WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.680 And so what that means is that I'm going to 2 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:07.000 punch the clock a little early. Well maybe yeah, thirty 3 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:11.599 seconds or so, I don't know, but properly hydrated as always, 4 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:15.480 and adjusting to life as it is with us here 5 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:19.239 with a restream and our and our new platforms and everything. 6 00:00:19.239 --> 00:00:23.600 A Gordon, ladies and gentlemen. So a busting out the 7 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:25.719 us A jersey this morning, out a boy. 8 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:30.399 Yeah, Nike had a sale a couple months back, so 9 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:33.920 I bought a couple of pieces at severe discounts and 10 00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:36.399 uh yeah, popped one on today. Why not? 11 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:42.159 Nothing nothing wrong with the severe discount. Man right here 12 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.759 is the king of a severe discount. So I'm right 13 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:48.600 there with you. So welcome to twenty twenty five, my friend. 14 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:50.280 How was the time away from us? 15 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:55.240 It was pretty good, obviously. I spent some time on 16 00:00:55.399 --> 00:01:00.320 a cruise vacation that was very fun, and then just 17 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.799 just been taken into new year making sure we're staying 18 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:07.079 healthy and happy and really also just counting down the clock. 19 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:09.280 I mean, I know I was talking with you over 20 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:12.120 the weekend and due to the weather that we just 21 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:16.439 had here in Atlanta, United did delay some of the 22 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:20.439 things necessary to start their media portions of practice. They 23 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:23.359 couldn't do all the physicals essentially, is what happened. And 24 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:27.599 so we were hoping to be at United for their 25 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:30.239 first training session that got delayed. But like, it is 26 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.400 crazy that it's here. I mean, we knew it was 27 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.000 a short offseason when it started. We're like, man, it's 28 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:39.359 like seven weeks away, and they had a lot to 29 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:41.959 do and they still have a lot to do, right, 30 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:46.519 I mean, they hired a new technical director, they hired 31 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:48.920 a new manager, they put a couple pieces in place. 32 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.879 They've made a move here or they're more so on 33 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:55.560 the fringe, but there's obviously some rumors heating up that 34 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.680 could be more central to this team. And so very 35 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:03.560 excited to see. And we're counting down right as much 36 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.000 as we're counting down from everything else. We're what twelve 37 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:11.919 days from the opening preseason match against Chattanooga, and the 38 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:15.879 preseason gets fast and furious from there. You essentially are 39 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:20.879 playing five matches or some sort of competitive environments there 40 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:25.280 in essentially thirty days. So really looking forward to covering 41 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:27.319 that and then yeah, getting the season going. Man, Like 42 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.439 it's pretty much here. So very excited. 43 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:33.319 Well, and that's the thing. It's like, oh, seven weeks, 44 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.599 What are we gonna talk about for seven weeks? Trust me, 45 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.439 there's plenty to talk about in seven weeks, and seven 46 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:41.560 weeks turns into like five and a half and you're 47 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.919 just you know, you're off and running, and it's halfway 48 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.639 there already, so we haven't had the chance to catch up. 49 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:50.280 What have you thought about the pickups of Chris Henderson 50 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:52.479 and Ronnie Dila in the front office and being a 51 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:53.000 head coach? 52 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.879 Yeah, I mean, by all accounts, I'm excited, and everyone 53 00:02:56.919 --> 00:03:00.199 has kind of generally said you should be excited about this. 54 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:03.240 I mean, it's a formula that has worked before with 55 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:07.400 Loggerway and Henderson, and they're also coming into situation where 56 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.479 you have a pretty good team right now compiled, you 57 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:13.159 have a pretty good amount of money to go, and 58 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:15.439 you also have flexibility in your roster with what you 59 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:18.520 want to do and openings and designated player and stuff 60 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:21.719 like that. So it's not like you're bringing in guys 61 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.280 to rebuild. You already have a really strong base, but 62 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:27.840 now you do have an opportunity to make your stamp 63 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:30.120 and to add to that, and I think that's probably 64 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:35.479 very exciting. From the Henderson side of things, and then 65 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.520 with Ronnie Dila, I mean, just very excited to see 66 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:41.240 what he's able to do to take again the talent 67 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:43.680 that's already here, the talent that Henderson's going to add, 68 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.759 hopefully in the next week or two, because you want 69 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:49.280 to deal with all the issues and visas and make 70 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:51.840 sure he's getting with the team and all that stuff 71 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.680 that always frustrates fans when we have a guy but 72 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.360 we don't really have that guy for three more months whatever. 73 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:03.520 Just very excited to see in action again. You didn't 74 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:07.479 win last year, right, I mean, ultimately you did get eliminated, 75 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:09.520 but there were some really good things that you did 76 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:11.599 at the end of the season, and now just time 77 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:14.639 to try and build all that, not not take steps 78 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:17.240 back as you rebuild, but continue to move forward. I'm 79 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:18.560 excited to see if they can do that. 80 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:23.240 And obviously as a part of the show this morning, 81 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:27.279 we are going to discuss the names that are being 82 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:30.759 floated out there that kind of hit pretty hard. 83 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:31.279 On the weekend. 84 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:34.439 And once again at Landy United not afraid to sit 85 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.000 there and say, oh, eighteen to twenty million, sure, all right, 86 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:39.399 we'll cut that check, you know. 87 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:40.439 So it's the. 88 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:46.319 Pursuit is not the issue. It is the desires of 89 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.560 the agents and the player and the teams that are 90 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.279 on the inbound that are always going to be a 91 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:55.360 part of the discussion. And I think that that's something 92 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.399 that we always have to remember here, is that, yeah, 93 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:02.120 you can chase after all guys in the world, but 94 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:04.959 the desires got to be there. The agent's got to 95 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.480 sit there and look out for what's best for his client. 96 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:10.240 All of these different little machinations that we have to 97 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:11.800 kind of keep an eye on. That's always going to 98 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:12.800 be a part of the discussion. 99 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:15.199 Well, and I think the other thing you have to 100 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:18.759 understand is the status of the league as a whole. 101 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:22.399 And I think you're seeing and not just Atlanta United, 102 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:26.639 but in recent years you've seen teams, top tier teams 103 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:29.040 in the MLS, but even middle or bottom tier teams 104 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:32.160 going after guys that they quite frankly, would have never 105 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:35.800 had an opportunity to try and attract in previous years. 106 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.079 And I think you've seen the shift of and look, 107 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.079 there was a time where like those were the guys 108 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:44.079 who were on their last legs, kind of being retired, 109 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:47.360 and they wanted to wrap up in the US, and 110 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:49.959 to an extent, Lionel Messi is still that but also 111 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.240 at the top of his game at the same time somehow, 112 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:55.879 not really sure how that happens. My athletic prime was 113 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:59.199 years ago and I never recovered. He somehow's kept his prime. 114 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:03.639 I do think related to that is you're seeing an 115 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:07.600 opportunity to get a different style and level of player 116 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:12.240 in terms of drawing from Europe or even from from 117 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:16.360 Africa and South America than maybe you would have, and 118 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:18.319 you're able to find a couple of guys that you 119 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.600 you at least feel are a little bit more proven. 120 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:23.439 And that excites me when I look at like some 121 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:25.839 of the numbers of the guys that they're talking about, 122 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:30.000 be it from Asia, be it from from Europe, whatever, 123 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:32.759 And you go back and look at like we were 124 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.120 excited for Yakabacas and like he wasn't in like a 125 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:40.199 top top tier necessarily league, but here is his games 126 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:42.279 played and here's his goals scored, and you look at 127 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:45.560 the guys that they're chasing, and it's very similar, if 128 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:50.199 not better, in terms of goals per matches. So and 129 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:52.879 it's also like very apparent the type of guy they're 130 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.920 trying to bring in, Like they're looking for goal scorers, 131 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:57.680 and there's no more secret about what are they going 132 00:06:57.720 --> 00:06:59.759 to do with their DP spots? Could they find it? 133 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.079 And they're like no, man, like they're they're doing what 134 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.879 we all want them to do, which is find someone 135 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:08.439 to score goals. And so excited for the possibilities of 136 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:12.079 the names that are being chattered about. But but again, 137 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:15.480 like you said, sometimes we see names get hot and 138 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:17.680 then it just kind of goes cold. That's already happened 139 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:21.439 once this offseason for United. And and so we'll see 140 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.560 if the names that are hot right now, the names 141 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.959 that are trending, if you will ultimately make their way 142 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:28.759 here to the four oh four. 143 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:33.160 Yeah, and there's always the Starbucks joke that has happened 144 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:36.480 with Emmanuel la Teila and his time with the Middlesbrough 145 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:40.360 currently and odd soun Edward. Those are the two names 146 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:44.000 that are out there, and obviously we'll get into the 147 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:47.360 more about those two as we go this morning. But 148 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:51.959 you're you're chasing after players that are in the the 149 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:55.879 EFL Championship. You're chasing after players that have Premier League experience. 150 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:01.079 I mean, shoot, the team up the road that claimed itself, 151 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:04.160 that claims itself to be Atlanta United's number one rival 152 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.319 from Absolute Jump, decided that they want to chase after 153 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:08.120 Miguel Almo. 154 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:12.000 So no league, No league. 155 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:14.879 Is safe from Major League Soccer anymore, Abe Gordon, this 156 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.800 is how this is. It's like you want to dance, 157 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:21.079 let's dance. Look with Major League Soccer. The checks will 158 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:24.720 not bounce. That is the biggest thing. You want a player, 159 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.120 We'll cut you a check. Everything's gonna be fine. Direct 160 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:30.879 deposit's gonna work for the player. Direct deposit's gonna work 161 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:34.120 for the agent and the league. Check will not bounce. 162 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.639 One less thing that folks have to worry about these days. 163 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:41.000 Yeah, And look like I don't want to sound like 164 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:44.440 elitist or anything. I'm not trying to put down other countries, 165 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:47.080 but like, I think living in America is a pretty 166 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.639 cool thing. And you look at some of the countries 167 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:52.919 people are from, some of the countries people are currently 168 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:55.519 playing in, and like there's also now a JA all 169 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:59.200 towards playing in America, and there's just there's just something 170 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:01.759 fun about that. In the league, I mean, it's kind 171 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.759 of crazy. And John, you've been, i mean where the 172 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:07.960 league was at the very start, and to see like 173 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.440 there obviously there were dreams and there were hopes of 174 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:17.039 like what this league could eventually become, and look, they're not. 175 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:19.799 This isn't the end of the road for the MLS. 176 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:23.600 They haven't reached their ultimate goals yet. But to see 177 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.799 what the league was in the conversations that they've entered 178 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:32.039 now in terms of across the world, it's pretty wild. 179 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.279 It's pretty wild. And just the level of respect that 180 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:40.519 this league has gained from players, from fans and then 181 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:43.360 from yet from the business makers is pretty impressive. So 182 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:47.279 look that there's a reason that these names are being 183 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:52.679 bandied about, that these are legitimate targets and legitimate names 184 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:55.600 and quite frank, legitimate players. You look at some of 185 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.840 the numbers on these guys, Uh, it is really impressive, 186 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:00.919 and so I'm exc I did to see what they're 187 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:04.720 gonna do. But it's nice to know that despite some 188 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:08.679 of the seasons that Landing United has had, and I 189 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:11.039 think we can all be fair it's been disappointing since 190 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:15.559 they won the title, they're they're still working, They're still 191 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:18.559 among the highest spenders in MLS, they still are attracting 192 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:21.240 some of the biggest names in MLS. They're still viewed 193 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:26.120 from outside America as the team in MLS, and I 194 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.120 think that is really important to have put them in 195 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.639 this situation where where they can go after some of 196 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.799 the names that they're they're they're chasing down right now. 197 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.440 So when it comes to players that have carried them 198 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:43.960 year to year from last years at Lanty United to 199 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:48.000 this year's at Land United, who are who's in the 200 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:51.360 Abe Gordon spot shadow? Who is who? Who are you 201 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:54.559 looking forward to seeing the most? When it comes to 202 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:59.080 player development, hitting the next stage whatever that entails and 203 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:01.279 air quotes and yes I did just use air quotes 204 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.360 on a Monday as we're getting ready for training camp. 205 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:06.879 Who are you looking forward to seeing in the development stage? 206 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.440 Hit those next strides? When it comes to being a 207 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.399 part of this roster, well. 208 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:14.120 It kind of partlays itself two ways, because you've got 209 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:16.919 the players that maybe took some steps last year, or 210 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:19.120 maybe even if they underachieved last year and you think 211 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:21.840 there's more to them. What can they do in their 212 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:25.000 second year or in another year or whatever. But there's 213 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:28.480 also the aspect of Ronnie Daila and the impact that 214 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:30.879 he's gonna have it maybe if they're asked to do 215 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:36.000 something differently or he's asking them to play differently, and 216 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.399 quite frankly, I'm not gonna pretend to know how he's 217 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:42.639 gonna use or what the expectations are for certain players 218 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.879 in a new system. So I'm gonna speak on the 219 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.600 pure basis of the question what we saw last year, 220 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:52.360 what I'm looking forward to coming up this year, and 221 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:56.679 I think I'll just go from the back forward. I 222 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:01.679 think you start with Pedro Amador. I think what you 223 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:05.440 got from him, especially in the postseason run, but even 224 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.320 before that, and that just happened to be like a 225 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:09.919 link of games where things worked out. Even before that, 226 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:14.039 right you could tell like something was going on differently 227 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:17.120 for him. I don't know if it was communication with 228 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.960 the guys up ahead of him or whatever it was, 229 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.159 but just to me, even with some of the left 230 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:27.440 backs at Lanta United has had, it still felt like 231 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.879 the attack had to come from the right side. With 232 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.759 Brooks Lennon, I think with Pedro now adding on the 233 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:36.840 left side, especially considering the issues you had up top 234 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:40.480 on the left side, I'm excited to see maybe a 235 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:44.240 full year's worth of can he continue and look, he's 236 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:46.200 not gonna have an assist every single game. I think 237 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:49.000 we have to. I know, I know it's tough to hear, 238 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:51.480 but I mean, look, maybe if a Lani United is 239 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:54.799 the highest scoring offense in the MLS, which quite frankly 240 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:57.639 was with some of the expectations to open last year, 241 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:01.320 and that quickly died down. But i've Paigo is the 242 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.840 first name you look at, I think you moved to 243 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.960 the next level. And it continues to be Jay Fortune. 244 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:10.360 Just how good is this kid gonna be? And obviously 245 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:14.679 he didn't play a ton in the first half of 246 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:19.879 the season, a couple us open whatever, but by a 247 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.559 variety of different factors, he finds himself in the regular rotation. 248 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:28.200 But it was up to him to cement himself there 249 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.679 right like, he was given the opportunity to prove it, 250 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.960 and he did prove it. And now the next question is, 251 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.039 as we've had this question with a number of guys 252 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:39.639 that have been young and kind of upstarts, and the 253 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.360 quote next guy at this position, or the next guy 254 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:46.559 at that position for the US national team, for Atlanta United, 255 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:49.600 for youth squad, whatever it may be, it's now up 256 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.960 to him to build off of what seems like a 257 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.039 cemented role for him. Again, Ronnie Diler could come in 258 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.519 feel differently and he may have to fight again. I 259 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:00.720 think everyone's gonna have to fight for the roles. That's 260 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.879 just how it works with new coaches. But at this 261 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.679 point you do maybe expect him to be a little 262 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:08.879 higher in that consideration. So based on what he saw 263 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.919 last year, like that wasn't his apex right, Like he's 264 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:15.759 still trending upwards, He's still climbing that mountain to reach 265 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:19.679 his peak. And so certainly him and then the other 266 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:23.360 thing for me again not knowing who is being brought 267 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:27.399 in up top, but Saba, it just so much of 268 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:30.840 it was on him last year, the idea that he 269 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:33.879 might have some help up there. What sort of a 270 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.879 player does he become? How different does he look when 271 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:39.480 he's got help, Maybe when he doesn't feel the need 272 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.600 to be the primary goal scorer. We can help set 273 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:46.120 guys up. You know, hopefully the goal scoring numbers don't 274 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.879 come down for Saba, but you'd like to see maybe 275 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:51.679 the assist numbers go up a little bit and maybe 276 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:55.559 just a slightly different type of player for him. And 277 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:00.600 then again just you know, just try and figure out 278 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:04.039 who the playmakers are and who's gonna be in the 279 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.480 middle and so just looking forward to that. But again 280 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.440 it's all gonna be about Dlah and how he wants 281 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:13.679 to set things up, who they pulled in to work 282 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:16.840 up top. So very interested in that too. 283 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:22.720 But yeah, yeah, and I mean you you mentioned Saba, 284 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:28.320 and it will be it will be interesting to see 285 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:31.600 how Saba is when he is a guy and not 286 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:35.720 the guy. And I think that there's there's nothing wrong 287 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:38.759 with being a guy, but I think that Saba at 288 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:42.639 times looked like he shouldered the burden internally, you know, 289 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:45.559 maybe just a little too much. And you know, here's 290 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:47.279 a guy who is going to lay it all out 291 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:49.200 there for you. I mean, he's gonna run the ninety 292 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.480 eight miles and not think twice about it. He's gonna 293 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:55.399 on a Monday, I apologize, he's gonna run his ass off. 294 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:58.919 And there goes the explicit rating already fifteen minutes into 295 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:01.679 a new week, five minutes into a new wig. But yeah, 296 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:04.480 he's gonna run his ass off. He's gonna give you everything. 297 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:08.759 And now to your point, you're anticipating Saba getting help, 298 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:11.919 and I think that in whatever form that is at 299 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:15.679 the nine mid Anchuk wherever he fits into the midfield, 300 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:17.919 if it does do he move Moranchuk to the left. 301 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.480 These kinds of factors, you now have that opportunity for 302 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:25.159 Saba to still be the dude, to be a dude 303 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.200 and not be the dude, and that's never a bad thing. 304 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.240 Yeah, And I want to pick up on Moranchuk too, 305 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.039 because it was such a tough ass for him to 306 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:36.000 come in mid season and we're all like, this is 307 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:41.279 a guy, uh, you know, that's replacing Almana. It didn't 308 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:44.480 really feel comfortable for him. It didn't really feel natural 309 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:48.120 for him, and you'd see moments where he kind of 310 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:50.519 settle in and look like a lot more in the flow, 311 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:53.279 and then other moments where it was kind of disconnected. 312 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:55.279 And I'm interested to see if he can get a 313 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:58.279 little more connected on both sides, the offense and the 314 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:01.000 defense and kind of figure that out, because that would 315 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:05.759 also be a huge benefit to Atlanta United, is if 316 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:07.759 the guy that they brought in to be one of 317 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.759 the playmakers can do a little bit more of that. 318 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:14.759 And look, again, it's tough to just grade him on 319 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:16.799 what last year was. I think you do need to 320 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.480 give him a little bit of more time to develop 321 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.559 within the system. And now you have to give everyone 322 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.359 a little bit of time because you're probably looking at 323 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:25.720 a slightly new system, and that's what happened. I mean, look, 324 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:28.079 we're not gonna we're not gonna, you know, tear the 325 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:29.720 tent down if they get off to a little bit 326 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:32.759 of a slow start. You got to understand, as we 327 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.680 learned last year, it's not how you start to an extent, 328 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:38.359 it's how you finish. But you have to give a 329 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:41.240 little bit of leeway with the new stuff. But again, 330 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.599 you have a good enough team here that you would 331 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:47.119 hope that there's some stuff you can do. And again, 332 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.400 I think that's probably why you scheduled as many either 333 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:53.880 competitive environments, matches, whatever you want to say there in 334 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.839 the preseason. What do we say five or six of 335 00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:59.160 these things in thirty days before you really kick the 336 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:02.240 season off, something like that. So I think they're trying 337 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:04.240 to get up and run in pretty quickly. But I 338 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.759 think if Moranchuck can get a little more comfortable and 339 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:08.880 a little bit more calm and what he's being asked 340 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.440 to do, that's gonna help Saba, That's gonna help the 341 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.920 other midfielders. It's certainly gonna help whoever they pull in 342 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:18.079 in strikers, so there's a lot of options for this 343 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.960 team to move forward and improved. Like as good as 344 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:23.200 they finished, there were still things you could look at 345 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:26.440 and say, well, Moronchuck could have done better. If he's 346 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.880 better next year, the team will be better. You didn't 347 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:32.559 have the striking, and so there's as pleased as we 348 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:36.000 were towards the finish, even though ultimately it ended, there's 349 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:39.720 still some steps forward this team can take pretty immediately. 350 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.119 So I'm excited about that. 351 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:45.519 Yeah, because you're looking at games against Chattanooga, FC Birmingham 352 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:48.319 Leagie and the two matches at IMG Academy and then 353 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:53.039 wrapping up with FC Dallas the week before the kickoff 354 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.440 of the regular season on February fifteenth, and so yeah, 355 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:58.480 next in the next thirty two days. The thirty days 356 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:02.720 has September April June and that's ends and all the 357 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.119 rest of thirty one, so eighteen thirty three days. So 358 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.440 thirty three days, you got five matches to get you 359 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.480 ready for the twenty twenty five season before I let 360 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:15.480 you go in the Eastern Conference outside of Messi and Friends, 361 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:17.279 and you can include Messi and Friends if you want. 362 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:20.119 Who else are you looking forward to seeing the most 363 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.640 in twenty twenty five. 364 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:29.720 Uh boy, In general, the Eastern Conferences is not like 365 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:32.240 my biggest Like it's just so much more fun. I 366 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.920 think to watch the West even though they're they're late 367 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:39.000 at night. Like I know, like I get the Columbus thing, 368 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:42.440 I get the Cincinnati thing, but like I don't know, boring, 369 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:50.440 like just boring like whatever. I'm interested to see some 370 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:54.640 of the teams that were previously powers and if they 371 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:59.119 can get back there. I'm interested in Philly and Nashville 372 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.400 and what they have left, what sort of step back 373 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.799 was this past year, because Philly for a while was, 374 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:09.799 you know, running third or fourth in the league. They 375 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:14.799 just completely fell apart. In Nashville obviously has been among 376 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.480 the contenders for a long time, and they've taken their 377 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:20.559 major steps back as well. So I'm interested to see 378 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:22.599 if some of those bottom teams from last year can 379 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:26.799 jump back up to the top. And certainly I feel 380 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.119 like a Lady United is in that possibility as well. 381 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:33.440 All right, So what are the plans for ninety two 382 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.000 nine in the game Off the top of your head, 383 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.359 to head up to the Children's South Caro Atlanta training ground, 384 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:40.279 weather permitting and physicals permitting, you know, off the top 385 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.759 of your head. 386 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:44.640 Yeah, I don't know about that. I do know we're 387 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:48.519 gonna be broadcasting the Chattanooga game, and quite frankly, I 388 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:51.000 haven't even looked at the schedule beyond that, but you 389 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:55.400 will be able to hear the Chattanooga exhibition or preseason, 390 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.960 whatever you want to call it on ninety two nine. 391 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:00.079 So so certainly looking forward to Mike and Jason and 392 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:03.759 getting back into booth and and hearing the sweet sounds 393 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:06.359 of Atlanta United Soccer back on the airwaves. 394 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:08.359 So and do you guys, do you get to go 395 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:10.480 up and party for the morning show at any point? 396 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.119 Do you know? 397 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.359 Off the top of your head. 398 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:17.400 I don't think so. I'm not sure, Uh, broad broadcast restrictions. 399 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.519 I don't know if we're actually doing pre and post 400 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.839 on that one, but we'll definitely have the broadcast of 401 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.240