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<v Speaker 1>Welcome everyone to another SDH network. One B one. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>Madison Cruise and join with me is play by play

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<v Speaker 1>announcer for MLS season pass In Callum Williams. Callum, how

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<v Speaker 1>are you today?

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<v Speaker 2>I'm good, madisone. Thanks for having me on. Very very excited.

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<v Speaker 2>Even though the offseason in Major League Soccer is one

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<v Speaker 2>of the shortest in world football. It feels like it's

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<v Speaker 2>been an eternity since we last kicked a ball in

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<v Speaker 2>North America. So very very excited.

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<v Speaker 1>Again, it really has this even especially too with MLS

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<v Speaker 1>Cup only being like maybe two months ago. It feels

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<v Speaker 1>like it's been an eternity.

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<v Speaker 2>But yes, eighty seven days I believe was the last

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<v Speaker 2>time we kicked a ball in this country.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, glad to be back. But one thing that I'm

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<v Speaker 1>interested in asking you, especially as we head into the

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<v Speaker 1>thirtieth season of what are some of your biggest expectations

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<v Speaker 1>or biggest things that you're looking towards, especially as we

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<v Speaker 1>head into this new season.

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<v Speaker 2>Look, I mean, the one thing that I think has

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<v Speaker 2>made an astronomical difference has been the way that Major

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<v Speaker 2>League Soccer is now very much a part of the

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<v Speaker 2>global football market. When I first started covering Major League

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<v Speaker 2>Soccer Madison back in twenty eleven, it did feel as

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<v Speaker 2>though it was a completely different world and every time

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<v Speaker 2>that there would be a player linked with a European

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<v Speaker 2>team or in my case, an English team, my mind

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<v Speaker 2>was blown and it didn't seem as though it was real.

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<v Speaker 2>Now it's very much part of the cause that there's

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<v Speaker 2>players that are moving left, right and center, leaving Major

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<v Speaker 2>League Soccer for the top leagues in Europe. But then

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<v Speaker 2>the top players in Europe are also coming here now

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<v Speaker 2>as well. So it's tremendous just to see the growth,

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<v Speaker 2>and it almost comes at a perfect time in my opinion,

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<v Speaker 2>with you know, the little thing that we've got next

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<v Speaker 2>summer coming up with the FIFA World Cup in twenty

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<v Speaker 2>twenty six. You know that sort of a big deal,

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<v Speaker 2>isn't it. So it comes at the perfect time in

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<v Speaker 2>my opinion. So it's been great to see that the

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<v Speaker 2>salary cap has been sort of loosened as well the

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<v Speaker 2>domestic deals that are now allowed to be done with

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<v Speaker 2>the internal transfers, I think has made the league even

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<v Speaker 2>more exciting and riveting as well. There was a couple

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<v Speaker 2>of eyewatering transfers or trades and entirely short what was

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<v Speaker 2>supposed to call them at the moment, but deals. We'll

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<v Speaker 2>second with that show we deals that were done internally

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<v Speaker 2>in MLS that I thought, Wow, this is a new

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<v Speaker 2>age of Major League Soccer and it's very, very exciting.

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<v Speaker 2>But look, let's let's make no bones about it. Atlanti

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<v Speaker 2>United are leading the way in terms of ushering Major

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<v Speaker 2>League Soccer into this new realm.

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<v Speaker 1>One thing that's it's so interesting you mentioned that since

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<v Speaker 1>you've been covering MLS since twenty eleven, what has it

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<v Speaker 1>been like for you to see the growth of not

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<v Speaker 1>only these teams but also like these local network's coming

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<v Speaker 1>up and now covering MLSS a bit more, You're seeing

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<v Speaker 1>a whole bunch of different things pop up. Like, what

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<v Speaker 1>has it been like for you to see that growth?

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<v Speaker 2>It's been an astronomical turn I thought, honestly, Madison, I

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<v Speaker 2>thought we'd get to this stage at some point, but

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't think we'd get to it this quickly. And

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<v Speaker 2>there's an abundance of reasons as to why that's happened, right,

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<v Speaker 2>and if we go through them, we'll be here all day.

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<v Speaker 2>But it honestly has been wonderful to see how quickly.

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<v Speaker 2>The game is growing. I still spend a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>of time in Europe and overseas for other bits of work.

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<v Speaker 2>And the one thing which I've now noticed is how

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<v Speaker 2>much Major League Soccer is a part of the conversation,

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<v Speaker 2>where sort of alluding to what I was saying earlier

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<v Speaker 2>on that that was never really the case when I

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<v Speaker 2>first came to the league, and so it's just become

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<v Speaker 2>a part of the global footballing conversation, and so obviously

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<v Speaker 2>growing it domestically is of vital importance. And I think

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<v Speaker 2>that is that has grown really quickly as well. Markets

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<v Speaker 2>like Atlanta again have led the way, and there are

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<v Speaker 2>a handful that have had similar success locally as well.

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<v Speaker 2>And look, there's still one or two markets that made

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<v Speaker 2>a helping hand. We all know that. But overall, I

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<v Speaker 2>think major League soccer is in the best place it's

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<v Speaker 2>ever been. I will always remember Madison. I came to

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<v Speaker 2>America to be the voice of Sporting Kansas City back

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<v Speaker 2>in twenty eleven, and I was a rifle twenty one

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<v Speaker 2>year old, and I left the BBC and I got pelters.

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<v Speaker 2>I got a lot of sort of friendly abuse from

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<v Speaker 2>people sort of suggesting that I was making a massive

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<v Speaker 2>mistake and coming to America and are cares about football

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<v Speaker 2>soccer over there. And I will always remember walking around

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<v Speaker 2>Kansas City and I had the Sporting Kansas City T

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<v Speaker 2>shirt on the polo, the club polo that they gave us,

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<v Speaker 2>and at that time, they had just rebranded they were

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<v Speaker 2>no longer the Kansas City Wizards, and there was a

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<v Speaker 2>new stadium on the way, and it was all very exciting,

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<v Speaker 2>but it hit me a little bit as to how

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<v Speaker 2>much work we had to do when I was walking

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<v Speaker 2>around Kansas City and nobody had any idea what it was.

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<v Speaker 2>Nobody knew what Sporting Kansas City was. They didn't recognize

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<v Speaker 2>the logo. Somebody mistook it for an indoor soccer team

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<v Speaker 2>and a minor league hockey team. You know, it was

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<v Speaker 2>just I like to call those the dark days of

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<v Speaker 2>Major League hockey. You know, those were interesting days. But look,

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<v Speaker 2>I mean that just not the case anymore. And one

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<v Speaker 2>of the markets, look at, Kansas City, led the way

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<v Speaker 2>massively in those early days. For sure. I think Minnesota

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<v Speaker 2>has done a remarkable job. I think the LAFC franchise

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<v Speaker 2>has done wonderful as well. There's been so many Portland

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<v Speaker 2>timber Seattle sound as we could go on so many

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<v Speaker 2>teams that have done so well in terms of marketing

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<v Speaker 2>themselves and making themselves relevant in the market, but Atlnti

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<v Speaker 2>United are the ones that stand out on top. To

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<v Speaker 2>come from absolutely nothing and have the success that they

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<v Speaker 2>have done in terms of relevancy in a market is

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<v Speaker 2>absolutely wonderful. I don't know the exact number, Matterson, but

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<v Speaker 2>I keep hearing there's going to be sixty five thousand

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<v Speaker 2>plus on opening on Saturday. And if that's the case,

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<v Speaker 2>well there is a prime example as to how much

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<v Speaker 2>people love and care about Atlanta United. And I think

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<v Speaker 2>that's only a good thing for Major League Soccer or

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<v Speaker 2>good Atlanta United. It's good for Major League Soccer because

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<v Speaker 2>that full stadium, with the designated players that are on offer,

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<v Speaker 2>with the standard of football that's on offer, this really

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<v Speaker 2>could be anywhere in the world. And so I'm very,

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<v Speaker 2>very excited to see Saturday, and I think it's going

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<v Speaker 2>to be a very It's interesting.

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<v Speaker 1>We talked to Garth Logerway at that press conference with

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<v Speaker 1>Late lat yesterday and he said that there's still a

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<v Speaker 1>couple of tickets left and they're expecting and possibly it

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<v Speaker 1>could be a sellout, So we'll see if that ends

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<v Speaker 1>up happening. But I know that you know tickets are

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<v Speaker 1>going fast. It's it's going to be a fun time

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<v Speaker 1>here in Atlanta on Saturday. And even moving towards that,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, when you got told you were doing this

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<v Speaker 1>game for Atlanta United versus c F Montreal for the

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<v Speaker 1>home opener, I mean, how excited are you to get

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<v Speaker 1>to come to the Bends and with everything going on,

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<v Speaker 1>getting the chance to come into a part of the call.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I look very very excited. Love doing occasions like this,

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<v Speaker 2>love doing big games. And I know it's the opening day, right,

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<v Speaker 2>so we've got a long season ahead of us. But

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<v Speaker 2>I can already tell that the occasion is going to

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<v Speaker 2>be exceptional. It's going to feel like a big game

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<v Speaker 2>and a big occasion because the simple fact of the

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<v Speaker 2>matter is Madison it is and there there are a

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<v Speaker 2>handful of markets that I think do big occasions better

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<v Speaker 2>than others, and Atlanta is one of those markets. But

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<v Speaker 2>I'm excited because I haven't been to Atlanta for a

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<v Speaker 2>couple of years now for an MLS game. For sure,

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<v Speaker 2>I was fortunate enough to commensate on Chelsea Club America

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<v Speaker 2>and the Benz last summer, which was a great feeling.

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<v Speaker 2>It was wonderful to do that, and the crowd was great,

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<v Speaker 2>and it was a really good occasion and wonderful to

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<v Speaker 2>see that facility. But I'm very excited to sample it

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<v Speaker 2>now from an Atlantic United points of view and to

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<v Speaker 2>see how the fans are to understand a bit more

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<v Speaker 2>of the foot in culture. We get in on Friday,

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm looking forward to to spending some time in

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<v Speaker 2>coffee shops and whatnot and just listening to people talking

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<v Speaker 2>about the game because they will. I've been in football

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<v Speaker 2>cities across across the globe where this happens, where people

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<v Speaker 2>are just talking about the game, and I'm excited to

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<v Speaker 2>do that and just listen to what people are saying

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<v Speaker 2>and embrace the excitement. I think that that's the most

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<v Speaker 2>intriguing thing.

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<v Speaker 1>I wish I could give you recommendations for coffee shops

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<v Speaker 1>in Atlanta. All I know is a lot of them

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<v Speaker 1>up here in Marietta and Kennesau. So if you're up

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<v Speaker 1>in that area, I got you. But I don't have

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<v Speaker 1>any recommendations in Atlanta, unfortunately, but I know that there's

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of good ones so you'll have you'll have

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of options to choose from when you get

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<v Speaker 1>to Atlanta, which will be nice. But one thing looking

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<v Speaker 1>at it, looking at Atlanta and the way that they've

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<v Speaker 1>obviously handled the transfer market, getting Latte, lat getting Miguel

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<v Speaker 1>Amor on back here, you got Saba, you got madan Chuk.

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<v Speaker 1>What are you expecting to see from this offense and

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<v Speaker 1>what are you expecting to see from those specific players

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<v Speaker 1>as you head into Saturday.

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<v Speaker 2>Goals and a bucket load of them as well. It's honestly,

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<v Speaker 2>I think this is and the thing is here in Madison.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't even think there's a debate. I think this

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<v Speaker 2>is the most mouth water in front line across the

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<v Speaker 2>entirety of Major League Soccer. You cannot convince me otherwise

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<v Speaker 2>at the moment. And look, I understand there's some really

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<v Speaker 2>good front lines at the moment, and that's always going

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<v Speaker 2>to be the case now with the amount of investments

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<v Speaker 2>in Major League Soccer, which is obviously only a good

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<v Speaker 2>thing for the league. But I was doing my notes

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<v Speaker 2>the other day as I saw sort of frantically go

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<v Speaker 2>through them in preparation for the game, and there's been

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<v Speaker 2>five new players that have come in obviously over the

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<v Speaker 2>course of the off season, but that front four in

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<v Speaker 2>itself is an estimated cost of forty six million dollars.

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<v Speaker 2>We have never seen that in Major League Soccer before,

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<v Speaker 2>and usually when you spend money like that, looks is

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<v Speaker 2>usually not half back. And so I would expect and

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<v Speaker 2>I don't have any inside of knowledge at the moment.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't have any lineup information or anything, but I

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<v Speaker 2>think it's very, very difficult to not expect Emmanuel Latte

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<v Speaker 2>lat to not start. If he doesn't start, I'll be

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<v Speaker 2>absolutely I'd be beyond surprise because you spend that sort

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<v Speaker 2>of money on the center forward. He's here for one

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<v Speaker 2>reason and one reason only. I would assume it would

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<v Speaker 2>be LOBSI I need say, on the left, An Shook

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<v Speaker 2>in the ten, and Almiran on the right hand side,

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<v Speaker 2>and that would be the supporting cast. But Almron's role

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<v Speaker 2>will not be a wide player. He will not be

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<v Speaker 2>a winger so to speak. He will be very much

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<v Speaker 2>an inverted attacking almost like a ten and a half really,

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<v Speaker 2>and so I expect me and Anchook and almir to

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<v Speaker 2>combine on several occasions. And that the one thing that

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<v Speaker 2>I think Atlanta United now have that they haven't had

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<v Speaker 2>in the last couple of years. Is a center forward

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<v Speaker 2>that can actually get behind the line and actually do

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<v Speaker 2>so with pace and can stretch the back line as well.

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<v Speaker 2>So Latte lat is somebody that is blessed with pace.

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<v Speaker 2>He's not the biggest guy, but to my understanding, he's

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<v Speaker 2>quite a strong individual as well, so can if needed,

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<v Speaker 2>play that hold up role in certain pockets of the game,

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<v Speaker 2>but that obviously won't be his main roles. So I

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<v Speaker 2>would expect Miguel Almron to get the ball on many

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<v Speaker 2>an occasion and maneuver inside and try and slip it

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<v Speaker 2>through the back line for Latte La to latch onto.

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<v Speaker 2>And if he doesn't do it well, Midanchuk probably will

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<v Speaker 2>if not love Janice may very well have the best

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<v Speaker 2>chance of doing it as well. So it is mouth watering.

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<v Speaker 2>I think that's the best term a phrase to use

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<v Speaker 2>when you describe this Atlanta United front four. Also, who

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<v Speaker 2>I'm assuming will start in the center of midfield isn't

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<v Speaker 2>bad either, Slisha, I expect to be a little more reserved,

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<v Speaker 2>but I do think Mate Click one of the most

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<v Speaker 2>underrated midfielders in Major League so last year I didn't

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<v Speaker 2>realize until doing the numbers. Madison DC United obviously didn't

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<v Speaker 2>have a great year last year. My tears click in

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<v Speaker 2>that team that didn't make the playoffs managed to get

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<v Speaker 2>thirteen assists. So he's going to be somebody I think

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<v Speaker 2>that's going to absolutely be involved in the attacking front

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<v Speaker 2>and will almost be a perfect box to box number

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<v Speaker 2>eight midfield. So I think the key area for me though,

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<v Speaker 2>in my understanding of how Montreal want to play, because

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<v Speaker 2>I did Montreal a couple of times last year and

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<v Speaker 2>they Ronnie Dayler said to us, and I agree with

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<v Speaker 2>him that they do overplay at times, but they are

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<v Speaker 2>very good at it. Last year in Addison, they went

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<v Speaker 2>with a five a five man back line and what

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<v Speaker 2>that did for them from an attacking point of view

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<v Speaker 2>was great. They gave them a lot of opportunities to

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<v Speaker 2>play the ball into wide areas. We saw the likes

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<v Speaker 2>of David Bugui and Jack Kill Marshall Rotti in the

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<v Speaker 2>latter stages of the season when he joined from Toronto.

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<v Speaker 2>Tom Pearce, who came over from England as well, has

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<v Speaker 2>a wicked left foot, can cross a ball and pick

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<v Speaker 2>out a pass like no one else, so they have

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<v Speaker 2>really good options on the attacking front, but I just

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<v Speaker 2>wonder what that does to them defensively, because the one

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<v Speaker 2>thing that we saw several times last year is that

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<v Speaker 2>was how they were exposed. And when you have somebody

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<v Speaker 2>as lethal as Miga Almiran and on the other side

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<v Speaker 2>as Lodger needs say, Yes, they're not traditional wingers, but

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<v Speaker 2>I still think that sort of space where they are.

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<v Speaker 2>I think there's going to be a lot more space

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<v Speaker 2>than there usually is because of the high pressing fullbacks

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<v Speaker 2>that I expect Montreal to play. So look, it's going

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<v Speaker 2>to be a Montreal going to sit back a little more.

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<v Speaker 2>Do they understand the task at hand. Are they a

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<v Speaker 2>little more confident in the wather they want to go

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<v Speaker 2>and play? I don't know. Montreal have brought in eleven

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<v Speaker 2>new players. It's been an overhaul, although in Major League

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<v Speaker 2>Soccer that seems to be sort of standard, really doesn't it.

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<v Speaker 2>But I think Montreal, I think we'll set up in

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<v Speaker 2>a way that it's not necessarily going to be a

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<v Speaker 2>low block, but I think they'll be counter pressing. I

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<v Speaker 2>think they may change things throughout the game as well.

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<v Speaker 2>Because the Hong Kong CIS has the there's evidence there

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<v Speaker 2>to suggest that he does that, and I've seen it

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<v Speaker 2>physically several times. But I think, honestly, the wide areas

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<v Speaker 2>are going to be are going to be the real threats.

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<v Speaker 2>From an Atlanta United point of view.

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<v Speaker 1>I couldn't agree with you more. When you look at

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<v Speaker 1>the MLS season right now and you look obviously I

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<v Speaker 1>mean adding San Diego the thirtieth expansion team. What are

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<v Speaker 1>your expectations for both the East and the West this

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<v Speaker 1>season and which team are you looking forward to the

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<v Speaker 1>most and seeing where they stand as we get through

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<v Speaker 1>the season. Very early on even decide that now, but

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<v Speaker 1>just from looking at everything, what are your predictions?

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<v Speaker 2>I'm looking forward to seeing Atlanta? I really am. It's

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<v Speaker 2>honestly for me, I think they are. In the off season,

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<v Speaker 2>they were by far and away the most intriguing story

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<v Speaker 2>because we all knew, and it was a shame really

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<v Speaker 2>because I thought Rob Valentino deserved a crack, if not

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<v Speaker 2>at Atlanta, certainly another franchise, and I hope he gets

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<v Speaker 2>the opportunity at some stage somewhere. But I think we

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<v Speaker 2>all knew that they had to go big. They had

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<v Speaker 2>to go with a known name and an international manager

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<v Speaker 2>that was full of experience but also had experience in

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<v Speaker 2>Major League Soccer as well, because this leads a different

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<v Speaker 2>animal compared to the majority across world football. But Ni

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<v Speaker 2>Dayler is the perfect one to do that, given the

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<v Speaker 2>fact he's one MLS cap with NYCFC in the past.

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<v Speaker 2>He also has such a glistening European resume that he's

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<v Speaker 2>more than familiar with how to approach the game in

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<v Speaker 2>different ways. He's more than familiar with how to deal

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<v Speaker 2>with big characters and egos and is more than happy

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<v Speaker 2>to deal with expectation. He's managed Celtic for goodness, and

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<v Speaker 2>then Celtic are a Guardianshulan club across European football and

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<v Speaker 2>if you don't win, you know about it at a

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<v Speaker 2>club like Celtic. The same could be said for Standard

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<v Speaker 2>li Asian club Bruger as well. These are massive football

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<v Speaker 2>clubs and so honestly, I think Ronnie Diiler was the

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<v Speaker 2>perfect appointment for Atlanta United, and well done to Garth

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<v Speaker 2>laga Way for getting it done. So look, I mean

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<v Speaker 2>Atlanta for me are a story in the off season

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<v Speaker 2>that will continue to be a story throughout the season

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<v Speaker 2>as well. All eyes obviously on Miguel Almron for obvious reasons.

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<v Speaker 2>But I think a lot of people are very excited

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<v Speaker 2>about Latte lat and I think the one thing that

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<v Speaker 2>the Laste lat deal does for me Madison is it

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<v Speaker 2>does usher major league soccer into a new era. And

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<v Speaker 2>I mentioned it briefly earlier on about it being a

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<v Speaker 2>part of the global footballing market. I have friends back

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<v Speaker 2>home in England, Middlesbrough fans that are friends, and they

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<v Speaker 2>are absolutely devastated that they've lost their top center forwards.

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<v Speaker 2>But they've lost their top center forwards to a major

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<v Speaker 2>league soccer team. I never thought we would say that,

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<v Speaker 2>at least not right now. Maybe in fifteen twenty years,

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<v Speaker 2>I thought maybe, But we're saying that right now, and

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<v Speaker 2>that's incredibly exciting because who knows where we're going to

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<v Speaker 2>be now if we carry on riding this trajectory. In

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<v Speaker 2>ten to fifteen years time, there were Premier League teams

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<v Speaker 2>that wanted him. It'swhich town were desperate to sign la Selaud.

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<v Speaker 2>Nottingham Forest made an inquiry and there was another team

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<v Speaker 2>in there as well that we're asking. So this is

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<v Speaker 2>a very wanted commodity. It's a very very wanted player

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<v Speaker 2>and yet he's ended up in our league, has ended

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<v Speaker 2>up in Major League Soccer. For me, that is beyond

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<v Speaker 2>exciting and also beyond integral in terms of Major League

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<v Speaker 2>Soccer turning this corner now, because what this does is

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<v Speaker 2>it sets the standard, and Major League Soccer has long

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<v Speaker 2>looked at Atlanta United to do that. But I think

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<v Speaker 2>now what this does is it because of the loosening

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<v Speaker 2>of the salary cap and the loosening of the of

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<v Speaker 2>the not the talary cap storry, loosening of the the

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<v Speaker 2>internal ability to do deals. I think what this does

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<v Speaker 2>is it does force other club ownerships to put their

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<v Speaker 2>hand in their pocket because they have to compete, such

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<v Speaker 2>as the demand of fans across Major League Soccer. Now

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<v Speaker 2>people will not stand for being mediocre, and I don't

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<v Speaker 2>blame them either. So I'm very, very excited because I

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<v Speaker 2>do think Atlanta United have helped maneuver Major League Soccer

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<v Speaker 2>into a new era. And I wonder just how long

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<v Speaker 2>it'll be before the likes of a twenty million dollars

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<v Speaker 2>signing may not necessarily become a regularity, but I wonder

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<v Speaker 2>how long it'll be until we see that done by

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<v Speaker 2>not just one season, five, six, or seven seams.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, absolutely, it's gonna be a fun season, especially

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<v Speaker 1>with all the turnings that every three team has been doing,

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<v Speaker 1>especially Atlanta United, especially as we head into Saturday. I know,

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<v Speaker 1>for one, I'm excited to get to see it and

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<v Speaker 1>getting to be there Saturday. It's going to be a

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<v Speaker 1>ton of fun. But Callum, thank you so much for

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<v Speaker 1>taking the time with us, and we'll see there's the

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<v Speaker 1>bendop Saturday for hopefully I pull that crowd.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, absolutely look forward to Madison. I'll see you there.