WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.520 But it has been a busy news cycle. All right, 2 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.320 I'll saw Lake our next guest. Man, I know he's 3 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:08.560 missed this, and I know he's so excited to be 4 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.759 doing this. It is Kurt Schmidt, technical director for the 5 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:13.599 club on a Wednesday. 6 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:14.919 Kurt, how bad did you miss me? 7 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:15.080 Man? 8 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:16.239 Let's let's be honest here. 9 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:18.320 I'm just psyched to be here. 10 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:22.120 You liar, you liar? How you been? 11 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:22.399 Man? 12 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:23.199 Things all right with you? 13 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:27.519 Yeah? Yeah, yeah, I'm just waiting for the off season 14 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.719 to start so i can relax. 15 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:33.759 Well, look, I don't really know where to start, but 16 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:35.200 we're going to get to as much of this as 17 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:38.960 we can because I'm not privy to the conversations behind 18 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:41.520 closed doors. And I know a lot of RSL fans 19 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:44.840 are very curious to hear from you and your main 20 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:48.880 motivation for moving on from Chicho Orongo, the Golden Boot 21 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:51.000 winner for the club and at one point one of 22 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:54.520 the favorites for League MVP, and you know, he just 23 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:56.880 had such a bright start and then we all know 24 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.880 it came crashing down with the suspension. And I don't 25 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.679 know what changed, Kurt, but something certainly did. So walk 26 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:06.319 us through this. What what's it like? The communications structure, 27 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.599 you know, speaking to ownership and Tony and everybody else 28 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.280 in the front office, Pablo and then Jason bringing everybody 29 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:14.760 together to decide to move on from a player that 30 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:17.040 really went He's right, he is just very very good. 31 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:22.439 Yeah. I mean, look, it's it's not an easy decision 32 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:25.319 when when when you're talking about whether or not to 33 00:01:25.319 --> 00:01:27.920 move on from from a quality player, and you know, 34 00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:30.359 it's something that that we had to face a couple 35 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:33.799 of times, maybe last year. But you know, on for 36 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:37.640 all the successes that happened last year that we achieved 37 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:40.920 last year, and we did achieve some some some goals 38 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:44.400 and and some heights in last season, we still fell 39 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:47.079 short of our ultimate goal, right, which is winning a trophy, 40 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:49.599 holding a trophy at the end of a competition. And 41 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:52.640 you know, some of that was was how things went 42 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.359 in the in the back half of the season, second 43 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:56.560 half of the season, you know. And and as it 44 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:58.439 relates to Chiacho, obviously, you know, we don't need to 45 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.159 rehash it, but everybody knows kind of how that went 46 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:04.159 for him and with us, and you know, we had 47 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.879 certain guys step up in a time when he maybe 48 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:09.039 wasn't producing as much as he had in earlier in 49 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:12.120 the year, but anyway, it just you know, it got 50 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:14.520 to the point where it was obviously very difficult and 51 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.560 something something changed, and you know, we had a lot 52 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:22.080 of hard conversations internally about it amongst staff, with Chicho 53 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:25.759 and obviously his representation, and you know, at a certain point, 54 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.759 you know, Chicho came to me and asked that we 55 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:32.960 help him find a solution for for him and his family, 56 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:36.280 you know, to get a fresh start, and and that's 57 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:37.960 you know what I think we well, that's what we 58 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:39.639 tried to do. And what I think we did was 59 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:43.159 found a solution that you know, obviously is the best 60 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:43.879 for all parties. 61 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:48.039 So I'm quite prepared for a very short answer to 62 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:50.439 this question, but you also understand I need to ask it. 63 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:54.719 Can you shed any lights on the suspension, why it happened, 64 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:56.960 and the effect that it had on him and also 65 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.439 the team. 66 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:04.520 I can look obviously the you know, the club and 67 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:07.919 and you know did everything that they could have done 68 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:09.800 and what was were required to do and needed to 69 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.719 do in that situation. And you know, we the league, 70 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:15.439 the league went through their process and we accepted their 71 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:17.520 decision and we went you know, and that's what we 72 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:20.159 dealt with and in terms of how any of that 73 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.159 affected chi Cho. You know, obviously I don't know what's 74 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:26.759 none of us can know what's in his head, what's 75 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:29.800 in his mind, but certainly we we saw what was 76 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:30.520 on the field. 77 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.840 How much of this the decision Kurt had to do 78 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:37.520 with chi Cho and his family not wanting to live here, 79 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:40.159 and how much of the decision had to do with 80 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:42.400 the club being ready to move on with a player 81 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.039 that clearly was not right after the suspension went down. 82 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.240 Yeah, I mean I think some of that's the question 83 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:52.800 for chi Cho, but I just would reiterate that I 84 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:56.599 think with with all the water that had flowed, you know, uh, 85 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.199 float under that bridge, I think we just found the 86 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:02.199 the solution that was the best for all parties. 87 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:07.520 Got asked the question, you know, and I am, admittedly, still, 88 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.639 after covering this game for twenty plus years, a neophyte, 89 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:13.840 and you're an expert. And I'll see to you if 90 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:17.920 you compare what you received in exchange for Chico to 91 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.279 what Seattle sent out for Haesus fre for AA. Excuse me, 92 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:25.319 the package is not close. And look, I understand that 93 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.319 you had to cut the tie. I understand you had 94 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:29.800 to make the move, But one point four mil in 95 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:33.319 allocation money and an international roster spot Kirk does not 96 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:34.800 seem like a fair haul. 97 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:39.680 Your thoughts, sure, I mean, I look, obviously it's it's 98 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.240 really difficult to compare players like that and to set 99 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:46.319 to set the market based on one or two or 100 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.439 such a limited number of transactions that you're talking about 101 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:53.800 at that end of end of the market. Obviously there 102 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:58.079 were other opportunities. There were other clubs, other situations, you know, 103 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:01.600 outside the league, in the league, like, there were different opportunities, 104 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:05.040 and you know this, you know, this ended up being 105 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.480 the right thing from from all facets, from uh the 106 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:12.160 standpoint obviously the finances from you know, obviously it needs 107 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:14.720 to be agreeable to cheat Sho and his family who 108 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.600 are going to move there. And and also from a 109 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:20.360 timing standpoint where you know, this was something that we 110 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.720 knew was happening, and you know, preseason is here, and 111 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:25.720 you know, like we want to we want to have 112 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.560 our group together and move forward. So just when you 113 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:32.480 factor in all the implications of the decision, this was 114 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:33.560 this was the best case. 115 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:36.959 So Sally and Andres was proof of concept. I don't 116 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:40.000 think anybody would debate that, but it's not just andres. 117 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:40.879 It's now cheat Joe. 118 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:43.759 Now let's move over to Matt Crooks, and I'll just 119 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:46.160 kind of ask you the same question. Is this a 120 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:50.279 scenario where Matt and his family just wanted to leave 121 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:53.399 the market? Were you not satisfied with what you received 122 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:57.000 for his production? I was also taken back that Crooks 123 00:05:57.079 --> 00:05:58.560 was sent on his way. Can you shed a little 124 00:05:58.600 --> 00:05:59.759 light on on that decision? 125 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.959 Yeah, I mean, look where we try to put the 126 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:06.680 players first at the club, and you know, again that 127 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:09.480 means like we want players that want to be here 128 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.800 and that are happy here, and we want to support them, 129 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:13.319 and then we feel that that's the way to get 130 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.720 the most out of them on the field. I think 131 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:19.199 that with Matt and his family, you know, yeah, you 132 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.600 kind of hit the nail on the head, like this 133 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:24.040 family situation wasn't ideal, and he was. They spent a 134 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:27.279 lot of time apart last year, and for him, the biggest, 135 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.240 the big thought process the decision was, you know, could 136 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:31.920 he could he do that again? Were they going to come? 137 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.279 Was it better to go back? And again there's a 138 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:38.519 lot of tough conversations there as well, and and ultimately 139 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.439 the right opportunity came up for him to go back, 140 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:43.560 and it worked for us as well. So, you know, 141 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.399 from that standpoint, it was a little bit of an 142 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:49.279 unwinding of kind of what we did a year ago 143 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:52.399 when we brought him in. You know, Matt's Matt's a 144 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:54.800 great guy. Matt. You know, I really like Matt as 145 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.079 a as a person and as a player. I thought, 146 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:00.000 you know, you hit you talked about production. I don't 147 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.439 think he lit up the production side of things. He 148 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:05.839 certainly helped us with his movement and that type of thing, 149 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:09.480 but he also you know, we also we needed some 150 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.839 production from that position as well. And that's part of 151 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:15.800 the genesis of us bringing Diogo here as well, is 152 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:18.560 because we felt he was someone that was going to 153 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:20.959 be more Goldings, was going to produce more from a 154 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.959 similar position. And you know, so from that standpoint, we thought, 155 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.560 you know, Jyogo coming in, you know, allows us to 156 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.759 grant Matt and his family their wish essentially and get 157 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:30.439 them back together. 158 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.160 Yeah, entirely fair about the numbers and the production. I mean, 159 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.879 don't take this the wrong way, but every time I 160 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.800 heard somebody talk about how far he ran, I'm like, cool, 161 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:40.519 But you know, like let's get some assistants, some goals. 162 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.360 I mean, I'm not saying you to work hard, but it. 163 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:44.279 Wasn't just how far, but it was, you know, just 164 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.240 to He ran very you know and maybe the satica 165 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:49.519 to sound equally maybe boring to you, but he did 166 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.959 run very intelligently in terms of, you know, the timing 167 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.279 and direction of his runs, the pace and how it 168 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:58.920 created space for guys like Andreasin, Chico and Luna at times, 169 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:01.959 and you know how he filled He's a very intelligent player, 170 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.040 how he filled the gaps that others laughed in order 171 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:07.240 to continue and maintain our structure in certain times when 172 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.759 we were when others were a little more fluid and 173 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:13.279 kind of doing whatever they wanted. He was a little 174 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:15.519 bit of a blue guy that kind of made sure 175 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:19.000 that our game model was still being implemented and that 176 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:20.480 the team still had the right structure. 177 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:22.560 No, I totally get it. You're not wrong, but run 178 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:24.399 intelligently and get your head on a ball. Let's get 179 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.639 a couple of intelligent goals and assists. That's all I'm saying. 180 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.120 But you're not wrong, Kurt, You're not wrong. Yeah, but 181 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:31.439 you're yeah, and you and I talked about what I 182 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:34.440 proceed to be a very professional approach to the season 183 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:37.320 from Anderson Julio last year, who I just thought was 184 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:40.960 called upon oftentimes to step in in tough scenarios, and 185 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:44.120 I thought he did a good job. Now this wasn't 186 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.039 a hey, you're going to move on without getting some 187 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:48.080 things in return, but same question take us through the 188 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:49.799 mindset of moving on from Anderson Julio. 189 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:53.960 Yeah, and it was a great guy, worked hard, he 190 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.039 learned a lot and developed, you know, even though he 191 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:57.799 didn't come here as a twenty year old. He came 192 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.159 here a few years after that, but he he up 193 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:02.840 a lot in his time in ourselves had a great 194 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:06.000 year last year. And you know, when you've got a 195 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.320 player around that age, as they're heading towards their thirties 196 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.279 and they're having a career year, you know, you have 197 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:14.840 to think about our you know, can you make a 198 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:16.960 move here at at or near the kind of top 199 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.480 of his market, top of his value, and if we 200 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.639 get enough in exchange, is it worth it? And so 201 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:24.320 we thought we thought that's kind of the situation. And 202 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:27.080 we were able to get obviously some money, which is important, 203 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:31.080 but also a piece that solves a bit of death 204 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.200 and competition for us on the back line and Sam 205 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:36.440 Junkwa who can push guys in two different spots and 206 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:40.080 give us solid, solid depth and two positions along the 207 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.440 back line. So it was kind of a win win 208 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:43.000 all around. 209 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:46.799 I apologize for another uncomfortable question, Kurt, but I'm gonna 210 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.519 throw it at you anyway. I mean, look, the numbers 211 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:52.399 are the numbers, and you set a club record for points, 212 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:55.679 you set a club record for goals scored, as you 213 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:59.759 reference the ending, unceremonious, you qualify for the postseason, ousted 214 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.639 in the You want trophies. 215 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:03.679 I want you guys to get trophies. I get it. 216 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:07.039 But with all of the moves that have been made 217 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:11.200 juxtaposed to what was a historic season, with the data, 218 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.200 what does that say about the group? What does that 219 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:14.919 say to the locker room? What does that say about 220 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.799 the connectivity or lack thereof. 221 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:16.919 Of the group? 222 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.440 I think it would send the message of trust to 223 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.600 the players that that we have kept and are going 224 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:27.279 to rely upon honestly, Like you know, we brought in 225 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:29.840 you know, we talked a lot about this last summer. 226 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:32.120 We brought in a lot of guys last summer and 227 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.039 fit the you know, made the cap stuff all work together, 228 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:38.200 so we could add them then. But but we knew 229 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:40.200 that part of bringing a lot of those guys in 230 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.159 was almost preemptively replacing some guys that we might have 231 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:46.519 to move on from in the winter. So you know 232 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.519 that some of that work was done six months ago. 233 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:53.080 But again, when you talk about guys like Dominic marshaok 234 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:57.240 Tiogo obviously Luna, you know, guys in the middle of midfield, 235 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.279 No Hata and Mecca Poblariez come back from injury as well, 236 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.600 those types of things like those Nelson Placia, like those. 237 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:07.000 You know, we're putting our trust from those guys, and 238 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.440 I think they should feel that and that should fill 239 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:12.440 them with confidence and give them the ability to play 240 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.759 with you know, without fear. 241 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.360 Yeah, well said, And I do want to get into 242 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:19.279 the space of the players that you're bringing in. So 243 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:22.639 and look, I honestly, I don't know if you can 244 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.799 comment on some of this stuff. I just have some 245 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:27.000 of the reports that are out there, and I'm certainly 246 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:31.399 not an expert with Brazilian goalkeepers. Raphael Cabral, I'm thirty 247 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:35.120 four years old, know nothing about him, but acording the reports, 248 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:37.519 you guys have signed this Brazilian keeper, Kurt. 249 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:39.159 Can you shed some light on this transaction. 250 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:43.360 I can't deal with reports. 251 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.759 It's not official yet. 252 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:49.720 Okay, we've signed a veteran, yeah, veteran international goalkeeper that 253 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:53.080 has you know, experience playing in some of the top 254 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:56.399 leagues in Europe and in South America, and so you know, 255 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.960 we think he's going to come in and add some 256 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:02.519 just experience in the locker room, but also some quality 257 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:04.399 and goal and give us a little bit of a 258 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.120 different look there. 259 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:09.440 Can you do discuss us sending Gavin Beavers on a 260 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:10.679 loan to a Danish club? 261 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.840 Are you able to discuss that? 262 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:17.360 Yeah, look, Gav's on his way out. It's not alone. 263 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:20.759 But that's not official yet either, but we're certainly working 264 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.279 on that. But you know, Gas a really good young 265 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.399 keeper and you know, played a lot of minutes for 266 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:28.960 us last year. And you know, when we talk about 267 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.200 where like obviously where he's going is kind of within 268 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:33.679 a little bit of our family or cousins, whatever you 269 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:36.240 want to call it. And it was actually a really 270 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:40.879 productive process to just collaborate across our ownership group and 271 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:44.200 different clubs and decide what is what is the best 272 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:47.679 thing for ourselves, What is the best thing for Brumby, 273 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.399 What is the best thing for Gavin Beavers and and 274 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.519 make the right decision for all parties. But you know, 275 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:55.080 I think for him it's an exciting step in his career. 276 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:58.000 You know. For us obviously, you know, it makes my 277 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:01.039 job harder when we lose players that at you know, 278 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.240 homegrown players or players on a subman a roster who 279 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:06.720 actually can contribute. So that makes my job harder a 280 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:09.720 little bit. But but it you know, it makes sense 281 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:12.000 for all parties to let him go. And yeah, that's 282 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.480 why you saw, you know, mason statue art come in 283 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:16.000 today from from Orlando. 284 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.559 I'm glad you said the name because that's where I 285 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:20.759 was going next. Okay, Mason's statue, if. 286 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.799 I got it right, to be fair, I probably need 287 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.480 to go check on that, but I tried. 288 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:28.120 Well, I'll trust you as opposed to the guest that 289 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.200 was about to lob out. 290 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:30.360 But that one is official. 291 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:32.679 It is on the website, as is Kobe Henry correct 292 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.240 center back. 293 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:37.240 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Mason was is someone 294 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.559 you know. Again, I think the other thing we didn't 295 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:42.200 really touch on is is Zach is you know Zach's 296 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:44.960 looking like he's going to miss some significant time early 297 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.759 in the season, so obviously we've we've brought in an 298 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:50.799 experienced guy to be the guy. And then you know, 299 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:54.200 Mason comes in as as someone with MLS starting experience 300 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:58.080 that we think will at competition and good depth is 301 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.240 in the in the goalkeeper. And then you know we've 302 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:04.519 revamped it otherwise completely with with the college kids coming 303 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.039 in as well. 304 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:08.480 All right, Urt, there's a report and I know you 305 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:10.759 can't discuss reports, but like you. 306 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:12.039 Know, this is the deal. I got to ask you. 307 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:14.240 You can tell me to kick Rocks and he's an 308 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.279 Australian forward. 309 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.919 Here we go. Okay, it's a new year. My goal 310 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.480 is to just say yes and try things. 311 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:23.159 Ariath Peel, I don't know, no idea, but it's out 312 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:24.799 there that you're bringing in Australian forward. 313 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.559 What is it close? 314 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:30.159 I feel like that was close. Huld. If I had 315 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:34.080 to guess his name, I would say maybe the Arif Pole. Okay, 316 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:38.600 maybe like that. Yeah, I mean, look, obviously we brought 317 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:42.559 in Mocklmbrook last year. Australia is the market that we're 318 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.879 looking at more and more. You know, we like to 319 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:48.960 bring in talented young players. So signing like that, you know, 320 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.399 would would make a lot of sense. 321 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.279 Oh wow, well that's as close as we're going to 322 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.200 get to a curt admission. What okay, where are the 323 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.879 goals coming from? We've already TOPPD And by the way, 324 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:01.559 as you reference, and you brought in a lot of 325 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.679 players during the summer window that I think people are 326 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:07.039 excited about once we see them with a training you know, 327 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.679 a full training camp under Pablo. 328 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.679 I think everybody loves the Marxian kid. 329 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.320 I mean, you got a lot of bright options, and 330 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.360 lest we forget, maybe your most skilled player, Diego Luna 331 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:17.720 is still on the roster, so all is not lost, 332 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.320 but you lost a lot of goals. 333 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.600 Where are those goals coming from? 334 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:24.480 Kurt? I mean, I think you started it already. Look, 335 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:27.320 I think we came in. You know, if you go 336 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:30.000 back in time a year ago and going in twenty 337 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.720 twenty four season, you know, it seems like a no 338 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:38.440 brainer now, But us relying on Luna and Andreas to 339 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:41.720 come in and give us quality minutes and high level 340 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:45.240 production like that wasn't a no brainer move at that 341 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:47.639 time either. And you know, we thought we had two 342 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:49.720 talented young players that we're going to take a step up, 343 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:53.159 and they did, and credit to them, and so I 344 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.519 think we're looking at something similar this year where you know, 345 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.080 I think, again Luna's still a young player that is, 346 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:01.759 you know, I think can take even another step in 347 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:05.360 his development and grow and in his production. You know, 348 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.240 Jogovinsolved is someone that came in and you know, maybe 349 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.120 didn't quite catch the league in the first few months, 350 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.720 but it started preseason well and we we have high 351 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.639 hopes for him coming in. And as I said before, 352 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.120 I think he's someone who's from that position who's more 353 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:22.320 goal dangerous, you know, dominic Is. I mean, he'll get 354 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.679 goals too, but I think he's just going to serve 355 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:27.559 up some of the easiest goals ever for for whoever 356 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:29.360 three four other guys that are going to play with 357 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.120 him in the attack. And so I think he can 358 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.759 he can definitely score himself and get some assists and 359 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:37.519 then look what you know at the ninth you know, honestly, 360 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.360 I think I think, you know, I pabably said it 361 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.679 earlier today, we're not going into the season, you know, 362 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:45.440 playing a man down, like we're going to have a 363 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:47.639 guy playing center forward that's going to do the things 364 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:50.080 that we need in our game model, and our game 365 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:53.360 models geared to creating chances for guys in our attack 366 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.879 and you know, we're confident that the committee of attackers 367 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.120 that we have will will score those goals. 368 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.000 Yeah, and before I said you loose, you know, I 369 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.000 think we just forget. 370 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.759 Like your central midfield is pretty stacked because you get 371 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:09.319 Pablo Luiz back, and of course a Mecca has he's 372 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.920 going to the national team camp and he's he's really 373 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.559 shown to be a very bright player. 374 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.079 And then there there's. 375 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:17.160 Also brian A Hayda, Right, so you have that kind 376 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:20.519 of three headed monster and I guess that central holding 377 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:23.400 mid area, forgive my my language, how do you think 378 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.319 that's going to play out? And how's Pablo looking now 379 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:25.880 that he's back? 380 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.759 Yeah, yeah, And I mean we we forgot about Nelson 381 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:33.119 Palacio as well, who is a very talented player. And 382 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.759 you know, I look at Pablo has been out, you know, 383 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.039 with the exceptional kind of the beginning of last evening, 384 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:41.680 he's now for eighteen months. And so for us with Pablo, 385 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.279 it's about bringing him along in the right way so 386 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:48.519 that a he stays healthy and also he like gets 387 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:51.000 his sea legs under him. Right. It's not something where 388 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:53.599 you bean out more or less for that long. You 389 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.759 just pop right in and it's like nothing ever happened. 390 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:58.440 It's something you gotta you gotta get into. So, you know, 391 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:01.559 I think Pablo's obviously a very talented player that can 392 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:04.720 add a lot to us, especially in possession. And you know, 393 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.160 we're going to bring him along the right way so 394 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:08.319 we can be a top contribute for us. But it's 395 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:11.559 not a situation where we have to rush him in because, 396 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.160 as you said, we've got a met we've got to 397 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.480 hate it. We've got Nelson, you know. So we have 398 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.759 a good rotation of players, even with the number of 399 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:20.759 games we've got playing this to play this year. 400 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:24.160 You you sleep in a night, you're hydrating, you're getting food, 401 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.319