WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:03.839 And it is time. This is fun. This is fun 2 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:07.639 because the last time we saw this guy, we were 3 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:13.560 trying to steer him to barbecue in Atlanta. We're trying 4 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:15.839 to steer him into the ways of barbecue. And since 5 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:18.640 it is nine point thirty, incredibly punctual. Love it. And 6 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:23.199 we've got Ben Jacobs dropping by. Fantastic and Ben already 7 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:25.719 had Golden ticket status when we talked to him. They're 8 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:27.199 the man is Ben? 9 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:29.839 Good morning? How are you? 10 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:32.280 You tell me you're the busiest man in show business? 11 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:34.240 As I told you, I mean you're the one bouncing 12 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:35.000 around out here. 13 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.640 Yeah, I mean we've had an incredible window, not just 14 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:41.640 the things that have actually happened, but the maybe deals 15 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:45.159 and the big names that still have their future is unresolved. 16 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:47.840 So needless to say, I'm busy. But it's a pleasure 17 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:48.399 to join you. 18 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:52.000 Yeah, so great to have you here, my friend. What 19 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.679 I wanted to do this morning is run through some 20 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:59.560 of the names that are attached to Atlanta United, Miguel 21 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:02.759 almor On, Emmanuel atte Lot, the odds On, Edward for 22 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:06.040 a Hashi Soon, all those names. But I also wanted 23 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:09.480 to talk about at Landa United and their perception there 24 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:14.040 in Europe about being a player in quotation marks on 25 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:17.799 the world stage. So let's start with the players themselves. 26 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:22.760 Miguel al Moron says, Luis Merrilo said twelve million. That's 27 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:24.959 agreed to right now. They're just kind of waiting on 28 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.719 getting signatures. What's the latest in the news that you 29 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:28.359 have on MIGGI. 30 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:31.719 Yeah, so this was an exclusive story that myself and 31 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:34.719 colleague Tom Bogart's broke and no doubt many of your 32 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:37.760 listeners know Tom very well, the best in the business 33 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.959 for MLS scoops. So Miguel Almeroon too, MLS and specifically 34 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:45.319 Atlanta United. You may remember it started with Charlotte FC. 35 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:49.239 They've moved for Wilfrid Zaha and Atlanta have found an 36 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:52.840 opportunity to bring Almero on back. It's not one hundred 37 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:54.719 percent done, but what I can say is there's a 38 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:58.159 verbal agreement between the two clubs. My understanding is that 39 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:03.000 it's ten million US plus add ons and that's about 40 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.560 half what Newcastle we're looking for. In January twenty twenty 41 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:08.919 four when it was the Saudi club Al Shabab that 42 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:12.840 we're looking and Amiron is very keen on returning to Atlanta, 43 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:16.280 the personal terms are being finalized, and then there's just 44 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:19.000 one question mark, which I think shows you the amicable 45 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:23.719 relationship between the clubs, and that's when he arrives. Because 46 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:26.000 from Newcastle's point of view, they want to keep as 47 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.319 much depth as they possibly can right through the end 48 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.159 of the window. There's no guarantee that they replace Almoron 49 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:34.439 right now, like for Light they could, but it's not definite. 50 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.240 And obviously all the MLS teams are in their pre 51 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:40.240 season and MiG Al Almeron is already fit. 52 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:41.520 He's midway through his own. 53 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:43.400 Season, so it may not be that much of a 54 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:47.039 concern to Atlanta United if it drags on a few 55 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:49.560 more days, simply because of the fact that they're in 56 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:52.319 a privileged position where they're building up to the new 57 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:53.560 season and they're going to be. 58 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:55.439 Inheriting a very fit player. 59 00:02:55.479 --> 00:02:59.000 So the expectation, because Newcastle already have verbally accepted the deal, 60 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.599 is this one gets done. It's just a case of 61 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:04.599 when exactly he's given the permission to fly, if it's 62 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:06.479 going to be now, or if it's going to be 63 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:09.280 right at the beginning of February, near of the window closes. 64 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:11.479 Because Newcastle have kept down We're on in their match 65 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:13.879 day squad and they've still got a couple more games 66 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:16.639 that potentially, if they're not going to replace him, they 67 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.439 could look to use almir on four at least in 68 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:20.479 their match day squad. 69 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:25.879 What for those who are not familiar with the day 70 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:29.400 to day elevens of Eddie Howe and Newcastle, why was 71 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:33.479 it that Miguel went from starter and contributor to someone 72 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:36.000 who is part of now just the game day eighteens 73 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:39.159 and coming up occasionally playing in cup ties things like that. 74 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:43.280 Why did the for those not familiar, why did he 75 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.319 go from starter to bench player in the Newcastle universe? 76 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.039 Yeah, I'm not sure that he necessarily made that kind 77 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.719 of linear progression. It was more that if you remember 78 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:58.080 the half season a few seasons ago when Almron was 79 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:00.120 just on fire between the beginning of the season and 80 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:04.840 Christmas into that break that led us to the Katar 81 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.840 twenty twenty two World Cup, and at that point he'd 82 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:11.800 had such a positive preseason and exploded onto the scene 83 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.000 and showed a goal scoring streak that Newcastle really hadn't 84 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:19.160 seen before and became indispensable as you would expect. 85 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:23.279 Really, but in that build up to that season, the. 86 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:25.399 Fan base was saying the same thing as they are now, 87 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.720 that they would not be averse to him being sold. 88 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:32.439 Newcastle were open to offers. He just changed everybody's mind. 89 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.800 And then unfortunately, since that kind of purple patch, his 90 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:41.800 goal scoring and contributions have leveled off and therefore he's 91 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:45.560 become more of a squad player. And Newcastle, therefore, even 92 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:48.040 before the Purple Patch, had been looking for this kind 93 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.800 of right sided forward or winger that can have a 94 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:54.879 more significant goal impact than Almeron is capable of. So 95 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.120 at the moment he's finding himself on the bench. Jacob 96 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:00.879 Murphy sometimes plays on that right hand side. It's a 97 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:04.000 four to three to three formation. You've got Alexander Izak 98 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:06.639 and then usually Anton Lee Gordon is on the left 99 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.639 hand side, so it leaves Almeron as a little bit 100 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.360 more of a squad player. There is Harvey Barns that 101 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.600 can play on both sides as well, so he's fallen 102 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:16.279 down the pecking order. But like I say, you could 103 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:18.480 make more of an argument that he's returned to where 104 00:05:18.519 --> 00:05:20.439 he was two and a half years ago. 105 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:22.399 He changed Eddie Howe's mind. 106 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:26.319 Still very valuable because he's very positive, very happy, very 107 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.639 liked by his teammates, and we shouldn't underestimate the impact 108 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:32.519 footballers can have as characters, even if they're not starting 109 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.759 every week. Actually, a lot of managers like a player 110 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:37.279 that says, okay, I accept my role in a squad 111 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:39.839 rather than the starting eleven, and I'm happy for that, 112 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:41.439 and I'm going to be hungry to try and earn 113 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.279 my opportunities. 114 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.120 And Almeron is that kind of player. 115 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.240 But the reality is that on and off Newcastle have 116 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:50.279 been looking to offload Almeron that I would say the 117 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:53.439 best part of the last four or five transfer windows. 118 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:57.839 When you're also discussing it Lene United chasing after a nine. 119 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.959 There are two names that are right now front and center. 120 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:05.199 Emmanuel Latte Lath, who is currently at Middlesbrough their leading 121 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:09.240 scorer and they're in a pursuit for hopping back into 122 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:13.160 the promotion playoffs in the Championship, and also the name 123 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:16.319 Odds and Edward, but that has cooled somewhat when it 124 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:20.839 comes to pursuit anything else that you're hearing about. Latte Lath, 125 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.360 where had had the leads tie, where Daniel Farker might 126 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.160 be chasing after him to add things up. Anything else 127 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:29.639 that you're hearing with your ear on the train tracks 128 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:30.759 about those two. 129 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:33.079 I hope it's not on the train tracks, not if 130 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:36.759 there's any active trains coming anyway. But Latte Lath is 131 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:40.759 the top choice for Atlanta, and Edson Odward is up 132 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:43.360 there too. But I think if they can get Lade Lath, 133 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:46.839 then the Edson Odworld deal will be off the table. 134 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:49.160 It's just a case of spinning both plates because time 135 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:53.480 is running out and both have relative complications. The Latte 136 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:55.920 lat situation is that in the last week or so 137 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:59.480 Atlanti United have had very positive talks with Middlesbrough, so 138 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:03.040 there's not that many concerns that they can't get to 139 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:04.879 a full verbal agreement. 140 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:06.319 They're just about there. 141 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:11.040 It's more a realization now from Atlanta's perspective that this 142 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:14.920 is an in deman player and it becomes relatively likely 143 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:17.519 that another suitor will enter the race in the final 144 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.839 days of the windows. So, my reader, the situation is 145 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:23.920 that Atlanta have taken the negotiations about as far as 146 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.279 they can with both the player and also club to club, 147 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.519 and they've got all of their ducks in a row. 148 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:32.040 It's just that if you're Middlesbrough. 149 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:34.920 You're waiting for a bidding war or a twist, and 150 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.199 again you're in no rush to sell because if they're 151 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:40.399 going to lose him, then keep the player scoring and 152 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.959 in the squad and getting as many points as you 153 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:46.279 can out of him before he eventually departs. So don't 154 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.959 think it's a case of Atlanta United up against Leeds 155 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.879 because Leads sources that I speak to deny that they 156 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:55.920 have place to bid. The interest is genuine, but they've 157 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.680 not put a formal offer on the table. And interestingly, 158 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:00.519 and this might be the clue that I alluded to 159 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.800 a moment ago, the leads perspective from sources I speak 160 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:06.399 to is he's either going to go to Atlanta or 161 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:09.680 a Premier League club, and it's that Premier League club 162 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:12.240 that still has the question mark over it because a 163 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.519 lot of the links that we've heard so far are 164 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:17.319 not from Premier League clubs looking for strikers. And there's 165 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:20.079 one or two that I can mention. Leicester City are 166 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:24.279 looking for goals, Everton are in the market for a striker. 167 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:27.319 West Ham and Bournemouth are both going to be alert 168 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.959 to opportunities, and west Ham and Bournemouth, the more looking 169 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.080 at Brighton, z Evan Ferguson. And we know that west 170 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:34.480 Ham bid for John Duran as well and that was 171 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:38.519 turned down yesterday a story broken by the excellent David Ornstein. 172 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:42.480 Fifty seven million instantly rejected by Aston Villa. So there's 173 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:44.279 a few Premier League clubs and the reason why I 174 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:46.240 mentioned these other transfers is just to give you that 175 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:49.120 context of three or four in the Premier League, just 176 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:53.519 moving around from target to target, working out the opportunism 177 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.480 of what might be possible in the fine hours of 178 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.360 the window. And maybe one of those four clubs I 179 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:04.120 think less likely tam possibly Bournemouth, certainly Lester in the 180 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:06.840 mix as well. They all could decide at the last 181 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:08.759 minute just to enter that race, and that's why I 182 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:11.600 think that Middlesbrough abiding their time. And then it'd be 183 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:14.320 unclear at this stage if late Elath would say I 184 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:17.000 still want to go to Atlanta, finalize that deal, or 185 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.840 I fancy an opportunity in the Premier League. So it's 186 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:22.039 a bit of a nervous wait there for Atlanta United. 187 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:24.559 And then if they get to probably four or five 188 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:27.440 days left of the window and they don't think that 189 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:30.080 that one's possible, or a Premier League suitter comes in 190 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.679 and it's off the table. That's where they've put I 191 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:35.519 wouldn't quite call it a backup bid because that's disrespectful 192 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:38.519 to the money offered and the player. But the Edward 193 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:42.519 situation is a bid in the region of twenty million 194 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:46.919 US dollars, which again underlies the big spending of Atlanta 195 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:49.840 and how ambitious they've been so far in this window. 196 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:54.679 And the expectation again is that financially speaking, that offer 197 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:56.480 will be good enough and then it will be down 198 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:58.600 to the player to decide whether or not he wants 199 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:01.480 an MLS opportunity. And I think it's fifty to fifty 200 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:04.679 as to whether he agrees to that move, especially knowing 201 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:07.360 at the moment it's on ice, because Atlanta's number one 202 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.720 priority remains latt a laugh. 203 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:12.879 Our buddy Ben Jacobs from a give me sport and 204 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.799 talk sport where I get to hear him do play 205 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.919 by play occasionally here on this side of the pond, 206 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:19.320 propping and by and hanging out with us here this 207 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.000 morning in the middle of silly season, let me ask 208 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:28.240 you about Atlanta United and MLS's place in the world. Sphere. 209 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:31.240 How do you think, from all of your interaction and 210 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:34.480 all the work that you do, how is Major League 211 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:38.399 Soccer viewed as a quote end quote player on the 212 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:41.440 world stage and chasing after talent? And I guess Atlanta 213 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:44.039 United sub subsection B of that. How do you think 214 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:49.039 Atlanta United is viewed as a player a pursuer of 215 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:50.960 talent there on that side of the Atlantic. 216 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:52.200 Yeah. 217 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:56.759 I think we started, didn't we, with the prism of exports, 218 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:00.519 and that was our kind of window into MLS. Now, 219 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:04.480 as we see from Maritzio Pochtino's international squad, the vast 220 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:08.320 majority of male players anyway that have come through MLS 221 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:12.039 have ended up exploding on the scene somewhere in Europe. 222 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:15.279 And that's the kind of Christian policic ripple effect. But 223 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:17.720 if you go back further, there's the sort of every 224 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:22.120 American top goalkeeper under the sun in the Brad Guzan, Tim. 225 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.799 Howard, Casey Keller era again finding. 226 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.120 Their way over to a European club, and more often 227 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:29.679 than not in the Premier League as well. And once 228 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:32.960 you got that influx, I think the opportunity to find 229 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:37.919 young players from MLS really became clear to most clubs 230 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:41.600 and fans, and there's definitely now not this feeling of 231 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:45.639 an American player coming to Europe and not being good 232 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:49.039 enough in terms of technique or development. If anything, it's 233 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.759 the opposite now, and there's a feeling that the infrastructure 234 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:54.600 that you have in place through the college system and 235 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:58.840 the USL into the MLS is very secure and structured 236 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:01.919 and it's created a new generation of both male and 237 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:04.559 female talent that can go on to big things. So 238 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:08.320 then phase two is can you keep these players in MLS, 239 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.159 Because although it's great to say you develop them and 240 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.759 sell them on very early in their career, the way 241 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:17.879 MLS grows is obviously by cultivating homegrown or home based 242 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.120 talent and keeping them in the league for as long 243 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.559 as possible, and that's what raises the standard and the 244 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.399 value of it. And then if foreigners come as well, 245 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:29.159 you have that balance, as we've seen from the Premier 246 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:32.600 League since the early nineties, that allows the lead to develop. 247 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:36.080 And it is a balance between wanting US talents and 248 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:40.159 promoting them in addition to having those box office stars 249 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:44.360 to get global eyeballs. And I think unlike USA ninety four, 250 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:47.879 we're now going to see the World Cup in twenty 251 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:53.080 twenty six have a really meaningful legacy in terms of grassroots, 252 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:56.759 in terms of infrastructure, hopefully a strong knock on effect 253 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:00.000 to the women's game as well. So I think MLS 254 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:03.799 now is starting to catch the eye. There's more global broadcasters, 255 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:06.879 there's more foreign talent coming over. What a coup for 256 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.840 Charlotte to get Zaha or for Atlanta to be able 257 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:12.519 to re sign Miguel almere And I think the almeor 258 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.279 On thing shows you, even though he's a little bit 259 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:17.440 older now. Of course, that full circle moment when he 260 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:21.279 left Atlanta United and realized he was going on to 261 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:24.240 big things. Did he think at that point that he 262 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.879 would go full circle and still feel that he could 263 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:30.639 offer something in terms of peak Almero on returning to 264 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:33.000 Atlanta United, and I think when he left, the appetite 265 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:36.240 to return probably wasn't there. But now he realizes that 266 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:38.799 he's walking into a very competitive league of. 267 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.559 A high standard. 268 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:44.639 Then you look specifically at Atlanta United and I think 269 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:50.600 it has naturally grown to be synonymous with success. I 270 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:55.240 remember the twenty eighteen MLS Cup definitely putting the club 271 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:58.679 on the radar, and those were the sort of glory 272 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:01.600 years of course, because there was a Open Cup as well, 273 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:05.320 and in addition, naturally they'd won in I think twenty 274 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.000 eighteen the MLS Eastern Conference Championship as well. So in 275 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:13.879 that kind of period we started to, I think realize 276 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:18.159 how serious Atlanta United were. We know that some of 277 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:21.279 the backroom staff went across from Atlanta United, like Darren 278 00:14:21.320 --> 00:14:24.679 Eels who was at Newcastle sadly now has ill health 279 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:28.519 so has had to step away from that role. The 280 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:31.879 likes of course of Tata Martino or Frank debaor and 281 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.120 so on, all again putting the club on the map. 282 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:37.480 And I just think you don't get that caliber of 283 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:42.279 backroom staff, or that blend of star power and talent 284 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.919 staying in the MLS unless your. 285 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.120 League is progressing. 286 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:48.519 So I think MLS is in a very healthy position 287 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.799 and it's only going to get stronger off the back 288 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:52.320 of the twenty twenty six World Cup. 289 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.559 What about when it comes to flashing the wallet? So 290 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:01.399 say I am insert MLS owner here or MLS Director 291 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:04.679 of Soccer Operations, and I go wandering over to Europe 292 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:10.399 and I'm chasing after talent. What is the perception from 293 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:13.919 your mind about MLS coming over and it's like, yeah, well, 294 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.279 I want your guys. I want your guys. I want 295 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:21.000 your guys to do front officers in say Premier League, Championship, 296 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.559 all the other leagues that you look at sit there 297 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:24.679 and look at an MLS guy and go, who are 298 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:27.679 you or do they actually have them as an equal 299 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.240 player at the table and basically money talks, it doesn't 300 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.720 matter where it comes from these days. 301 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.679 Yeah, an equal player. Remember half the Premier League. Now 302 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:38.159 we've got some form of American investor or owner. So 303 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:41.919 it's flipped and you're not dealing with top clubs in 304 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:44.759 England anymore that are all English, are all ingrained in 305 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:49.159 English football. They're global, and you could argue they're America 306 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:52.799 predominant in terms of the makeup of their collective shares. 307 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.200 So it's actually a lot of the time an American 308 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:00.000 owner dealing with an MLS club and they know exactly 309 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.159 the potential and they know the growth opportunities. 310 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.240 So I don't think. 311 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:08.000 We're looking at America being at less of a standing, 312 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:11.120 whether we're talking MLS or even USL, because remember a 313 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:13.919 few years ago USL used to basically be reserve teams 314 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:17.320 and that caused an issue because you had this odd 315 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:22.600 balance of very young players coupled with effectively demoted ones, 316 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:25.240 and there was maybe a bit of a lack of 317 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:30.039 cohesiveness and balance and in some cases motivation. Now they've 318 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:33.480 ditched all of that and you have a competitive league 319 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.960 effectively a tear down from the MLS. And again you 320 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.279 have a lot of pathways for players to come through, 321 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:43.279 and global clubs realize that, so there isn't as much 322 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:47.320 of a risk factor now about signing a player from MLS. 323 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.399 And in addition to that, the clubs are cultivating partnerships 324 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:54.799 because the clarity of progression for male and female players 325 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:58.559 is so much stronger and arguably even more stable than 326 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:01.519 in the UK, because in England you get pulled away 327 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:04.920 at let's say eleven or twelve told you the next superstar. 328 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:08.839 It can impact your location, your family, your schooling, whereas 329 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:12.519 in America there's much more of a pathway through collegiate 330 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:16.319 into USL or MLS or obviously in the case of 331 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:19.960 the women, the USL Women's League or the NWSL, and 332 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:25.720 the progression I think allows global clubs to track players 333 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:28.920 more definitively. Plus the fact that there's a lot more 334 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:33.400 emphasis now in MLS on data on injury prevention, on 335 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.759 technical training, and what we're seeing that perhaps it didn't 336 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:39.920 exist ten years ago as a result is top clubs 337 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:44.640 bringing talents over at very young ages for a kind 338 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:47.279 of try before you buy experience, which is part of 339 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.519 the courting process to say, come over, watch a match, 340 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.960 meet the squad, train with them. Sometimes it's a formal 341 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:57.160 trial and a exclusive that me and Tom broke a 342 00:17:57.160 --> 00:18:01.720 few weeks maybe ago now was nim Fasher Birchamas, who 343 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:04.480 is a Charlotte FC player and he got flown over 344 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.720 to Manchester United. And don't think that would have happened 345 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:09.680 ten fifteen years ago because likely that kind of player 346 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:13.400 age profile wouldn't really have been on a top club's radar. 347 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:16.960 But now most of these European teams have got full 348 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:21.039 and significant scouting networks in North America. They've always had 349 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:23.920 them in Central and South America as well, and the 350 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.759 World Cup is obviously an extra opportunity with the investment 351 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:31.200 to develop that grassroots talent, and the back legacy of 352 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:35.559 the World Cup will be that probable twelve to sixteen 353 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.839 age group post twenty twenty six, with all the investment 354 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:42.359 and the bars and the facilities getting into their late teens, 355 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:45.960 breaking into USL or MLS, and I think you'll find 356 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:48.599 that there's a lot of European clubs ready to pounce 357 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:51.720 for that kind of profile and talent because they realized 358 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:55.240 there's a real window of opportunity to recruit in this market. 359 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.599 All right, So before we let you go, what storylines 360 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.519 are you chasing after today? When it comes to the 361 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.519 Premier League in silly season and Ruben amor room trashing 362 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.359 TVs and hunch pasta cargo. Yeah, I'm going to fix 363 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:08.599 it and don't worry about everything. What are you chasing 364 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.279 after today? 365 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:09.759 Yeah? 366 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:12.279 I'm leaving the MLS to Tom, although we are both 367 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:16.319 across the Almiron and Latte, latter situations which could move 368 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:21.799 very quickly. I think more so Almiron than necessarily Latte laugh, 369 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:24.160 only because of Burrough's perspective to wait and see for 370 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:27.279 a little bit. I'm across Marcus Rushford's future. We shouldn't 371 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.880 rule out a stay at Manchester United, but certainly Dortmund 372 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:32.799 and possibly Barcelona. 373 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.960 Are going to be there. 374 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:37.920 Aleandro Garnaccho, Chelsea and Napoli both interested in the player. 375 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:41.680 Key question is what price might Manchester United reluctantly sell 376 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:44.759 for I'm told in the region of eighty million US dollars, 377 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.359 possibly five or six lower than that, but as a 378 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:51.839 starting point, Manchester United's valuation is very high. Mate's kuner 379 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.039 at Wolves. He's not yet signed that new deal, so 380 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.759 the door is just ever so slightly a jar for 381 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.720 Arsenal and others. So it should be a busy week, 382 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.279 and I think some of these plot lines might run right. 383 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.359 Until February the third. 384 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.200 And I keep having to remind myself to say February 385 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:09.440 the third, because we so glibly call it the January window, 386 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:13.640 and usually it is the January window, but this particular season, 387 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:16.480 I should point out that in England anyway, the window 388 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.079 shots on February the third. So we've got the best 389 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:22.039 part of two weeks to try and find clarity on 390 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.720 some of those stories that I mention. 391 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.519 And see if there's going to be a player who's 392 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.440 just going to sit in his car in a team's 393 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:31.799 parking lot and figure out that yeah, they want me 394 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.599 and I want to be here, but there's been no 395 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:36.160 talk about you being here. Well, no, I'm still here. 396 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.799 I'm sitting in the parking lot. Cut the promo for 397 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:42.599 me working folks. Find all of your stuff well. 398 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.799 You can follow me and Tom as well on Gimme 399 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:47.799 Sport and we've got lots of breaking news and hopefully 400 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:51.839 some MLS exclusives for you on x I'm at Jacobs 401 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:55.119