May 9, 2025 • 15 mins
Tony chats Orange and Blue with the voice of FC Cincinnati Tom Gelehrter, on ESPN 1530!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back our three thanks to our friends at Penn Station.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty or via
the iHeartRadio app. As we kick off the third and
final hour on a Friday, which you know what it means.
The voice of FC Cincinnati standing by to join us,
Tom Gallairder Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. What's going on, Tony.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Tony, Tony, Happy Friday. Good to be with you this afternoon.
Glad you're back from your rest.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Last Friday, we missed you, but the show went on,
and now we got the whole gang back together and
ready to fire it up for the weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'd like, it's good, brother.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I can't help, but at least put the hand up
and feel a little bit responsible. I wasn't here last Friday.
The team had won five matches in a row. I
don't show up on Friday, the team loses, and not
only that, but the reverberating effect here Tommy of the
Cleveland Cavaliers also losing their first two games at home.
Before we even dive into the Orangeine Blue, what are
(00:51):
your thoughts on the makeup of this Cavs team, now
down two heading to Indy tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I mean, Tony, I hope this some guys could dig
deep and find their inner Tony Pike and play through
some pain.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
For crying out loud, I mean, how many bones did
you have broken that you played through one game?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Thank you, Tommy? Multiple? Multiple?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I mean multiple, Like you popped a couple of tailand
off web an ice pack and got back out there.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And I'm not I'm not calling anybody out, but boys,
we're in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Down two. Oh, We're
gonna need some people to dig deep tonight.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I mean, Donovan Mitchell dug deep in game two and
just I don't eve.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Want to talk about it. Can we move on? How
would your son basically positive? How did he go?
Speaker 1 (01:34):
It was good?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You know I I I didn't know at that age, Tommy,
all you need you need an infielder six. He's four,
but it's four, five, six and seven year olds, which
is a little bit a little bit more difficult. Those
six and seven year olds to pop off the bat
is different. I realized if you've got a first basement
and an infielder, you can do some damage. And yeah,
I want to say his first at bat, ever, he
(01:59):
hit a lake to shortstop. This kid looked like Ellie
going into the hole, come on and through it, like
ninety nine across the infield. First basement catches it, and
he's just like stunned, Like I hit the ball. I
did what I was supposed to do. Uh.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
It was stunning.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, but then he got on base the next couple
of times, so it was a good learning lesson.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I mean, listen, you gotta stay humble and and
I mean he goes four for four in his first game,
You're never.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Gonna hear that.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I think I think that that that ground out kind
of set the tone back, obviously mentally strong. Apple doesn't
fall far from the tree. I'm talking about his mother obviously.
So no, that's awesome. I love seeing the pictures.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It's fun.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
He was more excited about the eye black than anything else.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, I mean, who is it? So that doesn't change
love it.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Let's talk about the loss New York City FC. It
was an early goal, which this team has kind of
stayed away from allowing, and in a game where you're
on the road against a team that, at least on paper,
you feel like you should beat, that early goal feels
like it just completely shifts the momentum. What went wrong
(03:11):
last weekend for EPSI.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'll be honest, Tony, I thought from the opening whistles,
New York City had control of the match, and and
Kevin and I are up there watching it, and it.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Just it just felt weird, you know. Right away, New
York City had chances.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
They finding was sloppy in their passing and there were
just no opportunities early for the Orange Blue. And then
New York City get the goal, you know, and then
there's a penalty moments later, and you're like, holy mold.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
A quarter hour in, it's gonna beat two dill.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
This is just an utter disaster, and you know, Roman
gets fortunate that you know he gets is wrong. But
the penalty kick hits the woodwork and comes out to
keep it one nail and that kept ef Sincey in
the game.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
But it just wasn't a very crisp first half. For
whatever reason, the team struggles when they go into that building.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Lost three to one in Game two of the playoffs
last year, you know, tied the year before that, I
think it was or maybe two years earlier when they
played their city field. So I haven't spent a lot
of time there, but it's just, you know, a tighter
pitch and New York City seems to give trouble to
f C Cincinnati. It's kind of old, been the case
across the history of the series, you know, regardless of
(04:18):
who's been the head coach. So I think it was
disappointing effort. Obviously, Patt Newtan was very disappointed at halftime
when he talked to us, and the team came out
and he created some.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Opportunities in the second half.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
He made a couple of changes in tactics, he made
a couple changes in personnel, and I thought it brought
some life into the team, but there just weren't enough
clear cut, great opportunities to score goals. There was a
couple to get that one back and maybe get out
of there with a draw, and in the end, it
was just a bad day and you're gonna have days
like that, and it didn't go in favor of the
(04:48):
Orange and Blue.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
From a positive standpoint, are there things even in a loss,
And we've talked about this before, but even in a
loss that you were able to see against that team
that can get you back on tr going into tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I mean, I think you're not playing on a baseball field,
and that's a positive tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
But you know, home performance standpoint, I thought we saw
some good minutes from Donna Venezuela, encouraging minutes off the bench,
and obviously we've seen Donna score a game winning goal
with DC about a month ago, so you know, I
thought it was good the energy that he brought.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Coming into the match.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
You remember, ever since he was missing their two starters
in the defensive midfield and Pavel Buca and Albino Wobedo,
and Pat said that Pavel was out of concussion protocol,
so he should be cleared and involved in this match tomorrow.
So I think that that that is a positive. They
really struggled without those guys. They've struggled in the minutes
when Pavel hasn't been on the pitch this year, and
that's been very, very evident. So I think that those
(05:44):
factors I think, like I said, Donna was good off
the bench. I thought Sergio had a couple of good
runs off the bench. But overall, I think it's one
of those days you kind of have to scratch off
the list and say we had a bad day. Let's
turn the page and the good news is they're coming
home where they've been very good at tiqu Stadium.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
It's a luxury to be able to go on the
road and stumble and still look up and you're just
two points behind the Columbus Crew in the standings at
twenty two, tied with the Philadelphia Union, one ahead of
Inner Miami. So when you take out and I know
you can't just take it out, but moving past the
the New York City match, the five game winning streak,
(06:24):
regardless of competition, how they get it done? From an
MLS standpoint, how hard is that to do to win
and collect three points in five consecutive matches.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
No, it's not easy. And n f C Cincinnati dug deep.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
They're trying to make it six in a row, which
would have been I think tied for the second longest
win streak in club history.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Look, because Team Tony is one third.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Basically the way through the regular season, you play at
thirty four match regular season, so.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
You're eleven games in, you've only lost three times.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I'm pretty sure that any team in any sport would
take that rate of success that gives you twenty two
points through eleven games multiply by three that's sixty six
points with an additional game to.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Get you one or maybe three.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
You know, so you're looking at you know, on pace
for a max of sixty nine points. You know, at
that rate, it is gonna put you in a really
good place and maybe in another supporter shield contention conversation
if you continue it. So I think Ge've done the
right things. I think the five match winning streak was great.
I think that we're starting to see the team come
together finally. You know, the biggest disappointment going in that
(07:26):
New York City game was the conversation during the week
was that the entire team was healthy again and that
finally had his full best eleven to choose from, or
had his full roster to choose his best eleven and
put out there against the New York City team that
we knew would provide some challenges. But late in the
week you have the head injury for Pavel Buka and
then he's not eligible to play as he goes into protocols,
(07:48):
and then o'bing A Wobedoe kind of tightens up from
a knack he had picked up earlier. So you lose
those two regular starters who are such a vital piece
of how this team moved through the middle of the pitch,
and it makes it difficult. I think now you have
Pavel back in. We'll see what obi status is tomorrow
when the team sheet comes out.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
But no, I think your start to see this team
come together.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I think we're going to see more of these win
streaks as they put it together and the opportunity starts.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
The next one comes tomorrow against Austin.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
The eye test is something before we get to the
Austin match. The eye test is something we always talk
about in sports of you know, does a team have
the makeup to be a contender for a championship? Are
they competitive but not there yet? How do you feel
about this squad who underwent so many different changes and
coming together and trying to get the time to work
on that while your schedule is hectic. How do you
(08:39):
view this team from a MLS standpoint when you start
to look ahead to contenders.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Oh, I mean I think from an eye test standpoint,
you have to say that that they're passing the grade
right now. Right you have a fourth year goalkeeper in
Rome Celentano who's providing stability there. You just got the
twenty twenty three defender of the Year, Matty Aasga back
into the mix and he's working his way back into
match fitness. You know, you have a fantastic defender on
one side of him, Miles Robinson and a hometown hero
Nick Haglini the other.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Plus some depth.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Now with guys healthy like hilbertol Flores and teenage Dabi.
So they played three matches in eight days this week.
We're gonna see some rotation, certainly on that back line,
and the pieces are there to provide it. You have
important pieces in the midfield, you have your your wing
backs in good spots, and then look your new editions
in Kevin dentke sixteen million dollars. He has six goals,
(09:26):
four of them are game winners. You went out, you
got a vander for twelve million. He has six goals
and assists. He's very much in that MVP conversation right now.
And Luca Orshono has been contributing. You know, it only
has the two assists, doesn't have a goal yet and
we're all kind of waiting on that first league goal
for Luca Orshono, and it's gonna come.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
He has a skill set, you know, probably pressing a
little bit right now because he knows he hasn't scored
in a Major league soccer match this year, but it's
going to come and when those floodgates open, you add
him and now that attacking trio is extremely dangerous. So
we haven't seen them out there a lot together, but
they're getting more comfortable and so I think from the
(10:06):
way that Chris Albright built this team from the eye test, yeah,
they very much pass. Maybe there's a piece or two
where they think they need to improve going in the summer, absolutely,
but listen, that's life. Everybody can improve. You can prove
your team, you can improve, you know, whatever, whatever you do,
your job, everything we do, we can improve in So
I think there's ways that they will look at it
(10:27):
in trying to improve during the summer window. But that
from a construction standpoint, they did a really good job
putting this team together. They got through the busy stretch
and now they can find some rhythm here in May.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
With bodies healthy.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Looking ahead to tomorrow at TQL Stadium, Austin FC, they
are kind of middle of the pack in the Western
Conference standings. What do you know about Austin FC and
what's going to be the key to victory for FC Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Well, look, it's gonna bring old friend Brandon Vasquez back
to town. Signed as a designated player from Monterey during
the off season, he has two goals this season in
regular season play. He actually scored twice on Wednesday night.
They were playing in Open Cup action, down two to
oh and Brandon had two goals and an assist to
bring them back to knock off hillas pass, so three
to two final on Wednesday done. That also means a
(11:15):
lot of the guys played on Wednesday. So they're in
a stretch. Now. This is their second match of four
games in eleven days, you know, so Austin has to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Travel up here.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
But yeah, it's a team, like you said, five to
five and one. All five games that they've won this year,
they scored first, and all five times that they've allowed the.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
First goal, they've lost.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
So it's been a real rowler coaster for Nico Estevez
coming over in his first season. Of course, he was
with SC Dallas for a couple of years, you know.
And look, f C Cincinnati is one of two teams
in the league that have not lost a game at
home this season.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Four to oh to one.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
You know, they've re established Tikios Stadium as a fortress.
You know, obviously that was the case in twenty twenty
three when they won the Supporter Shield.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
That has to be the case.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
I think if you want to win a supporter Shield.
Last year, that home form slip a little bit, and
I think was frustrating for everybody. Frustrating for the for
an office, for the players, the coaches, fans, the broadcasters, everybody. Right,
it stinks when when you're not informed at home, but
the team very much is. Uh So, I think you
got to, you know, regroup, put your foot on the gas.
Get off to a quick start, because again they just
(12:17):
gave you their stat Austen when they concede the first goal,
have their backs against the wall and seem to fail
to come from behind.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
So get off to a quick start. Electrifyt the stadium.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Get a Kevin denk Gol or Vander or Luk or
Shunles first of the season, and the place will be buzzing.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I think it's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
A sellout again, is what I heard today. Uh So, look,
it's gonna be a capacity crowd. Brandon obviously will get
a nice return applause from the crowd. He came back
last year with Monoey scored. He scored against f C
Cincinnati in the game in Monterey in the return leg
there in KNKCAFT Champions Cup. I love Brandy, but let's
not see a Brandon Vasquez go tomorrow. I think we
(12:52):
can all agree. I think we can all agree on that.
I hope Brandon scores a whole bunch of goals, but
not one tomorrow at TQL Stadium. I mean, he's come
in with the national team, he scored there, he obviously
scored a whole bunch with f C Cincinnati, and he's
a fantastic player and a better human being. So I
w allways root for him. I will not be rooting
for him tomorrow. But but but he's a great guy
(13:13):
and I know everybody will be be happy to see him.
But yeah, this this Austin team has some good weapons.
And you know they have now veteran goalkeeper and Brad Stuver.
He's been there in the entire ride since Austin came
on as an expansion club, and uh, it'd be a
very interesting matchup. Remember these two teams faced each other
this first time Austin's ever come to Queen City. Pat
Newton's first ever game as head coach was the last
(13:35):
time we saw Austin FC, and that was an utter disaster.
Good news this he turned it around ever since, so
I think it'll be a very very intriguing matchup. There's
not many players. I think there's four on each team
that that remained on the roster who dressed for that
game and in February on a cold, just miserable day
down at Q two Stadium. So I'm very intrigued to
(13:55):
kind of see how these two teams match up. Historically,
Patt Newton's teams have done very well against the Western
Conference and hopefully that continues tomorrow night at seven thirty.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Tom Glair of the Voice of FC Cincinnati, before I
let you go, have you ordered your Chador Sanders Jersey yet?
Are you waiting to see how it plays out? Or
where are you stand?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
They come on, man, I have not. It's funny because
they bring that up. You know, I have a group
of neighbors and bluddies. There's like eight of us on
a text chain that all lived within like a block
or two of each other, and we're all Browns fans.
So we're like the little Browns backers club, right, and
so we have a text chain and obviously during the
(14:33):
draft we're all texting each other, and the Browns draft
doing Gabriel and it's like, okay, well there's the decision, right, they're.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Gonna go doing Gabriel, and obviously Chador is not coming.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
And between the time that they took doing Gabriel and
then they took Shador, one of the guys on there
is a good friend. He said, Tommy, if if they
draft Shadoor Sanders, I'm buying you a jersey, Oh okay, whatever, Like,
oh you know, it's it. You're like, that's a pretty
safe bet at that point.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
And then they drafted I don't know if he I
don't know. I don't know if he's coming through with it.
He'll twelve. I mean, I look good in at twelve.
I'm glad he's twelve. Not too But we'll see.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Who knows that that quarterback room could be an entire
reality show in its own through training camp.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Uh, we'll see, Well, FC get back to business, Calves
need to get back to business, and uh we'll go
from there.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yes, a week from today. Tom, always about a whole
wins is it is.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I appreciate your time as always, have a great call
tomorrow night and uh and get three.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
We appreciate you, absolutely look forward to it. Thanks fellas.
Talk to there he is.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
That's Tom going to the voice of FC Cincinnati. This
is Sincy three sixty plenty more still to go our
three Thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station
Welcome back our three thanks to our friends at Penn Station.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty or via
the iHeartRadio app. As we kick off the third and
final hour on a Friday, which you know what it means.
The voice of FC Cincinnati standing by to join us,
Tom Gallairder Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. What's going on, Tony.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Tony, Tony, Happy Friday. Good to be with you this afternoon.
Glad you're back from your rest.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Last Friday, we missed you, but the show went on,
and now we got the whole gang back together and
ready to fire it up for the weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'd like, it's good, brother.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I can't help, but at least put the hand up
and feel a little bit responsible. I wasn't here last Friday.
The team had won five matches in a row. I
don't show up on Friday, the team loses, and not
only that, but the reverberating effect here Tommy of the
Cleveland Cavaliers also losing their first two games at home.
Before we even dive into the Orangeine Blue, what are
(00:51):
your thoughts on the makeup of this Cavs team, now
down two heading to Indy tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I mean, Tony, I hope this some guys could dig
deep and find their inner Tony Pike and play through
some pain.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
For crying out loud, I mean, how many bones did
you have broken that you played through one game?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Thank you, Tommy? Multiple? Multiple?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I mean multiple, Like you popped a couple of tailand
off web an ice pack and got back out there.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And I'm not I'm not calling anybody out, but boys,
we're in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Down two. Oh, We're
gonna need some people to dig deep tonight.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I mean, Donovan Mitchell dug deep in game two and
just I don't eve.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Want to talk about it. Can we move on? How
would your son basically positive? How did he go?
Speaker 1 (01:34):
It was good?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You know I I I didn't know at that age, Tommy,
all you need you need an infielder six. He's four,
but it's four, five, six and seven year olds, which
is a little bit a little bit more difficult. Those
six and seven year olds to pop off the bat
is different. I realized if you've got a first basement
and an infielder, you can do some damage. And yeah,
I want to say his first at bat, ever, he
(01:59):
hit a lake to shortstop. This kid looked like Ellie
going into the hole, come on and through it, like
ninety nine across the infield. First basement catches it, and
he's just like stunned, Like I hit the ball. I
did what I was supposed to do. Uh.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
It was stunning.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, but then he got on base the next couple
of times, so it was a good learning lesson.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, I mean, listen, you gotta stay humble and and
I mean he goes four for four in his first game,
You're never.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Gonna hear that.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I think I think that that that ground out kind
of set the tone back, obviously mentally strong. Apple doesn't
fall far from the tree. I'm talking about his mother obviously.
So no, that's awesome. I love seeing the pictures.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It's fun.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
He was more excited about the eye black than anything else.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, I mean, who is it? So that doesn't change
love it.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Let's talk about the loss New York City FC. It
was an early goal, which this team has kind of
stayed away from allowing, and in a game where you're
on the road against a team that, at least on paper,
you feel like you should beat, that early goal feels
like it just completely shifts the momentum. What went wrong
(03:11):
last weekend for EPSI.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'll be honest, Tony, I thought from the opening whistles,
New York City had control of the match, and and
Kevin and I are up there watching it, and it.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Just it just felt weird, you know. Right away, New
York City had chances.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
They finding was sloppy in their passing and there were
just no opportunities early for the Orange Blue. And then
New York City get the goal, you know, and then
there's a penalty moments later, and you're like, holy mold.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
A quarter hour in, it's gonna beat two dill.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
This is just an utter disaster, and you know, Roman
gets fortunate that you know he gets is wrong. But
the penalty kick hits the woodwork and comes out to
keep it one nail and that kept ef Sincey in
the game.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
But it just wasn't a very crisp first half. For
whatever reason, the team struggles when they go into that building.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Lost three to one in Game two of the playoffs
last year, you know, tied the year before that, I
think it was or maybe two years earlier when they
played their city field. So I haven't spent a lot
of time there, but it's just, you know, a tighter
pitch and New York City seems to give trouble to
f C Cincinnati. It's kind of old, been the case
across the history of the series, you know, regardless of
(04:18):
who's been the head coach. So I think it was
disappointing effort. Obviously, Patt Newtan was very disappointed at halftime
when he talked to us, and the team came out
and he created some.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Opportunities in the second half.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
He made a couple of changes in tactics, he made
a couple changes in personnel, and I thought it brought
some life into the team, but there just weren't enough
clear cut, great opportunities to score goals. There was a
couple to get that one back and maybe get out
of there with a draw, and in the end, it
was just a bad day and you're gonna have days
like that, and it didn't go in favor of the
(04:48):
Orange and Blue.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
From a positive standpoint, are there things even in a loss,
And we've talked about this before, but even in a
loss that you were able to see against that team
that can get you back on tr going into tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I mean, I think you're not playing on a baseball field,
and that's a positive tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
But you know, home performance standpoint, I thought we saw
some good minutes from Donna Venezuela, encouraging minutes off the bench,
and obviously we've seen Donna score a game winning goal
with DC about a month ago, so you know, I
thought it was good the energy that he brought.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Coming into the match.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
You remember, ever since he was missing their two starters
in the defensive midfield and Pavel Buca and Albino Wobedo,
and Pat said that Pavel was out of concussion protocol,
so he should be cleared and involved in this match tomorrow.
So I think that that that is a positive. They
really struggled without those guys. They've struggled in the minutes
when Pavel hasn't been on the pitch this year, and
that's been very, very evident. So I think that those
(05:44):
factors I think, like I said, Donna was good off
the bench. I thought Sergio had a couple of good
runs off the bench. But overall, I think it's one
of those days you kind of have to scratch off
the list and say we had a bad day. Let's
turn the page and the good news is they're coming
home where they've been very good at tiqu Stadium.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
It's a luxury to be able to go on the
road and stumble and still look up and you're just
two points behind the Columbus Crew in the standings at
twenty two, tied with the Philadelphia Union, one ahead of
Inner Miami. So when you take out and I know
you can't just take it out, but moving past the
the New York City match, the five game winning streak,
(06:24):
regardless of competition, how they get it done? From an
MLS standpoint, how hard is that to do to win
and collect three points in five consecutive matches.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
No, it's not easy. And n f C Cincinnati dug deep.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
They're trying to make it six in a row, which
would have been I think tied for the second longest
win streak in club history.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Look, because Team Tony is one third.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Basically the way through the regular season, you play at
thirty four match regular season, so.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
You're eleven games in, you've only lost three times.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I'm pretty sure that any team in any sport would
take that rate of success that gives you twenty two
points through eleven games multiply by three that's sixty six
points with an additional game to.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Get you one or maybe three.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
You know, so you're looking at you know, on pace
for a max of sixty nine points. You know, at
that rate, it is gonna put you in a really
good place and maybe in another supporter shield contention conversation
if you continue it. So I think Ge've done the
right things. I think the five match winning streak was great.
I think that we're starting to see the team come
together finally. You know, the biggest disappointment going in that
(07:26):
New York City game was the conversation during the week
was that the entire team was healthy again and that
finally had his full best eleven to choose from, or
had his full roster to choose his best eleven and
put out there against the New York City team that
we knew would provide some challenges. But late in the
week you have the head injury for Pavel Buka and
then he's not eligible to play as he goes into protocols,
(07:48):
and then o'bing A Wobedoe kind of tightens up from
a knack he had picked up earlier. So you lose
those two regular starters who are such a vital piece
of how this team moved through the middle of the pitch,
and it makes it difficult. I think now you have
Pavel back in. We'll see what obi status is tomorrow
when the team sheet comes out.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
But no, I think your start to see this team
come together.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I think we're going to see more of these win
streaks as they put it together and the opportunity starts.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
The next one comes tomorrow against Austin.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
The eye test is something before we get to the
Austin match. The eye test is something we always talk
about in sports of you know, does a team have
the makeup to be a contender for a championship? Are
they competitive but not there yet? How do you feel
about this squad who underwent so many different changes and
coming together and trying to get the time to work
on that while your schedule is hectic. How do you
(08:39):
view this team from a MLS standpoint when you start
to look ahead to contenders.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Oh, I mean I think from an eye test standpoint,
you have to say that that they're passing the grade
right now. Right you have a fourth year goalkeeper in
Rome Celentano who's providing stability there. You just got the
twenty twenty three defender of the Year, Matty Aasga back
into the mix and he's working his way back into
match fitness. You know, you have a fantastic defender on
one side of him, Miles Robinson and a hometown hero
Nick Haglini the other.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Plus some depth.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Now with guys healthy like hilbertol Flores and teenage Dabi.
So they played three matches in eight days this week.
We're gonna see some rotation, certainly on that back line,
and the pieces are there to provide it. You have
important pieces in the midfield, you have your your wing
backs in good spots, and then look your new editions
in Kevin dentke sixteen million dollars. He has six goals,
(09:26):
four of them are game winners. You went out, you
got a vander for twelve million. He has six goals
and assists. He's very much in that MVP conversation right now.
And Luca Orshono has been contributing. You know, it only
has the two assists, doesn't have a goal yet and
we're all kind of waiting on that first league goal
for Luca Orshono, and it's gonna come.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
He has a skill set, you know, probably pressing a
little bit right now because he knows he hasn't scored
in a Major league soccer match this year, but it's
going to come and when those floodgates open, you add
him and now that attacking trio is extremely dangerous. So
we haven't seen them out there a lot together, but
they're getting more comfortable and so I think from the
(10:06):
way that Chris Albright built this team from the eye test, yeah,
they very much pass. Maybe there's a piece or two
where they think they need to improve going in the summer, absolutely,
but listen, that's life. Everybody can improve. You can prove
your team, you can improve, you know, whatever, whatever you do,
your job, everything we do, we can improve in So
I think there's ways that they will look at it
(10:27):
in trying to improve during the summer window. But that
from a construction standpoint, they did a really good job
putting this team together. They got through the busy stretch
and now they can find some rhythm here in May.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
With bodies healthy.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Looking ahead to tomorrow at TQL Stadium, Austin FC, they
are kind of middle of the pack in the Western
Conference standings. What do you know about Austin FC and
what's going to be the key to victory for FC Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Well, look, it's gonna bring old friend Brandon Vasquez back
to town. Signed as a designated player from Monterey during
the off season, he has two goals this season in
regular season play. He actually scored twice on Wednesday night.
They were playing in Open Cup action, down two to
oh and Brandon had two goals and an assist to
bring them back to knock off hillas pass, so three
to two final on Wednesday done. That also means a
(11:15):
lot of the guys played on Wednesday. So they're in
a stretch. Now. This is their second match of four
games in eleven days, you know, so Austin has to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Travel up here.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
But yeah, it's a team, like you said, five to
five and one. All five games that they've won this year,
they scored first, and all five times that they've allowed the.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
First goal, they've lost.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
So it's been a real rowler coaster for Nico Estevez
coming over in his first season. Of course, he was
with SC Dallas for a couple of years, you know.
And look, f C Cincinnati is one of two teams
in the league that have not lost a game at
home this season.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Four to oh to one.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
You know, they've re established Tikios Stadium as a fortress.
You know, obviously that was the case in twenty twenty
three when they won the Supporter Shield.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
That has to be the case.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
I think if you want to win a supporter Shield.
Last year, that home form slip a little bit, and
I think was frustrating for everybody. Frustrating for the for
an office, for the players, the coaches, fans, the broadcasters, everybody. Right,
it stinks when when you're not informed at home, but
the team very much is. Uh So, I think you
got to, you know, regroup, put your foot on the gas.
Get off to a quick start, because again they just
(12:17):
gave you their stat Austen when they concede the first goal,
have their backs against the wall and seem to fail
to come from behind.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
So get off to a quick start. Electrifyt the stadium.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Get a Kevin denk Gol or Vander or Luk or
Shunles first of the season, and the place will be buzzing.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I think it's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
A sellout again, is what I heard today. Uh So, look,
it's gonna be a capacity crowd. Brandon obviously will get
a nice return applause from the crowd. He came back
last year with Monoey scored. He scored against f C
Cincinnati in the game in Monterey in the return leg
there in KNKCAFT Champions Cup. I love Brandy, but let's
not see a Brandon Vasquez go tomorrow. I think we
(12:52):
can all agree. I think we can all agree on that.
I hope Brandon scores a whole bunch of goals, but
not one tomorrow at TQL Stadium. I mean, he's come
in with the national team, he scored there, he obviously
scored a whole bunch with f C Cincinnati, and he's
a fantastic player and a better human being. So I
w allways root for him. I will not be rooting
for him tomorrow. But but but he's a great guy
(13:13):
and I know everybody will be be happy to see him.
But yeah, this this Austin team has some good weapons.
And you know they have now veteran goalkeeper and Brad Stuver.
He's been there in the entire ride since Austin came
on as an expansion club, and uh, it'd be a
very interesting matchup. Remember these two teams faced each other
this first time Austin's ever come to Queen City. Pat
Newton's first ever game as head coach was the last
(13:35):
time we saw Austin FC, and that was an utter disaster.
Good news this he turned it around ever since, so
I think it'll be a very very intriguing matchup. There's
not many players. I think there's four on each team
that that remained on the roster who dressed for that
game and in February on a cold, just miserable day
down at Q two Stadium. So I'm very intrigued to
(13:55):
kind of see how these two teams match up. Historically,
Patt Newton's teams have done very well against the Western
Conference and hopefully that continues tomorrow night at seven thirty.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Tom Glair of the Voice of FC Cincinnati, before I
let you go, have you ordered your Chador Sanders Jersey yet?
Are you waiting to see how it plays out? Or
where are you stand?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
They come on, man, I have not. It's funny because
they bring that up. You know, I have a group
of neighbors and bluddies. There's like eight of us on
a text chain that all lived within like a block
or two of each other, and we're all Browns fans.
So we're like the little Browns backers club, right, and
so we have a text chain and obviously during the
(14:33):
draft we're all texting each other, and the Browns draft
doing Gabriel and it's like, okay, well there's the decision, right, they're.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Gonna go doing Gabriel, and obviously Chador is not coming.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
And between the time that they took doing Gabriel and
then they took Shador, one of the guys on there
is a good friend. He said, Tommy, if if they
draft Shadoor Sanders, I'm buying you a jersey, Oh okay, whatever, Like,
oh you know, it's it. You're like, that's a pretty
safe bet at that point.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
And then they drafted I don't know if he I
don't know. I don't know if he's coming through with it.
He'll twelve. I mean, I look good in at twelve.
I'm glad he's twelve. Not too But we'll see.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Who knows that that quarterback room could be an entire
reality show in its own through training camp.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Uh, we'll see, Well, FC get back to business, Calves
need to get back to business, and uh we'll go
from there.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yes, a week from today. Tom, always about a whole
wins is it is.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I appreciate your time as always, have a great call
tomorrow night and uh and get three.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
We appreciate you, absolutely look forward to it. Thanks fellas.
Talk to there he is.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
That's Tom going to the voice of FC Cincinnati. This
is Sincy three sixty plenty more still to go our
three Thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station
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