Latest / Friends on Football / Ep. 26 - Storylines We're Monitoring, USMNT Players on the Move and The European Trophy Draft

Transcript

Ep. 26 - Storylines We're Monitoring, USMNT Players on the Move and The European Trophy Draft · Friends on Football

0:22
SPEAKER_02: Hello, friends.
0:23
SPEAKER_02: Welcome to episode 26 of the Friends on Football Podcast.
0:26
SPEAKER_02: I'm one of your co-hosts, Brandon Johnson, and I'm here joined as always with my main man, Mr.
0:32
SPEAKER_02: Sean Boyle.
0:33
SPEAKER_02: SB, how are we feeling?
0:35
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, doing well.
0:37
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited to talk some footy with you.
0:39
SPEAKER_01: We're inching closer and closer to the season starting.
0:42
SPEAKER_01: Some leagues are already underway.
0:44
SPEAKER_01: There's a lot to get to, and I'm excited to do it with you.
0:46
SPEAKER_01: How are you today?
0:47
SPEAKER_02: I'm good, Sean.
0:48
SPEAKER_02: It's like you said, it's getting closer and closer.
0:51
SPEAKER_02: We do have some some tricklings.
0:53
SPEAKER_02: We got some MLS action, but we got just a few weeks left until we really get going.
0:59
SPEAKER_02: Tonight, Sean, I thought we'd do a little bit of kind of like a quick glance at what's going on.
1:04
SPEAKER_02: Uh we'll do some storylines, what we're looking forward to in the coming weeks, a quick USMNT update, some players making moves, and and some things happening with the USMNT.
1:14
SPEAKER_02: But I think the focus of this episode, Sean, we have a draft.
1:18
SPEAKER_02: And I know you're a draft guy.
1:19
SPEAKER_02: You love to make the drafts up.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: We've we've all heard the other podcast where it seems like you just have a dynasty going in the draft in the draft world.
1:29
SPEAKER_02: But just for the listeners, so we don't forget who won the player poll in the World Cup?
1:35
SPEAKER_02: This guy.
1:36
SPEAKER_02: So I know you're on a point.
1:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it was by a point.
1:39
SPEAKER_00: That needs to be reiterated.
1:41
SPEAKER_02: You are trying to get your get back, Sean, and that's fine.
1:44
SPEAKER_02: But I think we'll have some fun with this one.
1:45
SPEAKER_02: It's a little bit different.
1:46
SPEAKER_02: It's fun.
1:47
SPEAKER_02: It'll get our eyes on some different teams that maybe we're not usually exposed to.
1:50
SPEAKER_02: So we'll that's to come.
1:52
SPEAKER_02: Sean, let's just start off with some storylines.
1:55
SPEAKER_02: These can be things that you're looking forward to this season, transfers, players movement, coaches.
2:01
SPEAKER_02: What's kind of in your head?
2:02
SPEAKER_02: What are you looking at uh currently in the soccer world?
2:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I've got five Premier League storylines that I'm going to be highlighting today.
2:11
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, do you have the same?
2:12
SPEAKER_01: Do you have five as well?
2:13
SPEAKER_02: I have five storylines.
2:14
SPEAKER_02: Not all Premier League, though.
2:16
SPEAKER_01: Oh, perfect.
2:17
SPEAKER_01: Good.
2:17
SPEAKER_01: Mine are going to stay in England.
2:20
SPEAKER_01: So I will start with my first storyline.
2:23
SPEAKER_01: I think it's the it's very vast, it's broad, but I think it is the most important thing as we head into the season.
2:28
SPEAKER_01: I just wrote down the times.
2:30
SPEAKER_01: They are a change in.
2:32
SPEAKER_01: We have nine new managers who are settling into new jobs in the Premier League.
2:36
SPEAKER_01: It is a record for the league.
2:38
SPEAKER_01: There has never been more new managers ahead of a new season.
2:41
SPEAKER_01: And basically what I will be watching is who settles quickly, who settles first, and then who doesn't settle.
2:48
SPEAKER_01: It's going to be inevitable that a couple of these managers don't work out.
2:51
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to see which teams hit the ground running and which teams maybe struggle a bit to find their footing, which, as we know in the world of football, can lead to you being out of a job rather quickly.
3:02
SPEAKER_01: There's not a ton of patience usually in these back rooms.
3:06
SPEAKER_01: I think there's going to be some interesting developments at the top of the league table because of this.
3:12
SPEAKER_01: A lot of the usual suspects that contend for the Premier League are undergoing some of these coaching changes.
3:18
SPEAKER_01: So that's the number one thing I'm going to be looking at.
3:21
SPEAKER_01: Was this something that made it to your radar as well?
3:23
SPEAKER_02: Yes, it made it to my radar.
3:25
SPEAKER_02: It's not on this list, but uh I am definitely gonna be watching that.
3:28
SPEAKER_02: I guess just a quick follow-up, Sean.
3:31
SPEAKER_02: Just have a little fun with this.
3:32
SPEAKER_02: Is there a manager that you think is gonna start flying?
3:35
SPEAKER_02: And then is there another manager that you think maybe I will be the first one sacked?
3:39
SPEAKER_02: Out of these new nine.
3:41
SPEAKER_01: That's interesting.
3:42
SPEAKER_01: I do think the answer for me in terms of who will start off flying will be Andoni Areola at Liverpool.
3:50
SPEAKER_01: I'm expecting a big bounce back for Liverpool this season.
3:54
SPEAKER_01: It was a pretty terrible year, all things considered, last year under Arnest Lott.
3:58
SPEAKER_01: Areola had a great year at Bournemouth.
4:00
SPEAKER_01: I do think his style is going to be a change of pace for Liverpool to get used to, but I do still see a ton of talent in this squad.
4:08
SPEAKER_01: They're linked with some key targets that they'll need to get over the line pretty quickly if they want to hit the ground running.
4:14
SPEAKER_01: But I'm just overall buying up stock in Areola in Liverpool.
4:18
SPEAKER_01: I also, I hate to say this, I could see Javi Alonso at Chelsea having a really good season as well.
4:24
SPEAKER_01: We've talked about how they have a wealth of riches just in terms of their roster and how many different available options they have in terms of teams they can field.
4:32
SPEAKER_01: They're starting to add some experience to that group as well.
4:35
SPEAKER_01: They've brought in Danny Wellbeck, Jordan Henderson, very seasoned English guys that are probably good locker room presences.
4:43
SPEAKER_01: So I'd be concerned about them as well.
4:45
SPEAKER_01: The guy who I am concerned about, and I think maybe could be the first one out of the job, and I don't like saying it because I'm I I do have a soft spot for Fulham, the Craven Cottage, Full America.
4:56
SPEAKER_01: But Alvaro Arbalowa, he comes in from Real Madrid.
4:59
SPEAKER_01: He got sacked at Real Madrid last season, and I just don't know that he is up to snuff with the rest of these managers.
5:08
SPEAKER_01: I'm not so sure that Fulham have the deepest or strongest squad out of the new guys that we're going to be talking about.
5:14
SPEAKER_01: So that would be the one I kind of point towards at this time as somebody who I might be a bit worried about.
5:20
SPEAKER_02: Okay, cool.
5:21
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
5:21
SPEAKER_02: I appreciate it.
5:22
SPEAKER_02: I I know I just put you on the spot there, but it it is a huge topic and definitely one I'll keep my eye on.
5:28
SPEAKER_02: My my top story, Sean, similar energy as as yours, Jose Mourinho coming into Real Madrid.
5:35
SPEAKER_02: I think this is just Netflix, drama, television, cinema, whatever you want to call it, Sean.
5:44
SPEAKER_02: Coming in, the players, is he gonna how's he gonna react with them?
5:47
SPEAKER_02: How are they gonna work together?
5:49
SPEAKER_02: Then we have with that, but uh a little bit different, but still together is the Vinicia saga, is he gonna stay?
5:55
SPEAKER_02: Is he gonna go?
5:56
SPEAKER_02: Where is he gonna go?
5:56
SPEAKER_02: How's that how's that all gonna work?
5:58
SPEAKER_02: I I think for me that's the one big storyline, and shout out to my guy Jim Foley, he's a huge Real Madrid guy, and I know he's probably a little bit nervous because we've seen it at Spurs.
6:08
SPEAKER_02: It can go really well when it goes well, but when it goes bad, Sean, it goes bad.
6:13
SPEAKER_02: And I'm interested to see what happens with Real Madrid uh getting this season started.
6:18
SPEAKER_01: I think that's a great place to start, and I'm glad you expanded beyond the Premier League because I didn't have any non-Premier League on my list, and I think this in the world of football is the most interesting storyline heading into the season.
6:30
SPEAKER_01: Joseph Mourinho's box office everywhere he goes, and it's not necessarily for what he does on the pitch, it's usually for all of the antics off of the pitch.
6:38
SPEAKER_01: It does seem like the Vinicius saga is coming to a resolution.
6:42
SPEAKER_01: It's not done yet, but David Orenstein has reported that he has agreed a contract with Real Madrid that takes him until 2032 there.
6:50
SPEAKER_01: Now, I don't know if that's signed, sealed, and delivered yet, but it does seem like at least at present he won't be departing.
6:57
SPEAKER_01: That's one of many different dramas that we're going to see throughout the course of the season.
7:01
SPEAKER_01: Like you pointed out, Jose and this Real Madrid squad, it's loaded with talent.
7:06
SPEAKER_01: It's box office.
7:08
SPEAKER_01: I'm very excited to see how it takes shape.
7:11
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily know from a footballing sense what they're going to look like.
7:16
SPEAKER_01: It's not like Jose has a real sound style for these big clubs that he's managed at.
7:23
SPEAKER_01: A lot of times he kind of just tries not to concede and lets his guys go beat the other team, which isn't maybe as fun to watch as Barcelona's current style, but it certainly will provide some theater one way or another with Real Madrid, whether that's fireworks on the pitch or off.
7:37
SPEAKER_01: We've just got a lot of mouths to feed over there, and I can't be more excited to tune in.
7:42
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it'll be it'll be fun for sure, Sean.
7:44
SPEAKER_02: What else you got?
7:46
SPEAKER_01: My second storyline I tagged moving on up.
7:49
SPEAKER_01: It is the three Premier League sides that are new this season: Coventry, Ipswich, Whole City.
7:56
SPEAKER_01: I just want to know if we could get a couple to stay in the mix.
7:58
SPEAKER_01: And oftentimes it helps you if you get off to a good start.
8:03
SPEAKER_01: It's really vital for these teams that come up to start well.
8:06
SPEAKER_01: It's hard if you dig yourselves a hole early to overcome a points gap in addition to a talent and depth gap as the season progresses.
8:15
SPEAKER_01: So I'm interested to see how their windows finish.
8:18
SPEAKER_01: There's still about three weeks left in the transfer windows.
8:20
SPEAKER_01: All of these sides are trying to strengthen.
8:22
SPEAKER_01: I think that's going to be important.
8:24
SPEAKER_01: And then getting off to a good start, each of them, if they want to stay in the Premier League in the following season, will need to get off on the right foot and start strong.
8:33
SPEAKER_01: So I'm optimistic about Coventry and to a lesser extent Ipswich.
8:37
SPEAKER_01: I'm not super optimistic about Hole yet, but I'm encouraged by the signs I've seen so far in their signings, and I hope we get a couple to keep themselves in the Premier League next year.
8:47
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that'll be a fun one because we've seen it, Sean, the yo-yo teams coming up, going back down.
8:52
SPEAKER_02: It's it's unfortunately with the money and how things are, it's tough for teams to stay up.
8:57
SPEAKER_02: And I do think you make a good point saying these teams need to start early.
9:00
SPEAKER_02: Because if you can get a few points early, and and it's crazy, Sean, a few points might be six in your first six matches, six points in six matches, and that's a solid start because you might only need 33, 34 to keep you up throughout the whole season.
9:15
SPEAKER_02: And if you can average a point a match, you're probably staying up or very close to staying up.
9:21
SPEAKER_02: So I'm interested to see that as well.
9:23
SPEAKER_02: My my second storyline, Sean, it's funny, it actually takes us to the championship.
9:27
SPEAKER_02: So the league that all of your teams just came from, Middlesbrough.
9:31
SPEAKER_02: I'm interested in watching the US boys at Middlesbrough.
9:34
SPEAKER_02: I had the Middlesbrough kid on last episode.
9:36
SPEAKER_02: Now we have uh Aidan Mars who's been there, but Seb Berhalter, who we've discussed at length in this in this podcast, but Max Arson joining as well.
9:45
SPEAKER_02: And I know we'll probably talk about Max again later, but I I'm a Max Arsen guy.
9:51
SPEAKER_02: Like I won't even hide it.
9:52
SPEAKER_02: And so it'll be cool to see these guys at the championship.
9:54
SPEAKER_02: And I I don't know if they have the quality to win it, but the expanded playoff in the championship, they can sneak in and and one game playoffs, you never know what can happen.
10:04
SPEAKER_02: Uh so I'll I'll be watching Middlesbrough for sure this season.
10:08
SPEAKER_01: 100% agree.
10:09
SPEAKER_01: I feel like most Americans who are looking for any sort of reason to tune into the championship, you need to look no further than Middlesbrough.
10:16
SPEAKER_01: It is quite the crew they've assembled.
10:18
SPEAKER_01: It's the Middlesbrough crew.
10:20
SPEAKER_01: These are all former Columbus crew players, former Columbus crew players, and I really do agree that they are going to be fun to watch, if not just from a US MNT perspective.
10:30
SPEAKER_01: I think there's a reason to tune in now to Middlesbrough, and there probably wasn't in the past when it was just Aiden.
10:36
SPEAKER_01: Now that he's got a couple of his boys with him, I think all of the US fans should kind of adopt Middlesbrough as a team you root for on the side a little bit, at least while those guys are in and around the first team picture.
10:47
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna transition us again to the third talking point, the storyline that we're looking forward to.
10:54
SPEAKER_01: And I'm the I've tagged this one, I smell trouble.
10:57
SPEAKER_01: I just I feel like there could be a little bit of rough patches ahead for both Fulham and Brentford.
11:03
SPEAKER_01: And these are two sides that were comfy in their position in the premier league the last few seasons, especially last year.
11:11
SPEAKER_01: I think that there could be a bit of trouble and paradise ahead for both.
11:16
SPEAKER_01: I mentioned Arboloa coming in at Fulham, not completely sold by him and what he's done so far in his career.
11:22
SPEAKER_01: In terms of Brentford, this just feels like a year where they get caught out.
11:28
SPEAKER_01: And maybe I'm the only one thinking this.
11:30
SPEAKER_01: They had a strong finish last season.
11:32
SPEAKER_01: The manager who replaced Thomas Frank, Andrews came in, does a great job.
11:36
SPEAKER_01: I just think we see some regression of the mean.
11:38
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily think their squad is a top half squad on paper.
11:42
SPEAKER_01: And there could be just a sense of complacency or comfort that they take from their finish last season that doesn't translate to this season with some hungry teams coming up.
11:50
SPEAKER_01: And I think that could lead to a bit of a relegation fight.
11:53
SPEAKER_01: I'm not saying either of these teams will go down.
11:56
SPEAKER_01: I just think that there's gonna they're gonna be in and around that picture, more so than they've been in years past, and I think that's gonna cause some discomfort.
12:04
SPEAKER_02: Okay, okay.
12:05
SPEAKER_02: I like that.
12:06
SPEAKER_02: That's an that's an interesting one because Fulham, I feel like, is always a pretty solid mid-table team, never really a worry about going down, not really competing for championships either, but they're in that mid-table typically.
12:18
SPEAKER_02: But I hear you, and and I'll be definitely following that following that as well, Sean.
12:23
SPEAKER_02: My third storyline, a little bit different.
12:25
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we're going south of the border, Sean.
12:28
SPEAKER_02: Club America.
12:29
SPEAKER_02: And reason being this one's a little selfish, I will say.
12:32
SPEAKER_02: I will be going to Mexico in October, and we're actually gonna see two game two Club America games while while in Mexico.
12:39
SPEAKER_02: But also, Mexico has my guy, Zendejas.
12:43
SPEAKER_02: We didn't get to see him do too much at the World Cup, but I gotta have eyes on him.
12:48
SPEAKER_02: I'll have eyes on him this season.
12:49
SPEAKER_02: I gotta track them.
12:50
SPEAKER_02: They started well, I believe they're uh two wins and a draw in their first three games in the Mexican league, so you can't be upset with that.
12:56
SPEAKER_02: I'll have eyes on them at the Leagues Cup now, playing against the MLS teams.
13:00
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, Club America, I feel like my Mexican Liga MX loyalty is is open, hasn't been bought yet.
13:07
SPEAKER_02: But I think this is where I'm leaning, and hopefully over these next few weeks we can confirm that and solidify that.
13:14
SPEAKER_02: I know, I know you're you're on your fence with your MLS team, but I'll I'll pledge, I'll make a branding guarantee.
13:20
SPEAKER_02: Club America is my Liga MX team.
13:23
SPEAKER_01: Well, boy, I mean he went out on a limb there, folks.
13:26
SPEAKER_01: They win the league every year.
13:28
SPEAKER_02: They have not won the league, I believe, the last three seasons.
13:31
SPEAKER_01: They're the richest club in all the land.
13:33
SPEAKER_01: I I do I do like their colors and their kits quite a bit, so I don't I don't hate that shout, Brandon.
13:39
SPEAKER_01: I might piggyback off of that if they continue to have a good season.
13:42
SPEAKER_01: I need winners in my life.
13:43
SPEAKER_01: I can't take up new fandom full of losers because that those are all the teams I currently root for.
13:49
SPEAKER_01: So no more pain and suffering.
13:51
SPEAKER_01: I will be hopping on bandwagons from here forth.
13:54
SPEAKER_01: Most of my teams that I truly care about are already set.
13:57
SPEAKER_01: So anything I add to the mix needs to be a winner.
14:00
SPEAKER_01: I can't be dabbling in more losers.
14:02
SPEAKER_01: I love that storyline shout from you, though.
14:05
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited for you going down to Mexico to see a couple games.
14:07
SPEAKER_01: That's great stuff.
14:09
SPEAKER_01: I also have some good news.
14:10
SPEAKER_01: Liga MX is going to be back in FIFA this year for the first time.
14:14
SPEAKER_01: I guess it's called FC now, FC27.
14:16
SPEAKER_01: It's not been in the game for a while.
14:18
SPEAKER_01: They haven't had the licenses, so happy to have those boys back in the mix, maybe a little career modes in your future, Brandon.
14:24
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited by that.
14:26
SPEAKER_01: My fourth storyline is kind of a combination of them, some things I've already touched on, but it is since there's been so much turnover, especially at the top with managers and players, who's up for a title challenge?
14:39
SPEAKER_01: We obviously know Arsenal are looking to defend.
14:42
SPEAKER_01: They are the favorites to do so because they have stability.
14:45
SPEAKER_01: They have the same exact manager in place, they have almost all key players in place from last season.
14:51
SPEAKER_01: So they're the favorites to defend, but they were not really an inspiring champion last season.
14:56
SPEAKER_01: I don't think they struck fear into anybody.
14:58
SPEAKER_01: They were a good team, they were difficult to beat, but teams weren't fearful of them.
15:03
SPEAKER_01: And in the past, when there's been some dynasties in the Premier League, you've seen a little bit of fear.
15:07
SPEAKER_01: Whether it's Pep City or Sir Alex Ferguson's United or Klopp's Liverpool, those are a much different brand than what Arsenal provided last season.
15:15
SPEAKER_01: So they feel beatable.
15:17
SPEAKER_01: It's just I'm not so sure that anybody that's a traditional contender is ready to beat them.
15:22
SPEAKER_01: I think because they're in states of flux, we could see a situation where I hate to use the word Arsenal will be crowned with another title, but it feels like we need some people to step up to the plate.
15:32
SPEAKER_01: So I'm looking at you, Manchester City, Enzo Maresca.
15:35
SPEAKER_01: I'm looking at you, Chelsea, with Jabby Alonso, I'm looking at you Liverpool.
15:40
SPEAKER_01: I'm not gonna get to my other team, but they're my fifth point, so don't you worry.
15:44
SPEAKER_01: They're not far away.
15:45
SPEAKER_01: But I just need I need a title race.
15:48
SPEAKER_01: I can't have Arsenal walk to another title.
15:50
SPEAKER_01: And the longer that this summer window kind of goes on, the more questions we have instead of answers with some of these top teams, it concerns me a bit.
15:58
SPEAKER_01: So that's another thing I'm gonna be watching with a keen eye.
16:01
SPEAKER_02: Now, Sean, would you say it's Arsenal's league to lose?
16:05
SPEAKER_02: Like if Arsenal don't win, is it a disappointment for them, or is it, hey, this other team stepped up and they really took it from us?
16:13
SPEAKER_01: I would hate to use those words.
16:14
SPEAKER_01: I I I don't think it's far off from the truth just in terms of projecting stability.
16:20
SPEAKER_01: We we know what we're gonna get with Arsenal, and we're kind of projecting with other teams.
16:24
SPEAKER_01: So I would say they're the clear favorite, but I don't think that the league's signed-sealed and delivered yet at this point.
16:29
SPEAKER_01: I think there's still it hasn't begun.
16:32
SPEAKER_01: So there have been seasons where it starts and it feels like Manchester City, no matter what happens, will win the league.
16:37
SPEAKER_01: This is not that, in my opinion.
16:38
SPEAKER_01: I think there's very much a lot to play for.
16:41
SPEAKER_01: I just need to see some encouraging signs in those first couple weeks from those new managers at those heavy hitter clubs that really then get me to believe okay, it's it's anybody's game.
16:52
SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay, I hear you.
16:55
SPEAKER_02: My fourth storyline, and this one's already active a little bit, but it's the new players coming to MLS.
17:01
SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know, I'm an MLS guy, Sean.
17:03
SPEAKER_02: I I've been watching this league forever, and every summer window we see new guys come in, and some some flame out, some it just doesn't work.
17:11
SPEAKER_02: Other guys come to the league and they shine and they become great and and maybe even earn a trip back to Europe or wherever they came from.
17:19
SPEAKER_02: So we have we already mentioned the guys in previous episodes, but especially I think Griezmann, Lewandowski, and the last rumor that I've just uh just recently read was Romel Lukaku to Atlanta United.
17:32
SPEAKER_02: And now that's an interesting one for me for many reasons.
17:35
SPEAKER_02: Mainly, Atlanta United really don't have a number nine, they really don't have much of a scoring force.
17:41
SPEAKER_02: But to pair him with Miguel Amiron in the midfield could be a nice little uh combination between the two of them.
17:48
SPEAKER_02: And Atlanta United currently is actually in last place in the MLS, so that could be a serious, strong boost to them.
17:52
SPEAKER_02: And Atlanta spend, so it's not like a it's not gonna be a money thing that doesn't get him in.
17:57
SPEAKER_02: If they want him, they'll get him.
17:58
SPEAKER_02: So that's something I'll definitely be keeping my eye on, both him if he does end up coming, and all of just the new players coming to the league.
18:05
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I gotta say, Brandon, we touched on last week how the MLS, I do feel like squandered an opportunity to really make strides in their growth with not getting their calendar figured out in a timely fashion and creating a situation where we end the World Cup, we're all jonesing for more soccer, and we turn to the MLS and it's kind of in flux where we're playing a few regular season games, and some teams are going to play in the Leagues Cup, some teams are playing in the US Open and Cup, and some teams are playing MLS games.
18:34
SPEAKER_01: So it seems like that wasn't the best.
18:36
SPEAKER_01: But I will say the addition of some of these guys, I saw Griezmann on Tuesday night, I believe, score a great goal in the League's Cup.
18:44
SPEAKER_01: I saw Lewandowski score a brace in his debut at the fire.
18:47
SPEAKER_01: It's great to see these guys coming and making an impact in MLS.
18:50
SPEAKER_01: It has all of our attention, especially before the European season really kicks off.
18:54
SPEAKER_01: I think it's a good runway here where the League's Cup's gonna get some more eyeballs than maybe it was even anticipating.
19:00
SPEAKER_01: So that's a good thing.
19:01
SPEAKER_01: I agree with your storyline.
19:03
SPEAKER_01: The new guys in the MLS is something to watch.
19:05
SPEAKER_01: And the good thing is, as soon as we get into the European season kicking off, the MLS is kind of winding down and getting into playoff time.
19:12
SPEAKER_01: So there's a lot of reasons to keep an eye on the MLS.
19:15
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Sean, it's it's a good league.
19:17
SPEAKER_02: Uh, of course, as you preface, they are they will be changing to the international calendar in the middle of next year.
19:24
SPEAKER_02: But for now, this calendar actually does benefit people like us who just want to watch good football year-round, pretty much.
19:31
SPEAKER_02: Uh, so we'll, yeah, like you said, the season will conclude in the October, November area, uh, where right as the Premier League and these European leagues really start to heat up.
19:41
SPEAKER_01: My last storyline, I teased it a bit.
19:43
SPEAKER_01: There was one team I haven't mentioned yet.
19:45
SPEAKER_01: And I don't want to get crazy and talk title, but I what I wrote down was why not us.
19:50
SPEAKER_01: So when we're in a state of constant flux and you don't know who the best team is, sure, Arsenal are defending, but nobody's really scared of them.
20:00
SPEAKER_01: We have a ton of other teams undergoing a lot of changes.
20:04
SPEAKER_01: Why not Tottenham?
20:05
SPEAKER_01: Why not us?
20:06
SPEAKER_01: That's you know, I'm gonna at minimum guarantee a top five finish.
20:11
SPEAKER_01: That's an SB guarantee.
20:13
SPEAKER_01: So you go ahead, we'll be in the Champions League again next year.
20:16
SPEAKER_01: That's where we belong.
20:17
SPEAKER_01: Go ahead and jot that down, listeners.
20:19
SPEAKER_01: Now, also, I want you to hear my words carefully.
20:22
SPEAKER_01: If we can get a striker and a left-winger signing over the line by the end of this window, we'll be in the title race.
20:31
SPEAKER_01: I'm not saying we're gonna win the title, but you're gonna look up, you're gonna see Tottenham's name in that mix for a large portion of this season.
20:38
SPEAKER_01: I truly, truly believe in Roberto De Zerbi.
20:41
SPEAKER_01: I truly believe in how they've strengthened the squad.
20:44
SPEAKER_01: I think a huge part of the strength of the squad is just being healthy.
20:47
SPEAKER_01: And if we could get a season full of health, that'll go a long way.
20:50
SPEAKER_01: I'm very encouraged by what I've seen in preseason from some guys we need to take leaps.
20:55
SPEAKER_01: I'm seeing them take some leaps.
20:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, sure, it's against farmers at half pace.
20:59
SPEAKER_01: I don't care.
21:00
SPEAKER_01: I'm all in.
21:01
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, this is a yearly tradition, a tradition unlike any other.
21:04
SPEAKER_01: It's like the Masters.
21:05
SPEAKER_01: I talk myself into a really strong Tottenham season.
21:09
SPEAKER_01: It won't go well.
21:10
SPEAKER_01: Let me just also preface it with that.
21:12
SPEAKER_01: Like this, listeners, feel free to clip this up and play it back to me in May.
21:16
SPEAKER_01: I won't like what I'm saying.
21:18
SPEAKER_01: But at as we record right now in the in the early days of August, boy oh boy, do I sniff a title challenge.
21:24
SPEAKER_02: I love that, Sean.
21:25
SPEAKER_02: Sean, one thing from you that I love is the ball prediction.
21:30
SPEAKER_02: You're never gonna you're never gonna let us out.
21:34
SPEAKER_02: I like throwing them.
21:35
SPEAKER_02: I like throwing them.
21:36
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, why not?
21:37
SPEAKER_02: Just throw them out there.
21:38
SPEAKER_02: And and Sean, you're right though, because you mentioned Arsenal, and I hate to keep bringing them up, but outside of them, it's like it like you said, why not us?
21:47
SPEAKER_02: I I love that phrase because there's nobody else that that that's screaming, hey, we're at the top of the table.
21:53
SPEAKER_02: So maybe a healthy, healthy season from the team, that would be understanding.
21:58
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna steal a bit from Of my favorite podcasts, I'll give it a shout.
22:01
SPEAKER_01: The Fighting Cock.
22:02
SPEAKER_01: It's a Tottenham podcast.
22:03
SPEAKER_01: Probably my favorite podcast in the world.
22:05
SPEAKER_01: They they do this little bit when Tottenham goes on a little run.
22:07
SPEAKER_01: They say, Could we?
22:08
unknown: Could we?
22:09
SPEAKER_01: You know, it's could we?
22:10
SPEAKER_01: You don't want to say the full sentence, but they just say, Could we back and forth with each other?
22:13
SPEAKER_01: And that's where I'm at.
22:14
SPEAKER_01: Could we?
22:14
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
22:15
SPEAKER_01: I think maybe I think maybe we could.
22:17
SPEAKER_01: And that we're gonna ride that until we can't anymore, Brandon.
22:19
SPEAKER_01: And in August, that's our time to shine.
22:21
SPEAKER_01: We stayed up European champions a season and a half ago.
22:25
SPEAKER_01: I mean, revamping the squad.
22:27
SPEAKER_01: A lot of things to be encouraged about if you're a Tottenham fan.
22:30
SPEAKER_01: We just need to put pen to paper and actually do it this season.
22:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that preseason hope is is a beautiful thing, Sean.
22:37
SPEAKER_02: My last one.
22:38
SPEAKER_02: My last one actually is a little related to that.
22:41
SPEAKER_02: Not Spurs specific, but I put uh some US MNT transfer rumors.
22:47
SPEAKER_02: Christian Polisic, Flo Balogun.
22:49
SPEAKER_02: Flo Balogin, I heard there was some contact with Spurs.
22:53
SPEAKER_02: Would you like to see that?
22:54
SPEAKER_02: But but more importantly, just where are these guys gonna go?
22:58
SPEAKER_02: Are they gonna be playing at the highest level of football?
23:00
SPEAKER_02: I need them obviously playing 90 minutes every week, but maybe Flo specifically, Sean.
23:06
SPEAKER_02: Like, do you do you welcome him at Spurs?
23:08
SPEAKER_02: Is he like would he start?
23:11
SPEAKER_02: Is that the guy though?
23:12
SPEAKER_02: Like, I I don't know.
23:14
SPEAKER_02: We we obviously have our uh red, white, and blue tinted glasses on, and maybe we see him differently than others, but he did have a good World Cup.
23:23
SPEAKER_02: Is he better than Richardlison, Dominic Solanke?
23:26
SPEAKER_02: I I don't know.
23:26
SPEAKER_02: Maybe maybe he competes and pushes those guys a little further.
23:30
SPEAKER_02: We only have one game a week, Sean, so it's not like we have to worry about squad rotation and Champions League or Europa League football.
23:37
SPEAKER_02: So do I like him at Spurs as an American?
23:41
SPEAKER_02: Of course.
23:41
SPEAKER_02: Like, bring him in.
23:43
SPEAKER_02: But realistically, does he move the needle at Spurs?
23:46
SPEAKER_02: I'm not sure.
23:46
SPEAKER_01: No, I I would agree with that.
23:48
SPEAKER_01: I I'm I like the storyline in general, and I think it's actually going to serve as a perfect segue into our next topic.
23:53
SPEAKER_01: So good job by you there.
23:54
SPEAKER_01: That's great podcast hosting.
23:56
SPEAKER_01: I think it's important to watch where Florin Balogun ends up this window.
24:00
SPEAKER_01: I do still think he will move on from Monaco.
24:02
SPEAKER_01: Just he's entering the last year of his contract.
24:04
SPEAKER_01: They seem to be wanting to raise money, and there's a lot of interest in him.
24:08
SPEAKER_01: I would agree with your sentiment, though, about him at Tottenham.
24:11
SPEAKER_01: Would I love to see it?
24:12
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
24:13
SPEAKER_01: Would I get a kit?
24:14
SPEAKER_01: Of course.
24:15
SPEAKER_01: Do I necessarily think he's a ceiling raiser?
24:17
SPEAKER_01: No.
24:18
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily even know that he's better than either of the striking options we do have.
24:22
SPEAKER_01: And what I would want Tottenham to do is to go out and spend the extra money and get a proven world-class commodity.
24:29
SPEAKER_01: The only issue is the number nine market in all of world football is a disaster.
24:33
SPEAKER_01: There's really not many good options.
24:34
SPEAKER_01: Victor Osiman is a great option, except he holds clubs hostage for wages.
24:39
SPEAKER_01: This guy, I mean, he needs to own like all the seven kingdoms.
24:43
SPEAKER_01: He ends up in Turkey where he's not paying taxes.
24:45
SPEAKER_01: What are we doing, Victor?
24:47
SPEAKER_01: Come home, Victor.
24:48
SPEAKER_01: Come to North London, bud.
24:49
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, like that's the kind of target I would be shooting for if I'm Tottenham.
24:53
SPEAKER_01: Because of what we've seen them do in the window so far, it's been ceiling razors that they've gotten and they've paid premiums for them.
24:59
SPEAKER_01: But Sandro Tonale, Matthias Fernange, I think those guys make an immediate impact and elevate you as a squad.
25:07
SPEAKER_01: I don't think Florin Balgan can do that at an upper-level Premier League club yet.
25:11
SPEAKER_01: At least I haven't seen it.
25:13
SPEAKER_01: Maybe he could.
25:14
SPEAKER_01: I would certainly like to have him if all else fails.
25:16
SPEAKER_01: I think he could do a job in terms of forcing a competition out of the striker room and getting the best man for the job to kind of break through.
25:24
SPEAKER_01: So I would be happy with the Matt Spurs, if not my first choice.
25:28
SPEAKER_01: But Brandon, in general, yeah, I think this is an important final few weeks.
25:32
SPEAKER_01: We're going to talk about some of the guys that have made their moves, but also a guy like Christian Pulisic.
25:37
SPEAKER_01: How does he come back from injury and how does he get on at AC Milan with a new manager?
25:41
SPEAKER_01: Ruben Amorim, the old Manchester United fella.
25:44
SPEAKER_01: He's taken over at AC Milan.
25:46
SPEAKER_01: We'll see how that works out.
25:48
SPEAKER_01: I will say, historically, I'm a big Ruben Am fan.
25:51
SPEAKER_01: I've bought way too much stock.
25:52
SPEAKER_01: He flopped on his face.
25:54
SPEAKER_01: I think I made a prediction last year that Manchester United would finish top four because of Ruben Am.
25:59
SPEAKER_01: And that's one of those where you take you win some, you lose some.
26:02
SPEAKER_01: Was I right?
26:03
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
26:04
SPEAKER_01: Was I also really wrong?
26:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:06
SPEAKER_01: Because the guy who got them top four was not Ruben Amram.
26:09
SPEAKER_01: He was sacked.
26:10
SPEAKER_01: But but I saw something with the squad.
26:12
SPEAKER_01: So that's kind of the give and take.
26:14
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited to see how this window shakes out.
26:17
SPEAKER_01: I don't think we'll see too much more movement for the US MNT guys, but I think the ones we have seen are encouraging.
26:24
SPEAKER_02: I agree, Sean.
26:25
SPEAKER_02: It's it's always a fun period when you hear the rumors, you see this the headlines and who's going where and what's going on.
26:31
SPEAKER_02: And it's cool to see our guys being talked about at some of the biggest clubs in the world.
26:36
SPEAKER_02: I think in years past, maybe you see one guy going to a big club, and you and I could sit here and be like, maybe he'll get off the bench, maybe he'll play the cup games, but they're not going to play a solid role.
26:49
SPEAKER_02: But now we have these conversations, and Balogun to Tottenham is maybe it's yeah, like you said, it's probably not a ceiling razor, and I agree with you there for sure.
26:58
SPEAKER_02: But even that that's a reality is is pretty cool.
27:01
SPEAKER_02: So, Sean, let's let's transition into actually the US MNT.
27:05
SPEAKER_02: Mauricio Pachatino, his contract's finalized, he's staying four more years of Mauricio.
27:10
SPEAKER_02: How do we feel about that, Sean?
27:11
SPEAKER_02: Are we happy, upset?
27:13
SPEAKER_02: And now with his reappointment as as manager, what should he what should his first order of business to be?
27:19
SPEAKER_02: What should he be looking to do in these upcoming September uh windows?
27:23
SPEAKER_01: It's great news for me, Brandon.
27:26
SPEAKER_01: Of course, we talked about how when this deal seemed like it was going to be finalized, that we would both be excited by it.
27:31
SPEAKER_01: We thought it was the right decision.
27:33
SPEAKER_01: I'm now that it is finalized, I'm very excited.
27:36
SPEAKER_01: I think it's a great opportunity to hit the ground running.
27:39
SPEAKER_01: I think that's the biggest thing with uh what the alternative was.
27:43
SPEAKER_01: If you don't bring Poach back, you're in a situation where you need to hire and vet a new manager, and that takes some time.
27:49
SPEAKER_01: There's an adjustment period to that.
27:51
SPEAKER_01: Next thing you know, we're already halfway through the cycle in terms of the upcoming Copa America in two years, which we're hoping to participate in.
27:58
SPEAKER_01: Then you're behind the eight ball for that.
28:00
SPEAKER_01: And now that Pochettino seems to be in place until the next World Cup, we'll see.
28:05
SPEAKER_01: I do think there will be a reassessment in two years after the Copa to kind of see if he does continue until that World Cup.
28:12
SPEAKER_01: But on paper, we have a fresh four-year cycle upcoming with a world-class manager.
28:18
SPEAKER_01: Those are the facts of the situation.
28:19
SPEAKER_01: Now, you can make points about how we flamed out of this past World Cup on home soil, and maybe you're not sold on Pochettino, but I would urge you to seek the manager market and see who you would have brought in if you weren't going to sign up for four more years of Poch.
28:34
SPEAKER_01: So I also am a guy who believe he did elevate our play throughout this World Cup, and I do think he's a guy who builds cultures and needed more time to do so.
28:44
SPEAKER_01: So I think it's an exciting prospect, the thought of having him for four years.
28:47
SPEAKER_01: First order of business, Brandon.
28:49
SPEAKER_01: We need to get rid of the Riffraff.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: We've got some Riffraff around the squad.
28:55
SPEAKER_01: We need to actually use this four-year run up to change the culture.
28:59
SPEAKER_01: I think we saw half signs of it.
29:01
SPEAKER_01: I want a whole adjustment done.
29:04
SPEAKER_01: And I think we will see that.
29:06
SPEAKER_01: I'm encouraged by some of the talks behind the scenes of maybe getting some young blood into the camp in this fall window.
29:13
SPEAKER_01: I think that should be a big priority.
29:14
SPEAKER_01: Guys like Audrey Mameti, guys like Xavier Gozo, Julian Hall.
29:20
SPEAKER_01: I just think we need some new blood in around the first team to push those guys forward.
29:25
SPEAKER_01: There's a sense of complacency with the guys who have played in the last two World Cups and that core group of guys that are all going to be in their 30s next time World Cup rolls around.
29:34
SPEAKER_01: So I want to make sure that we have the best man in each position in place.
29:39
SPEAKER_01: And the only way to do that is by figuring that out over the course of the next couple seasons and then getting reps with those guys ahead of the World Cup.
29:46
SPEAKER_01: So that's what I think the long-term plan for Potts should be, but I'm excited by the hire.
29:50
SPEAKER_01: How about you?
29:51
SPEAKER_02: I would echo your sentiment pretty much 100%, Sean.
29:55
SPEAKER_02: I think best guy for the job, he's done a solid job in the year and a half he's had the position.
30:01
SPEAKER_02: We have to take that into account as well as well, because it's hard to come in from being a club manager to this national setup, and you're only with your team four or five times a year, four or five camps a year, and some friendlies mixed in, and maybe a Copa or a Gold Cup or some sort of event nations league.
30:19
SPEAKER_02: And so I think it's definitely the right guy for the job.
30:22
SPEAKER_02: I definitely think these next four years will be telling.
30:25
SPEAKER_02: I know you mentioned in two years possibly doing a re-evaluation.
30:30
SPEAKER_02: To me, Sean, unless it's really, really, really bad, I think you have to ride it out.
30:36
SPEAKER_02: Because I don't know.
30:37
SPEAKER_02: And and and again, we're talking in the future, and maybe somebody great becomes available and we can grab that coach.
30:44
SPEAKER_02: But I I do get nervous with that.
30:47
SPEAKER_02: And and I would have been nervous if they hired anybody other than Pachatino for this, uh for the last, you know, hiring, because it does take a while, Sean.
30:56
SPEAKER_02: And I and if he really puts in the work in these first 18, 12, 18 months with this new uh cycle, I don't know if I want to just throw it away because we didn't get a result against such and such when we're playing a bunch of 18-year-olds.
31:10
SPEAKER_02: So there I think there's a little bit of uh you gotta be careful with it a little bit.
31:14
SPEAKER_02: Yeah but I I do I do think I agree with you.
31:18
SPEAKER_02: You gotta bring in the kids, you gotta cap tie them now.
31:21
SPEAKER_02: Um get them in the window, get them.
31:23
SPEAKER_02: And he did come out in I believe it was a press conference after his shining, and he basically said that he didn't really have a chance to evaluate as many players as he wanted to.
31:33
SPEAKER_02: And unfortunately, that's a sad thing to hear because you're like, you're the coach of the US men's national team, you're getting paid, I think, six million dollars a year.
31:41
SPEAKER_02: You probably have a huge staff, like we gotta figure out a way to get them in.
31:44
SPEAKER_02: And I understand there's camps and windows and things like that, so you can't always do that, but you you gotta get a better sense of the scouting and who's out there.
31:54
SPEAKER_02: So I I think these first uh first few camps, this first year in this new cycle is gonna be huge for him to get that evaluation done.
32:02
SPEAKER_02: And yeah, the of course you see we'll see the Tim Reams and those guys probably cycle out, but maybe you don't need to call in Christian and Weston and Tyler because you know what they have, you know the quality in their in their game.
32:16
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, give that spot to a Mimedi at 19 and say, hey, here you go, kid.
32:20
SPEAKER_02: This is what it's gonna be like.
32:22
SPEAKER_02: So so I think there'll be some of that, and I hope to see that through Poch.
32:24
SPEAKER_02: I mean, Poch has been known to give young guys a chance, maybe not as much as we'd want to see at the club level, but young guys have gotten chances at the stops he's been at.
32:35
SPEAKER_02: And you'd you'd expect to see that, and you'd really hope to see that in this in this first year in this new cycle.
32:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think the reassessing thing after two years, I kind of was referring to that more so from a Pochettino perspective.
32:47
SPEAKER_01: I'm 100% with you.
32:49
SPEAKER_01: I agree.
32:50
SPEAKER_01: I would like to have any Tom Dick or Harry who's the coach, I would like to give them a four-year run-up.
32:55
SPEAKER_01: I think that's what you deserve.
32:57
SPEAKER_01: You get a full cycle.
32:58
SPEAKER_01: I don't like the half measures.
33:00
SPEAKER_01: I don't like that at all.
33:01
SPEAKER_01: So I agree, I don't want to sack Poch under basically any circumstance after two years.
33:07
SPEAKER_01: And also, I'm the I'm a guy who thought the World Cup performance was better than we've seen in the past.
33:12
SPEAKER_01: The ultimate result was not, but listen here, we were fizzing the ball about against Paraguay, who then went on to beat Germany.
33:18
SPEAKER_01: We battered some teams, and yes, they weren't the best competition, but I thought we did take a small step forward in this World Cup before we shot down our leg.
33:29
SPEAKER_01: And the conclusion of it, I thought there was some good stuff before that.
33:33
SPEAKER_01: So I'm all in on Poch.
33:35
SPEAKER_01: It's again a guy I love.
33:36
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I love him for his time at Tottenham, so I I might be looking at this with rosy-colored glasses.
33:41
SPEAKER_01: But I also do agree with the evaluation point.
33:43
SPEAKER_01: It's important to know who your guys are and then have enough time to build with them.
33:49
SPEAKER_01: It's one thing where it's such a wide player pool that it does take time to iron out who the best at each position is and who the best for your system might be, Mauricio.
33:59
SPEAKER_01: The issue is you don't get enough time throughout the course of a calendar year with them that you have the luxury, it sounds like, oh, you have four years.
34:07
SPEAKER_01: You really don't.
34:07
SPEAKER_01: You really have a couple of months each year for the next couple of years to get a roster in place that you believe in, and then you need to start elevating their performance on the pitch.
34:16
SPEAKER_01: So I can tell you this, we do need to get a better scouting department in there.
34:20
SPEAKER_01: There are some guys we're given camp invites to that I I could tell you this, Mauricio, they're they they're not good enough.
34:25
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
34:26
SPEAKER_01: Not good enough.
34:27
SPEAKER_01: So maybe skip over some of those invites.
34:29
SPEAKER_01: If you've come in the past and you've not stood out for years on end, cargo Christian, guys like that, I think maybe we don't need to keep inviting some of those.
34:38
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
34:39
SPEAKER_01: It's like a guy you invite over for dinner once a month, and they never bring anything.
34:44
SPEAKER_01: They don't ask if you need anything.
34:47
SPEAKER_01: Boy, we would have loved for you to stop and get ice on the way.
34:50
SPEAKER_01: No, you know, there's just nothing.
34:52
SPEAKER_02: And then that guy has the nerve to be like, why are we having this?
34:55
SPEAKER_02: Why are you serving this?
34:56
SPEAKER_02: Hold on.
34:57
SPEAKER_01: And he's eating two plates.
34:58
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it's great.
35:00
SPEAKER_01: So we need to get rid of that.
35:02
SPEAKER_01: That's what I was talking about.
35:02
SPEAKER_01: The riffraff, that's riffraff.
35:04
SPEAKER_01: We know more of that.
35:06
SPEAKER_01: So I'm excited to talk about now, Brandon, some guys that aren't in that bucket.
35:10
SPEAKER_01: They're guys that we are encouraged and excited by.
35:12
SPEAKER_01: So they're on the move, and I think that's where we should shift our focus is to how they're going to perform at their clubs this season.
35:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I agree with you, Sean.
35:20
SPEAKER_02: Let's start with.
35:21
SPEAKER_02: We we mentioned him earlier in my storyline, uh, Max Arsen to Middlesbrough.
35:26
SPEAKER_02: Sean, I'll I'll let you I'll let you start and then I'll I'll follow with my opinion on this one.
35:31
SPEAKER_01: We talked about last week how I don't get particularly excited when a US player from the MLS goes and makes the move to the championship.
35:40
SPEAKER_01: In a vacuum, I think those leagues are pretty similar.
35:42
SPEAKER_01: I think the level of those leagues is pretty similar.
35:44
SPEAKER_01: We've seen good MLS players be good championship players, and vice versa.
35:48
SPEAKER_01: I don't think it's anything egregious on either end.
35:51
SPEAKER_01: I don't think it's a bad move, and I don't think it's a great move.
35:54
SPEAKER_01: I think it's fairly lateral.
35:56
SPEAKER_01: I think there's more upside associated with being one step away from the Premier League.
36:00
SPEAKER_01: The point then comes into the equation of will they be a Premier League fixture if they get promoted, or are they a guy that maybe Middlesbrough would recruit over?
36:09
SPEAKER_01: But what makes this move particularly exciting to me, Brandon, is what we talked about.
36:13
SPEAKER_01: I think it's cool that we get three US MNT guys all playing together.
36:16
SPEAKER_01: Also, Middlesbrough signed Will Ankshire, who's a Tottenham Academy product.
36:21
SPEAKER_01: He's going to be leading the line up front as a striker.
36:24
SPEAKER_01: So I think that's exciting.
36:25
SPEAKER_01: I think Middlesbrough are a great team for US casuals to tune into now.
36:28
SPEAKER_01: Or if you're in search of a team to be your favorite team, give Middlesbrough a look.
36:33
SPEAKER_01: So that part's exciting.
36:34
SPEAKER_01: I think Max Arson as a player, he's exciting in some ways because he was a guy who I first watched and I was like, oh, he can't defend at all.
36:41
SPEAKER_01: But I think he's made significant strides in that aspect of his game, and I think he is a truly good option at left-wing back.
36:48
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I I I agree with you, Sean.
36:50
SPEAKER_02: I I think it is a good move for him.
36:52
SPEAKER_02: The Columbus crew and MLS honestly have not been good this year at all.
36:56
SPEAKER_02: They've they have a good roster and they have players, but they just can't seem to put it together.
37:01
SPEAKER_02: I saw that the fee may have been upwards of 7.5 million.
37:06
SPEAKER_02: So if you're the crew, like kudos, that's that's a good good sale for you.
37:11
SPEAKER_02: Uh but yeah, he gets to play with his boys, he gets to play with his Columbus boys.
37:15
SPEAKER_02: I I do think that attraction of being one step away from the Premier League is is gonna outweigh a lot for people.
37:23
SPEAKER_02: It's a chance for him to go to Europe, like we mentioned.
37:25
SPEAKER_02: We talk all about the player on the field, but I think off the field as well.
37:29
SPEAKER_02: It's a chance to go to a new country, learn a new culture, and and while, of course, the UK is not much different than the US, especially through language, there are other things that he's gonna have to accustomize himself to and and and understand.
37:42
SPEAKER_02: So I'm happy for Max, but yeah, it doesn't maybe maybe doesn't change the world, but it's cool to have now you said three guys three US guys at Millsboro.
37:52
SPEAKER_02: Another guy, Sean, and I think we'll have different opinions on this one, but geo reina geo Raina to Strasbourg.
37:59
SPEAKER_02: Again, I'll let you go first and then I'll I'll have words.
38:02
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of just a big question mark for me, Brandon.
38:05
SPEAKER_01: Strasbourg are a Blue Co team, which is the ownership group that owns Chelsea as well.
38:10
SPEAKER_01: They also own Strasbourg.
38:12
SPEAKER_01: And what I said, I made the joke a couple podcasts ago where it feels like Blue Co is Ellis Island for like football prospects.
38:20
SPEAKER_01: It feels like you need it's like a rite of passage to be signed to Blue Co.
38:24
SPEAKER_01: And then you see where your forever home is.
38:26
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of like a stopping point for like it was for immigrants back in the day.
38:30
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
38:31
SPEAKER_01: I I don't necessarily hate it, I don't love it.
38:34
SPEAKER_01: I don't think his situation in the Bundesliga was improving at all.
38:38
SPEAKER_01: We've seen that film before, didn't like the ending.
38:41
SPEAKER_01: I don't know that almost anywhere Gio goes, I was going to be super inspired by the move, and that's more down to him than it is the club that he's landing at.
38:51
SPEAKER_01: We just haven't seen an ability to be available out of Geo Arena.
38:55
SPEAKER_01: He's almost never fit, and when he is fit, it's kind of like a half-fitness where he's working himself back up to 100%.
39:03
SPEAKER_01: He's never accumulating a ton of minutes throughout a course of a season, and now he's at the point where he's not exactly young anymore.
39:09
SPEAKER_01: Sure, in the grand scheme of life, he's a young kid.
39:11
SPEAKER_01: In terms of an elite football prospect, he is no longer that.
39:14
SPEAKER_01: I mean, he's into his 20s.
39:16
SPEAKER_01: This is where he needs to make a move for his career that he is making an impact at a club consistently for.
39:22
SPEAKER_01: I'm hopeful that that could be at Strasbourg.
39:25
SPEAKER_01: I'm just not super convinced, no matter where he ended up, that I'd be jumping for joy.
39:30
SPEAKER_01: What are your thoughts on this one?
39:31
SPEAKER_02: Okay, we're not we're not off sides.
39:35
SPEAKER_02: Like I'm I'm pretty pretty on the same side as you.
39:37
SPEAKER_02: I I'm I've said it before, like, I'm not the biggest geo guy there is.
39:42
SPEAKER_02: If he's playing, I'm happy.
39:44
SPEAKER_02: And honestly, that's really what it comes down to for me.
39:47
SPEAKER_02: Like you said, if he's available and he's healthy and he's getting 90 minutes or close to 90 minutes a week at a top-flight club, I can't be upset at that.
39:54
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, is Strasbourg the best club in the world and it's gonna change things?
39:59
SPEAKER_02: No, probably not.
40:00
SPEAKER_02: But if he can get in and play 90 minutes and not get taken over by these Blue Co guys that get sent down from Chelsea, I'm happy.
40:07
SPEAKER_02: But the reality is, like you said, Sean, there could be movement that way too, where it's hey, Chelsea has eight number tens.
40:13
SPEAKER_02: We're gonna send a couple of those guys to Strasbourg, and they play over Geo.
40:17
SPEAKER_02: So I I'm with you.
40:19
SPEAKER_02: I'm glad he gets a fresh start.
40:20
SPEAKER_02: I'm glad he's out of the Bundesliga.
40:22
SPEAKER_02: It just seemed like the Bundesliga was maybe cursed for him a little bit.
40:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but it's a house of horror.
40:27
SPEAKER_02: It was a house of horror.
40:28
SPEAKER_02: It really, it really was, and so so I'm glad he gets a fresh start, and I'm hoping for the best for him, but I don't necessarily have the highest of hopes.
40:35
SPEAKER_02: The next one at Brennan.
40:37
SPEAKER_01: And I kind of want to say this too, and and maybe this is just my opinion, and it's certainly to a different extent, but I have the same feeling with Gio Reina as I do Christian Pulisic.
40:47
SPEAKER_01: Now, Christian's accomplished so much more at a higher level, so I'm not taking that away from him.
40:52
SPEAKER_01: It's just where I currently sit with Christian Pulisic after this World Cup, and where I currently sit with Giorna is kind of like, yeah, if you're happy, I'm happy, like, cool, go, but you gotta go do it and show me again and do it consistently, and then still I won't be a hundred percent convinced until it's crunch time for the US and you do it again.
41:11
SPEAKER_01: It's almost like nothing that they do within the realm of likely outcomes is gonna blow me away or get me back on board because they're just guys that when the moments seem to be the biggest, they're not around in the capacity that we need them to be around or that we expected them to be around.
41:27
SPEAKER_01: So I'm just gonna take a wait and see approach with this one and any potential moves for Christian in the future as well.
41:33
SPEAKER_02: Fair enough, fair enough, fair enough.
41:35
SPEAKER_02: Sean, the last guy we we this one is not over the line, but it's it's right at the line, Sean.
41:42
SPEAKER_02: Your guy, Xavier Gozo, going to Crystal Palace.
41:45
SPEAKER_02: I'll let you cook.
41:46
SPEAKER_02: Go ahead, Sean.
41:47
SPEAKER_01: This is my boy.
41:48
SPEAKER_01: This is my boy.
41:49
SPEAKER_01: I am all in on Xavier Gozo.
41:51
SPEAKER_01: I'm a boza, I'm a gozo bozo.
41:54
SPEAKER_01: I've been workshopping that one.
41:55
SPEAKER_01: How do you like that?
41:56
SPEAKER_01: I will say this does dramatically hurt the chances that I adapt Real Salt Lake as my MLS team.
42:04
SPEAKER_01: He was a key cog in their recruiting effort.
42:07
SPEAKER_01: He is no longer going to be there.
42:09
SPEAKER_01: I'm happy for him.
42:10
SPEAKER_01: This is an exciting move.
42:11
SPEAKER_01: This this was what I would categorize as exciting.
42:14
SPEAKER_01: Now, do I think it's an ambitious move?
42:16
SPEAKER_01: It's a big jump from MLS to Premier League?
42:19
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, huge.
42:20
SPEAKER_01: Crystal Palace are in Europe this season as well.
42:23
SPEAKER_01: So it seems like the plan for Crystal Palace will be to actually have him in and around the first team squad.
42:30
SPEAKER_01: Now, that to me does come with some concerns just because do I think he'll be able to eventually figure it out and handle himself?
42:37
SPEAKER_01: Of course.
42:38
SPEAKER_01: I don't think Palace are traditionally a club that would throw somebody in the deep end if they didn't think they could swim.
42:43
SPEAKER_01: So that's a good thing.
42:44
SPEAKER_01: I think Palace have a really good track record of getting younger talent, especially from the championship in England and lower level English sides and turning them into stars that are sold for a huge margin.
42:55
SPEAKER_01: In the last few years, we've seen Connor Gallagher come through and go to Atletico Madrid for 60 million.
43:01
SPEAKER_01: We've seen Michael Elise, we've seen Everecha Eze, we've seen some really quality players come through Crystal Palace and leave better.
43:08
SPEAKER_01: So at worst, I would expect the same for Gozo.
43:11
SPEAKER_01: I think eventually he will become a fixture there.
43:14
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested in what position they see him as.
43:18
SPEAKER_01: It's been, they have a new manager at Crystal Palace after Glasner's departure, and he has been kind of playing a back three with wing backs in the preseason, and Gozo has been playing as a wing back for Rails Salt Lake.
43:30
SPEAKER_01: I think he's a winger, so that I would like to see him play as a winger because I think that's what he'll eventually do when he's at his best.
43:37
SPEAKER_01: So that's one thing I'm a little bit interested in.
43:40
SPEAKER_01: I think it's an interesting move.
43:41
SPEAKER_01: I think it's a good move.
43:42
SPEAKER_01: I think it's ambitious, and I'm excited to see how it works out.
43:45
SPEAKER_01: I have full faith in Xavier Gozo figuring it out no matter no matter where he's at.
43:49
SPEAKER_01: So I think Crystal Palace is ultimately a good spot.
43:52
SPEAKER_02: Now, Sean, just a quick follow up.
43:54
SPEAKER_02: With him being 19, and you said he's going to be in and around the first team, if he's not getting First team minutes, do you would you rather him loan out and go play somewhere else?
44:05
SPEAKER_02: Or would you rather him be around that first team so he can see a European night and he can go to Anfield and see how they play at Liverpool and and these other clubs?
44:14
SPEAKER_01: It's tough because I thought when I heard the news of the deal coming to fruition, I immediately thought he would be loaned out.
44:21
SPEAKER_01: I didn't see him.
44:22
SPEAKER_01: It's just an ambitious move to go from an 18, 19-year-old playing in the MLS to starting in the Premier League.
44:27
SPEAKER_01: You hear more about it, and from what it sounds like, is they would at least like to keep him around the first team squad.
44:32
SPEAKER_01: Not a nailed-on starter, but a guy who maybe comes off the bench and plays or he factors into their plans, is what it seems like.
44:38
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if that's true or not.
44:39
SPEAKER_01: That's just the buzz.
44:40
SPEAKER_01: Listen, the deal's not even over the line yet.
44:42
SPEAKER_01: I'm with you though.
44:43
SPEAKER_01: I would probably prefer a loan.
44:45
SPEAKER_01: I just think playing football is important at this age of development.
44:48
SPEAKER_01: And I don't think the loan needs to be to a Premier League club.
44:51
SPEAKER_01: I think there's a lot of middle ground between the MLS and the Premier League.
44:55
SPEAKER_01: I would love for Xavier to go to a ball-dominant Belgian side or Aridovisi side or League One side where he's able to really grow into playing regular first team minutes in Europe before then coming and getting a true offseason at Crystal Palace next year would be my ideal world for him.
45:13
SPEAKER_01: But who knows?
45:14
SPEAKER_01: Maybe he sets the world on fire the minute he gets there.
45:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I like that thought, Sean, because there is it.
45:20
SPEAKER_02: That jump is absurd.
45:22
SPEAKER_02: Let's just be honest.
45:22
SPEAKER_02: Call it what it is.
45:23
SPEAKER_01: Like you know, for position too.
45:27
SPEAKER_01: Like, we don't know what position he'll be playing.
45:29
SPEAKER_01: It's a lot of factors at play there.
45:31
SPEAKER_01: And I do know Crystal Palace have some good players in position still, especially on the right wing, they have Ismailisar.
45:38
SPEAKER_01: So I don't know that goes, he definitely doesn't walk in a team over him.
45:41
SPEAKER_01: So that leads me back to the lone option, I think, maybe being best.
45:45
SPEAKER_02: Okay, I agree with you.
45:46
SPEAKER_02: The the age of 19, it you can't be sitting.
45:50
SPEAKER_02: It's just hard to be sitting at that age with that skill level.
45:53
SPEAKER_02: You almost honestly, if he goes and sits and never plays for Palace, maybe you almost rather just keep him in MLS at that point.
46:02
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
46:02
SPEAKER_02: Where it's like maybe Crystal Palace buy him and loan him back for the rest of the season in MLS.
46:08
SPEAKER_02: You've seen we've seen that happen before with with guys.
46:10
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, he he's somebody we want to see playing 90 minutes again.
46:13
SPEAKER_02: We all we want to see all of our guys playing 90 minutes, but that's a guy especially you want to see playing because the talent and skill that he has at his age is incredible.
46:22
SPEAKER_02: And just a little extra piece of development from wherever it is, whether it's Salt Lake, Crystal Palace, this third club that he maybe gets loaned to, uh, you want to see that on display.
46:33
SPEAKER_01: 100% agree.
46:34
SPEAKER_01: And and I do think it's very valuable as a 19-year-old to keep playing those minutes, like you said, and I would love to see it at a side in Europe that's not in the Premier League.
46:46
SPEAKER_01: I think there are there's a couple of levels to go through before you're thrust into a role at a Premier League club.
46:53
SPEAKER_01: And I just want to be careful with him because I think he is such an excellent prospect that you don't want to ruin him by sitting a year.
47:01
SPEAKER_01: It's it's just an important decision, and it's one that I'm sure he and his people have thought about and talked through, and I'm sure they are on board with whatever plan Palace has in place for him.
47:11
SPEAKER_01: So encouraging, exciting, having US MNT guys in the Premier League is good stuff.
47:16
SPEAKER_01: So I think that's the message for me.
47:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's it's great to hear that.
47:20
SPEAKER_02: I mean, you have a guy like him who hasn't even made his first team debut at the US MNT, and he's about to potentially be playing in the Premier League.
47:27
SPEAKER_02: So as an American.
47:28
SPEAKER_02: That needs to happen like tomorrow, Mario.
47:30
SPEAKER_02: Like call him up before the window even opens.
47:33
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, what are we doing?
47:34
SPEAKER_02: Sean, it's I think it's time for the meet and drink of this episode, the draft.
47:40
SPEAKER_02: I will let you, I will let you lay the land, explain the rules, because this one I know is an SB brainchild, but it'll this this will be fun.
47:51
SPEAKER_02: This will be fun.
47:52
SPEAKER_02: So let it let us let us hear the rules here.
47:54
SPEAKER_01: I'm happy you're excited about it first and foremost.
47:57
SPEAKER_01: That uh listen, I pitch these things, like my brain's constantly spinning.
48:00
SPEAKER_01: I like having some skin in the game.
48:02
SPEAKER_01: This draft is between Brandon and I, just the two of us.
48:07
SPEAKER_01: It is basically a European champions draft with a few caveats, is how I framed it.
48:12
SPEAKER_01: So basically, we're going to be drafting teams or I would say basically any league that plays uh a fall to spring season is draft eligible.
48:22
SPEAKER_01: We we've listed out the leagues in our doc that we're going to be choosing from.
48:26
SPEAKER_01: It's basically all of Europe and some of Asia or are included in this.
48:31
SPEAKER_01: We uh essentially are able to draft uh up to two teams per country.
48:37
SPEAKER_01: So you don't have to draft any per country, you can draft up to two.
48:42
SPEAKER_01: You get one point if they win a trophy, you get one point if they are relegated.
48:49
SPEAKER_01: So we're looking for both ends of the spectrum here.
48:52
SPEAKER_01: We're looking for winners and we're looking for real losers that are going down.
48:56
SPEAKER_01: The upside to taking teams that you think will be a winner is in theory, they could win several competitions.
49:03
SPEAKER_01: So without tipping too many picks, Brandon, I'm sure very high on our boards, is a team like PSG.
49:08
SPEAKER_01: PSG are favorites to win the French League.
49:12
SPEAKER_01: That would be one point.
49:13
SPEAKER_01: They're defending Champions League, back-to-back champs.
49:17
SPEAKER_01: That would be another point.
49:18
SPEAKER_01: If they win the French Cup, that would be a third point.
49:21
SPEAKER_01: So the elite teams that are in several competitions and have a chance of winning several competitions are the most valuable in this draft.
49:28
SPEAKER_01: You there's going to be several teams we take, Brandon, that finish with a big score of zero, okay?
49:34
SPEAKER_01: This is kind of a way for us to keep our eye on several different leagues across the continent.
49:41
SPEAKER_01: I hate that we're doing it this early because rosters are still not finalized, but on the flip side, some of the leagues that we're going to be to be talking about have already started or have games this upcoming weekend.
49:50
SPEAKER_01: So I do feel like now is a good time to do it because it also gives us something to root for for the end of the window.
49:55
SPEAKER_01: So if we take a side today and they're linked with a big signing, we might be a little excited about it because they're part of our stable.
50:02
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, have I laid out the rules in a acceptable fashion?
50:06
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you have, Sean.
50:08
SPEAKER_02: The one little tiny caveat.
50:10
SPEAKER_02: I think you said two teams per country.
50:13
SPEAKER_02: Technically speaking, it would be two teams per league per country because we have the Premier League and the championship that we're including in this draft.
50:22
SPEAKER_01: That is a great, great, great clarification.
50:24
SPEAKER_01: I appreciate it.
50:26
SPEAKER_01: So I'm really, really fascinated because we haven't talked about this before.
50:32
SPEAKER_01: I know where the first couple of picks are going to go, I think, but then I feel like it has a chance to go completely off the rails.
50:38
SPEAKER_01: Listeners, if you're interested in doing something like this, do it with your friends.
50:41
SPEAKER_01: It couldn't be easier.
50:42
SPEAKER_01: You literally pick teams, and at the end of the year, you get a point if they win a trophy.
50:46
SPEAKER_01: It's so easy to keep score.
50:48
SPEAKER_01: I will say maybe you learn something about a different league that you didn't know existed today.
50:52
SPEAKER_01: Maybe you learn about a team that is traditionally good, whatever the case may be.
50:55
SPEAKER_01: Hopefully we all learn something, we all have some fun, and hopefully I avenge my World Cup loss against Brandon.
51:01
SPEAKER_01: So that's what I'm looking for, Brandon.
51:02
SPEAKER_01: We haven't discussed this either.
51:03
SPEAKER_01: Who's going first?
51:04
SPEAKER_02: I'll let you go first.
51:05
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I didn't I won the World Cup player poll.
51:08
SPEAKER_02: You don't want to go first?
51:09
SPEAKER_00: I didn't want to.
51:10
SPEAKER_00: I didn't want to.
51:11
SPEAKER_00: I would rather pick.
51:12
SPEAKER_02: Are we snaking it or are we just going back and forth?
51:14
SPEAKER_00: Oh, we're snaking it, of course.
51:16
SPEAKER_01: You can't go first every round.
51:18
SPEAKER_01: What are we nuts?
51:19
SPEAKER_01: Would it be insane?
51:20
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna do a random list of two people.
51:23
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
51:24
SPEAKER_01: And I'll tell you who goes first.
51:27
SPEAKER_01: I think I think I would rather go second in this kind of draft because I'd like to double up, but that's fair.
51:34
SPEAKER_01: I mean, and it it is Brandon first.
51:39
SPEAKER_01: Ah, here we go.
51:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, of course.
51:41
SPEAKER_02: That's of course you could see it.
51:44
SPEAKER_02: Totally fine.
51:44
SPEAKER_02: All right, Sean.
51:45
SPEAKER_02: No, I believe you.
51:46
SPEAKER_02: I believe you.
51:47
SPEAKER_02: There we go.
51:48
SPEAKER_00: Man of honor.
51:49
SPEAKER_02: Are we ready?
51:50
SPEAKER_02: Are we starting?
51:51
SPEAKER_02: Ready to go?
51:51
SPEAKER_01: Ready, yeah.
51:52
SPEAKER_01: All right.
51:53
SPEAKER_01: And we will be taking 10 teams, maybe 12.
51:55
SPEAKER_01: We're gonna see how it goes, but we're gonna around 10 rounds of this.
51:57
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, 10 to 12.
51:58
SPEAKER_02: Uh, my first pick, and this is my one-one, as you like to say on the other the other podcast, is PSG.
52:05
SPEAKER_02: Uh French League, like you said, French League, Champions League, French Cup.
52:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, easy, easy one-one for me.
52:11
SPEAKER_02: I know probably you're gonna take with the next two, which is okay, but I had to steal PSG.
52:17
SPEAKER_02: I couldn't let PSG not be the first pick.
52:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's that was my one-one.
52:22
SPEAKER_01: It was number one on my list, Brandon.
52:24
SPEAKER_01: I think that is not only safe, I think it's an exciting pick.
52:27
SPEAKER_01: They're fun to watch.
52:28
SPEAKER_01: They have run amuck in the French league, often downing tools to do so, winning that league kind of coasting, and it'll they're going for three straight champions leagues.
52:37
SPEAKER_01: So that a chance to put a few points on the board with your first pick, and I think that is what should be expected of a first pick.
52:44
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
52:45
SPEAKER_01: I oh boy, I'm going to take the one I'm definitely taking first, and that's going to be Bayern Munich.
52:50
SPEAKER_01: I am comfortable with Bayern Munich.
52:54
SPEAKER_01: They are minus 800 to win the Bundesliga, which is insane.
52:58
SPEAKER_01: It's disrespectful, I think, to some of those other clubs.
53:02
SPEAKER_01: But uh when you look at just the wealth of riches they have in their in their ranks in their roster, it is uh quite simply the best in that league.
53:10
SPEAKER_01: They haven't gotten it done to the Champions League in recent years.
53:13
SPEAKER_01: I think maybe we could see it this year.
53:16
SPEAKER_01: I hope for Harry.
53:17
SPEAKER_01: I hope for Harry Kane, maybe he gets one.
53:19
SPEAKER_01: I'm happy to have a rooting interest in Harry Kane again.
53:22
SPEAKER_01: I'll I will say that.
53:23
SPEAKER_02: Fair enough.
53:24
SPEAKER_02: That's a great choice.
53:25
SPEAKER_02: That would absolutely be my second pick.
53:28
SPEAKER_01: And then I just want to get my share of the box office.
53:33
SPEAKER_01: And I'm not going to go with the team we talked about earlier, but I'm going to go with their counterpart.
53:38
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to take Barcelona.
53:40
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
53:40
SPEAKER_01: I think.
53:41
SPEAKER_01: Now here's the other interesting strategy, listeners.
53:43
SPEAKER_01: We debated only allowing one team from each country or from each league, but we said ultimately there could be two because what we didn't want to happen was I take a team or Brandon takes a team, and then the other one of us can just sit until the last round to take our team from that country.
53:58
SPEAKER_01: There's a chance I'd circle back for Jose and the boys, too.
54:01
SPEAKER_01: Let me just say that.
54:02
SPEAKER_01: But I will be taking Barcelona here.
54:05
SPEAKER_01: They have won back-to-back La Ligas.
54:08
SPEAKER_01: I like their squad quite a good bit.
54:11
SPEAKER_01: I think it's going to be fascinating, though.
54:13
SPEAKER_01: I don't think this is a shoe-in by any means.
54:16
SPEAKER_01: I'm pretty confident in saying Bayern Munich will at least get me a point on the board.
54:20
SPEAKER_01: But already in round two, I'm not 100% confident that Barcelona will get me a point on the board.
54:24
SPEAKER_01: So we're hoping for a Champions League.
54:26
SPEAKER_01: We're hoping for a La Liga and maybe a Copa if we're if we're really lucky.
54:30
SPEAKER_02: No, that's a good that's a good choice.
54:32
SPEAKER_02: That was high on my board as well, Sean.
54:34
SPEAKER_02: My second pick.
54:35
SPEAKER_02: Alright, I'm gonna take Celtic.
54:38
SPEAKER_02: Scottish League.
54:40
SPEAKER_02: They win the league.
54:41
SPEAKER_02: I feel like every year I can't let him sit.
54:45
SPEAKER_02: And I have two picks.
54:47
SPEAKER_02: So I think my next pick between two.
54:50
SPEAKER_00: And I don't know where your head is.
54:52
SPEAKER_00: So I don't know where your head is either, but I'm shocked.
54:55
SPEAKER_00: I'm pissed and shocked that you took Celtic.
54:57
SPEAKER_00: I had them fourth and I was like, maybe you won't.
55:01
SPEAKER_02: I think I'm gonna take Real Madrid.
55:02
SPEAKER_02: I I don't love the choice, but I do think Jersey will do enough to win a cup.
55:07
SPEAKER_02: Just just win me a cup if you're not gonna win the league.
55:09
SPEAKER_02: Of course, it'll be up there with the league with Barcelona, and they always go back and forth and the Classico, but I think he can get me at least a cup, so I'll take Real Madrid.
55:17
SPEAKER_02: Also, I wouldn't count them out in the Champions League.
55:19
SPEAKER_01: I mean, their squad, their squad is ridiculously positive.
55:22
SPEAKER_01: They just got Ian Diamante done, Vinny staying, Mbappe.
55:27
SPEAKER_01: They they signed ridiculous free agents, Bernardo Silva on a free Ibrahim Akinate.
55:32
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's a wealth of riches that they have.
55:35
SPEAKER_01: And Jose at the helm, Jose is a serial winner.
55:38
SPEAKER_01: So say what you want about the man, he does win trophies.
55:42
SPEAKER_01: I think that was a good pick, Brandon.
55:44
SPEAKER_01: And the Celtic one definitely was a good pick.
55:47
SPEAKER_01: Those guys, I mean, talk about a farmers league that they just beat up on.
55:50
SPEAKER_01: I think it's been 56 years since Celtic or Rangers haven't won that league.
55:54
SPEAKER_01: I now things get interesting for me.
55:57
SPEAKER_01: And I'm gonna go to a man.
55:59
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna take with my first pick on this wrapper on my third overall, I'll take Club Bruge.
56:04
SPEAKER_01: Club Bruges.
56:05
SPEAKER_01: They, first of all, it's a stadium I've been to.
56:08
SPEAKER_01: I toured it when I was in Bruges.
56:10
SPEAKER_01: I am a fan of the city, so maybe a little bit of bias creeping into this one.
56:15
SPEAKER_01: I do think they're the best team in Belgium.
56:17
SPEAKER_01: Here's the hard part.
56:18
SPEAKER_01: They are currently offloading a ton of young talented players to other clubs around Europe.
56:23
SPEAKER_01: The good thing is they do seem to be replacing those with the next pipeline of young talented players.
56:27
SPEAKER_01: They just signed Jan Virgili from Majorca.
56:30
SPEAKER_01: He's a he's a young Spanish player.
56:32
SPEAKER_01: I think he's gonna slot right in as a replacement for uh Zolis, who they lost to Arsenal.
56:36
SPEAKER_01: So there's a lot of movement at Club Bruges.
56:39
SPEAKER_01: I'm not exactly thrilled with how much turnover there's gonna be on that roster, but I do still think that they are the cream of the crop in the Belgian league.
56:46
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
56:47
SPEAKER_02: Good choice.
56:48
SPEAKER_02: And you got two, right?
56:50
SPEAKER_02: I do.
56:50
SPEAKER_01: And now this one I'm torn on.
56:52
SPEAKER_01: I'm having a real hard time.
56:55
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to take.
56:56
SPEAKER_01: Oh boy.
56:58
SPEAKER_01: God, I hate that I hate this.
56:59
SPEAKER_01: Man.
57:01
SPEAKER_01: Go with your heart.
57:02
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna go with my heart, and I'm gonna take the defending champions in Portugal.
57:07
SPEAKER_01: Oh I'm going to take FC Porto.
57:11
SPEAKER_01: Led by Francesco Farioli.
57:13
SPEAKER_01: He's a young up-and-coming manager who learned from Roberto da Zerbi.
57:17
SPEAKER_01: Very unique style in which he plays.
57:21
SPEAKER_01: His progression play from the back is excellent.
57:23
SPEAKER_01: He's able to develop young players.
57:25
SPEAKER_01: He is an interesting young manager who I think will be at a massive club in the very near future.
57:32
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily think Porto or Shuin to win the League of Portugal again.
57:36
SPEAKER_01: There's some serious competition there.
57:38
SPEAKER_01: But they are my favorite amongst the teams at the top so far in terms of what they've done in the window too.
57:44
SPEAKER_01: They have retained a lot of their young talent.
57:46
SPEAKER_01: They have a really, really exciting young nucleus.
57:49
SPEAKER_01: So give me Porto.
57:51
SPEAKER_01: Happy to be in the northern part of Portugal, not down there in Lisbon.
57:54
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
57:55
SPEAKER_02: That was an interesting choice by you.
57:56
SPEAKER_02: I actually did not have Porto as my Portugal choice.
58:00
unknown: Okay.
58:01
SPEAKER_02: I did have for my Portugal choice, which I'm not going to reveal.
58:04
SPEAKER_02: Lower on my totem pole.
58:06
SPEAKER_02: But hey, we're different guys.
58:09
SPEAKER_02: The next pick, Sean, my fourth pick, this is an interesting one.
58:13
SPEAKER_02: I don't know how you feel about it, but I'm going to take West Ham.
58:16
SPEAKER_02: I think West Ham will win the championship.
58:18
SPEAKER_01: I think that was a miss by me.
58:20
SPEAKER_01: I didn't have them on my board, but they will win the championship.
58:23
SPEAKER_02: I think with Jared Bowen coming back, he could win potentially a golden boot or a player of the year situation for them.
58:30
SPEAKER_02: And I think they come right back up to the to the Premier League following this season.
58:35
SPEAKER_01: That's a good and you know what I like about that, Brandon?
58:37
SPEAKER_01: You're not you're going for one point there, but it it seems like one of the safer points in terms of on paper.
58:43
SPEAKER_01: Obviously, so much can happen.
58:45
SPEAKER_01: West Ham is probably equally as likely to win the championship as Byron is to win the Bundesliga.
58:50
SPEAKER_01: So I think that's a good shout.
58:52
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
58:53
SPEAKER_02: But I will say the championship we've seen wacky, wacky stuff happened.
58:57
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
58:58
SPEAKER_01: But Jared Bowen's gonna run the champion.
59:00
SPEAKER_01: I mean, let's be honest.
59:01
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I would assume he would be a star.
59:04
SPEAKER_02: And now, Sean, I I gotta do it.
59:08
SPEAKER_02: I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna do it.
59:09
SPEAKER_02: I I hate to do it.
59:10
SPEAKER_02: Listeners, this is I'm playing to win.
59:13
SPEAKER_02: I'm I'm going with this guy.
59:16
SPEAKER_02: I'm going with my head, not my heart.
59:19
SPEAKER_02: And I don't like this pick, but I have to do it because I want to win again, and it's it's Arsenal.
59:24
SPEAKER_01: Listeners, I'll show you my list.
59:26
SPEAKER_01: They weren't on it.
59:27
SPEAKER_01: An absolute turncoat is what he is.
59:30
SPEAKER_01: He's a traitorous scum to take Arsenal and then say I want to win.
59:35
SPEAKER_01: I guess what, listeners?
59:36
SPEAKER_01: I I'll do this the SB way.
59:38
SPEAKER_01: I want to win and I don't need Arsenal.
59:39
SPEAKER_01: Fuck them.
59:40
SPEAKER_01: I can't believe Brandon did this.
59:42
SPEAKER_01: I you could have had them last round.
59:44
SPEAKER_01: Could have had them last.
59:45
SPEAKER_02: See, I didn't know how you felt because you're coming off.
59:48
SPEAKER_02: No, you're coming off of a loss.
59:50
SPEAKER_02: I thought you want to get your get back and do your teams on the floor.
59:55
SPEAKER_02: That's with my guys, not those drums.
59:59
SPEAKER_02: That's three chances, or excuse me, four chances to get trophies with them.
1:00:02
SPEAKER_02: So get me one.
1:00:04
SPEAKER_02: Get me one.
1:00:05
SPEAKER_02: That's all I need.
1:00:06
SPEAKER_00: On paper, it's a smart pick.
1:00:08
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
1:00:08
SPEAKER_00: That's that's the most you'll get out of me.
1:00:10
SPEAKER_02: Fine.
1:00:10
SPEAKER_02: It was all head.
1:00:11
SPEAKER_02: I told you all head.
1:00:12
SPEAKER_02: No heart.
1:00:13
SPEAKER_02: No heart at all in it.
1:00:14
SPEAKER_02: I look, if if it comes to it, and I'll say this, this is a brand and guarantee.
1:00:18
SPEAKER_02: If it comes to them winning this for winning a cup for uh for me to win this against Spurs or honestly most other teams, I'll I'll I'll cheer for the other teams.
1:00:28
SPEAKER_02: But if they win the Premier League in a runaway situation, I'll take the point.
1:00:34
SPEAKER_00: Just just remember this day in history, folks.
1:00:37
SPEAKER_00: Just just remember it when Brandon pledged to root for Arsenal to lift trophies.
1:00:41
SPEAKER_00: I didn't.
1:00:43
SPEAKER_00: That's what he did.
1:00:44
SPEAKER_00: Disgusting behavior.
1:00:46
SPEAKER_01: I can't believe what I've seen.
1:00:48
SPEAKER_01: Boy, oh boy.
1:00:49
SPEAKER_01: I I might be dipping my toe into the relegation pond.
1:00:53
SPEAKER_01: Interesting.
1:00:54
SPEAKER_01: There's a team I'm pretty certain is gonna go down.
1:00:57
SPEAKER_01: But I don't know if it's worth it to just target that one point.
1:01:00
SPEAKER_01: I still think there's a couple teams out there that could give us more than one.
1:01:03
SPEAKER_02: Quick question.
1:01:05
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
1:01:05
SPEAKER_02: Is it relegation or finishing last?
1:01:08
SPEAKER_01: It's relegation.
1:01:10
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:01:10
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:01:11
SPEAKER_01: Just relegation.
1:01:12
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
1:01:12
SPEAKER_01: So if you go down, you get a point as well.
1:01:14
SPEAKER_01: We have to be a little bit fair towards the bottom, or else there's really no reason to draft them.
1:01:17
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:01:19
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:01:19
SPEAKER_01: Give me.
1:01:21
SPEAKER_01: I'm not gonna dip my toes yet.
1:01:23
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna stay strong.
1:01:24
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna take PSV Eindhoven.
1:01:27
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:01:28
SPEAKER_02: Great choice.
1:01:29
SPEAKER_02: That was my next next choice on my list.
1:01:32
SPEAKER_01: The concern for me why I didn't take them maybe around earlier was they are in the Champions League.
1:01:38
SPEAKER_01: They will not win the Champions League.
1:01:40
SPEAKER_01: But I do trust that they will win the Air Divisi.
1:01:43
SPEAKER_01: They've been the best team the last few seasons.
1:01:45
SPEAKER_01: I hope that they're able to string it together for one more.
1:01:48
SPEAKER_01: They're another club that has sold this offseason.
1:01:51
SPEAKER_01: They they typically do get picked apart because they develop such good young talent.
1:01:55
SPEAKER_01: I trust that they'll be able to hang on and win another Air Divisi and hopefully give me a chance in the Dutch Cup.
1:02:01
SPEAKER_01: My second wraparound pick, Brandon.
1:02:05
SPEAKER_01: So many different directions we can go here.
1:02:07
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna take one.
1:02:09
SPEAKER_01: I hate myself for doing this.
1:02:12
SPEAKER_01: But I'm gonna stay in the Air Divisi.
1:02:16
SPEAKER_01: And I'm gonna take Ajax.
1:02:18
SPEAKER_01: And the reason why is because the Ajax team is playing in the conference league in Europe.
1:02:26
SPEAKER_01: And I feel like there's a chance they can get some European silverware.
1:02:30
SPEAKER_01: Now, can a third Dutch team emerge and really kill me?
1:02:33
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I've opened myself up to that.
1:02:35
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
1:02:36
SPEAKER_01: But I will be taking both of the traditional Dutch powerhouses, Ajax and PSV.
1:02:40
SPEAKER_02: Okay, that's fair.
1:02:41
SPEAKER_02: And I because of that, I know we drafted the way we drafted so that things like this wouldn't happen, but I'm saving my my Dutch team till the end.
1:02:49
SPEAKER_02: As you should all right, six and seven.
1:02:53
SPEAKER_02: I will take for the first one.
1:02:56
SPEAKER_02: You know what?
1:02:57
SPEAKER_02: I'm already I'm already hated by everyone for taking Arsenal.
1:03:00
SPEAKER_02: So let's let's what?
1:03:03
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I thought you were gonna take another one to two.
1:03:05
SPEAKER_02: No, no, no.
1:03:06
SPEAKER_02: No, not a Premier League team.
1:03:07
SPEAKER_02: We're going to the other side of the world.
1:03:09
SPEAKER_02: I'll go Saudi.
1:03:10
SPEAKER_02: I'll take Alhi Law to win the Saudi League.
1:03:12
SPEAKER_02: There was the one Saudi team I wrote down.
1:03:14
SPEAKER_02: Son of a no.
1:03:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'll take Ali Law.
1:03:19
SPEAKER_01: Simone and Zagi.
1:03:21
SPEAKER_01: They went unbeaten last year but finished second.
1:03:23
SPEAKER_01: That's an interesting tidbit.
1:03:24
SPEAKER_01: They did not lose a game, finished second.
1:03:26
SPEAKER_01: Sick.
1:03:26
SPEAKER_01: It's too many draws.
1:03:28
SPEAKER_02: Too many draws.
1:03:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's tough.
1:03:30
SPEAKER_01: They they were the Saudi team I had down.
1:03:32
SPEAKER_01: I didn't want to dip my toe in the Saudi pond, but somebody had to.
1:03:36
SPEAKER_02: Well, it's funny because when we were making the teams, you specifically mentioned that you were adding the Saudi league.
1:03:43
SPEAKER_02: So it's kind of on you.
1:03:45
SPEAKER_01: That was the team I was going to take, too.
1:03:47
SPEAKER_01: That's a good pick by you.
1:03:48
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
1:03:48
SPEAKER_02: And you know what?
1:03:49
SPEAKER_02: Since I'm already on the hated list, let's just keep the train moving.
1:03:52
SPEAKER_02: I am going to take your team, Roma, from the Italian league.
1:03:58
SPEAKER_01: Well, that's just that's just crazy.
1:04:00
SPEAKER_02: That's they were actually my second team in Italy that I was going to take, but you know what?
1:04:05
SPEAKER_02: I'm already hated.
1:04:06
SPEAKER_02: Might as well just make it make it known and just go all in on the hate.
1:04:10
SPEAKER_01: So here's the thing.
1:04:11
SPEAKER_01: I will be rooting for you to win a trophy with Roma.
1:04:14
SPEAKER_01: I don't think I for me, I don't think they're two in the mix for a trophy this year.
1:04:20
SPEAKER_01: I just think they're gonna be stretched a bit thin competing in the Champions League.
1:04:23
SPEAKER_01: That's fair.
1:04:24
SPEAKER_01: That's why I I saved them for a little bit later.
1:04:27
SPEAKER_01: But listen here, if we could get our hands on a Copa Italia in the Eternal City, boy, will we take that.
1:04:33
SPEAKER_01: I I like the pick, Brandon.
1:04:34
SPEAKER_01: I like the pick.
1:04:36
SPEAKER_01: Oh man, I'm gonna do it.
1:04:37
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna I'm gonna take a team.
1:04:38
SPEAKER_01: I might this might be my hateful wrap around here.
1:04:41
SPEAKER_01: I might take two drop candidates.
1:04:43
SPEAKER_01: And I'm gonna take give me whole city.
1:04:46
SPEAKER_01: You know, I just I just see in a bit hole.
1:04:48
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
1:04:49
SPEAKER_01: Off you go, mate.
1:04:51
SPEAKER_01: And then give me Frozen One, who plays in Syria farmers, farmers, just need them to go down as well.
1:04:59
SPEAKER_01: So one of my Syria teams off the board, one of my English teams off the board as well.
1:05:06
SPEAKER_01: Easy hate there.
1:05:07
SPEAKER_01: Easy to just boy, does it feel gross to just root for root for relegation?
1:05:11
SPEAKER_01: But that's what I will be doing.
1:05:13
SPEAKER_02: I'll I'll I'll I'll match you.
1:05:15
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna take.
1:05:17
SPEAKER_02: And you took two, right?
1:05:18
SPEAKER_02: It's my turn.
1:05:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's your turn.
1:05:19
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
1:05:20
SPEAKER_02: I will take Lincoln City getting relegated from the championship.
1:05:23
SPEAKER_02: Reason being, Sean.
1:05:25
SPEAKER_02: The imps.
1:05:26
SPEAKER_02: Reason being Sean, we have a they have a two-manager structure.
1:05:31
SPEAKER_02: Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, half and half managers.
1:05:34
SPEAKER_02: That's gone.
1:05:35
SPEAKER_02: Game's gone.
1:05:36
SPEAKER_02: That's absolutely absurd.
1:05:38
SPEAKER_02: Go back to League One.
1:05:39
SPEAKER_00: Many have said if you have two managers, you have none.
1:05:41
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
1:05:42
SPEAKER_02: And I agree with them.
1:05:43
SPEAKER_02: So I am cheering for Lincoln City to go down.
1:05:47
SPEAKER_02: I'm sorry, Lincoln City.
1:05:48
SPEAKER_02: If we have any Lincoln City listeners, I apologize.
1:05:51
SPEAKER_02: Prove me wrong, but I have you guys going down.
1:05:55
SPEAKER_01: Funny enough, Brandon quickly, I just want to say on Talk Sport, which is a UK radio show.
1:06:00
SPEAKER_01: Uh one of the guys, Cundy is a Chelsea supporter and Jimmy O'Hara is a big Tottenham former player, big supporter.
1:06:07
SPEAKER_01: And when it looked like Tottenham was gonna be relegated and Lincoln City was coming up to the championship, Cundy did have a really good bid he was doing.
1:06:13
SPEAKER_01: He just kept wearing a Lincoln City imps scarf and saying up in the studio, saying that's good team, mate, good team.
1:06:20
SPEAKER_01: That's you're gonna be playing next year.
1:06:22
SPEAKER_01: It was really, it was really funny and demoralizing, but in the moment I just hated him so much.
1:06:26
SPEAKER_01: I was like, this son of a bitch.
1:06:28
SPEAKER_01: But that that's a good shout, Lincoln City.
1:06:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so I'm gonna take Lincoln City with my first choice going down.
1:06:33
SPEAKER_02: And then we'll go back to positives again.
1:06:36
SPEAKER_02: I am gonna oh in between two.
1:06:39
SPEAKER_02: You know what?
1:06:40
SPEAKER_02: I'll do it.
1:06:41
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna take Fenerbosch from Turkey.
1:06:43
SPEAKER_02: More of a vibes pick.
1:06:45
SPEAKER_02: I feel like they're always in and around the top.
1:06:46
SPEAKER_02: Solid team, good players.
1:06:49
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna take them to win something in Turkey this year.
1:06:52
SPEAKER_01: I like that.
1:06:53
SPEAKER_01: I like that.
1:06:54
SPEAKER_01: They were on my list for Turkey.
1:06:55
SPEAKER_01: I mean, there's a there's a couple there, but I I do think Fenerbache are pretty strong.
1:07:00
SPEAKER_01: I will go, Brandon.
1:07:02
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna take an Italian team to try to win something, and I'm gonna do it.
1:07:08
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna I'm not gonna go where you're expecting.
1:07:11
SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
1:07:12
SPEAKER_02: You don't you don't know what I I don't know because I don't even know what you're expecting here.
1:07:16
SPEAKER_02: Oh god, I'm torn.
1:07:18
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna do it.
1:07:19
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna take my guy.
1:07:20
SPEAKER_01: Take both.
1:07:22
SPEAKER_01: I can't, I took Frozenone.
1:07:23
SPEAKER_01: Oh, you did.
1:07:24
SPEAKER_01: Off you pop, off you pop.
1:07:26
SPEAKER_01: I'll take AC Milan.
1:07:27
SPEAKER_01: Give me Ruben Amarim.
1:07:29
SPEAKER_01: I don't love it.
1:07:31
SPEAKER_01: Their crosstown rivals are a much better team at present.
1:07:35
SPEAKER_01: However, I like that they're in the Europa League instead of the Champions League.
1:07:39
SPEAKER_01: I think there's more of a chance of winning a European trophy there.
1:07:43
SPEAKER_01: I also think Amorim, difficult side to play against structurally.
1:07:47
SPEAKER_01: It's a little bit different, the back three.
1:07:49
SPEAKER_01: I think maybe a cup run is in store for them.
1:07:52
SPEAKER_01: And you never know in Serie A.
1:07:53
SPEAKER_01: I don't know that it'll be an interrunaway this season.
1:07:57
SPEAKER_01: So uh I think there's at least a couple of shots with AC Mulan.
1:08:01
SPEAKER_02: Okay, okay.
1:08:02
SPEAKER_02: Interesting, interesting.
1:08:03
SPEAKER_02: I don't hate it.
1:08:04
SPEAKER_01: Uh and then uh I'm up again, right?
1:08:08
SPEAKER_01: And uh I'm gonna take I'm gonna take a team from Denmark.
1:08:12
SPEAKER_01: Uh I'm going to take FC Copenhagen.
1:08:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, just uh yeah, the just classy kits too, really cool kits.
1:08:21
SPEAKER_01: A cool city seemingly, it looks awesome in Copenhagen.
1:08:24
SPEAKER_01: They usually produce some young talent.
1:08:26
SPEAKER_01: I uh they've got a few hitters coming through the ranks now.
1:08:29
SPEAKER_01: They've got Yusuf Mokoko starting up top, the former Dortmund prospect.
1:08:34
SPEAKER_01: I'm a fan of him.
1:08:35
SPEAKER_01: I I'm interested in FC Copenhagen and a chance to make a little bit of noise in Europe as well.
1:08:40
unknown: Okay.
1:08:42
SPEAKER_02: That is a good choice, Sean.
1:08:44
SPEAKER_02: I am up for two, and I've oh sorry, are we playing to 12?
1:08:50
SPEAKER_00: Let's do 12.
1:08:52
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:08:52
SPEAKER_02: We have 10 now.
1:08:53
SPEAKER_02: I have nine.
1:08:56
SPEAKER_01: I have 10.
1:08:56
SPEAKER_01: So this will be your 10th pick, so we'll go to 12 rounds.
1:08:58
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:08:59
SPEAKER_02: So I pick 10 and 11.
1:09:00
SPEAKER_01: You pick your last one, and then I'll pick 10.
1:09:02
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:09:03
SPEAKER_02: I alright.
1:09:05
SPEAKER_02: So my 11 and 12 are pretty much saved.
1:09:09
SPEAKER_02: I'll take another relegation team.
1:09:11
SPEAKER_02: Why not?
1:09:11
SPEAKER_02: I actually don't, yeah, I don't have a team from this country at all.
1:09:14
SPEAKER_02: I'm going to take Padderborn from the Bundesliga to go down.
1:09:18
SPEAKER_01: I had them as my go-down Bundesliga team as well.
1:09:21
SPEAKER_01: Seen a bit pretty decent pick there.
1:09:24
SPEAKER_02: Enjoy your enjoy your cup of coffee, but it might not last too long.
1:09:28
SPEAKER_02: And pick 11 to I can take.
1:09:32
unknown: Hmm.
1:09:33
SPEAKER_02: Alright, I'll I'll I'll I'll match your uh Holland energy, and I'll take Feynord, the third team in Holland, to to maybe do something.
1:09:42
SPEAKER_02: So I'll take those guys to to maybe win something.
1:09:45
SPEAKER_02: Maybe win maybe they'll mess around and win the the Dutch league, but I think it's a safe choice with my 11th pick.
1:09:53
SPEAKER_01: God, I could, I could go, I could go 20 rounds on this.
1:09:56
SPEAKER_01: I have so many teams that I would love to pick still.
1:09:58
SPEAKER_01: I don't will.
1:10:00
SPEAKER_02: I mean, do you want to go to 15?
1:10:02
SPEAKER_02: Can we go to 15?
1:10:04
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
1:10:05
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we're doing this once and then it's set.
1:10:07
SPEAKER_01: So you know what I mean?
1:10:08
SPEAKER_01: Hey, listen.
1:10:08
SPEAKER_01: Honestly, man, let's make it 16 because you have to do round numbers on the snake draft.
1:10:12
SPEAKER_01: So I apologize.
1:10:13
SPEAKER_00: 16 it is.
1:10:14
SPEAKER_01: For listeners of the Tortured Fans Department, this is a staple that we extend the rounds of the draft because we're having a good time.
1:10:19
SPEAKER_01: That's that's that's that's the free space on the bingo card.
1:10:23
SPEAKER_01: I do need to be mindful that I don't take a third team from a country, though.
1:10:27
SPEAKER_01: So just make sure you check me on that.
1:10:28
SPEAKER_01: I could you could be running rampant over me taking five teams per country.
1:10:32
SPEAKER_01: I am not monitoring your situation.
1:10:33
SPEAKER_02: I'm not monitoring yours either.
1:10:35
SPEAKER_01: This is a trust tree.
1:10:36
SPEAKER_01: I will be taking my second Spanish team.
1:10:39
SPEAKER_01: I'll take Atletico Madrid.
1:10:41
SPEAKER_01: I I fancy a cup run.
1:10:43
SPEAKER_01: I I think maybe I think they can end up with some hardware under Simeone.
1:10:47
SPEAKER_01: It looks like Christian Romero will be joining them.
1:10:50
SPEAKER_01: I can get behind that angry bunch of Argentinians over there.
1:10:53
SPEAKER_01: Also, I don't have I have one English team in its whole city.
1:10:58
SPEAKER_01: So do I pull the trigger on another one?
1:11:00
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
1:11:01
SPEAKER_01: Pick somebody else to go down.
1:11:03
SPEAKER_01: No, I don't want to hate watch teams.
1:11:05
SPEAKER_01: I like I like Ipswich and Coventry, you know.
1:11:08
SPEAKER_01: I don't want to do that.
1:11:09
SPEAKER_02: You don't have to pick them.
1:11:10
SPEAKER_02: You can pick somebody else to go down.
1:11:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Fulham.
1:11:13
SPEAKER_01: I like them too.
1:11:14
SPEAKER_01: I will take Brandon.
1:11:16
SPEAKER_01: I'll take the other Turkish counterpart heavy hitter, I'll take Galatasurai.
1:11:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:11:21
SPEAKER_01: I don't love it.
1:11:22
SPEAKER_01: I would have probably preferred Fenerbache, but I I don't hate it either.
1:11:26
SPEAKER_01: I think there's a 50-50 chance they walk away with something.
1:11:29
SPEAKER_02: Alright.
1:11:30
SPEAKER_02: My next two picks, so I need to pick that.
1:11:33
SPEAKER_02: Well, I if we were going originally to 12, I wouldn't have picked Fire Nord at 11 because I could have saved it, but it's all good.
1:11:41
SPEAKER_02: I am gonna pick another team.
1:11:43
SPEAKER_02: Yes, another team from France, but this one to go down.
1:11:46
SPEAKER_02: Le Mans.
1:11:47
SPEAKER_02: Les Mans.
1:11:49
SPEAKER_02: The Mans.
1:11:50
SPEAKER_02: The Mans.
1:11:51
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
1:11:52
SPEAKER_02: Get your man's back to Salik too.
1:11:56
SPEAKER_02: Boy.
1:11:56
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
1:11:57
SPEAKER_02: Just a little slight hey watch.
1:12:00
SPEAKER_02: And I have not yeah, I have not dipped my toe in the in the Portuguese waters.
1:12:05
SPEAKER_02: And I'm sorry.
1:12:06
SPEAKER_02: I'm circling.
1:12:07
SPEAKER_00: I might I might be going back to Portugal, so you better take better piss.
1:12:10
SPEAKER_00: And you took Porto.
1:12:12
SPEAKER_00: That's it.
1:12:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
1:12:13
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
1:12:13
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
1:12:14
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna go with my boys, sporting Lisbon.
1:12:17
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna take them to maybe come home with a little bit of a little trophy, a cup, maybe.
1:12:22
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
1:12:24
SPEAKER_01: I think I think that's gonna be a knockdown drag out fight, and that's good value for you to get them several rounds after I took Porto.
1:12:31
SPEAKER_01: That's a good pick.
1:12:32
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:12:34
SPEAKER_01: I'm tapped out on Italy, I'm tapped out on Spain.
1:12:36
SPEAKER_01: So I cannot select anybody from those countries anymore.
1:12:40
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna uh do it just because you still could, and I don't want you to just clean up on Scotland in case Celtic don't win something.
1:12:50
SPEAKER_01: I will take Rangers.
1:12:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well I just feel like that's that's a safe measure.
1:12:55
SPEAKER_01: Yep, that's definitely fair.
1:12:57
SPEAKER_01: Okay, and then my 13th pick, I believe, is going to be uh I'll take Monaco.
1:13:03
SPEAKER_01: I'll take Monaco in France.
1:13:05
SPEAKER_01: I don't have a French team, they're in the conference league, so that's why I I lean towards them.
1:13:12
SPEAKER_01: I think there's a decent chance at a Coupe de France and a Conference League run from Monaco, so I will I will take them.
1:13:21
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:13:22
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:13:26
SPEAKER_01: I can't believe you took my Saudi team.
1:13:29
SPEAKER_01: I'm so upset about that.
1:13:30
SPEAKER_02: I apologize.
1:13:32
SPEAKER_02: I'll take Do I want to hate watch or do I wanna do I wanna enjoy it?
1:13:41
SPEAKER_02: You know what?
1:13:42
SPEAKER_02: I'll I'll enjoy my football a little more.
1:13:43
SPEAKER_02: Maybe one in one.
1:13:44
SPEAKER_02: One in one.
1:13:45
SPEAKER_02: Let's take.
1:13:46
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna double up on Portugal and I'll take Benfica.
1:13:51
SPEAKER_02: Again, same thing.
1:13:53
SPEAKER_02: I think it's a it's a positive option.
1:13:55
SPEAKER_02: Will they win for me?
1:13:56
SPEAKER_02: I don't know, but they're always, always near the top of the table, and I and I want winners, so we'll take them.
1:14:05
SPEAKER_02: My second to last pick.
1:14:06
SPEAKER_02: Alright, so I just picked so Portugal is done for me.
1:14:09
SPEAKER_02: I can't take them.
1:14:10
SPEAKER_02: I will take a hate watch team.
1:14:15
SPEAKER_02: We're gonna go back to your country of Italy, and I'll take Monza.
1:14:20
SPEAKER_02: The reason I picked them simply is because they're owned by an American investment firm, and I hate how soccer become owned by these big corporations.
1:14:29
SPEAKER_02: So, Monza in Italy.
1:14:31
SPEAKER_02: I hope they go down.
1:14:32
SPEAKER_02: I hope they go down.
1:14:34
SPEAKER_02: Interesting.
1:14:35
SPEAKER_02: Oh boy.
1:14:37
SPEAKER_02: Oh my god, wait.
1:14:38
SPEAKER_02: Can I take that back?
1:14:42
SPEAKER_02: I messed up.
1:14:43
SPEAKER_02: I messed up.
1:14:44
SPEAKER_00: No.
1:14:44
SPEAKER_02: Hey, I messed up.
1:14:45
SPEAKER_02: I messed up.
1:14:46
SPEAKER_01: I'm sorry.
1:14:47
SPEAKER_01: What is it?
1:14:47
SPEAKER_01: Is it a like for like?
1:14:48
SPEAKER_01: What is this?
1:14:49
SPEAKER_02: No, it's a team to go up.
1:14:50
SPEAKER_02: It's a team to win.
1:14:51
SPEAKER_02: I just realized that that would be my third Italian team.
1:14:54
SPEAKER_01: Oh, okay.
1:14:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it has to be off the board then.
1:14:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:14:57
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:14:57
SPEAKER_01: No, no, no.
1:14:58
SPEAKER_02: I'm saying no, no, no.
1:14:59
SPEAKER_02: I'm saying the team I was gonna take with my last pick was gonna be Italian.
1:15:02
SPEAKER_02: Oh, okay.
1:15:03
SPEAKER_02: So thanks, Sean.
1:15:06
SPEAKER_02: So it is my pick?
1:15:08
SPEAKER_02: No, no, no.
1:15:08
SPEAKER_02: I I'm taking Monza off the board.
1:15:11
SPEAKER_01: Okay, well then who are you replacing them with?
1:15:12
SPEAKER_02: Inter Milan.
1:15:14
SPEAKER_02: Oh my god.
1:15:15
SPEAKER_00: Remember that one, folks.
1:15:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no.
1:15:17
SPEAKER_02: I it's funny.
1:15:18
SPEAKER_02: I had it, I had it, I can show you the I had it written in as 16, and then totally forgot they were that Monza was also in Italy.
1:15:26
SPEAKER_01: Hand might have been off the chess piece there, folks.
1:15:28
SPEAKER_02: I will pick.
1:15:29
SPEAKER_02: I will pick my last pick, will be a team to go down.
1:15:32
SPEAKER_02: So maximum of one point.
1:15:34
SPEAKER_01: Okay, so how many picks have you made already?
1:15:38
SPEAKER_02: Fifth that was 15, so I have one more.
1:15:41
SPEAKER_01: And I have two more.
1:15:42
SPEAKER_02: Yep.
1:15:43
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
1:15:43
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:15:44
SPEAKER_01: I will be taking.
1:15:46
SPEAKER_01: Oh man.
1:15:47
SPEAKER_01: This is where the heart is starting to speak loudly.
1:15:51
SPEAKER_01: And I'm nothing, if not a man who picks from the heart.
1:15:55
SPEAKER_01: Give me Tottenham.
1:15:57
SPEAKER_02: Up or down.
1:15:59
SPEAKER_01: Shut up, you fucker.
1:16:01
SPEAKER_01: You you're an arsenal scum.
1:16:03
SPEAKER_01: You are you are nasty.
1:16:05
SPEAKER_01: It is Tottenham, we're gonna win the FA Cup.
1:16:07
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:16:07
SPEAKER_01: How's that?
1:16:08
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
1:16:08
SPEAKER_01: And potentially the league.
1:16:10
SPEAKER_01: So just put word out.
1:16:12
SPEAKER_01: And then my other pick, here's where I really am torn between again the heart and the head, because peek behind the curtain, I do want to root for Dortmund in the Bundesliga, but I already have Bayern.
1:16:26
SPEAKER_01: So I I don't I don't really think that's the best strategy.
1:16:30
SPEAKER_01: I think I need to just blindly trust another part of my heart.
1:16:37
SPEAKER_01: And I'll take Al Nasir, led by Anj Pastacaglu.
1:16:41
SPEAKER_01: I detest most of their playing roster, Brandon.
1:16:44
SPEAKER_01: Like it's full of guys I don't like.
1:16:46
SPEAKER_01: Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, guy like real bad guys.
1:16:51
SPEAKER_01: I and I'm just gonna take them blindly because of my boy Ange.
1:16:56
SPEAKER_01: So I think their roster is ancient.
1:16:59
SPEAKER_01: I don't think they're any good.
1:17:00
SPEAKER_01: I really want it all.
1:17:02
SPEAKER_01: And I'm pissed we might be talking trade later, but give me all Nasir, give me Cristiano, CR7.
1:17:09
SPEAKER_01: Let's do it again, mate.
1:17:11
SPEAKER_02: Good, good choice, Sean.
1:17:13
SPEAKER_02: And now you're you're done, right?
1:17:14
SPEAKER_02: That was your 16th.
1:17:15
SPEAKER_02: I'm done.
1:17:16
SPEAKER_01: Done.
1:17:16
SPEAKER_02: All right.
1:17:17
SPEAKER_01: So I don't think I have 16 written down.
1:17:19
SPEAKER_01: Can you tell me we're in the 16th round?
1:17:21
SPEAKER_01: I've counted 15 five times.
1:17:24
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, I have I have 15, and you have 15.
1:17:27
SPEAKER_02: So or 16.
1:17:28
SPEAKER_01: Maybe.
1:17:28
SPEAKER_01: I think what happened is I just didn't write one of my picks down, but I I trust that we're in this last pick of the draft here.
1:17:33
SPEAKER_00: All right.
1:17:34
unknown: Okay.
1:17:34
SPEAKER_01: Make it a good one.
1:17:35
SPEAKER_01: Because that inter that inter pick might be coming off the board.
1:17:39
SPEAKER_02: Fair enough.
1:17:42
SPEAKER_02: A Belgian team.
1:17:43
SPEAKER_02: I have no Belgium Belgium representation, but it's a team to go down because I said I'm a man of honor.
1:17:48
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna take SK Beverin to go down in the Belgian league.
1:17:53
SPEAKER_02: And reason being sound like farmers.
1:17:56
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they they sound like farmers, but also they're majority owned by David Blitzer, the guy that owns the Sixers and the Devils.
1:18:03
SPEAKER_02: And not a huge fan of that guy.
1:18:05
SPEAKER_02: Can't own teams in different cities, different sports.
1:18:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, like not good.
1:18:10
SPEAKER_02: They're also just coming up from the second division, so I expect them to just do a quick U-turn and go back down.
1:18:14
SPEAKER_00: I can't believe I took Tottenham and a trophies draft.
1:18:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
1:18:17
SPEAKER_00: Wild.
1:18:18
SPEAKER_02: I'll I'll I'll clip it, and I'm I don't even know how to edit, and I'll clip it.
1:18:23
SPEAKER_01: I had to hit the pillow just fine tonight, though, knowing my behavior in this draft.
1:18:28
SPEAKER_01: Alright.
1:18:29
SPEAKER_01: Do you have your teams to rattle off?
1:18:30
SPEAKER_01: I'll quickly go over mine.
1:18:32
SPEAKER_01: I have Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Club Bruga, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, FC Copenhagen, FC Porto, Frozenone to go down, Hole City to go down, Alnasir, Galatasaray, Rangers, and I think that's it.
1:18:51
SPEAKER_01: Yes, that is it.
1:18:53
SPEAKER_02: You might have to do a recount.
1:18:54
SPEAKER_02: I think you only need 14 team.
1:18:57
SPEAKER_01: I've I I can assure you that was 16.
1:19:00
SPEAKER_02: I was trying to count with you, but maybe I can't count.
1:19:03
SPEAKER_02: So it might only be 14.
1:19:06
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think it's only 14.
1:19:07
SPEAKER_00: Fifth, Monaco, Monaco.
1:19:09
SPEAKER_00: Oh, you know you didn't mention them.
1:19:11
SPEAKER_00: I didn't say them.
1:19:12
SPEAKER_01: And that's what I mean.
1:19:13
SPEAKER_01: I think it might be team short.
1:19:14
SPEAKER_01: I'll pick up a free agent if I have to.
1:19:16
SPEAKER_02: Okay, fair enough.
1:19:16
SPEAKER_02: Fair enough.
1:19:17
SPEAKER_02: At this point, it's like it's a it's a crap shoot, so that's fine.
1:19:21
SPEAKER_01: We have half of the world.
1:19:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
1:19:23
SPEAKER_02: Alright, so my list we have PSG, Celtic, Real Madrid, West Ham, Arsenal, Alila, Broma, Lincoln City to go down, Fener Bosch, Paderborn to go down, Feyenoord, Le Mont to also go down.
1:19:41
SPEAKER_02: Yep.
1:19:41
SPEAKER_02: Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, Inter Milan, and SK Beverin to go down.
1:19:46
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
1:19:47
SPEAKER_02: You took a lot of relegations candidates.
1:19:49
SPEAKER_02: I like that.
1:19:50
SPEAKER_01: No, I know, but I like that because I wish I had one more.
1:19:53
SPEAKER_01: I'm sitting here thinking I wish I had another team going down.
1:19:56
SPEAKER_01: Well, you might only have 15 picks, so there you go.
1:19:59
SPEAKER_01: I might be picking one up.
1:20:00
SPEAKER_01: It might be picking one up real quick.
1:20:02
SPEAKER_01: Okay, Brandon, that was fun.
1:20:03
SPEAKER_01: I had a ton of fun.
1:20:04
SPEAKER_01: We'll get a little graphic out for to monitor that, and I'll have a spreadsheet, of course.
1:20:08
SPEAKER_01: You know I'm a spreadsheet guy to keep track of any trophies.
1:20:12
SPEAKER_01: And we're not counting, by the way, we're not counting Mickey Mouse trophies for the listener's context.
1:20:16
SPEAKER_01: We're counting full season cup competitions.
1:20:19
SPEAKER_01: We're not counting the charity shield or the super cup, which is a hit and giggle.
1:20:23
SPEAKER_01: No, no, no.
1:20:24
SPEAKER_01: These are proper trophies only.
1:20:26
SPEAKER_01: We're both we're both on board with that.
1:20:28
SPEAKER_01: We're not pulling one over each other's eyes.
1:20:30
SPEAKER_01: We're just trying to have a good, friendly competition.
1:20:32
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it'll be fun, Sean.
1:20:33
SPEAKER_02: It's a cool way to keep us locked in.
1:20:35
SPEAKER_02: Maybe some leagues that we don't have eyes on typically, so we're we'll be cheering for teams, cheering for teams to lose, also, which is interesting and different.
1:20:42
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, it'll be a fun little competition, season long, and we'll we'll keep you updated listeners throughout the season, which of course is only going to be zeros, but we'll we'll give updates on where teams are and how they're doing in their competitions.
1:20:55
SPEAKER_01: For sure.
1:20:55
SPEAKER_01: It gives us a good way to keep in touch with the listeners and also keep an eye on all the leagues, at least from a distance.
1:21:02
SPEAKER_01: So that's what kind of what was the genesis of the draft.
1:21:05
SPEAKER_01: I wanted something to do just that, and I think this is a good way to do it.
1:21:09
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, before we head out, I think we just gotta cover is there anything you're watching this weekend?
1:21:13
SPEAKER_01: Is there any games on already?
1:21:15
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we got some we got some games on.
1:21:16
SPEAKER_02: Leagues Cup's now playing for the MLS.
1:21:18
SPEAKER_02: I'll I'll stay a little domestic.
1:21:20
SPEAKER_02: I know you got some games overseas, Sean.
1:21:22
SPEAKER_02: Leagues Cup and MLS is going on simultaneously.
1:21:24
SPEAKER_02: I do apologize, listeners.
1:21:25
SPEAKER_02: Last week I said the MLS season stopped for Leagues Cup.
1:21:28
SPEAKER_02: It does not stop.
1:21:29
SPEAKER_02: They play at the same time, basically.
1:21:32
SPEAKER_02: Uh we have games all weekend long.
1:21:34
SPEAKER_02: A couple on Saturday to watch uh Miami FC sorry, Inter-Mamiami FC plays Monterey, Toluca plays LAFC, and on Sunday, uh Cruz Azul plays NYCFC.
1:21:46
SPEAKER_02: So some good matchups between some Liga MX teams and some MLS teams.
1:21:51
SPEAKER_02: I'll probably have my eyes on those Sean.
1:21:53
SPEAKER_01: I love it.
1:21:54
SPEAKER_01: That's what I'll mostly be watching as well.
1:21:56
SPEAKER_01: I will just give the listeners the heads up that the Scottish League is underway.
1:22:01
SPEAKER_01: They started last weekend, uh, League of Portugal starts this weekend, the Aer Divisi in the Netherlands starts this weekend.
1:22:07
SPEAKER_01: So all of these teams that we talked about today that were drafted have either started their campaigns or are starting in the weeks to come.
1:22:16
SPEAKER_01: So I thought it was the appropriate time to have such a draft.
1:22:20
SPEAKER_01: Here's to hoping that a couple of our teams make some marquee signings these last few weeks and really strengthen.
1:22:27
SPEAKER_01: I'm looking at you, Almasir.
1:22:28
SPEAKER_01: I know you got money.
1:22:29
SPEAKER_01: So let's start splashing it on some youth, okay?
1:22:32
SPEAKER_01: I can't have Ronaldo playing all 90 every week.
1:22:36
SPEAKER_01: I can't believe that this draft turned me into a Ronaldo guy after a whole life of disliking him.
1:22:41
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I'm an Arsenal guy now, supposedly, so it and it does it.
1:22:46
SPEAKER_02: No, it doesn't, it does it to all of us.
1:22:48
SPEAKER_02: So unfortunately, you gotta do what you gotta do to win sometime, Sean.
1:22:52
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
1:22:52
SPEAKER_01: And just hammer it home one more time.
1:22:55
SPEAKER_01: For the listeners, I took Tottenham, Brandon took Arsenal.
1:22:57
SPEAKER_01: That's the moral of the story there.
1:22:58
SPEAKER_01: And he took them early.
1:22:59
SPEAKER_01: He took them really early.
1:23:01
SPEAKER_02: I did.
1:23:01
SPEAKER_02: I took them with my fifth pick.
1:23:03
SPEAKER_01: So proud and proud of it.
1:23:06
SPEAKER_01: Hey, listen, he's a he's a winner, if nothing else.
1:23:08
SPEAKER_01: I he has that title.
1:23:10
SPEAKER_01: So I'll give him I'll give him credit.
1:23:11
SPEAKER_01: He he's a bona fide winner.
1:23:13
SPEAKER_01: Now at what cost?
1:23:14
SPEAKER_01: He's talking about the the ownership, the Americans buying ownership.
1:23:18
SPEAKER_01: This is just as gross in my opinion.
1:23:20
SPEAKER_01: It's a it's anti-football what he's doing, but hey, if you if you win, you do whatever the hell you want.
1:23:25
SPEAKER_02: Exactly, exactly.
1:23:26
SPEAKER_02: Jordan and Kobe didn't have friends either, so it's fine.
1:23:29
SPEAKER_02: That's fair.
1:23:30
SPEAKER_02: You better win now, though.
1:23:31
SPEAKER_02: I'm telling you that.
1:23:32
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna be digging up clips.
1:23:34
SPEAKER_02: Fair enough, fair enough.
1:23:35
SPEAKER_02: Sean, anything else to end tonight's episode?
1:23:39
SPEAKER_01: No.
1:23:39
SPEAKER_01: No, this was a lot of fun.
1:23:41
SPEAKER_01: Always enjoy a draft.
1:23:42
SPEAKER_01: We will be doing a Premier League focused draft, kind of similar to our World Cup player pool as well, but that'll be we'll save that for just before the season begins.
1:23:50
SPEAKER_02: Yep, yep.
1:23:51
SPEAKER_02: More drafts on the horizon.
1:23:52
SPEAKER_02: Sean, thank you as always.
1:23:54
SPEAKER_02: This was a fun one.
1:23:55
SPEAKER_02: Love getting to compete with you.
1:23:57
SPEAKER_02: Uh this will be a fun one, and I think it'll be close.
1:23:59
SPEAKER_02: So listeners, it'll be a low-scoring, cagey affair.
1:24:03
SPEAKER_02: Love going to war with you.
1:24:04
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, come May, we might be, you know, about to fight, but uh it's all good.
1:24:09
SPEAKER_00: Portuguese trying to see who wins that cup.
1:24:12
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
1:24:13
SPEAKER_02: Some illegal stream or something online.
1:24:15
SPEAKER_02: But listeners, thank you as always.
1:24:18
SPEAKER_02: We appreciate the support, like, comment.
1:24:21
SPEAKER_02: Sean has teased.
1:24:23
SPEAKER_02: It's it's not active yet, but there's some some merch on the horizon.
1:24:27
SPEAKER_02: Uh it's it's coming soon, so so keep your eyes out for that.
1:24:30
SPEAKER_02: Subscribe, tell a friend to tell a friend.
1:24:32
SPEAKER_02: We always appreciate it.
1:24:34
SPEAKER_02: And until next time, take care.