← Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Jason Kidd talks Everton FC, Liverpool Win the League, and Barcelona Win the Copa Del Rey
01:18:05
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- [00:00]
Landon Donovan
When you played for the Olympic team, there were a lot of guys that you battled against every week in the NBA.
- [00:06]
Tim Howard
Now, practice was fun because guys wanted to get after it. Talk about Kobe and Lebron. They were, you know, on separate teams. Coach K knew that was going to be an incredible practice.
- [00:15]
Jason Kidd
Kobe and LeBron going out of. I mean, when's your book coming out? Because I'm reading it. I mean, you got stories for days.
- [00:24]
Landon Donovan
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. Volkswagen has long been a supporter of soccer in America and has proudly been a partner of U.S. soccer for the past five years.
- [00:34]
Jason Kidd
My man. LD Another week, another episode, another opportunity for me and you to hang and riff on all things soccer. How's things, bro? Tell me where you just were.
- [00:43]
Landon Donovan
I'm jealous. Yeah, little. I'm almost over the jet lag. Last week I was in England, had a phenomenal trip. So I went to three games. I asked on social media if people could guess the games, but I don't think anyone did, by the way. If you did, let me know. I couldn't go through hundreds of messages to check what you guys said, but.
- [01:05]
Jason Kidd
I went to three.
- [01:06]
Landon Donovan
Three games. So I landed on Friday. I went to Reading.
- [01:10]
Jason Kidd
Okay.
- [01:10]
Landon Donovan
To watch Reading versus Lincoln City in League 1. I have a very, very dear friend who is a shareholder of Lincoln City.
- [01:19]
Jason Kidd
Oh, great.
- [01:19]
Landon Donovan
So I watched Lincoln City win. There's. Spent the night in London, Went up to Liverpool on Saturday to watch our beloved Toffees unfortunately lose to Man City. But amazing to be back there.
- [01:32]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [01:32]
Landon Donovan
And then I went to Lincoln from there and saw them play Monday against Bolton and win that game as well and then went home Tuesday. So. Amazing job.
- [01:42]
Jason Kidd
That was a lot of soccer.
- [01:43]
Landon Donovan
It was a lot of soccer. It was an amazing job.
- [01:45]
Jason Kidd
Before I. Before I press you on some Everton stuff, it's the English football pyramid's crazy. You just said Reading and Bolton, like I played against those teams in the Premier League.
- [01:54]
Landon Donovan
Totally.
- [01:55]
Jason Kidd
And now they're in league.
- [01:55]
Landon Donovan
Scored against Bolton.
- [01:56]
Jason Kidd
I did. Squad. Thank you for that. I appreciate you, but that's. Yeah, it's incredible how the pyramid works. So how was it being back? Did the grass and all the same.
- [02:04]
Landon Donovan
Oh, man, it was phenomenal. And the best part, Tim, the best is like you'll see a face and you go, I mean, you way more than me, but I'll go, I recognize that face. And I go, Landon.
- [02:15]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [02:16]
Landon Donovan
Brilliant to have you back. Welcome back, London. You know, and like, even up in the hospitality area, this woman, I. I don't remember her name, but I just know her face. And she's so sweet. And she was there when I was there. She's probably been there 30 years.
- [02:27]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [02:28]
Landon Donovan
So sweet, like. Oh, man. I just. I loved being back there. That's great. I saw Moyes as well. He was in the best mood after losing, but his. His dad was there. So he had his dad. Him. His son.
- [02:43]
Jason Kidd
Yes.
- [02:43]
Landon Donovan
And his daughter.
- [02:44]
Jason Kidd
Yep.
- [02:45]
Landon Donovan
His wife and his grandson. Wow. And his dad sat down and I said, how old's your dad? And he said, 91. And then he goes, dad, do you want a wee bit of Scotch? I said, scotch? And he goes. He goes, I. So he poured him a scotch.
- [02:58]
Tim Howard
He's 91.
- [02:59]
Jason Kidd
I was like, go on, Moisey.
- [03:01]
Landon Donovan
And he looked amazing. I was like, good for you, man. So it was great. It was so good to see him.
- [03:06]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, he's. He's the best.
- [03:08]
Landon Donovan
You have a good weekend.
- [03:10]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, I worked, man. Worked. I was on the desk. It was a lot of games in the Premier League, FA cup as well. So it felt like a big weekend. Obviously. Clearly, with. With Liverpool clinching, it was, you know, exciting times for the Premier League.
- [03:24]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, we're going to get into all of that. We got a good show today. Really good show. As always. Follow us on social media. Unfiltered soccer. I'm imploring you guys, please subscribe because people are finding out more and more about it. Lots of people. I've played in a golf tournament this week and the guy said, oh, I love your podcast. So people are finding out. So Please subscribe on YouTube and make sure you follow on Apple podcasts anywhere you get your podcasts, Spotify, etc. You can leave a review again, helps people find us. And then, as always, great, great feedback we get from you guys. Email us@feedbackiltered soccer.com Kong all right, Tim. Our guest last week, Bruce arena, caused quite a stir. And I don't know if you realize these things in the moment. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. But he said something in the moment and I was like, oh, that was pretty bold. And Bruce is 74, so he doesn't care. He just says what he. He's always been that way, just says what he feels. Made comment saying he believes the US national team coach should be American.
- [04:26]
Jason Kidd
Mm.
- [04:27]
Landon Donovan
And that was the headline of the show last week, and it got tons and tons of feedback. I did some research because I was curious about this. So I don't know if you know this. So in 2014 World Cup, 15 of the 32 coaches were foreign. Almost half. Okay, 2018, only eight of the 32 were foreign. So only a quarter. In 2022, nine of the 32 had foreign coaches. But I guess the point is anywhere between a quarter and half, which is way more than I would have thought, by the way. And I was going through the list of all the national team managers currently, it's way more than 50% are foreign, actually. And that really surprised me. Pochettino just. He. He spoke on US Soccer.com recently about the pride thing that we've been talking about. And I want to make sure we. We talk through all the sides of this. He said we need to be intelligent in the way that we're going to select the players and not just choose based on talent alone. We need to have the right characters to be really competitive. It's not just about showing up in your home country and trying to play nice soccer. No, you must be proud. You must fight for the people that would love to be in your position, for the millions of kids that are going to see us and dream to be one day where we are. This is the type of responsibility and commitment we need to show, and we didn't show that in the Nations League in la. So he clearly understands that side of it. But let's. Let's just. Let's hear your opinion, and I'll give mine on, you know, does the. Should the national team coach.
- [06:00]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [06:01]
Landon Donovan
An American?
- [06:01]
Jason Kidd
Well, I think you said you started by saying, like, in the moment, you don't. You don't realize things could possibly be polarizing or inflammatory. What I would say is if you. If you're being 100 honest and you're just having a conversation and you. You're giving it straight and keeping it real, as the kids say. You don't think it's inflammatory. We say that we have conversations on unfiltered soccer podcasts all the time, and we're just talking real. There's no agenda. And next thing you know, it blows up and people are. People are screaming about it, and you're like, okay, well, after the fact, it sounds kind of controversial, but it's just how I feel. It's not like a. I'm not trying to stir any pots. Look, when it comes to whether or not the national team coach should be American or foreign, I don't care. I. I don't care either way. I. I genuinely don't. What I care about, and I've seen this in my. In my experience with the national team for how long was it. I don't Know, how long was it, 15 years or something? I've exp. What I've experienced is when you're, when you're an American coach, you care about your legacy. It's where you live, it's where you've grown up. You're going to be forever attached to that country, win or lose. Some of the foreign coaches that we've had, they don't really care if their legacy is tarnished in America. They're not American. It's not. The buy in isn't the same. And that's no disrespect to any of the individuals. That's just a, that's a cultural thing. You're going to care more about how your country people feel about you versus not. And I have seen managers for the US Men's national team, particularly foreign managers, they use it as a, as a stepping stone. They use it as an opportunity to get another job. They use it as a payday, right? And look, money's real. It's important. I'm not suggesting it. What I'm saying is U.S. soccer has the ability to pay and it's high profile. And I think that that's different than when you get a manager like Bruce arena, like a Bob Bradley, who. All they've ever done is dream about coaching the national team. Right? That's a huge difference. And the buy in is just, it's not the same. You know, it's not the same. We've even had, we've, you know, Jurgen, Jurgen Klinsman and this was, this will be hugely controversial. So I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm going off script and telling you, I'm sure there's going to be a lot of blowback from this. The fact of the matter was he tried to say, I don't know if the American player is good enough. So I'm going to scour the globe. And he did.
- [08:43]
Tim Howard
For.
- [08:45]
Jason Kidd
American players abroad who had a US passport or the potential to get a US passport that backfired beyond belief. You and I were a part of that team. There were people in there, like I just said, about the manager, who were like, I'm not good enough to get in the Mexican national team. I'm not good enough to get into another national team. Sure, I'll take a cup of coffee with the US now that produced players like Jermaine Jones, who was awesome, who cared, who'd run through a wall for you, John Brooks, Fabian Johnston. Yeah, 100%. So out of that experiment of God knows how many players, we Got a couple of really good ones who cared about their country, who cared about winning. But for the most part, it was the same thing. It was kids who were like, I'm my first time stepping foot in America is when I get called into the national team. So there is. There is a sense of pride and a sense of ownership in. In what we do. But if you're asking me, I don't give a good God darn if the manager's foreign. What I care is if a foreign manager comes to manage our national team, that he's all in, that he cares, that he. All he wants to do is win. And this is his singular focus.
- [09:52]
Landon Donovan
Okay, well said. You know, the player, the player side of that is interesting too. Right. That players who were not. We would say they are officially American, but don't feel American. Right. And you know it when you see it. It's hard to quantify or describe it accurately, but you know it when you see it and feel it. And there were differences between some of those guys that you mentioned and then other guys that weren't. There is just a level of pride when you are born in that country that is different. There is, and it doesn't. I'm saying born in. But that you really feel a part of that country. There are kids who were born in Mexico, in Tijuana, here in San Diego, and at 1 years old, their family moved to San Diego. Right. And so they feel still American. They have a tie to Mexico, but they feel American. I spoke to someone this week, had a really interesting. I said, what's your opinion on all this? Should the national team coach be American or not? He said, landon, not only should the national team coach be American, every single member of the staff should be born in America and American, because everything you do then just means more to you. And I agree with that. Except I've seen people who are not born here feel the same way. You remember Pierre Barriau, our fitness coach? He was born in France, but like, he would do anything.
- [11:18]
Jason Kidd
Sure.
- [11:18]
Landon Donovan
For us to win because he was so connected. Right. So I understand it. My problem with all this is, especially on the player side, we're. We're kind of going off on a tangent here, but if you wanted to just cut out all the bs, all the lobbying, all the, your grandma was born here, your grandpa was born there. Whatever, you just say, whatever country you were physically born in is who you're going to play for. That's it. And then there's no ambiguity. There's none of this, you know, oh, Well, I couldn't make the, you know, the French team, so I'm going to go play in the Caribbean for a French island. And, you know, they're just. It would just all be cut out. Right. That would be the easiest way to stop the conversation. Now, as far as national team coach being American, I believe the national team coach should be American. But my reasoning is we need to give opportunities to coaches to get better and learn and get better. And actually, my. My issue, I don't. First of all, I don't have an issue with Pochettino being here. I think it's less about where he's from and more about he's never coached a national team. I think he's learning on the job right now.
- [12:29]
Jason Kidd
Sure, sure.
- [12:30]
Landon Donovan
And it's way different every. I mean, Bruce said it last week. He said it's a totally different job, totally different skill set.
- [12:38]
Tim Howard
He.
- [12:38]
Landon Donovan
You have guys for two days. You're not training, you're not teaching them. You're not producing a game model. It's just getting them going and fired up and caring about their country. And that's where you have Christian Pulisic, born in the middle of Pennsylvania versus someone who's born in France or Germany. You're way ahead with Christian because he's already there.
- [12:58]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [12:58]
Landon Donovan
You know, the other guys, you got to bring them along. You're going to have the national anthem printed in the background of the rooms. You know, he was teaching the guy. I was like, you have to spend time doing that. You don't have time for that. You're just trying to get the players going. Right?
- [13:10]
Jason Kidd
Not.
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Tim Howard
Not.
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Jason Kidd
Not just printed standing up after lunch as a group and just randomly.
- [13:18]
Landon Donovan
I never saw that.
- [13:19]
Jason Kidd
What we had. We had sheets with the national anthem after lunch. Everyone had to stand up and together sing it.
- [13:28]
Landon Donovan
Stop it. That's not true.
- [13:30]
Jason Kidd
I obviously wouldn't say anything public.
- [13:32]
Landon Donovan
There's no way that's true.
- [13:34]
Jason Kidd
Okay. I think there's. I think there's. I think there's probably 18 other.
- [13:38]
Landon Donovan
I know.
- [13:39]
Jason Kidd
Players that were in that room that might go. Huh? Okay, keep going. Keep going.
- [13:43]
Landon Donovan
I digress.
- [13:43]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, I do.
- [13:44]
Landon Donovan
Anyway, it caused a lot. Look, it caused a stir. I. I like reading. You know, I do this. I don't. I haven't been social media in years. I'm loving reading your guys's comments because some of them are just funny, but some of them are really thought out. So send comments. I'd like to hear more of what you guys think and give us something that's interesting. Don't just say the same old BS because I want to. I'm just curious how people feel about it. And I think we will get there with this national team. I'm still optimistic, but there are challenges for sure, and I think the biggest one is just the lack of pride that we've talked about before and how do we get there. And then coaching a national team for the first time is very difficult.
- [14:26]
Jason Kidd
Yeah. And you know, I think, like I do, I think what Paul Ciatino said recently is important, you know, that, that it's about pride and that we need people to fight for, for their position. And millions of kids would love to see that dream. Like, I, I think now that's a different tune that I'm hearing from him. And that's a good one, by the way, if he means that and he's sticking to it and he's going, you know what? I've seen, I've seen enough now. They got enough of a, of a litmus test. And I'm. Now I'm saying I need people who are willing to go through the fire for me, who are willing to suffer more for the shirt. Now I'm saying, okay, I like that. I appreciate that line of thinking and hopefully we'll see it kind of as the next couple selections are made.
- [15:13]
Landon Donovan
Well, one guy who has shown that very clearly, let's move on to MLS is Diego Luna. Scored twice for Salt Lake in San Diego. Right here in my backyard this weekend. They beat San Diego 3 1. He's on the verge now, Tim, of having one of those seasons where you just go, okay, the guy, you're watching the guy become a real player right in front of your eyes. And key for him, stay humble. He is a humble kid. Humble beginnings. But it was really interesting. I've been watching San Diego FC closely, actually, and what's happened now, and I said this in the beginning, I said they're not deep and as teams start to figure them out, will they be able to adjust? So teams have figured them out now. So they're very, very good at what they do in build out, but they're very open when they lose the ball. Extremely. And what's going to be interesting now is you have a coach there who is Mikey Varus, who's there, who is put there to sort of implement the Norschelin style, which is where the ownership group and the soccer side came from. And they're very adamant about playing the way they play. But MLS is a different beast. It's a different game. And teams are starting to figure Them out. Salt Lake ripped them apart. Could have been four or five. A few big chances they had just cause they're so open in transition. And so now the question will be, are they willing to adapt because they have a good team? Are they going to keep doing this and get exposed defensively at times? It'd be really interesting to follow.
- [16:48]
Jason Kidd
Well, adaptation is everything. We see managers who stick to one plan and one plan only to get found out. You called it, though. You said San Diego doing really well. And the real challenge is when teams get a second look at you and they get more tape on you and they can figure out, hey, there's, you know, it's a copycat league. Everyone can kind of figure out where your weaknesses are and it's up to you to adapt. So that part you certainly called. I think the Diego Luna topic is an interesting one for me because I like him a lot, but it's twofold. Right. This is the exact point that we were just talking about with Pochettino. There may be an argument. Well, one. One is, can Diego Luna step up to the next level real time? Yes. He's had some cameos and he's done fantastic and he's earned the opportunity to get there to the, you know, to play in the big games, to be on the team sheet. So can he step up to that consistently? I think he might be able to, but I don't. I don't know the answer to that. The bigger, more important question is Diego Luna isn't nearly as big a name as the other ones. Right. So if Pochettino is saying there's a couple of the big dogs who, I don't know if they're performing or giving.
- [18:05]
Landon Donovan
Me enough, they're gonna put him on the bench.
- [18:08]
Jason Kidd
The big call is, you know, who is Diego Luna? So There's a number 10 pocket or a number 8 pocket. You're going in there and the person he drops, we're all gonna go, oh, whoa, whoa. Now, is that what Pochettino's talking about in his comments? And if so, okay, but we'll see.
- [18:25]
Landon Donovan
Good point. Yeah. I can't wait for Gold cup now this summer. And you'll get. We'll get a view of it in the friendly games leading up to it and we'll see. The other interesting game from MLS this weekend was Inter Miami, home to Dallas. What a game. Seven goals. They're up three one at half. And Dallas comes storming back and win four three. Messi, Suarez and all and Alba all sat this one out, which you can Understand, as you've said many times, they're all in on Champions League, Champions cup and all in on the championship, and they could care less about the supporter Shield. So they sat those three and they're looking ahead to Vancouver this week in the second league at second leg at home on Wednesday.
- [19:07]
Jason Kidd
This is the scary thing for me about Miami, like, they're teasing us because we all know, we all know who Miami is. So, like, yeah, they're up 3:1 and then they lose 4:3 and it's a, it's a barnstorm and kind of finish. It's amazing. But the fact of the matter is, what we do know is when Messi and Suarez and Alba are on the field together at the same time. This team is unbelievable. And, and, and, and we all know what they're doing. They're just pacing themselves and it's like there's going to come a moment when they're all fit and they're all healthy and they look at each other and go, okay, the lights just turned from.
- [19:39]
Landon Donovan
Time to go, see you later.
- [19:41]
Jason Kidd
And you're like, we know how good they are. Which is crazy. It's crazy. So, yeah, it's, I mean, it's fun to watch because, you know, we talked about it. They want to support. Won a supporter shield last year. Check. Cool. They've got one thing in mind and, well, two. Two.
- [19:55]
Landon Donovan
They got the Champions cup. But in the league, yeah, that's obviously.
- [19:58]
Jason Kidd
League is always important before we move.
- [20:00]
Landon Donovan
On to the Premier League. Quick shout. If you haven't seen the Kevin Denkie goal from Cincinnati, watch it. Phenomenal cross bike. It's like the level of difficulty is just insane. So go watch it on YouTube. All right. Tim, you were following this weekend. As much as I'm a Blue and an Everton fan, I have to say, watching the scenes, particularly at the end of the game, and I thought, you guys. Rebecca, NBC producers did a phenomenal job because I forget who was calling the game, but he called the game, put his stamp on it, and then they laid out and they just let the scene speak. And Rebecca, basically every minute or so would come in with a little tidbit about someone or a little tidbit about that person, and then lay out for a minute or two. And I just sat there and I was like, this is awesome. Just watching the scene. And I'm not a Liverpool fan, far from it, but it was really fun to watch.
- [20:55]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, we, we've, we've got a great team of producers at NBC and we've got the best in the business. Rebecca Low, she's absolutely brilliant and sensational. And as you, as you learn if, if, if you, if you paying attention enough as you start to learn tv when you have good scenes. Shut.
- [21:10]
Landon Donovan
Shut up.
- [21:11]
Jason Kidd
Up. There was a couple times that I was ready to come in and I just thought nope, I'm gonna leave that there. But yeah, look, no matter where your allegiances are, what Liverpool are doing and what they've put together is it's football at the end of the day and they have earned the right to be respected and feared and given their flowers. I mean the one thing you realize when you know as a former Manchester United player which is a hated rival of Liverpool and an Everton player, a hated rival of Liverpool, you realize that Anfield, Anfield recognizes moments and they recognize big moments because they've had so many of them being down in the Champions League second leg, storming back, winning titles, winning European cups, Champions League etc. They rec. The, the culture around the club understands those moments and yesterday was one of those moments. And those scenes by the way, just for the record, they didn't even lift a trophy yesterday.
- [22:06]
Landon Donovan
That's right.
- [22:07]
Jason Kidd
You know what I mean? That's still to come. The scenes were incredible. They deserve it. What they've done under AR has been just incredible. They've gone from strength to strength. Nobody picked. Why would you pick them? They're one of the best managers in world football and he just left.
- [22:24]
Landon Donovan
And history tells you that you're going to go downhill after that.
- [22:26]
Jason Kidd
Absolutely.
- [22:27]
Landon Donovan
And by the way that's history.
- [22:29]
Jason Kidd
It's history. And so yeah, it's a really good team. And I said that this was, it was strange for Klopp to leave because he basically built his 2.0 team. This team was a championship caliber team whether it was this year or not. But the difficulty was slot then came in kind of changed things tactically which I thought was going to be really difficult. And credit to him and the players, they understood each other. They understood what was asked. He got the best out of players which means when he's on the grass in training he's making players better. You know when you look at Gakpo, when you look at Ravenberk, Ravenberk was a, was a pretty good number eight turned into the best six in probably the Premier League, you know. So like um, yeah, big, big credit to, to Liverpool. They deserved it and they deserved it from, from beginning to end.
- [23:18]
Landon Donovan
They were so good. I read a few, I was reading some comments about why they were able to go from Klopp to slot so successful. And he said, and players said, some players said he's making play individual players better, spending time making them better, but they had a good roster and he changed a few things. They were more happy to not have the ball at times with Klopp but now they were just wanted to be more dominant with the ball and it was so seamless and they were just, they, they fully deserved winners.
- [23:49]
Jason Kidd
And, and you know the other interesting part is, is when you look at Liverpool, they've been on top of the Premier League for 206 days this season. 165 more than any other side. And you know this from being a champion. It's, it's easier to chase. They've been, they have been chased. They've been the hunted the entire season. That's more difficult. And that's why you think about like how do they, how they handled Virgil Van Dyke and his contract and Mo Salah and his contract and Trent Alexander Arnold in his contract.
- [24:18]
Landon Donovan
Like they kept playing well and kept.
- [24:20]
Jason Kidd
Playing well, kept producing. Like yeah, you know, you talk about a deserved champion. Hats off to them.
- [24:26]
Landon Donovan
The FA cup semifinals were also this weekend. City into their third straight final. They have said publicly, look, this, this keeps us having a decent year, right? They obviously want to get into Champions League and that, that chase is going to be tight as it comes down to the end of the season. But it feels like, you know, these teams, man, they have such a terrible season and we're done and they could still win the FA cup, right, which would be phenomenal. And we're going to have an American represented on the other side. Chris Richards. Congrats to him. Palace walloped Villa three zero. You know, you have to say the odds on favorites are City. But yeah, Cup Final, you never know.
- [25:08]
Jason Kidd
Listen, I think you know, man, City, they're, they set the standards so incredibly high that finishing in a, in a Champions League place and winning an FA cup is a really horrific season. Wow. I mean your standards are incredibly high. But that's okay. That's what it is in that game by the way. Forest in the second half piled on the pressure, hit the post like three times, crossbar. I mean it was, was a good game of football. City's amazing, by the way. City's amazing. They didn't even sell, they didn't even sell out their allotment. I've got a, I've got a new rule for the fa. If you go to a semi final at Wembley and you leave 5,000 tickets unsold, you don't get Those for the final, like that's. It's a disgrace, but that's how it goes. Crystal Palace. Yeah, I didn't see that coming. Thought. I thought they'd be in the game because they're a good team, but I thought Villa were with a better side. And credit palace, man, they played awesome on the day. They were fantastic. 13 0, so. Yeah, and Matt Turner as well and Chris Richards. So that'll be exciting for, you know, hopefully it'll be. They'll be underdogs, but what a moment for Crystal Palace Football Club.
- [26:16]
Landon Donovan
All right, let's move on to us. LNT on usmnt. Just a couple highlights this week. One big one. Christian just keeps doing the business, man.
- [26:26]
Jason Kidd
And.
- [26:26]
Landon Donovan
And midweek they got to the Copa Italia final with a three nothing win away versus Inter. And then he scored this weekend against Venezia in the fifth minute. He is one of only three Serie A players to have been directly involved in at least 50 goals. He has 31 goals and 19 assists in the last two seasons in all competitions alongside Adamola Lukman and Lataro Martinez. Yeah, he just keeps going, man. And when he has a little dip, he's back and it's really fun to see. And I'm just now, as a national team fan, need the rest of the team to get on board. Like, do not waste these years of him being so good. Yeah, get on board.
- [27:10]
Jason Kidd
I mean, look, I think with, with Christian Pulisic, we know that he's talented and we know that he has produced and will continue to produce goals and assists. That's obvious. But you know, in the Coppa Italia second, like his manager Sergio Consistao said about his performance, that he sacrificed himself for the team. He had a good game, but there was balance in the central areas. He ran his socks off. That's what, that's the thing that stands out for me. My expectation of Christian Pulisic is that he's going to turn up on the day with the ball at his feet and produce magic. He's done that. But it's in the moments when it really matters.
- [27:47]
Landon Donovan
That's right.
- [27:48]
Jason Kidd
Second leg of a, of a final or a World cup, that he, he is willing to do the dirty work and he's shown that. And that's the thing that stands out.
- [27:59]
Landon Donovan
For me, that it's a huge moment, Tim, for him, that he recognizes that, he's aware of it and he wants to win. And I'll just speak from experience. There were many times in my career where I could have thought I can Score today. I could score today and we might win, we might not. Or I can put all my energy into being in good spots defensively, helping my teammates, doing the little things. And I know we're going to win. And you sacrifice that. And I'm really glad to see him do that and then get acknowledged for it. I think that's a big part of being a real leader. So congrats to him really quickly, too. Brandon Aronson back in the Premier League as leagues get leads, get promoted. Awesome for him. He has had a phenomenal season. He's disappointed to miss out on Nations League, but if he keeps going, man, wouldn't be surprised if you see him in the Gold cup team.
- [28:51]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, you keep. Keep earning, I mean, and. And again, leads. Leeds belongs in the Premier League as a club. Obviously, Burnley are up as well, you know, with their American ownership, so that's exciting. But, yeah, Brendan Aronson is someone who can clearly be counted on in big games and he's shown that for Leeds. And whether he's Pochettino's cup of tea or not, the more he plays, the more consistently he plays. I can see him at least getting a sniff and being in.
- [29:16]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, he's got to make himself his cup of tea, right? That's his job. All right, Timmy, it is time for the unfiltered refresh. Sponsored by Coors Light. Choose chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to coorslight.com USLNT Jules Kounde, take a bow. You chose chill this week. 116th minute winner sends Barcelona and their fans into rapture as they beat Real Madrid 32 in the Copa del Rey final. Wow, what a goal. Stepped into midfield, picked the ball off, banged it into the corner. Very subdued celebration. Very chill, if you might. Barca has absolutely dominated Real Madrid this year, Tim. They scored four goals, five goals, and now three goals. They've just battered them. I was not expecting Barca to have this kind of rebound of a year. Sad way for Ancelotti to leave Madrid, but congrats, Barca.
- [30:10]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, listen, you're definitely choosing Chill if you bang a winner against Madrid. El Clasico in Copa del Rey final. I mean, there's some awesome, awesome rivalries in world football. I'm not sure that it gets better than. Than Barca. Real Madrid. Like, I. I mean, the scenes af. Like, I kind of feel like, well, there's probably a lot of heydays for, for El Clasco, but I mean, you know, watching the Messi Ronaldo era and the absolute desire and hatred, I Mean, even the tunnel after the game, it. It's always boiling over. Like, you can. You can guarantee box office. You know, there's going to be goals, you know, there's going to be rough tackles. You know, there's going to be some afters. Like, it's guaranteed and there's going to be quality.
- [30:57]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, like that. That's unique to, you know, some rivalries. You're like, ugh, yeah, but this is.
- [31:01]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, well, I always say about. About El Clasco. Like, people think it's the best. It is the best. But I always. I always caution them, I go, just watch the first 15 minutes. You think there's all this talent and lovely first touches. Watch the first 15 minutes. They batter each other just to. Just to make sure the line is drawn, that they earn that right to play. It's incredible. But, yeah, Barca couldn't have imagined they would kind of turn the tables the way they have this season, so. But Real Madrid recognized that Angel Alti's out and they're going to hope for better things.
- [31:33]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. And they're going to have to. It's going to be interesting to see how they adjust now going forward. Obviously, it didn't go perfectly according to plan with Mbappe coming in and, you know, they started a decent season, but how is the next manager now going to, you know, is it Xavier Alonso? How are they going to incorporate him? How are they going to change because they've had one voice for so long? So it's interesting to follow, but congrats to Barca. Chose Kwonde. Chose Chill. Good job, my friend. All right, we're going to take a break. When we come back, we have a very, very special guest. Tim, thanks to you, a relationship you've developed over the years. He's recently joined the soccer world. He's not traditionally a soccer person, although he's more into soccer than you think. We will speak to him when we come back right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. You don't want to miss it.
- [32:31]
Jason Kidd
The Unfiltered Soccer podcast is brought to you by Volkswagen, the presenting partner of U.S. soccer.
- [32:36]
Landon Donovan
Since 2019, Volkswagen has been on a mission to drive the future of the sport we all love. And VW is committed to making it more diverse, inclusive, and accessible for everyone.
- [32:46]
Jason Kidd
They're not just talking about it. They're out there doing it. VW's partnerships, programs and soccer clinics are unlocking opportunities for the next generation of players and fans.
- [32:56]
Landon Donovan
As a longtime friend of Volkswagen, I've seen firsthand how VW are connecting with fans and driving the sport forward. From working with them on clinics to being part of their incredible campaigns, it's clear U.S. soccer is truly powered by the people.
- [33:09]
Jason Kidd
Thank you to VW for being our presenting partner. Learn more about how VW are supporting US Soccer at VW.com Timmy Hard to.
- [33:16]
Landon Donovan
Believe, but this year will be 25 years since I first wore the jersey for the US Men's National Team. Crazy. I still remember it though, giving me goosebumps just to think about it.
- [33:26]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, there's nothing like it. The pride you feel, the pride your family and friends feel watching you. I remember making my debut for the national team in Birmingham, Alabama. My mom was there in the stands. It was just amazing knowing that she was there watching me accomplish my dreams.
- [33:40]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, mine was in the Coliseum against Mexico. It was crazy. I was nervous, certainly overwhelming anxiety all leading up to it. But in moments like that, it's really, really important to stay grounded and find time for yourself to Choose a chill.
- [33:52]
Jason Kidd
Mindset Yeah, when you embrace a chill mindset, it's a good time to choose chill and crack open a Coors Light.
- [33:58]
Landon Donovan
When these moments in your career are right around the corner, you got to find some quiet time to relax with the people you love who know you the best. To enjoy the moment, just drink it in. Choose chill. Crack open a Coors Light.
- [34:10]
Jason Kidd
Make the most out of the times you choose to chill. Choose Coors Light. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door.
- [34:16]
Landon Donovan
Visit coorslight.com USLNT as always, celebrate responsibly. Coors Brewing Co. Golden Colorado Beer.
- [34:27]
Jason Kidd
Nordstrom.
- [34:27]
Tim Howard
Brings you the season's most wanted brands.
- [34:30]
Jason Kidd
Skims, Mango Free People and Princess polly. All under $100. From trending sneakers to beauty must haves, we've curated the styles you'll wear on repeat this spring. Free shipping, free returns and in store pickup make it easier than ever. Shop now in stores and@nordstrom.com ld as you hinted, last segment Couldn't be more excited for our guest today for a multitude of reasons. This man is a legend. And he is. He will be on the tip of everyone's tongue in the soccer world to come. He is a Naismith Basketball hall of Famer, two time NBA champion, one as a player, one as an assistant coach. Five Time All NBA First Team, four Time NBA All Defensive first Team NBA Rookie of the Year, was named to the NBA 75th anniversary team. He's third on the NBA's all time career assists and steals list. He's a two time Olympic gold medalist and he is currently the Dallas Mavericks head coach. And slightly more important to our show, ld the newest investor owner to join Everton Football Club with the Friedkin Group, none other than Jason Kidd. Jason, welcome in, man.
- [35:46]
Tim Howard
I appreciate that I owe you money for all those nice things that you did. I appreciate that, Tim, thank you. Thanks for having me. Guys, this is an honor.
- [35:55]
Landon Donovan
Nice shirt, Jason, first of all, second, Timmy, I'll let you start because you have a relationship with Jason and you know, when we prepare for the show, Jason, we obviously we do our research. I didn't realize I grew up with you, watching you the same timeframe as I was playing. I didn't realize all these things you accomplished. So my apologies for not knowing how good you were. I used to hate you as a Laker fan and then I liked you when you're an assistant coach. But congrats on incredible career and Timmy, take it away.
- [36:24]
Tim Howard
Thank you, Landon, thank you.
- [36:26]
Jason Kidd
And Jay, just for, for, for the public, I owe you nothing. You, you bought dinner two weeks ago here when we were in New York, so.
- [36:35]
Landon Donovan
Sounds about right.
- [36:36]
Jason Kidd
I'm indebted. Yeah, the shirt looks great on you. Over dinner we spoke about your investment in Everton Football Club and I, I just want for our audience who is so excited that you're on. What, what is it that drew you to Everton Football Club specifically? Like what excites you the most about this project and the future really, as you embark on this ownership journey?
- [37:00]
Tim Howard
Well, I think it's, you know, I don't know, a lot of people don't know that soccer was my first sport. That was the first sport that I was introduced to. So it's really my first love. And so just understanding when I had this opportunity with the freaking group to be able to invest, I wanted to jump at it just because of the relationship that I had with that group. And it all came from, from playing golf, which is funny in a way. And so maybe they felt bad for my golf game. But, but I think when you talk about having the opportunity to. When you talk about a historic club, the history, it's rich, it's exciting. When you talk about Goodison park and the Darby's, just the excitement, the passion and that's kind of like what I am not as a coach. When you talk about coaching, I'm more reserved, I'm always watching. How can I help the guys. And so when you talk about being able to be at the right place, but at the right time, but it all comes from relationships. As you know, Tim we have a great relationship. I bought dinner last time, you're gonna buy dinner next time.
- [38:16]
Landon Donovan
Don't count on it, by the way. Don't count on it.
- [38:18]
Tim Howard
You're invited and we're gonna order everything.
- [38:22]
Landon Donovan
Sounds good. No, so. So you said. So you were. I'm assuming you're at some golf event, whatever. You get introduced to these. These folks, and then how does it progress into a relationship where then either they invite you or you say, I want to be a part of Everton?
- [38:37]
Tim Howard
Well, when you talk about Ryan, that. That's. We were at a Crew cup playing golf, and we were playing against each other, and we were just talking about the love of golf, and he's actually involved. They're actually involved in Roma. And so he was like, hey, you gotta come over. You gotta come over. But he was serious about coming over. And, you know, unfortunately, my schedule didn't let me get over, but we kept in touch. As I said, relationships, you never know what you know can happen. And so we stayed in touch and I started to hear rumblings about them getting involved in Everton. So I asked, you know, I wasn't shy. I said, you know, Ryan, are you getting involved? And he goes, I think we might. And so that's why I left it. And he came back and goes, hey, do you have any interest? And I said, I would love to. I was honored that he thought about me. And. And so when you get the opportunity to invest with. Not just in a good. A great team, but also great people. And so I'm very excited to go along this journey with them.
- [39:40]
Jason Kidd
Yeah. I mean, you talk about great people. Obviously, Landon and I both play for the club. It's in our hearts. And, you know, Landon can. We both can, but he. Landon was just over there at a game, and he can attest to the fact that the heart and soul of that club is in the people. Is in the people who work there, the people who are. Who are supporters of the club. You know, you touched on Jason, You're. You're a calm coach. When I see, on the. On the sideline, arms are folded, you're taking everything in. It's the point guard in you. How does. How does your experience as a coach influence your approach to ownership? Since you obviously spoke about relationships being so vital to the success of any.
- [40:15]
Tim Howard
Team, I think it's. It's really important first to, you know, in life, write down your visions, write down your. Your dreams. Being able to have an opportunity in ownership is something that I wrote down a long, long time ago, but also Understanding patience in the process. I think the process. When we're young, we only think about. Landon wasn't worried about what I was doing on the court. I wasn't worried about what he was doing on the soccer field. He's the goat of US soccer, and so he achieved everything because you're working. But if you take a time out to fill, you know, your dreams of what you really want to accomplish, you know, being able to understand ownership is a very powerful thing and nothing to take for granted. And we've all have been players that have had great owners and owners who maybe didn't live up to what we thought could be possible. And so I've taken notes of being around the Cubans of the world of understanding what it means to be a successful owner. And hopefully I can. I can do that and have that opportunity with the freaking group.
- [41:26]
Landon Donovan
That's awesome. How do you. Jason, how do you compare. My dad grew up playing hockey, and so he's always. He's always watching. He always watched my games through a hockey lens. So he would always say to me at tim, I don't think I ever shared this with you, but he always say, why don't you shoot more? Just shoot more. And I'd say, dad, if I'm 30 yards out and I shoot and it goes over the goal, now they have a goal kick and they have the ball. And in his mind, he's thinking, it just hits the back of the boards and it stays in, so it's worth shooting, you know? And so I'm like, no, I'm not going to just shoot from anywhere. But how do you compare soccer and basketball that way? Almost, like, tactically and the way the game flows. Are there comparisons?
- [42:05]
Tim Howard
Oh, Landon, great question. I think there's a lot of comparisons. Growing up, soccer being my first sport, dribbling right with your feet, now with your hands, understanding passing, playing in small spaces. Unfortunately, when I was. I wanted to score like you. And so being a forward, center, forward, I wanted to just kick it. And I tried to use my speed. I thought I was fast and could outrun everybody and try to. You know, I wanted to score. It's almost the opposite of my basketball game.
- [42:38]
Landon Donovan
I was just gonna say, that's not what you were.
- [42:41]
Tim Howard
And so when you. When you look at the things I learned in soccer about passing, you know, give and go was something that I learned in soccer. It was one of the oldest plays in basketball as a third grader. And so. And then just taking dribbling from my feet to my hands, and so being able to be coordinated with the lower half of your body. As a third or fourth grader, a lot of times we're not right. It's the other way around. We learn how to use our hands first instead of our feet. So I felt I had the advantage of coordination. And so there is a lot of similarities when you talk about angles, passing, creating space, being able to create lanes, and then patience, being able to execute, you know, the play. And so that goes for both soccer and basketball.
- [43:33]
Jason Kidd
Yeah, it's interesting. I mean, you and I talked about that, and Landon and I beforehand, we're also speaking of it. It's like being able to dribble and be in tight spaces, but also defensive principles, pressure on the ball. Are you one, Are you one pass away? Are you two pass away? Because if you're one pass away, you have to cover. You know, it's very. It's all very, very similar. We have a picture, Jay, from. From your. From your playing days. This is when you're a little bit older. And we'll pull it up and you can tell us where this was. I think it was 1998. You do look like a soccer player. Oh, I think this was a rockin soccer celebrity game.
- [44:08]
Landon Donovan
Look at those cleats, by the way.
- [44:11]
Jason Kidd
It's amazing.
- [44:13]
Landon Donovan
Where was that?
- [44:15]
Tim Howard
You know what that is? I think that's Nash's soccer game in. Oh, that would be in the park in New York.
- [44:21]
Jason Kidd
I think it's something. Anyway. You look good. You look like a striker.
- [44:25]
Landon Donovan
You actually look like a soccer player. I gotta be honest, I look young.
- [44:30]
Tim Howard
Once.
- [44:30]
Jason Kidd
Once upon a time, we were all.
- [44:32]
Tim Howard
You guys still. Did you guys fill in the hair?
- [44:34]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, a little bit.
- [44:36]
Jason Kidd
It looks good. Jay, we want to talk to you about. Our listeners are so dedicated and die hard U.S. men's National Team. And they. They. They bleed that. And I know Landon, in particular wanted to talk to you about your Olympic experience because there's so many similarities between our U.S. men's National Team and obviously our. Our Olympic dream team. And. Go ahead, take it away, Landon.
- [44:59]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, so actually, I was. I was happy to watch this week. Is it Pistons, Knicks who are playing?
- [45:07]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [45:08]
Tim Howard
Yes.
- [45:08]
Landon Donovan
And, you know, I turned on the game. I think it was yesterday in the fourth quarter, and it was like 76 to 67. And I'm like, thank God. It's usually like 104 to 101 at this point in the game. And then just watching the game and how chippy and nasty and. And I was like, thank you. That's the that's the NBA. I grew up watching and I loved. Right. And so my question is when you one played for the Olympic team? And I'll get around to why this is relevant to soccer, but when you played for the Olympic team, there were a lot of guys that you just. Most of the guys you just battled against every week in the NBA and to the point, you just like, can't stand each other. Right. But then how do you set that aside? Because this is obviously with soccer, it's very common. Right. Because you play for your national team a lot, come together and then put that aside and play as a team. And how did. Did you have to consciously do that? Did you guys fit naturally back in together? How did that work?
- [46:00]
Tim Howard
Yeah, I think one, anytime you're asked to represent your country, I think it's. It's an honor. And any ill will or hard foul or, you know, a buzzer beater, those things are put or never brought into the meeting room, day one. We all leave that out. I think there's a great story with Coach K in 08, he wanted the Eagles to come into the room. He felt that he can, you know, manage those big egos. When you talk about, you know, Kobe, LeBron, D, Wade, Melo, he wanted that because he felt that we needed that to be able to be successful. And he was 100% right. But I think it's when you can have one goal and that's just winning the gold medal. There is no who's the leading scorer, who's the leading assist, or who leads in rebounds or minutes. The one goal is just to win the game and that's it and move on to the next game. And until you are holding that gold medal and listening to that national anthem. And so I've been very fortunate to play on two national teams in 2000 in Australia and then 08 in China. And I thought that both teams have one goal and that was just to win a gold medal. And it was. Now practice was fun because guys wanted to get after it. Guys wanted to prove that they were better than the next. When you talk about Kobe and LeBron, they were, you know, on separate teams. Coach K knew that was going to be an incredible practice. And so when you talk about the chippiness that you see this in the playoffs, this, this season, I love it. I love that the officials are just out there getting cardio. I love that they're letting the players, you know, decide the game. Now, was that a foul or not a foul of that last shot by Timmy? You Know, they said they made a mistake and missed the foul, but I think up to that point, that was an incredible game by both teams making big and difficult shots. Like, the shot making in that game was incredible.
- [48:11]
Jason Kidd
Kobe, Kobe and LeBron going out of impact. I mean, when's your book coming out? Because I'm reading it. I mean, you got stories for days. You know, I, I often wonder, you know, in terms of mindset, something Landon and I had to do, which. And clearly you did, too. You play this long, long season, right? And your body's beat up mentally, you're drained. The only thing you want is a break, and then, bam, the Olympics come or the World cup comes. What was it like for you to kind of refocus? Okay. NBA season ended, either get to the Finals, get knocked to the playoffs, whatever it is, and then you immediately got to go into training camp and go again.
- [48:43]
Landon Donovan
And physically, too, right?
- [48:44]
Jason Kidd
Physically, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [48:45]
Tim Howard
I think you bring up a great point. I think a lot of it is mental, right. I think when you're around talent and you believe you're one of the best, you, You. You get over being tired because, you know, when you go to practice, Chris Paul or Darren Williams, they're coming after you. When you talk about Gary Payton, he's going to embarrass you, and he's going to do a lot of talking anyway.
- [49:12]
Landon Donovan
He's going to tell you about it.
- [49:13]
Tim Howard
Exactly. So I think when you have those opportunities for your national team, even if a long season, you. If you win a title, if you lose a title, I think just when you love competition, you're getting the best in the country. And so I think you, You. You kind of turn into. You shift into another gear and the best comes out. When. Whenever you can go against the best, you tend to, you know, find out what, what you're made of. And then also it answers a lot of questions on what do you have to work on to be great.
- [49:48]
Landon Donovan
Jay, I want to ask you about. Because you're a coach, and I can't tell if this is a generational thing or if it's a cultural thing or whatever, but I think you know where I'm going. But our national team, certainly recently and over the. I would say the last five to seven years, we have a lot of moments now with our national team where I'm not in the business of judging intent or pride or care. But it looks like what you talked about, the honor to represent your country, doesn't mean quite as much when they come into national team camp and We've seen that a few times. I know you're not a national team coach, but in the NBA now, generationally, the way, you know, we just followed the Shador Sanders saga, and, you know, there's so much attention. Do you think we're missing. Players are missing that. That. That pride needed to play at that level. Is there. What do you see in players? Is there too much focus on everything off the court? How would you, I guess, explain what you see now in this generation?
- [50:57]
Tim Howard
That's a great question. When you. When you look at. Things can be different. Athletes change in both games faster. Athletic, you know, they're bigger. And so I think when I. When to give a real answer to this question, I think it's. It's our fault, really. When you talk about the spokesmen or women of the past, to be able to educate our youth, and I think we. We have not done a great job of storytelling. I would love, you know, to see the 2010 or 12, you know, cup teams, you know, the story behind in the locker room of winning. But the one thing that we have not shown, we always show winning. We have to show losing. It's all right to lose. It's all right to fail, because we will learn from that. And I think we've all been in that, you know, game or in that locker room, or we just felt like we could have done a little bit more and we maybe let the team down, but we learned from it. We were responsive. We absorbed that feeling and say, hey, we don't never want to feel like this again. So you get right back to work and guess what? The others will follow. And that's. I think being able to be leaders for our youth is something that I think we need to lean into more.
- [52:25]
Landon Donovan
Does this. Jason, does this generation feel that? And right when you said that, my mind went to, you know, I don't know how closely you follow, but we had a Nations League, a tournament about a month or so ago. We lost a semifinal game to Panama, which would be like the US Basketball team losing to, I don't know, Puerto Rico or something. Right, right. Just unacceptable. And then three days later, we play Canada, which is a pretty good team, and then we lose again. And it's the kind of the same effort. And so you talk about losing and learning from that. But do you see generationally. Generationally, it's different now because, I mean, if Kobe lost a game back then, or LeBron, it was like. Or Michael, it was like, we ain't losing again. We're not losing.
- [53:06]
Tim Howard
Again, that's right.
- [53:07]
Landon Donovan
So is. Do you see that same fire? Am I. I'm trying to learn here, is what I'm asking.
- [53:13]
Tim Howard
Yeah, no, I. I think it's. I think this is a. A great community, you know, question in the sense of where, Where. What's wrong? What. What. What can we do to help? You know, when you bring up LeBron, LeBron and them lost, you know, when they were on Team USA early and it didn't go well, and then things, you know, started to change. But I think, again, I think it comes back to us where we have to spend more time in that locker room, because in our sport in basketball, there's a lot of texting in the locker room. There's no more conversation like, hey, you know what? You know, look for me on the. Live, on the fast break, because I know when we're coming, they forget about me. Okay. You know, hey, when I have the ball at midfield, it's just a little give and go, right? Because I know once I pass it to you, they're going to relax and then I can go. I just. There's. I don't think there's enough conversation, and I know people will disagree with this, but I just think there's not enough conversation between player and player. Yeah. And I think that's. That's where. When we lose the Panama. Okay, let's. That wasn't our best effort. What can we improve on against Canada? And do we check the boxes? Do we improve or do we get worse? Because if we got worse, then we. We are letting ourselves down, but we're letting the country down. And I think that's. I think the pride of our country is. Is starting to be lost.
- [54:47]
Jason Kidd
Yeah. Yeah, I think it's. That's very insightful, Jay. And I know we agree with you and so many of our listeners do. As we. As we close this and we bridge the generational gap. I want to talk to you about Goodison park and the new stadium. Landon and I had the good fortune of playing there and knowing what Goodison park is to. To us and to the community and to the Premier League as a whole. Do you have any, Any. Any opportunity to get over there before the end of the season? And if so, are you also going to try and get a tour of the new stadium?
- [55:13]
Tim Howard
I. Yeah, I hope the goal is, the plan is to get there on May 18 for the last game.
- [55:22]
Landon Donovan
Awesome.
- [55:23]
Tim Howard
To experience the history. It's going to be excitement, sadness. It's going to be a roller coaster of emotions. When you talk About Goodison Park. I'm excited. And then, yes, I would like to go see the new stadium, but I would love to just sit there and listen to the songs and everyone cheer and cry after, after that game on May 18th and just, you know, just sit in there and just absorb and be a sponge because this is where this has been for, for a lot of years.
- [56:00]
Jason Kidd
Yeah. That's the best place for you as a new owner to take it all in, to bottle that emotion, that passion and then move it forward. And we are really excited. I know everyone at Everton Football Club is really excited to have you as part owner. We know that great things are going to happen in the future and thank you so much for taking the time to come on Unfiltered Soccer. We appreciate you, Jay.
- [56:21]
Tim Howard
No, I appreciate you guys having me. I got the Secretary of Defense, you know, and then I. And then I. And then I got to. I got the goat. How could I not say yes? I could be on here all day.
- [56:34]
Jason Kidd
You're the best. Thanks, Jason.
- [56:35]
Landon Donovan
Well, Jason, I look forward to the dinner that Tim's going to pay for. I also look forward. All I do now is golf, so I look forward to golfing at some point, hopefully with the Friedkin group as well. We appreciate you coming on, Jason. We wish you the very best going forward. Have a great off season, y'all. We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we will get right into your Questions in the AT&T fan connection and then we'll talk. Anything but soccer. Really good one this week right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by voice Volkswagen. Stay right there.
- [57:14]
Jason Kidd
There's a lot in life that feels like it should be guaranteed that just isn't your team winning the championship, the weather being good on game day, your friends remembering who has the tickets. Some days you're just a goal scoring machine.
- [57:26]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. And some days the ball just passes you by. Right here on Unfiltered Soccer, we know that no matter how much you love the beautiful game, nothing on the field is guaranteed. Thankfully, AT&T is introducing a brand new guarantee, the AT&T Guarantee.
- [57:40]
Jason Kidd
The AT and T guarantee means connectivity you can depend on, deals you want and service you deserve or they'll make it right.
- [57:47]
Landon Donovan
Whether you're in the stands watching with friends or just cheering from home, you can count on the AT and T guarantee.
- [57:52]
Jason Kidd
Learn more at att.comforward/guarantee. Terms and conditions apply.
- [57:57]
Landon Donovan
AT&T connecting changes everything.
- [58:01]
Jason Kidd
Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for Everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good.
- [58:07]
Landon Donovan
In this world, stop with Mint.
- [58:09]
Jason Kidd
You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
- [58:23]
Jordan
Of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mintmobile.com this episode is brought.
- [58:33]
Landon Donovan
To you by Chevy Silverado. When it's time for you to ditch the blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing. The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss. Get the rugged capability of its Z71 suspension and 2 inch factory lift. Plus impressive of torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits, you'll just be getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more.
- [59:01]
Jason Kidd
It's time for the Fan connection presented by AT&T. Every week we invite you, the listener, to connect with us by submitting your questions. The best way to grow the game of soccer in the US is to keep asking questions and keep talking about the sport we all love. At, AT and T. Connecting changes everything. And on uslnt, our connections with you will help grow the game. It is time for the AT&T fan Connection. I say every week because it's true. This is everyone's favorite segment because we get to talk to Jordan. Hi, Jordan. How are you?
- [59:34]
Jordan
I'm great. I'm really wonderful.
- [59:37]
Jason Kidd
And we get to hear from our fans and listeners. So what do you got for us?
- [59:41]
Jordan
You don't. You don't want to ask me about what I'm wearing?
- [59:43]
Jason Kidd
Hang on, your mic's covering it. Scooch, scooch.
- [59:47]
Jordan
Wait, not this.
- [59:48]
Jason Kidd
Oh, they unveil. Oh, my God. Oh my God.
- [59:52]
Landon Donovan
That's ridiculous.
- [59:54]
Jason Kidd
How dare you. How dare you.
- [59:55]
Landon Donovan
We are having a has a Liverpool jersey and jacket and scarf.
- [59:59]
Jason Kidd
We're having a post production meeting and you will never ever put on the show again.
- [60:04]
Landon Donovan
Can we cut this out?
- [60:05]
Jason Kidd
Congratulations to you. If you're a Liverpool fan, congratulations.
- [60:08]
Landon Donovan
Thank you.
- [60:09]
Jordan
I spent yesterday crying. I'm good now, though.
- [60:11]
Jason Kidd
My God.
- [60:12]
Jordan
Okay, should we talk about some questions?
- [60:15]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [60:16]
Jason Kidd
Yeah. Please. Yes.
- [60:17]
Landon Donovan
Okay. It's ridiculous.
- [60:19]
Jordan
First of all, we actually got a message from Joey's dad. He said, just sharing that Joey took Landon's answer to heart. And after his practice, he demanded that we celebrate the season at a local Pub. Seriously, he loved the answers. Great show. And we will all keep listening.
- [60:36]
Landon Donovan
Oh, that's awesome.
- [60:37]
Jason Kidd
Love it, Joy.
- [60:38]
Jordan
Great stuff. We have an email from Brian. Brian is into some of the history of the U.S. men's National Team. And so he just wanted to say that he heard an incorrect statement that he wanted to address.
- [60:51]
Jason Kidd
Oh.
- [60:52]
Jordan
It was incorrectly stated on our show that the 2002 US Men's National Team World cup had the best US Men's National Team finish ever. I think it is important for the U.S. soccer history that everyone knows that the 1930 U.S. men's National Team made it to the semifinals.
- [61:11]
Jason Kidd
Fair play.
- [61:12]
Landon Donovan
There weren't four teams were there in that tournament, but maybe like eight. No, I'm being, I'm not being funny.
- [61:18]
Jordan
I don't.
- [61:19]
Landon Donovan
Maybe eight.
- [61:19]
Jason Kidd
I think you're right. I think the format's slightly different. Point taken. Absolutely.
- [61:25]
Landon Donovan
That is inaccurate. But we'll say in the modern era that sounds better post 1931.
- [61:31]
Jason Kidd
Yeah.
- [61:31]
Landon Donovan
All right, Fair enough.
- [61:32]
Jordan
Yeah, fair in the last 50 years.
- [61:34]
Jason Kidd
How's that? Yeah, we need to probably know how many teams were in that World cup just to give us some sort of context.
- [61:42]
Jordan
But yes, we got an email from Kelly who asked, do you think we put too much pressure on some of these younger guys at such a young age? I asked this because I feel like we're seeing it about to happen again with Cavan's Sullivan. Everyone talks about the kid as if he is the greatest player we've ever produced. And while that may turn out to be true, what happens in five years if he just levels out and is an average or slightly above average player?
- [62:09]
Landon Donovan
13 teams in 1930. Thank you.
- [62:12]
Jason Kidd
Okay, still not bad. No, not bad.
- [62:14]
Landon Donovan
I, I, I have, I see, I have two sides of this and I don't sit on the fence often, but there's two sides of this. One is, yes, absolutely, we put too much pressure, but the world and the world we live in puts too much pressure. So social media world. So this minute he steps on the field, it's like, oh my God, a 14 year old on the field. Da, da da, da. Now the other side of that is, you know where else there's a lot of pressure being a professional soccer player. So yes, it's a lot of pressure, but you gotta deal with it, right? So like, you can't shy away from it when you're standing over a penalty in the 90th minute and it means a lot to your club or your country, there's a lot of pressure. So you got to learn to Deal with it. I don't like the way the world is in that way and that everyone's glorified before they've done anything. But it's the reality. Right. So don't like it, wish it weren't the case, but he's going to have to learn to deal with it. That is the reality.
- [63:08]
Jason Kidd
Yeah. I mean, look at Landon. I'm not on the fence with this. I, I, I agree with the one side of it where this is just hard. This is just hard. I think if you have a, you know, you yourself were, were a prodigy and a generational talent, and I think when you see a, a young boy or girl who's starting to go down that road where they, they look different, they're better than everybody else, and they start to kind of ascend to, to that level. You have to ask. You have to ask them a conversation. You have to have a conversation with them, both coaches and parents, and you have to have a conversation and say, look, do you want this? If you want this, this road's going to get hard. And by the way, you don't have to choose it. You can play club soccer, odp, go to a smaller college party, use soccer as a vehicle, no doubt. But if you want it, this is going to get really difficult. And the fact of the matter is, you have to be, you know, in order to be a professor, to have a good skill set, you have to be a good decision maker. You have to be able to handle pressure. That's it. Those are the things that will make you a successful professional. So I don't think we're too hard. I think what I, what I would say is, and I've. And I've done this, I use my, myself, but also my daughter as a reference. There are moments where I try and be her voice of reason, and she's like, well, Dad, I want to go to this. She sacrifices everything, my daughter. And so when she says, I want to go to this dance or I want to go to a Megan Maroney concert, I say, well, go. Yeah, but I might miss a training. Well, go. You still have to be a young. You have to be a teenager, like, so. So it's important for the parents and the coaches to help balance that. But ultimately, the road to being a professional athlete is really difficult and filled with pressure.
- [64:39]
Landon Donovan
And now it's different. The one big difference from when we were is the social media aspect, too.
- [64:45]
Jason Kidd
That's the huge. You know what? It's interesting, Landon, that I wasn't gonna riff on this, but It's a huge part of it. I didn't have it. You didn't have it. Right. And so when you. When you played a bad game as an 18 year old, and I had a few of those, my coach would tell me what he thought of me, maybe the fans, but that was it. That was it. I didn't. It wasn't like I could. I got. I got in the. On the team bus and I was just littered with outside noise and people tell me how terrible I was. Right. And so you have to be able. That's not going away. So you have to try and help, help them manage that.
- [65:15]
Jordan
How about a question or a comment, rather? That came after some of the clips we posted from the Bruce arena interview from last week. Javier, via Instagram, said, this guy, who I assume he's talking about Bruce specifically, this guy forgets his disastrous 2006 World cup and 2018 failure. Klinsman only coached two games that cycle. 2002 was great, but we got lucky with sneaking out of the group and only had to beat Mexico to move forward.
- [65:47]
Jason Kidd
Oh, God. Oh, God. When people do this.
- [65:49]
Landon Donovan
You said 2002 was lucky.
- [65:50]
Jason Kidd
Oh, I was lucky. And it was lucky, man.
- [65:53]
Landon Donovan
Okay, let me explain to you how qualifying works. Okay, so the final round of qualifying is 10 games, or was at that time, 10 games. When you say Klinsman only lost two games, he lost the first two games, okay, one of which was at home. So qualifying is just a mathematical equation. And when you win at home, you earn three points, but guess who else doesn't earn any points? The team you play against. When you go on the road and you get three points, it's the same. Or if you get a point, you're basically stealing two points from another team playing at home. Okay? So the goal for us in qualifying was win all of our home games, which would get you to 15 points. Win a game or two on the road, draw a game or two and you're in, and that's it. Simple as that. Okay? When you lose your first two and one of them's at home, you are so far behind the eight ball because of the points the other teams picked up, that you are in a race that you almost can never win. And the fact that Bruce got the team back to a place where they just needed to win in Trinidad, and everyone will say that game was a failure, no question. But to say you're going to only lost two games and that it was just so easy for those remaining eight games, by the way, one of those games was Going to be Mexico away those remaining eight games, which is almost never a win or even a point, is ridiculous. So that's a. That's just a Dumb comment in 2002 to say the team was lucky at the level that we are at with our national team, and we're still there. You have to have some element of fortune throughout a tournament to advance. That's still where we're at. We're not Brazil, Argentina or Germany or France or Spain. We still need an element of fortune along the way. But to then say that it was lucky to get to the quarterfinals, I would encourage you to go back and watch the games. We did have some fortune, but we had some great, great performances, too. So, yeah, that's. That's my take on that.
- [68:02]
Jason Kidd
Javier, I feel like we're friends. I want to call you Javi. So, Javi, listen, don't go back and watch the games as Landon suggested. You're just completely and utterly wrong. So we're not going to have that conversation for a team, any team, us, England, Spain, to get to a World cup quarterfinal. There is. You can't be lucky. It's impossible. It's impossible to be lucky. That team was incredible, and they performed incredibly well. That's the end of that story. What Landon said about. About Bruce arena coming on board, everything was 100% accurate. The chips were so far stacked against him. Once we lost as a team, once we lost those first two games in qualifying, I am not a decision maker at US Soccer. I've never been, but I was a part of. And this is. You earn the right as a. As a senior player who's given everything for your country, that in these dire crisis moments when a manager gets fired, you are part of big conversations. Right, Landon? So you're part of conversations with the heads of U.S. soccer. Doesn't mean you make the final decision, but they want to know what's going on on the inside. And as the conversation started to surface about who would next take over, I was certainly one of the powerful voices that said, if it's Bruce arena, he gives us the best possible opportunity to drag ourselves out of this hole. And we were under no illusions of what hole we were in. What I would say is we didn't. That team didn't qualify based on performances on the field. That's on the players. That's completely on the players. And that was a failure on our part. But Bruce arena gave us every opportunity to succeed, and we nearly did it. And by the way, if we had, we had we gotten the result in Trinidad, it wouldn't have been like we were world beaters. It would have been like we, we just barely scraped by and we, and we did what we hoped to do. But I mean, even the game, like, you're saying the Mexico game, that was the Michael Bradley chip from, like midfield or something like that, right? Like, but it's still not a game you expect to win going down there because it's so difficult. If you win and put the performance in, you're happy. But ultimately we had to be perfect and we weren't. And that's, that's as simple as that.
- [70:24]
Jordan
I mean, I don't know how to put a better cap on that. I have one last question for you guys. This question came from Jason via email. And Jason wanted to ask us about an offer that I think has he received an insider email about it, but I think has become public on social media. U.S. soccer is offering the opportunity for fans to buy a commemorative brick that will go into the new training facility in Atlanta.
- [70:52]
Jason Kidd
Don't get started. Don't start. Don't start.
- [70:55]
Jordan
So Jason says bricks come in multiple sizes and price levels start at $350.
- [71:02]
Landon Donovan
Oh, wow.
- [71:02]
Jordan
He said $350. U.S. soccer cannot offer affordable national team tickets. But now they're trying to sell me a Faberge brick. They've turned their backs on ordinary fans. What do you think? Would you advise me to buy a brick? And can I buy one next to yours?
- [71:19]
Jason Kidd
Go ahead. L, I, I know, I know you feel a certain way about this.
- [71:23]
Landon Donovan
This is called unfiltered. So, Jason, I feel your pain. I really do. I actually received that email, too, and I was thinking, I think I've done enough for you, soccer. You don't need my pain.
- [71:35]
Jason Kidd
Give me a break.
- [71:37]
Landon Donovan
I, too, received that email. The reality is the decisions that Matt Crocker has made. Who is the general manager of the national teams, or general manager of U.S. soccer, I guess, is Emma Hayes, who did not come here cheaply, and Mauricio Pochettino, who did not come here cheaply. I don't know the details of their contracts. It might be public info, I don't know. But it's right up there with the most of any national team coaches, certainly women's in the world. They have to find ways to pay for it. And I hate it. I don't like it. I really don't like it because, you know, we've seen so many games lately where there just aren't people in the stands, and it's hard for me to tell you that you should pay 100, 150, $200 to go watch a game. I don't agree with it. I understand why they're doing it, but I don't agree with it. I would much rather our stadium be sold out and rocking every time. Then people feel like they're getting gouged. So I don't like it. But those are the decisions that have been made. And it's like any. Any industry, right? If you have to pay a hundred dollars for an item in your store, then you got to sell it for 200 to make your margins. And. And that's what U.S. soccer is trying to do. So I don't know. What should we do? Tim.
- [73:09]
Jason Kidd
I do not play golf. I do not jet around the world like you do. I'm a man of the people. So I have an offer. I have an offer that Jordan is nervously laughing about because she's scared of our bosses and legal at Sinclair. I'm not. I am. I am. I am. But if we can get it approved, here's what I'll tell you. We at Unfiltered Soccer will buy a brick. Landon will buy a brick, and we'll name it Unfiltered Soccer, and we will somehow figure out a way to do a giveaway or two. I don't know. I'm making Jordan nervous. And we'll get some bricks for our listeners. That's what I. That's what I suggest. Landon. I agree. Money has to be. Money has to be made somewhere. I don't know. I didn't get that email. Maybe I did. I didn't check it. I've got. I'll tell you. Hang on. I have.
- [73:56]
Landon Donovan
My question is, how many bricks? Because, like, I have.
- [74:00]
Jason Kidd
Hang on. I mean, in my inbox, I have.
- [74:05]
Landon Donovan
Well, you don't answer phone calls either. You just.
- [74:09]
Jason Kidd
I've got a lot. Oh, no, I have 100. I have 100, 400. 5,000 unread emails.
- [74:17]
Jordan
So I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown.
- [74:19]
Jason Kidd
I think I might have. I think I might have gotten it. L.D. it's in there.
- [74:23]
Landon Donovan
All right. So what I'm trying to discern here is, does Jason want a brick? He just doesn't want to pay for it? Because maybe we could just buy Jason brick.
- [74:30]
Jordan
No, I, I, I don't know. It's unclear. He's asking for your advice. So if you're saying, Jason, Jason, my.
- [74:36]
Landon Donovan
Advice is save your money and go buy a ticket in the upper deck of the next US Men's National Team. Game for that $350 or buy three.
- [74:46]
Jordan
Tickets to three different US Women's National Team games.
- [74:49]
Landon Donovan
That would actually be a better idea.
- [74:50]
Jason Kidd
Great show.
- [74:51]
Landon Donovan
I don't like it. Jason, I'm sorry, dude. I feel your pain, but this is the reality of the world we're in. All right. Long show today, but a great show. Thank you so much to Jason Kidd. Phenomenal interview. Thanks to you, Tim, for putting that together. He was great. We appreciate all you guys as always. Please again subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, anywhere you get your pods and follow the show as always across all of our social media platforms at Unfiltered Soccer.
- [75:19]
Jason Kidd
J Kid. One of the best to do it. Thank you for coming on and sharing your wealth of knowledge. And congratulations on Everton investment and ownership. Thank you everybody, for today. We always love being with you and speaking with you. Thank you to our presenting sponsors, VW and our Fan Connection sponsor AT&T and our unfiltered refresh sponsor, Coors Light. Have a great week and we'll be back in two weeks with another edition of Unfiltered Soccer.