WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:01.280 H H. 2 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:46.079 Face has dropped on probably the mother of reaction, mondays 3 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:48.640 here on the SDH Network in the morning show John 4 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:52.119 here Abe, there no Dealty, no Daly Zone. So, uh, 5 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.439 what was it like for you, my friend? 6 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:01.359 Yeah, look, I made the joke like a ago as 7 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.079 Landy United, and don't get it twisted like it. Landy 8 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:07.920 United's playoff run started well before the actual playoffs. I mean, 9 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:11.359 they had to get some results, get some help, and 10 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:13.879 I joked and you know, back then it was pre 11 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:17.280 Halloween that they're the MLS Michael Myers, right, I mean, 12 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:20.400 you just can't kill these guys. And it's gotta be 13 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:23.680 what Miami's thinking today after they take a lead and 14 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:26.359 then almost immediately see it evaporate and it's just one 15 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:28.879 of these things like all right, I shot him in 16 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.239 the chest like we're good now, and it's like, no, man, 17 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.640 he just sat up like the undertaker. Like that's what 18 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:37.040 this team does, and that's what they've done this whole 19 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:39.799 playoff run. Like it's really been impressive to see the 20 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:43.079 way they've responded, especially in the first half of games 21 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:46.079 over the course of this because that was one of 22 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.879 the bugaboos that I think cost them quite a bit 23 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.560 in the regular season with slow starts and having to 24 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:55.120 find adjustments and always trailing stuff like that, just so 25 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.719 it doesn't seem to bother them. You combine that with 26 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:02.000 and I don't remember the exact stat, but like nine 27 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:06.120 of the last eleven goals or whatever it is, eight 28 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.840 of the last ten have been scored by different players, 29 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:13.000 and it's just everyone gets a little piece of the action. 30 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.560 And obviously Tira has been a star, and he's been 31 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:19.000 one of the guys that has scored a couple. Sava's 32 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.319 got a couple, but you know, you go back down 33 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:25.000 the list and Bartos Sleish's name hadn't been seen until 34 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:29.240 this past week, and he obviously tallied the big one. 35 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:32.319 It's just one of these things where you know, you 36 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:34.879 would ask me at different times, like my level of confidence, 37 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:37.039 and it's like, there's no reason not to be confident, 38 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:38.960 Like I don't care that it's on the road. You 39 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:43.800 have performed as well, really better than anyone in the 40 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.960 entire league against that Miami team. For whatever reason, it's 41 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.240 an odd matchup. Maybe it's a mentality thing, maybe it's 42 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:56.080 a formation thing, maybe it's just one guy just seems 43 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.759 to stick out. But you perform well against Miami. I 44 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:02.560 mean I both am surprised, but at the same time, 45 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:05.919 like credit to the players, I'm not surprised. Like I 46 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:09.479 didn't walk into this game against Miami Saturday night being like, oh, 47 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:13.120 take a miracle to win, Like no, Like we've played 48 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:17.039 them straight up four times this season and really gone 49 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:20.120 right at them. Even in the games that we lost, 50 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.639 we were right there with them and frustrated. And the 51 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.840 thing I've always said about Inner Miami is that they're 52 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.159 great front runners, and what they do they take a lead, right, 53 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:33.199 but then they get a bigger lead, and a bigger 54 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.360 lead and a bigger lead, and that's where they play 55 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:39.520 comfortable at Landy and I has had this crazy ability again, 56 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:43.120 not just on Saturday Night, all season long to okay, 57 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:47.319 inter Miami takes a lead, that lead doesn't increase, and 58 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:51.080 I think they've gotten continually frustrated by it. And obviously 59 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.599 the maximum frustration would be Saturday night where you take 60 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:58.199 that lead and then in like five and a half 61 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:01.680 minutes you're trailing and you're like, all right, well, like 62 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:04.080 forget like running away with this three to one, Like 63 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:06.840 we've got to battle our butts off just to try 64 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:09.919 and get back in it. So it's been a crazy 65 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.759 run for Atlandy United. For whatever reason, they match up 66 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:18.839 so well Withinner Miami and it led to statistically or argumentatively, 67 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.360 whatever you want it to be, the biggest upset the 68 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:23.839 MLS Cup playoff. 69 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:27.959 History plus forty four and the points differential. So you 70 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:31.920 won Captain America's pie play and you're out the door 71 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:34.439 in three games. You open about nineteen different doors here. 72 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:37.680 So let me see if I can find that juice boxes. 73 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:40.680 By the way, for Atlanta United going into that game three, 74 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:44.160 a plus seven point thirty one to win outright in 75 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:49.040 ninety minutes. So everyone who's dealing with juice boxes is like, Rah, 76 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.639 you know it's it's MESSI and friends. We'll do what 77 00:04:51.639 --> 00:04:51.959 we do. 78 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:54.560 I will posit this. 79 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.639 When it comes to Messian friends and their structure and 80 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:03.920 their DNA, to me, they remind me of Loyola Marrymountain 81 00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:08.800 their heyday, where they are so front heavy. They want 82 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:10.680 to score, They want to score. They want to score 83 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:14.160 because they have so many issues at the back, whether 84 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:19.240 it's inexperienced younger players, injuries, having to take the players 85 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:22.000 that you have on your roster put them in unfamiliar positions, 86 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:27.639 and when Loyla Marymount played Michigan in the tournament, that 87 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.000 was when Michigan, you know, stepped up, played some defense. 88 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:32.560 Loyla Marymount didn't hit all their shots, and they end 89 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:35.079 up exiting the tournament earlier than a lot of folks 90 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.720 would have liked for them to, considering the storyline that 91 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.879 was attached to that program at the time. You end 92 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:44.920 up with a group where if you can get the 93 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:48.920 ball away from them and go and transition the other way, 94 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:53.519 you're instantly down to defenders because Messian Suarez rarely could 95 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:56.079 come back defensively and would come back because they were 96 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:58.759 managing their managing their energy at the time. So basically 97 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:01.839 it was ten v eight in a normal situation. But 98 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:04.680 then you get them in transition, you got your speed, 99 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:07.079 and you're trying to get back to dudes playing unnatural 100 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:10.519 positions and drake calendars like you know, okay, so I've 101 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:12.240 got to get ready here. So that to me was 102 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:13.959 what stuck in my head. It reminded me of going 103 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.279 up against Loyle and Merrymount. 104 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:19.279 Yeah, and Jamal Tierray for all his I don't want 105 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.199 to criticize, but false is a striker what he does 106 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:26.160 bring is that speed and that ability to chase down 107 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:30.639 long balls, and I think that is uniquely a problem 108 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:33.839 for Miami. I think they would much rather face a 109 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:37.759 guy that has an incredible shot or maybe dribbles a lot, 110 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:40.360 as opposed to just a pure let me go, get 111 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:42.720 the ball, take a touch and finish it. And that 112 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.199 obviously caused problems for them at the back, There's no 113 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:48.959 doubt about that. And look, I don't know what it 114 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:51.879 is about Atlanta that was able to keep Miami off 115 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:56.439 the board in those situations. It scrambles, The team scrambles 116 00:06:56.439 --> 00:07:01.639 incredibly well defensively obviously goose the last two games, this 117 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:06.000 whole series. You know, what are you gonna say? I mean, 118 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:08.839 a complete turn back the clock effort. Some of the 119 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:12.319 best performances he's had in a five strikes uniform have 120 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:14.240 come over the last month and a half. I mean, 121 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.399 there's just no other way to describe what he's done recently, 122 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:21.000 including mistakes that he's made. And I know he made 123 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.720 one against Montreal and it cost Alania United a goal. 124 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.759 He made one against Inner Miami, it cost Alania United goal. 125 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.879 The team has picked him up, but at the same time, 126 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:30.839 he's picked them up. That's part of a little bit 127 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:34.199 of a give and take relationship between the ten field 128 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:39.720 players and the goalie. And it's just it felt like 129 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:42.680 Miami was always gonna be in a situation in this 130 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.759 game where they could get frustrated easily. And now how 131 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:48.680 much would that impact their play is a different question. 132 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:52.480 Like Liono Messi is obviously the greatest and so he's 133 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:56.519 not gonna press or have frustration impact his play, But 134 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:58.879 there are other guys on that team that I'm not 135 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:02.600 sure you would say that, And so you know, it 136 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:07.160 always felt like that. But look at Landy and Nited 137 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.720 do what they had to do, and you don't need 138 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:12.360 to score seven goals against the Miami defense that we 139 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:14.000 don't think is great. You just need to score one 140 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:18.120 more than they did. And that's what happened. It was 141 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:22.360 just an odd combination of you probably prevented a couple 142 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.399 of goals that in other situations Miami might score. And 143 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.800 the one thing we've always asked about at Lanty United, 144 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:33.519 especially again, like we've had this crazy run where I 145 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:36.679 think they've now won five in their last six and 146 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:40.440 they don't look like dramatically different as a team now, 147 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.120 I do think they've had better starts in games just 148 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:47.399 in general. The only real difference, John is the XG 149 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:51.600 and the actual G. The gap has shrunk. They're finishing 150 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:54.240 their chances. I mean, how many times over the course 151 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.720 of this season where this team was not performing up 152 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:59.919 to the standards we believe they were capable of. Was 153 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:04.320 just about they're unlucky the balances and they're not finishing chances, 154 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:07.120 and how do you be more clinical in front of goal? 155 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:09.320 Like we went through all those discussions like we don't 156 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.320 need to have them anymore. That's really the only difference. 157 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:16.200 Like as dumb as that sounds, it really does feel 158 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.960 like that's the only difference. I mean, you had how 159 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:21.679 many chances, like real chances in that game and you 160 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:25.519 come away with three goals. I mean Jamal Tierray finished 161 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.399 the moments and the strikes that he needed to finish. 162 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:32.639 And it's just been it's been not just this one 163 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:35.879 final game three either, like it's been in this run 164 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:38.519 where you finished the chances and you've been clinical and 165 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:41.639 you've buried opportunities. You weren't doing that for the majority 166 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.279 of the season. And obviously, I think now you can 167 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:47.639 see just the simple difference that makes and when you 168 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.080 see because Atlanta and I was always pretty decent at 169 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:53.240 creating some of these chances, Now that you're finishing a 170 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:57.159 good portion of them, you get your actual G somewhere 171 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:00.559 near the x G and you're starting to rack cup wins. 172 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:04.200 There's no doubt about it. So the biggest caveat has 173 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:08.120 just been finishing the chances that you've been presented, especially 174 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:10.440 against a team like you mentioned against Miami, where's it's 175 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:14.240 gonna come in numbers, It's gonna come in counters, and 176 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.639 they did that. They put Miami in real trouble and 177 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.759 Miami couldn't respond. 178 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.159 Brad seven saves on the night. Once again you mentioned 179 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:27.200 offensive numbers, and we'll hear from Rob Valentino, Jamal Tiira Slash, 180 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:32.399 Quentin Westburg, Dax McCarty, and you know, we'll hear from 181 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.679 some folks as we go here this morning on the show. 182 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:40.000 XG on the day one point five two for Inner Miami, 183 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.720 two point seven seven big chances on the day four 184 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:45.799 for at Land United, six for Inner Miami. This was 185 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:49.200 the number that really didn't sync in until you looked 186 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:51.639 at the other part of it. Total shots on the day, 187 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:56.679 twenty five for Inner Miami and it was nine for 188 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.720 a Landy United. Like I said, we mentioned the number 189 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.960 of saves for Brad seventeen fouls called eleven of those 190 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.440 on Atlanta United on the day, and then you go 191 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:09.639 down into the defensive categories and there was one category 192 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:13.480 that just absolutely blew my mind and it had to 193 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.799 do with clearances. So we mentioned the number of shots 194 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:19.399 that Inner Miami took a Landa United on the day, 195 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.879 forty one clearances defensively compared to nine for Inner Miami. 196 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:27.519 That shows you what that defense was doing there at 197 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.919 the back in front of Brad to make sure Inner 198 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:31.240 Miami wasn't gonna score. 199 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:33.759 Yeah. Look, I mean they were pressing and it was, 200 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:35.559 like I said, it was kind of a scramble drill 201 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.720 and they were doing everything they could to just get 202 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:41.440 the ball out of the center of the field and 203 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.399 out of the box. Because I think that's the one 204 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.960 thing you've seen is Miami's comfortable playing pinball and if 205 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:49.039 they find a shot, they find a shot, they put 206 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:51.360 a bunch over the bar. And we're gonna be honest, 207 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:54.159 they put a ton of balls from really close range 208 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.879 over the bar. Those weren't registered to shots on goal. 209 00:11:56.919 --> 00:12:00.440 They weren't registered to saves, and so Atlanta United a 210 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.480 little break with kind of the inverts of what they've 211 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:06.840 done is clinical finishing Miami. I would say, not so 212 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:13.279 much on the night. So but look, the job is 213 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:16.759 clear anytime you're facing inter Miami, especially anytime they can 214 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.879 get not just into the attacking third, but really beyond 215 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.159 that about twenty five and in a little bit tighter 216 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:27.639 than the full Third's the that's the red zone for them. 217 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:30.679 I mean, that's their target area. And they've got guys 218 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.519 that can hit fringe, but they're gonna try and play 219 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:35.080 it in the box too. And obviously with Messi's footwork 220 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:38.600 with Suarez has one touchability. It can it can come 221 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.480 out of a tight space and so just get the 222 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:45.799 ball out and kind of regather. And I think the 223 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:48.759 times we've seen Atlanta United try and build from the back, 224 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.240 and at times that has been beneficial and work. But 225 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.799 I think you've also seen Atlanta and I United costs 226 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:58.039 themselves trying to build out the back. Sometimes where they've 227 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:00.360 made a mistake, They've given a team an extra that 228 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.639 maybe they didn't work hard enough to earn, and you 229 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.279 pay the price for it. I think it was absolutely 230 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.639 a mentality of look, they're gonna try and build and 231 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.320 build and build. Let's make them build from the back. 232 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.440 Let's get this ball out of danger for the moment 233 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:18.440 kind of resettle in. I mean, look, there's there's just 234 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:21.759 it was such a strong effort from Laney and United. 235 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:26.559 It really was like, there's not many criticisms. I think 236 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:29.720 the fact that you didn't play Miami's game with the 237 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:34.639 fouling and the arguing and the cry baby and the diving, 238 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:39.320 like like just just staying composed, like just looking at 239 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:44.919 that perspective alone, staying composed and not falling into their traps, 240 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:47.799 both in terms of that aspect but also on the 241 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:52.720 field what they're trying to do. It really says what 242 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:55.840 it needs to say, as does the advancement of the 243 00:13:55.879 --> 00:14:00.200 team about the way Ron Valentino has prepared this team 244 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:03.039 has detailed and explained to them, Hey, this is what's 245 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:05.480 going to happen. We need to be ready and make 246 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:08.480 sure you avoid this or that. Again, both from a 247 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:12.600 mentality standpoint and from it on the field tactic standpoint. 248 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:19.879 When you mentioned Barthos Sleish and his evolution, I guess 249 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.000 is probably the best way to phrase it here's Bart's 250 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:25.679 numbers and what Once again, it was something when you're like, yeah, 251 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.480 you mentioned his name a lot in the match, and 252 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.960 then you go back and look at all of the 253 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:30.879 interactions that he had and you go, yeah, now, I 254 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:34.480 know I mentioned him so much. Zero point four in 255 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:37.639 the XG plus XA sixty eight touches, thirty three or 256 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:41.519 forty accurate passing eighty three percent. He had the one 257 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:44.080 shot on target, four of six on the dribble one. 258 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:47.240 Nine of thirteen of his ground duels missed as it 259 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.639 was one for one in the year, so ten of 260 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:52.120 fourteen and duel's both air and on the ground. And 261 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:59.559 he had four clearances, two blocks, five picks, five total tackles, 262 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:03.679 one dribble pass. So you're talking a handful of different 263 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:08.679 defensive categories and showing up more than once in each 264 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:12.960 of those categories. Bart Sleish was a maniac in this 265 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:15.600 match in the midfield going up against Inner Miami. 266 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:19.840 Yeah, I'm on the other side of the Bartow Schleish discussion. 267 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:23.000 I almost feel like we don't talk about him throughout 268 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.679 the game. I feel like he's this silent assassin, Like 269 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:28.519 there's no way inter Miami or any other team for 270 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:30.639 that matter, is like game planning of like how do 271 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:34.399 we get past Sleish, Like that's not their mindset. And 272 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:36.960 I think that obviously plays to his favorite because he 273 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.080 is that sort of a disrupting force, and you just 274 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:42.200 gave the stats that showcase that. I feel like he's 275 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:45.440 quiet every game. I feel like we bus bust his 276 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:49.240 ass and runs a lot. We see the mileage total 277 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.639 that he and Sava put up at the end, and 278 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.320 then every once in a while he gets into the 279 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:56.639 attack and does what he does, you know, either a 280 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.639 shot from from range that that threatens or or gets 281 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:02.000 in the air and puts one home like he did 282 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:05.240 Saturday night. I feel like he actually is like one 283 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:08.759 of the best kept secrets in the MLS, you know, 284 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.799 and from a team here in Atlanta United that had 285 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:15.600 Nagby that kind of was a guy that teams would 286 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:19.000 gain plan around and know what a force Nagby was 287 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:24.159 in that defensive midfield spot. I think Sleash is kind 288 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:27.480 of flying under the radar and then now we recognize it. 289 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:30.360 And I agree he's noticed by Atlanta United, but it 290 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:34.399 just feels like no one's game planning around him, and 291 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:37.399 maybe they should be. Uh maybe I shouldn't put that 292 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:42.480 out there and give Orlando Orlando City any clues, But like, yeah, 293 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:46.639 he's a problem for opposing teams. And when you paired 294 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:50.279 him with the stellar job that Dax McCarty had done 295 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.279 in this series as well, those two guys paired up 296 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.639 quite well, and they give you the opportunity to move 297 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.840 Jay Fortune around, move Saba around, move Ron Chuck around, 298 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:02.679 and still feel pretty good defensively. But look, there's no 299 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:06.319 doubt about it. Like we brought in Sleash with that 300 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:11.799 group of incoming players, and he wasn't really the biggest name. 301 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:15.640 He wasn't the guy that excited you the most. And 302 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:18.599 I don't know if this is fair to say, because 303 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.319 I think Saba's in this discussion and there's some other guys, 304 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.839 but like Bartow's, Lee really does feel like the heartbeat 305 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:27.759 of this team a little bit. Maybe not from a 306 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:31.559 vocal standpoint, well at least as far as I can tell, 307 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:35.079 certainly not from a vocal standpoint, but from what he does, 308 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:37.680 what he gives on the field, he kind of does 309 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:43.640 enter that discussion and he's never asking for the acclamation, 310 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:46.119 right and he just does what he does and if 311 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:50.720 people notice, great, and if they don't notice all the same, 312 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:54.200 but he's been outstanding. I know there's been a couple 313 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:58.359 of bumpy spots for him this season, so it's been 314 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:01.359 really nice to see him rebound perform the way he's done. 315 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:04.720 And again, I just like, like I'm kind of saying, 316 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:08.519 I hope everyone notices just how integral and important he 317 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:12.559 is to what Alani United does moving forward but also 318 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.400 moving backwards. 319 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.920 There are those of us, and this is the last 320 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.559 question I have for you, and thanks for coming on 321 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.440 this morning. I know that we will promote what you're 322 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:23.720 doing while you're multitasking here. When we would watch the 323 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.599 NFL today in the old days, and you would always 324 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:31.279 have Brent Musburger and Jimmy the Greek discussing, you know, 325 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:33.599 offense defense, and they would give the check marxist to 326 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.160 who had the advantage. They would always have that last 327 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.920 category of intangibles. And then you know that would be 328 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.799 the wink, wink, nudge, nudge, you know, how'd you do? 329 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.319 How'd you do? 330 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:45.079 Trying to let the juice box folks know what direction 331 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:48.240 to go with this match, with that particular game. There's 332 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:53.319 an intangible here that I think applies to a lane 333 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:56.440 United and it was and it's a common theme now 334 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.640 involving this team, and it has to do with the 335 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.920 idea of belief. And when you have someone tap you 336 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.519 on the shoulder and sit there and go, I believe 337 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.000 in you. I believe in what you're doing. Just keep 338 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:08.640 doing what we're doing. Everything will be fine. We believe 339 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:10.799 that you're gonna you know that everything's gonna work itself 340 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.039 out in the end. Having that kind of an intangible 341 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:17.720 of belief not just in yourself, but from those around 342 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:21.200 you and from the staff, everything from game plan to implementation. 343 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:24.440 Having that kind of an intangible on this run of 344 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:26.680 five of six, on this run to get you into 345 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.960 the Eastern Conference semifinals, I think that also speaks volumes. 346 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:32.839 When you have all of this positivity that is here 347 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.240 at the right time of the season. 348 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:37.799 Well, you know there is that, But I also want 349 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:40.200 to take it to a slightly different place. And we 350 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.720 talked about, like all the different guys that have scored 351 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:46.359 goals in the last six games here, this is what's 352 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:49.160 important about this team. And we talked about it in 353 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:51.799 the Five Stripes countdown on Saturday ahead of time. We 354 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.359 don't know who's going to be the guy we don't 355 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:57.119 know who's gonna step up. There are teams in the league. 356 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:00.359 You look at Miami, there are players on that team 357 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.319 who are looking at Messi and say you need to 358 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:05.599 do this for us, who are looking at Suarez and 359 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:09.240 say I'm waiting on you to equalize. There is none 360 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:11.960 of that for Lady United. There is nobody on this 361 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:15.039 team that's looking at another guy and say, all right, man, 362 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:18.000 it's your time. Pick us up. We don't rely on 363 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:21.559 any one player. I think that's important as to part 364 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:24.759 of the intangibles as well, and part of the belief 365 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.400 is really a lack of belief. You're not waiting on 366 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.200 someone else to do the job. You go do the 367 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:33.039 job yourself. And I think it all rounds itself into 368 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:36.319 that same discussion. I mean, look, you use your last 369 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.759 sub at the end of the game on Noah Cobb. 370 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:40.759 What does he do? He comes in, he clears a 371 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:43.599 ball off the line, A second ball comes in, he 372 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.920 wins the header to clear it out of danger. Like, 373 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:48.799 these are guys that you're not counting on in key 374 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:51.599 moments to make big plays. I think we've seen that 375 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:54.880 from a guy like Pedro Amador at times. I think 376 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:58.039 we've seen that from Jay Fortune, who stepped up in times. 377 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.720 This was the first MLS start in what feels like 378 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:05.480 two months for Tristan Moyamba, and I think he did admirably, 379 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.839 especially considering he hadn't been in the flow of things. 380 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:14.720 I mean, every guy is doing his role, his responsibility. 381 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:18.160 No one's sitting there watching and waiting someone else to 382 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:21.839 pick up this team. And I think that partially goes 383 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:25.759 into that discussion of belief, is like they're all in 384 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:29.240 it together, like there's this true unit, like this true 385 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:34.119 togetherness feeling Fortlanty United right now that we really don't 386 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:37.079 see a lot of across the MLS. A lot of 387 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:40.640 these teams are led by these premier goal scorers and 388 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.720 if you can get this guy the ball, then you 389 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:45.000 can win games. But if that guy doesn't tally, you're 390 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:47.319 in real trouble. Like we see that all the time 391 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:51.960 in the MLS. That that's not the approach for Landi United, 392 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:57.559 and so between it's just us, the fea stuff like 393 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:02.160 we're together mixed with like before this game, and not 394 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.559 that it maybe would have mattered, but like before this game, 395 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:06.920 you saw the two seed go out, you saw the 396 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:09.279 three seed go out, like why wouldn't there be reason 397 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:13.359 for belief? Yep, you fared better than anyone else against 398 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.359 Miami the entire course of the season. Like, why wouldn't 399 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:18.839 you believe, like like you've been pretty good on the 400 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:21.680 road in this stretch of five or six games, Like 401 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:24.920