July 16, 2025 • 8 mins
Before he called FC Cincinnati's dominant 3-0 win over Miami, Danny Higginbotham of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV joined us on ESPN1530.
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Oh, it's going to be a blue out tonight downtown
(00:02):
or on the West end of Cincinnati is FC Cincinnati
hosts Lionel Messi and enter Miami. This is a huge
match and FC Cincinnati trying to bounce back after the
heartbreaking loss on Saturday night. Calling the match on MLS
Season Pass on Apple TV. As somebody who always answers
whenever we ask him to come on, he has a
big call tonight, kind enough to give us a few minutes,
(00:24):
the Great Danny Higgobotham. It's good to have you, Danny.
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I'm very well.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Thanks Mo.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How are you doing.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I'm doing well. The air, I will admit for me,
has come out of the balloon a little bit in
all the excitement for this match because of what happened
in the second half on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, the good things can happen. I remember we were
actually covering Saint Louis on Sunday, so I was able
to see the game, and I was having some food,
and I was watching the scores as they were coming
in and to find Cincinnati tun the loop after what
six or seven minutes, it was like wow, it was incredible.
It was an unbelievable start. But know, we know that Columbus,
(01:01):
obviously great rivals of Cincinnati, are a very very good team.
And I just think that Cincinnati, to a certainness then
probably went away from their game plan and when they
went to and looked for you know what, not saying
they thought it was going to be EASi, but they thought,
you know, let's hold on to the lead instead of
really trying to extend it. And you know, I think
you look back at these situations and I'm not saying
(01:22):
that any Cincinnati plan we're looking at now obviously with
with the defeat coming to you know, the rivals and Columbus,
but this could be sort of a blessing disguise later
on in the season, maybe just maybe just a little
reminder of you know, things aren't going to be easy,
because you know, Cincinnati has been in a really good run,
(01:43):
so you expect to see a response, and I think
there will be a response. You know, I think Pat
Noonan's an amazing manager. I think he's got a really
good group of players, and you know, they'll, hopefully from
their side of things, be able to put that behind them.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Tonight, Lionel Messi comes in with a league record five
can second of multiple goal games. Evander has been a
godsend for FC Cincinnati. If you if you want star
power for a broadcast, Dany, You've got it tonight. Yeah
we have.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
You know, argued with the two best number tens in
MLS without question, the greatest even number ten I think
in world football in Messi, and he's just gone up
on the level. I think. You know, we've covered Miami
a lot this season and he just he just got
He just grabs games, grabs him and then just takes
them where he wants to take them. And you know,
I've been asked many times, how do you stop a
(02:33):
player like Messi. The answer is you cannot stop it.
You have to cut the supply line off to him.
It's a simple adaptors. When he gets the ball, then
it's big trouble. And I think for Evander, I think
he's he's proven to be everything and more. You know,
since he signed, he's got thirteen goals and eight assists,
including six goals and glass four games, and he's just
he's been a difference mak you know for so long,
(02:55):
we know since Ainnati with a cost as the number
ten and what he did for the club, and I
think that there's no reason whatsoever why Evander can't be
that player as well. I think he's shown already this
season that you know, when when the big games come around,
he's the player that turns up, whether it different goals
inside the box, the records are hescovering with goals outside
(03:15):
the box. Is just an incredible talent. And I think
the hope for Pat noon And and everybody at Cincinnati is
he takes this team to the next level.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
What is your assessment of FC Cincinnati season today.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I think obviously there's a little bit of a slow star,
a little bit of slow burn. I think you know
when you lose a player like a cost it and
take a little bit of adjustment. I think the fact
that Vand has come in and he's hit the ground running,
den K's come in, you know you've got you've got
a few new players, you've got injuries and some key
positions as well. I think Robodo has been has been
a huge miss. I think in football in general, we
(03:49):
talk about the goal scorers, we talk about the goal
the goal creators. We don't necessarily talk about defense and midfielders.
But for me, they're one of the most important players
in any team in any league in the world, and
the thinking in roverdo He in my opinion, is one
of the best offensive midfielders in the league, and I
think that he's missed greatly because of what he brings
to the team, and he does a lot of the
dirty work that I guess goes unnoticed by people who
(04:12):
may just want to see the really flamboyant side of
the game, if that makes sense. And you know, but
what I would say about Cincinnati is just off to
look at the league table. I think the Eastern Conference
this season, in my opinion, is going to be the
most competitive that I've ever known it. I think there's
an argument for probably five or six teams why they
(04:32):
think that they could finish at the top. And that's
why I think games like tonight are so big, because
the gap is so small between these five or six
teams at the top of the league.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
From your perspective, and when Lionel Messi went to Miami,
we talked about how huge this was going to be
for Major League Soccer. Now that we have a large
sample size of him playing for Miami, has he had
the expected effect all and more?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Without question, without question and more people. Anybody that thought
that he was come in here for, you know, a
way to finish off his career and relax, couldn't be
couldn't be more wrong if they tried. Like I say,
I've covered them on numerous occasions this season. I remember
one game they got deep by Orlando three Milo at
home and after the meeting, sorry, after the game, Messi
(05:19):
and Suarez they called the meeting players only, and if
you look for the results, since that Orlando lost. They
took that personally because they're run. Since then has been incredible. Defensively,
they got stronger attacking wise, they are so efficient, and
that is partly down or largely down to Messi's just incredible.
And you always think to yourself, and you're covering a
(05:40):
team a lot, you're thinking yourself, right, Okay, well, I'm
gonna have to think of something different to say this week,
and you're not gonna have to look at it from
another angle this week. You never have to, because he,
without fail, produces every single game, whether it be goals,
whether it be assists, whether it be skills, He's just
he is just everything and more than I would have
(06:01):
thought anybody expected when he came to this league because
he's just been he's been absolutely phenomenal, as you quite
rightly said. You know, he's got eleven goals in his
last six m A less games, which is including two
goals in each of his last five games. That in
itself is incredible, and you know there's there's so many
more records that he's probably going to break this season
(06:21):
as well. He's just he's a player that you just
you run out of words to talk about because you've
used every word. You've used every word.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
He's just he's he's a sensational playing The one thing
that I would say about him this evening, if anybody
is watching the game, whether you're at the stadium, whether
you're watching it.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
On TV, I know he's unbelievable when he's on the ball,
but just watch what he does off the ball, because
in my opinion, when I look at him, when he
gets hold of the ball, that the easiest part of
the game to him. That's the twenty percent, it's the
eighty percent that he's done before when three or four
players are trying to mark him, when teams are sitting
leap against him, how he somehow manages to find space
(07:05):
on such a crowded pit, in such a crowded area,
he's like, first ten to fifty minutes of games, it's
like he has a fat now just in his brain.
He's a genius, and it's like, Okay, he's mapping out
where the areas are in the pitch, where he can
find freedom, where he can find space. And every time
he receives the ball, you look at him, you think, wow,
(07:26):
he's found himself in five to ten yards of space.
How is that? That's because of what he was doing
fifteen seconds before he received the ball.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
He's he's just.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
An unbelievable, phenomenal one off footballer. He's in my opinion,
it was never at the bate for me, but when
I've seen him up close in person now, even at
the age that he's at, he's the greatest ever football
I've seen.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
If I wasn't already going to watch tonight, you just
convince me it's going to be a lot of fun time.
That's the idea. That's why you join us, the Great
Danny Higger FC Cincinnati hosting Inter Miami tonight seven thirty
MLS season pass. I know you have a broadcast to
prep for. I cannot thank you enough. We love having
you on Danny. Thanks so much, my pleasure, most thank
(08:12):
you very much. Stake that night one of the absolute best.
Danny Higgabotham MLS Season pass, Apple TV and of course
you could listen to the match on ESPN fifteen thirty
three thirty on ESPN fifteen thirty Is that is that really?
Andy Furman online? One? I think it is. I have
to get a break in. Will Andy get mad if
(08:33):
we do the break and then take his phone call?
He's been hanging around throughout the entire interview. It's one
of these why not It's one of we talk about,
like my one of my heroes in the business is
calling this. I hope I'm not going about to get
yelled at. Sports headlines are next ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati
Sports Station,
Oh, it's going to be a blue out tonight downtown
(00:02):
or on the West end of Cincinnati is FC Cincinnati
hosts Lionel Messi and enter Miami. This is a huge
match and FC Cincinnati trying to bounce back after the
heartbreaking loss on Saturday night. Calling the match on MLS
Season Pass on Apple TV. As somebody who always answers
whenever we ask him to come on, he has a
big call tonight, kind enough to give us a few minutes,
(00:24):
the Great Danny Higgobotham. It's good to have you, Danny.
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I'm very well.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Thanks Mo.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How are you doing.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I'm doing well. The air, I will admit for me,
has come out of the balloon a little bit in
all the excitement for this match because of what happened
in the second half on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, the good things can happen. I remember we were
actually covering Saint Louis on Sunday, so I was able
to see the game, and I was having some food,
and I was watching the scores as they were coming
in and to find Cincinnati tun the loop after what
six or seven minutes, it was like wow, it was incredible.
It was an unbelievable start. But know, we know that Columbus,
(01:01):
obviously great rivals of Cincinnati, are a very very good team.
And I just think that Cincinnati, to a certainness then
probably went away from their game plan and when they
went to and looked for you know what, not saying
they thought it was going to be EASi, but they thought,
you know, let's hold on to the lead instead of
really trying to extend it. And you know, I think
you look back at these situations and I'm not saying
(01:22):
that any Cincinnati plan we're looking at now obviously with
with the defeat coming to you know, the rivals and Columbus,
but this could be sort of a blessing disguise later
on in the season, maybe just maybe just a little
reminder of you know, things aren't going to be easy,
because you know, Cincinnati has been in a really good run,
(01:43):
so you expect to see a response, and I think
there will be a response. You know, I think Pat
Noonan's an amazing manager. I think he's got a really
good group of players, and you know, they'll, hopefully from
their side of things, be able to put that behind them.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Tonight, Lionel Messi comes in with a league record five
can second of multiple goal games. Evander has been a
godsend for FC Cincinnati. If you if you want star
power for a broadcast, Dany, You've got it tonight. Yeah
we have.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
You know, argued with the two best number tens in
MLS without question, the greatest even number ten I think
in world football in Messi, and he's just gone up
on the level. I think. You know, we've covered Miami
a lot this season and he just he just got
He just grabs games, grabs him and then just takes
them where he wants to take them. And you know,
I've been asked many times, how do you stop a
(02:33):
player like Messi. The answer is you cannot stop it.
You have to cut the supply line off to him.
It's a simple adaptors. When he gets the ball, then
it's big trouble. And I think for Evander, I think
he's he's proven to be everything and more. You know,
since he signed, he's got thirteen goals and eight assists,
including six goals and glass four games, and he's just
he's been a difference mak you know for so long,
(02:55):
we know since Ainnati with a cost as the number
ten and what he did for the club, and I
think that there's no reason whatsoever why Evander can't be
that player as well. I think he's shown already this
season that you know, when when the big games come around,
he's the player that turns up, whether it different goals
inside the box, the records are hescovering with goals outside
(03:15):
the box. Is just an incredible talent. And I think
the hope for Pat noon And and everybody at Cincinnati is
he takes this team to the next level.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
What is your assessment of FC Cincinnati season today.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I think obviously there's a little bit of a slow star,
a little bit of slow burn. I think you know
when you lose a player like a cost it and
take a little bit of adjustment. I think the fact
that Vand has come in and he's hit the ground running,
den K's come in, you know you've got you've got
a few new players, you've got injuries and some key
positions as well. I think Robodo has been has been
a huge miss. I think in football in general, we
(03:49):
talk about the goal scorers, we talk about the goal
the goal creators. We don't necessarily talk about defense and midfielders.
But for me, they're one of the most important players
in any team in any league in the world, and
the thinking in roverdo He in my opinion, is one
of the best offensive midfielders in the league, and I
think that he's missed greatly because of what he brings
to the team, and he does a lot of the
dirty work that I guess goes unnoticed by people who
(04:12):
may just want to see the really flamboyant side of
the game, if that makes sense. And you know, but
what I would say about Cincinnati is just off to
look at the league table. I think the Eastern Conference
this season, in my opinion, is going to be the
most competitive that I've ever known it. I think there's
an argument for probably five or six teams why they
(04:32):
think that they could finish at the top. And that's
why I think games like tonight are so big, because
the gap is so small between these five or six
teams at the top of the league.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
From your perspective, and when Lionel Messi went to Miami,
we talked about how huge this was going to be
for Major League Soccer. Now that we have a large
sample size of him playing for Miami, has he had
the expected effect all and more?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Without question, without question and more people. Anybody that thought
that he was come in here for, you know, a
way to finish off his career and relax, couldn't be
couldn't be more wrong if they tried. Like I say,
I've covered them on numerous occasions this season. I remember
one game they got deep by Orlando three Milo at
home and after the meeting, sorry, after the game, Messi
(05:19):
and Suarez they called the meeting players only, and if
you look for the results, since that Orlando lost. They
took that personally because they're run. Since then has been incredible. Defensively,
they got stronger attacking wise, they are so efficient, and
that is partly down or largely down to Messi's just incredible.
And you always think to yourself, and you're covering a
(05:40):
team a lot, you're thinking yourself, right, Okay, well, I'm
gonna have to think of something different to say this week,
and you're not gonna have to look at it from
another angle this week. You never have to, because he,
without fail, produces every single game, whether it be goals,
whether it be assists, whether it be skills, He's just
he is just everything and more than I would have
(06:01):
thought anybody expected when he came to this league because
he's just been he's been absolutely phenomenal, as you quite
rightly said. You know, he's got eleven goals in his
last six m A less games, which is including two
goals in each of his last five games. That in
itself is incredible, and you know there's there's so many
more records that he's probably going to break this season
(06:21):
as well. He's just he's a player that you just
you run out of words to talk about because you've
used every word. You've used every word.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
He's just he's he's a sensational playing The one thing
that I would say about him this evening, if anybody
is watching the game, whether you're at the stadium, whether
you're watching it.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
On TV, I know he's unbelievable when he's on the ball,
but just watch what he does off the ball, because
in my opinion, when I look at him, when he
gets hold of the ball, that the easiest part of
the game to him. That's the twenty percent, it's the
eighty percent that he's done before when three or four
players are trying to mark him, when teams are sitting
leap against him, how he somehow manages to find space
(07:05):
on such a crowded pit, in such a crowded area,
he's like, first ten to fifty minutes of games, it's
like he has a fat now just in his brain.
He's a genius, and it's like, Okay, he's mapping out
where the areas are in the pitch, where he can
find freedom, where he can find space. And every time
he receives the ball, you look at him, you think, wow,
(07:26):
he's found himself in five to ten yards of space.
How is that? That's because of what he was doing
fifteen seconds before he received the ball.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
He's he's just.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
An unbelievable, phenomenal one off footballer. He's in my opinion,
it was never at the bate for me, but when
I've seen him up close in person now, even at
the age that he's at, he's the greatest ever football
I've seen.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
If I wasn't already going to watch tonight, you just
convince me it's going to be a lot of fun time.
That's the idea. That's why you join us, the Great
Danny Higger FC Cincinnati hosting Inter Miami tonight seven thirty
MLS season pass. I know you have a broadcast to
prep for. I cannot thank you enough. We love having
you on Danny. Thanks so much, my pleasure, most thank
(08:12):
you very much. Stake that night one of the absolute best.
Danny Higgabotham MLS Season pass, Apple TV and of course
you could listen to the match on ESPN fifteen thirty
three thirty on ESPN fifteen thirty Is that is that really?
Andy Furman online? One? I think it is. I have
to get a break in. Will Andy get mad if
(08:33):
we do the break and then take his phone call?
He's been hanging around throughout the entire interview. It's one
of these why not It's one of we talk about,
like my one of my heroes in the business is
calling this. I hope I'm not going about to get
yelled at. Sports headlines are next ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati
Sports Station,
Mo Egger News
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