WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:02.439 Well, still a little RSL. For the fourth straight season, 2 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:05.559 Rayle saw Lake is playoff bound. They're chief soccer officers. 3 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:08.839 Kurt Schmidt Schmed who joins us on a Tuesday. Kurt, 4 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:10.519 it's been a long time, man, How you been? 5 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.679 Yeah, a long time. I've been good. How are you? 6 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:14.199 How about you? 7 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.120 All? Good? Here? Well? Good here? So, since I brought 8 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:19.039 it up to kind of intro the interview, your thought. 9 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:21.079 I know it's not the goal, but it's not nothing. 10 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:22.920 For the fourth straight year, you guys are head of 11 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:24.160 the playoffs. Give me your thoughts. 12 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:27.920 Yeah, it's it's the first step, right, it's the first 13 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.160 gate that we got to get through and got to 14 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:31.920 get in the playoffs to make some noise. And now 15 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.560 our goal is obviously to secure home field advantage and 16 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.759 finish the season strong. And you know, in like all 17 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:39.799 the leagues here in the league get with the playoffs. 18 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:41.920 It's important how you finish the season in the form 19 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.799 that we're in coming into these last four games as 20 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:44.920 we head into playoffs. 21 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:47.640 So let's get your thoughts on a few things since 22 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.119 it has been a while, you know, of course for 23 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:52.840 a little bit. And look I talked to you about this. 24 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.880 I talked to Pablo about it. I talked to Jay 25 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:58.399 about it. Like during that fifteen game unbeaten streak, we 26 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:01.960 all kind of said, like, it's not how this thing works. 27 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:04.879 It's not how MLS seasons go. It's such a marathon 28 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:07.040 that there will be a bit of a dip. And 29 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.439 as we've discussed, you guys elected to move off some 30 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:12.640 players to bring in some new pieces five total. So 31 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:15.879 just from a macro standpoint, Kurt, how do you think 32 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.959 it's gone since making the new acquisitions and where are 33 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.239 you at as of today with the confidence of that 34 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:22.840 locker room. 35 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:27.159 And I think the middle of the season was obviously 36 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:29.760 a little bit bumpy, and some of that is structural 37 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.359 with Lee's cup and the interruption that that has in 38 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:35.920 the middle of the season. And you know, there's it's 39 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.519 again it's a long season. Fitness and form and all 40 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:41.280 those things change, and then obviously with the personnel changes, 41 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:43.719 and I think some of the guys are settling in 42 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.280 really well. You know, it's good to see Diogo and 43 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:49.239 dominic it on the score sheet this past week. You know, 44 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:51.959 I think Locklanbrook has settled in well. And you know, 45 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:54.359 I think the more time we have together, the more, 46 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:56.920 they're settling in to their you know, the time with 47 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:59.319 their teammates, into the locker room and into the game model, 48 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:01.799 and understanding what expected of them. So I think the 49 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:06.799 next four games are really just about improving those understandings 50 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:10.000 within and amongst the group and being you know, firing 51 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.039 on all cylinders at the end of the playoffs. 52 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.319 I always want to be fair, and I don't want 53 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:16.680 to put this on one player, whether it's Zach or 54 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:20.479 whether it's Gavin, or whether it's Big Phill or Jay Glad. 55 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:23.199 But I think it is fair to say, Kurt, there 56 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:25.960 have been far too many leaks in the back right 57 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:27.719 and you never want to say, well, the keeper is this, 58 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:31.120 or the back four, or maybe, as Pablo often talks about, 59 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.759 you're not defending as a group. So I'm just going 60 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:36.919 to ask you, what do you most attribute the loose 61 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:40.560 nature at times from the back portion of your lineup 62 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.960 that seems to have allowed some soft goals at on 63 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:45.159 opportune times over the past few weeks. 64 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:51.159 Yeah, I mean, looks defending is an eleven player activity, 65 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.520 an eleven person activity on the field. It's not one 66 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:56.319 or two or four or five. It's everyone. And so 67 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.360 whenever you know we have a defensive laps or can 68 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:02.080 see a goal. I think it's looking all over the 69 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.520 field on where these plays started. Sometimes even you know 70 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:07.599 they start in possession. When you have the ball is 71 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:10.599 when the goal really starts to take shape. So I 72 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:14.240 think it's about looking at everything holistically. And then yeah, 73 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:15.960 I mean, look, obviously, you know, at the end of 74 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:17.840 the day, I played to going on a player and 75 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.520 was very good one. But you know that's you get 76 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.400 all the attention to center back, goalkeepers, defenders, you got 77 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.319 all the attention because you're the last ones in frame 78 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:27.080 when the ball goes in the net, and so yeah, 79 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:29.479 it falls to you. But I think it starts with 80 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.120 everybody on the field and on the bench and on 81 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:35.840 the staff and everywhere just looking at inside and saying, Okay, well, 82 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:40.240 what could I have done to help prevent that situation? 83 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:43.000 How could I have done something myself or help my 84 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:45.000 teammates put them in a better position so that they 85 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:47.400 could do something better. And once you start there and 86 00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:49.719 kind of work your way out instead of pointing fingers, 87 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:52.360 you're just you know, you're looking inward and saying everyone 88 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:55.319 can be five percent better in those moments, and and 89 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:58.280 then I think, you know, staying tuned in and engaged 90 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.400 in those critical moments this time of the season is 91 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:03.800 important as well. So I think it really really starts 92 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:08.479 there and improving the mentality and the awareness and the 93 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:11.319 engagement of the group and key moments. And you know, 94 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.759 I think by and large, you know, the defending hasn't 95 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:20.040 or has been pretty positive. But obviously it only takes 96 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:22.240 you know, one goal to kind of undo all that 97 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:22.680 could work. 98 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:25.279 So Pablo jumped on the show I think it was 99 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:28.160 three weeks ago now, and announced that Gavin was going 100 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.519 to be the start of the rest of the way 101 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.160 and he was moving Zach to the backup role. I 102 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:35.720 wanted your thoughts on that and where you're at as 103 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:37.560 the guy that makes the calls on these things, with 104 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:39.759 your confidence level of who's in between the pipes for 105 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:41.160 you guys headed down the stretch. 106 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:45.240 Well, Pablo's you know, Pablo's always the guy who makes 107 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:47.040 a call on these things. You know, I'm not going 108 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:49.319 to tell him who to play. I think it's important 109 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.199 that he has the freedom to make those decisions and 110 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:56.079 obviously can incorporate everyone's opinion, and you know, ultimately he's 111 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.199 got to make a call that he believes in. So 112 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:00.079 you know, that's what's going to continue to happen and 113 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.879 in every position, and people even gave, you know, and 114 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.959 gave a young kid, and you know, everyone makes mistakes. 115 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:08.839 Young players make mistakes, Old players make mistakes, and the 116 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:11.720 the goal or the target is that we learned from them. 117 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:14.160 And so I think that's what we're we're looking at 118 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:16.399 going forward for for not just Gav but you know, 119 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:18.519 all of our young players as we try and develop 120 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.800 you know, young talent here at oursl So I. 121 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.439 May have misspoke. What I meant was you're the guy 122 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.199 that calls the shots on the player acquisition, so you know, 123 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:29.040 when it comes to acquiring the talent that is your 124 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:31.759 h that is your neighborhood. I wonder if you guys 125 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:35.240 considered kicking the tires on bringing a keeper in prior 126 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:37.199 to the end of the summer window based off some 127 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:38.920 of the inconsistencies that we've seen. 128 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:44.279 No, I mean it's something that you know, we didn't 129 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:47.199 really touch on a ton and I think it's you know, 130 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:49.360 Zach's got a lot of experience, and he's been around 131 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:51.959 the league a long time and he's done some really 132 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:53.879 good things for us over the past few years, and 133 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:56.079 you know, gav is a young player that we really 134 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:58.720 believe in, and so we think between the two of 135 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:00.439 those guys, they you know, when we were in the 136 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:02.720 summer window, that they were going to get us through 137 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:04.920 the end of the season. And you know, I think 138 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.160 it's it's hard to not overreact or or react to 139 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.480 to like these acute situations and these acute problems, but 140 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.600 it's also important to keep a medium in a long 141 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:16.519 term view as well. 142 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.079 So I thought it was interesting the way Pablo described 143 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:25.000 So I asked Pablo what Gavin can learn from Zach 144 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:28.399 just based off of the experience gap in the age gap, 145 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:33.920 and Pablo talked about Zach's elite communication ability, So as 146 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.800 far as the way he communicates with the back line, 147 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.759 the way he communicates with his teammates. Is that something 148 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.319 for gab that just comes with age, you think experience, 149 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:44.879 because he is not as outwardly communicative, if that's even 150 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.720 a word, as Zach is. Is that something that he's 151 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.040 getting better at? Is it something that just comes from 152 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.399 you know, age and experience. 153 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:55.439 Give me your thoughts, Yeah, excelling it's a personality component. 154 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:57.800 And you know, I don't think gav is a wallflower 155 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:00.480 by any meanings. So you know, there's certainly a personalment 156 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:03.079 where a guy needs to be you know, more kind 157 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.800 of outspoken just generally and you know, even off the field, 158 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:08.800 to have that communicable aspect to it. But yeah, it 159 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.959 comes with experience, It comes with confidence. You know, it's 160 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.800 always in my time kind of in this game. You know, 161 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.800 you always find players are are better at organizing and 162 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.519 more willing to organize and more effective at it when 163 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:23.600 when they're when they feel good about themselves and their 164 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:25.399 game and what they're doing, and when they don't have 165 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:28.040 to worry about and focus on themselves as much. And 166 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:29.920 so I think as a young player coming into this 167 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:34.480 environment sometimes it's difficult at the outset to communicate and 168 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.920 help everyone else when you know you're trying to obviously, 169 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:41.560 you know, put in a good performance yourself. But as 170 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:44.959 as he gets more comfortable and as he improves performances 171 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.199 and gains that confidence in that environment, then the communication 172 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:51.079 will will certainly grow. And it's not it's not a 173 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.439 situation where Gab doesn't say anything. Obviously, if you look 174 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:56.279 at him, you see you know, communicating quite frequently and 175 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:58.519 yelling and just like you living and doing whatever with 176 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.519 you know, to towards different players, and so I think 177 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.040 it's something that's there and it just needs to grow. 178 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:07.800 And you know, again it's there's the active saying things, 179 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:09.959 and then there's the quality of communication as well, and 180 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:12.519 so the quality of the communication will also improve as 181 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:13.600 as he gained competence. 182 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.399 So I want to now move over to the space 183 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:18.680 and talk about these new players because since it has 184 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.560 been a number of weeks, we can actually be a 185 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:22.879 little bit more specific than we were able to be 186 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:25.680 last conversation because we know who the players are. They're 187 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:28.959 on the ground. So Diogo opens his bank account. That's 188 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.920 a goal. Excuse me, that's a soccer term for all 189 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:34.039 you listeners out there. No big deal soccer knowledge permeating 190 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:37.799 through the mic. But it's very very easy to see 191 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:41.039 what you guys saw in him. I mean, the quality 192 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.919 is there, the skill is there. How's the process going. 193 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.360 What can you tell us about your expectations of Diogo 194 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:49.320 and what he's done so far? It proved to you 195 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:51.120 that he can deliver on those expectations. 196 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.080 Yeah, I think he, like you said, he's got a 197 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:57.120 ton of quality and the soccer knowledge is permeating good stuff. 198 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:57.399 Thank you. 199 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.799 So the quality is there, you know, I think he 200 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:01.679 could add a lot to us in the final third. 201 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:04.039 I think his the quality of his finishing, of his 202 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:08.639 setup passes and set pieces, everything, it'll be there. And 203 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.120 you know, fitting him into the game model and our 204 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:13.440 expectations of it, and you know, the other side of 205 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:15.360 the ball as well, making sure he's doing you know, 206 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:18.240 pressing when and where we wanted to press offensively. Those 207 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.559 are important aspects of it. And so the more he 208 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:23.720 gets comfortable, you know, the better off he'll be. The 209 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:26.519 more we get comfortable playing with him and feeding him 210 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:28.399 and knowing where he's going to be, I think the 211 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.279 more effective he'll be. Obviously it's not taken you know, 212 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:32.720 a ton of time for him to get in the 213 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:35.759 score sheet, which is great. But yeah, he's a guy 214 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:38.720 that the more we use him, the better the results 215 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:39.480 will end up being. 216 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:42.320 So over to Dominic who also opened his account got 217 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:45.440 his first goal, but Kurt, for me, my eye opening, like, 218 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:48.840 oh my holy bleep moment was his run up the 219 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:52.600 right side a couple of weeks ago after a really 220 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:56.679 quality turn and an unbelievable cross to and who scored 221 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:59.879 so We've seen a couple of moments of brilliance from Dominic. 222 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.240 Mark Zuku's being asked to kind of fill the void 223 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:05.240 that's left behind by Andres Gomez. How's this process going? 224 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:10.320 I think the most obvious, like apparent thing from Dominic 225 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:13.720 just watching him and he's adapted or he's adapting pretty quickly, 226 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:19.000 is just the quality and the consistency and reliability of 227 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:24.039 his decision making. And I think he's in a good way, 228 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.519 like can be very predictable in terms of like his 229 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:29.279 teammates know in this situation, Dominic's going to do that. 230 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:31.360 In that situation, Dominic's going to do this, And so 231 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:34.080 it becomes really reliable, and it makes him a really 232 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.840 easy player to play with and to fit in around, 233 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:40.480 whether it's you know, Crooks or Body or Javane or 234 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.799 Brody or Diogo or Chijo or and whoever's playing around him, 235 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:47.600 they kind of they know that, you know, hey, Dom's 236 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:49.759 going to be here in these moments, John Dom's going 237 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.399 to do this when he has the ball, and like 238 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.759 it makes it really easy to play with him and 239 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:57.840 to be effective around him. And you know he mentioned 240 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.320 in the past he played the angel. I mean that 241 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:01.960 was you know, the perfect spot for that ball. I 242 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.200 think if it's a foot you know, too far ahead 243 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:07.600 or foot too far back, that goal doesn't happen. And 244 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.000 he puts it in the perfect spot and just stays 245 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:12.399 on side and it's a great goal. And you know, 246 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.039 obviously cack Off a great run and even his goal 247 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.159 this weekend, you know, get getting on the end of 248 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.480 things in the back post, getting into the box when 249 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:21.600 when the attack comes up the other side is great. 250 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:24.480 And the composure in that moment to take his chance 251 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:27.440 was phenomenal. So and I think he's only you know, 252 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.000 with his call up to the Polish under twenty ones, 253 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.879 he wasn't He actually hasn't even been here as long 254 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:35.159 as the others have been, or as long as it 255 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.320 seems like he has, because he was here for like 256 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.720 ten days and then he had to go back to 257 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:41.120 Poland and come back and you know now he's got 258 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.320 to go back again, probably for the next camp. So 259 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:46.240 you know, he's that's only going to grow, and so 260 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:49.120 to see such good early returns is really exciting. 261 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.919 Over to Lachlan, you know, we haven't seen as many 262 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:56.080 individual snapshots social media highlight moments from him. I'm sure 263 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.279 those will come with time, But how's the process going 264 00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.799 of integrating Locklan Brooke? 265 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:03.879 You know, I mean again, whether he's started or come 266 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:06.600 off the bench, I think he's added a ton of energy, 267 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.559 a ton of work rate. You know, he's one of 268 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:12.039 those guys along with Crooks and and Dominic, Frankly and 269 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.200 Andres when he was here, who lead the team in 270 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.759 numbers like high speed running and sprint distance. And so 271 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:21.679 it really adds a physical element to to our game 272 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:24.600 that we need in terms of our game model and 273 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.120 how we press and defend and what we do attacking. 274 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.440 Why so, he's a guy that you know from that 275 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.840 that pocket on the left will stretch the defense. If 276 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:33.919 he's playing on the right, you know, he's he does 277 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:36.519 a little bit differently than like Gomez or Dominic in 278 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.720 terms of cutting inside a little bit onto his left. 279 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.679 But I think you know, when he's playing one of 280 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:42.559 those ten roles, he gives you a lot. He stretches 281 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:44.879 the defense, he gets on the ball, he can wiggle 282 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:47.440 out of trouble, he can connect passes and be ball secure, 283 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:50.639 and he's been gotten in some good spots in and 284 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:52.720 around the box, and you know, just needs to find 285 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:55.559 the finishing touch. But he's been a I think the 286 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:58.320 word for him, honestly has maybe been reliable. Like he's 287 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.919 he's just been a reliable guy. Can go in and 288 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.559 Pablo asked him to do this, He'll do that, And 289 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:06.039 you know that's that's really what a coach wants when 290 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.279 he's bringing in a new player like that. 291 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:12.000 Javane Brown four games played, a couple of starts as well. 292 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:15.000 Is this a depth piece to the back line. How's 293 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:17.600 this process going? How is he fit in? How's he 294 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:20.200 fitting so far through the four games he's played. 295 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:24.279 Yeah, I mean, look, it's a little competition at that position, 296 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:26.960 and obviously we've seen a couple of different players and 297 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.919 we've seen now I think four players play there this year, 298 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:34.759 between Brody Body and Philip and Javane, And you know, 299 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.679 I think it's they've all been competing with each other. 300 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:39.080 And I think Philip put in a couple of good 301 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:41.360 shifts this week. I think Javane's put in, you know, 302 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.639 one good game and you know, maybe I had a 303 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:47.559 really rough, bad moment the other day, but you know 304 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:51.080 he knows that and is focusing on on trucking those issues. 305 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:53.080 But you know, I think it's just a spot where 306 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.559 we have a lot of competition. And I think you 307 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.879 can take that one of two ways. You can. You 308 00:13:57.919 --> 00:13:59.919 can be a glass at empty guy and say no, 309 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:02.480 what you've taken this position, or you can be glass 310 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.240 that full guy and just say that you know, the 311 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:07.159 competition that we have there is really going to ensure 312 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:09.600 that we have the best guy, who's most informed playing 313 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:11.720 on any given day. And I think you know, it's 314 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.080 one of the things we wanted to do when we 315 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.960 came into the summer window was increase the level of 316 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:19.440 competition we have throughout the team, throughout the group, so 317 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:22.120 that you know, every day in training was a bit 318 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:24.120 of a battle and a bit of a dogfight, and 319 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:26.879 that guys needed to really earn their spots and win 320 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.679 their position on the weekend. And so I think, you know, 321 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:32.399 whether it's right back or you know, number ten or 322 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:34.559 winger or striker or whatever it is, I think we've 323 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.279 been able to create that environment. 324 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:40.679 I wanted to ask you about Anderson Julio today because 325 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.879 of course we're talking about the new players being integrated, 326 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.480 how that process is going, because we're unfamiliar with the 327 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.919 new talent, and everybody loves a new shiny toy. But Kurt, 328 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:53.360 I think his contribution this year has gone under talked 329 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:55.919 about because it feels like you need me to start, 330 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.919 all right, gotcha, You need me to come off the bench, gotcha. 331 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:01.759 And I thought he could be a double digit goal 332 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.960 scorer in this league, but one more goal and he 333 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.440 tallies ten. And it seems like he's really been a 334 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.960 willing teammate and maybe kind of an underrated piece of 335 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.600 who you guys have been this year. Just one of 336 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.320 your thoughts on that. 337 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.840 Yeah, you said it right there, teammate, right, I think 338 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:19.840 he's just been a really good teammate, a good team guy. 339 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:23.080 He's done what's needed, you know, he's done with's ask, 340 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:25.679 and I think he's executing it really well. You know. 341 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:28.480 One of the reasons why we brought him in, you know, 342 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:30.200 way back a couple of years ago when I first 343 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.039 got here, was the element that he brings with his 344 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.919 pace and what that can do to defenses, how he 345 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:38.879 can stretch and create space with his running. And you know, 346 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:41.080 he's been able to add that element to his game. 347 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.519 And man, if he can finish champions like he has 348 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:46.759 been lately, then then credit to him, right, And the 349 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:49.919 more minute he'll get coming from that, so, you know, 350 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:53.440 but it's important that that we're a good team and 351 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.919 not just a collection of good, you know, individuals, And 352 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.399 so having a guy like Ando that we can either 353 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:01.440 bring off the bench you start in games, who, like 354 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:04.360 you said, is just a really good teammate, is you know, 355 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.279 a credit to the team. 356 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.840 All right, before we get tossed and that's the next opponent, 357 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.159 I'll get a thought from you on them. We do 358 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:13.759 need to talk cheat show. And it's impossible to say 359 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.279 that he's had a anything other than a brilliant year 360 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:19.519 with seventeen goals and twelve assists, but as of late, 361 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:22.840 goals haven't been there. And of course the suspension is 362 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.679 the suspension. I don't know how much of that is 363 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:28.600 affecting his play. I don't know if it's getting used 364 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.559 to new teammates. He almost had one over the weekend 365 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.919 we thought he did, and I'm sure he'll be just fine. 366 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:36.799 But what do you attribute the dip? And I guess 367 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:40.639 I'll just stay statistical production from a cheacho over the 368 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.399 past couple of weeks. 369 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:47.200 I think all players can be very I don't know. 370 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.000 I guess rhythm dependent. Maybe rhythm is a good word 371 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.480 for this, where you know, you get in the groove 372 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:54.279 or you get kind of going and you're in a 373 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:57.960 flow and you know, things seem easy, and I think 374 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:00.440 sometimes you know, things come along with it struck that 375 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.879 rhythm that that can have a detrimental effect. And so 376 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.279 whether it was suspension or league cup or injuries or 377 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.359 whatever it was, the last couple of months have been 378 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:13.400 pretty disruptive form and so you know, and it's it's 379 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:16.200 not been the same as maybe the previous two or 380 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.759 three months. Does that mean he's a different player now, No, 381 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:22.559 not at all. It just means, you know, especially as 382 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:26.200 a striker, the confidence needs to get there, the belief, 383 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:28.359 the flow, the rhythm, all that needs to come back. 384 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.359 And you know, it was great he get gets you know, 385 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.519 he gets his assists on the weekend, and I think 386 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:37.960 that's part of the him growing in confidence and getting 387 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.240 back to that player he was and giving us the 388 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:43.400 same things he was given us earlier in the season. So, 389 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.319 you know, strikers even more so than other players, it's 390 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.319 it's really about confidence and flow and rhythm and just 391 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:52.599 getting into groove and kind of you know, being being 392 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.559 ready to compete and perform every game. 393 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:57.640 All right, buddy, before I said you lose, Austin is 394 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:00.400 not out of it. They're not out of it, but 395 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:03.440 it is close. They need to close a seven point 396 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:06.759 gap with four games remaining, so essentially, if they don't 397 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.279 get three, they're cooked. And they're almost cooked anyway. But 398 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.400 of course, the most dangerous animal a cage cornered animal. 399 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:16.400 They have not had the year most people are expecting, 400 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.880 but like I said, they're going to be desperate for 401 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:21.880