Ball Watching STL Podcast hosts Jake Koenig and Justin Graham talk CITY and MLS Leagues Cup Update

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
All right, welcome back hy noon. Here on five ninety five ninety the

(00:03):
fan dot com. Every Friday,we get to catch up with Justin Graham,
Jake Kanig, the guys from ballwatching a City sc podcast and fellas,
we're getting closer, We're getting closerto the resumption of City season,
but still, what about nine daysout or so didn't come soon enough?

(00:23):
It's it's it's felt like forever.We were just talking on the podcast yesterday
about it. It's been a longbreak. I think, I think all
in all, Justin what we sayabout three weeks from elimination to our resuming
play. Yeah, I think whenwe came on it was twenty four total
days, and it has felt waylonger than that. And I know I
said I think it last week.Last week, I want to take a

(00:44):
break from Jake, but I've notdone that yet, so it looks like
we're not going to get that tothe end of season. Would you,
guys say, when you're evaluating thisteam so far, I mean, would
you say, like, where areyour biggest disagreements? Where have those come
from? Or do you guys mostlysee what has transpired this season is kind
of on par? Are you toomuch alike, because we need debate.

(01:06):
We gotta get you guys fired up. Oh that's a tough question. I
honestly do think that justin I agreeon most things sporting wise from them right
now. But in terms of expectationsand if this is in line with what
we were thinking like prior to theseason, I mean, no, one

(01:26):
don't. I don't think could havepredicted this level of success, and we'll
see how sustainable it is. Buttheir ability to reach number one in the
Western Conference at this point of theseason and hold that down, I think
they're going to be challenged a heckof a lot in these last eleven games.
With every other team it feels likereally really upgrading and making big acquisitions

(01:49):
and big name signings, especially inthe Western Conference. You've seen a couple
of them with LAFC and Real SaltLake and now with League's Cup as well.
You'll see how that takes a tollon them. But I do feel
like us, you and I didthe starting eleven kind of preview every single
weekend. We might have some acouple, you know, adjustments to make
here there, but I feel likewe'd largely kind of know who are our
top eleven is for the most part, no, I would completely agree.

(02:12):
I think the one thing that wecan somewhat disagree on is where to put
Nico or how often the starter playhim with a dinner ran and kind of
a rotation there with a Z.But there is one thing that Jake has
been right about, and he calledit out on the podcast we just did
yesterday, is that Klaus and I'vedisagreed. I keep saying that he's ready,
he'll be back for this game againstAustin. And I mean originally when
he got hurt in April, theysaid ten to fourteen days. Now we're

(02:35):
looking at like what four or fivesix months, And Jake just said it
yesterday. He's still that practicing withthe team and he doesn't look like he'll
be ready for Austen And Jake's nowhot take that he will not play for
US of the regular season. Hey, hey, hey, I don't know
if I said out. I diddefinitely say that. I don't know if
he's going to be seen like Iwould love to see him before the end
of the season. You know,of course, justin we record that,

(02:57):
and I saw news from Tom's Emvermanon Twitter that apparently he's supposed to resume
training next week with the team.I don't know if I'm buying that,
to be totally honest. We we'veheard that tale before he was on the
roster for Lee's Cup. I justfeel like this injury Nate I was talking
to Justin about this. I mean, I thought we might be owed a
little bit of a response or somekind of transparency here as to what's gone

(03:17):
on, because it's like everyone's favoriteplayer and he's been gone for four months
and it was supposed to be twoweeks, So what's going on here?
Well, and I mean not tobe total conspiracy, but we are for
certain that it is injury related.It has nothing to do with any outside
fact. I mean, oh,I think so, yeah, that's all

(03:37):
we've heard. I really hope it'snot anything. I don't I don't think
it is anything disciplinary at all,But I think it just it feels to
me like there's some level of mismanagementon the injury coming here, Like I
don't know what can take ten tofourteen days and spend that into four months
of time. So it's confusing.We've heard, you know, false alarms

(03:59):
that he's coming back here and there, and this has been frustrating, honestly,
just to not have that that transparency. I know, sports have to
kind of shed, you know,to kind of curtain some things. You
can't see everything and you can't heareverything, like hockey does that a lot,
but it just feels really really bizarrewhat's going on behind the scenes here.
Yeah, I hope it's all injuryrelated. You never know. I
mean, you guys are more adeptat different contracts stuff than I am.

(04:21):
But the fact that it's gone onthis long in the club has been really
quiet on any sort of development.I mean, it allows for conversations like
the one I'm posing to exist,which I would think the club would want
to shut down any potential rumor beforeit even happens. But maybe it's so
outrageous they wouldn't anticipate to anybody evenbringing it up. So there's always that

(04:43):
theory too. I've been kind oflike your take though, Nates. I
think it's the fact that the onlyupdates we've seen there on clubs of Instagram
or is Twitter, and he's postinghim doing like ladder or doing squats or
something of that nature. But obviouslythat does not translate to being on the
field, especially with an injury likethat, very different. Once you get
out there and play with the guysand try to make a quick gut or
a quick step, and then beforeyou know it, you're back at start

(05:05):
again. So I do aim alittle intrigue though. Now, Nate,
now that you're raising the question thatis, why haven't they given us up
data? Is there something more toit? Well, I'll take my tinfoil
hat off for the moment. We'llrun with the theory that he is hurt.
But goodness, I mean, youtake this amount of time off considering
what he's already had off, andit does sort of begin to make me

(05:26):
wonder, but what are you gonnado? Uh? There was also a
report that City is going to playa closed door scrimmage at Atlanta United on
Saturday, So maybe an opportunity tojust see a little bit different action and
going up against your own guys forthe last however many weeks. Yeah,
they were, they were on breakfor a good chunk of that, so

(05:50):
you know, it's not going tobe totally They've been playing against their own
guys for too too long now.I think they were turned to training the
early part of this week, whichhas been it sounded like for the most
part, guys are pretty stoked toget a break and get some their legs
back beneath them. But yeah,it's definitely good to get some competitive juices
flowing against the team other than yourown. And Atlanta is a decent side.
We've seen them kind of slip alittle bit this season against some expectations.

(06:13):
Obviously they just got trounsed by Miamiand specifically Messy. But it'll be
interesting. I think it's good kindof teaser game to get us back into
it before we have to face Austinin what will be our reopener for the
season. We're talking about our favoritegames. I mean, we were in
Austin for the home for the actualopener of the season, our first ever
game, and it was one ofthe most fun, you know, games

(06:35):
I've ever seen as a spectator,and what a surprise and shockway to start
our season. As I'm hoping webring the same vibes, the same energy
into that game on Sunday. Yeah, it really is something. So Sunday
against Austin and a team that thecity has already beaten once as you mentioned,
and It's funny to think back onthat moment, just like who expected

(06:57):
them to go down to Austin andwin, first of all, and then
to see where they sit right nowin the standings. Like big picture here,
I'm gonna ask both of you,but maybe your top two or three
moments from the season so far andwhat has really stood out for both of
you. Guys can kind of goback and forth on that. Yeah,
I'll get a kicked off Jake,I think. I mean, obviously,

(07:17):
like Jake said, we were luckyenough to kind of fell in our laps.
We were going on a boys stripdown to Austin and Jake's like,
do you realize what weekend it is? And end up being the first ever
Citty game and we were not goingto miss that. So the atmosphere there
was insane seeing all of that.I would say a really big highlight for
us was trouncing Cincinnati, who nowhas I believe, fifty one points at
the same time in the season thatwe have forty one and just absolutely destroying

(07:41):
over in the East. And soI'd say we did that game at home
and what Jake, was it fouror four or five to one? It
would be yeah, something like that. I think that was one of the
big games. That's that's easy wingto call out. I mean, obviously
because of how good they've been.Sincinnati's just been a juggernaut this season.
I'd have to. I mean,I don't know how how much fur you
looked and been defeating your ends staterival all. I guess technically a little

(08:01):
bit out of stay if you getthe whole Kansas Missouri, But trouncing Sporting
was a fond, fond memory ofmine. I'm looking forward to playing them
again here shortly and then again probablyafter that. What a way to start
the rivalry and a little four ohdrubbing of the neighbors out west calling themselves
a soccer capital and setting him homepack. And I would say just one

(08:22):
other one as well, just goahead and say that. I would say
for individuals, I knew, weknow that Burkey was coming over and was
gonna be incredible goalie, but thebest goalie in the MLS by far,
and it's not even closed and startingthe All Star Game. It shows not
only easy there for the stats,but the fans as well. And then
I will also say another surprise isthat Tim Parker we know that he's kind
of a journeyman in the MLS,been there for multiple seasons, and a

(08:43):
lot of teams kind of wrote himoff. We did a couple of guests
interviews on other podcasts preseason. Theywere talking about how slow Tim is,
that he's aged, and he's justa locker room guy, and he was
an All star as well, sokind to the stands out stand out expected
that out of Burkey, but verysurprised and happy with Tim Parker's play.
Well to go to stay on Burkeyfor a second, I mean, I
think even beyond his excellent goaltending,like the leadership that it appears he has

(09:11):
brought to this team. You removeRoman Burkey from this team, I don't
think they're anywhere near where they're atin the standings. And for some of
these young guys to get that sortof influence from a guy who's been in
a lot of different professional leagues andwhatnot, but I just think for their
growth alone, he's been so importantfor this team. What a good signing.

(09:35):
And yes, the everyone had theirsay when we initially signed him,
saying you always you know that's toomuch money to pay for a goalie.
They're gonna learn you don't ever paythat much for a goalie. There's a
lot of them out there, anda lot of them are pretty decent.
Why would you go up and dothat? And it's paid off time and
time and time again the amount ofpoints that he has basically earned us by

(09:56):
keeping us in games either that we'rewinning and guaranteeing the win or guaranteeing a
draw or preventing us from losing,and being the leader that he's been for
the team. I mean, hepays for that contract every single game that
he's out there. I swear he'sbeen our most consistent and professional player that
we've had. I would not pictureanother goalie in this league that I'd rather

(10:18):
have, and there are some talentedgoalkeepers out there, but to pay that
money to have him back it up. And it seems like he's enjoying himself
in Saint Louis as well, whichis great to see. We saw his
mom actually at the game supporting himback at the end of Miami, you
know, actually the Club America gameis when we saw her, which was
awesome. You wonder if he's gonnahave plans to stay here maybe permanently afterwards,
if he has a good experience,but he's been as a goalie,

(10:41):
one that you grew up kind ofwatching playing for the Champions League teams,
and the caliber that he's already displayedin his career. I for one,
if we tear these eleven games andwe continue the same pace that we have,
I think he could have a legitimateshout at being included an MVP conversation
for the tangible value that he's broughtto our team. Like you said,

(11:03):
Nate, you take anyone out ofour team, I would much. The
last person I want you to takeoff our team right now is Roman Burkey,
and he signed what through twenty twentyfive? I believe so. I
believe so, yes, And ifthings go well, I could see him
playing even for that. Goalies havethat runway a little bit. We've seen
guys playing to their forties, SoI mean I could see him continuing that.

(11:24):
Especially we're getting to pay him welland he plays as well as he
has and gets all the minutes hedoes, there's no reason to say that
that should just end. Let meask you about Bradley Cornell. You know,
I think he's been able to showhis personality a little bit as the
city has gotten to know him more. If that had some nice I'll call
him puff pieces in the paper,just kind of talking about how he's enjoyed

(11:45):
getting out and about in Saint Louisand different restaurants. But from a competitive
standpoint, I mean just watching himwhen you're seeing the games and how intense
he is watching his guys out there. He to me is a Coach of
the Year. Whatever award is givenat the end, but how how could
you go in a different direction atthis juncture other than giving it to Bradley
Carnell. No. I think thathe's also one of those guys that's been

(12:05):
in the league for a couple ofyears. Came over from the New York
Red Bulls and some of the guysmentioned that energy jicks soccer that we play,
and they were like, oh,that's been tried at many places,
hasn't been successful. I think theway that he's implemented that with a number
of guys that have never played beforeand in a full season much last a
couple of games when they played onCity two, but never in an MLS
season, I think he's been incredibleand it speaks volumes to what he's doing

(12:28):
in the locker room as well,not just on the field. You see
these guys, they just want tohang out with each other. And I
think that's the best part about thisteam is that everybody likes each other.
They play together. Well, thatshows chemistry on the field. And then
the playing style that he goes outthere with and has that high pressing has
worked for tremendously and I think it'sall very much attributable to Bad and then
also Loots kind of making that team. So when you look at how the

(12:50):
second half of the season sort ofplays out, you got Austin in town
on the twentieth, and then yougo to Orlando and then back home at
City Park to take on FC Dallas, which well, it's hard for me
to think about the FC Dallas andnot bring up that ridiculous Shawn down to
Dallas for the rain shortened game andthen having to pick it up midweek.

(13:15):
So what you guys would know this, but does the schedule because it got
pretty ridiculous there where you were playinga midweek game and then a weekend game.
Does that continue in the second halfof the slate or what does that
look like? There's some of itgoing on for sure. I mean,
we played, like you said,on that Sunday, we play again on
the following Saturday, but then onlyfour days between that and the Dallas game,

(13:37):
and then only a couple more daysbetween that and the in the Kansas
City game. So I would saythat it does get a little congested in
terms of playing midweek or just notwith full weeks of rest, But that's
every team. This is the finalstretch for all these teams, and there
have been some postponements and cancelations inthe League's Cup obviously put a whole pause
on the month of the MLS,so it's going to carry us into this

(13:58):
final strike where we are playing prettyfrequently. But hey, you can't have
any complaints when you're the team thathas the most amount of rest of anyone
coming off the League's cop I mean, yeah, you might have lost that
competitive edge, but if we're talkinglegs and just physicality and how tired you
are, that's the last thing Iwant to hear from anyone is when we
get into the stretch that we're feelingleggy because of the rest that we've been

(14:20):
able to have, and hopefully we'regonna use that to our advantage. So
you got eleven matches left, fiveof which are at City Park. And
you know, again it's kind ofa bigger picture question, but just getting
a ticket, Like you guys seemto figure out a little VIP access,
you know, the Club American game, which is great, but I mean

(14:41):
there are still so many people outand about in around town that are like,
man, how do I get aticket to go see this event down
at City Park. It's still thehottest ticket in town, I think,
and you know, probably parlayed withthe fact that the Cardinals are just awful.
You know, you got a lotof empty red seats there. So
City Park has been full, andI've even seen pretty decent crowd showing up

(15:01):
in the interim period here with Citytwo fans showing up. Yeah, so
City to give them a quick shoutout their game against Reality. Salt Lake
just broke the record for an MLSNext Pro game of attendant just under ten
thousand people. So you can tellthat this city has been hungry ever since
that we dropped that game at homefirst Club America. And yeah, tickets
are hard to come by. Youcan definitely buy them on the secondary market

(15:22):
on seat geek, it's probably gonnacost you a little over one hundred bucks
to get in. But then alsohopefully Nate, we put something together.
We're talking about obviously playoffs coming up, and so a quick thing that Jake
and I put together and love kindof talking about it a little bit of
a magic number, and so obviouslywhen you talk about that when it comes
to baseball, that's basically what youneed to do to get into a playoff
spot. So first City, ifyou did that with soccer and you assumed

(15:45):
every team won, wouldn't really workout since you have three points. But
we did it based on points permatch. So if you take the amount
of points that a team has rightnow in the matches that they played,
divided by that to get your totalpoints per match total, and then if
by that by the games you haveleft, then we see where we would
need to be to get these spots. And that's kind of what we kind
of put together. So if wewant to get home field advantage for the

(16:07):
playoffs, we just need eleven totalpoints out of the final eleven games,
assuming that all the teams kind ofkeep their same pace that they've done for
already throughout this season. Wow.So that seems pretty encouraging, you'd think.
So, I mean, eleven gamesand we need eleven points and that.
Yeah, like like justin sutt thatjust assumes everyone plays their current form
and some teams could get hot,some teams could just you know, totally

(16:29):
bust at the seams. But forus to maintain that form, we'll see.
I mean, but eleven games,eleven points. What you want to
think about here? So you gointo you have Austin will come here to
City Park, rip off three pointsagainst them. I mean you're already clawing
your way there. So we're infirst right now. I mean that that
point number is that low because ofthat, and the West is honestly pretty
tight as well, especially in thetop half of the table. But yeah,

(16:52):
I mean you have to be verythrilled about that if you're a city
family and you're looking at a veryrealistic chance of hosting at least two home
games in the playoffs, because roundone is a best of three series if
needed, right, So I meanyou're you're looking not at least two,
so sorry, you'll get at leastone home game. Now you talk about
season, you talk about ticket prices. I would love to see those playoff

(17:14):
prices for our first ever playoff game, They're going to be insane. Yeah,
that that'll be That'll be the hottestticket in town, without question.
We're chatting with Jake ka Justin Grahamfrom ball Watching, a city sc podcast.
You can follow it on Twitter atball Watching STL. Talk to these
guys every Friday and really enjoy theback and forth. Let me ask you

(17:36):
about a couple of the guys thathave not been in the lineup. The
acquisition of two forwards. Uh nookv Torreson. I'm sorry, Jake,
I'm gonna butcher these names. Isthat close at all? I think you
got it. I think that waspretty respectable. Yeah, we'll take that,
Nate. That was great, right, that way better than anything I've
tried. So he'll be joining theteam. And then also another move that

(18:00):
they brought in whose name is escapingme right now. Anthony, Yeah,
Anthony Markinick. So we got abasically a left winger slash attacking midfielders slash,
you know, basically a very dynamicforward, young forward. And then
we have Anthony Markinik, who isa left back. So we have so
many left backs the club right now. So you have to think there are

(18:21):
some potentials for some outgoings and transfersin the summer here. But it sounds
like from everything that I saw thatI think Luvin was doing an interview about,
you know, what they thought abouthis arrival so far. He's a
left footed left back, which isgreat because right now Kyle Hiebert's playing left
back and he's a right footed leftback, and usually you want someone who's
very comfortable with their left foot inthat position or at least both feet,
and he brings that left footed statue. He's also a younger guy, I

(18:44):
think twenty three, so still hassome room to develop and grow. And
it just feels like they're looking forthat profile of like twenty to twenty four
usually age profile, very very highintensity, super athletic people that can be
trained and learned this philosophy of playingthe game that Carnell and Loots really tried.
A champion. So he feels likea fit for the for the program
and one will probably be sticking aroundfor a couple of years. Let me

(19:07):
ask you guys about how League's Cuphas played out wild game between Nashville and
Club America. It sounded like everybodythought that Club America had won, and
then Nashville beats him on PK's andthen after the game there was like some
folks who rushed the pitch. Itwas kind of a there was kind of

(19:27):
a mess in Nashville. Yeah,it was kind of ubsurd. So and
before it even got the pks waskind of nuts. I believe Club America
took the lead in the ninetieth plusfour on a PK and the Nashville court
in the ninetieth plus nine to tieit, and then in League CuPy goes
immediately to PK's, so Nashville isdown five to four. They had to
score to stay alive in this one. And Jack Mayer, who's actually a

(19:48):
Saint Louis guy, went to IUsecond overall pick, and I believe the
twenty twenty draft stepped up hit thePK. It was staved by the goalie.
Club America goes and celebrate. Sevenminutes later, they I finally say,
oh. They look at the VRVideo Assistant referee and the goalkeeper right
before his kicked stepped off of theline towards the ball, which you're not
allowed to do. They let Jackre kick. He scores it. Club

(20:11):
America hits one up the crossbar andMISSUS National scores and goes through. It
was I mean, it would kindof the epitome of what in kind of
a description of what League Cup hasbeen. It's been high scoring, a
lot of Pek's, just an electrictime and then you kind of bring in
Messy and all of that. Ithink this has been an absolute hit for
the MLS this year. So giveme an update on where League's Cup stands
right now and what the slate lookslike tonight, because there are a bunch

(20:34):
of games still left in this operation, so they're going to be tonight,
all four of them. So there'sme eight teams left, Philadelphia versus a
Mexican team, krataro Interer Miami,so Messy taken on Charlotte, Nashville against
Minnesota, and l EFC versus Monterey. So six MLS teams and two Lega
mcki's teams are left. So we'relooking likely like we could see MLS team

(20:56):
hoist this trophy if they can getit done on Friday. Wow, And
that would be a significant development,right, I mean goodness. After watching
the twelve America beat up on City, it felt like they were going to
race through everybody in these Mexican teamsthat they're just they're running into some stiff
competition, which is good for theMLS. Yeah, And I think part
of that is, and we talkedabout it with Jake as well, is

(21:17):
some of that is that we're allwe're playing all home games, which is
very very lucky to us, andthe fact that they're not looping in Mexico.
And I believe one of the coachescame out and they kind of complaining
a little bit with the amount oftravel that they've had to do. But
I mean, regardless, the MLSis looking very strong and it should be
an MLS team that kind of takesus home, but still going to be
some of very exciting games when youhave four on Friday night. It's one
of the biggest prize pools to natein terms of you know, North American

(21:41):
soccer tournaments. I want to sayI've heard around forty million dollars for the
for the prize pool, which ishuge, huge money for soccer in North
America. And that's the total prizepool. It's not what the winner just
takes home, but it's going tobe a big, big package to the
winner, So there's a there's abig incentive there for this, and also
you get a spot. The topthree team do get spots, So the
first second and in the third placewinner do go on to the Champions Cup

(22:07):
for for Conky Calf. So likethe North American kind of new Champions League
tournament they're gonna put on next year. It's going to feature at least three
of these teams. There's a lotto play for on the line here.
I can't not ask about Messi.I mean, his impact already in a
month has just been stunning. Iasked you guys about it last week.

(22:29):
But I don't know if anyone couldhave predicted the success that he would have
right out of the gates. Butand I don't know what the y the
kits sales have looked like for Messi'sMiami kit, but I would imagine that
has already surged at the top ofMLS merchandise sales. Oh. Absolutely,
He's played what four games now,he has seven goals in one assist in

(22:49):
a total of four games. Andit's not playing teams that are at the
bottom of the MLST. That's what'sa little scary. Is like as a
tournament progresses, he's playing better andbetter teams, or at least teams that
are in better, better form,and he's still being able to produce and
make these guys look absolutely silly.And in the four games, the first
game he only played forty minutes.So it's pretty much three and a half
games, seven goals, averaging abouttwo goals a game. And one thing

(23:11):
that you'll laugh at this Nate,I'll look it all into betting per usual,
is that he is now the fourthhighest odds to win the Golden Boot
in the MLS, even though noneof these goals count towards the MLS.
So he will be playing and theyhave twelve games left. He'll only play
in ten because two or runs herwhen we talked about how he won't play
on tar for injury reasons, andhe has the fourth highest odd even though

(23:32):
he has thirteen goals behind the leader. Wow, that is absolutely ridiculous.
Okay, let's end on this kindof disappointing news. But the US women's
national team bounced by Sweden. Idon't even know what to make of this
team. I'm sure you guys canguess how I feel about Megan Rapino.

(23:53):
But the reality is is more importantly, I suppose than complaining about, you
know, some of the personalities onthat squad. This is a this is
a program right now that it kindof needs to have a reality check and
probably get back to winning games.I mean, they had dominated since the
World's Cup, the Women's World Cupwas a thing starting in nineteen eighty one.

(24:15):
This is the earliest exit they've everhad, and so sure we can
feel good about the success that they'vehad, but I mean, you look
in the future, they need,they need to get some things straightened out,
and I think that probably starts witha culture upgrade. In my eyes,
definitely, this is come to Jesustime for the women's program, in

(24:36):
my opinion, just you can't ifif you're not fine with just resting on
your laurels and all the fame andsuccess we've had in the past World Cups
and Olympics, this is the timeto look inward because it's not like their
youth teams have been blowing this competitionout of the water either. It's not
like they have this really rich pipelinecoming through that's going to continue to supply
these huge stars we've seen emerged andthe women's national team. But we're seeing

(25:00):
the likes of Columbias and England's andSpain's and Japan and all these new programs
for women's teams that are getting infusedwith money and priorities. So you're seeing
that parody come where a lot ofthese countries are now taking women's soccer much
more seriously. So we can't justcontinue to dominate. It's just not going
to happen the same way it alwayshas for us. So if we're going
to want to compete at that leveland be a perennial contender for these World

(25:23):
Cups and Olympics, it's going totake a lot more intentionality from the US
Soccer Federation. If they're going towant to do this, it's going to
take, you know, a topdown, bottom up look at the system
and what we're doing and how wecan improve. Because this year it just
wasn't good enough, I mean,three of our four goals against Vietnam,
I mean and not scoring in twohundred plus minutes of game time. After

(25:45):
all these predictions put us at youknow, at least two out of the
top five or two out of thetop six Golden Boot contenders with the best
odds were ours with Alex Morgan andSophia Smith. It was abysmal. The
goal scoring forum was bad, andI saw comments today from some of the
other play run the tournament that arestill in there saying that, you know,
it was easy for them to reallymentally shape up for these games because

(26:06):
they hear what the US players aresaying, and they look past teams and
they don't take them seriously enough.So there's a lot that needs to get
done. I think to rectify thesituation. New coaching, a lot of
new programming, a lot of newdevelopment, and it's just gonna I do
hope they turn around. I reallydo want what's best for this program,
and I think this will ultimately bewhat's best for them. But man,
that was brutal to watch, andI'm sure it was heartbreaking for these players

(26:30):
and their families. Any follow upon that? Justin no, I agree
with Jake. I will say aninteresting stat that Jake pulled out was that
we only gave up two shots ongoal in all four games, which I
thought, great defense. You justgotta score some goals. There another hot
take that Jake had that I actuallyreally agreed with and appreciated I would love
to hear other people's thoughts. Isthat the men's national team is in a

(26:52):
better spot right now than the women's, which is not something you can typically
say. I mean, we havea lot of guys, our team is
very young up and coming there andtransition period where Megan Rapino and a couple
of these older women are now goingto fade off, and you didn't see
much out of these younger stars thatare supposed to be doing incredible. So
it is going to be very interestingfor the U after the whole going forward,
knowing that the World Cup's coming here. So I'm excited, I guess,

(27:15):
question mark to see how it goesfor the women. I think you
will see a quick coaching change herethough, tooon, because what's just happened
was not acceptable, no doubt.All right, fellas, we're that much
closer to you guys getting back togame previews and scouting Austin again, and
I'm sure it's been a nice timeaway to sort of regroup or whatever.

(27:37):
But the reality is we got elevenmatches less, so let's dig in.
We'll have we'll have more of apreview of Austin next Friday, but uh
tell us, you know, topromote anything you'd like from the podcast before
we say goodbye. Oh yeah,we'll be We'll be back on Wednesday.
I'm thinking for a full preview ofAustin FC's return match at home for us,

(28:00):
really looking forward to it and bringingthat back and having this this platform
because it's been fun and I guesswe have eleven games left in the season,
but really, if we're thinking,I mean, we're likely going to
make the playoffs here in one capacity, so looking at at least twelve,
probably thirteen guaranteed games heading into thisfinal stretch, and they are gonna come
hot and heavy. It's gonna bea lot of action, a lot of

(28:22):
drama. So I'm really looking forwardit to it, and we will be
breaking all that down, you know, at least twice a week usually on
at Ball, watching STL on Twitterand Instagram and as well on YouTube if
you want to see us, butyeah, follow us on Apple or Spotify
on the podcast, and we'd loveto have that influx of listeners. And
Nate, it's always a pleasure joiningyou and chatting some city soccer here.
Absolutely justin We're glad that you madeit live out of Washington mode days.

(28:47):
You look, you look no worsefor the wear, so you made it
out. It was a good time. Yeah, happy to be back.
All right, fellas, you havea great weekend and we will do it
on next Friday. Sounds good,Thanks date, all right, Thank you,
all right. Always a pleasure tocatch up with Jake and Justin.
Be sure to follow Ball watching adBall Watching Sto on Twitter, subscribe to

(29:08):
their stuff on YouTube. Phenomenal contentthat is going to do it for a
Friday edition of high Noon coming upnext, Cover two with Cole and Joe.
Have a great weekend and we'll talkto you Monday right here on five
ninety The Fan