May 31, 2025 • 46 mins
Everything’s coming up Union — and it’s about time more people started talking about it. In a city obsessed with underdogs and overachievers, the Boys in Blue have quietly become one of the most dominant forces in Philly sports. So where’s the buzz? Well… you’ve found the right place. Hear what Seba, Matty G & Adam have to say!
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 another episode. I can't believe it,
episode number thirty eight of Exes in the Un. I'm
former president of the Sons of Ben mac Dazac. I'm
joining with ex head Capito Adam Booth and of course
Union legend Sebastian la Two, gentlemen, We've got a lot
to talk about. How's everybody's week happening?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Good? Good, solid week so far Union I've been playing well,
so I can't really complain.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Yes, very good too.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
You know he didn't fist in the East though, hopefully
another good game.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Sad than us.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, and we've got a lot to catch up on
because in this week, because of this busy schedule, we've
got to talk about how the Union of the Kings
of Pennsylvania beating the River Hounds. We've got, you know,
just MESSI comes to town and of course Toronto. So
where where do we want to start off, guys.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I like chronological order historically, So let's talk about our
friends from the Allegheny County.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah, a four to one win over the River Hounds.
Bruno opens it up, Indiana doubles the lead. Dj J
gets one. A Villanova product scored for Pittsburgh. I think
that's the Pope's influence. And then Jovan capped it off.
And here's my hot take. And some people are going
(01:44):
to disagree with me, But do you think Calvin should
have taken that penalty kick instead of Bruno?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Absolutely not? Why would he? What has he done now?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
First goal, first professional goal at fifteen.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I look, Seba can probably be go into this more
than I can, but I feel like I would rather
have my first real professional goal come and play as
opposed to a penalty kick of the Open Cup. I
don't know, that's just me personally.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I want to hear take.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah, no, I'm with a dam on this one.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Don't let the fifteen you will take a pk, especially
like you know he put like the pretty much the
real team on, you know, the sales performance. Bruno is
looking to get some goals to get his confidence getting high.
You cannot like give it to Kevin, I would say
maybe if it's like five zero and there's nobody you know,
(02:38):
has the starter on the team, and you know we're like, okay,
just take it.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
But no, I'm with a dam on this one.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
You know you need to prove more and you know
it's it's not a gift and it's a sellous game.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So then then I'm going to petition the Union to
take away Danny Skulls and have Sebastian be the leading
goal scorer since most of his goals are on PK.
That's what we established here. Good good work by us.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
But we could talk about it.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
In all seriousness, guys, what was your take on the
on the on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds game.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Look, I think we did you did your job, you know.
I think one of the things with the Open Cup is,
especially with the early rounds, is you know, there's the
urge to get the younger guys in, to get guys
who don't get as many minutes in, and that can
sometimes mess with the flow. That can sometimes mess with
you know, the mojo that you might be having going
(03:34):
and teams that have been playing together. Because the teams
that you will you will play from the USL and
the lower divisions will always be sending their best guns.
You know, they will always be sending their first team,
so you're always combating against their very best and you're
hoping your second team is better than their first team
half the time. So but I think you know, you
(03:55):
learned from that game against Indiana. You were like, you realize,
all right, take this seriously. Make sure you know you
get a strong eleven out there, and they took care
of business early and often. You know, I think a
lot of people are almost disappointed they gave up the goal,
but you know, for to one decisive victory against the
(04:16):
Pittsburgh and you know, you go into the next round.
Now you're in the quarterfinals. You're in the Elite eight already,
you know, and you got an opponent in Red Bull
that you're kind of used to. But you know, you
should have some momentum. And I think if you're the Union,
you need to be all in on the US Open Cup.
I think this is a tournament that's very winnable based
(04:37):
off of who's remaining in the brackets. You know, if
you consider yourself one of the better teams in Major
League Soccer, you should very much think you should be
able to win this trophy. So I think moving forward,
you know, Bradley and the boys from here on out
should be really focused on this tournament.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Couldn't agree more. Sebah, What were your thoughts on that
Pittsburgh game.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
I think it was a great, great game from the
seathing very serious. I don't think Petersburg was at the
level you know, the Union compared to me is the
previous game where we didn't we put ourselves to the
level of you know, the other team of Indianapolis.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
This is one I think we just you know, we
were fine.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
You know, yes we give like give up a goal,
but in some times it's like, you know, it was
kind of I think serious from everybody we saw in midfield,
what I like, you know, it's kind of like lots
of different goals.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
No, Denly got one. Look at you got one and
you can see that, you know, everybody's confident. So No,
it was great.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Now qualifinal already, and I'm very happy that we are
still at home because, like Adam said, it's I don't
think it's a hard competition to kind of go far.
If you are curious and if you know you play
the right team, but the field, the home field, ads mantage,
it's it's big, you know, so can we get on
a run and you know you win the next one
against the right Bulls and it's a semi finals so
(05:56):
it's you know, it's right there. But there's a little
break in between the now in the next round. So
let's see where the team is at in July and
we'll see.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
But I'm sure.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
Brady's been to take that game, you know, even more
fairthly since we're in quarterfinal.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, and and to your points, I mean, we're hoping
the home crowd picks it up, Adam. We keep talking
about it and let's just leave it to Jonathan Tannemwald, Adam.
If you read in the Inquiry for All that the
team's core fan base protests at the League's Cup last
year and signaled that cared about the Open Cup more.
(06:33):
Wednesday's crowd was remarkably small. Announced is just two thy
two hundred and forty six. I'm hoping people start putting
up or shutting up on on this one, so I'd
love to see it be a full crowd for Red Bull.
This is the first one I'm missing because of work,
but I already opted in, So I don't know. Maybe
I will do a contest and I'll give people listeners
(06:56):
my two tickets in the River and for the Red
Bull game, you know, their second row in the River
all seats. So hopefully we get more people. Adam, you
feel like I feel like you got a thought there.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Look, and here's the thing. I'm a full I protested
on behalf of the US Open Cup because I believe
it is a tournament that is essential to the fabric
of American soccer. And as much as I understand the
economics and the gravitas of what the League's Cup is
trying to create making it an interleague competition a continental competition,
(07:27):
you know, I still believe in the League's Cup, or
I still believe in the US Open Cup as something
that is important to US Soccer and should be important
to Major League Soccer by proxy. However, this doesn't shock
me in any capacity, because I've been to Open Cup
finals where we've had less games than friendlies against Frankfurt
(07:49):
or less people. You know, I've this tournament, by and
large is not taken seriously by the core of the
Union fan base. For whatever reason, I have yet to
understand it because historically it has been our best opportunity
to win silverware, you know history, So it for me,
(08:12):
I love this tournament just on itself, but it also
just seems like an opportunity and like, at this point,
the Union are three games away from a trophy. You know,
I think that's something that you really need to put
into perspective, and I don't think enough people kind of
understand what that means. Like you're three wins away from
a trophy, You're three wins away from from putting yourself
in a position to qualify for this Champions Cup league,
(08:34):
you know, extra avaganza, and you finally put something substantial
in your cabinet, you know, like this is something that
like I love the Supporter shield to itself to death,
but as by and large, not enough of America takes
it seriously because we don't use the European model of
you know, most points at the end wins you the title.
(08:54):
So winning an Open Cup it would be your first
real substantial piece of silverware. It's it's not shocking to me,
but it is highly disappointing to me how people have
approached this tournament.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, and I blame US Soccer more than anything, because
I don't think they do a great job promoting it.
They don't make it friendly for the MLS teams to participate.
They you know, there's just so much wrong. But well,
I'll end the US Open Cup talk with just letting
you know we host the Red Bulls, Minnesota United hosts
the Fire, Nashville is taken on DC United, so Nashville's
(09:31):
in the East, and then San Jose faces Austin FC,
with the finals being October first. I'm secretly hoping for
October first in Austin, Texas. Man, But you know enough
of that. I was impressed with the team because they
had bigger things on the horizon, and that bigger thing
was Miami coming in. And we could talk about this.
(09:53):
We can say we're disappointed, but if you told me
in the beginning of the year we would tie Miami
at home, I probably would have taken that with what
we thought this team was going to be. But I'd
rather get your guys thoughts on how you know, people
say we choked, I don't know, So who wants who
wants to take on the three three? Miami tie?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
I go first? Yeah, I mean, yeah, I totally agree
with you.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Just say about the expectation of this team at the
bed the year and what they've been able to do now.
But I kind of like the way that Brady can
talk about it after the game is like he's you know,
I think we saw a lot of great things in
that game that you can really be happy about. You know,
we saw them creating a lot of chances and you know,
(10:39):
put the Miami team you know, really like in the
back being up three one, and then you know you
have like still some stuff that the team still need
to get better at, and it's kind of good. You know,
it's not like we're our best and we are you know,
kind of really putting teams you know, like Miami or
other team you know away and playing you know, at
their level and able to win the game with Like
(11:03):
we were saying, our squad is not good and we
need to pay people and we need to you know,
buy some people. We just sold our number ten to
con numbers and we still not play you know, a
good way of soccer scoring goals, having variable on top
of the standing as a building scorer, and you can
(11:24):
still like the good spirits in the team. I feel like, yeah,
it's it self to bet the goal at the end
and over Miami. I think we you know, like I
we'll say off, maybe be able to finish up those games,
you know, to kind of put the last goal, to
stop giving hopes. I think, you know, the tactical changes
they can have was good to kind of be more
(11:45):
differensive Comami was pushing.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
But what I like is we we.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
Kind of maybe didn't stop attacking, which was good. You know,
we kind of keep playing a little bit, but we
should have you know, get get the Force goal at
four one. You know, we had like two chances and
even at the end, you know three three, we can
even get the last one with Dean Lee, you know,
with the header and it's so close. So no, I
was it was very entertaining game. I was very happy
(12:13):
and you know, kind of proud of, you know, being
a Union fans because the team you will play hard and.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Get a big resoligance.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
Yeah, maybe a manet team is struggling, but you know
that we can play better as well. So I think
it was a good game even just yeah, very unfortunate
to not get the three points, but it's okay, you know,
you move on your own and with the performance that
we talk about in you know, ton two, maybe they don't.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
There was three points, but we got it.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
So some games not go a different way and you
just need to to be ready for it.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
So I think it was. It was good and yeah
three three could have get the win. We were all
at the end disappointed, but I feel it was.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It was.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
It was a good game.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Like I don't think anybody who was at the stadium
we're like, oh my god, this game was shiit. I
was not entertained. I think people were und end of
the game, man, And I think it's what you want
when you come to Sububa. So I think it was great.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Yeah, Adam, I think I know you got a couple.
You got two cents or two to pull put in.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Look, I mean, look, everything's episode is absolute, only hundred
percent correct, and I still feel it felt like a loss.
It did. Did that was that sucked? Straight up? I
don't know how to experience. I felt really bad the
rest of the day and the next day going into
that just because of the potential of this. You know,
I remember the twenty twenty two campaign where it came
(13:35):
down to basically, hey, if you win a game in Charlotte,
you get yourself a supporter shield and home field advantage
throughout the playoffs, and to get your butt kicked for
nothing led to not only you not winning the supporter
Shield but having to go on the road to La
for MLS Cup. So these felt like drop points that
could be really valuable down the road. You know, it
(13:56):
doesn't look like it looks like it's gonna be tight.
You know, the clubs are Ohio look like they're going
to be hanging around for the rest of the season,
and Miami may or may not make a push. You
don't know what their July window is gonna look like.
So for me, it was disappointing for the fact that
you had a lead at home in the eighty seventh
(14:17):
minute and you could not close out a two goal lead,
and you couldn't close it out. It's Leonel MESSI, I
get it. I'm not here to pretend that. You know,
sometimes Lebron doesn't go off. He does, so you kind
of have to deal with it and it is what
it is. But that did kind of leave a sour
taste in my mouth after the game. I can't sit
here and pretended it did not. But everything else you
(14:38):
said is one hundred percent tro getting a point there
in any other scenario would be fantastic, you know, even
adjusting to the new expectations of the team. I still
think getting a point there is still very valuable moving forward.
But to have all three points there and to not
have the extra point two points that and right now
(14:59):
would put you three points clear of Vancouver, four points
clear of you know, Columbus and all of that. It
kind of stings a little bit, but it was basically
made up for in the next match, and I think
in a lot of ways, Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Had two takes from this. Besides, yes, I was disappointed,
but I was trying to be rational. One, this is
the first game that they've played against Messi where I
think our players just treated him like a player and
not a walking god. There wasn't a lot of alle
that I saw in the faces. I didn't see anybody,
(15:35):
and I could be wrong and saying to be rushing
to try to trade jerseys with them at the end
like we have in the past. So I think they
were treating Messi like, hey, he's just another really really
good player that we got to take care of business with.
And he did have a great goal. And then the
other thing, and I'm just gonna take umbrage to this
at him, and I don't think you're going to disagree
with me. Anybody that stood up and clapped after Miami
(15:57):
scored any of their goals is a fake filleddelp. They're
not a real Philadelphian. They're wearing pink stuff. They've probably
have never been to the city of Miami. They probably
only watched Miami vice. But they come in with their
shirseys and they clap after Miami scores. Listen, if you
want to go and see him and do a golf clap,
I can understand he is great. I've gone to the
(16:17):
game because I wanted to see him in person, but
I'm not clapping for the man. So that was my
my biggest umbrage with with the people that were there.
You know, fine, you want to overpay for tickets, great
on my front. Some of my friends made two hundred
and fifty dollars or see great, but you don't outright
cheer for the other team when you're in Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I wasn't clapping for Lebron, I wasn't clapping for Jordan.
I'm not clapping for Gretzky.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
But let's get on to the good stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Oh, club for jihant a club for Jihanet Jones because
she gives good gambling advice.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
I mean, like if Pele was still on the Cosmos.
I'm not sure how I'd handle that. I'm just saying,
you know, that might be a little rough.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
We'll say, but fake Philadelphians. But speaking about real Philadelphians,
you know, Kyle Vadner is a real Philadelphian because he
went to Canada and took care of business. We got
a union win, a union win, a union win in
stoppage time, Adam stoppage time. I don't know the last
time we've seen that. Some good stuff. Now you want
(17:19):
to you wanna do you want to take off on
on your your ideas of Canada.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Look, I think we haven't seen a beat down and
the last minute so devastating to Canadian citizens since the
Super Bowl halftime show. So I'm genuinely.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I just drake there, can we blame can we blame
him for this?
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Was he in attendants I think in the province. I'm
not sure if he was actually at the field, but
I think if he was in any part of Ontario
at that moment. We can blame Drake for it. Look,
and I mean, and this goes back to the Meek
Mill Drake Beef, so you know, shouts to uh to Meek,
we will, we got your back. But no, Look, I
think Toronto's reeling right now. I saw them lose to
(18:05):
Montreal in penalty kicks in the league, in the Canadian Cup,
and I was like, well, that's a team that's not
having a good time. I think they're a case study
for when we talk about what's going on with signing
players and signing new players and getting as much good
talent as possible, because legitimately the Bernadeski and Signa experiment
has not worked out. You know, we can just safely
(18:26):
say that they themselves have played well when they're on
the field, but it has not elevated Toronto in any capacity.
And I look at it the same way I look
at Beneke and DC and all these other major signings, like, look,
this is a Webster's definition of why just trying to
sign someone just to sign someone isn't the way major
(18:50):
league soccer works. It just does not, you know, even
if you look at it right now, look at a
situation like La Galaxy. They're down three players and they
have become the worst team in the history of Major
League Soccer. When you put so much weight on your
roster into just a handful of players, this is what happens.
(19:10):
You don't get a situation where Andre Blake goes down
Andrew Rick comes in and the Union haven't lost a
game in two months. You know that doesn't happen with
those clubs because they fall apart with their roster construction.
That's just my two cents on that. But furthermore, the
resilience of the Union cannot be stated enough. The fact
that you got both goals scored by defensive players shows
(19:33):
the depth and the ability and the capability of a
lot of these individuals on this team. Like Nathan Herel
is a natural right back playing center back, getting his
head on the ball out leaping half of Toronto to
get his goal. And Kyle Bogner is just I mean, look,
you want to say it was lucky, you want to
say this is a deflection. I say you had to
(19:53):
put it on goal in the first place. You had
to make that shot something in the first place to
even get a passion on John So for the Union
to go in there and do a literal smash and
grab in Toronto, especially after you could kind of feel
that that Miami game is kind of a gut punch
to them. You know, that's a team that's that win.
(20:16):
When we look back at the rest of the season
and this season ends up being a supporter shield season
or at least a one seed or even a high seed,
I think we can look back at that win as
a turning point to say, this is when we saw
the Union religit like and and again the opponent, you know,
is the opponent. But to go on the road midweek
(20:37):
in a dreary, wet, disgusting Toronto and to pull that off,
that's those are three points that are worth the three points.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah, no, I totally agree sub your take on that.
And then then I do want to ask you a
question about the team.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Yeah, I mean, yes, the game was not as expected
as again, that's for sure. I think you know, we
to the level of to Onto for a long time,
you know, kind of like we're okay with the tie,
you know, not really playing, and the girl kind of
wake us up and yeah, great, go on set pieces,
no for early first one and you know then you
(21:14):
know you have like full back again with a great shot,
and you know, like Adam said, I feel like if.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
There's a game will come in my mind.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
It was last year the Chicago game, and I remember
we were winning I think three to one and we
lost four three, and you know, that game, I feel
it was kind of like you can see the mentality
of the team and not really being you know, focused
on you know, kind of not winning, but it was
no like.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Like team kind of chemistry. You know.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
He was like we're pointing fingers and are complaining and
on this one like we gotta go against and you
see the reaction and you see like, oh, okay, let's
let's get on and let's try to come back of.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Course to get a tie.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
But then you're like, hey, we can win that, and
they get it, and like Adam said, I think those
three points is going to be probably like big at
the end of the year, and it's really a reference
game for them to be like, hey, let's let's kind
of stop to play at the level of the opponent.
You know, we are better than that. Let's you know,
shake it and you know, kind of show to the
league and that we are for real and we are
(22:14):
here to win games even if we played in a
town two. We spend a lot of money, but don't play.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
As a team. We do.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
And I think it was, yeah, not the best game.
I think it was a lot of bad path and
I was like kind of being annoyed on Trauma team
watching the game, you know, and being.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
You know, mad about like the lack of good pathing
in the midfield.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
But at the end they put it off and you're like,
holy shit, okay, like we can't do it. Like it's
a it was kind of a great win, like mentally
for the team. So it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Now that llas you know, we are by three points in.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
You understanding, but they need to play off the West
that hey, we need to win that game so we
can maybe get another good surprise in Texas.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Yeah, and like you said, I was disappointed in some
of the passing. I was really disappointing the referee. I
thought he was taking over the game by calling so
many stoppages. It was just it was a little frustrating
to watch. But my highlight obviously is Kai kicking it
off a long staff, which is what a great name
long staff, But uh, afterwards, a lot of players would
(23:20):
celebrate in the corner and everything. He runs right to
the bench and everybody mobs him. And that's when I
looked at it. I go, holy crap. This is a unit.
This is a team. You know, this isn't an individual players,
This isn't one star player. If anything, we sold our
quote unquote biggest star player and they just uniteed and
(23:41):
they took that Miami tie home loss, whatever people want
to say, and they bounced back and they took a
punch in the mouth from Toronto when they came back
and won. So I mean, I totally agree with Adhim.
This could be one of those wins that we look
back on this season and we're like, hey, that was great.
So yeah, I totally.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Agree with you guys.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Let's just a little bit of Union news. Quinn Sullivan
gets a call up and Adam, I need to give
this kid his flowers because let's think about in the past,
his academy class. We heard Patson Aronson, Jack McGlenn never
heard Quinn Sullivan, but he plays Cavin Man comes on,
(24:24):
his fourteen year old brother comes and steals all the spotlight.
And even the last year Jim moved him all over
the place. I think the only thing he didn't play
was defender and goalkeeper. And the kid just keep grinding
and he's putting together a hell of a season playing
great under Bradley. I mean, he's been playing great all
the time, and he finally gets his dude to be
on the US men's national team. So I just want
(24:47):
to give him a shout out and say, holy crap, man, like,
good for you. I can't wait to keep watching you.
I hope you don't go anywhere in the transfer window.
It's probably frightening me to death because I saw one
of those articles. But like, bravo Quinn Sullivan, you know,
add on yourself from Quinn.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
You know, I think it's something that if you're a Union,
if you've been a diehard Union fan for a while,
this warms your heart seeing him, you know, get to
this pinnacle. I think, you know, when it came to
the Aaronson Brothers, when it came to Jack McGlenn, when
it came to you know, it seemed as if Quinn
was definitely a good player, a serviceable player, a guy
(25:26):
you could put into a rotation. But was he a
game breaker? Was he a game changer that was yet
to be seen. And I mean the kids still what
he's in his early twenty So it's not like, you know,
he's he's truly even gotten to his prime. But to
see him evolve into this level of player and to
be this consistent, you know, look it is it is
(25:49):
something to behold and it is something to really cherish,
and it's something to be really excited about. Because he
continues this, then it just adds to the depth of
talent and weapons that this team has right now. And
you know, to hey, like when are we going to
talk about Ernst Tanner possibly as executive the year? Like
(26:11):
this is something that I have a weird conversation about now,
But like I'm looking at this, you sell McGlenn, do
you miss him? Like are you really out here being
like man Jack McGlenn would be really enhancing this product
right now. You know, Daniel Gazdag, who we all love
and we all appreciated what has he done in Columbus
(26:34):
since he's gotten there, I understand it takes time to
acclimate and that he just signed a multi year extension
and I'm sure he's gonna come out with twenty goals
next season. But what is he like in this moment?
Are you really missing Daniel Gazdag You know you right
now have a plus fourteen goal differential in the Eastern Conference,
the best the best goal differential in the East. Look
(26:58):
and again, the Quinn is a gamble. But it's the
people at the top believing in a guy like Quinn
Sullivan saying please bring us. We're gonna sell guys, we're
gonna sell household names, we're gonna sell talent, but we're
gonna believe in you. And he's been delivering and and
what you said is true. He's versatile. He's been playing
every single position up top, he's been playing pivot positions,
(27:21):
and he has been answering the bell. You know. So
I've I've thoroughly enjoyed watching him play this year, and
it is just it's he is another example of there
is something to this union model, like what they're trying
to put together, there is something to it.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, any thoughts on Quinn, I mean, you've you've watched
him grow up.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
Basically, he definitely put a big step you knows this season.
You know, he's a kind of playing I think his
game decision was better for sure, that's why I think
he got some good I think he's very good crossing
the board, but he's gonna start.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
I think he has a great you know path to
the box.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
I still need is of course, some aspect of his
game he needs to be better at. But it's still young,
you know, he's just no twenty twenty years or twenty.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
One now, I think I think it's twenty one.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
Yeah, twenty one, just on twenty one.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
So yeah, it's a you know, I was at my
probably best level when I was twenty four, you know,
twenty five, so yeah, it's a plenty of time.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
But it's great.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
It's great to see the call op you know, for him,
and I think, you know, it's a it's just give
you know, even more now I will say dreams to
all the young kids you know who come from academy
and planner for a melest team. I think it's it's
great to see and all for the young you know player.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
In fIF the academy. I think it's a great example.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
But hopefully he takes that as the next step and
keep progressing and not you know, believing is here yet.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
But I don't think it's his style, So it's.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
Great, but yeah, you know, great player, and I would
I would talk about when Adam said, I really feel too,
because he's a player I.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Wanted to talk about.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
When we talk about the game against Miami, it's Jean
Jacques denley Man like he was everywhere, like it was crazy,
like it was probably his best game from the Union.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
I would have loved for him to get the winner
at the end of his head air. But he was
so good.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
And it's another player that too nobody knew about, you know,
we were at plast year a little bit, you know,
but now you can see it's really like putting his
market into the team. So yeah, another player that I
think he's been too. Still very young, and he might
not be a single a long time in the Union
if he's still playing in the same way.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Yeah, yeah, I mean Ernstanner definitely Executive of the Year
Union Academy doing what they promised years and years ago,
where we thought we were getting magic beans and holy crap,
it's literally a bean stock of talent that's grown out
of you know, Wayne slash Chester, Pennsylvania. It's just it's
been great to watch. I mean, everybody should sit back
(29:59):
in a pret She'd especially if you're a Phillies fan
and you hate it now they never had a farm system,
you should be like, look, we got a farm system,
so it's great. Uh, just little little regular you know
news the Club World Cup was coming again. It starts
June sixteenth, so it's like two weeks away, ends July
fourth and Adam, we get to see the champions Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Yeah, another cup champions.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Look.
Speaker 6 (30:27):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Not to be that guy, but when your club wins
every trophy available, you kind of feel a certain level
of smugness and it's like, oh, but you're you were
so bad you have to play in the conference. They like,
look all right, A lot of these people who were
saying this their club barely finished over the relegation line Tottenham.
So I don't know if you can really look down
when you just won your first trophy ever. And we've
(30:50):
already won that trophy twice. So look, I'm I'm very
excited for the Club World Cup and I've already had
a bunch of my friends talking about coming here real
Madrid from Lingo fans, you know, a lot of people
trying to come to Philly to watch this tournament. And
I love it as a precursor to the World Cup
next year. I love it as like a get the
(31:11):
lather going. Like even during the broadcast of the Conference
League final this past week, they were talking about Chelsea
has a turnaround. They're gonna be in the Club World
Cup in two weeks and a lot. And it's not
one of these situations whereas Chelsea USA and we're getting
Ben Chilwell and the boys actually playing. It's going to
(31:32):
be Chelsea Chelsea, and it's going to be real Madrid.
It's going to be in bop bang all these guys
because they're competing for a trophy with actual gravitas behind it.
So I'm excited. I love this. I love that it's
in America. I love it's in Philadelphia and I don't
have to go anywhere else to go see it. And
you know, come on you Blues.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, well we're excited about that. But you know what
we're really excited about, Adam. Here's the shameless plug of
the moment, the National July fourth. You can be with
Sebastian La two overlooking Broadway and the fireworks. You can
see some live music. You can see Sebastian La two
line dancing. I don't know if he's gonna do that.
We'll see what happens there, and then we get to
(32:14):
see the revenge game, because remember this is still a
revenge game. We're gonna take on Nashville and we're gonna
beat Nashville. So yeah, July fourth weekend, Philly Sports Trips
dot Com get there, I'll be there. Sebastian's gonna be there.
We're trying to pack Adam in a suitcase. We're gonna
we're gonna see what we can do. And then August second,
Frankfurt AINKTOK Frankfurt comes to town. I should have some
(32:38):
announcements soon if any Union alumni are gonna do any
appearances as well as there's gonna be some big parties
at brah House Schmidt. So we're friends with Doug at Browhouse,
so we're gonna we're gonna try to do something, maybe
get dugged by everybody a beer or something. But there's
gonna be a lot of stuff with the Frankfurt guys.
So I'm excited about that game. So it's gonna be
a good time.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Yeah, speak gonna be the the some Philadelphia Union alumni.
I saw that the Arison Boys were in town for
the matchup this past weekend, and again.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Just two more exciting whites had the.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Most exciting white. So are you talking? But you know
I saw behind them, and then they finally revealed him
in a video a couple of days later, local celebrity,
at least in my heart, in my eyes, kickball Dad
was there. I don't know if you're familiar, Matt with
Kickball Dad, but that man, he is exactly why I
(33:34):
want to give anyone over the age of fifty five
a camera and a TikTok, because a lot of these
guys are actually hilarious, so that I just wanted to
point out the Aaronsons triggered me to believe this. Think
of the other celebrity sighting that I saw during the
messy matchup.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I think I followed Kickball Dad into the parking lot
because his left blinker was on the entire time.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
So totally fine, totally fine. I went to the an
Addicts fan festival, shout out to Sean Brace for hooking
me up with tickets to that, got a couple of
pictures in a video with Kickball Dad, So you know,
I h they say, don't meet your heroes, but I
find myself comfortably okay with that.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
I'm just gonna ask Brace for tickets for that. But
now I don't know if I want to go. If
the best guy you saw there was Kickball.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Dad, well no, I also saw Kilini, but okall Dad,
that Kili was more exciting for my wife obviously, but me,
I was there for Kickball Dad, and I also saw
DJ Khaled, so we were having a good time.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Who says their name more Kickball Dad or DJ Kelly?
Speaker 3 (34:36):
I should say their name more? Is the real question?
Speaker 2 (34:39):
All right, let's get to around the soccer world news.
The US men's national team is just answering all of
our hopes and frickin' dreams. Ballistic's gonna skip the Gold Cup.
Also missing It's gonna be Western McKinney, Timothy Way and
g O Renna. The will all be at the Club
World Cup. Why g O Renna's national time because he
(35:01):
ain't gonna play, but he's missing it. The US has
got a pair of friendlies against oh Powerhouse Turkey in
Switzerland that's early June, and then the konk Keff Gold Cup.
The uh the US men's roster have you seen the
roster coming up at him? It's a Union Academy reunion.
There are seven players that have Academy ties, you know,
(35:24):
and it's just it's just crazy. So and I think
it's eight now because of Quinn. I gotta look at that.
So yeah, it's just you know, US men's I mean,
I'm gonna watch because I'm a glutton for punishment. Growing
up a sports fan in Philadelphia makes me live through
the misery as much as the glory, mostly more misery.
So I'm gonna watch the Turkey game, the Switzerland game,
(35:45):
and the Gold Cup and see what they do. But
good god, they gotta they gotta get it together, man,
the World Cups on the line, you know.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Yeah, Seba, I definitely want your thoughts on this, you know,
because this is very important just for as a team
player and you know, as a person who cares about
national teams yourself. Real quick, this is an international failure
by the US national soccer team. I think we can
all just kind of compartmentalize that twenty twenty six is
(36:14):
not going to be the year that we win the
World Cup, let alone do well in it. You know,
I think Katar gave us a false sense of security
that these guys are going to be ready for this tournament.
They are not. They've proven time and time again that
they can be beaten by meager opponents. I don't expect
(36:34):
success against Switzerland. Possibly Turkey beats Turkey could beat us
as well. The Gold Cup. Right now, in my eyes,
you're behind Canada, you're behind Mexico. So you have to
figure that out. And for me, this was supposed to
This was and still is the most important soccer tournament
in two years, in the history of your country, in
(36:55):
the history of your soccer federation. And you are not
remotely ready for this experience. Who's your goalie, who's your
number nine? You know who's your left back, you know
who's your center backs. I right now, if you look
at France ninety eight, everyone was ready for that. Everyone
(37:15):
knew who they were going to be in that. If
you look at when Brazil was hosting a World Cup,
yes it was a disaster against Germany, but beforehand, everyone
knew their assignment. Everyone knew who the goalie was, everyone
who knew who the nine was and the ten was.
In all parts in between the fact that we're going
to go into this Gold Cup, which is essentially a
(37:37):
World Cup, tune up for us because we're not going
to have to do normal qualifying. You're going to tell
me our literal best players are not going to even
be on the field, so they can gain chemistry, so
they can figure out what the best combinations are. So
our relatively new coach can't get us into the right positions. Look,
it's a failure. It's an absolute failure. Back to Canada
(38:00):
and Mexico and we'll go from there.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
Oh, Adam very very like down on the US. But
I feel you, but I will not say that. You know,
the World Cup is still in one year. There's a
lot of time anything can happen. I'm just saying, like
when when you go to a World Cup, when you're freezing,
the energy for a playoff is different than playing friendlies,
you know, or not being called having a full season,
(38:27):
and so how other thing for the American player like
Poli sick or right now all of those guys and
as the player of full season and you know, like
to travel. You know, you have to travel back to
the US and back again. Like it's a lot of
you know, traveling to just do the national team games,
who sometimes doesn't count for anything. So I understand that
they won't kind of like get some rest maybe, and
it gives us a chance to poke it, you know,
(38:49):
to get a tournament with players that maybe thinking of
taking for the World Cup and see if they can
be ready. But at the end, it's when you have
like the World Cup coming. I think the US could do.
I really do, because you talk.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
About the ninety eight World Cup and I remember very
well the friends. They were not good. The year before
we miss the World Cup. As a year before, four
years before we.
Speaker 5 (39:09):
Miss the World Cup in the US, we got out
by Bulgaria, who was maybe not the best team but
did a great World Cup as well. And then you know,
we're kind of reconstructing, you know, the team, a new
coach coming in and he was kind of a mess.
You know, so many critics from the journalists and everything,
and the guys who came in, he was kind of
(39:31):
a good mix. It was a mix of older player
and younger player like Jerry was a part of it.
And again you know, they were twenty and you'd like
a good kind of type of balance of this team.
And at the end, you know, we were like, okay,
we had like a great player like Zidan who could
be a politic or somebody else in the team who
wants to be you know, the star.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
But it was like a really big kind of like
team slash country or pushing.
Speaker 5 (39:56):
He was not really like a star. You know, so
you never know, understand your disappointment right now and then
for sure I feel it, but I you know, I
think something maybe incredible could happen. You just never know,
like you're a year of preparasion and whoever is going
to be a part of this team. You know, it's
a like job of Pokino to pick the best player.
(40:17):
But they need to just play together. It just a
matter and you see it with anybody. You see it
with a union right now, you see a team we
are not really playing together. Last year it was the
same player. This year you add up, you know, a
few touches here and there, you know, change of coach,
and it's so differnt So it could happen to at
the national team level, but it's it's different because it's
(40:38):
you know, you don't play with them every weekend.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Love that answer, Adam, did he make you believe in
America again? I mean he used the Union analogy for
you to believe in the USA again? Are you back
football team Ussay hul Cogan, Real American Anthem, Come on, Adams,
get back on the US side.
Speaker 3 (40:58):
This is first off, I can't expec I see how
much this is not a Hulk Cogan household to begin with. Like,
I can't even the game and start with that one.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
Well, look, I believe in chaos, and I believe in randomness,
and I believe that they could magically put something together.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Do you believe that they can win? I believe.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
To say it again, dude, I believe that we could win.
You know, I believe. But at the same time, I
gotta be honest with you. Who's our goalie?
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Well, you know what, we'll get into that because we've
got before.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
But no, but like that's that's where I'm at now.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
I really want to be Matt Freeze from Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Come on, I would love that. I also think that's
chaotic though at this point.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
Like I look, that's how we want our independence. It
was chaos. Come on, that's how we thrive. This is
the arena we thrive in. This is what we're gonna need.
Speaking of and speaking of a theater of death, we
play Dallas. It's gonna be eighty eight degrees down there
May thirty first and should be June fifty for all
I care. Eighty eight degrees sub Dallas in eleventh place.
(42:05):
What are you think.
Speaker 4 (42:07):
I think it's a perfect time to play them.
Speaker 5 (42:09):
I think, you know, with the confident we have and
a little break after that game, you know, we're going
to go with the best team and try to try
to get a win. But you know, they play Cincinnati
in the midweek as well. In Cincinnati, so they travel too.
They did three three, which was a good result for them,
you know, being down. But yeah, it's it's a team
with some talent, you know, luture star plays there.
Speaker 4 (42:29):
It can really break any defense.
Speaker 5 (42:31):
So it's going to be a tough challenge because they
are not confident, but they have a good team. So yeah,
I'm looking forward to the good match up. But I
really think we can maybe get another victory over there
and and you know, stay on top of and we
will still be on top of the standing no matter what,
but maybe with some more points, you know, above anybody
(42:53):
else in the East.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
So it'd be nice. But yeah, I'm confident.
Speaker 5 (42:56):
I think, you know, we with what we did in Toronto,
I think that the team could surf on this type
of positivity.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
Yeah yeah, Adam, your thoughts on facing Dallas eleventh place Dallas,
but they did Tysoncinnati.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
So I mean, at this point, I think you got
to be in a mindset of get one at least point.
You know, you need to leave, you need to leave
Dallas with at least one point, but you should expect
to get three.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
I think you look the talent level that there's a
gap there, you know. And I think at this stage
the Union are good. They're good soccer club. You know,
they deserve to be a supporter shield contender because they
play like a sporter shield attend contender. You know, you
could argue the first couple of weeks they might have
(43:47):
been flukes. It's June and forty eight hours. This seems good.
So I think in moments like this, you should be
able to go down and do a team like Dallas,
a team that's reeling, a team that's not you know,
a team that did get a great result in Cincinnati,
but you should look at yourselves better than Cincinnati. You
(44:09):
beat that. So I think you should be able to
get at least one point here, if not get three
and those should be expectations of moving down there. Yea,
yeah again now that I say that we're gonna get none.
Speaker 2 (44:19):
But I'm hoping for three. I want to and may
the way, you know, just this was such a tough
month for them of busy schedules. Let's end it on
a super high note. Let's just keep going, no looking back.
You know, we got a little bit of a break,
so let's go for it all right. I know we're
gonna wrap this up because we're getting along on the time.
(44:40):
The two things I have for you the Sebastian Lit
two Soccer Summer Camp July twenty first to the twenty
fourth Wild with Press New Jersey SEBA still still timed.
Speaker 4 (44:50):
Sign up plenty of time.
Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah we uh still you know, having some rooms, so
please sign up.
Speaker 4 (44:55):
It would be great.
Speaker 5 (44:57):
And and my my thing is let's sup off to
Paris tomorrow, chip and State final?
Speaker 3 (45:05):
Yes jee yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
And then and then, Adam, the biggest question I have
for you, how are the Hotbirds?
Speaker 3 (45:12):
Hotbirds are right now in second place in the Division
three and one so far in the season. We did
take an l this week in a very controversial game
against the New York Empire. You know I'm on a
different podcast to talk about that one shout outs to
backup broad Street back in, but look, we got to
I would say, we have a game tomorrow, which, by
(45:34):
the time you guys hear this will be either the
day of or whil after that game against the Carolina
Flyers on May thirty first. So let's hope we did
the deed and succeeded and got to four and one.
But if so, we will be back home again. We
are also taking a little bit of an international break
so to speak. We'll be back home on June twenty eighth. Yeah,
(45:56):
June twenty eighth will be our next home game, so
you have plenty of time to watch us on TV,
figure out what the heck we are, and then come
on down and visit us at Newman University.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
All right, Well, guys, that was episode number thirty eight.
Thank you both for joining us, and thank you everybody
out there. 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 another episode. I can't believe it,
episode number thirty eight of Exes in the Un. I'm
former president of the Sons of Ben mac Dazac. I'm
joining with ex head Capito Adam Booth and of course
Union legend Sebastian la Two, gentlemen, We've got a lot
to talk about. How's everybody's week happening?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Good? Good, solid week so far Union I've been playing well,
so I can't really complain.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Yes, very good too.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
You know he didn't fist in the East though, hopefully
another good game.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Sad than us.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, and we've got a lot to catch up on
because in this week, because of this busy schedule, we've
got to talk about how the Union of the Kings
of Pennsylvania beating the River Hounds. We've got, you know,
just MESSI comes to town and of course Toronto. So
where where do we want to start off, guys.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I like chronological order historically, So let's talk about our
friends from the Allegheny County.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah, a four to one win over the River Hounds.
Bruno opens it up, Indiana doubles the lead. Dj J
gets one. A Villanova product scored for Pittsburgh. I think
that's the Pope's influence. And then Jovan capped it off.
And here's my hot take. And some people are going
(01:44):
to disagree with me, But do you think Calvin should
have taken that penalty kick instead of Bruno?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Absolutely not? Why would he? What has he done now?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
First goal, first professional goal at fifteen.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I look, Seba can probably be go into this more
than I can, but I feel like I would rather
have my first real professional goal come and play as
opposed to a penalty kick of the Open Cup. I
don't know, that's just me personally.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I want to hear take.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah, no, I'm with a dam on this one.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Don't let the fifteen you will take a pk, especially
like you know he put like the pretty much the
real team on, you know, the sales performance. Bruno is
looking to get some goals to get his confidence getting high.
You cannot like give it to Kevin, I would say
maybe if it's like five zero and there's nobody you know,
(02:38):
has the starter on the team, and you know we're like, okay,
just take it.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
But no, I'm with a dam on this one.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
You know you need to prove more and you know
it's it's not a gift and it's a sellous game.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So then then I'm going to petition the Union to
take away Danny Skulls and have Sebastian be the leading
goal scorer since most of his goals are on PK.
That's what we established here. Good good work by us.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
But we could talk about it.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
In all seriousness, guys, what was your take on the
on the on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds game.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Look, I think we did you did your job, you know.
I think one of the things with the Open Cup is,
especially with the early rounds, is you know, there's the
urge to get the younger guys in, to get guys
who don't get as many minutes in, and that can
sometimes mess with the flow. That can sometimes mess with
you know, the mojo that you might be having going
(03:34):
and teams that have been playing together. Because the teams
that you will you will play from the USL and
the lower divisions will always be sending their best guns.
You know, they will always be sending their first team,
so you're always combating against their very best and you're
hoping your second team is better than their first team
half the time. So but I think you know, you
(03:55):
learned from that game against Indiana. You were like, you realize,
all right, take this seriously. Make sure you know you
get a strong eleven out there, and they took care
of business early and often. You know, I think a
lot of people are almost disappointed they gave up the goal,
but you know, for to one decisive victory against the
(04:16):
Pittsburgh and you know, you go into the next round.
Now you're in the quarterfinals. You're in the Elite eight already,
you know, and you got an opponent in Red Bull
that you're kind of used to. But you know, you
should have some momentum. And I think if you're the Union,
you need to be all in on the US Open Cup.
I think this is a tournament that's very winnable based
(04:37):
off of who's remaining in the brackets. You know, if
you consider yourself one of the better teams in Major
League Soccer, you should very much think you should be
able to win this trophy. So I think moving forward,
you know, Bradley and the boys from here on out
should be really focused on this tournament.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Couldn't agree more. Sebah, What were your thoughts on that
Pittsburgh game.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
I think it was a great, great game from the
seathing very serious. I don't think Petersburg was at the
level you know, the Union compared to me is the
previous game where we didn't we put ourselves to the
level of you know, the other team of Indianapolis.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
This is one I think we just you know, we
were fine.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
You know, yes we give like give up a goal,
but in some times it's like, you know, it was
kind of I think serious from everybody we saw in midfield,
what I like, you know, it's kind of like lots
of different goals.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
No, Denly got one. Look at you got one and
you can see that, you know, everybody's confident. So No,
it was great.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Now qualifinal already, and I'm very happy that we are
still at home because, like Adam said, it's I don't
think it's a hard competition to kind of go far.
If you are curious and if you know you play
the right team, but the field, the home field, ads mantage,
it's it's big, you know, so can we get on
a run and you know you win the next one
against the right Bulls and it's a semi finals so
(05:56):
it's you know, it's right there. But there's a little
break in between the now in the next round. So
let's see where the team is at in July and
we'll see.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
But I'm sure.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
Brady's been to take that game, you know, even more
fairthly since we're in quarterfinal.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, and and to your points, I mean, we're hoping
the home crowd picks it up, Adam. We keep talking
about it and let's just leave it to Jonathan Tannemwald, Adam.
If you read in the Inquiry for All that the
team's core fan base protests at the League's Cup last
year and signaled that cared about the Open Cup more.
(06:33):
Wednesday's crowd was remarkably small. Announced is just two thy
two hundred and forty six. I'm hoping people start putting
up or shutting up on on this one, so I'd
love to see it be a full crowd for Red Bull.
This is the first one I'm missing because of work,
but I already opted in, So I don't know. Maybe
I will do a contest and I'll give people listeners
(06:56):
my two tickets in the River and for the Red
Bull game, you know, their second row in the River
all seats. So hopefully we get more people. Adam, you
feel like I feel like you got a thought there.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Look, and here's the thing. I'm a full I protested
on behalf of the US Open Cup because I believe
it is a tournament that is essential to the fabric
of American soccer. And as much as I understand the
economics and the gravitas of what the League's Cup is
trying to create making it an interleague competition a continental competition,
(07:27):
you know, I still believe in the League's Cup, or
I still believe in the US Open Cup as something
that is important to US Soccer and should be important
to Major League Soccer by proxy. However, this doesn't shock
me in any capacity, because I've been to Open Cup
finals where we've had less games than friendlies against Frankfurt
(07:49):
or less people. You know, I've this tournament, by and
large is not taken seriously by the core of the
Union fan base. For whatever reason, I have yet to
understand it because historically it has been our best opportunity
to win silverware, you know history, So it for me,
(08:12):
I love this tournament just on itself, but it also
just seems like an opportunity and like, at this point,
the Union are three games away from a trophy. You know,
I think that's something that you really need to put
into perspective, and I don't think enough people kind of
understand what that means. Like you're three wins away from
a trophy, You're three wins away from from putting yourself
in a position to qualify for this Champions Cup league,
(08:34):
you know, extra avaganza, and you finally put something substantial
in your cabinet, you know, like this is something that
like I love the Supporter shield to itself to death,
but as by and large, not enough of America takes
it seriously because we don't use the European model of
you know, most points at the end wins you the title.
(08:54):
So winning an Open Cup it would be your first
real substantial piece of silverware. It's it's not shocking to me,
but it is highly disappointing to me how people have
approached this tournament.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, and I blame US Soccer more than anything, because
I don't think they do a great job promoting it.
They don't make it friendly for the MLS teams to participate.
They you know, there's just so much wrong. But well,
I'll end the US Open Cup talk with just letting
you know we host the Red Bulls, Minnesota United hosts
the Fire, Nashville is taken on DC United, so Nashville's
(09:31):
in the East, and then San Jose faces Austin FC,
with the finals being October first. I'm secretly hoping for
October first in Austin, Texas. Man, But you know enough
of that. I was impressed with the team because they
had bigger things on the horizon, and that bigger thing
was Miami coming in. And we could talk about this.
(09:53):
We can say we're disappointed, but if you told me
in the beginning of the year we would tie Miami
at home, I probably would have taken that with what
we thought this team was going to be. But I'd
rather get your guys thoughts on how you know, people
say we choked, I don't know, So who wants who
wants to take on the three three? Miami tie?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
I go first? Yeah, I mean, yeah, I totally agree
with you.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Just say about the expectation of this team at the
bed the year and what they've been able to do now.
But I kind of like the way that Brady can
talk about it after the game is like he's you know,
I think we saw a lot of great things in
that game that you can really be happy about. You know,
we saw them creating a lot of chances and you know,
(10:39):
put the Miami team you know, really like in the
back being up three one, and then you know you
have like still some stuff that the team still need
to get better at, and it's kind of good. You know,
it's not like we're our best and we are you know,
kind of really putting teams you know, like Miami or
other team you know away and playing you know, at
their level and able to win the game with Like
(11:03):
we were saying, our squad is not good and we
need to pay people and we need to you know,
buy some people. We just sold our number ten to
con numbers and we still not play you know, a
good way of soccer scoring goals, having variable on top
of the standing as a building scorer, and you can
(11:24):
still like the good spirits in the team. I feel like, yeah,
it's it self to bet the goal at the end
and over Miami. I think we you know, like I
we'll say off, maybe be able to finish up those games,
you know, to kind of put the last goal, to
stop giving hopes. I think, you know, the tactical changes
they can have was good to kind of be more
(11:45):
differensive Comami was pushing.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
But what I like is we we.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
Kind of maybe didn't stop attacking, which was good. You know,
we kind of keep playing a little bit, but we
should have you know, get get the Force goal at
four one. You know, we had like two chances and
even at the end, you know three three, we can
even get the last one with Dean Lee, you know,
with the header and it's so close. So no, I
was it was very entertaining game. I was very happy
(12:13):
and you know, kind of proud of, you know, being
a Union fans because the team you will play hard and.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Get a big resoligance.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
Yeah, maybe a manet team is struggling, but you know
that we can play better as well. So I think
it was a good game even just yeah, very unfortunate
to not get the three points, but it's okay, you know,
you move on your own and with the performance that
we talk about in you know, ton two, maybe they don't.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
There was three points, but we got it.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
So some games not go a different way and you
just need to to be ready for it.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
So I think it was. It was good and yeah
three three could have get the win. We were all
at the end disappointed, but I feel it was.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It was.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
It was a good game.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Like I don't think anybody who was at the stadium
we're like, oh my god, this game was shiit. I
was not entertained. I think people were und end of
the game, man, And I think it's what you want
when you come to Sububa. So I think it was great.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Yeah, Adam, I think I know you got a couple.
You got two cents or two to pull put in.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Look, I mean, look, everything's episode is absolute, only hundred
percent correct, and I still feel it felt like a loss.
It did. Did that was that sucked? Straight up? I
don't know how to experience. I felt really bad the
rest of the day and the next day going into
that just because of the potential of this. You know,
I remember the twenty twenty two campaign where it came
(13:35):
down to basically, hey, if you win a game in Charlotte,
you get yourself a supporter shield and home field advantage
throughout the playoffs, and to get your butt kicked for
nothing led to not only you not winning the supporter
Shield but having to go on the road to La
for MLS Cup. So these felt like drop points that
could be really valuable down the road. You know, it
(13:56):
doesn't look like it looks like it's gonna be tight.
You know, the clubs are Ohio look like they're going
to be hanging around for the rest of the season,
and Miami may or may not make a push. You
don't know what their July window is gonna look like.
So for me, it was disappointing for the fact that
you had a lead at home in the eighty seventh
(14:17):
minute and you could not close out a two goal lead,
and you couldn't close it out. It's Leonel MESSI, I
get it. I'm not here to pretend that. You know,
sometimes Lebron doesn't go off. He does, so you kind
of have to deal with it and it is what
it is. But that did kind of leave a sour
taste in my mouth after the game. I can't sit
here and pretended it did not. But everything else you
(14:38):
said is one hundred percent tro getting a point there
in any other scenario would be fantastic, you know, even
adjusting to the new expectations of the team. I still
think getting a point there is still very valuable moving forward.
But to have all three points there and to not
have the extra point two points that and right now
(14:59):
would put you three points clear of Vancouver, four points
clear of you know, Columbus and all of that. It
kind of stings a little bit, but it was basically
made up for in the next match, and I think
in a lot of ways, Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Had two takes from this. Besides, yes, I was disappointed,
but I was trying to be rational. One, this is
the first game that they've played against Messi where I
think our players just treated him like a player and
not a walking god. There wasn't a lot of alle
that I saw in the faces. I didn't see anybody,
(15:35):
and I could be wrong and saying to be rushing
to try to trade jerseys with them at the end
like we have in the past. So I think they
were treating Messi like, hey, he's just another really really
good player that we got to take care of business with.
And he did have a great goal. And then the
other thing, and I'm just gonna take umbrage to this
at him, and I don't think you're going to disagree
with me. Anybody that stood up and clapped after Miami
(15:57):
scored any of their goals is a fake filleddelp. They're
not a real Philadelphian. They're wearing pink stuff. They've probably
have never been to the city of Miami. They probably
only watched Miami vice. But they come in with their
shirseys and they clap after Miami scores. Listen, if you
want to go and see him and do a golf clap,
I can understand he is great. I've gone to the
(16:17):
game because I wanted to see him in person, but
I'm not clapping for the man. So that was my
my biggest umbrage with with the people that were there.
You know, fine, you want to overpay for tickets, great
on my front. Some of my friends made two hundred
and fifty dollars or see great, but you don't outright
cheer for the other team when you're in Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I wasn't clapping for Lebron, I wasn't clapping for Jordan.
I'm not clapping for Gretzky.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
But let's get on to the good stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Oh, club for jihant a club for Jihanet Jones because
she gives good gambling advice.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
I mean, like if Pele was still on the Cosmos.
I'm not sure how I'd handle that. I'm just saying,
you know, that might be a little rough.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
We'll say, but fake Philadelphians. But speaking about real Philadelphians,
you know, Kyle Vadner is a real Philadelphian because he
went to Canada and took care of business. We got
a union win, a union win, a union win in
stoppage time, Adam stoppage time. I don't know the last
time we've seen that. Some good stuff. Now you want
(17:19):
to you wanna do you want to take off on
on your your ideas of Canada.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Look, I think we haven't seen a beat down and
the last minute so devastating to Canadian citizens since the
Super Bowl halftime show. So I'm genuinely.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I just drake there, can we blame can we blame
him for this?
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Was he in attendants I think in the province. I'm
not sure if he was actually at the field, but
I think if he was in any part of Ontario
at that moment. We can blame Drake for it. Look,
and I mean, and this goes back to the Meek
Mill Drake Beef, so you know, shouts to uh to Meek,
we will, we got your back. But no, Look, I
think Toronto's reeling right now. I saw them lose to
(18:05):
Montreal in penalty kicks in the league, in the Canadian Cup,
and I was like, well, that's a team that's not
having a good time. I think they're a case study
for when we talk about what's going on with signing
players and signing new players and getting as much good
talent as possible, because legitimately the Bernadeski and Signa experiment
has not worked out. You know, we can just safely
(18:26):
say that they themselves have played well when they're on
the field, but it has not elevated Toronto in any capacity.
And I look at it the same way I look
at Beneke and DC and all these other major signings, like, look,
this is a Webster's definition of why just trying to
sign someone just to sign someone isn't the way major
(18:50):
league soccer works. It just does not, you know, even
if you look at it right now, look at a
situation like La Galaxy. They're down three players and they
have become the worst team in the history of Major
League Soccer. When you put so much weight on your
roster into just a handful of players, this is what happens.
(19:10):
You don't get a situation where Andre Blake goes down
Andrew Rick comes in and the Union haven't lost a
game in two months. You know that doesn't happen with
those clubs because they fall apart with their roster construction.
That's just my two cents on that. But furthermore, the
resilience of the Union cannot be stated enough. The fact
that you got both goals scored by defensive players shows
(19:33):
the depth and the ability and the capability of a
lot of these individuals on this team. Like Nathan Herel
is a natural right back playing center back, getting his
head on the ball out leaping half of Toronto to
get his goal. And Kyle Bogner is just I mean, look,
you want to say it was lucky, you want to
say this is a deflection. I say you had to
(19:53):
put it on goal in the first place. You had
to make that shot something in the first place to
even get a passion on John So for the Union
to go in there and do a literal smash and
grab in Toronto, especially after you could kind of feel
that that Miami game is kind of a gut punch
to them. You know, that's a team that's that win.
(20:16):
When we look back at the rest of the season
and this season ends up being a supporter shield season
or at least a one seed or even a high seed,
I think we can look back at that win as
a turning point to say, this is when we saw
the Union religit like and and again the opponent, you know,
is the opponent. But to go on the road midweek
(20:37):
in a dreary, wet, disgusting Toronto and to pull that off,
that's those are three points that are worth the three points.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah, no, I totally agree sub your take on that.
And then then I do want to ask you a
question about the team.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Yeah, I mean, yes, the game was not as expected
as again, that's for sure. I think you know, we
to the level of to Onto for a long time,
you know, kind of like we're okay with the tie,
you know, not really playing, and the girl kind of
wake us up and yeah, great, go on set pieces,
no for early first one and you know then you
(21:14):
know you have like full back again with a great shot,
and you know, like Adam said, I feel like if.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
There's a game will come in my mind.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
It was last year the Chicago game, and I remember
we were winning I think three to one and we
lost four three, and you know, that game, I feel
it was kind of like you can see the mentality
of the team and not really being you know, focused
on you know, kind of not winning, but it was
no like.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Like team kind of chemistry. You know.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
He was like we're pointing fingers and are complaining and
on this one like we gotta go against and you
see the reaction and you see like, oh, okay, let's
let's get on and let's try to come back of.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Course to get a tie.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
But then you're like, hey, we can win that, and
they get it, and like Adam said, I think those
three points is going to be probably like big at
the end of the year, and it's really a reference
game for them to be like, hey, let's let's kind
of stop to play at the level of the opponent.
You know, we are better than that. Let's you know,
shake it and you know, kind of show to the
league and that we are for real and we are
(22:14):
here to win games even if we played in a
town two. We spend a lot of money, but don't play.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
As a team. We do.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
And I think it was, yeah, not the best game.
I think it was a lot of bad path and
I was like kind of being annoyed on Trauma team
watching the game, you know, and being.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
You know, mad about like the lack of good pathing
in the midfield.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
But at the end they put it off and you're like,
holy shit, okay, like we can't do it. Like it's
a it was kind of a great win, like mentally
for the team. So it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Now that llas you know, we are by three points in.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
You understanding, but they need to play off the West
that hey, we need to win that game so we
can maybe get another good surprise in Texas.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Yeah, and like you said, I was disappointed in some
of the passing. I was really disappointing the referee. I
thought he was taking over the game by calling so
many stoppages. It was just it was a little frustrating
to watch. But my highlight obviously is Kai kicking it
off a long staff, which is what a great name
long staff, But uh, afterwards, a lot of players would
(23:20):
celebrate in the corner and everything. He runs right to
the bench and everybody mobs him. And that's when I
looked at it. I go, holy crap. This is a unit.
This is a team. You know, this isn't an individual players,
This isn't one star player. If anything, we sold our
quote unquote biggest star player and they just uniteed and
(23:41):
they took that Miami tie home loss, whatever people want
to say, and they bounced back and they took a
punch in the mouth from Toronto when they came back
and won. So I mean, I totally agree with Adhim.
This could be one of those wins that we look
back on this season and we're like, hey, that was great.
So yeah, I totally.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Agree with you guys.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Let's just a little bit of Union news. Quinn Sullivan
gets a call up and Adam, I need to give
this kid his flowers because let's think about in the past,
his academy class. We heard Patson Aronson, Jack McGlenn never
heard Quinn Sullivan, but he plays Cavin Man comes on,
(24:24):
his fourteen year old brother comes and steals all the spotlight.
And even the last year Jim moved him all over
the place. I think the only thing he didn't play
was defender and goalkeeper. And the kid just keep grinding
and he's putting together a hell of a season playing
great under Bradley. I mean, he's been playing great all
the time, and he finally gets his dude to be
on the US men's national team. So I just want
(24:47):
to give him a shout out and say, holy crap, man, like,
good for you. I can't wait to keep watching you.
I hope you don't go anywhere in the transfer window.
It's probably frightening me to death because I saw one
of those articles. But like, bravo Quinn Sullivan, you know,
add on yourself from Quinn.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
You know, I think it's something that if you're a Union,
if you've been a diehard Union fan for a while,
this warms your heart seeing him, you know, get to
this pinnacle. I think, you know, when it came to
the Aaronson Brothers, when it came to Jack McGlenn, when
it came to you know, it seemed as if Quinn
was definitely a good player, a serviceable player, a guy
(25:26):
you could put into a rotation. But was he a
game breaker? Was he a game changer that was yet
to be seen. And I mean the kids still what
he's in his early twenty So it's not like, you know,
he's he's truly even gotten to his prime. But to
see him evolve into this level of player and to
be this consistent, you know, look it is it is
(25:49):
something to behold and it is something to really cherish,
and it's something to be really excited about. Because he
continues this, then it just adds to the depth of
talent and weapons that this team has right now. And
you know, to hey, like when are we going to
talk about Ernst Tanner possibly as executive the year? Like
(26:11):
this is something that I have a weird conversation about now,
But like I'm looking at this, you sell McGlenn, do
you miss him? Like are you really out here being
like man Jack McGlenn would be really enhancing this product
right now. You know, Daniel Gazdag, who we all love
and we all appreciated what has he done in Columbus
(26:34):
since he's gotten there, I understand it takes time to
acclimate and that he just signed a multi year extension
and I'm sure he's gonna come out with twenty goals
next season. But what is he like in this moment?
Are you really missing Daniel Gazdag You know you right
now have a plus fourteen goal differential in the Eastern Conference,
the best the best goal differential in the East. Look
(26:58):
and again, the Quinn is a gamble. But it's the
people at the top believing in a guy like Quinn
Sullivan saying please bring us. We're gonna sell guys, we're
gonna sell household names, we're gonna sell talent, but we're
gonna believe in you. And he's been delivering and and
what you said is true. He's versatile. He's been playing
every single position up top, he's been playing pivot positions,
(27:21):
and he has been answering the bell. You know. So
I've I've thoroughly enjoyed watching him play this year, and
it is just it's he is another example of there
is something to this union model, like what they're trying
to put together, there is something to it.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, any thoughts on Quinn, I mean, you've you've watched
him grow up.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
Basically, he definitely put a big step you knows this season.
You know, he's a kind of playing I think his
game decision was better for sure, that's why I think
he got some good I think he's very good crossing
the board, but he's gonna start.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
I think he has a great you know path to
the box.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
I still need is of course, some aspect of his
game he needs to be better at. But it's still young,
you know, he's just no twenty twenty years or twenty.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
One now, I think I think it's twenty one.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
Yeah, twenty one, just on twenty one.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
So yeah, it's a you know, I was at my
probably best level when I was twenty four, you know,
twenty five, so yeah, it's a plenty of time.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
But it's great.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
It's great to see the call op you know, for him,
and I think, you know, it's a it's just give
you know, even more now I will say dreams to
all the young kids you know who come from academy
and planner for a melest team. I think it's it's
great to see and all for the young you know player.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
In fIF the academy. I think it's a great example.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
But hopefully he takes that as the next step and
keep progressing and not you know, believing is here yet.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
But I don't think it's his style, So it's.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
Great, but yeah, you know, great player, and I would
I would talk about when Adam said, I really feel too,
because he's a player I.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Wanted to talk about.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
When we talk about the game against Miami, it's Jean
Jacques denley Man like he was everywhere, like it was crazy,
like it was probably his best game from the Union.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
I would have loved for him to get the winner
at the end of his head air. But he was
so good.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
And it's another player that too nobody knew about, you know,
we were at plast year a little bit, you know,
but now you can see it's really like putting his
market into the team. So yeah, another player that I
think he's been too. Still very young, and he might
not be a single a long time in the Union
if he's still playing in the same way.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Yeah, yeah, I mean Ernstanner definitely Executive of the Year
Union Academy doing what they promised years and years ago,
where we thought we were getting magic beans and holy crap,
it's literally a bean stock of talent that's grown out
of you know, Wayne slash Chester, Pennsylvania. It's just it's
been great to watch. I mean, everybody should sit back
(29:59):
in a pret She'd especially if you're a Phillies fan
and you hate it now they never had a farm system,
you should be like, look, we got a farm system,
so it's great. Uh, just little little regular you know
news the Club World Cup was coming again. It starts
June sixteenth, so it's like two weeks away, ends July
fourth and Adam, we get to see the champions Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Yeah, another cup champions.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Look.
Speaker 6 (30:27):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Not to be that guy, but when your club wins
every trophy available, you kind of feel a certain level
of smugness and it's like, oh, but you're you were
so bad you have to play in the conference. They like,
look all right, A lot of these people who were
saying this their club barely finished over the relegation line Tottenham.
So I don't know if you can really look down
when you just won your first trophy ever. And we've
(30:50):
already won that trophy twice. So look, I'm I'm very
excited for the Club World Cup and I've already had
a bunch of my friends talking about coming here real
Madrid from Lingo fans, you know, a lot of people
trying to come to Philly to watch this tournament. And
I love it as a precursor to the World Cup
next year. I love it as like a get the
(31:11):
lather going. Like even during the broadcast of the Conference
League final this past week, they were talking about Chelsea
has a turnaround. They're gonna be in the Club World
Cup in two weeks and a lot. And it's not
one of these situations whereas Chelsea USA and we're getting
Ben Chilwell and the boys actually playing. It's going to
(31:32):
be Chelsea Chelsea, and it's going to be real Madrid.
It's going to be in bop bang all these guys
because they're competing for a trophy with actual gravitas behind it.
So I'm excited. I love this. I love that it's
in America. I love it's in Philadelphia and I don't
have to go anywhere else to go see it. And
you know, come on you Blues.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, well we're excited about that. But you know what
we're really excited about, Adam. Here's the shameless plug of
the moment, the National July fourth. You can be with
Sebastian La two overlooking Broadway and the fireworks. You can
see some live music. You can see Sebastian La two
line dancing. I don't know if he's gonna do that.
We'll see what happens there, and then we get to
(32:14):
see the revenge game, because remember this is still a
revenge game. We're gonna take on Nashville and we're gonna
beat Nashville. So yeah, July fourth weekend, Philly Sports Trips
dot Com get there, I'll be there. Sebastian's gonna be there.
We're trying to pack Adam in a suitcase. We're gonna
we're gonna see what we can do. And then August second,
Frankfurt AINKTOK Frankfurt comes to town. I should have some
(32:38):
announcements soon if any Union alumni are gonna do any
appearances as well as there's gonna be some big parties
at brah House Schmidt. So we're friends with Doug at Browhouse,
so we're gonna we're gonna try to do something, maybe
get dugged by everybody a beer or something. But there's
gonna be a lot of stuff with the Frankfurt guys.
So I'm excited about that game. So it's gonna be
a good time.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Yeah, speak gonna be the the some Philadelphia Union alumni.
I saw that the Arison Boys were in town for
the matchup this past weekend, and again.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Just two more exciting whites had the.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Most exciting white. So are you talking? But you know
I saw behind them, and then they finally revealed him
in a video a couple of days later, local celebrity,
at least in my heart, in my eyes, kickball Dad
was there. I don't know if you're familiar, Matt with
Kickball Dad, but that man, he is exactly why I
(33:34):
want to give anyone over the age of fifty five
a camera and a TikTok, because a lot of these
guys are actually hilarious, so that I just wanted to
point out the Aaronsons triggered me to believe this. Think
of the other celebrity sighting that I saw during the
messy matchup.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I think I followed Kickball Dad into the parking lot
because his left blinker was on the entire time.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
So totally fine, totally fine. I went to the an
Addicts fan festival, shout out to Sean Brace for hooking
me up with tickets to that, got a couple of
pictures in a video with Kickball Dad, So you know,
I h they say, don't meet your heroes, but I
find myself comfortably okay with that.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
I'm just gonna ask Brace for tickets for that. But
now I don't know if I want to go. If
the best guy you saw there was Kickball.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Dad, well no, I also saw Kilini, but okall Dad,
that Kili was more exciting for my wife obviously, but me,
I was there for Kickball Dad, and I also saw
DJ Khaled, so we were having a good time.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Who says their name more Kickball Dad or DJ Kelly?
Speaker 3 (34:36):
I should say their name more? Is the real question?
Speaker 2 (34:39):
All right, let's get to around the soccer world news.
The US men's national team is just answering all of
our hopes and frickin' dreams. Ballistic's gonna skip the Gold Cup.
Also missing It's gonna be Western McKinney, Timothy Way and
g O Renna. The will all be at the Club
World Cup. Why g O Renna's national time because he
(35:01):
ain't gonna play, but he's missing it. The US has
got a pair of friendlies against oh Powerhouse Turkey in
Switzerland that's early June, and then the konk Keff Gold Cup.
The uh the US men's roster have you seen the
roster coming up at him? It's a Union Academy reunion.
There are seven players that have Academy ties, you know,
(35:24):
and it's just it's just crazy. So and I think
it's eight now because of Quinn. I gotta look at that.
So yeah, it's just you know, US men's I mean,
I'm gonna watch because I'm a glutton for punishment. Growing
up a sports fan in Philadelphia makes me live through
the misery as much as the glory, mostly more misery.
So I'm gonna watch the Turkey game, the Switzerland game,
(35:45):
and the Gold Cup and see what they do. But
good god, they gotta they gotta get it together, man,
the World Cups on the line, you know.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Yeah, Seba, I definitely want your thoughts on this, you know,
because this is very important just for as a team
player and you know, as a person who cares about
national teams yourself. Real quick, this is an international failure
by the US national soccer team. I think we can
all just kind of compartmentalize that twenty twenty six is
(36:14):
not going to be the year that we win the
World Cup, let alone do well in it. You know,
I think Katar gave us a false sense of security
that these guys are going to be ready for this tournament.
They are not. They've proven time and time again that
they can be beaten by meager opponents. I don't expect
(36:34):
success against Switzerland. Possibly Turkey beats Turkey could beat us
as well. The Gold Cup. Right now, in my eyes,
you're behind Canada, you're behind Mexico. So you have to
figure that out. And for me, this was supposed to
This was and still is the most important soccer tournament
in two years, in the history of your country, in
(36:55):
the history of your soccer federation. And you are not
remotely ready for this experience. Who's your goalie, who's your
number nine? You know who's your left back, you know
who's your center backs. I right now, if you look
at France ninety eight, everyone was ready for that. Everyone
(37:15):
knew who they were going to be in that. If
you look at when Brazil was hosting a World Cup,
yes it was a disaster against Germany, but beforehand, everyone
knew their assignment. Everyone knew who the goalie was, everyone
who knew who the nine was and the ten was.
In all parts in between the fact that we're going
to go into this Gold Cup, which is essentially a
(37:37):
World Cup, tune up for us because we're not going
to have to do normal qualifying. You're going to tell
me our literal best players are not going to even
be on the field, so they can gain chemistry, so
they can figure out what the best combinations are. So
our relatively new coach can't get us into the right positions. Look,
it's a failure. It's an absolute failure. Back to Canada
(38:00):
and Mexico and we'll go from there.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
Oh, Adam very very like down on the US. But
I feel you, but I will not say that. You know,
the World Cup is still in one year. There's a
lot of time anything can happen. I'm just saying, like
when when you go to a World Cup, when you're freezing,
the energy for a playoff is different than playing friendlies,
you know, or not being called having a full season,
(38:27):
and so how other thing for the American player like
Poli sick or right now all of those guys and
as the player of full season and you know, like
to travel. You know, you have to travel back to
the US and back again. Like it's a lot of
you know, traveling to just do the national team games,
who sometimes doesn't count for anything. So I understand that
they won't kind of like get some rest maybe, and
it gives us a chance to poke it, you know,
(38:49):
to get a tournament with players that maybe thinking of
taking for the World Cup and see if they can
be ready. But at the end, it's when you have
like the World Cup coming. I think the US could do.
I really do, because you talk.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
About the ninety eight World Cup and I remember very
well the friends. They were not good. The year before
we miss the World Cup. As a year before, four
years before we.
Speaker 5 (39:09):
Miss the World Cup in the US, we got out
by Bulgaria, who was maybe not the best team but
did a great World Cup as well. And then you know,
we're kind of reconstructing, you know, the team, a new
coach coming in and he was kind of a mess.
You know, so many critics from the journalists and everything,
and the guys who came in, he was kind of
(39:31):
a good mix. It was a mix of older player
and younger player like Jerry was a part of it.
And again you know, they were twenty and you'd like
a good kind of type of balance of this team.
And at the end, you know, we were like, okay,
we had like a great player like Zidan who could
be a politic or somebody else in the team who
wants to be you know, the star.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
But it was like a really big kind of like
team slash country or pushing.
Speaker 5 (39:56):
He was not really like a star. You know, so
you never know, understand your disappointment right now and then
for sure I feel it, but I you know, I
think something maybe incredible could happen. You just never know,
like you're a year of preparasion and whoever is going
to be a part of this team. You know, it's
a like job of Pokino to pick the best player.
(40:17):
But they need to just play together. It just a
matter and you see it with anybody. You see it
with a union right now, you see a team we
are not really playing together. Last year it was the
same player. This year you add up, you know, a
few touches here and there, you know, change of coach,
and it's so differnt So it could happen to at
the national team level, but it's it's different because it's
(40:38):
you know, you don't play with them every weekend.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Love that answer, Adam, did he make you believe in
America again? I mean he used the Union analogy for
you to believe in the USA again? Are you back
football team Ussay hul Cogan, Real American Anthem, Come on, Adams,
get back on the US side.
Speaker 3 (40:58):
This is first off, I can't expec I see how
much this is not a Hulk Cogan household to begin with. Like,
I can't even the game and start with that one.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
Well, look, I believe in chaos, and I believe in randomness,
and I believe that they could magically put something together.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Do you believe that they can win? I believe.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
To say it again, dude, I believe that we could win.
You know, I believe. But at the same time, I
gotta be honest with you. Who's our goalie?
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Well, you know what, we'll get into that because we've
got before.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
But no, but like that's that's where I'm at now.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
I really want to be Matt Freeze from Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Come on, I would love that. I also think that's
chaotic though at this point.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
Like I look, that's how we want our independence. It
was chaos. Come on, that's how we thrive. This is
the arena we thrive in. This is what we're gonna need.
Speaking of and speaking of a theater of death, we
play Dallas. It's gonna be eighty eight degrees down there
May thirty first and should be June fifty for all
I care. Eighty eight degrees sub Dallas in eleventh place.
(42:05):
What are you think.
Speaker 4 (42:07):
I think it's a perfect time to play them.
Speaker 5 (42:09):
I think, you know, with the confident we have and
a little break after that game, you know, we're going
to go with the best team and try to try
to get a win. But you know, they play Cincinnati
in the midweek as well. In Cincinnati, so they travel too.
They did three three, which was a good result for them,
you know, being down. But yeah, it's it's a team
with some talent, you know, luture star plays there.
Speaker 4 (42:29):
It can really break any defense.
Speaker 5 (42:31):
So it's going to be a tough challenge because they
are not confident, but they have a good team. So yeah,
I'm looking forward to the good match up. But I
really think we can maybe get another victory over there
and and you know, stay on top of and we
will still be on top of the standing no matter what,
but maybe with some more points, you know, above anybody
(42:53):
else in the East.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
So it'd be nice. But yeah, I'm confident.
Speaker 5 (42:56):
I think, you know, we with what we did in Toronto,
I think that the team could surf on this type
of positivity.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
Yeah yeah, Adam, your thoughts on facing Dallas eleventh place Dallas,
but they did Tysoncinnati.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
So I mean, at this point, I think you got
to be in a mindset of get one at least point.
You know, you need to leave, you need to leave
Dallas with at least one point, but you should expect
to get three.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
I think you look the talent level that there's a
gap there, you know. And I think at this stage
the Union are good. They're good soccer club. You know,
they deserve to be a supporter shield contender because they
play like a sporter shield attend contender. You know, you
could argue the first couple of weeks they might have
(43:47):
been flukes. It's June and forty eight hours. This seems good.
So I think in moments like this, you should be
able to go down and do a team like Dallas,
a team that's reeling, a team that's not you know,
a team that did get a great result in Cincinnati,
but you should look at yourselves better than Cincinnati. You
(44:09):
beat that. So I think you should be able to
get at least one point here, if not get three
and those should be expectations of moving down there. Yea,
yeah again now that I say that we're gonna get none.
Speaker 2 (44:19):
But I'm hoping for three. I want to and may
the way, you know, just this was such a tough
month for them of busy schedules. Let's end it on
a super high note. Let's just keep going, no looking back.
You know, we got a little bit of a break,
so let's go for it all right. I know we're
gonna wrap this up because we're getting along on the time.
(44:40):
The two things I have for you the Sebastian Lit
two Soccer Summer Camp July twenty first to the twenty
fourth Wild with Press New Jersey SEBA still still timed.
Speaker 4 (44:50):
Sign up plenty of time.
Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah we uh still you know, having some rooms, so
please sign up.
Speaker 4 (44:55):
It would be great.
Speaker 5 (44:57):
And and my my thing is let's sup off to
Paris tomorrow, chip and State final?
Speaker 3 (45:05):
Yes jee yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
And then and then, Adam, the biggest question I have
for you, how are the Hotbirds?
Speaker 3 (45:12):
Hotbirds are right now in second place in the Division
three and one so far in the season. We did
take an l this week in a very controversial game
against the New York Empire. You know I'm on a
different podcast to talk about that one shout outs to
backup broad Street back in, but look, we got to
I would say, we have a game tomorrow, which, by
(45:34):
the time you guys hear this will be either the
day of or whil after that game against the Carolina
Flyers on May thirty first. So let's hope we did
the deed and succeeded and got to four and one.
But if so, we will be back home again. We
are also taking a little bit of an international break
so to speak. We'll be back home on June twenty eighth. Yeah,
(45:56):
June twenty eighth will be our next home game, so
you have plenty of time to watch us on TV,
figure out what the heck we are, and then come
on down and visit us at Newman University.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
All right, Well, guys, that was episode number thirty eight.
Thank you both for joining us, and thank you everybody
out there. Go Union
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.