SoccerWise - MLS Soccerwise | St. Louis Goes Big as MLS Transfer Window Goes Wild

Episode Date: August 31, 2026

The MLS transfer window is in its final days, and there’s plenty to sort through. David Gass, Tom Bogert and Matt Doyle break down St. Louis City’s record move for Rafael Navarro, what’s next for Colorado and the latest moves around MLS. Plus, Inter Miami’s coaching change, RSL’s struggles and a wild weekend across the league, from San Diego and Minnesota to another big performance from Cavan Sullivan.0:00 Intro5:06 MLS Transfer Record for Rafa Navarro15:35 St. Louis Expectations Moving Forward 19:23 Colorado's Rebuild27:29 RSL's Death Spiral32:14 Inter Miami's New Coach36:21 Jack McGlynn & Luca Bombino Head to Stoke46:57 LAFC's Big Decision54:01 Daniel Gazdag to New England58:13 Santiago Rodríguez to Columbus1:03:54 The Best Things We Saw1:09:06 Cavan Sullivan and Philly Keep Rolling1:13:33 More Weekend Notes & More Transfer NewsFor the sharpest coverage of American soccer, we’ve got you covered:https://linktr.ee/soccerwisehq

I made YouTube work. That's the thing I'm most excited about. And the best part about it is, if you're watching on YouTube, you just watched about 14 seconds of me saying, will it work, won't it work, did it work? And now, if you didn't watch this show on YouTube, but you listen via podcast, you also got to experience that because I just did again.

David Goss, Tommy Scoops, Matt Doyle here on our Monday live show coming out of the MLS weekend. And as every weekend now is, it's just a Tom Bogart news show. everything is news over and over again, Tom, 5 a.m. this morning, you're on the phone. If they ask, can he do it on a rainy morning in Stoke? The answer now is yes. Hashtag rise and grind, hashtag tunnel vision, hashtag the league.

I'm assuming that you saw it at that time because you're up for a 5 a.m. CrossFit before your meditation period. Yeah. So the thing is, well, the issue is so one of my kickboxing classes was just obviously done at the top of a penthouse in downtown, Miami. So that normally starts around 445, but the gong does go off around five to re-center our energy and make sure that we're ready to reset to win capitalism and succeed the day. So you're right, Tom. You nailed me. Right in your crosshairs, you nailed me. Doyle, how are you this morning? What time were you up for Tom? I, uh, I rolled over and looked at my phone probably around 7 a.m. And, uh, I still have notifications on for like three,

more days for Tom, but then as soon as the transfer windows open, they get turned off. And I saw Jack McGlynn to Mighty Stoke City. And that did not get me out of bed. I just rolled right back over and I slept for another hour and a half. Speaking of transfer window, the window closes on Wednesday. And we are going to be on live for the close of it. So we will have Tom taking live phone calls, which is just like one of the most electric things we could possibly think. of putting out there from a content point of view.

And then we will have Duny joining Matt Doyle to talk about the things Tom's on the phone about while Tom's on the phone, and then Tom will come back and report news, and then you all will talk again while I'm knee deep in Civece, and probably about 150 Inca Cole is in and whatever else. But I will be watching.

So that makes you guys feel better. You're the type of person who goes on vacation and still watches MLS? That has a shot at Sean Park. That is a complete shot at John Parker right there. But I think I told Tom this last week off there, Doyle, I realized just very recently that I booked our trip during the transfer window. There's always something happening.

There's like, it's pretty unavoidable. I said it to my wife and we land very early. And she's like, well, you'll be on the ground. And I was like, you think I'm doing a live transfer show from Lima, Peru after we land? She goes, no, no, but then you can like follow it. And it was like as if she was worried I wouldn't get to consume Tom's content live throughout the day. Group chat, don't worry. Group chat's always on.

That was her number one concern was like I would be missing it from that point of view. You know what? That's a very supportive wife you've got right there, David. Megan really is the best. It's one for Tom mainly. It's Tom's support that is there. We have a lot to talk about on this show. As I said, news out the wazoo, record transfer in St. Louis.

Two players have been sold to Stoke City. for over $5 million. Colorado's made some other moves as well. Daniel Gosdog is on the move. David Martinez could be. So a lot to talk about throughout the league. We're going to break all that down. Inter Miami also has a new coach.

So we also have to talk about that. And then, of course, the weekend that was multiple, multi-goal comebacks, multiple stoppage time, equalizers or winners. And then we've got the Canadian Championship coming up midweek this week. So we're going to hit on all of that over the next few minutes, aka an hour and 27 minutes, because there's nothing else we can do about that.

And the news just keep stacking up. Reminder, if you don't, subscribe to Tactics Free Zone. It would have gotten you all your MLS content last night from the weekend that was. And of course, it is Matt Doyle's newsletter. It's the most insight you're going to get in Major League Soccer anywhere. As Doyle mentioned, make sure you have your blue sky notifications on for Tom so that you're getting all of the transfer news as it happens. And follow soccer wise anywhere on social media, on Instagram, on Blue Sky.

That's where our players that we come out everywhere else. Yeah, anywhere you are, you can follow it. And you'll be the first to know every single thing that's going on. If you're listening to via Sirius Radio, welcome. Thanks for being here. And if not, thanks for being here as well. Tom, as usual, we finished the show and then you did the things. You broke all the news.

So you've got news from today. but I think the biggest news to start with is Hoffnavahu, who is headed finally from the Colorado Rapids to St. Louis. Yeah, St. Louis City, that deal is basically done right now. That's the update I got this morning. Per sources, the fee will be around likely to set a new record between two M.S clubs. Last I heard that the agreement was around 12 million, which is equals what a van der Vanders was to Cincinnati,

but there will be more add-ons and more stuff around this. what I'm being told is record between two MLS clubs. Hoff Navajo was St. Louis's, you know, he was the top target. And three weeks ago, three or four weeks ago now, I thought this deal was done. So they've been working on it for a while. And then it kind of cooled off for a little bit, but St. Louis didn't pivot to other targets because they think Hoffa Navajo is a perfect fit in Yohanda Mae's system. That's what they wanted.

They were going to kind of take this down and keep fighting for that deal to happen. now they've got it ready. The Rapids tried to sign Navarillo to a new contract a while ago, and when it was kind of clear that wasn't going to happen, they were bracing for a departure. And they have been since last summer, really. And the fact that he was still here for the first half of this season was almost a little bit of a pleasant surprise for the Colorado Rapids,

but we just kind of assumed it was going to be Mexico or Brazil. It's St. Louis. It's more money than the team would have gotten from elsewhere. While, of course, it does hurt. I understand fans, concerns that he's going to another Western conference team, he's staying in the league. There are financial motivations for that to be the case. First of all, the $12 million fee, you can convert $3 million of that to gam. They would not be able to if he was sent to Mexico.

Let's say he went to Monterey. They would not be able to convert any of that fee to game. Secondly, there's a 20% sell-on clause that is due to Palmeris. Because the MLS is freaking weird, this isn't a transfer, thus rendering their, 12, their 20% sell-on, I believe, useless. So that's $2 million. Michigan, when they, when CINCII acquired a vander from Portland, Michigan had like a 20% sell-on.

And as far as I understand, they didn't get a dollar. That probably needs a change in the future. This is patently ridiculous to just, if you just call out a cash trade, then it won't be a transfer. But that is, you know, way too in the weeds. I'm sorry for steering us that way so quickly into this move because the headline, is St. Louis City, a record-breaking deal, obviously a club record breaking the deal for Carlo Hosa about a month ago, doubling that for a new club record.

Their attack is remade, and Hoff and Navajo will very soon be a St. Louis City player. Yeah, there's a lot to hit on this. I mean, there's a sticker shock of the overall number. There is the fact that the Colorado Rapids made a move like this. I knew Tom was going to do this to me. He cannot take the AirPods out because he just moved it over, so I might have to meet him.

And then there's obviously the move and the transfer. Dorel, let's start with the soccer. What do you make of what Hoff and Navajo now is for St. Louis? I mean, he's a better version of Simon Becher. And Simon Becher has been really good this year. I mean, Simon Betcher over the past month has been maybe the best center forward in the league. But just in terms of the overall body of work over the past four years in MLS, what Ruffin Navarro has done.

Are we doing the, we're going to do the Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation? half a Navajo. What do you want for me? It doesn't matter what I say, Doyle. People are going to be pissed at me. Fair enough. We'll try to do right by him and go with the Brazilian pronunciation. What Hafe Navajo has done over the past four years or three years,

it's, what, 15 goals in the league play two years ago, 12 last year, but I think six assists as well. And I think like 10 goals, three assists. Now, a lot of those are penalties. and if you look at the underlying numbers, he doesn't get the ball in great spots the way like a Petermusa or Sam Surge do. But he works his ass off.

He's a really good linking player, sometimes to his detriment, because I think he drops too deep. And I think part of what Yoan DeMay is going to want from him is a little more discipline in the buildup and then, but still keep that energy against the ball, and then add some runs into the depth, which Betcher's been really good at,

which creates space underneath because they play that 3, 4, 2,1 for Holsa and whoever ends up being the other starter. I don't think it'll be Alexander Matan. I think they need to make another signing, to be perfectly honest with you. But it fits. It fits.

I don't know if it's a $12 million upgrade over what they already have. It's certainly, like, he's a completely different archetype of Dejani Ovledge, but like, Hava Navajo's not. not twice the player day on Yom, which is. But if he stays in St. Louis for the next five years and he scores 15 goals a year and he

continues to be one of the best, if not the overall best defensive center forward in the league, then he'll end up being more than worth the price that they paid. Yeah, it seems like the increased price to be specific about wanting him and not sort of moving off to other players where maybe you could have gotten a deal is probably the feeling from St. Louis that he will stick around for five years. I'm 26 years old. He'll still be in the peak of his career. He's been at Colorado longer than I realized. And that's with a six month every, oh, he's leaving, he's going to Brazil. Right. And he didn't. So I think the feeling is you give him the contract that he feels he deserves and wants and can make the money he needs to in his career. He's probably okay being around.

and that maybe sways you to say well the big deal here once it gets spread out over the course of his career with us will be acceptable on the like money per year but the sticker shock is wild

I mean 12 million dollars like Hugo Kuyper is the golden bootleader and was $8 million. Right. He's also I think three or four years older than Havahnavahu is but still. Yovalich is the same age.

Yeah. It's when Tom said Navajo's likely to be more expensive than Evander was in that move. You know, the new cash for record. Like, I did a little double take there because he's a really good player. And he, I think he drives winning. But man, he's not, he's not like record interleague move level good. And I think, honestly, it feels like St. Louis.

we're just backed into a corner. And you can criticize that Rapid's front office for a lot of things over the past decade. But they know how to negotiate a really good fee for an outgoing player. And the one thing that every St. Louis fan should remember, it's not your money and it doesn't really matter. Yeah. So if they want to spend, Tom, I unmuted you. You're good. If they want to spend.

I muted myself. $8 million. $8 million or $12 million, it doesn't matter because it doesn't affect your cap in any different way. He's a DP. And he was always going to be a DV. There was no world in which you were getting him anywhere below. So if it's not your money, who cares?

Now, I've said this a couple times with MLS teams when you get up to a certain number. Then you start to look around the world because now you're in $12 million territory of like, there's other things on the planet you could do. But he is known quantity. Like you talked about double digit goals every year in MLS. He plays all the time. Yep. Including the day before he gets traded.

Which is insane. 90 minutes. In a rivalry game. In a rivalry game. Yeah. Like if he gets hurt, does this deal still go through? 90 minutes is insane. Off the bench.

Fine. Start. You have five subs now, 45 minutes. Games gone. Whatever. Who cares? That was like on its own other level. I don't know whose decision that was,

but that feels like its own vibe. So on that, and I'm sorry if I'm going to go through things that you might have talked about while I walked away there while I was taking a call. But the Rapids view is as long as he's our player, we're going to play him. They did, it did matter that it was the Rocky Mountain Cup.

I do believe that that played a factor. And I agree with your logic. And that's probably how I feel too, risking, you know, a $12 million deal. But the positive side, now that hindsight's 2020 and the game ended and everything was okay, it was a really beautiful moment at the end there, the way that he got to say goodbye to the fans, celebrate with the fans. Matt Wells subbing him in stoppage time and the big embrace between him and then the rest

of the coaches and the rest of the bench, final whistle goes. He's hugging all of his teammates. And then when the fans give the players the Rocky Mountain Cup, they're, I forget who took it first. It might have been Reggie Cannon. And then Matt Wells, when they're about. to take a picture, said, no, no, no, Rafa, get in the middle, hold it. Like, you hold the trophy, take the picture together, go over to the fans.

That was all really cool, though there was a cynical side of me for a minute than being like, why didn't you sign a new contract here? Yeah. I think the answer to that is because it's just good business from the Rapids, man. He's a $5 million player, and they got $12 million for him. Also, isn't the, don't we have an establishment here that? In the etchalot, he's getting more money in St. Louis than Colorado. I'm not saying that as a report.

I'm just, if this team's willing to spend $12 million, oh, yeah. Colorado's nowhere near that. Yeah, he's on like, what, $2 million a year? That'll go up by at least 50%, probably more. And I assume the Rapids were not willing to offer that type of increase. Yeah. So he probably would have been happy to stay for the same contract.

Like St. Louis, to the point of why Kuypers didn't go, it's not a guarantee. It's not a giant, team. It's not, I think, a city that's considered like a much better experience for a Brazilian living in the U.S. than Denver, but he's getting the money he wants. We talked a little bit about how he will fit in. This St. Louis group, Doyle, before we get into the Rapids, like they're on this run. Obviously, they give up the lake hole yesterday, but they've been on this incredible run. A lot of movement now with Hardle and Loven. Navajo coming in at 26 is not for just this year, but what is the

level of expectation this season right now for St. Louis. So the run is now 13 games on beat and obviously it should have been a win last night, but they took the foot off the gas over the last 20 minutes and paid the price for it. I think everybody understands that they're playing a little bit over their heads in terms of overall talent and the results, especially with Hartle and Lovin now gone. But the structure is so good and they're so hard to play against. If you look at the way these guys empty the tanks every single week, you know, it starts with Becher up top, but it also includes those guys in midfield. Edelman is just, he's a motherfucker man playing against that guy. And Durkan is the same way.

So the goal is to just keep that identity and philosophy, but start layering in higher quality attackers into it. And Navajo, he like he fits that. He really is a better version of Betra. So, okay. And then Holsa, you know, we haven't seen enough of him yet, but he looks pretty good so far. Like I said, though, they still need to add another match winner in attack. They need to add a hurdle, to be honest with you. Those guys aren't easy to come up with.

But the pieces are good. I don't think they're real contenders. I just don't think they have the level of quality that a team like Vancouver or Nashville or obviously Miami has. But they're in that next tier and they've proved it repeatedly. But they have to get a little bit more comfortable on the ball, seeing the game out with the ball.

The lack of that, I mean, there's a bunch of stuff that went wrong last night over the final 20 minutes, but the lack of that ability to get on the ball and just take the sting out of the game and make the other team come up the field and then hit in behind, get a fourth goal. Like that is what kind of killed them last night. And that's something that I think Yohan DeMay will be looking to fix in training.

But maybe over the next 72 hours or 24 or 48 hours at this point, Corey Ray can fix in the transfer trade window. So St. Louis would say, obviously, one, that it was a handball in the corner of the field. And that should have fixed the issue. And it was. And probably playing that out would have ended the game. If they had held on to the extra two points, they would have finished the night tied for third in the West with LAAFC with a game in hand on LASC.

Instead, they finish in what is right now a three-way tie from fourth through six with San Jose and Dallas. So they're in a pretty good spot. If they, you know, any type of run like this continues, the undefeated streak, whatever. They'll probably be a top four team. So they'll host playoff games. And they will probably have a series against the San Jose, Colorado. or Dallas, all teams that are in the sphere with them, which gives them a legitimate opportunity to win a playoff series,

which would be pretty special in DeMay's first season. And none of this is really the most important thing. Let's not forget. These two teams are meeting in like two weeks in the Open Cup semifinals as well. So there's like a couple of trophies that St. Louis could, you know, potentially be playing for. And obviously, I mean, Colorado could as well. Colorado could absolutely win the Open Cup.

I think they're more of a long shot to do anything in the playoffs, but we'll see. Let's go to the Colorado side of things for this, because we had someone in the chat that said, they didn't want to pay Georgi Mihailovich. They traded him. They don't want to pay off in Navajo. They trade him. Those were the two most important players on a team that was a high finishing playoff team two years ago.

But at the same time, this is an astronomical fee for a guy. You're making, I think, somewhere around $10 million in. total on this transfer from when he came into the league. And Tom, one of the things we've talked about over and over is these resources, the Rapids under Matt Wells, would like to put to different positions. So it works out kind of, it feels like for everyone in a move like this. Yeah, I agree because the player will be, again, a really good fit for St. Louis. Whether it's an overpay or not, like this window couldn't end without at least one new addition.

again beyond holza and you know it mirrors our talk with with deion yovitch and stuff of like where does this player fit or what's the profile like navajo's profile is perfect for how de ma wants to play because they want somebody who's going to lead a press but also is is in the kucho mold of time i'm just going to help you out here give me the rapids so i did because we did the i know you're writing uh rapid side of it is if they weren't going to sign it to a new deal they had to get the fee and i gave the finances before about why it makes sense for him to be sent within the league for the gam that comes. And again, the elevated fee.

This was the biggest offer on the table. And now for Matt Wells' system, we're talking about systems, wingers seem to be more important. Navarro was really good for this team. He's going to be very difficult to replace. But what if you can get two DP wingers? And we'll see what happens over the next 48 hours in this transfer window. The club are hoping to bring one in.

That is the end. they've been working for a while. What I was told is that they had, and Weeby said this on the broadcast too, was a really good hit on the Rapids Future. They had several bids north of 10 million made for their top targets. They had three top targets for a DP winger. And the players of that category of that valuation

doesn't look like it's going to be possible this summer. So my assumption, I don't know this for a fact, my assumption is the bigger fee or the bigger player, maybe that comes in the winter. because they don't want to sign a, you know, you could get a 6 million player and keep overspending. Look at Mirro Uzuni.

Austin had to bid 6, 8, screw it, we'll just do his release clause at 12 and a half. He said he didn't want to leave Granada, and it was how much money do we have to put on this contract and make it happen, right? You can spend $15 million on a $9 million player. Colorado are trying not to do that. So we'll see where they go in the next 48 hours.

Matt Wells said after the game Saturday that I'd be disappointed if we only sign one player. That one player is Saeed Abu Farke. $6 million, U-2 initiative forward. I've talked to scouts in Europe. Really, really like this kid. That's a good start. They got to bring in another DP winger. Easier said than done, but that's the plan.

So the assumption is that Abu Farkey is the replacement like for likes from Navajo at Center Forward, and the big money will be spent in a different space. And I want to kind of ease the expectations on Albufarki. It's a U-22 player, right? Like, they love Darren Yappy. And Darren Yappy will, again, first is going to be playing a lot center forward. And he is a center forward. He's not a winger.

They were trying to get him on the field. But this is a player that they believe in. Doyle, I know you do too, because if you were a GM of another team, you'd be calling about him before he had the minutes, like before Navajo was sent away. So Yappy will get the run first. But Abu Farki is highly rated. and is somebody who will come in as well. So then you're covered at center forward. Go spend the money on the wings.

Doyle? No disagreement. I really like the system that they've built. I think there are positions that can be upgraded, including the wings. One of the things I worry about those, they've signed a lot of wingers or acquired a lot of winger, spent a lot of capital, be it draft U-22s, cash furs on wingers over the past four years,

they haven't developed any of them. So that is, that does give me some pause, but like that is the spot. The other spot that, like, they, Matt Wells' system is ball dominant. They want to have the ball. They want to use the ball to break teams down. They don't have a lot of guys who can pass the ball,

which is a problem. And it's why they've looked disjointed at times. Now, they've been so good defensively in the clausera that it hasn't mattered. Is that what we're doing now? Oh, I'm calling to the clausera. Absolutely. Yeah.

They've been so good defensively since the World Cup break. FIFA MasterCard World Cup break. Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate it. I think they have five shutouts in seven games, but we know that's not going to continue down the stretch and into the playoffs, especially in the playoffs when you're playing better teams every single time out. So they have to get better with the ball.

I do wonder if maybe they'll invest some of their winnings a little bit deeper in midfield. But just the obvious thing is like you make the game now with your attacking midfielers and your wingers. You can teach center forwards movement and patterns. You could demand more of them against the ball, especially when you've got three young guys who are fighting for playing time. Like I don't have any worry about that. I have concerns about the quality that they have in those other attacking spots and then their ability to turn that quality into productivity because as much as they've invested over the past five years, they haven't developed any of it.

I think that makes me feel the best about this move for Colorado and that there's a purposeful point rather than just half a wooden sign extension with us, which is we want to use these resources in a different way. Like what you just said, Doyle, like we believe we can turn a U-22 initiative player, whether it's YAPI or Farkey, into the center forward we need. And we believe we need high level winger who can help us do that as well as change the way we play. But so it's over a million dollars in whatever sort of resource you want to call it for Kudy Pha, Sealy and Manungu over the last three years that that team has spent.

Dante Sealy's headed back home to Montreal in a move that just makes me chuckle. Mino has been the best of the three. And Kudy Phajo, a lot of it is injuries. Can't really stay on the field, but hasn't been a factor. So to your point, like, that's three big acquisitions they've made at that position, all three on young players that they felt would get better with playing time and get better at that club. And I don't think you can say that about any of them.

And now Dante Sili is headed back the other way to Montreal. So Montreal basically loaned Sili to Colorado for six months for $400,000. Tom, I just laughed when this happened. I get it for Montreal. Like, you think he's good. He's cheaper now. made money. It just felt sad. It just felt like you're going back to an ex. Yeah, it was the most much true move of all time. It's that or a domestic centerback or an American centerback from

another MLS team is usually the other one. Yeah, it's sad. Yeah, it didn't work out for him at Colorado. And Dante Silly has played for five teams or different times, five teams now in his young career. What was it Dallas, PSV, Montreal, Colorado, Montreal. Is that six? Not a great track record at 23 years. Yeah, he was on loan in the Netherlands, I think, too. He was on loan in the Netherlands, I think, too. Yeah, I don't know.

It is sad. I don't know what else to have. Okay. Colorado won the Rocky Mountain Cup, so congrats to them. R.S.L. I think Doyle was one of the headlines of your piece this weekend, the plunge that is in Salt Lake right now. Yeah.

think they have one win in their last 10 games across all competitions. They are in their second decade of being absolutely helpless defensively without Justin Glad. Justin Glad is a really good player and has been for a long time in this league, but they're like 1.9 points per game when he plays and like 0.9 when he doesn't play. Then you add that, and he's been hurt for a couple months now, then you add that on top of Zevier Gozo's departure, which makes them significantly less dangerous. And then on top of that, Deiagaloon is not the same guy he was last year.

I know he's put up decent numbers, but he has not looked fit at all when he's played. He got benched this weekend. That didn't work out for R.S.L. I think they only had four shots, like 0.1 XG total. And then on top of that, their shape is terrible, right? They look lost playing against the ball, which is a problem because they lose the ball in bad spots all the time. So all this stuff that you would want in terms of structure to be a tough team to play against, it's disappeared for RSL. And you look at the body language.

it doesn't look good. You look at the performances. They're a team that I don't want to say going through the motions, but they're not meeting the intensity of the moment, which is a concern because that's always been Pablo Masterani's thing. He has always gotten that level of commitment and buy in from his guys, even when the soccer hasn't been pretty. But it's just, it's kind of gone off a cliff. And it feels like this isn't a tailspin. Like this is this is this feels like a death spiral to me. This feels like this team's season is ending as we're watching it.

They're dropped below the playoff line. And I don't know if it's coming back. Messi retired from the Argentine national team in the middle of us talking about RSL. It's pretty on brand for soccer wise. So Doyle, I thought that was really good. But I have to be honest, I was reading messy statement. So I don't know how much of it I in took. But I will agree with.

At least you didn't answer the wrong question. I was posed to you. We know each other well enough that I knew that I was trying to read your body language on if I was answering what you asked me. Lino Messi will no longer play for Argentina. I assumed you were reading the big Owen Prestes loan news to Nashville SC. That's, to me, that's the big news. Pres is a player. No, okay.

Wait, I'm sorry. He got loaned to Nashville? Uh-huh. He can't get playing time on a Columbus team that's worse than the Eastern Conference, but you're going to send him to the team that just took Reed Baker Whiting and made him good. Our guy, Ben Wright, broke that one. That's the real earth-shattering news of the day in MLS. I look forward to watching Messi at the 2028 Cope America and leading Argentina out on the field

for the opening game of the 2030 World Cup. But he did say at the end, I wrote these words on July 21st, days after the final. Today after what happened with my father, I'm even more convinced than ever before, which was sort of the conversation everyone expected. The question is if he will continue to play at all. He is still on Interm Miami. Why do you keep trying to retire? We could jump to this right now. Yeah. Me? Have I ever tried before? Maybe that was Doyle then. It was like, what if he retires after the World Cup final because he said, oh, we all, oh, do we all look the same to you, Tom? You guys are so ready to be like, oh, what if Messi retires? That'd be crazy.

what do you think he's going to do? Stop playing right now. Would you play on a god-awful interm Miami team right now if you were 30, whatever? Nice. He has a co-owner. I didn't realize you were so financially driven. I forgot that that was. I did an interview to Chicharito and he said like I will never retire. I'll just stop getting contract offers. I know it's different for Messi, but like in his shit, it looks fun. He just had four goals and an assist against Montreal. Didn't exactly put a lot of pressure on him. He did. That looked fun.

You saying Messi to Athletica Dallis? Is that what you're saying? What is that American City called? Yeah. I assume that's how you pronounce it. I assume that's how you pronounce it in the U.S.L when you make that move. Okay. Kili Gonzalez is going to be the head coach.

So maybe that will keep Messi involved. We can just jump right there. Girm Ohios suspended for one game, which is probably where this move came because he keeps not letting Messi on the field coming out of half-time locker room breaks. So he has to come out five minutes late. But Kila Gonzalez is the new head coach. He has coached three times in his professional career.

All of them in Argentina. So not a ton of experience in Major League Soccer or anywhere outside. He coached at Rosario Central for two years, Union for two years, Pletense for a year. And now he's the head coach of Inter Miami. At 52 years old, he played with Messi in the 2006 World Cup qualifying cycle. So when Messi says, I've been doing this for 20 years, that's the exact 20 years that it means. As a player, he had 56 caps for Argentina, played in the Champions League Final with Valencia, spent some time at Inter Milan.

So a highly regarded Argentine player, less highly regarded coach. What would you say are his top credentials, Tom, for this position? Born in Rosario and overlapped with Lino Messi at the beginning of his international career and the end of Kili Gonzalez. Michael Ejanone told a good story ahead of Miami's game this weekend that when Messi got sent off in his Argentina debut, it was Keely Gonzalez, who was like the first person to kind of like look out for him. And that's where the relationship started. And he's managed in our long term investment. It's like boyos too, man.

That was that was his clashing. So he hasn't had any success as a manager. He did not last long with Pletense in Argentina. Yeah. To look optimistically, Javier Macherano was not proven as a senior head coach. And I think Javier Machelano did an awesome job. Now he's not the coach for reasons that don't have to do with how he did as a coach,

which is a red flag when he's talking about this team. But I don't want to write off this head coach. We even tried to say, like, give Gairma Hoyos a little bit of the benefit of the doubt. And then it was like his first game, he was asked about tactics and he's like, God bless us with number 10. And I was like, okay, I don't think we need to give you much more. better for the doubt here. So we'll see if Keeley Gonzalez says that in this first press conference,

I'll change my tune. But like, no, it doesn't look great ahead of this, but if you want to be optimistic, you point to Javier Mascherano's time as the team's manager. And also, if they did not have a coach,

if they just coach themselves, we'd pick them to get to the Eastern Conference final. So, yeah. The job is to keep Lionel Messi happy, so he doesn't retire at the end of this year. and if Keeley Gonzalez can do that, then he is the perfect coach for Inter Miami. There it is.

And I assume he will rush Messi out of the locker room every single half time so he doesn't get suspended. 100% for coaches. They're going to rotate like a new head coach every game like during the suspensions. Right? Like once Kili Gonzalez gets suspended for the first time and I give him like five games, he'll get fired and they'll bring in a new guy for Masario to be the next head coach.

Yeah. Hoyos without the frosted tips. And I assume who says no? I assume it's not a coincidence or it is a coincidence that Hoyos once he was replaced. That's when the suspension got dropped because Meantamie's never come out of the locker room over the last four months late until this week when he's no longer the coach. And now the punishment gets dropped through. So big doings for this Miami team. 7-1, as you mentioned, Tom, on the weekend.

and it was 3-1 at the 80th. That's when I turned off for another game. I put another game on one of my screens. Spoilers, Inter-Miamy scored a ton of goals after that moment. Suarez and Messi sort of putting on a show. Now Montreal, now that they were able to get that out of their system, they moved to a Canadian championship semi-final at BC place on Wednesday. So the big game for them.

Alexis Sanchez came off the bench for that one. Let's talk Stoke City for a little while now. We talked about it a little bit at the top of the show. Tom, let's start with the new one, Jack McGlynn, leaving the Houston Dynamo. Yeah, Stoke City are finalizing a deal to sign Jack McGlund from the Houston Dynamo. I'm told McGlynn traveled last night to England to do his medicals and formalized the deal. Stoke City earlier this weekend signed Luca Bombino from San Diego FC as I broke. I don't think that's been announced, but he's there.

Like that deal is happening as well. So Stoke City signing two Americans in the final days of the transfer window for Houston and McGlynn. Even when he arrived ahead of the 2025 season, the plan was always in the short to midterm future for him to go to Europe. When the offers were right, the time was right, play well with Houston be a key part of the team. And particularly at the beginning,

it was more possession-based and opposite of what he was getting at Philly. So it made sense for all parties, but this wasn't supposed to be a five-to-seven-year thing. And at Stoke City, in general, I want to say that it makes sense because Jack McGlynn, on a U-22 deal, rightfully is,

paid pretty well. Like, there's a lot, like, if you sign a U-22 initiative deal as a homegrown and MLS, like, that's good money. That already put you away from Belgium and Dutch teams. So the championship, I think we're going to continue to see more and more American players go there because of the spending power. You look at Jesus Ferreira never left Alice. And that's not because clubs didn't want them.

It was because who's going to take a 50% pay cut to go play for, you know, the third best team in Belgium? Like, I don't blame them for that. It's just the reality of the financial situation. like he he earned that contract with dallas same way mcglin did with philly or houston and and spartak mosca will pay that contract that's why that almost happened because that was like the one team that was like you don't have to take a pay cut to come here and it's europe it's like all right fine does it come with drone security or do you have to do that pay for that so anyway i think that we're going to see

more and more of this because like sebastian burholter was was a different situation because they got one a eight million dollar player seven million dollar player for two because his contract was about to expire but then you look at some of these other players where maybe they go to a second division German team or a relegation threatened Bundesliga team. Well, Stoke City, who finished 17th in the championship last year, because of the money in England, can outspend some of those teams. So I think we're going to see more of that.

Jack McGlynn isn't known as the most physical player, but you don't need every player in your 11 in the championship to be a bulldog or just a donkey who runs a lot, right? He's going to be a technical player for this team, add something different to the team. and while the league might be a slight surprise on like the big picture, I'm really optimistic about this because I just think Jack McGlynn's very good. If Stoke went out and spent $20 million on Neil Pierre after this, they'll win promotion. It might even top the league because with Neil Pierre attacking set pieces

and Jack McGlynn providing them, there are two aspects to this that I want to touch on. Goss and I were talking about it in the pre-show. Tom doesn't come to the pre-show because he's big-time TV. Grow up. Judge Judy. One is that in years past, in decades past, performing well in the championship was like a direct path to the premiership.

But over the past five years, the finances in Europe have changed so much, particularly with the Premier League, that the top Premier League. that the top Premier League teams, really the top 16 Premier League teams, no longer buy from the championship. They buy from the rest of Europe. If you're trying to get to the Premier League where the salaries are biggest

and at this point the stage is the biggest as well, your better path is to go to a really good team in Liga or the Bundesliga or Syria. So I do wonder, having seen this outflow of MLS players to championship teams, if there's clarity about that point. That really the only way to get to the Premier League from the championship now is to win promotion. And just look at Aidan Morris.

Aidan Morris was one of the, what, handful of best midfielders in the championship last year. And nobody was coming in to buy him from Middlesbrough. So they have to win promotion for him to get that bump up to the Premier League. Like that, that's just a new reality of how business is done in England. really all of Europe. And then the second aspect of it is just look at Aidan Morris. Being one of the best players in the championship is not a clear path into the U.S. national team. I think it's pretty obvious that Maricio Pachitino doesn't necessarily rate the championship as a higher level than MLS.

So it's, I don't blame Jack McGlynn for making this move. I think it's probably a move I would have advised him to make, even though Stoker bottom of the championship. But it's not as cut and dry a path to the level that I think any player wants to get to, which is, you know, the top league in the world and the national team, as it would have felt like five or six years ago when like if you're moving from MLS to the championship, then you're probably, you probably have the Premier League and national team regular appearances in your sights.

Yeah, it seems like the one part on the national team side is it's just case by case, right? Ashemang was in the team. Hadji Wright got into the team. I mean, he already was, I guess, before Potch. Those guys were championship players. But then George Campbell is captain of West Brom and he's nowhere near the team. It just seems, I think, to your point of the value against MLS is it still remains case by case, where maybe guys in other leagues, it becomes, well, if you're good in that league, you're getting,

you're at a minimum getting a chance. McGlynn probably looks at the national team and sees though he's got to jump people. Like there has to be something that happens. And if playing well for Houston over the last year didn't jump you, then playing well for Houston for the next year probably doesn't do it. And trying something like this,

the other thing we've seen for all these players is there's a pretty nice parachute on the other side back in Major League Soccer. Yeah. Right? That's the Paxon-Harence. I had it. When I said, I woke up at 7 a.m.

and I saw Tom Sweet. I also had a message from a buddy being like, oh, look, Austin's DP signing 15 months. I was going to say Rapids. I was going to say Colorado Rapids, Georgie to Paxton, to Jack McGlynn. But yeah, like there is sort of, it's not a guarantee, but his deal with Houston is probably there in some way in a year or two if he comes back to Major League Soccer.

and he at least is healthy while he plays in England. And if he plays really well, then maybe there's, you know, more movement for him and an opportunity somewhere else. They are one of the better passing teams in the league just based off the stats, which he needs that. Like he needs a team that plays to his feet and isn't just purely open and transitional because that's where he'll struggle. But this is huge for Houston.

This is a team that had moved up to first in the west. and he's one of the most important pieces in the squad, Doyle. And I guess my question now is, if you can't replace the things he does well, but you can stop the things he's terrible at, can Houston find a way to, you know what I mean? Like if Houston puts a body in there, can they stem maybe how negative a loss this is?

I don't think so. And I just don't think that's what they're going to do. I think this just makes Acey Atche, a full-time starter, right? Hell, yeah, maybe. Because they're similar players. You know, Aja Ache is a little bit better on the ball in tight spaces. And McGlynn hits a better set piece and a better switch.

I mean, but it's all within the, it's all within the margins, right? It's all within the same, you know, range of outcomes. And I think it gives Ben Olson the excuse that he wants to start Buzza Ace Ace and Artur together in the same midfield and just have a bunch of veteran grinders out there and let Boghush and Guillermo do all the attacking lift. And that's that. It's Benny Paul. Right? This isn't this isn't going to be like the 2023 Houston Dynamo team that won the Open Cup. Like they are going to be, I mean, they have been a counter attacking team all summer.

They have those veterans in there now. The average age of the midfield is going to be 33 years old. They're just, they have these, you know, two attackers and a winger who they will release in transition at any opportunity. It feels like Ben Olson's come home with this one. We'll see if Duncan McGuire can get his feet. sort of under him at that team because it's it's been a miss so far with him getting there and i do think mcglin was a good fit for him so i think that's a loss for him of a guy who was going to find you on those runs a guy who's dangerous in set pusson even before the mcglin deal got like agreed to

they were they were looking to add another attacker so maybe now one maybe two but they've been active in in that part because they have room since ezeko panse they departed i'm not expecting like a big time DP9, but they have the, they are looking to add to the attack. Okay, good to know. Another big move, obviously Luca Bombino also heading to Stoke for $5 million. Great business for San Diego. They got him for what, $400,000 in the end from LASC? Yeah.

So they pick up Luca Bombino from technically a conference, an in-state rival. They end up selling him for $5 million. So it's a pretty pretty big pickup. And on top of that, he's played 1,100 minutes this season. And last year, what? It was 1,800 minutes or something? So he's been a locked in full-time starter for them for the year plus that he's been on the team. And they made $4.8 million on the move overall.

So not too shabby for San Diego FC. And for L.A.F.C. Maybe guys are good enough out of your academy to play on your professional soccer. team from the LA area. Not normally known as a big soccer hotbed, but it's just let me tell you when, um, I don't know how many different times,

a centerback got on the ball in the attacking third value of C because they placed with seven of them at the moment, one at defensive mid and one at left back and if they could, maybe want it right back. It was like Eddie, Eddie's. And Ryan Porchius yells at all of them. I think it was you have in Jabberico was playing you know, the sit in left back, but

accidentally got forward and had an opportunity on the flank and just took a, a massive touch that was, he was trying to set himself up for a cross and he just dribbled out of bounds. You would have been nice there. Luca Bambino. Yeah.

Could have happened. Could have been that. If you are listening to Serious Radio, we're going to go along here and talk a lot more about these moves and some of the news around the games this weekend. So search the on-demand player or anywhere you get your podcasts.

We had not touched on Daniel Gosdock and the Columbus crew. Can we stay with LAAFC before we move on? Let's just do this because Tom also reported that it looks like Davy Martinez is on his way out to FC Michelin, one of the great developmental clubs in Denmark and all Scandinavia. Martinez was not on the game day roster. He did not play against D.C. United. Go ahead, Tom. Like, he hasn't. He hasn't.

I didn't either. No. I was like double checking. He hasn't been in a match. According to. He didn't play. playing in Leaks Cup? He hasn't played an MLS game.

Yeah, he did. He played all three games in Leagues Cup. He played 74 minutes, 84 and 45. Yeah. So here's, look, we'll get to the move in a minute. But one of the interesting things about this, LAFC have two DPs on their roster, it's who you think, Sun and Boanga.

They have been a U-22 roster-build team for a while. I think it was reported by our friends at Happy Foot, Sadfoot, that they had to stay a U-22-billed team because they needed the gam. They didn't have the room to go out. And even though they had an open premium roster slot, they didn't have the budget room to go out and add another DP. If they sell Davy Martinez, they probably get $3 million gam out of it,

that then gives them the room they need to go out and add a DP. And I got to tell you guys, this team needs another DP. Can they though? Sorry, time out. Like functionally, at this point in the season, even though they have the allocation money, can they switch from 242 to 3-3?

Yes. Okay. Because if you replace the discretionary that you spend. Correct. So you're allowed to switch up until the final bowl. the final minute of the summer transfer window. So if this move goes through, and we presume that LASC would have,

you know, $3 million a gram out of it, they would then have the room to go out and get, and get a new DP to help this team. And guys, they need the help, right? They came out of the World Cup break. And I think it was three wins and three. but that was against the Galaxy and RSL team that I just read their eulogy and sporting Kansas City who's on, you know, on path to be the worst team in MLS history in terms of goals allowed and goal differential.

Since then, I think they've won one game in eight across all competitions. And like you said, it's all they start six centerbacks ever going to like, okay, if you're just going to attack with two or three players, one of them has to be like a natural chance creator. and they do not put that guy on the field. This is the lowest that LASC have been in terms of vibes since that one season that they missed the playoffs. I mean, it was 2021. Like, they need to go out and do something and get a chance creator that Mark Dos Santos will actually play.

Since August 1st, they haven't scored more than one goal in the eight games they have played. Part of that, by the way, is they've played eight games in a month. Like, they play a lot of games. So the quality level, I think, is a little bit tough. But it goes to show the lack of attacking sort of impetus there. You know who helps some of that stuff is David Martinez. Right.

He's pretty good in the attack. So it's not just like, okay, let's go out and find a new piece. They're losing a ton in losing this guy to then have to replace and fill in. They already traded Nathan Ordaz as well, who would have been an obvious piece to give you some of the transitional sort of attack off the wing. So if they go out and get someone,

like, it's not just all bonus. They have to replace a level of what they're losing with David Martinez. They also probably are getting allocation money off of Bombino because there was a sell on there. So the assumption is they're getting whatever it is, 20%, maybe a million dollars off the back of that deal,

which is not nothing and helps you a little bit. But yeah, this is an LAFC team struggling. think they'll sign Cody Gakbo? Transitional attacking player. Come on. He could fit. They're a big club. Yeah, David Martinez, by the way, going to Midgillan.

So that's a step up. I mean, it's a step up because he'll be a starter. It's a step up because he's a, it's a team that actually develops players and then sells them. If you're running L-A-F-C and you're being honest about, the way the team approaches young talent, you probably look at it and say, well, if we sell him to Mitcheland with a 30% sell-on clause,

we'll probably make more money than if we sell him ourselves, especially because his contract, I think, ends at the end of 2027. So they're on the clock a little bit. I think it makes him a worse team because Martinez is a good player, but it's the right business move.

So Davy Martinez has an option right now for 2028 is what we have down on the depth chart. But guys making new deals around the change of schedule and all of that stuff. I don't know what date that actually ends up being for that contract. That's on $550,000, which you assume he would like a raise because he's been pretty good and there's opportunity. He's going to look great in Portland Timbers in three years for $11 million when he's. is the next Evander coming into

Major League Soccer. Can we go now to We can go now. Doyle's that okay with you? I mean, I don't know why we would spend any time talking about Daniel Gaston. I agree. You were the two who before the show were like, oh, good move, talent play.

I thought he was going to be good in Columbus, blah, blah, blah. He was not a good fit for Columbus. And at this point, he's just a guy. Yeah, I think that's all we need to say. Major minutes for the road. He was not, I was totally wrong about Columbus. I thought he would fit. I thought he would find spots and score goals.

Wouldn't help with build up. He found spots. He didn't score goals. They bought him out. He's a pack up for the rest. Like, this is a guy who had at least 12 goals and three straight MLS seasons playing for Philly. Yes, there was a lot of penalties. But still from an attacking midfield slot and no New England don't play exactly like that.

But they play closer to Daniel Gosdock style than Columbus did for sure. And they have two attacks. in Carlos Hill in particular, who is a high volume player. Put the ball on his foot, he makes, like, I wonder what his usage rate is in the final third. That's the kind of person that Daniel Goslock should thrive around. Jack Harrison is somebody put the ball on his foot. He's going to beat defenders and then get service in the box. That's a guy that Daniel Goslog should be paired with.

And the, like, fit might be a little bit weird, but why can't he play as, like, in it, like a left attacking midfielder where you have Peyton Miller basically playing like a Gozo role as a wing player. And then Daniel Gossack is playing off a forward, but not a high volume player in the buildup, but somebody who's going to float around in the box and add to quality around two really good attacking and creative players in Carlos Hill and Jack Harrison. I think this is a really good move, especially for a non-DP spot. So in all of what you just said, is there a scenario when healthy that that's the option you

think the revs state? Yeah, because you put Peyton Miller should be a left back. And you put Peyton Miller at left back, but you play them the wingback role like, um, Real estate they did with Gozo. And you put a centerback or a stay-at-home right-back. So then in possession, those are your three defenders. Peyton Miller is the furthest player wide and the left. And Daniel Goslock is in the left channel off the forward.

Three games unbeaten for the reps. Peyton Miller's played left-wing all those games. I was not duby, but I think we were both fairly like, hey, they've beaten a lot of bad teams at home. Let's see how it goes. I'm convinced I think that they're good. They're playing better soccer now. They're playing their best soccer of the year now.

And that includes Dorjeureman up top, finally like getting into those spots where you want to see a center forward get into. Harrison's arrival has helped a ton. They are, they would be insane to change what they're doing in order to fit Daniel Gossdog in. This guy is here to be a super sub. If it's different than that, I think they'll be a worst team. And while I agree with you long term, Peyton Miller's best position, is as a wingback or an attacking fullback. It's not his best position now.

He's got four goals for assists, just in MLS play. He's been really good at staying wide and balancing that attack, especially since Jack Harrison has arrived. Why would you mess with that? Things are snapping into place. You did smart work getting a veteran for cheap.

Like don't make the mistake that Columbus did and try to build a system around this guy. We just saw that. It didn't work. I wouldn't say, I wouldn't even say that Peyton Miller's best position now is that I think for the revs, their best situation is to play Peyton Miller there. I don't think Gazdaug's their replacement, so it doesn't matter. If you had told me that Allen St. Maximin comes, has come in at left wing. So now Peyton Miller's going to play left back.

That's completely different because that guy wears Louis Vuitton headbands. So like that's cool. But that's a game changer at that position. I don't think God's dog that guy at center forward. fine if he's the backup center forward and sort of plays a false nine thing when you're chasing games or is the second center forward when you're chasing games fine but yeah i don't think he's going to be a huge factor maybe we'll be proven wrong tom this opens up the spot do we think yeah they are in they're closing on a deal to sign sancho radriguez sources are confident that that's going to get over the line as a permanent dp transfer uh it's complicated because bodefogo owes everybody money including n y c fc for santi rodriguez and um l nana united obviously for tego mom well What a Fogo should do is join major league soccer, cash for everyone. And they won't owe anyone money. But yeah, Columbus have been working on this for a while.

And they think that obviously will help the team now. But we're thinking about 2027 and a front three of Wessem. Abu Ali, Bryce Mendez and Santiago makes a lot of sense. Though this weekend was tough for them, they desperately need somebody who's going to try to put in a tackle in midfield. They were just way too easy to play through. But long term, I'm excited about the. attack. How big a gap is this upgrade, Doyle, from Daniel Gosdock to Sandy Rodriguez for the team? And would you like to guarantee that Sandy will be good in Columbus just to make it two years

I would be surprised. I would be surprised if Santi wasn't very good in Columbus. Is that the exact line you used with Gosnog? I was actually more emphatic because everyone was like, mm, Godstack doesn't fit. I was like, no, he's going to be. Anyway, I would be surprised if he wasn't very good. I don't think he's like a best 11 player in this league. I just don't think that that's his level. But he is, it's like the Haffan Navajo thing. Like he fits the system. He's at that age where he's probably not going to make any other big moves.

You give him the right salary and you keep him here. And he could, I think, help drive winning for a while. But obviously they need work to do in that defense because they got ripped up by the revs yesterday. And, you know, a month ago. go, I thought that they were headed in the right direction and it has gone in the wrong direction. I think it's now winless in four or five games across all competitions. Worst team in the Eastern Conference after a lot of moves they've made, as you said, that made it all feel better. 16 goals, six assists, his top year with NYCFC.

I mean, if you're on a team that's top four in a conference and you put up stats like that, you're probably flirting with Best 11 conversations and considering we do like six of them on this show. You're probably in one of them. He's got a chance. I think it's fair in all of this to just keep saying, none of these guys are Cucho. Maybe a few of them aren't even Diego Rosi, but the team is

going to be a lot better with the way it fits together and the quality of soccer players they have over the next 12 months than they've been for the last eight months or whatever it's been. I think Santiago Rodriguez is another example of that and fits into all of it. Cincinnati just made a loan for

Julian Molotini. from Vedder Bremen, I believe, for a year or a loan through the sprint season. So roughly a year long, end of this year, beginning of next year. This is the club that got Jersen Mosquera on loan, who ended up being a Premier League starter. So I wouldn't put it against them. And the problem will be that they can't afford to bring him back when he's really good because they'll have paid all their other centerbacks. But this is a team that like desperately needs a little bit of support.

51 goals conceded. I like Gede as a player. not a centerback. I haven't understood why that one has totally continued. It's a tough spot for a team to need a centerback when they've put so much assets into that position, a DP spot from House Robbins and Max Tamish for Matt Miasga, whatever number teenage Adabe is on. Obino Oboto is a defensive midfielder used to be TP.

Him and Miosga just haven't been the same since their injuries. They got walloped by Nashville this weekend, who are the best team in the league. That was a completely dominant performance. and Cincinnati need the defensive additions if they want to salvage anything from this season and it might be time for a reset in the whole roster in the winter. So this at least keeps the flexibility in that it's alone and you're not committing a long-term transfer fee

or long-term contract to a player and they desperately need this boost in defense. And the last one to bring up here is Caden Clark looked like he was going to head back to New York Red Bulls. He did not. our own producer Gregory Roach said this on Blue Sky about this. Of the many chapters of the book to be written about the absurd history of DC United, the Caden Clark chapter will Loki be a memorable one.

Caden Clark, 26 appearances for Montreal two years ago. Zero goals, five assists, was acquired for almost a million dollars in allocation money across the different versions by DC United right after. He has played 12 times in two years since then. He has played 82 minutes this year in Major League Soccer for this team. I don't, I assume this was a flyer for the Red Bulls if they were going to do it. And I don't know, maybe DC or him asked. No, no, no, no.

The deal was agreed. Trouble was being set. Everything was moving forward. And then the Red Bulls informed DC and Katie and Clark that they were not going to move forward the deal. I don't know why. How funny would it be if Montreal came in? Let's get Kate and Clark back to it.

So we're getting the band back together. What band? The one that didn't make the playoffs. DC are in talks with other clubs about a potential departure. He's not in Renee Viler's plans. And that's kind of like Renee Viler has talked about this publicly, that they're looking to move on part ways. So we'll see what happens over the next 36 hours or so, 48 hours.

But right now, Kenne Clark is not going to Red Bull, New York. Okay. Let's talk about soccer for a moment. We should talk about 500 transfers and moves. Let's hit the weekend really quick. Best things we saw some of the news notes to know before we get out of here. Doyle, let's start with you out on the West Coast. Yeah, the best thing I saw, two things from the San Diego FC 3-1 win over the galaxy.

The first was that pass from Anders Dreyer to Kieran Sargent, who was the new starting left back for San Diego with Luca Bompino having moved to Stoke. this might be the past of the year. And he's on the right wing. He's deep, drops into midfield, and he just hits this laser beam of a through ball. I think he cut out eight galaxy defenders to find Sergeant for a one-touch finish on the backpost. I put it in my newsletter.

There's also a link to an Instagram post of the view. Like, there's somebody in the stands, like directly behind Dreyer just happened to be filming. and it is spectacular. So that was like an all-time pass. That's one I'll be thinking of for years. That was one. And then two was Mikey Varas and Chirky Lozano doing a replay of the Caleb Porter

Pep Guardiola handshake, non-handshake from the 2014, 2014 All-Star game. That was like, I don't know, I kind of respect Mikey for wanting to, to, to, To go, really? Chucky's hand. I don't know. It just felt like the right thing to do. I'm sure that he wanted to have a

for a handshake. Like the meme of the guy in the plane, like, let me shake your hands. I think, I think, I got what he wanted. I honestly think that.

Yeah. I totally agree with you, which is, that feels like playing character of, I'm just a good guy. Like, and I'm not saying, Mike,

he's not. I'm just saying, like that's just like straight up like yeah yeah no like we have to shake hands after a gentlemanly sporting event he's a he's a role model david think of the children watching that game absolutely the kids who are covering their eyes having to watch the l a galaxy play soccer at any time right now uh this team is dog s they are garbage and chukalasano's a part of that uh but it was super entertaining at the end also like paying his DP contract.

Could you not get a clause in there of like, he doesn't play against us. I think the galaxy would have paid more. I swear to God. I'm not kidding. There's like the whole reason they did the move. That's two big games that you got a goal. Should have had a goal and assist.

That we don't talk a ton about referee. That was bad. It's the VAR on the cheek of the zone. I get it. It might be a foul, but like I don't think that was clear and obvious overturn. And then they're going to feel hard done by with Paintsill. and that one is a foul. There shouldn't have been a foul to take off the San Diego goal,

but those two things happening back in, you know, within five minutes of each other, was tough for the Galaxy fans as well. The Galaxy were down one zero when the red card happened in the 50 with. Two no, it was two no, it came literally two minutes after that pass.

Right. And then it ended up finishing three one. So the Galaxy had about half an hour to play. And it was, again, the goal called off. And would have made it two, two. Yeah. I don't know if I'm going to blame the ref on this one. I wasn't.

I'm just saying that it could have been a goal in a sense for Chuky, and I think it should have been. Speaking of comebacks, the vibes are incredibly high in Minnesota and then low at the exact same time. Minnesota scored three goals in five minutes in the second half. They were down two zero at home to Orlando. Calera scores. And then it ends with a Kelvin Yaboa bike kick

off one of the most bizarre plays. It's just like scrambling the box. Ball pops up off a deflection. And Yaboa does the thing where he's like, yeah, cool, I'll just bike this. Bikes it into the ground, into the goal. And it's like unreal scenes in Minnesota. And it's like, oh, okay, cool. Like, fives are high.

Like, this is going to be a good moment. And then who else? But USL number 10, Tyree Spicer scores the game, Tying goal. I said that like three months ago. And he's been like the third best player on this team since I said that. So for his sake, I'm going to keep saying it. Tyree Spicer scores the equalizer in stoppage time, and it ends up 3-3 in this one.

So shout out to you, Wes. Congratulations on your Kelvin-Jaboah goal and the Golden Boot that's not going to happen. And that was the moment for me. Tom, anything for you? The Kevin Sullivan goal. I know it's a boring thing to say, but he is...

No, don't do that. Let's not do that. He's like a child who's amazing at soccer. Let's just be into it and not pretend that when we rep him every week, it's boring. Wait, you're saying it is boring or it isn't boring? Okay. No, it's not.

Be hyped about it all the time. I was just saying we did a Mikey Veris non-handshake and Calvin Yaboa golden boot winner bit. I feel a little mainstream by going with a Kevin Sullivan goal. But this, man, he's just taken a leap over the last two months. And that goal was everything that I'd like to see with him in that, yeah, he's super tricky. He can do good, like he's got a great highlight real. But he's not a guy who's just going sideways and backwards to try to do. cool flicks and touches. The first touch was awesome with his weak foot forward and then a big

Ronaldo chop third touch goal. Like he's not doing these these tricks and flicks for the sake of it. He's doing it when it makes sense. And that's really difficult for a young player to accomplish in first team soccer. It's really difficult for a young player as well to be consistently goal dangerous. Three goals, three assists in his last five. He started every one of Philly's MLS games since the World Cup break. They were unbeaten in seven with five. wins and he's just an awesome player to watch 16 years old man they're one six goals 11 assists if you count so six goals and secondary assists in all competitions in all competitions in 1500 minutes that is like that's more productive on a permanent basis than Xavier gozo who just got

sold for 15 million dollars and made his Premier League debut yeah this past weekend. I think by the time it's all said and done, the fee that Manchester City paid for him is going to feel like a bargain. And I had a buddy, a European-based buddy who texted me this weekend after watching Sullivan. He's like, Manchester City is going to make $40 million. Like the worst outcome is they're going to make $40 million selling this kid to like Everton. By the way, it was the Jack greelish of the Delaware River. Yeah, such a good comparison. Oh, I hate how good that is.

But, like, even at the time, it was like, like, they were on the verge of losing it for free. It was like, soul of it, because, like, they were fighting for a kind. It was like, if you don't give him the contract, we want, we'll, we have Manchester City and, like, you know, Bayern Munich was like, we're not going to be able to sign him because we're going to be outbid. So we're not, like, those were the clubs interested.

It's like, if you're going to nickel and dim us on a homegrown contract, or just leave when he's 16 for free. That seemed like a, remembering back reporting through that, that was the more likely outcome before I got the call at center of the A sign. Like, so that's, that informs why the fee and the add-ons wasn't as big as like Benji Flavs. Yeah. The, you also got him to play for your teams. Yeah. Yep. Yes. Which was a huge part. Like you got the production over this time. You got the experience, the exposure, all of that type of stuff. And to the point of the, um, what's it called? Who do we talk about? Not Bombino.

whatever sell on if he gets sold on in the future there's also money coming back for philis man city selling him for 40 million dollars isn't bad for philadelphia either uh or maybe he'll come back like mark mackenzie by the way neil pierre scored again it's crazy so good that those guys weren't playing at the beginning they're one point off the playoffs right now it's so cool yeah they're 100 they're 100% making the playoffs they haven't lost since ryan richter um well they I guess they lost a game in leagues cup, but who cares about that? Like when they play their first team, they're very clearly one of the three or four best teams. Dude, we talked about Philly coming out of the World Cup break, and I didn't have the stones to say they're going to make the playoffs because I wanted to be rational and real because what they won their first game.

And it was like, oh, that's nice. That's a nice moment. And I'm so upset at myself that I didn't have the stones to go on online there. Yeah. You're soft. It's soft. You're soft. Listen, look in the mirror.

Accountability, lead from the front here. And that's what we do. So on equal games played, they're one point behind Orlando in ninth. They are two points behind the Red Bulls, who they just knocked off. And then they're four points behind NYCFC in seventh. So not only could they make the playoffs, there's a decent chance they get out of the playing game at this rate with the way the teams around them have been playing. and they could have played Neil Pierre for the full year. And so they played him for half the year.

And he continues to be one of the best players in the league. Officially, Kevin and Neil Pierre better than Audrey Mehdi and Julian Hall. That's where the youth development rankings stand. And there's going to be big fights in the youth development communities. Let's finish with just a little bit of news from the weekend. Yovalich, two goals in his debut. Doyle, the first one to me was like the whole reason you go get him. We said, oh, production on the outside, blah, blah, blah.

he turns half chances into full chances. Yeah, he was really good, his movement on that one, like sniffing out where the cutback was going to be and the timing was perfect. And he's really going to keep in those one touch finishes low and hard on goal. And when you do that, you score a lot of goals. The second one was also kind of why you go out and get him. He's not going to score that goal again. That was a like good day.

So he scores that goal more often than other strikers do. Like that's the difference between the bigger difference between him and Danny Musovsky is not the box movement. It's the fact that Dejani Yovalich can occasionally score for more than six yards out. You know, so that was that was a special goal. But you also saw exactly why the Sounders need to make another move. Because the first goal, the one where they get to the end line and the, I think it was Costa Rienzi, hits that pullback that Yovalich scores. Like that was the one time they got to the end line. Actually were able to get past a defender and hit that pullback.

Like every other time they were getting stuffed. Like they need a little more quality, 1V1 to beat a defender and to create the kind of chances that they were getting last year when Pedro de la Vega was healthy and Georgie Manungo was actually cooking for them. So I hope if I'm a sounder's fan, I'm encouraged by that performance. but I'm also like, oh yeah, we're not, we're not remotely complete. Like, we need to do another thing. Yeah, didn't win, finish tied two to with Chicago.

And I mentioned a couple times. So League's Cup semifinal this week and all League MX affair, I believe it's in Houston and LA for the two games. And then the Canadian Championship semifinal, Montreal first leg at Vancouver. And then a all CPL affair on the other side, including FC Supra, who are sniffing around Jack McEarnney, who is now a Quebec native. Before we get out of here, Tom, did you break something? I did in the chat.

St. Louis City is finalizing a deal to sign American forward. Damien Downs on loan from Southampton. That loan is through next summer through the sprint season. sources tell me. And St. Louis City, on the verge of bringing in two new forwards ahead of the transfer window closing right at the end here. This is obviously separate from Ralph and Navajo. Both of these deals have been worked on.

It's not a DP for Damien. Downs, but the 22-year-old American International is on his way to sign of St. Louis. This is going to break a lot of fans, minds who just assumed Downs is really good for the U.S. Men's National Team because he doesn't play an MLS. So there's that part of this. And I guess when it rains it pours for St. Louis, maybe a formation change coming to play two of them up top with the Vahu and Downs. That could be a possibility having lost hurdle and just replacing him like for like with

Tulsa, or this is just depth to have more talent on a team that didn't have a ton of talent coming into the season. Any thoughts on it before we get out of here? Doesn't add? I haven't seen Downs play enough, so I don't know where exactly he fits in, but yeah, it strikes me as a depth piece rather than a formation change. I can't imagine that this team is going to take a player out of central midfield. When control over the central midfield is you know what they built this streak on and then what they kind of lost a little bit last night that cost them two points so you're saying daniel gauzog's not walking through that door correct is it definitely definitely not definitely not going to walk through that door well on that note

the news will continue to drop that's why we'll have the live show on wednesday uh tom and doyle will be hanging out talking about all of it i will be away but we've got a lot of content already loaded up for you some big time interviews, some other fill-ins. So we will have all of our shows, the full compliment, over the next week and a half. And I'm really looking forward to listening from afar as I sit in the most peaceful moments at the top of a mountain. I'm consuming the content that you guys put out there.

Big shout out to everyone in the chat for joining us. Big shout out to Gregory for putting this all together. We'll talk to you all again very, very soon.