August 30, 2025 • 19 mins
Charlotte FC are chasing history with an eight-game unbeaten run and seven straight wins as they head to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution. To help break it all down, we’re joined by former UNC Soccer NCAA Champion, U.S. Women’s National Team player, coach, and broadcaster Kacey White. With her unique blend of perspectives, Kacey dives into Charlotte’s consistency under Dean Smith, New England’s mentality in a must-win spot, the goalkeeper duel between Kristijan Kahlina and Matt Turner, and the difference-makers on both sides—from Carlos Gil to Charlotte’s wide threats like Vargas and Zaha. Plus, Kacey shares what it’s like working alongside Jessica Charman in the broadcast booth.
X and IG: @kaceydwhite
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
It's time for the Charlotte FC Podcast.
Welcome and everybody to the Charlotte FC PODCAST.
It's the New England match. The Crown are looking at eight
in a row unbeaten, seven wins ina row, which is tied for second,
a Major League record. And we have Casey White today
(00:24):
talking to us about the Revolution game.
She's up there at Patriot Place,right by the Gillette Stadium.
Welcome, Casey. Thank you.
Glad to be here. Appreciate you having me on.
Sure. So just a little bit about
Casey. She's a UNC grad, played there,
the US women's national team. She's also been a coach and
broadcaster. I guess one of the things I
(00:45):
think is unusual about your situation is not only that you
played in college and at the highest level with the women's
national team, but you also coached at a high level and now
you're a broadcaster. So you bring in all these
different perspectives as a broadcaster and as an announcer.
What hat do you put on when you watch a game?
Because I can imagine like there's so many things thinking
(01:06):
like, oh, do I look at this froma player perspective?
Do I look at from a coach like abigger thing?
Do I look at it as a broadcasteror a fan?
How do you approach a game? Well, my hope is that I can
blend all of those experiences from playing to coaching to
broadcasting into a single broadcast, but that can be
incredibly hard. I think if you ask anyone that
(01:29):
knows me very well or has heard me from a broadcasting
perspective, know that I have a very much a coach perspective on
the way that I look at things and the tactics of everything.
Of course, I played at the highest level as well.
So I think I can put myself in those shoes to a degree, but
that was a lot longer ago. I've coached more recently at a
high level. And so I think for me, I try to
(01:50):
put myself into the tactics, into the coaches shoes and what
perhaps they're trying to get out of certain games and things
along those lines. So I'm bringing a little bit of
everything, but you know, that'sthe way I usually lean.
Awesome. So Speaking of this match and
coaches, I'm sure you had the chance, the opportunity to watch
some of the teams play and talk to the coaches.
Charlotte, as I mentioned on this role, 1511 and 2 on the
(02:14):
year, fourth in the East, four, nine and one away.
What did you hear from Dean thatif you can kind of key in on how
they're going to approach this match?
I think one of the biggest things is the consistency piece,
something that they have been extremely happy with.
I think something as viewers, broadcasters, fans, we've all
seen is that there's this consistency of play in the way
(02:36):
Charlotte is from their current run of form.
And when you find that, it just really gives you a strong sense
of identity of that you can perform no matter the
opposition, no matter the tactical approach you might have
to take to the game. And that just breeds confidence.
And so that was one of the biggest messages I think that we
received this week and then. On the other side, what do you
(02:57):
think about New England? New England is in a very
interesting situation because this is where mentality comes
into play. I just talked about how I love
the tactics and how you're goingto approach games and maybe the
little nuances of adaptability. But at some point in the season
with certain teams, whether you're going to try to win the
Eastern Conference or whether you're trying to get into the
(03:18):
playoff line, whatever it may be, when your backs are up
against the wall, the mentality piece has to come first.
Yes, you need a tactical backbone and a structure to be
able to approach games. The game is that too high of a
level to only worry about the emotions?
But emotions do play a factor. And so New England being at
home, backs against the wall, I think it's going to be a really
(03:40):
interesting challenge for Charlotte on how they come in to
Gillette Stadium and are able toapproach this game.
Do you think a lot of it is going to be about that kind of
energy? A lot of times in Rd. matches,
it's very hard for the opposing team to have that energy and
knowing kind of the momentum. And he kind of said the mindset
(04:01):
that that's going on with both teams would, I guess, would what
would we see to to notice like, hey, wow, things are really
clicking right away for Charlotte or, oh, it's going to
be a long day. Even though I think that emotion
and energy will play a role, I don't think it's this raw energy
necessarily. It's emotion and focus can also
(04:24):
be a part of that. And I think for New England,
showing a little bit of restraint, they they've defended
quite a bit and used some counter attacking transitions to
have some success, especially against Columbus.
They've done that in the past this year for Charlotte as well
with one pretty much one opportunity, one goal.
So I think for Charlotte, it's going to be really important
that if they establish the majority of possession, which I
(04:46):
could see very much happening, that they take their chances
early. I think that is the lesson in
that is that when you play a team that knows they need to
keep games close and then go straight strategically for wins
in order to get those three points.
That means if you have the majority of possession, it has
to be sharp, it has to be focused and you have to put your
chances away and I think that'llbe the challenge here tonight.
(05:10):
As in some respects, I feel likeCharlotte plays a little bit
that way too. It's like they it's like, who
wants to really have the ball today?
Well, that's what's really I think that I think you hit it on
the head, Nick, because what happens is I think that
Charlotte can possess. Of course, we know they have the
ability to do that, but they also showed that they can share
possession, which they did against Red Bulls a little bit
(05:32):
in the first half. Then they got the lead, Then
they were able to sit and defenda little bit more.
And there were different reasonsfor that, different personnel
that you get a goal and so you're able to allow able to sit
back and able to absorb pressureand it should do that as well
and counter attack efficient efficiently.
So that's what I think's really interesting and unique about
(05:52):
tonight's matchup, but it's almost which game plan is going
to win out and if they both havethe same game plan, how is that
going to look? And so I'm interested to see
what that ends up showing on thefield tonight.
But I do expect Charlotte to have more of the possession, at
least early on. Yeah, Now Charlotte has never
won at Gillette Stadium. There are O and three there, but
(06:14):
they also have this streak on the other side.
So what's going to give here? And like, do those things play
in your head as as a coach and aplayer?
Do you even mention it? Do you talk about it?
Or you just like, hey, business as usual, do our thing.
I think every coach has a different philosophy on when
they bring in some of those types of factors, those types of
(06:36):
elements. When you're a team that is on A7
game win streak, I don't even think you worry about it.
Charlotte has the ability and Dean Smith has the ability to
say here's what's working for us, Here's some different things
you might see today, some different challenges.
Here's a few reminders. Let's go show who we are.
So when you have that going, youdon't really, I believe, have to
dip into those types of things too often.
(06:58):
When maybe things aren't going as well, then you start to go,
OK, how can I get some motivation to the players?
But the players right now have to be feeling great for
Charlotte with the recent form and coupling that with not just
form and how you're playing, butalso being able to get results
when you have both of those going, it's a really nice
feeling as a player and a staff.Yeah, Charlotte has had a run of
(07:21):
many multiple goal games, but oflate it's been these close, kind
of gritty games where they've struggled to score, but the
opponent really hasn't had the opportunities.
Are you seeing it more like thattype of match or are you saying
like maybe if Charlotte gets gets a goal or something early
it could be a wholly different type of atmosphere in game?
(07:43):
I think it'll it'll be interesting.
I think New England's going to try to keep Charlotte off the
board as long as possible. I do think that is going to be
the approach, especially not that they won't try to go
forward or things like that. But what you don't want to do is
leave yourself super exposed against the talented Charlotte
team that can score goals and especially in space in counter
attacking moments. They've shown that they can do
(08:04):
that. They did it just recently in a
great pressing moment that endedup in Vargas scoring.
And so if you're New England, you're just trying to keep it
really close in that way, not because you can't possess, but
because of the form that Charlotte is in.
I think that will be what we're really looking at and what we're
potentially seeing. But you never know.
Sometimes coach is a little bit different out and they talk
(08:26):
about this is what's been going well for us and then they try
something completely different. And that's what's so great about
this game is that there's so many little nuances and some
flexibility of movement and and then it's a player's game at the
end of the day. So players are going to make the
difference. Goals make a difference.
So that will change the outlook if a goal does come.
Yeah, and New England is just far enough away, but just close
(08:49):
enough away that this could be amake or break game also for
them. It's a huge game for New
England. I don't think that can be stated
enough that they have to do whatever it takes to get a
result. It does not matter if it's ugly,
it doesn't matter if it's boring, it doesn't matter if
it's exciting. Three points is what they're
going for. And so that is going to be
definitely a factor. And I think that's something you
(09:12):
mentioned earlier about what is the coaching staff.
What does Dean Smith say to his players?
Does he mention streaks? Does he mention all these?
I think what he can mention is that guys, this could be a trap
game. We're in great form.
Like we may not go. We probably won't go the rest of
the season without conceding some points here and there.
That would be unbelievable, I'm sure for Charlotte fans and for
(09:33):
the team, but not like with the parody in the league and just
the nature of this game. So it's a little bit of a trap
game in that regards of sometimes something has to give
and then you're up against a team that has those emotional
triggers as well as, hey, we have to win, we have to go for
it. And so it can be really
difficult. So anything is going to be
addressed. I think just making sure the
(09:55):
players know that and recognize that.
Yeah. Can you talk about the goalie
match up? Because we have Christian Kolina
kind of coming to his form that he's had in the season pass
where he's goalkeeper of the year, Matt Turner coming over
and being part of this Newland Revolution team again.
How's that shaping out? Is there a goalkeeper kind of
match up or is it more of you know those guys are going to
(10:18):
make their moments when they happen?
Goalkeepers and goal scorers change teams, they change games.
That's just the reality of it. And that's coming from a central
midfielder. So I hate to say that because
we're going to pull in the strings there in midfield, but
the reality is when you have goalkeepers that are in good
form, they can absolutely give you life lines, keep you in
(10:38):
games, make the consistent saves, make the one or two big
saves you need. And so that will be really
important for New England. Bringing in Matt Turner, that
was a definite catalyst to theselast few games.
Just his leadership back there, his intensity, the way he
improves games and his ability to make save.
So the efficiency piece for Charlotte in their finishing,
(11:00):
it's going to take a lot to beatMatt Turner and we know that
he's a good goalkeeper. And so that's what I mean about
really taking your chances, picking your corners, picking
your finishing moments and making sure that he's under
pressure. Now, this probably goes to
without being said, but I guess the person that Charlotte should
be most afraid of is Carlos Hill, right?
(11:22):
Yeah, you're, you might be righton that one, Nick.
I guess I feel like sometimes he's really involved in the game
and then sometimes he just sits back and then he makes something
happen like he did in the first match in April.
It's like, Oh well, of course hescored, right?
What have you seen that has shown you that maybe he is in a
better form than he was earlier this year?
I'll be honest with you, I don'tknow if there's much change in
(11:43):
form because of the nature of the way that Carlos Heel plays.
He is fluid, he's elusive. He kind of floats in and out of
spaces. You'll see him sometimes drop
alongside the center backs just to get involved in the game and
get the ball on his own center back.
So he's that. Then he's on the frontline as
well next to Campana. He can be on the sides of the
(12:05):
holding mids. He understands the game, he
understands spaces and he driftsinto spaces that defenders don't
want to be pulled into because it pulls them out of their
structure. And that's what I really like
about him. It's this like bit of like, like
playing like the accordion a little bit.
It just consistently changes andmoves.
And I I like that about his game.
(12:25):
And that's what makes it hard toplay against.
We know he can score goals. He has a wonderful delivery.
He can play the role of provideras well, but I actually like
just the elusiveness with the way he plays and how that
manipulates other teams. Now, who on Charlotte's side do
you think could be the difference maker?
I think the wide spaces are going to be really important.
(12:46):
So for Vargas and Zaha in the wide spaces will be that
manipulation, that one V1 ability really important,
especially when I'm talking about efficiency in the final
third. I think they will have
opportunities to be isolated potentially and what they can do
in those moments, whether it's aslip ball, whether it's OK, it's
not on right now, we're going torecirculate play.
I think the decision making there could be a real catalyst
(13:09):
for what Charlotte can do from atactical perspective.
Now, you said in the wide spaces, does that also mean just
changing the attack from one side to another to catch New
England off guard, or is it moreof just playing wide and coming
back? It certainly can.
And which spaces you occupy, Do you play inverted?
Do you play all the way on the touchline?
How are you higher? Are you lower?
(13:31):
And all of that is how you try to manipulate back lines.
And it's no surprise that those two players can score goals,
that they can be great in the one V1.
And so you have to find ways to manipulate that.
And it's not just their movement, it's the movement of
other players around them and toClimati and Bronico and the
outside batch, you know, being part of that as well.
So now you're getting me into mycoaching brain.
(13:52):
Sorry, I'm going everywhere, butquestion.
I've got coach oriented. So it's not just as simple
always as just putting your headdown and going 1B1.
It's how do you have those little margins to move players
that allow you to create better chances?
Yeah. What about if you were playing
(14:14):
for Dean Smith's team, you were midfielder, Where would you fit?
Would would you like playing that middle block?
Would you like playing, you know, the Ashley Westwood 6
role? Would you rather be the Brant
Bronico role or almost like the Pep Bill role where you're
actually a 10? Definitely not the six role.
Credit to Westwood. That's not very my role.
I always loved players that played the six really well
(14:36):
because it allowed me to do whatI was better at, which was being
higher up the field. So between two positions pretty
much my entire career, which waseither attacking center made
more of that 10 roll or it was on the wing.
And so I could see myself in a little bit of both.
I'd love to press and defend high up the field, so I got a
little Chronico in me in that way.
But I loved to be on the ball and distribute.
(14:59):
So later in my career I was pushed more out on the wing at
times with the women's national team and continue to develop 1V1
ability. So I think in the modern game I
would probably also pick that because now wingers are asked to
be inverted like a 10 at times and that would have been the
perfect role for me. I did work back 20 years ago,
(15:19):
1520 years ago it was get in my little 1V1 and cross.
That was not as much of my personality, it was more making
so invert me as a winger and I'dprobably be happy in his system.
I had a few more goals too, right?
Exactly. Not just assisting.
That would get me in some more goal scoring opportunities for
sure. And of course, you're doing this
(15:40):
match with Jessica Charmin, who was the color analyst for
Charlotte's radio for past threeseasons, and now he's taking on
different stuff. Tell us about your relationship
with her and what you do to prepare.
We've done a couple matches together actually.
It's been a lot of fun. Jessicas wonderful and I love
working with her. One, she has an incredible
(16:03):
passion for the game and you canjust see that and everything
that she does. She also gets football and she
understands it and it's so nice to kind of just have those back
and forth with someone that you work with and then we don't talk
about it enough. You want to enjoy who you work
with and I really enjoy Jess. We have a really good time
together and it's just fun working with her.
(16:24):
So, and you can just tell by thecommunity she's been in, like
Charlotte, how liked she is in those communities.
And I can see why, but I do think she brings out a lot of
good qualities in me on the air and I hope to do the same for
her. Yeah.
Is there anything, because I mean, when you were first
working with someone, you kind of have to know their tendencies
And like when, especially as an analyst, when you get to come in
(16:47):
kind of say your thing, what if,you know, is there a
conversation about it or is there, I guess kind of how is
that framed? Because it seems like, you know,
it's natural, but then it may not be.
Well, at the end of the day, theway I look at it is we're
A-Team. And not just Jess and I, but our
producers, our directors, our audio, everyone involved.
And if we're all better and we all work together, there's, it's
(17:09):
just a better team performance. And that's the way I look at it
with Jess is you do talk about those things and sometimes it's
not going to be perfect because it's live TV at the end of the
day. So you're going to have to
adapt. You're going to have to be
natural, you're going to have topivot and swerve and do
different things. And I think she's really good at
that and controlling a broadcastand how it goes.
(17:30):
But yes, those things are talkedabout because ultimately, at the
end of the day, I want to be a great team player and I want
Jessica to feel at her best. And so speaking about those
things is really important. And I know she feels the same
way because we've spoken and through those types of things
that we do on the air. Yeah.
Now, do you all kind of have thesame mindset as far as like
strategies and things as far as how you see the game, or is it
(17:52):
kind of different? I think that there's some push
and pull and that's what's exciting about soccer in general
is we could be watching the exact same thing and pick up on
different things. One, it's not necessarily right
or wrong. It's what do I notice versus
what she notices or someone elsethat I'm working with.
And so I think this makes for good television.
(18:13):
Sometimes is when you notice something and someone might
disagree or OK, well, I didn't think about it that way, but
here's what I'm seeing. And that's what I love about the
game. That's why I could probably sit
and talk all day about tactics because there's so many
different things that are going on within a soccer game and it's
so fluid. It's not stop and start.
And so there's a lot of different things to be picked at
(18:35):
and analyzed. Awesome.
Well, Casey and Jessica will be on the call tonight MLS season
pass for the New England Revolution Charlotte match at
7:30 Eastern. Go ahead and listen and watch
them and enjoy the match. Thanks, Casey.
Thank you so much. Again, thanks for listening to
(18:58):
another episode of the CharlotteFC Podcast where we bring you
the fascinating people who work for around Charlotte FC and the
world of football.
It's time for the Charlotte FC Podcast.
Welcome and everybody to the Charlotte FC PODCAST.
It's the New England match. The Crown are looking at eight
in a row unbeaten, seven wins ina row, which is tied for second,
a Major League record. And we have Casey White today
(00:24):
talking to us about the Revolution game.
She's up there at Patriot Place,right by the Gillette Stadium.
Welcome, Casey. Thank you.
Glad to be here. Appreciate you having me on.
Sure. So just a little bit about
Casey. She's a UNC grad, played there,
the US women's national team. She's also been a coach and
broadcaster. I guess one of the things I
(00:45):
think is unusual about your situation is not only that you
played in college and at the highest level with the women's
national team, but you also coached at a high level and now
you're a broadcaster. So you bring in all these
different perspectives as a broadcaster and as an announcer.
What hat do you put on when you watch a game?
Because I can imagine like there's so many things thinking
(01:06):
like, oh, do I look at this froma player perspective?
Do I look at from a coach like abigger thing?
Do I look at it as a broadcasteror a fan?
How do you approach a game? Well, my hope is that I can
blend all of those experiences from playing to coaching to
broadcasting into a single broadcast, but that can be
incredibly hard. I think if you ask anyone that
(01:29):
knows me very well or has heard me from a broadcasting
perspective, know that I have a very much a coach perspective on
the way that I look at things and the tactics of everything.
Of course, I played at the highest level as well.
So I think I can put myself in those shoes to a degree, but
that was a lot longer ago. I've coached more recently at a
high level. And so I think for me, I try to
(01:50):
put myself into the tactics, into the coaches shoes and what
perhaps they're trying to get out of certain games and things
along those lines. So I'm bringing a little bit of
everything, but you know, that'sthe way I usually lean.
Awesome. So Speaking of this match and
coaches, I'm sure you had the chance, the opportunity to watch
some of the teams play and talk to the coaches.
Charlotte, as I mentioned on this role, 1511 and 2 on the
(02:14):
year, fourth in the East, four, nine and one away.
What did you hear from Dean thatif you can kind of key in on how
they're going to approach this match?
I think one of the biggest things is the consistency piece,
something that they have been extremely happy with.
I think something as viewers, broadcasters, fans, we've all
seen is that there's this consistency of play in the way
(02:36):
Charlotte is from their current run of form.
And when you find that, it just really gives you a strong sense
of identity of that you can perform no matter the
opposition, no matter the tactical approach you might have
to take to the game. And that just breeds confidence.
And so that was one of the biggest messages I think that we
received this week and then. On the other side, what do you
(02:57):
think about New England? New England is in a very
interesting situation because this is where mentality comes
into play. I just talked about how I love
the tactics and how you're goingto approach games and maybe the
little nuances of adaptability. But at some point in the season
with certain teams, whether you're going to try to win the
Eastern Conference or whether you're trying to get into the
(03:18):
playoff line, whatever it may be, when your backs are up
against the wall, the mentality piece has to come first.
Yes, you need a tactical backbone and a structure to be
able to approach games. The game is that too high of a
level to only worry about the emotions?
But emotions do play a factor. And so New England being at
home, backs against the wall, I think it's going to be a really
(03:40):
interesting challenge for Charlotte on how they come in to
Gillette Stadium and are able toapproach this game.
Do you think a lot of it is going to be about that kind of
energy? A lot of times in Rd. matches,
it's very hard for the opposing team to have that energy and
knowing kind of the momentum. And he kind of said the mindset
(04:01):
that that's going on with both teams would, I guess, would what
would we see to to notice like, hey, wow, things are really
clicking right away for Charlotte or, oh, it's going to
be a long day. Even though I think that emotion
and energy will play a role, I don't think it's this raw energy
necessarily. It's emotion and focus can also
(04:24):
be a part of that. And I think for New England,
showing a little bit of restraint, they they've defended
quite a bit and used some counter attacking transitions to
have some success, especially against Columbus.
They've done that in the past this year for Charlotte as well
with one pretty much one opportunity, one goal.
So I think for Charlotte, it's going to be really important
that if they establish the majority of possession, which I
(04:46):
could see very much happening, that they take their chances
early. I think that is the lesson in
that is that when you play a team that knows they need to
keep games close and then go straight strategically for wins
in order to get those three points.
That means if you have the majority of possession, it has
to be sharp, it has to be focused and you have to put your
chances away and I think that'llbe the challenge here tonight.
(05:10):
As in some respects, I feel likeCharlotte plays a little bit
that way too. It's like they it's like, who
wants to really have the ball today?
Well, that's what's really I think that I think you hit it on
the head, Nick, because what happens is I think that
Charlotte can possess. Of course, we know they have the
ability to do that, but they also showed that they can share
possession, which they did against Red Bulls a little bit
(05:32):
in the first half. Then they got the lead, Then
they were able to sit and defenda little bit more.
And there were different reasonsfor that, different personnel
that you get a goal and so you're able to allow able to sit
back and able to absorb pressureand it should do that as well
and counter attack efficient efficiently.
So that's what I think's really interesting and unique about
(05:52):
tonight's matchup, but it's almost which game plan is going
to win out and if they both havethe same game plan, how is that
going to look? And so I'm interested to see
what that ends up showing on thefield tonight.
But I do expect Charlotte to have more of the possession, at
least early on. Yeah, Now Charlotte has never
won at Gillette Stadium. There are O and three there, but
(06:14):
they also have this streak on the other side.
So what's going to give here? And like, do those things play
in your head as as a coach and aplayer?
Do you even mention it? Do you talk about it?
Or you just like, hey, business as usual, do our thing.
I think every coach has a different philosophy on when
they bring in some of those types of factors, those types of
(06:36):
elements. When you're a team that is on A7
game win streak, I don't even think you worry about it.
Charlotte has the ability and Dean Smith has the ability to
say here's what's working for us, Here's some different things
you might see today, some different challenges.
Here's a few reminders. Let's go show who we are.
So when you have that going, youdon't really, I believe, have to
dip into those types of things too often.
(06:58):
When maybe things aren't going as well, then you start to go,
OK, how can I get some motivation to the players?
But the players right now have to be feeling great for
Charlotte with the recent form and coupling that with not just
form and how you're playing, butalso being able to get results
when you have both of those going, it's a really nice
feeling as a player and a staff.Yeah, Charlotte has had a run of
(07:21):
many multiple goal games, but oflate it's been these close, kind
of gritty games where they've struggled to score, but the
opponent really hasn't had the opportunities.
Are you seeing it more like thattype of match or are you saying
like maybe if Charlotte gets gets a goal or something early
it could be a wholly different type of atmosphere in game?
(07:43):
I think it'll it'll be interesting.
I think New England's going to try to keep Charlotte off the
board as long as possible. I do think that is going to be
the approach, especially not that they won't try to go
forward or things like that. But what you don't want to do is
leave yourself super exposed against the talented Charlotte
team that can score goals and especially in space in counter
attacking moments. They've shown that they can do
(08:04):
that. They did it just recently in a
great pressing moment that endedup in Vargas scoring.
And so if you're New England, you're just trying to keep it
really close in that way, not because you can't possess, but
because of the form that Charlotte is in.
I think that will be what we're really looking at and what we're
potentially seeing. But you never know.
Sometimes coach is a little bit different out and they talk
(08:26):
about this is what's been going well for us and then they try
something completely different. And that's what's so great about
this game is that there's so many little nuances and some
flexibility of movement and and then it's a player's game at the
end of the day. So players are going to make the
difference. Goals make a difference.
So that will change the outlook if a goal does come.
Yeah, and New England is just far enough away, but just close
(08:49):
enough away that this could be amake or break game also for
them. It's a huge game for New
England. I don't think that can be stated
enough that they have to do whatever it takes to get a
result. It does not matter if it's ugly,
it doesn't matter if it's boring, it doesn't matter if
it's exciting. Three points is what they're
going for. And so that is going to be
definitely a factor. And I think that's something you
(09:12):
mentioned earlier about what is the coaching staff.
What does Dean Smith say to his players?
Does he mention streaks? Does he mention all these?
I think what he can mention is that guys, this could be a trap
game. We're in great form.
Like we may not go. We probably won't go the rest of
the season without conceding some points here and there.
That would be unbelievable, I'm sure for Charlotte fans and for
(09:33):
the team, but not like with the parody in the league and just
the nature of this game. So it's a little bit of a trap
game in that regards of sometimes something has to give
and then you're up against a team that has those emotional
triggers as well as, hey, we have to win, we have to go for
it. And so it can be really
difficult. So anything is going to be
addressed. I think just making sure the
(09:55):
players know that and recognize that.
Yeah. Can you talk about the goalie
match up? Because we have Christian Kolina
kind of coming to his form that he's had in the season pass
where he's goalkeeper of the year, Matt Turner coming over
and being part of this Newland Revolution team again.
How's that shaping out? Is there a goalkeeper kind of
match up or is it more of you know those guys are going to
(10:18):
make their moments when they happen?
Goalkeepers and goal scorers change teams, they change games.
That's just the reality of it. And that's coming from a central
midfielder. So I hate to say that because
we're going to pull in the strings there in midfield, but
the reality is when you have goalkeepers that are in good
form, they can absolutely give you life lines, keep you in
(10:38):
games, make the consistent saves, make the one or two big
saves you need. And so that will be really
important for New England. Bringing in Matt Turner, that
was a definite catalyst to theselast few games.
Just his leadership back there, his intensity, the way he
improves games and his ability to make save.
So the efficiency piece for Charlotte in their finishing,
(11:00):
it's going to take a lot to beatMatt Turner and we know that
he's a good goalkeeper. And so that's what I mean about
really taking your chances, picking your corners, picking
your finishing moments and making sure that he's under
pressure. Now, this probably goes to
without being said, but I guess the person that Charlotte should
be most afraid of is Carlos Hill, right?
(11:22):
Yeah, you're, you might be righton that one, Nick.
I guess I feel like sometimes he's really involved in the game
and then sometimes he just sits back and then he makes something
happen like he did in the first match in April.
It's like, Oh well, of course hescored, right?
What have you seen that has shown you that maybe he is in a
better form than he was earlier this year?
I'll be honest with you, I don'tknow if there's much change in
(11:43):
form because of the nature of the way that Carlos Heel plays.
He is fluid, he's elusive. He kind of floats in and out of
spaces. You'll see him sometimes drop
alongside the center backs just to get involved in the game and
get the ball on his own center back.
So he's that. Then he's on the frontline as
well next to Campana. He can be on the sides of the
(12:05):
holding mids. He understands the game, he
understands spaces and he driftsinto spaces that defenders don't
want to be pulled into because it pulls them out of their
structure. And that's what I really like
about him. It's this like bit of like, like
playing like the accordion a little bit.
It just consistently changes andmoves.
And I I like that about his game.
(12:25):
And that's what makes it hard toplay against.
We know he can score goals. He has a wonderful delivery.
He can play the role of provideras well, but I actually like
just the elusiveness with the way he plays and how that
manipulates other teams. Now, who on Charlotte's side do
you think could be the difference maker?
I think the wide spaces are going to be really important.
(12:46):
So for Vargas and Zaha in the wide spaces will be that
manipulation, that one V1 ability really important,
especially when I'm talking about efficiency in the final
third. I think they will have
opportunities to be isolated potentially and what they can do
in those moments, whether it's aslip ball, whether it's OK, it's
not on right now, we're going torecirculate play.
I think the decision making there could be a real catalyst
(13:09):
for what Charlotte can do from atactical perspective.
Now, you said in the wide spaces, does that also mean just
changing the attack from one side to another to catch New
England off guard, or is it moreof just playing wide and coming
back? It certainly can.
And which spaces you occupy, Do you play inverted?
Do you play all the way on the touchline?
How are you higher? Are you lower?
(13:31):
And all of that is how you try to manipulate back lines.
And it's no surprise that those two players can score goals,
that they can be great in the one V1.
And so you have to find ways to manipulate that.
And it's not just their movement, it's the movement of
other players around them and toClimati and Bronico and the
outside batch, you know, being part of that as well.
So now you're getting me into mycoaching brain.
(13:52):
Sorry, I'm going everywhere, butquestion.
I've got coach oriented. So it's not just as simple
always as just putting your headdown and going 1B1.
It's how do you have those little margins to move players
that allow you to create better chances?
Yeah. What about if you were playing
(14:14):
for Dean Smith's team, you were midfielder, Where would you fit?
Would would you like playing that middle block?
Would you like playing, you know, the Ashley Westwood 6
role? Would you rather be the Brant
Bronico role or almost like the Pep Bill role where you're
actually a 10? Definitely not the six role.
Credit to Westwood. That's not very my role.
I always loved players that played the six really well
(14:36):
because it allowed me to do whatI was better at, which was being
higher up the field. So between two positions pretty
much my entire career, which waseither attacking center made
more of that 10 roll or it was on the wing.
And so I could see myself in a little bit of both.
I'd love to press and defend high up the field, so I got a
little Chronico in me in that way.
But I loved to be on the ball and distribute.
(14:59):
So later in my career I was pushed more out on the wing at
times with the women's national team and continue to develop 1V1
ability. So I think in the modern game I
would probably also pick that because now wingers are asked to
be inverted like a 10 at times and that would have been the
perfect role for me. I did work back 20 years ago,
(15:19):
1520 years ago it was get in my little 1V1 and cross.
That was not as much of my personality, it was more making
so invert me as a winger and I'dprobably be happy in his system.
I had a few more goals too, right?
Exactly. Not just assisting.
That would get me in some more goal scoring opportunities for
sure. And of course, you're doing this
(15:40):
match with Jessica Charmin, who was the color analyst for
Charlotte's radio for past threeseasons, and now he's taking on
different stuff. Tell us about your relationship
with her and what you do to prepare.
We've done a couple matches together actually.
It's been a lot of fun. Jessicas wonderful and I love
working with her. One, she has an incredible
(16:03):
passion for the game and you canjust see that and everything
that she does. She also gets football and she
understands it and it's so nice to kind of just have those back
and forth with someone that you work with and then we don't talk
about it enough. You want to enjoy who you work
with and I really enjoy Jess. We have a really good time
together and it's just fun working with her.
(16:24):
So, and you can just tell by thecommunity she's been in, like
Charlotte, how liked she is in those communities.
And I can see why, but I do think she brings out a lot of
good qualities in me on the air and I hope to do the same for
her. Yeah.
Is there anything, because I mean, when you were first
working with someone, you kind of have to know their tendencies
And like when, especially as an analyst, when you get to come in
(16:47):
kind of say your thing, what if,you know, is there a
conversation about it or is there, I guess kind of how is
that framed? Because it seems like, you know,
it's natural, but then it may not be.
Well, at the end of the day, theway I look at it is we're
A-Team. And not just Jess and I, but our
producers, our directors, our audio, everyone involved.
And if we're all better and we all work together, there's, it's
(17:09):
just a better team performance. And that's the way I look at it
with Jess is you do talk about those things and sometimes it's
not going to be perfect because it's live TV at the end of the
day. So you're going to have to
adapt. You're going to have to be
natural, you're going to have topivot and swerve and do
different things. And I think she's really good at
that and controlling a broadcastand how it goes.
(17:30):
But yes, those things are talkedabout because ultimately, at the
end of the day, I want to be a great team player and I want
Jessica to feel at her best. And so speaking about those
things is really important. And I know she feels the same
way because we've spoken and through those types of things
that we do on the air. Yeah.
Now, do you all kind of have thesame mindset as far as like
strategies and things as far as how you see the game, or is it
(17:52):
kind of different? I think that there's some push
and pull and that's what's exciting about soccer in general
is we could be watching the exact same thing and pick up on
different things. One, it's not necessarily right
or wrong. It's what do I notice versus
what she notices or someone elsethat I'm working with.
And so I think this makes for good television.
(18:13):
Sometimes is when you notice something and someone might
disagree or OK, well, I didn't think about it that way, but
here's what I'm seeing. And that's what I love about the
game. That's why I could probably sit
and talk all day about tactics because there's so many
different things that are going on within a soccer game and it's
so fluid. It's not stop and start.
And so there's a lot of different things to be picked at
(18:35):
and analyzed. Awesome.
Well, Casey and Jessica will be on the call tonight MLS season
pass for the New England Revolution Charlotte match at
7:30 Eastern. Go ahead and listen and watch
them and enjoy the match. Thanks, Casey.
Thank you so much. Again, thanks for listening to
(18:58):
another episode of the CharlotteFC Podcast where we bring you
the fascinating people who work for around Charlotte FC and the
world of football.
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