WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.120 It's time to hit the pitch on the drive. The 2 00:00:02.279 --> 00:00:05.160 RSL Insider today and every day is brought to you 3 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:08.279 by beer bar Head Downtown for watch parties and game 4 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:12.480 day shuttles to the stadium more at beer BARSLC dot com. 5 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:16.320 RSL is an action tonight and we will see the 6 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:19.600 debut of one of their new players. Rowan Cruz has 7 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:23.079 received his visa and it's eligible to make his club 8 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:27.399 debut tonight in League's Cup Action. Kurt Schmidt, the primary 9 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:30.760 decision maker, the Director of Soccer Ops or whatever the 10 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:33.320 new title is. He's just the guy that signs the players, 11 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:34.640 which is a very important role. 12 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.000 Kurt. Happy Wednesday, sir. 13 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:38.880 How are you? I'm good. 14 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:40.479 Let's start with Rowan Cruz. 15 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:44.359 Let's start with the new player you have signed and 16 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:47.920 potentially we'll get to see him tonight. Origin story, Kurt, 17 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:49.640 When did you first hear about him? How did this 18 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:51.920 process play out? What kind of what kind of player 19 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:52.159 is he? 20 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:56.359 Yeah, we've we've actually been aware of you for for 21 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:56.880 a while. 22 00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:57.799 I think it's. 23 00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:00.719 Been it's almost been a at least nine or twelve 24 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:05.319 months since we first heard his name. We actually, you know, 25 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:08.560 worked on him earlier in this in this season in 26 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:11.120 the primary window, he had made a big move to 27 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:15.040 Bota Fogo, but there was a chance that they might 28 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:16.760 not use him as much as they thought, and so 29 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.120 we we were speaking to them about alone a few 30 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:22.359 months ago, but things didn't quite line up, and so 31 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.319 to have them line up now is obviously, you know, serendipitous, 32 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:27.959 which you always need a little bit of that in this 33 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:30.680 in this line of work. But you know, it's good 34 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:32.959 that we were to line everything up and bring him 35 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.159 on board for the rest of this year and and 36 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:36.439 hopefully next year as well. 37 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:39.400 So Pablo this week referred to him as like a 38 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:41.680 nine and a half, you know, a striker that can 39 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:43.400 score goals but also make plays. 40 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.159 What sort of player is Ruwan? 41 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:49.840 Yeah, nine and a half nine, He's he's sort of 42 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:52.359 done both of those things. And one of the things 43 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:55.280 that's the positive about him is he can fit with 44 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.719 the rest of our players. He doesn't have one role 45 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.799 that he has to do this thing, so you know, 46 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:02.680 you can only pair him with these certain players he 47 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:07.400 can balance off I think anyone in our attack currently 48 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:09.199 that we would play up top next to him, which 49 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:12.000 is a positive. He is probably a little more comfortable 50 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:13.960 or adept in that nine and a half role, which 51 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.120 just means, you know, he's someone that maybe. 52 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:17.960 Gets the ball defeat a little bit more. 53 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:21.159 And comes from a slightly deeper space than the nine 54 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.400 whose main job is to stretch and push the center 55 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.240 backs back and occupy those two guys to create some 56 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:30.879 space underneath. So he's a guy that can play and connect. 57 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:32.919 You can play the ball into him, get it back 58 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:37.280 off of him, combine. He moves well after receiving and passing, 59 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:40.000 and he finds good spaces in the box, and he 60 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.960 was able to score quite a few goals doing that 61 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:44.800 thing in Bulgaria. 62 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:48.879 So help me understand the type of level he's been 63 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:52.919 playing at, Kurt, and how that compares, if it does 64 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:56.319 at all, with MLS. It's been has always been fascinating 65 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:59.000 to me to witness players come from certain leagues in 66 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:03.039 certain countries and certain levels in other places and either 67 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:06.000 really struggle to acclimate or just shine right out of 68 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.680 the gates. How how does his level of play recently 69 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:10.879 compare to what he's going to be up against NMLS. 70 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:16.560 It's a great question, and level of play doesn't where 71 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:19.039 he's coming from doesn't so much dictate how he'll do here, 72 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.360 But it just tries to give you clues because the 73 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.800 adaptation risk is one of the biggest risks that we 74 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.599 encounter when we're signing players. How do they adapt to 75 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.000 this league, adapt to this country. There's a lot of 76 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.080 off field factors that play into it, cultural factors, or 77 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:35.400 you know, they once you know, they come to practice, 78 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:37.240 they go home, they come to games, they go home. 79 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:39.680 You know, they're at home more time than they're with 80 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:41.879 us often, So when they're at home, what are they doing. 81 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:42.479 Do they have a. 82 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.280 Family, are they you know, do they know how to 83 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:46.719 go grocery shopping? Are they comfortable eating the food in 84 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.319 this culture? All these things play into it. Language is 85 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:52.680 certainly the obvious one, so all those things play into it. 86 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.479 So it's hard to say that he's coming from this level, 87 00:03:55.560 --> 00:03:58.280 so you know, we know he can do this sort of. 88 00:03:58.199 --> 00:03:59.240 Thing in our league. 89 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:01.240 One of the things though, that was very important to 90 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:03.719 us as we were looking for this player, that we 91 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.599 find the player who was used to carrying the load 92 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:07.240 for his team. 93 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:10.199 So if we find a guy who has scored, you. 94 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:12.919 Know, double digit plus goals in the season for a team, 95 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.439 has been the main man and had to put them 96 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.160 on his on his back at different points. That's something 97 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:20.759 you know, that's that's something that we wanted this player 98 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:24.680 to have experience so that when they come here, they 99 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:28.879 they won't be surprised if that's something that they're asked 100 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.000 to do here, but they can shoulder the goal scoring 101 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.720 load and not be the first time that they've been asked. 102 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:33.839 To do that. 103 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:38.120 So as far as the way this contract works, it 104 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:41.199 is a loan with a purchase option, is what I've read. 105 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:45.040 I would imagine that you would very much like to 106 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.240 keep him around long term if it works out. So 107 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.680 what's this process going to be like and kind of 108 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:54.240 walk us through what options you have to kind of 109 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:56.319 keep him here long term if he steps in and 110 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:57.160 plays really well. 111 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.040 Yeah, this structure just gives us flexibility. 112 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.920 But certainly, you know, we brought him here because we 113 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.360 like him, and you know, we'd love for the relationship 114 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:09.279 to be longer term. For now, he's he's with us 115 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:14.480 for a minimum of basically twelve months, and then we 116 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:16.240 have an option to extend through the end of the 117 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:20.959 season the loon and then before the loan terminates, we 118 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:24.279 have the option to purchase him should we decide to 119 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:26.839 do so, and obviously a lot of factors going to that, 120 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.199 you know, his performance being one of the biggest ones, 121 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.720 but certainly the finances and all that play into it 122 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.199 as well. We think it's that, you know, a good 123 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:39.319 number relative to what he's moved for recently, and given 124 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:43.560 you know, the expectations of what he could do for us, 125 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:46.399 you know, so we're comfortable with those those aspects of it. 126 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:49.160 I believe he's been on the ground eleven days, so 127 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:53.000 give us some early returns in training, meeting the team, 128 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.839 you know, meeting his teammates, meeting the coaching staff. Pablo 129 00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:00.000 was singing his praises about what a nice kid he is. 130 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:02.879 So eleven days actually here on the ground, what can 131 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:03.240 you share? 132 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:08.199 Yeah, that nice kids speaks speaks more English than you 133 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:11.319 might expect from a guy who's only lived in Bulgaria 134 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:15.079 and Brazil. You know, gets along, seems to get along 135 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:18.639 really well with his teammates, and you know, he's gotten 136 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:22.519 into some training sessions. Now. It's been a little tough 137 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:26.560 because of the closeness of all the games Wednesday Saturday, 138 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:29.639 Wednesday Saturday, the rhythm of the trainings have been a 139 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:30.600 little bit broken up. 140 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.079 So we haven't seen in the pun in sort. 141 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.120 Of big spaces with our group, just because our group's 142 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.800 been recovering and preparing for the next game. But we've 143 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.639 seen him in moments in front of goal. You know, 144 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:44.399 he's looked good. He's got he's got the soft feet. 145 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:46.959 Like I said, he can combine, he moves well off 146 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.759 of that. So those those have been positives, and like 147 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:51.800 I said, off the field, he seems to be integrating. 148 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.720 Obviously that's a slower process, it'll take time, but the 149 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.079 early returns on that are very good. 150 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.519 I have a feeling you're going to tell me this 151 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.600 is up to Pablo, but do you think we will 152 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:01.319 see him tonight? 153 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:05.959 Well, yeah, I mean it is up to Pop comes 154 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:06.519 to the game. 155 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:10.560 I'd be surprised if he doesn't decide to put him 156 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.120 into the game tonight at some points. And certainly it's 157 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.519 a good moment to get him into a game, you know, 158 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.879 in this last League's Cup game, as we as we 159 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:23.839 start restart league play on Sunday, you know, regardless of 160 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:27.040 what the League's Cup future holds for us, getting him 161 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:29.639 into this game is going to just help speed up 162 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:33.879 the acclimatization of him to our team in our League. 163 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.639 As far as the approach tonight, I believe I started 164 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:40.399 reading the tiebreaker scenarios Kurt, then I decided I wanted 165 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.199 to go on living my life. But I believe you 166 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:45.839 need all three tonight and like six results to go 167 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:50.360 your way. So it's an interesting approach where obviously you 168 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:52.439 want to win and get all three and then hope 169 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:54.480 that luck is on your side, but with such a 170 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:58.279 small chance of advancing and a team that probably is 171 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.319 suffering from a bit of fatigue because the truncated schedule, 172 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.560 maybe you want to rest some guys too. What's what's 173 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:06.319 the approach tonight as you enter the league scut match? 174 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:10.040 Yeah, I mean, look, we've got to take you know, 175 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.439 this is a very cliche, right, We've got to take 176 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:13.279 care of our result. 177 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:16.079 The rest of it is in the hands of the universe. 178 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.600 So you know, the other night, I think things broke 179 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:22.879 for us had we maximize our point total, but we 180 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:26.560 didn't take care of our job. So we just have 181 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:29.240 to do do what we can do, control the controllables 182 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.720 and do it in front of us and then you know, 183 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.759 figure out where the chips fall after after everyone else plays. 184 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.399 But from a fatigue standpoint, you're right. I think certainly 185 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:41.159 the whole group has been playing and putting in the 186 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:43.080 work and playing every you know, every three. 187 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.120 Four days over the last few weeks. But there are some. 188 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:50.919 Guys you know, that have had more games than others. 189 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:52.840 And we you know, we've brought the Eggle off the 190 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.360 bench the other night because he's you know, he's played 191 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.799 more games in the last two months than I think 192 00:08:57.960 --> 00:08:59.960 we have as a team, just with. 193 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.600 The Gold Cup and those sorts of things. 194 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.879 And you know a few other guys who haven't really 195 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:07.799 been rotated out in a while, you know, maybe get 196 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:10.399 a little bit of a rest or come or come 197 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:13.799 off the bench and play a few less minutes in 198 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:15.840 this one, and we get to see some of the 199 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:18.559 some of the guys that you know that need to 200 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:20.679 push for their starting jobs from the bench. But I 201 00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:22.480 think that we put out a team, or we will 202 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:25.720 put out a team that we're really confident and while 203 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:28.600 also preparing for you know, the next run of games. 204 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:31.720 You made another signing that became official, so I can 205 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:34.759 ask you about Victor Olatunji. I believe he had arrived 206 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:37.480 on Sunday, not available tonight. 207 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:38.000 Uh. 208 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.080 My understanding is you're hoping to get that visa across 209 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.919 the line prior to this weekend. 210 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:44.519 You've got New York on Sunday. 211 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:47.440 But let's start with same question to ask you about 212 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:50.519 cruz origin story. When did you first discover this kid? 213 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.600 What was the process that brought him here at Salt Lake. 214 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:55.840 Yeah, that one was a little more recent. 215 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:57.399 I think we picked him up just in the last 216 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:59.919 six months and started following him. 217 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.320 You know, he's a guy that. 218 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.720 Is is like we talked about nine to nine and a half, 219 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:07.120 he's more of a nine to nine or he's got 220 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:09.000 a you know, he likes to play up top, he 221 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:09.879 likes to be physical. 222 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:13.080 He's got a big frame. You know, he's got. 223 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:15.399 Got more size than we have elsewhere on our team 224 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.799 and strength, and he's he's. 225 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:19.360 A guy that can hold the ball up, that can 226 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:20.039 run in behind. 227 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:23.960 He's got good speed, he's good at driving the defense 228 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:27.519 back and creating space underneath him for guys like Diego 229 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:30.440 and Diego to operate. And he's a big target, you know, 230 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:32.480 in and around the box for us to find in. 231 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:32.919 Front of goal. 232 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:36.519 Interesting he reference his size, Well, that was one of 233 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.039 the first things Pablo reference. He actually said, we're kind 234 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:42.600 of a small team. More of like a target or 235 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:46.000 an athlete that just happens to be tall. 236 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.159 I wouldn't say he's like, you know, he's not a 237 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.960 guy that kind of makes all his money in the air. 238 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.120 From that and from that standpoint, like so, he's not 239 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:56.840 a guy who can only really play with his head 240 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:59.720 or is you know, maybe dominance with his head. But 241 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:03.279 the average of the world, he's more well rounded. But 242 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:06.559 from a from a size standpoint, yeah, he's he's a 243 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:09.279 big boy that's gonna occupy a lot of attention from 244 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:11.159 center backs and he's going to make it really really 245 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.600 difficult on the other team center backs to uh to 246 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:15.639 win the ball off of them. 247 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:17.559 What is uh Ole Tunji? 248 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:22.360 As far as his contract details two point five million 249 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:27.120 fee TAM For our listeners who know nothing about TAM, 250 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:30.480 including me, that's what he is. But is he around 251 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:31.320 for multiple years? 252 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.120 What? What are his contract details? 253 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:39.039 Yeah, we've got we've got four years or sorry, four 254 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:43.039 plus years on him with option including the option years 255 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.519 and got TAM. 256 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:46.600 I guess you're right. It will be a one point 257 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.159 that means. 258 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:49.879 But essentially what it means is we took that transfer 259 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:52.879 fee and instead of paying you at once, we've structured 260 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:55.679 the paintings out over over a few years. 261 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.919 Are you a bigger fan of Tam or gam? 262 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.639 Uh? Neither. 263 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:06.399 Just just give me cash that you can send me cash, Spence. 264 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:08.200 I don't need Tame or Game right now. 265 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:10.240 At some point I'm gonna make you laugh on the show. 266 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.799 I don't know how I'm gonna land, but at some 267 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.720 point I'm gonna do it. 268 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:15.559 Uh. How do you think you should say something? Fun? 269 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:15.919 Not? 270 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.919 Fair enough? Fair enough? Well played, sir? 271 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:22.399 How do you how do you anticipate Cruise and Olatunji 272 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:27.519 fitting in with Diego, Diego Gozo, you know, don the 273 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.919 whole group like when when they have enough time under 274 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:34.360 their belt, daclamate to Pablo and get in the right 275 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:37.320 shape and this thing is going to be fully developed. 276 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.519 How do you kind of see that group playing together? 277 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:43.320 Yeah, I mean they both bring slightly different things. And 278 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.840 like I said, Victor is the guy that will stretch 279 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:48.399 and push center backs back and create space underneath him 280 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:51.679 for guys like Diego Diego to operate in that space, 281 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:54.320 receives able turn and then play the ball through and 282 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:57.240 you you know, find him with their through balls ideally 283 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:01.799 and creating some long goal. You know, Rwan or Huan 284 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:04.960 is someone who who both those guys can play the 285 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.960 play the ball into and get it off of and 286 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:10.120 so they can combine around around the defense to to 287 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:13.519 create space. And he's he's someone that will give them 288 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:16.879 that target and be a reference point for them for 289 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:18.840 you know guys, you know guy like Dom on the 290 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:21.840 wing or Gozo even you know, both guys will be 291 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:25.399 really good targets behind the last line and in the 292 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.360 box for their service. So you know, they provide I 293 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:32.080 think different things for each one of those guys, but 294 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:34.159 the the the net net of. 295 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:37.440 It all is both guys will make the jobs of the. 296 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.600 Other other you know, two three four attackers whatever underneath 297 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.759 them a lot easier. 298 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:47.000 So let's see, today's date is August sixth, Kurt, just 299 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.480 so you know that is there's fifteen days left in 300 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:54.159 this window. Is your work done? Are you working on 301 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.240 other editions? What can you share with our RSL fan listeners. 302 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:04.200 Yeah, we're working on probably one, uh one or two 303 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:07.559 more things. You know, it's obviously you know they haven't 304 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:12.639 come together yet, so you know, nothing's guaranteed, but I'm 305 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:16.600 hopeful to get one or two more guys in the door. 306 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:21.799 Potentially there. You know that may necesitate one, one more 307 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:23.759 one or two out at some point. 308 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.399 You know that depends on a lot of other factors 309 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:29.600 as well, But if it all comes together, we might 310 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:31.279 add one or two more pieces this window. 311 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:33.600 Are we looking in the attack? How are we looking 312 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:36.080 on the back line? It feels like your midfield is 313 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:37.879 your strength. But where are we looking. 314 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:42.960 At That's a good question. I'll probably keep that, keep 315 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:46.080 that to myself for now, but probably not. 316 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.679 We're not We're not likely to sign another striker. Three 317 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:50.320 three's on us in one window. 318 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:54.000 Fair enough. Speaking of your midfield, you know, a Mecca. 319 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:57.279 I know he's not one hundred percent yet, but man, 320 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:59.960 it's just a reminder of what he is when he sells. 321 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:02.519 Now that he's been back playing you know, thirty forty 322 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:06.279 to fifty minutes or whatever. But Ruiz, it's such a 323 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.639 feel good story. Against Club America, he may have been 324 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:11.039 the best player on the field. Then oh Haita somehow 325 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:14.679 has channeled his inner like Rinaldo. He had one goal 326 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.519 in like eighty games and he has three in the 327 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:21.120 last three. What sort of advantage does it give you 328 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.639 to have three preferred you know, central holding mids you know, 329 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.519 in your formation, you typically play two of the three. 330 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:29.960 It feels like that's your lynchpin. Curt Is that fair. 331 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.120 It's definitely in the strongest part of our roster, the 332 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.840 deepest part of our roster. And you know, honestly, it's 333 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:41.240 a massive headache for Poplo, you know, and Pablo's got three, 334 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:44.639 you know, three or more guys for two spots that 335 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:50.480 all want to and and honestly are capable of starting 336 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:52.120 you know, MLS games. 337 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:54.519 For him, and you know, it makes the competition tight. 338 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:57.039 You know, it's it's pushed, you know, a guy like 339 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:59.600 joelk Liskin to write back at times. 340 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.720 So you know, it's it's certainly a headache and a. 341 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:05.759 Problem for for the coaching staff or Pablo. But but 342 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.840 those are the good problems that that we like to 343 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.799 try to give give our coaches is you know, not 344 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:15.039 not who we're going to play because nobody is stepping up, 345 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:17.080 but who we're going to play because everyone's playing at 346 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:19.360 their top level and and it makes it difficult to 347 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:22.960 pick the best too. So Pablo, it's it's really really 348 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.559 good to see where. 349 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.240 He's at right now. 350 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:28.000 He's been he's been fantastic, obviously, he's missed a lot 351 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:30.480 of time with injury, and it was very reasonable to 352 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.559 expect and to see the last few months, you know, 353 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.279 for him to get back into it and get back 354 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:40.799 closer to the level he was at when this sort 355 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:44.480 of injury, uh situation started about roughly eighteen or now 356 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:47.639 it's like almost two years ago. So to see his 357 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.159 play the last few games has been phenomenal. You know, 358 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:54.360 his passing, his vision, his ability to create chances for us, 359 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:57.000 and then even some things that I don't think were 360 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:00.519 his strength a couple of years ago, he's now working 361 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:05.519 on and improving to the point where these are not liabilities, 362 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:08.079 are things that concern us as much, which is you know, 363 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:11.160 some of his defensing, his work rate, defending his work rate, 364 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.200 his ability closed down space, his ability tracking back, his 365 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.759 willings to do things like that. That's been phenomenal. And 366 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.400 then you know, it's really hard to elaborate too much 367 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:22.720 on Olheida. I mean, obviously, when a player like that 368 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.119 is scoring goals for. 369 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.480 You, then you'll take it. 370 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:28.039 And you know he can't can't do can't do much 371 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:30.240 more than that other than recover the ball as much 372 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.799 as he does, cover as much ground as he does 373 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.039 and then also put the ball in the back of 374 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.599 the net. 375 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:38.119 So I find the art and honestly science of talent 376 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:42.440 evaluation and sport fascinating. I always have on a scouting level, 377 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:47.079 and you know, nobody bats a thousand. Everybody has misses. 378 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:49.160 Everybody has a lot of misses. You just hope that 379 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:52.160 you can intertwine some of those misses with some big 380 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.000 home runs and some good hits. It didn't work out 381 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:58.000 with Lachlan, and you know, I'll let you kind of 382 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.079 elaborate as to why you think that is and also 383 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:05.920 intertwined in your question. I'm wondering what your personal approach 384 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.839 is when it comes to analyzing and whether or not 385 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.400 this is even possible when it comes to analyzing if 386 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.559 a young man is ready to be a professional, because 387 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:18.079 when it comes to being a pro, all these guys 388 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:21.359 have talent. Every professional athlete has talent. They're used to 389 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:24.920 dominating younger leagues. They were dominant in high school, they 390 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.079 were dominant in college, they were dominant in juniors. If 391 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:29.759 you want to play in the pros, if you want 392 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.599 to play in the highest level, talent's not enough. 393 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.079 You've got to be a professional. 394 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:36.599 When it comes to the way you analyze these things, 395 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:39.000 how can you be sure that you're signing somebody that's 396 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.359 ready to do what they have to do for you 397 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.279 every day, not just game day. 398 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:46.559 Well, I mean, first I would say, you're never sure, right, 399 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:48.599 and you know you're trying to analyze all these things 400 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:51.599 from afar and until they're here in your group, in 401 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:55.680