Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #584: Post-March malaise, USL & pro/rel, Tillman banger, etc.

Episode Date: April 7, 2025

Vince and Belz wrestle with the implications of that last window, weigh whether USL's pro/rel gambit will move the needle, recap the weekend action and answer voicemails from listeners in Forth Worth and Chicago.Here's where you can send us a voice message for future episodes: https://www.speakpipe.com/ScuffedPodcastVince and Belz and George Quraishi are definitely taking a group to Rome from May 10-18, here's some detail, including a rough itinerary: https://earthlydelights.notion.site/Italia-25-with-Scuffed-1a3f3f1e0145804793e8e83e982168fdAnd here's where you can still sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfp2O1bIr5KNSymt3ayP3ctERCooDo3ADM5Kf_kSHpmr6ITMg/viewform 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, everybody. Another Monday review. Just me and Vince this time. Waki's on the road again this week. Not to worry. He'll be back next week. He's just traveling.

Vince, how you doing? Uh, you know, Bells, I think I'm in the acceptance phase. Acceptance of what? Of what happened in the last Nations League cycle? Nations League window. You strongly got to consider the possibility. What if we are as, Pills? Oh, yeah.

I'm considering that possibility. I don't think we are. I don't think we are. I think we're, I think we're, we're going to be fine. But fine is not that good, you know? That's right. We need, Wes is going to try at the World Cup in 2026. So big picture, what do we need?

We need Wes to try harder. He'll try when it comes to the World Cup. We need the stars to align for Josh Sargent to look good for the national team. I'm not sure that's going to happen. I'm not sure it's... I would like it to keep getting tried, but I don't... I'm not sure it's going to happen at all. We need a healing miracle for Gio Raina.

We need some of Cat Macario's healing crystals for Gio. That'd be a start. But even if things stay as they are, the boys are going to come out hard in June 2026 and, you know, probably make it to the round of 16. Yeah. I would hope so. I would hope so, man. But even then, you know, we got an extra knockout game to even get there. That round of 32 game is going to be tricky.

It's going to be tricky. It's going to be tricky without a doubt, bro. We're going to be playing a Panama. You know what I'm saying? It's going to be a... That level of team. I don't know. Georgia.

Somebody. I don't want anything to do with Georgia. No, thank you. Got some match winners. They got... It's going to be a team that we probably should be, maybe like a, you know, a Ghana or something. But a team that got some talent on it.

Probably similar amounts of talent to us, maybe. So we shall see. Ultimately, I'm all right. But, you know, when you think about these things as much as we do, I don't think people account for this. The fact that I'm just running national team scenarios and situations and evaluating players in my head all the time. You know, this is part of podcasting, ladies and gentlemen.

You, listener, maybe. No, maybe you don't. But you can put it away and go do something else. Me? No. I'm up at night. I'm waking up in a cold sweat thinking about. I think there are plenty of listeners who are in the same boat, actually, as you on that.

My whole point is to have a comprehensive, rigorous discussion with myself. You have to try and comprehend and think about all scenarios and all possibilities. And the fact that we might be asked is one of them. I don't necessarily believe it. But that's just where I'm at right now, Adam Bells. You ask me how I am. This is how I am currently. I appreciate your honesty.

We were ass in March. Now it's April. We're two months away from the friendlies against Turkey and... Switzerland. Who else we play in Switzerland? That's right. So, you know, I mean, it's, it's kind of a slow time because, like, nobody's really in a title race. Nobody's, I mean, if you want to count Brendan in leads as being in a title race, you know, go be my guest.

But nobody in Italy is. Yvese's still fighting for a Champions League spot. We're going to be in Rome in a month. You and me, that's exciting. That's right. It is exciting. Latsio Yuvé and Roma Milan. So we're just going to be kind of camped out at the Estadio Olimpico

where Yuvay played Roma just yesterday. You can still join us for that trip if you want. You, the listener, there's a couple more slots left. And, you know, people were joining as late as like two weeks before the last trip. So come on down. I'll put the link in the show notes. It can be deep and thought about the USM&T together while we enjoy a... Canoli.

Yeah. Canoli and a Nogroony. And it's going to be wonderful. It'll be a blast. Bells, I have to make sure I put the, we put the, we have to put the proper respect on the leads. Before Big Brenda gets us, you know, they are in a title race, okay? Two points back. Two points back of Burnley, but they do currently sit in third.

They've slipped out of the playoffs right now. One point behind Sheffield United. So it's all there for them. Let me see. Six matches left in the championship. Fair enough. Vancouver's top of the table in MLS West as well. So Brian White's also in a title race.

Love it. No. Brandon came on as a sub, played the last 11 minutes or so. I wanted to bring up, before we get into sort of the weekend action, I wanted to bring up the USL promotion relegation announcement because I feel like it has some particular relevance to Louisville City.

That's right. You know, they're going to, they announced two weeks ago, we haven't talked about this, that they're going to institute promotion relegation between three tiers of soccer by 2028, maybe as early as 2027. Will the world as we know it exists by then? I mean, who knows?

But if it does, you know, we might have the makings of an open system coming down the pike. Because they're going to create a new first division and they're going to use, I guess, the existing USL championship in USL League One as tiers two and three. Louisville City's one of the teams

that will probably move directly into the first division. Right. We're going to talk to Bob Lee later this. week, I'm going to ask him what he thinks are the television implications of something like this. Because, I mean, that's really pretty important still, I think. I guess the streaming implications would be the better question at this point. But does this excite you as a Louisville City supporter? I mean, I know you're a little bit more of a racing Louisville supporter than a Louisville city supporter, but...

Bells, you didn't have to say that out loud, but I love Louisville City, too. I just, I do love racing a little bit more, a little bit more pertinent to the work I do, racing, get big time players. And USLs, purge, all the two teams, you know what I'm saying? I used to, I could watch John Luca. John Luca used to come to Louisville. He got smacked one time, 8 to 3, by the way.

Swope Park Rangers. He scored a nice goal. I think they went up 3-0. It was our last game before, our last home game before he moved into the new stadium. So we were playing in the baseball stadium. I think they went up 3-0. and then we put eight goals up on the end.

But anyway, George Bellow, everybody, that was nice. But now that that doesn't happen anymore, and Josh Wander and Jogo are gone. It does take a little bit of sparkle out. But nonetheless, still my club, I got season tickets, et cetera, et cetera. But I guess my main take is,

you know, I'm going to believe it when I see it kind of guy. The idea that this is going to drum up a whole bunch of, interest that isn't already there within the USL. You don't think so. I'm not necessarily believing that now, or at least for it to have the type of impact that, I don't know, pushes it up until like it being like a major, major sports league or something like that.

Or on the level of MLS or anything like that. I just don't believe it at all as it stands right now. So, and some people might, you know, I think I've mentioned this on the podcast before. I'm not a visionary. Really? On most things. On most things, yeah. I'm a scientist for a reason, Bells.

You got to put the evidence out in front of me. I will read it, dissect it, and then come up with some takes from there, which is why all the stuff that I've said that seems far-fetched turns out to be true. Because I'm just, I'm just an analyst, baby. But right now Just following the science Just following the science But if you were to tell me That just because of promotion and relegation

That Yeah the USL is now challenging MLS Yeah I'm pretty skeptical Now Does that I could see where It could cause enough of a stir For it to scare MLS a little bit

and for this whole thing to just be an elaborate rules just to get just to have these USL teams absorbed in the MLS I could see it I could see that out of all potential scenarios but I don't know

maybe I sound like a downer but that's just what I see at the moment yeah no I mean then you'd have yeah if it caused enough of a stir that MLS said hey we want to acquire this whole this whole product this entire league, then you could have like a four or five division pyramid.

And I think that would be great if that's what happened. It wouldn't be a true open system, but I'm not a scientist. I'm probably more, you know, I don't claim to be a visionary, but I like to envision things. And you could see like the Memphis 901 fan base, like really, getting up for it for a promotion game, you know, against the Birmingham Legion or something, you know. I mean, to me, that doesn't seem far-fetched for these, for this, for actual promotion relegation within the USL to create significantly more energy and enthusiasm in these markets for their, teams.

If they see, as soon as people figure out, oh, if we win this game, we go up to the next level. There's only one problem with what you said there. What? Memphis 9-1 doesn't exist anymore. So it would have to be somebody else. Birmingham Legion versus Charleston Battery or something. But I definitely could see it, and I could see how it might help the U.S. L's local markets, I think.

For instance, we don't sell out Lynn Family Stadium every time we have a match. Louisville City does. I don't think we've broken 10,000 yet this season for whatever. What is the capacity? Is it 15? It's about 15. Yeah, you can fit 15 in there. It'll be a tight squeeze, but 15 can fit for sure.

Which I went to the first, the opening game this season. And when they announced attendance, I was pretty surprised because it looked like it was definitely more than 10,000 people here. It's based off my eyes, but they were like, it's like 9,700. Surprise me. But anyway, yeah, I could see it help in local markets. Anything other than that, I'll just have to see. And I will be glad to be extremely wrong or whatever.

Yeah, we'll see. I just don't know. See what, yeah, it would take a little while. How embarrassing that I didn't know that. that Memphis 901 was gone. You see what I'm saying? It feels like yesterday. I was talking to my friend

about how much fun he had it. One of their games. I mean, yeah. They've only not been a thing for... One season. Yeah. I mean, this is the first season that they've not been a thing.

So, understandable. But yeah, they're gone. They're gone. And this isn't like... Of course, promotion relegation in and of itself is like an interesting thing and something that will be unique to the American sports landscape and all that. I just don't know how much people will care. It's still soccer at the end of the day in it.

Yeah. Will us grab all the Premier League fans? Well, we know that what's currently on offer isn't going to grab the Premier League fans. Right, right. I don't want to go I'm not even really a Premier League fan but I don't want to go see Chattanooga Red Wolves play against somebody

where like it just doesn't feel like it means anything you know and the soccer's not good it's not as good as the soccer I can watch on my computer screen hold on now respect

well I don't know anything about the Chattanooga Red Wolves you don't got to respect them but respect the USL championship okay soccer's all right It's all right. It's all right. Are the Red Wolves in the championship?

I don't know. That's why I said, don't worry about that. I'm just speaking up for Louisville, Louisville City. Yeah. I think they're in league one or two. I forget which one, but. Did you see, did you go to the game? Did you go to the Open Cup game?

No, I was in Minnesota last week, so no. But I did watch, I watched some of it on YouTube. Great scene. I've been to a few Chattanooga FC games. They're kind of the original soccer team here in Chattanooga. Right. I was rooting for them. I'm sorry they lost the Red Wolves on penalties.

But that was cool that they got to play each other. This is the first time they ever played. I would have gone to the game if I was in town. So let's talk about the weekend a little bit. Do you want to see how to break a low block? I would love to. Watch the... Something we've...

Something we've... Anguished over as a national team fan. Watch the Tillman goal from the weekend. Saibari gets the ball played into his feet by Noah Long. Lange, Long. He lays it off just real nicely, kind of puts... Leeds Malik into a bunch of space

to get into just a full tilt curler, wraps his foot around it from 18 yards. Beds in it at the far post So a little in back through Action from PSV Tillman's back Gorgeous goal The British World Feed commentator was beside himself

With the beauty of it all Ledesma got an assist later Um played a ball off of A decent ball into Parish and then he just like a snap header From a good 10 yards away That dude can do everything well

Um Perisich that is Yeah And they won three to one, I think, over Groningen. Yeah. Dest is out for a little while, but should be back by the weekend. Tillman's going to be, you know, is Tillman something to be excited about for this summer and next summer? We still haven't gotten anything.

We still haven't gotten much out of him. Yeah. Yep. I watched the PSV game. I don't got too much say about Richie or. or Malik's performance for real. I mean, they were fine. Malik wasn't actually wasn't one of Malik's great outings of the season.

Okay. Happy you agree. Richie should have been called up for Nations League. I'm feeling that more strongly now. You know what? Richie, by him thwarting the Mexico advances in the way that he has you know he showed a lot more

passion, heart and desire than a lot of people that were on the field in his past window so he really was to put on that shirt you know Mexican passport I haven't heard

it's lost in the mail somewhere it's Mexican passport green I've been wondering about passport colors ever since I heard it hadn't occurred to me that people have different passport colors until I saw a tweet about it about a month ago

Now I wonder about this for like every country Dark green There's only one color per country Well you know they've been Different colors I guess in the past they were maybe blue But more recently they're green Okay Yeah I just can't

I just can't get my head around us bringing in Marlon Fosse and not even putting Richie La Desma on the preliminary list. It doesn't probably change the game that much, but it's definitely a better fit for what we need in these games.

Somebody who can play soccer. You know, that's what we need. Somebody you can play soccer at right back. It would help. But that's one thing we can't necessarily put on POTC and his staff because they did go watch them.

they just they just for whatever reason well that means we can put it on them no no I mean we can put it on them yes but this isn't you know dereliction of duty right exactly yeah just a just a wrong decision right which I guess is better than dereliction of duty for sure I'll take some wrong um yeah they were apparently they were apparently at the NYC

and Ray Al Salt Lake games this weekend, presumably to see Matt Freeze and Diego Luna. Miguel Dagostino was in Utah to see Luna, standing next to another guy who was wrapped in a Rayall Salt Lake blanket, who I don't know if he was, if he's one of Pottes coaches or not, but Dagostino was the guy with a goatee. Anyway, Luna scored a brace, a couple tidy little goals, one with his right, one with his left,

RSL beat the reigning MLS champs, the LA Galaxy 2 to 0. He also played in his striker with a little clipped half-folly. The chance was missed. Diego's got three goals in six games now. And the urban pitch, I don't know if you've heard of that publication, but the urban pitch is saying that he is exactly the type of player that the USMNT needs. It's actually Kelvin Loyola. Look, I'm not...

Your heartstrings are not tugged by the Diego Luna story. No, it's just one of those things, man. That, it's the same thing that happened with me with Tyler Adams. When it's like when so many people hop on the bandwagon just immediately. Dude, you remember back in the day, 2018, 17 Tyler Adams? And everybody's like, oh, he's our sweet, precious child. He's our baby boy. He's the captain.

And, you know, when too many people hop on it, bro, I'm like, I'm off. I'm going over here. I'm hanging with Weston McKinney. You know what I'm saying? There's just, there's just no room. No room on the scrotum for me. So I've got to, and that doesn't mean, it doesn't mean I'm anti Tyler Adams. That doesn't mean I'm anti Diego Luna.

It's just they got plenty of love. It's true. Yeah, Diego's got a lot of love. He's got a Potch assistant in the stadium to see him score a couple goals. I mean, for all we know, he could be like a starting midfielder for the national team now in Pott's eyes. Sure. It's like anything could be true. Speaking of midfielders, Tanner went 90 in a big two-one win for Leon over Lille.

Leal. The pattern is that Matich plays about an hour now. Tanner goes to full 90. And I guess I'm curious, your thoughts on his performance. I didn't think it was all that great, but he's got his coach's confidence. That's right. Got his coach's confidence. He's about to, I mean, I guess to all odds, he's about to sneak up on a 2,000-minute season.

Right. If he stays healthy. I think he has like he's next match he'll get over a thousand in the league has about 450 in the Europa big tie with Manchester City I mean Manchester United excuse me coming up I think I think this week but yes big win because while they're not in a title race they are in a race for Champions League they are in the race for Europe just in general there's a lot of a lot of teams bunched up in league uh

lil being one of those teams really this was this was a six-pointer and they got it and they got it now because strasburg strasborg won yesterday they are yeah they are in the champions league spot and i think leone is either one or two points behind them Leon is one point behind Strasbourg, two points behind Monaco, who is in the final

Champions League spot. Right. And, okay, so Strasbourg is in the Champions League qualification spot. Yeah, probably. Leon is in the Europa. So it's all to play for. And I've looked at the schedules. Leon has a way easier schedule than the Strasbourg, at least, and they play Monaco.

And so, you know, it's all in front of them. Now, on to the... on to the performance because it was quite funny from Tanner first of all I think this was like in the first five minutes of the match there's some Leo pressure

on the goal the ball comes to Tanner Testman and he's in the Leo box he's trying to like dribble out he should have cleared the ball but he's trying to Leone plays a very nice brand of soccer

they like to keep the ball on the ground they got technical dues all over the pitch, et cetera. And so his instinct was to kind of dribble away from pressure out of the box and see if he can get this ball off the field. Well, he ends up dribbling out of balance. The ball ends up going over the end line, gives Lil a corner, and Leo scores from that corner. This is like very beginning of the match.

So they're down 1-0. They're pretty much up against it. like the whole whole the first half end up coming back once uh once leone makes her subs i mean they'd be doing random stuff like keeping turkey out keeping mcgatte on the bench it's like man i don't understand the whole micka taze thing like but it's like every time they come on bro they do they do the thing just immediate impact yeah yeah and it happened again um 2-1 leone so big one The tan man mostly was Yeah, I agree with I agree with the evils

It was okay He's a piano mover out there for the most part Just putting in a shift Yeah and he's chilling He's chilling a lot of times A lot of backwards passes You know I get on everybody else for this I do got to mention

In situations where Probably can turn He's playing a safe Yeah Yeah I mean You can't really fault that too much. Like let Shirky and Makatowice when he comes off the bench be the live wires and just do your job, I guess. Yeah.

But nothing that he did in this game, I don't think, will change anybody's opinion about him. No, but I will say I do want to hammer this home the fact that the defensive improvement has been quite notable, I would say. Okay. Like from where he was as far as like he wasn't alert to like anything ever. Yeah. Like into now he's a, he's, I'd say about 80, 80% of the way there as far as like being switched on all the time defensively. I mean, counterpressing, cutting passes out, understanding like, you know, where. where passing lanes are,

who the next pass is getting over there, he's getting interceptions now. All of the type of stuff that he just wasn't alert to before. Basically, it's like a switch flipped. As soon as Fonseca was hired, I don't know if he had to come to Jesus meeting or whatever with him, but it is like night and day. And, you know, really,

my gripe with him at Nations League wasn't that he wasn't good defensively or something like that. It's that he was too content with the back, passing against Panama. And that maybe is more of his temperament, you know, just to be like a kind of calm and steady possession influence, as opposed to being the guy who's going to press the issue, you know,

and we needed somebody, we needed more pressing of the issue, obviously, in that game. But that wasn't all on him. Let's listen to a couple clips and then take a break. I mean, a couple questions slash comments. Here we go. Daniel Paneda here from Fort Worth, Texas. Love listening to y'all. Could it be said that Mexican and Panama are the two best teams in the region now,

with them having reached the finals for two straight tournaments? In my opinion, I believe so, but just want to see what y'all thought. Yeah, I guess I'll go first. I'm going to say I agree. Panama has now beaten us twice in a row in competitive matches, that is. and we have to, you know, you got to look at the scoreboard when you decide who's the best.

Yeah. Sure. Now, if we were to, look, I'm going to still stand on this. If we were to play Panama tomorrow, I'm just like, Panama is never going to be a team that I, like, lose some sleep over.

Even with this history that is now building up to mountain against us. All due respect to Cocoa Karaskiya and then boys. Anabal Godoy. I mean, yes. I'm going to say the answer is yes. Because like you said, Bells, you can look at the scoreboard. But like I said, I'm just never going to be worried about playing Panama.

Now, we can lose until the end of time. But every time when I wake up that next time, I'm going to be like, we should go win this game. Yeah, I mean, I feel that way too, but we got to do it. I guess we just got to do it at Gold Cup. That's right. And also, another thing I've been thinking about with regards to this Nation's League window is just the fact that, you know, there's a lot of said about Concaf, right? And the strength of it, et cetera.

Concaf is at least good enough to keep us accountable. That's a good thing, number one. Like Greg said, you know, we. We didn't. People got kind of bored of dominating there for a little bit and

I was saying it then I was saying now I don't understand why. You know? Yeah. You look back on them days you wish you had them now don't you?

Yeah. We know what you have till it's gone. Let's see if I can get a PL box number set up for Greg so you can all send your meaculpas

his way. You know? I mean the idea that you can you know, the idea that this pool of players should just be able to wake up and sleepwalk against all these teams and beat them 3-0, 4-0, whatever.

It was just always, it just never... Yeah, it was never true. Just never hit for me, man. I think hold us accountable is a good way to think of what Panama is doing, you know? Yeah, can't come out here and be us, man. Yeah, they're holding us accountable and we're not measuring up. We're not measuring up. We're not fully accountable.

Time to get accountable. Potsch need to enjoy being serious. How about that? Yeah. For real. All right. One other question from, question slash comment from a friend of the pod. I think you'll recognize his voice.

Gentlemen, Alex from Chicago here. Do you guys think that maybe having an American assistant coach join the coaching staff would help alleviate what I feel like is a disconnect between Pachitino and the whole project. He seems like he's not fully there sometimes. You know what I mean? Do you think having an American join the coaching staff, I mean, I have Jim Curtin in mind would help alleviate that. Happy Alex brought up Jim Curtin.

Because that's what I was thinking of as soon as, you know, the question started. Just as far as, I forgot what it was like last year. Did like an article or something. And he was like, it would be an honor just to be on the bench. He was not trying to be. He was basically like, I'll, you know, I'll be the water boy. If I can be on the bench for a home World Cup and help these boys out, et cetera, et cetera. I mean, he's free.

He's available. Sounds good. But I'm also wondering, like, I mean, Pod just coaching these teams, this team, he goes to these friendlies, to these Nation's League. He sees these stadiums. and the lack of butts in seats. And I just wonder if he's just like, why would I want an American? You know, these guys don't even...

Yeah. They don't even... They don't even come to the games. I'm like I'll put one on the bench. It does feel like maybe it would be... That's Calabrese, by the way, who asked that question. Hello, Alex. It does seem like it would probably help.

help, or it could help, but it's not going to happen. Because, especially at this stage, like, for Potch to be like, oh, my bad, I should have had an assistant coach who has a Navy Blue passport. I don't know. It just doesn't seem like something he would do, but... Um... Maybe. Yeah, I mean...

I mean, J.T. Batson, J.T. Goatson, unless J.C. Goatson and says, hey, Moe, can you hire an American coach. It's hard to imagine even how that conversation would go down. It's not going to happen. I mean, I mean, Pott's got his guys right that he's locked in with.

It seems like he puts a lot of trust in them to carry out. You know, I mean, yeah, his bidding. I mean, yeah, his bidding. Doing all the scouting or whatever. Like, I don't know.

It's not going to happen. But, uh. But I, I mean, to your point, Alex, yeah, I think someone raised the same point last week, like when they asked, does Potch have any skin in the game? Does he understand the project? Look, it seems not quite yet, but... I'm going to give Potch the same grace that I give every other professional competitor, which is when it really comes down to it, at the end of the day, he wants to win in it. so I'm hoping you know we've brought the stuff up about whatever their election of duties and there seems to be there does seem to be some compelling evidence there but I'm just

hoping when it comes down to it at the end of the day I mean he's he's Argentinian man you know losing it losing it in the DNA it's hard to it's I don't even know what to say because it's like it's not the Gold Cup doesn't really even matter either you know that's happening this summer. And if we do poorly at the Gold Cup, it's not ideal. But I think my overarching mental model is that, which I feel like I have to have at this point, is that everybody's going to show up for the World Cup

and we're going to die for the shirt and we're going to go as far as we possibly can. And maybe that's the round of 16 before we face somebody who's legit better than us. or maybe that's the quarterfinals or maybe, maybe, maybe that's the semifinals. But it's like one of those three options. And that's it.

Yeah. It'll be exciting. It'll be fun. And then it'll be over. Right. That's the thing. That's the thing about it. Like a shooting star, man.

But, yeah. I just can't get with the idea that any of this stuff is just like insignificant. I mean, I understand the idea that he would see a nation's league and be like, hey, this isn't, doesn't matter that much, I'm going to get a look at Max Arfston. But it matters to me, damn it. Maximilian Arfston. I mean, come on, bro, if you ever, you know how dudes be about the whole bunch of spoiled rich kids from country clubs. I mean, Maximilian Arfston is up there with Griffin McDormin, Yao as far as.

Where is Arston from, by the way? I'll look that up. Fresno. Not the, you know, most, not the most beautiful town in California. Not at all. Not at all.

So maybe we've got to put some respect back on his name. I don't know. I mean, you know, who knows? Maybe his dad owns all the orange real estate or something. Well, hey, let's take a break. If you want to skip the ads and get Vince's clip notes every week, those videos, bespoke videos,

join the Patreon. Links in the show notes. All right, we're back. We got Josh Sargent, Hajie scoring goals, Milan Derby, Juventus versus Roma. So, Sergeant's goal, first of all,

just a smash. Heard took a cross on the juggle with his left in-step, and then thrashed it through the goalkeeper, right through the goalkeeper's arms with his left foot on the full volley. Really nice goal. Norwich lost. His other two shots were blocked. He scored a really nice goal.

Still got to see it for the national team. Haji scored a pretty scrappy goal. Coventry also lost. Got any other thoughts on Haji's performance or Josh's? We can move right along to Italy. Josh had a nice meg. He made the centerback and got filed immediately. That was nice to see.

Other than that, no, but man, the goal is so nice, though. It's a really nice goal, yeah. It just does it consistently. And the thing is, you asked earlier whether Josh will even get the chance, whether it's passing by, whatever. Well, if he goes ahead and makes this move this summer, and does well there. There's going to be no way you can ignore.

Which move are you talking about? Whichever potential move is out there. Any move. Yeah. Quick update on Milan. They drew Fiorentina over the weekend at home. They also played the dirt in the Coppitalia semifinals in a derby against the Inter. Middle of the week drew that as well.

It was the home leg for them, even though, of course, they play in the same stadium. So that second leg will determine whether they go to the Coppa Italia final. But anyway, over the weekend, Pulisic got an assist. Eunice got subbed real early after a giveaway that led to a goal. But, you know, because I wasn't like super. What did he say? He said afterwards, he had given me positive signs. He was fresh and trained well.

Then I realized the match wasn't going well, and I took him off. He's a great guy. Sometimes games just turn out like that. That seems like about as nice of a thing as a coach can say after yanking you in the, what, 23rd minute or something like that. I mean, we know, we know the love he got for our boy. Yeah, it runs deep. It just is what it is, man.

Gator ball away. Ridiculously. For the first Furentina goal. And then Fiorantina scored a goal like right after that. So Milan's now. two nil in like uh 10 minutes i want to say 15 minutes or something like that and at that point i mean i i knew it was coming because first of all this ain't the first time constant south down hooked him uh he didn't guess roma i want to say a month or a half ago or something but um you down two nil

there ain't no point of having uh fauna and unis musso on the pitch you need some more attacking Yeah, and You know, you're not going to take Fafana. That would be great. You're talking about losing a locker room. Yeah, Eunice out there wilding and then you take Fafana off. Like, nah, nah, Eunice, you got to be the one to make way, man. Unfortunately, it is what it is.

I mean, that's that. Milan kind of in a terrible situation. I mean, they're not going to, they're not anywhere close to a Champions League spot and not getting any close. by the week. Juventus drew Roma one-to-one at the Estadio Olimpico. Waya and Weston both started at wingback, although, I would say, pretty attacking roles they both had.

Waye attested the keeper early with a dipping, bounding shot, cutting in from the left. I still think it's silly that we didn't have them on the right side for the U.S., but, you know, he can do some stuff over there with his right eye dominance. Yeah. Yeah. Even on points with Bologna,

at 56, Bologna plays Nopoli today. So. Okay. Played Noply. All right, beautiful, beautiful. Because they got that game in hand. And let's see. YuVe has, oh, Bologna and Yuvay play each other,

May 4th. So I got Bologna and Yuvé play each other. They got Lazio. That's really the only matches of note for them for the rest of the season. We'll be there for one of them. But you know, Yuvay has had trouble with like every team that they play. Yeah. It's not a...

Actually, I thought they looked good in this game against Rama. I mean, they certainly were the protagonists. Jack McGlynn got moved to right wing by Ben Olson. And, you know, what you could argue is... I think you could argue quite successfully is because he can't defend. But he looked good. He looked good out there. He scored the game winner.

Kind of look like a slow motion Ari and Robin out there. Cutting it on that sweet left foot. That's not what we need, Bill's. What do you mean that's not what we need? A slow motion, Ary and Robin? No, well, just in general, if you're a Jack McGlynn, Truther, being moved to right wing, come on. I mean, scores a game winner.

It's a nasty goal. He almost got two more. Like, every time he shoots, it almost goes in, you know, or goes in. Nasty? It was all right. The goal? Yeah, nasty's probably a little bit of an exaggeration. But it's a good goal.

Yeah, yeah, it is. But, yeah, I don't know. You just don't know what he's going to be. What Jack is right now. It's like, is he a DLP? is he let's get a race between the race going between him and Gio

is he is he current is he current body Gio Raina you know yeah he's the possibilities are out there I think he's a little more you know he can give a little more effort

he can stretch that hamstring a little better than Gio can right now anyway arguing about Caterpillars here so that's the Jack McGlynn update Houston beat L-AFC Jedi Captained Fulham as they beat Liverpool

3 to 2 It's a pretty exciting game over in London Liverpool went up 1-0 and a McAllister banger and then Fulham got three sort of sudden goals in the first half

some mistakes in that backline from Liverpool Jedi not really involved in the goals he did mostly silence Mosala although he did lose him on a cross and Salas screamed it over from just outside the six very late. So this happens even to Jedi.

I feel like I say this almost every week. Fullbacks lose people on the back post. It happens. Johnny versus Barcelona. Any thoughts? Full 90 and a 1-1-away draw to Betteys? I mean, to Barcelona? Play pretty well.

Pretty well. Yeah, he play well. He play well. Yeah, really don't got too much say, because it's just like, you know, playing Barsa. But I guess I'll say this. The thing I'll be looking for for midfielders when you're playing a big team like this

is when you recover the ball, can you complete that first pass? Because that's always the one I want to say. Like when you recover it, when you intercept it, whatever, usually these teams that really get up on you, that dominate games, whatnot, You know, the counterpress, hot, heavy, nasty. You see a lot of teams get flustered.

Johnny mostly did a good job at that. That's interesting, yeah. That is an important pass, that first one after you. The settling it down quality that a player brings. Yeah, and I would say that even though they were playing Barcelona, Betty's had a lot of settled periods within this match, I would say. Barso still did Barza things, but it wasn't like when they played Barza, I mean, it was a while back now.

I want to say maybe it was like December or something, and Barza just kind of like ran him and Johnny wasn't good at all. No, this one was a little bit different. He's having a really good season, so like the same thing I say every week. We just need to get Malik and Johnny in a camp and get a lot out of them. Batiste's sixth in the table, but only, well, six points back of Athletic Club Bilbao, which is in the fourth place spot with the Champions, which is a Champions League spot.

Yeah. Yeah. Tyler Adams played 45 minutes, midweek against Ipswich Town, and then the full 90 over the weekend in a loss to West Ham United. Happy is healthy. Giorana did not play Mark McKenzie Oh Tyler did say he thought

Promotion Relegation would be good For oh right he did For MLS He said it would improve MLS I would like to see it in MLS in the US I think that would add to the competitive nature of the league It just gives everyone a lot more to play for When you know there's a risk of going down

When you don't play well so it adds a little bit more pressure It adds a little bit more nerves and excitement for the fans as well so hopefully one day it's an MLS. You know what? This is why you need a company man sometimes. Adam Bell's. Because, you know, he felt sentiment slipping. You know?

He's like, well, what's an easy win I can get right now? What's an easy win I can get? There's articles coming out about how the USMNT as a whole is unlikable, all this, blah, blah, blah. I need a win, baby. I need a win. He pressed the easy button. pro real. Did you read the unlikable article?

No. It doesn't really even say that they're unlikable. You know? It's a very, I mean, no surprise, but very sort of clickbaity headline. Basically, there's just nobody with a ton of charisma, you know? Oh, okay. But there's nothing specifically unlikable about anybody that's explored in the article. Okay.

They wish, Bo Dure wishes there was like a Megan Rapino on the men's national team. I guess that is. Yeah. Yeah, it's not going to happen. Uh-uh. Man, you know what? That brings me to another thing. Because people will be talking about this with the men's national team and the women's national team.

Like, I mean, you got to live a lot of life to be a Megan Rapino, you know? Megan Rapino wasn't doing this at 23. Okay. Like, you know. Right. It was, she was older. You know, it's like, I don't know, expecting, like, you know, we have this generation change with the women's national team, generation change with these, with this men's national team,

all these young people. It was like, man. Public. No, you know, I mean, Trinity Robin is supposed to download exactly the beliefs that Megan Rapino has and then advocate for them. with her full heart in mind, Vince. Come on. Unrealistic, I'm saying, unrealistic. Publicly standing on business like that.

And the way Mega Rapino did it is, yeah, that's why she's Megan Rapino. You know what I'm saying? Like, there's not, you're not just going to find those on trees. That's a different level of commitment. A profit in her time. And, you know, we may get some profits. from this young group of men's national team players,

but they're not going to be prophesying the same prophecies as Megan Rapino. And I think, you know, that's basically it for the week. I mean, Belle's Megan Rapino was my age that I am right now. When she was taking on Trump and all, you know what I'm saying? It's like, I think myself as a fully grown man at the right pole. I just turned 33 a week ago. She was... She's a remarkable person.

She was 33 in 2019. Yeah. You expect a 21-year-old. And, you know, the men have made their... Or at least... And the podcast. All right. Hey, let's get out of here.

Oh, one more thing. Mako Miljavik scored a brace. Rakan tied Aldo Civi 3 to 3. Liz put in the notes. Not sure if we're following him, adding just in case. Appreciate it, Liz. Yeah.

Oh. Thank you to our... No, hold on. We do got to mention... This ain't funny. I'm laughing. We do got to mention the fact that... What's this man's first name?

I forgot? Walker, Zimmerman. Got kicked in the head. Very nastily. I don't know if you caught this, Bill. I didn't see the video of it So he's okay though He's okay

As far as the reports But I mean he took the full brunt of a A scissor kick Like straight to the head Like straight to the head Like foot to head As if his head was a ball That was going to be put into the back of the net

So this was inadvertent by the way but it was nasty. They had to stretch her out. I think he was all cold. Damn. Yeah, that's scary. Glad he's more or less okay. Hope to see him back on the field soon.

All right, thanks to Liz for all her help. Got Bob Lee coming and Representative Rick Larson from Washington State, the U.S. Congressman. I'm going to be interviewing both of those guys later this week. So stay tuned. And thanks for listening. We'll see you.