WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:04.040 I'm live today, Tim Dolly Infinity forty five, ninety four 2 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:06.719 South State Street. Come on by and say what's up. 3 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:10.119 Home of the Forever Warranty. Would love to meet you today. 4 00:00:10.119 --> 00:00:12.119 We've got a lot to do on this busy Friday. 5 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:15.119 RSL will not play a match this weekend, but they 6 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:18.359 will start their playoff hopefully journey coming up on Tuesday 7 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:22.039 of next week in America, first field against Minnesota. Our 8 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:24.079 next guest joins us from time to time, one of 9 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:26.879 the key decision makers over there, Kurt Schmidt on a 10 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:29.480 Friday afternoon, Kurt, Happy Friday, Sir, how are you? 11 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:31.839 I'm good. I'm good. How are you? 12 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.719 I'm good. I have been training and I'm about six feet. 13 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:38.200 If you need a center back, I think I could 14 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:40.560 probably give you about fifteen or twenty. 15 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:41.320 And then I might need a sub. 16 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.840 Okay, we can, Yeah, we can accommodate that. 17 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:47.479 All right, all right, So what are you gonna do? Man? 18 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:50.920 Let's start on the back line. My understanding is Philip 19 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.000 Quinton it's a hamstring. We thought it might be a concussion, 20 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:57.320 but thankfully it's not. Obviously, Brian Vera and we talked 21 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:01.759 about it. Silliness. You can't do it. Cello hearing isn't fit, 22 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:05.000 So I'm just gonna ask you. Obviously, Jay Glatd has 23 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:07.359 one spot, what are some of the options Pablo has 24 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:08.719 for that other center back slot. 25 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:12.560 Yeah, I mean you went through obviously Vera, you know, 26 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:16.280 vera suspension, Philip picking up that injury late. You know, 27 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.519 another one you missed was Body Hidalgo, who has also 28 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.359 got an injury issue that he's dealing with right now. 29 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:24.480 So you know, look, one of the reasons why we 30 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:28.159 brought you know, Javane Brown in was that he could 31 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.439 play that position, and he and he pinched in there 32 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.040 pretty pretty well for us in the end of that game, 33 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:35.959 and I think that's certainly a spot that he can play. 34 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:38.959 You know, you mentioned Marcelo. Marcello's healthy, you know, he 35 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.840 hasn't played in a while, so certainly mass pickness is 36 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:43.840 an issue there as well. And you know, you've got 37 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.560 Eric Holt who's got a good number of minutes under 38 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:48.799 his belt with Monachs at the end of the season there, 39 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:51.799 so he's got some mass sharkness also. So there's still 40 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.959 a good amount of guys that are competing for that spot. 41 00:01:56.319 --> 00:01:59.079 Okay, all right, what did tell me from your vantage point, 42 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:00.000 and I was at the vane. 43 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:01.439 Always great to see you. 44 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:05.319 After Philip went down, What do you make of the 45 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:08.639 way Pablo handled You're gonna have to correct me or 46 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:11.599 I think he moved to Meccha to right back, moved 47 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:15.280 Brown over next to Jay Glad, and then put in 48 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:20.159 Nelson maybe at central defensive n I think those were 49 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:21.840 the switches, Kurt, I believe, So. 50 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.680 Tell me what you made of the way Pablo handled that. 51 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:26.680 Yeah, Nelson came in the middle, and Mecha went to 52 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:28.840 right back, where he played a lot of minutes last year, 53 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.919 and then Javane came over to the left, you know. 54 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:34.199 And I think it was something that the staff had 55 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:37.240 discussed even prior to the game, just to be prepared 56 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.479 for these types of situations, and that was that was 57 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:42.680 helpful in taking I think a lot of the emotion 58 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:45.080 out of the decision that they needed. 59 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:45.840 To make in the moment. 60 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.280 You know, they had a plan, which was great, and 61 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.520 I think it was just about getting who we felt 62 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.639 were the best eleven or the most inform eleven guys 63 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.840 on the field the same time. So you know, Mecca's 64 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:00.439 obviously played right back in the past, not a lot 65 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:03.439 this year, but the ceiling with Nelson played really well. 66 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:05.719 So if we can get Nelson in the game and 67 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:08.479 then you know, push a Mecca into another position he's 68 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:11.080 comfortable with that, that would be a better group of 69 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:11.919 players in the field. 70 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:15.719 Tell me from the vantage point of the front office 71 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.599 and you know, the guy in your seed that makes 72 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:21.240 a lot of these decisions, frame the context of what 73 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:23.319 it means, if it means anything. I think it does 74 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:27.120 of setting a single team, single season record for points 75 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:28.400 with fifty nine this year. 76 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:32.240 Kurt, I think it's something that the whole group should 77 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.759 be really proud of, you know. And it's it's a 78 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:37.199 little bit typicalt right now to take. 79 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:39.719 That pause and you know and look back. 80 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.520 Because we still have the playoffs in front of us 81 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.039 and we want to we want to put together a 82 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:46.719 good run there and and try to win the trophy 83 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.199 that we value the most. But you know, when you 84 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:51.520 look back at the season, yeah, fifty nine points is 85 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:55.120 is a big milestone for the club, and it's you know, 86 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:57.439 it's a new it's a new target for us to 87 00:03:57.479 --> 00:03:59.080 try and surpass again in the future. 88 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:00.759 Okay. 89 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:03.960 Also, I'll be interested in your thoughts here because you know, 90 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:06.400 we have Jason on the show and then trying to 91 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.199 catch up with Jason a little bit off Mike two. 92 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.479 I'll let Jason speak for himself. I won't speak for him. 93 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:14.560 But it's a six game unbeaten run, okay, heading into 94 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:17.079 the postseason, and there's certainly some things to look at 95 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:19.360 as far as a few clean sheets here there after 96 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.399 really giving away points. I mean, I know that is 97 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:24.319 you know, it's a tough thing to swallow, but you 98 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:26.759 guys let some points on the table with some silly mistakes, 99 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:29.279 as we talked about. Feels like that's been cleaned up 100 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:32.959 a little bit. So it's six games unbeaten heading into 101 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.079 the playoffs, which is great, But how would you articulate 102 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:36.879 the type of. 103 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:39.920 Form you believe you're in right now over the last 104 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:41.160 six heading into the playoffs. 105 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.279 You know, I'd love to be undefeated and you know, 106 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:47.800 win every game, but that's not going to happen. So 107 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.000 I look at it and say, you know, like you said, 108 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:54.759 six game unbeaten, playoffs, Soccer and playoffs and maybe a 109 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:59.600 lot of sports isn't always sometimes the pinnacle of you know, 110 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:01.920 the beat a full game, and you need to find 111 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:04.079 a way to get results and be the last man standing. 112 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:06.000 So I look at some of the games and the 113 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:08.560 results that we've gotten, whether they're you know, the draws or. 114 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.040 The wins, and and even though. 115 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.600 They weren't maybe as planned or as we've got those 116 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:18.839 results earlier in the season, our ability to kind of 117 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.800 manufacture goals, to manufacture results and got some of those 118 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:25.519 games out, I think is something that we need. That's 119 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:28.199 the tool we need in our box for for the playoffs. 120 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:31.160 And so I'm happy that we've got that or we've 121 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.240 shown that ability, and we've honed a little bit of 122 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.839 that as well as some of the other stuff that 123 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:37.680 we've done earlier in the season. So we've got a 124 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.519 lot in our in our favor going forward. 125 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:42.839 Little soccer analysis coming at you. Chie Cho is a 126 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.199 guy that you need to score goals. 127 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:46.480 There you go. You can take notes if you'd like 128 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:47.759 it and share it with the group. 129 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:52.079 But ultimately, Kurt, I've heard more than a few people 130 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:55.639 say they feel like he's playing well without finding the 131 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:58.399 back of the net. Do you concur with that assessment, 132 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.560 because obviously you're gonna need him to look like he 133 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:03.160 did when you guys ripped off that fifteen game on 134 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:06.439 Beaten Street. To make serious waves in the postseason. So 135 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:08.319 where are you at right now with your number nine. 136 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.959 Yeah, goals are the hardest, most important thing to do. 137 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:16.480 In our game, right, They're very rare. 138 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.319 That's why, you know, that's why our game can be dramatic, 139 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.399 and that's why sometimes you know, an upset can happen 140 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:27.720 in those types of things, and they're also it's also 141 00:06:27.720 --> 00:06:30.439 why we invented things like expected goals and those types 142 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.399 of things, because goals are sometimes too rare to really 143 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.560 quantify everything that's going on. And you know, I think 144 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:40.920 obviously Chico, you know, has shown up profens he scored 145 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.720 a lot of goals, and that's why he's he's leaving 146 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:45.600 the line for us in those big games. 147 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:47.399 But there's going to be. 148 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:50.160 Games for him or any striker or any player where yeah, 149 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:53.480 you're playing well, but that that final thing, that final action, 150 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:56.439 that goal is not quite falling yet. And so I 151 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.959 think as long as he's creating chances, making himself think, 152 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.519 and you're sitting around the box, then I mean we 153 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:03.959 know it's going to come. He's too good of a 154 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.399 player to go too long without scoring goals. He's doing 155 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:10.399 everything else that we're asking of him. And that's what 156 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:12.279 he's doing right now, and he is the last few 157 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:13.120 performances have. 158 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:15.360 Been have been really good. 159 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:17.319 From him, and he's led the line, he's led the press, 160 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:19.720 he's worked hard, he stretched the defense, and those are 161 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.360 things we want from him apart from him scoring goals, 162 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.120 and so we know that if he's doing everything else 163 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:25.519 we're asking, those goals will come. 164 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.519 How much of the goal is, you know, streak now 165 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.800 the current situation where it's just been dry for a 166 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:35.560 bit was losing Ondris. I don't know how many of 167 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:40.040 Chico's goals were assisted by Gomez. I'm sure Trey has it, 168 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:43.519 but certainly those two formed a very dangerous partnership and 169 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:47.720 Gomez was responsible for twenty two goals in twenty three games. 170 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:51.240 And we've already talked about the transaction. Totally get it, 171 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:55.199 and it's a win for the club by every measurable metric, 172 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.519 But it does seem like and look, maybe it just 173 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:01.120 takes time to get used to go and maybe it 174 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:04.079 just takes time to get used to Mark Zuo can. 175 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.360 The new players who are here. 176 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:08.720 But how much of Chicho suddenly just not scoring goals 177 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:10.240 for a while do you think has to do with 178 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.519 maybe Andres not being here or attend to that, just 179 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.839 getting used to new teammates. 180 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:18.000 Yeah, I mean it could be a lot of things. 181 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.079 I think that's like the most obvious thing to key 182 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:23.439 in on. But you know, there's any any little detail 183 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:25.639 I think can go into this in effect, you know, 184 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.800 whether or not the ball goes in or doesn't, or 185 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:30.240 whether a shot gets off or doesn't. And I think 186 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:34.919 Andreas was another weapon in his own right and certainly 187 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:37.559 stuck in the field with you know, his own sort 188 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:40.480 of I guess gravity you could call it, where defenders 189 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:42.720 and teams had to pay attention to him, which maybe 190 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:43.639 he gave teach. 191 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:45.720 You a little more freedom to move. And when we 192 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:47.159 bring in new guys. 193 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:49.960 And they don't instantly have that because they haven't quite 194 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:52.879 shown that yet, but as they settle in, as Diego 195 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:55.639 continues to get minsuner belt and don you know, continues 196 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:58.799 to get Minisunder's belt, Diego you know, rounding into form 197 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:02.240 and obviously Kirk being dangerous as well like that, those 198 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:06.919 guys will will create that as well in Andreas's absence, 199 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:09.080 and I think they'll pick up the slack and you know, 200 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:12.720 everyone the term gel always comes to mind, and teams 201 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.879 need to gel and obviously when we add two new 202 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:19.600 players into the attack, it's not going to maybe be instantaneous. 203 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:22.080 But I think it's coming along and we've seen some 204 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:24.720 real promising signs the last handful of games. 205 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:27.559 Well, sorry for honing in on the most obvious portion 206 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.799 of the situation. 207 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.279 Kurt, My bad. I'll be better and dig a little 208 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:33.720 bit deeper. All right. 209 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:38.120 So your favorite day yesterday where the MLSPA releases salary figures. 210 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.759 I know you love that, so you know, to put 211 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:43.279 a little context around what you and you got, your 212 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:45.879 group has done in the front office, and of course 213 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:48.679 ownership always deserves their piece of the credit as well. 214 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:52.120 Sixth overall in the shield race this year. I know 215 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.000 at one point you're in the conversation b maybe atop 216 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:57.879 the table. But things happen and suspensions, injuries, we know 217 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:01.080 the deal. But according to the figures I have in 218 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:03.279 front of me, you were twentieth of twenty nine teams 219 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:06.399 and overall spend yet six in the overall shield race 220 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:08.080 and one of the top you know, six or seven 221 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:09.279 favorites to win the whole thing? 222 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:10.200 Does that? 223 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:10.799 What is it? 224 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:11.240 What does that? 225 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:12.120 Do you know? 226 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.039 When I say that What does that indicate about the 227 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.159 job you guys have done when you're not spending as 228 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.679 much money as some of these other teams. 229 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.879 Yeah, I think, you know, that's that's obviously the salary list, 230 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:26.360 and certainly there's another monetary spend that comes into it 231 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:29.440 from ownership, and that's the acquisition fees. And you know, 232 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.360 if you add those into to those figures, I think 233 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.320 we move up maybe a few spots. I don't think 234 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.480 we shoot up the entire list. If you look at 235 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:39.399 what every team has spent on transfer fees or loan 236 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:44.080 fees for their current squad, how's constructed. But it's just 237 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.799 been really it's been a real positive I think for 238 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:52.200 to see the level of investment from ownership in salaries, 239 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:55.720 you know, for guys like Chicho and Diogo and obviously 240 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:57.519 you know Glad and Kruks who are up there as well, 241 00:10:57.559 --> 00:10:59.879 and then the transfer fees as well. So you know, 242 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:03.120 Dominic Marzuk obviously cost us the money to bring in, 243 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:05.559 so did the Ogo, you know, so de Andreas and 244 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:08.000 we brought him in. Nelson O hate of these guys. 245 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.360 So the level of investment required to bring in those 246 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.360 quality players is a huge, is a huge positive, and 247 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:17.399 you know, as long as we can continue to make 248 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:20.279 good decisions to find some young players that we can 249 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.720 develop and hopefully produce those transfer fees on the back end, 250 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:26.159 we want to keep that going obviously going forward. 251 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.159 So put it into context a little bit for those 252 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:32.080 not familiar, and I certainly was not familiar with concor 253 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:36.639 CALF until we qualified back in twenty ten, I think, 254 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:39.799 and had a really entertaining home and home with I 255 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.879 want to say it was Monterey. 256 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:43.039 I'm getting old. That was a long time ago. It 257 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:45.960 could be wrong. Umberto Suazo scored. 258 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:48.159 The series clinching goal and then there was a great 259 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:50.200 Conca CAF run and so I've become a little bit 260 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:53.159 more familiar with it. It's a really exciting tournament as a 261 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:55.240 result of locking in a top three seed. 262 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:57.759 I believe it will be in February, or maybe we. 263 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:01.360 Find out the schedule before where it's the CALF Champions Cup. 264 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:04.120 What does that mean for the club? 265 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:07.559 Unpack kind of the dynamics of that qualification and what 266 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.879 it will do for you guys. 267 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:12.240 Yeah, it's a whole new competition obviously where we get 268 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.200 to compete against the best teams in the region. Right, 269 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:19.080 So obviously North America, US and Canada, obviously Mexico, and 270 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:23.240 then the Central America countries Underaus, Costa Rica, places like that, 271 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:25.759 where we can compete against some of the top clubs 272 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:28.639 from those from those countries, and it's just a real 273 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:32.200 good it's a real good way to obviously expand our horizons, 274 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:35.440 but also to grow our club and our brand and 275 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:37.519 become a big club. And if you want to be 276 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:39.519 a big club, you've got to got to win things, 277 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:42.320 and you've got to be in competitions like this to 278 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:45.519 show yourself and prove yourself against that type of competition. 279 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.840 So yeah, round one, it looks like eleven home and 280 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:53.960 away series will be played in February. When when do 281 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.840 you have any idea when you guys will find out 282 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:59.639 the matchup and kind of where you're slotted the draws I. 283 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:02.279 Believe to tenth and then they that's when we'll know 284 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:06.720 the opponent, and then obviously the schedule as well, the 285 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.759 earliest games or the beginning of February, the later games 286 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:13.000 in the first round or the end of February. So 287 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:16.840 I think we'll at least have won probably one game 288 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:20.360 under our belt before the actual MLF season gets underway, 289 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.360 and it'll have some impact on like our preseason start 290 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.120 date and stuff like that. If we start a couple 291 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.279 of weeks earlier than the season, we might start preseason 292 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.639 a couple weeks earlier. But yeah, we hope to see 293 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:33.200 some of that stuff coming out soon. 294 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:35.480 So the year end awards were announced. 295 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.159 I don't know how much this moves the needle for 296 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.879 a guy like you, but I am curious to get 297 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.720 your opinion on the award that is named after your father. 298 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:45.840 The Ziggy Schmidt MLS Coach of the Year finalists Chris Armis. 299 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.320 I guess this was decided a few weeks ago because 300 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:52.159 they've been not great as of late. The Tatto Martino 301 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:54.759 thing has given me some Phil Jackson vibes when you 302 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:57.480 coached Michael Jordan, and then Shaq and Kobe, but hey. 303 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.879 It's inter Miami, so I get it. 304 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:02.159 And then the coach from the Columbus crew, Wilfred Nancy. 305 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:05.080 Those are your three. Am I being a homer. 306 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:07.480 When I say that maybe Pablo should be on the 307 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:10.840 list to the award that I was named after your pops? 308 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:14.039 No, No, I don't think you're being a homer at all. 309 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.159 I think it's you know, it's one of these awards, 310 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.639 like like the MVP Award, where you can have a 311 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:24.080 pretty spirited debate about about the criteria and what it 312 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.879 means to be the coach of the year, you know, 313 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.519 and like you said, you know, Todd to Martinez come 314 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:31.639 in and you know, it's not surprising that Miami's finished 315 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.960 where they finished, given the quality of players they have, 316 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:36.720 and and you say, well, you know, what what did 317 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.200 he do and how much did he do and how 318 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:41.200 hard was that compared with you know, someone like Armis 319 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:44.960 or Wilfred or Pablo like you mentioned, And often, you know, 320 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:46.440 there's a lot of times where they look at a 321 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.240 team that kind of did. 322 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.440 A you know, a worse worse the. 323 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:53.360 First or you know, a bottom two near near the 324 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:57.120 top kind of performance and sort of defies expectations. So 325 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:59.919 it really just depends on kind of how you first 326 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.120 to find that award. And you know, it's I think 327 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:06.399 it's someone that is a is a a top coach, 328 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:08.200 someone that's proven it that they can do it in 329 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.879 a couple of different situations and the job that they've 330 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:14.639 done over this season is impressive, and so an impressive 331 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:16.200 job could be taking a team that wasn't in the 332 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:18.480 playoffs last year and getting them in the playoffs. But 333 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:23.480 equally impressive is keeping, you know, managing a talented group 334 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:27.919 of players throughout the year and rotations and still achieving 335 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:30.799 results at a high level like both Columbus and Miami. House. 336 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:34.519 Well, let's hone in on the award where we have 337 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:37.240 a little bit of local representation, and I think and 338 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:39.840 we had him on the show and he's a delightful 339 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:44.000 kid to interview. Diego Luna right now might be in 340 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.840 my opinion, Kurt, I know you don't want to sing 341 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.600 anybody out, but he might be in the best form 342 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.960 of anyone right now. And of course scoring goals always helps. 343 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.480 The strike he had where he actually didn't score against 344 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:58.519 Vancouver after like three stepovers was almost as impressive as 345 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.120 the goal, which was incredible. Well for the second straight week, 346 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:03.679 but we have Diego up for the Young Player of 347 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:08.039 the Year. It looks like Diego Gomez from Miami who's 348 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.360 now on his way to Bourne Mouth for a fifteen 349 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.639 I think it's fifteen mil if I'm reading that correctly. 350 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.360 So a nice little. 351 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:16.320 Chunk of change for an organization that doesn't need it. 352 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:20.120 But okay, okay, thank you, Thank you. So give me 353 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:22.399 your thoughts on where we are with Diego right now, 354 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.320 his form and you think he's got a shot at 355 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:24.879 winning this thing. 356 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:28.679 Yeah, I look, I thought Diego Luna should have should 357 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:32.440 have won quote unquote or been ranked first in the 358 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.559 twenty two hundred twenty two list which the league puts 359 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.159 out as well. 360 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.159 And you know, the Young Player of the Year. 361 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:40.519 I think is slightly different criteria because I think I'm 362 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.720 various Gomez had he still been here, would have been 363 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:45.279 up for Young Player of the Year, but not not 364 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.279 twenty two hundred and twenty two. But I think, you know, 365 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.759 I think Diego should have should have been number one 366 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:53.159 in that given the amount of minutes he's put in 367 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:55.440 this year in his production. And I you know, I 368 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.159 feel the same way about this award. I think you're 369 00:16:58.200 --> 00:17:01.360 hard pressed to find a young player that contributed as 370 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:05.440 much to his team's success and and you know, contribute 371 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:09.200 as much to a successful team success as as Diego has. 372 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:13.839 This year they give away MLS Assistant Referee. 373 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.839 Of the Year awards. What what do we do? Okay, 374 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.680 Who's gonna win that? 375 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.119 Is it? 376 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:19.400 Kyle Atkins, Logan Brown or Jeremy Hanson. 377 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:23.079 Oh man, I you know, I let the coaching staff, 378 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.480 you know, vote on that one, right, they get to 379 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:27.759 pick the guy they dislike the least. 380 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:29.079 I guess I don't know that's fair. 381 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.119 I couldn't pick them. I couldn't pick one of those 382 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.000 guys out of a lineup. 383 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.759 So yeah, well that's that's a waste of time. 384 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:36.599 Stop stop making these people feel better about themselves when 385 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:39.160 they do such a horrific job. Rant over all, Right, Kurt, 386 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.640 I want to move over here because I think you're 387 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.359 gonna be really this. 388 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.519 I'm really interested in. 389 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:46.880 Asking this because Pablo last week prior to the Vancouver game, 390 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.759 hopped on the show and I basically said, look, as 391 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:52.680 a result of the scheduling, uh, you know, chaos and 392 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:56.119 some clusters here there three you know, three games in 393 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.960 one week, over and over because of League's Cup and 394 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:02.400 then players coming in going international duty, suspension, injuries, what 395 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:02.799 have you. 396 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:06.759 He's had to get creative with his lineups. And so last. 397 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:10.000 Week, you know, assuming as close to full health as possible. 398 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:13.079 You referenced body earlier, and obviously Vera not available. He'll 399 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:16.599 be back for the second leg against Minnesota. I asked Pablo, 400 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.920 we're going to see basically a first choice eleven, and 401 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.920