April 11, 2025 • 39 mins
After a frustrating scoreless draw at home, the Union have made a shocking decision—parting ways with their all-time leading goal scorer, Daniel Gazdag. Needless to say, emotions are high, opinions are flying, and there’s a LOT to unpack. We’re diving deep into the move, the message it sends, and what this means for the future of the squad on this week’s pod.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ex president of the Sons of Ben Matt Gantastic ax
had Capo, Adam Booth, ex player and forever a Union legend,
Sebastian Latou. These may be exes, but they're the experts
when it comes to the Philadelphia Union. This is exes
in the U.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
We're listening to exes in the U and we've got
a lot to talk about in the Union verse. As always,
I'm joining with one mister Adam Booth and of course
Union legend Sebastian Latoo. Gentlemen, let's talk about this past week. Huh.
How are we all doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Excited to discuss what was only catastrophic to probably a
lot of people.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
So I'm doing good too, you know for me Htoric
or d you know, on the April tenth since we recalled.
But you know, fifteen years ago. Time fly, so we.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We did see that fifteen years ago. I know.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
Phil's game.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And shout out to Bill Strobel for the artwork.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Oh beautiful, love it Bill.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Bill lives in my neighborhood, So good job, Bill.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
Yeah, it's gonna be a nice piece of the house.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, definitely. So all right, let's let's get into the
Orlando game. And then we can get into the big
news that everybody's buzzing about. You know. So Orlando, it
was fireworks night, Adam. I did not stay for the fireworks.
I was like, it's damp, it's cold. I went to
Union Yards and listened to the fireworks. But uh, that
(01:34):
was probably the most excitement of that game because that
was a nil nil drawl between Orlando and and the Union.
Who wants to go first on their their commentary of
Union Orlando.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I mean, look, it was Here's what I would say
if you flipped it right, like, if you said that
the result of this game was the first game of
the season and then this four to two result was
the home game and the inverse, if you will, you
(02:07):
would be okay with that. You would probably be like,
that makes more sense to you in your mind. I
think the Union to get four points out of this
back to back or to this kind of back to
back like early season kind of series with Orlando, I
think is a net positive. But that game in particular,
it wasn't great. The Union out shot them I think
(02:31):
by threefold. You know. I think it's just one of
these things where I don't think the Union lack offense
is it finishing. Occasionally that might be the thing, but
it's not necessarily that they can't generate opportunities for themselves.
So look, Orlando needed this game. They've been on a
little bit of a skid to start the year. They
(02:53):
just saw the Unions. They probably said, well, hey, what
if we just stopped that ty Barribo guy and see
what happens after that, and they went from there. It was.
It was a nasty game and a nasty condition, but
ultimately you'd rather have the point than not, so I'll
take it. But it was still kind I'll say disappointment.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, you called the radio, so what did you see that?
Speaker 4 (03:20):
It was not a lot of excitement, that's for sure.
We saw a lot of shot, but not real target. Now,
I think, you know, if we just say think about
the positive, I think it was a positive result for
the defense not having to pin shit again. I think Andre,
you know, make too big safe, you know, kind of
like the the Andre we like to see. You know,
the defense was good, not knowing that Aeriel got his
(03:41):
third start and another position for him as their left back.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
I think defenseivies they did good.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I think they were you know, playing against all undo
team who really came to just go counter attack and
you know when you play them, let's say twice in
you know, seven games, you know, in the in the league,
is kind of you kind of knew that they were
aware of how good the unit can be as well,
so a bit more respect you know from them, and
that the defensive is were really like tight, not not
(04:07):
much space between the line. But yeah, like for me,
what was the same missing? It was a bit of creativity,
you know, offensively the movement. I talked to them on
the show, Like one of the starts was he was
no off side you know for the thing, which means
he was not really any deeperent you know, into the
space or even trying to find the space. We always
trying to play short you know with Damiani or Baribo,
(04:28):
but they didn't receive a lot of the ball as well,
you know, so he was a bit.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Missing for me.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
And and the big thing too it was you know,
we had a lot of free kicks and you know
we are missing Cavagner, I think, which is even if
defensively is his first job, but you know, with his
service with left foot can really find good balls. The
let's say good start with having the year over, there
came a lot with Wagner and Westfield on the right
and left to kind of really push forward. But you know,
(04:54):
nothing against Nathan, but he's not left fullid, so it's
it's hard for him to be able to you know,
give those boards behind the defense and and support. I
think he was more asked to stay, you know, defensively
because of the good player on the right side for
Orlando a.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Lot of goals.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
But it's uh, yeah, maybe there'sappointing because you wanted to
have another good reaction like it against after Nagelia game to.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Get a win. But we're in you know the point.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
And uh you know Bill Fanda, But try to think
about the positive and and see, you know, how can
we now maybe get a win this weekend in New York?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah, my might the good away from me. Blake gets
a clean sheet against arguably one of the best offenses
so far in MLS. So you're like, okay, defense was
did their job. We weren't sure it was gonna go one,
but you know, you always want three points at home.
But was there a little foreshadowing Adam When Indiana comes
(05:56):
in to sub for mister Gasdag and then another man
that would be backing up when that Cavin gets in
to replace his brother. Do we think Bradley knew something
was going on and he's just trying to see what
he has before something that we're going to talk about
in a minute went on.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I mean, obviously, I think Seba can speak more poignantly
to moments like this than I can. But I would
imagine that he wasn't not aware that something might be
down the pipeline for a player that big. Maybe Earth's
kept him in the dark, but deals like this don't
get made overnight, you know. I'm not assuming the Columbus
(06:36):
general manager just called a couple of hours ago, you know,
maybe forty eight hours ago and said, hey, what about
that gaz Dad character? What's the up for?
Speaker 1 (06:43):
You know?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
So that could have been foreshadowing. I mean, let's be honest,
and we're gonna get into it a little bit later.
But I thought some of the moves we made this
offseason were kind of interesting in a world where gazz
Dad was still there in existing. So that's another conversation
for literally later in this podcast. But yeah, look, Indiana
(07:06):
came in a little bit of a spark, a little
bit of creativity, not necessarily anything that blew the doors
off of anyone, but he existed, and Cavin getting now
more and more minutes. The most amount of minutes he's
had so far this season have been on Apple commercials.
But now he's actually getting onto the pitch and getting
(07:26):
some time in there. So I'm happy for him, you know,
And I really appreciate the Union taking their time with him, honestly,
because I was. I was front row and center for
Freddy A do you know I was. I was there
when you have the wonder kid and they say you
have to play him because we we as a league
(07:48):
like he was Messi and Beckham before anywhere before the
rest of them. He was there to save major league soccer.
Was what Freddie you do, was mad to do and
turned out to be a decent soccer player. But no
one will ever tell you that because of what his
expectations were. But moral of the story is, I'm happy
that the Union are actually, like you know, taking their
time with Cavin and bringing him along. But he does.
(08:09):
It would be nice to see some more minutes for him,
and just to get his feet wet in some of
these games, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, And we're talking about it, and it's time, you know,
good transition. The breaking news is gaz Dag is Gas gone.
He has been traded. Well it's nothing's official yet, but
he's already in Columbus, Ohio training with the team, so
I guess it's pretty official. So, yeah, Daniel has left
the Union. Columbus came in went offer and so I
(08:40):
don't know what you guys have heard, but what I've
heard is he's on this last guaranteed year. He wanted
a major race. Ernst was like, you're twenty nine going
on thirty. I don't know about that. And I think
they are always worried about the floodgates opening of like
if we double a guy's salary, then Kay's gonna walk
in the door and want double the salary, and Barribo's
(09:01):
gonna want double the salary. So they were able to
get a good number from what I hear, between this
and this many million is what they are getting from.
So it's basically Paxton Aarons and money for Gaysdag from Columbus.
So I guess they're taking some of that Cleveland Brown's
money and sending it over. So the Union lose their
(09:24):
leading score so Sebastian, does that make you the leading score?
Now you're back on top.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
Now it's did him, you know. Besides, if I come
back every day a member is not going to happen.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
But no, I mean, yeah, it's seen Danielle, you know
for sure, But yeah, it's it was kind of a
I don't know, I'm not surprising move, but you know,
knowing you know, kind of what I know it'll be.
But the information did that, I'm sure, like doing the offices.
Then he was probably a lot of talking. We heard
about it. Then giving gaz Dag not playing for the
(09:56):
team anymore, you know, before this didn't start. So but
I think the offer was not, let's say, as good
you know for him to like leave to go to Europe.
And then I think when you have a team like
Columbus who come and make that type of offer knowing
exactly you say.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
I think he was negotiating to, you know, get a.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
New contract, which I think he deserved, but his demands
was maybe not on the same page.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
And what the union are you able to pay and
want to.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Pay a player because of the philosophy and what they
want to do as a club. So I think probably
took with of course ownership group, like talk more deeper
about it and and having you know, that type of
money or the transfer in an that's pretty good.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
So it's definitely, yeah, a big player going.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
To miss, you know, the leading score of the team,
you know, being a lot offensively since he came. But
in the same time, I think he opened more doors
to now the young guys to show and you know,
have another person who could you know, take his place
and and try to.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Have the same type of impact. It might take time.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
We probably would see another player coming in. Maybe not now,
but maybe during the summer, if you know, Earn's find
a replacement and somebody that they like. But yeah, it's
it's definitely a shock news for a lot of fun.
You're going to see here a lot of critics and
you know, I've been a part of it being traded.
It's sometimes it happens, and you know it's a lot
(11:26):
of because of business and stuff happening. But yeah, like
fans are going to critics. But I think time will
tell if he was the right move and you know,
if we are going to be able to see now
more Kevin Sullivan, I think as dag was one of
the players who will take a lot of time from
Kevin Sullivan playing now adding not daniel you know, in
a in a team, give you know, now more hope
(11:49):
for maybe Kevin to get more time. But of course
it's to him to show again at practice, and because
there's still a lot of guy who wants to take
that spot in the in the young guys. So we
talk about India and now of course who just came
on the game. I think it's probably the replacement right
now in the same position. And then yeah, time will
tell you know who's going to take the most out
of it. And glad it's best to you know, score
(12:12):
the goals or you know, be creative to give opportunity
to the variable who was the dam you need to
to get the goals to the team. So yeah, I think,
you know, with the system we're playing to, I think
Danielle was not really at the same position.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
As well, playing more on the right.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
You know, you saw him a lot coming inside, but
it's maybe a different position for him. So you know,
he's going to a very good team Columbus who might
pay him what he was he wanted to ask, so
I'm sure he could be happy for him let's say
in a contract way. But I'm sure you know, with
the older story and the history has now with the union,
(12:48):
he probably you know, he's disappointed not to not be
having the quarry wanted.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
But yeah, it's it's a difficult time. You know. We
didn't hear much from him, like he says of his Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
But uh yeah, it's a it's a little like page
jump from from the team to kind of move on,
and I'll try to find who's going to be the
next provider, of course for the team.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Yeah, and I mean, everybody can feel sad about losing Daniel,
but you know what you should feel sad because Daniel's
now got to live in Columbus, Ohio. It's not Philadelphia.
So even doubling your salary, would would you move to Columbus, Ohio, Adam?
If I doubled your salary?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
No, yes, no, I would not for my salary. If
you've doubled my salary and just said I had to
live in Columbus, I would do that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Oh, I'll give you you.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Know how long a dollar goes in central Ohio these days?
Come on, now, not anymore?
Speaker 2 (13:45):
What's what's your thought on that? Daniel guests like Leading
goal score of the Philadelphia Union.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
I mean, I think I think that this move. We
can't have a proper discussion about this move until July.
I mean, that's just the honesty industry with about this,
you know. But because we are podcasters and were paid
to do this, I will say, Yeah, this sucks as
(14:12):
a fan, mainly just because I think there's weird expectations
going into the season with this team. I think a
lot of people didn't have any expectations for this team,
and now at this point, you're in a top three
position in the Eastern Conference and you have a possible
and from how the East has been shaking out, it
(14:34):
looks like you could be one of those dominant teams
in the conference. From what it's been played. You know,
your loss is only coming to two teams that I
would consider very good at this stage. And then to
trade away Daniel Gazdag in this moment, it just it.
I don't know what this h what it's supposed to
(14:55):
signal to anyone.
Speaker 5 (14:57):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I appreciate because his ability to just be like, I'm
going to make this move. No one's going to know
why I'm doing this.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
I think he.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Leads the league in why are you doing this? My
guy moves and they tend to occasionally work out, you know,
they tend to occasionally work out for both parties involved.
Shout out to Jose Martinez winning a trophy, you know.
But it's like one of these things where I think
we have to truly assess this. We have to wait
(15:28):
until July. We have to wait and see what happens
in the transfer market. If they bring somebody in, if
they elevate someone, you know what the next step is
from that. If Indiana is the guy, how much that
does that work? You know, because truth to be told,
he follows a long line of number ten's in Philadelphia
(15:48):
Union history where we had no idea who this guy
was when they came in and became a club legend instantly.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I E.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
You know Dosh Cal, I E. Tranky Lo Barnetta, I E.
Your Choco Mardana. You know all these guys where they
just kind of existed and then they came to the
roster and then became an legend. So I I still
hold out. You know, the next guy might be the
next game or the guy's bag, and we don't understand
that yet, you know, it just doesn't see it just
(16:18):
doesn't feel good in the moment.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
That whatever I do.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
You know with your dam it's the offers they had,
It's something you can't refuse. Knowing that, I think you
know they are not going to probably resign Danielle for
whatever you wanted to get. At the end of the day,
you have to make a choice about are we keeping
him and let him go free and I'm not as
(16:45):
much moneyfore, or do we take you know, the money now,
which is important now in those days with a digging
especially the houses union, you know, spend.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
Their money and get money.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
So yeah, when you cannot when you like that, I
think it's you know, it's hot choice, but you have.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
To make it.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And I also think they might have been a little
snake bitten because of Julian. They pretty much lost him
for peanuts because they couldn't get a deal done early.
So they're like, this offer comes along, we now have
to put pounce on this because if not, we could
lose them for nothing. So I think that was part
of it, and then some of it and probably not.
(17:25):
But we've got some needs now, I mean we haven't
even mentioned Ian is out with a meniscus, and we
don't know how long he's going to be out, so
we're down to two center backs besides calling somebody up
from Union too, So there's a glaring need maybe in
the midfield and probably in you know, the back line.
So you're gonna want to have some cash in the
(17:48):
coffers to make some moves. Seba, I don't know, have
you heard anything about Ian except that he had successful surgery.
That's all I've heard. I haven't heard how long this
meniscus is going to take.
Speaker 5 (17:58):
I mean no, I didn't. I didn't much about it.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
I just know that miniscus it's usually quicker, you more
than any other jury, even if he had surgery, but
usually you know, since he's a healthy player, is.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Young, he should come back, you know, quicker to it.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
But it would be definitely you know, maybe a month
or something like that minimum, you know, for him to
be had and come back. But I'm not going to
take any risk, you know, especially now having Makanya who
can play. You know, we saw and again you know
it's it's a part of a season.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
You know.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
If we get the Glavinam back in let's say in
June or July, you know fully healthy. Maybe it's because
one of the other guys that get tired and we
need him to get back. So yeah, it's going to
be I think not as long, but yeah, it's definitely
suck to not have him now in the team.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yeah, I mean with Miniscus, it's funny because you hear it.
You know, it could be four to six weeks, but
sometimes it can be six months depending on the grade
of the tear and that, but we don't know. So
hopefully he comes back early, but that that is going
to be a need for the union coming up. And
I think right now the MLS primary transfer window and
(19:07):
closes in April, and then what I think in June
reopens June.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
July, I believe, so that the MLS one, yes, but
the prime international one opens in July. So if we're
going to get someone who's not in our league basically
at this stage, it's probably gonna have to wait until July.
And so they come in and then the acclamation period YadA, YadA, YadA.
(19:35):
In terms of what that's going.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
To be, well, I'm going to float a solution out
there because August, the second Eintrach Frankfurt comes to Philadelphia,
and they're going to be bringing someone that they have
loaned out for two seasons in a row in one
paston Aronsen, who Daniel Gasdyk was blocking. Why don't we
bring Paxton back on loan for half the season, just
(19:59):
finish shut the MLS season and then he can go
back to eintrack. I don't know, give them a look
like I'm crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
No, I mean, I don't want to do it for
his sake, but it would like if if I'm the union,
sure why not. If they agrees to it, sure why not.
But it just that feels so nonsensical to me in
a lot of ways where I'm just like, all right, cool,
Like I just think you might have what you need
(20:30):
in the house already, or you might have what you
need in league already. You don't necessarily just if you're
going to find a temporary band aid until you make
that next big signing. You know, I would like to
see Quinn Sullivan play more time, you know, in a
centralized position or you know, as a as a ball director,
if you will, you know, a centralized piece. I would
(20:51):
like to see that more. I look, and also we
have to look at this, Daniel does Daniel was a
is a true ten. And in this formation that we're
working with with Bradley, you don't really his formation is
not similar to Gym's. This is not the diamond, you know.
So it's all about positioning, you know, you were saying
it yourself. Gazzdy was playing a lot more on the
(21:13):
right and bringing himself inward. But that man was a natural,
you know, Route one type player. And I'm just saying, like,
maybe you find someone who fits your system more in
this moment. Who knows, But it's hard to replace the
goal scoring. It's hard to replace someone who's so prolific
from the spot, you know, a veteran leader where there's
(21:34):
a lot of children in the locker room. So having
someone who's you know, been there for a minute is
always good. But mich we'll see, We'll see. The Union
just have a weird way of doing these deals and
them somehow working out.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
So yeah, we can't say it hasn't been an interesting
off and into the season between Jackman, Glenn Daniel Gazdeig
not being on the team. I didn't have that on
my bingo card in the beginning of the year, so
but then again, I didn't have them in the top three.
I had them in the top five, So the bingo
card has been wrong.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
I didn't have them staying in MLS either one, to
be honest with you, that was the kicker for both
was just like if they were ever going to leave,
I didn't think they were going to still be in
America when they did.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
True, I think MLS changing that rule to having cash
transactions has just changed the whole landscape of where players go.
But yeah, so you know, thank you Daniel Daniel for
your service. You'll be missed. I just hope we don't
miss you when we play against you in Columbus. Speaking
(22:38):
of traveling, Adam, there's a Nashville trip Philly Sports Trips.
You can be with Sebastian let two in Nashville July
fourth weekend.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
I think helt with Penniduis is a new book.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I don't know that man would rather sleep in Nashville.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Yeah, I feel like I'll actually get eight hours if
I go to a hotel room at this point, so
maybe I don't even have to go to the game.
I'll just take a nap and watch it on TV.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Just have your iPad.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yes, I'm on business. That's what that trip is for.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
There you go, so everybody check out really sports trips
dot com for the Nashville trip. It is going to
be a blast. I can tell you. We're working on
some cool things, some giveaways, some other stuff, so it's
gonna be good. And then I don't know, Adam, did
you get the email from the Union or the Club
World Cup about buying advanced ticket packages?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
I did not, but that sounds about right.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
It wasn't really from the Union, but it was Club
World Cup and it was like you have buy two
or three packages, and it was just so confusing that
I'm like, you know what, I'm going to wait till
I can get it on Ticketmaster and just overpay for
the one game I want to go to instead of
buying three. But Club World Cup is coming to Philadelphia,
and I don't know if you saw that, but the
trophy was in town at the Link this morning.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I did see that. I did see that. It's a
nice little it's a nice little F one trophy they
got there.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, and the and the head of FIFA came in
and said he's going they are going to donate one
million dollars to each host city to grow the game
of soccer. So at some point they're gonna build like
a couple of mini pitches or something, and they're gonna
award this one million dollar per city at the end
of the Club World Cup. Just anything to try to
get some kind of interest in the Club.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
World Cup and nineteen ninety six version of me, I'd
be really excited about one million dollars being invested into
a city for soccer.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
What are you, doctor evil?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Yes, because if you remember, by the third movie, he
had to do a million trillion ilion yen because the
man understood an exchange rate and inflation over time. I'm
just saying, FIFA, I mean, like you might whatever, I'm
I'm extra bitter with anything that involves the four letter wordself.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Well, hey, I'll take their million dollars, but yeah, you're right, inflation.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
They still give it to me please but still yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
So in the League news inner Miami beat LAFC and
leg two at home apparently it was a barn burner,
really exciting, and I was sleeping, so I didn't even
get to see it. So I don't know if you
guys watched the Mammil you watch so.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
The enemy of Mia enemy is my friend, and I
hate LAFC, so I will accept inter Miami doing anything
as long as the black and gold field pain. That
is my professional journalistic commentary on the subject. But no, look,
I it's really interesting too because I love how we
(25:39):
MLS one grandfathered in inter Miami into the Club World
Cup because like they did not deserve it based off
of merit, that of trophies and things that they accomplished
to get into it. But I do think they're gonna
be causing some people some headaches when they get in there.
I don't know how far they're gonna go, but I
(25:59):
think Into Miami is coming along because it's not just
you know, the big four of what used to be
like what sixty two percent of Barcelona's starting lineup. I
think it's actually the youth too. I think it's you know,
good defense that I'm shocked is coming out of nowhere.
(26:20):
It's young guys that are even replacing Messi and getting goals.
Like Into Miami looking a legitimate, put together roster just
beyond you know, the home run hitters. Toronto should take note.
That's how you actually construct a roster. It's a crazy thought.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Well, I watched a little bit about GM but like
a getaway with so many things.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Of course, it's.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
It's a bit ridiculous, but they definitely are good. But
it's gonna be offense to my final because Vancouver, you know,
beat as well, you know, I think it was Pumas
yesterday and get to some my finals.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
So it's been the longest trip of both of them
to Miami can be the longest ever.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
I was thinking that when I saw them, Like, is
that physically the furthest you can travel in MLS is
Miami to Vancouver.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
I think though you go to you know, maybe in Montreal.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
To Montreal, but no, those are those are some long.
I mean Philadelphia Vancouver is a long fort.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
That's like one guy, It's it's pretty much if you
will love Miami playing the Champions League in Europe and
play you know, PG, you know, type of type of trouble.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Now, I I kind of almost bet that they could
possibly get to South America quicker. Like that's literally at
that point, like.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
The is just a three hourl defense of five or six.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
So that's it's that's crazy too. I Mean, look, I
tell my uh my wife all the time about just
travel and MLS and she's like, yeah, our closest rival
is like two hours down the road. I'm like, the
closest physical team to us is two hours down the road.
And we're lucky to have that because we could be
Colorado and like just in the middle of nowhere, surrounded
(28:06):
by nothing for miles and our best friends are Salt
Lake City.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Here's the funny thing, though, they're playing Vancouver, who we
all know their stadium's turf it is, yes, MESSI gonna
play on that is half a Barcelona gonna play on that.
How important is this to them?
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Suarez will play on gravel. I know that for a fact.
The rest of them, I don't know. Jordia album Jordia
Alba will also play on gravel, but I think the
trophy is too important. Now you kind of suck it up.
If this was like a random game against New England, No,
you do not play MESSI. But I think you know
plus PC Palace it's a nice little venue, you know,
one of the first MLS stadiums to ever make it
(28:44):
into FIFA. Fun fact, I did not know that.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
So that is going to be something to watch see
in Vancouver versus Miami. So the script writers are writing
a hell of a script for all of us to watch.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
We open the place to the fullest.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
They'll take the tarp off. Yeah, I think this is
the this is there, they'll finally take that. That is
always so fun. If you see if they never ever
point the cameras up at BC Palace, you'll never see
the tarp, but you can tell it's there, like you
can always tell they rop it off.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
But yeah, it's a huge johnbo tron, you know, which
is pretty good towards again.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
But it's like it's a great stadium. But we'll definite
to be a great test before the World Cup happening there.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Yeah, are such a fun city, cool one of the
coolest cities in North America by far.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
But the locals aren't as friendly as regular Canadians because
they don't want you to move there. That's it's actually
pretty funny, like they they are little stand offish because
they don't want people to fall in love with Vancouver
and move there because there are too many people are there.
So it's it's kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
As a center city. Philadelphia and I have a similar philosophy,
like please come to Philadelphia for a weekend, like hangout,
spence of money, stop moving here New York just please
stop you're doing the property value is too high already.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Well, good transition, Adam, because we have to talk New
York City. Your Union are going to the baseball stadium
to play wold fashioned.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Soccer where the Mets one the Mets.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah, they're going to city Field with the Mets. So
it might be a little bit bigger of a field
than Yankee Stadium, but not by much so.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
But real quickly, how many times did you play? Did
you get to play an Yankee Stadium in your career? Yes?
How awful is it?
Speaker 5 (30:38):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (30:39):
It is not fun like for me because you know,
like my friend was to take the space and you
know it is the border, you know deep there's no
space to run the Paymentually you go to one box
too and then you to two steps out.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
I mean it is right here.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
It's it's it's a very very small field, very narrow.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
Uh. It's a fight, you know it's I mean you
saw it.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
In a couple of years with the Union, you know,
getting big results over there. It comes a lot with
some set pieces and you know kind of gold out
of you know nowhere, like counter attack or something like this.
So it's it's it's tough, but I think with the
West Union it's playing, it could be a big advantage
to to try, you know, to to win the ball
back quickly and when you win it, you are like
(31:23):
right here on top of the box play. So it
could be I think it would be good, good for them,
but yeah, it's it was not my favorite.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Like the most embarrassing that happened to me the first
time is.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
I was dribbling and I push the ball and I
look up to see if somebody that across, and I
look again, the ball was already in passing the line
of corner.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
I was like, what, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
So show that you don't really like feel the field.
So yeah, it was a bit embarrassing, but it was
my first time there.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Remind came.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
It reminds me of that court from the Fresh Prince
of bel Air that they play it on. It was
like supposed to be a regulation basketball court, but it
was nowhere. It was like, you took two steps, there
was the center line. I took another two steps, You're
already in the other key. And I was just like
every time I looked at Yankee Stadium, I always look
at the game and I'm like this is a noticeably
smaller field, Like I with from my sitting position, can
(32:17):
tell this is a smaller field than other people play on.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
I mean, New Yorker is in the league?
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Is it twenty twelve, twenty came in.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Yeah, it's been. It's got at least be ten years.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
Come on, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Well they're coming broke ground.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
They broke ground. Finally, it's actually quicker than Miami, which is,
you know, all things considered.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I would love to see the year Sebastian played his
average Like at super Park, you know how many miles
he ran per game, Like, say it was like two
point nine, But then in the Yankee Stadium you probably
didn't even get ten thousand steps in during a game.
Speaker 5 (33:00):
Have outside of the field.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Walking around the concourse, that's about the only way you
get it.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Walking back and forth to the locker room.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Took locker No, Hey, at least city field is gently larger,
or so that's what they tell me exactly.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
So we are obviously going to be missing gazdagg and Ian.
But I think High's back from what I'm told, and
maybe Saida has seen him. I believe he's supposed to
be playing, So I think we'll have the return of
Kai Wagner.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
Yes he should be back, but again, puppy, gimme time. Decision.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Yeah, and New York City is sitting at two three
and two, firmly in eleventh place, coming off a home
loss versus Minnesota. So, uh, the only thing I can say,
and I'll get your expert opinions, guys, is New York
City has been consistently inconsistent in the way they play.
Either they've started off fast and can't finish, or they
(33:58):
start out slow and they can come back. So which
one of you guys wants to take a little analysis
what we're what we're facing up in a city field?
Speaker 3 (34:08):
I go quick.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
I mean, it's definitely the thing we change as well.
Who knows it's her new coach, new sort of some
new players, you know, so but yeah, it's it's New
Yorker is always a tough team to play in their stadium.
I feel like it's a tricky team. You never know
what to expect. So I think for the niag just
to focus on themselves, you know, to really like plays
the ways they want to play, and you know, try
(34:31):
to create opportunity play better. I think offensively, Thon they
did last home game, and hopefully with sky By not
coming back, it could help a lot of the said
pieces and we can maybe be you know, better on
that in that game to score some goals.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Adam, your thoughts on this upcoming game.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
I mean, look, I think the thing about New York
is they're maddening for me because on a lot of
different ways. And we can get into a long discussion
about that. But like if the Union had the off
season new York did, Union fans would justify we have
gone insane because they didn't do a lot in terms
of flexing that roster. There's not that much turnover. And
(35:12):
it's weird to me that a team that splashed so
hard by getting David Villa, by getting pure Low, by
getting Lampard, by getting all of these parts to begin with,
just doesn't seem to want to, you know, shell out
the for another really big start. I felt like moving forward,
(35:32):
that would be New York's modus operande, but it doesn't
really seem to be how they want to develop, you know,
to each their own. But look, you gotta go in there.
It's gonna be weird because you're trying to figure out,
you know, the roster moving forward. Daniel was a very
big part of this team. I don't know if that's
going to be a drop off for any particular reason.
I think it's the next man up mentality, and I
(35:53):
think everyone is ready for that authentically. So I say,
you gotta go, you gotta go, get to w here.
I think New York it's not better than you. I
think roster wise, you're still better than them. And I
think confident wise, you should be fairly confident about how
you played at the beginn this year. You know, you
tied a team where they're one of the best offenses
in the in the league and you gave up zero
(36:14):
goals against them. With Orlando, you lost to a Miami
team that, frankly I think you should have tied, and
you lost to a national team where most people say
you probably deserved an extra penalty that you didn't get.
So I think you've played well this year so far, Union,
and I think you should be confident going into uh
New York City.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
Yeah, and I will add the know to you, Adam,
it's I think you're right about New York. You know,
people now expecting to be a win from the Union,
but all the team we play from the beginning of
the year or we are always all of the expelled
things that we are better than us. It's kind of
like the first game for the team to be like, Okay,
we can go to the game confident, but in the
same time, it's like, don't be too confident, like you
(36:53):
still need to you know, bring it.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
And you know it's away, and.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
It's like a little to be careful about. It's what
type of means are going to attack this game. But yes,
for me too, I think a win could be a
great a great thing for the team and very.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
And the union of one six out of the last
seven versus New York City. For me, the thing I
really want to see besides of course a win is
better quality shots on goal. I think that's the one
thing that we've been missing. We've been getting shots on goal,
but like Seba said, they have not been the crispus,
the cleanest, the strongest kind of shots. So I'm hoping
(37:31):
for that and for that, Adam, I have a little
inspiration for the Union. I think they need to rewatch
a certain game show that you and I were on
where we trashed freeze in the round, so you know,
we can the Union need to score or freeze the
way we did in that whatever that Philadelphia sports trivia thing, guy,
(37:52):
Philly few, that's right, it's just the casino.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
There's beautiful time and in the Union history now Philly fu. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
And Sebastian's giving us a dirty loocause he was on
that team with Freeze.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
It's because I nevands to those questions he.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Was generally confounded by, Like seven was like, this is
not a language barrier. This is one hundred confusing questions here.
And I'm like, honestly, I sympathized by way through. I
was like, yeah, that's weird. But you beat us, You
beat us, that's fine. Find out. Look, you go up
to New York, you know, you take care of business,
(38:28):
and then you take the train home and you call
it a day. And this time you only got to
go to Queens. You don't have to go all the
way to the Bronx, which is a little bit quicker
of a journey, if you.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Will, exactly so, hopefully hopefully we hang some goals on
Freeze and get the win. All right, guys, A couple
of reminders, Sebastian, your youth camp are there still spots available.
Speaker 4 (38:50):
Yes, of course the July you know, twenty first to
the twenty fourth with Chrest. You know, come enjoy our
fun morning footies with me and afternoon free to with
the beach and enjoy the thing.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Sounds good. And then Adam, you've got the Phoenix coming
up soon.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Right, Yes, we had an exhibition game over the weekend,
took it on the chin against New York Empire twenty
to eighteen. But we will start the season fast and furious,
very shortly. We first match of the season will be
the eight twenty six, and then our first home match
will be May fourth against the Toronto Rush, so you know,
(39:30):
a little intercontinental battle just to start off this season
and we'll go from there.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Sounds good. Well, I want to thank both Adam and
you Sebastian Latu for coming on one more week talking
everything about the Union and let's just beat New York
City and write this ship. Everybody, thanks so much for
joining us. We'll talk to you next week.
Ex president of the Sons of Ben Matt Gantastic ax
had Capo, Adam Booth, ex player and forever a Union legend,
Sebastian Latou. These may be exes, but they're the experts
when it comes to the Philadelphia Union. This is exes
in the U.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
We're listening to exes in the U and we've got
a lot to talk about in the Union verse. As always,
I'm joining with one mister Adam Booth and of course
Union legend Sebastian Latoo. Gentlemen, let's talk about this past week. Huh.
How are we all doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Excited to discuss what was only catastrophic to probably a
lot of people.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
So I'm doing good too, you know for me Htoric
or d you know, on the April tenth since we recalled.
But you know, fifteen years ago. Time fly, so we.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We did see that fifteen years ago. I know.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
Phil's game.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And shout out to Bill Strobel for the artwork.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Oh beautiful, love it Bill.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Bill lives in my neighborhood, So good job, Bill.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
Yeah, it's gonna be a nice piece of the house.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, definitely. So all right, let's let's get into the
Orlando game. And then we can get into the big
news that everybody's buzzing about. You know. So Orlando, it
was fireworks night, Adam. I did not stay for the fireworks.
I was like, it's damp, it's cold. I went to
Union Yards and listened to the fireworks. But uh, that
(01:34):
was probably the most excitement of that game because that
was a nil nil drawl between Orlando and and the Union.
Who wants to go first on their their commentary of
Union Orlando.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I mean, look, it was Here's what I would say
if you flipped it right, like, if you said that
the result of this game was the first game of
the season and then this four to two result was
the home game and the inverse, if you will, you
(02:07):
would be okay with that. You would probably be like,
that makes more sense to you in your mind. I
think the Union to get four points out of this
back to back or to this kind of back to
back like early season kind of series with Orlando, I
think is a net positive. But that game in particular,
it wasn't great. The Union out shot them I think
(02:31):
by threefold. You know. I think it's just one of
these things where I don't think the Union lack offense
is it finishing. Occasionally that might be the thing, but
it's not necessarily that they can't generate opportunities for themselves.
So look, Orlando needed this game. They've been on a
little bit of a skid to start the year. They
(02:53):
just saw the Unions. They probably said, well, hey, what
if we just stopped that ty Barribo guy and see
what happens after that, and they went from there. It was.
It was a nasty game and a nasty condition, but
ultimately you'd rather have the point than not, so I'll
take it. But it was still kind I'll say disappointment.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, you called the radio, so what did you see that?
Speaker 4 (03:20):
It was not a lot of excitement, that's for sure.
We saw a lot of shot, but not real target. Now,
I think, you know, if we just say think about
the positive, I think it was a positive result for
the defense not having to pin shit again. I think Andre,
you know, make too big safe, you know, kind of
like the the Andre we like to see. You know,
the defense was good, not knowing that Aeriel got his
(03:41):
third start and another position for him as their left back.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
I think defenseivies they did good.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I think they were you know, playing against all undo
team who really came to just go counter attack and
you know when you play them, let's say twice in
you know, seven games, you know, in the in the league,
is kind of you kind of knew that they were
aware of how good the unit can be as well,
so a bit more respect you know from them, and
that the defensive is were really like tight, not not
(04:07):
much space between the line. But yeah, like for me,
what was the same missing? It was a bit of creativity,
you know, offensively the movement. I talked to them on
the show, Like one of the starts was he was
no off side you know for the thing, which means
he was not really any deeperent you know, into the
space or even trying to find the space. We always
trying to play short you know with Damiani or Baribo,
(04:28):
but they didn't receive a lot of the ball as well,
you know, so he was a bit.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Missing for me.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
And and the big thing too it was you know,
we had a lot of free kicks and you know
we are missing Cavagner, I think, which is even if
defensively is his first job, but you know, with his
service with left foot can really find good balls. The
let's say good start with having the year over, there
came a lot with Wagner and Westfield on the right
and left to kind of really push forward. But you know,
(04:54):
nothing against Nathan, but he's not left fullid, so it's
it's hard for him to be able to you know,
give those boards behind the defense and and support. I
think he was more asked to stay, you know, defensively
because of the good player on the right side for
Orlando a.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Lot of goals.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
But it's uh, yeah, maybe there'sappointing because you wanted to
have another good reaction like it against after Nagelia game to.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Get a win. But we're in you know the point.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
And uh you know Bill Fanda, But try to think
about the positive and and see, you know, how can
we now maybe get a win this weekend in New York?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah, my might the good away from me. Blake gets
a clean sheet against arguably one of the best offenses
so far in MLS. So you're like, okay, defense was
did their job. We weren't sure it was gonna go one,
but you know, you always want three points at home.
But was there a little foreshadowing Adam When Indiana comes
(05:56):
in to sub for mister Gasdag and then another man
that would be backing up when that Cavin gets in
to replace his brother. Do we think Bradley knew something
was going on and he's just trying to see what
he has before something that we're going to talk about
in a minute went on.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I mean, obviously, I think Seba can speak more poignantly
to moments like this than I can. But I would
imagine that he wasn't not aware that something might be
down the pipeline for a player that big. Maybe Earth's
kept him in the dark, but deals like this don't
get made overnight, you know. I'm not assuming the Columbus
(06:36):
general manager just called a couple of hours ago, you know,
maybe forty eight hours ago and said, hey, what about
that gaz Dad character? What's the up for?
Speaker 1 (06:43):
You know?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
So that could have been foreshadowing. I mean, let's be honest,
and we're gonna get into it a little bit later.
But I thought some of the moves we made this
offseason were kind of interesting in a world where gazz
Dad was still there in existing. So that's another conversation
for literally later in this podcast. But yeah, look, Indiana
(07:06):
came in a little bit of a spark, a little
bit of creativity, not necessarily anything that blew the doors
off of anyone, but he existed, and Cavin getting now
more and more minutes. The most amount of minutes he's
had so far this season have been on Apple commercials.
But now he's actually getting onto the pitch and getting
(07:26):
some time in there. So I'm happy for him, you know,
And I really appreciate the Union taking their time with him, honestly,
because I was. I was front row and center for
Freddy A do you know I was. I was there
when you have the wonder kid and they say you
have to play him because we we as a league
(07:48):
like he was Messi and Beckham before anywhere before the
rest of them. He was there to save major league soccer.
Was what Freddie you do, was mad to do and
turned out to be a decent soccer player. But no
one will ever tell you that because of what his
expectations were. But moral of the story is, I'm happy
that the Union are actually, like you know, taking their
time with Cavin and bringing him along. But he does.
(08:09):
It would be nice to see some more minutes for him,
and just to get his feet wet in some of
these games, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, And we're talking about it, and it's time, you know,
good transition. The breaking news is gaz Dag is Gas gone.
He has been traded. Well it's nothing's official yet, but
he's already in Columbus, Ohio training with the team, so
I guess it's pretty official. So, yeah, Daniel has left
the Union. Columbus came in went offer and so I
(08:40):
don't know what you guys have heard, but what I've
heard is he's on this last guaranteed year. He wanted
a major race. Ernst was like, you're twenty nine going
on thirty. I don't know about that. And I think
they are always worried about the floodgates opening of like
if we double a guy's salary, then Kay's gonna walk
in the door and want double the salary, and Barribo's
(09:01):
gonna want double the salary. So they were able to
get a good number from what I hear, between this
and this many million is what they are getting from.
So it's basically Paxton Aarons and money for Gaysdag from Columbus.
So I guess they're taking some of that Cleveland Brown's
money and sending it over. So the Union lose their
(09:24):
leading score so Sebastian, does that make you the leading score?
Now you're back on top.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
Now it's did him, you know. Besides, if I come
back every day a member is not going to happen.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
But no, I mean, yeah, it's seen Danielle, you know
for sure, But yeah, it's it was kind of a
I don't know, I'm not surprising move, but you know,
knowing you know, kind of what I know it'll be.
But the information did that, I'm sure, like doing the offices.
Then he was probably a lot of talking. We heard
about it. Then giving gaz Dag not playing for the
(09:56):
team anymore, you know, before this didn't start. So but
I think the offer was not, let's say, as good
you know for him to like leave to go to Europe.
And then I think when you have a team like
Columbus who come and make that type of offer knowing
exactly you say.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
I think he was negotiating to, you know, get a.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
New contract, which I think he deserved, but his demands
was maybe not on the same page.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
And what the union are you able to pay and
want to.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Pay a player because of the philosophy and what they
want to do as a club. So I think probably
took with of course ownership group, like talk more deeper
about it and and having you know, that type of
money or the transfer in an that's pretty good.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
So it's definitely, yeah, a big player going.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
To miss, you know, the leading score of the team,
you know, being a lot offensively since he came. But
in the same time, I think he opened more doors
to now the young guys to show and you know,
have another person who could you know, take his place
and and try to.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Have the same type of impact. It might take time.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
We probably would see another player coming in. Maybe not now,
but maybe during the summer, if you know, Earn's find
a replacement and somebody that they like. But yeah, it's
it's definitely a shock news for a lot of fun.
You're going to see here a lot of critics and
you know, I've been a part of it being traded.
It's sometimes it happens, and you know it's a lot
(11:26):
of because of business and stuff happening. But yeah, like
fans are going to critics. But I think time will
tell if he was the right move and you know,
if we are going to be able to see now
more Kevin Sullivan, I think as dag was one of
the players who will take a lot of time from
Kevin Sullivan playing now adding not daniel you know, in
a in a team, give you know, now more hope
(11:49):
for maybe Kevin to get more time. But of course
it's to him to show again at practice, and because
there's still a lot of guy who wants to take
that spot in the in the young guys. So we
talk about India and now of course who just came
on the game. I think it's probably the replacement right
now in the same position. And then yeah, time will
tell you know who's going to take the most out
of it. And glad it's best to you know, score
(12:12):
the goals or you know, be creative to give opportunity
to the variable who was the dam you need to
to get the goals to the team. So yeah, I think,
you know, with the system we're playing to, I think
Danielle was not really at the same position.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
As well, playing more on the right.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
You know, you saw him a lot coming inside, but
it's maybe a different position for him. So you know,
he's going to a very good team Columbus who might
pay him what he was he wanted to ask, so
I'm sure he could be happy for him let's say
in a contract way. But I'm sure you know, with
the older story and the history has now with the union,
(12:48):
he probably you know, he's disappointed not to not be
having the quarry wanted.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
But yeah, it's it's a difficult time. You know. We
didn't hear much from him, like he says of his Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
But uh yeah, it's a it's a little like page
jump from from the team to kind of move on,
and I'll try to find who's going to be the
next provider, of course for the team.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Yeah, and I mean, everybody can feel sad about losing Daniel,
but you know what you should feel sad because Daniel's
now got to live in Columbus, Ohio. It's not Philadelphia.
So even doubling your salary, would would you move to Columbus, Ohio, Adam?
If I doubled your salary?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
No, yes, no, I would not for my salary. If
you've doubled my salary and just said I had to
live in Columbus, I would do that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Oh, I'll give you you.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Know how long a dollar goes in central Ohio these days?
Come on, now, not anymore?
Speaker 2 (13:45):
What's what's your thought on that? Daniel guests like Leading
goal score of the Philadelphia Union.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
I mean, I think I think that this move. We
can't have a proper discussion about this move until July.
I mean, that's just the honesty industry with about this,
you know. But because we are podcasters and were paid
to do this, I will say, Yeah, this sucks as
(14:12):
a fan, mainly just because I think there's weird expectations
going into the season with this team. I think a
lot of people didn't have any expectations for this team,
and now at this point, you're in a top three
position in the Eastern Conference and you have a possible
and from how the East has been shaking out, it
(14:34):
looks like you could be one of those dominant teams
in the conference. From what it's been played. You know,
your loss is only coming to two teams that I
would consider very good at this stage. And then to
trade away Daniel Gazdag in this moment, it just it.
I don't know what this h what it's supposed to
(14:55):
signal to anyone.
Speaker 5 (14:57):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I appreciate because his ability to just be like, I'm
going to make this move. No one's going to know
why I'm doing this.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
I think he.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Leads the league in why are you doing this? My
guy moves and they tend to occasionally work out, you know,
they tend to occasionally work out for both parties involved.
Shout out to Jose Martinez winning a trophy, you know.
But it's like one of these things where I think
we have to truly assess this. We have to wait
(15:28):
until July. We have to wait and see what happens
in the transfer market. If they bring somebody in, if
they elevate someone, you know what the next step is
from that. If Indiana is the guy, how much that
does that work? You know, because truth to be told,
he follows a long line of number ten's in Philadelphia
(15:48):
Union history where we had no idea who this guy
was when they came in and became a club legend instantly.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I E.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
You know Dosh Cal, I E. Tranky Lo Barnetta, I E.
Your Choco Mardana. You know all these guys where they
just kind of existed and then they came to the
roster and then became an legend. So I I still
hold out. You know, the next guy might be the
next game or the guy's bag, and we don't understand
that yet, you know, it just doesn't see it just
(16:18):
doesn't feel good in the moment.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
That whatever I do.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
You know with your dam it's the offers they had,
It's something you can't refuse. Knowing that, I think you
know they are not going to probably resign Danielle for
whatever you wanted to get. At the end of the day,
you have to make a choice about are we keeping
him and let him go free and I'm not as
(16:45):
much moneyfore, or do we take you know, the money now,
which is important now in those days with a digging
especially the houses union, you know, spend.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
Their money and get money.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
So yeah, when you cannot when you like that, I
think it's you know, it's hot choice, but you have.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
To make it.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And I also think they might have been a little
snake bitten because of Julian. They pretty much lost him
for peanuts because they couldn't get a deal done early.
So they're like, this offer comes along, we now have
to put pounce on this because if not, we could
lose them for nothing. So I think that was part
of it, and then some of it and probably not.
(17:25):
But we've got some needs now, I mean we haven't
even mentioned Ian is out with a meniscus, and we
don't know how long he's going to be out, so
we're down to two center backs besides calling somebody up
from Union too, So there's a glaring need maybe in
the midfield and probably in you know, the back line.
So you're gonna want to have some cash in the
(17:48):
coffers to make some moves. Seba, I don't know, have
you heard anything about Ian except that he had successful surgery.
That's all I've heard. I haven't heard how long this
meniscus is going to take.
Speaker 5 (17:58):
I mean no, I didn't. I didn't much about it.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
I just know that miniscus it's usually quicker, you more
than any other jury, even if he had surgery, but
usually you know, since he's a healthy player, is.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Young, he should come back, you know, quicker to it.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
But it would be definitely you know, maybe a month
or something like that minimum, you know, for him to
be had and come back. But I'm not going to
take any risk, you know, especially now having Makanya who
can play. You know, we saw and again you know
it's it's a part of a season.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
You know.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
If we get the Glavinam back in let's say in
June or July, you know fully healthy. Maybe it's because
one of the other guys that get tired and we
need him to get back. So yeah, it's going to
be I think not as long, but yeah, it's definitely
suck to not have him now in the team.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yeah, I mean with Miniscus, it's funny because you hear it.
You know, it could be four to six weeks, but
sometimes it can be six months depending on the grade
of the tear and that, but we don't know. So
hopefully he comes back early, but that that is going
to be a need for the union coming up. And
I think right now the MLS primary transfer window and
(19:07):
closes in April, and then what I think in June
reopens June.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
July, I believe, so that the MLS one, yes, but
the prime international one opens in July. So if we're
going to get someone who's not in our league basically
at this stage, it's probably gonna have to wait until July.
And so they come in and then the acclamation period YadA, YadA, YadA.
(19:35):
In terms of what that's going.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
To be, well, I'm going to float a solution out
there because August, the second Eintrach Frankfurt comes to Philadelphia,
and they're going to be bringing someone that they have
loaned out for two seasons in a row in one
paston Aronsen, who Daniel Gasdyk was blocking. Why don't we
bring Paxton back on loan for half the season, just
(19:59):
finish shut the MLS season and then he can go
back to eintrack. I don't know, give them a look
like I'm crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
No, I mean, I don't want to do it for
his sake, but it would like if if I'm the union,
sure why not. If they agrees to it, sure why not.
But it just that feels so nonsensical to me in
a lot of ways where I'm just like, all right, cool,
Like I just think you might have what you need
(20:30):
in the house already, or you might have what you
need in league already. You don't necessarily just if you're
going to find a temporary band aid until you make
that next big signing. You know, I would like to
see Quinn Sullivan play more time, you know, in a
centralized position or you know, as a as a ball director,
if you will, you know, a centralized piece. I would
(20:51):
like to see that more. I look, and also we
have to look at this, Daniel does Daniel was a
is a true ten. And in this formation that we're
working with with Bradley, you don't really his formation is
not similar to Gym's. This is not the diamond, you know.
So it's all about positioning, you know, you were saying
it yourself. Gazzdy was playing a lot more on the
(21:13):
right and bringing himself inward. But that man was a natural,
you know, Route one type player. And I'm just saying, like,
maybe you find someone who fits your system more in
this moment. Who knows, But it's hard to replace the
goal scoring. It's hard to replace someone who's so prolific
from the spot, you know, a veteran leader where there's
(21:34):
a lot of children in the locker room. So having
someone who's you know, been there for a minute is
always good. But mich we'll see, We'll see. The Union
just have a weird way of doing these deals and
them somehow working out.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
So yeah, we can't say it hasn't been an interesting
off and into the season between Jackman, Glenn Daniel Gazdeig
not being on the team. I didn't have that on
my bingo card in the beginning of the year, so
but then again, I didn't have them in the top three.
I had them in the top five, So the bingo
card has been wrong.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
I didn't have them staying in MLS either one, to
be honest with you, that was the kicker for both
was just like if they were ever going to leave,
I didn't think they were going to still be in
America when they did.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
True, I think MLS changing that rule to having cash
transactions has just changed the whole landscape of where players go.
But yeah, so you know, thank you Daniel Daniel for
your service. You'll be missed. I just hope we don't
miss you when we play against you in Columbus. Speaking
(22:38):
of traveling, Adam, there's a Nashville trip Philly Sports Trips.
You can be with Sebastian let two in Nashville July
fourth weekend.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
I think helt with Penniduis is a new book.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I don't know that man would rather sleep in Nashville.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Yeah, I feel like I'll actually get eight hours if
I go to a hotel room at this point, so
maybe I don't even have to go to the game.
I'll just take a nap and watch it on TV.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Just have your iPad.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yes, I'm on business. That's what that trip is for.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
There you go, so everybody check out really sports trips
dot com for the Nashville trip. It is going to
be a blast. I can tell you. We're working on
some cool things, some giveaways, some other stuff, so it's
gonna be good. And then I don't know, Adam, did
you get the email from the Union or the Club
World Cup about buying advanced ticket packages?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
I did not, but that sounds about right.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
It wasn't really from the Union, but it was Club
World Cup and it was like you have buy two
or three packages, and it was just so confusing that
I'm like, you know what, I'm going to wait till
I can get it on Ticketmaster and just overpay for
the one game I want to go to instead of
buying three. But Club World Cup is coming to Philadelphia,
and I don't know if you saw that, but the
trophy was in town at the Link this morning.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I did see that. I did see that. It's a
nice little it's a nice little F one trophy they
got there.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, and the and the head of FIFA came in
and said he's going they are going to donate one
million dollars to each host city to grow the game
of soccer. So at some point they're gonna build like
a couple of mini pitches or something, and they're gonna
award this one million dollar per city at the end
of the Club World Cup. Just anything to try to
get some kind of interest in the Club.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
World Cup and nineteen ninety six version of me, I'd
be really excited about one million dollars being invested into
a city for soccer.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
What are you, doctor evil?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Yes, because if you remember, by the third movie, he
had to do a million trillion ilion yen because the
man understood an exchange rate and inflation over time. I'm
just saying, FIFA, I mean, like you might whatever, I'm
I'm extra bitter with anything that involves the four letter wordself.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Well, hey, I'll take their million dollars, but yeah, you're right, inflation.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
They still give it to me please but still yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
So in the League news inner Miami beat LAFC and
leg two at home apparently it was a barn burner,
really exciting, and I was sleeping, so I didn't even
get to see it. So I don't know if you
guys watched the Mammil you watch so.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
The enemy of Mia enemy is my friend, and I
hate LAFC, so I will accept inter Miami doing anything
as long as the black and gold field pain. That
is my professional journalistic commentary on the subject. But no, look,
I it's really interesting too because I love how we
(25:39):
MLS one grandfathered in inter Miami into the Club World
Cup because like they did not deserve it based off
of merit, that of trophies and things that they accomplished
to get into it. But I do think they're gonna
be causing some people some headaches when they get in there.
I don't know how far they're gonna go, but I
(25:59):
think Into Miami is coming along because it's not just
you know, the big four of what used to be
like what sixty two percent of Barcelona's starting lineup. I
think it's actually the youth too. I think it's you know,
good defense that I'm shocked is coming out of nowhere.
(26:20):
It's young guys that are even replacing Messi and getting goals.
Like Into Miami looking a legitimate, put together roster just
beyond you know, the home run hitters. Toronto should take note.
That's how you actually construct a roster. It's a crazy thought.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
Well, I watched a little bit about GM but like
a getaway with so many things.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Of course, it's.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
It's a bit ridiculous, but they definitely are good. But
it's gonna be offense to my final because Vancouver, you know,
beat as well, you know, I think it was Pumas
yesterday and get to some my finals.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
So it's been the longest trip of both of them
to Miami can be the longest ever.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
I was thinking that when I saw them, Like, is
that physically the furthest you can travel in MLS is
Miami to Vancouver.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
I think though you go to you know, maybe in Montreal.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
To Montreal, but no, those are those are some long.
I mean Philadelphia Vancouver is a long fort.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
That's like one guy, It's it's pretty much if you
will love Miami playing the Champions League in Europe and
play you know, PG, you know, type of type of trouble.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Now, I I kind of almost bet that they could
possibly get to South America quicker. Like that's literally at
that point, like.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
The is just a three hourl defense of five or six.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
So that's it's that's crazy too. I Mean, look, I
tell my uh my wife all the time about just
travel and MLS and she's like, yeah, our closest rival
is like two hours down the road. I'm like, the
closest physical team to us is two hours down the road.
And we're lucky to have that because we could be
Colorado and like just in the middle of nowhere, surrounded
(28:06):
by nothing for miles and our best friends are Salt
Lake City.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Here's the funny thing, though, they're playing Vancouver, who we
all know their stadium's turf it is, yes, MESSI gonna
play on that is half a Barcelona gonna play on that.
How important is this to them?
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Suarez will play on gravel. I know that for a fact.
The rest of them, I don't know. Jordia album Jordia
Alba will also play on gravel, but I think the
trophy is too important. Now you kind of suck it up.
If this was like a random game against New England, No,
you do not play MESSI. But I think you know
plus PC Palace it's a nice little venue, you know,
one of the first MLS stadiums to ever make it
(28:44):
into FIFA. Fun fact, I did not know that.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
So that is going to be something to watch see
in Vancouver versus Miami. So the script writers are writing
a hell of a script for all of us to watch.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
We open the place to the fullest.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
They'll take the tarp off. Yeah, I think this is
the this is there, they'll finally take that. That is
always so fun. If you see if they never ever
point the cameras up at BC Palace, you'll never see
the tarp, but you can tell it's there, like you
can always tell they rop it off.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
But yeah, it's a huge johnbo tron, you know, which
is pretty good towards again.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
But it's like it's a great stadium. But we'll definite
to be a great test before the World Cup happening there.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Yeah, are such a fun city, cool one of the
coolest cities in North America by far.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
But the locals aren't as friendly as regular Canadians because
they don't want you to move there. That's it's actually
pretty funny, like they they are little stand offish because
they don't want people to fall in love with Vancouver
and move there because there are too many people are there.
So it's it's kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
As a center city. Philadelphia and I have a similar philosophy,
like please come to Philadelphia for a weekend, like hangout,
spence of money, stop moving here New York just please
stop you're doing the property value is too high already.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Well, good transition, Adam, because we have to talk New
York City. Your Union are going to the baseball stadium
to play wold fashioned.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Soccer where the Mets one the Mets.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah, they're going to city Field with the Mets. So
it might be a little bit bigger of a field
than Yankee Stadium, but not by much so.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
But real quickly, how many times did you play? Did
you get to play an Yankee Stadium in your career? Yes?
How awful is it?
Speaker 5 (30:38):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (30:39):
It is not fun like for me because you know,
like my friend was to take the space and you
know it is the border, you know deep there's no
space to run the Paymentually you go to one box
too and then you to two steps out.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
I mean it is right here.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
It's it's it's a very very small field, very narrow.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
Uh. It's a fight, you know it's I mean you
saw it.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
In a couple of years with the Union, you know,
getting big results over there. It comes a lot with
some set pieces and you know kind of gold out
of you know nowhere, like counter attack or something like this.
So it's it's it's tough, but I think with the
West Union it's playing, it could be a big advantage
to to try, you know, to to win the ball
back quickly and when you win it, you are like
(31:23):
right here on top of the box play. So it
could be I think it would be good, good for them,
but yeah, it's it was not my favorite.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
Like the most embarrassing that happened to me the first
time is.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
I was dribbling and I push the ball and I
look up to see if somebody that across, and I
look again, the ball was already in passing the line
of corner.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
I was like, what, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
So show that you don't really like feel the field.
So yeah, it was a bit embarrassing, but it was
my first time there.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Remind came.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
It reminds me of that court from the Fresh Prince
of bel Air that they play it on. It was
like supposed to be a regulation basketball court, but it
was nowhere. It was like, you took two steps, there
was the center line. I took another two steps, You're
already in the other key. And I was just like
every time I looked at Yankee Stadium, I always look
at the game and I'm like this is a noticeably
smaller field, Like I with from my sitting position, can
(32:17):
tell this is a smaller field than other people play on.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
I mean, New Yorker is in the league?
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Is it twenty twelve, twenty came in.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Yeah, it's been. It's got at least be ten years.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
Come on, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Well they're coming broke ground.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
They broke ground. Finally, it's actually quicker than Miami, which is,
you know, all things considered.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I would love to see the year Sebastian played his
average Like at super Park, you know how many miles
he ran per game, Like, say it was like two
point nine, But then in the Yankee Stadium you probably
didn't even get ten thousand steps in during a game.
Speaker 5 (33:00):
Have outside of the field.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Walking around the concourse, that's about the only way you
get it.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Walking back and forth to the locker room.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Took locker No, Hey, at least city field is gently larger,
or so that's what they tell me exactly.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
So we are obviously going to be missing gazdagg and Ian.
But I think High's back from what I'm told, and
maybe Saida has seen him. I believe he's supposed to
be playing, So I think we'll have the return of
Kai Wagner.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
Yes he should be back, but again, puppy, gimme time. Decision.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Yeah, and New York City is sitting at two three
and two, firmly in eleventh place, coming off a home
loss versus Minnesota. So, uh, the only thing I can say,
and I'll get your expert opinions, guys, is New York
City has been consistently inconsistent in the way they play.
Either they've started off fast and can't finish, or they
(33:58):
start out slow and they can come back. So which
one of you guys wants to take a little analysis
what we're what we're facing up in a city field?
Speaker 3 (34:08):
I go quick.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
I mean, it's definitely the thing we change as well.
Who knows it's her new coach, new sort of some
new players, you know, so but yeah, it's it's New
Yorker is always a tough team to play in their stadium.
I feel like it's a tricky team. You never know
what to expect. So I think for the niag just
to focus on themselves, you know, to really like plays
the ways they want to play, and you know, try
(34:31):
to create opportunity play better. I think offensively, Thon they
did last home game, and hopefully with sky By not
coming back, it could help a lot of the said
pieces and we can maybe be you know, better on
that in that game to score some goals.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Adam, your thoughts on this upcoming game.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
I mean, look, I think the thing about New York
is they're maddening for me because on a lot of
different ways. And we can get into a long discussion
about that. But like if the Union had the off
season new York did, Union fans would justify we have
gone insane because they didn't do a lot in terms
of flexing that roster. There's not that much turnover. And
(35:12):
it's weird to me that a team that splashed so
hard by getting David Villa, by getting pure Low, by
getting Lampard, by getting all of these parts to begin with,
just doesn't seem to want to, you know, shell out
the for another really big start. I felt like moving forward,
(35:32):
that would be New York's modus operande, but it doesn't
really seem to be how they want to develop, you know,
to each their own. But look, you gotta go in there.
It's gonna be weird because you're trying to figure out,
you know, the roster moving forward. Daniel was a very
big part of this team. I don't know if that's
going to be a drop off for any particular reason.
I think it's the next man up mentality, and I
(35:53):
think everyone is ready for that authentically. So I say,
you gotta go, you gotta go, get to w here.
I think New York it's not better than you. I
think roster wise, you're still better than them. And I
think confident wise, you should be fairly confident about how
you played at the beginn this year. You know, you
tied a team where they're one of the best offenses
in the in the league and you gave up zero
(36:14):
goals against them. With Orlando, you lost to a Miami
team that, frankly I think you should have tied, and
you lost to a national team where most people say
you probably deserved an extra penalty that you didn't get.
So I think you've played well this year so far, Union,
and I think you should be confident going into uh
New York City.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
Yeah, and I will add the know to you, Adam,
it's I think you're right about New York. You know,
people now expecting to be a win from the Union,
but all the team we play from the beginning of
the year or we are always all of the expelled
things that we are better than us. It's kind of
like the first game for the team to be like, Okay,
we can go to the game confident, but in the
same time, it's like, don't be too confident, like you
(36:53):
still need to you know, bring it.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
And you know it's away, and.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
It's like a little to be careful about. It's what
type of means are going to attack this game. But yes,
for me too, I think a win could be a
great a great thing for the team and very.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
And the union of one six out of the last
seven versus New York City. For me, the thing I
really want to see besides of course a win is
better quality shots on goal. I think that's the one
thing that we've been missing. We've been getting shots on goal,
but like Seba said, they have not been the crispus,
the cleanest, the strongest kind of shots. So I'm hoping
(37:31):
for that and for that, Adam, I have a little
inspiration for the Union. I think they need to rewatch
a certain game show that you and I were on
where we trashed freeze in the round, so you know,
we can the Union need to score or freeze the
way we did in that whatever that Philadelphia sports trivia thing, guy,
(37:52):
Philly few, that's right, it's just the casino.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
There's beautiful time and in the Union history now Philly fu. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
And Sebastian's giving us a dirty loocause he was on
that team with Freeze.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
It's because I nevands to those questions he.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Was generally confounded by, Like seven was like, this is
not a language barrier. This is one hundred confusing questions here.
And I'm like, honestly, I sympathized by way through. I
was like, yeah, that's weird. But you beat us, You
beat us, that's fine. Find out. Look, you go up
to New York, you know, you take care of business,
(38:28):
and then you take the train home and you call
it a day. And this time you only got to
go to Queens. You don't have to go all the
way to the Bronx, which is a little bit quicker
of a journey, if you.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Will, exactly so, hopefully hopefully we hang some goals on
Freeze and get the win. All right, guys, A couple
of reminders, Sebastian, your youth camp are there still spots available.
Speaker 4 (38:50):
Yes, of course the July you know, twenty first to
the twenty fourth with Chrest. You know, come enjoy our
fun morning footies with me and afternoon free to with
the beach and enjoy the thing.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Sounds good. And then Adam, you've got the Phoenix coming
up soon.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Right, Yes, we had an exhibition game over the weekend,
took it on the chin against New York Empire twenty
to eighteen. But we will start the season fast and furious,
very shortly. We first match of the season will be
the eight twenty six, and then our first home match
will be May fourth against the Toronto Rush, so you know,
(39:30):
a little intercontinental battle just to start off this season
and we'll go from there.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Sounds good. Well, I want to thank both Adam and
you Sebastian Latu for coming on one more week talking
everything about the Union and let's just beat New York
City and write this ship. Everybody, thanks so much for
joining us. We'll talk to you next week.
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