Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - WoSo — Star Wars, Sauerbrunn and the 16-year-old

Episode Date: February 15, 2024

Emma Hayes on the meaning of Star Wars, Gold Cup lineup discussion, Cat Macario inching back to full health, Belz stans Lily Yohannes, Sauerbrunn is back after Cook suffers a minor injury, the U17s win the Concacaf tournament, and much more with Tara and Belz.Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon! Patrons get a private feed for the Monday Review, which is, among other things, a run-down of club action for national team players every week with Watke and Vince. We have recently added patron-only content that’s available every Friday. Patrons also 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/scuffed OTHER LINKSScuffed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAoundrEkZUgZ13IE5XIqrg We’ve streamlined and revamped the merch we’re selling. Check it out: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Scuffed on Discord: https://discord.gg/X6tfzkM8XU 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, it's Woso Wednesday. It's still Wednesday while we're recording, though most of you will hear this on Thursday. Tara, how you doing? So good. How are you? I'm well. I'm well.

Happy Valentine's Day. Thank you. Filled with excitement and love just as St. Valentine's intended. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That's right. That's right. Valentine's Day today, about a day, you're listening to this. It'll be what my dad has termed as Vincentines Day. My dad, no, I'm not going to get into that. But just know that all Valentine's gear, all things that you would buy on Valentine's Day, if you wait one day, it's 50% off the next time. You know what I'm saying? So, so Vincent's Day is one. when, you know, I might pull up on the peripheral women in my life with a little, with a little something, something.

You know what I'm saying? You got to keep the main thing, the main thing on the big day. But, you know, everybody else can get a little something for 50% off on the next little Russell Stover. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, they, the kids, I guess, just ate candy all day and partied all day. So it was chaos.

Chaos in the afternoon hours. Anyway, we've got Star Wars stuff. Macario in training, the return of sourbrun, lots to get into. Maybe we should start with the Star Wars stuff, you think, Tara? Sure. I have a complicated relationship with Star Wars, but I think Emma Hayes is about to fix it. Yeah, I'm a little, let's just listen to the clip. She was asked if the fact that this is her last season at Chelsea gives her energy.

To be honest with you, the Force Awakens, Star Wars episode, things. That gave me a lot of inspiration last night and I'm certain that, you know, the resistance continued to inspire and we can keep obey that evil empire and for now all I'm thinking about is I need to get onto the Mandalorian. I think the messages throughout Star Wars, now I'm watching it as an adult, are so essential in life about the power of the power of. of love and the dangers of hate and teaching a five-year-old why it's important not to give in to hate when we have our lightsaber moments and I'm pretty good on the lightsaber I'm always

Darth Vader which slightly annoys me but I constantly remind him of the the importance of like community looking after your people much like the resistance deal and as he always says to me, the Republic will remain intact as long as we defeat, you know, the evil empire. So, yes, essence of the message always have skilled finishers, like the Jedi Knights,

have the ability to deliver a fatal hit into the Death Star. I know, without doubt, you know, we wouldn't be anywhere about Luke Skywalker. So all my thanks are there for him and the entire Jedi Night. No, do you know what hates? Hate's just like, it's a horrible emotion.

Like, hang on to that. Like, negative. I'm a positive person. Yeah. Thanks. What one to end on. Thank you very much. Force be with you.

I'm confused. I think it's just important to focus on embracing love and fighting against hate. That's what our future coach wants us to do. And I think we have to start practicing that. I love that. I love that sentiment. And there are several sentiments in those clips that I do love. It's just how do they all fit together?

Not a single clue. Princess Amadala in Star Wars used to terrify me. So I, you know, simply have to choose to embrace love and fight against hate. and if Emma Hayes wants me to do that, I'm going to do it. And, you know, that energy is what's going to drive us into an Olympics here with her as our coach. I don't know how any of it connects, but I'm trying. She sounded so earnest, you know, like she really believed it. She said without Luke Skywalker, we wouldn't be anywhere.

I'm like, what? But who is to say that she's wrong? I can't say that. Yeah. Yeah. It's not going to be me either because, I mean, I haven't seen a Star Wars movie. Oh my gosh, really? I don't know.

Correct. Yeah. Yeah. I haven't seen a single Star Wars. I don't know what's going on. I've watched a little bit of the Mandaloria with my wife. But, yeah, I don't know what the hell she was talking about. But hopefully she can get on one of those transportation vehicles that they got in Star Wars and, you know,

get your over to the United States of America that's what I would love to see so I think I do know this you know what I'm saying she says she was Darth Vader you know what I'm saying

and she's joining the USW and T can be considered the deaf star ain't that as a Star Wars thing it's an evil thing right right I think a lot of people view us as evil okay

the team I'm not making a broader a broader metaphor about, you know, anything else other than the U.S. women's national team. And, you know, the Deaf Star had one vulnerability. So I think that was the case. And, you know, I think we found out that it was Volaco and Inovsky. So now, you know what I'm saying? We got that, we got rid of that.

We got that out of there. Emma in. and we shall continue our evil empirical ways of dominating the world in soccer. You know, I'm not sure that that's Star Wars accurate, but I can appreciate the sentiment. That's right. I mean, I made as much as it is an indicted thing. That's true. That's true.

I just, I guess I made my main takeaway is that, like, she, She's going to be fun in press conferences, you know? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. It's going to be a little different. And I mean, this. And just, this goes back to the Vladco days a little bit, but Vladco used to talk about how much he deeply enjoyed his conversations with Greg Burhalter

in that partnership. I really, really hope that Emma Hayes and Greg. continue that on. I think they have, I just think she has a lot to offer that relationship. Yeah. Emma Hayes, Greg, bro. I mean, you know what I'm saying?

Let's get, let's get Emma, I mean, excuse me, let's get Barbie Warshall off the pod. You know what I'm saying? Put Emma on. You know what I'm saying? Have Emma be the one interrogating Greg after a window. You know, vice versa, flip it around. The other way.

Sounds like it would be a good time. But yeah, just from the initial research I did when Emma was announced his coach or whatever, or it was reported by Joseph Lowry. Make sure I give him a proper credit. Yeah, it was just evident that, you know, this personality, the ability and willingness to just say things is going to be welcome breath of the fresh air. Because, you know, I mean, in sports anywhere, you know what I'm saying? a lot of people don't like to say things and view these press conferences as, you know, I don't know, an opportunity just to mean mug the media. So, you know what I'm saying?

It's going to be a chore to be gone through. So this is the very last thing I'll say. But Ali Krieger was on kicking it last night, you know, the CBS show. Yeah. And she was talking about how she believes. Emma Hayes is the perfect person to take on this team where they're at currently because she's not going to take any shit from the players. Like she's not going to take any bit of, she said the S word, but in terms of playing style, in terms of starters, in terms of longevity in their national team career, like that's what she was excited about, bringing Emma in and where she thinks Emma will thrive.

And I just couldn't think of a better answer. I mean, that's been such a longstanding issue with this team. And to hear it from a national team vet was just really refreshing. And, you know, a perfect place to really get excited about as we get close. closer to this new Emma reality. Closer and closer with each past a month. I mean, what we got? Three, three months?

Well, yeah. Matt Crocker. From today. Matt Crocker talked about this a little bit about kind of nailing down an actual start date. He said, she keeps telling me it will be the 28th of May when she wins the Champions League. Right. Beautiful. Not if she gets knocked out.

Not if she gets knocked out by Lily Johannes and Iax. We'll get to that. Yeah, we will. Incredible segue, though. Congratulations. Thank you. But that's not what we're going to talk about next. Next thing is Macario, also at Chelsea.

Katerina Macario in training. Yes. I mean, what incredible news. So she's not just in training. She's even coming to the games now. warming up with the team pre-game. Emma Hayes has given us a clearer timeline than what we've had in the past. She said she could have been ready by the game this past weekend against Crystal Palace, but she meaning cat needs to feel confident about it. So she said it was a possibility

this past weekend, but it's going to be absolutely like absolutely ready by after the international break. Love it. We've never had that timeline before. We've had 20, early 2024. We've had, she's going to training camp. We've had, she's fully participating in training. But we're nailing down a super clear timeline.

And right after international break, everybody will be expected to be on Catwatch. Let's go. Every single one of you. Well, guess what? It's, it's, it's early 2024. You two? You know what I'm saying? We've made it.

Cat watch. No excuses. Yeah, it's definitely nice to know that she'll be back. And, uh, just with the confidence thing, I mean, as a man, uh, who's had a knee injury before. Yeah, it did, it does, it does take some time, especially like if this is her first, you know, her first, uh, four A back in the, back in the training. You know what I'm saying?

back into warming up with the team. You know what I'm saying? You need to, there's, there's ways that the knee will move in a game situations and in full go situations that you,

that you'll never be able to replicate in a rehab. You know what I'm saying? So that's, that's really like the final step of the rehab is just really, really ratchet in that intensity up, putting that knee through its,

through its paces, you know what I'm saying? Twisting, turning that thing, cutting on a dime, going anywhere. and doing all the things that you used to do. So yeah, hopefully, after this international break,

I mean, it's on a popping, baby. So I will be there no matter what. Hopefully, Macario, and of course Hayes, will be facing IACs in the quarterfinals of Champions League. First leg is on March 19 in Amsterdam. I'm marking that on my calendar. That draw, I mean, it's going to be great soccer. of course, but it really couldn't have worked out better in terms of potential recruitment for Lily as well.

You know, without a doubt, without any speculation or Dutch newspapers, we will know that an employee of United States soccer knows who Lily is now and we'll know, we'll at least know that. Well, at least know Emma has seen Lily and hopefully speak to her. And, you know, that's concern number one. We can check off the box. At least somebody knows about Lily. Yeah. I could check that thing off. I mean, not just alive and in person, but, you know, the preparation, the film, you know what I'm saying?

Do you see what I see? She'll be able to see it all. You know what I'm saying? That's the thing. Go ahead. Go ahead. No, that's the thing. Is, like, Emma's going to watch the tape on Iax.

Presumably she already has. And you know what she's going to notice? She's going to notice that Lily is what is happening for IACS. That she's the one they got to worry about. I mean, there's other good players. But a lot of the big stuff happens around Lily. She's one of the better players on the team, for sure. So, I mean, we might as well just get into it.

I think she deserves a call-up, a senior national team call-up. And I don't think it's even that much. I don't think it's even that controversial to say, honestly. She played in the same competition as Corbyn Albert. We talked about this. She's been better than Corbin Albert in the same competition. you know, if you just compare the two players. And I mean, everybody thinks it's totally normal for Corbyn to get called up.

So, I mean, I don't see anybody saying, oh, Corbin shouldn't be there. So I think Lily. Well, you know, Bells, Lily hasn't played against Florida State. I think that's maybe what it is. This is the college soccer bias. She has to go down to Tallahassee. you know what I'm saying in the humidity

and do it for a full 20 minutes and then you know sit on the bench and then gets up back in and do it for another 10 minutes and then maybe get taken out again and then come on for the final 25 and then once you rest it for that final 25 then you really show out

and then you can prove you're deserving of a Wembers U.S. Wimbus National team call it. It is sort of a gauntlet you have to run through, right? I don't know I don't have anybody specific that I think should be dropped to make room for her. You know, I'm not like that.

I'm going to be that punitive about it. But I watched that Roma game pretty carefully, you know, where she got the assist early in Iax 1-21. Crucial game, got them into the knockouts. It was really, really promising, man. I mean, she actually flashed to me the possibility of a dominant box-to-box midfielder. She's got this big frame.

She's still, you know, kind of, she's got those baby deer legs a little bit, but she's got a big frame, and she was getting stuck in in that game, you know? Like much more than she was in the beginning of the fall when I first started watching her, or the middle of the fall, I guess, to be honest about it. But, you know, there was times where she was just so easy to get past in some of those games. But I wouldn't like that in this game. She was doing everything. And it was not perfect. You know, like she, she had some errant passes. She would make, like, some really nice turn, leave somebody behind, and then she would,

and then the pass would be off or something. But there was a shift in the sound inside the stadium every time she got on the ball. Everybody knew that she was, like, putting on a show. And I can't ignore that. I have a bunch of clips Here's one Here's the turn and bad pass Where you can just hear like

The excitement Johan, a stride handoff way Kuma Guy Would an overteening of her bag But she's on the bed And then a bad pass But she turns Kumagai there

That is a That is a player who has Saki Kumagai 147 caps for Japan Maybe perhaps A little washed at 33, but she's a force to be reckoned with, and Lily just put her on her back. I won't play a bunch of...

I have a bunch of other clips I could play, but I don't think I'm going to play them. She turns and over-dribbles one time. Very elegant, the way she turns, though. And then I like the ideas. And then, of course, she had the assist for the opening goal, where she won a tackle at midfield, or not even at midfield, almost in her defensive third, carried it like 50 yards

and then played it outside for Tani Hoogstra. And then I do want to play this clip. This is where I think you can see that the crowd was really appreciating her. It's late in the game and she's kind of toying with somebody.

Did you hear it there? So it's a dribble that goes nowhere, but you can hear the way that, The crowd, like as soon as she gets the ball at her feet, everybody's like, hmm. And then she kind of dribbled around and played it back to the centerback, and everybody applauded in the stadium. That's a type of ball knowledge that Lindsay Horan was talking.

Even though Lindsay would do none of these things. I mean, Lindsay kind of plays like that. You don't think so? Yeah. Once, maybe one in eight. games maybe? As far as, I mean, she does do the turns. She does do the turns.

The dribbles, not so much. Yeah. But, but fair. But yeah, man, Lily's good, man. Lily's good. Like, in the steps that she's taken, like we said before, ever since that first PSG, IACs match that opened Champions League, where first of all, IACs looked like they didn't have a clue,

even though they won the game, you know what I'm saying. They didn't look like they had a clue. PSG didn't look like they had a clue either. I don't know what the hell was going on. What was in the water? That was the game where I said, I didn't think Corbyn did anything to deserve a call up. And Bells was like, what are you talking about?

Do you remember that? I do, yeah. It was a bad game. But this assist of Lily's, I was extremely impressed by. I mean, it's just such an exciting prospect. I think she reminds me a lot of Olivia Moultrie, more so than Haran at this stage. But, I mean, I'm going to continue to watch.

I think I would be extremely excited if she were to get a U-20 World Cup call up. She's not coming to any of these camps. But, I mean, I don't want to be persecuted for saying she needs to go to the U-20s instead of a senior camp. Any bit of contact we can get on her is going to be a positive. Yeah. I think it's definitely more realistic that she would get a U-20 call-up. But I don't know if she would accept it at this point. That's, I mean, that's what I've been struggling with,

this thought that I've made up in my own head. This isn't being said in it. but this idea that it may be beneath her to take a U-20 call-up. But, I mean, this is going to be a year where we have other pros at the World Cup. I mean, it's not going to be like she's the only one there. We're likely going to have at least three or four pros on that team. So that gave me a little, a little, a little, encouragement in thinking that it could be a possibility. But again, however we can get in touch with her, however we can, you know, send her the fruit baskets, as you say, compliment her, try to woo her a little bit, all the better. I also think it will show a lot of serious intentions in our youth teams.

that we've been lacking if we really, you know, go all out in some of these tournaments and win some of these tournaments, as we should have been doing for many years, don't let people just skip them. You know, I think that there's an argument to be made for that as well, that nobody's beneath it because we should be dominating these World Cups. But again, I don't care. If it's senior, if it's U-20, just get in touch with her, just show her that we love her. Yeah, Lily Johannes, come on down and play for Tracy Kettles.

You know what I'm saying? We got some things in store for you. Have you ever seen a centerback on the touchline? Fizzing in balls to you? You know what I'm saying? I bet you can't wait. But, you know what I'm saying? To Terris point, you know, even the one.

one, Jaden Shaw went to a U-20 World Cup. As a pro, as a pro at that point, I think I had played just one NWSL game at that point, at that point in time. But I think even if that is the case, you know, go to U-20 World Cup, it should be a Jaden Shaw, Alyssa-Lissa Thompson-type progression.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I mean, and over the weekend, did you all see the assist and the goal this weekend? Yeah, it's perfectly weighted. Yeah, I mean. Perfectly weighted one-touch pass. in behind right in stride. I mean, she's got it, man.

I liked the assist more than the goal. I thought it was extremely impressive. The goal was, the goal was. The goal was a little, yeah. Not that great. The goal is what it is. But, yeah, that type of progression. She's that type of prospect.

Like, it's time to turn it up. But once again, the fact that she's going to be live and in person and on the video screen of Emma Hayes you know what I'm saying especially like you know as they go through like team meetings like hey these are these are the players

you got watch out for this is this is what she likes to do blah blah blah like Emma's gonna have an intimate knowledge of this player by the time this ties over so we'll see where it goes from there but yeah I mean a call up

a full national team call up shouldn't be that far away if you're calling up Corbin Albert I mean, no offense to Corbyn-Ir. I love Corbyn-Ovon-Albert. I'm rooting very hard for Corbyn Albert as well. I mean, you all joked that it was about college play, but I mean, I really think it was about the youth national teams

and getting those touches with the U-20s and progressing on. Probably. Yeah, I mean, that would make sense, but the thing is, so, yeah, I don't think it's beneath, I don't think it's beneath anybody to play in it. you're eligible for a U20 World Cup. It's not beneath you to play in the U20 World Cup, I don't think. But there's an added psychological dimension here

because she's been ignored by the youth national team system, like largely ignored or treated like a, not treated with a great deal of regard. And so now she's, you know, I'm exaggerating a little bit, but she's putting her team on her back and carrying them to the knockout rounds of the Champions League. now I get a U-20 call-up.

I have to do that to get a U-20 call-up. I don't know if she thinks it's beneath her or if she even thinks about it that much. I don't know. But I think the history of not getting that much attention is going to be a factor here. Yeah, it's if you're going to be a lucidella-tore type, you know, are you going to have to post your own comps

to get some attention? Or is it, you're going to, Is it going to come to you naturally based off of how you're playing every week? Look, man, if Emma knows ball, the way I think she does, just, you know, within a month's time, this all might be wrapped up. You know what I'm saying? To where we don't got to talk about this every episode. And, you know, we get a full commitment. I don't know.

or that we recommit to making sure that Lily feels valued in a part of this program. Yeah, I kind of apologize that we talk about it every episode. I thought watching that Roma game that I saw a bit of a different player than she was in the middle of the fall, like just more reliable, more physically, like up for it. And when I see that, I say, okay, you know. And the fact that her team went to the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time, and she was a big, big part of that. Anyway, we don't have to keep talking about Lily.

Well, do you have one other thing you wanted to say, Tara? I mean, we kind of alluded to it already, but there was a Dutch article on Twitter going around, which basically let us know that the Netherlands senior team has talked to Lily. No decisions have been made. Lily even said it is of course very nice to hear that the national team coach talks about you, but that is a choice for the future.

I am now mainly focusing on the club. that will come later. So I only bring it up because, you know, we've been thanking or we've heard rumors that she may be contacted from the Netherlands. That has happened or they at least have talked about Lily publicly. And hopefully our turn comes in these Champions League games with Emma. But I mean, I was encouraging.

hearing that Willie is you know not making that decision anytime quickly hopefully that's what I took out of it yeah it's a very well-schooled answer and I like our chances long term

I just I just want to let everybody know after her goal she hit the gritty you know what I'm saying so as as American as they come whatever whatever influence you know I'm saying they have over her over there in Holland. It's not too much, hasn't been too much for her to,

you know what I'm saying, for getting her roots. So. Yeah, I mean, that's the sign to us. I think that's just like a calm down. I'm taking my time. It's all looking good.

Correct. Yeah. Okay. Gold Cup. Well, oh yeah, we should also mention PSG faces, BSG and Corbyn Albert faces BK. Hocken, a club in Sweden.

The first leg is in Gothenburg on March 20. Not just Corbin Albert. We have a new American. Eva Gatino, Gaitino. Gaitino, I think. Guy Tino, who debuted this past weekend. So Corbyn and her new Notre Dame best friend, Eva, we'll have to keep a lookout for both of them.

Two iconic brands. You know what I'm saying? Combining. Unbelievable power. Gaitino got an assist too. It was a really nice. Really great a assist. Really nice pass.

On the ground, through the lines. Put Leon up 1-0. I mean, PSG up 1-0. I've enjoyed watching Eva in. in past youth national team games. So, you know, she's going to be a fun one to watch and see how much, see how much time she gets with PSG. She's a centerback.

We talked about this a little bit in the Discord, but she's sometimes classified as a defensive midfielder in terms of women's soccer tracking. So there was some anxiety. some anxiety around if she would be competing with Corbyn for minutes, but it's really based off of nothing. We just got to keep watching. She's only ever played as a centerback. So I definitely think she will get some more time in the coming game. She's a very good player. And who knows, we may be calling for, you know, another Notre Dame alum to be caught up soon enough.

We'll see how many games she gets. Okay. Yeah. That's exciting. I mean, pretty big impact off the bench, too. She came on at halftime, right? Around 60th minute, yeah. Okay.

That was the PSG Leone game, right? Wasn't it? I mean, to get your debut in that. Yeah. To get your debut in that. that game is unbelievable confidence. Need some centerbacks in it. I mean, when a global brand like Notre Dame shows up,

give her her debut against the winningest team in European woso history. Exactly. You love to see it, man. Lindsay, I thought broke her nose in this game. She got real bloodied up. She got both of our nostrils stuffed. She was cursing out the wrath. It was a pure Lindsay Horan game.

Yeah, that's a funny picture you have posted in here. I mean, she showed up. They posted camp pictures already for the Gold Cup. And I don't think her nose is broken, but she was looking messed up at this game. Yeah, that's kind of crazy with the double nose stuff. But you know, Lindsay, I mean, we've watched Lindsay Heron long. enough to know if she gets hurt, she's playing better. I mean, she gets mad. She has that fire on.

She's going to be, you know, jogging now. She's going to be running, maybe even running fast, if she gets worked up enough. And lo and behold, Leon tied the game. They got a goal back at the very last minute. And I think maybe Lindsay's anger had something to do with that. You probably had everything to do with it. Great point. Let's talk about the Gold Cup that's coming up. So Sour Brun, she's back. She's back.

She replaces Alana Cook, who picked up a minor knee injury in preseason. Thoughts? Do you guys care? No. It's fine, I think. I think she's going to help. Lindsay Hrain and be a bit of a better captain. I think she's very good captain.

Okay. Well, it probably is a little, you know what I'm saying? It might be a little tense in there as it stands, you know, at this very moment, you know what I'm saying? Like nothing that, you know, the girls can't work out. But, you know, it does seem like Lindsay ruffled a little bit, a little feathers. Just based on the reactions of some, you know, some players on the Wimbs'Nest team that play in America. So was there a blowback to her comments?

Trinity Rodman was asked about it because her team is notorious for taking lighthearted pregame pictures. And she answered it very professionally. It was filled with respect to Lindsay, but they aren't going to stop doing it, basically. I mean, in terms, Becky, Becky being brought in, I don't think will affect much in terms of lineup. I don't think, I don't think she's going to be, like, stealing back the starting spot at all. But, yeah, I don't, I don't care all that much. I would have, you know, there are some centerbacks I would have loved.

to be able to see because I think we're still in this tryout phase. A Sam Stubb, a Sarah Gordon, all could have gotten looks. But, you know, Becky brings, you know, she's the player's captain, as they all call her. I think someone like her being there while we're in tryout phase with all of these players and all of these young players could end up being really beneficial. Yeah, totally. She's like the constant in the, in all the, amid all the variables. Yeah.

Not much of a math guy, me, but, uh, so who, who do you want, who do you want to, who do you want to, who do you want to start in that first game? Okay. Well, I, Greg and I talked about it, right? But, yeah. I'm embracing, I'm embracing some tryouts for. the first game. You know, we're going to get all of our, all of our normal midfield at some point. I just don't want it for the very first game. So I'll just, I'll just be quiet. Liss my line up now. Okay. I'm going to keep Jane as my goalie. Again, I just think she earned it based off of her

last season. I would not be mad at a Casey Murphy. I would be mad at a Lacey Murphy. I would be mad at at Anna Lysenair. But my goalie is Jane. Okay. And then my backline is going to be Midge Perce. I did have a lot of cook in there, but I'm going to change it to Tierra Davidson. Naomi Germa and Jenna Nysewanger, I'm going to stay back there. So I'm keeping Emily Fox on the bench.

She had a long flight over. I do not think we need to see what Emily brings. She's my starter. in any important game. But like I said, this is tryouts. And then I have Sam Cofia as my six. I have Rose LaVelle and Jaden Shaw as my two midfielders. And then I have Olivia Moultry and more of an attacking like 10 roll.

So a diamond midfield. And then I'm going with Sophia and Trinity up top as just a little partnership. there. Oh. Diamond Misfield. Do you love it or? I do. I think I love it.

Yeah. Vence, do you want to compliment it? Sounds like Bauderdash to me. But I'm not trying to get nobody no tryouts, man. Tryouts?

This is. February. I mean, I understand it's February. We got a, we got an Olympic in what? Late July, early August. Do you want to roll out Lindsay Horan, Emily Sonna,

and Rose LaVelle, and, you know, that worked out so well for us this past two years? No, I'm not playing that. Are you just talking about Emily Fox mostly? I don't have a line-up set up.

I'm not playing Olivia Moultry. I'm not playing Genenai Swanger. I'll tell you that. That's where I'm at. at this point in time. You know what I'm saying? They can come off the bench. They can do a little something something.

You know what I'm saying? You got to earn those minutes in it. I'm not doing tryouts. Not at this point. I think Jenna, Jena Nyfonger and Olivia Moultrie earned their minutes by their last season. They both had big, big seasons.

Club play is important now in the United States women's national team. It never was before. I don't mind starting multery I don't mind doing tryouts in a game I mean these three games are going to be a walk I mean our

Our U-19s beat Argentina's senior national team A couple months ago We talked about it The Pan America game It's like our U19 B team We gotta get us why I go back I just don't know

I'm not trying to be boring and pedantic I probably am being that, but I just don't know if we're going to do a diamond midfield. Like when was the last time our national team played that way? I can't remember it. But again, I think we need to prepare ourselves for a mouth returning, cat returning. And I think switching up the formation is going to be a must to get everybody on the field when it's time to be. fully healthy. And why not start in a practice tournament?

Why not start in February to be a little bit more confident by the time June rolls around and Emma's here is where I'm coming from. Yeah, the 4-4-2 with the Diamond midfield does sort of, at least on paper, make a little more sense with our striker core. But I'm just saying that off the top of my head. I'll have to think about it. Okay. So no 11 from you, Vince?

No. I'm just here to assess your 11s. Thank you. And I get what, like a D? You really didn't like mine? I mean, to Bell's point, we're probably going to win regardless. But, yeah, I'll give you a strong C-minus. You know what I'm saying?

Passing. I'm good. Exactly. Yeah, I think for this tournament, I'd probably go a front line of Shaw at right wing, Trin at left wing. I mean, it doesn't really matter which wing they're on, I guess. And then Sophia Smith up top. And then I'm going to go Coffee LaValle, Haran, in the midfield.

I perceive that we're going to have some disagreements on this podcast over the next couple years about Lindsay Horan. I predict that. And then backline is the same as yours, except I'm just going to start Fox. But I get the idea of what you're doing, definitely. And you respect it? I do. I give you an A. I mean, grade inflation the way it is, you easily get A.

That's crazy. A and a C, average B, I'm all good. U-17 Concord C Championship. I think that's the last thing we have. We don't need to spend a whole lot of time on it either. I mean, we won. We should have won. We're going to continue to win these championships.

I do think that there is a lot to be helpful about, though. We had a ton of different goal scores. We had professionals there for the first time ever. Was it always perfect? No. You really liked Barcenae, though, right? Yeah, I really like Barcenae at San Diego Wave. I really liked Kennedy Fuller.

We have a good coach. I don't think we have a strain level coach by any means, but it's no Tracy Kevin's. And I think that there, I think there's a lot of potential with this group. And I'm interested in hearing what others think. But yeah, when the NWSL season starts back, you know, Mel B out in San Diego is a must watch now. She's grown, I mean, she looked a lot better than she did,

even in our few professional appearances last year. You know, of course she did. It was the U-17 World Conca Calf tournament. But she just looked more grown up out there. She's just for those of you who are not following her. She's a left-footed, kind of tricky, kind of attacking mid. And definitely has some sauce. And she is fun to watch.

I agree. Yeah. And Kennedy Fuller, she was the golden boot winner in this tournament. I mean, she was just really dominating. She had great ball control. She trained with Chelsea this past year. And she's also doing a tryout with Angel City. The commentator talked a little bit about how she,

She and her family are kind of deciding next steps if she's going to go pro, if she's going to remain with her prior commitment to go to UNC next year. That's kind of up in the air, but she became a follow after this tournament. Okay. Yeah. Why wasn't Ricketts there? Ricketts? Yeah. What's going on?

They didn't say. But if we, I mean, if we are, if we are not putting professionals on our U-17 team, kind of badass, isn't it? My, I only watched the Mexico, the win over Mexico, and only with like half an eye, well, I was doing some other stuff. So I'm not, you know, some expert on this. But I do kind of worry about the level of the competition in a tournament like this. Like, the goals are all, the goals are all, the goals.

all just look too easy. It's like everything just looks too easy. And I do wonder if that's like, you know, teaching or reinforcing some bad habits. I mean, we were, like, the athletic gap between our wingers and some of the fullbacks we were up against. I mean, it's like, sure. It's outrageous, you know.

And we had, they had quality, too. It was not like we just had athletes. Our players were good on the ball. But, I don't know. I got a little uneasy. Watching it. I mean, there's no reason not to wet blanket the U-17 team. Yeah.

I know, I know. You know who did a really good job. Not a really good job. I was impressed cranks on Twitter, the comp maker. He was posting a lot of clips of this team, and I just thought that was really nice. Yeah. He's been on the little, he's been following Lily, too. and get more eyes on these young female players that's that's only good things yeah that's right uh for

as for me you know i've taken the same uh stance that i've taken with with the uh boys u.s uh under 17s you know I'm recusing myself from from watching these kids yeah you tap in at U20 right his kids are too young even though I did so I did tap in for the S-dream I was gonna say we loved watching that World Cup it was like 7 a.m. It was me Vince and like four other people watching that was a special moment. That was a special moment they was playing some ball man and other reasons are you gonna watch are you gonna watch this one cup?

Probably probably not I'm not gonna lie to you I'll tap in you know maybe knockouts I think the this past U-17 won for the for the boys I think I watched their last game maybe and so I'll probably Well, I'll ask around October, see if you've changed your mind. Okay. Games on February 20th, February 23rd, and February 26th for the U.S.

That's a TBD Cockatacaff team on the 20th, which is six days from today. And then we play Argentina on the 23rd, and then we play Mexico on 26th. And listen to our schedule a little bit. So we have Gold Cup to talk about. And then March, we're going to get the Olympic straw in late March. And then in March, NW.S.L. comes back. Katerina McCarrio potentially comes back. And then she believes in April.

So we're going to get busy. Yeah. It's going to be awesome. A lot going on on the men's side too. So with that, hey, check out our YouTube channel. I'll put the link in the show notes. Merch. Merch.

And the merch. Yeah. We got a... We talked about merch on the public feed. I don't know if we have. We got a really cool hoodie, which Tara is wearing right now. And a great hat, too. Tell us about the hoodie.

Well, I've been told Navy is not my color. So I got a gray in the hoodie. It's very soft. It's a little oversized, which is super in right now. You know, I love it. It's warm. Premium materials. It's keeping me warm.

Yeah. I think it's made in America, pretty sure. Yes. Hats, a navy hat, white hat. You know what I'm saying? We got cups. We got a little glass, a little, a cup made out of glass. and also Tumblr, you know, a scuff tumbler.

I cracked up when you were saying a Stanley for the girls. A Stanley for the girls. Look, like, I didn't want to say that almost a Wednesday necessarily. But Terry, I'm happy you brought it up. You know what I'm saying? It's not Stanley per se. I don't know what the brand is. But you know what I'm saying?

The fact that they got the scuff logo and insignia on it will distract from the fact that it is not a Stanley. You know what I'm saying? So you don't got to worry too much about, you know what I'm saying, being called a poser or being called out for your, for your, you know, your family. Yeah, your fake Stanley, you feel me. You know, my niece has been, you know, unfortunately these girls she goes to school with, they're really peer pressuring her into caring about Stanley Cups. I've heard. And I've been trying, I was like, you are a little girl.

you do not need a giant water bottle that costs $50. But she knows she knows to go to her aunt for presents. And, you know, I've been worn down many times. So maybe I'm going to try and keep her from becoming a basic little girl. And get her, get her the scuffs cup instead, you know? Treat her a little bit. I'm sure she'll love it. That's what answer for.

So I saw, I mean, I would be wary because I saw on Twitter, this one dude said he got his daughter, he got his daughter a family and she came home crying because she had been so thoroughly roasted by her peers. You feel me that. There are a lot of videos of these little girls just melting down at the different cops. It's crazy. Wow. She'll love a scuffed one though. So I'm keeping that in mind, but the sweatshirts are very warm. Yeah, yeah.

Good. When I heard people, when I saw people talking about Stanley Cups, I actually thought they were talking about the trophy. I was like, man, drinking water out of a Stanley Cup, that's kind of weird. Why would you do that? They're $50. They're $50. They're $50. And let me tell you, my wife got like two of them.

uh well you you can guess the race of my wife by by me telling you that she got two stanley cubs but but anyway uh no i can't shout out hubert davis uh so and and like she'll just like put them random places you know what i'm saying the floor etc etc and it's like we got kids they'll just knock them over and she don't got the type of cap i guess that that would prevent spillage you know what i'm saying I mean, the amount of times I've had to clean up just water off the floors. And we got, we got hardwood floors, you know what I'm saying? Scuff pays me very well to maintain my home. But yeah, yeah, I mean, we got a hardwood floor, so it ain't the biggest deal, but it is kind of annoying when like, I mean, one day that it's built in the room.

And it went from like her side of the bed all the way to my side of the bed, there was water. It's just It's become a nuisance Do you think that the scuff Sounds like B-Badies or something Do you think that the scuffs Cups cup spills? No, no, no, that's spill proof

The scuff cup Are you gonna get your wife one? I've already got a one That she know? Yeah, yeah I asked if she wanted to Oh, it's not a surprise When I was going through

Maybe You know what I'm saying I'm putting my money where my mouth is I had to buy this merch myself You know what I'm saying? I did too. Yeah, Tara had to buy it. I had to buy it.

There's no discount for us. And so I bought both hoodies, both hats, and the tumbler. Well, yeah, a cup. That's romantic. Romantic gesture. That's right. A fitting end to this Valentine's Day episode of Woeo. Anything else, guys?

Did you buy your wife any scuffed? No, she has one of those old Those old hoodies that we I made through like a way Ways back. Yeah. And she loves it. It's like, uh, great.

Yeah. That's right. Maybe? Sure. Yeah, we'll do it. We'll do it. Yeah. Anybody listening to this, let me know if you buy your wife

any scuffed merch. I'd love to know. Um, but yeah, happy Valentine's Day. Yeah, unfortunately, you're not going to get the Vincentine Day discount on the scuffed merch. You know, if you buy it on February 15th, it's still going to be full price, unfortunately. But you should still buy it. You know what I'm saying?

This is something we're doing just as, you know, fan service and the fact that we would love to have just walking billboards in all of America's best cities. So, you know what I'm saying? I haven't. I haven't worn mine without a coat, so no one has seen the picture in the back yet. But I'm going to do that next. I'm going to see how it plays. That's right. It is cool, I think.

And Vince did a great sort of soliloquy on it on the Monday review, but you're going to have to sign up for the Patreon? You want to hear that? Thanks everybody for listening. We'll see you.