City SC Posse - Ep25: CITY Can Pass Dallas: 12 Unbeaten, Löwen Gone & Holse Time

Bright: How we feelin' this week? I'm thinking mixed emotions.

Kev: Mixed emotions, we gotta win. What are you talking about?

Bright: Yeah. That I mean that's great, but we're losing all of our players.

Kev: What are you? Yeah. We are.

Bright: Yeah. Yeah. Now the standings. feel pretty good about the standings. and I can maybe zoom in a little bit if we need to. There we go. So St. Louis sit

Kev: Yeah, sitting at six here. Like you can't you can't feel bad about it. We're coming up on a game going against Dallas, right? So an opportunity here to jump. couple teams, right?

Bright: Yeah. That's that's the whole thing. We have we have Dallas on Sunday. so we got the

Kev: No part?

Bright: the premium primetime game, you know, on the the national stage,

Kev: Yep.

Bright: which is great against a team that's directly ahead of us in the standings. The you look at the goal differential, they're they're one better on goal differential, so they score more goals, but they've also given up more goals than we have. And of course, we're on this great run of form. 12 games

Kev: Exactly, right?

Bright: now in a row, unbeaten, which of course is amazing. We've been talking about it now for a while. So so that's great. So again, home game, chance to jump Dallas, but also San Jose is playing Houston this week.

Kev: yeah.

Bright: Yeah. And so if if you look at that. I mean, who knows?

Kev: You know

Bright: I I it doesn't really matter what happens in that game, I guess. Of course, we just beat Houston to one and we'll get into that. but if San Jose loses or even I guess a tie would really be the the best scenario for us, San Jose would be at thirty-four points. We jump to thirty-six. And then you got LAFC. Now they're playing DC United, yeah. So they should probably win that game, but But who again, who knows? Even a a loss or a tie for LAFC. And we're we're talking about City being top three, top four in the conference, having just beat Houston, who who sits at second. Now, granted again at

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: home, and then in two weeks we play Vancouver. So it's it's certainly likely or possible that they will be the top team of the West when we go to to play them. on Saturday, September fifth.

Kev: Such a tough run here that we're in, isn't it? Like just against these opponents that are sitting at the top. makes it difficult, but it's fun. It's fun.

Bright: Yeah, well, certainly Houston, e a little bit of a break with Dallas, but but again, they're sitting in fifth. That's not like they're Yeah, there's not like they're scrubs or anything

Kev: I it's not a big break. Yeah. You know?

Bright: like that, but certainly a good chance. Yeah, then Vancouver, then Portland. Portland's always a tough team to play in Portland. So both of those games are on the road and Portland is currently sitting they're they're

Kev: Yeah. They're down this year, aren't they? They're they're pretty far down.

Bright: they're sitting in ninth right now, so they're hanging on

Kev: Okay.

Bright: to a playoff spot. and then we play Minnesota right after that, and Minnesota is in tenth. So

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: those teams, they're gonna be hungry this time of the year because they're they're fighting for their playoff lives.

Kev: Mm-hmm. Trying to make a move into it. Yep.

Bright: Yeah. Now we have a little bit more of a runway, I think, than we normally do because of that World Cup break. Normally you're you're rolling into September, like this this is the month

Kev: This is a

Bright: that we have a little bit a little bit longer to go to go this year with with games going all the way, regular season games. Going all the way to November.

Kev: Yep. Yep.

Bright: Yeah.

Kev: Yep. Good point. Good point. No, we're in we're in great position. It's exciting. big win obviously on on Saturday. How

Bright: Well, how we feelin'? How we feelin'? Yeah, cu coming off of that win going o off from Houston, let's talk Dallas first. So how are we feeling going into the game on Sunday against Dallas after after that win against Houston and of course before that the the draw in Kansas City, but still twelve unbeaten.

Kev: Well like you say, kinda mix mixed emotions still. Like I I still sit here and I'm wondering how much is like was this game a prove it game after losing Luvin? or a win one for the quote unquote Gipper. I I don't know. win one for for Luvin. I I I really don't know. I I I feel good, I think. Like I think that as a team we're playing really well together. we obviously had plenty of offensive chances, so it wasn't a scenario to where we lost Luven now. We've we've lost Hartle and we've completely lost any kind of offensive movement or creativity. There's still, you know, some of that hanging on. I think I feel good. I think I feel good. I'm going to game. Not nervous.

Bright: Now you're going to the game. you you've got the tickets for Sunday. Who you taking?

Kev: Not nervous. don't know yet. Don't know yet. So I'm circling around with a group of friends to do a fantasy football draft tonight. so I'm going to probably get yeah, get

Bright: Source it out. See who wants to go.

Kev: one of them to to join. So see who wants to go. You know, some of the crowd

Bright: Sunday night games I

Kev: already has tickets in the supporters section. So, you know, it's tough sometimes

Bright: Yeah. Right.

Kev: to get one of the the friends to go because all of those that are really interested already have tickets half the time. So we'll see.

Bright: They yeah. Sure. Yeah, the complete opposite of my friend group where most

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: of could care less and may

Kev: Exactly.

Bright: maybe every now and then they'll be like, all right, I'll go with ya. It's a free ticket, right? So

Kev: Yeah, I'll get away from the kids. Sure. Why not, you know?

Bright: Well, odds right now are City to win forty nine percent. The draw is sitting

Kev: Wow.

Bright: at twenty-five percent and Dallas to win twenty-six percent. So

Kev: Wow.

Bright: yeah, I mean the the numbers are certainly in

Kev: I feel good there.

Bright: in our favor coming off of again this stretch playing at home. We've had a good a good run at home when we've been home, which which is great. And when I looked at the just the overall numbers on the season for St. Louis and Dallas, we pretty much own most of the big stats. So I start thinking like, all right, like we are a better team, especially given that we're twelve unbeaten against Dallas. And at home, we should win this game. Now, we know how that is.

Kev: Yeah, the the systems coming in play. Yep.

Bright: Possession. We're at fifty percent possession, and Dallas on the season is at forty-two percent possession. So that that's that's

Kev: Yeah. So

Bright: a pretty low number for a season average. So this is a game again, especially at home where we tend to control the ball even more. We should be sitting around sixty, sixty-five percent possession, possibly.

Kev: Fifty. Yeah.

Bright: and really creating the chances we have more shots. just under 14 versus Dallas, who is just at twelve. So we we generate more shots. Shots on goal, though, is the same. So I think though recently we've probably seen an improvement in that metric. So if you looked at just the last twelve games, I betcha that is better. some other important stats. We we pass the ball way more, of course, with with that possession number, we have better passing accuracy, we have more corners, we have more crosses. expected goals though, they are slightly higher. And I don't want to go down that rabbit hole, but they're at 34 to R thirty two. And if you go back, they have thirty-four goals, so they're pretty much right even with their expected goals. Ours was thirty two and we have twenty seven. So we're score we're underperforming, right? So again, I th I think that's imp

Kev: We knew that.

Bright: I think we knew that, but it is improving. We're scoring more. Our our of course we've lost Hartle, we've lost Leuven. So

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: we're really gonna rely more on on Betcher, I think. at least at least for the time being. And And yeah, I mean s

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: maybe maybe scoring by committee, right? Until you get Hulsa in there.

Kev: That's kind of where I'm I'm Yeah, I'm landing on a a scoring by committee and it's gonna make it tough to play some of those you know, goal scorer bets on who's you know, scored each night. I feel like it's just gonna be a mystery. we'll see.

Bright: What do we think about the starting lineup? You Holston gets the start?

Kev: Yes. Right? He's got to. We gotta

Bright: Yes. Yeah.

Kev: pull him in at some point in time. He's gotta be a starter at some point in time. Make it freaking now. So where are you plugging him in at?

Bright: Well, I mean I'll Yeah, I I think kind of

Kev: And and I guess that's the question. Are you sitting

Bright: kind of where I had him last time, he he should be sliding in to Hartle's position. Right.

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: so with with Sangbin, probably. kind of playing just below Betcher. Ostruck.

Kev: Who was it that started out there on Saturday? Ostruck, that's right. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that would make sense.

Bright: And he he played okay. So I I do have the ratings from last week. And we'll kinda look at those as we as we look at the potential lineup. I mean Betcher has to start up top. He's your only option. alongside of him, I go Hulsa. And and by the way, in the in the stadium they announced it as Hulsa. So I on TV it's Hulse Hulsa.

Kev: There go. There we go. Full set. Yep.

Bright: right. I was going with Holsey for a while. But in the stadium they're

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: announcing it as Hulsa.

Kev: I'm hoping the team knows best, you know.

Bright: Yeah. Yeah. Sangbin, I still think he brings you a lot. He only had a five three rating against Houston. And Ostrock, I really like Ostrock, but again, I I think he's a a good option off the bench or

Kev: off the bench. Yeah.

Bright: you know, when you have to rotate the squad a little bit. he was rated at five five. But again,

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: I I think that's where Hulsa comes in. Matan, he I think he has to start again. he

Kev: Text. Yeah.

Bright: now I would play him slightly different. So he played in the middle because of the Durkin suspension. So I think you have Edelman and Durkin back in there Sunday night, and Matan moves out to the wing

Kev: Flatlin and and Matin out.

Bright: and he's got to take over Wallum's spot. I know we're we've been

Kev: Yeah. All right.

Bright: saying it, we're hammering. Wallum again, again, and I predicted it. The lowest rating on the team at four point nine. Ouch. In a game that

Kev: Okay.

Bright: you won. And of which he played ninety minutes, I think.

Kev: Yeah. I

Bright: Four nine.

Kev: mean it shouldn't be a surprise. Like he's been down there, at least in whatever ratings you're pulling up, I don't know where you're getting them from, but kind of mirrors what what we've seen, so not surprising.

Bright: Yeah. Yep. No, not not great. Polvera, of course, he got the goal, so he gets the seven seven point three rating. which is great. And we'll we'll get into that a little bit more. Bum Gardel has been

Kev: I'll tell you what, he is he's just been he's been killing Houston so far this year. Like he he kills their dreams.

Bright: A hundred percent. really? I just mean in general, yes.

Kev: He kills their dreams. Yeah.

Bright: All right. Well, I love it. I love it. Bumgirdle, 7-2. And then Orozco at 5'9. And again, I'd be okay if you wanna if you want to put in McNaughton to start, fine. They've pretty much been going back and forth. So whoever

Kev: Yep. Yep.

Bright: whoever that is there. Does it make a difference if Matan goes out to the wing or if Wallum is is out there? I don't know. Orozco and Wallum kind of got into it. at the beginning of the Houston match and I I said it, the other team was attacking and they were getting ready to cross. And I said it to my wife who was with me. I was like, watch it, watch it. And it came right over Wallem's head. He was out of position. Houston had a free header and thank God they missed it. It just went wide. And Yeah,

Kev: Yeah, what was that like? That was early in the game, wasn't it?

Bright: that was early in the game. And then there was another one where Orosco and Wallum both tracked the same overlapping player. And it was hilarious because I was just explaining overlap runs to my wife and cause there was one before that. And then this time they both tracked the overlap player and then the other Houston player is free to go towards the middle and he's takes the ball to the box and they had a scoring chance. And Orasco and Wallum were giving it back and forth to each other. and

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: they clearly weren't on the same page. But I I went to my wife. I'm like, that's why overlapping runs are so important, even if you don't get the ball. You know, it frees up space, it draw you're you're

Kev: In your drum on it. Yeah.

Bright: drawing space, you're creating space. So Houston did a good job with that early on. and I'll blame Wallum, 'cause that's just who I am. Orosco made the right cover, and Wallum is the one that effed it up.

Kev: I I don't know who made the right cover specifically in that play, but sure, we'll we'll go with your thought. The rating sort certainly supports it, right? So

Bright: Yeah, yeah. Exactly, exactly. And then Berkey is seven nine. You know, he he made he made some good saves, so yeah, yeah. So I

Kev: I thought he made yeah, I thought he played really well. No, he he he stood us up, so

Bright: think you roll out pretty much the same lineup. Again, my switch would be Matan moves over to Wallum spot. Obviously Durkin comes back in. And then if Holsa's not ready, play Ostruck again. but I would like to see Hulsa get to the start. Let him let run sixty

Kev: Yeah, I mean.

Bright: minutes and then bring Ostruck in. See where we're at at that point in the game. If we're are we are we up to nothing? Are we where what position are we in? And Hulsa did have a good scoring chance at the very end of the game against Houston. would have liked to have seen him get that goal. if you remember it was kind of like a a half breakaway, got the ball into space.

Kev: god, yeah. That was huh, to put away like i you know, to go up three to one or whatever it was, probably with five minutes left, maybe or something. I don't know.

Bright: Yeah, it would have been would've would have I don't even know if it was that much. It it was definitely

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: towards the end of the game and it would have been the it would have been the deal breaker. It would have been game over

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: for City and he just couldn't quite do it. it would've been fun, obviously, to be there

Kev: Yeah, I remember that one.

Bright: for his first City goal. but yeah, maybe, maybe, especially

Kev: No, I probably will be. Yeah.

Bright: if he gets the start. but But it was nice to see that a little bit because he's been coming in with with not getting enough traction as a I don't think he's probably used to being a sub and and trying to get get going and get into the flow of the game. He hasn't really done it yet. So I think that's part of the reason why you have to see him start. Let's let's get him to gel with with the team and let's see what he can do over a long stretch of time on the field.

Kev: That's what I was gonna say. Like which is why I think it's so important for him to start, at least for me. Like I wanna form an opinion on him more than what I have currently. And he's been coming off of the bench. We know coming off the bench is completely different than starting the game, right? You're coming into

Bright: Yeah, for sure.

Kev: something that's already been going on, players are warmed up, they've got a good flow for the match, and you have to find it. And it's difficult to do to find that rhythm going into the game off the bench. Especially if you're not used to doing that. It's different if you're kind of used to jumping in off the bench as opposed to starting. So I want to see him start. I want to see how he really fits with our you know, our starting lineup, the game plan, and start forming a a better opinion on how I think he's going to progress moving forward. Now I I think we know he's he's gonna be scoring goals for us, right? Like or or creating chances for us.

Bright: Let's hope so because 'cause he's essentially taken over Hartle's position and he was our whole offense this year.

Kev: But but I want to see it, right? Like I don't want to know in the future it's gonna happen. I want to start seeing it. So I think I think you need to throw him in. Like you said, even if it's the first sixty, seventy minutes, whatever it is, take him off the field if you don't think he's completely fit. but I think he needs to be in the starting lineup.

Bright: All right, what's your score prediction? I will say that I got it on the dot last last game against Houston. I said

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: two one city and that was the final score. how we f how we feeling against Dallas? I think I'm gonna kick it off because I'm gonna go bold. I'm gonna say three nil.

Kev: Ooh, three nil. I was gonna say three one. So

Bright: All right.

Kev: I think I think over this stretch we've been averaging two goals a game.

Bright: Sure, and and the two against Houston, I I think we have a little bit more momentum. I think Holsa gets the start. I think we have an opportunity

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: to to get three. So that's why I was like, I'm gonna

Kev: And

Bright: be bold here.

Kev: yep. And I think I think with the possession that you've been talking about, just kinda if we're at sixty five percent or whatever it was, sixty percent feel really good about getting some some opportunities for some goals. So I'm gonna say three one.

Bright: All right. I love it. I love it. We do tend to give up a a counterattack goal or a sloppy goal at some point, right? So but I I will take

Kev: Yeah, for sure. For sure.

Bright: it. I I will take it. So let's let's see I'm excited Sunday night, it gives you something to look forward to. It'll feel weird Saturday night, not not having a game to watch or go to, but maybe maybe

Kev: We am

Bright: I'll do something with the family or maybe go out with some buddies or something. and then Sunday night I can just boom. It'll be six to eight soccer and then the kids will go to bed and then I don't know, watch a show watch a show with my wife, get ready for the the work week. So Sunday night soccer, not not a not a bad thing.

Kev: That's gonna be a great thing. I think it's gonna be great. Yeah,

Bright: I might even

Kev: and it worked out really well for my schedules, so that's the good news. 'Cause I was booked on

Bright: Now it is gonna be hot.

Kev: Saturday night.

Bright: It is gonna be hot on Sunday. I know. Like I think the high on Sunday is

Kev: Thanks for bringing that up.

Bright: like ninety four, ninety five. It's a slightly earlier

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: start, so there will be more sun. So that's something something to consider.

Kev: Sunglasses, you know, I'll just have to have maybe a couple more beers than usual just to you know cool myself down, keep myself hydrated.

Bright: There you go. I was I was thinking it might be a game where I don't know, do I do I bring the kids down? Do do we end up downtown

Kev: You can be

Bright: somewhere? Even if it's not in the game, do we do we go check out the atmosphere a little bit?

Kev: Go go experience yeah, the pregame and then kinda venture off to somewhere kid friendly, maybe. That could be fun.

Bright: Yeah, maybe. I don't know. We went to we went to Befa's before the game, before the Houston game. It was actually my first time, which seems crazy. normally we go down to Schlafley.

Kev: Yeah. I've I've never been

Bright: you haven't been yet either. Okay, I highly recommend it. So if you're go if you go down early on Sunday, it was it it's it's kind of right over where we parked there on Olive and Jefferson. So the location

Kev: Is that

Bright: is good. And it now we we got there early and we did get the last table. So we we kinda lucked out. So it's definitely busy, but they've got a lot of food options. They kind of do it cafeteria style. So they have a lot of food that's on demand, ready to go. So if you just want toasted raviolis, boom, they're ready. They have pizza

Kev: Nice.

Bright: by the slice ready to go, which was really nice. And then they have some

Kev: There you go.

Bright: things to order. The they have smash burgers. That was By far the best. We got Smash Burgers. my God, so good. So we kind

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: of split because we had never been there before. So we got a piece of pizza that we shared. We s we split a smash burger, which isn't even like a full it's it's it's you could easily knock a couple of those Smash Burgers down. Yeah. felt

Kev: Or yeah. Yep.

Bright: like almost half of a Smash Burger. And then got toaster raviolis. They have two bars, so you don't have to wait for drinks at all. And we we hung out there, had a couple drinks and food. I think our entire bill was like forty dollars. It was nothing. Then you go to the stadium, you get

Kev: To win. Yeah.

Bright: two beers, and you're like, That was forty dollars. so

Kev: Well, you know, it's really four beers when you get it at the stadium because they're they're two by fours.

Bright: I mean that's that's true. They're larger. Yeah, yeah. But but yeah, I would I would recommend it. It was a little bit more casual, could sit down and it definitely got busier, but it was a good vibe and and probably yeah, probably a little bit cheaper than some of the other options in the stadium and

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: whatnot. So depending on what you're looking for.

Kev: I like that was buffet style, right? Like you kinda get up, get your food quickly. McCaff yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. It's the same thing, right? Like good point. But you

Bright: Not not buffet style, cafeteria style, right? So you're not you're not server serving it or anything like that, but

Kev: can still kinda go up there and call it out real quick. They got it, ready to go. Here it is, right? You're not waiting. You're not waiting.

Bright: Yeah, and I think a lot of people come in and they they grab food to go, or they just take it out on the street.

Kev: I prefer buffet style, but that's okay.

Bright: Well, check it out maybe if not this game in the future, but Bef us, I liked it. And I don't I don't know. I was like, maybe

Kev: Channel.

Bright: that could be a place where we take the kids and we go we go eat. Or I said something to to my wife, maybe nine mile garden, although it'll be hot. but yeah.

Kev: Yeah, that'd be hot.

Bright: But haven't been there, so if they've got the game going, could do something like that.

Kev: They've changed it up a little bit, if I remember correctly, right? 'Cause they bought out the building next to So I haven't been up since they've done that. I wonder what it seems like. Mm-hmm.

Bright: Yeah. Yeah, they got the indoor area now, so it's definitely a little bit different. It's a little bit further of a walk, but it's bigger. They got a lot more space,

Kev: You got?

Bright: especially for entertainment and and whatnot. But

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: I'm thinking outdoor. Kids can run around. We can watch soccer. my only my only concern is sometimes I do that and then I can't actually watch the game as much as I want

Kev: Watch the game.

Bright: to. I'm too busy yelling at the kids. So is it better for me Yeah.

Kev: Making sure you're not getting kidnapped or something, you know? Yeah.

Bright: Is it better for me to just sit at home and and watch the game?

Kev: Well

Bright: W we'll see. We'll see what the decision is there. All right. Let's let's get into

Kev: Yep. Well I'll be at the game. So I know what I'm gonna do.

Bright: let's get into Houston for for a little bit here. And and overall, again, when I saw the lineup, I was like, all right, not bad. It was really only that Hulsa wasn't getting the start and that Wallum was in again. But if Holsa didn't get the start, you really had no other option but to start Wallem because I mean you could throw Santos out there or something, I guess, but

Kev: Be Yeah. Because of the the Dirkin.

Bright: Yeah, because of the Durkin thing, but but Durkin

Kev: Now, yeah.

Bright: Durkin'll be back in there. But let I mean overall, Houston, believe it or not, they had twelve shots. Only th only three on target. but

Kev: Yep, I believe it. Did feel like it?

Bright: those three the they two of were high score. Obviously they scored on one, and two of were high scoring opportunities. Berkey had to come up with a couple of of big saves and they had a goal a goal called back that was that

Kev: Back. Yeah.

Bright: was close.

Kev: Man, and that pass to get him that ball was awesome. Honestly.

Bright: Yeah, it was good. Yeah.

Kev: As you look n now that I look back on it and it was called back, right? And it didn't hurt us. It was a great pass to feed him that ball to get him that opportunity. Yes, it was close. How did you feel about that when you were in the stadium? Did you think you were

Bright: Well

Kev: getting it?

Bright: I well, obviously you you felt deflated when it happened and then you you thought like, it was just too easy. You know, they beat the defense and then it was just one on one with Berke. Berkey had no chance. But then they they go to like review it and and I even before they announced it in the stands, I could tell that they were holding holding the restart. So I told I told my wife, I'm like, this is a good sign. But then

Kev: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Bright: when when he went over to the the review TV or screen or whatever. I was a little confused because I was like, why does he need to go review the offsides? Like you can tell from the booth if it's offsides or not. So I was like,

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: so I thought I was like, maybe it was a foul leading up to the play or a handball or maybe maybe there was something else at play. But then they they put it up on the screen, like checking possible offsides. I was like, why is it up to the referee? So then I didn't feel good about it because the call on the field was on side. So but no, he went, he reviewed it and and calls it back and yeah.

Kev: Just I mean just just slightly, just like a a f what felt like a toe basically.

Bright: It was it was like half of a leg, right? Like his knee and yeah. so just enough to get called on off sides. And we were only up one nothing at that point in the game,

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: right? so you were like, thank God that gave us a little bit of breathing room. But over that stretch, Houston had all the momentum and

Kev: Good.

Bright: You could kind

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: of feel it coming. So they eventually do come down and and tie the game up. and and then it was all over again. And I I said it was off of a rebound and I said Caroline, I was like, they ain't calling that one back. That

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: that was that was a goal, right? There was no no

Kev: Yep.

Bright: offsides or anything like that. So so that again felt deflating. Because we were beating the number one team in the conference 1-0. I want to go back and I want to talk about Betcher's goal, because this was this was a good goal. And Betcher can create

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: opportunities. He just he just hasn't converted enough of them. But I loved this one. And something that he does do well is he gets his body in the way. And so this ball came across the box and he just positioned his body properly that the Houston defense Couldn't get to him. And what I say all the time, and I probably wish I would have done this more as a player, and it it's it's not easy to do, is acting quickly. He didn't take

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: any touches. He didn't do it. He got his body in the way and turned and shot blindly. He

Kev: Arm ruins dead.

Bright: didn't really know where he was shooting, I don't think. He tried to put some power behind it and get it on frame

Kev: Yep. Put it on that.

Bright: and see what happens. And because it happened

Kev: Yep.

Bright: fast, the goalie couldn't react. The defense couldn't couldn't get in the way. They couldn't block the shot. They couldn't poke the ball away. And so I g I gotta give Betcher props props for this. Using his body to shield the ball and acted quickly, gets a hard shot, powerful shot, and it's in. And we're up one nothing and we're celebrating and and feeling pretty good. And what did you say it when we score first? You said it in last week's episode. We win. We don't lose, right.

Kev: Yeah, we we win. We don't lose, I think is what it is. We don't lose.

Bright: Right.

Kev: yeah, and that I can't remember one we we even scored, was it like twenty-eight minutes, thirty minutes, something like that? I I don't know. I thought it was good movement down that left wing too to get him the ball. I I can't remember. I think it was Matt and kinda played it up the wing and and Patton had

Bright: Twenty third minute.

Kev: A good pass back in. Now Matin or Maton, I however you want to pronounce it.

Bright: I've heard both, so I think it's matin seems weird. I'm going with Maton.

Kev: He ye yeah, it's probably a better way. He had a touch he's the one that I think touched it over to Butcher. And as I was watching it, I still I don't know he meant to do it. Don't

Bright: He did. Yes. I don't know that he meant to do it. No.

Kev: like I kind of feel like he tried to bring it down to himself and it just lost control and it you know ended up over to Butcher. that was the one

Bright: Yes.

Kev: thing I wanted to call out. Maybe a little luck there, but you know, when you're playing well, you get luck, you get luck.

Bright: Hundred percent. But again, I think I think that's Besh Betcher

Kev: Yeah, but it's

Bright: recognizing his positioning and getting

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: his body in the way. So that's that's why I pretty much am crediting Betcher. Yes, you know, we get the ball down there, Montan takes a touch, but I even watched the

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: re I watched the replay when I got home, or maybe the next morning, I think it was actually. And and yeah, I thought the same thing. I was like, he didn't mean to play play that in you couldn't tell

Kev: Yeah, it's just a I don't know.

Bright: in the in the stadium, right? But certainly the

Kev: Stadium, what happened there? Yeah.

Bright: replay, I don't I don't think it was intentional. but we'll take it we'll take it nonetheless. Holsa comes on in the sixty third minute. Betcher picks up a yellow card in the sixty-fourth minute. Their null goal was in the sixty ninth minute. and like I said,

Kev: Okay, yeah.

Bright: you you could feel the pressure. They scored in the seventy fifth. Right. So not not a big stretch between that no goal. Right.

Kev: Yep. Not too not too long after that, yeah.

Bright: so that was right after Matan comes on and McNaughton comes in. And I think it was McNaughton that got beat down there in the corner, if I remember correctly. and then we come back ten minutes later, so the eighty fifth minute, and we started to get the stretch of the run of play. So now all of a sudden Even leading up to that, I was like, okay, we've got chances, we got opportunities. And I I was yelling, I remember exactly what I was yelling, get the ball in the box. And this is happening right in front of us where our seats are, right? So I I'm like, get

Kev: Middle. Yeah. Yep. Yep.

Bright: the ball in the box. And I'm yelling it to Caroline because you don't know what's gonna happen. You're in a dangerous spot. You could pick up a penalty. The defense can't react the same once you're in the box. And

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: I can't remember he there was no assist on this play, and I'm trying to trying to remember who it was that was bringing the the ball down in that area. I don't I don't remember. But

Kev: Neither.

Bright: but they do and it may could have been Alt. it doesn't matter. But they they got the ball into the box and it it the take did they take a shot and and yeah, the defense tried to tried to clear it out. it ended up going right to Polvera. And again, makes no mistake, was sitting in the right spot, wide open. It was a big mistake by Houston. Not only did they turn the ball over, they they turned the ball over trying to do a a heel pass in the middle of the their middle of the field, really. And then we we switched play quickly, got it into the box, ball squirts out to Polvera and one touch, side of the foot with power. make sure that he he got it from where the keeper couldn't get to it, couldn't react in time. and it's his first goal of the season. So, at least for El Huh? Yeah. It w it was a butte and we yeah, we were celebrating.

Kev: Yeah, it was beauty, wasn't it? It was a beauty, wasn't it? Yeah. I mean it it helps when you're sitting in the middle of the box all by yourself and that ball kinda pops out to you, right? So Good be there.

Bright: Yeah, you have to score you have to score that one for sure. But I I'll say it again, when you get the ball into the box, good things can happen. So that and that was the difference.

Kev: Yep. More importantly, he was there, right? He was in the position to make it. You need somebody there just for those reasons, right? If that ball pops out, hammer it away. We were there. Worked well.

Bright: Yep. And and we we closed it out. And I will say one last thing. Totland pi

Kev: You're a big fan of

Bright: Totland picks up the yellow card in the ninety-eighth minute and props. I I would I was yelling it because Houston was coming down. You knew the game was almost over. It was ninety plus nine, which when they when they put up I I did they maybe put up seven minutes

Kev: Seven minutes. Just seven.

Bright: And then they let it and I thought seven minutes was way too long. The first half was two minutes. I d I do understand we had the the VAR review, but I was like five minutes max. They put up seven minutes and then it ends up going nine. So at ninety plus eight, Houston is threatening. They've got some momentum after we turn the ball over.

Kev: Usually.

Bright: And I'm I was yelling. And I said to to Caroline too, I'm like, take a yellow, take a yellow. And Totland comes in, takes the guy out, kills the momentum,

Kev: Just stop that play. Yep.

Bright: picks up the yellow. It was needed. And props

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: to Totland for recognizing that.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: and and making sure that we came out of that with a win because now they're at they're at ha it was pretty much right at half field and and the time was up. So that yes, they they threw one one last play into the box. at one point their goalie came up maybe on a corner kick or maybe it was at the end of the game. Yeah. Or maybe it was that one. Yeah.

Kev: Yeah, he came up on that. He came up on that. And then, you know, hats off to the the referee for calling the game even though it was their corner. Like, Dear God, like just call it and sure enough, like yeah. Yeah.

Bright: that's what it was. Yeah, yeah. 'Cause time time was up and and he did. He called it and I I think they were upset about it. Houston was upset, but Yeah. Yeah.

Kev: yeah, they were upset about it. They were not happy. I enjoyed the ref for that. And then on the goal that he called back, you know, for the offsides, he came back, he said something. He's like, final decision. I don't know whatever it was. Like I don't know. Like he was gonna be talked out of it any other day, like final decision. I don't know. I enjoyed the ref, but yeah, thank

Bright: Right. Right. Well

Kev: God they called that when they did, because if we had to go through another corner man, I don't know if I would've I was gonna make it.

Bright: Sure. Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Well I I I lost my bets, I think. I I bet on I'm trying to remember exactly what I bet on. I think I bet on the draw.

Kev: Mm-hmm, I did too.

Bright: And then I also bet I did a parlay with a and it's funny because I did I did a the two weeks in a row here, I went bumgardled the score and I went the city win. So the pa and it was it was gonna pay out massively. It was a massive payout.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: So it was definitely a gamble, right? But if we if we drew, then that was gonna cover that bet. So I think it was a five

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: dollar bet for a two hundred dollar payout, the city win with a bum garter goal. But I knew from some of our research that we were bigger than Houston, at least bigger than their normal team. Because on the field Yeah. Yes. So

Kev: So you were thinking we were gonna get that corner? Yeah.

Bright: I was like, this is opportunity. But it's funny because when I was looking at it, I was looking at Polvera's number two, and he had a slightly better odds to score. And I was like, Well, I could go Palvera and still come out, you know, plus one seventy five and I

Kev: Bigger cabs.

Bright: Right. And then he ends up scoring and I'm like, I would have been yeah, I went for Bum Girdle.

Kev: We would have lost it on the draw though, so

Bright: Yeah. I I lo yeah, I lost I lost all my money. I didn't I didn't make anything, so I lost I lost ten bucks.

Kev: I didn't either. And you know, I know we went in, I think we were talking wins. You said two to one. I th maybe

Bright: Yeah.

Kev: I said I said two two draw. I did. So I stuck to it.

Bright: Yeah, you yeah.

Kev: but I definitely felt like the win wasn't gonna happen after Luvin was officially, you know, out, right? Like and that that just kind of confirmed that I thought the draw was happening. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, just that morning. It was deflated.

Bright: Sure. Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah, 'cause that broke that news broke just earlier that day, right? Right. Yeah. And what was what was funny is is the program and the poster in the program was Luven. Yeah. Yeah. Now he

Kev: Yeah, was was huh. I yeah. Did you see him did you stick around to see him after the game come out with the team and

Bright: We didn't make it that far, which is a bummer. We did hear it. cause I like to hang out a little bit. And yeah, you got blurry. I don't know what that's about.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: Your your your video got blurry. But did you turn the blur on? I don't know. But

Kev: I didn't touch anything.

Bright: that's all right. We're almost we're almost done. But I like to hang out a little bit, let the players come around. Now we're on the opposite side

Kev: And you.

Bright: of the supporters section, but we did that and then it kinda cleared out. I'm like, all right, let's go, because we had the parents were watching the kids. I didn't want them to wait any longer than they had to. we swung by traps on the way home, which is what we normally do, 'cause one, you're going against traffic. So it makes it you get down there, you can get a drink to go, you come home, you you miss all the traffic, which is nice. So that's what we did, but as soon as we got outside the stadium I heard the big cheer and I I said to Caroline, I like, yeah, that that was for Luven. Louvin's down there. So they w they were did a couple of tosses in the air. He went down and

Kev: Yeah, I was wondering like if you could just toss up and accidentally drop and spring ankle, you know, like

Bright: Well, and I I was even joking with a couple of people I was talking to at the stadium and stuff like that. I'm like, they couldn't have made this announcement on Sunday. like give him one

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: more game at home. I understand you you can't do that because if you agree in principle and he does get hurt, the the whole

Kev: Yeah. Yeah.

Bright: thing has has fallen apart. th this one hurts a little

Kev: Okay.

Bright: bit, obviously. He's he's an original. We've we've talked about it when there were some

Kev: P CN favorite and

Bright: other rumors out there. But to have him

Kev: Mm-hmm.

Bright: go to a Western Conference foe, th that Yeah. Yeah.

Kev: That's that was I think that's what hurts a lot outside of the fact that it does feel like we didn't get much for him in terms of return.

Bright: No. And Ray, Ray's catching some heat. He's catching some heat because he he came out and he did an interview and he talked about how he looks as it at it as all one big pool of money, which I mean, we understand how it works, man. So you don't have to pay his contract for next year. Like, okay, so that frees up some cash flow. I get it.

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: But you're you selling him for half a million. I'm I'm a Assuming his value is more than that. Yes, there are some

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: conditional funds. So I don't know. We don't know what those conditions are, but maybe it's if San Jose wins a playoff game or or they make it to the conference finals or

Kev: Mm-hmm. I can remember.

Bright: whatever it may be, or they qualify for the Champions League next year, they'll they'll give us some more money back. So we could end up making a million dollars when it's all said and done. We sold Hartle. For million dollars, that was only one fourth of his his value. Yes, you free up his contract. Yes, you free up the DP spot. So it gives you some flexibility. So I understand what Ray is saying there. But when you're talking about larger transfer budget, you could sell these players for more. And we didn't have to sell Luven. We had an option for next year. So we could have picked

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: him up for next year. I don't know. I I'm okay.

Kev: Was it was

Bright: I'm okay I I I think that was part of it. And and I think Ray came out and said

Kev: it a s was it a system thing? Like just didn't quite fit into the system that the May wants to wants to play.

Bright: he wants players in his prime, not in their twilight. Now their prime in the MLS

Kev: I mean sure, who does it?

Bright: is a little bit different than their prime in the Premier League. Now, I I

Kev: True, yeah.

Bright: d I did see somebody joking about Hulsa. They're like, Are we concerned about Hulsa's age? He's twenty eight, man. He's twenty eight.

Kev: How old is he? I was gonna say twenty nine, I thought but yeah,

Bright: Like

Kev: okay.

Bright: to me, like you're still in the prime of your career. I understand twenty-eight to thirty to thirty two, maybe. Like over in the Premier League at thirty two, you're you're probably winding down. But right, but that's not the case in the MLS.

Kev: Yeah. You're over to the MLS, right?

Bright: I do like younger players. I do like getting some of these y twenty two, twenty four year old players. but I I have no problem with somebody that's twenty four to thirty and Luven, I think he still had more to offer. And and again I I think so

Kev: Yeah. Yeah, I think San Jose's gonna enjoy so

Bright: too. And and he's had some really good things to say about St. Louis since he left and and that's something that I said. I think he really embraced the community, especially with his personal circumstances. I think the community embraced him right.

Kev: I mean you can see how much the team loved them in terms of the players, right? Like

Bright: And he's he's really the last of I guess Berkey. Berkey will be the last of the original big big three, right? I mean, Luven, Klaus, Berkey are those our our big three from that that

Kev: Yeah.

Bright: first year. I know we still have Ostruk, we still have Pompeo, but but of of our big three players, so we'll see. It's a new it's certainly a new new era.

Kev: Yeah, it's the last. Did did the window close Wednesday? Or it's this next Wednesday? Okay. So there's it's still time for

Bright: The window closes on Wednesday of next coming Wednesday, yes. So there are a couple of

Kev: us to say, we just lost Burkey. Perfect. Okay.

Bright: Yeah. There are a couple of rumors. we're not going to lose Berkey.

Kev: Thank you.

Bright: there are a couple of rumors about some signings or some loans

Kev: Couple of rumors of bringing on. Yeah.

Bright: coming over from Southampton and the like. We're not going to get

Kev: Yep, I saw that.

Bright: into all of that. One, we're running up against the clock here, but we'll maybe

Kev: Yep, same there.

Bright: next week we can come on. We'll come on midweek or if something happens or if there's any big rumors, we can come on Monday, Tuesday, do a recap of the the win against Dallas. and talk about the the transfer window. So

Kev: Like it looks good.

Bright: until then, have fun at have fun at the game. hopefully this will be thirteen unbeaten. Bring home a win and this is our chance to really really make some waves in the table. We are up to number six in the power rankings. so I like to see that too. So we'll see. Should be fun on Sunday.

Kev: Love it. All right, cool. Radios.