Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
The Fight to Keep the Caps in Vancouver + Thoughts from the LAFC Match and Open Cup Quick Reactions!
57 Plays15 days ago
In which Gorts, Ari, and Dia come together to discuss the situation in Vancouver before moving on to the LAFC home match. They preview the Open Cup match in San Jose before Ari shares their quick reactions the day after.
If you liked the show, please leave us a rating!
Follow the show on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/looncalling.bsky.social
Recommended
Transcript
Welcome Back to Loon Calling
00:00:01
Speaker
Hello, everybody, and welcome to Loon Calling, a podcast dedicated to Minnesota United Football Club. My name is Ari, and I am your host for today. i am back. We are all back, actually, not just me. i'm Sorry.
00:00:16
Speaker
ah we have been absent for almost an entire month. Life got in the way, and then i Took a vacation to Sweden to visit some friends and ah got some very much needed time off from life and from work and all of that stuff. But we are back. The show is back to the regular schedule. Hopefully we'll come out on Wednesdays like usual or late on Tuesday. But yeah, good to be back. We are here to talk about Minnesota United and with me as always are my friends and Minnesota United fandom. We'll start with you, Daya. How are you doing today?
00:00:59
Speaker
How have you been since we last recorded? ah Busy, but good. Is the last episode we did the one after Seattle? Am I remembering that correctly?
00:01:13
Speaker
Really? It's been that long. Yeah. Okay. think I think so. was just wondering. okay so that's... Because the last episode of the podcast was the interview with with Dan from the Looney Bin. That was April 1st. Yeah, that was good. um Yeah. Wow, it's been a while.
00:01:27
Speaker
It has been a while. It's good to be back. Glad you've been good. Gord, good to see you too. have you been since we last recorded? Yeah, I also had a vacation and, you know, the Galaxy game and Bruce Springsteen and...
00:01:47
Speaker
life you gotta love it gotta love it indeed and you gotta love you you gotta to love watching football watching soccer how the loons have been playing lately we will get into that later but there is some important current events happening right now Something we wanted to lead the podcast with, a cause that we care pretty deeply about, or at least care enough to talk about.
Vancouver Whitecaps' Future and Ownership Uncertainty
00:02:19
Speaker
There is an ownership situation in Vancouver. um Their current owners... have had the team up for sale since I believe the end of last season um and have been looking extensively for a new ownership group or buyer to make a legitimate offer to buy the team.
00:02:42
Speaker
Um, And nothing has come to fruition so far, and it has been reported this week by Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio that and MLS executives are meeting in Vancouver to discuss the franchise's future, and a possibility is relocation.
00:03:01
Speaker
um And in response to this, and as this situation has been ongoing, Caps fans have now officially started a Save the Caps campaign. um If you have been on social media at at all, or you've been reading The Athletic, or you know any publication that's been covering MLS, you have seen the pictures from their last match this past Saturday of fans holding up signs saying Save the Caps. This kind of brings you back. It's reminiscent of the save the crew campaign. i think back in 2009, right.
00:03:36
Speaker
Um, where fans and Columbus came together to save their team from getting relocated to Austin. Um, this is, uh, much the same.
00:03:47
Speaker
Um, so, um,
Past MLS Relocations: Lessons for Vancouver?
00:03:50
Speaker
Gortzer, you're shaking your head. What do you have to say about this? Share your thoughts about this situation. what Back in like the loving 2009. Was that the last time they San Jose got relocated to Houston and became. Oh, I'm mixing that up. When when did the Columbus Crew stuff happen?
00:04:10
Speaker
It was, and then it was like within one or two years after they had saved the crew that Austin that austin was announced that they had an expansion. okay that was that 2014 then? Here, let me, Google is free. Yeah.
00:04:26
Speaker
I mean, Austin only entered in 2021, so it was probably late teens. That was before my time of paying attention, but... 2017, 2018. 2017. Really, it was that recent. Yeah.
00:04:37
Speaker
really it was that recent Mm-hmm. So, yeah. Sorry, i got that I got that date wrong. I was mixing that up with with the last time a franchise got relocated, right?
00:04:52
Speaker
No, that was 2006, I think. Yeah, it was it was sometimes in the 2000s where San Jose got relocated. got relo relocated to Houston, right? And they got turned into the Dynamo.
00:05:06
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. That's what I was mixing it up. but But nevertheless, it reminds you of the Save the Crew campaign that happened in 2017. Gortz, what are your thoughts on the situation that's happening in Vancouver?
00:05:23
Speaker
I mean, it's it's rough to see this happen
'Save the Caps' Campaign Launch
00:05:27
Speaker
again. i mean, what it's part of part of life in Vancouver, one of their you know big things. Although, i mean, it is hard to,
00:05:43
Speaker
i so if you know, they do say I'm glad, you know, that they're going to build their own, you know, soccer-specific stadium. and Not have to look at the Horrendous turf that is You know Where are they play now But you know all the way you know Save the and I think like Saturday was Like the They aren't gonna play another home game For like three months or something I think because they have to now Get the stadium Ready for the World Cup or something
00:06:21
Speaker
I mean, you look at it and definitely, you know, a city, you know, like Vancouver deserves an MLS team. It's, you know, their their support is they...
00:06:36
Speaker
You gotta love them. as much as, you know, seeing them play, you know, at, uh, what was it? BBC place and does not look good. And it's, it's not pleasing to the eye to watch it. Uh, I think for most, so,
00:06:56
Speaker
But then, what was it, like Saturday was like the they won't play another home game for three months or something. So, i mean, if they're wanting to make a statement, you know, I'm all for it and, you know, and i'm I'm hoping, you know, something comes to it, you know, comes to fruition where, you know, Whitecaps stay in Vancouver.
00:07:24
Speaker
Dio, do you have any thoughts about the situation? um A lot of confusion because I admittedly don't fully understand the economics of buying and selling an MLS team because like,
00:07:40
Speaker
part partly because a lot of these meetings and discussions are going to be happening behind closed doors. And it sounds like even, um i think it was the mayor of Vancouver recently put out a statement, like demanding that the owners come clean about what it is they're actually asking for, like whether that's in terms of an asking price or some other way in which the city or the providence of British Columbia needs to kind of try and meet them halfway.
00:08:08
Speaker
um it just sounds like there's I don't know if that's just posturing or if there is genuine confusion or a lack of clarity or transparency in some of these discussions.
00:08:20
Speaker
um I would also like to hear a little more clarity and transparency about this stuff. um But yeah, beyond the question of what is that what are the actual mechanics going on here, it's frustrating and disappointing and worrying.
00:08:39
Speaker
um I think if the league wants to try and you know insist that it is committed to kind of a long-term growth vision of soccer in North America, think you know, making sure that teams aren't, you know, popping up and then folding or moving around at will based on the whims of shareholders. You have to kind, like if you want community, you have to invest in community. And i think if a city of like Vancouver is struggling to keep its team and just having it move to Vegas, you know,
00:09:16
Speaker
Which, you know, don't disrespect to anyone who lives in Vegas, but like that just does not scream community building like they have a USL team that struggles to get a couple thousand people.
00:09:29
Speaker
um Maybe the bet is like they've got enough tourists who will come see an MLS game for a night. you know But that just doesn't seem likely. It's a weird bet. It's not really betting on good supporter culture, which Vancouver seems to have.
00:09:48
Speaker
It's also worrying as a fan of Minnesota, a resident of a USL team in Madison, that's a different dynamic. But like if a city like Vancouver is struggling to keep its team,
00:10:02
Speaker
like that's concerning about like the long-term viability of any team in a smaller, you know, like Midwest city or middle America city. Like if Vancouver cannot pull in, I understand there's issues with the stadium. Vancouver's got like a really intense economy, but like if they can't find a way to make an MLS team work there, then I don't believe that this league is as stable as it promises.
Challenges of MLS Franchise Fees and Business Model
00:10:33
Speaker
um A lot of this is also probably because of MLS's own design. They have steadily been increasing the price of setting up a new club.
00:10:44
Speaker
um San Diego, just a couple of years, had to spend half a billion just to basically just to get the name. um That's something MLS could, if they so desired, decrease.
00:10:57
Speaker
um But they've essentially decided to make this a league of the wealthiest of the wealthy clubs. um you know and that leaves opportunities for leagues like USL or the Canadian Premier League, but it's not really a... I think it's a model where they've kind of backed themselves into a bit of a corner, and then you know they could back away from that, but you know some tough decisions, I think, need to be made. But yeah, it's a very frustrating scenario that also has...
00:11:30
Speaker
troubling implications, I think, for the league as a whole and for other teams as well. So I'll be keeping and will be keeping an eye on how it plays out. Yeah, I think anybody that's a fan of any franchise, any club in MLS should be following this story because it unfortunately is a very important thing like piece of the puzzle in terms of how MLS as a league operates and depending on how they handle this situation. And if the caps indeed do leave Vancouver, i think it's going to leave a very, very bad taste in a lot of people's mouth considering the amount of support this club has
00:12:15
Speaker
and the amount of investment that the club has put into their roster and the quality of the product that is on the field right now. Like they're one of the best teams in the league, one of the funnest to watch for sure. And they attracted a player like Thomas Muller, a world class player to play for their club.
00:12:33
Speaker
So the fact that the club can be doing pretty much everything right in the footballing aspect of things in the last 18 months, is now faced with a situation that is seemingly, at least recording or according to the club itself, and reporting around it, that they just cannot attract a buyer.
00:12:57
Speaker
like it leaves questions of just like what, how high is the price? How high is the valuation? Is that valuation artificially inflated because of, like you said, San Diego needing to put a half a billion dollars into the league before they could even get the right to the franchise. And then you have to invest more money into the stadium. And then you have to invest more money into hiring the staff to run your club. And then you invest more money into players. Like,
00:13:29
Speaker
i think mls has a responsibility to keep the club where it is because of the club's history in that community and how much support the club has so you would hope that the league would find a way to make something happen whether it is maybe a temporary stake in the, I mean, MLS owns all the franchises, obviously, like it's ah it's a, it's centrally controlled league, but if the league can find a way to offset some costs to make the ownership more attractive to buyers, and also if the league can help secure a fucking stadium for this team to play in so they can make some fucking game day revenue, maybe,
00:14:18
Speaker
Owners will actually be interested in owning the club because at this point, I kind of understand if they are tied to BC place where they have to like share a non-significant like or a very significant portion of their game day revenue, which is still to most clubs.
00:14:38
Speaker
the most money that they make, the most revenue that they make is from ticket sales, is from like merch sales at the the game, but also just like the price to get into the match. So in my opinion, the league has responsibility to do everything in their power to keep the caps there. And if it turns out that they move,
00:15:04
Speaker
I think at least I can only speak. I'm not going to try to speak for anybody else. Speaking for me, i already don't like the league very much. But if that happens, why would I invest my time and my energy into supporting my club if at any point in time?
00:15:22
Speaker
the club can just be moved somewhere else. And also being a Minnesota sports fan, there's also kind of some baggage in this state for that. If you remember, we had a, a NHL franchise here called the Minnesota North stars that this pretty much exact same scenario like happened. They got moved against the fans and the culture of, ah of the game to Dallas and,
00:15:50
Speaker
So, like, it's against sporting culture. It's against, like, all of the goodwill that, like, this, like, all of the work of the supporters of the Whitecaps. It would just be absolutely horrible if it if it moved. And I think the league can do a lot and should do a lot to keep the Caps where they are. So...
00:16:14
Speaker
I really hope they find a solution to this. i don't know what the solution is because like you said, Daya, um I don't really know the ins and outs of the economics of, of how an MLS club, especially in Canada works. Like, I don't know how much different it is to run a club in Canada, you know, tax wise or, or, you know, and the club's relationship to the municipality. Like, I don't know how much different that is. so, um,
00:16:46
Speaker
so We're just going have to wait and see, really. And I hope it's the outcome we all want, which is the Whitecaps staying where they are. Any other thoughts on Vancouver situation before we move on to the LAFC match?
00:17:02
Speaker
From what it seems like to me, it seems like all the potential investors that they have vors that they have if they were to relocate, all have us their own USL teams.
00:17:18
Speaker
Which also kind of, because you don't want, you know and yeah if you you know, if you do, you know, relocate, you don't want like a ah a you know like a San Diego,
00:17:33
Speaker
to to happen again where you know sand you know was it the yeah you know the san diego loyal in the the u s and then they went under kind of because i think they really had no i think they went under like even a year or two before like before san diego even had kicked the ball
00:17:57
Speaker
Yeah, you you definitely want to avoid a situation where MLS is going to be stepping on another franchise's toes, which would also be horrible. And not a huge fan of the the situation that happened with the San Diego Loyal either. Daya, what were you going to say?
00:18:12
Speaker
Yeah, I was just thinking about how, like... Unique. I mean, we we made some jokes before starting recording that like Ryan Reynolds should just buy up Vancouver. But like, it's important to remember that one of the benefits of a promotion relegation system is Reynolds could buy Wrexham down at the fifth tier.
00:18:33
Speaker
and kind of slowly over the years make improvements, you know, and as you slowly kind of accumulate more cash flow, you can kind of reinvest that. Whereas like the asking price for an MLS club, which really can't go anywhere, you can try and qualify for CONCACAF and that's about it But that asset has like an insane upfront asking price and there's nowhere for it to really go. you can try and like,
00:19:03
Speaker
build a bigger stadium to increase match day revenue, but that's that increased match day revenue is just going to offset the cost of building the stadium. Like, so I think it's,
00:19:16
Speaker
I don't know if like the solution is promotion relegation, but it does speak to just the way in which um the way MLS has kind of tried to get on as high of a perch as it possibly can and just stay there, like get so far out of range of like USL tier clubs.
00:19:37
Speaker
um But that also kind of, like I said, can end you up kind of backed into a corner, right? where you have this sort of situation and no easy way out.
00:19:47
Speaker
um There are problems down on USL on kind of from the opposite side of the spectrum um in terms of club stability, but um they they are filling kind of a niche of owners and communities that can support a club, often with very enthusiastic and passionate support and really interesting teams and Narratives and all that, but at a much more affordable level, MLS has targeted really the big cities and like is trying to be a superstar league, but um this does feel kind of like a consequence of the way they've gone about that.
00:20:26
Speaker
Absolutely. 100% agree. And yeah, add perhaps the andl perhaps MLS is now learning the price of using a franchise model instead of letting you know clubs build their own value.
00:20:46
Speaker
um so Yeah, we'll
Private Equity vs. Fan Community in MLS
00:20:50
Speaker
see where this goes. The frustrating thing is I don't know how much they care. Like, I think they are comfortable just letting clubs live and die based on, you know, private equity models. Like, and that's the thing that sucks.
00:21:04
Speaker
And it's also why I'm kind of like, like you were saying, Ari, like, why should I invest my emotions into this? You know, they're they're already cutting their own media.
00:21:16
Speaker
They're not running their own data collection it you know for their own league because Garber just thinks that's a waste of time. like they're cutting They're trying to have like AI summaries written of their own matches. like Who is this league for if not you know like private equity types?
00:21:34
Speaker
um Because they really just seem hostile to their own fans or the idea of fan community. um which is really frustrating. Incredibly frustrating. Yeah.
00:21:47
Speaker
Incredibly frustrating. Wow. The more we talk about this, the more I'm getting angry and depressed. Anyway, next week we'll be interviewing Don Garber of MLS. Where I will exchange forum leave them in the comments. Don Garber. Yes. Please suck my balls. Right.
00:22:09
Speaker
Oh, you might have to edit. You might have to edit some of my comments next week out. Cause I have thoughts for him, but we're going to give our editorial staff a run for their money.
00:22:24
Speaker
Maybe we should get John Martholler in here and just start talking your John Martholler needs to come on on the World Cup break because, like, speaking of, like, high-level financial corruption that is anti-fan, like, we got to have him on. Just don't even ask him any questions. Just roll the tape and just let him go. Just let cook for one hour. You'll do it. Just don't say anything.
00:22:50
Speaker
John Marthaller, if you're listening, please come on our show. We'll let you say literally whatever you want. Yeah. right we are We are not affiliated with the team in any way, shape, or form.
00:23:03
Speaker
And don't plan to be. So please exercise your free speech. And as far as I know, John Marthaller is also a full-time freelancer. So I don't think he's beholden to any publication either. so He does show up on the club podcast, so he might feel a little reined in, but...
00:23:20
Speaker
He does. If we make it a drinking episode, maybe we can unwind him a little. like
00:23:28
Speaker
Oh, yeah. maybe We're going to make our own version of ah of the Kickback Soccer Media happy hour. This is simultaneously our grimmest episode, but we're also making it our most funny like Those are going hand in hand. We kind of need the love levity because I was for real like i would like i was starting to go down the rabbit hole of just like, oh, Jesus.
00:23:53
Speaker
Like, why are we even making this podcast? Why are we investing so much of this in this team that it was a franchise? Tying all this together, Gortz, I think you posted it or someone did. Like, Johnny and Fontino went to Vancouver and requested, like, the giant Pope-esque security escort and they didn't give it to him. was the same... It was, like, the same...
00:24:18
Speaker
escort as like a president where like you know you can you can blow through like you can just go through red lights because they shut down all the traffic and then Vancouver just like no fuck you why would they do that why would anybody do that for you may tune in next week when we'll be interviewing Johnny Infantino jeez yeah and asking him to eat my ass right
00:24:50
Speaker
Holy shit. Daya's on one. Daya's on one this episode. oh I'm fucking ready to go when we talk about these types of people. All power to the working class. Viva la revolution.
00:25:07
Speaker
And, and yeah, Infantino will not be spared when the revolution comes. We are fans of the Minnesota United and MLS franchise who was a club before they were in MLS. Okay.
00:25:20
Speaker
They were a club before. And i don't know, maybe they should back out. if This is going to be how the league treats clubs. I'm not worried about Minnesota United's ownership, though. Didn't our head owner, like, before he had the MLS club, he was convicted of, like, large-scale insurance fraud or something? I don't know anything about that. Yeah, like, health insurance fraud. Mm-hmm.
00:25:46
Speaker
Great stuff. Should we talk about football now? I feel like we should. We've been talking about football. Like,
00:25:54
Speaker
I feel like we should. Okay, let's do it. on medium The fun side of football is what you mean to say, not the private equity side. We have to move on, okay? This match versus LAFC happened this past Saturday. and We have to talk about it because that's what this podcast is about, okay? And something really, really cool happened to
Minnesota United vs LAFC Match Recap
00:26:13
Speaker
this match. James Rodriguez...
00:26:15
Speaker
started for our club. Thank the Lord. Thank God. Thank shout out to all of the angry Colombians that have commented on every highlight video and every post that the team has made. Dude, there was on the broadcast.
00:26:32
Speaker
Where's Hamas? Why isn't he starting? I don't know. Maybe because he didn't play professional, like, club-level football in months and had to, like, get up to fitness. And also, we had to figure out what this team was going to do.
00:26:46
Speaker
also fucking coming back from, yeah, the the stay in the hospital. had a medical emergency and he was admitted to the hospital. Like, mate yeah, there there have been certain hurdles to get this guy to start. And also, like...
00:27:02
Speaker
Okay, he finally started, guys. We can finally... we can finally chill out about when Hamas is going to come into the match. Okay. So that is the headline from this match. Okay.
00:27:15
Speaker
So other than that, it's a, it's a pretty rotated lineup. Um, and just based off of the lineup we put out on Saturday, it's pretty clear that the club is taking the open cup pretty seriously, which they should, because it's probably the best chance we have at hardware in the foreseeable future.
00:27:34
Speaker
And we will, we will touch on that. Like, As we go through this match, like I have things to say about the state of where this club is and I think where fans need to adjust their expectations of where this club is and in the context of other teams. um But we start two strikers in this match. We have Momo Dijang up top alongside Yuboa. James is the lone attacking midfielder if we are going off of the formation in FATMOB, which I would agree with. um
00:28:04
Speaker
Hamas was just kind of the the floating 10, the floating attacking midfielder making stuff happen. So you have Markanic, Trap, Triantis, and Bongi making up the midfield. And then you have a back line of Padelford, Dugan,
00:28:19
Speaker
And Diaz on the back line and calendar and goal as always. And we had a fuck ton of the ball in this match. I believe it's our highest possession stat of the season at 62%. We...
00:28:35
Speaker
had a ton of the ball. A lot of that is due to Hamas in the first half, but also the team I think is just getting more comfortable with the ball. But also I feel like LAFC was very content to let us have the ball and to challenge us to break them down because LAFC knows that the,
00:28:53
Speaker
um we aren't the kind of team that is good at doing that. And I think it was a pretty effective strategy overall. um I guess just some quick hit thoughts from y'all from this match, like your your your thoughts of how we played.
00:29:13
Speaker
Um, you can touch on Hamas's performance. That is the first point in our rundown here. Daya, I'll throw it to you first since you seem to have a lot of juice so far, uh, tonight. Um, what did you think of this match?
00:29:27
Speaker
Um, It wasn't bad. um i want to like step back like before we go into James, because like it's important to remember that like if you just count league games, we had not lost in five matches, and we had actually won our last four without James starting. So like i'm I'm actually saying that as a good thing. like We are not super dependent on this kind of superstar power. We are...
00:29:55
Speaker
clearly capable of doing things outside of just, you know, passing the ball to our single DP. But I did like seeing James on there. I've liked seeing him whenever he comes on late. I like seeing him in the open cup. He does like change what we are capable of doing offensively. You can see like the way he can either ping balls over a back line or through a back line and create service for our attackers.
00:30:21
Speaker
Like you can see why he has the reputation that he does. You can see why he's been able to play at the level that he has in his past at some of the biggest clubs, you know, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
00:30:33
Speaker
Like, I get that. He's got the talent and the vision to have a team's attack really revolve around him. um I think the problem was not really James in this game. I think it was more just our inability to finish.
00:30:49
Speaker
um You brought up the two-striker setup. We tried this a few times last year with Yeboah and Tani and had kind of mixed results. Like you could tell they were trying. i appreciate, I feel like Yeboah has a really good attitude about it where he's like, all right, this is what you want me to do. I'm going to try. And he and Tani tried to find each other.
00:31:14
Speaker
ah But what I saw happening a lot with Yebo in this game, when he finally has someone who can give him these great through balls, I think he feels kind of crowded in this two-striker setup with Diang.
00:31:26
Speaker
And so you saw him kind of consistently dropping deeper towards James when in fact he should have been trying to make runs behind. But I think like the spacing kind of throws him off a little bit.
00:31:37
Speaker
He's a little more comfortable being just the top guy front. um You know, he's been getting tons of goals from sideways service, like crosses. He's getting um a lot of goals like tapping or heading in in the six yard box.
00:31:52
Speaker
um That seems to be where he's comfortable for right now. But like having another striker up there, especially one that is is big and imposing and also admittedly kind of raw as D'Angue.
00:32:03
Speaker
is maybe feeling making him feel like he needs to kind of go ah elsewhere to find his space to be more comfortable. So that's like a relationship I hope improves. I want to see like Yeboah and James kind of figure each other out a little more. And I think they just need time for that.
00:32:20
Speaker
But that was, I think, kind of what held us back in this game. Most of all, that was kind of my main takeaway.
00:32:28
Speaker
Gortz, what were your main takeaways from this match before we really dive into the nitty gritty? Hama still has it. I mean, there's there's no den world class.
00:32:39
Speaker
yeah I feel like it never, if if you truly have it, it never really fades. But, you know, as far as as like the Ebola, ah ah you know, when a two I feel like he, Ebola doesn't work in a two striker system.
00:32:56
Speaker
It seems like he's
00:33:00
Speaker
I feel like in order for a good two striker system to work, you have to be able to have some good combination between, and it just seems like there wasn't that good combination between yoboa and Yang.
00:33:19
Speaker
um And then, yeah, I know, like I said, LAFC was kind of content to just kind of sit in the low in the low block and Even going down to like, you know, you know, back to even Ramsey and, he you know, even in the Heath, it was really frustrating sometimes because we really couldn't, you know, break down a low block, no you know, no matter what. And, you know, the only time you know would be cross, cross, cross and, you know,
00:33:58
Speaker
You know, yeah, that's... it was It was a lot. It was a lot of that, this match. um That was kind of my main takeaway is just like, James, like, no notes. Like, absolutely no notes for that guy's performance and the amount of chances that he created just off of his foot. But honestly, like, I think the whole midfield...
00:34:21
Speaker
and Like the whole team was progressing the ball up the field very, very well and very, very easily. But also LAFC was sitting in a very, very low block and they were not pressing at all.
00:34:33
Speaker
um They were letting us do that as well. But also Hamas looked extremely dangerous shooting from distance as well. he had some good shots and like, if he can get that going consistently and we have threat from distance, if you can get Triantis to get some shots from distance as well, I think it will, it will force,
00:34:52
Speaker
it will force teams to kind of press higher up the field to kind of challenge. But as of yet, we've, we've yet to prove that we can really be threatening when teams are sitting in a low block. And I think that has extended to other performances as well. I mean, you look at our last round of the open cup, you know, a team in a lower division could sit back and just kind of stifle whatever we were trying to do. um So the team really needs to progress past that.
00:35:21
Speaker
um And I agree with the two-striker setup. I don't think Yeboah is comfortable in it at all, but also just... Our attacking pieces in general seem to half a step slow. And I think I'm going to blame that more on the chemistry of it all of like, they, these players just need more time to anticipate what Hamas is going to do. And that just comes with time on the field. Like you can't really simulate that stuff in training.
00:35:48
Speaker
He needs more minutes. And I think based off of Hamas's performance, I think, um, He's kind of your best chance to get a result against a team like LEFC. Like, if the team is going to demand you to be the one to create the chance and to put the chance away, instead of it happening, you know...
00:36:11
Speaker
Off of a repress or off of, you know, ah just high pressing in general to create a transition moment high up the field. LAFC isn't going to give you that because they want to be the one to counter. So they really aren't interested in in pressing higher up the field. So.
00:36:27
Speaker
i Not to bring it to the Open Cup match, which is happening tonight as we're as we're recording this, but like I think this team's best chance to progress, if they're actually interested in progressing further than the way they were playing in this match, is to just give Hamas more minutes to see what happens, to see if this team is ready for a player of his caliber to even create the chances. But if the team can't take advantage of the chances created, there's not even really a point in investing in a player of Hamas' profile and caliber.
00:37:04
Speaker
I don't know. What do you all think of that? I kind of carried it in a more high-level direction, but that's just kind of what I thought about it. ah think I think I'd agree if we were paying a hum as more, like the fact that he's not even on a Tam deal. i I think we kind of had a mutual understanding, like we are going to be your gym in the lead up to the world cup. And afterwards we can maybe see if you want to stick around longer.
00:37:34
Speaker
But I think, like I said, we've proven we don't need him to get results, at least against like mid tier teams. Um, I think, and I also think it's different against a team like San Jose. LAFC is going to like sit in a low block and try and hit you on the counter with, you know, they've got Buonga.
San Jose's Strong Season and Upcoming Open Cup Match
00:37:56
Speaker
They didn't have Son here, but they've got Son.
00:37:59
Speaker
And David Martinez is proven to be pretty good or Daz is pretty quick. ah San Jose is going to play. They're going to try and have more of the ball and apply more pressure.
00:38:09
Speaker
I'm not saying James can't contribute in a situation like that in terms of us maybe trying to maintain some possession and have a little more control of the game, but he's probably not going to be as important defensively.
00:38:25
Speaker
um And tonight's going to be ah a game against San Jose. We need to be a little more defensively solid because of the way San Jose likes to play.
00:38:36
Speaker
um Who just beat LAFC like four to one at l LA a couple of weeks ago. Like this is a very good team. um But yeah, they that's a i think like a different setup might be needed, not because don't like James, but I think James is the right call against a team like LAFC, but I don't know if he's necessarily the right or the only right thing you could do against a team like San Jose.
00:39:05
Speaker
One question I do kind of wonder um that's kind of related to this is Joaquin and Chancolay start on the bench and they come on when James comes off.
00:39:17
Speaker
I do wonder if like, I think this was just schedule congestion and resting guys, but I'm kind of wondering, do you see James and those other two fitting on the field together? Cause I know Chancolay likes to stay out on the wing, but Joaquin and James seem to kind of share this kind of roving center 10 type of,
00:39:39
Speaker
And so I'm wondering, like, is that just too congested in that position? Like, are they just going to kind of sub in for each other alternately, or is there a way in which you could see them kind of fitting in together at some point?
00:39:54
Speaker
Um, yeah, I think they're kind of like, I think they should be treated like for like, and in terms of their style, i and I think you made a great point about like, the defensive side of the ball, especially for a team like San Jose.
00:40:10
Speaker
Um, And I would much rather have Pereira on the field in the defensive setup because he's proven time and time again that he's capable of doing defensive work and working both sides of the ball. His defensive work rate has been excellent over the last couple of years. Like he has really shown a willingness to do the ugly, gritty stuff as well as the pretty stuff.
00:40:34
Speaker
Absolutely. And I mean, i but he occupies the same, he wants to occupy the same areas as Hamas in the attack. So you can't have them both on the field, even if we are expecting to see a lot of the ball.
00:40:50
Speaker
So i think they are like for like in in that scenario. So yeah, um I don't really see a way they coexist unless Pareda consciously plays higher up the field. Like if he is playing as the second striker, which we've set up in kind of a two striker-esque setup.
00:41:13
Speaker
I mean, Pareda is not a striker. He doesn't occupy the same position. the the same places that Yoboa does in any way, shape, or form. But if Pereira is in a position where he's supposed to be higher up the field so he can get the ball near the box and then do the distributing from there, i can see that sort of formation working. But that means Pereira is not further back to contribute defensively, and he's going to be doing more transitioning and doing even more work if he's not in that in that midfield position. So...
00:41:47
Speaker
I don't really see a way that they can both be on the field. And up until this point, you're right. They've been like, when Padilla's not in the field, Hamas is on the field. um So the difference between them is that Padilla, I think, just offers more well-rounded play, whereas Hamas is just like an overwhelming attacking talent um and you need to use that when it's advantageous for you to use it so in this match versus lefc we saw the lion's share of the ball about 62 of the ball
00:42:27
Speaker
I guess I will pose this question to you. Like, what does this result against LAFC? Tell us about the team in relation to the top teams in the league? Like, where do you see us in the context of the league?
00:42:41
Speaker
You know, after this performance where we saw most of the ball and still lost one zero, like, where do you think this team is at? Gorts, I'll throw it you first.
00:42:55
Speaker
I still think I'd still put us in as a playoff team. I wouldn't put us as like a top four team, but I'd still put us as a playoff team.
00:43:09
Speaker
You're talking about in the context of the Western conference, you wouldn't put us top four. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. As far as Western conference, I wouldn't put us in top four, but I'd still put us in the playoffs. Yeah.
00:43:22
Speaker
So five, six, seven, somewhere in there. Yeah. I'd throw it somewhere in there. yeah what What about in the context of the league as a whole? Like, what like where would you... i'm I'm not asking you to do, like, ah you know, a prediction of where we're going to fall in the supporters' shield standings. Although, if you want to predict that, I do have a prediction of where we will fall.
00:43:44
Speaker
um But, like, what what do you think the tiers are, I guess? Like, what the top tier in your in your mind... what What teams are in that top tier and how does Minnesota United compare? Are we in the lower part of the top tier? Are we in a tier lower but on the higher end of it? like where do you Where would you say we fall?
00:44:06
Speaker
I mean, if if you know there's maybe you know five tiers from you know a supporter shield to...
00:44:17
Speaker
spoon contenders sporting kansas city offense yes they've undoubtedly they deserve it like this year i want them to be better but like until they're better i can't say anything nice about them other than that they have day on you yeah like i'd probably put them in like maybe upper tier three maybe if we going off of a five tier i'd i mean i I mean, I'd put, you know, you know the you know title favorites, you know heavy contenders, then I'd put us you know just the chasing pack. Yeah.
00:44:56
Speaker
and I'd put us up up there in the chasing pack for... What about you, Dio? Where is Minnesota United in in the like landscape of of MLS? You can put it in terms of the Western Conference if you want, or in the Supporter Shield standings.
00:45:15
Speaker
I mean, the Western Conference I think, stronger this year than... and The last couple years, think it's crazy how that flips like on a dime. Well, yeah, I mean, every couple of years, I think, you know, projects kind of wax and wane.
00:45:29
Speaker
That's to be expected. But like this year, san Jose is currently several points ahead in the supporters shield with Vancouver close behind. And then you've got Nashville, followed right now by LAFC and Seattle.
00:45:43
Speaker
um Like, that's pretty Western dominant for the time being. um And like... you know San Diego is really struggling right now, but like I could see them figuring it out. They just have a lot of talent.
00:45:58
Speaker
They did really well last year. um like i suspect they'll climb as time goes on. The World Cup break is going to do San Diego very, very well. I actually fully expect them to be very strong when they come back from the World Cup break. Yeah, and they're currently, you have to remember they're playing with one hand time behind their back because they're not playing Chucky Lozano, but he's taking up a DP spot. So they're kind of stuck, but if they could get rid of him before the summer transfer window, um that would just unleash them for a last minute run. I mean, they could do solid just with dryer right now, but um imagine if they get another DP in any case, I agree with Gortz. Like, I don't think we learned that.
00:46:42
Speaker
anything super deep from this game. I think LAFC is a really solid team who admittedly were kind of gassed. That was kind of our opportunity to maybe squeeze by a win against a better team, but I think they are a better team. I think we're kind of like bottom half of the playoff contenders in the West.
00:47:03
Speaker
um You know, maybe like Hamez clicks and he decides to stay for the rest of the season and we're able to kind of squeeze into fourth or third. Or, you know, maybe we find someone in the summer transfer window who helps give us that little extra edge.
00:47:18
Speaker
um But i think I think we're good. i like the direction we're heading. i like that it's not actually you know coming and going based on whether or not we can convince James to stay. like I think we've got a lot of really good players.
00:47:34
Speaker
who are figuring their place in this team out all on their own and just seem excited to contribute. Like, that to me is way more exciting to watch than, you know, waiting for James to announce that he's going to stay for the rest of the season or retire. Like...
00:47:54
Speaker
And I think Cam has done a really good job of basically catching the team that like last time we recorded was getting kind of this death spiral after getting schwacked by Nashville and then Vancouver.
00:48:07
Speaker
You kind of stabilized it with a very boring, but controlled game against Seattle and then several, you know, very competently executed wins.
00:48:17
Speaker
um Like he's just building like a much more broad firm foundation that I think is going to pay off in the long run. um And I think is going to lead to a solid 2026 season and also set us up for more long-term success. Like as you have guys like Chankalai, Joaquin, Yeboah continuing to build chemistry, know,
00:48:40
Speaker
assuming none of them leave. um Like, I think you're just building a kind of core group of guys who seem really bought in They really want to push themselves. They really want to work as a team.
00:48:52
Speaker
So like overall, I feel really good. I'm not really upset that we lost to LAFC who, you know, are consistently willing to spend big bucks on big players and build around them.
00:49:03
Speaker
yeah. it really like I agree with everything you said. It's really a story of two clubs that are in two different markets and two very different stages in their development. um i I would say the floor was raised last year under Eric Ramsey in terms of of like the the base of what this team could do. And I don't know if the floor has risen higher this year, but it seems like the team is at the very least, the the floor has stayed the same and the foundation is only getting more solid. And now this year you're seeing like, I think Morris, Morris Dugan is an example of like how this club is starting to progress. And also the breakout of Owen Jen is another example of just like, okay, I'll let Al-Aman is bringing in pieces that,
00:49:54
Speaker
you can actually give them a couple years to develop and they're actually proving to be Holy shit. These are really competent and MLS starters. Like, I mean, we still haven't seen tree on this ceiling for sure. No. And then we still have tri yeah like, ah we have, those are three young fucking players that still have time to really, really, really break out like, and really become like Dugan has already become a difference maker. Like he's rock fucking solid on that back line. Um,
00:50:24
Speaker
We haven't even talked about that. We're not even missing boxy pretty much because Dugan has been that good. Like, and Diaz has been super competent and like Padelford is a really good option when Romero is, as you know, needs rotation out of the lineup. and And like this team is in a really solid place, like much more solid than people were predicting much more solid than I thought we were going to be, to be honest. So like, I agree with you. when we lost,
00:50:53
Speaker
I felt more like maybe a more exciting loss than I think I can remember like in any loss last year. Like in this game, I could see a bunch of things that could happen with the team instead of like the things that didn't happen in that match, if that makes sense. Like seeing that there the team is progressing in a direction um and but also being reminded of just like this, you know,
00:51:21
Speaker
Please don't expect this team to to beat the upper echelon of the league. Like, if we make it into the playoffs, I think we can win a series against...
00:51:32
Speaker
ah Like, let's say the RSLs, the Seattle's. Yes, exactly. We can win a series against Seattle against ah RSL. Can we win a series against San Jose against San Diego against LAFC? No, I don't think we can.
00:51:47
Speaker
I don't think that would be possible. We just don't have enough talent yet. Like, and and this is a team that is transitioning into that. Hopefully, if the owner decides to open the pocketbook and sign difference making players, if we continue proving that we have a foundation where a signing like that is actually worth it, that you have a high floor that you can then progress to the next level.
00:52:13
Speaker
It could be exciting. um We'll see. The summer transfer window is going to be interesting because we are now going to start talking about 2026 sprint season and how that's going to affect things. So I don't know. I think.
00:52:28
Speaker
The team is in a really good place, and I'm very impressed with Cam Knowles and how he's handled it. I think he's turning out to be... i mean, we were we were starting to question things after the Vancouver match, I think. like Everybody was like, hmm, is this going to work out? Okay, to be fair, like it was valid, I think, to be questioning things in that Oh, absolutely. think Like the worst loss in club history, like...
00:52:55
Speaker
Was it it? It was fair. The largest goal margin. Yeah, yeah. I don't think we've ever...
00:53:04
Speaker
Cause it was six and a we've lost six one before. I believe it was a five gold diff like differential, but we've never lost by six goals or more. Um, that was an absolute thrashing. So yeah, you're right. We had reason to, to have our doubts, but he's proved that the team can.
00:53:22
Speaker
And also like, I guess I'll say one thing about the Dallas match, even though it's just like one of the most forgettable matches I've ever watched in my life. Um, the team also is proving that they can just grind out a result away, which is super important. um And that was a grind results that also kind of looked like we looked shaky, but I also never thought Dallas was going to come back to score.
00:53:44
Speaker
Like, so The team can control game states, and it is clear that the team knows how to play a game to their style and control the flow of the game, and that's super important. And that means that perhaps the team can make something happen against a team like San Jose, and we can transition into our predictions of this Open Cup match that starts in 53 minutes. You guys seen the lineup?
00:54:14
Speaker
Oh my God. The lineup is out. Live reaction. Live reaction, everybody. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel where I live reacts to. Oh, we're doing the two striker thing again?
00:54:25
Speaker
No, we're going as strong as we can. no Like it's so a calendar in that back three of Romero, Duggan Diaz, Markannik, Jen, Triantis, Duncan, Chankalai,
00:54:45
Speaker
Yaboa Pereira. Okay. So the best 11. The best 11. And... I like it. That's so... That's what I was going to predict. I thought we were going to roll out of... I mean, why wouldn't... if Cam wouldn't have rotated the lineup on Saturday if he wasn't going to play the best 11, right?
00:55:05
Speaker
Like, think we can agree on that. a Yeah, and San Jose is starting their...
00:55:14
Speaker
they're Is Werner starting? Yep, Werner starting. ah The main guy, Nico Tazares. Okay, so it's best on best. wherere We're taking this seriously.
00:55:29
Speaker
um So, I mean, Chonkala has been our best player.
Minnesota United's US Open Cup Lineup
00:55:36
Speaker
like finisher and has been our our best chance creator. And he has scored a goal on his own this season. Like Chancolai has shown up ready to play and he's going to be the difference maker. And it seems like Yoboa really,
00:55:52
Speaker
really enjoys playing with a player of his caliber. Like they are almost both operating as as nine sometimes. I've also noticed that you Boa has really liked drifting out wide to find space this season. um So they're both kind of occupying that, but also The Pereira to Chancolai connection, when Pereira gets the ball in the right channel and pulls the ball back and then spins around and looks for Chancolai running up the left wing, has been a pretty important connection to this team so far this year. So, yeah. I mean, we know the lineup.
00:56:32
Speaker
How... How do we don't usually do predictions of like results or whatever, but like, how do we think this match is going to go? How do we think we're going to play? Are we going to be more defensive encountering? Are we going to commit to high pressing? ah How do you, how do you feel dial? What, what do you think the game plan is going to be?
00:56:51
Speaker
Cause San Jose is possibly going to be even the best opponent we faced so far, potentially. So. Yeah. I, I don't feel super great going into this just because San Jose has been so good this year. Like, you know, they went from, you know, I think they got the spoon a couple of years ago to Bruce Arena slowly but surely turning it around into one of the powerhouses of the league. He just has a gift for doing that. Yeah.
00:57:27
Speaker
You know, i I could see us making it competitive. I don't think we pull through this, if I'm being honest. I think with San Jose's current form, the fact that it's at San Jose,
00:57:38
Speaker
um you know, I think they've just got a slight edge, but I could still see us getting a goal or two. um I would hope that it's maybe at least a fun game to watch where we can actually you know see some exciting bangers. I just watched Bayern Munich versus PSG, and that was 9-all.
00:57:57
Speaker
So I'm just in the mood for more goals right now. um But yeah, I have to give the edge to San Jose, I think, if I'm trying to predict. But i don't I think if we put our best foot forward, it's not a blowout, at least.
00:58:10
Speaker
That's mostly what I want to see, like a controlled competitive game. Yeah, i think I think San Jose is going to take this. and you know Like Dia said, just not and um you know not an embarrassing performance, but you know a show heart, show character. and you know what what what Whatever happens, happens. and You go from there and on to Columbus on Saturday.
00:58:41
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I can't disagree. Like, San Jose has proved that they are for real this year, and they have a lot of difference makers on their roster, Timo Vanner being the one that sticks out to me. So, I i think this team has shown that they can gum up the works of of attacks but if uh the game against nashville is any indication of of where this team's level is at in terms of like defending a attack that is that dynamic um
00:59:14
Speaker
like yeah you just kind of hope that the team can keep it competitive um and then get some good transition moments um think chanclai has proved that he's a very good transition player and he can make something happen so i think we will see us commit a bit more to defending um I don't think we're going to press nearly as high, especially especially when San Jose just is going to have the ball anyway. um I think the only way you can keep it closer is if you commit a little bit more to defending. So don't be surprised if you see us kind of camping with a a lower line than we want to play this year and trying to hit on the counter, especially with Truncalay looking the way he does on the counter. um And we'll we'll just see what happens. um
01:00:00
Speaker
we ah We might be we might be ah recording our our initial thoughts after the match later tonight. Hopefully, we'll be attached to the end of this podcast. So if you want to hear the initial gut reactions...
01:00:15
Speaker
You will hear them right now. Hello, it's Ari from the future. i was just editing this podcast. We were planning on recording our initial thoughts, but then the match happened the way that it did, and I got kind of mad, and I wasn't, you know...
01:00:33
Speaker
I wasn't in a state of mind to record, really. So here is Ari after editing the podcast here to share some takeaways from the US Open Cup match.
Reflections on Minnesota United's US Open Cup Performance
01:00:45
Speaker
I'm recording this the day after.
01:00:47
Speaker
um Yeah. Honestly, reflecting on the match, I think we all agreed that it was going to be a tough one. And I think Daya and Gortz both thought that San Jose would prevail and they were correct. um I am pretty happy with how we played, minus the pretty glaring defensive mistakes. um You know...
01:01:11
Speaker
They got my hopes up. Like that when Chanclai put that goal in to put us up two to one, um I was like, holy shit, is this team going to do something? And then ah Tomas turns around on the other side of the field and decides to like totally get out of the way of the San Jose player.
01:01:31
Speaker
And he just has an open strike on goal. Um, obviously it gets deflected on net. i I, you know, I don't know how good the shot was if it didn't get deflected, but that's just kind of how the rest of the game went. It was just, you know, defensive mistakes, people, you know, i think the, the goal that put them ahead, um you know,
01:01:56
Speaker
was our defense pushing too high up the field and and giving San Jose transition opportunities, like kind of losing your cool when you had, I think that shows just how young the team is and and comparatively undisciplined the game plan is compared to Eric Ramsey. But i will take the offensive upside of this style of soccer any day. I think i think it's much more fun to watch. And I think this team is is really competent and capable ah of playing up to the level of of of most teams in this league. um
01:02:33
Speaker
So I'm pretty happy but with where it is, but yeah, some pretty dumb and glaring defensive mistakes led to the Loons losing in this one. And San Jose is probably the rightful team to go on in terms of like on paper talent and how they've been performing this year. But it just kind of feels bad when if the team could have remained and disciplined they could have sought out a two on win or even gotten a goal later when James was subbed in. I really wanted James to come in after we went up 2-1.
01:03:08
Speaker
You know, that's not exactly how substitutions work. You can't just immediately plug a guy in, I don't think. Or maybe you can. I don't know. I would have liked to see Hamas come in a bit sooner. But that's just how it goes. Even when the game is tied up, just, like, get him in here and change the game state. And, you know, like...
01:03:26
Speaker
So that was a little bit disappointing, but just overall, like, I think i'm I'm pretty happy with the level of where this team is playing. And since that was our best 11 on the field, in my opinion, um I think we have a lot to be excited about um if they can carry this form. Obviously, the the World Cup break is coming up, so that might be a loss of momentum for this team, but um give credit to to Cam. um This team is playing very good soccer. and is playing really well with the ball. And so far, Cam is delivering on the promises he made at the at the beginning of the season in terms of the evolution of the team. Now, if we can get these younger guys some experience, I think this team can be really good. Because you've got to remember, like, Triantis, Jen, Dugan, Padelford are all very young players. Even Diaz are, are are like, young players that don't have a a ton of experience. So...
01:04:25
Speaker
You have to keep that in mind when something like that happens. And the good news is is is the more situations like that the team has put in, the more, hopefully, the more experience that the younger guys will take or the younger guys will get. So... ah I still think this is our best 11 despite, you know, the defensive blunders. um I think the offensive upside is really, really great. And then if James can be a super sub or, you know, if it's a team we know, you know, we're also building confidence in our game plan. You know, if this team is a little bit more confident that we can play with the ball against even a team that is on paper better than us, then maybe James can strategically maybe start more games and, and you know,
01:05:11
Speaker
start things off on a different foot. I think, you know, if maybe Pereira and James can trade off starts and and we just see where that gets us, like, who knows? So I'm choosing to be optimistic despite the loss. um And, uh, yeah, we will go more in depth about, uh, the match in the next episode, but I wanted to make sure i got some sort of, you know, response to our predictions here and fulfill our promise. So hope you enjoyed it. Um, I, ed I ended up cutting out, uh, the one more thing segment. Sorry. That way that, that that it it just wouldn't have made sense here. And also, We didn't have anything particularly interesting to say. So, um yeah, one one more thing. If that's your favorite section of the podcast, we'll be back in in the end next week. But, ah yeah, I hope you enjoyed this episode of Loon Calling. I'm glad that we're back. I'm glad we are back to our regularly scheduled programming. If you like the episode, please leave a comment or leave a like. or ah review the podcast on your podcast platform of choice. It really helps us out. And we've gotten quite a few ratings so far that I think are are helping the listenership. So thank you so much. We really enjoy making the show. And I think the energy in this one was kind of evident. We've had a lot. We had a good time.
01:06:35
Speaker
um, recording this one. And it's also, it's easier when it seems like the team is in a really good place right now. So I hope you enjoyed and, you will hear our voices next week.
01:06:47
Speaker
Um, back to our regularly scheduled programming. Okay. Bye-bye. Hope you have a good one.