May 10, 2025 • 32 mins
🎙️ New Union Pod Drop!
We’re breaking down the Boys in Blue’s latest match in the US Open Cup. Plus, a look ahead at the next battle vs Columbus on Saturday night! Who needs to step up to keep the Union win streak alive?! #DOOP
We’re breaking down the Boys in Blue’s latest match in the US Open Cup. Plus, a look ahead at the next battle vs Columbus on Saturday night! Who needs to step up to keep the Union win streak alive?! #DOOP
Mark as Played
Transcript
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
head Capo, Adam Booth, ex player and forever a Union
legend Sebastian Latoo. These may be exes, but they're the
experts when it comes to the Philadelphia Union. This is
exes in the U.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome back everybody to exes and the U. We're sitting
here in episode number thirty six again. I'm Matt Kannazuk,
former president of the Sun's Ben. I'm joined by ex
head Kapo, Adam Booth and Forever Union legend Sebastian Latoo.
And one of us is sitting on a golf course
and two of us are in our home offices. So Sebastian,
(00:41):
how are things out at the truest open at the
Philadelphia Cricket Cup.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, it's pretty good. That's pretty quiet. Seems to be
the ringy so not maybe many people.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I can't yet, but excited to see how good those
guys are.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Now, did Rory ask you for your autograph? Is that true?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
And it is nuts? But checking us all is.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
The same same. Get to while you're out there. Well, everybody,
we have got a busy, busy episode. We've got to
talk about Montreal. We've got to talk about the return
of the US Open Cup. We've got the busiest may
I've seen for this team and I don't know how long.
And I've got a review of Snapdragon Stadium since I
was out in San Diego to watch them play. So
(01:24):
why don't we get into it? Guys? One is everyone
doing well? And two? Who wants to take on Montreal first?
Adam or Saba? Who wants to talk about that game?
Speaker 5 (01:36):
I'll I'll let Seber it took a break for once.
He usually leads off first. But I'll take a particular
interest in this one, mainly because I don't necessarily believe
it was a great game.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
In fact, I would almost argue it was a bad game.
I would say that the Union looked weird.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
And I do eventually want to talk to Seventh about
this because I have a philosophy about why they play
as well.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
But look, you get.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Yourself a two to one victory, You get yourself an
early goal, an early goal that was beautiful, well orchestrated,
definitely put together by you know, a great run, and
it looks like the team and it looked like they
were the Mighty Ducks there for a second.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
Honestly, it was.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
It was pretty intense to start the game, and then
it just kind of seemed like they forgot where the
gas pedal was and they had a couple of opportunities,
had a couple of chances. Montreal made a couple of
defensive stops and saves here and there, and then Montreal
gets their first goal at home of the entire campaign,
which I'm like, okay, it looked like there was a
(02:39):
lot of ball watching there at the end, A couple
of hands are going up looking for an off side
that was definitely not coming, and you go into halftime
one one on the road, and you kind of leave
it late. You know, you finally get the game winner,
you know, Indiana gets it Indian Area. But it's like,
(03:00):
you get the game winner, you put the team away.
But it just felt kind of stale for most of
the game. For me, I just kind of was watching
a Union team that just it looked like a team
that was looking at their opponent and saying, we're supposed
to beat you, so eventually this will just kind of
happen through osmosis and it did, thankfully, but it definitely
(03:22):
had an opportunity to be one of those classic trap
games where the Union are walking away from Montreal with
only a point when they definitely should have had all three.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I mean, Suba, what were you thinking? Because I
kind of agree with Adam. It was a great start,
terrible middle end it well, but they definitely look like
they went up to Montreal and thought we've got this
and maybe we're on cruise control.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean it's just like you say,
I feel like we took about it before.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
It's like those game when you play.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Against the team we didn't win a game, didn't like
score four goals, like you know, it's the mentality did
you bring before the game to kind of awake and
ready to go? I think they were.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And the first goal, you.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Know, in two minutes amazing, like coming out of the
bag passing and like.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Oh my god, like they are they are on.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I think as soon as you just go like that early,
then you believe like, oh, the game is going to
be too easy, you know what I mean. So I
don't know, it's it was. Yeah, definitely not the best
game from the Union, but you know, at the end
they were able to react to another goal from you know,
a forward coming up the bench.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
With the Macro who are giving the win.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So at the end, you know, you just you know,
take the three points and you know, move on to
the next one.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
But was it the best game of the Union. Definitely not.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
It was a bit boring, you know, especially after we
got the goal and when Montreal came into the back
into the game. But yeah, I think we are just
going to remember the three points on this one and
and that's it and just move on now to to
Columbus this weekend and it's going to be a much
bigger opponent. And the motivation now you can see it's
very much different when you play columb is the first
(04:59):
comparent to play Montreal.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Where were they did?
Speaker 6 (05:03):
Was that to do?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Because they got nine months to what we took about
in in.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Three games, you know, and now let's let's see what
we can do against the you know, the best team.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Maybe this, yeah, could have said it better.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And it's funny. Matt Doyle on MLS Soccer Soccer dot
Com just he had a great quote here was Montreal
actually played well? This teabe isn't quite as bad as
the record indicates. So maybe we can take that away
that Montreal, you know, we shouldn't be looking at the
record that you know, they fired their coach, they were
a new coach. They're maybe they're a little bit more
talented than we thought, but definitely the Union did not
(05:36):
bring it. Uh. The opener was great with Indy and
then thank god, Uri came off the bench and got
off the snide. But yeah, now I left watching my
iPad a little bit after halftime so I can make
it out to snap Dragon Stadium. And let me tell you,
Chucky had a night. My man had five goals versus
(05:59):
down US. But the thing I went out for was
to check out the stadium, Like fifteen minute drive out
from downtown San Diego to University California, San Diego to
snap Dragon, which was quill Com, but they leveled it
and they built a new MLS slash football stadium for
San Diego State. Eh is what I could say. It
(06:22):
gave me Miami vibes, gave me, you know, nothing spectacular.
But I will warn you when we go out there
next year if we do play the away stands give
you DC vibes, Adam. I mean, you are up in
the corner and it is steep looking. I stayed on
the concourse and I was like, Nope, not even going
to try to go up. There wasn't gonna go see
(06:43):
any Dallas fans. So that was snapdragon. Now, I kind
of feel like the US Open Cup got a lot
to say about this, the return of the Open Cup
to Super Park. It was Wednesday night, played Indie eleven,
and I was excited to see Indy eleven, but I
feel like the Union kind of brought the energy from Montreal. Adam,
(07:06):
did you get to see any of this match?
Speaker 6 (07:09):
So I did capo a little bit.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
I didn't do too and you go too hard with it,
but I did capo a little bit.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
And I generally felt that.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
The vibes of the team were kind of the same
reflection of we should probably win this game. Let's just
go do that then, And in a similar fashion, you
score a very early goal, you know, on the board
by Alejandro, and then you just kind of walk through
a lot of the rest of the game. Now, I
(07:42):
will say this two things that are very true. The
goalie for Indy eleven was putting on an absolute clinic
like at the end of the match, I literally was
just like, this man might be better than the third
string goalie for Indye eleven. I think he might be
able to find himself a contract, and that's the beauty
of the Open Cup. Sometimes you get discovered. But I
(08:06):
just felt this team was playing on a level that
just wasn't reflective of what they could be in. Yes,
you put in Andrew Rick, you know, you put in
a lot of the backups. Cavin Sullivan gets his first
authentic Union start and beautiful moment for the child, But
it just felt to me like you kind of were like,
(08:28):
we're gonna win this. We're top and may or we're
one of the top teams in Major League Soccer right now.
This will translate into a w at home against low
Lely Indy eleven and one. Indye eleven is not a
bad club, you know, if you look at that No, no,
they're not as bad as their record, and they're a
well ran club in a lot of ways. They're definitely
(08:49):
one of the clubs in the USL that I think
has the potential of if they ever made the leap
to Major League Soccer, they can make a transition as
an organization.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
You know, I think they're that good.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
I just felt as a whole you I mean to
go to penaltyes with that team, it just kind of
felt that you just weren't taking this even seriously enough,
even if it was the backups. And again, you got
thirty three shots.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
You had thirty three shots, you had eleven.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Of them on net, and the goalie for them had
ten saves.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Well, five of cavin shots went right to his stomach.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Exactly what I mean.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
And these are facts. You know, they don't exactly tell
you how they make each save. They just tell you
the grand total of saves, Matt.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
But it's true.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
And but the thing about it is is you've had
plenty of opportunities.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
You got to finish on how to fire.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
You have to figure out how to finish, you know,
you have to figure out how to make it where
you can get in the way. Oh, you can finish
a lot of these shots. And it's like, it's not
really a skill issue. It's not a talent issue. What
it is is it's a finishing issue, just straight out.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah. I mean, listen, we knew coming in that there
was going to be a whole different line up. I mean,
Ali Medoya starts, Kevin Sullivan starts right there. That's just
an age gap. I mean, that's a generational gap and
both played one hundred and twenty two minutes. This thing
went in the roster. I think was said at eighteen
(10:23):
people like Donovan and Quinn Sullivan weren't even on the
roster because of rest and just not enough roster. So
you had some guys that haven't played, and you had
guys that were really you know, I know the front office,
I know Ernst and everybody was very conscious of they
wanted to rest guys because you've got a big game Saturday,
You've got a game the following Wednesday, you advance, you
(10:46):
get another game against the winner of Pittsburgh New York City,
which we'll get into. So the roster was disjoin it.
But I don't know if the guys. I think they
kind of walked through it. And I'll tell you Indianapolis
was really physical. They were a lot bigger. I mean,
Adam you might have saw there. They're they're they're forward.
Their center forward looked like Vladi Devac coming up and
(11:06):
down the I mean he was seven foot. I don't
know where the hell this guy came from, but he
looked like Lurch from you know, the Adams family, and
he's barreling up the field and their center backs were
big dudes, so I mean they and they came to
play physical. And keep in mind, Indy eleven hasn't had
a good year, but they've won their last two open
(11:27):
up in extra time or penalty, so you know they
they had a plan and they were gonna slow it up, mucking, grind,
get physical. And I think the refs, you know, I'm
sure I'm biased, but the rests were I think rooting
for the underdog, and it showed on some of the calls, but.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
A little, a little favoritism to the the USL here after.
Speaker 6 (11:51):
Literally, I don't think any of them survived this round.
I think I think it was who yeah, right right?
I wonder who lost to them? That would just be
so embarrassing anyway, And.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
The last thing I want to say, I found out
I did some digging, but the journalism had as Adam
would say, the attendance. I didn't even hear what they
said the attendance, but I was there. It wasn't very high.
Riverend was not packed. I could hear the River Ends
sounded good. Wasn't packed. The opposite field not packed. This
(12:26):
is a free ticket for seasons ticket holders, so maybe
you gave it away, maybe you didn't go. They sold
five hundred additional seats, five hundred seats at them that
weren't given away for season ticket holders. So everybody that
was crying about the US Open Cup and blah blah blah,
you did not show up, lain and simple, and that's
(12:49):
the reason that some of these things might go away.
US Soccer didn't promote it as well as you know
they could have, didn't promote it the way that MLS
might promote something. So I'm hoping for the next one
when we play Pittsburgh that we're not outnumbered by the
yinsers coming across, because Indy eleven came in hard with
(13:09):
what'd you say, Adam seven eight?
Speaker 5 (13:12):
They had ten of the nicest people that I was
so rude to at the end of the game based
off of the fact that everyone wanted to be kung
fu fighting at the end of that match. And I
kind of feel a little bit embarrassed by it, but
not enough, because I also believe ultra culture in America
is soft, that we need to be like Lisa yelling
at each other more often. But anyway, I digress, but
like again, shout out to them any any group of
(13:35):
people who want to spend their Wednesday night in Chester,
Pennsylvania when that's not their home city.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Salute to you, I.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Have Chester is nicer than Indianapolis. Let's just face come on,
and I'll say it often. So now, Sebastian, if you
can hear us, did you see the Open Cup and
what were your thoughts of the Union versus Indy eleven?
Right now?
Speaker 4 (13:59):
So I thought I didn't see the game because I
was doing my bill license in Massachusetts, so I missed it.
But I was able to just see the penalty kicks
at the end, which you know, Rick did a good job.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
We did a great job.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
And you know I caught My.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Wife was at the game and she kind of give
me a little play by players. She prettymuch told me
what you were saying, that we were lacking, you know
in the offense, you know, being really stick and going
the good because we had the chances, but like you said,
like she was saying me, like Kevin got some shots,
but traight as a good keeper and we were not
able to finish. So going early again, yeah, maybe not
(14:39):
in our advantage because then we can offer believe that
everything's gonna go smoothly. But yeah, again, you know they
want they go through. And now we are into the
ext raun Do we know who we play yet or no, we.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Do, and we're going to get into that next because
I want to go through our main schedule. So we'll
go through that. But one last thing on the concourt
and I was walking around, I saw Ian, our center back.
He's looking good. He just has like one of those
Knoprin knee braces. I think my man is coming back
earlier than expected. That's just that's me going out on
(15:11):
a limb. But he looked good, So I think, you know,
fingers crossed. After we get through this month of May,
we may have some reinforcements on the defensive line. But yeah,
let's go through this. This schedule, Adam Sebastian. This Saturday,
Columbus Crew seven point thirty. Wednesday, the Galaxy come back
(15:32):
to Subaru Park, so we have that. The following we
go down to Atlanta, and then on the twenty first
of May, the US Open comes back to Subaru Park.
When the Pittsburgh River Hounds invaded. So this is a
challenge to everybody. We cannot be It's like four hours
(15:53):
for these guys they want to get out of Pittsburgh.
So Pittsburgh's probably going to be coming with I don't know,
five hundred one thousand strong. We better be outnumbering the
Pittsburgh River Helm fans, you know, And Adam, you are right.
They are the last non MLS team in the round
of sixteen.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
May twenty weekends.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, May twenty fourth, which is I guess Memorial Day weekend.
A certain Argentinian comes back to Subaru Park with his
band of mercenaries. So Miami the twenty eighth, were at Toronto,
and then we end the month at Dallas. That is
(16:33):
a hell of a May right there, guys. So I
don't know, let's let's get the club legend to let
us know. Sebastian, what do you think of that gauntlet
of games coming up? I mean they've got a bunch
of Saturday Wednesday Saturday Wednesday games and some travel. I
mean they're going down to Atlanta and they're going up
(16:54):
to Toronto and then out to Dallas. Really the first
I'm gonna say, it's the first day, so you know
it's going to be warm. So what are your thoughts
on the upcoming schedule? Saber?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
I mean it's tough. It's you know, every three days,
it's double Insadam. It's fun, you know, especially having a
them being now second you know in the in the
league and you play good games, you know, So you
play Columbus Saturday, the first one, so the connupasion is
already here.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Then you you know, go Galaxy.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
You were you know, the defending champ who are struggling
a little bit. But back at home and then you
know you plan on how you already play your beat,
but you know in a night stadium, but there and
then you open Cup again and in Miami, so you know,
the motivation is right here for everybody. It's going to
be you know, not easy physically for the team, and
we're going to be probably some rotation in open Cap
(17:45):
especially and.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Maybe the Wednesday game.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
But uh yeah, it's it's already you know in Montreal.
You know, like the starting you know eleven that Prody
can choose, not maybe the one where thinking about, but
yeah he did a little rotation in that, and you're
going to see it again in those games. I think
it's going to kind of talk a lot with the
(18:08):
entire group and see what is going to be. Uh
you know, the best for physic people, for everybody, and
you will see a lot of rotation thinking of whatever
it is so during the week and who you know,
who is hot, who is not, And hopefully we can
keep you know, getting good results. But it's going to
be for sure, a tough months and then you will
(18:30):
feel like, what's going on after June and July, after
the months of maybe but.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
We need, you know, to keep going and.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You know, keep keep winning, especially when when we're at home.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah, they definitely needed to keep this from Madam going Adam.
I mean, I'm exhausted thinking about how many times I
just have to go to the park. You might have
a capital a little too, I mean, what are you
thinking about the schedule.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
I'm sorry, sir, I have a child. There's the greatest
excuse to not less forty end these games but watch
them on my phone whilst holding my baby and playing
MLB the show.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
But yes, I look, this is why you have depth.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
This is why you know you probably kicked the tires
on a lot of these players in the Open Cup
for that exact reason. You know this is Look, you
have a very good second team, you have a really
good academy. You know, there might be some of those
mid season signings we had a go last year where
we're just like, hey, remember this homegrown he's ready. He
might not be ready, but we kind of need someone
(19:32):
to play right now because bodies bodies bodies. But look,
this is going to be a great opportunity for a
lot of individuals. You're going to have to dig deep
into the roster, so a lot of guys are going
to get playing time.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
You know, you're not going.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
To be like, what part of the top three or
top four striker situation that we're gonna have to play
because now Chris Donovan's getting starts too, So shout out
to the man.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
Look, I think this is going to be a test.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
But but you also got to look at the caliber
of opponent you know that we're going to be playing
at this moment. I mean, these are opportunity to eat
a lot of food in a short period of time.
The only opponent there that really gives me any pauses Miami.
You know, LA is going through one of what I
would say is the most historical plummet from a team
(20:21):
that was good into pretty much obscurity and we're not
even a third through the season. You know Atlanta is
still struggling. You know, Miami is still good. But like Pittsburgh,
look Pittsburgh at home. I hope you win that game.
I think you should be in a position to win
that game. Toronto has been struggling so much that they
just lost to Montreal on penalty kicks. You know, Dallas
(20:43):
is a weird situation. So I'm like, this could be
feast time. You know, this could be an opportunity for
the Union to actually put themselves in a position for
not only advancing in the Open Cup, but also putting
some themselves in some possible gap between the rest of
the Eastern Conference when it comes down to looking for
(21:04):
you know, seating, looking for a playoff berth and heck,
you're still in the supporter shield conversation right now, you know,
the couple of wins down this road in a stumble
by Vancouver here, you're right in the mix.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
So I'm saying there's a lot to play for in
this month.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
As much as it is a gauntlet, could be an
opportunity for a lot of prosperity for the Union.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah, so, I mean it's going to be an interesting month.
I think I'm only going to miss one home game
due to travel for work, so I'll be glued to that.
But it's going to be interesting now regular good old
fashioned news. The Club World Cup single game tickets finally
went on sale. Adam, I'm looking at it. We could
get tickets in the upper bowl of Lincoln Financial Field
(21:47):
for about fifty five bucks. So it's finally getting back
down there. So playing your world club, your Club World
Cup tournament. So we get to see the Blues Man,
the Nashville trip Philly sports trips dot Com. You get
to hang out with Sebastian Lattu. We're talking to Dave
Leno to come hang out. We're talking to some other people.
(22:08):
It's gonna be a really good time. I'm gonna be
one of the tour guides. I do know Nashville. I
will get you off a Broadway onto better spots. It's
gonna be a good time. Fourth July Fireworks rooftop deck,
Philly Sports trips dot Com. Actually, Adam TC and I
are going to be on the concourse given out information
this game against this Saturday, So if you want to
(22:31):
come out and see us, we'll be out there talking
trip and then August second, Frankfurt comes to town. So
we're gonna try to with the pod, partner up with
Braheuse Schmidt, maybe do something with the Frankfurt folks. So
we'll let you know around the soccer world news. I
wanted to talk about it last week and I didn't. Adam,
I don't know if you're happy about this or not,
but the NWSL filed an application with US Soccer to
(22:57):
launch a Division two league in twenty twenty for player development,
which I think is really good. But I also think
it might be bad if you want to get a
franchise in Philadelphia, because it sounds like you can't just
get one team. You're gonna have to have a development team.
So I don't know. That's that was my thought. And Adam,
(23:18):
you've got some breaking news. You want to break that
in right now.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
Yeah, So this happened on the Union's social media page
about twenty minutes ago. Ben Bender was signed by the
Philadelphia Union. Midfielder. He's been he's come in. I have
very little information other than that, and I will try
to gather some more from my sources in contacts. We
(23:43):
guess Ben Bender is now the newest member of your
Philadelphia Union.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
That's a name that the Internet's gonna love from it.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Anyhow, come in from chaildot right, Yes, yes he is.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
Okay, well, so that's a that's a I mean, look,
we were just talking about depth two seconds ago and
the Union.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
You're like, hold on, hold on, I gotcha. But yes,
Ben Bender is coming in.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
He, as Sebastian said, coming in from Charlotte, twenty four
years old. He's got one assistant, nine matches so far.
He's been playing for the USL club last year with
the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
He's got some potential. So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I'm actually texting Tommy Wilson live to see what he
says about this guy. So I'll let you know. Something
comes out. But guys, let's get into it. We've got
the return of Daniel Gazdag, the guy that stole Sebastian
Letto's scoring record from the Union, the epitome of evil,
you know, just coming back to now. I'm just kidding.
We love Daddy, But yeah, Columbus is coming back hot.
(24:49):
And this is this, this might be you you touted
Miami is the biggest game. This might be the biggest
game for the Union coming up in the month of May.
So Sebastian, you got it, got up any any insight
to the Returnal gaz Dag and the Columbus.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Crew, Now, I'm sorry, no, no, Insider is definitely a
good moment I think for him to be back here,
you know.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Yeah, it's a great thing for the Union.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
So hopefully he got you know, the chairs that he
deserved from from the fans.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
But yeah, it's gonna be a it's gonna be a
great game.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
I hope, you know, I really hope you're not gonna
be ready for them, because for me, he has the
best team in the history now really playing very well
in no building on what they've been doing the past years,
and if we remember how they came last year, they
can almost put their bid team, you know, in a
person and second half they put like all their started
in his cool show with the degro Si and he
(25:43):
was like such a big difference.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
So I hope, you know, we're going to be more ready.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
And try to give them a harder time that time
at Super Over.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Definitely, Adam, what are your thoughts on the crew coming
from Columbus?
Speaker 5 (25:58):
Well, the crew, I mean the crew themselves. They've been
having an interesting little bit run here. They are basically
a team that doesn't lose, but doesn't but they have
the same amount of wins as the Union so far.
They're kind of battling this out for position up there
in the upper echelons at the Eastern Conference.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
But you know, they've seemed vulnerable at times.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
They don't necessarily seem like the team that has the
exact snack that the Columbus crew of a couple of
years ago did, you know, But they are as talented
as any team in Major League Soccer. They're probably as
talented as any team on the continent, so you can't
take them lightly in any capacity. I think Daniel Daniel
Gazdag is going to have a heroes welcome back in Philadelphia,
(26:41):
mainly because, frankly, a lot of people did not want
to see him leave Philadelphia. So I think there's going
to be a very large portion of this Union, especially
since you know of Union counterculture and how they like
to you know, respond to moves by.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
The front office.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
I think there's going to be a very large response
for Gazdag when he is announced, and as we know,
he just signed a new deal with Columbus, so that
was immediate. They were just like, not only did we
want you to come here, we went to you here
through twenty twenty seven, with the club option for twenty
twenty eight. So the designated Hungarian is going to be
(27:19):
playing in Central Ohio for a while, it looks like.
And they seem happy about it. He seems happy about it.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
It's it's fun to see these players become almost darlings
in this league where I think five six years ago
Daniel Gazdad didn't understand if he'd be in the Major
League Soccer guy forever, and now he might be a
stalwart of this league, you know, So.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
It's going to be interesting.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, do you think about it. When
Gazdag came, you thought he had eyes on Europe to
return to Europe, and now he's going to be an
MLS er for life. So it says something about the league,
you know. And I'm happy for him, but you know,
I'm be more happy when the Union stump a mud
hole in Columbus and take over first place, because this
is a battle for first place, and simple it goes.
(28:04):
Columbus is up on two points and we're tied with Cincinnati,
so this is literally let's get first place. Let's go,
let's rock this month of May, you know, so I'm
excited for it. And then I'm hoping, you know, we
got the Galaxy on Wednesday. I'm hoping we're not thinking
too much about that. Let's just focus on Columbus and
worry about you know, Lord Helmet when he comes into
(28:25):
town and taking care of business there. Guys, I think
we're gonna put a bowl on this. But real quick, Adam,
you wanted to talk. We got another friendly from coming
in that got announced by the Union. I got the
email last night.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Yes, on June seventh, our old buddies at List we'll
be coming back to play us. Because the last time
we played Atlas it was very, very nice. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
There was no contentions at all. No one got mad
at nobody, especially no one on our social media team.
Speaker 6 (28:54):
No, everything was okay.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
So yes, our friends from I believe Guadala, they'll be
back to play us again and for a friendly this
time that I am hoping is very friendly.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
It's gonna be great because the Neon balloon vendors will
be in the parking lots of Super Up Park. Would
you never see that unless at Lists or Club America
come to town.
Speaker 6 (29:15):
It's really fun time.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Also, it's a culture vibe.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Also, it's gonna be one of the moments where you
see this as a litmus test for if an Open
Cup game gives you only this mini fans, but a
friendly against at let's get you a sold out stadium.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Exactly, Sebastian, you've got the radio broadcast this weekend.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Yes, I would be by use Dave. So exciting for
that because it is the best game.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
To you know, talk about when you took about can onbus,
you know, first against seconds.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
I love those games, So yeah, it'll be exciting.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Yeah, and everybody remember Dave Leno does his chalk talk
on the plot not at the plaza but at Union Yards,
so make sure you check that out. Sabah, you got
the camp. We still got room for for some kids
out there.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Yes, there is a lot of room gone coming out.
You know. It's gonna be fun and of July.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
You know we think the twentieth to the twenty spot
of July and excited about it.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
So why with christ I'll be there.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
It's kind of a little the case slash camp for me,
and it's or it was a good time.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Adam, I think we have to go out there and
do like a live pod where we just you know,
comment on the on the camp.
Speaker 6 (30:24):
Oh my god, do not threaten me with a good time.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
As a person who has worked camps for like sixty
percent of his life.
Speaker 6 (30:31):
I have so many thoughts that could be a good time.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Maybe maybe, maybe, maybe someone will hook us up with
staff T shirt. You know, it'll be a good time.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
You're welcome, guys.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
Oh my god, there's not staff polos though.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I'm walking and Adam, my email box has been getting flooded.
Apparently the hot bird are back.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
The Hot Birds are back. Do you remember the Fusion minute?
That was a fun time.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Anyway, we will give you a hot birch thirty five
seconds and then we got to get out of here.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
That's fine, now, it's cool. I'm actually the one recording this,
but anyway, that's fine. Yeah, it's We actually are now
two and oh. It is the best start that the
Hotbirds have had since the Obama administration. I wish I
was making that sentence up, but it's true. So we
are now two and o after knocking off the Toronto
Rush in Philadelphia by three points. It was in nineteen.
(31:20):
It was a nineteen to sixteen victory at home at
Newman University on Star Wars night. And this leads into
this weekend where Toronto might try to get revenge because
we're heading up north of the border. Tariffs be damned,
We're playing the Toronto Rush in Toronto to go three
and oh and to see if we hold on to
the number one spot in the Eastern Division, which for me.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
Is a weird sentence to say out loud.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
So I mean, if you ever thought about the ultimate
frisbee experience, now is the time. Our next home game
will be May twenty third against New York, a huge
rivalry game, so that might be the one.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
I tell you what, the Hot are the second hottest
team in Philadelphia behind your Philadelphia Union. Everybody. I hope
to see you out on the plaza and in the
stadium at subar rou Park versus Columbus Sebastian Latwo Adam Booth.
Thank you very much. Everyone, have a great day and
let's go Union.
Ex president of the Sons of Ben, Matt Gantastic ax
head Capo, Adam Booth, ex player and forever a Union
legend Sebastian Latoo. These may be exes, but they're the
experts when it comes to the Philadelphia Union. This is
exes in the U.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome back everybody to exes and the U. We're sitting
here in episode number thirty six again. I'm Matt Kannazuk,
former president of the Sun's Ben. I'm joined by ex
head Kapo, Adam Booth and Forever Union legend Sebastian Latoo.
And one of us is sitting on a golf course
and two of us are in our home offices. So Sebastian,
(00:41):
how are things out at the truest open at the
Philadelphia Cricket Cup.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, it's pretty good. That's pretty quiet. Seems to be
the ringy so not maybe many people.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I can't yet, but excited to see how good those
guys are.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Now, did Rory ask you for your autograph? Is that true?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
And it is nuts? But checking us all is.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
The same same. Get to while you're out there. Well, everybody,
we have got a busy, busy episode. We've got to
talk about Montreal. We've got to talk about the return
of the US Open Cup. We've got the busiest may
I've seen for this team and I don't know how long.
And I've got a review of Snapdragon Stadium since I
was out in San Diego to watch them play. So
(01:24):
why don't we get into it? Guys? One is everyone
doing well? And two? Who wants to take on Montreal first?
Adam or Saba? Who wants to talk about that game?
Speaker 5 (01:36):
I'll I'll let Seber it took a break for once.
He usually leads off first. But I'll take a particular
interest in this one, mainly because I don't necessarily believe
it was a great game.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
In fact, I would almost argue it was a bad game.
I would say that the Union looked weird.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
And I do eventually want to talk to Seventh about
this because I have a philosophy about why they play
as well.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
But look, you get.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Yourself a two to one victory, You get yourself an
early goal, an early goal that was beautiful, well orchestrated,
definitely put together by you know, a great run, and
it looks like the team and it looked like they
were the Mighty Ducks there for a second.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
Honestly, it was.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
It was pretty intense to start the game, and then
it just kind of seemed like they forgot where the
gas pedal was and they had a couple of opportunities,
had a couple of chances. Montreal made a couple of
defensive stops and saves here and there, and then Montreal
gets their first goal at home of the entire campaign,
which I'm like, okay, it looked like there was a
(02:39):
lot of ball watching there at the end, A couple
of hands are going up looking for an off side
that was definitely not coming, and you go into halftime
one one on the road, and you kind of leave
it late. You know, you finally get the game winner,
you know, Indiana gets it Indian Area. But it's like,
(03:00):
you get the game winner, you put the team away.
But it just felt kind of stale for most of
the game. For me, I just kind of was watching
a Union team that just it looked like a team
that was looking at their opponent and saying, we're supposed
to beat you, so eventually this will just kind of
happen through osmosis and it did, thankfully, but it definitely
(03:22):
had an opportunity to be one of those classic trap
games where the Union are walking away from Montreal with
only a point when they definitely should have had all three.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I mean, Suba, what were you thinking? Because I
kind of agree with Adam. It was a great start,
terrible middle end it well, but they definitely look like
they went up to Montreal and thought we've got this
and maybe we're on cruise control.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean it's just like you say,
I feel like we took about it before.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
It's like those game when you play.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Against the team we didn't win a game, didn't like
score four goals, like you know, it's the mentality did
you bring before the game to kind of awake and
ready to go? I think they were.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And the first goal, you.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Know, in two minutes amazing, like coming out of the
bag passing and like.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Oh my god, like they are they are on.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I think as soon as you just go like that early,
then you believe like, oh, the game is going to
be too easy, you know what I mean. So I
don't know, it's it was. Yeah, definitely not the best
game from the Union, but you know, at the end
they were able to react to another goal from you know,
a forward coming up the bench.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
With the Macro who are giving the win.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So at the end, you know, you just you know,
take the three points and you know, move on to
the next one.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
But was it the best game of the Union. Definitely not.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
It was a bit boring, you know, especially after we
got the goal and when Montreal came into the back
into the game. But yeah, I think we are just
going to remember the three points on this one and
and that's it and just move on now to to
Columbus this weekend and it's going to be a much
bigger opponent. And the motivation now you can see it's
very much different when you play columb is the first
(04:59):
comparent to play Montreal.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Where were they did?
Speaker 6 (05:03):
Was that to do?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Because they got nine months to what we took about
in in.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Three games, you know, and now let's let's see what
we can do against the you know, the best team.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Maybe this, yeah, could have said it better.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And it's funny. Matt Doyle on MLS Soccer Soccer dot
Com just he had a great quote here was Montreal
actually played well? This teabe isn't quite as bad as
the record indicates. So maybe we can take that away
that Montreal, you know, we shouldn't be looking at the
record that you know, they fired their coach, they were
a new coach. They're maybe they're a little bit more
talented than we thought, but definitely the Union did not
(05:36):
bring it. Uh. The opener was great with Indy and
then thank god, Uri came off the bench and got
off the snide. But yeah, now I left watching my
iPad a little bit after halftime so I can make
it out to snap Dragon Stadium. And let me tell you,
Chucky had a night. My man had five goals versus
(05:59):
down US. But the thing I went out for was
to check out the stadium, Like fifteen minute drive out
from downtown San Diego to University California, San Diego to
snap Dragon, which was quill Com, but they leveled it
and they built a new MLS slash football stadium for
San Diego State. Eh is what I could say. It
(06:22):
gave me Miami vibes, gave me, you know, nothing spectacular.
But I will warn you when we go out there
next year if we do play the away stands give
you DC vibes, Adam. I mean, you are up in
the corner and it is steep looking. I stayed on
the concourse and I was like, Nope, not even going
to try to go up. There wasn't gonna go see
(06:43):
any Dallas fans. So that was snapdragon. Now, I kind
of feel like the US Open Cup got a lot
to say about this, the return of the Open Cup
to Super Park. It was Wednesday night, played Indie eleven,
and I was excited to see Indy eleven, but I
feel like the Union kind of brought the energy from Montreal. Adam,
(07:06):
did you get to see any of this match?
Speaker 6 (07:09):
So I did capo a little bit.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
I didn't do too and you go too hard with it,
but I did capo a little bit.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
And I generally felt that.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
The vibes of the team were kind of the same
reflection of we should probably win this game. Let's just
go do that then, And in a similar fashion, you
score a very early goal, you know, on the board
by Alejandro, and then you just kind of walk through
a lot of the rest of the game. Now, I
(07:42):
will say this two things that are very true. The
goalie for Indy eleven was putting on an absolute clinic
like at the end of the match, I literally was
just like, this man might be better than the third
string goalie for Indye eleven. I think he might be
able to find himself a contract, and that's the beauty
of the Open Cup. Sometimes you get discovered. But I
(08:06):
just felt this team was playing on a level that
just wasn't reflective of what they could be in. Yes,
you put in Andrew Rick, you know, you put in
a lot of the backups. Cavin Sullivan gets his first
authentic Union start and beautiful moment for the child, But
it just felt to me like you kind of were like,
(08:28):
we're gonna win this. We're top and may or we're
one of the top teams in Major League Soccer right now.
This will translate into a w at home against low
Lely Indy eleven and one. Indye eleven is not a
bad club, you know, if you look at that No, no,
they're not as bad as their record, and they're a
well ran club in a lot of ways. They're definitely
(08:49):
one of the clubs in the USL that I think
has the potential of if they ever made the leap
to Major League Soccer, they can make a transition as
an organization.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
You know, I think they're that good.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
I just felt as a whole you I mean to
go to penaltyes with that team, it just kind of
felt that you just weren't taking this even seriously enough,
even if it was the backups. And again, you got
thirty three shots.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
You had thirty three shots, you had eleven.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Of them on net, and the goalie for them had
ten saves.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Well, five of cavin shots went right to his stomach.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Exactly what I mean.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
And these are facts. You know, they don't exactly tell
you how they make each save. They just tell you
the grand total of saves, Matt.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
But it's true.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
And but the thing about it is is you've had
plenty of opportunities.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
You got to finish on how to fire.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
You have to figure out how to finish, you know,
you have to figure out how to make it where
you can get in the way. Oh, you can finish
a lot of these shots. And it's like, it's not
really a skill issue. It's not a talent issue. What
it is is it's a finishing issue, just straight out.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah. I mean, listen, we knew coming in that there
was going to be a whole different line up. I mean,
Ali Medoya starts, Kevin Sullivan starts right there. That's just
an age gap. I mean, that's a generational gap and
both played one hundred and twenty two minutes. This thing
went in the roster. I think was said at eighteen
(10:23):
people like Donovan and Quinn Sullivan weren't even on the
roster because of rest and just not enough roster. So
you had some guys that haven't played, and you had
guys that were really you know, I know the front office,
I know Ernst and everybody was very conscious of they
wanted to rest guys because you've got a big game Saturday,
You've got a game the following Wednesday, you advance, you
(10:46):
get another game against the winner of Pittsburgh New York City,
which we'll get into. So the roster was disjoin it.
But I don't know if the guys. I think they
kind of walked through it. And I'll tell you Indianapolis
was really physical. They were a lot bigger. I mean,
Adam you might have saw there. They're they're they're forward.
Their center forward looked like Vladi Devac coming up and
(11:06):
down the I mean he was seven foot. I don't
know where the hell this guy came from, but he
looked like Lurch from you know, the Adams family, and
he's barreling up the field and their center backs were
big dudes, so I mean they and they came to
play physical. And keep in mind, Indy eleven hasn't had
a good year, but they've won their last two open
(11:27):
up in extra time or penalty, so you know they
they had a plan and they were gonna slow it up, mucking, grind,
get physical. And I think the refs, you know, I'm
sure I'm biased, but the rests were I think rooting
for the underdog, and it showed on some of the calls, but.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
A little, a little favoritism to the the USL here after.
Speaker 6 (11:51):
Literally, I don't think any of them survived this round.
I think I think it was who yeah, right right?
I wonder who lost to them? That would just be
so embarrassing anyway, And.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
The last thing I want to say, I found out
I did some digging, but the journalism had as Adam
would say, the attendance. I didn't even hear what they
said the attendance, but I was there. It wasn't very high.
Riverend was not packed. I could hear the River Ends
sounded good. Wasn't packed. The opposite field not packed. This
(12:26):
is a free ticket for seasons ticket holders, so maybe
you gave it away, maybe you didn't go. They sold
five hundred additional seats, five hundred seats at them that
weren't given away for season ticket holders. So everybody that
was crying about the US Open Cup and blah blah blah,
you did not show up, lain and simple, and that's
(12:49):
the reason that some of these things might go away.
US Soccer didn't promote it as well as you know
they could have, didn't promote it the way that MLS
might promote something. So I'm hoping for the next one
when we play Pittsburgh that we're not outnumbered by the
yinsers coming across, because Indy eleven came in hard with
(13:09):
what'd you say, Adam seven eight?
Speaker 5 (13:12):
They had ten of the nicest people that I was
so rude to at the end of the game based
off of the fact that everyone wanted to be kung
fu fighting at the end of that match. And I
kind of feel a little bit embarrassed by it, but
not enough, because I also believe ultra culture in America
is soft, that we need to be like Lisa yelling
at each other more often. But anyway, I digress, but
like again, shout out to them any any group of
(13:35):
people who want to spend their Wednesday night in Chester,
Pennsylvania when that's not their home city.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Salute to you, I.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Have Chester is nicer than Indianapolis. Let's just face come on,
and I'll say it often. So now, Sebastian, if you
can hear us, did you see the Open Cup and
what were your thoughts of the Union versus Indy eleven?
Right now?
Speaker 4 (13:59):
So I thought I didn't see the game because I
was doing my bill license in Massachusetts, so I missed it.
But I was able to just see the penalty kicks
at the end, which you know, Rick did a good job.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
We did a great job.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
And you know I caught My.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Wife was at the game and she kind of give
me a little play by players. She prettymuch told me
what you were saying, that we were lacking, you know
in the offense, you know, being really stick and going
the good because we had the chances, but like you said,
like she was saying me, like Kevin got some shots,
but traight as a good keeper and we were not
able to finish. So going early again, yeah, maybe not
(14:39):
in our advantage because then we can offer believe that
everything's gonna go smoothly. But yeah, again, you know they
want they go through. And now we are into the
ext raun Do we know who we play yet or no, we.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Do, and we're going to get into that next because
I want to go through our main schedule. So we'll
go through that. But one last thing on the concourt
and I was walking around, I saw Ian, our center back.
He's looking good. He just has like one of those
Knoprin knee braces. I think my man is coming back
earlier than expected. That's just that's me going out on
(15:11):
a limb. But he looked good, So I think, you know,
fingers crossed. After we get through this month of May,
we may have some reinforcements on the defensive line. But yeah,
let's go through this. This schedule, Adam Sebastian. This Saturday,
Columbus Crew seven point thirty. Wednesday, the Galaxy come back
(15:32):
to Subaru Park, so we have that. The following we
go down to Atlanta, and then on the twenty first
of May, the US Open comes back to Subaru Park.
When the Pittsburgh River Hounds invaded. So this is a
challenge to everybody. We cannot be It's like four hours
(15:53):
for these guys they want to get out of Pittsburgh.
So Pittsburgh's probably going to be coming with I don't know,
five hundred one thousand strong. We better be outnumbering the
Pittsburgh River Helm fans, you know, And Adam, you are right.
They are the last non MLS team in the round
of sixteen.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
May twenty weekends.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, May twenty fourth, which is I guess Memorial Day weekend.
A certain Argentinian comes back to Subaru Park with his
band of mercenaries. So Miami the twenty eighth, were at Toronto,
and then we end the month at Dallas. That is
(16:33):
a hell of a May right there, guys. So I
don't know, let's let's get the club legend to let
us know. Sebastian, what do you think of that gauntlet
of games coming up? I mean they've got a bunch
of Saturday Wednesday Saturday Wednesday games and some travel. I
mean they're going down to Atlanta and they're going up
(16:54):
to Toronto and then out to Dallas. Really the first
I'm gonna say, it's the first day, so you know
it's going to be warm. So what are your thoughts
on the upcoming schedule? Saber?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
I mean it's tough. It's you know, every three days,
it's double Insadam. It's fun, you know, especially having a
them being now second you know in the in the
league and you play good games, you know, So you
play Columbus Saturday, the first one, so the connupasion is
already here.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Then you you know, go Galaxy.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
You were you know, the defending champ who are struggling
a little bit. But back at home and then you
know you plan on how you already play your beat,
but you know in a night stadium, but there and
then you open Cup again and in Miami, so you know,
the motivation is right here for everybody. It's going to
be you know, not easy physically for the team, and
we're going to be probably some rotation in open Cap
(17:45):
especially and.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Maybe the Wednesday game.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
But uh yeah, it's it's already you know in Montreal.
You know, like the starting you know eleven that Prody
can choose, not maybe the one where thinking about, but
yeah he did a little rotation in that, and you're
going to see it again in those games. I think
it's going to kind of talk a lot with the
(18:08):
entire group and see what is going to be. Uh
you know, the best for physic people, for everybody, and
you will see a lot of rotation thinking of whatever
it is so during the week and who you know,
who is hot, who is not, And hopefully we can
keep you know, getting good results. But it's going to
be for sure, a tough months and then you will
(18:30):
feel like, what's going on after June and July, after
the months of maybe but.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
We need, you know, to keep going and.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You know, keep keep winning, especially when when we're at home.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah, they definitely needed to keep this from Madam going Adam.
I mean, I'm exhausted thinking about how many times I
just have to go to the park. You might have
a capital a little too, I mean, what are you
thinking about the schedule.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
I'm sorry, sir, I have a child. There's the greatest
excuse to not less forty end these games but watch
them on my phone whilst holding my baby and playing
MLB the show.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
But yes, I look, this is why you have depth.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
This is why you know you probably kicked the tires
on a lot of these players in the Open Cup
for that exact reason. You know this is Look, you
have a very good second team, you have a really
good academy. You know, there might be some of those
mid season signings we had a go last year where
we're just like, hey, remember this homegrown he's ready. He
might not be ready, but we kind of need someone
(19:32):
to play right now because bodies bodies bodies. But look,
this is going to be a great opportunity for a
lot of individuals. You're going to have to dig deep
into the roster, so a lot of guys are going
to get playing time.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
You know, you're not going.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
To be like, what part of the top three or
top four striker situation that we're gonna have to play
because now Chris Donovan's getting starts too, So shout out
to the man.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
Look, I think this is going to be a test.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
But but you also got to look at the caliber
of opponent you know that we're going to be playing
at this moment. I mean, these are opportunity to eat
a lot of food in a short period of time.
The only opponent there that really gives me any pauses Miami.
You know, LA is going through one of what I
would say is the most historical plummet from a team
(20:21):
that was good into pretty much obscurity and we're not
even a third through the season. You know Atlanta is
still struggling. You know, Miami is still good. But like Pittsburgh,
look Pittsburgh at home. I hope you win that game.
I think you should be in a position to win
that game. Toronto has been struggling so much that they
just lost to Montreal on penalty kicks. You know, Dallas
(20:43):
is a weird situation. So I'm like, this could be
feast time. You know, this could be an opportunity for
the Union to actually put themselves in a position for
not only advancing in the Open Cup, but also putting
some themselves in some possible gap between the rest of
the Eastern Conference when it comes down to looking for
(21:04):
you know, seating, looking for a playoff berth and heck,
you're still in the supporter shield conversation right now, you know,
the couple of wins down this road in a stumble
by Vancouver here, you're right in the mix.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
So I'm saying there's a lot to play for in
this month.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
As much as it is a gauntlet, could be an
opportunity for a lot of prosperity for the Union.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah, so, I mean it's going to be an interesting month.
I think I'm only going to miss one home game
due to travel for work, so I'll be glued to that.
But it's going to be interesting now regular good old
fashioned news. The Club World Cup single game tickets finally
went on sale. Adam, I'm looking at it. We could
get tickets in the upper bowl of Lincoln Financial Field
(21:47):
for about fifty five bucks. So it's finally getting back
down there. So playing your world club, your Club World
Cup tournament. So we get to see the Blues Man,
the Nashville trip Philly sports trips dot Com. You get
to hang out with Sebastian Lattu. We're talking to Dave
Leno to come hang out. We're talking to some other people.
(22:08):
It's gonna be a really good time. I'm gonna be
one of the tour guides. I do know Nashville. I
will get you off a Broadway onto better spots. It's
gonna be a good time. Fourth July Fireworks rooftop deck,
Philly Sports trips dot Com. Actually, Adam TC and I
are going to be on the concourse given out information
this game against this Saturday, So if you want to
(22:31):
come out and see us, we'll be out there talking
trip and then August second, Frankfurt comes to town. So
we're gonna try to with the pod, partner up with
Braheuse Schmidt, maybe do something with the Frankfurt folks. So
we'll let you know around the soccer world news. I
wanted to talk about it last week and I didn't. Adam,
I don't know if you're happy about this or not,
but the NWSL filed an application with US Soccer to
(22:57):
launch a Division two league in twenty twenty for player development,
which I think is really good. But I also think
it might be bad if you want to get a
franchise in Philadelphia, because it sounds like you can't just
get one team. You're gonna have to have a development team.
So I don't know. That's that was my thought. And Adam,
(23:18):
you've got some breaking news. You want to break that
in right now.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
Yeah, So this happened on the Union's social media page
about twenty minutes ago. Ben Bender was signed by the
Philadelphia Union. Midfielder. He's been he's come in. I have
very little information other than that, and I will try
to gather some more from my sources in contacts. We
(23:43):
guess Ben Bender is now the newest member of your
Philadelphia Union.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
That's a name that the Internet's gonna love from it.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Anyhow, come in from chaildot right, Yes, yes he is.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
Okay, well, so that's a that's a I mean, look,
we were just talking about depth two seconds ago and
the Union.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
You're like, hold on, hold on, I gotcha. But yes,
Ben Bender is coming in.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
He, as Sebastian said, coming in from Charlotte, twenty four
years old. He's got one assistant, nine matches so far.
He's been playing for the USL club last year with
the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
He's got some potential. So we'll see.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I'm actually texting Tommy Wilson live to see what he
says about this guy. So I'll let you know. Something
comes out. But guys, let's get into it. We've got
the return of Daniel Gazdag, the guy that stole Sebastian
Letto's scoring record from the Union, the epitome of evil,
you know, just coming back to now. I'm just kidding.
We love Daddy, But yeah, Columbus is coming back hot.
(24:49):
And this is this, this might be you you touted
Miami is the biggest game. This might be the biggest
game for the Union coming up in the month of May.
So Sebastian, you got it, got up any any insight
to the Returnal gaz Dag and the Columbus.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Crew, Now, I'm sorry, no, no, Insider is definitely a
good moment I think for him to be back here,
you know.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Yeah, it's a great thing for the Union.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
So hopefully he got you know, the chairs that he
deserved from from the fans.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
But yeah, it's gonna be a it's gonna be a
great game.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
I hope, you know, I really hope you're not gonna
be ready for them, because for me, he has the
best team in the history now really playing very well
in no building on what they've been doing the past years,
and if we remember how they came last year, they
can almost put their bid team, you know, in a
person and second half they put like all their started
in his cool show with the degro Si and he
(25:43):
was like such a big difference.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
So I hope, you know, we're going to be more ready.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
And try to give them a harder time that time
at Super Over.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Definitely, Adam, what are your thoughts on the crew coming
from Columbus?
Speaker 5 (25:58):
Well, the crew, I mean the crew themselves. They've been
having an interesting little bit run here. They are basically
a team that doesn't lose, but doesn't but they have
the same amount of wins as the Union so far.
They're kind of battling this out for position up there
in the upper echelons at the Eastern Conference.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
But you know, they've seemed vulnerable at times.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
They don't necessarily seem like the team that has the
exact snack that the Columbus crew of a couple of
years ago did, you know, But they are as talented
as any team in Major League Soccer. They're probably as
talented as any team on the continent, so you can't
take them lightly in any capacity. I think Daniel Daniel
Gazdag is going to have a heroes welcome back in Philadelphia,
(26:41):
mainly because, frankly, a lot of people did not want
to see him leave Philadelphia. So I think there's going
to be a very large portion of this Union, especially
since you know of Union counterculture and how they like
to you know, respond to moves by.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
The front office.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
I think there's going to be a very large response
for Gazdag when he is announced, and as we know,
he just signed a new deal with Columbus, so that
was immediate. They were just like, not only did we
want you to come here, we went to you here
through twenty twenty seven, with the club option for twenty
twenty eight. So the designated Hungarian is going to be
(27:19):
playing in Central Ohio for a while, it looks like.
And they seem happy about it. He seems happy about it.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
It's it's fun to see these players become almost darlings
in this league where I think five six years ago
Daniel Gazdad didn't understand if he'd be in the Major
League Soccer guy forever, and now he might be a
stalwart of this league, you know, So.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
It's going to be interesting.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, do you think about it. When
Gazdag came, you thought he had eyes on Europe to
return to Europe, and now he's going to be an
MLS er for life. So it says something about the league,
you know. And I'm happy for him, but you know,
I'm be more happy when the Union stump a mud
hole in Columbus and take over first place, because this
is a battle for first place, and simple it goes.
(28:04):
Columbus is up on two points and we're tied with Cincinnati,
so this is literally let's get first place. Let's go,
let's rock this month of May, you know, so I'm
excited for it. And then I'm hoping, you know, we
got the Galaxy on Wednesday. I'm hoping we're not thinking
too much about that. Let's just focus on Columbus and
worry about you know, Lord Helmet when he comes into
(28:25):
town and taking care of business there. Guys, I think
we're gonna put a bowl on this. But real quick, Adam,
you wanted to talk. We got another friendly from coming
in that got announced by the Union. I got the
email last night.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Yes, on June seventh, our old buddies at List we'll
be coming back to play us. Because the last time
we played Atlas it was very, very nice. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
There was no contentions at all. No one got mad
at nobody, especially no one on our social media team.
Speaker 6 (28:54):
No, everything was okay.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
So yes, our friends from I believe Guadala, they'll be
back to play us again and for a friendly this
time that I am hoping is very friendly.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
It's gonna be great because the Neon balloon vendors will
be in the parking lots of Super Up Park. Would
you never see that unless at Lists or Club America
come to town.
Speaker 6 (29:15):
It's really fun time.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Also, it's a culture vibe.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Also, it's gonna be one of the moments where you
see this as a litmus test for if an Open
Cup game gives you only this mini fans, but a
friendly against at let's get you a sold out stadium.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Exactly, Sebastian, you've got the radio broadcast this weekend.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Yes, I would be by use Dave. So exciting for
that because it is the best game.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
To you know, talk about when you took about can onbus,
you know, first against seconds.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
I love those games, So yeah, it'll be exciting.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Yeah, and everybody remember Dave Leno does his chalk talk
on the plot not at the plaza but at Union Yards,
so make sure you check that out. Sabah, you got
the camp. We still got room for for some kids
out there.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Yes, there is a lot of room gone coming out.
You know. It's gonna be fun and of July.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
You know we think the twentieth to the twenty spot
of July and excited about it.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
So why with christ I'll be there.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
It's kind of a little the case slash camp for me,
and it's or it was a good time.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Adam, I think we have to go out there and
do like a live pod where we just you know,
comment on the on the camp.
Speaker 6 (30:24):
Oh my god, do not threaten me with a good time.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
As a person who has worked camps for like sixty
percent of his life.
Speaker 6 (30:31):
I have so many thoughts that could be a good time.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Maybe maybe, maybe, maybe someone will hook us up with
staff T shirt. You know, it'll be a good time.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
You're welcome, guys.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
Oh my god, there's not staff polos though.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I'm walking and Adam, my email box has been getting flooded.
Apparently the hot bird are back.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
The Hot Birds are back. Do you remember the Fusion minute?
That was a fun time.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Anyway, we will give you a hot birch thirty five
seconds and then we got to get out of here.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
That's fine, now, it's cool. I'm actually the one recording this,
but anyway, that's fine. Yeah, it's We actually are now
two and oh. It is the best start that the
Hotbirds have had since the Obama administration. I wish I
was making that sentence up, but it's true. So we
are now two and o after knocking off the Toronto
Rush in Philadelphia by three points. It was in nineteen.
(31:20):
It was a nineteen to sixteen victory at home at
Newman University on Star Wars night. And this leads into
this weekend where Toronto might try to get revenge because
we're heading up north of the border. Tariffs be damned,
We're playing the Toronto Rush in Toronto to go three
and oh and to see if we hold on to
the number one spot in the Eastern Division, which for me.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
Is a weird sentence to say out loud.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
So I mean, if you ever thought about the ultimate
frisbee experience, now is the time. Our next home game
will be May twenty third against New York, a huge
rivalry game, so that might be the one.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
I tell you what, the Hot are the second hottest
team in Philadelphia behind your Philadelphia Union. Everybody. I hope
to see you out on the plaza and in the
stadium at subar rou Park versus Columbus Sebastian Latwo Adam Booth.
Thank you very much. Everyone, have a great day and
let's go Union.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com