July 11, 2025 • 19 mins
Austin previews the Hell is Real Derby this coming weekend with the voice of FC Cincinnati Tom Gelehrter on ESPN 1530!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnatis, spontered in part by
Pinstation East Coat Subs, handcrafted hot grilled subs, fresh cut
fries and lemonade. It's all about good taste. Pennstation East
Coast Subs order online today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hi, Hello, welcome man, our number three on a Friday.
Time is flying when you're having fun. Let's talk soccer,
Let's talk football as some people like to call it,
and let's turn up the heat because the hell is real.
Derby Round two of the twenty twenty five campaign is
coming to TQL Stadium this weekend, and the man of
(00:42):
the match, as far as I'm concerned, is our next guest,
our guy, Tommy g Tommy Tommy Tommy, Hi, Tommy Austin.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Happy Friday. We are having fun now, ARMI are in
our usual slot.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Nothing can stop this train of four straight wins for
the Orange and Blue going into the massive rivalry match
up a six point max at its finest.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
This weekend and uh, you know, not the biggest match
we've ever seen between these two teams.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
But it is up there, and uh, it's pretty exciting
that it comes at a time when FC Cincinnati are
back atop of the table in all of Major League soccer.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, you know, I heard what Pat Noonan said yesterday
in his press conference. He's asking a little bit more
juice for the team, and he said, not juice, but
more awareness. I was about to ask you if you
have more juice, but I can hear it in your voice,
I mean your juice? Are you Are you gonna sleep tonight?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Listen, Friday's at two. I tend to have max juice.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Yeah, I'm talking about six year old birthday party juice
boxes everywhere type of juice, right, Like, that's That's where
I'm at when I when I log on with you
guys in this usual slot, that said, oh yeah, I
mean it's it's kind of like Christmas Eve was walking
out of the facility earlier and I said, I don't
know if anybody's gonna sleep tonight, right, We're all gonna
(02:04):
be up Christmas Eve. Guys like fired up see all tomorrow,
and I do. I think a lot of people get
excited about this game. You should. It's it's a rivalry matchup.
It's a Darby as you said, like it's a it's
a head to head battle against your rival, and it's
never easy.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
So no, and and there's.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
All the extra meaning now of where these two teams
sit in the standing, So I think that it's No,
it's very exciting. I hope I sleep a little bit
because I got a big week ahead. So there's there's
a lot going on for the Orange and Blue over
the next eight days, So I'm gonna have to get
some sleep. But man, once I get up tomorrow, and
I tend to be an early riser, like it's gonna
(02:44):
be forever until kickoff, or it's certainly gonna feel that way.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
We've talked about the impact of Vander on this team
and what he has meant certainly during this stretch. Explain
to people, imagine somebody's i've never seen him play, how
would you describe how he plays and the impact he
has on the pitch for the Orange and Blue.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah, it's a good question. I mean, it's MVP impact,
you know. I think right now he's probably the leading
candidate for the award. I certainly hope that we're still
having that conversation come October, because if we do, then
we're having a lot of other fun conversations as well.
But he's just performing at such a high level right now,
(03:29):
and he's comfortable here. He's comfortable with Kevin Danke. I
think both of them with twelve goals, pushing each other
a little bit for that team lead. They're tied right now.
But he's doing it in other ways and he's creating
with the assists as well. So I mean, he has
twenty goal contributions in nineteen appearances in the regular season.
That's plus plus a goal contribution per game. And it's
(03:51):
not just here in Cincinnati. He was doing the same
thing in Portland. He's played seventy four career games in
Major League Soccer and he has thirty six goals thirty two.
That's sixty eight goal contribution since arriving here in the league.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
So I think that, you.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Know, he's a little bit like a magician out there,
and the way that he creates space, the way that
he makes passes.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
We saw it with the goal that he assisted on
to Kevin Denk just the.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Way that he beautifully crossed that ball and got it
around that last defender.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I mean it had to be weighted and hooked.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Just right to get to Kevin and then it becomes,
you know, a relatively easy finish.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
For Kevin to put in the back of the net.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
But no, I think just the way that he plays
and he finds space and recently there's been a lot
of space for him.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
But he works hard.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
He does a lot of the little things that I
think that Pat and the coaching staff ask of him.
And because he does those things, it sets the team
up for more success. And if this team is successful,
then that certainly means that a Vander is successful, so
that's good for everybody.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
The offense has certainly been a part of this success,
but the defense as well has you know, been holding
it together to an extend. And Miles Robinson now back
after his men's national team duty with the United States.
How has the back line performed in Miles's absence and
how much of a lift is it to get him back?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Well, all things considered, I'd say they did pretty well
because four straight wins while he was gone, so I
think that is huge. Remember the conversation we had last week,
there wasn't a lot of depth at center back, and
to start the match on the only true center backs
starting that game was Matt Miosgo. We saw teenage today
becoming late and help actually since they close it out,
(05:38):
but you only have Matt Mioska, and now you get
Miles back in, who is an All Star again, second
consecutive year that he's been selected for.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
That honor, and so you put him back in there.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Teenagers getting healthy, Alberta Floyd's is getting healthy. So I
think they're in a good place. I think getting Miles
back is huge. And but they held on while Miles gone,
and I think that that was really important because if
you did it and you had some bad resulting there,
he kind of strug your shoulder and say, well, look,
we're missing a lot of guys in the back line.
Nick Haglan's still out, but he's trending on the side.
(06:11):
He's really really close, I think to being back in
with the eleven. Patentis press conference suggested that he might
be back in with the group as soon as Monday
to get ready for that match on Wednesday. So could
we see Nick dress for the first time in a
month and a half possibly, that'd be awesome to see
him back into the mix.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
So I think defensively the.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Team is in better shape certainly, certainly than they were
six days ago when they took the pitch against Chicago.
And that's a great thing because Columbus can score. They
can score in bunches. You got to be so strong
defensively to kind of set the tone against the crew.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Last time these two teams met, they fought to a drawl.
FC takes a point on the road. How different will
this match be compared to that match? How have the
teams evolved since then? Well, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
It might be might be kind of similar, to be honest,
because I don't know that they're all that much different.
I mean that my biggest question, I guess right now
and not knowing what the crew are going to do.
Patrick Shulti hasn't played in a match since that f
C Cincinnati match at Lower dot Com Field on May seventeenth.
(07:20):
He picked up an oblique injury actually the following week
warming up. It has been out ever since. So Evan
Bush now has started the last four games. And Bush
is a player that f she Sincenity has had some
success against in the past, So that's certainly something to
keep an eye on. But I think that you know
the goalkeeping situation, Schulty's obviously very good. Evan Bush a
(07:41):
long time veteran in the league with one hundred ninety
five appearances, So so don't don't count Evan out by any means,
but it certainly makes a big difference which one of
those guys is back there. And Evan has done very
well in the five starts that he's made for the
Crew this year. But they've a couple players who are
back from different injuries or international duties, and f C
Cincinnati has Miles Robinson back. So listen, I think the
(08:04):
only difference is that now we're three months further along
in the season or two months, I should say.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
That match was in May, so two months further along
in the season.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
And you look at the table and where these teams stand,
and let's just look at the East. You got, you know,
Columbus is fourth in the East at thirty eight points
and f C Cincinnati are first in the East and
all of Major League Soccer with the forty two points.
So if the Crew get'll come in and get a win.
Now they're just a point back, so things things really
tighten up. And that's where you know, we started it.
And I said it's a six point match in the
true sense of you know, that meaning, and if folks
(08:35):
aren't familiar with that term, they're saying, Tommy, you're a
big dummy, you get three points for a win. Well, listen,
both can be true, but the reality is that you
call it a six point match because if beatly Cincinnati
win and the crew don't, well, that's a six point
swinging as to where f C Sinini pushes themselves away,
keeps keeps Columbus from getting anything on the night, so
(08:56):
and vice versa if Columbus win. So no, I think
that it it's not all that different because the personnel
is pretty similar just at f C Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I mean, both teams are unbeaten in the last four.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
F C Cincinnati with four straight wins, Columbus three or
four wins.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
So no, I think it should It should.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Be a really good, really intriguing match over at TQL Stadium.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
FC Cincinnati with forty two points. You mentioned top of
the supporter shield standings. How much does that give them
some extra juice to to know, all right, we're at
the top, we've done this before, we know we can
do it. I know not everybody is a holdover from
that team that won it, but like, can that serve
as a motivating factor as well as like, yeah, we're
at the top of the table.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Yeah, I think so it should, right, everybody should want
to win another Supporter Shield and bring that back here
to Cincinnati after you know, went to Miami last year.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
So no, I think I think it is.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
And I think when you look at the schedule, when
it's not that anybody's looking ahead, but you know when
you're next four games, you have Columbus and Miami twice
home and home with those guys, and then a trip
to Salt Lake in there as well. So when you
look at those three Eastern Conference teams, I mean, Miami
has grown to make up and they have extra games
to do it because they've missed.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Some MLS games.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
But if you can get nine points from those three
Eastern Conference games, then you're setting yourself up really well
going into the League's Cup break for where you're at
the table, and that would mean that when play resumes
in August after the three group stage games Leagues Cup,
you would be you know, in a position atop the
table and you know, potentially the whole Supportershill race. And
(10:39):
I think that that's pretty exciting. Is that at extra juice?
Absolutely at extra and centip absolutely and listen, not only
do you win the shield and bring another piece of
hardware here if you win it, but then you're setting
yourself up for playoffs as that one overall seed, and
you know that you're not leaving Cincinnati save one first
round road game, which I could argue it don't blue
in the face is kind of cruel and ridiculous in
(11:01):
some ways. You know that you have to leave, have
to win the Supporter Shield, but you know that them's.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
The rules, as they say, right, But yeah, no.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
I think there's a lot of incentive there, and and
this team sees themselves the top of the table with
this stayed now on the second half of the season,
and that should be plenty of motivation to stay there
the rest of the way.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Just thinking about this is, you know, you look around
at the rest of Major League Soccer in Miami is
obviously the team that's talked about the most because of
Messi and his star power. But Columbus is, you know,
a historic club that's won multiple MLS Cups and you
know exactly what you know Philadelphia has been and that's
been of a rivalry. Do you think FC Cincinnati is
maybe overlooked or underappreciated by what they've been able to do. Obviously,
(11:48):
they won the Shield a couple of years ago, but
the model of consistency that they've been do they get
enough credit for that?
Speaker 3 (11:56):
I think they're starting to.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
I think now that it's a fourth secuted year and
you know, look, I haven't clinched the playoffs spot yet,
so I don't want to. I don't want to say,
you know, in the playoffs for the fourth executive year,
but let's be real, it's gonna be wildly disappointing it.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
For some reason, they're not in the playoffs this year.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
So it should be a four fourth straight playoff appearance
for the Orange and Blue. And I think that that
has gotten a lot of people's attention. And it's not
just a fourth straight playoff appearance, it's you know, fighting
atop the table. I mean, you know, listen, the first
year they get in, that's great, but then they won,
We're able to go on the road, pay off the upset,
and then had a tight game with Philadelphia. Andre Blake
(12:33):
had to make some big saves to keep it that way.
You know, then you win the Supporter Shield, and then
last year you're the three seed and you get upset,
but you're still, you know, a top four seed. And
I think that this team should be a top four
seed again this year. We'll see. You know, it's so tight.
I mean we talk about, you know, all the way
through the top six. Orlando is just eight points back
(12:54):
of Cincinnati and Miami, who they played twice. You know,
they're seven points back, but they have three games hand.
Do you take care of business? And he's two against
Miami over the next two weeks, then you know, those
games in hand aren't aren't so intimidating.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
But right now, those just games in hand, they could
they could be right there with you.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
So I think it's shaping up to be one of
the best races in the Eastern Conference in years. But
it's crazy, how you know, a couple results for any
of these teams when you know what't CINCINNTI, Nashville, Philadelphia, Columbus, Miami,
Orlando could flip a team like Cincinnati or Nashville who's
one and two right now to five or six, you know,
ending a bad week, good week, so on and so forth.
(13:34):
So I think this is shaping up to be one
of the best Eastern Conference races we've seen in quite
a while, and hey, it's good to be in the
driver's seat for the moment.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, before I let you go, talked about how they've
won four straight coming into this match in the offense
and Vander and den K and the back line and
miles back. Is it one thing specifically that's led to
the success or is it just the colective consistency of
the group.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Well, I think it's been the collective consistency of the group.
And I mean, let's be honest.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
The heater that a Vander is on right now, you know,
having scored in in three consecutive games, he could he
could tie Brandon Basquez his record if he scores in
a fourth consecutive game. Brandon's Brandon's the only player to
have done that. So that would be awesome just to see.
And and he's, like I said at the beginning when
we're talking about him, like he's.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
So locked in right now.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
But I also think that you know, uh, dn K
is as well, Kevin Denk, and he watches it. I mean, shoot,
he wants to be the leading scorer and Evander wants
to be a leaing scored. So that's good go ahead
of boys, keep four goals, right, I love it so no,
I think, but as we've talked about so often this year,
so much of it, the tone is often sent set
(14:50):
by the defense, and if you can, you know, just
make sure things are calm in the first quarter of
an hour, say, and that you're not conceding in goal,
you're not chasing the game, and kind of set the
tone in that way. Then you're kind of setting yourself
up for success. You know, Columbus for an example, a
team and they don't allow a lot of goals, but
fourteen to twenty seven goals they've allowed this year or
(15:12):
in the first half an hour. So I think if
you're Cincinnati, you got to you gotta come out in
his match, and you know, listen, set the tone with
your defense. Don't give Columbus and he looks early, but
also be looking to pounce on them and get that
crowd juice up, get them that juice going, because there'll
be plenty of juice flowing at the stadium. It's mostly
bubbly beer, I think, but you know, there's to be
(15:36):
a lot of people having.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
A lot of fun, and you want that place.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
To run at its max and the roof to shake now,
I think, you know, when you look at it, it's
been consistency all over and the right buttons have been
pushed by Pat Noonan, which which certainly has helped the
team this formatch win streak.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Last thing I just thought of the weather forecast could
be a little bit moist during the game. Is there
anything and Pat Newton can really do to help his
team prepare for that, or they're just used to it.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It's it's soccer, deal with it. Yeah, guys, I mean
it's it's funny.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
There was a stretch earlier this year, I want to
say April when it felt like we saw like four
or five straight matches played in some type of precipitation
and it was a lot colder than you know, different
different types of conditions. But I think I think it
was April where we were joking and you know, we
meet with Pat a match day. We were like, man,
(16:30):
you know it's gonna rain because it has the last
four matches or something, and if I mean, sure, sure's
got it.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
It rained, you know, and and came down. So I
don't think there's much they can do.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
You know, you just hope, especially in a match like
this that you don't get in any type of situation
with a delay, right, with any type of severe weather
where part of the matches.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Played, then they leave and the fans have the uncertainty.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Of when people coming back out and so on and
so forth like that. That stinks like that. That's not
good for anybody. That's not good for the game. It's
not good for broadcasts, it's not good for the players.
I mean, it's not good. It's not good for the environment.
So hopefully, you know, it's nothing like that.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
It'll it be rain. I hope not.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
I hope for a nice you know, straight up even match.
The guys like the pitch to be a little wet.
The ball will move a little faster about the case.
But yeah, you don't want to be turned into some
type of slot fast or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Tommy G.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I appreciate the time. We will be listening this weekend.
It's an orange out. Will you be wearing orange?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I think? So, okay, yeah, that's the plan.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
I haven't I haven't finalized my my fit yet. That's
what the kids call it, right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I haven't.
I haven't finalized the fit. But yeah, there'll be some
orange for sure, it has to be some orange out come.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, it's an orange out you have to do it,
all right, Tommy, thanks so much. We'll be listening. Have fun, man, Pare,
talk to you next week, all right. Talk That is
Tommy g Tom Glader, the voice of the Orange Blue. Yeah,
it is a orange out at the hell Is Real
rivalry this weekend TQL Stadium.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
According to their wife.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Their website, it says, bring the heat as we face
our fiercest rival, named after the iconic hell Is Real
billboard on the route between our two cities. The hell
Is Real derby is ingrained with intensity and tradition. Seven
thirty kickoff. You can hear it right here on ESPN
fifteen thirty, including extensive, extensive, I said, pregame coverage between
(18:27):
Tommy and the boys. By the way, talking about Columbus,
they are seven to one and four at home. Really good.
They are three two and four on the road, that
is wins losses ties, three two and four on the road.
So they have not performed well. Hopefully TQL Stadium is
(18:48):
a tough place for them to perform this weekend. All right,
Well try again, can you tell me which pitcher surrendered?
Matt McClain's first career hit. If you can, you're gonna
win a pair of tickets to Upper Deck Golf. That's
when we come back. This is ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Now your chance to win one thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Enter this nationwide keyword on our website. Okay, that's pay
Enter it now.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
Is it possible to fill you a brain with enough
sport to actually cause your head to explode? Moegar today
at reoh five on ESPN fifteen thirty Incinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Hi zoeis Soldana, Welcome to Team Obile.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Here's your new
Three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnatis, spontered in part by
Pinstation East Coat Subs, handcrafted hot grilled subs, fresh cut
fries and lemonade. It's all about good taste. Pennstation East
Coast Subs order online today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hi, Hello, welcome man, our number three on a Friday.
Time is flying when you're having fun. Let's talk soccer,
Let's talk football as some people like to call it,
and let's turn up the heat because the hell is real.
Derby Round two of the twenty twenty five campaign is
coming to TQL Stadium this weekend, and the man of
(00:42):
the match, as far as I'm concerned, is our next guest,
our guy, Tommy g Tommy Tommy Tommy, Hi, Tommy Austin.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Happy Friday. We are having fun now, ARMI are in
our usual slot.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Nothing can stop this train of four straight wins for
the Orange and Blue going into the massive rivalry match
up a six point max at its finest.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
This weekend and uh, you know, not the biggest match
we've ever seen between these two teams.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
But it is up there, and uh, it's pretty exciting
that it comes at a time when FC Cincinnati are
back atop of the table in all of Major League soccer.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, you know, I heard what Pat Noonan said yesterday
in his press conference. He's asking a little bit more
juice for the team, and he said, not juice, but
more awareness. I was about to ask you if you
have more juice, but I can hear it in your voice,
I mean your juice? Are you Are you gonna sleep tonight?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Listen, Friday's at two. I tend to have max juice.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Yeah, I'm talking about six year old birthday party juice
boxes everywhere type of juice, right, Like, that's That's where
I'm at when I when I log on with you
guys in this usual slot, that said, oh yeah, I
mean it's it's kind of like Christmas Eve was walking
out of the facility earlier and I said, I don't
know if anybody's gonna sleep tonight, right, We're all gonna
(02:04):
be up Christmas Eve. Guys like fired up see all tomorrow,
and I do. I think a lot of people get
excited about this game. You should. It's it's a rivalry matchup.
It's a Darby as you said, like it's a it's
a head to head battle against your rival, and it's
never easy.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
So no, and and there's.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
All the extra meaning now of where these two teams
sit in the standing, So I think that it's No,
it's very exciting. I hope I sleep a little bit
because I got a big week ahead. So there's there's
a lot going on for the Orange and Blue over
the next eight days, So I'm gonna have to get
some sleep. But man, once I get up tomorrow, and
I tend to be an early riser, like it's gonna
(02:44):
be forever until kickoff, or it's certainly gonna feel that way.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
We've talked about the impact of Vander on this team
and what he has meant certainly during this stretch. Explain
to people, imagine somebody's i've never seen him play, how
would you describe how he plays and the impact he
has on the pitch for the Orange and Blue.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah, it's a good question. I mean, it's MVP impact,
you know. I think right now he's probably the leading
candidate for the award. I certainly hope that we're still
having that conversation come October, because if we do, then
we're having a lot of other fun conversations as well.
But he's just performing at such a high level right now,
(03:29):
and he's comfortable here. He's comfortable with Kevin Danke. I
think both of them with twelve goals, pushing each other
a little bit for that team lead. They're tied right now.
But he's doing it in other ways and he's creating
with the assists as well. So I mean, he has
twenty goal contributions in nineteen appearances in the regular season.
That's plus plus a goal contribution per game. And it's
(03:51):
not just here in Cincinnati. He was doing the same
thing in Portland. He's played seventy four career games in
Major League Soccer and he has thirty six goals thirty two.
That's sixty eight goal contribution since arriving here in the league.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
So I think that, you.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Know, he's a little bit like a magician out there,
and the way that he creates space, the way that
he makes passes.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
We saw it with the goal that he assisted on
to Kevin Denk just the.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Way that he beautifully crossed that ball and got it
around that last defender.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I mean it had to be weighted and hooked.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Just right to get to Kevin and then it becomes,
you know, a relatively easy finish.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
For Kevin to put in the back of the net.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
But no, I think just the way that he plays
and he finds space and recently there's been a lot
of space for him.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
But he works hard.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
He does a lot of the little things that I
think that Pat and the coaching staff ask of him.
And because he does those things, it sets the team
up for more success. And if this team is successful,
then that certainly means that a Vander is successful, so
that's good for everybody.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
The offense has certainly been a part of this success,
but the defense as well has you know, been holding
it together to an extend. And Miles Robinson now back
after his men's national team duty with the United States.
How has the back line performed in Miles's absence and
how much of a lift is it to get him back?
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Well, all things considered, I'd say they did pretty well
because four straight wins while he was gone, so I
think that is huge. Remember the conversation we had last week,
there wasn't a lot of depth at center back, and
to start the match on the only true center backs
starting that game was Matt Miosgo. We saw teenage today
becoming late and help actually since they close it out,
(05:38):
but you only have Matt Mioska, and now you get
Miles back in, who is an All Star again, second
consecutive year that he's been selected for.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
That honor, and so you put him back in there.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Teenagers getting healthy, Alberta Floyd's is getting healthy. So I
think they're in a good place. I think getting Miles
back is huge. And but they held on while Miles gone,
and I think that that was really important because if
you did it and you had some bad resulting there,
he kind of strug your shoulder and say, well, look,
we're missing a lot of guys in the back line.
Nick Haglan's still out, but he's trending on the side.
(06:11):
He's really really close, I think to being back in
with the eleven. Patentis press conference suggested that he might
be back in with the group as soon as Monday
to get ready for that match on Wednesday. So could
we see Nick dress for the first time in a
month and a half possibly, that'd be awesome to see
him back into the mix.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
So I think defensively the.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Team is in better shape certainly, certainly than they were
six days ago when they took the pitch against Chicago.
And that's a great thing because Columbus can score. They
can score in bunches. You got to be so strong
defensively to kind of set the tone against the crew.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Last time these two teams met, they fought to a drawl.
FC takes a point on the road. How different will
this match be compared to that match? How have the
teams evolved since then? Well, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
It might be might be kind of similar, to be honest,
because I don't know that they're all that much different.
I mean that my biggest question, I guess right now
and not knowing what the crew are going to do.
Patrick Shulti hasn't played in a match since that f
C Cincinnati match at Lower dot Com Field on May seventeenth.
(07:20):
He picked up an oblique injury actually the following week
warming up. It has been out ever since. So Evan
Bush now has started the last four games. And Bush
is a player that f she Sincenity has had some
success against in the past, So that's certainly something to
keep an eye on. But I think that you know
the goalkeeping situation, Schulty's obviously very good. Evan Bush a
(07:41):
long time veteran in the league with one hundred ninety
five appearances, So so don't don't count Evan out by any means,
but it certainly makes a big difference which one of
those guys is back there. And Evan has done very
well in the five starts that he's made for the
Crew this year. But they've a couple players who are
back from different injuries or international duties, and f C
Cincinnati has Miles Robinson back. So listen, I think the
(08:04):
only difference is that now we're three months further along
in the season or two months, I should say.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
That match was in May, so two months further along
in the season.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
And you look at the table and where these teams stand,
and let's just look at the East. You got, you know,
Columbus is fourth in the East at thirty eight points
and f C Cincinnati are first in the East and
all of Major League Soccer with the forty two points.
So if the Crew get'll come in and get a win.
Now they're just a point back, so things things really
tighten up. And that's where you know, we started it.
And I said it's a six point match in the
true sense of you know, that meaning, and if folks
(08:35):
aren't familiar with that term, they're saying, Tommy, you're a
big dummy, you get three points for a win. Well, listen,
both can be true, but the reality is that you
call it a six point match because if beatly Cincinnati
win and the crew don't, well, that's a six point
swinging as to where f C Sinini pushes themselves away,
keeps keeps Columbus from getting anything on the night, so
(08:56):
and vice versa if Columbus win. So no, I think
that it it's not all that different because the personnel
is pretty similar just at f C Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I mean, both teams are unbeaten in the last four.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
F C Cincinnati with four straight wins, Columbus three or
four wins.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
So no, I think it should It should.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Be a really good, really intriguing match over at TQL Stadium.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
FC Cincinnati with forty two points. You mentioned top of
the supporter shield standings. How much does that give them
some extra juice to to know, all right, we're at
the top, we've done this before, we know we can
do it. I know not everybody is a holdover from
that team that won it, but like, can that serve
as a motivating factor as well as like, yeah, we're
at the top of the table.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Yeah, I think so it should, right, everybody should want
to win another Supporter Shield and bring that back here
to Cincinnati after you know, went to Miami last year.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
So no, I think I think it is.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
And I think when you look at the schedule, when
it's not that anybody's looking ahead, but you know when
you're next four games, you have Columbus and Miami twice
home and home with those guys, and then a trip
to Salt Lake in there as well. So when you
look at those three Eastern Conference teams, I mean, Miami
has grown to make up and they have extra games
to do it because they've missed.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Some MLS games.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
But if you can get nine points from those three
Eastern Conference games, then you're setting yourself up really well
going into the League's Cup break for where you're at
the table, and that would mean that when play resumes
in August after the three group stage games Leagues Cup,
you would be you know, in a position atop the
table and you know, potentially the whole Supportershill race. And
(10:39):
I think that that's pretty exciting. Is that at extra juice?
Absolutely at extra and centip absolutely and listen, not only
do you win the shield and bring another piece of
hardware here if you win it, but then you're setting
yourself up for playoffs as that one overall seed, and
you know that you're not leaving Cincinnati save one first
round road game, which I could argue it don't blue
in the face is kind of cruel and ridiculous in
(11:01):
some ways. You know that you have to leave, have
to win the Supporter Shield, but you know that them's.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
The rules, as they say, right, But yeah, no.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
I think there's a lot of incentive there, and and
this team sees themselves the top of the table with
this stayed now on the second half of the season,
and that should be plenty of motivation to stay there
the rest of the way.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Just thinking about this is, you know, you look around
at the rest of Major League Soccer in Miami is
obviously the team that's talked about the most because of
Messi and his star power. But Columbus is, you know,
a historic club that's won multiple MLS Cups and you
know exactly what you know Philadelphia has been and that's
been of a rivalry. Do you think FC Cincinnati is
maybe overlooked or underappreciated by what they've been able to do. Obviously,
(11:48):
they won the Shield a couple of years ago, but
the model of consistency that they've been do they get
enough credit for that?
Speaker 3 (11:56):
I think they're starting to.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
I think now that it's a fourth secuted year and
you know, look, I haven't clinched the playoffs spot yet,
so I don't want to. I don't want to say,
you know, in the playoffs for the fourth executive year,
but let's be real, it's gonna be wildly disappointing it.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
For some reason, they're not in the playoffs this year.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
So it should be a four fourth straight playoff appearance
for the Orange and Blue. And I think that that
has gotten a lot of people's attention. And it's not
just a fourth straight playoff appearance, it's you know, fighting
atop the table. I mean, you know, listen, the first
year they get in, that's great, but then they won,
We're able to go on the road, pay off the upset,
and then had a tight game with Philadelphia. Andre Blake
(12:33):
had to make some big saves to keep it that way.
You know, then you win the Supporter Shield, and then
last year you're the three seed and you get upset,
but you're still, you know, a top four seed. And
I think that this team should be a top four
seed again this year. We'll see. You know, it's so tight.
I mean we talk about, you know, all the way
through the top six. Orlando is just eight points back
(12:54):
of Cincinnati and Miami, who they played twice. You know,
they're seven points back, but they have three games hand.
Do you take care of business? And he's two against
Miami over the next two weeks, then you know, those
games in hand aren't aren't so intimidating.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
But right now, those just games in hand, they could
they could be right there with you.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
So I think it's shaping up to be one of
the best races in the Eastern Conference in years. But
it's crazy, how you know, a couple results for any
of these teams when you know what't CINCINNTI, Nashville, Philadelphia, Columbus, Miami,
Orlando could flip a team like Cincinnati or Nashville who's
one and two right now to five or six, you know,
ending a bad week, good week, so on and so forth.
(13:34):
So I think this is shaping up to be one
of the best Eastern Conference races we've seen in quite
a while, and hey, it's good to be in the
driver's seat for the moment.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, before I let you go, talked about how they've
won four straight coming into this match in the offense
and Vander and den K and the back line and
miles back. Is it one thing specifically that's led to
the success or is it just the colective consistency of
the group.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Well, I think it's been the collective consistency of the group.
And I mean, let's be honest.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
The heater that a Vander is on right now, you know,
having scored in in three consecutive games, he could he
could tie Brandon Basquez his record if he scores in
a fourth consecutive game. Brandon's Brandon's the only player to
have done that. So that would be awesome just to see.
And and he's, like I said at the beginning when
we're talking about him, like he's.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
So locked in right now.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
But I also think that you know, uh, dn K
is as well, Kevin Denk, and he watches it. I mean, shoot,
he wants to be the leading scorer and Evander wants
to be a leaing scored. So that's good go ahead
of boys, keep four goals, right, I love it so no,
I think, but as we've talked about so often this year,
so much of it, the tone is often sent set
(14:50):
by the defense, and if you can, you know, just
make sure things are calm in the first quarter of
an hour, say, and that you're not conceding in goal,
you're not chasing the game, and kind of set the
tone in that way. Then you're kind of setting yourself
up for success. You know, Columbus for an example, a
team and they don't allow a lot of goals, but
fourteen to twenty seven goals they've allowed this year or
(15:12):
in the first half an hour. So I think if
you're Cincinnati, you got to you gotta come out in
his match, and you know, listen, set the tone with
your defense. Don't give Columbus and he looks early, but
also be looking to pounce on them and get that
crowd juice up, get them that juice going, because there'll
be plenty of juice flowing at the stadium. It's mostly
bubbly beer, I think, but you know, there's to be
(15:36):
a lot of people having.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
A lot of fun, and you want that place.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
To run at its max and the roof to shake now,
I think, you know, when you look at it, it's
been consistency all over and the right buttons have been
pushed by Pat Noonan, which which certainly has helped the
team this formatch win streak.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Last thing I just thought of the weather forecast could
be a little bit moist during the game. Is there
anything and Pat Newton can really do to help his
team prepare for that, or they're just used to it.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It's it's soccer, deal with it. Yeah, guys, I mean
it's it's funny.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
There was a stretch earlier this year, I want to
say April when it felt like we saw like four
or five straight matches played in some type of precipitation
and it was a lot colder than you know, different
different types of conditions. But I think I think it
was April where we were joking and you know, we
meet with Pat a match day. We were like, man,
(16:30):
you know it's gonna rain because it has the last
four matches or something, and if I mean, sure, sure's
got it.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
It rained, you know, and and came down. So I
don't think there's much they can do.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
You know, you just hope, especially in a match like
this that you don't get in any type of situation
with a delay, right, with any type of severe weather
where part of the matches.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Played, then they leave and the fans have the uncertainty.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Of when people coming back out and so on and
so forth like that. That stinks like that. That's not
good for anybody. That's not good for the game. It's
not good for broadcasts, it's not good for the players.
I mean, it's not good. It's not good for the environment.
So hopefully, you know, it's nothing like that.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
It'll it be rain. I hope not.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
I hope for a nice you know, straight up even match.
The guys like the pitch to be a little wet.
The ball will move a little faster about the case.
But yeah, you don't want to be turned into some
type of slot fast or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Tommy G.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I appreciate the time. We will be listening this weekend.
It's an orange out. Will you be wearing orange?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I think? So, okay, yeah, that's the plan.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
I haven't I haven't finalized my my fit yet. That's
what the kids call it, right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I haven't.
I haven't finalized the fit. But yeah, there'll be some
orange for sure, it has to be some orange out come.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, it's an orange out you have to do it,
all right, Tommy, thanks so much. We'll be listening. Have fun, man, Pare,
talk to you next week, all right. Talk That is
Tommy g Tom Glader, the voice of the Orange Blue. Yeah,
it is a orange out at the hell Is Real
rivalry this weekend TQL Stadium.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
According to their wife.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Their website, it says, bring the heat as we face
our fiercest rival, named after the iconic hell Is Real
billboard on the route between our two cities. The hell
Is Real derby is ingrained with intensity and tradition. Seven
thirty kickoff. You can hear it right here on ESPN
fifteen thirty, including extensive, extensive, I said, pregame coverage between
(18:27):
Tommy and the boys. By the way, talking about Columbus,
they are seven to one and four at home. Really good.
They are three two and four on the road, that
is wins losses ties, three two and four on the road.
So they have not performed well. Hopefully TQL Stadium is
(18:48):
a tough place for them to perform this weekend. All right,
Well try again, can you tell me which pitcher surrendered?
Matt McClain's first career hit. If you can, you're gonna
win a pair of tickets to Upper Deck Golf. That's
when we come back. This is ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Now your chance to win one thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Enter this nationwide keyword on our website. Okay, that's pay
Enter it now.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
Is it possible to fill you a brain with enough
sport to actually cause your head to explode? Moegar today
at reoh five on ESPN fifteen thirty Incinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Hi zoeis Soldana, Welcome to Team Obile.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Here's your new
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.