WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:04.080 RSL is in San Diego, coming up on Saturday. After 2 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:07.200 another loss over the weekend, Always a pleasure to catch 3 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:11.279 up with our next guest, RSL original, the Legend himself, 4 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:14.439 Brian dun Seth. Monday Afternoon, Donney, Happy Monday, buddy. 5 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:14.880 How are we doing. 6 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:18.000 I'm doing well. It's good to see that the word 7 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:22.760 legend isn't being used as descriptively as possible. I mean, 8 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:25.760 you calling me a legend. I don't think I checked 9 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:26.679 any of those boxes. 10 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:29.760 Man, lies, you are lying on the program. 11 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.920 My question, Donny, is when somebody, when somebody says, do 12 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:36.960 you when Don Garber says, okay, Brian dun Seth, who 13 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:39.799 scored the first goal in RSL history, do you correct 14 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:41.240 them or do you just let it go. 15 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:45.399 I can tell you that christ somatically. 16 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:47.359 I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. 17 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:51.159 He was so sensitive. No listen. I told Jason, I 18 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:53.159 was like, do you realize how many times I've corrected 19 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.039 people over these last twenty years that you scored the 20 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:58.880 first goal. I scored the first home goal? And he goes, 21 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:00.640 what did you do it today? And I was like, 22 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:02.200 you know what, I was just going to enjoy a 23 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:07.239 super surreal moment of hosting. You know, the Miller group 24 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.959 coming in and the commissioner looking over at me and 25 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.079 saying that, and all like the heads at the same time. 26 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:14.920 It was like a movie, and like all of the 27 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.760 people's faces just turned towards me, and Garber's looking at me, 28 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:21.239 and I was just like, yeah, this is this is 29 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.280 a movie. This is a surreal moment. But yeah, cool. Nonetheless, 30 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:29.079 I ended up ben milling him later for the shout out. 31 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:31.200 I thought I thought it was great. I thought it 32 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:31.519 was great. 33 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:34.200 And look, the snapshot of you planting the flag at 34 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:36.719 Rice Cycles never gets old, man, every time I see 35 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:38.799 that clip of Clint sending in the cross and You're 36 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:41.439 getting your head on it and planning the flag. I mean, 37 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:45.439 it really was a moment that signaled the arrival of 38 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:48.680 this club. And now we're twenty plus years later, which 39 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:50.120 is wild that you and I have been doing this 40 00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:52.319 for as long as we have. But let's start with 41 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:54.760 some of the positive vibes and positive news before we 42 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.640 get to the tough stuff. And I just wonder how 43 00:01:56.680 --> 00:02:00.319 you digested the news cycle last week where the Miller 44 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:03.319 family has taken over the controlling stake of ownership of 45 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:04.280 RSL and the Royals. 46 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.560 What do you think this means for the group? 47 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:08.840 Yeah, listen, I think a lot of us, none of 48 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:12.080 us were naive and recognizing that Ryan Smith's attention was 49 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.319 a little bit different following the acquisition the Utah Hockey 50 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:18.240 Club and we hadn't really seen him tweeting about it 51 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:21.080 or talking about We saw Laker Utah Royals for the 52 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.039 better part of the year. So when I heard the 53 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:26.879 whispers a couple of months ago about the Miller's scale, 54 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:31.199 Miller and the company itself interested in the acquisition of 55 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.520 Real Salt Lake, it checked a lot of boxes. You know, 56 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.159 I go back to the time when you know your 57 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.639 dad was able to start Real Salt Lake, and when 58 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:42.599 Dave's paying five million dollars and we're seeing the expansion 59 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:46.000 fee coming around three fifty to four hundred. Now you 60 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:47.680 know there's a lot of money left on the table. 61 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:51.039 And to see kind of the momentum ship from the 62 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:54.159 sale under's Deloy Hanson into David Blitzer and Ryan Smith 63 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:56.879 and now for David Blitzer to kind of step back 64 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.759 still have a lot of the sporting control to soccer control, 65 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:03.039 but similar to his investment, whether he talk about Crystal Palace, 66 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:05.960 he talked about Augsburg, you know, you talk about in 67 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:09.759 Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA. You know, a part of 68 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.919 him really does enjoy being a minority owner and allowing 69 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:15.639 kind of and I'm of the firm belief that having 70 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:19.680 a local owner with primary ownership is important because there's 71 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:23.240 something and that's that's not to disparage anything that David 72 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.039 Blitzer and his group has done, because it has been 73 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:29.840 extraordinary since the sale and Deloye walking away. He's done 74 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.439 a great job and a lot of great things, and 75 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:35.599 the infrastructure in the atmosphere, even he upgrades to the stadium. 76 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:39.080 But I do think there's something special about having people 77 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.479 that understand the market, understand what this city wants, and 78 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:47.599 you know, having someone that's fully invested in this team 79 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:49.120 is going to be or these teams are going to 80 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:51.680 be important because it's not just Realso Lake and Utah Royals. 81 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.560 It's also Reround Monarchs. It's also the academy. You know, 82 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:57.319 it's the infrastructure of the training facility, all of those things. 83 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:00.120 So I think it's great and as they continue to 84 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:04.120 bet in, my hope is sooner rather than later we'll 85 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.240 see an influx of funds and investments that continue the 86 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.599 development of the nuclear arms spending in Major League soccer, 87 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:12.840 and as I said to you, I think a couple 88 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:15.319 of years ago, I think his expansion slows down. We're 89 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:18.519 going to see multi billion dollar owners continuing to invest 90 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:22.160 in clubs already owned by multi billion dollar owners. 91 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.920 I wonder, Donny, if you've been able to garner an 92 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.519 insight or in your conversations, if you understand how the 93 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:30.040 dynamic will work. 94 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:31.879 Between the Blitzer Group and the Miller group. 95 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:34.879 Is it is the line of delineation as clear as 96 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:38.120 the Miller's handling the business side and Blitzer handling the 97 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.279 soccer side, or is it a little bit more convoluted 98 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:40.519 than that. 99 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.040 Yeah, I'd assume it's a bit more convoluted. But what 100 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.040 I would say is that because of the Blitzer sporting 101 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:51.279 network specific to soccer has already been in play. There 102 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:55.240 is a benefit for the Millers to slowly figure out 103 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:57.439 ways how to sorry about my son's game and they're 104 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:02.040 they're good now leading to nail against no. I think 105 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.839 what it does is it allows the Millers to kind 106 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:06.199 of bet in and understand from the business side what's 107 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:09.720 happening but then also having great education of what the 108 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.959 soccer side is. You know, I am of the firm 109 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:16.639 belief that I don't think it would be in any way, 110 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.560 shape or form a bad thing for someone like Dave, 111 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:22.480 you know, date check Its to come in and somehow 112 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.120 be involved and then allow the soccer people to make 113 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:28.279 soccer decisions similar to the success that we saw back 114 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.959 in two thousand and nine through twenty twelve, you know, 115 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:35.120 specific to hiring Guard, hiring Jason, hiring Robin, and building 116 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:37.560 out that roster and allowing just the soccer to speak 117 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.600 for itself, and then you know, if there's failures, there's consequence. 118 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:43.120 But yeah, I think we're going to see an evolution 119 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:45.160 over the next couple of years of what that looks like. 120 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.040 You know, I am not of the belief, having not 121 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:51.519 been in the conversations and being in the room to 122 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:55.040 understand completely what this all looks like. But in the 123 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:59.920 short term I think there's enough of an educated personnel 124 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:03.319 in charge right now to allow you know, this this 125 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:05.480 quote unquote handover of power in real time. 126 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:07.800 One more thing, and then we'll move over to some 127 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:10.600 results and some additions that are on the way, and 128 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:12.800 hopefully more that we don't know about on the way 129 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.399 as well. But what has been you know, as the 130 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.160 kids would say, vibes are high, and you know, the 131 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.279 start of the season. 132 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:19.759 Has been great. 133 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:23.360 But your your connections at the club with both RSL 134 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:26.000 and the Royals, does it feel like this ownership transition 135 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:27.680 is being met with a ton of optimism. 136 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.839 Yeah, I think it is, I really do. I mean, 137 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:33.600 there's no one that's come out publicly and said anything different. 138 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:37.319 There's nobody that has mentioned to me and either my 139 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:43.000 hosting opportunities or being around the trainings that it speaks 140 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:46.240 to anything different. But again, I think you know this 141 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:48.319 and I know this. We're not naive. I mean we're dumb, 142 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:51.199 We're not naive. I think we've seen the transfer of 143 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.439 power from different organizations and clubs and different sporting ventures 144 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.439 that you know, there's there's always going to be a 145 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.240 little bit of havoc, a little bit of helter skelter, 146 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:03.279 a little bit of confusion because ultimately we're looking at 147 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:07.639 the variation of responsibility. So that's all fine and dandy, 148 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:10.399 but there is going to be you know, there's there's 149 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:12.199 going to be some time for everyone to kind of 150 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.040 figure out who ultimately is in charge, who's making the decisions, 151 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:19.279 and then you know the responsibility of failure is going 152 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:20.000 to be in there as well. 153 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.839 All right, now we have to talk about the current 154 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.720 form of the club, which, if we're honust, is not good. 155 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.959 So three wins, six losses, eight goals scored fourteen alloud 156 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:33.959 minus six. The goals allowed category is kind of inflated 157 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.240 by two really bad performances. But my first question, in 158 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:39.759 this kind of non secuitar direction that we've gone to, 159 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:43.240 what is fair to say about the calls that have 160 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.399 gone against the club over the past three or four weeks. 161 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:50.360 You go back to the FC Dallas challenge for Peel, 162 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.720 and anybody that has played at a high enough level 163 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:58.519 will tell you that that was a player protecting himself 164 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.399 in a moment and which Patrickson Delgado was about to 165 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.639 do him and by doing him, I mean like going 166 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.720 to put his foot through his ankle, and I think 167 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:09.240 he recognized in that moment he needed to protect himself, 168 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:11.720 and I think there was a gray area of a 169 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:14.560 conversation that should have been involved. That doesn't just have 170 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.639 to be that, hey, this is violent conduct, this endangers 171 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:19.800 the safety of the opponent. No, this is a guy 172 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:21.639 saying like, you know you're not going to kick me 173 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:25.480 right now, I'm going to protect myself. The Daniel Lovett's 174 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.959 forearm shiver elbow to the face of Marchuk should have 175 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:33.159 been a red. I'm not surprised based on the referee' 176 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:37.919 personality and history that maybe his arrogance in the moment 177 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.720 wasn't open to the idea of having someone in a 178 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:45.519 booth in the Dallas, Texas area send him over to 179 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:48.480 the monitor to overturn his call. Love It should have 180 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:50.639 seen a yellow card right after that for a second 181 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:55.080 yellow challenge at a bare minimum, and then finally they're 182 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:58.639 amongst my constituents that call games. So this isn't coming 183 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:01.559 from a real Salt Lake olmer or for my love 184 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:04.919 for Diego Luna. There's not a pundit in the world 185 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.960 that would look at Diego Luna untangling his leg from 186 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:12.240 Petrosso wrapping him up and think that in any way, 187 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:16.200 shape or form, that's violent conduct and Spence. I texted 188 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:19.720 our good friend Trey Fitzgerald immediately as I was sitting 189 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.279 in the Delta Lounge in Seattle, flying home from calling 190 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:24.679 the Seattle National Game, and I said, Hey, just let 191 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:27.240 me know when the appeal comes through that Diego is 192 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:30.200 going to be available for next weekend down in San Diego, 193 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:33.279 because that was one of the when you have Drew 194 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.200 Fisher's var sending you to the monitor with his experience, 195 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:41.200 one of the most respected managers in this league for this. 196 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:46.360 Now it's three nail for this not to be downgraded. 197 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:49.480 For Sergei demian Juk to go over to the monitor, 198 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:52.200 have to look at it from four different for you know, 199 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:56.200 maybe what two minutes from multiple different angles in any way, 200 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.720 shape or form to think that that is violent conduct 201 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:02.440 for a player to untangle his leg from a player 202 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:05.240 on the ground, it's just lunacy. It's crazy. To me, 203 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:08.720 I don't understand it. And the problem that I have 204 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:12.840 with this is also double jeopardy since because RSL was 205 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.919 a better team and that listen, they lost the game, right, 206 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.720 they gave up the goal. They deserve to lose a game. 207 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:19.679 That being said, they played down to man for the 208 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:21.879 better part of thirty minutes. They were the better team. 209 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.320 They should have scored multiple goals, they should have come back, 210 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.600 and now you lose the player in real time, arguably 211 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:30.320 one of the most dynamic Number ten playmakers not named 212 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:33.399 Lino Messi. In Major League soccer, you don't have them 213 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.879 for the better part of thirty minutes. You're playing a 214 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:36.440 man down. You don't get the points on the day. 215 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:40.399 And now my hope is that we hear the announcement 216 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:45.679 that he's got oh shy almost just scored. Dang, and 217 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:47.840 then we get the announcement that he's going to be 218 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.320 allowed to play next weekend. I feel like that's incoming. Yeah, 219 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:55.039 it's just tough. It's a bitter pill to swallow, and 220 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:57.559 all of the small things that are going wrong, a 221 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:59.679 lot of it a real sal they needs to figure out. 222 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:03.879 I'm looking for leadership. Who's responsible in terms of pulling 223 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:07.120 everybody up by the shorts. Who's the guy theoretically that's 224 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:10.799 willing to punch somebody to change the and manufacture the momentum, 225 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:14.440 because right now this team needs something. They've played well, 226 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:17.080 but they're not playing well enough, if that makes sense 227 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:19.559 to UH to be where they need to be in 228 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.879 the nuclear arms race of the Western Conference playoff ers. 229 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:26.440 Little Bertie Que Little Bertie my source at RSL infor 230 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:30.480 me earlier that the red card has been appealed based 231 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:32.840 off of your knowledge of the inner workings of MLS. 232 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.480 What are the chances that it gets rescinded. 233 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:40.399 I could see it being with the with the with 234 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:43.919 the three person I don't know which we're calling it, uh, 235 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:48.000 the three person panel, if you will. I don't think 236 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:52.120 there's anybody that looks at that and says that that's 237 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:56.120 a violent conduct worthy red card. I think it is 238 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.879 a three mil in favor of that appeal going through 239 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:06.279 and Diego Luna's red card being rescinded and him being 240 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:09.879 reinstated for availability in San Diego. And again this is 241 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:13.600 me coming from an analyst perspective. I could not believe 242 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:14.919 what I was watching in real time. 243 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.600 I know you alluded to and maybe the answer to 244 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:19.480 my question is what you already said as far as 245 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:22.200 the arrogance of the official, But watching the red card 246 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.720 in real time, you couldn't really tell because Diego was 247 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.799 standing over him, and it's like, all right, well did 248 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:29.120 he do something a faious on him? 249 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:30.960 I thought he must have, you know, I'm watching it. 250 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.759 I thought he must have stepped on him. Yes, he 251 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:34.679 must have stopped on him. Right, Really, he showed the 252 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.639 angle from behind and he pulls his leg out and 253 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.120 then he kind of like leans in, like what are 254 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:43.399 you doing? It was more that not like diego, listen, diego. 255 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:46.679 We're all young, dumb, naive at moments like you're talking 256 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.360 to a guy that almost cost the United States a 257 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.639 spot in the Olympics because I saw blood red and 258 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.279 I reacted And it was just in that split second, 259 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:57.960 like my Southern California upbringing, like I just I saw 260 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.240 red mist This wasn't that. This was like what, like 261 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.480 why are you wrapping up my leg? Like let go? 262 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:07.320 Like that's what that was to me, right, But my 263 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.879 point was in real time, it's like, okay, well that 264 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:11.799 looked like it could be something aggressive. 265 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.559 Then you see the replay and there's nothing there. 266 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.559 So my question, Donny is how do you watch that 267 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.639 replay and come to the conclusion that it needed to 268 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.960 be read like is that just arrogance? 269 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.720 Like how do you do that? 270 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:26.440 I don't know. I mean, I think maybe maybe the 271 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:31.360 more easier conversation is maybe that's why he's not one 272 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.039 of the consistent reps at the highest level when it 273 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:39.080 comes to All Stars playoffs, MLS Cup finals. You know, 274 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.879 we've got we've got some great referees in pro in 275 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.559 Major League Soccer. I was actually having a conversation with 276 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:47.000 one of the referees that Maxprados and I ran into 277 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.720 while we're up in Seattle. There's some really fantastic referees, 278 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:53.080 but as the evolution of the game goes on, we 279 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.200 forget that some of the best referees are aging out, 280 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:59.039 so we're gonna get some younger referees that have worked 281 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:02.080 their way through and have deserved opportunities. But again, the 282 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.519 pace of the game, the speed of play, the decision making, 283 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:08.639 and then the influx of you know, you have ego, 284 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:13.159 you have arrogance, you have experience, you know, the idea 285 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.720 of var and the intervention of technology is fantastic. But 286 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.360 at the same time, there's still a human error and 287 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:20.480 a lot of these guys you could show them one 288 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:23.639 play and you could say red or no, and half 289 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:25.759 the room will say red, half the room will say yellow. 290 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:29.240 So there's still an element of human error involved. And 291 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:34.360 for me, the game in Nashville and the game against Toronto, 292 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:37.559 those were both I don't know if it's arrogainst lack 293 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:39.840 of experience, or just maybe self belief in the call, 294 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.240 but you know, two mistakes that I think should have 295 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.440 gone in a dummer direction. 296 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.799 All right, Doddie, it's getting late early. You know, this 297 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:49.159 is a slog this is a marathon, this is not 298 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:53.759 a sprint. MLS schedule is intense, and you know, I've 299 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:55.679 seen some of the best clubs that we've had here 300 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:58.320 get off the horrible starts, and some of the worst 301 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.720 clubs we've you know, like you could, good stars can 302 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:03.360 lead to bad seasons. Bad starts can lead to good seasons. 303 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.440 It's a roller coaster ride. But through nine matches there, 304 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:10.600 eleventh ty was Saint Louis on nine points. I'll ask 305 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:13.240 you this before we get to some potential editions. What 306 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:16.320 have you seen that you've liked? What are they doing 307 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.399 well as of now, even though the start has not 308 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:18.919 been great. 309 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:25.720 Oh, you're talking specific to rilso Lake, correct. Yeah. I 310 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:28.840 think Diego Luna playing in the number ten position has 311 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:32.120 the pure playmaker with Diego Gonzalveez on the left, has 312 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.600 afforded both the players the ability to shine. It takes 313 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:39.120 maybe pressure off Theogo to be quote unquote one of 314 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:42.200 the number tens and allows Diego to kind of find 315 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:44.639 the game because he's a guy that can absolutely kind 316 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:48.879 of sniff out opportunities. I still think of Mecca and 317 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:53.279 Ojeda are really really strong in their partnership. Pelacios hasn't 318 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:57.519 shown nothing. Plasco hasn't shown the consistency or performance or 319 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:01.679 the recognizing and critical moments of where he needs to be. 320 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.320 That may be just a rhythm thing or a lack thereof. 321 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:11.159 Hafa Haf has been fantastic in goal Cabral. I think 322 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:15.799 he's a He's a fantastic addition. But to be quite honest, 323 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.720 I think there's more questions than answers. I don't know 324 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:21.399 who the best number nine is. I really don't know 325 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:24.679 what the true level of Dominic Marchuk is. I see glimpses, 326 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.720 but I don't see any consistency. The right back spot 327 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:31.679 is wide open for opportunity. When Kobe Henry's available, I 328 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.440 think he easily competes for one of the starting spots. 329 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.559 And whether you're talking about Junka or Kataris at left back, 330 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.159 that turned into more of a competition than I ever 331 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.200 expected to be. So based on the lack of results 332 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:47.639 and the losses, take away all the conversations about referees 333 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:52.480 and monumental moments going against we also a lake. I 334 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.279 still think there's more questions than answers. I think he 335 00:16:55.399 --> 00:17:01.279 probably have competitive wise, roster for roster, spot for spot. 336 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:04.480 One of the deepest, if not the deepest team for 337 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:07.720 Real Salt Lake we've ever seen built. But they certainly 338 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.799 aren't close to having their difference makers. Even from what 339 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.160 we saw last year. This is a completely different group 340 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:16.079 than we saw in twenty twenty four. And I'm waiting 341 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.680 for waiting. I'm waiting for the vocal leaders. I'm waiting 342 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.440 for the guys to kind of step up from a 343 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:25.440 physical standpoint, no nonsense me versus you, I'm going to 344 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:29.160 destroy you. And then the technical side of guys, they 345 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.519 can put away chances because every and I don't know 346 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:33.839 about you, but every time I watch Real Salt Lake, 347 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:38.079 I feel like they're generating three to four fantastic goal 348 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.279 scoring moments. And the game against Nashville is a perfect 349 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:43.920 example where Mark took before he scores. He should have 350 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:46.480 had two or three more, Peel should have had one. 351 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:50.599 This team needs to be more clinical and maybe a 352 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.519 part of this quote unquote lack of investment was a 353 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:57.799 byproduct of this ownership turnover. But they got to get 354 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:00.839 back on track and by Wednesday, that's the close of 355 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.519 this first window. Hopefully they can find the right guy 356 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.240 that makes. 357 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:07.640 The most sense for this team, and that's where we'll 358 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:09.359 go next. Before I set you loose so you can 359 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:12.400 get back to your boys game. Fabricio Romano, who breaks 360 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:16.000 a lot of worldwide soccer news, reports that RSL has 361 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:20.680 agreed in principle to sign Robert Bozanici, striker who has 362 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:23.559 been in Portugal. I'm donnie. I'm not going to tell 363 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.720 you I've been grinding on Portugue. You know Portuguese soccer tape. 364 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:30.119 I don't know much about him, but tell us about 365 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.160 this new striker. I'm told this should be on the 366 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:33.640 ground of the next twenty four hours or so. 367 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:38.440 Yeah, I won't pretend to know what his level is. 368 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:41.279 I'm aware of him. I know that the conversations have 369 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:44.400 been going on for quite some time. I'm confused as 370 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:48.920 to why it's taken this long, similar to Diogo Consolvez acquisition, 371 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:52.720 when you were able to get Chico Rongo done so soon. Remember, 372 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:56.799 the Blitzer group owns either outright or a big part 373 00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:02.039 of Esquill in Portugal, so they will be very familiar 374 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:05.319 with this player. I know he's a national team player. 375 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:09.319 If you look, statistically, he's not outrageous in terms of 376 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:11.880 scoring goals. I think he's only got a handful of 377 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:17.079 goals over the course of the season. Hopefully he's impactful enough. 378 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.039 It's given him plenty of time to bet in over 379 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:24.079 the course of the season, considering we're only nine matchdays in. 380 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.720 But the question is how much of a different profile 381 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:31.279 does he have compared to the two strikers three strikers 382 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:35.599 if you include his espeta as well. We'll see, but 383 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.160 sooner rather than later, let's see what he's made of. 384 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:41.799 Get him on the field and hopefully in terms of fitness, sharpness, 385 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:45.920 game you know, the game awareness, he's coming in and 386 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.319 can immediate least step onto the field and you know, 387 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.720 make an immediate impact. The team certainly needs somebody that 388 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.039 can finish off some of the great chances that they've 389 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:56.319 created so far in the first nine matches. 390 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.599 Last thing, and I'll set you lose. 391 00:19:57.640 --> 00:20:01.240 Are you aware of any other impending acquisitions additions to 392 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:03.400 the group before the window closes on Wednesday? 393 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:10.000 No, that's the only one. O. Uh, maybe let's put 394 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.559 it that way. Maybe there's I've heard some whispers and 395 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:18.279 if it does come to fruition. I think it would. 396 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:21.440 It would. It would certainly help the team and positions 397 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:26.079 that are necessary for competition for the starting spot. But yeah, 398 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:27.880 I mean the other part of this is, you know, 399 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:30.160 real Salt Lake has a certain amount of money available 400 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:34.200 as they continue to evolve and make these moves. I'm 401 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:37.039