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MLS is BACK: Breaking Down the Matches vs. SKC and Vancouver + Recapping the Events of the World Cup Break!
46 Plays11 days ago
Just Gorts and Ari this week! They recap the goings on at the club over the World Cup break before diving into the recent matches versus Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps!
You can follow the show on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/looncalling.bsky.social
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Transcript
Introduction and Return to Podcasting
00:00:15
Speaker
Hello everybody and welcome to Loom Calling, podcast dedicated to Minnesota United Football Club. And as always, am joined here with my friend in Minnesota United fandom, Gortz.
MLS vs. World Cup Viewing Experience
00:00:27
Speaker
Gortz, how are you doing? It's been forever since we've recorded podcast. Yeah, I don't even know. It's been a while. It's been over two months.
00:00:39
Speaker
Yeah, a lot lot of shit lot of shit has happened. To say the least. To say the least. Glad we're back in the swing of things. MLS is back.
00:00:52
Speaker
Oh, we're back home. We're back home to MLS, the best league in the world, Gortz. How are you feeling about getting back into the swing of things, especially after... I know we were talking before the podcast started. You said you hadn't
World Cup Excitement and Local Impact
00:01:06
Speaker
watched. You've watched more baseball than soccer over the World Cup break. But of the World Cup that you did see, have you has it been a challenge getting back to MLS quality or not? No. no um Maybe. ah That France-England game really seemed like it was like MLS quality with how open each other's defenses were. like That was the one thing that stood out to me about that match.
00:01:34
Speaker
People would say this is world class. This this this this can happen in MLS on any given day. so The best advertisement for the league, just if you want to watch a league where nobody nobody has a defensive quality, really, and MLS is for you.
00:01:51
Speaker
If you want to watch you know so Cincinnati and in Vancouver trade blows in ah in a seven-goal game, you got it. Exactly. how ah How was your World Cup break? that How much of the World Cup did you actually end up watching?
00:02:09
Speaker
oh i mean, I watched... i watched a I think I watched every single game of the U.S. other than the turkey game.
00:02:21
Speaker
cause you know that i didn't watch the turkey game either. because watched to knockout stages, was watching was able watch full... few you know so when they got to the knockout stages i kind of you know i was watching that so and then was they able to watch the full 90 minutes of the England-France game and then was only able to basically catch extra time of Argentina-Spain, which I think was kind of good based on what I heard about the...
00:02:57
Speaker
the the night and then in the 90 90 minutes, it was kind of a boring game. So, yeah, you caught the most important part of the match, so you didn't miss a whole lot. I ended up in the World Cup really loving the group stage and because I could watch, you know, all of the evening, you know, slotted games during the group stage were perfect for me because i have to work during the day. so I really loved the group stage. And then as soon as the knockout stage got in the later, you know, in the later sections of it, all the games were happening in the middle of the workday. So I basically couldn't catch any of the games, which was pretty disappointing for me. So basically the last, you know, the most important part of the tournament, I basically watched none of it live. And I was just like...
00:03:47
Speaker
looking at notifications on FopMob and trying to get the game to stream on my phone, which was, depending on where in the city I am, it's either easy or very challenging. And then I was watching it or wash it on Telemundo because, you know, brushing up on my Spanish plus the...
00:04:12
Speaker
They didn't, you know, break away from the action with their commercials during the hydration break. Oh, the hyration the hydration breaks, man. Oh, my God. Yeah, I mean...
00:04:24
Speaker
I have complicated feelings about the World Cup. um i think it mostly i think I mostly have a sour taste in my mouth just because I couldn't watch most of the of the knockout stage, really.
00:04:37
Speaker
um That kind of left a sour ah taste in my mouth. But honestly, like all of the moments that we got in the World Cup with, with you know... with Cape Verde and, you know, ah i loved all the content that was coming out of Mexico with the Korean, the South Korean fans and the Mexican fans and all of the, just like the cultural stuff that comes out of the, of the world cup. And, ah you know, more people were watching soccer around me than I'm ever used to even caring about it. I would go to my neighborhood bar
00:05:14
Speaker
on on lake street and i would go and matches would be on and people are watching the match and all of a sudden i'm starting conversations with people about soccer when normally yourre everyday run-of-the-mill american sport fan it doesn't really give a shit about soccer so It was kind of cool for a couple of months. People seem to care about it. um And we'll see how much of that carries into like in all actuality, I think the Prem, the Premier League will see the biggest boost, I think, in viewership, especially here in the US, because, you know, that's the best league in the world. It's the it's the fastest pace. It's got the most amount of stars that people would would recognize.
00:05:57
Speaker
um You know, you have Holland, which I think was probably the star that had the most, you know... How do I phrase this? I think Holland like gained a lot of fans in the U.S. just because of him being here and being a pretty good ambassador for the sport. you know um so Man City might have ah a boost in the viewership from the U.S. We'll see. yeah We'll get quite a few people that have probably you know they'll hop on.
00:06:30
Speaker
Okay, who's the you know good team and pop on the bandwagon.
00:06:38
Speaker
Who do you support it in the Premier League again? I'm an Everton fan. Everton, the Toffees. That's rough.
00:06:49
Speaker
Yup, I've been over there for...
00:06:55
Speaker
i seen five? Okay, The Newcastle 2-2 game. um the The year that Southampton went down, the Everton lost one. they i've been over there four times, and I didn't see them. So...
00:07:18
Speaker
so Well, you you will be, ah i have yet you will not be glad to know that I've decided to support Liverpool. So I'm
00:07:33
Speaker
going to stay out. Are you to stay out of it? You know, you can, you know.
00:07:44
Speaker
It doesn't really matter, you know. all, you know, you're a human being, I'm a human being. We all have our opinions and... your Respect, you know, i can disagree with a few things, but, you know, I'm not going to say, oh, you know, you're a bad person now, but. Oh, that's very respectful of you. I appreciate that. I appreciate it. And also, like, I'm not at the point where, like, you know, if Liverpool starts pissing me off, I might just choose to support another team. You know, I'm not I'm not in the trenches quite yet. I've just decided Liverpool, especially now that they have a new manager, you know, I feel like it's a good point for me to try at least.
00:08:25
Speaker
Supporting and following a team, but I'll be paying attention to, you know, you got, I always love watching the Derby matches, no matter who it is. So I'm watching the Manchester Derby. I'm watching what's the Liverpool, what's the Everton Liverpool Derby called?
00:08:40
Speaker
Merseyside. Yeah. mercy side already Because of the river mercy. um I love watching the Derby matches and then i will try to just pay attention to the the storylines throughout the season and and see who catches my eye.
00:08:56
Speaker
um I do love supporting a team that's lower in the table that is doing better than people expect them to do. And I do like supporting the the teams that just got promoted to see who's going to stay up or if all three are just going to go right back down. That's always interesting to follow. So we'll see. We're still what, like um a month away from from the kickoff of the Premier League season. So yeah, we're maybe two or three weeks away. You're so exciting stuff. Yeah, exciting stuff.
00:09:29
Speaker
Transfer windows about to get crazy probably. um We'll see. i just The last thing I heard is that Vinicius Jr. might be going to Arsenal.
00:09:42
Speaker
Because I think he has a year he has a year left on his contract. Yeah. And I don't know if he wants to re re-sign, but Madrid might.
00:09:54
Speaker
Who knows? We'll see. We'll see what happens.
Minnesota United FC Updates
00:09:58
Speaker
Well, from the Premier League to the best league in the world, MLS. Let's talk. Let's talk about the loons, huh? We've been we've been out of the loop for about a month. Let's see. The last episode that we released, I believe, was in like June 3rd or something like that. Yeah.
00:10:18
Speaker
And that was the interview with Wes Burdine, which if y'all haven't checked that out, that is a very good episode. Wes is a very cool dude, the owner of Black Heart of St. Paul, and I believe the co-founder of ah Minnesota Aurora. um So very good episode to check out if you haven't already. um Yeah, June 3rd was our last episode. So it has been, yeah almost two months since we've recorded an episode. So let's talk about the loons. A lot has transpired since we have been gone. I just have a list here of of items that have happened. ah Gortz, if you want to chime in on any of this stuff, you're welcome to. Otherwise, I'm just going to run through this list here.
00:11:03
Speaker
um The first thing going to mention... um Nectar Triantis underwent a medical procedure, I believe a voluntary one to fix. I don't really know the details of it, but it was a voluntary medical procedure. So he's out of the lineup.
00:11:19
Speaker
I don't really know what the timeline is for that. Gortz, did you hear? Like when he's going back like him. I think Diaz also, I mean, I don't blame, I kind of don't blame them for getting it done during the getting, you know, the medical procedures done during the world cup break.
00:11:40
Speaker
Yeah. Um, that's probably the best time to do it when you have a two month break in the season and then we're breaking for leagues cup, which is annoying.
00:11:52
Speaker
Um, So might as well just get that done. Um, so yeah, hopefully it gets in the lineup soon. um like him, he's been having a bit of a down year compared to last year, but perhaps this procedure relates to that. Perhaps he had picked up an injury that was bothering him and was affecting his level. And, you know, hopefully this will actually rectify the issue.
00:12:15
Speaker
Uh, next item. Markanic is an all-star, which is actually quite relevant because the all-star game happens tomorrow, I believe. Um, Yeah. Congratulations to him.
00:12:26
Speaker
um One of the one of the the best scorers on the team, one of the best playmakers on the team. um You know, I think it's well deserved, especially since he's a left back.
00:12:38
Speaker
The amount that he scores is kind of ridiculous. He just kind of finds himself in the right place. So ah very happy for him. um Our head of goalkeeping, Thomas Fadri, moves on. He was with the team for three seasons, um and Cristiano Costa replaces him, who was the head of goalkeeping for the second team. He gets that promotion, so that is a little staff change there. Devin Padelford signed an extension through the 20, the 2028 to season with an option of
00:13:13
Speaker
uh, the 29 and 30 season. Gortz, do you like this? Do do you like this extension? I love it. I mean, you know, but Alfred local kid, um, you know, i think he's, he's a, he's a, he's a great player, you know, can cover that left, uh, left back role as well as, you know, center back as well.
00:13:37
Speaker
Like I'm way more in it as a left back than a center back. Yeah, ah but, you know, I'm glad, you know, get get this because I think um think there was, when he went on loan last half of the season to, I think, St. Louis.
00:13:54
Speaker
St. Louis, I would i think there were some St. Louis
Leadership Changes at Minnesota United FC
00:13:58
Speaker
fans that wished that it would have brought Padelford in on the permanent, but, you know.
00:14:06
Speaker
it It is what it is. And, you know, now he's, you know, still Minnesota kid at heart. So, yeah, I think it truly was alone just to get him minutes because I think last year there just wasn't much room for him in the in the lineup.
00:14:22
Speaker
Um, and I think they just wanted him to play, you know, he wanted him to play because I think it is good extension. Like he's a really good backup option. Um, and honestly probably would be starting at left back if Markannik wasn't so good. Um, because he really does have great pace, um, up and down the pitch and it seems to have great fitness. Um, and,
00:14:45
Speaker
As we saw, this is a little bit of foreshadowing to the the Kansas City conversation. He's a little bit of a defensive liability still because both of SKC's goals come from his his defensive area of the pitch. That wasn't a great way of of putting that. But...
00:15:05
Speaker
you know, gets kind of cooked on both of those plays from what I remember. Um, but he's showed, uh, offensive upside as well. He had that great assist to you, Boa, um, earlier in, the in the season that I still remember. Um, you know, he can serve a ball in the box and he can head a goal in, he got the goal in the Kansas city match too. So, um, He's got a lot of upsides. He's a homegrown kid. Love to keep a homegrown kid on the roster and he will continue to develop. I hope as well.
00:15:38
Speaker
Matush Kamech transferred out. Finally, that did not work out at all. um So wish him the best. ah Hopefully he finds a situation where he can get some playing time.
00:15:50
Speaker
And then Kenya Michel is loaned Costa Rican side I'll say, Um, just to get him some minutes, some really important competitive minutes. Um, he, I believe had around 500 minutes for the second team, uh, and, uh, recorded two assists. At least that's what I remember from this article from the press release.
00:16:14
Speaker
Um, hopefully he gets some good minutes, continues to develop and, and can try to break into the first team come, um, next year. Um, do you have any opinions on Kenya, Michelle?
00:16:27
Speaker
Gortz, have you seen much? Have you been watching much of the Toonies? Not as much as I'd like. But, I mean, from what I've seen, you know, he he looks a looks a tidy little player. So, you know, anything to aid and aid in the development. Yeah.
00:16:48
Speaker
Yeah, I hope it it turns into more playing time for him on the first team roster. Because I believe he's signed to a first team contract. Yeah, yeah, he has. Yeah.
00:16:59
Speaker
Yeah. Signed him last year and then had we loaned him last year, loaned him back straight back. And then.
00:17:12
Speaker
Yep.
00:17:15
Speaker
Alrighty. And then the last big thing that happened while we were gone, Sherry Ballard, the, the CEO of the team announces retirement at the end of the season and the former target executive, Christina Hennington will take her place.
00:17:30
Speaker
Um, I checked out the interviews with her. um she has no sporting experience, uh, but a hell of a lot of corporate experience. It seems like she Knows what she's doing on the business side of things, which is obviously going to be her job is to run the business of the team. So seems like a solid hire.
00:17:54
Speaker
um ah don't really know. i guess we'll see.
Strategic Direction and Roster Rules in MLS
00:17:58
Speaker
um i think Khaled El-Omod was a fantastic hire for the sporting side of things, and I really don't.
00:18:06
Speaker
foresee a change in that anytime soon unless the sporting side takes an absolute tank. I really don't think it has. I think Khalid has shown that he...
00:18:20
Speaker
kind of knows what he's doing and can identify talent or at least is hiring the best people to identify that talent i've been fairly satisfied with the with the players we've brought in from a development perspective i would like to see more impact sightings from an attacking side this window and next window, especially at, you know, just goal scoring.
00:18:50
Speaker
And we could probably use a little extra defensive help as well. But I like the Owen Jen's ah signing and I liked who else did he bring in? Trying to like their answers. Yep. I like how he basically Even if, you know, we sign, you know, somebody that,
00:19:15
Speaker
ah Like we had like, I think, well, Victor was Victor Erickson. He was a college. I think he was a college sign. I think he was one of the first. Yeah. Yeah. Like commit um fits, but hasn't worked out basically. But like, I, I love how he's basically saying if, if things don't work out, he basically just move. He just moves them on.
00:19:42
Speaker
Moves on fairly quickly, um for sure. um And the ones that do work out have worked out. I mean, Momo Dijing, who we are going to talk more about when we get to Vancouver. um Is seemingly developing in the right direction, and that would be huge if he hits because.
00:20:02
Speaker
we paid a pretty good price for him um because, you know, he came from the USL championship. um So, yeah. ah So I don't see foresee any sweeping changes um when she takes over as CEO. um It'll be really interesting to see how...
00:20:21
Speaker
She strategizes for the schedule flip because that is a pretty fucking big thing that's going to happen next year is the sprint season to the actual calendar flip. And there was an article that just came out today by Tenorio and Tom Bogart detailing that the board of directors are...
00:20:42
Speaker
going to be pitching the roster construction changes that would likely start in the 2027 season 2027 to 2028 season so this is a pretty big inflection point i keep forgetting that i'm recording videos so i'm just like sitting here like with my eyes closed talking um It's a pretty big inflection point for the club um in terms of how we want to go about doing business and how we want to participate in the market overall and how the club is going to advertise itself in the market because...
00:21:18
Speaker
I do think they're going to lose a fair amount of season ticket support because of the schedule change, but also because of their lack of of ambition on the sporting side of, like, acquiring talent.
00:21:32
Speaker
um Obviously, I'm empathetic to the model of, like, it pays to be a club that develops players and sells them on. um But...
00:21:46
Speaker
I think we want to see winning teams as well and ambition in terms of like finding the balance between acquiring players to develop and acquiring players that are starters. Now players like Pereira, really like you want more sightings like Pereira who are at a level where I think Pereira might,
00:22:08
Speaker
eventually move on to somewhere else. But also I think he's at a good level here to make an impact. I think his talent is difference making on this roster.
00:22:19
Speaker
um So it's about finding that balance. And we honestly have no idea how Christina is going to slot into that. I hope she seems pretty smart and pretty good at working through a corporate structure. Let's see if she takes to, you you know being strategic on the sporting side of things.
00:22:42
Speaker
You know, i don't i don't really know. Gortz, you have any thoughts about the leadership change? heard from a friend of mine who her mom has friends that were like executives at Target, have basically, have like is it but basically said she she'll as far as the business side she's phenomenal like she she knows she she knows your stuff for the business side so i mean like like you said you know hopefully you know she works hand in hand with khalid
00:23:22
Speaker
um You know, and and Bill McGuire about... Ownership is really, I think, probably the main roadblock, if we're being honest. But, yeah. But, I mean, you look at, like, Sporting Kansas City, who I think are reportedly paying, like, going to be paying, like, $22 million for a player, which yeah would be, like, the third most expensive and MLS transfer of all time.
00:23:51
Speaker
And I think Minnesota, I think, was it, do we have, like, is it, it's either Reynoso or Pereira is, like, a little over $5 million. Yeah. We do not really spend.
00:24:04
Speaker
No. um Partially that's strategic, obviously, but partially that is of the caliber of player that we look to bring in.
00:24:14
Speaker
um And if they are going to lessen the restriction on the roster rules. Hopefully they will do it in a way that won't entirely leave teams like Minnesota in the dust if they aren't going to be ambitious with spending.
00:24:33
Speaker
But i think kind of all signs point to if they're, if they are going to loosen the restrictions, teams like Minnesota that have ownership, like Bill McGuire, who,
00:24:47
Speaker
aren't really opening the pocketbooks for big impact signings are probably going to be left behind a salary floor yeah i'd love to i'd love love to in addition to you know maybe getting that salary cap up is having a salary floor yeah i think that does need to happen Um, because if you don't have relegation, how else are you going to drive spending if you don't have a, of, of, a floor?
00:25:18
Speaker
Um, So I think that does need to happen. And there was mention of that in the article um of of of things that will be proposed is keeping DPs and having a salary cap and obviously a salary floor to promote at least a baseline of spending and probably keeping international slots available.
00:25:43
Speaker
Um, so there's also infinite emphasis on incorporating American, you know, domestic players into the rosters as well. I think that's a very important component to keep because you just can't and MLS should not and cannot turn into a, into the Bundesliga.
00:26:02
Speaker
It really like you, you gotta keep some sort of parody both for the good of the development of just the sport, the development of the national team as well, because, you know, we saw in the world cup that there's still very much like, obviously there are different reasons, you know, and different factors why the, you know, the men's national team lost to Belgium.
00:26:29
Speaker
But I think you have to continue to emphasize, like if you're going to have a domestic league where, you know, 29 of the 32 teams are the United States. Um,
00:26:42
Speaker
um
00:26:45
Speaker
you you got it. You got to make sure that the league is doing its part in developing the talent that's here. So I would like to see that as well. So we'll see where Minnesota United slots in and all that. We really don't know until the changes are voted on and enacted. And then we won't know until the team actually goes out and buys players to see what kind of roster construction we're going to go for. i have a feeling it's going to the same caliber of players that Khaled is already signing.
00:27:18
Speaker
Hopefully with a splash of, of more like, see ya the hummus signing is like the confusing part about it because, you know, That was kind of the most surprising thing that's happened to the team to get a profile player like Thomas. But also I think it was a very unique situation, you know, i worried raise you like, Hey, you know, thanks for keeping me fit for the World Cup. Okay. Now I'm going to go, you know, okay. I'm gone.
00:27:49
Speaker
Yeah, I'm going to see whatever probably, but you know, Colombian team is going to sign him or whatever. I don't really i don't really know. It really like honestly, it didn't really seem like a lot was left in the tank, to be honest, in terms of like really high level. I think if he stayed on the team, he would meaningfully.
00:28:10
Speaker
contribute to chance creation like dude is just fucking crazy talented but bro cannot move has no movement or physical yeah no he body just did you know you know 34 you know 35 maybe i wouldn't be he ain't moving like lino messi and tell you that oh no which is crazy because lino messi's 39 whatever
Match Analysis: Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC
00:28:41
Speaker
Alrighty. i think it's time for us to move on to the sporting Kansas city match. I'm so sweaty. It's so hot. Um, I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about this match, uh, because courts did not watch this match. Um, and to be honest, I watched probably 60 minutes of it. And then when they scored the second goal, I kind of checked out.
00:29:01
Speaker
So I don't not have like a whole lot to say about it. Um, we got some quick facts though. um We had our pretty like standard tried and true starting lineup for this one. We had Thomas Chancolay, Calvin Yeboah, Joaquin Pineda on the front line ah and Markanik, Trap, Jen and Duncan in the midfield. And then Padelford, Duggan and Boxy on the back line. Calendar and Net like he has been in every match. ah We had 1.5 expected goals on 16 total shots with 10 of those on target. And we had 66% of the ball. Despite this, the Loons lost 2-1 in a game where we never really ever looked threatening in the attack. There was one moment where Yeboah had a chance that went off the post.
00:29:53
Speaker
His strike did not seem very decisive. um And, you know, unfortunately, it doesn't go in the back of the net. And our goal in the later stages of this match is too little too late.
00:30:08
Speaker
Shout out to Padelford for putting that in the back of the net and for Padata to his set piece services is just absolutely divine sometimes. um Bro can deliver a set piece, that's for sure.
00:30:20
Speaker
But honestly, like we just got absolutely killed in transition defending. And unfortunately, Padelford got cooked on both of the goals. um So. You know, sporting Kansas City is one of the worst teams in the league, but they have a lot of talent on the roster um and obviously show that they have the capability of hitting you on the counter.
00:30:48
Speaker
And we showed an inability to defend the counter in a meaningful way um and are kind of showing that I think the team really wants to evolve into a team that's using the ball and attacking. And I simply do not think we have the attacking talent to be a team that really uses the ball in a meaningful way.
00:31:14
Speaker
And when we try to use the ball and really push things and really force things, it's pretty obvious that we are very vulnerable on the counter. So that's kind of my big...
00:31:28
Speaker
conclusion from the match is like the like for me this is the straw that broke the camel's back of like we cannot play like how we played against sporting kansas city if we are going to concede transition goals like that um gortz do you have any thoughts about this match i know you only watched the highlights but do you do you agree with my assessment or yeah what is your perspective on on the results like we don't have the people that yeah like he says are trying to break down is like very predictable is how we try to break teams now and And I feel like, you know, we're kind of better suited to the, you know, the counterattacks. And, well, you know, yeah, like like I said, oh overall, you know, we're just predictable at times, very.
00:32:30
Speaker
It looked predictable and uninspired to me is is my takeaway from it. I really did not have fun watching the match. it was very, very frustrating to watch. um So I really honestly don't have much more to say about it. um Yeah.
00:32:51
Speaker
I kind of covered all of it in like three seconds. So I would rather move on. And talk about the Vancouver match, a match that you attended and a match that I watched in full um a couple of days ago. um um I'll throw it to you first. um Since you attended the match, what were your main takeaways? What was your perspective? How did you like it being back at Allianz after a long break?
00:33:14
Speaker
Yeah, it's, you know, always nice being, you know, back at Allianz, you know, cheering, you know, cheering on the loons, you know, as always, but I feel like it was a really, really good... I feel like it was an even even match.
00:33:32
Speaker
um You know, even though... you know i mean, they definitely had you know more of the ball. um We kind of basically... It seems like we kind you know kind of hat ah You know, there'd be a portion, you know, where we'd have most of the ball. They, but think, you know, overall, i think we, we really had more, more of the chances than, uh, than Vancouver.
00:34:07
Speaker
i think like, uh, D'Ang had a good, D'Ang was, I think, you know, i think he, that was probably his,
00:34:20
Speaker
best performance in a Loon's jersey to date. 100%. I mean, you know, I hope, you know, he's he's only going to get better. um You know, all seeing Jen in the the just the, just seeing how good of good of a pickup Jen was and, you know, that, um you know,
00:34:43
Speaker
can definitely tell you know you kind of miss trying you know try try antus because you know he brings uh something a little different compared to uh you know compared to trap um you know uh the the attacking of mark hannick uh i think you know duncan I think he kind of really suits, I think he really suits being a right, right wing back.
00:35:10
Speaker
um But yeah, no, it was, it was a great great to be back and great to be back at Allianz. And i think overall, I'm, I'm not disappointed in the performance.
00:35:24
Speaker
Yeah, ah honestly, me either. i I already knew the result when I was rewatching the match, um and I put into the Loon's Discord, um you know, before I rewatched it, like, is this what kind of zero zero draw is this? Because sometimes it's a slog and a chore to watch. This one was pretty fun to watch. Like,
00:35:49
Speaker
It looked like we had ideas, and I would attribute that to adding Momo to the lineup. And Kelvin Yeboah kind of a little bit... I don't know if this is correct, but he seemed to be playing more as a false nine, where he was like...
00:36:09
Speaker
He was kind of drifting wherever he needed to drift to find the ball and dropping deeper and acting more as a connector role to get the ball to the wings, which usually like Pereira is the only guy that is doing that.
00:36:23
Speaker
But it seemed like Yoboa was finding a lot more space to run in and The Zhang was more acting as the true nine, really attacking the back line all of the time and and trying to run in behind and also just keep them occupied. And I think Yoboa enjoyed seeing that extra space because Yoboa is just not as tall and not as strong as Momo is.
00:36:49
Speaker
Like Momo is strong, bro. Can battle a center back off of the ball to win the ball? Like it's it's pretty it's pretty cool to see. um and it honestly, it was just like if Momo puts one of those in the back of the net, I think we win this match. um Like I thought the defense.
00:37:12
Speaker
Did a great job of containing Vancouver. And Tomas Muller kind of looked ineffective in this match. um And I don't know for sure if that's a result of our defense because I haven't really been watching a lot of Vancouver. um But Tomas Muller is a fantastic player and looked pretty ineffective.
00:37:35
Speaker
um I will call that a defensive win for sure. um Really nice having Diaz in the lineup. Like, he... i think he... he I mean, this is just from my perspective.
00:37:50
Speaker
tend to be a little bit harsh on him, but in all actuality, I think he has a lot of upside to his play. He's extremely physical and extremely fit. I like him back in the lineup. Um...
00:38:03
Speaker
And I really love that Carlos is back because when Carlos comes in the game, I think he just wants to get up the pitch a little bit more than Jeff does. um And you kind of saw when Carlos came in the game, things were starting to balance a little bit more. I feel like when Carlos Harvey is not on the pitch, we tried to go up the left wing and the left channel a little a little bit more.
00:38:30
Speaker
And I would love to see Duncan get more involved on the right wing because I think he has a lot of great pace that we can utilize. um But overall, I thought we just looked like a team that had more attacking options and was using the width of the field a lot better.
00:38:47
Speaker
So we were getting into the attacking third a lot more often. And Momo had a couple good runs behind the back line and looked to be very fit.
00:38:58
Speaker
Like, especially in those conditions, he looked largely unbothered by them. And I think I think the conditions did play into the kind of game state of this where like no one was really getting good chances because it was so hot and it was like,
00:39:14
Speaker
Players were drenched in sweat within the first 15 minutes of the match. But also, I just feel like I thought the Loons played really well. i Just overall, I think if that can be our new floor, i will be very happy.
00:39:30
Speaker
Like if Momo stays in the lineup, Kelvin's the false nine. I thought Pereira got on the ball in more dangerous areas more than usual this match as well. And we need Pereira to get on the ball further up the pitch because he's just he can he can be the guy that finds the pass that unlocks, you know, a defense. um He's still getting the ball much deeper than I wish he would have to distribute. Like he loves sending that long ball to Mark Anik up the left wing. And I think he's sending that ball from so far back that it's largely ineffectual.
Offensive Struggles and Player Potential
00:40:07
Speaker
ah I would love to see him do that like 15 yards further up the pitch. um You know, but overall i was pretty, ah I was pretty happy with it. um I thought again, it was a pretty poor poor, like offensive performance. Like I think we're largely being positive about it, but.
00:40:29
Speaker
I thought I really wish we had more players that could be more effective, just getting good quality shots off and also making better decisions on the ball. Um, one of the chances that happens later in the match, um,
00:40:46
Speaker
Momo gets a great pass. I can't remember who sends him the pass, but it's and it's a nice pass behind the defense. He runs on it. He doesn't have the angle to go directly to the net, but he has Tomas Chancolay coming up the left channel. And for some reason, instead of Chancolay threatening the back post and trying to trust Momo to get a pass off or more players, God forbid more players help further up the pitch in an offensive scenario, um he overlaps.
00:41:15
Speaker
the wrong direction and just kind of crowds out the play. And that's been kind of the story of Chonkala so far this season. Like, I think he's he's had some great moments, but I'm not sure about his decision making.
00:41:31
Speaker
um as an attacker. I think the decision-making is not ideal. um But, yeah. Other than that, I was liking what I was seeing. um I thought Owen Jen played a solid game. i think Jen, as of late, has looked less solid, but i think he still has so much upside in the, like, passes that he finds. And...
00:41:59
Speaker
the spaces that he occupies. i think he just needs more confidence and needs more like definitely more defensive reps. Um, But I thought Trap played really well too.
00:42:14
Speaker
Like Trap as of late has been looking a bit better on the ball and more willing to dribble further up the pitch, which we need our midfielders in general just to fucking dribble a little bit more and like get further up the pitch.
00:42:27
Speaker
um What else here? um another Another clean sheet for Calendar. I believe that's his fifth of the season. um
00:42:37
Speaker
Yeah. Any other thoughts for you, Gortz?
00:42:43
Speaker
No, we aren't not not really.
00:42:48
Speaker
Let's see. Yeah, well you just need we really we really need to score more goals. We need to find a way. I hope Momo... I guess this is a question I'll ask you. do you like How much confidence do you have in Momo Dijing? He's looking quite promising.
00:43:06
Speaker
Do you think he can become... like a goal scoring striker for this squad. Yes, I i believe. um Yeah, I believe so.
00:43:19
Speaker
It's just, you know you know, I think he's, you know, kind of now starting to get up to... the physicality, you know, you can tell now he's up to the physicality of, uh, you know, top league and, and MLS and, um, you know, knowing from his, you know, championship, you know, he's just got to, uh, you know, find the, uh, start scoring the goals again. Mm-hmm.
00:43:49
Speaker
I think once he finds that first goal, I'm really hoping the floodgates will open and he'll get that come because he's oozing with confidence already. He's making the runs. He's making physical plays. I think he's still finding what contact he should be going down for and what contact he shouldn't, which is the thing that Yoboas still hasn't figured out.
00:44:11
Speaker
Um, but there was a couple of times in this match where he went down and just like, Momo, you can't go down that easily. Like this is MLS mate. Like, you know, the referees are a little bit more, you know, they're not going to call contact like that. I mean, it depends on the ref that you get, but in general, I feel like an MLS, like lot of.
00:44:33
Speaker
you can, there can be a lot of contact in a play before a referee is going to call a foul, especially if you're challenging for the ball. Um, but overall I was really impressed with his pace, really impressed with his decision-making up until the final shot. And then like, I, so I still remember the, the play where he muscles a guy off the ball and the six and just unfortunately doesn't have the angle to, to put the ball in the back of the net in the nineteenth minute.
00:45:02
Speaker
um I was just like, whoa, dude, just shove that dude off the ball and just want it. Like, I would love to see him do that more. And I think with Yeboah dropping a little bit deeper and acting more as a connector, I think Yeboah is most effective as a late arriver in the box. So if we can get him more into the positions where he's finishing rather than making the chances himself. Also, I thought Yeboah was moving better. I don't know if that was just...
00:45:29
Speaker
to my eye, but Yoboa seems more confident on the dribble and more confident on the pace. And I hope he does that more. um And once again, if he starts scoring goals down the stretch, I would fucking love that.
00:45:44
Speaker
I would love for Yoboa to score goals. He's still the leading scorer on the team. He's got eight goals, but he's just not creating them. You know, he's not the one that's making the play happening. He's usually finishing off a chance that somebody else is creating. And, you know, being in the in the places where strikers score goals.
00:46:06
Speaker
I would love to see him take another step of of, you know, just putting more balls in the back of the net and creating more chances himself. So hopefully when he's not the sole striker on the field, he can make that happen.
00:46:20
Speaker
And I still think He does a good job at the defensive positioning when we don't have the ball. I think he does pretty good work off the ball as well. So that's my official stance on Calvin Yeboah.
00:46:35
Speaker
Anything else you want to bring up about Vancouver match before we preview the next match?
00:46:44
Speaker
Nope. Alrighty. Well, hopefully next match against San Diego will... bring goals for the loons and i hope that they can take this defensive performance and apply it to san diego like i'll pose this question to you like i'm not saying we're gonna go back to ramsey ball full full stop we're gonna completely go but Like, what's next for this team? Like, how how does this team have to play to make sure we stop conceding goals as much as we do?
00:47:23
Speaker
And also, put more goals in the back of the net.
00:47:33
Speaker
I mean, i feel like, you know, create, you know, better chances, but... when you're, you know, defending, you know, as far back as we are at times and then getting, ah people to the, I think like one thing, ah I think my dad always said was, you know,
00:48:00
Speaker
uh, you know, we get, you know, crosses in, um and it almost seems like we need to have, like, someone, like, getting there to meet the cross, but then, again, someone kind of late arriving into the box, you know, in case, you know, some, something does, you know, happen, you, you kind of have a, a late person that's, you know, crashing the box to, to capitalize, and,
00:48:30
Speaker
yeah no i i don't want go back to ramsey ball and playing that defensive and you know set piece and that was mean it was fun but the same time got results it got results it was a pain to watch because it was a chore to watch. Sometimes I really do think we have to commit more to defensive principles, though.
00:49:00
Speaker
But like. I think committing to playing a more defensive game, but also committing to that higher line is also key. I noticed that there were portions of this game where we succeeded in playing a higher line and forced Vancouver further into their own half.
00:49:19
Speaker
um I also noticed in those stages, Pareda kind of joined the front line to aid in the counter press. And I thought we did a better job of controlling the game state that way. And I would really love us to focus on that because if we're not going to be scoring goals, it means we can't concede the goals.
00:49:36
Speaker
Right. And I brought this up in the in the in the episode with Wes Burdine in like nine of our 12 first matches we We are nine of our 13 first matches. We conceded the first goal, um which is just you can't keep digging yourself a hole and expecting the team to dig out of it every single match. So I really do think the team needs to shift a focus on defense and kind of especially if we're not going to bring any attacking pieces in, which I would not be surprised if we don't. um
00:50:11
Speaker
Like you got to focus on not conceding the goals and then hoping Momo can hit on the counter as he showed, you know, even in the later stages of the half of still having enough pace on him to threaten in behind. And then hopefully we can have some impact substitutions of fresh legs that can aid him in the counter attack. I thought Chankalai looked a lot more threatening off the bench.
00:50:37
Speaker
Um, so i won't be surprised if he comes off the bench in San Diego, or it might be a rotation thing where, you know, might be back to the old tried and true lineup, but
Preview and Strategic Adjustments for Upcoming Matches
00:50:49
Speaker
I really think we looked a lot more dynamic and better with Momo in the lineup. And, um, I also looked like we were more willing to play with the back four.
00:50:59
Speaker
Um, and we're trying to push Mark panic a little bit further up the pitch, um, which I don't mind too, because, you know, it seems like he has a knack for finding a play on goal.
00:51:11
Speaker
So, We'll see. We will really see in the San Diego match. San Diego is below us in the table. They're 12th. We are ninth in the table. um But this is MLS, man. And we are coming off of a very long World Cup break where I think...
00:51:27
Speaker
Any momentum in either direction was kind of nullified. So we don't really know how teams are playing. Like Portland's looking like one of the best teams in the Western Conference coming out of the break now.
00:51:39
Speaker
um You know, Seattle is looking at Seattle. Yeah, Seattle doesn't look... No. is I mean, are they are they are they still going to be the loons in Seattle?
00:51:52
Speaker
Probably because they do, so... I mean, well we'll just have to see. If the loons that showed up at Allianz, if that same lineup goes, is trotted out, I think, and especially we'll be playing away, I think we'll be leaning more into counterattacking anyway.
00:52:13
Speaker
um If that those same loons show up, I think we have a way better match, or way better chance of getting a good result against San Diego. So...
00:52:25
Speaker
We will see. We will see what happens. um I hope Markannik has good all-star experience. Congrats to him for being an all-star. Number one in our hearts, Anthony Markannik.
00:52:36
Speaker
um Good job. um I don't have anything else to add. Do you have anything else to bring up at all? No, not on the top of my head.
00:52:48
Speaker
um I have one more
Book Recommendation: 'The Messy Effect'
00:52:50
Speaker
thing this week. I read The Messy Effect by Paul Tenorio, um which is a pretty good book if you're interested in a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff of how the Messi deal came about and how he was brought into the league and what enticed him to come here, but also a lot of behind-the-scenes of just everything that's happened with Inter-Miami relating to MLS and since 2023.
00:53:17
Speaker
um Good journalism in the book. um I do have to say I slightly disagreed with the thesis of the book of of the perspective of, you know, MLS's obligation to be a global player in soccer. Like, I do want the league to get better.
00:53:38
Speaker
I want the level to go up. I don't really think it's realistic to look... at MLS to compete with. There's a lot of comparisons to how the Premier League does business. And I just think that's comparing apples to oranges. And I don't think you should be looking to the Premier League for anything.
00:53:59
Speaker
of how you should be running your league because you have hundreds or you have over 100 years of history with that club and an insane footballing culture there. I think in the US, it's just a different thing and it takes different strategy.
00:54:14
Speaker
And like, I think there should be a more of a focus on developing talent here and also keeping it competitive. Um, You know, maybe that's just because I'm an American sports fan and I'm used to salary cap leagues and relative parity, even though it still ends up in, you know, the same six, seven, eight teams rotating in dominance, depending on who owns the team. um I don't know. I just found myself disagreeing. It seemed very pro-
00:54:48
Speaker
capitalist to me. It seemed like very like this this guy believes in a system that rewards hundreds of millions of dollars being spent and flooded into markets And I just don't want MLS to be a league that is any more inflated than it already is in terms of spending.
00:55:09
Speaker
um I would rather it try to focus more on the markets and the local markets, but it ah I think that's... Maybe me not understanding the way the league works because it is MLS, a single entity league.
00:55:26
Speaker
um I don't know. I think it's very much worth a read, though. If you are interested at all in Lionel Messi or Inter Miami or just like the league in general, I think there's some good journalism in there.
00:55:39
Speaker
But yeah, I give it... I give it like a three and a half out of five stars. That's what I would give that book. Do you have a one more thing? Gortz?
Music Highlight: Tom Morello's Upcoming Album
00:55:50
Speaker
ah Yeah, I am pumped about Tom Morello. It was in September is finally releasing his first solo album and he Tom Morello's releasing a solo record.
00:56:04
Speaker
this is great news. He's got some good features. Like, I think he has... Was it Beartooth is getting a a feature. Kneecap is getting... I'm surprised that he's doing... that that I can't wait for to hear his collaboration or song with Kneecap. But, yeah, and I mean, that...
00:56:34
Speaker
That guy, i when I saw him with Bruce Springsteen in April, I was, when he, during the, the his solo during the Ghost of Tom Joad was just,
00:56:49
Speaker
I was just, you know, jaw open, just, you know, Tom Morello doing his thing, so. Uh-huh.
00:57:03
Speaker
exciting stuff exciting stuff i will definitely be checking that out when it do you know when it drops it's september 26 there's some they he' he's they've they've already put he's there's maybe been like six six songs that have already been put out oh um have like i think his like Have one of one of his sons. I'm the one that like dropped today.
00:57:32
Speaker
Like one of his sons came up with that riff. Wow. so Well, I know what I'm checking out after I finish editing this podcast. um Alrighty.
00:57:46
Speaker
Well, with that, I think we're going
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:57:48
Speaker
to go. Thank you so much for listening to this episode or watching. This is our first episode recording video. So if you're watching on YouTube, hello, please subscribe and comment and like and all that stuff. And the same goes for you podcast listeners. If you could give us a review.
00:58:03
Speaker
or a rating, or whatever's relevant to your podcast platform of choice, please do. Helps us out. Thank you to everybody that has left a review so far, um especially on Apple Podcasts. a lot of people leaving leaving reviews on there. Appreciate you very much. And we will see you next week at the same time and place.
00:58:26
Speaker
Thank you very much for listening. I hope to catch you in the next one. Bye-bye. Yeah.