WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:01.639 Let's go ahead, bring the man in and we can 2 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.599 discuss what's going on in San Diego and all points 3 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:08.919 in between. So uh, Nico as always great to see you, sir, 4 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:13.560 and we have had a a It's been a busy 5 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:17.399 couple days really where it Land United is concerned. It 6 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:23.079 looks like that Miggy is close to returning the prodigal 7 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:28.120 son returns, and I imagine that for the first home 8 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:29.559 match for Atlanta. 9 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:31.559 United, they're just gonna go ahead and open up the root. 10 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.960 They're gonna open up the building and just go everybody 11 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:38.200 come on in. That's gonna be crazy. And it looks like, 12 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.439 according to Tom Bogert and Ben Jacobs over at Gimme 13 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:44.600 Sport that right now they've reached a verbal agreement with 14 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.520 Middlesbrough on Emmanuel late loth in the neighborhood of twenty 15 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:50.560 million US. So it Landy United, very busy. But what 16 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:54.159 I wanted to start with you is what you talked 17 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:59.759 about yesterday in your reporting about raw Ruy Diaz, and 18 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:03.640 we had, uh, we had our Buddyno Torres on before 19 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:06.439 you to discuss the Peruvian angle in all of this. 20 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:10.640 But you have San Diego now, Tyler heaps dialing up 21 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:12.760 raw Ruy Diaz and his reps on the phone. What 22 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:13.519 happened there? 23 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:16.920 Yeah? Well, first of all, always get to be here 24 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.680 cup number one of coffee. Uh. I'll let you know 25 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:22.640 that I'm a little bit behind today. I was trying 26 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:24.879 to get nice and pretty, did not look at the 27 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:28.760 time and what are now? Failed on the pretty failed 28 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:34.079 on the time, but ready to be ready to hop on. Uh. Yeah, 29 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:37.000 that rowdy think I'd been working on for about a week. 30 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:40.480 It is something that I was trying to confirm. I 31 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:46.079 wanted to make sure that it was indeed reliable sources, uh, 32 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:49.599 and they are. This is definitely one of the many 33 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:53.560 options that Roldredias is taking in Uh. He was very 34 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:58.840 edamant about wanting to take some time off when of 35 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:01.079 the when of the break, when it disconnect, you don't 36 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:04.920 want to hear offers. Wanted to go to Peru, enjoy 37 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:07.879 his family, enjoy his time, and then when it was 38 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.759 due time take the options that were out there. I 39 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:15.280 am told that San Diego of c is one of 40 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:20.599 two contenders for a landing spot to Raoul Ridiez. He's 41 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:26.240 clearly prioritizing MLS as I've been saying since last year, 42 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:31.000 forever and ever, there's also a possibility in Mexico. So 43 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:36.360 he's you know, taking it very serious about where he 44 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:40.960 wants to go for the right reasons, that it matches 45 00:02:41.080 --> 00:02:45.120 his home life, that you know, if his family is 46 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:47.840 going to be okay with probably a lot of traveling 47 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.680 since he hasn't really left the area of Seattle just yet. 48 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:57.120 So it's going to be a real difficult decision. But 49 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.520 the interest is out there, and if you really think 50 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:03.560 about it, he would fit in San Diego. Why not 51 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:08.360 bring in an experienced striker that can help you win, 52 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:11.879 that would be willing to come in in a rotational role. 53 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:17.080 That again, I think every single expansion team that we've 54 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:21.680 seen has had some sort of veteran leader out there 55 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:25.280 for those attacking positions. And he can definitely provide that 56 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:29.919 he's been staying very fit, making sure that his body 57 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:33.280 is right. So whatever club does decide to take a 58 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.719 chance on Roll Radios will not be disappointed on his 59 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:39.479 form and conditioning going into twenty twenty. 60 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:43.360 Five, all right, And so with obviously our focus has 61 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.759 been on at Land United and how busy Chris and 62 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:48.960 Garth have been in trying. 63 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:50.479 And I should have had that by the way. I mean, 64 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:55.159 Boger literally beat me on the Megate thing by the 65 00:03:55.400 --> 00:04:01.039 slightest margin. I just I was to get everything he 66 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:04.960 put out at the end. But you know, props to 67 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:07.840 him that that's why he does what he does. But 68 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:11.599 I had the day before source number one, which I 69 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:14.280 always like to have too. This is a really good source. 70 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.879 But still I wanted to make sure to get a 71 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:19.800 second one before I threw it out there. I wanted 72 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.120 a little bit more details. But Source number one was like, 73 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:26.480 this is Garth written all over it. I mean, if 74 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:29.480 you think about it, if you dissect it, bringing Meggi 75 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:33.839 to Atlanta, is it garth move If there's one not 76 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.600 to mention Chris Henderson obviously the guy that I'm not 77 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:42.480 sure if you guys are aware, but the Sounders when 78 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:46.439 they brought Nicholas Sadero, Chris Henderson always doing a fantastic 79 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.560 job with his brother Sean Henderson, they had the option 80 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:58.000 Miguel Almiron, Nicolas Ldero, sell Astean Blanco. Those were the 81 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:00.399 three options that they were looking at. See ended up 82 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:04.279 going with Nico. Did not miss there obviously for different reasons. 83 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:06.000 Right they knew that Miki was a guy that was 84 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:10.000 gonna hit hard and bounce to Europe. And they knew 85 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.720 that Nico was going to create a legacy, be a 86 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:18.120 pillar to your franchise. So Chris Henderson very happily was 87 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:22.199 looking at Miguel Almoneroon because it's a full en circle 88 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:24.040 of when he came into the league and now he's 89 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:25.160 bringing him back into the league. 90 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:32.800 And this has been one of the craziest weeks just 91 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.759 with information and folks going places. I know that at 92 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:38.480 the beginning of training camp you can sit there and 93 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:42.720 make make the connections here, but I have I have 94 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:47.680 here in my hand a list of everything. 95 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.560 And so let's see today being the sixteenth, so today, 96 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.800 so if we go back, just say two days. Let's 97 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:53.639 go back two days. 98 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:57.399 Eric Williamson traded to Charlotte from Portland for one hundred 99 00:05:57.399 --> 00:05:59.759 thousand and game two hundred and fifty thousand conditional game 100 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:03.759 on a on percentage. Mattias Jorgensen signs with lag then 101 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:08.160 a transfer from Anderlecht. Kyle Rowls comes from a two 102 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:11.079 year deal from Hearts, which includes a twenty seven option. 103 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:15.439 Nashville signs Chris Applewhite. They finally signed yet another homegrown 104 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.639 Yesper Sorenson signs a contract to be the new head 105 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.720 coach in Vancouver, and I do want to talk about 106 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:23.519 the Vancouver ownership situation with you, because we promised that 107 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:27.959 last week. Nokvithotisen signs on a transfer to All Caps 108 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:31.800 from Sparta Rotterden. Today O Agende a one year contract 109 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:34.600 with Messi and Friends on loan from Celta Devigo through 110 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:37.600 twenty five. Tayo corbian Who signs a one year deal 111 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:41.279 on loan to TFC from Granada through twenty five. Eric 112 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:44.399 Duanea signs a one year deal with Houston. We know 113 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.759 him from being an original at LAFC that includes options 114 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:50.639 twenty six to seven and eight. Alejandro Alvarado a two 115 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:54.879 year deal with San Diego transfer from FC Vezela, which 116 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:58.480 includes options for twenty seven and eight. Leonardo Barosso four 117 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:01.879 year deal with Chicago Iago via U twenty two via 118 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.959 transfers from Sporting with including an option for twenty nine. 119 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:08.160 Randa Lao claimed off waivers by DC United from Nashville 120 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:12.040 wyat Almsburg to the Revs. Chiciago Andrage signed by transfer 121 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:17.000 from Toronto from Jezero Osaka Owen Chiago home to LAFC, 122 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:21.040 Joseph to San Jose, on I Vadacati to San Diego, 123 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:25.199 Mason Toy to Sporting Kansas City, Todd Ryan Anonga of 124 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:30.839 FC Cincinnati, Lucco Acasta, Lucoregiano not interested anymore, Maxi Morales 125 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:35.000 nights within IFC. Kobe Henry signs with RSL, Sam Rodgers 126 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:39.240 to Chicago, Jason Pelasios to Nashville, Ariola and pet bl 127 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:40.759 Good lord. 128 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.720 Man, what's going on in Major League soccer? 129 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:47.279 Yeah, it's been it's been craziness, right. I mean, I 130 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:52.360 think my favorite so far has been in down south 131 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:55.680 from US here with San Jose. They've been the surprise 132 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.839 team for me. I thought that chich Orango was great business. 133 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:03.600 I think that they pounds on an opportunity that Kurt 134 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:07.279 Schmith said did not take him by surprise. That it 135 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:11.560 was Christine and Angel who approached our sell and said 136 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:17.319 he wanted a fresh start, and that's what apparently seem 137 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:22.759 to happen there. So Bruce Rita definitely like his proven 138 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:28.639 attackers and in Christian that's what you get. And Chico, 139 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:31.600 if anything, has shown you that in his first year 140 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:34.840 that's what he punts you hard and he punts you twice, 141 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:38.679 so it's gonna be a good stetup down there. I 142 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.320 like the Joseph Martinez move. They already have some pieces 143 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:46.559 there in the Pinosa and Hernandez. I mean, I'm looking 144 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:51.240 at San Jose and once they really tied up a 145 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:53.799 few things on the defensive end, I think that's gonna 146 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:58.120 be an interesting one. But look between the new rules, between. 147 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:00.600 Some of the. 148 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.000 Dynamics that we've seen over the last couple of weeks. 149 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:09.879 I appreciate the fact that everyone's trying to just get 150 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:15.039 ready to battle, and I understand that the sense of 151 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:23.399 equity and balance and parody tends to at times, especially 152 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:26.279 in today, someone less be more of a mirage because 153 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:28.519 if you have the cash, if you had the money, 154 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:31.639 you do have a bit of an edge. And you 155 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:34.399 can tell by some of the top teams in the league. 156 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:37.960 They're putting in the most money. But all of these 157 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:41.120 new rules, and if you're able to use your resources correctly, 158 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.519 it gives you a fighting chance. It gives you an 159 00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:47.240 opportunity to surprise some people the way the Sounders did 160 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:50.000 last season by getting as far as they did. So 161 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:55.320 it's going to be to me exciting how this continues 162 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.960 to develop, and how some of this new cash options 163 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:02.039 within the league work out, and how some trades with 164 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:06.320 the piece could happen, and what does happen with Luchua 165 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:09.200 Costa and what does happen with Evander. I mean, you know, 166 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:12.320 there are just a lot of situations that man, it's 167 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:15.639 a great time to follow MLS now You've got to 168 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.919 be familiar otherwise you're going to be completely lost. But 169 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:22.200 if you are a follower of MLS, it's been fun. 170 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:22.879 No doubt. 171 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:27.879 And you're seeing other names being linked in. You're seeing 172 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:33.759 Wilf Zahan now being linked to a move to Charlotte. 173 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:40.039 You're seeing Naymar being linked to MLS clubs. Naymar Is 174 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:43.039 getting paid the proverbial ish ton of money to be 175 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:44.919 playing in the Saudi League. 176 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:47.480 That one I don't love. That's one that I'm not 177 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:52.840 That's one I don't love. It just seems like and look, 178 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:55.159 I've never been in for bringing in players like that, 179 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:59.240 and obviously little Messy being the exception. But if you 180 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:08.879 even compare there Messis and Suarez's minutes and productivity over 181 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:12.720 the couple of years prior to moving to MLS, it 182 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:15.679 makes sense. But you look at Aymar Man and he 183 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:19.840 hasn't had a thousand minute season for I think three, 184 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:23.840 if not four seasons. So it's one that I don't 185 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.440 is one that I don't love. I understand that it's 186 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:30.399 tempting and he tends to be one that's going to 187 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:33.080 put butts in the seats and fans in the stands, 188 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:36.960 but when he comes to soccer man, I'm just not 189 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:37.559 sold on it. 190 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:43.559 Yeah, and right now, the one named team is Chicago, 191 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:49.159 and Chicago needs to put butts in seats in the spaceship. 192 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:53.600 They really do, because when you watch games involving the 193 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:57.120 Chicago Fire, you got a lot of empty seats masquerading 194 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.159 a season ticket holders. 195 00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.879 I mean, it is a time. 196 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.879 It can be a hard watch and that's why you'll 197 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.720 see a lot of tight shots involving Chicago home matches 198 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:08.639 because lack of folks that are there. There were two 199 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:14.559 other clubs that are allegedly linked to conversations with Naymar's 200 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:22.360 agent parenthesis, his dad close parenthesis, and I am I'm intrigued. 201 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:26.480 I don't and look you said it. It's a fun 202 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.799 time to be following Major League soccer. You have clubs 203 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:34.600 who are not afraid to invest and we're also going 204 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:37.679 to be learning. Okay, there's a difference between investing wisely 205 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.960 and investing for the sake of just throwing money at 206 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.519 a problem. 207 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:43.399 And I think that and that. 208 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:45.759 Will be the that will be what I think the 209 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:49.440 next stage here in Major League Soccer is who is 210 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:53.840 investing to invest long term, who is investing wisely, and 211 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:56.799 who is investing to throw money at a problem? That 212 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:59.840 I think will be something to monitor going forward. 213 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.000 It comes to this. 214 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.639 Season, who comes in, how they fit, how they don't fit, 215 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.559 and what we're staring at in the twenty five years. 216 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:12.679 Especially for me, the team that I'm looking at in 217 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.000 that sense to figure out what category I'm going to 218 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:20.639 put him on tends to be Austin. Look, I'm going 219 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.919 to be frank with him, be frank with your audience. 220 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.799 I am not a fan of Rodolfo. I think that 221 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:30.559 he is an impulsive and overbearing sort of GM that 222 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:35.000 wants to be the protagonist and to hold the Rusie situation. 223 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:39.080 And before that, we can go on and on about 224 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.440 the swings that missus. They've had a dpiece. They're really 225 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:45.320 doing a disk service to one of the most fun 226 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:53.240 and creative and supportive fan bases in MLS. The stadium 227 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.639 is great. I love that Birthday. I mean everything about Birthday. 228 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.720 I love about I love everything about Austin except for 229 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:04.799 the front office. And look, I love Matthew mcgannaughey and 230 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:08.360 all the movies or whatever. But obviously not soccer is 231 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:11.159 not what he is known for. So I'm gonna blame 232 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:15.279 the soccer heads and not necessarily the ownership there, because obviously, 233 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:19.440 if you're gonna go pay ten for Basquez, the money's 234 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.840 coming in, So that's not the issue. But it's the 235 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:29.159 lack of an idea and a roster built that has 236 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:32.519 been missing for three years. Me and you have discussed coaches, 237 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:35.360 Me and you have this cused moves or either lack 238 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:39.080 thereof or wrong moves. So Austin is one team that 239 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:43.480 I feel like they don't have the wallet that maybe 240 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:46.840 Atlanta and Miami d but they have a decent budget 241 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:50.159 and they just haven't used it correctly. Chicago for me 242 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:55.360 is another one because they've been another disappointment for so long, 243 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:59.240 so long, one of the originals, one of the teams 244 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.559 that man, I love the city at Chicago, but you 245 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:09.080 could tell that the fire it's like the stepchild that 246 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.799 no one really cares about in that city. I mean, 247 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:16.159 I would go to a gift shop and maybe there 248 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:18.919 might be a couple of key chains, but there's nothing. 249 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:21.679 I mean, there's cubs, there's White Sox, there's you know, 250 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.960 bull stuff, I mean, whatever you want, but Chicago fire 251 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:27.519 is just not a thing in Chicago, their own city. 252 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:33.279 And that is a result also a bad managing of 253 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:38.480 money and a lack of a real good soccer module 254 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:42.919 and an identity in a academy system. So many things 255 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:45.200 a wrong in Chicago. So those are the two to 256 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:48.600 me that if we go one West Coast team, one 257 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.440 East coast team, those are the ones that I'm going 258 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.080 to be looking at. 259 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.960 You mentioned Austin. Austin looks like it is going to 260 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:59.240 be River and Drew uc and not a Studiante's in 261 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:02.799 dreuc de Deonte's at points looked like they might come 262 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.039 to the table with more money, a little bit more, 263 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.720 but Dreusi wants to go to River. Right now, it 264 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:11.000 looks like Drusi and River and the deal for about 265 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:15.240 ten million. And so then this morning it's reported that 266 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.080 Austin has agreed to a deal to sign mirto Is 267 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:24.960 Uzuni from Granada, an international, an Albanian international forward. Austin 268 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:28.240 is going to trigger the twelve million euro release clause. 269 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:30.120 The deal isn't done. This is from the last hour, 270 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:34.159 pending final details in a medical. Third new club, third 271 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:37.600 new club, record transfer in the last six months for Austin. 272 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:42.200 So Austin's stepping up to the table when it comes 273 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:45.600 to trying to bring in players. You bring in Vasquez, 274 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:49.879 you might be bringing in the Albanian striker from Granada, 275 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:52.240 then the other DP that you signed as well. So 276 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.120 not afraid to spend money. I still wish the stadium 277 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:58.120 was bigger. It's such a small stadium that cannot agree 278 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:01.480 it can't be expanded, and I think that's going to 279 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:05.279 hamstring the revenue from Austin FC. But to your point, 280 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.960 I like Chicago. I like the idea of looking at 281 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:11.400 Chicago spending money to just spend money to try and 282 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:15.559 solve a problem. I'm intrigued by everybody else so far Seattle. 283 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:18.559 I wanted to break down this discussion with you about Seattle. 284 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:21.880 The latest from the time that you've been able to 285 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:25.559 spend and talk to folks in Ariola coming in. I 286 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:28.079 know that there was a discussion on your timeline about 287 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.960 formations and how things may look one way or the other. 288 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:35.960 What are you anticipating now that training camp is up 289 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.119 and running with Seattle, and what you're seeing from everybody 290 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.880 who's now in place and who's left over from last year. 291 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:47.759 Yeah, look, big report of week one of Sounders training 292 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:50.880 has been positive. I said it right off the bad 293 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:54.799 My impression right now is that the teams in high spirits. 294 00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:59.799 You could tell the positivity from the big smile and 295 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:03.920 Ryan's face as soon as he faced the first round 296 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.279 of questions at the press conference. He's excited about this team. 297 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:14.559 Paul A Riola, it's a player that, look, I didn't 298 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:18.079 really know if he was a necessity for this club, 299 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:21.680 but man, is he just a good dude. I mean, 300 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:25.680 he's just as likable as it gets, and when he 301 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.720 comes to the eye test, immediately passed it. I did 302 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:34.119 not expect anything less from a player that has fifty 303 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.680 caps with the usbn's national team, that has been on 304 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:39.359 a ton of teams, that has played in Mexico. So 305 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:43.039 he's one of those guys that he looks sharp, he 306 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:47.200 looks like he's playing at a different speed, and that's good, right, 307 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:50.359 off the bat, because you have a player that barely 308 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:54.279 needs a preseason to be, if not at his top level, 309 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:59.000 at a good level of his performance and potential. So 310 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:01.960 he's been out standing. Uh. He's been playing as a 311 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.640 wing back, mainly on the right side. Did see him 312 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.680 play on the left side here today? Obviously not as 313 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:12.440 sharp with not his favorite foot, if you will, but 314 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:16.079 has the ability to cut inside. Had a beautiful banger 315 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:19.039 on the right side after a pass from Danny Lava. 316 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.680 So he's exciting. Uh, he's passed the eye test. I again, 317 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:25.400 I wasn't in love with the move, but he is 318 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:28.680 growing on me extremely quickly. Three days. I have been 319 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:31.160 there from the start of practice to the end of practice, 320 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:35.279 and he gets my check mark for I get a 321 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:39.599 couple of standouts. Georgie Manongu that the young guy that 322 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.559 was so exciting last season looked like that man has 323 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:45.039 been working on his finishing back to back goals and 324 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:50.200 scrimmage a couple of days ago. Uh, just looks gold dangerous, 325 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:55.839 extremely fit. Uh, low body mass and a lot of muscle, 326 00:19:56.279 --> 00:20:01.279 which seems to be a trending topic because job looks 327 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:07.319 five years younger. I mean the guy, he says is 328 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:09.880 because he trimmed the beard. But it's not that, baby, 329 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.000 there's not that much weight on your beard. He looks good, 330 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:16.920 he looks quick, the verticality, the horizontal movement. I see 331 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:19.920 those hips shifting. That had been an issue for him. 332 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:23.079 He talked to us and was very frank about how 333 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:28.799 slow his rehab process was and how he didn't really 334 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:31.480 have a chance to get back to top form. He 335 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:34.039 looks good though. It looks top form. Probably the best 336 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:38.799 pre season condition I've seen from JP since his MVP 337 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:43.440 season or finalist MVP and MLS. So those things are 338 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:48.920 very interesting. Josh Atensio at center back. You talked about formations. 339 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:52.440 There's been a whole lot, a whole lot a three 340 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.839 in the back when he comes to scrimmages, when he 341 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:58.480 comes to just short sighted gains, no doubt. Di's a 342 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:01.160 point of emphasis. Not that's what the team is going 343 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:04.519 to go and start with in twenty twenty five, because 344 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:08.480 I feel like the default formation is still for two 345 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.880 three one, in my opinion, is the formation that gets 346 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:15.599 the most talented players on the field at one time. 347 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.480 But it's interesting to see them work so much. In 348 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:25.319 his stream information, Oh bet the game has released slow 349 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.920 down for this young man. You can tell that he 350 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.079 is seeing the game at a different speed. The way 351 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:35.440 he cuts, the way he gets out of pressure, his 352 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:38.519 ability to break lines with the ball. He has not 353 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:41.759 lost The beat was exactly my tweet on Ovid Vargas. 354 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:46.519 Looks fantastic. So all in all, Seattle's interesting. The only 355 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:54.200 bad moment so far is Jackson Reagan talking to us 356 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:57.200 yesterday extremely disappointed that he's not going to get to 357 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:02.279 go and be in the January camp Fortino. I understand 358 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:06.319 he's been working so hard for this opportunity, but honestly, 359 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:10.079 I blame you with soccer, John, I blame you with soccer. 360 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:13.440 This is not the first time that is all or nothing. 361 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.720 Look it's January, kim Man, I mean, see the guy. 362 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.359 As far as we know so far, Jeremashan reported at first, 363 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:28.160 we confirmed later as a club, the Sounders told us Soccer, Yes, 364 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.279 you can have Jackson Reagan. He can go work with you. 365 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:35.119 We just need him back by the nineteenth. The team 366 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:41.480 travels to Spain this Saturday to Marbella. They play Konkakov 367 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:47.400 Cup in Guatemala like the twenty something of this month, 368 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:50.960 so they need their team ready they need their starting 369 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:53.359 center back to figure out whether they're gonna play three 370 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:56.039 in the back in that one two what's gonna be 371 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.920 the formation, right? I mean for in the back, I mean, 372 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.880 is it gonna be two standard backs? Is there going 373 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.119 to have to be some chemistry things that he's got 374 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:06.799 to figure out for one? For two, the injury bug, right, 375 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.559 We've already heard about Ferreira being released by US men's 376 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:15.200 national team because of a fitness issue. So you know, 377 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:17.920 those are the things that in the past, Jackson has 378 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:21.519 got injuries in this sort of camp. So those are 379 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:25.240 the things that make teams apprehensive. But again I blame 380 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:28.519 US Soccer because they had every sense to say, hey, 381 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:32.440 we got one of the best American center backs in 382 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:35.400 MLS come into camp, let's check him out for eighteen 383 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.160 or a couple of weeks, and we're going to figure 384 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:40.799 it out. We're going to send them back or less 385 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:43.640 work with the Seattle Sounders. But when you has soccer 386 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:46.440 and MLS are not working together and it's more of 387 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:51.559 a power struggle, that's when I blame the US Soccer 388 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:54.079 Federation because you're supposed to be the one that wants 389 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:57.039 the best for the soccer in your country and in 390 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:59.880 your federation, and this is not helping out anyone. So 391 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:03.759 so I understand the frustration by Jackson Reagan. We don't 392 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:07.880 know if he's upset at the club or add the federation. 393 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:10.519 All he said was, you know, I came out disappointed 394 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:12.079 and I was told I was going to go, and 395 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.359 then I was enabled to go. But then he said, 396 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:16.440 I'm not taking any more questions on it. I want 397 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:18.519 to talk about it. So we didn't pry him on it. 398 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.960 Maybe in the future we'll get a little bit more 399 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:25.079 insight on the situation. But that's probably the only negative 400 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:28.839 out of three days that I've been at Providence in 401 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:31.720