April 26, 2023 • 33 mins
On this episode of the Union Soccer Podcast, Joe Tansey and Jon Jansen break down the Union's impressive 4-2 win over Toronto, Mikael Uhre's hat trick, match preview against LAFC, and what would be a true win in the first leg of this CCL matchup.
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(00:00):
The floodgates have opened. Finally,you're tuned into the Union Soccer Podcast.
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(00:20):
Joe Tanzi's work and Joe Tanzi alsoat the star of this show, the
Union Soccer Podcast, Joe Tanzy,and you can follow him at j Tanzy
ninety. My name is John Jansen. Follow me at j Jansen thirty four.
The floodgates have opened, Joe.Were they already slightly a jar?
It's you know what, they wereslightly you know what? There were cracks
in the damn right there. Yeah, Like, I mean, it's amazing.
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The DP forward scored a hat trick, Like like, oh my god,
this is exactly what he's he's beendoing it. He has scored a
hat trick before the Union. Butlike, this is what the difference is
between a DP four to not haveanyone and being able to get out of
a slump very quickly. Um,whereas in three twenty twenty two is very
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hard to do that. Um.Not looking at Ucas for Shavilkoum and look,
he gets a lot of crap,but like, let's be honest,
like it's night and day between whathe did and what the others did.
Very useful for the club in thein the time that he was here,
but um, the upgrade was neededin it and it's been night and day.
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Um. And the other thing is, it's when this team plays to
it, it's it's standard. Andthis is the kind of the overarching theme
of Saturday Night and then coming intotonight's Champions League game is if this team
plays like itself, which we getinto like what that actually means. But
(01:53):
when this team plays like itself andlooks normal, it still looks like the
best team MLS one of one of. Yeah, the best team in MLS
is coming, is coming to towntonight. Easy. Yeah, look,
yeah, all right, I'm notthe only one who said that. Um.
(02:13):
But yeah, I just don't wantto admit it because I hate him.
Leave them. Yeah, it's it'shard to admit. But I mean
Rob mcaheny's hanging out with Bail,Like, what is going on? Man?
What is going on? I don'tlike any of this. I'm waiting
for for Ted Lasso to show upin Erectam Jersey at a pickle ball court
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and then we can we can justcross all of our internet trends, um
all at once and like, likeI think that might who has like the
most liked tweets on Twitter is like, is still the Ellen degenerous selfie from
a few years again? Still?Really, I don't know. I'm not
well versed in that, but um, I think it's I mean it's very
(02:59):
well is at top. I thinkTed Lasso at a Wrexham jersey holding a
pickleball racket or on a pickleball courtmight might do that. Um. Yeah,
you can't recruit game fail. Umno, No, I mean that's
a whole nother topic for a wholenother podcast when there's not a lot going
(03:21):
on. But yeah, it iswhat it is. Yeah, to each
their own. Um, I gotsidetracked really fast on that. The Union.
Um, when they when they playum their brand of soccer and they're
so efficient in doing so, it'sscary. Good. Now, I'm gonna
say this with the small caveat becauseI know in about three weeks when they
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have a bad game or if theyhave a bad game, I'm going to
get this exact tweet Rono, wecan I curse or no, no,
because we replay these on Fox Sports. The Ambler about it. Okay,
so without cursing, how I says, um, Toronto FC was this saddest,
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total, total utter dog crap teamI've seen come into that stadium in
a long time. They had nothinggoing for them. It's just an absolute
disaster. Like when Bernardeski and Senioraren't going and aren't free flowing an attack
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and they're playing an actual good team, they look awful like they had actually
nothing going for them. Like Ithink it's set the tone. In the
first I don't know what twenty fiveminutes, Jose Martinez had dispossessed Bernardeski or
or pushed him off the ball insome capacity at least three to four times,
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like he just out physical him fromthe start. Like yes, and
Senior did have his moment of brillianceon the first Toronto goal, that's really
all he did, right, Sothat like kind of, now, how
does that kind of translate to LAFCBecause LAFC is a much better team,
but they have superstars, you knowwhat I mean. So that's that's how
we're trying to look at this whereyes, the Union had a fantastic performance,
(05:20):
they beat a team they were supposedto be in. They didn't even
look at one hundred percent yet becauseJim Kurt was the first two emitted since
Saturday night, the clean sheet wasvery important. They could have cleaned things
up in the second half. Thatbeing said, it gives you a huge
confidence booster going into Wednesday night,who was coming off a hat trick.
I think Runs is gonna be playingpissed off because he hasn't scored in a
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few games and strikers are very temperamentallike that. Gaz Deck's been a top
top three player on this team thisyear, him, Martinez and Glassness,
And that's your spine right there,that's your your center back, your your
DM and you're attacking midfield that you'reten. That's gonna be so so important
tonight against LAFC, which it's afascinating matchup. Yes it's the same,
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but it's also different at the sametime, So it's going to be it's
gonna be very fascinating to watch howthis whole thing unfolds tonight because there are
certain things that I picked up inthe press conferences yesterday with Jim Kurtnell Honda
Badota that LAFC may be more comfortableplaying certain styles they are. But I
(06:34):
want to go to one mckel uaJoe Tanzi. I want to talk about
the hat trick. I know weexpect goals out of strikers, and goals
haven't necessarily been there, but itseems like a product of good play from
Ua being rewarded in a way thatfinally ends up on this statue, right.
I mean, look, we've beentalking about michaela being in the right
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position storytime since the opener against theI mean I heard the whole thing about
it, um over the substackle subscribebecause subscribe to subscribed. M Yeah,
So it's it's interesting when he getsthe criticism. And look, he even
admitted himself post game on Saturday andthat sometimes it is black and white.
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You score goals or you don't scoregoals, and that's fair, that's what
strikers are supposed to do. Butthe reason why he's able to the score
hat trick is he's been doing allthe right things already. I mean,
to me, the second goal hescores where gosdegg plays that that threw ball
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through u is perfectly on side.Pranza can't touch the ball because he's coming
back from an offside position. Andthen he uses the speed. I don't
want to use the deceptively quick becausethat's kind of the cliche we use with
all white guys. But he's zoomedpast those defenders and then a very cool
and calm finish into the back ofthat, like that's exact act what you
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want. And that comes out ofa you know, a dispossession near the
senator circle. It's what two maybethree touches bing bang boom, and is
through the first goal he scores.Um that's a little a bit of a
weird one because um, it's apure effort played by Carranza. Um.
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He gets the ball out but Doyawhips on it. But Doya actually gets
an assist on that play, andthen Uah scores. I honestly don't remember
the fourth goal. I know itwent, I know it was towards the
river end, but I was Iwas so thick a state on the second
the third goal, UM, Ican't remember all the top of my head
what happened on the fourth goal.So that really shows how great of a
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job I'm doing over here. Butbut but to me, the second goal
he scores the Union's third goal isexactly what you want out of this team
because they made their luck in onthe first two goals. And Jim Curtin
has said this before, like,you know, he's a true believer in
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um building up your own luck.And look look at the Chicago game,
Jacob Glesness. It's a clearance offof me. By the way. I
think the third one I'm trying toremember as well because the order of it.
But the third one I think wasa cross from Carranza into the box
and then yes, and he's slidin. He slid in with the finish.
Yes, that was that was histhic. Yes. Um. Still
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I think the most impressive team wasthe second one he scored. Yeah,
because of all the factors involved inhim, you know, finishing one of
you run against Shawn Johnson. Um. So yeah, he's been talking about
making their own should he does haveLike if there are any questions about does
this guy have enough, Like Idon't know if there are questions about the
physical tools, but man, hegot a good ball from guy's dag But
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it was basically him beating an angleof the one defender and then beating Seawan
johnsone on one and he beat bothof them. So that to me like
says, yeah, this guy istalented. Like if there's any questions about
is he talented enough? Is hea good enough striker? Like I don't
know that. The small things likethat where he beats an angle then beats
a goalkeeper like Sean Johnson, thatwas that was very good for me to
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see. I think that right,And those are the qualities that Michel has
shown since he arrived from Brunbeat.Yeah, so it's like we we know
what type of striker he is andhe shows that on a weekly basis.
To me, I think it justends up being uh or their goals or
no goals, you know, iswhat we judge him by it. And
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when when he does score, it's, oh my god, look at all
these these fantastic things he's doing whenhe's not scoring. The ability to get
in the right positions, his physicality, um maybe aren't as appreciative. Like
take the the Atlas second leg forexample. That's a game where his hold
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up play and him and Coronza beingphysical with the Atlas defenders was massive and
then he ends up getting them theassist at the end Cornza, so he
does have something to show for onthe statue. But to me, that's
it's it's so fascinating to see,Like, yes, strikers are judged at
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the end of the day by goalsassists, however many goal contributions they have,
which is absolutely fair. I'm notgoing to criticize anyone for doing that.
But when you kind of take thelarger scope here and you watch what
Michael Uwa does on a weekly basis, there's a reason why he's in these
positions to score a hat trick.You know, he makes these The back
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post run that he makes on histhird goal, he makes that on a
regular basis. You know, he'smaking the cutting run to be in position
between two defenders and then spread ontoa ball like the second goal. He
does that a lot. You know, it does the execution doesn't show something
times, but the way he getsinto position is so impressive to watch.
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And if you watch from up abovelike I do in the press box,
you see it and it really iskind of a testament to just how much
work he does put in to acceptthe position. Because some of the some
of these goals he scores look easy, but they look easy because he's in
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the right positions. It's like withAndric Blake making saves. Idric Blake doesn't
make many spectacular saves anymore. Therewill be games and potentially tonight and in
the second leg against LAFC where hehas to show up and make these big
saves, but he's rarely out ofposition. I think the term I've used
is he's in position to be inposition where he reads the attackers so well
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that he doesn't have to make thediving save or the you know, parryo
a ball over the bar with bothhands and make it look like a highlight
real play because he's already got thatground covered. And I think that's the
same can be said in in differentlights with Jacob Lesnes, with Jose Martinez
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as well. So I think thatto me is like it's the it's the
little intricacies that these guys have thatnot only make them them really good players,
but then when they're really humming likeul was on on Saturday night,
it really shows just how spectacular ofplayers league they are. Yeah, I
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think what the Toronto game showed,and obviously you mentioned the lack of quality
from Toronto, but I just thinkit's the versatility. I mean, Ua
got many different chances in many differentways, from a gas dag ball that
I thought was very well paced tohim, from Kranza working extremely hard,
and then Carroza also getting one ofthe box that was pretty special type of
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pass as well. I'd just Ilove the combination of the three. And
I know it gets forgotten because theyhaven't been scoring as much now lately they
have been, which has been reallygood, but man, just the quality
of those three together, the factthat they compliment all of each other very
well. It is a special attackand I again, I think we're going
to see more of that in thefuture in this season, but it was
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it was a very good reminder ofit. Of that game in Toronto and
then of course the past few matchesas well, including Champions League play.
I just think they compliment each otherall so very well and the way that
they play right, and they're they'reunselfish to a fault sometimes as well.
I know, yes, yea,they absolutely are. They weren't. They
weren't on Saturday, but their instanceswere now that it's happened before it's happened
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a lot this season in particular.You're right right that kind of brings us
into the the laf Stegan because youhave this incredible attacking trio. And oh,
by the way, I guess who'swho's marching into Chester is Carlo Spella.
Dennis Blonga, um Baldo Poku WellI think is incredibly underrated with the
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work he does, but won't getas much love because he doesn't have the
higher goal tally um. Jim Curtinmentions Steve Habuk, the young Croatian that
they brought in in the off seasonas a future star of this league.
It's gonna be really tough, andit's good to see that attacking trio firing
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on all cylinders going into a ChampionsLeague game because they're gonna have to score
multiple goals tonight. It really areand it's we'll get into it, but
it's now. I think the thekeyword for tonight is balance. That does
seem like a keyword because the attackhas been good defense though I mean Toronto,
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they gave up two goals obviously youknow later goals, and they pretty
much had the game in hand.But as you just mentioned here against LAFC.
They have extremely good quality at attack. What are your thoughts, I
guess kind of optimism or lack oftheir optimism with the back line and the
defense overall heading into this game,which is likely going to be challenged pretty
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well yeah, Um, to me, it's me fascinting to see who starts
it right back? Is it gonnabe Bozo? Is it gonna be Harold
Buzzo is back in training. Theyjust held him out of Saturday as a
precautionary measure, potentially to save himfor this game against LAFCUM. I'll be
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honest with you, though, Ithink the the defense of success doesn't rely
on anybody in the back four.I think it relies on Jose Martinez tonight.
There's so much LAFC can do intheir build up with their um and
it's not just Vella Buwanga, aPoku or a bug whoever starts in the
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third role. Timothy Tillman's been afantastic pick up for them in midfield.
Um killing Acosta, we know whathe brings to the table. We've seen
him in MLS for what feels likeforever. M Elie Sanchez, who is
perpetually one of the most underrated playersin Major League Soccer. He was with
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Kansas City and he's flawlessly coming tothis LAFC side and brought them that that
balance. And what I will noteis, and this is something that Jim
Curtain and Al Hodge mcdoya both mentionedin Tuesday's press conference, is that LAFC
they're not just going to beat youone way. You know, It's not
just they're gonna build up with amillion passes and then Vella's gonna do something
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with his left foot or Bouwanga isgonna beat you one b one um.
They're also playing more direct as well. And Jim Curtin and the transition metrics
that the Union look to as kindof key markers for them, LAFC is
not only number one in the attackingmetrics but the number one in the defensive
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transition metrics as well, which isscary because that's what the Union want to
do. They want to him intransition. So I think this might be
a game where like the Union aregoing to have to have more possession.
I really think that's how it's goingto go because LAFC is okay with with
knocking it down the field and lettingone of their attackers beat you one v
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one um And the pressure is reallyon the Union tonight, right because the
Union because because you know what LAFCis gonna bring when they get back home.
But if you're LAFC, you canmarch into this game and say,
well, if we come away withone away goal, that's that's currency like
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that. That is the most tablecurrency in the country. F Champions League
right now is away goals. Andyou take that to LA and you're like,
well, you know what, wehave won away goal in hand.
Unless they concede in in LA,which has happened many times against the Union.
There they have that to fall backon. So it's gonna be very
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fascinating to see how they approached thegame. It's also worth noting, and
I tweeted this out yesterday, theyflew in last night. It's a very
weird approach. Usually the team fromthe West Coast travels in two days before,
but that's not the case here.I think something has to do with
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it with the late kickoff time.Obviously they're not playing anybody on Saturday,
so it's not affected by their travelelsewhere. So I'm thinking because it's a
six pm local kickoff in there ontheir bodies. I think that's maybe how
they're urging things because they trained outin California to ze. I don't know
if it needs anything, could bein something, could being absolutely nothing,
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just an interesting factor to throw inthis game. But when it comes to
balance, so this is where I'mI go back to this keyword. So
the key for the Union is toobviously win the games. That's thermingal.
You want to beat LAFC, youwant to go back to the West Coast
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with an advantage, but you alsowant to do so well not mortgaging your
defensive backbone, because if you losethat and say LAFC comes out in the
first fifteen minutes, which we've seenteams do against the Union this year,
and punches them in the face withan early goal, that just blows up
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the dynamic of the entire two legs. So I think you're going to see
a balanced and measured approach from theUnion, especially in the first half.
Yes, they want to go forward, Yes they want to put John McCarthy
under pressure in the LAFC net,but they also don't want to concede.
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You know, the goal, thebare minimum goal is to get to a
halftime with LAFC having a zero intheir scoring column, because if you're able
to have that, you can atleast build on something. But if LAFC
scores and you're down a halftime,the going gets tough really quick, because
an LAFC can just say, Okay, we're not going to play with the
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ball. We're up a goal,we have an away goal. We can
go back home and beat you andmaybe strike for a second one, you
know, in in Chester. Butif the Union are able to command the
game, Fosie Martinez is breaking upplays in the middle of the field and
potentially drifting to the left a littlebit, potentially drifting to the right a
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little bit with his with the groundhe covers. I think that's he.
He's just he's got to be thekey plection night. Like we know what
Lesson springs, Um, we'll seeif it's Damian lower, Jack Elliott center
back. UM, my guests wouldbe Bizos on the right. Um,
you know, you know, likeit or not, it's kind of you
know, Nathan Harrow hasn't um surpassedby zo completely in that competition, and
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we know kiv Ager brings UM,So yeah, I think it Martinez,
and then I would say the secondmost important player tonight is alle Hunderdoya,
and remember he didn't play in MLSCup. I know, I know,
we don't like sitting here, andat least the Union don't. Fans do.
The Union don't like bringing up therevenge word and and all of this.
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But there's one little nugget from lastyear that that's kind of stuck in
my mind when it comes to thisthis topic. Is it meant a conversation
with Jack Elliott. I think AugustSeptember whenever it was second half of last
regular season, and it was thefirst time I heard a player mentioned,
yeah, we wanted to get backto the Eastern Conference final because it left
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a bad taste after everybody was ruleout with covidum. They may have been
saying that behind the scenes too,but the message was always focus on this
year, Focus on this year.Focus on this year. So these guys
are human, like last year isgoing to creep into their heads. I
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think for Bedoya specifically not being ableto play because the injury is going to
play a lot and on his mind, and I think he's very crucial for
the defensive work tonight. If heis able to help contain that attacking three
or even contain what what Tillman andthe cost to do, that's very important
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because then you can you can springthe attackers in transition and it makes life
a little easier for you if theUnion. So I know everybody's points a
blake or the center backs, butI really do think that the play in
midfield with Jose Martinez and Alejandro Bandoeis just so vital to what the Union
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are able to do tonight. Nowyou mentioned balance, you mentioned having too
in the first half, hopefully keepa clean sheet. A lot of tough
things that you're asking the Union todo against the very good squad in LAFC
was obviously playing very well. Whatwould be a win here, not just
obviously a w in the column,but what would be a great result here
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that would have you feeling comfortable ifyou're the Union going into a second lake
against LAFC. My answer would bea multi goal win with a clean sheet.
Yeah, and even then I don'tknow about it, soel comfortable,
no, because they could score somuch. That's the only thing is like
LAFC obviously is a very potent goalscoring team. And they're very potent home,
and we know how wide open thatgame gets. And I know we
(25:00):
saw at least in the MLS Cuplast year that the Union were able to
keep up. But still it's ait's a tough task to ask for the
Union to come away with a bunchof away goals and to keep up with
the pace when LAFC has just beenso good on their home turf. Right.
But I also think here's the thingthat leaves you hope is they've scored
(25:25):
three goals in that that banger ofthe game in twenty twenty. They scored
three goals there last year. SoI don't think that. I think the
perception may be that because LAFC isplaying so well that if they get in
a way goal, this tie isdone and dusted. The Union scored two
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away goals in Mexico at Atlas.They've scored many goals in the stadium formerly
noticed Bank of California Stadium. Thinkit's Beamo Stadium now, Yeah, look
they can. They can score anaway goal at LA. They've done it
before, they can do it again. But the concern here is if LAFC
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scores more than once, I thinkyou can you can get away with one
concession if if it's three one like, there's got to be a multi goal
cushion here for the Union. They'recapable of doing it. They're more than
capable of doing it if they playit their best. But can it be
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executed to perfection like that? That'swhat we're waiting to see. We know
what, we know what the ceilingis, we know what LAFC ceiling is.
An LAFC has just been playing incrediblesoccer since the jump this season,
So to me, that's kind ofjust what it comes down to. Can
the Union can the attacking version ofthe Union from the Toronto game and the
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defensive version from Atlas in Kansas City? Can they come together for the most
complete, conformed performance of the seasonand give the Union that multi gole advantage
they need? And then look,if they're up two plus goals and LAFC
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only has one or they have zeronext to their name, then becomes a
very very clear reality that they canget this job done. And I think
that's kind of the hope within thefan base right now is yes, LAFC
is playing really good, but whenwhen the Union are at their best,
they're pretty damn Oh, yeah theycan. They can play up to that
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level. Obviously we saw right MLScouple last year. This is the same
team and I think, I don'tknow, a better version. Obviously they're
a deeper version, and I thinkthat they're you know, another year obviously
means better. I don't think we'veseen the results of back quite yet.
I think we're eventually going to.But this is the same team, if
not better. And they did greatin LAFC last year in a huge game
(28:00):
and a last Cup. So yeah, they can play up to that level.
Just are you seeing enough for themnow to think that they can play
up to that level? No,I've seen bits and pieces of it,
but I haven't seen the flashes havebeen there for sure. So we've talked
about how these like the defense.The defensive flashes were there against Advice,
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against Kansas City, and yep,for most of the Orlando game after that
nonsense um in the first ten orfifty minutes. The attacking proviss has been
there. It's there. It wasthere against Toronto, was there in the
final thirty minutes against Chicago. It'sIt's been there in in larger capacities in
(28:44):
recent games. But for it tobe one hundred percent perfect, to be
the clean sheet, multi goal winningteam that was that played inside Superhu Park
for of last season, and thatversion hasn't showed up yet. Ken it
tonight, absolutely, But I thinkthe your biggest concern is whoever starts it
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right back because Harrill has has showna few flaws with the those backdoor runs
as Jim Curtin has called them,and Bizo, we know, you know,
you know, it's kind of justone mistake per a game, but
um, the pace that he bringsand um, the experience he has against
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LAFC could be could be vital.Um. I'm trying to just pick the
line up in my head, andI would pick I'd probably pick Low over
Elliott because of his his conquercaft performances. I would take Byzo over harryl knowing
what the risk is. And thenI think it basically comes down to do
(29:52):
you take flocker mc glenn. Thequestion that can that can't escape us.
It can't, but I'll admit,after seeing that close to almost kick go
in, I would love McGlenn.I would love that. I would love
that kind of attacking uh type ofability, and I'm not gonna lie.
(30:15):
And as much as I love Flock, it's just that is it's tempting because
McGlenn is just getting better and it'sto the point where it's really hard to
keep that off. But basically itcomes down to what do you see hasn't
has improved the most is mcclint mcglenn'sdefensive abilities or flocks offensive abilities, which
(30:36):
he has. When you're right,that's a that's a great way to put
it. If if you're like that, that's what you're measuring. You're not
measuring the Flock defense against Jack mcglenn'soffense. You're you're measuring or you're comparing
the weakness system too, and whichis the strongest weakness And I think I
think McGlenn gets the edge because hishis defensive abilities have been up to snuff
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so for and I think you needhim on the field if at least the
first sixty, then you can bringon Flock as the closer. But I
think that's that's kind of where westand with the eleven and I think that's
kind of what when Jim Curtin's goingto go too. But like I said,
at the end of the day,if you had a multi goal win
with a clean sheet, you canleave Chester feeling very very satisfied. That
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would be fantastic. Anything with rotationshere, because I know, I mean,
everybody wants to hear about rotations.That seems to be the number one
question all the time. What doyou think the rotations are going to be
here for the first leg? None? None, nothing that we didn't break
down already. Um, maybe forthe Red Bulls game next Saturday, but
that's a long ways away right now. You'll you'll see the regulars and it's
(31:45):
just a matter of I think Ithink it's pretty established who's coming off the
bench as Will and Sullivan, LeonFlock, Ifan Harold probably come off the
Sullivan has really taken hold of that. That's right. He's made touras kind
of irrelevant for a little bit impressivebecause Torres came off strong man, but
right, Sullivan's just Sullivan's been good. He's really He's really taken up.
(32:07):
It's almost like it's almost like aprize fight kind where Coors came out with
that first like initial woe, right, yeah, He's like this is this
is mine? But then Sullivan waslike no, no, no, this
is this is mine. He's kindof done a steady job getting to it.
Yeah, he really asks all right, Joe, do I do I
ask you for a final prediction?I know we've we've gone over probabilities and
(32:29):
what would be the ultimate goal herefor the Union in the first leg,
but any any final prediction here forWednesday nights game. Let mean they're saying
two one Union or one one.I don't like the one one. I
don't like the two one. Actuallywhat is that? I don't No,
I think two one's a fair result. So you mean in the second leg
(32:51):
they're gonna go in with a prettytall task being asked with with clenched buttholes.
Yes, which I mean it makessense. It's LAFC man like.
They've been fantastic. All right.That is it for the Union at Soccer
pod. Make sure to subscribe whereveryou get your podcasts. Have a podcast
Spotify you can find the Union Soccerpodcasts. Also check out whatever Joe Tanzy's
(33:15):
got going on to the Union SuckerBlog, Union Soccer Blog dot substack dot
com. Also follow Joe at JayTanzy ninety follow me at j Janson thirty
four. Enjoy rat Leg one ofChampions League and of course we'll be back
for more next time, right hereon the Union Soccer Podcast
The floodgates have opened. Finally,you're tuned into the Union Soccer Podcast.
Find us wherever you get your podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever that
may be. Get the Union SoccerPodcast. Also subscribe to the Union Soccer
Blog Union Soccer Blog dot substack dotcom. You can check out all of
(00:20):
Joe Tanzi's work and Joe Tanzi alsoat the star of this show, the
Union Soccer Podcast, Joe Tanzy,and you can follow him at j Tanzy
ninety. My name is John Jansen. Follow me at j Jansen thirty four.
The floodgates have opened, Joe.Were they already slightly a jar?
It's you know what, they wereslightly you know what? There were cracks
in the damn right there. Yeah, Like, I mean, it's amazing.
(00:47):
The DP forward scored a hat trick, Like like, oh my god,
this is exactly what he's he's beendoing it. He has scored a
hat trick before the Union. Butlike, this is what the difference is
between a DP four to not haveanyone and being able to get out of
a slump very quickly. Um,whereas in three twenty twenty two is very
(01:11):
hard to do that. Um.Not looking at Ucas for Shavilkoum and look,
he gets a lot of crap,but like, let's be honest,
like it's night and day between whathe did and what the others did.
Very useful for the club in thein the time that he was here,
but um, the upgrade was neededin it and it's been night and day.
(01:32):
Um. And the other thing is, it's when this team plays to
it, it's it's standard. Andthis is the kind of the overarching theme
of Saturday Night and then coming intotonight's Champions League game is if this team
plays like itself, which we getinto like what that actually means. But
(01:53):
when this team plays like itself andlooks normal, it still looks like the
best team MLS one of one of. Yeah, the best team in MLS
is coming, is coming to towntonight. Easy. Yeah, look,
yeah, all right, I'm notthe only one who said that. Um.
(02:13):
But yeah, I just don't wantto admit it because I hate him.
Leave them. Yeah, it's it'shard to admit. But I mean
Rob mcaheny's hanging out with Bail,Like, what is going on? Man?
What is going on? I don'tlike any of this. I'm waiting
for for Ted Lasso to show upin Erectam Jersey at a pickle ball court
(02:37):
and then we can we can justcross all of our internet trends, um
all at once and like, likeI think that might who has like the
most liked tweets on Twitter is like, is still the Ellen degenerous selfie from
a few years again? Still?Really, I don't know. I'm not
well versed in that, but um, I think it's I mean it's very
(02:59):
well is at top. I thinkTed Lasso at a Wrexham jersey holding a
pickleball racket or on a pickleball courtmight might do that. Um. Yeah,
you can't recruit game fail. Umno, No, I mean that's
a whole nother topic for a wholenother podcast when there's not a lot going
(03:21):
on. But yeah, it iswhat it is. Yeah, to each
their own. Um, I gotsidetracked really fast on that. The Union.
Um, when they when they playum their brand of soccer and they're
so efficient in doing so, it'sscary. Good. Now, I'm gonna
say this with the small caveat becauseI know in about three weeks when they
(03:46):
have a bad game or if theyhave a bad game, I'm going to
get this exact tweet Rono, wecan I curse or no, no,
because we replay these on Fox Sports. The Ambler about it. Okay,
so without cursing, how I says, um, Toronto FC was this saddest,
(04:09):
total, total utter dog crap teamI've seen come into that stadium in
a long time. They had nothinggoing for them. It's just an absolute
disaster. Like when Bernardeski and Senioraren't going and aren't free flowing an attack
(04:29):
and they're playing an actual good team, they look awful like they had actually
nothing going for them. Like Ithink it's set the tone. In the
first I don't know what twenty fiveminutes, Jose Martinez had dispossessed Bernardeski or
or pushed him off the ball insome capacity at least three to four times,
(04:55):
like he just out physical him fromthe start. Like yes, and
Senior did have his moment of brillianceon the first Toronto goal, that's really
all he did, right, Sothat like kind of, now, how
does that kind of translate to LAFCBecause LAFC is a much better team,
but they have superstars, you knowwhat I mean. So that's that's how
we're trying to look at this whereyes, the Union had a fantastic performance,
(05:20):
they beat a team they were supposedto be in. They didn't even
look at one hundred percent yet becauseJim Kurt was the first two emitted since
Saturday night, the clean sheet wasvery important. They could have cleaned things
up in the second half. Thatbeing said, it gives you a huge
confidence booster going into Wednesday night,who was coming off a hat trick.
I think Runs is gonna be playingpissed off because he hasn't scored in a
(05:43):
few games and strikers are very temperamentallike that. Gaz Deck's been a top
top three player on this team thisyear, him, Martinez and Glassness,
And that's your spine right there,that's your your center back, your your
DM and you're attacking midfield that you'reten. That's gonna be so so important
tonight against LAFC, which it's afascinating matchup. Yes it's the same,
(06:09):
but it's also different at the sametime, So it's going to be it's
gonna be very fascinating to watch howthis whole thing unfolds tonight because there are
certain things that I picked up inthe press conferences yesterday with Jim Kurtnell Honda
Badota that LAFC may be more comfortableplaying certain styles they are. But I
(06:34):
want to go to one mckel uaJoe Tanzi. I want to talk about
the hat trick. I know weexpect goals out of strikers, and goals
haven't necessarily been there, but itseems like a product of good play from
Ua being rewarded in a way thatfinally ends up on this statue, right.
I mean, look, we've beentalking about michaela being in the right
(06:56):
position storytime since the opener against theI mean I heard the whole thing about
it, um over the substackle subscribebecause subscribe to subscribed. M Yeah,
So it's it's interesting when he getsthe criticism. And look, he even
admitted himself post game on Saturday andthat sometimes it is black and white.
(07:16):
You score goals or you don't scoregoals, and that's fair, that's what
strikers are supposed to do. Butthe reason why he's able to the score
hat trick is he's been doing allthe right things already. I mean,
to me, the second goal hescores where gosdegg plays that that threw ball
(07:39):
through u is perfectly on side.Pranza can't touch the ball because he's coming
back from an offside position. Andthen he uses the speed. I don't
want to use the deceptively quick becausethat's kind of the cliche we use with
all white guys. But he's zoomedpast those defenders and then a very cool
and calm finish into the back ofthat, like that's exact act what you
(08:00):
want. And that comes out ofa you know, a dispossession near the
senator circle. It's what two maybethree touches bing bang boom, and is
through the first goal he scores.Um that's a little a bit of a
weird one because um, it's apure effort played by Carranza. Um.
(08:22):
He gets the ball out but Doyawhips on it. But Doya actually gets
an assist on that play, andthen Uah scores. I honestly don't remember
the fourth goal. I know itwent, I know it was towards the
river end, but I was Iwas so thick a state on the second
the third goal, UM, Ican't remember all the top of my head
what happened on the fourth goal.So that really shows how great of a
(08:43):
job I'm doing over here. Butbut but to me, the second goal
he scores the Union's third goal isexactly what you want out of this team
because they made their luck in onthe first two goals. And Jim Curtin
has said this before, like,you know, he's a true believer in
(09:03):
um building up your own luck.And look look at the Chicago game,
Jacob Glesness. It's a clearance offof me. By the way. I
think the third one I'm trying toremember as well because the order of it.
But the third one I think wasa cross from Carranza into the box
and then yes, and he's slidin. He slid in with the finish.
Yes, that was that was histhic. Yes. Um. Still
(09:26):
I think the most impressive team wasthe second one he scored. Yeah,
because of all the factors involved inhim, you know, finishing one of
you run against Shawn Johnson. Um. So yeah, he's been talking about
making their own should he does haveLike if there are any questions about does
this guy have enough, Like Idon't know if there are questions about the
physical tools, but man, hegot a good ball from guy's dag But
(09:48):
it was basically him beating an angleof the one defender and then beating Seawan
johnsone on one and he beat bothof them. So that to me like
says, yeah, this guy istalented. Like if there's any questions about
is he talented enough? Is hea good enough striker? Like I don't
know that. The small things likethat where he beats an angle then beats
a goalkeeper like Sean Johnson, thatwas that was very good for me to
(10:09):
see. I think that right,And those are the qualities that Michel has
shown since he arrived from Brunbeat.Yeah, so it's like we we know
what type of striker he is andhe shows that on a weekly basis.
To me, I think it justends up being uh or their goals or
no goals, you know, iswhat we judge him by it. And
(10:30):
when when he does score, it's, oh my god, look at all
these these fantastic things he's doing whenhe's not scoring. The ability to get
in the right positions, his physicality, um maybe aren't as appreciative. Like
take the the Atlas second leg forexample. That's a game where his hold
(10:52):
up play and him and Coronza beingphysical with the Atlas defenders was massive and
then he ends up getting them theassist at the end Cornza, so he
does have something to show for onthe statue. But to me, that's
it's it's so fascinating to see,Like, yes, strikers are judged at
(11:16):
the end of the day by goalsassists, however many goal contributions they have,
which is absolutely fair. I'm notgoing to criticize anyone for doing that.
But when you kind of take thelarger scope here and you watch what
Michael Uwa does on a weekly basis, there's a reason why he's in these
positions to score a hat trick.You know, he makes these The back
(11:41):
post run that he makes on histhird goal, he makes that on a
regular basis. You know, he'smaking the cutting run to be in position
between two defenders and then spread ontoa ball like the second goal. He
does that a lot. You know, it does the execution doesn't show something
times, but the way he getsinto position is so impressive to watch.
(12:03):
And if you watch from up abovelike I do in the press box,
you see it and it really iskind of a testament to just how much
work he does put in to acceptthe position. Because some of the some
of these goals he scores look easy, but they look easy because he's in
(12:26):
the right positions. It's like withAndric Blake making saves. Idric Blake doesn't
make many spectacular saves anymore. Therewill be games and potentially tonight and in
the second leg against LAFC where hehas to show up and make these big
saves, but he's rarely out ofposition. I think the term I've used
is he's in position to be inposition where he reads the attackers so well
(12:54):
that he doesn't have to make thediving save or the you know, parryo
a ball over the bar with bothhands and make it look like a highlight
real play because he's already got thatground covered. And I think that's the
same can be said in in differentlights with Jacob Lesnes, with Jose Martinez
(13:16):
as well. So I think thatto me is like it's the it's the
little intricacies that these guys have thatnot only make them them really good players,
but then when they're really humming likeul was on on Saturday night,
it really shows just how spectacular ofplayers league they are. Yeah, I
(13:37):
think what the Toronto game showed,and obviously you mentioned the lack of quality
from Toronto, but I just thinkit's the versatility. I mean, Ua
got many different chances in many differentways, from a gas dag ball that
I thought was very well paced tohim, from Kranza working extremely hard,
and then Carroza also getting one ofthe box that was pretty special type of
(13:58):
pass as well. I'd just Ilove the combination of the three. And
I know it gets forgotten because theyhaven't been scoring as much now lately they
have been, which has been reallygood, but man, just the quality
of those three together, the factthat they compliment all of each other very
well. It is a special attackand I again, I think we're going
to see more of that in thefuture in this season, but it was
(14:20):
it was a very good reminder ofit. Of that game in Toronto and
then of course the past few matchesas well, including Champions League play.
I just think they compliment each otherall so very well and the way that
they play right, and they're they'reunselfish to a fault sometimes as well.
I know, yes, yea,they absolutely are. They weren't. They
weren't on Saturday, but their instanceswere now that it's happened before it's happened
(14:43):
a lot this season in particular.You're right right that kind of brings us
into the the laf Stegan because youhave this incredible attacking trio. And oh,
by the way, I guess who'swho's marching into Chester is Carlo Spella.
Dennis Blonga, um Baldo Poku WellI think is incredibly underrated with the
(15:05):
work he does, but won't getas much love because he doesn't have the
higher goal tally um. Jim Curtinmentions Steve Habuk, the young Croatian that
they brought in in the off seasonas a future star of this league.
It's gonna be really tough, andit's good to see that attacking trio firing
(15:28):
on all cylinders going into a ChampionsLeague game because they're gonna have to score
multiple goals tonight. It really areand it's we'll get into it, but
it's now. I think the thekeyword for tonight is balance. That does
seem like a keyword because the attackhas been good defense though I mean Toronto,
(15:56):
they gave up two goals obviously youknow later goals, and they pretty
much had the game in hand.But as you just mentioned here against LAFC.
They have extremely good quality at attack. What are your thoughts, I
guess kind of optimism or lack oftheir optimism with the back line and the
defense overall heading into this game,which is likely going to be challenged pretty
(16:19):
well yeah, Um, to me, it's me fascinting to see who starts
it right back? Is it gonnabe Bozo? Is it gonna be Harold
Buzzo is back in training. Theyjust held him out of Saturday as a
precautionary measure, potentially to save himfor this game against LAFCUM. I'll be
(16:41):
honest with you, though, Ithink the the defense of success doesn't rely
on anybody in the back four.I think it relies on Jose Martinez tonight.
There's so much LAFC can do intheir build up with their um and
it's not just Vella Buwanga, aPoku or a bug whoever starts in the
(17:06):
third role. Timothy Tillman's been afantastic pick up for them in midfield.
Um killing Acosta, we know whathe brings to the table. We've seen
him in MLS for what feels likeforever. M Elie Sanchez, who is
perpetually one of the most underrated playersin Major League Soccer. He was with
(17:26):
Kansas City and he's flawlessly coming tothis LAFC side and brought them that that
balance. And what I will noteis, and this is something that Jim
Curtain and Al Hodge mcdoya both mentionedin Tuesday's press conference, is that LAFC
they're not just going to beat youone way. You know, It's not
just they're gonna build up with amillion passes and then Vella's gonna do something
(17:49):
with his left foot or Bouwanga isgonna beat you one b one um.
They're also playing more direct as well. And Jim Curtin and the transition metrics
that the Union look to as kindof key markers for them, LAFC is
not only number one in the attackingmetrics but the number one in the defensive
(18:12):
transition metrics as well, which isscary because that's what the Union want to
do. They want to him intransition. So I think this might be
a game where like the Union aregoing to have to have more possession.
I really think that's how it's goingto go because LAFC is okay with with
knocking it down the field and lettingone of their attackers beat you one v
(18:34):
one um And the pressure is reallyon the Union tonight, right because the
Union because because you know what LAFCis gonna bring when they get back home.
But if you're LAFC, you canmarch into this game and say,
well, if we come away withone away goal, that's that's currency like
(18:59):
that. That is the most tablecurrency in the country. F Champions League
right now is away goals. Andyou take that to LA and you're like,
well, you know what, wehave won away goal in hand.
Unless they concede in in LA,which has happened many times against the Union.
There they have that to fall backon. So it's gonna be very
(19:22):
fascinating to see how they approached thegame. It's also worth noting, and
I tweeted this out yesterday, theyflew in last night. It's a very
weird approach. Usually the team fromthe West Coast travels in two days before,
but that's not the case here.I think something has to do with
(19:44):
it with the late kickoff time.Obviously they're not playing anybody on Saturday,
so it's not affected by their travelelsewhere. So I'm thinking because it's a
six pm local kickoff in there ontheir bodies. I think that's maybe how
they're urging things because they trained outin California to ze. I don't know
if it needs anything, could bein something, could being absolutely nothing,
(20:08):
just an interesting factor to throw inthis game. But when it comes to
balance, so this is where I'mI go back to this keyword. So
the key for the Union is toobviously win the games. That's thermingal.
You want to beat LAFC, youwant to go back to the West Coast
(20:29):
with an advantage, but you alsowant to do so well not mortgaging your
defensive backbone, because if you losethat and say LAFC comes out in the
first fifteen minutes, which we've seenteams do against the Union this year,
and punches them in the face withan early goal, that just blows up
(20:49):
the dynamic of the entire two legs. So I think you're going to see
a balanced and measured approach from theUnion, especially in the first half.
Yes, they want to go forward, Yes they want to put John McCarthy
under pressure in the LAFC net,but they also don't want to concede.
(21:11):
You know, the goal, thebare minimum goal is to get to a
halftime with LAFC having a zero intheir scoring column, because if you're able
to have that, you can atleast build on something. But if LAFC
scores and you're down a halftime,the going gets tough really quick, because
an LAFC can just say, Okay, we're not going to play with the
(21:33):
ball. We're up a goal,we have an away goal. We can
go back home and beat you andmaybe strike for a second one, you
know, in in Chester. Butif the Union are able to command the
game, Fosie Martinez is breaking upplays in the middle of the field and
potentially drifting to the left a littlebit, potentially drifting to the right a
(21:55):
little bit with his with the groundhe covers. I think that's he.
He's just he's got to be thekey plection night. Like we know what
Lesson springs, Um, we'll seeif it's Damian lower, Jack Elliott center
back. UM, my guests wouldbe Bizos on the right. Um,
you know, you know, likeit or not, it's kind of you
know, Nathan Harrow hasn't um surpassedby zo completely in that competition, and
(22:21):
we know kiv Ager brings UM,So yeah, I think it Martinez,
and then I would say the secondmost important player tonight is alle Hunderdoya,
and remember he didn't play in MLSCup. I know, I know,
we don't like sitting here, andat least the Union don't. Fans do.
The Union don't like bringing up therevenge word and and all of this.
(22:42):
But there's one little nugget from lastyear that that's kind of stuck in
my mind when it comes to thisthis topic. Is it meant a conversation
with Jack Elliott. I think AugustSeptember whenever it was second half of last
regular season, and it was thefirst time I heard a player mentioned,
yeah, we wanted to get backto the Eastern Conference final because it left
(23:08):
a bad taste after everybody was ruleout with covidum. They may have been
saying that behind the scenes too,but the message was always focus on this
year, Focus on this year.Focus on this year. So these guys
are human, like last year isgoing to creep into their heads. I
(23:29):
think for Bedoya specifically not being ableto play because the injury is going to
play a lot and on his mind, and I think he's very crucial for
the defensive work tonight. If heis able to help contain that attacking three
or even contain what what Tillman andthe cost to do, that's very important
(23:52):
because then you can you can springthe attackers in transition and it makes life
a little easier for you if theUnion. So I know everybody's points a
blake or the center backs, butI really do think that the play in
midfield with Jose Martinez and Alejandro Bandoeis just so vital to what the Union
(24:14):
are able to do tonight. Nowyou mentioned balance, you mentioned having too
in the first half, hopefully keepa clean sheet. A lot of tough
things that you're asking the Union todo against the very good squad in LAFC
was obviously playing very well. Whatwould be a win here, not just
obviously a w in the column,but what would be a great result here
(24:36):
that would have you feeling comfortable ifyou're the Union going into a second lake
against LAFC. My answer would bea multi goal win with a clean sheet.
Yeah, and even then I don'tknow about it, soel comfortable,
no, because they could score somuch. That's the only thing is like
LAFC obviously is a very potent goalscoring team. And they're very potent home,
and we know how wide open thatgame gets. And I know we
(25:00):
saw at least in the MLS Cuplast year that the Union were able to
keep up. But still it's ait's a tough task to ask for the
Union to come away with a bunchof away goals and to keep up with
the pace when LAFC has just beenso good on their home turf. Right.
But I also think here's the thingthat leaves you hope is they've scored
(25:25):
three goals in that that banger ofthe game in twenty twenty. They scored
three goals there last year. SoI don't think that. I think the
perception may be that because LAFC isplaying so well that if they get in
a way goal, this tie isdone and dusted. The Union scored two
(25:45):
away goals in Mexico at Atlas.They've scored many goals in the stadium formerly
noticed Bank of California Stadium. Thinkit's Beamo Stadium now, Yeah, look
they can. They can score anaway goal at LA. They've done it
before, they can do it again. But the concern here is if LAFC
(26:08):
scores more than once, I thinkyou can you can get away with one
concession if if it's three one like, there's got to be a multi goal
cushion here for the Union. They'recapable of doing it. They're more than
capable of doing it if they playit their best. But can it be
(26:32):
executed to perfection like that? That'swhat we're waiting to see. We know
what, we know what the ceilingis, we know what LAFC ceiling is.
An LAFC has just been playing incrediblesoccer since the jump this season,
So to me, that's kind ofjust what it comes down to. Can
the Union can the attacking version ofthe Union from the Toronto game and the
(26:57):
defensive version from Atlas in Kansas City? Can they come together for the most
complete, conformed performance of the seasonand give the Union that multi gole advantage
they need? And then look,if they're up two plus goals and LAFC
(27:17):
only has one or they have zeronext to their name, then becomes a
very very clear reality that they canget this job done. And I think
that's kind of the hope within thefan base right now is yes, LAFC
is playing really good, but whenwhen the Union are at their best,
they're pretty damn Oh, yeah theycan. They can play up to that
(27:38):
level. Obviously we saw right MLScouple last year. This is the same
team and I think, I don'tknow, a better version. Obviously they're
a deeper version, and I thinkthat they're you know, another year obviously
means better. I don't think we'veseen the results of back quite yet.
I think we're eventually going to.But this is the same team, if
not better. And they did greatin LAFC last year in a huge game
(28:00):
and a last Cup. So yeah, they can play up to that level.
Just are you seeing enough for themnow to think that they can play
up to that level? No,I've seen bits and pieces of it,
but I haven't seen the flashes havebeen there for sure. So we've talked
about how these like the defense.The defensive flashes were there against Advice,
(28:22):
against Kansas City, and yep,for most of the Orlando game after that
nonsense um in the first ten orfifty minutes. The attacking proviss has been
there. It's there. It wasthere against Toronto, was there in the
final thirty minutes against Chicago. It'sIt's been there in in larger capacities in
(28:44):
recent games. But for it tobe one hundred percent perfect, to be
the clean sheet, multi goal winningteam that was that played inside Superhu Park
for of last season, and thatversion hasn't showed up yet. Ken it
tonight, absolutely, But I thinkthe your biggest concern is whoever starts it
(29:08):
right back because Harrill has has showna few flaws with the those backdoor runs
as Jim Curtin has called them,and Bizo, we know, you know,
you know, it's kind of justone mistake per a game, but
um, the pace that he bringsand um, the experience he has against
(29:32):
LAFC could be could be vital.Um. I'm trying to just pick the
line up in my head, andI would pick I'd probably pick Low over
Elliott because of his his conquercaft performances. I would take Byzo over harryl knowing
what the risk is. And thenI think it basically comes down to do
(29:52):
you take flocker mc glenn. Thequestion that can that can't escape us.
It can't, but I'll admit,after seeing that close to almost kick go
in, I would love McGlenn.I would love that. I would love
that kind of attacking uh type ofability, and I'm not gonna lie.
(30:15):
And as much as I love Flock, it's just that is it's tempting because
McGlenn is just getting better and it'sto the point where it's really hard to
keep that off. But basically itcomes down to what do you see hasn't
has improved the most is mcclint mcglenn'sdefensive abilities or flocks offensive abilities, which
(30:36):
he has. When you're right,that's a that's a great way to put
it. If if you're like that, that's what you're measuring. You're not
measuring the Flock defense against Jack mcglenn'soffense. You're you're measuring or you're comparing
the weakness system too, and whichis the strongest weakness And I think I
think McGlenn gets the edge because hishis defensive abilities have been up to snuff
(30:59):
so for and I think you needhim on the field if at least the
first sixty, then you can bringon Flock as the closer. But I
think that's that's kind of where westand with the eleven and I think that's
kind of what when Jim Curtin's goingto go too. But like I said,
at the end of the day,if you had a multi goal win
with a clean sheet, you canleave Chester feeling very very satisfied. That
(31:23):
would be fantastic. Anything with rotationshere, because I know, I mean,
everybody wants to hear about rotations.That seems to be the number one
question all the time. What doyou think the rotations are going to be
here for the first leg? None? None, nothing that we didn't break
down already. Um, maybe forthe Red Bulls game next Saturday, but
that's a long ways away right now. You'll you'll see the regulars and it's
(31:45):
just a matter of I think Ithink it's pretty established who's coming off the
bench as Will and Sullivan, LeonFlock, Ifan Harold probably come off the
Sullivan has really taken hold of that. That's right. He's made touras kind
of irrelevant for a little bit impressivebecause Torres came off strong man, but
right, Sullivan's just Sullivan's been good. He's really He's really taken up.
(32:07):
It's almost like it's almost like aprize fight kind where Coors came out with
that first like initial woe, right, yeah, He's like this is this
is mine? But then Sullivan waslike no, no, no, this
is this is mine. He's kindof done a steady job getting to it.
Yeah, he really asks all right, Joe, do I do I
ask you for a final prediction?I know we've we've gone over probabilities and
(32:29):
what would be the ultimate goal herefor the Union in the first leg,
but any any final prediction here forWednesday nights game. Let mean they're saying
two one Union or one one.I don't like the one one. I
don't like the two one. Actuallywhat is that? I don't No,
I think two one's a fair result. So you mean in the second leg
(32:51):
they're gonna go in with a prettytall task being asked with with clenched buttholes.
Yes, which I mean it makessense. It's LAFC man like.
They've been fantastic. All right.That is it for the Union at Soccer
pod. Make sure to subscribe whereveryou get your podcasts. Have a podcast
Spotify you can find the Union Soccerpodcasts. Also check out whatever Joe Tanzy's
(33:15):
got going on to the Union SuckerBlog, Union Soccer Blog dot substack dot
com. Also follow Joe at JayTanzy ninety follow me at j Janson thirty
four. Enjoy rat Leg one ofChampions League and of course we'll be back
for more next time, right hereon the Union Soccer Podcast
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