:45
SPEAKER_00: So that's that's my take there.
1:00:46
SPEAKER_00: Then Barcelona hosts Hitafe at 12:30.
1:00:49
SPEAKER_00: Barcelona are basically must see TV anytime you could watch them.
1:00:52
SPEAKER_00: They they score five goals a match.
1:00:53
SPEAKER_00: They're a ton of fun.
1:00:54
SPEAKER_00: They have an outrageous amount of skill everywhere.
1:00:57
SPEAKER_00: So trying to keep pace with them will be Real Madrid, who have sputtered a bit to start the season under Joseph Mourinho.
1:01:03
SPEAKER_00: They host VR Real at 3 p.m.
1:01:05
SPEAKER_00: Eastern on Saturday.
1:01:06
SPEAKER_00: So La Liga will be where my other attention is directed outside of the prem on Saturday.
1:01:11
SPEAKER_00: And then on Sunday, get up early.
1:01:13
SPEAKER_00: Early, early morning.
1:01:15
SPEAKER_00: 6 30 a.m.
1:01:16
SPEAKER_00: We head to Laga de Como.
1:01:19
SPEAKER_00: Como hosting Roma.
1:01:21
SPEAKER_00: Uh, the two darlings from last season in Serie Ah, in one big picturesque environment to start your Sunday.
1:01:29
SPEAKER_00: It doesn't get much better than that.
1:01:30
SPEAKER_00: I can't wait.
1:01:31
SPEAKER_00: I'm an early riser, as you know, Brandon, to begin with.
1:01:33
SPEAKER_00: This is a match made in heaven for me.
1:01:35
SPEAKER_00: I will hopefully have a win under my belt by the time 8:30 rolls around, and that sounds absolutely delightful.
1:01:41
SPEAKER_00: So that's all I've got across the continent.
1:01:43
SPEAKER_01: No, thank you for that.
1:01:44
SPEAKER_01: And you underplayed Como.
1:01:47
SPEAKER_01: You said picturesque, Sean.
1:01:48
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if there's a better word, but whatever that word is, you have to use it because that is seeing pictures of that stadium, soccer lover, soccer hater, you just have to appreciate that.
1:02:00
SPEAKER_01: That place is absolutely incredible.
1:02:04
SPEAKER_01: And to see the team really come along these last few years, I know they have some popular owners.
1:02:10
SPEAKER_01: I think Tyrion Ray owns part of them, and Ses Fabergas is involved.
1:02:15
SPEAKER_00: And they have He's the manager.
1:02:16
SPEAKER_00: He's the manager, yeah.
1:02:17
SPEAKER_00: So he's and he's uh by the way, Brandon, and I hate to give him credit, he's an unbelievable manager.
1:02:22
SPEAKER_00: If you had to put a gun to my head and say who's the best young manager in Europe, it's Ses Fabergas.
1:02:26
SPEAKER_00: That's how I really think about it.
1:02:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, wow.
1:02:28
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, no, I that's that's fantastic.
1:02:31
SPEAKER_01: And uh I'm not as early a Veriser as you are, but I I might have to get up and at least at least put it on in bed.
1:02:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, get the second half in.
1:02:40
SPEAKER_00: 7 30, second half, see Dybala score a couple.
1:02:43
SPEAKER_00: It'd be great.
1:02:44
SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes, Sean.
1:02:46
SPEAKER_01: And yeah, it it's it's it's great to see.
1:02:50
SPEAKER_01: And I'm glad you actually brought up Dybala because I wanted to end on Messi's retirement.
1:02:55
SPEAKER_01: I know we we hinted at it last episode, but I don't know if you saw the picture during I believe it was before the match when they were honoring him, of all the other players lined up and the tears that were just on their face.
1:03:09
SPEAKER_01: And you you've said it many times, Sean.
1:03:11
SPEAKER_01: These guys play for Messi probably just as much as they play for Argentina, but you saw it on full display right there.
1:03:17
SPEAKER_01: And I think it's so beautiful to see his national team career ending in this way.
1:03:24
SPEAKER_01: We obviously talked about Ronaldo's and how that's going, but you you see the what he really truly means to that country in a situation that most guys, you know, these are these are big bad soccer players, they're not they're macho guys, and they're in full tiers like somebody passed away in their family.
1:03:42
SPEAKER_01: So it was really cool to see them celebrating Messi in that way.
1:03:46
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was unbelievable, really, Brandon.
1:03:50
SPEAKER_00: I didn't watch the game live, I kind of watched extended highlights on YouTube, but the highlights were mostly just reactions to Leo.
1:03:56
SPEAKER_00: It was kind of just more of a his farewell than a game highlight, which I appreciated because that's what this was all about.
1:04:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's a once-in-a-lifetime type player getting to walk away on his own terms after a great run with the national team.
1:04:10
SPEAKER_00: And really the best part of his run came in his last few years playing for Argentina because it wasn't always the best, most smooth-sailing relationship with his national team throughout his career, but he gets the World Cup and then he gets the runner-up in his last two World Cup appearances, and he goes out on such a high note.
1:04:29
SPEAKER_00: He's still quite good.
1:04:31
SPEAKER_00: Still uh probably could play for the national team for a lot longer if he wanted to.
1:04:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
1:04:35
SPEAKER_00: But he's choosing to welcome in that next generation.
1:04:38
SPEAKER_00: I thought it was cool too the reverence all those guys have for him, like you mentioned, Brandon.
1:04:42
SPEAKER_00: The the scenes of them crying, just being like, wow, they're just overwhelmed with emotion.
1:04:49
SPEAKER_00: That they get to share the pitch with this once-in-a-lifetime type player, but also get to know him as a person and what he means to that country.
1:04:56
SPEAKER_00: It it's special.
1:04:58
SPEAKER_00: It's a storybook ending for one of the best international careers we'll ever see.
1:05:03
SPEAKER_00: So I thought that was fitting to end the show with that as well.
1:05:06
SPEAKER_00: I'm glad you brought it up.
1:05:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
1:05:08
SPEAKER_01: It's definitely special stuff.
1:05:09
SPEAKER_01: Would encourage listeners to like you said, just look up the highlights.
1:05:14
SPEAKER_01: And it was funny.
1:05:15
SPEAKER_01: Even the other team, they were they stopped the game in the 10th minute, and the other team is are hugging Messi and thanking him.
1:05:21
SPEAKER_01: And yeah, it was it almost looked a little bit like a charity match at times.
1:05:25
SPEAKER_00: This is a little bit of a testimonial, yeah.
1:05:27
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but honestly, if there's a guy that deserves it, I think it's him.
1:05:31
SPEAKER_01: And I know I hate on him for his MLS antics sometimes, but at the end of the day, he's one of the top two players to ever play this game.
1:05:40
SPEAKER_01: So you have to give his credit where it's due.
1:05:43
SPEAKER_01: Sean, thank you for this episode.
1:05:46
SPEAKER_01: Uh fun chatting.
1:05:48
SPEAKER_01: Premier League, I feel like we're we're back.
1:05:50
SPEAKER_01: The boys are back.
1:05:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
1:05:52
SPEAKER_00: Here we go.
1:05:53
SPEAKER_00: We bread and butter now.
1:05:54
SPEAKER_00: We're back in our sweet spot.
1:05:56
SPEAKER_00: International break was fun, but break's over.
1:05:59
SPEAKER_00: We've got a relegation scrap on our hands.
1:06:00
SPEAKER_00: All right.
1:06:01
SPEAKER_00: And I intend to do something about it.
1:06:02
SPEAKER_00: Saturday at 12 30.
1:06:04
SPEAKER_00: See you there.
1:06:06
SPEAKER_01: Sean Sean might lace up as a uh number six for 15 minutes off the bench or something for dessert.
1:06:11
SPEAKER_01: You got that in you?
1:06:12
SPEAKER_01: Uh more of a more of a luxury player, Brandon.
1:06:16
SPEAKER_00: See me in the 10.
1:06:17
SPEAKER_01: In the 10?
1:06:18
SPEAKER_01: Luxury player.
1:06:18
SPEAKER_00: I don't track players.
1:06:19
SPEAKER_01: Positionless.
1:06:20
SPEAKER_01: He just floats wherever he wants to float.
1:06:22
SPEAKER_01: One, two touch, yeah.
1:06:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:06:24
SPEAKER_01: No, hey, I fear it.
1:06:25
SPEAKER_01: I feel you.
1:06:26
SPEAKER_01: Look, I'll I'll get in there.
1:06:27
SPEAKER_01: I'll I'll do some center back.
1:06:28
SPEAKER_01: I'll do some dirty work, win a couple headers, clear, clear our lines a little bit.
1:06:33
SPEAKER_01: But no, but listeners, thank you as always.
1:06:38
SPEAKER_01: Fantasy Premier League is back, Sean.
1:06:40
SPEAKER_01: My team got tinkered with a little bit in the international break.
1:06:43
SPEAKER_01: I had a little bit too much time on my hands.
1:06:45
SPEAKER_01: Made a couple moves, but hey, come on now.
1:06:49
SPEAKER_01: We gotta make some moves.
1:06:50
SPEAKER_01: We gotta be a little risky.
1:06:51
SPEAKER_01: So we'll see how that turns out, that experiment for me.
1:06:54
SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately, I don't have high hopes just because I'm terrible at this, but hoping for better.
1:07:01
SPEAKER_00: No, you you'll you'll turn it around a little bit.
1:07:03
SPEAKER_00: Your team hasn't been terrible to start.
1:07:04
SPEAKER_00: You've been fine.
1:07:05
SPEAKER_00: It's just yeah.
1:07:06
SPEAKER_00: Just you need a few big weeks.
1:07:08
SPEAKER_00: And these are these are some weeks that you might be playing some chips and stuff.
1:07:11
SPEAKER_00: I I do need to take a look at my squad.
1:07:13
SPEAKER_00: I might be using one of my chips, a free hit or wildcard, something of the sort to get my boys back in order after a long layoff.
1:07:20
SPEAKER_00: I need to give them a good speech, get the mood in the dressing room up to where I want it to be.
1:07:25
SPEAKER_00: We need to be at the level for the weekend.
1:07:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, your team is flying right now and it's it's looking good.
1:07:30
SPEAKER_01: My team's mid-table, so I can't be too mad, but I have high expectations.
1:07:34
SPEAKER_01: I expect to be in the Champions League.
1:07:35
SPEAKER_01: And we're just not there yet.
1:07:38
SPEAKER_01: It's a long, long season, Brandon.
1:07:39
SPEAKER_01: Long season, yes.
1:07:40
SPEAKER_01: Listeners, as always, thank you for your support.
1:07:44
SPEAKER_01: Leave a like, a comment, a share.
1:07:46
SPEAKER_01: Tell a friend to tell a friend, and we'll be back with you soon.
1:07:50
SPEAKER_01: Take care.