SoccerWise - Reggie Cannon (Colorado Rapids) On CAS Ruling & Playing In Europe + DC United Fire Their Coach, Rodrigo De Paul & Columbus Cucho Replacement

Episode Date: July 10, 2025

USOC Bingo has offically been hit. A rained out game, a red card for punching someone, a PK shootout, and a manager gets fired. Tom & David break down everything we saw, and dive deep on what the future of DC United looks like post Troy Lessene. Then they walk into the "Ice Cream Shop" with some big scoops on Rodrigo De Paul coming to Miami, Columbus looking at a Cucho replacement from the Club World Cup & a Timo Werner update.4:40 DC United Fire Troy Lesesne After USOC Loss12:00 DC Hiring Rene Weiler To Replace Lesesne19:30 Austin Advance To Semifinal But Lose Brandon Vasquez To A Torn ACL23:40 Minnesota Survive A Rotated Chicago Fire30:30 Nashville’s Succesful Turnaround33:32 Rodrigo De Paul And How Miami Could Sign Him38:55 Columbus Crew Looking At Cuhco Replacement Wessam Abou Ali42:40 Latest In Red Bull’s Pursuit Of Timo Werner46:50 Diego Luna Heading To Spain & More RSL Buisness49:33 Reggie Cannon On CAS Ruling, MLS vs Europe & Rapids 2025 Goals Soccerwise Live 2pm ET Every Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday on Youtube/Twitch/Twitter

What is up everybody? We are back at SoccerWise, David Gott and Tommy Scoops with you. A little bit of live action here on, I want to say it's Thursday. Is it Thursday? It is Thursday. Awesome. Yeah. Wow. on, I wanna say it's Thursday, is it Thursday? It is Thursday, awesome. Yeah, wow, I was like completely unsure about that one. As I got into it, it has been a wild week of action.

We have a ton to talk about. We have US Open Cup to break down, US Open Cup, as I wrote on the intro or on the description, we got the full bingo card on US Open Cup. We got rain outs, we got penalty shootouts, we got wild comebacks, and some got fired. We also had red cards. It was the full Monty on US Open Cup this week.

You've got a ton of scoops for us to dig into on the, in the ice cream shop as well. But the two biggest stories to start with, one is NYCFC has floated a giant pigeon between all five boroughs in New York ending at Willett's Point, which is of course, will be the site of their new stadium, but is more famously known as the site of Shea Stadium, originally the greatest stadium in American modern sports. Let me just go back.

This is, you know that you can see something and be like, oh, that was definitely a male made that idea. Like that was not a female. It was just like, well, dude, what if we float a pigeon on the river in New York City? And like most people would be like, what is the point of this? But nope, this was great. Dudes rock. I loved every second of that.

I can't get over it. It's just perfect. It's beautiful. It's so beautiful Heritage, bro. Yeah, it absolutely is. It's also one of those things where like New York City while being built Manhattan is on an island and everything is built around the water It's not like super water facing. It's not like people like sit around and they're staring out at the water all the time. It's like, oh, there's that giant pigeon. It's like you'd have to go see it. And I don't know that people are necessarily going to see it. And I got texts about it being like,

what's the point of this? And it's like, the point is you have a giant pigeon floating around. I am fully here for it. Even though it's a terrible idea, I'm fully invested and fully here for it. Then apparently it's gonna become a statue What is that? I didn't know if that was what I don't know anything if I consumed about this whether it's real or not I don't want any more details because it's perfect as it is. There's gonna be a marketing idea

There's gonna be something behind it. There's gonna be there's gonna be like a logo explainer That's like well the the feathers on the pigeon here are pewed like like with just complete Inane bullshit it is perfect as just floated a giant pigeon up and down the river around New York City and People who don't know NYCC have no idea why and I think that's perfect as it So here's the issue because you bring up you bring up the explainer is I currently am staring at the New Jersey Cosmos badge explainer, and you, as noted, Super New Jersey man. Are they naming themselves New Jersey Cosmos? I don't know, because they were the New York Cosmos.

What I'm trying to say is you're out here celebrating the five boroughs, celebrating pigeons in New York, looking away from your own state of New Jersey. You're trying to steal the five boroughs, celebrating pigeons in New York, looking away from your own state of New Jersey. You're trying to steal the New York Cosmos at the same time. Tom, I guess I ask this question for you. Do you have any allegiance to anything?

Bro, where did the Cosmos play? Where did they play? The New York Cosmos? Yeah, where did they play? I think they played Hofstra. I think they played on Randall's Island a bit They play a little bit more as well Yeah The Brooklyn Nets became ruined when they left New Jersey for Brooklyn. That's just a fact

No, the New Jersey Nets were also ruined. That was just good That's been bad the whole time So are you a devout Cosmos fan now? No I'll Hold my We'll see what happens with the name Shout out FC Monmouth. That's central, New Jersey. That's the team I support fourth division here in central Central baby lower division speaking of Minnesota, Aurora

National semi-final coming up home game this weekend I assume you can't get tickets because it's sold out, but if you live in Minnesota or in the area you can go and check. Minnesota of course one of the teams that was able on the MLS side to continue on in US Open Cup action. Let's start with the big one though. DC United goes to Nashville. They take a two-goal lead Tom. It's gonna be a good night for DC United. Two Nashville. They take a two goal lead, Tom. It's gonna be a good night for DC United. Two goal lead on the road, open cups your chance to make a run with the season sorta going against you.

The Nashville's first goal, for those who haven't watched it, just please go watch the highlights. Aaron Herrera's dribbling aimlessly in his own corner in his defensive third. Panics, tries to hit a crossfield pass. It seemed like it was gonna be a good pass, except it hit a DC United center back in the back and rolled to a Nashville player

as the goalie was out of the net trying to check for a short pass for whatever reason. That just epitomizes DC United, not just in 2025, but pretty much the last dozen years. Like it's just, what I was watching. I was like, yeah, no, of course this is going to end five, two. Absolutely. Like, and of course that was the goal

that they were going to concede. That tells the story of this team. It's just, it was poetic. It, it was a tough night in general for Aaron Herrera. He gave up the penalty on the second goal. So DC went up two zero, bad clearance. I think you gotta give a little more credit to Johnny Perez. Ball gets deflected up, he hits it first time,

puts it in the window, goalkeeper recovering. So I'm just saying, you know, put a little respect on the name, and then you get a penalty kick, Sam Surge puts it away for the second goal, and the floodgates opened. Andy Nahar pried them open against his former team. What, the week he was named an All-Star as well? I mean, I think you guys are all welcome.

We were on this at SoccerWise first this year about how big he was. He ends up with an assist. Serge scores the second in the 72nd. Nahar nine minutes later with a goal. And then Walker Zimmerman off the bench with a goal. It becomes a 5-2 victory for Nashville coming back from a 2-0. Everyone leaves the stadium and DC United's front office tells Troy Lesayan and his assistant

Zach Prince that they are no longer in the plans for DC United and the manager who originally signed a three year deal to start 2024 is let go after a year and a half in the job. We will talk about the future first, but let's talk about what it's looked like. So a year and a half means 60 matches across all competitions, 16, 25 and 19, the negative 36 goal differential. They are five winless in all comps right now. They have won one of their last 10 games in Major League Soccer. Now here's the scary part right now about the league. They're not even in last place in the Eastern Conference

because there are so many bad teams. It's not like, oh, they're one ahead. Montreal, TFC, and Atlanta all sit below them. It has obviously not been a good run. It has not been a good stretch overall. But Troy Lassane now a year and a half means one complete season is only one of five years in a row in which this team has not even qualified for the playoffs. What do you think about as you hear that it's Troy Lassane's time is finally done and sort of what this club is doing. Took too long. Took too long.

And for me, like that's on that's on ownership. From what I understand, at least like, listen, it and I feel for Troy Luzane, this wasn't an easy job. But going back to even the start of his reign, he wasn't DC's choice. They thought they were going to Dolmetserent. And then after kind of one offer-counter offer, it was like, nope, deal can't be found here. Let's go over somebody else.

And this is a coach who would make much less money than Dolmetserent. So you just kind of follow where that takes you, right? You can just assume. So I do feel bad for Troy Lozano. It was a difficult job. One of the DP spots is currently being held by Metais Klick. It's a difficult job. One of the DP spots is currently being held by Mateusz Klic.

It's not the best roster in the league, but they were bet and the head coach has to answer for this. They gave up, what was it, six goals against San Jose in April? Should have happened. Should have happened. They gave up six or seven. What was it, against Chicago or somebody? Several weeks ago gave up seven against I'm sorry Chicago give up seven against Nashville yeah yeah seven won Chicago they've conceded four or more goals in ten of the sixty games that's where the Zane and the staff coach that is unacceptable right like so in one hand I get it man like it's not a great roster but like I don't like in the

chatter like talking about scapegoat or like oh man and like yes like DC's problems go much deeper but this was absolutely one of their problems and this is a good way to solve it and not long after like I broke the news that they are they've agreed the term with a Swiss manager named Renee Wheeler and there he's going to be the next head coach. Obviously this has been in the works for a while that hey we're moving on for Troy the Zane. And they didn't just run into a Swiss head coach on the street after last lane. They were like hey you want to coach the team? What I do know is they made a really strong

push for Jim Curtin. I believe they talked to GeoSavarese. I'm sure that they talked to a lot of other people as well but like all underpins that this was a long time coming and DC have to move into a new era. It's going to be a busy summer. And again, hopefully they can have some sustainability. Hopefully they can have, again, the front office gets in some of the right signings and they keep a plan for a little while, but we'll see. I find this one tough because on the one hand you say DC needs to move into a new era.

Nothing about letting Troy Lasing go and hiring this new manager feels new. It just feels like DC United the same. The issues that exist at the club are bigger and different as you explained. Coming all the way through this hiring process, going back through five plus years, going back 10 plus years. And I think most fans, there's not a lot of hope that this means anything or changes anything. I say that in the same time being like, look at Vancouver and what they're capable of doing.

Talent doesn't mean everything in Major League Soccer. If you are cohesive and play hard and motivated, you can do things and be competitive. And so I think it's fair to say that DC hasn't done those things and that's on the manager while also acknowledging, this is just a bad team. It's just, there are a lot of MLS teams who are like,

yeah, if those pieces were moved around or put together right, I don't know what a lot of this DC stuff is. Like, you're mining for attacking talent in the Polish division where there's just not a huge history of success coming out of it multiple times. As you said, you are paying a DP to not play for another team, by the way.

It's not like he's gone off and done well, which I think is a bigger indictment on you and the way it's set up. I mean, you see the gravity of Christian Benteke even in this game, right? Both goals are just because of his presence. So there is obviously that big piece of talent and there's some other parts of this that you could like

or could fit better in different groups. But consistently they, I mean, they went out, they signed a young international goalkeeper who has not settled in, which is like not shocking in any way. They have not spent well at center back. And so have consistently played players who had proven on other teams

they were not starters in major league soccer. They have filled at central midfield but don't like their options. And I don't know that all of it is cohesive and all fits in together. Let's move on to now like you said, René Weiler coming over is the report from you, I believe, right? Yes. Yeah. So it's real. Yeah, it's happening. I just, Tom, there's a lot of that. We're going through a lot of stuff today. I'm pretty sure you're on all of it, but the stuff you're not, I gotta make sure

that I throw a little shade on other people. And I gotta remember whose shade goes where. Rene Weiler was released from Servette FC in Switzerland, which I think Serviette in French is napkin. So it's not the same word, but I'm calling them Napkin FC. He was released at the end of May. So at the end of this season, he took over as a manager to start 2023, 2024 season. He spent the year as manager. He won the Swiss cup for the club, which was the first trophy in 20

years. He finished Switzerland has playoffs. So he finished in the playoffs. Americans ruining everything, huh? 100%. Yeah. I just had this conversation with someone where it's like, have you ever heard of a league that does playoffs? Because I think they found out Scotland did. And I was like, yeah, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico, Brazil. And they were like, no, no, no, but like all league and you're like, okay cool, right Only talking about rex and we all Madrid just now that I know that I can make sure so they've done well under him after his first year as manager He moved up to sporting director and then was like, oh they finished second this season and he was like

Oh at the end of the year, I found an interview he did with an Egyptian outlet because he used to the job before this manage Al-Halli which obviously gets me hyped. We're going to mention Al-Halli multiple times in this show which is already one of my favorite shows we've ever done. And he said this I played with Al-Halli using the same approach both before and after the pandemic. I don't believe the team's performance has changed. As some people think, I like my team to play direct football towards the goal. And I don't prefer too much possession

that might bore the fans. I always aimed for big wins and didn't enjoy winning by just one goal. This approach made the fans enjoy Al-Haleigh games with me. Mattias Almeida, come on down baby. All 11 players on every corner kick. If the goalkeeper is not in the attacking box on the first corner kick this team takes under their new manager, we riot.

Yeah, I don't know what to make of this man. So again, what I say is so much fun about MLS but sometimes makes it difficult for us. This isn't the NBA where you know the batch of coaches You know the batch of players the trades and possibilities like on one hand Maybe he's Olaf Melburg and he stinks and he's gone after 13 14 games or maybe he's Jesper Swanson and is awesome And makes it makes the team infinitely better looking at his resume He hasn't stayed anywhere for two. He has not stayed somewhere for two seasons I don't think ever. Maybe at the beginning of his career.

Like, Al Ali was a season change. Andaleck was a season change. Which was a pandemic, by the way. Al Ali? Yeah, he left in 2020 and I think it was like his family couldn't get into the country and he couldn't get out and stuff. Okay. Well, any of the other nine places he's coached has been pandemic-sensitive. So, like, just saying. Whoa! Any of the other nine places he's coached. Yeah So My point says So yeah, we'll see what happens, but I I don't have a great read on this

I do know that so he coached Andy and horror at a hundred likes everything comes like Andy and horrors always hell Yeah, so there's a connection there that kind of helped in their vetting process they were asking people around Andy about this, like we'll see what happens again like I said they did make a really strong run at Jim Curtin, he politely declined but yeah we'll see where they go from here and I don't know exactly what to make of it, he's won trophies though at the clubs even though he hasn't stayed there long which is interesting interesting. Like Andrzej, I think he got fired like a few months into the second season after winning the league, the previous year and all the league. He won the league before leaving the next season. So there's that damn trophies, but not a long longevity. We'll

see what happens and it can't be any worse. Yeah. It is a club that has said from the top down that they'd like to play a front foot pressing aggressive style. Except for when they hire Wayne Ro down that they'd like to play a front foot pressing Aggressive style it except for when they hire Wayne Rooney and then he wants to be a mid-block except for when it's earn on Luzardo and they want to be high pressing like Well, I know Luzardo would go into that which is high pressing Like yeah was Luzardo They were busy getting rid of all the players that they signed on a Luzardo because of Wayne Rooney and then Wayne Rooney left

And they were trying to get busy get rid of all the players that Wayne Rooney a Lazado because of Wayne Rooney and then Wayne Rooney left and they were trying to get busy getting rid of all the players that Wayne Rooney wanted that now didn't fit the next system while they were signing players that they, assuming it was going to be Dolmé Torrent. So it's just, it's very unfortunate. How often do you sit around and think what, what's Rafael Morrison doing right now with his life? Cause I think about it all the time. I think he did an interview with the athletic where he was pretty much just like, you know, I'm not a kid anymore. It's not fair to me to like, you know, for the think about it all the time. Hey dad, think he did an interview with the Athletic where he was pretty much just like,

you know I'm not a kid anymore, it's not fair to me to like, you know, for the mistakes I made in my past. I was like, brother, two years ago, Andre Blake went on a documentary and was like, get this guy out of Jamaica. Not just the National Team, just out of, just never near me ever again. Like, dude, I think you earned the reputation.

I think it's fair to say. And this conversation is why, I think there's not a ton of hope right now with DC Which was like they picked a direction to move into and the moment Rooney flashed across their eyes. They went for him It's the same with this Pogba stuff, right? They like held space and spent time and energy For a player who probably wasn't gonna come and even if he was was like never really part of a plan It was just like serious there. It was hey, we want our name connected with him. And again, this is

this is, this is, for I think for head coaches and front office, this is like a bottom two or three job in MLS. Which might be why you're going and finding a manager who just got fired in Switzerland because I mean, take away Jim Curtin. I think there are other people who wouldn't jump at this opportunity. And then you're starting to have a conversation, which remember last year when Mikey Lopez, who's done a great job, was hired and Bobby sort of walked us through and was like,

well, here are your options. You wanna go assistant unknown. You wanna go assistant who's been out. You wanna go USL and here's your international options. And like you said, this is like the crazy part of Major League Soccer. Jesper Sorensen is gonna win manager of the year, most likely this year.

And no one, okay, that's fair. Yeah, no one knew anything about him. He didn't know anything about Major League Soccer. He came over, it worked instantly. The laundry list of people on the other side of that is immense. And so you come down to system and style, but you come down to like cohesion and leadership and management and all of that. And I think that's where the worry comes around DC United. And none of that is sort of a personal

knock on the person you're bringing in and Renee Weiler. So it's going to be fascinating to watch this. One last little quote from this by the way was he sort of made a comment, you know, obviously massive club in a huge country. He said, I don't like to be in the spotlight all the time. It didn't bother me that fans constantly tried to talk to me and take pictures. That's just not my personality. So DC United might be a good fit for him.

He really wants to go under the radar when he's away from the games Okay, let's continue on here By the way, if you are watching live go listen to the podcast after this because we're gonna do an interview with Reggie Cannon Which I think I forgot to mention off the top If you're listening to a podcast, you'll hear the Reggie Cannon interview coming up at the end of the show DC United fans Let us know what you think We do have a comment here from a Atlanta fan who goes DC's ahead of the show. DC United fans, let us know what you think. We do have a comment here from a Atlanta fan who goes DC's ahead of the standings, then Atlanta and Ronnie

Dialis still has a job. He's a year behind, but it is a reason for necessary angst. Let's go through the rest of the Open Cup results and what they mean for these teams. And the big one was Austin getting the penalty kick victory at San Jose It was a wild game Austin came from behind twice to equalize the first time through a penalty kick for Brandon Vasquez And then Benji Kakanovic scores in the 98th minute The Austin gets another penalty kick to force things to a shootout in which Austin gets the victory But unfortunately for Austin after moving on going to a shootout in which Austin gets the victory. But unfortunately for Austin,

after moving on going to a semi final, they are now in a position where if they were to win that semi, they would host the US Open Cup final. It ends on a negative note with Brandon Vasquez going down with an injury that we have just now finally gotten. The official report is a torn ACL for him. So that means he's out. We know for the rest of this year, we don't know how long into next year. He scored on that first penalty kick. He was a huge part of the rebuild for them this offseason, a massive signing. He's someone we have both covered for a long time. Great personality, cares about his game, cares about the fans at the clubs he plays at. I think was really excited to come back into MLS as a DP and sort of be seen

as the face of a team and to carry a team. And it was a slow start to this year and now he won't get the opportunity for a long time to do things at his highest level. It's just really, really tough to see. It sucks, man. We love Brad Vazquez on the show. He's an excellent striker.

I'm sure in his head, he was still like, hey man, if I put together a good form, why can't I break into the World Cup team? So like that dream is, if not officially over, pretty much like, I just, there's no words man, I feel so bad. And like, he knew it when he went down, it was a non-contact, covered his face immediately as he was stretchered off and stuff. That just kills me just to watch any player going down like that it's so terrible and in the Austin side like

Brandon Vasquez again like he had underperformed some of his ex-G he was still scoring goals he was he was not the problem in this team and he what he is the building block a leader to whatever what they're trying to build and what they're trying to do and now they just won't have him for the better part of a year and that just sucks. And it just puts them in a really tough spot from a team point of view because Major League Soccer as we are seeing with the LA Galaxy is not built to miss players of this magnitude in your team and so I think he was supposed to tie a lot together.

They have Diego Rubio who is like a pretty close comp when he's on. Diego Rubio unfortunately is someone who has also struggled with injuries, which was why you're not reliant on him and no one really went out and gave him the contract maybe he would have expected over the last two off seasons because he because he has performed well but just no one trusts him and no one's really able to do that. And so Austin's going to have to be hopeful, obviously transfer window opening. So maybe they make a move here. It's really tough timing and it's just a miserable thing. This was a guy who really wanted to like carry this team and be a part of it.

And as you said, has performed up to his level and a lot of it's built around it. Bucari getting to the end line, getting crosses in, playing in transition off of Brandon Vasquez as the initial piece. Like all of that was built around his skill set and his ability. And now they're gonna have to figure out how to deal with it going forward. So for Austin, obviously the flip side in this is this is a way to save your season. You're in a semi-final and they will be going to Minnesota. Minnesota had initial hosting rights. Minnesota come from behind win against the Chicago Fire at home. They go down one zero to a Brian Gutierrez penalty kick.

Omar Gonzalez picks up a red card and it was tough for Minnesota. Like it was not an easy game for a Minnesota United team. I think that I would expect upper man at home to be, to make things a little bit simpler for themselves, but they're able to survive Tom, they're able to get through. I thought Robin Ludd was phenomenal. Taniola was Shay on the opening goal right out of halftime, a ridiculous pass to open

up the game, something that we hadn't seen from him early on in the season. And in the end, Minnesota is able to survive. But I think it's a funny game because the convo we had going into this was like, are we gonna learn if Minnesota, their style is set up for postseason play? They don't need the ball, so maybe that makes things easier, but also they can't really use the ball.

Going up a man, I think, made it harder for them. Like, then they had to play in possession. They finished with 59% possession, and I think they were struggling with the balance of like, how many numbers do we throw forward? How desperate are we to get the goal? And then once they got the goal, then they sit in how they comfortably are. And I think it opened up too much space for Chicago in a game in which you're up a man and like, just see the game out and dominate.

So on the one hand, they win. They are on the road to hosting a final. They will host the semi. They would host the final. If they got there on the other hand, I think are on the road to hosting a final They will host the semi they would host the final if they got there on the other hand I think you still see the holes in some of this project Yeah, I think that's fair for me. I choose to focus on like you said the events they get through It wasn't always pretty but in the end it was job well done Something that's interesting. We argued about long throws or whatever, John Mueller, our pal, is very very smart, wrote something for the Guardian that you should go check out

about Minnesota and the long throws and everything. That was just an interesting read I had this morning. So we'll see. Like, for me, like, they can, like, why not go on and win this? They should, like, they are, like, it's stupid to say about a semifinals, of course. In that vein, my biggest takeaway from this game was, look at Chicago's lineup. I'm really, really disappointed.

A quarter-final of the Open Cup, and they heavily rotated? Why? To be ready for another one of a million regular season or least cup games or whatever the, like? It's just so disrespectful for a team that has had no success none for 13 years whatever it's been they made the playoffs one time they finally have a little bit of positive momentum and you rotate like eight players from your starting 11 you know like again minnesota we both really like we think they're really good that's a winnable game and guess what one of the people you would say didn't get sent off and I just I

Just really couldn't believe that of where they're sitting and yeah, you want to use your whole squad. I get it That's important rotate in the next game. Like this is a quarterfinal of a cup competition You could put a trophy where trophy you could help continue to galvanize the fan base and everything else. It's just You're telling your fans. Yeah, we didn't really care about it We'd rather finish ninth in the east than focus on potentially winning this trophy. And I just don't like it. And on top of all of that,

and it was complicated by the red card, the last sub they made was Jonathan Bomba. So they were like trying to not play Jonathan Bomba as much as they could in this game, who is one of their two DPs that a lot of their attack is relying on. And for all the holes we've seen in his game so is one of their two DPs that a lot of their attack is relying on and for all the holes we've seen in his game so far this year, I think still just figuring himself out

as a finisher and being able to finish off plays. Don't worry, Tom walked away, but he can still hear me. He was the bright spot for them when he came on and pushed the game and created chances. And so I think that, like you said for Chicago was like, well, what was the plan here overall? And yet they were leading one zero in this game. So I think a lot of question marks for both these teams

coming out of it, but a huge opportunity now for Minnesota. They will host the semifinal. And then the winner of that in Austin would host the final no matter what. Doesn't matter who comes out of the East. Now on the East you have Nashville who are already through. They don't know where they will play because if the Red Bulls beat Philadelphia in a game that was rained out and moved to August 13th then the Red Bulls would host Nashville in the semifinal. If Philadelphia hosting Red Bulls on August 13th wins, then

Philadelphia would travel to Nashville for the semifinal and then the winner of that would travel to the West team no matter what and who it is. Obviously Red Bull Philly doesn't end up happening because of that rainout and this is, this is just, you knew this would happen. So the game gets moved to August 13th. Of course these two teams are scheduled to play on August 16th. No way. Are you joking? So they will now play twice in a week and it's jammed between by the way, you know those things that something comes up and you're like, I'll figure that out when I need to my entire life. Yeah. Forgot about league's cup, forgot about how it was formatted,

forgot about how it works. So I'm like looking at this schedule being like, I don't understand. Why is Philly playing a league game while Red Bulls are playing a League's Cup game? And then how are they scheduling games right after this? How do they know what's happening? To be clear, I still don't fully understand.

But League's Cup this year is like this weird table all the MLS teams on one side, all the league MX teams on the other side. You play three teams from the other league and then you go back into your massive table. You finish in your standings. So the games are pretty condensed. It's July 27th to August 9th is or August 10th is is all the league Leagues Cup games. It actually might be August 7th. This is going well.

I might name another date if I could sneak one in. You play three games in a row, basically like a group stage, like a quick tournament, and then the knockouts will occur as midweek games going forward until the final. And so right after Leagues Cup ends, regular season resumes. So like Philly has a game on August 9th at

home against TFC. They are not in League's Cup because they played in CONCACAF and they're in Open Cup and they're in too many competitions. Red Bulls will have played three games in a week, finishing then with RSL at home on August 10th after playing Juarez in League's Cup on Wednesday and then will travel down to Philly that Wednesday. Point being Philly's gonna have a little bit of a schedule advantage with all of this jammed in there at that point Philly of course will also be the home team and then we'll do it all again three days later which I'm sure will be as electric as possible coming off the back of that matchup and then we will know what the what the semi-final looks like so you

assume for Nashville. I don't know actually. If you're in Nashville, are you rooting for Philadelphia because you just want to be at home? Or is Red Bulls an easier quote unquote matchup that you don't mind traveling? I have no idea. All of that is making my brain just completely flattened. knew you were gonna do that. A lot of logistics. It's funny, you getting your joke to me, you know those things where it's just like, no, I'll figure that out later. I've been really bad at planning anything

or it just feels like all I'm doing is putting out fires or just to do this. And there's just so many things in my life that's like, oh crap, I said I was gonna figure that out. Okay, I guess I gotta do that now. So I got nothing until we get closer. I was not ready for the League's Cup combo. You and League's Cup are locked in

and Soccer, baby. Yeah, I can't believe this is part of it and we will learn all about that when we get there But congratulations to Minnesota and Austin as well as Nashville, by the way We kind of blew through it because of DC United firing huge season for Nashville turn around second in the East And I think you saw it in this game, right? It's, it's a messy start. It's not what they would like. You give up like a screamer opportunity early, then you get the own goal from Jack Maher and you're thinking, okay, things could go poorly here. Overall, it was a strong starting lineup.

Walker Zimmerman not starting coming back from national team. I think QASM would be the other, I would say is a starter that wasn't in this group. Otherwise it's a strong team. They never looked panicked. Like this looked like a Nashville team that believed they would get back into it. Surge golden boot leader right now continuing to feel, you know, in form, look good. Tag Seth just covers every blade of grass, creates the game. And as we said, Andy Nahar is an all star for a reason. He is a true difference maker attacking from that right back position,

both creating and scoring. It was kind of cool to see DC fans be like, well, it's nice to see Andy smile. Like he means so much to DC United and it's just been a tough career for him. With injuries, he's just not been able to remain at his peak. And for DC fans, like it's tough right now, but they got a little bit of solace in that and it was nice to see DC fans acknowledge that. No, I get, I was laughing at the idea of just like, well, everything sucks for us right now.

At least, at least if somebody's going to do it to us, it's Andy. So I love that again, he was one of the first like real true homegrown, like again, one of the success stories of the developmental academy and going to Europe and everything he did like it's I thought when he left MLS a couple years ago it's gonna be the last we saw him like you said the injuries and everything dude he's been the best right back in the league right now like he's been playing more obviously with Alex Freeman gone at the goal it's very clearly the two of them and Andy Nahara I think over the last few weeks is just very clearly the best right back and

MLS this season well deserved for the All-Star. His goal... Which did you like more, Goss? His goal or his Tribella assist? Yeah. The pass is pretty filthy. And again, this is... He does... That's not even the two traits that you talk about when you talk about Andy Nahar. You talk about how unique he is in his dribbling and the positions He picks up and how valuable he is to the attack in ways that full backs like not in a typical like overlapping get to the Byron cross whatever and he has this incredible game where it's like Oh, yeah, that's like his fourth and fifth skill that like he just dominated with like so yeah long may continue Playing with a broken pinky I believe broken finger something like that

So just just straight for safe rub some dirt on it, get back to the game, shout out Andy Nahar. And congrats to Nashville. This is going to be a huge cup run for them. If they do host the semi-final, like I hope it's a huge atmosphere. BJ Callahan's gotta be in the Coach of the Year conversation as well. It's his first full season as head coach.

They've changed the way they play, they've changed the results they've gotten, and if they finish top four in the East, I think he's easily a finalist for that as well. Let's move into our ice cream shop, because it's a big one, before we have to disappear and go talk to Reggie Cannon. And let's start with the big name.

Rodrigo DePaul, we've talked about it a couple times, Tom, but you've got some new reporting on it. Yeah, this deal is getting closer. Rodrigo DePaul has given his green light. My personal terms aren't a problem. And Miami and Atletico Madrid are getting closer on a fee. The fee is going to be in the region of probably 15 to 20 million is our understanding. Again, fluid because talks are ongoing, you need to figure it out.

This is my, again, my understanding is somebody who does this for a living and constantly trying to talk to teams and people. If you talk to three different people at Enter Miami, you might get three different answers. I feel safe in saying this can't happen without a DP leaving and that DP would be Sergio Busquets. Like Alba just signed a new contract, Messi's obviously Messi. Like Busquets would be the guy. I don't know if that means he'd retire it, but like I was at least told by one person just like don't say that 100% definitively. And I don't know if they know something or I don't know if it's like the dude you never can say anything definitively about MLS rules. Right? Like I had

somebody from another team, because I was like, I've got this with several people, there is no way to sign him without a DP spot, right? And then somebody from another MLS team, a front office executive, texted me and goes, how about this? And I got three paragraphs of how could they get around this? Would they be alone? All this stuff. So all that is to say, I feel confident that this would require a DP spot right now, for them to join right now.

But I try not to say anything definitively on Rosseau Real's stuff and everything else. I will say. But again, the news is negotiations are advancing with Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid are open to this departure. They won't get, like I think that they were wanting like 25 million. They're not getting that, but they're going to get a pretty significant fee for a 31-year-old midfielder who's out of contract next summer. I guess that just there's an obvious question

But the whole conversation is about him joining immediately like none of this is joins in December or January Whatever it would be. I my understanding is this is talks for an immediate deal. Okay It would not be shocking at this point that Sergio Busquets was like, yeah I don't really need this anymore and it comes up and he's like cool I'm happy to live in Miami and come to the games like we do for the Miami Heat and I'll just be posted up. He's been tweeted obviously. He transitioned to an ambassador role really quickly. But no, jokes aside, I understand why an M.O.S.T. fan of any other club would be like, this is nonsense. He can't join without it being a D.V. zone.

I understand the stance and I'm sure the league office understands this too. So, very, very curious. Again, I feel pretty confident that this would mean Bousquet has to leave for DePaul to join, but I don't know, dude. Nothing is certain except for the big black hole at the end. We've talked about this on the last show. The best way to spend 15 to 20 million dollars on MLS is not on a defensive midfielder. He would be an improvement right now to Busquets because Busquets is on his last legs if past

that and Rodrigo De Paul is closer to his prime. And the relationship is obvious. He's Messi's bodyguard. They won a World Cup because he's really good at being Messi's bodyguard. He's an awesome player. It is not the tradition to use these spots. Inter Miami has been fortunate in that there is other talent that's willing to come to Inter Miami on different types of contracts because everyone wants to play with Messi and like they would be better tomorrow if they had Rodrigo De Paul as their DP defense midfielder than they are today. That can still exist in a world in which it's not the best way

to spend the money. It's also not our money. So who cares? And they would be better set up to win MLS Cup. It doesn't matter anymore because the club world cups happen, but like in the whole, like, does this get them better globally? Probably not that much does this change their reality if they make it to CONCACAF next year against a league of mechs team by a ton I'm not sure but it makes them better tomorrow Yeah, but enough I don't know yeah I will say so so like I Agree again like that I don't know. Yeah. I will say, so like, I agree again, like I wouldn't recommend generally speaking to an

MLS team to spend this money on a 31 year old box to box midfielder, but Miami aren't the normal MLS team because like if they signed, if they instead of taking this money and signing like a sick DP number 10, like that'd be fun, but like they need, they need what Rodrigo De Paul brings more than anything. Like again, that's still a steep steep steep price to pay and there are ways to get that without a DB spot, but like More more I'm kind of talking myself into like okay Like I might act like I might actually recommend like I get this isn't the general rule

But like it's like dude, maybe this maybe this totally works for me, but To answer Alex question no, none of the Miami DPs can get down to Max Tam. They're all too far away on the number they signed. I think the Jordi Alba number came out of $6 million, right? Yes. Yeah. So he's way too far away from the Max Tam number to be able to buy him down. Busquets is too far away as well.

And obviously Messi is the highest paid player in Major League Soccer and just shouldn't play on a mass stamp contract Even if he was willing to which he's not which makes a ton of sense So we'll continue to monitor this and we'll continue to talk about this one. Not the only big Potential signing though coming in it sounds like Columbus crew have maybe ID their replacement for Cucho Hernandez After kind of making a couple of band-Aid moves early on this year to sort of continue on without Cucho. They brought in Gazdag, they brought in Ali Yu.

They've obviously promoted Jason Russell-Roe into a stronger position. Talk about a pass, by the way, his pass in that Seattle game, unreal for that through ball. And now they have identified a player who just scored a couple of goals here in the U.S. in Wassim Abu Ali. He is a Palestinian international at Al-Hali. So now the second time we get to bring up the Egyptian giants in this show, which obviously I love, and he would be a DP signing for them at the center forward position. Yeah.

Wassim Abu Ali, like you said, he scored three goals at the club world cup for Egyptian giants. Al-Ali this summer, summer really highly rated player he scored a billion goals in Egypt he was born in Denmark came through the Danish leagues before ending up in Egypt Palestine International seems like a really really serious signing if they're able to get it done we'll see as the summer progresses but Columbus when they like they would push back on the idea of like a DP number nine like positions like that doesn't matter like what we want what we care most about is is say the qualities

or like again with Daniel Gazza it's like hey like we know he could score goals like doesn't need to be a fault right like so they keep it fluid and I think this is a guy who could do a lot of really good things and he'd be in a super super interesting signing and player in his prime just did what he did at the club World Cup I would only have positive things to say if they're able to get this done I don't have a price point or I don't know if there's been any I don't think that there's been like a former formal bid on paper but I do know that they really like this player and he's somebody to watch. I do know because

you know I keep a finger on the pulse of everything going on across the North African region, I do know that the convo coming out of Club World Cup was like, they think there could be a European move for him. If not, he's happy to come back to Al-Haleigh. The question mark for him on his resume is like, he played in Scandinavia and his native Denmark for a while, didn't really score goals at the top division, like found most of his playing time lower divisions, bounced back up and did okay, ends up at Alhali and that's where he's really exploded onto the scene. And so I think people are

trying to figure out like how to do those numbers transfer. What we saw at the Club World Cup is he's a legitimate nine because of his size, but he was very comfortable going out into the channels. He's very comfortable with the ball at his feet, but he could also finish in the air or off crosses. And no one's Cucho. Like, we can't call anyone a Cucho replacement. Cucho was the second best player in Major League Soccer behind Messi the entire time.

He was here, he was capable of things other guys can't do, right? He was like, Evander and Hugo Kuyper's rolled into one, whatever you wanna call him. So that part's impossible to say, but Columbus has struggled to finish and just having a true center forward. And I think there's enough other parts to his game to link into the Columbus DNA of like, now you're setting up Diego Rossi, you're pushing Mo Farci and Max Arstin into dangerous areas that it feels like a really good signing.

I'm curious how much of it is club World Cup related of like, you saw him here, you saw him against an MLS team, you saw him play. I guess. Yeah, you'd assume most of it's in their scouting network and has already been discussed. And maybe they're pissed that he went and scored in Club World Cup because it just makes it harder and more expensive for them to deal with.

But I think for Columbus, it would be exciting because this is a team that is good enough to win MLS Cup again. And they are not there right now and all of the pieces are there except for that last finisher and maybe he comes in and it makes life easier for a Gazdog and other players like that and that's like the last piece that you're looking for and so it would be a really big signing for them.

Tom, give us an update here on Timo Werner and if Red Bulls when they play on August 13th Open cup will have a chance with him Yeah, so negotiations are ongoing with Timo Werner He was reportedly told by RB Leipzig. You don't have a future here Like even if you even if you don't leave you're not making the matchday roster like it's time time to move on He didn't like there's been a contract proposal and Even if you don't leave, you're not making the matchday roster. Like it's time to move on. He didn't, like there's been a contract proposal and the Red Bulls and him are not super close. Like Werner would like them to match his current contract and that's not happening.

So negotiations ongoing. Like this makes too much sense, I think, for all parties for it to not happen. But again, that's no guarantee in this business. So I do hope that they're able to get this done like Timo Werner I think and he'd be awesome in this league and sure as hell beats not being in the matchday squad at all be Leipzig but again like can't blame anybody for trying to get their money so we'll see how that's resolved but again for me this feels more just about negotiating rather than like him not wanting this option and hey who knows maybe a German team or an English team or whoever comes in and says hey actually would you want to stay

in Europe like that's always the risk while you kind of wait while you're negotiating but as of right now my understanding is there are no teams presenting themselves for Timo Werner other than New York Red Bulls. It would be I've said it I think it would be a huge signing I think he would make a ton of sense and I think it would fit in really well. Patrick Augeman blessing Charlotte with his presence a little bit more in training your report was he wants to go to Darby But Charlotte has said until the deal is done. He plays for Charlotte FC. Yeah. Yeah more continuing of the icy Relationship between a job on scamp and the Charlotte and Charlotte FC. So again, they've agreed in principle Darby

They put that those everything kind of on hold to like do the final details until after the goal cup final They've been working on it this week There is like I still get told that like hey there are still other clubs that like hey Maybe like as I reported on the show previously Again, it has been delivered to me in no uncertain terms. Patrick Kajaman wants to Darby County. He's only going to Darby County. That is where his mindset is right now. So again, I'm still firmly expecting that that's where this is going to land, but hey,

maybe that's not going to discourage other teams from maybe trying. But yeah, they're talking about setting up a medical, they're figuring out those final details. The medical, they were hoping to be able to do it, you know, now or whatever. So the conversations, I I guess are still ongoing. But like you said, he's short of CS player until he's not. That's how that's their stance. And he was a full participant in training, which I don't know, man, I'd be I would not

go near a 50 50. Yeah. I love this comment from Phil in the chat says top of the East could be quite the arms race this summer. We just went through it into Miami potential new GP, New York Red Bulls potential one, Charlotte potentially making a move, Columbus bringing in a big one. And on top of all of that,

FC Cincinnati have made a U22 signing from Venezuela. I immediately opened up the article and said, how the hell do I pronounce this name? And I got this message from Michele Giannone. Enver Echenike. E-che-ni-ke. Enver Echenike. Enver Echenike. What I love about that is I didn't run any of that on loop. He was like, I'm gonna say this five times, because David is such an idiot

that he is gonna butcher this. And every time I listened to it, by the time I got to the fifth one, I laughed all the time. And I've listened to it a lot of times and then McKelley's like why don't you just play the voice note on the show and I was like I actually think I'm capable of doing that so that's a really good idea so now that we know he is a U22 initiative signing from Venezuela a winger it makes a lot of sense they've had success in positions like that.

The assumption being that it won't be for, he won't be a difference maker for a little bit of time. Let's close out on this one. Reminder, if you're listening to the podcast, Reggie Cannon interview coming up in just a moment. If you're watching live, the show will come out in about an hour or so, and the Reggie Cannon interview will be in there.

Morgan in the chat says, "'Michele, sounds like he's mansplaining to you.'" That's really how Michele feels most of the time. We did have. Yeah, it's also how he feels most of the time when we're having conversations. Tom, bring us in for a little RSL conversation. Yeah, so let's just do all this together Real Salt Lake. Diego Luna, Saltavigo are among the teams that have, you know, have interest in him. They there

have been no contact with Real Salt Lake. So super, super preliminary. Um, it would not be cheap for Real Salt Lake. Again, I still am assuming he's staying for all the reasons we've laid out previously because of the great fit, how important he is to the team. He's getting called into the national team from here. And, you know, again, we'll see, but hey, maybe a big bid comes in. So Diego Luna, Salto Vigo, that's Real. There's a couple other clubs in Europe that have at least reached out to his camp.

We'll see how that goes. Real Salt Lake has also announced that Nelson Palacio has been loaned to FC Zurich, which opens a U22 spot, which means they can indeed sign a DP this summer. They are working on a couple deals. Again, I'm expecting a forward to be done. I'm expecting maybe another attacker and probably a fullback.

So Real Salt Lake are gonna be very busy this summer. Gotta finish that DP9 search done I'm expecting maybe another attacker and probably a fullback so we also think we're going to be very busy this summer. Gotta finish that DP9 search and they're working on it. You know that kills me right? You know I'm a huge Nelson Palacio guy and would love other teams in Major League Soccer to have brought him in to play. Me too. He like is one of those dudes where you can like feel the force when he's just covering

ground and being like yeah I'm just gonna run through everything. And we'll see what happens later, and a pretty good passer as well. But RSL haven't used him, so it makes a ton of sense. And that's unfortunate. The Diego Luna thing we talked about on the last show, so we don't have to dig in, this is a unique situation. With a Home World's Cup coming up,

and the way you've worked yourself into the group He will have to decide with his camp internally. What's best for his career? What does he want to do? You know taking a shot at playing For a big club and going to Spain and moving your career along now Like if you end up not starting at a World Cup or not being on a World Cup team, that's acceptable Like if that's what the decision you make and the way you go about it, and obviously all of this will be done with the blind confidence he's had his entire career, which is wherever I go, if I get a shot, I can take advantage because he has.

And that is who he has been. A note here, we actually did an interview yesterday with Diego Luna's former U-14 teammate with the San Jose Earthquakes in Boulderoo. We are going to run that interview next week. It was really fun to connect with him. We are huge fans of his game and similar to Diego Luna. He has taken his own career in his own hands

and he has pushed himself into some really tough situations and he has accomplished a lot already. And it was great to get to know him a little bit more. So we're gonna run that interview next week because we have Reggie Cannon here and a little bit of breaking news around Reggie, of course, with the court of arbitration and sport case that finished.

So we're gonna go into that interview here on the podcast. Thank you to everyone for still being here on the podcast, but thank you most of all to one of our favorites, Reggie Cannon, current Colorado Rapids player, former FC Dallas player, of course, US men's of our favorites, Reggie Cannon, current Colorado Rapids player, former FC Dallas player, of course, US Men's National Team player, Reggie. One of my favorites. I hope you are still speaking the truth

and teaching the young players the proper music that they should be listening to in Colorado. Yeah, trust me, we're still having the heated debates every day in the locker room. That has not changed no matter where I am. But honestly, happy to be here. Reggie, what's the preference there? School everybody listening right now.

What's the right music? Yeah, so I remember arguing in Dallas about, you know, Eminem being the greatest rapper of all time. My opinions have shifted a little bit. So the more hip hop I listen to now, Andre 3000, Outkast has been my top one. So it's kind of shifted a little bit, but the more knowledge I gained,

the bigger arguments I kind of got into. So that's definitely what's happened over the course of the past couple of years. So obviously someone made a joke in the chat that me and Tom look like the before and after of just men. So I'm the old head in this whole situation. But as an old head, I will say and ask you this, is Kendrick approaching this conversation

Is Kendrick working his way into it? 100% I think he's in my top five personally. Okay, and I definitely think in an objective top five I think he's getting close. I think there's an argument to be had but I wouldn't be mad either way But I definitely think he's top ten for sure Unreal This is a man of culture and I'm glad that we all agree or the interview would have gotten cut short. So, seamless transition from music to super serious court things.

This week, the Court of Arbitration and Sport ruled in your favor about your departure from Bolivista. So take me through your initial reaction when this news was delivered to you that you guys rightfully won. Yeah, you know, the lawyers had called me that morning. I woke up to an email from them, you know, saying, obviously, the decision that they have completely overturned the decision. And you know, let me just tell you, you know, my wife, what's still, yeah, she talks, she's

been talking about it all week. Like, you know, there were just tears in my eyes and she was just like, I'm so proud of you, you know, because it's been such a difficult thing, you know, originally getting that news. And ultimately, the experience I had at Bo Bish, it was obviously very difficult. So, and it's obviously very unintended, it's very rare that the court of arbitration completely overturns a decision.

Normally they'll uphold the decisions, but I'm very thankful for honestly the way QPR handled it and supporting me through all of this It's been really incredible. So again, like I was overjoyed at the news Yeah, so for those listening who don't know this was from several years ago when Reggie left Bovista So he you were being consistently paid late or not paid at all. Don't know how that's legal So I guess I don't even understand how the first that this needed an appeal and and like I find myself getting angry Just thinking or really like I just don't like what are these last few years been like for you when like, you know

You're right, and this is obvious, but it's like I need to appeal this and this still needs to linger in my life I can't close the book until now Yeah, that's that's been the most difficult part You know, I've had to stay quiet obviously because I couldn't speak about it, you. And everyone obviously saying, I'm a liar, there's no proof, and I can't show any of it because it's obviously sensitive information. The original decision was because I think previously we just hadn't submitted all the evidence because I think, my legal advice was that it wasn't really needed because it's just over surmounting

of everything that was present. Once that was all submitted, the court said there was obviously overwhelming evidence that there was multiple breaches of contract that justified my early leave. It was very difficult to go through that, but ultimately I just had to stay patient and hope it all worked out, which it did. Can you walk us through a little bit of the experience of playing for a team that's not paying you and not knowing what the future is and then having to make the call of, I just have to get myself out of here?

Yeah, it was very difficult because not only were we not getting paid three months at a time, you have to step out on the field and you're trying to sell yourself every time you're playing. And the worst part about it is, every time teams would come in, they make offers, they would say no, and we need you to finish out the season and you're not getting paid. So it was just so difficult.

And even talking to Robert, I know I talked with him about it, with the whole RSL, Sevilla situation, it's been with him too. I've gone through that with multiple clubs that I think would have definitely been something I'm very excited for. So it was just a very difficult experience, but I'm still grateful for it. I love playing for the fans and the great stadium.

I'm thankful for the experience I had there. Then you have this experience now where you play in Colorado. You've been in Colorado for over a year, and yet you still have to do all of this with QPR, your former club, against Bovis. Is it like calling your exes all the time and being like, can you just help me with this? Are we all on the same team?

Yeah, QPR, like I said, they've been incredibly supportive, man. Like they've helped throughout this whole process, and the CEO called me when the news dropped and he was like, Reggie, like good things happen to good people. And I knew this was gonna happen. You're a top person, a top player, and we're so excited that this has

ultimately been cleared for you. So I will always have a special place for QPR in my heart. They've just they've supported me throughout all of this and it's been so incredible to have their support. It's a year time that QPR was obviously like both visa were threatening legal action against them. Like if you play this play like how did that impact your stay at QPR when again, all these things are out of your control and again, just to say it for a fifth time just wrong. Yeah, 100% and you know%. And my time ultimately there was cut short.

In this situation, definitely had a majority of a part to play in that. So I was ultimately disappointed to have to leave like that. But the club supported me nonstop through that. And that is something I'll always be thankful for. So they've done an incredible job. And I will always have just the most positive look about KPI. They've really helped the situation and you know, I will always you know have just the most positive look about keep you I they've really helped the situation and made it for the better

We're excited for you. Um, congratulations on having this sort of chapter be done But now you're back in Major League Soccer And I was excited when that happened because you're one of my favorites in the league and and we love watching you play and obviously We love talking to you. I'm curious, you came back after being in Europe for a couple of years, how different did the league feel? How different does it feel now than when you were originally in it? And how have you seen it change now from a different club?

Huge step up. I think the league now is it's rivaling everything. I think there was definitely a gap. I felt when I left, like the level and jump and intensity you know the quality of play I think you know even in Portugal I think it was definitely a step up and now I feel the intensity is there like teams are dying for it you know and I think it's ultimately improved for me as a player I think it's making me improve and you know I think obviously having conversations with the guys who have been over in Europe like Georgie Zach

You know all these guys like they they feel it too Like the league has definitely taken a huge step up and I think it's only gonna get better from here Is there uh, is there sort of like this crew? I mean we've talked about it from the outside of like number of guys you just named them Georgie Cole who went Sam Vines came back and sort of like it feels like are refining themselves do you guys have like a group chat where it's like here here is the the steps for former national team over in Europe coming back to MLS. Yeah definitely there's there's definitely some chats we've always had about you know

the Europe pipeline and coming back and what it means and you know he was ultimately I called Zach originally you originally when I was, Colorado was making the call. I was pretty excited for that. I definitely wanna get his perspective about how it feels to come back and everything and he's ultimately been a huge, huge mentor for me as well. So I think it's ultimately like it's a good way to come back and refine yourself and ultimately improve your game

So yeah, you you were again you were homegrown at Dallas You went to Europe is a really big move at the time and now that you've come back you have some perspective You've done a lot of experiences in your career What would your advice be to the next Reggie Cannon the next players who are breaking through with European interests? Whether that's Diego Luna say Darren Yappie, Oli Larez, whoever, what would you be saying to those guys as they, you know, decide what the next steps in their careers are going to be? I mean, I think my biggest piece of advice is, you know, go where you're wanted. I think that's the biggest piece of advice you could give to a player because I think when you feel valued, you give more value on the field. I think that's been

true of every player's career ever. And I say this, but I felt valued at QPR, I felt valued at Colorado, and I think my game improved immensely from that. So I definitely think that I would definitely go where you're valued and don't get discouraged. I think ultimately it will all work out. Do you have a different perception or idea of, you know,

there's this phrase Europe and it's kind of just like this general term. If you're a soccer and anything is it's like Europe's good and everything else isn't then you go and you lived it and you experienced it a bit and I think people forget like the Croatian third division is also Europe. It's a wide range of vibes. But like do you have a different perception or idea of what that means and what that is? Yeah, you know, I definitely think, you know, looking at it, you know, Europe is this big

shiny ball that every player aspires to go to, you know, one day. But I do think that like, you know, there's definitely there's some higher levels, there's some medium levels, some lower levels. And you know, I think ultimately, like, I think you should definitely make the right decision and take some definitely some nuance when you look at the situations each club is offering you because I think that definitely can impact your career. So I would definitely say Europe isn't always the end all be all. I think you should always challenge yourself.

But I do think definitely go to the right situation. Yeah. I mean, we've even seen it with the club world cup. Something that I've thought has been super fun is I think more and more fans who maybe just have the like, oh, I watched the premier league and the champions league or ML like, and that's it. Right? Seeing the Brazilian clubs, how well they performed on the field and like the passion off the field and like the spending power these clubs have. Like, I think that that's been really helpful in reminding fans that maybe aren't watching

South American soccer that like, Hey, like the world is big and there's a lot of good places to play football. Yeah, a hundred percent. Like I don't think it's end all be all you have to go to Europe I think there's so many options for players that are going to improve their game I think South American football the way they're competing right now I think it's clear that they're competing with the world's best and at a very high level and I think I've always known that about Brazil you know but those teams can play man you know you got it you got to really you know dig in for those teams so I think there's always gonna be talent there and obviously a way to challenge yourself. For the Rapids it's been sort of up and down there's been these crazy highs this year and

then some lows some stretches without results weird schedule this week of course for everything involved but what's the feeling inside of the group of sort of what this year can be? Yeah, you know, this group is super optimistic. I think we have such a talented group, you know, there's so many amazing good players that have obviously had that experience of playing at the highest level, you know, but on the other hand, we have some very exciting young talent that maybe hasn't had the most experience, you know, I think that's ultimately, you know, a good balance you want to have with the team, but I think it's definitely something you got to manage.

I think it's about finding the right blend and I think it's going to come together at the right time. The Rapids, the fans have been amazing, the club has been great. I think there's going to be so much room for improvement that we're going to make that playoff line and we're going to go on a run. I think this team is definitely capable of it. How has your game evolved on the field and I guess even just from the beginning of your career to now and then maybe even so since getting to Colorado under Chris Armas?

Yeah, you know, Chris, the first thing he said to me is, you know, I want you to be that 1v1 defender that you are. I want you to be as aggressive as you can. I don't care about the yellow cards. You know, when I got suspended last week, you know, he came to me smiling, didn't say anything just for yellow card accumulation. You know, he loves that.

And you know, I think that Ultimate has improved my game. I feel super strong defensively this year, you know, and obviously looking to capitalize on the offensive end, but you know, it's something that, it's just naturally coming to me this year that I feel I'm working my tail off to get the better of Winger. So I feel very confident this year. It has gone in and out with Colorado specifically,

but we've seen this trend over the last few years of teams going with three sort of centerbacks at the back and a sort of fullback being converted into a wide centerback. It's happened to you a bit. What's that feeling and how do you convert mentally and how do you feel in that position? Or do you see a future,

because we're seeing this happen to some other players, of being a full-time center back one day? Yeah, Chris has talked to me about this. It definitely happens with teams that like to focus on transition, happening against LA FC, happening in LAFC, happening in LA Galaxy, with very impressive players wide. They tend to be the third center back building because I'm there if anything happens.

I accept that role, but I can also build out and Chris has said that's one of my strengths. It's basically getting the best of both worlds. Now, I'm obviously open to any role, you know, because I think Chris is a great coach and he's improved me as a player in the short, literally the short amount of time I've been here. So, you know, I definitely think it's a role I'm improving at and I'm obviously, you know,

very optimistic for the future. Yeah, they were positions that were like worlds apart back in the day and now it's like, okay. Now it's kind of merged, right? Yeah. You can see it a lot. Your man city started to do it and everyone's like, ooh, that's pretty impressive. You know, it's nice.

Everybody has to be able to do everything. The will for Nazi, your nine could be your center back. It's like nobody but the goalkeeper has like a defined position. 100%, I agree with you. As long as you don't have to go up against Hafenavahu in the air, then I think it's fine. Yeah, then I'm all right.

What do you make of this group, a lot of young attackers? I mean, obviously, Georgie's had a longer career, but Darren Yappie making a difference, Josh Atensio coming into the team this year, Ted Kuti Pietro. There's a lot of young players in positions of high leverage. What do you make of what you've seen from them so far and what it's like training against them? Yeah, you know, I can tell there's there's some amazing talent there. Like the guys that they've recruited to bring in, you can tell that there's some real talent there and they they've really helped elevate our team to the next level. Like, you know, I think those games were right on the edge. They're making the difference for us.

So, you know, I really think that Carl, you know, their scouts have been great, you know, bringing in this talent because I think they definitely have something to offer and they've obviously put up this year. So we're obviously looking for more and for more output. But I think the team's in a great trajectory right now. Last one for you from the outside the Western Conference is chaos. We do not know what to make of it. We have no idea what's going on every single week on the inside. What does it feel like in sort of what are the stated goals for this club of where you want to finish and what?

2025 looks like yeah, we want to make playoffs You know because I think the the idea of MLS is you make playoffs anything happens from there And that's been conventionally true for as long as I can remember You know and the team definitely has the quality to do it And you know obviously we want to win trophies. This group has big aspirations. So I think it's going to take some refining, it's going to take some sharpness to get it down.

But I think we're heading in the right direction and we're going to peak at the right time, which is arguably the most important aspect of MLS is peaking at the right time. So I think this team is going to do that. A lot of big games coming upaking at the right time. So I think this team's gonna do that. A lot of big games coming up for the Colorado Rapids. Reggie Cannon will be on the field for them. We're excited to see it.

Reggie, thank you for coming on. It was great to see you once again. Congratulations on the court case being done. And now next time we come on, we'll do zero legal talk. Don't worry. We will take that part out of the conversation. You'll probably just hear the anger in my questions though still.

That's always going to be a baseline. I'm sorry. I love it. Thank you guys. Reggie sort of touched on this. This is an interesting conversation that I think, I mean, we have it a little bit more, but not a ton of people remember. I just remember my first experience, I think it was 2015, sitting with an MLS player who

had come from Ligue 1 being like, oh, well, obviously you come here because the crowds in the atmosphere and the environment's better. And you're like, what do you mean? And he's like, well, one, if you're not PSG or Monaco in a good year, like no one's coming to the stadium. And two, like the facilities aren't equal, the reliability. And we make comments about that a lot of like, well, if this player wants to come here for stability, like that's one of the

Things MLS offers but you see how real it is in that moment of like it is a very real experience Knowing that your paycheck will show up knowing that the club will help your family Find their home or help their legal documentation to make sure that they can come into the country and be with you and all of those things And that is all stuff that you're dealing with outside of just the pure soccer. And Reggie talked about it. Like the levels are different and there's intensity and there's a lot of value and a lot of these experiences, but it is really, really tough.

It's also one of the reasons if you look at some of the clubs that I think are doing things well, they'll like loan out young players just to have the experience of like the team doesn't take care of you the same way. So you need to be prepared for when we do fully sell you to like cook your own meals and get your way around a country in a language you don't speak and all of those things and it's just this whole part of the game that is really, really important to these players performances,

but kind of gets ignored as well. And I'm glad we got ready to talk a little bit about the Western Conference, because it is just wild and and like I can't imagine being a team Every team in the West should be like we've got a shot Yeah, because there's no reason to think you don't and yet we have started to see the top move away a little bit But but like even going down so FC Dallas are in 13th on 21 points Like why wouldn't they be looking like yeah, dude? We still got we still in this like real Salt Lake, Colorado are the ones, like Colorado are tied on points

for those last playoff spots. But like Dallas are on 21 points on 13th. And then like Seattle are in fifth on 30. Like that sounds like, that's like nine teams, nine points. Like everything's going to change week to week. And particularly these random like double week games where it's like if you pick up two wins, like you go from fifth Well for Colorado, they're in tenth right now on 26 points

They are equal on points with Houston and Austin in eighth and ninth and that is like the chaos across all the teams They've played the most games Austin has played two less games Houston's played one less LAFC have played four less like it's kind of all over the map and part of that scheduling, but a lot of that is the lack of like consistent performances right now in the West. So we are very excited here at Soccer Ice because we're gonna continue to cover all of that. Of course, as I mentioned throughout the show,

we've got an interview coming up with Bolaroo that we're gonna run next week. We've got some other big announcements coming up. Reminder, we will be at Haymaker in Austin, Texas on Tuesday. We will be around for the whole week. So we will be, you know, posting what we'll be doing and hanging out. And if there's something you think we need to come to, let us know. And we'd love to be there as well.

So thank you once again to all of you for listening. Thank you, Tom, for being here. Thank you to Reggie Cannon for taking the time. Thank you to the Colorado Rapids for helping set that up and we'll talk to you again very very soon.