Union Soccer Podcast Ep. 16: Messi Minutes -- 6/9/23

What else were we supposed to talk about this week?A breakdown of Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami and how it could affect the Union in the long run.Plus a preview of the Union's trip to San Jose and a look at the next month of games before Leagues Cup.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Well, I think the show writesitself for today. A move that rocked
not only the soccer world or globallythe football world, not only just the
MLS world. It just rocks everythingof what we think of MLS. And
of course what I mean, Messiis coming to Miami and he's going to

(00:24):
be in the MLS, and ofcourse Union are somewhat involved in that,
being an MLS team, so wegotta talk about that. Union also playing
extremely well though, so we'll talkabout those games as well. You're tuned
into the Union Soccer podcast. Myname is John Jansen. You can follow
me at j Jansen at thirty four. Also the star of the show,
my co host, Joe Tanzy atJay Tanzi ninety and you can check out

(00:48):
all of his work on the UnionSoccer blog dot substack dot com. I
imagine, Joe, there will besome maybe not just Union stuff here.
How does let's just start with Messicoming over to MLS because I think you
know, how does Messi affect alsoyou know, Union, and I imagine
going to affect ticket prices and viewershipand all of those things that we can

(01:10):
tie into the Union here. Butjust initial reaction thoughts when you saw officially,
because I saw this many times whenI just go, Joe is messy
really coming to MLSI, Like,don't believe anything yet, And then there
was a finally a moment you said, holy, holy, believe I might
have to believe this. When thatmoment came to you, what was the
initial thought, Yeah, transfer newsis believe everything, but trust trust no

(01:36):
one. Yeah, believe everything andnothing at the same time, especially when
it comes to like I mean,look, I'm a Manchester United fan and
I'm you know, reading stories everyday about Harry Kane and Real Madrid and
hoping they're not true because I wouldlove Harry Kane on United and or Osman
or whoever whatever striker Dujure is outthere on the transfer market this year.

(02:00):
So that's why it's like it justa regular like transfer story is. It's
full of twists and turns and disinformationand the whole messy thing. Look,
we've been how long we've been talkingabout this with Miami, right, it's
been it's been a couple of years, I would say, maybe, yeah,
Like he has been the guy thetargeted. To me, it's always

(02:29):
been messy over Ronaldo for MLS.It just feels like the better fit and
we we got that now with Ronaldobeing in Sauni Arabia. Yeah. I
mean, I think everybody, afterhaving a few days to digest the stories,
know how it played out, andthe romantic in me would have loved

(02:50):
to see him back at Barcelona.You are such a romantic show. Because
it's he shouldn't have had leave inthe first place, like he shouldn't have
gone had to gone to PSG inthe first place because of of Barsto's whole
nightmarish scenario. Uh, financially,And I can appreciate Messi saying, and

(03:13):
I'm paraphrasing here that you know Idon't want however, many guys need to
be sold by Barcelona for me toreturn there. I get it. It's
it speaks to the differences between himand if this was Ronaldo, he probably
would have been like, Okay,well I want to be here, sorry
suckers, Like whoever gets sold getssold. Like I think it does speak

(03:38):
to the kind of a the differencein the two generational superstars we have on
our hands now at the end oftheir careers, Like Ronaldo took the bag
in Saudi Arabia, his time hadclearly run out at United. Oh heck
yeah, like like I mean,going to Juventus. It just everything about

(04:03):
Ronaldo being at those clubs, himnot being on the field made them better.
And I'll be honest, I havenot really cared much about Ronaldo and
Saudi Arabia. I know this,this is the new, the new thing
on the block in the transfer market, but like, yeah, is it

(04:25):
immoral and all of that, youknow, stuff that we can really get
into if we want to. Yes, taking the bag from Saudi Arabia comes
with its yeah, more more evenlooking past that, is it right?
Watchable side? Like is it somethingthat? Ever? Like what's the interest?
You know, it's not exactly weknow it's not teams. We know,

(04:46):
like what what's the interest here towatch any of that? And the
edge I can't to that is resoundingnothing like it's right, I can't.
I can't watch it on TV.I can't, Like I'm not gonna sit
here and and you're not gonna goout if you're way to try and find
a way to watch it correct,there's already there's already so much soccer.
I'm like, okay, if ifa guy like Benzema or I think in

(05:08):
goal of Conte's case is even moreunderstandable because he was banged up for he
barely played this year and if ifhe wants to get an extra couple of
hundred million in his bank account beforehe can no longer play soccer physically by
all means, like I understand that. I'm not saying it's it's right or
wrong, but I can understand likethe human decision behind at least that case.

(05:30):
But although Benzema maybe not, Butlike in Conte's specific case, I
mean, he's damaged good at thispoint where where in Europe. I'm sure
there's still be a spot for himsomewhere, but he's well passed his peak
at this point. So and it'sa shame because when he's one hundred percent
healthy and at his best, he'sone of the most controlling midfielders in all

(05:54):
of soccer. So with MESSI Idon't think it was ever about I don't
want to say because I don't knowhim obviously, don't know him personally,
don't know anything except for what I'veseen through the TV. But I don't
think it was solely about the moneyfor him. I think it was more
about being comfortable in a spot he'sfamiliar with in Miami, which kind of

(06:16):
I think kind of speaks to howserious Barcelona was a player in this,
even though there was no it madeno financial sense for him to even consider
Barcelona. So yeah, I thinkwhat once Dean baligae put the tweet out,
who's been in the inner circle fora while, that's when it became
real because you see all these reportsout of Argentina and some of the reports

(06:40):
in the States, and yes,like they could be credible information, but
there's like a list of maybe likefive people you trust with that story,
and Dean Baliga is one of them. So I mean, it's it's incredible.
It's a fantastic move from Major LeagueSoccer. There's no other way to
to say. It's it's really freakingawesome that Leonel Messi is going to play

(07:02):
in MLS. Like I think itwill exceed the Beckham move. Oh one,
it already has. I can't,I can't, I can't physically speak
to I mean, I was inhigh school when Beckham came over years and
look, I'm not looking at itfrom I knew anything about MLS, but
just in the way this is coveredin the immediacy of how big the news

(07:24):
was this. I remember when Beckhamwent over to MLS it's not And look
that that also means MLS is ina different spot where I think it's news
worthy when MLS gets it in.MLS is a better league than it was
then. But this is a biggerleague. I would say too. But
I mean just seeing the results ofInstagram followers on this is absurd. I

(07:44):
mean, this is this is oneof the biggest things to happen to MLS
and maybe even in American sports forquite a while. Yeah, my favorite
thing right now is people who haven'tbreathed an air or read in the MLS
like circle in years are all ofa sudden coming out of the woodwork iss

(08:07):
soccer experts to be like, comparethis to the Becket move, like it's
going to be really fascinating just fromlike an interest standpoint, Like, ye,
people, and look, there's adistinction between people who are just genuinely
just showing up, say like anews station and saying, here's MESSI here's
what he means to this economic situation. Why it is Intermiami getting games moved

(08:33):
to hard Rock Stadium? Why didCharlotte and Atlanta open the upper Bowl,
like the general kind of news stuff. And then then you grad like the
sports people who are like gonna allof a sudden claim they're American soccer experts
and you've already seen them who arejust going to hop in and be like,
well, this is this is whatit actually means to MLS and they've
they probably couldn't tell you a damnthing about MLS since like the last time

(08:58):
that played a game or as Latonwas here or whatever, So like that's
my that's my favorite part is likethe people in the American media who are
now telling us how we should react, even though we've been involved in the
league for forever. I've seen that. I saw one this morning and I
was just like, come on,guys, like I get it. I
understand, like why you know you'reyou're like a national columnist and all that

(09:22):
stuff, but I mean, it'sit's all bs, like you don't know
anything about MLS And this is mecoming from my MLS like snob face for
a second life. Yes, thereare gonna be people that are hopping in
that are just gonna be like,oh, well this this team conceded three
goals to Leonel Messi. They mustsuck. They must be the worst thing

(09:43):
to ever happen to soccer. No, Lionel Messi is just at stinking good.
And oh, by the way,he may need to score like through
four goals from just a competitive standpointfor in the Miami to be in this
thing, right, So it's it'sgonna be all. Here's what I'll kind
of say about this is Messi beinghere is awesome. Messi is doing this

(10:09):
that he thinks it's the best scenariofor himself. Messi owes no obligation in
Major League Soccer. He doesn't.MLS is going to roll through red carpet
and do everything in its power tomake sure Messi is marketed properly and that
they make the most off of himcommercially, and then like from the sporting

(10:33):
standpoint, it will all come togetheror it won't. You know, the
stuff on the field is not whatthe league office can control. But and
I know you and I you,I and you me and Sean talked about
this on the radio yesterday. Islike, Messi owes no obligation to like
promote this league, Like he's hereto play soccer. From all accounts,
he's a very humble guy in thefirst place. He's not very chauvinistic.

(10:58):
He kind just he does a lotof talking on the field. And look,
sure I would I like to sayhe could be the number one ambassador
for Major League Soccer and uh,you know, he's gonna just every every
single ad he does, he's gonnamention how awesome MLS is. Sure,
I love that, But that's definitelythe case. Like let's be honest with

(11:18):
ourselves, Like let's look at whatthis actually is. It's it's the best
soccer player of all time coming toplay soccer. He's not obliged to give
any opinions on anyone else or promoteanyone else abroad. Like I think the
difference here is Messi is going todo all the talking on the field and

(11:41):
pretty much that only, and Ithink the numbers are gonna show I really
do. And look, MLS isgoing to make sure every every single thing
they've been preparing for for the lastthree years they're gonna do and do it
with a ton of attention with itwith Messi and whether that be Apple TV,

(12:09):
which all of a sudden gets moreeyes on it with MLS Season Pass.
But I don't think that's like theonly way, like you think Fox
is hasn't already called MLS and said, Okay, how many Leonel Messi games
can we get? It changes everybig Fox changes everything about what games they're
broadcasting. Yeah, all that whereit's like you're absolutely everything You're I look,

(12:33):
I have no inside info or anythinglike that, but if I was,
if I was an executive at Fox, I would make sure I get
Leonel Messi on my cable station whatthree or four times before the regular season
ends, Like there's there's gonna bedate changes, time changes, location changes.

(12:56):
I would assume into Miami's gonna playat hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins
aren't using it just from a monetarystandpoint, I mean, look financial field
when he comes in or something that'snot I hate, can I can?
I can? I just go ona really quick tangent for a second.
I don't know what I am lockedhere, but I can't wait to hear

(13:18):
it. I absolutely hate when,like anytime the Union play a big game,
someone always someone asked, oh,do you think they played the game
at the link? No, No, it would be you want the honest
answer, why they don't play asoccer game at the Link because they won't
be able to fill it. Theycan, they can fill SUPERU Park and

(13:41):
have extra demands and have people wishingthey would have gotten tickets, but physically
can't. You're not going to getthat the link. I've been at the
Link for US men's national team gamesand they don't even like fill the hole.
Damn thing, like the optics wouldlook so terrible, so so terrible

(14:03):
on the Union, Like, oh, you moved a game to the Link
and you know there are levels thatare completely empty. No, you want
a packed house. You want itto play to your advantage. You don't
want it to be to sound silentin some capacity. Like No, the
Union would be the only way theycould ever move a game to the Link

(14:24):
is if the demand for MESSI isis that large? But even when you
know, even in that case,I don't know if it would happen,
but I just it's it's one ofmy pet peeves that like any time the
Union play a match of significance oneor two people, it's and it's not
it's not really on social media,it's just in person, like, oh,
it's a big game. How comethey won't move it to the link.

(14:45):
Well, they won't move it tolink for a lot of reasons that
make a lot of sense from abusiness perspective, and plus it just it
would suck the environment out of outof the match. At what you've curated
at Superhu Park for how many yearsnow and perfected down the team is Is
this good? Like? No?No, no, other other places?

(15:07):
Yes, because because of different youknow, motivations Miami, but they play
in a in a temporary stadium anhour away from South Beach. Like yes,
they're gonna move games to hard RockStadium because they can make more money
off of in you know, insteadof in an eighteen twenty whatever the capacity

(15:31):
is at Fort Lauderdale. The NFLstadiums already built in like Charlotte Atlanta Movie
or opening the upper bowls makes sensebecause they already play in the stadiums that
size. But the New York RedBulls aren't going to move their game to
Giants Stadium or met MetLife for youwe call it now. But they're not
going to move their game to theMeadowlands just because you know, Messi shows

(15:54):
up. No, because mainly becausepeople don't go to Red Bull breath in
the place that's bad comparison, butyou know, you know what I mean,
Like, not every team is goingto move to the NFL stadium just
because because MESSI shows up and whereit's a big game. It's a novelty
that San Jose sometimes does. Butlike playing at the Rose Bowl once it

(16:18):
is cool, or playing at thethey play once at Stanford and they've they've
played at the the Niners Stadium likefor a one off to get like a
lot of ticket sales for a teamthat may not draw like the Union.
Sure, but the Union don't needthe link at least in the last you
know, five years, since they'vebeen good, they have no reason to

(16:41):
even consider that conversation. Yeah,I think they should just have it a
superpark because it's a great stadium.I like it. They should actually build
the state. They should build thestadium and where the Sixers are supposed to
write. That would be that wouldsolve all their problems. Yeah yeah,
am I opening all the Philadelphis andlet's do that. Let's do that and

(17:03):
then like, uh, the Sixerscan bring in a w NBA team,
the the the Union can bring inthe NWSL team and then bam, we're
good. We're good to go,right, all right, and we since
we solve that problem. What's Imean? There's so many layers to this
messy thing, right, Like youmentioned the broadcast one, you know obviously
mentioning like you know, Charlotte's gonnabe opening up. I think that was

(17:26):
planned anyway. But you know Messiis going to bring in this certain audience
and this big audience and a bigplatform and all of that. What layer
though of this are you most interestedin? The sea? Is it the
way the MLS handles this, theon field stuff and you know how he
plays in MLS? Just what whatlayer of this? Because there's so many
can go to, we don't havethat much time to do all of that,

(17:48):
Like this could be a two threehour podcast, you know, dealing
with Messi. But what what areyou interested most about this story and about
MESSI coming into MLS? Right,we can do now it all kind of
works, I guess and plays out. Yeah. Right, we could do
this for two or three hours andpeople have probably already listened to like their
favorite soccer podcast about I'm sure I'msure Roger Bennett and Ray Hudson have had

(18:11):
a hyperbole off about me. Weare the Meca soccer here not those guys?
Are you kidding me? God?I could only imagined with that conversation
is like there's Roger Bennett holding aBudweiser in his hand with about five others
I think CBS talking about this withlike a Union jacket on. Yeah,
It's like it was off between himand then and Ray Hudson heaving an orgasm

(18:36):
every time Messi touches the ball.I would love to just like be a
fly on that fly on the wallin that room when if the two of
them talk about Messi together, becauselike the hyperbole in that room would just
be it's already too much to handle. But I mean it would just be

(18:57):
like, Wow, you guys justreally just can't shut up and can't like
talk so talk about soccer in anormal voice. And I love, like
I used to love Ben and Blazers, but like when you're you're using a
hyperbole for like how Newcastle drew likeBlackbird Rovers in the caraval Cup, like

(19:18):
like it's a little too much.It got too much for me a long
time ago. And then Ray Hudsonis Ray Hudson. I mean he's gonna
scream orgasmically when Leon Leonel Messi touchesthe ball and he's gonna at least be
creative with his hyperbole. But thatwould be God, that would be probably
the most unlistenable soccer podcast ever.If that's Rogers, that is true,

(19:41):
that is true. We're just we'rejust too schmucks complaints, two idiots raining
about things so on field. Lookin Miami's in last place in the East
three Conference. You me and ninesomewhat athletic listeners could proba get into the
MLS playoffs this year because they letnine teams in and you just have to

(20:04):
be like below average to make theplayoffs. And then it's it's the playoffs.
Anything can happen. And when youhave Lionel Messi, who's going to
be far and away the best playeron the field against anybody you play,
yeah, you can do some damage. Which is why I was like concocting
like the funniest possible scenarios. Andlook, if I was an FC Cincinnati

(20:26):
fan, if I was a Nashvillefan, heck if I'm even a Union
fan in this situation, I'm kindof crapping my pants because yes, you
can. You can go off andsay, sure, our defenses are that
good and Miami's defense is that bad. And if you try in the gate,
Messi, you can sure you coulddo that. Just get Martinez all

(20:49):
messy, just just agitate the bleepout of them. I would actually love
to see that. Well, that'sthe first thing I thought of, Like,
what's the first time Messi had theball at but not not in a
not in a postseason game, becausethere's like an automatic yellow wading half.
I think that's see how it's officiated. Yeah, you think it's you touch

(21:15):
on our fifty million dollar investment.You you're going right to the showers,
you know. I can't wait forthe first game he plays in, the
first favoriteball callig getting somebody like complaintslike like you were actually gonna get you
know, have anything else happen inthat situations. I would love to see
the yellow cards earned by Messi,Like I don't know how many games he's

(21:37):
going to play in the regular season, but that tally has got to be
like I think probably one and ahalf per game. I think if you're
if you bet on soccer, Iwould bet on the yellow card markets on
some of these teams playing Messi,because man, if they're a plus money
on some of some of the guyslike Jose Martinez and the league. You

(22:00):
might you might just be like pattingyour bank roll immediately with how how much
of a whistled Messi might get.In all serious though, look there's six
points out of a playoff spot.Let's do the math here. Miami's gonna
play what probably five or six gamesuntil the League's Cup, so they have

(22:22):
to just patch it all together andhope it hope it doesn't completely fall apart.
I think if you're in Miami,you maybe think if we can stay
within ten points of ninth place,you have a shot because the rest of
the Eastern Conference is so bad,and if you have a game game changer
like Messi, you'll be able toto pick up some points. Now that

(22:48):
their defense is atrocious, their midfieldhas had a hole in it, it's
it's not great. Nothing is greatat Inter Miami right now. But when
you added lean on Messi's equation andif he can score two or three goals
a game and he does take itone hundred percent serious in a way that
slots on did, look, anything'spossible. So the the on field thing

(23:15):
is is fascinating because I know peopleare, including myself, getting the jokes
off that in Miami's in last place, third to last in the Supporter Shield.
But I wouldn't want to be aCincinnati, Nashville or Union defender going
up against Messi in the best ofthree playoff series because what happens he'd be
if he just unloads on you andyou have a bad game, your season

(23:37):
could be done in by a anawful playoff system. But be Leonel Messi,
Like, that's that's the on fieldcomponent that once he gets going,
and I guess the league play theleague matches, he won't won't will participate
and won't be into August because ofof League's Cup, which is I guess
a good thing for everyone else.But that that's that's gonna be fascinating.

(24:03):
Inter Miami like the message in thelocker room, and they have an interim
coach right now, Jabia Morales,who's one of the most underrated playmakers ever
to play inn MLS and who knowsif he's still going to be around when
Messi is. There's top to Martinobeing in and all that kind of stuff,
But yeah, you need to staywithin ten points of ninth place.

(24:26):
If you're into Miami and this isnot inter Miami podcast, but this is
a messy centric podcast. Now howit affects the Union. Look, going
for the supporter shield and the numberone seed in the Eastern Conference are still
paramount. They are still your goals. You have to chase them, and
it feels like they're going to reachthose, I know, like it's a

(24:48):
long way to go. And look, yeah, I don't want to dismiss
Cincinnati, but I think it's inthis the last podcast, and man,
it just it keeps feeling like itlike they're on a roll, and it's
going to be tough to stop thatmomentum, even a team like Cincinnati,
because once the Union rolled like this, I mean, it's I don't even
know if Cincinnati is gonna be ableto show enough resistance to stop the momentum.

(25:08):
I mean, when when the Unionare this good, they are they
are one of, if not thebest teams, at least in the Eastern
Conference of the best team when theyplay like this, But in MLS they're
they're the best team when they playlike this. Right. The Union have
a pretty treacherous schedule over the nextfew months too. That's that's might stow
them down a little bit. ButI mean I already foresee the conversation happening

(25:32):
in say September, late September andall of October, and it's gonna be
with the Cincinnati Press, the NashvillePress, us up here in Philly.
If inter Miami goes on this rue, we think they could go on and
gets up from you know, rightgets up to right around the red line.
Now they have to play in theeight nine playoffs first and foremost,

(25:55):
so that it's hard to kind ofmanage. But say if if since Sinnati,
Nashville, and the Union are allwithin say five to six points of
each other entering October, and there'sa clear drop off to say New England
or whoever the next challenge in theleague, Like, if it's very clear
that you could be the two seed, do you go for the top spot?

(26:21):
Now? I think the caveat hereis LAFC has a lot of games
in hand, and if LAFC getson a run and they take over the
support or shield, I think theconversation becomes a little bit easier. But
it really does play this competitive questionin your head because now Cincinnati and Nashville,

(26:41):
I think would want to go afterthe Supporter Shield, and I think
the Union would as well. Theywould at least admit it in person.
That's just the mentality of this team. Heck, they're not even thinking about
the next game, even if it'sit's Champions League. But I mean,
doesn't that go into your head,like naturally if you see Inter Miami in

(27:02):
eighth or ninth and you're going tobe the number one seed. Like I'm
not saying it stops you from winningthe Supporter Shield, but at least begs
the question. If you're loftier goalis MLS Cup, And in the Union's
case, you can make an argumentit is because that's the trophy that escaped
has escaped you you've won the SupporterShield. Do you just say, hey,

(27:26):
we're going to back off in thefinal game, we'll get the two
seed. We'll be on the oppositebracket of Messi no matter what, and
the only way we would play himis in the Eastern Conference final at home.
I'm fascinated. I don't know ifand out of like, hey,
you just want to avoid Messi anyway, you know, yeah, even if

(27:47):
Miami's like whatever, or is thislike Miami is just going to be that
good? You know what, whatI guess what should the expectation of Miami
be? Is it just they gotMessy now and now they're you know,
gonna gonna be MLS Cup bound andit's gonna be tough to stop that train?
What is what is that expectation?Because I'm I am fascinated by that.
Obviously they're gonna score more goals andMessi, like Messi is still a

(28:11):
very good player and he's gonna scoregoals and it's it's gonna be quite a
show to watch. But does thatautomatically mean like, hey, Miami,
is this great team now and they'regonna they're gonna end up, you know,
getting the MLS Cup? Like whatwhat? What is that expect the
whole Look, the whole dynamics gonnabe fascinating, which is why I'm bringing
up all of these like on fieldpossibilities. Yeah, now that we've had

(28:33):
a few days to kind of roumit it on, because look, the
bare minimum expectation for Lionel Messi intoMiami twenty twenty three is to make the
playoffs. Nine teams get it,and like I said, if they if
they get if they're still within tenpoints of ninth place by the break for

(28:56):
the League's Cup, which is whenMessi's reported earliest debut would be. In
League's Cup, you're looking at August, so you're basically looking at the last
nine or ten games of the MLSregular season and teams that have not had
Lionel Messi and players far less talentedthan Lionel Messi or maybe even half as

(29:17):
talented as Messi, have gone onruns at the end of regular seasons in
Major League Soccer before. Now it'sdifferent because you have this break for League's
Cup in July and early August.But it was going to be a fascinating
dynamic and play here. Where diddo the the players from Inner Miami elevate
their games because of who's on thefield with them? Is Messi just going

(29:41):
to bring his band of brothers withhim? Is he our Sergey Busquetes,
Luis Swarez and Jordi Alba just gonnashow up in MLS on August fifteen with
him and say, hey, we'regoing to do this our way. The
bars away and then into Miami cando it their way in twenty four How

(30:03):
do you a circumvent the MLS rosteris gonna be funny when Louis Suarez is
making and how do the Union counter? Louis Suarez is gonna be making one
hundred k a year at inter Miamiand the rest is gonna be made in
endorsements, just so we can playwith MESSI again, you laugh. That's
probably what's going to happen, becausecome on, they're going to circumvent the
rules. Look it looks if you'rea complete idiot if you don't think MLS

(30:27):
is going to circumvent all of theirrosters. Oh I know, I know,
I know, I know, butlike, come on, man,
the Union have been doing this likethe right way. They're making great money
and that's what now you lose becausethese guys just want to play. And
that's what makes it so funny.From like the outside perspective is inter Miami
has just been an absolute dumpster firetrying to build their roster from the beginning.

(30:49):
I mean, the reason why JulianCornza is with the Union right now
is because inter Miami the blaze.Matt to wed the situation. He was
here for maybe a hot second andthat's it. But they were over on
DPS. They had to they hadto cut their or rehash their entire roster

(31:11):
when Phil Neville took over, andwe saw how long that lasted. But
Coronza was a casualty of that.You know, they signed him. I
think he was one of their firstsignings before they were a team, and
they were to bill with young SouthAmericans and all this, and and now
we're at the point where it's justlike, you know, Haiguaian's come through
mats Weed, he was here fora very hot second. Leonel Messi's now

(31:36):
here and he's going to bring hishis cast to characters with them. Assuming
that's the case, I would thinkhe's got some type of say and who
shows up in Miami in the nextfew weeks and months. But Inter Miami's
incompetence has been the Union's fortune.I mean, they're gonna make the most

(31:56):
money off of Julian Corronza. They'vedone this the right way, it's done
it organically, and they've gotten guysthat have just been really, really good
in this league. And I guessit kind of goes back to Ernst Tanner's
comments last year about Gareth Bale inLAFC. Something similar to that, maybe
even more obvious is going to happenwithin to Miami and we're all just gonna

(32:20):
have to shut up and like itbecause a Messi's here, would you rather
The counter would be, well,would you rather Messy not be here?
Like I know, Yeah, that'sjust a counter and it's unfortunate. And
that's just that's why I always saythis is one of the dumbest, nonsensical
professional sports leagues in the world,maybe the dumbest, because we just make

(32:46):
up rules as we go here,and there's a new set of rules every
year. I mean, you haveto have like a PhD to understand every
MLS roster, your rule like andeven then you probably are like dumbfounded by
some of the stuff in the rulebook. Like it's just I kind of

(33:07):
I've kind of given up on thatthat part and be like, okay,
well who who fits where in theroster and how does it affect me?
And that's it. But yeah,it's they're gonna find ways around this.
Come on, Like it's if Bessiesays Luis Sparres, we well can I
ask them is that the MLS shouldshould have never had these rules in place

(33:30):
in the first place, or like, are they is it fine to be
changing your rules a bit to allowsomething as big as this to happen,
Like I think, I guess,what is the best way to do it
without without right, you like,completely changing everything the way that they have.
I think it's it's worked to adegree. I think some of the
some of the stuff, like theallocation order was pretty dumb. All these

(33:57):
postseason acquisition mechanisms, like the lackof free agency was dumb. But I
think some of the stuff has kindof evolved with time, like something is
the league needed to have in placeso that it wasn't Manchester City or Bayern
Munich just running the show. Butalso it's been very clear that they've they

(34:22):
can and put a blind eye tothat. I mean, so look,
I think it the rules serve apurpose until they don't. It is kind
of the best way I can describeMLS rules without kind of and I know
a lot of people listening are wellmore well versed in in MLS rules and

(34:44):
regulations that I am. But itkind of just like from a layman's term,
like it feels like the rules arein place for reason until they're not,
and then they can either be Theycan either evolve into this this U
twenty two initiatives or extra designated playersand all that target allocation money was huge.

(35:09):
So like they have evolved it,but it's some of the stuffs still
archaic, and I mean, itis what it is at this point.
I'm not gonna put up that fight. I'll let other people do that.
But yeah, it does kind ofspeak to the uniqueness of the situation that

(35:30):
MLS is probably going to bend overbackwards for Messy And look, I look,
I don't blame them, I reallydon't, but I think it's it's
pretty evident this was going to happenanyway. So I mean, what the
hell are we going to do aboutit? Like we're gonna go outside the
MLS office in New York and protestDon Garber. Are We're gonna like cancel

(35:53):
our our MLS season pass subscriptions?No, because they're gonna say, well,
okay, because didn't have him anyway, right, Well that too,
Yeah, but they're gonna say,no, we don't, we don't need
you, Jim from the Northeast,because I'm just making that name up because

(36:14):
we have I don't know a thousandArgentinians. You're going to sign up to
the MLS season past, because youknow, for every one of you,
there's a thousand of them wanting towatch Messi and it's the only way they
can watch Messi. So I mean, look, it's God, is what
it is. I've learned that along time ago with MLS and and I'll

(36:35):
give you the example of this isthat breakfast this morning with my wife's family
and my mother are all like blissfullyignorant with the soccer, and she was
like, is is Lewis Messi comingin? Or what's his name? Lionel
Messi or whatever, and it wasit was just it was just very like
funny and just like not obviously doesnever think about soccer, and that's okay.

(37:00):
But then she was like, well, how did it happen? And
I kind of just like shrugged myhead and I'm like, it's it's a
lot like like try to try toexplain MLS roster rules to a person who
has no knowledge of the league,and you get them confused and like,
I don't know, fifteen seconds,like that should be a new game at

(37:22):
the bar. How long can youexplain the MLS roster rules to somebody until
they look a look at you?Like you're insane, not even not even
no, because it'll happen in likea minute. Yeah, all right,
so let's let's move on from themessy thing. I think we've done enough
of that Joe Soccer podcast. Idon't know if I know that Joe.

(37:44):
I was just gonna say it coversthe Union Soccer podcast. Yeah we should
probably, yeah, we should probablytalk about the Union. I don't know.
Alright, So Joe, the Unionhave been awesome over their last freaking
good match, is really good.What's what's been the difference? I guess
let's just go there. I knowwe talked about this a bit, but

(38:05):
what what has you think been thedifference for the Union. Because at Montreal
game, again we were hoping formore offensive consistency, better offensive play,
and they come back have this threenothing game against Montreal. Montreal look terrible,
So I will say that, butyou know, offense look good.
What has been the difference you think? And I think to me, just
to start, I think it's atthe top. I think Coronta, Ua

(38:28):
and God's dowc together. It's notjust one of them playing well. I
think all three are playing extremely welland playing extremely well off of each other
right, And it speaks the pointthat Jim Curtin has made year after year,
whereas if the collective is playing welltogether, they're unbeatable. But if
one or two guys has an offnight, the collective just breaks apart and

(38:51):
it doesn't look cohesive. That's that'swhat we've seen. And if you apply
that statement to the twenty twenty threeMLS regular scene season, it makes perfect
sense. I mean it does.It does start with those three and it's
not just the scoring goals or settingup chances. It's the it's a defensive
work. It's being able to createthese transition moments and do everything that looked

(39:22):
so easy to them in twenty twentytwo. That's where it comes from.
I think it even it goes backto the midfield. I mean the way
we had our Leon Flock appreciation ourlast last week, But it really does
start with him and Josie Mortinez andAces Bueno and the ball winning and just

(39:43):
not letting the opponent get onto theball and do anything with it. Now,
I will say this the Montreal game, Montreal was very clearly focused on
the Canadian Championship. On Wednesday,they threw out a lineup that even Jim
Curtain didn't think they would throw out. It was very kind of pieced together.
So they were what they were supposedto do. They won three nothing,

(40:05):
probably could have scored five or sixmore. Juln Coronza mis desider that
would have given him a hat trick. So I think what we're taking away
from the Montreal game is they've playedwell enough to beat a team that clearly
had no interest in even playing fora drawl. But they could have been

(40:27):
so much more lethal. And Ithink that's the the part that I think
we're maybe forgetting at this point isthey're playing really well, but they're maybe
playing eighty percent of what they werelast year eighty five. Like the bar,
it's progressively getting there to twenty twentytwo, but it's it's not there

(40:47):
yet, and no one in thatlocker room would would say it is.
But it's gotten from say, abouttwenty percent of what they were back in
March and in April, I meancompared contrast to two much for all games.
I mean the Montreal game up upthere was just a complete debacle that
we had the red card to Carranzaand then everything just fell apart in in

(41:13):
goal. I mean, it wasatrocious. It was far from the Philadelphia
Union. And now you get afew months later, you get this,
So I think it's it's progression,but it's also getting back to where they
were. And they never they nevercame into the season thinking they were going
to drop a level, like theyknew what they were going to be.

(41:34):
It's just taking them time to getto that point. And now they are.
And now this is going to bereally interesting few games in front of
us, And I'm fascinated to seehow it all plays out because you had
moving parts in May with McGlynn,Sullivan and Brandon Craig going off to the

(41:57):
U twenty World Cup, and nowAlejandro Badoya has hurt and Jose Martinez was
hurt, and they manage those stretchesvery well. Jim Curtain displayed his tactical
flexibility. Yeah, not just verywell. They may have found like a
formation that like truly works outside ofwhat they normally do. Right, But
now here and here is the challengesof the thirty four game MLS season.

(42:22):
Andre Blake and Damian Low were aboutto go off to the to the Gold
Cup with Jamaica. They played twofriendlies in Austria. Well, you're not
going to survive with that, Okay, whoa, I'm just kidding. You're
blake, you know, right,but kidding. Olivier Baizo is not playing

(42:42):
on Saturday. He's playing it ina friendly for for camera roon, or
least hopes to play. That's whythey're releasing him. You're gonna see international
absences here and there, but thebig ones are low and blake. Going
for the Gold Cup, I don'tthink any I don't believe any union players.
You've made the preliminary a roster forthe Gold Cup, which is is
tough to It's tough to justify includingyou twenty players if they just played at

(43:07):
the U twenty World Cup and tellingtheir clubs, hey, we need them
for another three weeks at the GoldCup. And I don't even know if
they're at if McGlynn would be atthat level yet. So now now it's
very it's a very interesting dynamic.And I believe Jose Jose Martinez is suspended

(43:28):
for the it's this fifth yellow cardagainst Montreal late Jim Curtin wasn't happy with
that, but the ref not knowingthe situation all that, but that's besides
the point it's Jim Curtin rent notmine. So it now you're integrating Jack
McGlenn, Quinn Sullivan and Brandon Craigback into the lineup. And I include

(43:52):
Brandon Craig because if you're gonna playthree at the back over the next six
weeks, he has to be includedin some pasty. You can play Kay
Wagner there, you can play MattReal there, you can play It's in
Harry O there. But if ifBrandon Craig, who is really good at
the U twenty World up, heis now ready for minutes, you put

(44:13):
him in there with in this backthree and you see how it functions.
You also now have to figure outhow Jack McGlynn functions in this one two
the Diamond three, like whatever yourformation is. So as much as they've
been on in Cruise Control, nowa different alteration of the Union is about
to enter our our universe for thenext month or so. And there's some

(44:37):
some just tough road trips. Imean, going to San Jose is tough.
Then you have the eleven days off, but then you have to go
to Orlando, play in some humidity, and then come back home on short
rest and play Miami. There's roadgames in La Atlanta, Nashville. There
aren't many home games before League's Cup, which then you get to play at

(45:01):
home and you get everybody back.So I'm very fascinated now to see how
Jim Curtin manages this whole thing,and I think it starts with the Orlando
game in a week and a half. I don't think you're going to see
much variation with the San Jose gamebecause Loland Blake are still going to be
in there. And I think youalso have to consider it the U twenty

(45:22):
guys. I think they got backTuesday or Wednesday, long flight from Argentina.
They stopped in Miami soon. It'sa long day of travel and then
they have to put more travel ontheir legs to one of the longest flights
the season out to San Jose.And even though the Union traveled the extra
or a day early out there,it's still tough to put ninety minutes on

(45:45):
your legs in an MLST match.So to me, I'm not saying the
San Jose game is a wash becausepoints matter, and who knows, you
know, Jim Curtin has already madethe statement about three or four times now
one goal, one point, onegoal conceded could be the difference in winning

(46:06):
the Supporter Shield because of what happenedlast year with the LFC. Absolutely,
But I mean they're at the pointwith the run that they just went on,
like hey get a point here,Like, yeah, get a point.
Come out of that, you know, somewhat unscathed, and I think,
really try for at least an OrlandoCity in the next game. You
got some time off and stuff likethat. But I think San Jose,
look, you put yourself in agood of enough position recently with what you've

(46:28):
done. Look it's not saying tryjust for a point, but hey,
if you come away with the point, I think it's a perfect result for
that, right. And I thinkit also everything I just said in last
five minutes, everything is gets alittle easier because you have those eleven days
off. Now, sure, they'regonna have a few days off just to
regroup. And it's been a reallylong stretch between now and the start of

(46:50):
the season and now, but they'regonna have a few days off and then
I'm sure Jim Kurtin is already thinkinglike how how best to integrate Jack McLynn,
How best to integrate Quinn Sullivan andwhat does Brandon and Craig bring as
a center back at the MLS level. It's one thing to dominate you twenties,
but you gotta step up against olderplayers and make an impact that way.

(47:15):
And I hope we do see BrandonCraig get get some minutes in the
second half of this season because ofthat. Now, the other thing is
the goalkeeper situation. Is it JoeBendick is holding Trent Jim Curtin. Jim

(47:35):
Curtin has not named who's gonna beBlake's replacement yet, which I think he's
done in previous years when he's beenaway with Jamaica, which worries me,
like what is and of the decisionis usually down to Phil Wedding, the
goalkeeping coach, who will talk withJim Curtin. Phil's going off to the

(48:01):
the Nation's league with you as men'snational team to help out b J Callahan.
So I assume the decisions already beenmade, but maybe a few days
earlier than they wanted to. We'llprobably find out, I hope. Usually
usually Jim Kurtin reveals who wins thebackup goalkeeper battle, right assume it's Joe

(48:24):
Bendick, but he might throw usa curve ball of holding Trent. Who
knows, But that's kind of that'sthat's where that's that's the biggest thing.
And we saw it was a dropoff when Dave us hurt earlier in the
season. But we'll get to thatpoint next week when it's a massive talking
for it. But I'm I'm fascinatedto see how these guys operate. Is

(48:46):
it a flat three man midfield maybewith McGlenn, Flock and Martinez. Does
it differ home in a way?Do you go back to a four man
back line now and you load upthe midfield. I think that's that's the
possibility. We see where he playsGlasnos and Elliott most of the games at
center back, maybe every once ina while through his Brandy Craig out there,

(49:10):
and it's like, well, wehave literally a crap ton of midfielders.
Let's just let them do what theydo best. And if the Doya
comes back in that cycle of games, he's doing work on the side or
Wednesday when I was down there,so that's a positive sign that he's not
inside anymore, he's doing work outside. I mean it's kind of like a

(49:34):
submit your best midfield formation. Right, There's gonna be a lot of hard
decisions coming up for Jim Curtin.And he said this on on Saturday,
not just for the eleven the matchday squad. I mean, the depth
is pretty unreal now that we've seenit up close. And I certainly don't

(49:55):
mpty Jim Kurtin on what what formationsand what smell he's gonna use, uh,
not just for the next month,but for the rest of the season,
because it's gonna get really competitive forplaying time. So I think coming
up for the Union here as Ithink you just mentioned a bit of a

(50:15):
tough stretch with some road games.You only have one home game in like
your next five games. What whatneeds to happen here in in this stretch
because you mentioned I mean it's it'sgonna be a really tough stretch for them.
And look they actually have I thinkfive road games in their next five.
Yeah, it's five. The nexttime, it's it's a lot.

(50:35):
The good thing is you have fourstraight home games after that. One is
just or two of our league's cups, so that doesn't but you have two
straight home games in league play.But what what should be the expectation here?
Because that's that's rough, and youalso have Orlando City in there,
Atlanta, Nashville, you know,Eastern Conference opponents. Look at LA Galaxy
and San Jose. I don't thinkyou know too much other than just West

(50:58):
Coast and travel. But what whatshould be the expectation here? Because they
just had a really good stretch ofgames, and I'm sure they're gonna want
to continue that, but nn thisis a gauntlet. They're gonna be on
it just because look, you're onthe road so much. I mean,
it had an effect on them beforethey just had, you know, all
of these home games. They talkedabout being on the road and being on
the road for Open's Cup and beingon the road for Champions League and all

(51:20):
that. So what should be whatdo we expect here? In this Mike
gut reaction before even like just youknow, breaking down the opponents. Yeah,
is ten points? All right?That would be what ten out of
eighteen? Yeah? Yeah, Ithink that's a fair I mean, look,

(51:46):
you're gonna so you can beat theGalaxy, the Galaxy or just in
complete shambles, you could win thatgame. You can you can beat Miami
at home, and you can let'sassume they beat Let's let's lump the NYC
game in here and make it sevenbecause that's kind of the stretch run into
until Leagues Cup. This is thestretching in front of us. It's a

(52:07):
month in five days. I'm gonnaI'm gonna say fifteen points from the next
twenty one puts you in remarkable shape. Anything less than ten would be a
massive disappointment with the way they're playing. But if you can get more than

(52:28):
half and maybe seventy five percent ofthat as well, I think it sets
you up for a really good stretchrun and whatever happens, League Cup,
Leaks Cup happens then, but youcan you can beat the Galaxy and win
your two home games. So there'snine points. Let's say Nashville's a draw,

(52:49):
so that's what ten. So thatputs you at Orlando, Atlanta,
and San Jose, as to usethe political term, your your swing games,
like your swing votes. I thinkthey can beat Orlando, but do
the elements play a role in that. I think they can beat Atlanta because

(53:10):
they've they've gone down there. Thatused to be the big bugaboo for the
Union. Going into Atlanta. Nolonger Atlanta's gonna be a tough team to
play. Jakumakis is playing fantastic ThiagoAmata, who knows if he's going to
be there right then, But thenthey can go strength for strengthen them and

(53:30):
attack. The San Jose game,I think is a toss up. I
think if you get a draw outof it, it's a good result.
If you get a win, Imean that that's kind of then that kind
of pushes your expectations, right becauseJim Curtain is the line that we all
clung to after the Toronto FC game, was he set a ten point mark

(53:53):
for the team in that stretch ofhowever many games it was. It's been
so many, I can't remember howmany games there were. I think that's
kind of how you have to approachit to. You set a target point
total, and if you get therebefore the end of the stretch, you
keep pushing. So I think I'llsay between twelve and fifteen points from these

(54:16):
next seven games before League's Cup.It's a tough stretch, but if you're
if you're going to be a toptwo team in the Eastern Conference, maybe
top one, you kind of haveto prove it on the road, like
they've built up this this stock pileof home wins, but now if you
got tied for a second in roadwins in the league go on within some

(54:39):
of these games, you know,I think that's kind of the proving stick
because the rest of the season afterLeague's Cup, it's not hard. It
very much is not. It's alot of home games, the travel isn't
really taxing like they can any isthey going to run post League Cup,

(55:01):
But this is another tough stretch ofthe schedule with a lot of travel and
teams that are going to test you. Nashville is gonna test you, Atlanta
is going to test you, orLando is going to test you, and
NYC is like these are some bigkind of litmus tests for those teams in
the Eastern Conference too, And lookSan Jose has drastically improved from two years

(55:28):
ago. That's going to be atest and can be a really hard game.
So yeah, I think that's ifyou were to ask for my gut
reaction, twelve to fifteen points thenext seven and then whatever League's Cup is
and turns into you, you're runwith it then. But right now it's

(55:50):
everything looks good. You have toset the bar high, you should and
the Union, if set the bar, hive themselves and that's the kind of
team that they are. So allright, Joe, I think with the
Union, you know, attack hasbeen what we talked about a lot,
and I just said, you know, I think the three of them playing
very well has has this recent stretchgiving you more confidence. You know.

(56:13):
Just the last time we talked itwas you know, they were in good
form. They're not their best yet. Are are we getting the best out
of the Union right now? Doyou still think there's still a little bit
more untapped here that the Union canget into. We are? I mean,
like I said earlier, they're likeeighty five percent what they were.
The quote that keeps coming back tome from I guess over the last three

(56:37):
games is the famous Dennis Green quote, ri ip, they are who we
thought they were. Like, That'swhat I just keep thinking of the Union,
Like, this team is showing exactlywhat they yep, what we all
thought they would be. It's justit took a little time because there's a

(56:57):
lot going on to start of theseason, and I think the word of
the season right now to me ispatience because it's it's it's actually showing to
be a real thing. So Imean, that's it's kind of where I
stand with them, Like I don'tthink this guy was falling early. I
mean to make the comparison, Iwas just tweeting with a few of our
guys at the Gambler last night aboutthe Phillies. It's like, I mean,

(57:21):
and this is what we do asa faults as Philadelphia sports fans,
But I mean, but the Phillies, you guys are treating it like a
one sixty two is seventeen. Likeyou're you're you're living and dying with every
pitch Aaron Nola throws. I knowI was seeing it. I was seeing
it in one of the games too. It was the last game when they
swept Detroit and they were down toone and just gave up a run and

(57:43):
it's like, you know what,there's just the Phillies aren't good. And
then they came back and won thegame. We're like, okay, you
know they're pride and they're good.Like yeah, I just felt like I
think it was Luke said, likewe're going halfending by happening now, right.
I think it was Luke our ourPhillies guys said that the Phillies are
rolling. I'm like, you barelybeat the Detroit Tigers in three street games.
Phillies are rolling, at least rollingmore than the Mets are and that's

(58:05):
look like complete poop. Well,I mean that's the Braves are awesome,
but that's yes, but three plusrun leads. But now, yeah,
it's I know, you mean,it's just our our expectations are high for
teams, and when they're high,any little misstep becomes okay. Well now
they're going in the wrong direction,and every it feels like every misstep they're
like, oh, we're they're takingfive six step back. Well maybe it's
just hey, they're taking a smallstep back. There's room ahead to take

(58:30):
three four giant steps forward, likeit's gonna be okay. And I think
with the Union, yeah, Imean, especially because it was, you
know, all these things were happeningin you know, April and May,
and we kind of know from previousyears, and not to say it doesn't
matter, not to say it doesn'tmatter, but I think June is when
you really start to matter, andlike ending day, coming into the summer

(58:52):
months, it really all the movinghappens in those months. You can't win
the championship in April and May.You can very much lose it. But
the Union did not lose it obviously, No, And like it's like the
I still and to use the Philliescomparison, it's like, Okay, they're
playing the Dodgers this weekend, andif they lose two out of three or
get swept, the sky is gonnabe falling again, Like oh no,

(59:15):
dug, you just played the Dodgersand the Tigers, like of course,
like those things are going to balanceout, and then like who knows what
will happen in July or August orSeptember. Like there's there's still so much
runway for them, And the samething is with the Union. I think
that's what you kind of have toto preach it, or what we did

(59:36):
preach is there's there's so much runwayleft for them. Like if we sat
here today and said, while theUnion are still struggling, they're only winning
it at home, and they're onlywinning one nothing, and they're in like
fifth or sixth place, and Cincinnatiis so far ahead of them, fifteen
sixteen points ahead. You know that'sand I think you could hit the panic

(01:00:00):
button, but they've proven that.Yeah, they're still a really good team.
And I think that everybody in thatlocker room knows that. Jim Curtin
knows that, and it just tooksome time for the show. Now they
still have some ground to make upon Cincinnati. Sure, and look,
the supporter shield is one hundred percentwithin reach right now. Take my messy

(01:00:25):
hypothetical out of it from the earlierin the podcast, but a trophy is
there, and a trophy is atrophy. LAFC still has a ton of
games in hand from their Champions Leaguerun, so that's gonna be that's gonna
even itself out up until probably Augustor September with games in hand. If

(01:00:45):
you chip, just keep one ofyour games. I asked the guys in
the locker room the last few timesfor home games, like are you guys
paying any attention to the standings yet? And Jim, Jim gave them more
honest answer like, Jim, curtainwas very open, and so yeah,
we are. You have to takea look at who's who's in front of

(01:01:07):
you, what's going on around you. Some of the players not so much.
They are more focused on the nextgame. Just win the next game
and we'll move up from there.So I think that that comes down to
individual mentalities. But it really isfascinating now that we're we're sitting in this
in this position talking about the Unionand they're clearly a top three team in

(01:01:30):
the East. They get a chanceto prove at full strength or as close
to full strength as you can canbe against Nashville in a few weeks.
Unfortunately, you know, the roadgame in Cincinnati kind of is what it
is, middle of champion middle ofChampions League, and you threw the kids
out there, so that's not goingto be a point of reference. But

(01:01:52):
I mean, just gotta keep doingwhat you're doing. And remember, hey,
if you finish second to Cincinnati,right it just means you you won
half the trophy because Cincinnati is justdoing what the Unions. Yeah, yeah,
you have you Union Union Midwest andNashville at the top of the Eastern
Conference right now. All right,let's just real quick break down the next

(01:02:15):
game that's in front of us SanJose. What do you expect out of
the San Jose game matchup, thingslike that, and also any predictions you
would like to get. I expectsomething stupid to happen. Oh yeah,
West Coast Soccer. I am yeah, Joe. You know, once the
clock strikes at midnight, it's justgonna get wild. The the target demographic

(01:02:38):
of our Union fans here, Iassume some of you were are old and
tried and true MLS fans, someof you are not. Some of you
have jumped on the bandwagon, notbandwagon, but have have become oh wow,
our fan ba Joe bandwagons. You'vejumped into soccer more and more recently

(01:03:00):
or MLS as a whole. TheSan Jose earthquakes will always have a spot
in my heart. And those ofyou have following on Twitter for years know
that Chris Wonderlawski, Stephen Lenhart,Alan Gordon, affectionately known as the Goonies,
were one of the best trios inMLS history and all they did was

(01:03:20):
score goals and like the eighty fifthminute beyond, it was just like literally
like clockwork. So it's just I'veor a decade moved on from that now.
I still think games in San Joseare weird, just like weird things
happen, and that's it. That'sthe only thing that happens in San Jose,
but they've they've improved greatly under Glucci. Gonzalez. I can still make

(01:03:45):
the case that Jeremy A. Bobaseis one of the top young American,
top just American strikers in MLS,and the results show. Christian Espinosa has
been one of the most underrated playmakersin Major League Soccer of the last five
years. The reason why he wasn'tgetting much attention is because San Jose sucked
and they play on the West Coast. Play and simple, He's put up

(01:04:08):
fantastic numbers. A new head coach, no Jamiro Montero for San Jose.
I'm not gonna lie kind of forgotabout him, Jesus, I'm not gonna
lie. Montero do what he everdo to you. Nothing, It's just
he plays with the San Jose earthquakes. How many you don't watch many San

(01:04:29):
Jose earthquake games. I cannot sayI've religiously watched the San Jose earthquakes this
year, and I don't think anybodyelse can can say differently. He is
an international duty with Kate Verd.Kate cal will see how if he plays
any minutes off the U twenty WorldCup, just like the Union's you twenties.
I would think it'd be an easierrecovery process for him. He's one

(01:04:54):
of the best young American players outthere. May not be in San Jose
much longer, kind of like howJack mc glenn might not be in Philadelphia
for longer. Yeah, they're they'veimproved a lot. They'll give the Union
a challenge. I'm pretty sure I'vejust recited everything Jim Curtin has told his
team. I am I'm given likecurtain like tendencies and in the pre prematch

(01:05:16):
preview now, but yeah, that'sthat's what you get. I think I
think he'll start McGlenn. I thinkthen the midfield is gonna be so fascinating
to watch now, like from thispoint on until time Damian Low gets back
from cold. Now, Low isnot leaving after this game. I don't

(01:05:40):
know if it's they've released them forthe friendlies, but I would assume I'm
just operating on the assumption Blake andLow aer gone after this game for at
least a month, So you're notgonna see any drastic formation changes here,
but which personnel is starting those spotsfrom a Union perspective will be interesting to
see, and then it comes downto the midfield battle internally for the Union

(01:06:05):
is going to just be so fascinatingto watch. It's good thing. It's
a very good thing. Yeah thatthat, to me is going to be
so fascinating to watch the next month. All right, Joe, I think
we'll wrap it up there. Wecovered just about it all with MLS and
it's a it's gonna be a funride. So I'm not sure what you
were expecting this summer. I don'tknow if you're expecting the summer of messy,

(01:06:27):
even though it's probably not going tobe mostly a summer of messy.
It's gonna be like end of summerwith messy, right, an early gonna
be an early fall of messy.Yeah, early falling. This is Yeah,
this isn't gonna be the summer ofSoccer's just gonna be the the early
and the early fall of MESSI soundslike he's just gonna fail spectacularly. So,

(01:06:48):
uh, well, we went overall things messy and yeah, it's
gonna be quite the fun summer herewith the Union and what a tough stretch
coming up, so it's it's gonnabe a lot of fun to watch and
obviously break down as well. Whatyou can do here on the Union Soccer
Podcast. Find us wherever you getyour podcasts, whether that's gool Will,
Apple, Spotify, wherever you getyour podcast that's where you can find and

(01:07:08):
download the Union Soccer Podcast. Makesure you do that. Wherever you can
rate us five stars, please doso. We would appreciate that for being
your resident Union Soccer podcast here.Also subscribe to the Union Soccer blog dot
substack dot com. Joe has awesomestuff over there. I've been seeing articles
posted and I try and retweet everysingle one that I see, really great
stuff. Joe does a great jobobviously, and also does a great job

(01:07:30):
hosting co hosting this program as well. You can follow him at j Tanzy
ninety. You can follow me JohnJansen at j Jansen thirty four. We'll
be back next time with more Unionsoccer right here on the Union Soccer Podcast