WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.040 The US men's national team got their heads kicked in 2 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:06.440 last night four nil final score. On Next Guest was 3 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:09.320 on the broadcast team for TNT. Good friend of the program. 4 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:13.640 Always great to catch up with. Brian Dunseeth Wednesday afternoon. Donny, 5 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:14.279 how we doing man? 6 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:17.199 You caught me at the perfect times, Spence. I got 7 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:21.480 home from Nashville this afternoon. I'm off to Atlanta tomorrow 8 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:23.719 for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. Busy 9 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:27.679 summer of soccer and super looking forward to that. But yeah, 10 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:32.520 last night was what did the kids saying? Not great? Bob? Yeah, 11 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:33.640 it wasn't too great. 12 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.960 It definitely was not great, Bob on a scale from 13 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:41.079 zero to Alexi Lawless crying about patriotism on TV after 14 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:41.719 last night. 15 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:44.719 How high is the panic meter today? 16 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:48.880 You know, we did a pregame segment about the panic 17 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:51.840 meter and I put you know, he was, are you panicked? 18 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:52.600 Do you not panicked? 19 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:52.640 That? 20 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:55.520 Sarah Walsh was teeing us up and we're using the 21 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:00.640 USA logo as like our heavy paperweight in front of 22 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:03.560 our deskt He pressed that button and I was kind 23 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.159 of I put my hand over it, and I was 24 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.680 joking with Kyle Martino. I had the Martino shakes because 25 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:10.760 I wasn't ready to panic, but I wasn't ready to 26 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:14.719 say I wasn't panicking. And that really does come down 27 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:18.319 to a calendar year ago. Our coverage was out in 28 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.879 DC and we're getting ready for Columbia. A couple days 29 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:24.079 later down in Orlando against Brazil, and that was the 30 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.480 lead into Coba Medica, and oh how things have changed. 31 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:32.239 Things going completely sideways against Panama, it leads to being 32 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:34.879 dumped out of the group stage of Coba Medica. Greg 33 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:39.040 Berhalter loses his job to transition moment over to Marisa Bochettino. 34 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:41.959 A couple of months ago, we go into the Nations 35 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:45.680 League Finals out in Los Angeles, the fourth consecutive Nations 36 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:48.439 League final. We're looking to lift our fourth consecutive Nations 37 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:51.640 League trophy. We lose to Panama again, then we lose 38 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:54.799 to Canada in the third fourth place match, and then 39 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.400 we head into a Gold Cup where we always understood 40 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:02.480 that at the end of the domestic European campaign there 41 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.640 were going to be players that needed to take a break, 42 00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:08.360 whether that be for injury or mental fatigue. We knew 43 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:10.159 there was plenty of wear and tear on the tires 44 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:11.560 for a lot of these guys. We also knew it 45 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:14.039 was going to be an opportunity for Marisa Puchtino to 46 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:17.240 continue the evolution of players like Jack mcgleh, like Diego 47 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:21.919 Luda from Real Salt Lake, like Patrick Agimond from Charlotte. 48 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:26.159 But I think the conversation and the narrative took on 49 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:30.039 its own set of circumstances. When a player like Christian 50 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:36.039 Polisic his exclusion from the US men's national team, it 51 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.280 takes on a life of its own because the story 52 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:41.919 was dictated through US Soccer, not by Christian politic and 53 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:45.719 his representatives. And then it gets turned into he doesn't 54 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:47.800 want to be here. I'm not sure that's the case, 55 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:52.360 but in the public domain of argument, if we wouldn't 56 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.199 have had the year that we've had, nobody would care 57 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:58.159 if Christian was a part of this Gold Cup roster 58 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:01.280 or not a part of this Gold Cup. But the 59 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:03.599 reality is he is Captain America. He is by far 60 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:06.400 our best player. He is as of I would assume, 61 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.520 still the captain of the team. And when you have 62 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:13.280 back to back losses against Turkey in Switzerland, which I 63 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:16.400 thought they were actually much better than the result showed 64 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.400 against Turkey, but yet we judged teams on wins and 65 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.919 losses and heavy rotation. And I said, when I was 66 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:26.400 doing the lineup for the game against Switzerland the other night, 67 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:31.120 Racio Pochettino told us he wanted to give players opportunities 68 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:33.960 to prove that they deserve to play significant minutes in 69 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.120 the Gold Cup. He made nine changes to his starting 70 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.000 eleven and unfortunately, in the first forty five minutes a 71 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.919 majority of those nine changes I think probably proved to 72 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:47.400 Mauricio Biligitino and to the world that maybe they weren't 73 00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:50.560 ready for an opportunity to play at the full US 74 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:52.680 men's national team level in a way that maybe we 75 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:56.520 were all predictive and hopeful for. So second half was 76 00:03:56.599 --> 00:03:59.439 much better, but still four no losses, four no loss 77 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:02.400 against US Switzerland's side that was coming off what was 78 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:05.759 it eight games without a win ahead of a Luxembourg 79 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:07.919 win and a win in Salt Lake City against Mexico, 80 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.639 And now the gloves are off and this group is 81 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:15.319 taking a beating ahead of what is it next? Sunday's 82 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.279 game out in San Jose Agan's Trainia today kick off 83 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:20.279 the twenty twenty five Gold Cup. 84 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:23.560 All right, your referenced Polisic who was not present, Sir 85 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:27.800 Genio Dust wasn't either, Weston McKinney, Tyler Adams. Off the 86 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:29.800 top of my head, you know, those are kind of 87 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.319 the main guys that weren't available. So help me understand 88 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:37.680 how many players that we will see play for this 89 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.319 team in the World Cup were not present for the 90 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.279 game last night and we will not have for the 91 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:42.759 Gold Cup. 92 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:45.720 Yeah, I mean, off the top of my head. Christian 93 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:49.959 obviously is not there. Anthony Robinson Jedi Robinson from Fulham 94 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:53.160 had knee surgery, so he was getting cleaned up for 95 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.040 a problem that he had had. Serginio Dusk there's still 96 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.439 risk management with him coming back from his ACL tear 97 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:04.160 over at t SD Iron Hooven. Obviously, Gio Reina is 98 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:07.600 with Brussia Dortmund, tim Waya and Wes McKinney or with 99 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.920 ub those two teams are participating in the FIFA Club 100 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.120 World Cups, so they have priority. Uh, there's a there's 101 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.079 a there's a narrative out there and it's it's completely wrong. 102 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.360 Maricio Putstino on his staff wanted to give the group 103 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:24.319 of players the opportunity to play in all of these games, 104 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.160 and they did not want to bring in Geo or 105 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:29.839 Weston and Tim to this game because they knew that 106 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:31.480 they weren't going to be there for the Gold Cup, 107 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:33.759 so they thought it was probably better that they stayed 108 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:36.439 and focused on their opportunity. But then you kind of 109 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.040 get into the weaves when you're thinking about Joe Scale, 110 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:41.319 you're thinking about Ricardo Peppy, you're thinking about Joss Sargent, 111 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:43.800 you think about Santa Tessaman, you think about Joe mcalboos here, 112 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:47.160 you think about Aiden Morris. Who else am I missing 113 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.279 in this group that's kind of the core group of guys, 114 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:52.439 and then you kind of have guys that are fringe 115 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:54.519 guys around the world that you know, Twitter takes a 116 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:57.519 liking to and thinks that they should be called in. 117 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:06.639 So I would say, arguably you're missing seven to eight 118 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:13.160 true starters and then probably collectively somewhere around twelve realistic 119 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:16.920 players that would be on a World Cup roster. But again, Spence, 120 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:20.319 I think, you know, a year ago, I think every 121 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.800 average US soccer fan could probably name a majority of 122 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:27.160 the players that they would think would be starting eleven 123 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:30.600 players for the US going into the World Cup. And 124 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:34.120 I think that number is probably open for debate based 125 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:35.959 on what we've seen me in these last twelve months. 126 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:39.879 Okay, So operating off that premise with the group of 127 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:42.720 players you just listed, is it fair to say that 128 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:44.959 the people that believe this guy is falling just need 129 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.600 to pump the brakes based off the fact that maybe 130 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:51.639 the US men's national team and Pochettino was without the 131 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:53.800 majority of their best players. Is it fair to say 132 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:56.680 that maybe there's some overreaction because based off of what 133 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.480 you just outlined, the World Cup team that we'll see 134 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.639 next summer was not properly represented last night. 135 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:06.040 Is that fair to say, oh, one hundred percent. I mean, 136 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:09.360 everybody knew. Well, let me tell you this. The Turkey team, 137 00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:12.720 the Turkey ice team that they played out in Connecticut. 138 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.199 The only player they were missing two players, one of 139 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:18.600 the starting center backs, which is debatable, a guy named Bardaki, 140 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:23.959 and then Hawkan Shinnanaglu, who was their captain and played 141 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.519 for Inter Milan in the Champions League final. He had 142 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.040 picked up a Knox so he did not travel to 143 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:33.360 play for Turkey. A and Vincenzo Montella. So they were 144 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:41.000 arguably arguably missing one absolute difference maker and the rest 145 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.040 of this was, you know, teams that had lost to 146 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:48.000 one at the Euros semi or quarterfinal against the Netherlands 147 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.240 and were coming off a six to one aggregate win 148 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:56.639 against Hungary a month and a half ago. There was 149 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.879 some rotation in Switzerland side that up at rice Ecles 150 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:04.240 eat Mexico for two and absolutely took them apart, smashed Mexico. 151 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.879 No one saw that result coming, But then again no 152 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.639 one saw them beating the United States four nil as well, 153 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:15.720 and that team was probably the strongest possible team that 154 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.920 Murac could put together for Switzerland. So in terms of 155 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:24.360 experience and full squad, both of these teams these past 156 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:28.519 two losses were definitely Turkey and Switzerland were the much 157 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:32.639 better team, much more experienced team, and much more closer 158 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:36.360 to full strength than this US group could have ever been. 159 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:40.480 But again, even though there's nuanced in the conversation stence, 160 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:44.240 the reality is that we judge success and failure by 161 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.120 wins and losses. And unfortunately, again when you go back 162 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:52.440 to calendar year, the dry run for hosting the twenty 163 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.919 twenty six World Cup was the Copa Medica and to 164 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:59.759 see US and again, this is football, this is sports 165 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:03.720 in a moment in which an individual player can make 166 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:08.519 a mistake, a referee's involvement, var intervention with technology, all 167 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:13.360 of these things can go sideways and horrifically upend any 168 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:15.559 opportunity that you had to try to make a run 169 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:19.960 to lift a trophy. If we were to say, if 170 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:24.000 you were to ask me, Donny, has everything gone horrifically sideways? 171 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:28.039 My answer would probably be yes. In its last twelve months, 172 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:31.440 to the point where now Mauricio Pochettino in ten games 173 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.679 in charge, he has five wins and five losses. That 174 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:40.320 wasn't projected, that wasn't expected. And I think right now 175 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:44.799 Mauricio Pochettino is probably looking at this the full concept 176 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:46.960 of what the US men's national team roster looks like 177 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:50.360 and has way more questions than answers. And this is again, 178 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:54.240 you're a Spurs guy. This is his first foray into 179 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:57.480 coaching international football and this will be the first time. 180 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:00.399 The benefit of having a roster to get for the 181 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.799 better part of thirty days is hugely beneficial for he 182 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:06.840 and his staff, but it will come at a cost 183 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:09.080 because it won't be with his first choice froster. 184 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.960 So over the past twenty four hours or so we've 185 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:17.279 heard Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, the aforementioned Patriot Lexi Lawless 186 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:22.159 be very critical of the group that we've spoken about 187 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:24.879 who've elected not to be part of the Gold Cup. Now, 188 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:29.559 it's interesting because the Gold Cup, historically speaking, has been 189 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:32.159 a place for players that maybe aren't part of the 190 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.639 first choice World Cup group to get some exposure. It's 191 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:37.600 how It's how Kyle and Nicky broke into the group, 192 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.919 and they of course went on to play in the 193 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:41.080 World Cup. Tony Beltran was on a Gold Cup team 194 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:44.600 as well. But is there an extra layer of criticism 195 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:47.639 that these players deserve based off the fact that the 196 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:50.120 World Cup in our region is only a year away? 197 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.039 Do you think they should have looked to play based 198 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.080 off the fact that the World Cup's right around the corner. 199 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:58.759 Well, so again there's nuance to this. So let me 200 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:01.480 take you back ahead of twenty twenty two World Cup 201 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:05.039 and guitar. The United States had two international friendlies. They 202 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:07.159 were empty stadiums over in Europe, and I believe they 203 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:10.200 played Japan in Saudi Arabia and they were horrific in 204 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.720 both of those games, to the point where you know, 205 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:16.840 something I said went viral and I made the mistake 206 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:23.360 of questioning that group and their preparation, habits and ultimately 207 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.159 what they could do at the World Cup. And I 208 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:30.000 was dead wrong specific to performances and leadership by Christian Polissic, 209 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:33.639 because when that tournament started, Greg Burholter got the squad right, 210 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.799 he got the starting eleven right, and that team was 211 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:41.200 incredibly impressive. And that's where the Golden generation Moniker really 212 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:43.960 took hold. They were fantastic in the group stage. And 213 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.240 if they would have and nobody would have ever predicted 214 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:50.279 that Holland would sit back, defend and just hit in 215 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:53.559 the transition, score goals at the back posts. Louis van Hall. 216 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.919 We thought it was going to be style and substance, 217 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:59.279 identity possession and they were just going to bury the 218 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:01.840 United States. Instead, they played cat and mouse instead of 219 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.679 playing them straight up. After that World Cup, then you 220 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:13.039 had the obvious conversation of Giorana, Greg Burholter, Giorana's parents, 221 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.080 and that horrific off the field issue that led to 222 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:20.799 a determined amount of time that Greg Burhlter wasn't the 223 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.559 usmnters national team coach. Besides that, Ernie Stewart and Brian McBride. 224 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:28.200 Both we leave leadership roles behind the scenes and US 225 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.960 Soccer goes out and hires Matt Crocker who had come 226 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:35.240 over from Southampton and experience with the England national team. 227 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:39.960 There's so many layers to this conversation. And then okay, 228 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:43.960 so we're really talking about Christian. Here's the reality. In 229 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.879 the last two years, I've pulled the stats on Christian Polistic. 230 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.960 He's played one hundred games for Acmelon. It's something like 231 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:54.519 thirty six goals, twenty assists. He's played somewhere around seven 232 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:58.200 two hundred and fifty minutes in two seasons. When you 233 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.919 compare and contrast that to the five years he played 234 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.759 for Chelsea it was one hundred and forty six games 235 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:07.279 and somewhere roughly around eight thousand minutes. So in the 236 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:10.799 last two years he's almost already matched the five years 237 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.559 he was at Chelsea Football Club. It's so you know, 238 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.480 you go back to those years he was injured, dealing 239 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:20.279 with hamstrings, groins, the stop start nature, substitute coming off 240 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:22.639 the bench. He's a full time starter. He's an absolute 241 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:26.240 number ten and in a dark season for a simulon 242 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:30.960 points wise, table wise, he was the absolutely one of 243 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:34.360 the shining stars, and it felt like monthly he was 244 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:36.480 up for Player of the Month in City Off Football. 245 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:40.679 So I can understand the idea of resting this tournament 246 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:44.080 to make sure he's one hundred percent focused for the 247 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:47.240 summer and next season. I think that's what gets lost 248 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:50.320 in this conversation, because if the United States doesn't fail 249 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.159 a Copamatica, and it doesn't fail in Nations League, nobody 250 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:57.080 gives a flying squirrel. If Christian Polistic takes off this 251 00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:01.159 summer after two hectic, busy years and gets himself right, 252 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:04.000 gets himself physically right, and make sure that by the 253 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:07.639 time the World Cup comes, he's flying Landon, there's nuance 254 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:10.240 to that conversation. I don't think he's wrong in some 255 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:12.879 of the aspects, but people are also pointing out that 256 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.600 Landon took that what it was a six to seven 257 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:17.559 month mental health break where he walked away from the 258 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:20.039 LA Galaxy in the national team. It was something that 259 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.600 Clint Dempsey referenced and ultimately at the desk the other 260 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:27.840 night working with DeMarcus Beasley, four time World Cup veteran, 261 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.000 I said in postgame, after knowing him for almost thirty years, 262 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.879 I've never seen him so dumbfounded and at a loss 263 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:37.639 for words based on what happened. So there's so many 264 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:41.240 different bullet points that are happening currently around this team. 265 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:45.720 But unfortunately, because it's Chris simplistic, he's been the face 266 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:47.919 of US soccer for the better part of the last 267 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:51.039 two World Cup cycles, and we understand how important he 268 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.519 is on the field. The fact that he's not here 269 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.879 and the fact that he and his camp haven't taken 270 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.360 control of the narrative. I think that's why there's such 271 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.960 a significant uproar and frustrate about the situation. 272 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.120 All right, concerning Pochettino. 273 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.720 Two part question here is it time to maybe look 274 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.320 at the Greg Burholter stuff a little differently as well? 275 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:14.440 Because I've always believed and look, it doesn't matter the sport. 276 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:16.519 I mean, the Knicks just fired Tom Thibodeau after the 277 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:19.399 Eastern Conference finals. Coaches are the ones that typically fall 278 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:23.039 on the sword because players aren't a contract, and players 279 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:25.879 are the ones that essentially run the thing, because there's 280 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:28.080 no such thing as a great coach without great players. 281 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.759 And so it does feel like the US Mets national 282 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:35.679 team has punted on Bob Bradley, Jurgen klinsman Greg Burholter. 283 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:39.720 So I'm wondering what's fair to say about Potchettino based 284 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:42.279 off the results for straight l's five and five and ten, 285 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.639 and whether or not we need to look at what 286 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.759 Greg did a little differently. 287 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:50.360 Now you know, I played, I played with Greg Burholter 288 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.320 at the us N national team level. I had worked 289 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:57.120 with Greg Burholter, and I'd seen and covered him for 290 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:01.159 a long long time. And I've said this multiple times publicly. 291 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:05.240 There was a moment, and it's not the place blame 292 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.559 on Tim Way in any way, shape or form, but 293 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.159 because there's a lot of moments in that game against 294 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.200 Panama Coba Medica, they beat Olivia, to know, they go 295 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:18.000 into the Panama game, they score at Weston McKinney goal, aheader, 296 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:20.919 he's judged to be offside. A few minutes later, a 297 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:26.679 Panamanian player absolutely demolishes Matt Turner. Not a yellow card, 298 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:29.720 no foul called. Matt Turner is forced to leave the 299 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:33.879 game at halftime. That's how heavy the collision was. And 300 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:37.759 in that moment, Tim weya, you know, off the ball, 301 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:41.399 you know, pops a chicken wing and next thing you 302 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:44.879 know he's been shown straight red. So there was a 303 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:48.080 lot of When everyone talks about what Greg Burholter did, 304 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:52.120 writer Greg Burholter did wrong, The reality is that that moment, 305 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:55.360 that red card shown to Tim Weya is the perfect 306 00:16:55.399 --> 00:17:00.360 example of a split second decision where the tide turns 307 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:04.079 and everything goes sideways. Just a quick reminder, Greg was 308 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.720 neither a better coach or a worse coach based on 309 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.599 that singular moment. But US Soccer decided to go in 310 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.240 a different direction because it was deemed a failure, and 311 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.240 going out in the group stage of Copa Medica with 312 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:19.079 all of the momentum and the hype and the opportunity, 313 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:23.119 was probably the right decision the way that Matt Crocker 314 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:27.200 and company looked at it. But now with Marisa Pochettino, 315 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:30.400 I don't think you put the panic button on Marisa 316 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:33.400 Putchettino in the staff, because I can promise you they 317 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:37.599 care more than people. I mean, from an egotistical standpoint, 318 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.079 do you think they want to come to the United 319 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:42.519 States and fail after getting fired at Chelsea Football Club 320 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:46.279 a couple of months ago. No, that's certainly not the case. 321 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:51.039 So big picture, I think that right now they've got 322 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:54.400 to figure out what's the right steps going forward to 323 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:56.480 make sure they can get this back on track, because 324 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:59.759 the reality is you got a calendar year until the 325 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.720 star of the World Cup, and I think all of 326 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.119 us former players, all of US pundits, all of US 327 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:08.279 media members, and most importantly all of US fans don't 328 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:10.720 have a lot of faith for what this group is 329 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:13.519 capable of doing in a World Cup. It's not just 330 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:16.400 a generational World Cup, but this is a World Cup 331 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:20.599 with an opportunity to create legends. And what a wasted, 332 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:23.680 missed opportunity for the general public to not be able 333 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:27.079 to get behind, you know, our US men's national team 334 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.279 in a similar manner that we see every four years 335 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.240 with the Olympics. 336 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:33.079 Let me ask you about Diego, who I actually thought 337 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.400 came into the second half and showed well, now they 338 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:40.200 were getting smoked, so it was too late. But Poachettino 339 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.119 has said in the past that he likes him. Does 340 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:45.319 Diego have a shot to make the World Cup roster 341 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.640 not just the Gold Cup roster? 342 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:52.319 Diego Luna, in my humble opinion, I predicted this. I 343 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:55.960 think he's going to be I think he's going to 344 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.200 be a starter at the World Cup. Oh wow, nice, Yeah, 345 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.960 I don't. I don't. I know, Marisa Putsatino and his 346 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:05.920 staff absolutely adore him, and we all saw the images 347 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:08.400 when he got his nose broken and he had to 348 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.839 fight through and his grit and determination. I said this 349 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:16.000 during the pregame show when obviously, you know, when our 350 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:19.440 group covers not only the US men's national team because 351 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:23.480 of you know, my affinity and respect for what Diego 352 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.720 has done, but also on the women's side with Ali Sitinoor, 353 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:30.720 which they absolutely adore Ali because she's been incredible and 354 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:34.599 she's such an incredible human being. But in the pregame show, 355 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:38.880 I was explaining once again just to remind people that 356 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:42.079 Diego Luna has always bet on it himself. He's a 357 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:47.319 guy that came from a world in Northern California in 358 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:51.960 which decisions were made and he wasn't. He left, He 359 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:59.960 went to Texas, played for pulled the trigger to bring 360 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:03.079 him to Salt Lake. He worked on his fitness, he 361 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:06.960 worked on his psychology, the mental side of the game, 362 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:10.160 the physical side of the game. He changed his body profile, 363 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:14.279 and he, without a shadow of a doubt, dealt with 364 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:18.759 despair of missing out on the Olympics and turned it 365 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:21.680 into I'm an MLS All Star. I'm an MLS Young 366 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.559 Player of the Year and I'm going to take this 367 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:27.839 opportunity with both hands. And I can promise you that 368 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:31.680 if Marine Cio Pochettino had twenty six Diego lunas heading 369 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:34.279 into a World Cup, I think we would all feel 370 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:38.200 much more comfortable about our chances of not only having 371 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:41.440 a decent World Cup, but potentially having a great World Cup. 372 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.519 Because that's the type of body language, that's the type 373 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.799 of leadership, that's the type of technical ability and skill, 374 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:51.440 and that raw emotion that we all wish we see 375 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.160 from every single player, the moment that they pulled that 376 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:57.359 jersey over their chest and they see the cress loud 377 00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.359 and proud over their heart. 378 00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:00.440 Ahi, Dottie before he you lose. 379 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:03.440 So let's get a little RSL in DC in town 380 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:06.880 on Saturday. Only two matches in June, and it is 381 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:10.680 getting late early for this club. Sitting on fifteen points, 382 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:14.759 four ten and three maidestein gold differential and without Diego 383 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:18.039 for a minute, it's gonna be rough. I wonder if 384 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:20.440 Ali can play for RSL. She's the best striker in 385 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:22.839 the state. And it's not close. We got the somber 386 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.000 transfer wentdo coming up, and then after that, I think 387 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:28.279 there are thirteen total matches combined league play in League's 388 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:31.359 Cup play. So your thoughts on where we stand with 389 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:34.079 RSL and does it feel like this season might be 390 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.599 too late to salvage already? 391 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:40.359 Unfortunately, it does feel like that because this group continues 392 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:43.279 to figure out ways to creatively lose to some of 393 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:45.359 the worst teams in Major League Soccer. And that's my 394 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:48.480 concern against DC, And iied, you know, when you lose 395 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.960 against Toronto SC at home, when you lose against an 396 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:54.720 LA Galaxy team that hasn't lost in sixteen games, it 397 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:58.000 doesn't give you much hope. And I understand the complexity 398 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:03.000 and the nuance to ownership switch, you know, from Blitzer 399 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:07.680 and Smith to the Millers and Blitzer, but this team 400 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:11.799 was financially woefully prepped for what this season was going 401 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.240