May 29, 2025 • 9 mins
Miguel Gallardo is a studio host for Apple TV's MLS Season Pass. He joined us to discuss FC Cincinnati.
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Instagram too: @MoEgger
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is ESPN fifteen thirty. M oegar.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
FC Cincinnati in the middle of a stretch of three
matches in seven days. The lost to Atlanta started it
on Sunday, the three to three draw last night against Dallas.
Lucho Acosta continued it. They are right back at home.
On Saturday night, DC United in town that match at
seven thirty. You could watch it on MLS Season Pass
(00:26):
on Apple TV. Miguel Gaiardo is an MLS three sixty
analyst for MLS Season Pass. You see him on the
Spanish broadcast of that show and does a terrific job.
Kind enough to join us this afternoon, Miguel, I thought
I was going to be in a better mood about
eight thirty last night when FC Cincinnati was up to
nothing on Dallas. That is a bad draw at home.
(00:48):
It was too zip and it felt like it was
a much more lopsided game. To come away with just
one point as disappointing.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Hey, Malo, thanks for having me, and I agree with
you one hundred percent. I mean, this was a game
where SE Cincinnati was highly favorite to win the match,
especially being at home. Yes, you could argue there's a
little bit of that morbid element of Luto Costa coming
back to where he had so much success, where he
won MVP, where he brought supporter shield after so many
(01:17):
years of sadness, truly to the Secincinnati supporters. But look,
I think Secincinnati has shunto, has some defensive deficiencies. I
think not having Miasga. I don't think Robinson also is
in his best moment. I think that's coming back to
hurt them. And I don't know if you remember last
year when they were one of the candidates to take
(01:38):
the whole thing. They suffered some injuries. Ni Oscar was out,
Hagland was out, Robinson was out. They went out there
and got Hadybi, they went out there and got Awazi,
and I remember Powell was playing as a center back
when he's usually a right back, and all the issues
started to come. I just wonder if those little shoes
(02:00):
are starting to creep into uh into Pat Noonan's head.
Just some bad memories of last year. They didn't have
any issues going forward, but they had issues defensively. That's
seven goals they conceded in the last two games, and
against teams that going into the match you wouldn't expect
them to score that easily on you.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, And I think what's frustrating about that is I
think of a lot a lot of us, if you
go back just three weeks ago, we were wondering how
do they get more goals? How do they how do
they generate more offense? And I don't know that they
have solved that problem, but it feels like that's trending
in the right direction. It's like playing the game of
whack a mole. Okay, you're starting to solve this and
now there's a major issue with the defensive side.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, listen, I think they invested well and Kevin Denk,
You've got a nice, nice quote of goals and obviously
Evander is a proven player. Uh, those guys are going
to get get goals. Are they going to get goals collectively?
Are they going to get goals through combination play or
some nice sequences? I do own thing, so honestly, I
(03:01):
think the goal that they get is through individual in
the individual brilliance. I think there's a big expectations to Evander.
He has big shoes to fail. He has to replace
Lucia Acosta, who did some wonderful things there. And I
applaud the front office from Scincinnati because they could have
not made any changes and they were still going to
(03:22):
be a competitive team. But they made a big investment
in bringing Evander and Denky, who they believe are going
to be the two players that are going to take
them from a great team to a team that is
going to win a championship. And so I think the
entire season, it doesn't matter where they are on the table,
there's always going to be that pressure in Evander to
be like, Okay, they invested more than ten million dollars
(03:44):
in myself, I have to turn in a trophy. And
I don't know if I'm seeing the best chemistry. I
don't know if I'm seeing an Evander that plays free.
I'm seeing an Evanda that scores great goals. My biggest
question with him is when it gets tough, when the
team is up against the wall, is he going to
have the leadership? Is he going to have that know
(04:05):
how of taking the game by the scruff of the
neck and changing the game. Because last year with Portland,
he had one of the best teams in the league,
multiple players with fourteen goals and above, yet they were
humiliated in the playoffs and he was nowhere to be found.
That is my concern with the SEC Cincinnati team. Is
he going to turn up in the big moment and
(04:25):
kid pat Noonan solve the defensive problems through all the
injuries that they're having.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I agree with everything you just said, and I should
because you're the expert. I think the troubling thing is
you could swap out Evander for Luco Acosta. We were
saying the same things last year.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Listen, I don't. I am a believer that when people
say that Evander is a better player than Lucha a Costa,
I say, show me some tangible evidence that he is.
Because Luca a Costa was in the highest percentile of dribbling.
They had similar number of goals, they had similar number
of assists. Yet Luca Costa has accomplished more as individually
(05:07):
and also with his team, and Evander hasn't. Evander shows
flashes of incredible talent, Don't get me wrong. I think
it's one of the most time to players that would
come to MRS. But collectively, can he really put a
team on his back and make things happen? And we
won't know the answer to that until the end of
the season because the only way that this investment is
(05:28):
worth it is that they win a championship, because they
already did it with the other guy, who, by the way,
was booed and the stadium, which took me by surprise
to be honest, but then I remember, well, he said
some not so nice things when he left. I can
understand it of why the fans may have booted him.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I could understand that. I wouldn't have done it. I
thought the body of work here was too good. But
I can't blame anybody, I guess for feeling that way
from your perspective, because I do think this season he
has played, he has been at his best. We've seen
Roman san Latana do some great things in goalkeeper for Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Admittedly the recent performances.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Haven't been his best, but I do think at times
this year he has belled out this team.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That being the position you played.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Give me your thoughts on one of the best goalkeepers
in Major League soccer.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Yeah, I would agree. I think first of all, they
did came out of nowhere right three years ago. Who
the healthy and where did he come from? And ironically enough,
one of my buddies who was a goalkeeper coach, he
runs an academy out of California, and really he does
camcel over the world. I remember him posting this boy
as he thought he was going to be he was
going to be a wonderful player through his college career
(06:45):
and everything, and then I see him pop up playing
with SC Cincinnati, like that's crazy, and he's had some
nods with the US men national team. I do think
he's got a lot of talent. I don't think he's
the issue at all. I think he's a goalkeeper that
can listen. I think he'll make a mistake here and there.
That's normal, but I think more often than not, he'll
make a safe to keep you in the game. I
think I don't think he is the issue. I think
(07:06):
the issue is the players in front of him. I
don't know if you agree with me, but even Miyaska
coming back from his injury, I don't. I didn't see
the same Nyaska I saw last year. In the beginning.
He lacked a little bit of speed and a little
bit of rhythm. That was manifested in the game against
Chicago Fire when both him and Robinson get absolutely burnt
(07:29):
and I was like, WHOA that is telling And and
like I said, I also his leadership. I think it's
very important in the ASGA. I just don't don't don't
see Robinson, if he's healthy and Nyaska is not back soon,
that he can be the player that can calm things
down in the back. I have to think that it
(07:49):
has to be an area of concern for pattern And
the other thing I would say is are they going
to find the best position for Orejano because Oriano was
incredible last year when lucher Costa was suspended. He has
a couple of injuries. Odiano was fantastic. I don't know
what's happening with him. Because we saw Blahim in a
(08:12):
double can. We started seeing him as a right wing
back and he bent yelling. This weekend he started as
a left wing back, which I saw some really nice things.
But I also think both to the goals from Atlanta
from FC Dallas were directly U you know, he was
kind of responsible for the goals. On one, the fullback
he's completely fALS asleep the guy runs past him. On
(08:33):
the other one, he has a really soft tackle inside
the box and then he's static when Petar Mussa wins
the ball. So I don't know that we are seeing
the best version of Oregiano either. I think Pina has
a nice challenge there to make sure that one he
feels important enough, because put yourself in on the janow shoes.
(08:54):
He was Lucha Costa and the Jano had a beautiful relationship.
They were the two best players. And suddenly you take
away his friend and you bring the player who you
are told is one of the best players in the league,
and then you bring a record signing. And what's his place? Now?
How does he feel and what you know? What sort
(09:14):
of role does he have within the team, not just
in the tactical sense, but in the leadership sense.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Awesome stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Well, we'll be watching Saturday night FC Cincinnati versus DC United.
Hopefully the Orange and Blue can get three points on
home Miguel, awesome to have you, great analysis.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Love have you soon, man, Thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
You got a ticket
This is ESPN fifteen thirty. M oegar.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
FC Cincinnati in the middle of a stretch of three
matches in seven days. The lost to Atlanta started it
on Sunday, the three to three draw last night against Dallas.
Lucho Acosta continued it. They are right back at home.
On Saturday night, DC United in town that match at
seven thirty. You could watch it on MLS Season Pass
(00:26):
on Apple TV. Miguel Gaiardo is an MLS three sixty
analyst for MLS Season Pass. You see him on the
Spanish broadcast of that show and does a terrific job.
Kind enough to join us this afternoon, Miguel, I thought
I was going to be in a better mood about
eight thirty last night when FC Cincinnati was up to
nothing on Dallas. That is a bad draw at home.
(00:48):
It was too zip and it felt like it was
a much more lopsided game. To come away with just
one point as disappointing.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Hey, Malo, thanks for having me, and I agree with
you one hundred percent. I mean, this was a game
where SE Cincinnati was highly favorite to win the match,
especially being at home. Yes, you could argue there's a
little bit of that morbid element of Luto Costa coming
back to where he had so much success, where he
won MVP, where he brought supporter shield after so many
(01:17):
years of sadness, truly to the Secincinnati supporters. But look,
I think Secincinnati has shunto, has some defensive deficiencies. I
think not having Miasga. I don't think Robinson also is
in his best moment. I think that's coming back to
hurt them. And I don't know if you remember last
year when they were one of the candidates to take
(01:38):
the whole thing. They suffered some injuries. Ni Oscar was out,
Hagland was out, Robinson was out. They went out there
and got Hadybi, they went out there and got Awazi,
and I remember Powell was playing as a center back
when he's usually a right back, and all the issues
started to come. I just wonder if those little shoes
(02:00):
are starting to creep into uh into Pat Noonan's head.
Just some bad memories of last year. They didn't have
any issues going forward, but they had issues defensively. That's
seven goals they conceded in the last two games, and
against teams that going into the match you wouldn't expect
them to score that easily on you.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, And I think what's frustrating about that is I
think of a lot a lot of us, if you
go back just three weeks ago, we were wondering how
do they get more goals? How do they how do
they generate more offense? And I don't know that they
have solved that problem, but it feels like that's trending
in the right direction. It's like playing the game of
whack a mole. Okay, you're starting to solve this and
now there's a major issue with the defensive side.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, listen, I think they invested well and Kevin Denk,
You've got a nice, nice quote of goals and obviously
Evander is a proven player. Uh, those guys are going
to get get goals. Are they going to get goals collectively?
Are they going to get goals through combination play or
some nice sequences? I do own thing, so honestly, I
(03:01):
think the goal that they get is through individual in
the individual brilliance. I think there's a big expectations to Evander.
He has big shoes to fail. He has to replace
Lucia Acosta, who did some wonderful things there. And I
applaud the front office from Scincinnati because they could have
not made any changes and they were still going to
(03:22):
be a competitive team. But they made a big investment
in bringing Evander and Denky, who they believe are going
to be the two players that are going to take
them from a great team to a team that is
going to win a championship. And so I think the
entire season, it doesn't matter where they are on the table,
there's always going to be that pressure in Evander to
be like, Okay, they invested more than ten million dollars
(03:44):
in myself, I have to turn in a trophy. And
I don't know if I'm seeing the best chemistry. I
don't know if I'm seeing an Evander that plays free.
I'm seeing an Evanda that scores great goals. My biggest
question with him is when it gets tough, when the
team is up against the wall, is he going to
have the leadership? Is he going to have that know
(04:05):
how of taking the game by the scruff of the
neck and changing the game. Because last year with Portland,
he had one of the best teams in the league,
multiple players with fourteen goals and above, yet they were
humiliated in the playoffs and he was nowhere to be found.
That is my concern with the SEC Cincinnati team. Is
he going to turn up in the big moment and
(04:25):
kid pat Noonan solve the defensive problems through all the
injuries that they're having.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I agree with everything you just said, and I should
because you're the expert. I think the troubling thing is
you could swap out Evander for Luco Acosta. We were
saying the same things last year.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Listen, I don't. I am a believer that when people
say that Evander is a better player than Lucha a Costa,
I say, show me some tangible evidence that he is.
Because Luca a Costa was in the highest percentile of dribbling.
They had similar number of goals, they had similar number
of assists. Yet Luca Costa has accomplished more as individually
(05:07):
and also with his team, and Evander hasn't. Evander shows
flashes of incredible talent, Don't get me wrong. I think
it's one of the most time to players that would
come to MRS. But collectively, can he really put a
team on his back and make things happen? And we
won't know the answer to that until the end of
the season because the only way that this investment is
(05:28):
worth it is that they win a championship, because they
already did it with the other guy, who, by the way,
was booed and the stadium, which took me by surprise
to be honest, but then I remember, well, he said
some not so nice things when he left. I can
understand it of why the fans may have booted him.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I could understand that. I wouldn't have done it. I
thought the body of work here was too good. But
I can't blame anybody, I guess for feeling that way
from your perspective, because I do think this season he
has played, he has been at his best. We've seen
Roman san Latana do some great things in goalkeeper for Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Admittedly the recent performances.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Haven't been his best, but I do think at times
this year he has belled out this team.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That being the position you played.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Give me your thoughts on one of the best goalkeepers
in Major League soccer.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Yeah, I would agree. I think first of all, they
did came out of nowhere right three years ago. Who
the healthy and where did he come from? And ironically enough,
one of my buddies who was a goalkeeper coach, he
runs an academy out of California, and really he does
camcel over the world. I remember him posting this boy
as he thought he was going to be he was
going to be a wonderful player through his college career
(06:45):
and everything, and then I see him pop up playing
with SC Cincinnati, like that's crazy, and he's had some
nods with the US men national team. I do think
he's got a lot of talent. I don't think he's
the issue at all. I think he's a goalkeeper that
can listen. I think he'll make a mistake here and there.
That's normal, but I think more often than not, he'll
make a safe to keep you in the game. I
think I don't think he is the issue. I think
(07:06):
the issue is the players in front of him. I
don't know if you agree with me, but even Miyaska
coming back from his injury, I don't. I didn't see
the same Nyaska I saw last year. In the beginning.
He lacked a little bit of speed and a little
bit of rhythm. That was manifested in the game against
Chicago Fire when both him and Robinson get absolutely burnt
(07:29):
and I was like, WHOA that is telling And and
like I said, I also his leadership. I think it's
very important in the ASGA. I just don't don't don't
see Robinson, if he's healthy and Nyaska is not back soon,
that he can be the player that can calm things
down in the back. I have to think that it
(07:49):
has to be an area of concern for pattern And
the other thing I would say is are they going
to find the best position for Orejano because Oriano was
incredible last year when lucher Costa was suspended. He has
a couple of injuries. Odiano was fantastic. I don't know
what's happening with him. Because we saw Blahim in a
(08:12):
double can. We started seeing him as a right wing
back and he bent yelling. This weekend he started as
a left wing back, which I saw some really nice things.
But I also think both to the goals from Atlanta
from FC Dallas were directly U you know, he was
kind of responsible for the goals. On one, the fullback
he's completely fALS asleep the guy runs past him. On
(08:33):
the other one, he has a really soft tackle inside
the box and then he's static when Petar Mussa wins
the ball. So I don't know that we are seeing
the best version of Oregiano either. I think Pina has
a nice challenge there to make sure that one he
feels important enough, because put yourself in on the janow shoes.
(08:54):
He was Lucha Costa and the Jano had a beautiful relationship.
They were the two best players. And suddenly you take
away his friend and you bring the player who you
are told is one of the best players in the league,
and then you bring a record signing. And what's his place? Now?
How does he feel and what you know? What sort
(09:14):
of role does he have within the team, not just
in the tactical sense, but in the leadership sense.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Awesome stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Well, we'll be watching Saturday night FC Cincinnati versus DC United.
Hopefully the Orange and Blue can get three points on
home Miguel, awesome to have you, great analysis.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Love have you soon, man, Thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
You got a ticket
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