Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #437: WoSo — Fishel's smash debut, Shaw waits on Twila, Trin balls

Episode Date: October 4, 2023

Vince, Tara and Belz talk through Mia Fishel's excellent debut at striker for Chelsea, continue to bemoan the purgatory of the Twila Kilgore era, Trinity scored and toyed with the opponent over the weekend, Alyssa been a bit too quite for Vince's liking, much more from across the waterfront.Join Scuffed on Patreon and and get exclusive episodes twice a week, plus access to the Discord and live call-in shows: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show, plus all patrons get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Scuff podcast where we talk about U.S. soccer. Hey, it's Wosso Wednesday. Tara, how goes it? I am doing fine. How are you? I'm good. I'm real good. Sunny morning here in North Georgia.

Vince, how you doing? Feeling great, man. Feeling great. Sunny morning here in North Kentucky. It's a sunny morning in western Pennsylvania as well. Oh, man. All across middle of. America.

Yes. First thing I want to do is let you to go back to the last camp, the two friendly victories over South Africa and say anything you want. Well, because you haven't had a chance on the podcast to do that yet. Well, I mean, mine will be very brief. I'm not a very sentimental person. So I guess this camp was never really for me. but I just think that they really handled it wrong. I do not think Megan Rapino being subbed out for Midge Purse or Julie Earts being subbed out for Andy Sullivan is at all meaningful.

And I think they deserved better. I think it could have been the sweet goodbye that everybody wanted and still moved forward with the Olympics in mind. And I just think they fumbled it. I don't think they did a very good job with that. Because they could have done a better job of signaling this is a new, we're going into a new era by bringing in some Jaden Shaw's or some. Is that what you're thinking?

While still honoring what Megan has done, I mean, she's a hero to everybody on that field, to everybody watching, she's a giant. but imagine what it would have been like if, you know, Sam Coffey was feeding her balls or Jaden Shaw was out there collaborating with her. I just think there was a way to make it hopeful and exciting and still honor what all she's done because she has motivated so many young players. She's made sure that the young players are going to get paid equally.

It's, it could have been a really meaningful night while still looking ahead. And I don't think they did that. And I'm still upset about it. Yeah. I mean, I'm not that upset, but it still. Yeah, it do be like that. But yeah, for me, I mean, the games were the games. They ended up what Tara's trying to say, well, what she is saying is that, you know,

huge misopportunity for everybody involved. And because of that misopportunity, that led to me being, you know, somewhat checked out of this camp. Like I watched the games, but, you know, I came on here two weeks ago, repeated four to five times that the Jaden Shaw era was upon us. Turns out that was premature. Well, no, it's not. Maybe the era is upon us. The Jaden Shaw small-sided. This is Twilight doesn't know yet.

First team all-world player is upon us, but as far as it really, US Wimbus National Team match where you can you know get a cap an appearance experience

putting the shirt on this did not happen this did not happen it did not so you know that's a little disappointing and also like I just

I just knew that like after that Sweden match that that whole Emily Sina thing was just going to be just the biggest of fools gold and the type of fool's gold that, you know, this program loves to just, like, we're gonna, we're gonna,

she's gonna ride this wave throughout the, throughout the whole Olympics. And we're just gonna be like, damn it, that Sweden match. And we lost anyway. Yeah. But with that, with that Emily Sina performance

is gonna carry her into that good night. You know what I'm saying? Gently. So, just, just be ready. Be prepared. for everything that's coming here soon unless unless you know what I'm saying we get our we get our white you know white night or black night you know that that comes in from outside of the the tyranny um that is you know the USSF and uh and turns and flip turns everything upside down

but we'll see we'll see in it so uh but but right now I'm prepared for a heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy dose of Emily Sondick going forward, at least until the Olympics. I mean, it's wise to prepare for that, I would say. I can't do it. I can't do it, guys. Are you ready? Speaking of, well, let me just say one more thing about it. I do, I totally agree that the last camp and the management of it and the way we're kind of

running things is doing nothing to stoke my fire to why. watch them, you know. I mean, I do, of course, watch. And it's still fun. But, man, that, that lack of sort of looking ahead energy from this team, it's a, it, it does take a toll a little bit. And I guess maybe that's because I'm partly in your camp, Tara, not being that sentimental of a person, at least about most things. And I'm pretty sentimental about myself, but that's it. Yeah. But, I mean, but, you know, like, I don't, I don't really, I don't really want to see Megan Rapino or Alex Morgan play again. Like it doesn't do anything for me at this point.

I'm tired of it. So it's over. It's Jover, as you know, the people will say. What were you going to say? Sorry. No, no. I mean, I agree with you both. But speaking of Twyla's comments on Jaden Shaw, she, I guess I just wanted to talk a little bit

about it more. Twilis said, Jaden Shaw has been excellent, says she's one of the team. team's top players and small-sided games and all of the vets were impressed. Hey, but a big-sided game, you know what I'm saying? You can't put her in there. Not ready for that yet, just the small-sided ones, baby.

October call-up, think she's getting it? Hell yeah. I do. Yes, yes. Yeah, that's not a question. She continues to produce. We'll get to that later. But she had a big week, for sure.

And then Twilett also said that the ex-exam. expectation within the group is to build off of the Sweden match like you both alluded to already. But I guess my point with that quote is, do you remember when Lindsay Horan said at the, I think it was the final episode of the recap pod after the World Cup that the team came together to make these changes and play how they want to play and alluded to that being the team's call to give Andy Sullivan a partner, basically? Yep, yep, that they weren't set up like that going into the game. So I guess that puts more weight behind Lindsay's comment because I remember when it first came out,

I said at least that it was hard to believe that the players were just like Emily Sonnet needs to play. But it sounds like that's what they did in the September camp too. So maybe it's just Lindsay taking control. I mean, it wasn't Sonnet playing in that midfield next to Sullivan wasn't a bad solution in the moment you know, it was

it worked out. It was a good stopgap. Andy, Andy getting even a little bit of support makes her a better midfielder, but it's two for the prices of one when you have same coffee on the bench. Right.

Exactly. Sheesh. I guess that's my only point. We can get into the week now. So you guys think Shaw is going to play in the next camp? She's just been shelved for a moment to continue the veneration of the Saints. I mean, I can't imagine that she gets called in again not to play. But San Diego Wave, it's going to be during the playoffs.

And San Diego has limited minutes before. I mean, they've been able to bench Alex when needed with the national team, Germa when needed, and their playoff chances almost entirely rely upon Shaw. So I don't necessarily think she'll get a lot of time, but I'm hopeful she'll get some. Please, I'm begging you. But, you know what I'm saying? Like, I guess we can't. There are some congratulations due, you know what I'm saying, for, for, for,

M.A. M.A. Vignola. For me, official. Are those only two debutantes? Yeah. Welcome back for, what? Casey Kruger. Tierna. Tirna.

You know what I'm saying? Midge. Midge. Yeah, Midge. Midge. Big welcome back. Right back Midge. We're back to the old era. That's an interesting development, I think.

And in my opinion, that's where she should be. for the national team, in my opinion. In my opinion, very humble opinion. But yeah, yeah. We did get all those players back, which is cool, which is cool. But like, like Twyla said, the direction going forward is... Same old, same old. Yeah, same old, same old.

These other players, like, fit in where they fit in, when it was time for them to come in or whatever. And they mostly did good jobs, but, you know, we're still seeing the same old when you know the rubber meets the road let's go over to london chelsea versus tottenham hot spur at stanford bridge me official gets the start at striker at the nine uh you know straight out of league of mackies and uh she did all right didn't she yeah she got uh she got a goal on her debut and a very good goal i think i was impressed It was a repeatable

A repeatable goal Rows above a defender And nodded it It was off a restart Like a throw in I think And then Quick cross Just nodded at far post

Beat the keeper I thought So obviously that's nice Everybody's seen the highlight But I thought otherwise She was really good Really positive Bringing other attackers into the play

Little one touch combinations Set up Spencer On a give and go And tight quarters and a similar one for Lauren James, who was, you know, obviously quite good. Lovely stuff. And then maybe her first touch looks a little unreliable sometimes,

but she's got lots of good ideas. And she also tested the keeper with a rip with her right foot, doing like kind of a quick turn in the box, and then having one. She had a header cleared off the line by a defender. Seems like she's making the most of her opportunity. Yeah. It was a, it was a good performance.

Well, great performance, really. First start, you know, first, first WSL game for Chelsea this season. You know what I'm saying? To start it off like that, great to see. And like I've said before, you know, I think everyone agrees. Like Bell said, I mean, Alex, thank you for your service. You know what I'm saying? We can go ahead and park that statue, you know, in your hometown or whatever.

And, you know, keep it moving. Put it in Atlanta for all I care. Yeah. Yeah, whatever. Like at the entrance to the new facility or whatever the hell. But yeah. But in reality, in order for us to move on, me official is going to just have to beyond a doubt, just do everything that she can to get on that field. And, you know, so far so good.

So far so good. You know, when she got the goal, like I think that's when she really turned up, like that's when she really turned up. Like that's when all the combinations and stuff started coming after that. Like, she really started feeling good. It's great to see. It was great to see. The type of player she is, there isn't, like, much threat. It's not going to be, like, much threat in behind from me official.

But, you know, she makes up for that by being quite nice in the combination, quite nice with her back to goal, with people on her back. And, yeah. May along continue. Please. I'm begging you, Mia. I do wonder. You go ahead.

Oh, I was just going to say, who would have guessed that Mia Fischer would score for Chelsea before Katerina Makario? It's quite well. Sad. But sticking with Mia for one more second, I do wonder where she fits in. Is she there because Sophia's hurt? is Sophia still considered back up to Alex and then Mia's back up to Sophia? Because if she's third, she's not getting much Olympic play. Or does none of this matter until we get a new coach?

Or just December, everything's real again. I don't know. I think it's all, it's going to be more Alex Morgan until we get a new coach, probably. That's my guess. I mean, maybe, you know, maybe Twyla surprises. us. Actually does turn the page. Yeah.

It ain't happening. So Mia is really just here because Sophia wasn't is what we're going with. Wait, say that again? Mia's really only just here because Sophia wasn't. Like she's, she was slotted in because we're missing

a backup. I don't know. Like, they probably do some, you know, creative accounting. Like, maybe Midge ends up missing out or something, something like it. Yeah. Okay. Okay. As for Macario, she did not dress. No, she didn't. She's still her, apparently.

But it's her birthday today. So happy birthday, Katarina. How old is she? Happy birthday. 24. 24. Okay. Sheesh. Time flies. It does. You haven't played football. Here's what Chelsea coach Emma Hayes said.

I think last week. I love Katerina. What a freak player. We want to get it right with her. She's going to take a little bit longer, and I can't say when. You never know. Will it be weeks?

Maybe. Maybe, exclamation point. Sheesh. So there was a rumor going around the Discord. It was some tweet from not a journalist or anybody like that. But it said that she's expected halfway through the season

or like the first half of the season she won't play. So the tweet alluded to like a January go time which whatever I mean we'll have a new coach by then so. Yeah. This injury has taught me a lot.

Talk me a lot. This and Kristen Press. In women, that's what I was going to say. In women specifically, you never like, Kristen Press is four surgeries on her one ACL tear that we know of like horrible.

This is, yeah, this is going, it's too much for me. Like I mean, when this injury happened, I was like, ah, you know what I'm saying? Should be back for the World Cup, no problem. You know what I'm saying? Like, luckily it happened now. And here we are. Halloween is upon us, spooky season. And, uh, it's getting spooky.

It's getting spooky. It really is. Poor cat, man. She puts a good face on it. But it must be hard. I mean, it was a long time ago now that she was gingerly going through drills. You know what I'm saying? Like you would think that when Leon had her in Dubai for the entirety of the men's award cup,

she was just watching games and getting like doing her little cone drills. Jesus. Limits of modern medicine, man. Leone, anything else on Cat? I mean, no. She's not playing maybe January. We'll see. Leone versus PSG, a big game in France at the Pauce de Ponce.

And we saw Lindsay Horan and Corvin Albert in this game. Horan went 90. Did you guys have any thoughts on it? Because I do. I watched, I don't have many interesting thoughts. I thought Lindsay put in a Lindsay Horan performance, had moments of good, had moments of no mobility, and all in all, her team got the win. It worked out.

Yeah. That's basically, she's kind of doing her thing. Metronome, playmaker, box arrival for them. She has a lot of quality. I mean, it really shines. But yeah, that mobility's not getting any better. I don't think. I'm not saying it's getting worse,

but she's not like popping off the screen with her quickness. I also notice they have much better camera angles for the Wii Wii feminine than they do for NWSL. Embarrassing. You know what the key camera angle is in soccer broadcasts? I will die on this hill Do you want to know what it is? I do

I don't want to hear if you can guess it I can't guess it It's the one It's the one behind the post To the side So that you can see a shot Coming at the post How far away it is from the post

NWSL doesn't have this I don't think I've seen it In any NWSL games They definitely don't have it bills I mean We're lucky to get Paramount Plus working on time. Don't have that camera ago. I mean, we got more people in one, you know, Angel City game than they do in, like, the entire, you know, I mean, I think our attendance stacks up really well against.

Yeah, the entire match week for the wee, we, we, feminine. Yeah, for sure. Anyway, that, that, got to get that, got to get a camera behind the post. So you can see. We need to crowd source it. Just go ahead. I got to be some type of technology. How did it go fund me?

Where we can just, you know, because everybody has a camera on them. And Joe Biden's America. I mean, even if it's just a phone. Got to see how close it was to going in, that shot for the, that shot aimed at the post. Anyway, you guys are not nearly as excited about that as I am. Corbyn, Albert, she came on 63rd minute, her team down 1-0. They couldn't get the equalizer.

I thought she was fine, sat behind, And so she's in this game sitting behind Oriane Jean-Francois, a 22-year-old French midfielder. And then she's subbed on for her. So that's maybe a little battle to watch. Corbyn is still 19. So she's young, young, young, young. Plenty of time. But we do need that Corbyn call up, you know, soon, Twyla.

If you're listening, go ahead and call her up, get her in some small side of games. You know, we need to see that. I mean, the thing is, if you're good at small-sided games, you're good at large-sided games. That's how it works. The vets wearing press bills. Good. I'm glad to hear it. Corbin, I feel like Corbyn's not going to get called in until she's, like, starting every game for PSG.

It's the NWSL quota, guys. Come on. I think that. Get your heads out of the sand. I think Corbyn could walk into our midfield right now. But I agree. I don't think that she's going to be one of the very few tryouts we get in the remaining one camp. No, two camps of 2023.

Need that Maltrow call up too. There you go. There you go. I won't lie, though. I'm one of Corbyn's biggest fans, but I do want to see her, like, goes 70, 80 minutes in one of these games and see how she, you know, how she performs over. a decent sample size. It's kind of, baby. You know, some fixture congestion.

It'll be coming up soon enough. Yeah. Okay, let's move over to the NWSL. To America. First game, first game I have, Washington Spirit, B, Kansas City, 2 to 1, and Trinity Rodman got the game-winning goal. It was an extra time.

I think she's had, not I think, it's known. She's had a bit of a quiet club season as of late, and her hot streak from the national team camp carried over. We got a good goal from Trinity. I'm excited about it. Yeah, even if she hadn't scored, she was balling in this game. Looks like she's on a different level from everybody else on the field. Yeah.

Yeah, so it's been quiet from a, you know, goals and assists perspective, and especially when, you know, I think, I think I've, I'm kind of sour on this point now, but I've been of the belief that, you know, Trinity is, or at least should be knocking on the Mal, uh, self tier, you know what I'm saying, of our attacking players. She, she might be a little bit behind that, uh, currently, but. You know what I'm saying? As far as her, as far as her ghost stats and everything, she, for players with 1,400 minutes in the league,

she sits right behind Jaden Shaw as far as XG and XA per 90 minutes. So she's still doing her thing. She's still doing everything. Good for fifth in the league, non-penity XGXA. Really? So, yeah. That matches the eye test. I mean, she's dominant out there.

I mean, dominant's too strong. You can't be dominant unless you're actually doing the G's and the A's, right? But she, yes, it's a spirit thing that I think, you know, that this has been part of my, you know, Ashley Sanchez's agenda just a little bit, but it's just like, yeah, like the spirit go as Trinity go. And it's nobody else. It's trend. So, you know, to, oh. Oh, and I got to mention this. I got to mention this.

The Selly, you know what I'm saying? People said she was doing the John Wall. I will let y'all know that the John Wall originated from a dance. Remember, John Wall broke this dance out at Big Blue Madness at Kentucky. You know what I'm saying? Or basically our kickoff to the season. Who could forget? Who could forget?

It was a seminal moment in the American culture, it seems. This dance keeps popping back up. But the John, the dubbed John. John Wall dance, I'm putting quotes around this, originated from a Louisville dance called the Shiz. You know what I'm saying? If you look the shiz up, S-H-I-Z, look it up on YouTube. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

A lot of people flexing in this video. I definitely will look that up. Thank you, Tara. I just want people to know this. You know what I'm saying? I see a lot of people talking about John Wall Dance, John Wall Dance, blah, blah, blah. just make sure you throw the shiz in there too.

Thank you. So he took the shiz from Louisville and made it a Kentucky Wildcats thing? I mean, essentially, yeah. And because of the, you know, because of who John Wall was, you know what I'm saying? It's called it the John Wall dance. And, you know, it's that thing.

Is he from Louisville? Where's the Wall from? No, he's from North Carolina. He's from North Carolina. He's from North Carolina. And it's just one of those things where, like, people that aren't familiar with, you know, the thing, see it.

And it's like, oh, it's a John Wall dance, but, you know, they don't know the origins, baby. Clarification. It's had a shout out of my city there. Thank you. But, but, Tren, you, you know, for me to you, you know what I'm saying? I give you the pass to Shiz as much as you would like. Thank you.

She, I noticed she set up four big chances in this game. Right at the beginning, two, in the first 15 minutes, two at the end. Last 10 minutes. She's like back healing, start, stop, dribbling, helping in the build out late in the game, dropping in, making good choices. I mean, it's not like a flawless performance. It's never going to be when you're an attacker, but pretty close. And, you know, just like I just want to shout this out for Trinity, just an elite defender. What she wants to be.

I mean, she might be one of the best tacklers in the NW. Because he's ready to be. Spirit rely on it a lot too. I mean, her goal saved them three points and kept them in a playoff spot. So I think it worked out well. Playoffs start when exactly? Two more regular season games. Okay.

Yeah. And it's kind of like MLS where like basically everybody gets into the playoffs or a lot of people do. Six. Six teams. Okay. Six of a, how many we got now? 12. So not like the MLS.

Keeping with, yeah, good clarification. Keeping with Washington Spirit, it's beating a dead horse, but I really enjoyed watching Tara McKeown and Stobb defend Debiania against the Terra Agenda. Against DeBina this game against Kansas City is what I was trying to say. And I hope with a new United States. United States women's national team, we're able to give them a look because they're doing very, very well.

And Kansas City, Vince, did you watch this game? I'm not trying to shame. I have something to ask. No, I didn't. Kansas City now plays Haley Mace as the striker, is what I wanted to tell you. I've been wanting to tell you this for weeks, and I just keep forgetting. They play Haley Mace as the striker now. I saw that on foot my up.

I saw that on foot mob, and I thought that was a typical foot mob mistake. You know what I'm saying? We're like, at the beginning of the game, they might have the little formation kind of messed up. Then you look back around halftime and it's fixed. And I'm like, because I was like, there's no way. There's just no way. But you're telling me this is true. It's true.

And Kansas City has Michelle Cooper who won awards as a striker in college, who they traded Lynn Williams for to get that number two draft pick and they're playing Haley Mesa striker instead. It's outrageous. Yeah, you know what? When you put it like that, because I forgot about the trade and all that. But yeah, this was a huge deal. Like, KC's making this, you know, gave up Lynn Williams. You know what I'm saying?

Len Williams, who was an elite NWSL player for that number two pick for and, and, and, And it must be noted that it wasn't a, you know, a Lynn Williams asking out thing. You know, we've seen NWSO teams in the recent year or so be a little accommodating to players that want to move or whatever. Lynn Williams was blindsided by this whole move. So, yeah, to trade, to get Michelle Cooper and to constantly, I mean, you know, she played the wing when they came to Louisville. And I went to watch and play. And it's just like. And she's doing, come on now.

She's doing well, but if you have a striker position open enough where Haley Mace can come in and take it. Yeah, Kulay, come on, come on. It's crazy. We're talking about Haley Mace here, but all due respect to Haley Mee. And I'm thinking this is someone who enjoys watching Washington Spirit. Like, I enjoy Trinity. I enjoy Ashley Sanchez. I enjoy Mickey on and Stobb.

Kansas City could have beat them. I mean, it wasn't that outrageous of an idea. They have talented players. But I beg of you, Kansas City. You're out of the playoffs now, on to next season, get a real coach, and utilize Michelle Cooper as she should be. You know, that boy is waiting in the wings, waiting in the shadows. Just waiting.

It's probably going to be announced as soon as their season's over. Andanovsky back, back. He and his family own a home in Kansas City, don't they? I mean, that's their, that's their, that's their, that's their, that's their, that's their, that's home base. So yeah, and the thing is like, yes, Michelle does all right on the wing, but it's like, she's so clearly just not a winger. You know what I'm saying? It's, it's, it's very different from Sof. Yeah.

Where, like, Sof can do her thing, but like, Michelle, it's, it's just not that. Like, I mean, but she does end up finding value just like, you know, making runs off the ball, getting them behind. They're doing all those different types of things, but come on, Kansas City. Or you can trade them to Louis. You can trade her to Louis, please. The wave. Go ahead, sorry. No, I just said I don't think that'll be happening.

But the wave beat Portland at Portland, two to nothing, which put them back in first. Jaden Shaw had a phenomenal game if you're looking for an understanding of what Jaden can do I think this is the type of game to watch it was it was very very good all the replays right there for you on Paramount Plus what are you waiting for Ad hashtag ad

but Jaden got an assist Alex got Alex Morgan got a bit of a strange goal but a goal nonetheless Bro, that goal, what is Bella Bixby doing, man? Don't tell me she didn't get paid for that. It was ridiculous. It was Alex's first goal since May, which I bring up not to be snarky, but in hopes that it frees some things up for her,

and we can get her to score some more goals. Oh, wow, the reverse shade. I like that. I like that, Tara. Hopefully you'll ask the star scored. I know you're not going to do it, but... This goal was... It was a, like, very, very slow header.

Bella Bixby drops to her knees and pirouettes on the ground as it just very slowly bounces past her. And, you know... What the blazes! I love to see it, because along with Ali Raleigh, like, Bella Bixby is also on my... like irrational hate list as far as NWSL players. I don't know why.

Something about the jib. Something about the jib. But yeah, you love to see it. You love to see it. And to talk further about the Jaden Shaw assist, as I do, as I need to do. You know what I'm saying? I don't know. It was like a little, what, what?

There was like a second ball loose in midfield, a little scramble for it. The ball was up for contests. Wave coming. Wave come out with it. Jayden just runs into space. Gets a pass, basically, at the end line. Beautiful cutback. Beautiful.

Beautiful cutback. So precise. She got, she got, Becky Sowerbrun pretty good there too, I thought. Like, Becky hardly attempted to get the ball from her, in my opinion. Beautiful.

Beautiful to see. and I'd like Jaden to show Christian Pulisic how to do that sometime, you know? Yep. Once again, is she still, I'm pretty sure Jaden's still 18. Her birthday's coming up soon. Birthday is coming up soon. And I'm looking at league only stats. Challenge Cup is admitted because Challenge Cup is a weird competition,

very weird competition where you play the same teams over and over. Looking at just league stats. That's amongst players. Are you admitting it? Yeah, yes. Yes, I'm admitting it. Amongst players with 1,400 minutes in the league, the list goes like this as far as XG plus XA, non-pin.

Morgan Weaver, number one, 0.67, Ashley Hatch, 0.56. Caroline, 0.50, Jaden Shaw, 0.50. And once again, the aforementioned Trinity Robin at 0.46. So, yeah. A bunch of players who didn't get passed around a 16 at the World Cup. I'm a weekend. Morgan Weaver, we got to find a way to bring her in.

She's having a phenomenal season. Yeah, it's about that time. It's about that time. You know, I've been kind of biased again. You know, I did my whole thing about the, quote-unquote, lost generation or whatever of these prime age players. but you know if you get a prime age player that ages their way into into national team consideration I mean it would behoove us not to call her up we have a spot open one of them just retired

we're good do we so no sophia in this game no sophia but we got no sophia but we got an update she's back training with her team we got a few pictures of her training with the team no brace or tape on the knee hoping for the best I assume that they're saving her for the playoffs so I am not expecting her in the next game but soon I also hope that she doesn't get caught into

October camp for what it's worth I'm jumping ahead yeah we don't need that Sophia doesn't need to even talk to Twyla wait for the new coach yeah yeah actually Twyla stay away from himself

please Don't. Just stay away. Okay? With yourself, satisfied and smile. The, like having a,

having a sprain in MCL or whatever, ain't the biggest of deals. I had one before. It's not that bad. But even still, yeah, let's go ahead and chill. Yeah. Real quick.

Knock on wood here. Thank you. Real quick, Chicago beat racing Louisville, one to nothing. We got a good Tierna Davidson game. We got a great Casey Kruger game. Things are looking okay on that front, I think.

Yeah, I thought Tierna looked sharp, really strong in duels, composed on the ball, if not all that adventurous with her passing. Are you guys putting her head at Alana Cook now? Or like, what's the hierarchy? Not yet for me, only because Chicago had such a bad season. Chicago was bad for a very long time. I think Tierra is looking back to her pre-ACL days as of the last probably two or three games I've watched, but it's going to take, it's going to take a little bit more, a little bit more consistency to pass Alana in my point of view.

But again, I am not Twyla Kilgore. I believe she will probably get more minutes in October. That's fine, but nothing's wrong. Because Cook is more dominant in the air than Davidson, right? And a more exciting passer. Yeah. Right? Is that fair?

Correct. Alana's a great passer. Yeah. It's just that Alana has a mistake or two, a game that is bad. Maybe Tierna beats around that front. I don't know. Alana just got a big old red card. Oh, yeah, yeah.

I saw that. I saw that. But we'll get to it. Yeah. But racing, disappointing you, boy. Disappointing your boy. Down the stretch. Which, you know, as I started to really dig into the underlines, you know what I'm saying, in the NWSL,

and looking at it at a team level, it turns out the racing's been quite, ass in the league all year. Like bottom, bottom of the table in terms of like expect a goal differential. But, but the challenge cup before we were like we were like top in the league and expect a goal differential in the challenge cup.

But so really, if you take out the challenge cup, it's been a pretty disappointing season for us. And, you know, Savannah de Mello, your team needs you. Where are you? Where are you? I didn't, where are you? I didn't like the strategy

racing had with the challenge cup. Like, Jalen Howe never got a break. Savannah de Mello never got a break. Every other team were running out their kids. And racing was like, we're going 18 forever until we break them. Yeah, and now Jalen Howell is broken. She is broken.

I actually was like four feet away from her this past week. There's this event called the soccer. ball that soccer holdings puts on the parent company of Louisville City and racing Louisville and I went I went chess so shout out to Jessica Lawrence, sister of Dave Lawrence Bells

um yeah she she invited me just for sure everybody knows Dave Lawrence is the guy who took the scuffed flag to Qatar yes in Miami flag bearer and his sister

spends quite a bit of time in Louisville and as a part of the Lou City Foundation The Lucity Foundation basically Well, I don't think it's called the Lucity. It might be. Anyway, the foundation basically helps pay dues of players in the academy. You know, helps with that. So the ball was a fundraiser for that.

Anyway, back to the point, I was like four feet away from Jaylor Howe and I wanted to talk to her and be like, yo, are you coming back? Your team needs you. Did you talk to her at all? No. She was like talking to somebody. else and then when she got done she just seemed like she had somewhere to be and like jogged off so i'm all right it's all good but but but i will say seeing those guns in person was crazy the gun show you know what i'm saying delts tries incredible but um yeah i say all this to say that jelan shaw has

been i mean jelan how has been out and continues to be out and yeah it just is what it is like if we don't get that, if we don't get that midfield three, we're just not going to be any good. But also I do want to put a little bit of the blame on SAV. You know, if I'm going to, if I'm going to get on Ashley Sanchez for coming up missing, which she has been missing, I got to get on SAV too. I don't know.

I guess it's just one of those things with, you know, middle of the season World Cup and coming back and trying to do your things still. it ain't been the same sad since. It's funny to see Tara check her watch every time you bring up the name Ashley Sanchez. Attacking midfielder with five goals this season. There's not a lot of them. Hey, Casey Kruger, as you mentioned,

had a very good game. She did catch up to a ball, trickling across an open goal towards, who was the player who was coming for that canoe? It was a Kotlan at a Kanu, connection and Kruger was running back and swept it away off

of the goal line. Did it on a cramping hamstring, according to a listener. And I can see why y'all are so in on Kruger. Maybe not one for the World Cup in 20207 given her 33 years of age, but are we lobbying for her to be in the Olympic roster

at this point or just in the mix? Too early to tell on my from my point of view I think that I mean Casey Kruger has been one of if not the best defender

in the league as of late one of I'll say I mean I think Germa's probably the best but she's consistently good she's had many great many great games and I think she should have been in New Zealand

is it time to start pushing her towards the Olympics I don't know. I'm hoping that we try out some more young players and, you know, try to invest in the future a little bit. But Casey's great. She's somebody we can rely on as a backup if need be. I just am not sure we have to do that yet. Okay. I mean, you know, we don't have full backs for real. It's probably going to have to be one of them, like one of Casey or MA. You know what I'm saying? I would hope that Kelly O'Hara is, you know what I'm saying, moved on. Yeah.

From, you know, if one of these European teams want to go ahead and convince Giselle to skip a senior year of high school, you know what I'm saying, you don't need to go to prom, come to Paris, get some bedbugs or whatever, you know what I'm saying? That'd be great, too. but yeah with our current fullback death being what it is it's gonna be one of them I was gonna say we don't have a lot of young talent at fullback right now that I see I mean I know that the Giselle Thompson is coming she's coming but it might be a little while and I still got some Lainey Rouse stock that was on that U20 team

I think she's at the University of Virginia it should be our last year should be entering the professional soccer workforce next season, wherever she decides to go, whether it's NWSI or whatever. I didn't know she was a senior. That's exciting. She is a senior. So, yes, let's go. Please, Lainey, I got a lot of hopes invested in you.

Yeah, she was fun to watch. Let's quickly blow through the rest of this here. I can do it super quick. Gotham lost to Houston, two to nothing. Midge had an all right game. and Lynn seemed worn out, so it's something to keep track of a little bit as we rely on Lynn pretty heavily. I just want to say something that's kind of a hot take, but I'm only slightly more interested

in seeing Lynn Williams again than I am in seeing Alex Morgan. I've seen enough. Anyway, O'L. Rain. O'L. rain. I'm probably on your side of bills. I think I'm probably too. O'L. Rain tied North Carolina Courage one to one.

Rapino got an assist off a quarter kick with the Bethany Balser goal. Bethany is not in the near future for the United States women's national team. But I bring it up because Rapino got an assist. And I think it was a good goal. And Alana Cook got a red card, which it was less of an oopsie and more of a try and save her team a point play. She denied a goal-scoring opportunity from Caroline, Caroline. And it was really bad. Alana Cook immediately just started walking off the field.

She knew it. She knew what she did. She took it. So she'll be out in a really important game as the rain try and remain in the playoffs. And then last thing I want to bring up about rain, Rose LaVelle is still out. She's continuously out I think she's had 300 minutes this season maybe And I wanted to see if you guys saw

She showed up at the September camp anyway Even after being replaced She did some comedy sketches with Lindsay Horan What were you going to say then? Oh just anytime you can go home I mean you know You go You just go home

I understand I understand I hope she does not get called into October camp. I'd like for her to play soccer again. I think she is too young to be in that

national team is my job and club team is my hobby. Part of the team and I just hope that we get to see Rose play soccer again. And then last game, Angel City lost 1 to nothing.

Nothing major to report. from M.A. or Alyssa. And that's the week. That's all the games. My only, I want to say one more thing about Vignola and Kruger. I guess I've signaled this, but Kruger is well ahead of Vignola for me. Yeah. Casey Kruger and Carson Pickett are much better than M.A.

But M.A. Is younger. It's her first real regular season. I think she'd be an investment that. I'm not ready to completely look away from. Oh, just sucks. We'll see, we'll see how she continues to look. But without a doubt, Casey, Casey's better than her right now.

Okay. Yeah. So I'm just wondering, you know, when we're going to start in a list of discussion. You know what I'm saying? I mean, it's been. She didn't have, she hadn't been playing that well. Is what you're saying? I mean, she's seen as, I feel like now,

She's seen as like a mainstay within the national team. But, you know, as noted by me, that there is another 18-year-old playing much, much, much better in the NW. The desire, not just from you. I've seen it online in many, many places. The desire to compare Alyssa and Jaden is bizarre to me. There's so many spots where both of them can fit in. we don't need to just have one 18 year old we can get rid of some of these other players it's just not one open slot yeah yeah uh understood

they're not similar they're not similar i understand they're not similar but but what i'm saying is she's just like not actually playing that well if you can't if you can't see the potential in elissa thompson i i i can see it i like i'm not saying that i would actually make that move for real but I mean there there is a point where like I'm not seeing it even has to be this season but you know if like we're seeing

we're seeing Midge Purse come in for Megan Rapino we're seeing Lynn Williams start to tire out in the in the season like those two players you're not ready to say goodbye to it's Alyssa Thompson no no I'm not saying we need to say about

Alyssa Thompson I'm just saying you know with the reputation and everything like I feel like it's just the fact that the theoretical hasn't quite met the actual yet which of course she's 18

first season as a pro blah blah blah I understand all that but I'm just saying I'm just saying very little national team minutes she's not gotten a big run out at all yeah yeah it does I'm not comparing Shaw.

I'm not comparing Shaw and Thompson, but if you look at their two situations, it does sort of illustrate how much of an aircraft carrier the women's national team is and like changing direction. Because Thompson got a few chances. Now she's a part of the team. And, you know, she's thought of as a mainstay.

That Shaw, you know, Shaw has been playing better than Thompson. Just because she wasn't in the team, she's not in the team. You know, I mean, I guess she was in the last camp, but she didn't play. It just takes a while for things to happen. It's a little different than the men's, from the men's national team where like Greg Burrhalter doesn't call up curse Tim Rame all forgive me any of you who don't care about the men's nationally but just for comparison

Tim Riem doesn't get called up for like a year and then all of a sudden he's on the World Cup squad you know things change pretty rapidly on the men's national team side or at least have doesn't happen that way as much on the women's national team side yeah and I think that helps that this is an illustration of that you know Thompson's in the team you're we're going to keep calling her up and all we'll see about. Jaden Shaw should have a place in this national team. She should be playing regularly. She's had an incredible season. That doesn't mean to me, it's not at all the right opinion. It's just mine. To me, that doesn't mean that Alyssa is bad now or shouldn't be on the

national team or shouldn't get called up in place of Jaden. They both can exist in my point of yeah yeah i'm not trying to start an agenda i'm just i'm just saying open your eyes open your eyes to no no i'm not i'm not but if this were to continue into next season uh uh where does that leave us where does that leave you know i'm just i'm just i'm just saying like olivia moultrie's been better jaden shaw's been better like you know this isn't a big deal as it currently stands but alissa Hey, these last two games of the season, let's see something, maybe. Let's see something.

Emily Sonnets had a bad season. Are we not calling for her head? Well, I mean, you know, we just talked about that. Andy Sullivan's not had a good season. These are midfielders where Jaden and Olivia could play. Christy Mewitt. I'd be ready to send them all off back in. Yeah, yeah, come on.

You're bringing up players that. Terry, you know what time it is. I'm just saying. Well, we're putting all the blame on Alyssa. There's many, many players who start for the national team who have not had a good club season. Yeah. Yeah. And they should be gone.

So, you know, I'm just, I'm just saying. You're just saying we got to, we got to, um, we got to pay attention to Alyssa's performance, which I think is fair. Right. Completely fair. As long as we're paying attention to everyone else's. Nope. Only Alyssa's. Camp is October 26th and games October and 26th and 29th against Columbia.

And I got to get going, guys. All right. Well, sorry to argue too much. No. So you guys know. Sorry. Jayton Shaw supremacy. Hey, thanks everybody for listening.

We'll see you.