← Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
MLS Playoff Picture, USMNT vs AC Milan, and Liverpool Lose 4 in a Row
01:07:40
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- [00:00]
Tim Howard
The captain is not always your best player. The captain is just your captain. It has nothing to do with ability. It's about accountability. That's who your captain is.
- [00:11]
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 over five years.
- [00:21]
Tim Howard
LG, how are you, bud?
- [00:22]
Landon Donovan
What's up, bud?
- [00:23]
Tim Howard
We're back. USA LNT unfiltered soccer. I'm Tim Howard. He's laying in Donovan. I. I just. I still can't get over your hair. It's. I mean, it's as gorgeous as ever.
- [00:36]
Landon Donovan
At what point will we just stop talking about it?
- [00:38]
Tim Howard
Soon. Soon, I think. But I'm just not used to it yet.
- [00:40]
Landon Donovan
My brother and sister in law came over yesterday and I was like, in the garage. They were taking my daughter somewhere and they go, wait, lan, come out here. And I'm like, what? I'm like, I got no shirt on. I'm in like soccer shorts. I'm like, I'm not coming out there. And I walked out there like, oh, my God, your hair. We haven't seen it. I'm like, oh, God, we got to talk about this again. So anyway, it just kind of happens.
- [01:04]
Tim Howard
But it's fun. Whatever.
- [01:05]
Landon Donovan
Could be worse. What'd you get up to this weekend?
- [01:08]
Tim Howard
Nothing. Chilled out, man. Chilled out.
- [01:09]
Landon Donovan
How nice is that?
- [01:10]
Tim Howard
Yeah. Yeah.
- [01:12]
Landon Donovan
You didn't work?
- [01:12]
Tim Howard
I didn't work, so I just woke up, watched some soccer, got a coffee, chill. Love that. It was great.
- [01:19]
Landon Donovan
Watch your Giants.
- [01:20]
Tim Howard
Watch my Giants. Washington versus Tennessee. Both took a loss this weekend, so it was tough. But Everton took a loss, so it wasn't like a amazing weekend of sports for me. But still watched. This.
- [01:32]
Landon Donovan
Could be worse.
- [01:32]
Tim Howard
Could be worse.
- [01:33]
Landon Donovan
All right, guys, welcome to the show. As always, follow us on social media. Unfiltered Soccer. Subscribe, Apple, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcast, you can leave a rating. It helps people find us. Thank you. Or you can't and you can email jordan@feedbackiltered soccer.com. happy anniversary to us, Tim. It is the one year we are one. This is our last. This our last episode of this season. Isn't that crazy?
- [01:59]
Tim Howard
Blew by. I mean, how many episodes? 40. Is that 40? Yeah, 40 episodes.
- [02:04]
Landon Donovan
All right, let's move on. Enough of the nostalgia. Okay. The real USMNT on uslt. Okay, so tough weekend for some guys. We saw Malik Tillman out for a few more weeks.
- [02:18]
Tim Howard
Two more weeks. Is that right?
- [02:19]
Landon Donovan
I think so, yeah. I want to dive into the pulisic stuff. So he said he has a low grade tear in his hamstring. I'm guessing two, three, four weeks. The bigger takeaway was, man, I know we have a lot to say about this. Milan's manager, Max Allegri was upset that Christian was, quote, playing in a game that, that no points were on the line and blah, blah, blah. And he just went on and on how this is, should never happen and da, da, da, and going after Pochettino and yeah, just go ahead, give people the reality on this because it's so ridiculous.
- [02:53]
Tim Howard
Well, I guess, look, the reality for me is, is, you know, we've, we've talked about ad nauseam that every game for the US Matters. They haven't had their team together for a major tournament like the Gold Cup. They have, they don't have World cup qualifying. So actually this, this was essentially a World cup qualifier for us. It was an opportunity to get our, our team together and to fight for points. And we saw what, you know, what Chris Richards said about how, how it mattered and we saw that. So the game matters. Ultimately, it's a muscle injury on a player who had an entire summer off. He had a full preseason. Right. Which means all of the fitness, fundamental building blocks were put in place and it's the beginning of a season. It's a niggle to suggest that he should not have played in a, in a game that did mean something to the U.S. right, for their preparation to suggest that he shouldn't have played. It's not like, it's not like they had. It's April and they had Champions League, Serie A and then national team game on the back end of it. This is the beginning of the season. So muscle injuries happen. I think it's crazy for Milan to suggest that he shouldn't have played. So, so there is a club versus country poll and we're seeing it and it's been for forever and I think where, and I'm not in those conversations right now that are happening in Milan, but I do hope Christian has enough stock and enough. Bravado is not the right word, but. Clout. Yeah, clout, right. This is gonna be a problem. Like we said, they're not gonna be available much before next international match. So what he's doing, and you know this, we talked about it, he's setting the table for basically saying, I'm not sure Christian can come in. And I hope Christian and Pach go well. Yeah, right, sure. I'm obviously going to be there, I'm going to be fit and I'm going to play like, this can't happen to the US where he gets himself fit a week and a half or two weeks before the next international break, plays for Milan and these fitness. And then. And then the team or him say, yeah, well, I can't go to the November Internationals. That's crazy talk. So, obviously, hopefully he's okay. It sounds as if there's. It's a. It's, you know, a couple weeks, but that's where that is. And. And again, he. For me, he has enough clout. He's the best player. He's a. One of the top players in Syria. He's the best American player. Like, he puts in performances. He has to be able to say, guess what? This might upset you, but, like, I'm going in.
- [05:36]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. And thoughts. To borrow one of your phrases, Allegri, do me a favor, like, have some context of the big picture. And this is what this bothers me about. Coaches, they're so focused on this day, this weekend, this result themselves. Go back and look what Pochettino did in the past in letting Christian go.
- [05:56]
Tim Howard
Totally.
- [05:57]
Landon Donovan
He didn't bring him in this summer.
- [05:58]
Tim Howard
To the Gold Cup. Right?
- [06:00]
Landon Donovan
Like, so. So he goes and he gets injured. It happens. It's part of. It's part of the game. Just stop, dude. Like, just enough of that. I do hope, for Christian's sake, that he's back quickly. I wonder, too, in his brain if he's like, I knew I shouldn't have come in, or, I knew I shouldn't have played, or. I do wonder that. I hope that's not the case.
- [06:19]
Tim Howard
Hopefully not.
- [06:20]
Landon Donovan
There was so much value in these two games for the team as a whole, and I hope he's able to see that. And so we'll follow this. It'll be interesting.
- [06:27]
Tim Howard
Yeah, for sure.
- [06:28]
Landon Donovan
Let's just tack on to the end of that. So this whole, um, Pochettino was very interesting. He said over the summer or over these. This international break that he does not communicate with his players when they're not in national team camp. Now, I spent some time with him before the last game, and he said, landon, I. I communicate with my players when they come into camp. We communicate a lot. I sit with all of them. We sit, we have conversations, we talk, we catch up. But in the way I do things when the players are gone, I don't want to be disrespectful. I don't want to step on their toes with their club teams. I let them do their thing, and I'm not communicating with them. And it was interesting because elsewhere in the world, Thomas Tuchel had a little, not a dust up, but similar situation with Jude Bellingham.
- [07:14]
Tim Howard
Right.
- [07:15]
Landon Donovan
And I thought it was really interesting. He doesn't, he said he doesn't reach out to his players if they don't get called and he'll send them a text or whatever, but he's not having long conversations. So I'm just starting to wonder, slash see that this is sort of just the MO of either coaches at this level or coaches now in modern football. It's just sort of how they do it. And I don't think that's how I would approach it. But I also don't, I don't have that big of an issue with it, to be honest.
- [07:42]
Tim Howard
No, I mean, look, I think it's, you know, not everybody should be treated equally. Like that's the thing that you have to remember within a team. And I try and teach that to younger players. Like, that's just not how it works. But when I look at Pochettino and Pulisic, when I look at Tuchel and Bellingham, you're talking about two of the better players on each of those teams, right? And so in my experience, I always spoke to the manager, the manager always spoke to you. Like if you were getting left out of a camp, the manager's not going to go, here's the list, give it to the press and the media. And then all of a sudden you find out via something, the manager's going to tell you, right? And he's going to have a conversation with you. And so it must be the modern way of doing it or dealing with it. I don't know. I mean, I don't know if Poch was trying to send a message to some of his players back when he felt he needed to do that. I don't know. I'm just such a. I was always a proponent of having conversations, even tough ones. I remember you asked me last, which I forgot to answer. But the last episode we were doing questions from our listeners and you said, like, you know, how does it work with the goalkeeper and the goalkeeper coach? And I remember pushing, like, even when Jordan Klinsmann was trying to give me the runaround after I came back off of sabbatical. Like I said to the goalkeeper coach, go ask him. You go speak to him. Like, I was having tough conversations, I should be playing. Like, I know he was trying to give me a run around, but I said, like, I should be playing. And I would speak to the manager and say, like, you're leaving me out. I'm like, why? You know, like, really pushing because. Because they were never going to question my effort. They were never going to question my talent. So, like, I knew I could have those conversations. So I'm with you. I know we, you know, a couple of summers ago, probably two summers ago now, spoke to Unai Emery, who's a manager at Aston Villa, and it was like, the first time I had ever heard this. But he basically said, like, I don't need to speak to my players. I'll see them at training. I'll see them at training. I don't need them to like me. I don't want to be friendly with them. And by the way, he seems a friendly guy. If you've ever seen his interviews. Like, he seems like a nice guy. And by the way the players respond. All the players we spoke to thereafter were like, we love his training. We love his tactic. It's really hard. He gives us tons of information. But, like, they obviously like the setup, right? But I. I hadn't. I had never heard that landing before because I was coming from managers who would always get their arm around you. And he was like, I don't. I don't really care. Like, I don't really care that they. That they like me. That we need to. That we need to talk. So, yeah, it's an interesting one. I think it's generational.
- [10:08]
Landon Donovan
I think it's generational, too. And there was a great. I don't know if anyone watched baseball the last week or so. Max scherzer, who's like 75 years old.
- [10:16]
Tim Howard
That was weird, by the way.
- [10:17]
Landon Donovan
I loved it.
- [10:18]
Tim Howard
I hate.
- [10:18]
Landon Donovan
So his manager comes out to pull him out of the game, and he looks at his manager and, like, he basically says, like, you're gonna have to kill me to take me out. And he kind of yells at him. And there's this moment and the manager left him in the game, but he knew his player. Like, he. He knows he's kind of psycho and, like, whatever. But generationally, he fought for it. He was like, I'm not just gonna, like, acquiesce and give you the ball. Like, I'm going to stay in the game. So I know it was weird, but it was, I think.
- [10:43]
Tim Howard
But, yeah, that being said, and I didn't think of it till just now, there's an argument to say, you said he knows his player. He might have actually said, I'm going to walk up here. I know that on purpose, the exact reaction I'm going to get. And I'm going to walk back in the dugout, so. Yeah, maybe. Good point.
- [11:01]
Landon Donovan
All right, let's move on to mls. So decision day was this weekend. There was a lot, a lot of implications. First one, we'll start with Orlando City. Lose 42 to Toronto and they dropped from a guaranteed playoff spot all the way down to ninth. And now they have to go to Chicago to play in the playoff in the playing game, which is just a big, big blunder from them.
- [11:28]
Tim Howard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [11:29]
Landon Donovan
And then what ended up happening, which I think for us neutral fans we Love, is Columbus Crew 1 and now they will play Cincy in the first round. So we get Hell is Real three times. Hopefully three times. Or is it three times for sure? No, I guess if you win two. So hopefully three times, which will be phenomenal. So bad loss for Orlando. Let me just breeze through a couple of these and we can touch on Seattle 1 at New York City FC. Both teams finish in fifth place. The big talking point there is Pedro De la Vega. Big star player for them. Left on a cart with what they think is a bad knee injury. He's going to be out obviously for the playoffs. So big, big loss for them. That's the, you know, that's the challenge at the end of the season when you're, you're fighting for positioning.
- [12:22]
Tim Howard
Real quick. The interesting thing about that is, and, and, and you and I have both been there and you know, Everton ever, you know, we look, you look at teams that are stacked in the Premier League. Like at the time, Everton wasn't one of those, right? So we had like, we had our star players, you know who they were, right? And you're like, if one of these guys go down, yeah, we're in trouble. We, we, we can't find goals. If P, if Stephen P. Went down, we're not going to have any creativity, like, you know what I mean? And so like there was those type of, there was those type of players. And I think this is what really hurts for Seattle and I know it's next man up type of thing. And they have the, they have no good championship pedigree. It's not the same. Those Soundress players will be deflated. Literally thinking, oh my God, like the amount of questions that will be going on in their head about can we actually even do this in the playoffs is going to be really, really tough for them.
- [13:08]
Landon Donovan
Look at my guy, Ricky Pooj with la, right? I mean, it's just like it changes everything. Miami went 52 against Nashville. They finished third in the east and I believe now they play each other again, which would be very interesting. Oh, ho, hum. Messi had a hat trick. I was pushing so hard, Tim. I really wanted Understrier to win the mvp. There's no possible way you can name anybody. I mean, this is just ridiculous.
- [13:36]
Tim Howard
Incredible. It's incredible.
- [13:38]
Landon Donovan
He's ridiculous.
- [13:39]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [13:40]
Landon Donovan
Philly had already wrapped up the supporter shield. Charlotte, this is an interesting one. I want to hear your thoughts on this. Charlotte finished fourth, so they get home field in round one. The end of the game. Wilfried Zaha got sent off for a second yellow. It looked like he punched Jesus. Bueno. He'll now miss their first game against nycfc. I. This just baffled me, like the level of naivety and just. It's unacceptable. I mean, if I'm a coach, I'm absolutely livid. And by the way, why was he on the field when it's 20 at the end of the game on a yellow card? Get him off the field. Dean Smith, just crazy.
- [14:22]
Tim Howard
I think that's right. I mean, you know, there's a trust factor as well. I think we have to add that in. Like, yeah, a lot of times coaches are trusting you. But that being said, sometimes you have to. Sometimes you can't get out of your own way. You need someone to help you, you know? And again, I don't know. You know, I don't think.
- [14:39]
Landon Donovan
Sam, that's not val. Like, how many times did a manager come in at halftime and say, you're on a yellow?
- [14:44]
Tim Howard
I know, I know.
- [14:45]
Landon Donovan
I either trust you or I'm taking you out right now. And you'd go, I promise you, I will not get a yellow. Keep me. I promise you, you can never break that trust.
- [14:52]
Tim Howard
Ever. I agree. He got his first yellow in the first half, right? So as the game's winding down, he's probably a player you'd want to get off because again, if you know Wilfred Zaha, he runs very fiery, very hot, which is brave, which makes him the player he, he is. But there's. That also has to be managed. You know, it's unfortunate though, because it's like hindsight now, it's like, oh, I should have. But that doesn't matter because you're going to miss him for at least a game.
- [15:16]
Landon Donovan
Well, it's not un. Unfortunate. It's like, it's, it's just dumb.
- [15:20]
Tim Howard
It's unfortunate that they'll miss him is what I'm saying.
- [15:22]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, but it's just, it's unnecessary. And I, I was, I. It's. If they don't end up advancing now. You know, there's one person to play.
- [15:31]
Tim Howard
Good, good, good season. Tangles.
- [15:32]
Landon Donovan
Fantastic season. He's. He's really crucial to them. San Diego, wow. 4 nil at Portland. They ended up finishing top of the west because Vancouver lost at home to Dallas. I think they only needed a draw.
- [15:47]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [15:47]
Landon Donovan
So now San Diego leapfrog Vancouver. They set a new MLS record for points and wins by an expansion team. Shout out to Mikey Varas, who's done a phenomenal job. I think they have a decent roster. They're not deep, they're not great beyond that, but he's done a phenomenal job. Portland will play the play in game now again at home against Salt Lake. This is Monday, so when it comes out Tuesday, it'll be tomorrow on Wednesday. Vancouver we talked about now Dallas finished seventh, Vancouver finished second. So they will now play each other again.
- [16:22]
Tim Howard
It's funny how that works.
- [16:23]
Landon Donovan
And then lastly, Colorado. Oh, this was brutal. Home to lafc. They go up late and then they concede even later and they're knocked out of the playoffs, which is just brutal.
- [16:33]
Tim Howard
My guys, my guys, I felt, I felt bad for them and they, I know it's, you know, had a decent season on the cusp. We obviously want to get in, but that's heartbreaking stuff. Again, that, that's the type of stuff. And we talked about like a player getting injured and you worry about what the, like the postseason is going to look like when you get knocked out like that. That'll stay, that'll stay with those players for a couple months. Yeah, you'll stay with them for a couple months.
- [16:58]
Landon Donovan
And it's, it's tough, man, you know, to draw two, two at home against LAFC is, is not terrible. But they, they won one of their last seven. Right. And then you look back and you go, oh, my God, that one point there. What? And that's just, that's the hardest thing.
- [17:11]
Tim Howard
Yeah, you're right. Listen, when you don't, when you don't get in the playoffs, it's not based off one. One result.
- [17:15]
Landon Donovan
No, I know. It always comes down to the last game where you feel like, oh, we should have. And Right. It's like the qualifying in 2018 with you guys. Right. It wasn't the Trinidad. It was, you know, the first two games.
- [17:25]
Tim Howard
Sure.
- [17:25]
Landon Donovan
Losing at home and then Costa Rica.
- [17:27]
Tim Howard
Yep, that's right.
- [17:28]
Landon Donovan
It's just. Yeah, that's right.
- [17:30]
Tim Howard
Okay.
- [17:30]
Landon Donovan
Matchup I'm most excited about. For me, it's easy. Cincy, Columbus. Hell is real like that's a real rivalry and I cannot wait for that. Do you. You. You on that same page or.
- [17:42]
Tim Howard
Yeah, I mean, it's. I'll be honest. I've got all eyes on. On Miami, and that's just not even the first round. I'm. Yeah, I just think it could be. It could be. You know, I'm. I'm almost pulling for Miami to win the entire thing because it's like a. I think it'd be a watershed moment for the. For the league. I'm thinking more big picture. And we. And we know that there's been notches on. On along the way in terms of mile markers, but like, I don't know, there's just something about seeing the messy experiment end ish with him lifting the MLS cup for me, that, that I think about the league. So.
- [18:20]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [18:21]
Tim Howard
So I'm. So if I'm going all the way that far, then I'm coming back to be up to in this first round. Yeah.
- [18:26]
Landon Donovan
Okay. Give me your eastern just first round prediction so we have this on camera so people can know how dumb we are. Eastern first round predictions, including the playing game, who gets in there and then go ahead.
- [18:38]
Tim Howard
I think Orlando. Orlando beats Chicago. Okay. Yeah. Because real briefly, that loss to Toronto's fresh. It's fresh. So I actually don't hate that they have that nasty taste in their mouth. Philly beats Orlando. New York City beats Charlotte. Miami beats Nashville. Oh, Columbus. Columbus takes the hell's real. Darby guide you.
- [19:07]
Landon Donovan
You got Columbus. Okay. I'm gonna go same as you. I think Orlando beats Chicago away.
- [19:14]
Tim Howard
Okay.
- [19:15]
Landon Donovan
Philly beats Orlando. I'm gonna take Charlotte over. NYC is. If they can get through that first game without Zaha, that will help. I think Miami beat Nashville and I think Cincy will be okay.
- [19:27]
Tim Howard
All right.
- [19:28]
Landon Donovan
Columbus though, man, that's a. That's a tough first round. Oh, that's brutal. You finish second. That's your reward. Okay. Go west now.
- [19:35]
Tim Howard
Go West. Young man rails to win the playing game against Portland. Sorry, Phil Neville. I'm on my bad, bro. I'm picking San Diego beats Salt Lake. I think Seattle get it done. I think they get it done. Just in the first round. Lafc. LAFC and Vancouver I pick over Dallas. Here's the thing about LAFC and big players. I'm thinking of son. I'm thinking of Thomas Mueller. Like, this is playoff time. And I don't know if this sounds disrespectful or not. Hopefully it doesn't, but maybe it's why you bring in. No, no. But Maybe it's why you bring in big players. Like, I want son on my team because guess what? Playoffs, like, he's, he's like, I've won this, I've won that, I've played and everything. So I'm actually thinking like, when he gets the ball, he's not going to be like, wow, wobbling, going, oh, this is. I'm worried about the playoffs. He's going to be like, give me the ball. And he's been in big moments, you know what I mean? And so like, I, I like that about some of these players.
- [20:35]
Landon Donovan
It reminds me of when Robbie Keane came to the Galaxy and it was like some of the young kids on our team, like, oh, my God, it's the first round of the playoffs. It's like, this is ridiculous, dude. This is nothing. Okay, I'm gonna go Salt Lake over Portland too. That's just going more with my heart. I want them to win Salt Lake. San Diego is an interesting one because they're two teams that love to have the ball.
- [20:58]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [21:00]
Landon Donovan
San Diego are more talented. They just have, they have, they spend more money. So they have Anders Dreyer, they have Lozano. Salt Lake don't have a player like that. That matters a lot. Diego Luna, but, like, it matters a lot in the playoffs. So I think, barely San Diego sneak through.
- [21:15]
Tim Howard
Okay.
- [21:15]
Landon Donovan
I think Seattle beat Minnesota. Yeah. I think Seattle beat Minnesota. LAFC and Vancouver win. So I think we're on the same page.
- [21:26]
Tim Howard
And we're on a similar page. Yeah. Okay.
- [21:28]
Landon Donovan
All right, it is time for the unfiltered refresh. Sponsored, as always, by Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to coorslight.com USLNT Timmy, who chose Chill this Week in MLS?
- [21:41]
Tim Howard
Our guy. My guy, Brad Guzan. Finally, he's retiring. 41 years old. It's an incredible, incredible career. 21 years he's been at this two World cup, so 2010 and 2014. Atlanta United's all time leader in appearances. MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2007. That was before he went over to the Premier league. He made 171 appearances for Aston Villa. Just absolutely incredible. Um, he's a, he's a, we know him as a warrior. He's a leader. He's super incredible, incredibly dependable and, and, and talented. And the fact that he was able to be a part of World cup teams and play in the Premier League and win the MLS cup and, and with Atlanta, hats off to him. Just, he's a dear friend of ours and I'm excited for him. He's got a beautiful family, wife and kids, and I'm excited that he's. He'll get. He'll get 10. Time to just be dad, whatever's next.
- [22:44]
Landon Donovan
And let's be honest, if someone on this show hadn't been in their prime and playing during. During his career, he probably would have been a starting national team keeper for a long time, too. So, yeah, phenomenal career. Biggest fingers and hands I've ever seen. Great lip. He's got a great lip. Brad Gazan. Cheers to you, bud.
- [23:03]
Tim Howard
Chill.
- [23:04]
Landon Donovan
Happy retirement. Okay, last thing before we take a break. Shout out to Trinh Rodman. When this news happened on the weekend, we. She. She went out of the game. She was crying. Apparent knee injury. We. We feared the worst, but it looks like it was just. Well, no, it was a sprain in mcl, which I think almost all of us have had. At some point, she will be back, and it's hard for her because she's been fighting injuries now with her back earlier and the mcl, and that is difficult, but she'll get through it. I mean, she's an incredible athlete. She's an incredible competitor. So hopefully this. Sometimes when these things happen in the moment. Yeah, you think, oh, my God, everything's going to. And then in big picture, you look back and you go, maybe I just needed a little break. Maybe my body was telling me something. It's just time to pause. And so we. We hope she recovers quickly because our national. Our women's national team needs her.
- [23:59]
Tim Howard
Absolutely.
- [24:00]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. All right, let's take a break. When we come back, we're talking coaching changes. Very interesting as always. And we'll take a look back on the Premier League weekend right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim. As always, presented by Volkswagen.
- [24:22]
Tim Howard
The Unfiltered Soccer podcast is brought to you by Volkswagen, the presenting partner of U.S. soccer.
- [24:26]
Landon Donovan
As the U.S. gets ready to host the world for soccer's biggest moment, Volkswagen is helping. Helping people discover new turfs and new ways to play the beautiful game right here in the usa.
- [24:36]
Tim Howard
From deaf and power wheelchair soccer to beach and futsal, VW is actively supporting all the communities and teams within the U.S. soccer ecosystem. They've signed U.S. soccer talent from across the portfolio of the federation and will be helping to give these less popular forms of soccer a platform moving forward.
- [24:52]
Landon Donovan
As a longtime friend of Volkswagen, I'm excited to support them in their mission to increase visibility of all, all forms of soccer.
- [24:59]
Tim Howard
Earlier this year, Landon and I got to see the redesigned 2025 Tiguan at one of our unfiltered live events. Make sure you check it out in person and learn more@vw.com There's a certain energy to soccer in Latin America. The footwork, the creativity, the passion from fans. It's more than a sport, it's a rhythm. That same spirit shows up in Cafe Bustello. Bold, vibrant, smooth. Turn up the Latin flavor Cafe Bustelo has been bringing for generations. You can't miss this iconic staple anywhere. From the bodega to your local grocery store. They are everywhere. And now there's even more to love. They released a whole new line of roasts to match every mood. Light roast, medium dark and dulce de leche. Each one with its own vibe. Available in pre packed bags and K cup pods. Delicious hot or iced. However you take your coffee, Cafe Bustelo shows up strong. I like mine black, strong every afternoon. Cafe Busello is more than coffee. It makes you feel alive. Try the new Cafe Bustello roast today.
- [26:03]
Landon Donovan
All right, Timmy. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Virgin Atlantic.
- [26:07]
Tim Howard
Yeah, we're here at the Virgin Atlantic clubhouse at jfk. Honestly, it makes you rethink what an airport lounge can be.
- [26:13]
Landon Donovan
It's beautiful. It's what Virgin does. They've been bringing joy back to flying since day one.
- [26:17]
Tim Howard
It starts with the people. The crew makes you feel seen. You're not just seat 31A and the planes. Comfy seats, mood lighting, fresh new plane smell and hours. Hours of the best entertainment.
- [26:27]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I know. You travel back and forth across the pond all the time. The food's amazing, all the little amenities. They have their mile high tea if you want tea at 35,000ft. Can have the jam, the scones, the finger sandwiches, all the things that you loved about British times when you were playing.
- [26:42]
Tim Howard
Yeah. And speaking of the food, you can pre order your meal before you fly. But not just talking about the chicken or the fish. I had the Thai curry last time and it was absolutely amazing.
- [26:49]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, everything's been thought through. It's flying the way you wish it always was.
- [26:53]
Tim Howard
So if you're headed to the UK soon, do it in style. After the pod, go to virginatlantic.com to learn more about their amazing experience. LD I'm going to for a moment, brief moment, step aside and let you take this one because you have had a lot to say about this for a very long time. Take it away.
- [27:13]
Landon Donovan
So Atlanta fired Ronnie Dea. I think it's da. This is wild, Tim. I didn't realize this till Andrew put it in. Atlanta Spent more money in MLS history over the last two transfer windows. More money than anybody. They brought in latelath. Miguel Marone and Alexi Moranchuk finished second from the bottom. And I was surprised. I was surprised at the Ronnie Dela hiring. And everyone said to me, well, we won a championship. He won a championship. That was, if I'm not mistaken, the COVID year. Right? Which was just like. Just different. Everything was different.
- [27:54]
Tim Howard
You're not giving anybody credit.
- [27:55]
Landon Donovan
I'm not saying he's a bad. I'm not saying he's a bad coach. I'm not saying. But I just. It just seemed like a. It just didn't make sense to me. I don't know why. I. I don't know what it is. It just didn't make sense to me. Atlanta, figure it out, man. Because you now have Garth Lagerways there. He will figure it out. He's a very smart man. You have. Outside of Phil Anschutz, I think you have the best owner in Major League Soccer. He there no resource that they aren't willing to. Their training facilities, phenomenal playing a beautiful stadium. They have everything at their fingertips. And so figure it out with your next hire. Has to. Has to hit. Has to hit. And then also from the player standpoint, you know how good you have it. You know, like that club and the way it treats you. Has to be better. Has to be better.
- [28:50]
Tim Howard
Yeah, yeah, I'm. I am. Well, God, so many places to start. I'm gonna start here. I questioned. I questioned the hiring mechanisms of many MLS clubs. I'll just start there.
- [29:03]
Landon Donovan
Good point.
- [29:04]
Tim Howard
I'll just start there. That being said, as an owner or an advisor or an investor, I am not of the belief now. I don't know. I'll say. I don't know what's gone on in that dressing room. Okay? I don't know. So has he lost a team? Blah, blah, blah. I have no idea. Okay, but if you spent all this money, right, and you believed a couple of months ago that this was the right guy to lead your team, you can finish second to last. These MLS clubs. There's no divine right with the amount of parity that exists in the league. You have no divine right to finish at the top of the table. Sure. Because here's the problem. I have ld. Massive problem. And I know this firsthand over many, many conversations over many years. These ownership groups sit in rooms, okay? And they put these expectations on the wall. I know expectations are important. Right? And then when something dips below that standard, that expectation, it's like, throw the baby out with the bathwater. And I'm saying, like, yeah, I know what we want to accomplish as a group. Right. But he's not a bad coach. For all intents and purposes, the team is not a bad team. They spent a ton of money. You just talked about that.
- [30:31]
Landon Donovan
They don't have a bad team. They don't have bad players.
- [30:33]
Tim Howard
Right. So there has to be some time to get it right. In my opinion, in the MLS now, if money's not a factor and maybe Atlanta, that's the case, then okay. I would just like to see managers get more of an opportunity. And sometimes the people above where the managers sit overcook things and overthink things. But again, this might be right. This might be right for Atlanta. I just see too much of it. Ld that I'm like, you can't have gone through an exhaustive search process, come up with this manager, spent this money, and then 10 months later, it'd be done again. You should be done. If something else is creeping on in the background that we don't know about. But if on the surface, they just underperformed, there has to be another opportunity for this manager.
- [31:30]
Landon Donovan
But I understand not whatever the expectations are and whether it's good, bad, and different owners. And I know this, and you know this too, because owners, we know a lot of owners, different teams, when they spend X, they expect X. I understand. And so if you're spending top of the league, they expect to be top of the league. Whether it's fair, not fair, whatever. That is just the reality. Did they need to finish first? No. But you can't finish second to last in a bad eastern con. Like New England's there, Toronto.
- [32:03]
Tim Howard
I mean, you're saying what I always say. You don't have to be great. You just can't suck. So I get that. Yeah, I get that.
- [32:08]
Landon Donovan
And you have to show some signs of something.
- [32:10]
Tim Howard
But I would argue. But I would argue with. Cause you make a good point. When you spend X, you expect X. I think there are people who aren't spending X who are still expecting certain things.
- [32:24]
Landon Donovan
I'm well, well, well, well aware of that.
- [32:27]
Tim Howard
And I would also say. And I would also say, Right. And this is. I'm one of these people who oftentimes think, like, be careful going home Wayne Rooney. Be careful of going home Miguel Morone. Like, we might. Like, we definitely. I was gonna say, Mike, we definitely saw the best version of Miguel Morrone 1.0.
- [32:48]
Landon Donovan
Totally, totally.
- [32:49]
Tim Howard
Like the comeback and the money, you're going to spend for a player like that, I think you get lulled into a false sense of security. Like, oh, we know this player and we'll overpay.
- [32:58]
Landon Donovan
Tim. There are very few players who, when either money or ambition is gone for them. Sorry, not money gone, but like the allure of money or what you need to do to fight to the next. There are very few players who, when you take that out, can still perform at the very highest level because they have something innate about them that very few. And so with Al Marone, it's like, got all the money, no ambition. He's not going anywhere else again. Right. Unless he goes back to wherever, Paraguay or whatever. But he's like, that is. To me, that's the.
- [33:34]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [33:35]
Landon Donovan
And look like son is a great example in la. He just has that drive. He doesn't need money. He doesn't need to play for lafc. He just, like, wants to perform. So.
- [33:43]
Tim Howard
And it's new for. It's new form Atlanta. I get it.
- [33:46]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, that's true. That's true. That's a good point. All right, let's tie this into forest. So Forest lose three. Nothing at home before the. Probably before the final whistle was blown. Ang was. Was sacked. Posto was sacked 39 days. And I. I want to hear your thoughts because you cover these guys every weekend, but I have some. Some. Some interesting thoughts on this, too.
- [34:06]
Tim Howard
Well, you know that. Forget what I. When I.
- [34:12]
Landon Donovan
Well, you just said.
- [34:12]
Tim Howard
Yeah, what I just said was very much pertain to MLS because there's different parameters. Okay. Okay. What I think about the Premier League is, realistically, ld so many of these. Not so many, but a lot of these big clubs. There's. There's like. There's like that much space between the ownership and the manager. You know what I mean? Like, there's like a. If you're. If you're like an Abramovich or Marinakis, you know, Abramovich, you know, formerly of Chelsea, they've basically. And to an extent, Todd Bowley's doing this at Chelsea now. They've basically created a squad that they believe in, that they think is good enough. And they have an ethos of how to build that squad. And then they don't value the coach. Right. They just basically say, I'll do this merry go round of coaches until one sticks. Abramovich basically did that. You can come in, you can win the Premier League. I can still sack you because this year I won Champions League. And he didn't get Champions League. So he did. So he built this robust Talented squad and then he just spun the managerial dial until one stuck. Right? That's not usually. That's not normal. Okay, so Marinakis again, he. You know, if you take that job, you're getting sacked soon, later, I don't know. But you know, that's how it's going to go down again. The interesting thing for me, to my point and to your point, you don't have to be great, you just can't suck. And Forrest has stunk it up and it's unfortunate because do I think you bring like you have this team. Forest is a good team. We know they finished last year, right Under Nuno. Nuno is. You have the ball. We're going to keep probably the most clean sheets in the Premier League are near enough. A really robust back four. Sometimes we'll go into a back five. Top goalkeeper makes tons of saves. Right, energetic midfield and then a front three. And from that energetic midfield, we're going to spring one. We'll give you one. So we'll attack with four. But when you attack, get your butt back because we're defending most of the game, right? That's how they did it. So if you go through this process of saying, I'm sacking manager and I'm bringing in postecoglou, it's like the opposite. This team doesn't work. It's not how he works. He plays a high line, tons of athletes, you have to have the ball. So they weren't good under him. But I'm also trying to think of the thought process of the ownership there at as far as to say, well, maybe we shouldn't bring this manager in. And by the way, if we do bring this manager in, we're going to go through some massive growing pains where we're just going to live with it. Right? You get what I'm saying? Because here's the thing. Was Sean Deitch, Was he. Was he announced today? Someone I think. Well, anyway, he was rumored. I don't know if he was announced. But then again, when I'm talking about. When I'm talking about the next hire, you go from a pragmatic manager to an expansive manager. And if it's Sean Deitch, you're going back to a pragmatic manager who by the way, kept our Everton up. So it's brilliant. And I think Sean Deitch is a fantastic Premier League manager, but it's horses for courses. So it just doesn't make sense. Go ahead, you go.
- [37:25]
Landon Donovan
No, you're right. So you're touching on it from the club standpoint, which you're 100% right. It's so dumb to fire Nuno and then bring in someone like an not because an isn't a good coach or whatever. It just. Just does not mesh from an standpoint. Someone asked me this week and they're like, well, he has to take that job when they offer it to him, right?
- [37:48]
Tim Howard
You don't agree with this?
- [37:48]
Landon Donovan
No, he doesn't. Absolutely doesn't. He's like, well, it's a Premier League club. Of course he has to take the job. And I said, no, he doesn't. Because what can happen to him after this is I don't believe he'll ever coach in the Premier League again. He's going to have to go start somewhere. He's not a young man, he's whatever, in his 50s or whatever. He's going to have to start somewhere else, maybe in the Championship, maybe in. Somewhere else in Europe, maybe he goes back to Australia or Japan or whatever. He's not going to coach in the Premier League again. And you know who did it, right? Tim, because he's a really smart man, is David Moyes. And Moyes had moments where, and you know this from behind the scenes more than I do, where he had some offers and he probably said, that's not going to fit me for whatever reason, right? So I'm not going to take that. And he said this to me when I. When I was there, he said, I had some offers from some clubs, didn't fit me, didn't fit my style. So I waited. And people get so excited and they always think the grass is greener and, like, the opportunity, and you have to stop and say, look, money's not an issue for me. I don't have to take this job. I can wait for the right job. And if he looked at that squad, and I'm sure, of course he did before he took it, and he looked at how they were designed and how they were built and the profiles of their players. Unless he said, marinakis, I need three years and we might go down and come back up. But that's the only way I get this, right? And maybe he did. I don't know. But you know who the owner is, too. You know, he's a psycho. So, like, you know, he might do this. So, yeah, look, I just think from Ange's standpoint, it was. It was stupid, it was. It was a dumb thing to do. And I get it, it's exciting, it's a Premier League club. But I respect.
- [39:30]
Tim Howard
I respect your take. I Know your take. I know that's how you're very balanced in that approach. I don't. I see it in the opposite way. I'm. I'm always like, jump at the opportunity, right? But like. But what I would say to that, Landon, is having been. Having been across it so closely, Ange, okay, Tottenham weren't very good. They were good when he first took over, right? I think they were like 10 unbeaten or something, right? Then last year they finished really low in the Premier League, but they won the Europa League. And he talked about he always wins a trophy in his second year and he came good on that. He got a lot of stick. So my dear friend Robbie Musto always says, ego is the enemy. I think it's a book he read. So he loves to quote that stuff, my guy. But so ego is the enemy. And I think that might be applied here. And here's why Ange took so much stick. I mean, every interview, Landon, last year, he was combative. You saw it. He was combative. He was angry because people were giving him stick. Change of style, it doesn't work. Can't win in the Premier League. So I do believe, right, we know the angel, we know the devil. I think that devil got big, brother. I think it got big. And I think he said, you don't think I can coach in the Premier League because the first time someone gets sacked, guess whose name's on the board? Mine. And I'm going to show you. I do. I think that had to play into it because to your point, it's not a stable environment. So he knows he could have very easily been sacked again, right?
- [40:59]
Landon Donovan
Of course you have, Tim. It's so easy for me to say sitting here, I get this, but you have to have a level of self awareness to say, that is not a good decision for me. It's not. And did anyone see this ending?
- [41:15]
Tim Howard
Well, they didn't see the ending after six games or whatever it is, but.
- [41:19]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I don't know.
- [41:20]
Tim Howard
I know, okay. But the problem is, I think we have to be fair to our listeners. You are talking about it as you said, as you sit there, you had your morning cup of coffee and it's nice. The greats, the elite, the people make it to the top. The 1 percenters, me and you. Postecoglou if you'd like. Cause it's the Premier League. Michael Jordan going to the Wizards. You think you can do it. That's all you've ever done, is backed yourself to the hills even when the chips were down. So that's why you make these decisions.
- [41:50]
Landon Donovan
I went to Mexico and thought I could play. I thought, you know, it's true. And because we've lived it again, it's easy to say, but I've made those mistakes. That's why you're saying, and David Moyes made that mistake. He went to Man United. How do you say no to Man United? Right. But like, you can't follow a legend like that. It's not going to work well. So speaking of United.
- [42:09]
Tim Howard
Yep.
- [42:10]
Landon Donovan
Wow. What a win. Nobody had that on their bingo card.
- [42:14]
Tim Howard
I did.
- [42:14]
Landon Donovan
No, not that they were going to win 100. Maybe they get a result.
- [42:19]
Tim Howard
And I was the only one in our production meeting last weekend and Rebecca tripled down. She said, timbo, you're going with United? I said, yeah.
- [42:27]
Landon Donovan
Why? Based on what?
- [42:29]
Tim Howard
Based on Liverpool's form and based on the fact that I've seen Manchester United go to Anfield recently in the last couple years and just be stodgy, just be hard to beat. I didn't think they were going to run away with it, of course, but I was like, I see the way that Liverpool is conceding. They haven't quite found their. Their form. I could see it. I mean, everyone, that's. That's what I thought before the weekend.
- [42:48]
Landon Donovan
That's all. All right. Well, that's four straight losses for. For Arna Slot and his team. If they lose midweek at Frankfurt, Frankfurt in the Champions League, that will be the first time they've lost five in a row since September of 1953.
- [43:07]
Tim Howard
Long time ago.
- [43:09]
Landon Donovan
I think that's the year my mom was born. Insane.
- [43:12]
Tim Howard
It's crazy.
- [43:13]
Landon Donovan
Insane. So what's wrong? Like, tell me what's wrong. What's going on with Liverpool?
- [43:19]
Tim Howard
Well, you know, it's an interesting one, right, because you start to get. You start to get a bunch of different wrinkles. Like Ekatike, he's your guy. We can't really be her guy if you bring in Isak for that money. Right? So I would have liked to see and I think Isak's one of the best strikers in the world. I'd have liked to see Ekatike run himself out. Meaning you're going to get. We're going to play how many games Liverpool going to play this year? 50 some odd games, right? Like you're. If. If you can keep the shirt for the next 10, it's yours. And by the way, my record sign, he'll get 40 games. I ain't worried about him. Right, because you got to roll with the hot Hand and I saw, I saw Alex Ferguson do it. We didn't have the luxury at Everton. So when David Moyes brought a player in, you're playing, but I saw Alex Ferguson do it. You bring in this big signing, you're like, oh, this guy's got hit the ground running. The ground running. He. He's sitting over there in the stands like the manager will put you on when he want, right? But he wasn't. And I'm. I'm not suggesting that on a slot is forced to do that. But Virt hasn't found his right, his position. Is he a. Is he a. A midfield 10 who likes to look for the ball? Is he. You know, then that wasn't working. So like let's stick him on the wing, right, Give him a little bit more freedom. That wasn't working. So there's that part, I think. I think understanding you know this better than I do or as well like partnerships and understanding are so key. And you know, for Trent, Alexander, Arnold, for all the. For all the. Well, I don't know if he can defend. Da da, da. There was a. With Robertson and Trent, I would, I would say that even now some people might argue this. If you gave me Robertson, Trent, Van Dyke and Konate, I would say that's still a better back four than what you can produce. No, I really do. I don't know if that's a championship winning back four. I don't know. But right now. So Frimpong hasn't been up to speed. There's something going on with Van Dyke and Kirk has the left back. I mean they. He's constantly on his back. So I don't know.
- [45:24]
Landon Donovan
Van Dyke got, just got run by on the first goal. Like he just doesn't. Yeah, it's bizarre.
- [45:30]
Tim Howard
You know, goalkeeper, goalkeeper situation not great because you know, Allison is probably the best in the world and when he's out, you go down a level. So you know, Mo Salah is not. Look, the thing about Mo Salah for me is like he's going to score 20 goals this year. I know he's off the pace, but like he needs to get going and I know he will. So I don't know you, what do you think?
- [45:54]
Landon Donovan
I think that even if you change one player in a team, the dynamic can completely changed. And with, you know, Luis Diaz gone, Robertson gone, Robertson out, Alexander Arnold gone. Now you bring in Verts, Ekatike, Isak. There's like, there's all these different dynamics that change and sometimes it just bang works and sometimes it doesn't. And you see it with. And you know, talk about City now. They beat Everton two now. But like, even some of the. You make one little change or one little guy's out of the team and all of a sudden everything changes. And so, yeah, one thing that doesn't change for. For them is Erling Holland just keeps scoring 11 goals in his first eight Premier League games this season. I remember midweek, someone texted me because I wasn't watching the game. He scored a hat trick for Norway and missed two penalties. I don't. I'm not sure has that ever happened in a game. The guy's just. He's on a different planet, right? And he's going to take Norway to the World cup too. So we're going to get to see him here next summer, which is going to be amazing.
- [46:54]
Tim Howard
You know. You know the interesting thing? Yeah. And. And City, obviously, I thought, played well. Everton played well in the first half. But here's what I would say about Holland. And thankfully there's nobody in the room because they probably smack me if I said it. But it's like he's starting to remind me of Messi. Not the way he plays, but you just read that, right? 11 goals in his first eight games. You know what I'm supposed to say when you say that? Oh, my God. Wow.
- [47:22]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, you're right.
- [47:23]
Tim Howard
I'm kind of just like, yeah. And by the way, no one's even talking about him. That's how normal this has become. When you talk about the Premier League, you're talking about Arsenal, rightfully so. Talking about Liverpool, rightfully so. Because they're off the pace, eh? Holland's got 11 and 8. Like, what? That's crazy. Now, when he first came to the Premier League, I remember going, wow. You know, we had like a pace tracker. It was like, he's on pace for 60, he's on pace for 58, whatever. But like now, whatever, yeah, he scored.
- [47:52]
Landon Donovan
Can you imagine?
- [47:53]
Tim Howard
He's that good.
- [47:54]
Landon Donovan
Can you imagine if Ekatike or Gyokres or sesko had scored 11 and 8 right now? It'd be like always lighting the league on fire. This is a man with Holland, you're like, that's crazy.
- [48:04]
Tim Howard
It's also. It's also. It's also crazy because there's so many soccer. I wasn't one of them. So I hold my hand up to say like, I was. I was right. But there's so many soccer people who don't dared, three years ago, dared to take on the com. The Conversation of, is City better without Holland? Is Holland holding City back? I know he's got 58 goals this season, but is he holding them back? Like, so stupid. Do me a favor.
- [48:30]
Landon Donovan
Do me a favor. On the other side of that loss, Jordan Pickford signed a new deal with the toffees through 2029.
- [48:38]
Tim Howard
Yeah. Disappointing.
- [48:40]
Landon Donovan
I think you hold some records. And is he coming after you? You're disappointed.
- [48:44]
Tim Howard
I like Jordan Pickford. I've had great interaction with him. But I'm disappointed. I wish he would leave Everton because he's getting really close to my records. I worked hard for them. I gave everything. And Jordan Pickford is going to beat all those records. He's going to shatter them. That's great. I'm happy for him. I'm happy for him, happy for Everton because he's been absolutely sensationally brilliant in.
- [49:07]
Landon Donovan
His time and he really has. And by the way, Tim, and he said it in AS commons, he said, the dark days are behind us and now we can focus on just moving forward. And we have to remember, and we're fortunate now, but for two or three years, like it was, oh, my God, we might get relegated. And he held it together and he stayed. He could have gone somewhere and left and whatever. I mean, he's helped keep that club afloat.
- [49:29]
Tim Howard
So it is. And you hope for Everton, because we're on a topic. The dark days are over. But then you also, you need to see Everton back in. Back in Europe. Like, they've got to be back in Europe. Those fans deserve those European nights and.
- [49:40]
Landon Donovan
The new stadium and be so.
- [49:41]
Tim Howard
The new stadium. Yeah. So. So I think those days are to come. David Moyes knows how to navigate that. So hopefully soon.
- [49:46]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. All right, let's take another break. When we come back, we will get into the AT and T fan connection with Junior. Lots of your questions this week right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. Stay right there.
- [50:07]
Tim Howard
There's nothing better than feeling like someone has your back and that things are going to get done without you even having to ask.
- [50:12]
Landon Donovan
Like fans who start to sing and chant at the exact moment their team needs to rally.
- [50:17]
Tim Howard
A coach who can change strategies at halftime to help their team win.
- [50:20]
Landon Donovan
A keeper you know, is defending your goal.
- [50:22]
Tim Howard
Or a forward who is always ready to receive the ball.
- [50:25]
Landon Donovan
AT Unfiltered Soccer. Tim and I know all too well how important it is to be sure someone out there has your back. That's precisely why AT and T has a new guarantee.
- [50:34]
Tim Howard
The AT and T guarantee is all about having your back when you're with AT&T. If there's a network interruption, they'll proactively make it right with a credit for a full day of Service, guaranteed.
- [50:45]
Landon Donovan
Visit att.com guarantee to learn more. Terms and conditions apply.
- [50:51]
Tim Howard
AT&T connecting changes everything.
- [50:54]
Landon Donovan
Credit for Fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details. All right, Timmy, I want to tell you about a time I had to choose a much chiller path. 2009 in Seattle. We're playing Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup Final. We go to penalties. Who misses a penalty? This guy you got back on the bus. I was crying in the back of the bus and. And I had this moment where I had a realization that, yes, I missed the penalty, yes, we lost chance at winning an MLS cup final, but I had really given everything that year. It was a time in my life that was really tumultuous and I really put everything, everything, everything into my career and my sport. And I said, you know what? Like, I. I did everything I could have. I tried my hardest and it didn't work out. And so it was time in that moment to really chill, appreciate what I did. Appreciate that moment doesn't always go your way, but you gotta choose chill sometimes and just relax. And when you embrace that chill mindset, it's a good time to choose chill. And as always, crack open a Coors Light.
- [52:15]
Tim Howard
Absolutely. Make the most of the times you choose to chill. Choose Coors Light. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door. Visit coorslight.com USLNT Celebrate responsibly. Coors Brewing Co. Golden Colorado Beer this.
- [52:31]
Jordan
Episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast Smart move Being financially savvy Smart move. Another smart move Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan. Like a ganache neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.
- [53:02]
Tim Howard
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. All right, it's that time again. AT&T fan connection. We love it. You love it. Jordan most definitely loves it. And you told us before the show you might have some spice for us. Welcome in, Jordan.
- [53:35]
Jordan
Yes, I do. I have some. Some slightly spicy questions this week. I think a little bit.
- [53:40]
Landon Donovan
Jordan, you're a bit somber today. Why is that?
- [53:43]
Tim Howard
Oh, she's. She.
- [53:44]
Jordan
I'm not so.
- [53:44]
Tim Howard
You know, she's trying hard. She's trying hard to represent her team when they're down.
- [53:49]
Landon Donovan
She's pretending. Unlike. Yeah.
- [53:51]
Jordan
I'm wearing the 199395 replica Liverpool jersey with number 9 and rush on my back as a reminder to all the Liverpool fans out there that we have sucked before and we will be saying we'll suck again.
- [54:04]
Landon Donovan
Tim, you know how during the game like all the fans were booing. She's trying to show like the world that she's a like a real die hard fan and she sticks by them through thick and thin. But Liverpool fans don't do that like Everton fans. All right, go on, Jordan.
- [54:21]
Tim Howard
Give us some. Give us some spice.
- [54:24]
Jordan
Okay, well, we. Let's start with some USMNT questions. You guys were talking about Christian Pulisic before. This question is from Joel. Joel. I think it's Joel via email. I don't want to be a conspiracy theorist, but I haven't heard anyone comment on the fact that Christian Pulisic had the captain's armband on for the Australia match. I could see him limping in the first 10 to 15 minutes. He shouldn't have been in the game. Could giving him the armband, his first since PO was hired, been a way to get him to start the match if he was reluctant, how is the captaincy decided on.
- [55:02]
Tim Howard
Oh, it's a good question. Because I have.
- [55:03]
Landon Donovan
First of strong op. First of all, no. First of all, no, he didn't. You're not going to entice a player with. If you play, I'll give you the armband so that I'm just going to start with that and then go ahead, keep going. No, no, no. That's all I have for.
- [55:18]
Tim Howard
Yeah, I have a strong feeling about. I play for some incredible captains and the captain is not a player. The captain is not always your best player. The captain and usually it's not your best player. The captain should never need to be enticed to wear a captain's arm in to play better. The captain is just your captain. The captain is the most. One of the most Respected people on the team has nothing to do with ability. It's about accountability. That's who your captain is. So I actually was surprised that that was the first time he's worn the captain's armband under pochette tune. I didn't know that, but I would imagine that with you, like you, that definitely didn't happen.
- [56:05]
Landon Donovan
You know, it was interesting. I guess I didn't put that all together, that he wore the armband. Tim Ream didn't start. Right.
- [56:12]
Jordan
Right.
- [56:12]
Landon Donovan
But Chris Richards started.
- [56:14]
Jordan
Right.
- [56:14]
Landon Donovan
So the. The next logical choices would have been Tyler, if he was in. Wasn't in, or Chris Richards.
- [56:21]
Tim Howard
Really.
- [56:21]
Landon Donovan
I don't know.
- [56:22]
Jordan
Chris Richards took the armband from Christian when he went off.
- [56:26]
Tim Howard
Well, Yep.
- [56:27]
Landon Donovan
I don't know if he took it, but he was.
- [56:29]
Tim Howard
He received it.
- [56:30]
Landon Donovan
He was the next person to wear it. So that's an. Yeah, that's interesting. I hadn't tied that together, I guess. Who else do you give it to? I think, given his performances for the team, I would have probably given it to Chris Richards and everything he'd done. But, yeah, that's interesting. And, you know, for managers, it's. You're balancing all these different things and so if you don't give it to them, what does that say? And so it's.
- [56:52]
Tim Howard
It's a challenge. They should just. Certain teams let the players vote and they tally it up. Probably not at that level. Maybe at that level, but the manager. The manager should have his captain and then that's it. And a scene and a senior leadership group.
- [57:06]
Landon Donovan
But you know, what Bob Bradley used to do, this was so great. He'd always, like, it wasn't a threat, but he'd always go, you know, with some teams, I'll have my players write down who they want to play with or who they're starting, 11 should be, or which guys are. He would always say on this side of the line or that side of the line, and he would never actually do it, but it made you think about it, like, oh, who do I want to play with?
- [57:30]
Tim Howard
And.
- [57:30]
Landon Donovan
And then if you're like one of those guys who's like, shoot, do people want to play with me? Or whatever. It was like, really.
- [57:35]
Tim Howard
So, you know, maybe you just threatened, you know, that. That's. I. I forgot about the. The line, Bob. We talk about being on other side of the line, but I remember on the great. Not great, but the Milan teams of AC Milan teams that I grew up watching or like maybe like late 90s, early 2000s, they had a club role. I Don't know who implemented it. Maldini was the captain. And then when Maldini wasn't on the pitch, there was a hierarchy of who had been at the club longest. Didn't matter your nationality. So Maldini goes off the pitch and at one point it became Ambrosini, who was like a younger kid. He had been at the club longer than anybody else because he had served through the youth. So he got the captain's armband. I just remember.
- [58:16]
Landon Donovan
And then there's no discussion, it's just. Yeah, yeah, all right. Good question.
- [58:21]
Jordan
Okay, so you guys mentioned Chris Richards in there, and we actually got three or four versions of the question I'm about to ask you. So this one is from Vincent via email in the USMT vs Australia reaction live stream. Thanks so much for watching Vincent. Tim and Landon talked about players stepping up and being the enforcer to help protect players who would get smashed by the opposing team. It sounded like Chris Richards was ready to do that in the game against Australia, but is he the right player to do that? A center back with a yellow card seems like a liability at the back. Wouldn't it be better for a player further up the pitch to take that role, like a Weston McKinney?
- [59:02]
Tim Howard
Go on. Yeah, yeah. But by the way, Chris Richards wouldn't be the only tough, tenacious center back who's willing to step up for his team in world football. That's kind of part of that job, right? We see it constantly in the Premier League with, with, with certain center backs. So what Chris Richards is saying, he's not saying, like he's just going to go steaming into a tackle and continually get booked and put himself on the edge. That's not what he's saying. Because by the way, you could also send messages in different ways. And so he's obviously going to be smart about it. But of course you're hoping he's not. He's not taking a yellow card early on in the game. But I don't think that's what Chris Richards meant.
- [59:44]
Landon Donovan
And it is a little less about position. Although generally speaking, center backs, gritty defensive midfielders kind of carry that mentality and they're like that. But it can be. It can be an attacking player, like Connor Casey, a guy we played with. He used to smash center backs and not in a retaliatory way all the time. It was just like he wanted to be a nightmare to play against. And so he would just hammer you and smash you something. Not me, but like center back. And so it's more just Personality. Drew, I don't think Wes really has that. We saw Sebastian Berhalter definitely has that in the Gold cup and some guys just have that about him.
- [60:23]
Jordan
Okay, one more US Men's national team question. This one is from John via email. John says, I have watched Miles Robinson since his Atlanta United days and admit he is a favorite. Please go back over the last two games. Miles started both. So the gaffer has confidence. He played well. Only fault was Iran Kunda breakthrough. The kid is a beast. Who knew? Miles is an excellent coverage guy and superior on recovery ability. In the podcast after the games, very little said about him. It's not right.
- [60:56]
Tim Howard
Yeah, fair.
- [60:59]
Landon Donovan
And because it seems now that Pochettino is going to playing a back three, you would think he is the leading candidate to play with Chris Richards and Tim Ream. And then the question is, where is everyone best suited? And that, that part is tricky because you would say Chris Richards in the middle makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons, but Chris Richards plays on the right for his club team and there's so much value in just knowing automatically what that's like. And then you come into the national team, you got to change a little. So that is, they are different. They are very different position. So. But I agree. I think Miles was solid, did no wrong. And as Pochettino always not only says, but shows with his actions. If you play well and you work and you fight, you're going to play again. So I wouldn't be surprised if he starts next year.
- [61:50]
Tim Howard
And there are just some players who are underappreciated and Miles is obviously one of them, but we don't disagree with that. Putting two good performances and on a team where there are a bunch of stars, you know, his name is not going to pop to the. To the top. So we're going to remember that. Remember that next time we do a live stream, we're going to.
- [62:10]
Landon Donovan
Who asked the question?
- [62:12]
Jordan
John.
- [62:13]
Landon Donovan
And John, by the way, you want it that way. You want it to be that we're not talking about him. Okay, so just like a referee, you don't want us talking about him. That means he's just doing his job solidly. And then we'll look up in three months and go, damn, that guy started six games in a row. That's pretty good. And that it's better that way because we're talking about them. It means something bad happened, most likely.
- [62:34]
Jordan
Okay, one more question. This one's from Katie via email, and before I ask her question, I also just want to mention in her email, she asked if we would consider doing some content going forward, where you guys discuss the different positions on the field and kind of like explain what each position is supposed to do and what purpose they serve. I feel like that might be something social content.
- [62:59]
Tim Howard
I like it.
- [63:01]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, it is. But I just warn you, Katie, there are, like, there's not just 11 positions because there's formations and how you play and what it looks like if you're a defense, if you're Nottingham Forest versus if you're Man City. So, like, we can get into all.
- [63:14]
Tim Howard
That, but maybe she needs to send us a couple specifics on, like, I'd really like to know what it does or, you know, what, that type of.
- [63:20]
Landon Donovan
Thing in this system.
- [63:22]
Tim Howard
Right? Yeah. You have homework.
- [63:24]
Landon Donovan
You got homework, Katie, do your homework.
- [63:27]
Jordan
You've got a couple weeks before we start season two, so give it a. Okay. So this is Katie's question. She says, I am a newer soccer fan, which kind of explains the things she's looking for. And I am still learning the dynamics of the game. My question is, given the state of the current U.S. men's National Team, how much of the struggle we can attribute to the coaching staff? I always see coaches get blamed when teams aren't doing well, and I'm trying to decipher if that's the case with the current men's national team that seems to still be working to find their way.
- [63:58]
Landon Donovan
Well, it's. There's a few things. One, it's easier to fire one person than it is 25 on a roster. Second of all, with the national team, you can't cut players. Like, you cannot bring them in, but you're not. You can't sign new players. Right. So you bring in the coach, and the coach has this group people of. Of players, and that's it. I. I'm assuming her question is in reference to prior to this last trans. Or this last international window, because I thought the team was excellent and really moving in the right direction. And to your. I guess, to your point, Katie, it takes a lot of time for a coach. And Tim talks about this and giving coach more time to get a team to, like, culturally adapt to what you want from them on the field, adapt to what you want from them. And with the national team, it's exacerbated because you only get them for a few days at a time. So when you're with a club team, you have them every day. So over three months, there's massive improvement. Six months, massive improvement. With a national team, it's really hard because you're starting over a little bit every time they come into camp.
- [65:04]
Tim Howard
That's right. Nothing really to add to that.
- [65:08]
Landon Donovan
That's it?
- [65:08]
Tim Howard
Nothing from you? No. No. No random.
- [65:11]
Landon Donovan
No Liverpool questions or anything?
- [65:13]
Tim Howard
Got anything for us? I mean, you always. You're always.
- [65:16]
Landon Donovan
Four losses in a row.
- [65:18]
Tim Howard
It could be a soccer question. Anything? No. Nothing spicy.
- [65:22]
Jordan
No, I'm good for right now. I would just like to remind people that we're off for the next two weeks while we get our heads down and get prepared for season two. So you have plenty of time to send me questions. Feedbackfiltered soccer.com. just be nice. That's really all that I don't. Don't boo Liverpool. Give me a break, guys. I'm clearly already getting it from Landon and Tim.
- [65:46]
Landon Donovan
I don't need it from Jordan. Will, like, in our group chat, put some nice comment that someone wrote to her and then ask a question, and then, sure enough, that question shows up on the show. So flattery works.
- [65:57]
Jordan
Not this time.
- [65:58]
Landon Donovan
Not this time. All right, thanks, junior. All right, Timmy. End of season one.
- [66:06]
Tim Howard
It's a good one. Congrats. You got hair in an entire season. That's the best thing that happened. Wow.
- [66:12]
Landon Donovan
What a season. All right, so I'm gonna do this relatively quickly, but I get this comment a lot, and I think you do, too. One, when people come up and say, I love the show, we love the podcast. Me and my son listen every week, whatever. And the comment I get probably more than any is, we love you guys. You guys are great. But just the production of the show is phenomenal and, like, the way it's put together and the social media and the graphics and the sound and all of it is amazing.
- [66:43]
Tim Howard
Before you go, we're really lucky in that regard because we enjoy what we do. We have a unfiltered soccer chat group that is pinned at the top of my phone because it goes off all day. And we just talk soccer and sometimes we talk about.
- [66:59]
Landon Donovan
And I pray to God it never.
- [67:01]
Tim Howard
Gets released publicly, but there's just a lot of. We enjoy it. I don't know if we have an amazing team. It just. It's fun, you know, doing a podcast at this level with this. These people is fun. Obviously, we're going to show them some love, so.
- [67:17]
Landon Donovan
And we got hopefully many, many, many, many years to come. So I just want to run through just briefly. So every episode is edited and mastered in some way by some of the following Adam Bronstein. Thank you. Grant Gadbois, who was on today thank you. Andrew Hartley, Tim Merlot, Corey Shepherd, Jeremy Steinkamp, and then some of the more regulars. Anything that happens on social media is our man, Dan Armelli.
- [67:41]
Tim Howard
Yes, Dan. Big shout.
- [67:42]
Landon Donovan
All the videos. Big, big shout, Dan. All the videos on social are edited by Kyle. Kyle Curley is on here. And he. My last chat on here was Joey from Friends. So that's. People know what we were talking about in between our production lead, Eric New, who's also on.
- [68:00]
Tim Howard
Eric is the guy. Aside from everything else, it's when. It's when I have an issue with electronics technology, I'm just like, e, jump in here, FaceTime, sort this out. And he does so big shout out.
- [68:16]
Landon Donovan
And then every week we got a rundown. And I don't know how this guy has time. He has kids. He loves the Eagles and the Phillies, although now the Phillies are out. So he has more time, but he puts together a rundown of what we should talk about and keeps all these things front of mind. Because sometimes we go, oh, my God, I didn't see that. I didn't recognize. He's just like sits and watches soccer all day. So. Andrew Gunling. Thank you.
- [68:37]
Tim Howard
Thank you, Andrew.
- [68:38]
Landon Donovan
We adore you.
- [68:38]
Tim Howard
Absolutely incredible.
- [68:40]
Landon Donovan
And then I feel like we're missing someone who.
- [68:44]
Tim Howard
No, that's it.
- [68:45]
Landon Donovan
Anyone else important on our list?
- [68:47]
Tim Howard
No, it's done.
- [68:47]
Landon Donovan
That's it. Nobody else? Nobody, like, ask questions or anything?
- [68:51]
Tim Howard
Oh, oh, you talking about a Liverpool fan? You talking about Liverpool fan?
- [68:54]
Landon Donovan
Oh, yeah, yeah. Unfortunately, she's a Liverpool fan, but we love her. Junior, we love you. We adore you, Jordan, more than anything. Thanks for everything.
- [69:03]
Tim Howard
The public adores you. We did. We didn't anticipate when we were talking with our agents and this was the Landon and Tim show, we just weren't anticipating that there was going to be not only a sidekick, but someone who stole the show. So congratulations on your first season of the show and we appreciate you all so much. Love.
- [69:24]
Landon Donovan
And just so everyone knows, our group chat used to be uslnt and now it's USLNT in njr.
- [69:32]
Tim Howard
That's amazing.
- [69:33]
Landon Donovan
All right, thank you guys. Thanks to everyone for the first season. We'll be back in two weeks. Weeks, I believe, to start season two. Really exciting. Obviously, next year is going to be phenomenal. Thank you guys for making this show the number one soccer podcast in the country. A top 10, 15 depending on when you're looking. Sports podcast. We really appreciate you guys. Continue to follow on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcasts and as always, follow social Media nfiltered Soccer for all the bonus content.
- [70:03]
Tim Howard
LD thank you man. Thank you for being my brother and.
- [70:06]
Landon Donovan
My thank you too buddy.
- [70:07]
Tim Howard
My co host, our production team, our staff, everybody. We just mentioned pretty amazing first season. And to all of you out there, soccer fans who adore this sport and our national team and all the leagues and you keep us accountable. You show us love, show us hate, whatever that looks like. It's been a lot of fun. We look forward to more of it. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, VW, our fan connection sponsor AT&T, our unfiltered Refresh sponsor Coors Light, and our additional sponsors Cafe Bustello and Virgin Atlantic. Have a great week. We'll be back with season two on November 11th with another edition of Unfiltered Soccer. Whoever you're repping this season, carry the team like a pro with Ultra Durable Officially Licensed Yeti Drinkwear. Whether it's the NFL, ncaa, mlb, NHL or mls, YETI has you covered with drinkware in all your favorite team colors. So if you're a serious fan, now's the time to get serious about your gear with Officially Licensed Yeti Drinkware built for the long haul. Find all the teams you root for@yeti.com or a Yeti store near you.