WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.919 Good college football coming your way in the five o'clock 2 00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:05.799 hour tonight, not an hour from now. The latest on 3 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:10.800 the situation with UNLB losing their starting quarterback. We'll get 4 00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:13.000 you ready for BYU Baylor will get you ready for 5 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:17.000 Utah here or sona Kyle bonagerro from Espno stop by. 6 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:19.800 But it is fall at least, that's kind of the 7 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:22.160 time of year. It's about eighty degrees in Sunday today. 8 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.800 That does mean football, but it also means playoff soccer, 9 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:29.039 and it looks like RSL has a real legitimate chance 10 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:32.079 to host a home playoff match. Our next guest, one 11 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:34.479 of our favorites, to talk the beautiful game, Max bred 12 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.119 Us Sunday Thursday afternoon. 13 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:37.439 Max. Happy Thursday, sir. 14 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:41.560 How are you happy? Thursday undercover? One of maybe my 15 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:44.359 favorite day of the week. Not every week, but most weeks. 16 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:46.119 Thursday's an underrated day. 17 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:46.520 Max. 18 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:47.600 I'm with you there. 19 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:50.159 There's a good event. There's good event going sorry interrupted, 20 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:51.719 but there's good events going on. If you want to 21 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:54.240 go out, go out to dinner without the crowd, I always. 22 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:54.759 Like it for sure. 23 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:57.560 And also, if you're young enough or excuse me, if 24 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:00.000 you can remember when you were young enough to start 25 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:01.880 weekends on a Thursday. That was kind of like the 26 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.040 college thing, right, like we can start on Thursday. 27 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:07.200 Yeah, oh yeah, drinking in yeah. 28 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:09.280 No doubt, no doubt. All right, buddy, I appreciate the 29 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:12.840 time today. And we find ourselves in an interesting spot 30 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:16.879 with RSL, who elected to move on from some really 31 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:20.480 good players, namely Andres Gomez is now in France. They 32 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:22.879 bring in five players and so far, I think it's 33 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.959 fair to say the results have been mixed. 34 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:25.359 You know. 35 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.040 I asked Jason, Kurt, and Pablo all the same thing 36 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:31.079 when they joined the show after the window closed, and 37 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:34.799 I said, do you feel like he sacrificed short term 38 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:38.079 potential to do something special for the long game? 39 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:39.040 Like was that the deal? 40 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.959 And they all said no, they still still confident they 41 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:44.640 can get something special done this year. So where are 42 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:47.560 you at now with kind of this recalibrated RSL group. 43 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.879 Well, I think one thing that's pretty evident is you 44 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:54.400 know Andres Gomez, and I'm still blown away with the 45 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:56.640 business they did with that price tag where you had 46 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:58.879 to sell them. And I mean he's had a rough 47 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:01.040 start in Europe, He's been injured. I think he's played 48 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:05.400 one game so he's that's neither here nor there. But 49 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:08.199 you know, if he's successful, that's only going to benefit 50 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.680 Rail salt Lake if in fact he gets sold here 51 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:13.240 the idea, you know, sometimes you have to explain it 52 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:18.479 to people about being a reliable club that develops talent, 53 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:23.479 so that teams like Scott Rene or n Is, you know, 54 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:26.560 is world famous for developing young players. They have a 55 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:31.960 great academy. So many top top players Jeremy Doku, Eduardo 56 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:35.479 Kama being payter Check have come through there because they 57 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:37.919 have a great scouting system. So they fought enough about 58 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:40.400 Andres Gomaz and they've faught enough about to pay a 59 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:43.159 big price tag and now Rail salt Lake in the 60 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:47.039 world football stage is going to benefit greatly. I know 61 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:48.800 people probably go, wait a minute, well we had this 62 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:52.719 great player, but now clubs know that Rayal salt Lake 63 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:57.639 is legit when it comes to identifying, developing and then 64 00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:59.879 selling players. So this is going to be big long term. 65 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:05.719 As for the short term, yes, his void is really evident, 66 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:08.800 not just because they haven't been able to duplicate what 67 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:12.280 he does out wide. And I talked to Pablo about this. 68 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:15.520 It's affecting Chi Cho on Angle. Chi Cholevanngo and him 69 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:20.439 were great foils, great tag team. Chicho became a better 70 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:23.520 player clearly because Andras Gomez was stretching out the field 71 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.240 and chi Cho on Angle was finding space that's not 72 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.919 there yet. So that's a big one. I mean, that 73 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:34.360 could be railed the chances for RSL to hit their 74 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.039 targets whatever that is making an MLS Cup final, winning 75 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:40.719 an MLS Cup final, and winning a playoff series. So 76 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:45.120 there's I think in theory was what the good news is. 77 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:48.599 They really were active and ambitious with the players they 78 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:50.840 brought in. They could have sold the player like Atlanta. 79 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.120 Did you know Atlanta cleared them all out. Granted Atlanta 80 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:55.599 is not in a good position, but they haven't replaced 81 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:59.039 those players yet. They went out and you know, they 82 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:02.159 have to hope that they get Diogo something out of Diogo. 83 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:04.599 They've been lucky with Mark Chuk who I mean, I 84 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:06.599 had my first look at him, really impressed. He's no 85 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:11.639 Andrea's gomed, but he couldn't contribute something on that side, 86 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.560 and it's it's tricky. Look if I look at the 87 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:18.839 West with Andres Gomezrael felt late to me or one 88 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:21.240 of the two or three best teams there without him, 89 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:25.199 maybe fourth or fifth, and it's so tightly packed you 90 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:30.720 need game breakers. So hopefully Mark Chuk or more specifically 91 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:34.519 Diogo or Gonsalves is the guy that can provide it. 92 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:37.360 They have talent, but the problem is so do the 93 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:42.120 Galaxy Rapids, LAFC, Houston and Portland Seattle. 94 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:46.639 So Max, you know we really can and will debates 95 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:48.639 you know whether or not the attack is where it 96 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:51.040 needs to be. But I'll tell you what if they 97 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:54.399 don't figure out the situation. And I always hesitate to 98 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:58.160 just simply blame the keeper, just blame Gavin or blame Zach. 99 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:02.720 There have been a tremendous amount of very soft goals 100 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:07.240 allowed in my opinion, Max, all year. It's not good enough. 101 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.000 So I do think they've got enough firepower. And I 102 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:11.680 do want to talk about cheat you in a moment, 103 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.879 But tell me your thoughts on where we're. 104 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:15.480 At with either Zach or Gavin. 105 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:18.519 And is it a back line issue like you defend 106 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.600 as a team, it's an eleven player deal and Pablo 107 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:23.160 asked that of his group. So I don't want to 108 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.759 hone I don't want to hone in and pin this 109 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.399 on just one person or one thing. But I think, 110 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:30.920 in my opinion it's it's safe to say it's been 111 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.560 too soft back there for too long. 112 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:33.560 So give me your thoughts on. 113 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:36.959 That dynamic well, and I think earlier the season, because 114 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:39.360 you know Zak, it's got to be frustrating. He has 115 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:42.199 a great game and then he has the one, you know, 116 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:45.800 the howler, which could many times have cost ourselves. Gavin Beavers, 117 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:49.040 you're a little more forgiving because he's a teenager, but 118 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:53.480 he's getting an opportunity because Zach hasn't been clean. I 119 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:57.879 would imagine that's a fair affessment. So Gavin's been fast 120 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.199 tracked a bit. I like Gavin Beaver's a lot. You're 121 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:02.600 gonna have to take the inexperience, the good and the 122 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.439 bad here with him. And if you're a team of 123 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:07.759 these playoff positions, that's probably going to bite you at 124 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.600 some point because he's going to enter this form. And 125 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.720 very rarely you see young players there's not my, me 126 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:14.480 and you miles all over the place that there just 127 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.759 are wise beyond their years. You know, I would have 128 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:19.720 loved to seeing Rayal salt Lake pursue and get a 129 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:22.040 top keeper. Imagine. I mean, I don't know if it 130 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.839 was feasibly possible. Imagine they made a push for Zach 131 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:27.720 Stephan like the Rapids did. I mean that Rayal Salt 132 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:29.560 Lake team all a sudden looks a lot lot better. 133 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:33.240 But they feel confident with Zach. But the one thing 134 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:36.360 I see more for Gavin than Zach. And they played 135 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:38.199 Portland and they didn't do it, but once they did 136 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:41.120 it a couple of times when you press them. The 137 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.959 playing out of the back is not very desirable. I mean, 138 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:48.360 and they don't play exclusively. They do, but that's kind 139 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.959 of part of what Pablo does, but he almost wish 140 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.560 they could just dump it in the meantime. But you 141 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.800 would like to see them getting a top top keeper 142 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:59.040 here at some point because even with Zach, there's like 143 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:01.879 mistakes from playing out of the back when teams press 144 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.839 you and pressure, which they're going to do, even teams 145 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:07.160 that generally don't press a lot, because I think they 146 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.600 can get an advantage out of that. And that's that's 147 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.639 a bit of an achilles for RSL and they they've 148 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:15.920 got to just hope that these guys can put together 149 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.000 quality game after quality game and a mistake, which we 150 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:21.720 have seen a fair bitness season doesn't rise at the 151 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.879 worst possible time, so Max. 152 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:28.519 At one point, when RSL went fifteen matches without an 153 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:32.079 l if Chico had one goal, it felt like he 154 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:32.920 had an off game. 155 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.040 And he's had one goal in nine games now. 156 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:37.279 You know. 157 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:38.120 When the news came. 158 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.000 Down about the suspension, I talked about it on air 159 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:45.399 and disgusted with people off air about the very type 160 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:49.920 of thing that, if not handled appropriately or correctly, can 161 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.240 derail a player and a team. I've seen it countless 162 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:56.839 of times in my two decades doing this. I'm not 163 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.160 blaming it at all on that. Okay, I'm not laying 164 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:02.920 it all on that, but something has changed in him 165 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.639 where he has not been as dangerous in the attack 166 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.560 as he was when RSL felt like they were playing 167 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:10.639 as well as anyone in all of MLS for a while. 168 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:14.879 Give me your thoughts on Chicho's incredible season suddenly going 169 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:16.879 cold and you think he can turn it around. 170 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:23.560 Yeah, I could. Answered. Part of that drop is Onris 171 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.720 Goma is no longer there. You need to see it. 172 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:29.600 You can see it's affecting him. The other part is 173 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:32.960 this was a pretty traumatic stretch and he was so 174 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:37.240 I mean he I don't think he was so good 175 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:38.879 earlier in the season, he had a couple of hat tricks. 176 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:41.120 He was just scoring, scoring, scoring, And I don't think 177 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.159 anyone's gonna say he's going to keep playing that way. 178 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:47.240 I mean, he is second in the Golden Boot and 179 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:49.639 he's basically been gone for two months. So I mean, 180 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:53.080 if he played, if he's if he was playing regularly 181 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:55.879 and at that clip from earlier the season, he would 182 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.080 have like twenty seven to twenty eight goals, which is 183 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:03.840 approaching the single season record. So you know that's neither 184 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.759 here nor there either. But you can't have the early 185 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:09.759 season Chicho, but you need to have better than what 186 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:12.200 you have right now. I get the feeling that he 187 00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:14.279 needs a goal to kind of take the lid off 188 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:18.480 a little bit, and he has to create new partnerships. 189 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:20.960 He has to play it a little differently because they 190 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:25.120 don't have on this Gomaz and Diego Gonsales isn't a 191 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:28.960 direct replacement for Gomaz, So a lot of teams do it, 192 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.120 and I'm here at LAFC and last suffered from this 193 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:34.600 as well. I think they suffered for it this year. 194 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:36.919 They suffered in twenty twenty two when they brought in 195 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:39.480 Georgia Celeen and Gareth Bale. You're bringing players at the 196 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:42.480 tail end of the season and you have to incorporate 197 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:46.240 them and it's never clean. So I think that's part 198 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:48.600 of what Chicho is dealing with. But this is a 199 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:51.519 big distraction and he's gonna have to He's gonna have 200 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:56.159 to do more than anyone to overcome it because he is. 201 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.840 They expect so much of him. And it's been weird 202 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.919 for Rail Salt Lake because you said that fifteen game 203 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:04.919 Winles Street they can. I mean them getting two wins 204 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:08.639 in a row is rare late summer through September, so, 205 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:12.159 I mean, it's just so inconsistent and it's a different team. 206 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.320 But there's a lot of things that play. There's a 207 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:16.039 lot of things that Rail Salt Lake have to take 208 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:17.919 ownership off, but there's some things that are out of 209 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.799 their control. If you sell a player like Andreskomas and 210 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.200 you're active in the summer market, which RSL were. You 211 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.279 hope that it clicks into place like a Jigsaalt puzzle 212 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.000 by October, but we'll see. 213 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.639 You know, we're accustomed to mercurial strikers around here with 214 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:38.639 Alvaro Savario and you're a mouth SISI and I could 215 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.879 keep going, and maybe that's just the deal with that 216 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:44.200 position of number nine, who you know, suddenly can have 217 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:47.039 a rapid change in production or change in mood. 218 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:48.919 I don't know, chie Jo Max. 219 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:50.879 I think that you do because he was in LA 220 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.240 when you know and you're you're there, So help help 221 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:59.159 me understand. Is he prone to these incredible peaks and valleys? 222 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:01.519 Is that something that he's known for, because I honestly 223 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.840 don't know. I'm asking just to ask. 224 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:07.240 No, he was prolific with LAFC. I mean, he had 225 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:12.639 two seasons there and he hit the ground running and 226 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:16.320 there was rarely a stretch where he didn't score. So 227 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:19.000 this is a little bit. I mean, this is the 228 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:25.080 first real dry spell he has had in his MLS career. 229 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:28.320 I mean, his time in Mexico didn't go great, but 230 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:31.039 you know, at LAFC, and he scored fourteen goals in 231 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:34.240 seventeen games in the first year, which is phenomenal. And 232 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:36.799 then in twenty twenty two he had sixteen goals. He 233 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:38.919 played every game and he was part of a championship 234 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:42.720 season where there was a little more rotation. So he's 235 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:44.559 been good. I mean, that's part of it, and that's 236 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:48.639 I think part of the reason Pablo Mustroni identified him 237 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.919 as the guy he wanted say is I know he 238 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.720 can be a consistent goal scoring MLS. He has proven that, 239 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:58.440 and he proved it last year when he arrived at 240 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.799 the tail end, and he's proved it most of the 241 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:04.639 season here. It'd be hard to imagine he continues in 242 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:08.200 this run. I get the feeling that there's at least 243 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:10.639 a goal, maybe not four or five in a three 244 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.120 game stretch, but a goal or two that will help 245 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.279 this team. He is really good, and he's good. He's 246 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:19.159 really good in this league, and he's adapted many times 247 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.039 because he dealt with those LAC teams that brought in 248 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:26.519 so many different players, So he's everything is there to 249 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:31.840 suggest a spence that he is going to get. There's 250 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:34.679 going to be an upward trend here again, but that's 251 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.120 not guaranteed. But we've seen him do it in the past, 252 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.279 and I've never seen him have a really bad spell. 253 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:40.720 I get the feeling that he's going to get out 254 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:40.960 of it. 255 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:43.279 I know we already talked about the keeper, but I 256 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.480 want to follow up here. Pablo hopped on the show 257 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:48.440 about three weeks ago and announced that the starting keeper 258 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.519 was now Gavin and Zach is going to be benched 259 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.879 four games last night it's playoff time? 260 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.200 Who would you roll with? 261 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:56.039 Match get Do you go with the young kid who 262 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.000 everybody thinks is going to be a beast when he's 263 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:00.240 fully baked, or do you go with the vet who's 264 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.919 been there before you know? Or do you take the 265 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:04.799 next four games and try to figure it out? Who 266 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:06.320 do you think should be between the pipes? 267 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:09.200 When I asked Pablo that because I said, is this 268 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:11.440 being Gavin's the starter? Because he's started these last four 269 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.879 or five games, and he was like reluctant. So I 270 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:16.879 think Zach's going to get another sniff at it. I think, 271 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:21.559 deep down because some of the Zach you say, hopefully 272 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.360 he just figures it out. This is a guy, a 273 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:26.240 real veteran, and he's played a ton of games in 274 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.600 MLS all over the place that he could figure it out. 275 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:31.960 I think it's a little riskier for Gavin because you 276 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:36.200 know that you're going to have to deal with some 277 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:41.919 rookie or some being green mistakes. They're going they're almost 278 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:44.399 guaranteed to happen. You can with Zak, you can say 279 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:46.720 they are they're probably going to happen, but there's a 280 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:49.399 better chance they don't happen, and he has a good stretch, 281 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.679 So I think Zach's still very much into it. I 282 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.120 would imagine, depending on these last four games go that 283 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.559 you know Zach is when the playoffs roll around, has 284 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.519 a chance to be the number one guy for the 285 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:01.320 duration of the postseason. 286 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:02.720 All right. 287 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.559 I had Gartha on the program, Garth log Away on 288 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.639 the program after Atlanta was in town. 289 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:09.919 I asked him a very direct question. I'm gonna ask 290 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:10.480 you the same. 291 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:14.960 Do you believe RSL has a legitimate chance to hoist 292 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:17.440 MLS Cup this year for the first time since two 293 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.080 thousand and nine? 294 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.440 They do have a chance. There's not a team. I mean, 295 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.039 the Galaxy look like they're gonna finish first and you're 296 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:28.679 gonna have to go beat them at their place, which 297 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.679 are us all almost good earlier this season a long 298 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:33.279 time ago, so I don't think there's a big gap 299 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:39.919 from anywhere else. LAFC are struggling and certainly in league play. 300 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:42.840 But if I had to pick a list, I mean, 301 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:46.159 I would say Galaxy would be number one, and then 302 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.960 I like Houston a lot. Houston looks like a team 303 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:51.799 that they've won eight away games. I put Houston too, 304 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:58.720 and then I'd put LAFC RSL maybe and Vancouver right 305 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:02.279 behind them. It's it's so tight. I mean, if the 306 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:05.399 Galaxy don't, if the Galaxy have any issues, it's it's 307 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:08.080 wide open, and I think you would be you'd like 308 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:11.159 your chances against the Galaxy better than either Columbus or 309 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.200 Inner Miami. Those are the two best teams in the 310 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.559 league right now. So the West will provide some opportunity. 311 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:18.519 I tend to think there will be a surprise or two, 312 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:21.240 which we haven't had the last couple of years in 313 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:23.039 the West. I mean Saint Louis getting knocked out, but 314 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:24.759 they were you know, it's hard to see them as 315 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:28.279 a number one seed in any other year because it 316 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.960 was a magical regular season. But I think RSL have 317 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.799 a shot. They have to be they have to be 318 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:38.320 stout defensively, and they need some magic from chi Cho 319 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.840 Luna and some of the new guys. But I just 320 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.759 say they don't have a chance. I think would be unfair. 321 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:47.399 They've had a really good season. They it also comes 322 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.320 down to the matchups. We'll see what they get, but 323 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:52.360 I think they it has things have to fall in place, 324 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.159 but it's possible. 325 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.720 Well, all you can ask for is a shot going 326 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:58.919 to the playoffs, right, Like, that's all you can ask for, 327 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:01.039 is a shot, especially if you're not among the league 328 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:04.080 lead leaders and spend. Do you like the playoff format? 329 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:06.039 Does it feel like it's too saturated? Does it feel 330 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:08.080 like too many teams get in? Do you like the 331 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.720 current MLS playoff format? 332 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:15.360 Actually, the West I always have people criticized because you know, 333 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:18.240 people love to criticize the MLF even though things that 334 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:21.360 are happening in MLS other leagues are imitating now, and 335 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.360 I think what they did, like with Leagues Cup is 336 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:26.799 a real avant garde move that I think other leagues 337 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:31.440 will imitate as well. But it's everyone in the West 338 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:34.679 right now has a five hundred record or better. An 339 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:38.080 eight of the nine teams are well above five hundred. 340 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.600 So that's the rule of thumb, right, if you're above 341 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.960 five hundred, you should make the playoffs, and mostly not 342 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.679 all of them in American leagues, we should say, but 343 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:51.679 it's maybe you have those teams, but you find a 344 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.720 way to protect the higher seeds a little better, like 345 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.360 you give them a buy or a double buy, and 346 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.240 you can have those teams. I'm fine with it. My 347 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:01.159 big issue with the playoffs we had it last year 348 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.000 and we had it this year is you have that 349 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:06.200 international window and it just really takes the wind out 350 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.640 of the sales when you're going through and all of 351 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:12.000 a sudden you have to stop before the conference semis 352 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:14.920 and then onwards. This is a big gap, which but 353 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.680 you can't really do much about and you don't want 354 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:19.359 to play on that weekend. That's the only issue. But 355 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:21.480 then on the clip side, I don't want I don't 356 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:24.000 know if the ending the season in mid October makes 357 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.400 sense either. You might as well go. It's just that 358 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.960 one gap which you just learned to deal with. But 359 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:33.920 I think in a perfect world, maybe six, maybe you 360 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:37.400 lose two four teams from the playoffs set up, but 361 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.079 that's not going to happen everyone. The reality it might 362 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:42.839 get bigger at some point, but I've warmed up to it. 363 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.559 But I think maybe it would make me irregular season 364 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:48.960 a little more interesting if say six teams make it, 365 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.200 or teams that finished seventh and eighth have to win 366 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:54.000 twice just to get a shot at one of the 367 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.680 higher seeds. 368 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:57.400 I like that. I like that max Before I say 369 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:57.720 you lose. 370 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.400 Since you and I last spoke, we had a really 371 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.000 really fun, cool event here in the market. Kyle Beckerman 372 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:06.240 was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, and 373 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.880 then we had a dinner the next night of the 374 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.519 stadium to honor that two thousand and nine MLS Cup 375 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:12.680 championship team with a bunch of the former players. 376 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:16.079 I've never heard the max bread us Kyle Beckerman take. 377 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:19.920 You know, he changed everything here instantly after the trade 378 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.480 went down. 379 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.519 I mean it was instantaneous. 380 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.799 And I remember his first training thinking like that, dude 381 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.000 is different than anyone we have had. 382 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.240 Now. 383 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:30.960 It was a very young franchise, and you know, Jason 384 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:34.480 christ himself said that if Kyle embraced Kyle want this 385 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:36.960 is Kyle's own these are his own words. He always 386 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.680 wanted to be a striker because he wanted to score goals, 387 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.880 or like a central attacking mid, and you know, he 388 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.799 scored a lot of goals. 389 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.319 He could really bomb it. You know, we used to 390 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.799 call him Becker Bombs around here. 391 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:50.119 But Jason asked him to embrace the central holding mid 392 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:52.880 role and said to me on air, if Kyle plays 393 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:55.839 this position, he will play in a World Cup which 394 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.680 he did. So i' you know, like it's weird to 395 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.880 say as a radio host, super out of him or 396 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:03.200 everything that he's done here since he landed way back 397 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.519 in two thousand and seven. But he's a Hall of 398 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:07.480 Famer now, Max, what's the Kyle Beckerman take. 399 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:14.079 It's still unexpected to see the benchmarks that he reads. 400 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.920 And I talked to Donny and he tells me he 401 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.880