WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.680 We are live today with our friends at Beer Bar 2 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:05.400 in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. 3 00:00:05.559 --> 00:00:07.240 One sixty East, two hundred South. 4 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:12.480 The home for all RSL watch parties every match, no blackouts. 5 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:15.919 They do have Apple Television of course. Nick Romondo, the 6 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.760 legend himself, part of the ownership group here. They've got 7 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.000 an event coming up on Thursday, will tell you about. 8 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:25.640 But RSL back at action, welcoming in an old friend 9 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:28.359 coming up on Saturday, it's the return of Chico Orongo. 10 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:31.920 Last week, in interesting week, RSL went up to Portland 11 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:34.799 and want at Providence Park and then done in by 12 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.679 one wonder strike against one of the best teams in MLS, Cincinnati, 13 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.960 one nil. Our next guest, the head coach of RSL, 14 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:45.240 Pablo Match Joanny. On a Tuesday afternoon. Pop's happy Tuesday, man, 15 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:45.719 How we're doing. 16 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:46.200 How are we doing? 17 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:47.679 Happy tuesdays? 18 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:48.439 Ben's doing well. 19 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:50.320 Just prepping for this game at the weekend. 20 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:51.719 Yes, sir, yes, sir. 21 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.560 So before we look forward, let's just talk a big picture. 22 00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:58.039 Since you and I haven't spoken for a little while 23 00:00:58.479 --> 00:00:59.439 prior to that loss. 24 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:00.799 Again, since now that you guys have. 25 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:04.120 Gone five games unbeaten, and that Cincinnati game. 26 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:05.719 Man, that's a good team. We'll get to it. 27 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:09.200 I felt like you guys were really bright and really good. 28 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:13.519 But soccer's cruel where one moment can decide a game, 29 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:16.000 and you guys did that to Portland, Cincinnati did that 30 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:16.239 to you. 31 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:17.079 It's kind of the deal. 32 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:19.439 But how do you feel like things are shaping up 33 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:21.920 over the past five, six, seven games where you guys 34 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:24.040 have seen the forum really turn around? 35 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.879 Yeah, I think you know, that break halfway through the 36 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:31.480 you know, at the halfway mark was was a great 37 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:34.920 time to kind of reflect, digest and and and really 38 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:38.280 learn from some of the the moments in the first 39 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:40.760 part of the season. And the guys came in with 40 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:45.640 a wonderful attitude and really, you know, the vibe around 41 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:49.040 the training training field was was was palpable, you know, 42 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:51.439 and I think it was a noticeable difference. And then 43 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.040 then the results, you know, manifested themselves in a way. 44 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:56.879 We're validated the work that we were doing in the 45 00:01:56.920 --> 00:02:01.280 training and I think, you know, this league is so 46 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:04.000 you know, it's it's such a streaky league. You know, 47 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:05.879 you get on a good run of form, you have 48 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:08.319 a lot of belief and the mistakes that we are making. 49 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:11.319 You know, in the first part of the season we 50 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:14.719 were cleaning those up, defending set piece as well. Even 51 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.560 when we weren't defending set pieces as well, we still 52 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:19.159 found a way to win a game. And so, you know, 53 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:22.879 I think confidence and belief are are critical to sustaining 54 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:27.159 good performances and and good results and so and like 55 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:28.840 you rightly pointed out this week, and I thought we 56 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:32.840 the guys played a fantastic game and and we were 57 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:36.159 you know, we were done by a wonder strike. And 58 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:38.879 that's a part of it that hasn't changed the mind 59 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:41.719 of the mentality. And in today's training, the same same 60 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:44.400 type of energy that you know and and in real 61 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.240 focus that we've had in the last few weeks. So 62 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:49.240 really optimistic to where you know, where where where. 63 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:52.080 The group is right now, and and with the window 64 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:54.639 opening up, and you know, the addition of some players 65 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:57.840 and into a group that is is is confident at 66 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:00.960 the moment, I think, is you know, a welcome sight. 67 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:04.080 So before we get back to Cincinnati, let me ask 68 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:06.639 you about poor Lynz. Let's kind of hone in on 69 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:10.680 some of these games in a vacuum I hadn't maybe 70 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:11.120 maybe I. 71 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:12.000 Knew and I just forgot. 72 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.680 I didn't realize it had been eight years since RSL 73 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:17.479 was able to get a league win up there, and. 74 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:18.639 That's that's a good team. 75 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:22.120 And you know, you guys were able to snatch three 76 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.439 with a late goal, kind of like Cincinnati did to you. 77 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:27.280 But what do you like most about that performance? And 78 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.120 what can a road win like that do to kind 79 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:30.080 of solidify the group? 80 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.759 Yeah, you know, I think you know, coming off of 81 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:36.199 the Houston game, I felt like in the second half, 82 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.520 we we we struggled to find a way to get 83 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.639 the ball back once we turned the ball over right, 84 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.759 So our defensive shape was a bit compromised at moments, 85 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:47.439 and so we doubled down on that during the week, 86 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:50.919 and what I saw against Portland was a team that 87 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.960 knew exactly how important the structure was going to be 88 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:57.560 and the roles within that structure. And more importantly, I 89 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:59.599 think defending for the way I look at defending is 90 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:02.520 it's it's just merely a mechanism to win the ball back. 91 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:06.120 It's not a it's not a tactic. Right you defend 92 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:08.400 because you don't have the ball. And so when you 93 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:11.520 when you frame it from a perspective of we want 94 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:12.960 to win the ball back, because then we want to 95 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:14.680 control the game with the ball. I thought we did 96 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:16.879 a really good job of that game of being dominant 97 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.160 with the ball and being so disciplined and dominant defensively, 98 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.959 and then taking your chances that come and and and 99 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.600 obviously there weren't a ton of real clear chances in 100 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:31.120 that game, but Yogo took his chance and game set match. 101 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.800 And so, you know, going into the Cincinnati game, it 102 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:37.839 had a similar vibe where and Spence I think too, 103 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:39.879 this is a product of now you're you're on the 104 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:42.519 You're you're going down the home stretch. Every game is 105 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:44.959 going to be tighter, every every game is going to 106 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:49.160 be defined by the slightest of margins, and so that 107 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:51.079 that that's where I think in the Portland game, we 108 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:53.360 did a really good job. We were really disciplined and 109 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:55.360 capitalized on the moment that presented itself. 110 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:59.439 So with the Cincinnati game, and I talked about this 111 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.360 with a couple of people afterwards. I didn't leave that game, 112 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.360 Pablo with you know, with my head down about the form. 113 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:09.639 I hope you felt the same way. Cincinnati is one 114 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:12.199 of the best teams in MLS. They lead the conference 115 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:15.079 in points, and I felt like you had the better 116 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:17.839 of it. I know Diogo certainly will want one or 117 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.480 two of those chances back. And I don't know much 118 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:23.439 about this Luca or Orlano kid. I think that's how 119 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.240 you say it. But yeah, first, first of all, I mean, 120 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:29.079 it was one of those goals where you just. 121 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:31.160 You got a tip the cap, there's nothing else you 122 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:32.160 can do. Well done. 123 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.160 But overall, as you went back and reviewed it, did 124 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.360 you feel like you guys had the better of it? 125 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.680 And then what went through your mind when you watch 126 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:42.199 that kid score with that left peg? 127 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.199 Yeah, you know, when I went back and watched the 128 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:47.600 game again again, it was a lot of the sentiments 129 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:49.879 I felt during the game where the first half it 130 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.720 was it was a little bit you know, transitional. They 131 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:55.600 had some chances, We had some chances. But I think 132 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.439 in the second half we really put our foot on 133 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.759 the gas and did a great job of keeping them 134 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:05.519 pinned in to their defensive half, creating number of opportunities 135 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:11.079 on their goal, defended transition moments really really well, and 136 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:15.120 you know, I think and on the goal, we actually 137 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:19.399 defended the transition moment really well. And again I think, 138 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:21.600 like you said, you have to tip off your cap, 139 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.800 because to hit a ball with your left foot from 140 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:26.920 that part of the field and go across the goal 141 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:30.120 to the far post, I mean, just the angles of 142 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:34.399 that ball have to go in front of in front 143 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.639 of Oheita on the left side, and then it's going 144 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:38.639 to go in front of Glad and then it's got 145 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:42.480 to go in front of Rafa and so it's one 146 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:46.000 of those like one in a thousand shots that you're 147 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.680 going to score, and on this day, he caught it 148 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:50.399 perfectly and the stars the line. And so I think 149 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:52.560 oftentimes as a coach, you get you look at the 150 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.240 result and you have this bad feeling in your you know, 151 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:57.879 bad taste in your mouth with with how the game went. 152 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:00.199 But it was one of those flukey moments and it's 153 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:01.920 where I felt like, there's no way these guys are 154 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:03.959 going to score on us tonight, especially the way we 155 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.879 controlled the second half. So again that that's the whole 156 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:10.160 thing about sports, and that's why it's so amazing, is 157 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:11.920 that you never know which moment it's going to cost 158 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:14.040 you the game, and and you just got to be 159 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:17.600 prepared for anything. But I think the overarching feeling of 160 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:21.160 the game was a terrific execution of the tactics and 161 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:22.920 the only thing that let us down was that the 162 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:25.959 goal and not not being able to score goal. And so, 163 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:28.439 and I've said this a lot this year. It's been 164 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:31.279 our boogey men this year. We've we've created quite a bit. 165 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:34.480 And uh, you know, but I don't think and not 166 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:36.360 that I don't think, I know, it hasn't changed the 167 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:38.160 mindset and the belief within the group. And I think 168 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:39.160 that's the most important thing. 169 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:44.399 How is I heard somebody on some soccer show and 170 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:48.079 you know, who knows if they know anything about you 171 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:51.160 know anything, And you're the guy that watches these players 172 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:55.279 play every game and you're you know, obviously every training 173 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:59.160 you see things that none of us do. But I 174 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:03.160 feel like there's maybe some concern about the partnership between 175 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.959 Diego Luna and Diego Gonzalez, just because they're both skilled 176 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:08.160 in unique ways. 177 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:09.399 That might be similar to each other. 178 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:14.040 How is that partnership going, What what's that process like? 179 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:16.639 Because they're they're they're so skilled, I would imagine when 180 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:18.360 it clicks, it's going to be really special. 181 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:21.920 Yeah, you know, I think I think it's it's been 182 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:24.360 a bit of a disjointed year where I think you know, 183 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:26.480 Diego had a hard time at the beginning of the 184 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.759 year finishing his chances. In recent weeks, he's buried a 185 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:33.080 couple Diego was gone for for a month with the 186 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:35.679 national team, and now you know, they're both coming into 187 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:39.120 the team in a real positive way. And it's really 188 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:42.879 about learning that, you know, get that chemistry right. You know, 189 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:46.559 I think Diego is a really good positional player that 190 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:49.559 need balls played into him to be able to then 191 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.200 play forward. And Diego's more of a guy that is 192 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:55.159 just off the cuff, right, And so sometimes it's hard 193 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:00.399 with Diego because he is a very instinctive player that 194 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:03.399 makes plays. And you know, but what I've seen in 195 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:05.600 the last you know, two weeks that the guys that 196 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:07.000 have been are the last week that the guys have 197 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:11.320 been together, has the amount of communication between two of them, 198 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.960 not only in games, but in training and getting that 199 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:16.519 understanding back because now we're playing with a bit of 200 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.120 a hybrid two striker system with Gozo and Willie Gatta 201 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.799 and or r ePol, and so the idea is to 202 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.879 have these creative players underneath, but to have players ahead 203 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:29.000 of the ball that they can pass to and combine 204 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.639 with and create goal scoring opportunities with so I think 205 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.720 it's still you know, we're we're essentially a week into 206 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.879 this this process, a week and a half, but I 207 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.879 see I see some growth, and I think, again, if 208 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:44.879 you have quality players, they're they're able to solve problems 209 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:46.480 in real time on the field, and that's what you 210 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.879 need in order to continue to getting results. 211 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.559 When you talk about the kind of new approach with 212 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:56.039 the attack with Gozo Orgatta, then pol when it comes 213 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:58.720 to lineup decisions, obviously, when you have three games in 214 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:01.440 seven days, you're gonna you're going to stagger to make 215 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:04.559 sure the minutes aren't overwhelming for one striker or the other. 216 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.759 But what do you like most about the three that 217 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.000 you name the gotta goes on Peel and what do 218 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:15.080 you kind of instruct them to do to take advantage 219 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:17.639 of the creative flair they have behind them with Diego 220 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.279 and Diogo. 221 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.639 Yeah, great question. You know, I think in order to 222 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:24.519 give Diego and Diego the kind of space that they 223 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:28.519 need to operate in. Whereas the first part of the season, 224 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:32.759 Diego and Diego were cramped because we didn't have stretch 225 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:35.440 ahead of the ball, right, And I think when you 226 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:38.519 have two strikers that are willing to run without the ball. 227 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:42.320 That's what we're telling them to do is essentially always 228 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:46.039 be looking to hit to running behind the defense, and 229 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:49.279 in doing so you drop the back line another ten 230 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:51.879 yards and then the midfield mine is stuck looking at 231 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:54.559 the ball. And so now you have space for guys 232 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:58.440 like Diego and Diego to combine and to really drive 233 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.559 the ball forward. And I think now having two more 234 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:04.840 options ahead of the game has created a ton of 235 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:09.679 chances for Gozo, a ton of chances for Willie, and 236 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:14.240 more importantly, I think Spence from a psychology perspective is 237 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:18.159 defenses have to really they have more questions to answer. 238 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.240 Right Whereas before we had a lot of guys coming 239 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.200 towards the ball, it is easy for back line just 240 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.759 to squeeze their lines and make the space really tight. 241 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:27.720 Now when you have guys that are willing to break beyond, 242 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:33.120 and if the timing is right, when the forward stretch 243 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:36.480 our Tens dropped right and in that moment there's a 244 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:38.879 gap to get the ball in turn behind the midfield 245 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.519 line and really attack the goal. And so I think 246 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:44.000 that compliment is something that has given us a lot 247 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.559 of success in recent weeks and something that we want 248 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:52.240 to continue to explore. And again, I think once Diego 249 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.879 and Diego are firing and all cylinders, I think we're 250 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:57.000 going to be a very dynamic attacking team. 251 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:59.879 I have not asked you about this next player because 252 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:02.600 I didn't know much about him. But you know, early 253 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:06.360 on in the season, when you were giving Gozo opportunities 254 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.720 and he started taking advantage of them, and even when 255 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.360 they weren't manifesting on the stat sheet, you know, you 256 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:15.960 could tell there's something bright about Gozo. I don't know 257 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:19.399 that this Kaluscan kid has the same juice that Gozo does, 258 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:22.759 but the more and more I watch him pobble, the 259 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.600 more and more I think he might have something here 260 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.120 as well. 261 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.759 So I haven't asked you about him. 262 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.639 Before he was with Portland's we talked to Curt and 263 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:33.120 Jason about the acquisition. But from the head coaches standpoint, 264 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.240 what have you liked so far about him? What do 265 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:38.039 you think he can be as he fully develops? 266 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:41.799 Yeah, you know, I think, yeah, I think Noel is 267 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.639 a player. I think he's twenty five years old and 268 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.679 started late because he was in an international so he's 269 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:49.960 an older college student. When he went to I think 270 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:54.559 Loyal Merrimont, and so he got drafted out. And he's 271 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:58.480 a player that is experienced and beyond his years. You know, 272 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:01.799 he's kind of an old soul, carries himself like a 273 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.200 guy that's been playing professionally for many years. The way 274 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:07.000 he just trains, the way he looks after his body, 275 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.840 the way he recovers everything is a ten out of ten. 276 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:12.679 And you know, I have this really interesting conversation that 277 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:14.759 I'll share with you. Is in preseason. You know, he 278 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.799 was playing in the midfield, and so naturally he's a 279 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:20.159 midfielder by trade, and you know, I was he was 280 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:22.759 talking to asking me about his opportunities and I said, well, 281 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:26.519 we got some real physical anomalies in the middlefield with 282 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:29.360 the Mecca and no Haeta, and he says, Paba, but 283 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:33.000 I think the game so fast. I feel like, you know, 284 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:35.639 it's given an opportunity. I can, I can, I can 285 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:37.600 achieve some of the same things in a different way. 286 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.759 And it just expanded my mind. You know, as coaches, 287 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.840 I think we get sometimes we get set in our 288 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:47.279 way of thinking. And and so he started, you know, 289 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:49.679 he was playing right back because we had a lot 290 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:53.480 of pivots at the time midfielders, and slowly but surely, 291 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:57.759 with every training session he became a beast in training. 292 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:00.200 And so once he got his start, don't know, a 293 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:03.159 couple of months ago at right back, he's never looked back. 294 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:06.399 And this is a guy spends that spends every afternoon. 295 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.360 He'll he'll ask goes it to go one to be 296 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:10.320 one with them. He doesn't ask another guy. He wants 297 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.600 the fastest, the most dynamic player to go one to 298 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.600 be one. And so here's a guy that just really 299 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:19.039 cares about his trade. And so I think again, it's 300 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:21.840 amazing how many players come through, you know, come through 301 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.480 RSL and and other teams give up on and and 302 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:28.519 and find a lot of joy here. But so proud 303 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:30.039 of what he's been able to do. And and the 304 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.320 other part too is it hasn't been easy for him, right, 305 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:35.840 no one's given him anything. He's had to literally beg 306 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:39.519 and plead for an opportunity. And like you just Riley said, 307 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:42.559 you know, we give opportunities and they take them or 308 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.559 they don't. You know, the players take them or they don't, 309 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:47.080 and they grow or they don't. And so nothing's come 310 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.480 easy for Noel. And that's why I think he's he's 311 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.960 a long term, you know, fit for for the club 312 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.279 as far as like someone that you can rely upon 313 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.720 in multiple positions, which is really hard to find these 314 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:02.200 days because the game of football has become so specialized. 315 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.879 You know, the fact that he can play right back 316 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:08.600 and then against you know, Houston, and then come and 317 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.879 play as a pivot against Portland and really be one 318 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:14.840 of the top performers in that game says everything you 319 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.159 need to know about Noel Cowskin. 320 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:20.559 I'm curious about the anatomy of a position switch. We 321 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:24.120 talk about this in football a lot. You know, our 322 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:29.360 our local team, the University of Utah, their head coach just, somehow, 323 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:32.240 some way has always been able to say, Okay, you 324 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.840 were quarterback in high school, but now you're a defensive end, 325 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:37.279 and it for something. He's just really good at it. 326 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.120 I'm fascinated by it. And you reference Noel a midfielder 327 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.399 by trade who you've elected to play outside back. 328 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:48.919 What's the mentality there? Is it something you see in training? 329 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:51.799 Is it a desire just to get the best players 330 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.799 on the field, regardless of position. When you decide to 331 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:57.240 encourage a player to switch positions, what does that look 332 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.919 and sound. 333 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:00.519 Like, well, I think too. There's there's a lot of 334 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:05.279 components to it. One is their receptivity to that type 335 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:08.799 of suggestion, right, so like you'll know right away. It's like, 336 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.840 what do you think about just you know, training out 337 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:12.879 right back and seeing how it's going. And if you 338 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:17.320 get you know, if you get a you know, a 339 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:20.279 no nod, then you're probably it's not even worth pursuing 340 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:22.320 because if the player doesn't believe in it, you know. 341 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.720 But I think a player that is so hungry to 342 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.919 get on the field is willing to do whatever it takes. 343 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:29.120 And so now I was like, yeah, I'll play right back. 344 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.399 And so I think that's that's the first part. If 345 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.879 you don't you know, because it can't just be the 346 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:35.559 coach's idea because it could be a great idea, but 347 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:37.240 if the player doesn't buy in, then it's never going 348 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:40.120 to work. So I would say that's the most important part. 349 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.720 And then the other thing is like learn ability. You know, 350 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:48.159 what's the player's you know, ability to learn something and 351 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.440 and so like like I allude to uh, just when 352 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:55.000 I was speaking about his ability to think the game. 353 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.480 He's a learner. He thinks the game. And so when 354 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:02.200 you have really bright soccer players that can interpret space 355 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:06.799 and time. They can essentially play anywhere they want if 356 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.119 they're a willing participant. And so I think his smarts 357 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:14.359 and you know, because he's again he physically you know, 358 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.000 if you look at him, you wouldn't think that he's 359 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.400 able to cover ground. But we played Houston, who's got 360 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:20.519 one of the most dynamic young wingers in the league, 361 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:23.400 and he shut him down. And so he shut him 362 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:26.279 down not by playing him at his strengths, which is 363 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:29.519 his physicality, but thinking out smarting the player. And so 364 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:33.400 his positioning was off off the chains and then him 365 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:35.359 working on his one v ones and having a really 366 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:37.279 good idea of when he's going to stab at the ball, 367 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.599 and you know, and these are things that you have 368 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:43.000 to constantly practice that. And so if you're willing to learn, 369 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:46.319 if you're willing to make yourself vulnerable, right and put 370 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:49.319 yourself in a position that isn't comfortable, but your desire 371 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:51.240 to be on the first team is so great that 372 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:54.720 it overshadows it. I think that's that's where you can 373 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:58.880 get players playing multiple positions. But again, the most important 374 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:02.160 person and of these decisions is the players himself. 375 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.079 Give me an update on a Mecca. 376 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.559 I thought in limited minutes over the past couple of 377 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.880 matches when he's been available. 378 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:11.200 I mean, we all know that he's good. 379 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:15.000 Obviously he's your captain, but how's that progress coming and 380 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.839 how close are we maybe to seeing him start and 381 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.680 play a full ninety. 382 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.319 Yeah, that's a good question. That's a conversation that we 383 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:23.759 actually had today with our performance coach and thinking about 384 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:25.400 now we have a lot of games coming up, what's 385 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:28.000 the best way to deploy a Mecca to put him 386 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.400 in the best position again to not get hurt one, 387 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:33.039 which is the most important coming back from six weeks off, 388 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.720 but two to get him performing at the level that 389 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.440 he has been performing the last two games, which has 390 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.400 been really, really good. And so we'll look at how 391 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.720 training goes tomorrow tomorrow's our biggest load day and seeing 392 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:48.000 how he feels, and then you know, obviously we want 393 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.519 to get a Mecca back out there because he's an 394 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.920 important part not only on the field, but let in 395 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:54.160 the locker room as well. And so you know, and 396 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.880 now you have Pablo Reeves who's playing really well. You 397 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.680 have brian O Hade, who I thought did really well 398 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.720 in the game at the weekend, so there's going to 399 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.119 be some competition in the middle of field. But you know, 400 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:05.880 Mecca is a big part of the group, both on 401 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.480