WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.839 If you are listening to your one stop shop for 2 00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:06.559 the best local and national sports coverage, Utah's number one 3 00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:13.599 sports talk ESPN seven hundred, on vacation or away from 4 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:17.320 your car, no worries. You can stream US twenty four 5 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:20.000 to seven right now from the Listen Live tab on 6 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:23.640 our website ESPN seven hundred sports dot Com, on the 7 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.559 ESPN seven hundred app download today from Google Play or 8 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:31.160 the app Store, and by enabling the ESPN seven hundred 9 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:33.880 scale on your smart speaker and telling it to play 10 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:37.560 ESPN seven hundred, then you can listen to Utah's best 11 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:41.479 local and national sports talk Utah football and basketball, all 12 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:44.280 our great podcasts and more wherever you are. 13 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:51.240 Don't just watch the game, experience it at Beer Bar 14 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.520 with four massive projection screens. 15 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:55.359 It's the only bar in Salt Lake. 16 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:59.320 City that plays every MLS match without blackouts. Fuel your 17 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:03.039 fandom with the original Garlickberger from the Cotton Bottom, and 18 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:06.000 don't forget the Home Cut Frize with over one hundred 19 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.680 beers and thirty of them on tap. 20 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:09.359 There's always something new to try. 21 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:12.760 Find us downtown at one sixty one East Second South, 22 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.920 Jazz Utes RSL catch all your favorite sports action at 23 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:17.359 beer Bar. 24 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:20.040 Time to hit the pitch on the drive. The RSL 25 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:22.680 Insider today and every day is brought to you by 26 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.840 beer Bar Head Downtown for watch parties and game day 27 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.840 shuttles to the stadium. More at beer BARSLC dot com. 28 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:32.599 I will get back to some of the college football 29 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:35.200 storylines of the day today as we're ten days away 30 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:36.920 from kick for the utes for the Cougars. 31 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:39.680 For the Aggies as well, it's week zero in the. 32 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:42.359 World of college football, so we actually have games this weekend. 33 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:46.079 We also have a match this weekend in Sandy, which 34 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:49.040 is a big one for the lads. RSL welcomes in Minnesota. 35 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:52.079 Our next guest, the head coach over Al saw Lake. 36 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:55.159 On a Wednesday, Pablo Mastronni pops, Happy Wednesday, Man, how 37 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:55.519 are we doing? 38 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:58.319 Everyone just spends doing well, buds. 39 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:00.799 I hate to start it out this way, but you 40 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:03.680 know where I'm going. And I'm certainly no soccer expert, 41 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:06.760 but my soccer pee brain says when a player kicks 42 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:09.039 a ball and the defender hits that ball with his hand, 43 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:13.240 typically that is what is known as a handball. I 44 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:15.719 don't know, man, I hate to continue to harp on 45 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:18.639 this officiating stuff. But it seems like weeke in and 46 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:21.599 week out, you guys have to feel a little hard done. 47 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:22.120 Is that fair? 48 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:25.360 Yeah? Yeah, I think I think that's absolutely fair. And 49 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:28.599 the other way just affects the group. Is this momentum, 50 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:32.360 you know, And I think it's like Murphy's law, those 51 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:34.520 things that you think might happen end up happening. You know, 52 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:37.159 two games in a row where we're just on the 53 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:39.199 wrong side of some calls. But I really like the 54 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:41.360 Warrior's point. You know, I talked to him before getting 55 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:43.680 on and he says, you know, they always say everything 56 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.759 always evens out at the end, and because you guys 57 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:50.080 have taken so many bad calls this year, it's going 58 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:52.280 to come down to the last games and making a 59 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:54.199 great run to the playoffs. So I really like that 60 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:54.960 positive spin. 61 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:58.000 Well, he stole that point from Dunny yesterday. 62 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:00.919 Look at you quarter, at least get any credit if 63 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:04.280 you're gonna try to brag the Pablo Donny did bring 64 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:04.599 it up. 65 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:07.919 Okay, all right, If it does ring true, it's gonna 66 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:10.680 swing real fart. No, all good, all good. 67 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:12.960 Hey, Look, we need to give Porter some love because 68 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:14.919 when he makes a good point and he it makes 69 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:16.800 him feel good to to acknowledge it. 70 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:17.919 So I'm glad you brought it up. 71 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:22.080 Okay, let's move over to the tackle on a Mecca 72 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.319 also like in real time, because here's the thing, Like 73 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.639 a Mecca is a sturdy kid and he doesn't dive. 74 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:28.960 Okay uh. 75 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:31.000 And so when I saw the tackle and like, I 76 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:32.800 need to see a replay, then I saw the replay 77 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:35.759 like that to me clearly is reckless and violence. 78 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.840 I mean that that felt like a red card to me. 79 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.120 Yep no. And again his arms across his neck chest 80 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:44.759 area and he's throwing him down and and again the 81 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:49.479 weird thing is the subjectivity part is you know, we'll 82 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:51.879 see all these replays and we're gonna, i think, star 83 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:57.120 in the in the referee preseason video of all the 84 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:00.280 calls that they do differently, because again, you know, we 85 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.840 get feedback from the refs every week and Kurts on 86 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:06.719 the call, and you know, I jumped on last week. 87 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:08.639 I didn't jump on this week because again, they're not 88 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:10.439 going to change the results. And I think that's the 89 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:13.280 biggest thing for me, is like, you know, what, what 90 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:17.399 areas can we look into in the game state And 91 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:19.519 obviously that affects players. You know, when calls don't go 92 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:22.000 your way, obviously you get frus your initial reactions frustration. 93 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.560 It's like we're being cheated here, and then you start 94 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.839 to lose sight of the game. And so I think 95 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:28.759 it's really important for my part, you know, because that 96 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:30.720 did look like a red card, and we've been red 97 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.519 carded for a lot less than that. I mean, Diego 98 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:35.600 is red carded the two games before in New York 99 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:39.120 where the other guy grabbed his put his arms around 100 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:42.079 Diego's neck and he still got red carded. So I 101 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:45.000 think for us, it's really thinking about the details and 102 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:47.879 and and how we can incorporate you know, Ruan Cruz 103 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.279 and Victor Olatunji and and really make a strong run 104 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:54.319 here because we have a great opponent in Minnesota at 105 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:57.079 the weekend who's a flying and it just takes one 106 00:04:57.160 --> 00:05:00.079 moment and and like you know, Porter and Donny or 107 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.720 any pointed. I think we're going to get a break 108 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:04.199 this weekend, and not a break that's not fair, because 109 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:06.199 I don't want that either. I just want a well 110 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:09.160 officiated game and with good momentum, you know, I think 111 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:11.160 we'll make a run here to the playoffs. 112 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:13.040 I'll ask you one more thing about this and we 113 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.360 can move on and talk about how the team is 114 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:18.519 coming together. But when you do some simple math, because 115 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:22.160 here's here's always it's always been my issue with officials 116 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:26.199 that I don't think they fully understand what's at stake 117 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:28.360 when they bought a call. Because if you miss the 118 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:31.319 playoffs and you're a coach, there's an owner that might say, Okay, 119 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:34.000 that's not good enough. Or if you're a player that 120 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:37.000 doesn't have the opportunity to tally a goal that he deserves, 121 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:39.480 then that looks bad on him and his stats and 122 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.120 suddenly he can't like there's a lot at stake when 123 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.759 calls are made that that directly affect outcomes. It's one 124 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.680 thing to miss a call here or there, but when 125 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.000 points are taken off the table the way they've been 126 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.879 with you, maybe six or seven matches, you do some 127 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:55.639 simple math, pops, and if you get half of those calls, 128 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.680 you're in the top six or seven, you know what 129 00:05:57.720 --> 00:05:59.959 I mean? So how do you how do you reconcile 130 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:02.399 that when you're talking to your players about this dynamic? 131 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:05.439 Yeah, I think Spence, that's the hardest thing because the 132 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:08.199 last thing I want to do is point to something 133 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:10.480 that we have no control over, you know, and and 134 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:14.120 so I don't think I you know, in this last time, 135 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:17.560 I didn't even acknowledge this Charlotte game, you know, because 136 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:22.519 it's futile. And the thing is is that I'm left, 137 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.240 you know, fuming over all these these situations as opposed 138 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:28.920 to giving my energy to things that we can control 139 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:30.959 and things that we need to look forward on, because 140 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:33.279 you know, as life happens, you know, it's that's in 141 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:36.160 the past and now we have to move forward. And 142 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:38.199 so I think again, I'm always trying to be an 143 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:40.879 example of how I want the players to behave And obviously, 144 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:44.279 after the game, we're frustrated, you know, we end up 145 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:46.920 conceding on a on a set piece, something that's that 146 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:50.319 that you know, we're completely in control over, and and 147 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:54.720 did that moment fifteen minutes earlier affect us? And so 148 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.399 the more I bring it up, the more I feel 149 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.319 it's okay for the players to feel the way they do. 150 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.360 And what I want to do is like, let's get 151 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.120 on with it. It's not fair, but no one cares. 152 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:06.720 It's on us to rectify that. So it's really tough. 153 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:09.480 It's not easy, especially when it's been so many this year. 154 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:12.720 And but but again, I'm going to go back to 155 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:15.360 Porter's point, it's going to come back to us in droves. 156 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:19.000 He's going to be so insufferable after this interview he's 157 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.160 doing as he's doing a fist pump in the studio. Okay, 158 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:24.399 all right, now I like it. We can give our 159 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.399 guy a little credit here. All right, you reference Rawan 160 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:31.199 and Victor. We've seen both of them. Now, just give 161 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.439 us an update on how it's going to integrate them 162 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.720 into the system, and then tell us about how training 163 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.879 is going. Are they grasping what you're asking them to 164 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:41.639 do as we get familiar with these two new acquisitions. 165 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:45.839 Yeah, and again, I think this is why there's been 166 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:50.800 talked about changing the season around, and it's it's it's 167 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:54.839 so difficult to integate, integrate guys with eight games left, right, 168 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:57.240 and there's so many variables in our league. And I 169 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.120 think I touched on it last week. But as far 170 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:01.560 as you know, our tactics are going to be different 171 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:04.399 than the way either of them played. And then understanding 172 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:07.879 how they you know what their teammates qualities are, right, 173 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:12.279 and who you're playing alongside. And but they've today, they 174 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:14.639 were awesome. Both of them are awesome, and you see 175 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.680 with every training session that they're getting a really good 176 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:21.720 understanding of both the team tactics and more importantly, how 177 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.000 how they can play off each other. They're both really 178 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:27.639 sophisticated thinkers. They you know, I think in but in 179 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.240 the game, both of them had really good chances, uh 180 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:33.320 to score some goals. And and so that's coming from 181 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.480 not knowing a whole lot and just playing, you know, 182 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:38.679 from from a place of field really because we only 183 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:40.519 had a couple of days to prepare to get them 184 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:42.399 both on the field. But I think with every training 185 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:45.200 session they get sharper and what you're all, what I'm 186 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:48.360 also noticing and training is the level of confidence that 187 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:51.039 the players around them have having those two guys on 188 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:54.559 the field. And so, you know, I think they're they're 189 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:57.600 you know today, uh, you know, we had a meeting 190 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.519 with Hun Cruz as far as the tactic in the 191 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:03.879 pockets that he can really hurt teams with. And again, 192 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.440 both great students of the game, great teammates, wonderful people, 193 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:11.120 and I think that these guys are going to be 194 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.639 flying here soon, and so I'm really excited That's why 195 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:15.399 I'm really excited for the weekend. We're up against a 196 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:20.320 very stingy Minnesota defense, and if we can get both 197 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.799 Want and Victor on the score sheet, will be fined. 198 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.080 Always hesitate to say this, I don't want to sound 199 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:32.159 like the ugly American, but I'm always curious about, you know, 200 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:36.519 the communication between players who come here and the language barriers. 201 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:38.720 And you know, I know you have found a way 202 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.879 to kind of circumvent some of that stuff, but how's 203 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.919 the English, How's how's the communication with the two new 204 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.039 players communicating with the other guys on the roster. 205 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.480 That's a great point. You know, what's been really fascinating 206 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:53.360 is Victor's completely fluent in English, and he's a big 207 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:58.039 time reader, so he's you know, he he loves easily 208 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:01.960 integrates into the into the team. And Huon as when 209 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.799 we talked him on the zoom, he was really hesitant 210 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:07.960 to speak English. But what I've come to realize is 211 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:10.840 his understanding of the English is really really good and 212 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.279 he wants to learn, so he's going to start taking classes. 213 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:17.159 But whenever the coaches talked to Huan and you know, 214 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:21.200 and he understands obviously speaks and understands Portuguese like his 215 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:25.799 first language, but his ability to listen to the coaches 216 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:29.639 and be able to implement what we're asking is incredible 217 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:31.600 given the zoom that we had where he was really 218 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:36.159 hesitant to speak English. So the language piece isn't isn't 219 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:39.600 an issue with either of them. But the one thing 220 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:41.679 that we real positive and we talked about is they 221 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:45.360 understand football and they understand space and so when teammates 222 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:48.000 have the ball, you're always looking at angles and options 223 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:49.279 to be able to play off the other ones. And 224 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:51.080 they've played off each other really well in the last 225 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:53.200 couple of days, so I think we won't have any 226 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:55.039 problems with the language barrier. 227 00:10:55.279 --> 00:11:00.240 So you're without Diego again this weekend, right, and then 228 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:07.159 Gozo as well as let's see, I think it's Willie okay, okay, 229 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.480 So without those three, what's that attack going. 230 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:09.799 To look like? 231 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:12.480 Yeah, So we looked at a couple of guys, uh, 232 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:16.039 you know, in those positions, Johnny Russell being one of them, 233 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:20.840 Ari Fuel being another, and you know, I think it's 234 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.720 a it's a good opportunity for guys like Goan in 235 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:26.440 victory to go distance, right, you know, with with a 236 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.519 few games left. We've got to make sure that we 237 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:31.120 give him a long enough runway to be fit for 238 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.120 these important games. 239 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:32.399 And so. 240 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.200 You know, Johnny looked really bright today. He's a guy 241 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:38.840 that can make plays, and I think that's another aspect 242 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.559 that that we were talking about, is within the tactics, 243 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:43.759 you still need to make plays in other words, like 244 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:47.480 whether it's the really crisp final pass or it's shooting 245 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:50.879 from you know, from an angle with a with a 246 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:54.679 cultured technique to hit the back of the net. And 247 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:56.639 I think that's that's one of the things that Johnny 248 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:00.399 Russell brings with his experience and his quality. So you know, 249 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:02.600 we'll finalize things as we move towards the weekend. But 250 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:06.360 those two guys in place for Gozo and then obviously 251 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:09.679 Diego has been doing better, and I think now that 252 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:13.480 he's got players ahead of them, has really changed the 253 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:16.159 way he's played, you know, because oftentimes we were looking 254 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:17.879 at him to always be the guy to score goals 255 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.840 this year, and what I've seen with the introduction of 256 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.360 these two players has been he's got a great final 257 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:25.799 pass and maybe what we were missing is just the 258 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:29.799 runners ahead of him to really see Diego's quality. 259 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:33.720 So every time I and look, I mostly just watch RSL, 260 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:36.720 mostly just watch you. But every time I watch Minnesota 261 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.000 just seems like a total pain in the ass. They 262 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.480 just seem like such a pain. 263 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.720 What is it? 264 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:42.039 Is it? 265 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:44.440 Is it personnel? Is it coaching? Is it schematics? 266 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:44.559 Like? 267 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:47.279 Why are they so stout defensively? Why are they so hard? 268 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:49.559 Let's say they seem like such a tough nut to crack. 269 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:54.360 Yeah, you know, they're almost contrarian spence in that the 270 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:57.440 modern game of football is primarily how are we going 271 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:01.080 to attack? They flipped the script and they say how 272 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:03.519 are we going to defend? And so where teams to 273 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.120 place maybe a seventy thirty emphasis on. 274 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:11.960 Pieces? 275 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.200 Right, So it's it's the mundane part of the game 276 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:18.759 that they they're excellent at. So they're almost comfortable giving 277 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.039 you the ball and then they'll say, we'll catch you 278 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:24.000 on a counter attack, or we'll catch you on a 279 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:27.279 long throwing, right. So they use these set pieces. You know, 280 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.360 if there's a foul in there and they're attacking in 281 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:33.399 their defensive half, they will literally move the whole team 282 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.799 forward and have their goalkeeper punt it and use that 283 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.159 as a way to keep you pinned in and so 284 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.960 they play for a battle of territory. So it's it's 285 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.159 kind of an old school way of thinking, but they 286 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:45.360 do it to the nines and that's why they make 287 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:50.399 every game so difficult for any team because there they're there. 288 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:53.559 They excel at areas where teams are like, well, that's important, 289 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:55.559 but not as important as the way we want to attack. Well, 290 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:58.879 long thrownes are important, but you know, defending them, you know, 291 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.679 is or miss and you're usually playing not necessarily for 292 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:05.559 the first phase. But like I said, they played for territory, 293 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.840 and how can they build two or three shots on 294 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:11.240 goal from a long throwing which is not something most 295 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:13.960 teams will even focus on. So what they do is 296 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:17.480 they do very well. Obviously, that's that's coaching and and 297 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.799 it's really buying from the from the players, and that's 298 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:22.440 always been my thing. It's it's very difficult to have 299 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.080 a group of guys that are committed to not playing 300 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:27.919 with the ball, because in modern football, from the time 301 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:31.200 you're five years old, you're doing goal goalkick builds and 302 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:33.720 and you're you're in the love of the game comes 303 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.000 with the ball. So they bought into it, and I 304 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.559 think it's hard to not buy into it when you 305 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:42.519 can get results. So areas that we've been really you know, 306 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:44.600 working on, but throwing a wrinkle in there as to 307 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:47.679 how we can kind of throw, you know, throw something 308 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:49.360 at them that looks a little bit different than they've 309 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:51.559 they've seen all year from the way they want to 310 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:55.559 attack the game from a set piece perspective. Is hopefully 311 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.840 we ask some questions as to whether or not they're 312 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.960 going to continue to throw. To have many numbers forward. 313 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:02.320 Feels like a bit of a must win pobs. You've 314 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:04.759 got eight games left with five at home. Have you 315 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.840 done the math as far as where you think you 316 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.480 need to be to get over the line and make 317 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.039 the playoffs? 318 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:14.039 Yeah, you know, I think, you know, if we take 319 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.200 care of home and win the five home games, I 320 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.919 think it puts us in a position to compete for 321 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.879 the playing game, and then you know, we got to 322 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:26.279 squeak one or two one with a draw. So somewhere 323 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:29.000 around eighteen points, I think Jesus in a in a 324 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:33.039 playoff position, and I think fifteen points sees us buying 325 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.039 for that playing game. So and you know how I 326 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.960 think about that, Spence is like the only way to 327 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:39.720 get to the future is to go through the present. 328 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.799 And so we got to walk the walk and really 329 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:46.000 hit this game head on. So it must win. I 330 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.919 think it's pretty close. It's pretty close to must win 331 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:52.360 game that we need. And you know, and I always 332 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:55.080 look at our training sessions like with the vibe, like 333 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:58.720 and these guys were flying today and committed, and you know, 334 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.240 one of the things that you know, we have great 335 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.919 leadership group. One of the things that you know, we're 336 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:05.600 going to throw a tactical a pretty big tactical tweek 337 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.559 into the into what we're doing this week in lieu 338 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:12.159 of Minnesota, And the leadership group said, Coach, like, listen, 339 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:15.799 we believe in what we're doing. We're literally one set 340 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.720 piece away from getting results, one PK not being called 341 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.360 from getting results. We believe in what we're doing. We've 342 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:25.559 enjoyed what we're doing. Well, let's let's keep it the same. 343 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.879 Let's not let's let's just keep focusing on ourselves and 344 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:30.200 let's kill these guys this weekend. So when you got 345 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:32.519 a leadership group like that, that that's all in and 346 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.600 it's reflected in the way the guys have trained this week. 347 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:36.679 I'm really really optimistic about. 348 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:39.000 This weekend transfer window closes tomorrow night. 349 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:42.480 My sources, little Bertie, cute little Bertie, the cutest little 350 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:46.600 Bertie that could ever be, indicates that we might might 351 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:50.159 might have some news dropping over the next twenty four hours. 352 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:51.600 Care to elaborate on that at all? 353 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.679 Yeah, No, I think it's again, I don't know if 354 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:58.399 the documents amen signed. And I'm so hesitant to say 355 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:01.399 anything before because there's nothing you can't go back on that. 356 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:04.279 It's kind of like a referee call, right Svens like, yeah, sorry, 357 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:07.839 it's but if it goes threaten And to be fair, 358 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.720 I talked to the the players coach. He's a good 359 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:14.599 friend of mine in Cincinnati and and uh yeah, a 360 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:17.720 really good defender with with again, I think another part 361 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.680 to you know, things that we talked about on the 362 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:24.279 phone were just an unbelievable human being, a great culture 363 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:27.039 guy and a huge leader with a ton of experience. 364 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.200 And I think if if if I didn't tell you 365 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:31.559 the position and I said, these are the qualities this 366 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:36.440 player has, I think, you know, it's it's so welcome 367 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:39.160 with our group again, a young group that's you know 368 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:43.000 gain you know, caught a bit of momentum at the turn. 369 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:45.319 These last couple of games haven't gone our way for 370 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.559 various reasons. But now we're we're in the final stretch. 371 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.079 And to add a player of his magnitude and his 372 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.839 experience and and the way he leads is it's like 373 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.240 the stars the lining for a great rundown the stretch. 374 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:00.880 Good stuff. Does he have copious amount neck tattoos? 375 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.000 Yes? 376 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.359 He does? 377 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.920 Okay, okay, last thing that I'll set you loose on 378 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.599 this and if you need to go, you can be 379 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:10.160 quick on it. But I am genuinely curious. And the 380 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.119 nice thing is you're a coach. You don't exist in 381 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:14.960 the media space, but you are a former member of 382 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:17.200 the US men's national team. And there's been this really 383 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:20.319 weird back and forth. It was a documentary for Polisic 384 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:23.279 where he and I think it was way, if I 385 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:27.119 remember correctly, you are really going at like Landon and 386 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:30.599 Clint and all you know, Taylor, Tim Howard or whoever, 387 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:33.160 like all of the former US men's national team players 388 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.200 that are in the media space. 389 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.400 Weaya called them evil. 390 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:40.519 Polisic said, they're just looking for clicks, and it's like, well, 391 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:43.519 you're literally talking about this during the documentary. You want 392 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:46.039 people to watch. I don't know, man, it's part of 393 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:47.599 the job. When you get into the space with a 394 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.519 microphone in front of your face. I hope you coach 395 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:51.279 forever and you never have to do this. But as 396 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:54.359 somebody that once upon a time represented our country, what 397 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.200 do you make of this back and forth between the 398 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.279 old guard and the players playing now? 399 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.759 Yeah, yeah, I find it really interesting. And and you know, 400 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:07.200 I think I think everyone wants the same thing Spence 401 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:12.880