WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:01.120 Can I cheek? 2 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:01.399 All right? 3 00:00:01.399 --> 00:00:02.520 It's game day on the station. 4 00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:07.480 Game five of the NBA Finals tonight, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 5 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:10.199 where the Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Indiana Pacers 6 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:13.160 series of deadlock to two games apiece. We're gonna say 7 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.839 good night at six o'clock and then we're gonna send 8 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:16.359 you to coverage of that game, and we'll have the 9 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:19.960 Stanley Cup Finals resuming tomorrow. We got Tom Haberstrow for 10 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:22.920 some NBA SMIDI Live and studio voice the Youth's Bill Riley. 11 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:25.239 But we'll start things off in a Monday afternoon talking 12 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:28.440 a little soccer as RSL gets a much needed win 13 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.440 over the weekend to nil over DC United, and Kurt Schmidt, 14 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:34.679 chief roster constructor on the program on a Monday. 15 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:36.240 Kurt, Happy Monday, sir, How are you? 16 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:37.719 I'm good? 17 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:38.799 How are you good? Bud? 18 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.439 Thanks for the time. So, I don't know what adjective 19 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:43.679 you would like to use. Relieved, excited? 20 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:45.039 I don't know. 21 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:50.479 You tell me what sort of emotion or whatever did 22 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:53.200 that win on Saturday give you? Guys after going seven 23 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:56.200 matches without a dub? 24 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:57.119 How about hungry? 25 00:00:57.240 --> 00:00:57.719 There we go. 26 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.600 It's one of those where it's like, hey, that was 27 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:02.719 you know, that was necessary and now we got to 28 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:04.280 focus on the next one. 29 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.920 For sure, and one of the one of the players 30 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:10.120 you acquired during the primary transfer window, Johnny Russell h 31 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:13.239 opened his bank account soccer terms kid, no big deal. 32 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:16.799 So how pleased were you in his I believe that 33 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:18.640 was his first start to see Johnny find the back 34 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:19.040 of the net. 35 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:24.239 No, it's fantastic. And obviously when when players score goals, 36 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:28.599 you know, gives them confidence and and helps them repeat 37 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:31.319 that performance and and and even improve. So you know, 38 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:33.799 for Johnny to get that goal in his first start 39 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:36.120 is huge for the team because obviously it helps us 40 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.000 win the game, but it's huge for him as well. 41 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:40.920 Tell me about the process, Kurt of bringing him along. 42 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.920 So for our listeners, Johnny is a long time not 43 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.840 just MLS VET, but he's played UH all over the world. 44 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:47.640 And the goal he. 45 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:50.760 Scored on Saturday was his sixty first goal UH in 46 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:51.680 Major League soccer. 47 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:52.959 So he's had a long career. 48 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:53.599 UH. 49 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:54.719 He was a sporting case. 50 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.120 UH A lot of people thought he was going to retire, 51 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:01.040 did not have a preseason. So you sign him, and 52 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.760 I would imagine it took a minute for him to 53 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:05.359 get in in form and fit. So tell us about 54 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:07.640 this process and what can what sort of like can 55 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:08.199 you shed on it? 56 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:12.400 Yeah, I mean, look, he's still still rolling into it. 57 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:16.120 I mean he was he's a discipline professional, and he 58 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:19.800 was certainly keeps himself ready and fit and working out 59 00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:23.639 while he was looking for his next club. But that's 60 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:26.479 you know, that's different than obviously playing at a high 61 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.719 level every day training day and day out and having 62 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:31.919 that match fitness and that mass sharpness. So he's definitely 63 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:34.479 starting to get his legs under him in that in 64 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:38.439 that respect, I mean the match fitness still still isn't 65 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:41.000 isn't quite there. Obviously he came out at the half 66 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.000 and you know building him up is going to help 67 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:45.840 us a lot. But he his sharpness is getting back 68 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:47.280 to where it needs to be and you know saw 69 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:48.560 that with the quality when I finished. 70 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:51.319 Tell me about because it was interesting to listen to 71 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.719 Johnny post game where he talked about how grateful he 72 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:58.400 was for this opportunity and even kind of pontificated on 73 00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:01.039 the possibility of walking away, wasn't sure if he was 74 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.039 going to get another team, said he's here to score goals, 75 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:06.479 create goals and also help some of these younger players. 76 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:09.599 So throughout the course of your conversations with Johnny during 77 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:13.560 the primary transfer window, what sort of kind of details 78 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:15.960 did you guys share back and forth and what essentially 79 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:18.879 was your ask of him before bringing him into the club. 80 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:23.439 That's a great question. Yeah, I mean the conversations with 81 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:28.039 him were about, yeah, definitely extending his career, but also 82 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.280 what he could bring to our group. And we have 83 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:34.439 a very very young team, you know, before Johnny came in, 84 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:37.280 Rafa was the only player we had over thirty essentially 85 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.639 on the roster. So one of the things that we 86 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.800 talked to him about was just coming in and being 87 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:45.599 a bit of a leader and a mentor and an 88 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:48.919 experienced guy within the group, you know, just to help 89 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.599 group through some things, some things that he'd seen before 90 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:54.520 and some of the younger guys, despite their talents or 91 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:57.159 their quality in that moment, just haven't seen. So I 92 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.199 think that that's something that manifested right away from day one, 93 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:04.199 is how he integrated with the group and his ability 94 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:06.360 to you know, just to talk to players on the field. 95 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.360 You know, Pablo says this all the time, but to 96 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.400 have you know, your teammate kind of make a point 97 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.960 to you. It's sometimes a little bit different than the coach, right, 98 00:04:13.080 --> 00:04:15.479 especially when the veteran player puts his arm around you 99 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.160 and is like, hey, next time, you know, do it 100 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:19.240 like this, not like that, or next time playing me 101 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:22.000 here and not there. You know, it brings a little 102 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:24.439 more true for those guys, and so that little bit 103 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:26.199 of experience in the group has been very helpful. And 104 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:28.920 then obviously you know, just about setting expectations for him 105 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.240 and his performance. And he's a high level player. He 106 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.120 wants to, you know, play all the time. He wants 107 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:34.600 to score goals every game, he wants to do all 108 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:37.560 those things. He's very hungry, and it's just about setting 109 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.759 his dissertations of how you've been out for a bit, 110 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:42.360 like let's let's get you fit, let's get you into it, 111 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:44.319 and when you're ready, you know, you'll go. 112 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:46.639 You know, I had a chance when I was with 113 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.439 the club on the road in San Diego, I had 114 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:50.160 a chance to meet him and talk to him, and 115 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:54.160 his intensity really just shines through. And that's always interesting, 116 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:56.720 and it is player by player. I can remember the 117 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:58.680 first time I met Will Johnson, I thought he was 118 00:04:58.720 --> 00:04:59.759 going to shank me with a knife. 119 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.040 I'm like, chill out, dude, It's okay. 120 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:05.120 And Johnny kind of has that same intensity just as 121 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:06.759 a person when you just. 122 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:08.439 Kind of meet him and talk to him. 123 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:12.839 I wonder what sort of expectation you guys have moving 124 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:15.040 forward now that he is fit and he has started 125 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.120 and he has scored a goal. I mean, it's safe 126 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:19.720 to say that he's a piece, But do you think 127 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:21.680 we're going to see him in starting elevens and what 128 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:23.800 sort of expectations do you have for him now that 129 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.040 we've seen what he can do when he's fit and 130 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:27.199 Pablo gives him the start. 131 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.160 Honestly, I mean, I don't want to be in the 132 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:33.199 business right now saying this guy will play every game 133 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:34.839 that way. You know it's going to be sub or 134 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:37.199 any of that stuff, because the reality is where we're at, 135 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:40.800 you know, and we're not you know, we're not clueless. 136 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:42.879 We know where we're at in the season, and there 137 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:47.439 there's no consideration other than form and performance on the day. 138 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:49.639 And you know, for probably he's just got to make 139 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.720 those decisions on the day. If it's Johnny, it's Johnny, 140 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.800 if it's done, if it's go though, if it's Aiden Hether, 141 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:58.160 Konni or whoever it could be in that white midfield spot. 142 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.759 You know, it's got to be who's going to put 143 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.399 in the best performance on the day. So when that's Johnny, 144 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.240 you know, he obviously brings something different than some of 145 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:07.560 the other guys, you know, being left footed, having a 146 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.920 little more experience in quality in the box. You know, 147 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.439 he's a little more of a goal scorer than kind 148 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:14.000 of the rest of the options out there. So he 149 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:16.000 has a little bit different, which you know is a 150 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:18.480 fantastic change of pace, whether it's from the start or 151 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.240 it's off the bench later in the game. 152 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.759 Okay, so I want to pan back here and talk 153 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:26.000 about the club from kind of a thirty thousand foot 154 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:28.839 view as we're sitting here, you know, more or less 155 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:32.519 past midway. And you know, it seems like every time 156 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:34.480 I have Pablo On and it's been more or less 157 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:37.720 weekly unless the other are travel issues. He often talks 158 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:40.959 about how there have been moments in every game that 159 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:44.319 he's very pleased with, and ultimately this can be a 160 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:46.920 really really cruel sport where you get cold with a 161 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:50.279 counter or there's a deflection and somebody scores a dumb 162 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:52.519 goal or you get a red card or a PK 163 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:56.480 or whatever. So eighteen games played, five ten and three 164 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.040 eighteen points. As you said, you guys know where you're 165 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.000 aut in the standings. PO kind of laid the math 166 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:02.680 on us last week of what you need to do 167 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:05.160 to make the postseason. But what I wanted to get 168 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.319 from you is, as you're watching your club, what do 169 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.920 you feel like you can say that you're very good 170 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:12.959 at and what you feel like you can say that 171 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.319 you very much need to improve on with this club. 172 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.439 I'm not talking about additions. I'm talking about what you 173 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:18.079 see with the group. 174 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:23.439 You have another good question, Spence. I think I think 175 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.759 we've been pretty good in our in our ball progression, 176 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.759 our build up most games this year, with maybe a 177 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:32.600 few exceptions, and so some of that that piece of 178 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:36.240 our identity that that we established last year has carried through. 179 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:39.199 And you know, I think Rafa has been a huge help. 180 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.439 You know, obviously he's the goalkeeper, so defense first, but 181 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.800 he's added a lot of calmness and composure to our 182 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:50.839 buildout process. So I think we've seen good, good build 183 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:53.160 out and ball progression from back to middle and and 184 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:56.360 I think from middle to to front middle to final third. 185 00:07:56.839 --> 00:07:59.040 I think it's been a little more hit or missed. 186 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:02.439 I think it's been good, but I think we need 187 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:06.040 to be a little more consistent where I think last 188 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:09.040 year we needed fewer chances of score goals to be 189 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:11.439 quite honest, and this year we need we need some more. 190 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.720 We need you know, we're volume finishers, you know, Like 191 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:15.920 again you saw in this game this weekend, Goes was 192 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.959 a young guy. He's working, he's getting chances and you 193 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:21.199 know he needs two or three good chances and he 194 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.959 got his goal. But we need to keep giving them 195 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.720 those chances to make sure he gets those goals. And 196 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:27.959 you know, Will he's the same, are He's going to 197 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.079 be the same. You know, all those guys up top 198 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:32.559 that we put in there, they need chances to score. 199 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:34.559 So I think we've been creating those chances. We've been 200 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.879 getting the ball in the good spots. Our movement in 201 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:40.639 the box sometimes is an ideal. Our finishing obviously needs 202 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:44.279 to improve with this group, but yeah, I think those 203 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:47.639 those things are still there for us to improve upon. 204 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.519 But I think we've put together some really good games. 205 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:54.000 You know, back to middle and then you know, middle 206 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:56.320 to to final third is where you know, I think 207 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:58.279 he just needs to improve a bit, and I think 208 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:00.159 we've focused on that in the last few weeks. And 209 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.519 there's been some games. You know, when we started the 210 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.200 Vancouver game, I thought it was you know, it was 211 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:07.360 obviously really good early in the game, and then the 212 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.200 defense wasn't able to sustain it and against a really 213 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.120 good team that was playing with a lot of confidence. 214 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:15.360 So yeah, but I think I think those aspects on 215 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:17.960 the ball are where we're looking right now. 216 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:23.480 Eight games played, six starts, two subs, one goal for 217 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:26.759 Willy so far. Williagatta your other addition during the primary 218 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:29.000 transfer window? I'm gonna ask the same thing about Willy 219 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.919 that I asked you about your club, because you reference 220 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.440 movement off the ball in the box and you can 221 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:36.519 see I mean, obviously, he is a striker that has 222 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:39.679 played significant time in MLS and he has goals in 223 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.240 him that we've seen and it's probably more experience as 224 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.440 if you juxtapose him to Ari, but his movement stands 225 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:46.840 out to me. 226 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:49.080 But we have not seen a ton of goals so far. 227 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:51.879 So what have you liked from Willy in his eight 228 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.279 games played and what are you hoping to see moving forward? 229 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:59.320 Yeah? I think Willy is sometimes it's hard to catch, 230 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:02.799 but he is an incredibly strong player, and so his 231 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:05.360 hold to play can be a strength of his I 232 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:08.240 don't I don't think it. You know, it's not always 233 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.039 there right, which which is something consistency can Even though 234 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.200 he's a little more experienced in Ari, he's still relatively 235 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:17.519 on the younger side, so but he's someone who can 236 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.879 hold the ball up for us, and when he plays 237 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:22.600 simple and gets back on the highest line, that can 238 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:25.759 be very effective. I think this last week he got 239 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:27.480 away from that a little bit and it was a 240 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:30.120 little too many touches getting caught in possession in those moments. 241 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:32.320 But when he does play one in two touch, he 242 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:34.720 can hold the defender off and he can keep possession 243 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:36.440 for us and get back on the highest line, which 244 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:38.679 just gives us more time to get our team forward 245 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:41.039 and get our numbers into the final third and hopefully 246 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:43.320 into the box when the chance does come. And I 247 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:46.600 think he's also someone that you know, he gets his chances, 248 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.519 and I think there are specific moments when you know, 249 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:53.399 again his movement, any any player's movement can improve in 250 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:57.360 the box, but he finds a way, whether it's instinct 251 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.759 or you know, whatever it might be. He finds a 252 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.000 way to get chances in front of goal each game. 253 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.960 But again, he's you know, I think like Gozo. Like 254 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.440 I mentioned with Gozo, I think he's going to be 255 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.759 a volume finisher, and you know, he's not a guy 256 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.120 that can stand around for the whole game and we'll 257 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.480 give him a chance and we'll score a goal. I 258 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.559 think he's got to be engaged in the entire game. 259 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.720 We got to keep feeding him chances, getting them the 260 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:21.159 ball in the final third, and he'll get his goals. 261 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:24.720 So you reference Gozo, and maybe I buried the lead, 262 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:26.480 but I wanted to start with Johnny because it was 263 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:29.600 his first goal. But you do have a second leading 264 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:33.360 score now officially with Gozo Italian his second. And I 265 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.559 don't know, Kurt, maybe it was three weeks ago, a 266 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:37.759 month ago when you hopped on the show, when I 267 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.240 said to you, Okay, I feel like you've got something 268 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.279 with this young kid. And we'll get to Diego and 269 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:45.519 his experience with a goal cup in a minute. But 270 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.919 just for our listener's sake, what sort of insight can 271 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.960 you shed about his growth and the process, what you're 272 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:54.080 seeing so far that you like and what he needs 273 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.279 to do to keep it going. 274 00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:00.000 So gozo like you know, like I think any successful 275 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:04.480 young player, the real differentiator is is in his head 276 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:10.679 and his mentality, his work rate, his work ethic, his 277 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:13.919 his ability to you know, refocus is maybe a word 278 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:15.960 that I would use where you know, it's like, hey, 279 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:18.440 something happens to distract him or take him out of 280 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:20.799 his game, and he's he's able to refocus back in 281 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.360 on the game and and get get back to it 282 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:26.799 is really really good. And his adaptability from level to 283 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.519 level has been really really good. And so what's gotten 284 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:33.320 him these opportunities is that aspect his mentality, continuing to 285 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.679 come back, continuing to try the next one. You know, 286 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.759 he's like I said, he you know, he had a 287 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:40.240 couple of chances early, didn't score them, made it, you know, 288 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:42.679 had another chance, put it away, right, And so his 289 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:45.879 ability to kind of you know, set those those prior 290 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:48.519 instances aside and just take the next one as it 291 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:52.120 is and and do his best with that opportunity is 292 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.960 is really you know, elite from that standpoint, and his 293 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.960 ability to do that is what's gonna do him serve 294 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:01.639 him the most well as he and progress the suaker, 295 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.799 because as long as he has those things in his head, 296 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.759 you know, he's going to do the extra work. The 297 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.480 coaches will work with him. He's going to get the 298 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:10.080 rets and the experience, and he sees these situations more 299 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.000 and he's going to learn from those situations and you know, 300 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:15.639 all of that will will come along with it, and 301 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.240 his ability to just continue to work and go and 302 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.799 try the next one and the next one and the 303 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.240 next one is with you know, relentless, I guess is 304 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.879 a word he could use. Is what's going to keep 305 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.559 him developing and becoming a better and better player for us. 306 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:31.240 Help me understand, because he's not I don't think he's 307 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:34.159 a nine, right, but he can clearly finish with a 308 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:36.720 couple of goals when it's fully baked. 309 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:38.639 When Gozo is completely developed. 310 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.840 What sort of position slash role do you think will 311 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.679 allow him to magnify his talents the best? 312 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.639 Yeah, he's played both, you know, I obviously when he 313 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.440 was you know, wins with the youth fifteens, which is 314 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.480 kind of crazy to say or think about, but was 315 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:55.840 with you fifteens. He was all right when you replayed 316 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.200 up top as well, and he's sort of served his 317 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:01.879 time in both roles as he's moved his way through 318 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:05.039 the pipeline, so he's he's certainly done both for us, 319 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:09.240 and he can do it. I mean, he's playing probably 320 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.039 more of like a nine and a half or a 321 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:14.200 second striker role right now, where you know he's looking 322 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.960 to stretch the defense and get in behind from a 323 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.480 little bit of a deeper starting position. But if you 324 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:20.639 look at us when we build right now, it's almost, 325 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:24.279 you know, a two strikers set up with an attacking 326 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:27.639 midfielder coming underneath. You know that was maybe Luna before 327 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.480 he left, and you know the other night it was 328 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.200 Diogo coming in underneath and getting on the ball. So 329 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:35.559 I think he's he makes give us a bit of 330 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:38.200 a different look than we had last year or even 331 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.720 earlier this year, where we in possession and we were 332 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:43.480 sort of two attacking Mitchell he gined one striker. Now 333 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:47.440 it's almost one one attacking Mitchiellder behind two strikers when 334 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.279 we're trying to attack. 335 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.919 So your reference Diego. 336 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:53.240 He's credited with the assist on Johnny's goal. That was 337 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.039 kind of an individual effort from Johnny, but nonetheless he 338 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.679 gets the credit. And as I talked, to you about 339 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:01.679 prior to Diego Lee, it felt like this could be 340 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.679 an opportunity for Diogo maybe to shut some people up 341 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:07.759 and fill up or live up to expectations. We all 342 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:10.759 know he's the only designated player on the roster. Technically, 343 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:14.960 you guys were pretty dominant on Saturday, and he was 344 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.639 intertwined in most of the you know, attacking plays that 345 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:22.120 led to anything substantial. Give me an update on how 346 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:24.600 he's doing and his progress and what you're hoping to 347 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:27.159 see from him as Diego's with the US men's national team. 348 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.799 Yeah. I mean, look, I think he's putting his head 349 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:33.320 down and he's working hard, and he knows there's there's 350 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.639 responsibility that he needs to take with Diego out and 351 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.200 I think he did a good job of taking that 352 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:41.799 on Saturday. And you know, the ball he played to 353 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:45.080 Johnny for his goal with a phenomenal through ball. But 354 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:48.759 even more than that, it's his ability to maintain possession 355 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.399 under pressure in the middle of the field and then 356 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:54.039 and then spin out with some good technique and find 357 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.120 that ball. And I think he finds those balls maybe 358 00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:59.840 more than we realize, just because we have had some 359 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.840 trouble finishing them. You know, but when you look at 360 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.320 some of the more advanced metrics, you know, I think 361 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:07.320 he shows that he had a pretty good game on 362 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.399 the day, So you know, I think if he comes 363 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:11.679 at it with that mentality and brings that level of 364 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:14.960 work and quality to the game, because he has quality, 365 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:18.639 I think he's going to be real, real interesting as 366 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:20.159 we get in these next couple of games. 367 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.759 We've talked about the depth you have centrally with the midfield, 368 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.120 and of course, you know, I have a two part 369 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:28.639 question here because a Mecca is unavailable for now, so 370 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:32.039 I'm wondering what the update is for Mecca and then 371 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:34.519 how nice is it? And certainly Nelson is part of 372 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:37.080 this equation too, but I don't know. Man like for me, 373 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:40.120 a couple of years ago, before Ruiz hurt both knees, 374 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:43.000 he was one of the better players on the entire 375 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.039 team on a number of different levels, not just centrally, 376 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.159 but he would take corners, he would take free kicks, 377 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:50.480 and it's hard to expect him to look the same 378 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.759 after two devastating injuries. So update on a Mecca and 379 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:57.240 then tell me what you're seeing when Pablo Ruiz steps 380 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:59.600 in and what you like and maybe what you're hoping 381 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.840 he can it continue to try and find after those 382 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.879 devastating injuries. 383 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:06.839 Yeah, it's a little bit different, you know, Pablo and 384 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:09.359 Nelson is a much different look than than the Mecca 385 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:12.920 and Ojeta. You know, I think I'm not going to 386 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.200 I hate to do a phenomenal job of chewing up 387 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:19.960 ground and recovering, recovering balls, recovering second balls, and then 388 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.240 keeping the game, taking over and playing the next path. 389 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.480 I think. You know, Pablo, his game is a little 390 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:28.319 bit different, right because he can close guys down defensively 391 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:30.599 and recover balls, but that's not really the main part 392 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:33.480 of his game. You know. What he really brings to 393 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.640 the team is is quality in our build up and 394 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:39.799 our progression, and especially in our ability to open the 395 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:42.119 game and change the point of attack. He does a 396 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:44.400 great job with that. And Nelson is you know, even 397 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.799 though he's a younger player, but he's a good balance 398 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:50.279 of the two. His physical gifts are are fantastic. He 399 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:53.160 covers so much ground so quickly, he's so athletic. But 400 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:56.440 you know he also has the ability to hit that bag, 401 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:59.480