WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.839 And we mentioned the hot tag, so it's time to 2 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:07.360 bring in yet another premiere. I don't have trumpets, and 3 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.679 I don't have like goal horns attached from venues and 4 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:12.880 things like that. Ryan might have to help us out here. 5 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:17.600 First time visit for the hometown guy for FC Dallas. 6 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:21.120 There's where we get our FCD intail. Ryan, Thanks for 7 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:22.559 dropping by. How are you my friend? 8 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:25.079 How's it going? Man? How's it going? We're gonna have 9 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:27.519 to get who Let the Dogs Out ready for any 10 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.160 future FC Dallas appearances, because that's our new goal song 11 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:33.399 this year, as part of a whole new era and 12 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:35.640 a new mentality that Eric Quill has been bringing to 13 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:37.240 the squad. So who Let the Dogs Out is our 14 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:39.479 new goal song in place of you know you guys 15 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:41.880 got the horns and everything like that, which I love. 16 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:45.079 But no, that's our new thing. So thanks for having 17 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:45.520 me on the show. 18 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:50.439 Excited, No worries, friend of the network Edwin Pintour in communications? 19 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:52.920 Is he lurking off camera? Is he behind a door 20 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:53.880 that you've gone to go high? 21 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:54.079 Yeah? 22 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.840 I've locked myself in this closet like office just to 23 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:01.439 keep any when comments from sneaking on me. 24 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:04.480 Riff Wrap out from each exactly. I see how this works. 25 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:08.239 Uh, first and foremost, for those that may not know, 26 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:12.120 you're a hometown guy, getting to call for your hometown team. 27 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:14.680 What's that like for you to be a part of 28 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:15.239 things now? 29 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.680 Yeah, it's literally a dream come true. I started broadcasting, 30 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:22.280 you know, seven years ago now in college. I went 31 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:25.400 down to college at Trendy University. But I'm originally from Dallas, 32 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.040 grew up going to games, grew up listening to Mark 33 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.040 Followill Steve Davis, who's now my partner on the broadcast 34 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:35.400 every week, so you know, when I started broadcasting, obviously, 35 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:38.400 you know, calling MLS games is a huge goal, and 36 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:40.719 to be able to accomplish that with my hometown team 37 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:42.879 has been has been a dream come true. And and 38 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:44.760 to do shows like this and be part of, you know, 39 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:47.519 the outreach for the club as well as the voice 40 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:50.560 of the team is amazing. So just really enjoying it 41 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:53.040 so far. It's been a lot of fun, kind of 42 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.200 being a part of the new energy. I was with 43 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.400 the team before in a different capacity and I still 44 00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.439 do some social media stuff as well, but you know, 45 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.560 coming in and sort of being the voice of this 46 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:04.640 new era with Eric Quill is a lot of fun. 47 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:10.080 What's your first FC Dallas memory. 48 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:16.560 I would say opening Day against Philadelphia Union. It was 49 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:19.919 somewhere in the Oscar Pere hot Era, so twenty twelve 50 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:24.159 to twenty sixteen, somewhere in there. Came to Opening Day 51 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:28.159 with my family. The team scored and they ran to 52 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:30.240 the corner and celebrated in a row boat where they 53 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.240 all sat one in front of each one in front 54 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.840 of each other, rowing the boat, which I just that's 55 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:37.759 always stuck with me growing up, going to games with friends, 56 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.960 watching Kenny Cooper, who's now a good friend and a 57 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:42.840 member of the front office, is one of our ambassadors score, 58 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.960 you know, ripped the shirt off, swinging around, all those things. 59 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.840 Those are some of the earliest memories for sure. Come 60 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:50.879 to Toyota Stadian back when it's Pizza Hull Park. 61 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.120 So are you rowing the boat in the booth when 62 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:54.960 Lucho scores? Is that what you're doing? 63 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:55.879 Now? Yeah? 64 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:58.159 I think we're gonna have to get coordinated goal celebrations 65 00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:59.759 in the booth. I know you guys do a great 66 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:03.240 job over Atlanta United with the boothcam, which I think 67 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:05.039 is something we might implement down the road. And if 68 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:06.800 we do you know, we got we gotta go viral, 69 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.879 we gotta we got to bring the attention. So, you know, 70 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:12.080 goal celebrations, coordinated goal celebrations with our with our four 71 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:13.800 man booth, We'll get creative with it. 72 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.719 Looking forward to that, let me ask you, what's it 73 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:21.080 been like to see the first first couple of matches 74 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.759 under the Eric Quill administration. What what kind of energy 75 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:25.800 has he brought in and how is it How is 76 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:26.800 it different with Quill? 77 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:27.000 Now? 78 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.520 Yeah, so I think I have a little bit of 79 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:31.520 a unique perspective because I got to travel with the 80 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:35.639 team to Portugal for preseason and that was the first 81 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:37.560 you know, they had a week before that, and but 82 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.800 that was the first real sort of getting into the 83 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.639 meat and bones of it with Eric Quill. The tactical ideas, 84 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:45.319 the amount of running and the amount of fitness that 85 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:47.199 they were doing, which was more than I'd ever seen 86 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:52.560 previously with with Niko Stevez or Peter Hussain. So the intensity. 87 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.840 But also, you know, I think Eric does a really 88 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:57.120 good job of focusing on what's important and not getting 89 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:00.120 distracted by you know, small things. He knows how to 90 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.400 bring the group together, he knows how to inspire the team. 91 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:07.000 He really values hard work from the whole dogs thing 92 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:09.560 that I mentioned when I first came on. He wants 93 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:11.719 the team to be eleven dogs and fight for the 94 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:14.800 badge and fight for the fans. And bringing that mentality 95 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:18.040 has sort of alongside bringing a whole host of new players, 96 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.839 has definitely made for it completely changed FCY Dallas team 97 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:22.759 this year and in the past when we went on 98 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:24.680 the road, it was like, you know, if we could 99 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:26.639 grab a draw, that'd be great for the past couple 100 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.519 of seasons. Last year we had one road win, and 101 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.160 this year it's already so different. We have seven points 102 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:34.160 on the road from three games, and now we go 103 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:36.560 into these road games with the real, you know mentality 104 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:38.240 that we could go and get a win at any 105 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:40.639 point at any venue. And that's what I think makes 106 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:42.079 for an exciting matchup this weekend. 107 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:45.639 New faces coming in obviously we'll talk about Luco in 108 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:48.560 a sec. But you've got the integration with folks like 109 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.519 Leo Chu and Luco a Costa with Pedro Musa. 110 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:52.839 Where is that? 111 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.160 Where is that integration, Where where is that coming together 112 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:59.160 and the melding of ideas with the new faces. 113 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:00.519 Where do you think that is right now? 114 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.800 I still think it's early. First of all, we came 115 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:06.839 into things with the idea of playing in a four 116 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:09.399 to two three one defending in a four to four 117 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:12.600 to two, and then we signed Luco Acosta, and you know, 118 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:15.920 ideally you think he fits right into that number ten position, 119 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.600 But I think we saw in the first couple of 120 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:21.959 weeks that defensively it wasn't working and they weren't finding 121 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:24.040 Luco in the spots that we needed to find him, 122 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:25.879 that he was having to pop out wide or drop 123 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:28.560 deep to receive the ball. So the last couple of 124 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:31.360 weeks the team changed to having an extra midfielder in there, 125 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.600 sort of a diamond. The team calls it a four 126 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:35.720 to three to one to two, but basically having at 127 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:38.000 number six whose job is just to win the ball back, 128 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:40.959 that's Ramiro, and then having two number eights there to 129 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:43.839 support Lucho has really allowed him to get into more 130 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:47.519 dangerous positions. And you know, he has been instrumental in 131 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:49.639 the last in this little two game win streak here 132 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.600 at RSL and then home against Kansas City, and he's 133 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:55.240 popping up in areas where he can actually hurt the opposition, 134 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:57.959 you know, combining with Musa really well. I think the 135 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.600 Musa Luco combination as on you know, swimmingly. I think 136 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:04.560 it's gone much quicker than I expected those two players 137 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.920 to tell. It's been who's going to be the number, 138 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.600 the third guy, kind of the second forward in the formation. 139 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:12.480 That's what we're trying to figure out. Anderson Julio has 140 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:14.560 been amazing since he came over, but he's missed the 141 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:16.680 last three weeks. He had to go get his green card, 142 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:19.120 so we actually haven't seen him in this new formation. 143 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.199 I expect that he's probably going to be the starter, 144 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:23.959 but we haven't seen that yet, and so that chemistry 145 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:25.240 is going to have to come as well. He'd been 146 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:27.839 playing on the left wing for majority of preseason in 147 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:30.279 the first couple of weeks as well, so I think 148 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.480 that's the ideal front three. Leo Chio's got the last 149 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.800 two starts, Logan Farrington's an option as well. Padrinho has 150 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.120 a goal on the season, so there's options. But I 151 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:40.040 think it's going to be Julio and that's going to be, 152 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.040 you know, something they're gonna have to build as he's 153 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:44.079 back this week. He's back in full training and hopefully 154 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:46.120 and involved against Atlanta. 155 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:48.399 For Lucho so far eight shots, four on target, and 156 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.279 those four on target, three of them have gone to 157 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:52.480 the back of the net. With the next g if 158 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.199 you believe in those kinds of things, that just over 159 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:56.879 two at two point oh six. So you mentioned that 160 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:00.240 front all things being equal in a perfect world for 161 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.399 Eric Quill, how do you envision the starting eleven in 162 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.920 this matchup coming up against Atlanta Night. 163 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.920 Yeah, I think the front three. If Julio is fit 164 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.240 and ready to go, I think he'll come into play 165 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.800 alongside Pedromusa in the two striker formation and then Lucho 166 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.839 behind them the midfield. I don't expect a ton of change. 167 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.120 I think Patrickson leget As the two number eights will 168 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:23.680 probably hold their position, and Ramiro has been really solid 169 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.120 coming over from Brazil in the offseason. Is one of 170 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.920 eighteen new players I think in total. Back four. We've 171 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.800 had one change recently, Marco Farfan. We had to announce 172 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.879 this week he's going to have surgery, so he's been 173 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.759 the starting left back homegrow. Nolan Norris is involved now. 174 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:43.240 He's played you know, left back for the youth national teams. 175 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:45.800 He's the captain of the U twenties, so this is 176 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:48.000 his first real opportunity at the MLS level to play 177 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.800 that position and sort of make it his own over 178 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:52.759 the next month to six weeks. So that'll be one 179 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.680 to watch at left back. And obviously you guys have 180 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:57.519 some pretty lethal options in the attack, so he's gonna 181 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.720 get a tough matchup, whether it's you know, up against 182 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.120 al ron I love Janite, whoever it is on the 183 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:04.879 right for Atlanta. But I think the one player that 184 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:06.600 I want to, you know, sort of spread the gospel 185 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.439 about when I go on shows like this is Asasei Ragide, 186 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.600 our new center back who came over from the French 187 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:16.000 second division. He's He's just phenomenal. This guy. He has 188 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:18.279 all the tools to become a top level center back 189 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.920 if he isn't already in Major League Soccer. He's got 190 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:24.480 the physicality, the recovery speed, he's got line breaking passing, 191 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:27.120 he's got the smarts to think through the game as well. 192 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.560 He's been such a fantastic addition for us. And thinking 193 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:33.559 back to when Dallas played Atlanta in preseason, he was 194 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:36.639 not there yet neither and Musa wasn't there. There's some 195 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:39.279 other pieces that weren't there in that game. But particularly 196 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:41.399 when Latte Los came off the bench in that game 197 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.320 and I was like, oh my god, this guy's pace 198 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.080 is phenomenal. This is going to be a problem when 199 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:47.960 we see him in just a couple of months. But 200 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:50.840 I think Osase has that speed as well. I think 201 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:52.559 if we get a foot race between those two, it's 202 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:54.879 gonna be Olympic standard, Like we're gonna need to hand 203 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.000 out a gold medal between the two of those after 204 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.919 the game, because that's the level of athlete that he is. 205 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:02.720 And I know you guys have taken to late lot 206 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:05.279 very well and he's taken to the team very well. 207 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:07.320 So I think that's going to be a matchup to watch. 208 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.159 Besides that, I think not a ton of changes beside 209 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:13.480 Tjulio coming into the lineup and Norris continuing sort of 210 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:14.519 deputizing a left back. 211 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:21.240 How do you think formationally or philosophically Norris will get protected? 212 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:25.399 Considering that you're already anticipating and if he's at left back, 213 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.840 you know that down the right hand side it's going 214 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:31.120 to be Brooks, it's going to be Saba, it's going 215 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:34.840 to be switches. How do you anticipate he's going to 216 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.879 be protected or is there a level of confidence there 217 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.080 that he can be left on an island for a 218 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.480 while and he can navigate things one b one Okay. 219 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.279 I think he's a very smart player. I think his 220 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.840 biggest weakness and the reason that he hasn't got this 221 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:52.919 opportunity yet in the past couple of years, is his pace, 222 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.039 and so that is a concern up against Atlanta, who 223 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.039 is a running team. I think you guys are in 224 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.600 the top three and pretty much every running metric, and 225 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:01.639 obviously they have a ton of pace. So I think 226 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.360 the cover is going to have to come from sort 227 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:05.799 of the left number eighth, the left center mid, which 228 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.440 is Patrickson. He's a young Ecuadorian player who is really 229 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:13.360 good box to box, gets involved defensively as well as 230 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:16.200 going forward, so he's gonna have to cover him from, 231 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:20.480 whether it's Lennen on the overlap, whoever it is, and 232 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:23.559 then Assase Arguide, who already mentioned was excellent and just 233 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.120 helping Nolan through that first start against Kansas City and 234 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:28.080 helping put out fires on that side. So I think 235 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.000 he has a good support network around it, but he's 236 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.120 there's gonna be moments in the game where he's gonna 237 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.799 have to stand up one B one and be counted, 238 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:35.519 and you know, we have a lot of faith in them, 239 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:37.840 and it's on to him to repay that faith. 240 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:42.039 Right now, as things stand in the West, six matches in, 241 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:45.679 three wins to the good goals and goals goals allowed 242 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.679 dead even at nine and nine, So smack dab middle 243 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:51.440 of the middle of activity right now, three points obviously 244 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:54.879 out of first with early returns. How would you grade 245 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.080 what you've seen so far from the booth? Six matches 246 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:01.759 in which is what six over thirty four? It's maybe 247 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:04.519 twenty percent or something like that. At the twenty percent mark, 248 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:07.840 where would you see? How would you grade FC Dallas 249 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.960 so far with all of these new faces and a 250 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.840 new head coach? How would you grade what you've seen? 251 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:14.039 Yeah? I think other teams around the league that have 252 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:17.679 had this, you know, this amount of change are struggling, 253 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:19.799 and I think it's understandable to struggle with that amount 254 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:21.679 of change. But we brought in a ton of quality. 255 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:26.200 Liuto Costa obviously paramount in that discussion. So I think 256 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:28.840 I would give it, you know, a high B because 257 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:31.799 I think the results have been really solid, and particularly 258 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.080 the road results those home the first two home games 259 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.399 were disappointing, but I think the performances and the tactical 260 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:40.759 ideas and the game model have a ton of room 261 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.200 to grow, and that is what excites me because in 262 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:45.279 the past, when Dallas wasn't up for a game, they 263 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:47.519 just weren't going to get a result. And this version 264 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:50.279 of FC Dallas under Eric Quill, with almost an entirely 265 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.799 new lineup, is going to fight for a result even 266 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:54.799 when they're not at their best, and even when the 267 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:57.879 tactical matchup feels like it's going against them. They've been 268 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.000 able to claw back from behind. They've won the most 269 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:02.440 points from losing positions of anyone in Major League Soccer 270 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.559 in the opening six weeks, which I think is a 271 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:06.879 testament to the mentality. And now if we can see 272 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:08.720 the growth on the tactical side, then that's just going 273 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.200 to bring the quality to the forefront. 274 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:14.159 What was the level of expectation for the supporters coming 275 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:17.120 into this year, knowing that there was a coaching change, 276 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.440 knowing the frustrations from last year, what was the I 277 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:23.240 guess the level of expectation and the level of patients 278 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.120 from the fans coming into twenty twenty five. 279 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:27.519 It's such a hard one, right, because of just the 280 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.799 sheer amount of change, and you know, the stadium looks 281 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:33.120 different this year, we're going through renovation, so there's a 282 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.559 little bit of a weird cloud over things in that way. 283 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:38.360 But I think to his credit, from day one, Eric 284 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:40.039 Quill came in and said, we want to be fighting 285 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:41.320 at the top of the table, we want to be 286 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.279 fighting for championships. And he wasn't afraid to put his 287 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:47.639 name alongside those statements. And that's for a club that's 288 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:51.440 never won MLS Cup, and that's his paramount goal is 289 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:53.720 to bring the first MLS Cup to Dallas. And not 290 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:56.960 to say that the fan expectation immediately rose to that level, 291 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.720 but I think they sort of stood up and said, okay, 292 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.559 now let's see it. In the first couple of home games, 293 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:04.159 it was disappointing. But now against Kansas City, you get 294 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.879 the home form right, and you've shown that you can 295 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.840 win on the road. So I think expectations are steadily climbing. 296 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.480 And obviously when you bring into Lucho Acosta, you're expected 297 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.440 to fight in the playoff positions at the bare minimum, 298 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:14.799 and he's going to help you get there, and he 299 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:17.360 already has. I think he's won six seven points all 300 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:19.120 on his own with his goals so far this season, 301 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:21.440 so I think that'll continue over the course of the year. 302 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:27.240 How would you break down how Eric is stylistically and 303 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:30.200 philosophically as a coach for someone who hasn't seen him 304 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.639 on the touch line, for someone who hasn't seen him 305 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.879 at practice, how would you break down the kind of 306 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:39.240 coach that Eric is both emotionally and tactically when it 307 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.320 comes to how he wants to have things out there 308 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:41.679 on the pitch. 309 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.120 Well, first and foremost, you're going to notice the bright 310 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:46.480 red hat that he rocks on the touch line. That's, 311 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:49.480 you know, that's become his trademark. He tried the white 312 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:51.480 hat against Vancouver and we lost, and I don't think 313 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.200 we're going to see the white hat again. So the 314 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:56.200 red hat has been a trademark of his reign so far. 315 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.919 But no, I think on a more serious note, he's 316 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.600 a player, he's a players coach, but he's also a 317 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:04.559 really strong motivator and that he knows how to get 318 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.879 the best out of guys. He really values work on 319 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:09.080 the training ground. He's going to give opportunities to people 320 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:11.639 who train well, and he's going to take opportunities away 321 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.759 from people who you know, don't put in one hundred 322 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.799 percent on the training ground. So I think he really 323 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.080 values hard work and that's what we've seen, you know, 324 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:20.960 so far through the opening six weeks. Is anytime that 325 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.360 someone's done well in training, they're going to get that opportunity, 326 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.440 whether it's from the start or off the bench. And 327 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.399 I think it's become even more of a meritocracy where 328 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:31.799 players don't have they can't feel comfortable, you know, they 329 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:33.519 they don't feel like their name is written in pen 330 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.519 unless you're maybe Moussa Lucho Acosta. But those guys are 331 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.080 Those guys are top professionals and they train well every 332 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.960 day and that's you know. Eric Quiles told us that 333 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:43.360 he's fiery on the touch line. He's going to let 334 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:45.919 the other coach have it even more so than the referee, 335 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:49.399 which I think you know is more common with last game, 336 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.519 he's up against one of his good friends and Peter Vermiz, 337 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.440 somebody who's played with in his playing career, going back 338 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.559 to the Kansas City Wizards, and they're getting into it 339 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:58.440 on the sideline. He got into it on the sideline 340 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.679 with US Restorans and for Vancouver as well. So any 341 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:03.879 you know, he's he's a fiery character and I think 342 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.799 that's what this team needed, was somebody who's going to 343 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:09.399 lead the team emotionally, with energy and sort of get 344 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.960 them going from the sideline. And that's been fun to see. 345 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:14.559 So for someone who is going to be looking at 346 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:18.080 FC Dallas for the first time this year, at Mercedes Benz, 347 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.320 whether it's listening to you on the call, listening or 348 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:25.120 watching on Apple or in person, Mercedes Benz, You're drawn 349 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:27.600 to the big names. You're drawn to the Peter Mooses, 350 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.840 You're drawn to the Lucco Acostas. For things to go 351 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.360 well for FC Dallas, give me one of those second 352 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.120 level guys. Give me a foot soldier instead of a 353 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.480 star at the front. Who in the foot soldiers has 354 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.879 to do well? And it might even be somebody that 355 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:45.399 you call in off the bench, you know, late, if 356 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:48.399 you need that, you need to who would you gravitate toward. 357 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.600 That would be those second level dudes to see the 358 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.679 successes for FCD. 359 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.000 Yeah, I think the midfield battle on this one is 360 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:57.080 going to be really interesting because I know, you know, 361 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:00.559 there's been some conversation with Atlanta about the position for 362 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:04.759 miranchook the best combination in midfield. I think for Dallas, Romiro, 363 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:09.200 our new number six, Brazilian, very experienced in Brazil's top 364 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:12.679 flight one Copa leb tadoris with Germeo in the past. 365 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.320 He has come to the team and just given us 366 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:18.759 that rock, that anchor at the base of midfield. And 367 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.799 when we were playing in sort of a double pivot before, 368 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:23.000 it didn't suit his game as much, just because he's 369 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.679 not a huge ground cover, he doesn't have a ton 370 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.639 of mobility. But now that we've moved into that single 371 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:30.759 number six, he's done a really good job of shielding 372 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:33.440 the back line over the last two games. And I 373 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.600 think something that we're still yet to see from this midfield, 374 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:40.080 this new midfield diamond shape for Dallas is just consistent 375 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:42.919 ball progression up the field that they've been really good 376 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.679 in the moments when they've been able to hit quickly 377 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.519 on the counter, they've been really good when they've been 378 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.519 able to force turnovers, but when the other team is 379 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:51.840 pressing them, they haven't found the answer so far to 380 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.360 playing out. So I think that's going to come down 381 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:56.600 to Ramiro finding the passes. Sebastian Legett and there as 382 00:16:56.600 --> 00:17:00.279 well as longside Patrickson Delgado and that midfield three. They 383 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:02.360 progress the ball up the field when Atlanta is putting 384 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:04.839 them under pressure and as opposed to just hitting on 385 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:07.359 the counter, because ultimately that's not going to be sustainable 386 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.359 over the course of ninety minutes or over the course 387 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:10.720 of the season to just be up and down the 388 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:13.000 field and then back defending, you know, for for a 389 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.960 large majority of the game. So can they find some 390 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.880 sustained possession, particularly if they get a lead at the 391 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:18.640 Bens this weekend? 392 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.440 All right, what's study hall like for you for the 393 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.079 rest of the week getting ready for this one? 394 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.599 Well, I'll be I'll be tuned into your show, So 395 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.680 I like to listen to some of the Atlanta podcasts 396 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.920 as well. Always do some opposition scouting that way, just 397 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:34.119 to just to get a vibe how this goes exactly exactly. 398 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:38.039 Definitely do some opposition scouting and just make sure, you know, 399 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:40.880 familiar with the team. Be out at training and catch 400 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:43.880 any sort of any developments, any tactical ideas that they're 401 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.640