CITY SC Posse 34 | Champions... Now What? Open Cup Glory, RSL Disaster & Portland Preview

Bright: man, I don't really know where to start. We have a lot to cover. A lot has happened since our last episode.

Kev: When was our last episode?

Bright: I don't know, a week ago, which seems crazy, but lots of games in between. So we are, we'll start it off with we are US Open Cup champs. We predicted it, it came true, and then we blew up at Rail Salt Lake, which we also said was likely and we were

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: okay with. But now I'm starting to have some larger concerns about the team. So Yeah, let let's just jump into it and let's start with okay, we're US Open Cup champs. That's what we wanted.

Kev: It was awesome. It was an awesome game. The only non-awesome part, two up two non-awesome parts, obviously Berkey, right? that sucks. also I I dropped a bigger bet that we were gonna win in

Bright: Regulation.

Kev: regulation and we didn't, which also sucked, but man, we came away with the cup and it felt good. didn't even need to burn. the very last substitution on Lunt coming into the game. We brought him in earlier. I got it. Hopefully Berkey's good.

Bright: I mean we did we said that we needed Lunt to take the PKs. Certainly we didn't we didn't want it to happen that that fashion. I had

Kev: That way. Yeah.

Bright: to watch the game delayed because I think I mentioned in the last episode I was out of the country. We had this big event.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: I was trying to figure out am I gonna try and follow it live on my phone? I did not have that opportunity, so I stayed up late. Trying to watch the game delayed on Paramount Plus was not easy. there were some tech challenges there. I was able to successfully do it, but I had to navigate some tech issues at like right at the end of overtime, like the whole feed just reset. And I'm like, What what just happened? So I had

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: I had to go back and luckily I was able to do it without any spoilers or anything like that and watch the the PKs. But man, I mean y

Kev: would have I would have had a hard time doing what you did because we got walloped. It it never felt good in

Bright: No.

Kev: that game. so I think if I would have known that the result was already out there, I would have probably jumped in looked at it because I I wouldn't

Bright: Yeah.

Kev: have had any faith. I didn't have any faith watching the game. I honestly I did not feel good about that one.

Bright: Well, Columbus, they they looked like the better team and of course they were at home and their recent run of form has been pretty solid. We were without Navajo, which we knew, and

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: then Matan out of nowhere picks up a training injury. I mean like

Kev: Yeah, let it let me know that I threw down my larger bet before I knew that Matam was gonna be out.

Bright: Yeah, so that was a bummer. And I think as we get into our Rail Salt Lake discussion and everything too, we we know that he is an an integral part of this team and our attack, I think,

Kev: Yes.

Bright: at at this point. So that was certainly discouraging, but we still have the pieces, right? We still had a strong starting eleven. Betcher had been on this hot streak. Yes, of course it's cooled and And he hasn't gotten as much playtime. But without Navajo, you were like, okay, I'm looking forward to his. We really had no attack, not really any real dangerous chances. And when you look at the stats, we were outshot 15 to five. But the shots on target were actually pretty even. We had four of our five on target. They only had three on target. Now Berkey did, he had to make some big saves, and he did.

Kev: Yeah. Yeah.

Bright: before he went out, even with his injury, actually that was a a big save. And that was a big moment.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: So definitely could be considered I I think man of the match type quality for keeping us in the game up to that point.

Kev: Yep. You're not wrong. he had a couple big saves. Couldn't fault you for making a man of the batch. who ended up being man of the

Bright: I don't know. Watching it on the the delay made that challenging. Obviously Edelman gets the the big last goal. And and I think we need

Kev: When yeah, yeah.

Bright: to talk about the PKs too. I mean, obviously Lunt comes in and and we said he needed to be our PK guy. We've seen him do it before. We know Berkey historically For whatever reason, just isn't great at saving PKs, but Lunt is just big and they mentioned it on the broadcast multiple times about how big his frame is.

Kev: Six six, something like that, I think is he just

Bright: Yeah, right. Maybe six, seven.

Kev: takes up a third two thirds of the nut, it feels like when he's got

Bright: And that first save, and again, they talked about it. He he just reacted. He wasn't guessing. It wasn't a great

Kev: It was leads. Yeah. Yep.

Bright: penalty. It wasn't in the corner. And he was able to get his body down there and make the save. And he really almost should have had the last one,

Kev: What are you?

Bright: too. It was just an unlucky hop. He was in position. He had the save there, right in front of him. But I'm okay with it because then Edelman got a really great moment. And our gu

Kev: Moment. Yeah.

Bright: our PKs are on point. They were on point

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: against Houston earlier in the tournament. And here you had Downs take one, McNaughton take one, Bumgirdle.

Kev: Did you did you think the the beginning of it was interesting going two defensive backs, one two?

Bright: Well, sure, that that is a little odd, but

Kev: It just felt like when I saw when I saw Bumgarel go up there, I was like, Who are we? We haven't taken his kicks. But he buried it. He buried yep. A hundred percent. Buried

Bright: But again, we we and everyone was taken with conviction and with power and and

Kev: it.

Bright: great placement. Every single one of them. Edelman's was the only

Kev: Yeah. Yep.

Bright: one, I guess, that was a little cheeky, just right down the middle. And maybe it was because the goalie moved early, maybe that was his plan the whole time. I I don't know. That was the only one.

Kev: He I think so. Yep. You know, it it looked kinda going back to it, it looked like he was gonna place it the right side and changed it up once he saw the goalie moving and was able to bury it down the middle. But you couldn't tell what direction he went on the broadcast.

Bright: Sure.

Kev: When it was like you I had no idea what had you know, what had happened.

Bright: Yeah. Right. You knew it went in.

Kev: I couldn't tell you if you went left, if you went right, if you went down the middle. I I you just didn't know, but I guess who who cares? Right.

Bright: Right, right. That was exciting. His his celebration was exciting. Run running all the way down to our supporters and I have to say, if I wasn't out of town, I really think I would have made that drive, taken a couple days off work. It looked like so much fun. People hanging out before

Kev: Yeah it was

Bright: the game, the night before the game, marching up to the game, really representing in the stadium. And Columbus showed up too. So, you know, props to their crew. And I I think there was a lot

Kev: That's a cool crown. Yeah.

Bright: of chatter just about how great this was for the US Open Cup because you had two huge soccer cities. And it would've

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: been cool for it to be in Saint Louis, of course. It's just not the way that it worked out, but to see our fans

Kev: I guess next year maybe.

Bright: show up, yeah. It w it was pretty cool.

Kev: We're not are we we're in it. Are we in it next year? So what does this mean for us? I know that we get

Bright: So we yes, we have we get the we were the first team to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League next year. I gotta figure out how they're gonna run that. Obviously, we're on the short season and how that

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: how that's gonna play out. So we were the first team to qualify. Nashville, who's sealed the supporters shield. They're the second team to qualify. we'll have the Western Conference Champs, which is still up for grabs. They'll qualify. Eastern Conference. Conference champs and then the next couple of well I guess Nashville is the Eastern Conference champs. So then it's like the next two point totals across the league and then the MLS Cup champions.

Kev: we say when's the next US Cup?

Bright: So that'll that'll start next year too. And actually I think I think technically it may have already even

Kev: That's what everybody made it.

Bright: started as far as like the early qualifying or or it kind of

Kev: really? Okay.

Bright: or it kicks off real early. I'm not I'm not a hundred percent sure. Obviously, the MLS teams aren't fully involved in that yet. and and I think MLS committed, yes, next year that all teams will play. So whereas it's been

Kev: That's what I thought. Okay. Yep. So there we go.

Bright: divided. So yeah, we'll have the opportunity. And I think that was even still part of the rule. If you were the US Open Cup champ, you also qualified again 'cause you have to have the opportunity to defend your title. So we'll see if if we

Kev: Yeah, perfect. We'll run it back.

Bright: Yeah, do we c take it as seriously next year? I think from the city perspective, and the fan perspective, we love it. And now the city has eleven US open titles to to its credit, which is great. And and again it gives you that qualification. Now we'll have We'll have a different schedule next year. We'll have that. We'll have US Open Cup. We'll have the sprint schedule. so it

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: it will be interesting to see how that all plays out. Lots of games, which is good considering it's a again, a shortened season and and switching the seasonality of the MLS. I'll take it. More games the better, more competitions the better. just more fun in general. More money

Kev: Just good for the city, more fun for us. Yep.

Bright: for the team.

Kev: Yep.

Bright: Yeah.

Kev: More chances to win.

Bright: Yep. So lots of lots of fun. I'm going to the game tomorrow night, taking pop, and we'll get into the the preview of of that matchup. But of course they're gonna raise the banner. The trophy's gonna be there now. In theory, you have the opportunity to take pictures. I don't know how crowded it's gonna be, if it's gonna be easy to get a photo or impossible to get a photo. but it'll fun to fun to see the banner getting raised and celebrate with everybody. and and did you take did you take dad to a game earlier this year? Okay. So I know yeah.

Kev: Yeah. I think so. I took yeah, before he before he had his mean surgery I was able to

Bright: Before he had a surgery. Okay. So this is his first one after his knee replacement. So he was like, Do we have to stand the whole time? And I'm like, No. I was like, we're sitting, but there might be a little bit more standing w before the game. Hopefully we could sit down. He'll he'll need to sit. I don't he's not gonna be able to stand the whole time. So I

Kev: No, yeah.

Bright: Yeah, and we're gonna try and get down there early and park close and probably hit up Schlafley or the pitch for dinner. I'm off

Kev: Nice. Yep.

Bright: on Thursday. So

Kev: good call.

Bright: yeah, so I'm gonna hit it a little bit harder, especially if if Pop is paying. So that's that's

Kev: Yep. Yeah.

Bright: one of the benefits for sure. so it should be should be a good time, but

Kev: be fun.

Bright: The the question now is

Kev: Depending on how the game.

Bright: what has happened with our attack? I mean, we went from number two in the power rankings to hot you know, the hottest team in the league.

Kev: Now let's let's dial it back a little bit. Dial it back. Are you considering the last game as evidence that our attack has dissipated a bit?

Bright: Not necessarily just the last guy game. Obviously we had to rotate the squad a little bit, but we did not do much. We were

Kev: Yeah. I I would say so.

Bright: we were outshot against Rail Salt Lake nineteen to three, and shots on target were eight to two, and we lost possession fifty-seven to forty-three, and our pass accuracy wasn't great. obviously Ostruck picks up the red card. It changes a lot of things. It was it was a bad game overall. And we we did predict it. we said we were gonna have to rotate the squad. We knew we were gonna be tired. We didn't want to go into overtime, right? in the US Open Cup. We've had a lot of games in a short period of time, and it's not over yet. So, yes, it was a little bit of a trap game. We're all Salt Lake. They're playing for their playoff lives. They're a much better team at home than on the road. We had to travel straight from Columbus to Salt Lake City. So, yeah, there's a lot of factors at play there. But it's the pattern now when you look at like our last five or six games, right? Yes, we beat the Galaxy Big, but let me let me find. But then we tied Vancouver, lost to Minnesota, a draw game. against Columbus technically, 0-0, winning in PKs, then a loss against Salt Lake. and and in that stretch, we haven't had much of an attack. Our attack has dissipated and gone away ever since that galaxy matchup. So there's a little bit of a concern. And then we talked about Matan. I don't think he's gonna be ready come tomorrow. I don't I haven't seen anything official. I did see some chatter online that said he and Berkey were out, but I have not seen any confirmation of that. But I do suspect that neither one of them will be playing tomorrow.

Kev: Wha what was the injury he picked up? Pulled Hammy or something?

Bright: I I think just yeah, just a lower leg injury, I think is all they said. I don't I don't know. Training injury. He's rehabbing. they

Kev: It's always it's always annoying, yeah.

Bright: they didn't say it was gonna be anything long term.

Kev: Sure.

Bright: So you hope he's back soon. And Berkey, that was a good knock, man. I mean, knee to the head.

Kev: No I I'm not expecting Berkey back over the next couple of games.

Bright: N no. I mean I could see him sitting the next two, which are our next two home games,

Kev: Yeah, me too.

Bright: and then maybe then we get a week off and he comes back for decision day against Houston, trying to get him back in form before the playoffs. That's the realistic path I see for Berkey. I you know, I d I don't So Let let's let's what what else do you want to say about Salt Lake before we go into preview?

Kev: So we

Bright: But but yes, my my concern is is

Kev: I don't really need to say an look at the starting line. Burnett, who's who Burnett? I don't remember picking up Burnett. When did we pick up Burnett? Who is who is this guy?

Bright: Yeah. We we picked him up right at the end of the transfer window. I think it was on the last day. He was more or less we knew he was gonna be a city two kind of a guy, or a rotation guy where you needed to get Edelman out, Durkin he did get subbed out. You're just trying to manage those minutes, right? so I don't mind that

Kev: Yeah, I'm I'm not mad about him playing or I didn't think he was miserable or anything, but

Bright: Well, his his player rating we did not we were not good overall. He was four eight, Santos was four five, Ostruck was four six, Wallem was five one, Orasco was five one, Fall was five one, Lunt was four five. Oof

Kev: We're just missing a I think a bunch of key players, right? which makes a lot of sense. Resting some some guys that have played a lot of minutes over the last couple of games. Coming off of a big win. I'm not concerned. Still not concerned. Even looking

Bright: Well, Navajo couldn't Yeah, I'm not concerned overall either. Navajo

Kev: at the last five, right? Like the big big one against Galaxy, you got a tough draw against

Bright: Draw. Yeah.

Kev: Vancouver. Okay. Then you go into that Minnesota game where we're already looking forward to to the cup game. I think we've we rested a couple guys in that one too, if I remember correctly. So that

Bright: We did. Yep. Yep.

Kev: one wasn't all that surprising. you know yeah you could say against Columbus it was a little bit concerning because our attack wasn't there but We were minus two big players in that game.

Bright: And on the road in a cup final, right? That that makes a difference.

Kev: On the road in a cup final against a team that is is doing really well. So yeah, I'm not I I just feel like the last three games you can almost throw aside, but you know, time will tell.

Bright: All right. Well, let's let's talk about Portland then this weekend. When you look at the the overall standings as an FYI, we now sit in third. So Dallas got a big win over the weekend. Vancouver lost. So they are still at the top at 55 points. Dallas now at 54. Us at 51. So we still have an opportunity. We have Three games left, as do all of those teams. LAFC and the Galaxy have played one extra match. I think those are the yeah, those are the only two teams in the conference that have played one extra match and they they played each other, right? Crazy finish to that game, if so go check out those highlights if you if you haven't seen But Right now we'd be slated to play LAFC, which I do not want any part of in the in the playoffs, at least for the first round. So I think these next couple of games are still important. Now we have the next two at home, right? So I'm going Wednesday night with Pop against Portland, and then you and I will go for the Halloween matchup against San Diego, and then we wrap up on the road decision day at Houston. So all of those teams Still something to play for. San Diego hasn't been eliminated. Portland hasn't been eliminated. they're still within reach, especially with the Galaxy sitting in that ninth spot, having played an extra game. So they're both those teams will be playing for their playoff lives. We'll have to see maybe what happens tomorrow night, with San Diego and whatnot. but that so they're dangerous teams in that sense. But to your earlier point, we are hot at home. Right? We're nine, two, and four at Energizer Park. 31 home points. That's the third most home points in the MLS. We're averaging a little bit over two points per home match. we're plus 15 at home.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: On contrary to that, Portland is not great on the road. now they've got Velde. Who scored two goals against us last time, both from free kicks, if you remember, when we were up in Portland. And Navajo scored two goals that match as well. So it was really a Navajo versus Valde matchup. But we were the better team. And they had those two free kicks that ended up resulting in in the draw. I'm gonna see if I can find, I know I have it here, Portland's yeah, here we go. So Portland is two, ten, and three in away matchups. So not

Kev: Feels good.

Bright: yeah, not great overall, but they're just coming off of a big win against Charlotte, and we've already talked about where they they sit in the in the standings, right? So

Kev: Rankings. Yep.

Bright: but again, remember Navajo scored in the first minute of that game. That was the

Kev: Well, naturally.

Bright: Right, right,

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: right. And then in the the fifty-first, and then yes, we gotta

Kev: Yeah. Yep.

Bright: watch out for Valde. He has eight goals and nine assists on the season, so seventeen goal contributions. We know

Kev: You right?

Bright: we know Ostruck is out, and I was really excited to see him in the lineup. so that was a that was a big bummer. That and not great picking up that second yellow. I thought the first one kinda y a Jersey tug more or less. And then and then you gotta be on guard for the rest of the game. So I was not happy with Ostruck's performance. And I'm an Ostruck fan.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: So disappointed with that. So we know he's out. We assume Matan is out and we assume Berkey is out. So I have to think here's a couple of things. Then you can tell me what you what you think. Namaho's gotta play.

Kev: Yep, he's playing.

Bright: And I think he starts up up top by himself and Betcher starts on the bench.

Kev: Right. I can

Bright: I think

Kev: get behind that.

Bright: yeah, I think Hulsa has to start behind him and then assuming

Kev: Awesome place. Yep, agreed.

Bright: no Matan, I think you play Sangbin. Is there anybody who else is there?

Kev: Yeah, I yeah, I don't know. but betcher. I guess. Yeah, I'm a big Sangben fan, but I when he was in the game, what was it, Wednesday, I I didn't think

Bright: Yeah.

Kev: he performed all that well. I think the last two times he's come in, he's been a little bit of a downer for me.

Bright: Yeah, he had the goal against Minnesota. a feed from Navajo. So we know he can take chances. I kind of agree his his stock is definitely dwindling. I mean, unless you're gonna play downs or joyner in that position. I I haven't necessarily been very impressed with joyner as of late.

Kev: No, you're not doing that. So yeah, I can get behind it. Like I said, I can get behind it. I'm not I'm not

Bright: Yeah. I've I

Kev: against it.

Bright: and then if you need to bring in Betcher late, but he's he's

Kev: Yeah, for

Bright: played a lot of minutes, certainly, and and just hasn't done much. And and Navajo

Kev: Yeah. Or the last couple. Yep.

Bright: and Betcher together haven't necessarily done a whole lot either. Yeah. Yeah.

Kev: hasn't yeah, the that spark hasn't hasn't been there agreed.

Bright: But again, I think you I think you really have to rely on Hulsa. I think you need him and Navajo playing well, connecting well. Without Matan, the the offense is kinda gonna have to run through him.

Kev: Yeah man. I just think that that trio and the chemistry that they've built is is huge for us. I that Matan injury is is driving me up a wall.

Bright: Yeah, and isn't that isn't that interesting that you talk about the three of them maybe as our trio and none of them were on the team until a month ago or whatever it was?

Kev: Well we got rid of our last duo, I guess. yeah, it you

Bright: Yeah, right, right.

Kev: know, Tot Totland is he's gotta be in this game, I think, too. Wanna see Totland in there.

Bright: Yeah. y yeah, that's the thing. I assume Wallum. I assume Totland. I think you gotta go back

Kev: Month on yep.

Bright: to Durkin and Edelman. And then Bumgardle has just been massive. I know he's been playing lots of minutes, but y you j you just gotta keep going back to him. So he plays, Polvera plays, and then you can I don't care who plays that other third spot. It could be Orasco, McNaughton, or Fall. I think they're all kind of at the same level at this point.

Kev: Yeah, I this has to be a win, I think. You got FC Dallas ahead of us by what three points.

Bright: Yep.

Kev: And I I think I saw they were playing Columbus. So they've got

Bright: Okay.

Kev: a more difficult matchup coming up.

Bright: And and Columbus is still playing for their playoff lives. They're they're currently sitting tenth, one one point behind

Kev: Exact exactly. They're still in it. Right? They're still fighting.

Bright: Red Bulls. So

Kev: And their their recent string of forms have been pretty solid. So that's gonna be a tough game I think for for Dallas and we might be able to to jump up three points and and be in a good spot here. I don't know

Bright: Well

Kev: who Van Cooper's playing, but

Bright: Yeah, I don't know. And I don't I don't we don't have to worry about that just yet. It's like I just want the bounce back game.

Kev: Yeah, but

Bright: I want the win at home. Should be a celebration a night, as I alluded to earlier. And that yeah,

Kev: Yep. I hear that.

Bright: this needs to be a bounce back game to show that we can still bring the offense. Like we we've really been playing d ever since ever since that Minnesota matchup going into the second half. We've had zero offense. And we were we were so good

Kev: No, I'm not concerned about it.

Bright: that first half with those two goals. And then I underst you're tired. I understand we were sitting guys. But since then it's just been gone. Gone.

Kev: Yep. But yeah, just different teams over those two and a half game stretches, I think. So we'll get back to it, get most of our guys back in here, minus Maton and I think we'll be in good shape.

Bright: Well you said it and and we can wrap with this. you said it if we win the US Open Cup, we were perfectly fine with this.

Kev: And I was

Bright: We we knew that the Minnesota, yes, again, we started 2-0, but we knew we were gonna rotate some guys, make sure that we were rested going into Columbus. We knew our guys were gonna be tired, with those back that I mean, that's three road matchups in a row when you think about it. so so coming back here to Energizer Park with the crowd, all the excitement. I'm expecting I'm expecting quick goals. I'm expecting a lot of pressure. give me a score line.

Kev: boy, okay. so I'm gonna s two to one. Two to one. We won.

Bright: All right. I'm gonna I'm gonna go bold here and I'm gonna go I'm gonna I was gonna go four nothing. I think I'm gonna

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: go four one.

Kev: four while yeah.

Bright: Lunt. We didn't necessarily talk about Lunt. Like I said, he didn't have a great game last time. we know he can make some saves, but sometimes I worry about his positioning and I also worry about his his foot skills, right? His

Kev: I was gonna say that that does that is one thing I will say that makes me nervous is Lunt back there playing the ball. And

Bright: Yeah.

Kev: we've gotten used to really playing out of the backfield with Berkey, I think. Being

Bright: Exactly. Yeah.

Kev: very comfortable with it. and it does change it up quite a bit with Lunt back there. So we'll see what that equates to.

Bright: No, I I agree. That's a little bit of a concern I have. and and how does that change like you say our strategy with us playing out of the back? It it like I said, it was not great against RSL. I d maybe he just has to Kick it long, let Navajo try and make some plays up there. but I'd rather see that than give one away. And I know dad in particular hates playing out of the back, hates it when the goalkeeper is playing the ball. So the fact that he's coming to the game with me,

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: I could so t totally see Lunt giving up a a stupid one.

Kev: yeah. Why do you think I went two to one? I knew I knew there's that possibility, right? So

Bright: Well, I think w I think we'll see some goals. so I I'll go bold with a f a fun celebr celebratory kind of an evening. right now we're predicted to win fifty four percent, Portland at twenty four percent, and the draw at twenty. two percent. I will say last week was the first time I've lost money in a long time on on

Kev: Yeah, and wow. Yep.

Bright: any bets for city games. so I'll I'll definitely play some bets, try and make up. Maybe I'll double my my normal bets, try and make up for last week. And

Kev: Yeah, I'm going on the line.

Bright: Yeah. I was I was reviewing it with my wife as we s sat down to start the match. we made some popcorn, watched the game on Saturday, and you know, I I think I said I put a hundred dollars into DraftKings at the start of the season and I'm I'm floating I think I was at like three hundred and twenty something dollars, so I'm probably right around 300 now. So I was like up on the season so far. So that that stretch run was good for us. I'm glad we made some money and now hopefully we can keep it rolling. So you heard it here.

Kev: Let's do it.

Bright: You got two one from Kev, four one from me. I'll be down at the the matchup. Maybe we'll Maybe we'll come back at you for another episode Thursday or Friday. NFN Peapod's coming back at you this week too. So follow us on our socials, check out our websites, nfnpepod.com. You can find us at nfnpepod slash spotify, nfnpepod slash YouTube, and go city.

Kev: Seven.