← Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
USMNT Win First Gold Cup Match, Pochettino's Response to Pulisic, and the Club World Cup Kicks Off
01:11:48
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- [00:00]
Landon Donovan
US Soccer and the players within US Soccer won a free pass for being average. You don't get a free pass for being average. Yeah, we know what great looks like and we know what poor looks like. I have succeeded on the biggest stages in the world for U.S. soccer. I've also failed on the biggest stages in the world for U.S. soccer. This idea that we should give them a free pass, I don't buy it.
- [00:22]
Tim Howard
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim presented by Volkswagen. Volkswagen has long been a supporter of soccer in America and is of part proudly been a partner of US Soccer for over five years.
- [00:32]
Landon Donovan
Ld just like that, we are back. Another episode of Unfiltered Soccer. It's been a fun week, man. We did the live show together out in la, which was awesome.
- [00:44]
Tim Howard
That feels so long ago, by the way. That feels so long ago.
- [00:47]
Landon Donovan
I've lost track of all days, like in the summer. I'm like a high school kid. I'm like, is it Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday? I don't know, just totally. But you've been busy covering the Gold cup and doing doggies back and forth from San Diego, San Diego to la.
- [01:02]
Tim Howard
It was, it was a long weekend covering all the games for FOX and then got back late last night. Go back up tomorrow. So these tournaments, as you know, man, they are grind, but they're fun because you're like as the tournament goes on, gets more and more interesting. You know, the team's better, whatever. I got home this morning. My kids, I got to show you this. You remember these days your kids are old now. They made me all these love dad card for Father's Day. My son Drew.
- [01:29]
Landon Donovan
That's amazing. Happy Father's Day by the way.
- [01:31]
Tim Howard
Thanks dude. I love you. This for my six year old daughter. I love you, dad. You are the best dad ever. My older son wrote Happy birthday to the best dad and then scratched out for Father's Day and they made me a word search.
- [01:46]
Landon Donovan
Word search is cool, dude. Dad word search isn't that cool? Wait, what do you got? Galaxy Golf.
- [01:51]
Tim Howard
Well, there's a few on here. Yeah, that probably not safe for sure.
- [01:55]
Landon Donovan
Sure, sure.
- [01:56]
Tim Howard
But yeah, Galaxy Everton Golf work usa.
- [02:02]
Landon Donovan
It's hard. It's hard to work when you're away. Away from the kids. But that's awesome. I actually did. I went to the movies with my daughter and saw Karate Kid which was awesome.
- [02:10]
Tim Howard
Oh, that's sweet.
- [02:11]
Landon Donovan
It was fun.
- [02:11]
Tim Howard
Did she have any concept of the original?
- [02:13]
Landon Donovan
She watched all the. Yeah, she watched all those.
- [02:15]
Tim Howard
Oh, she watched the original.
- [02:16]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, she's that's she's like, she loves the old school stuff, so it was cool.
- [02:19]
Tim Howard
It's so good. All right, guys, lot to talk about. National team played this weekend, so we're going to dig into a lot. As always, follow us on social media. Unfiltered Soccer. Subscribe to the show, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcast. Email us@unfiltered soccer.com and as always, you can leave a review. All right, Tim, straight in uslnt on usmnt.
- [02:41]
Landon Donovan
Let's get it.
- [02:42]
Tim Howard
Big, big win. And normally in normal circumstances you would say, okay, five nothing against Trinidad. Probably what should have happened, but given all the drama over the last few weeks, everything that's gone on with this team, four game losing streak, it was a really good performance. I think more relief than joy, probably from everyone. But I, I just, I, I was there, I watched the game live, talked about it on Fox. But what, give me your thoughts on, on what you saw.
- [03:07]
Landon Donovan
Good, man. I, I'm, look, this team, you know, I know, I know Tyler Adams, a guy who I really like and respect, talked about the outside noise not filtering in. The outside noise is absolutely filtered into that dressing room. And what I, what I like about, and this is not, this is not about me, you or any other pundit or analyst or commentator. But what I like about this result is, or my hope is that this team is rallying around each other on the inside. Like, forget, forget those guys who talk on the, with the microphones. Forget our teammates who aren't here. Like, this is us, right? This is this group and this is our time and this is all we got. And so my, my hope is they went out and did the business, you know, got the goals because goals were there, kept a clean sheet because, you know, sometimes in these games it can get a little bit messy and then you give up a goal and it takes the gloss off it. They kept it really tight. We'll obviously get into this deeper into the show. But I, I'm, I, I'm imagining they're going to, and you may disagree with this, but this should be very similar results against Saudi Arabia and Haiti. I don't buy into the, I don't buy into the concept that these teams are that much better. I don't, I watched the game last night that you called them again. We'll get into that, but they're handling business and I think that's what's important. And they're getting performances from players in the front area. They're getting goals again, keeping clean sheets. So you Know, for them, I'm delighted that that's the way it is. I wouldn't say I'm excited. The first round of this competition doesn't excite me. It doesn't. I said that I was on record a month ago saying that when a draw came out. So this is a time to kind of get the go. Go through the gears and get a rhythm. But these games for me aren't that important. They. They did the business last night.
- [04:58]
Tim Howard
It was the perfect opponent.
- [05:00]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [05:00]
Tim Howard
On the back of all these things and the perfect one to start the tournament. I, I mean, I don't envision a scenario where Saudi and Haiti are worse than no. Or even equivalent to tr. I mean that. Tim, we've played Trinidad a million times. That is by a million miles, the worst Trinidad performance I have ever seen.
- [05:16]
Landon Donovan
Crazy.
- [05:17]
Tim Howard
They were so bad. And look, credit to the U.S. right, they made them look bad too. But some of the. I couldn't believe what I was watching. So that being said, you only play who's in front of you. And I thought there were a number of really good performances. I mean, you and I probably could have played center back in that game, to be, to be honest. But obviously Diego Luna was excellent. Malik Tillman with the goals was great. I thought Ajumang felt bad for him because he actually did get a goal. He didn't know anything about it, but he did get a goal. But he deserved that because his performance was good. He's such a handful. He's such a nightmare to play against. And he just like, he goes and he presses and he pins people and he works and he digs and he's in the box and just does all the things you want him to. He's not always the easiest on the eye, but he's really effective.
- [06:04]
Landon Donovan
Can I, can I jump on the back of that? I think I've heard that over the last 24 hours. And I, and I agree with you. Like he's a player and there's a lot of them out there, by the way. You know, I cover the Premier League every week. There's a bunch of those and they're supposed to be the best players in the world. He's a guy who needs a bunch of opportunities to get one goal, which I don't hate because look, we'd all love to be clinical and efficient, but the fact of the matter is we can have a striker on the US team that can drop into the pocket and be silky and sexy, but ultimately Ajamang is a frickin nightmare. He Hangs on the back of defenders, he barges people, he runs vertically. Right. He makes it difficult. And I truly believe as a striker and look, you can have a couple different strikers, but certainly in your stable, you've got to have a striker that just makes it uncomfortable. Every time a center back goes to head it or kick it or clear it, he dumps him, right. And then all of a sudden you do that three or four times. Now the center back tries to take an extra touch because he doesn't feel like getting dumped again. And there's a mistake. I do like Ajamang. I think he's got a place on this team and, and of course he got rewarded with the goal. So happy for that.
- [07:12]
Tim Howard
Do you think this will be his starting 11? And I, I, I have clear thought on this, but I want to hear what you have to say first.
- [07:20]
Landon Donovan
Do I think that going into the next game.
- [07:22]
Tim Howard
Yeah, and, and I guess going forward, like if they win again against Saudi, does he keep.
- [07:26]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I think Aaronson will probably get a start at some point. Um, you know, look, I, I think that he'll make a couple changes. I do. That's kind of what Pochettino has done. I think he makes a couple changes for the next game, see how it goes. And then you start to get closer to what your team is going to look like in the last game, right. Against Haiti, last group game. And then I also think you're probably balancing the yellow card situation in that last game. So I don't know, don't know what that looks like. FIFA needs to change the yellow card situation in international tournaments, but that's a whole different kettle of fish. So, yeah, I think he'll make a couple of changes, but, you know, these guys will be itching to start and they did a good job. They did a good job last night. One thing I was going to ask you, right. Which is slightly off topic topic, but clearly not. Like, just when I think I know so much about football, I'm dumbfounded. Right. So you watch the, we all watched the Trinidad game. Trinidad bunkered in, right. They parked a bunch, which I'm totally cool with, by the way. If you don't have the talent to match teams, right. And what you do ld when you, when you bunker in, you're trying to eliminate, eliminate space in behind. Right? And what it also says on the unwritten part is we, we're, we're not good enough to be expansive and play between lines and open up and give guys the ball one on one to drive. Like you said, it it's one of the worst teams you've seen in a long time. So if that's the concept and I agree with it, right. Keep everything in front of you, bunch up things in the box, make it difficult for the US how come every time they got a goal kick, they spread the center backs, played to a center back, played to a wing back that was marked. He reversed, blind, blindly reversed the ball into a striker who wasn't there, and they lost the ball. Like, tactically speaking, I'm just kind of thinking, like, wouldn't the concept be, just put the ball down, move your lines, we've got a couple horses that can battle and fight, stick it on their head at midfield, see what happens. Like, just conceptually I was baffled what they were doing tactically, but that's.
- [09:26]
Tim Howard
They were. They. They just were bizarre. You had no clue what their plan was? Yeah, is the way. Like, there was no clue. And conversely, I did the Saudi Haiti game. That game at halftime had, like.
- [09:37]
Landon Donovan
They had.
- [09:38]
Tim Howard
Each team had less than 100 completed passes, which is a crazy stat.
- [09:42]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [09:43]
Tim Howard
In modern soccer, right? Crazy stat. Both knew who they were, right? And they weren't trying. And Dominican Republic, by the way, and we'll talk about this, but, like, same thing with. Against Mexico. They were 5, 4, 1, compact, tight. They, you know, maybe try to goal kick or two here, but they were like, no, just up the field, make the game messy, whatever. And then they had some quality and they scored a few goals. So I have no idea. I have no idea what Trinidad. I mean, thank God. I wish we could play them every game.
- [10:08]
Landon Donovan
Well, except in 2017. I wish they were that bad that night. Yeah, no, no. But that's all I kept thinking. I was like, this is the worst team in the world. And I'm like, I can't say that they knocked us out of the World Cup.
- [10:18]
Tim Howard
Yeah, fair enough. Anyway, I want to dig into Matt Freeze. Obviously, nothing to do. I could have played goalie in that game. But do you think, you know, Pochettino has made it clear that he understands what Matt Turner can bring and he doesn't need to see him anymore in. In games like this necessarily. So do you think Matt Freese plays throughout the tournament if he keeps doing well?
- [10:40]
Landon Donovan
It's a good question. I spoke to. So my childhood friend is a guy named Rob Vartusian, and he's. He's the goalkeeper coach, assistant coach with nycfc. And obviously Matt. He spoke to Matt Freese as he does every day, and Matt was delighted to get the Start and get the, the win as he should be. I just. With goalkeepers, look, Matt Freeze, I would imagine is going to be competing for like the third three, you know, with Patrick Schulte and when he gets fit. And so I'm just not sure what you're looking for. Right, because ultimately Matt Turner or Zach Stefan is going to be playing in the World Cup. And I think what you do is you start to, you start to take away games from a guy that ultimately needs games. Like Matt Turner is going to start this year for Lyon in France, but he still needs games with this team. And I know we know what he can do. You know, you just look at what's the best case scenario for Matt Frieza. He play how many games between now in the World Cup? Like 13. So he goes into the World cup with 13 to 15 caps. You're never going to play a guy who's got 13 and 15 caps in the World Cup. Right. So this is, I, I think the exercise is probably, you know, you've done, you've done well, you've been rewarded for doing well. I would imagine Matt Turner will play in.
- [11:57]
Tim Howard
You think so?
- [11:58]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. I don't know if it's next game or the game after, but I. Look, the problem is if you're like, if we're judging Matt Freeze. Right. You said he didn't have much to do, right. Okay, so how do you really judge a guy? You judge him in high level games. So that you're talking like a Costa Rica semifinal or a Mexico final. Like that's really where you're going to judge a guy who said like, is this guy worth his salt? And is there anything there? So I don't know. I don't know. I think Matt, I think, I think he'll chop and change a little bit.
- [12:31]
Tim Howard
Yeah, I would expect that. He, I, I just, I think this game, in other circumstances he would have maybe had a different lineup. And I just think he said we are putting our best team out, our best players because we have to win this game. Given, not, not because it's a Gold cup open or whatever. Just given everything that's gone on. I think as a coach you're like, you're feeling the pressure. And you said, I just need to play my best team. And Matt Turner's probably the exception from that.
- [12:57]
Landon Donovan
Okay.
- [12:58]
Tim Howard
Because I think as his quote, best team Matt Turner would be in. But I think everywhere else on the field, I think he just said, we're not messing around. We're not, we know we should beat this team, but we need to win this game.
- [13:06]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. Okay.
- [13:07]
Tim Howard
Period.
- [13:07]
Landon Donovan
So, yeah.
- [13:08]
Tim Howard
All right. Lots of great performances. We clearly now need to pick a. A man of the match.
- [13:14]
Landon Donovan
Rld it's time for the unfiltered refresh sponsored by Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to coorslight.com USLNT okay, who chose Chill for the US Men's National Team? I'll give you the candidates. Jack McGlin was really, really good. Tillman got. Got his goals. He was. He was great. And I also thought Diego Luna ran the show for. For the men. So who do you got?
- [13:41]
Tim Howard
Great hat. First of all, I would say McGlynn was good. I thought Tillman was very good. There were a number of good performances, which is the good news. But the man for me who chose chill was Diego Luna. Uh, we love him. I love him. I love his attitude, his effort. He's picking off passes, being unselfish. He should have got a goal, but instead got two assists. But for me, the man continues to choose chill, and I expect a really, really big tournament from him. So congrats to you, Diego Luna.
- [14:12]
Landon Donovan
Congrats, Diego.
- [14:13]
Tim Howard
Congrats to you, my friend. Choosing Chill. All right, so good performance. And up next Thursday night, 9:15pm Eastern time. US versus Saudi Arabia. I believe it's on FS1. Saudi's to a good start. They had long travel across multiple continents and put in a good performance. It was a hard game against Haiti, but this is a game now for the US if you don't get full points here, it gets a little dicey because that Haiti game is going to be. That Haiti game is going to be difficult because you expect that they'll be Trinidad. So that's what's up next for the.
- [14:47]
Landon Donovan
US look, and you and I disagree a little bit on this, which is great because we'll be able to see who's right and wrong or somewhere in between. I just expect. I expect the US Not. Not to like. Not that it's an easy game, but I. You said Haiti and Saudi Arabia were like, we know who we are. We actually don't want the ball in a. In a moment where a team has less than 100 passes and a half, the other team's going to have triple that. Right. Double that. So neither team wanted the ball. I do believe it's going to be another game of, hey, you have it. US take the ball and then break us down. And the US has shown that. I think they can do that. So I would be. I would be Surprised if we don't jump on the pod next time. And, and we see another really strong US performance and a, and a, hopefully a 3, 4 nil defeat again. You know, win against Saudi Arabia.
- [15:42]
Tim Howard
All right, we'll see. I'm giving Trinidad zero credit for anything, so I guess we'll see some other results. The opening game, Mexico beat Dominican Republic. Very good game. Very, very good game. Dominican Republic put a scare into them and if not for two set piece goals, we might be talking about a tie or a loss for Mexico. So CONCACAF is clearly getting better and I think that's great for everyone. Yeah, we mentioned Saudi, Haiti, Costa Rica, Suriname was a phenomenal game last night. The CONCACAF. After dark, Costa Rica went up 2 nil. Suriname then came back to be up 3 2. And then Costa Rica tied it and won with a late penalty.
- [16:18]
Landon Donovan
So you like Surnam?
- [16:20]
Tim Howard
I do. I think they're good. I mean, relatively speaking, they're the lowest.
- [16:24]
Landon Donovan
Ranked team in, in, in the Gold Cup. Correct. Are they second? I don't know, but I, I, it's.
- [16:31]
Tim Howard
Just because they're unknown. They've got a, this is with CONCACAF right now, Tim. It's the, it's the opposite of what the US Is right now. The US is a bunch of random guys thrown together. And you know, it's hard to be a team that way. You can have good players. But, but like Suriname, Haiti, Curacao, a lot of these teams, they just play together a lot. Either they're on their club teams or with their national team and then they have some good players. They're not, they're not bad players. They're well coached. They've had some good results. So I think, I don't, you know, are they going to get out of the group? Probably not. But they're, they're a decent team and so pay attention to. Okay, let's, I want to be real clear because we've obviously we've talked about Pulisic and the guys who are not here with the national team. This is not, despite what people might think, it's not personal. It's not. We're not trying to go at people. This is our job and this is what we get paid to do. And you don't have to like it, you don't have to agree with it. But this is our opinions based on decades and decades and decades and thousands of soccer games we've played and seen and all the people we talk to. So not going to get into the back and forth with, with Christian about, you know, things he said In. In the interview he did last week. But what I do think we have an obligation, Tim, to talk about is what's going on between he and. And Mauricio Pochettino.
- [17:53]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [17:53]
Tim Howard
Yeah. Because there were a number of things he said in his interview that were really interesting. And we taped our live show before he did his interview, so we didn't have a chance to listen to that. And then, as you say, decipher it all and give it back to the people and what he's really saying. So, yeah. So the first thing he said that was really interesting was that he said he wanted to come into the two friendlies, but not the Gold Cup. Fair enough. Mauricio Pochettino then responded. And I want to quote him. So we're not. So we're being accurate. So Pochettino in his press conference said Christian explained why he only wanted to be involved in two games. And I respect. And I understand him. I. I understand him, but I don't need for him to understand our decision because my position is I'm 53 years old with a lot of experience in football. I was a player before I was a coach. It's easy to understand that I want a roster to prepare two games for the tournament, because for me, the Gold cup is a really important competition. It's not a problem because you need to listen to your players. Communication with Pulisic is good. Like the others. I have the same communication with Diego. Diego Luna was sitting next to him in the press conference, as I do with him. I don't prioritize. You say Christian's the best player because he's a good player. Of course, but he needs to perform because I'm going to judge him just like I judge Diego. Like every other player, if he performs well and he's the best, then he's going to have a place in the team. I think when I sign my contract with the Federation, I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin.
- [19:25]
Landon Donovan
Give me context on what he means in that last line. I'm the head coach, not a mannequin. What's. What does he mean by that?
- [19:31]
Tim Howard
Well, he's not just. He's not just a. I think he's trying to say I'm not a puppet. Right. Like you don't. You're not dictating to me. So what Just decide. He just. Basically what he said is. And he's saying this to Christian, but as you said to me earlier, he's also saying this to the whole team.
- [19:44]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [19:44]
Tim Howard
And he's saying it to the world. I'm the head coach. You don't dictate when you come into which games.
- [19:51]
Landon Donovan
Yep.
- [19:52]
Tim Howard
Especially for the national team, that is, you don't get to say, I'll do that one, but not that one, and I'll play that one, but not that one. Again, in his mind, he must think, this is absolutely crazy. He probably literally cannot believe some of the stuff he's reading and hearing. He's the coach. He will tell you if you're getting called in, when you're getting called in, if you're playing, you don't decide which games you get to choose to play for your national teams. That's what he's saying. And Tim, the reason this is important is all the players need to hear that. When your best player hears that message and you say that. And Moyes would do this all the time. He'd go after Neville right in front of everyone, and guys would be like, oh, my God, if he's going to say it to Neville, he'll say it to any of us. He's also saying it for his future. And what I mean by that is, if clubs around the world or national teams are looking at him in the future, they're going to. They go through a long process of due diligence. And if this whole situation happened and they said, remember that time when Pulisic went after Pochettino publicly, if he had not responded at all, clubs are going to go, oh, I don't know if we want that guy. Is he a strong enough leader? So he had no choice. He got backed into the corner there and he had to respond to that. So that's my opinion on that.
- [21:05]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. No, look, I think, I think as we mentioned, this is a US Soccer problem because what we know from the inside is that the foundation has already been set before Pochettino has come in. Right. And it's been a. It's been a player power led movement. And by the way, that's not, not necessarily criticism. I think, I think players always try and gain power, you know, and how much power can you have? And sometimes the manager wrestles that back and sometimes it doesn't. I mean, the biggest, the biggest example of player power was at Chelsea under Abramovich. Right. Frank Lampard and Didier Drugbutt and John Terry pulled the strings at that club. That's public, public knowledge, right? You could win. You could win a Champions League as a manager and be out the next season if they didn't like it. That happened all the time. So players try and gain power. They gain power by making decisions, by creating a comfortable environment. Pochettino has walked into that and what he's trying to do now is regain some of that power. And I think he was doing that in a quiet way until he was called out in the Christian Pulisic interview. And now I think for the first time, U.S. soccer has a bit of an issue. They have an issue because Pochettino, who's the manager and is getting paid $6 million a year and is a big manager and his star player now are seemingly at odds. And how much at odds are they? Well, they're talking about each other, towards each other in the press. It surprised me because I would have thought that was put to bed early on. I think there I got criticism for being critical of, of Kristen Pulisic when he went back to Milan before the Mexico game. Was it. There was like a two. Yeah, it's like a two game fixture, I think right when Pochettino took over. And my initial thinking in that, which is what clearly got missed was, you know, I said maybe this is US Soccer making the bet a little bit with AC Milan. Like, look, all right, cool, it's September or October, whatever it was, no problem, no problem.
- [23:21]
Tim Howard
We'll throw you a bone, throw your.
- [23:22]
Landon Donovan
Bone, take him back. He gets another week of rest and training before your next league game. But that's going to pay dividends for us down the road, I. E. In the summer or when we need him. And so that's what I thought was happening. I thought those wheels were being greased. Clearly I was wrong because of what's currently going on. But yeah, I think there's a problem. I think there's an issue. Well, seemingly there's an issue with some sort of communication and breakdown. And again he asked to come in. Christian Pulisic asked to come in to the two friendly games, the warm up games before the Gold Cup. Pochettino said no. He obviously told us there, he said no because like, I need to prep this team, I need to prepare the team for the, the Gold Cup. This isn't like a, these aren't throwaway games, which was all fine and well and I guess again he was sitting on that until he was forced to clarify his position. But I like his position. I like his position that, that everybody is there to be judged and to be evaluated. And you do that by being in camp or not being in camp or playing well or not playing well. So look, that's a good thing. It's a good thing. This, this, this Team based on result, not on. Not on my opinion, based on results need to kick up the backside. And, you know, maybe this is it.
- [24:32]
Tim Howard
Again, there's a lot to dissect. There's just one other thing that I think was. Was interesting. Christian, during the interview, said the media and fans are quick to judge him and the team off of one bad performance. This happens all over the world. First of all, everybody gets judged on one good or bad. It's just the reality, and it's happened forever. A tale as old as time. So, you know, I don't know, it just seems a little weird. But he also said, and I think words are really important, and I can see why he was hesitant to give an interview or do these interviews, because he was. A lot of the things he said I think rubbed people really the wrong way. And one of the things I thought was interesting. And again, I've been in his position. I have sat there and been interviewed. And I know when you're being asked a question, if you say this, this is what the headline's going to be. If you say this, this is how it's going to be perceived. And I made those mistakes, too, by the way. A lot of mistakes. But one thing he said, he said, I know that when I come back and score. I'm paraphrasing here. I know that when I come back and score, people will forget about all of this. And I thought in my head. And this was backed up by Pochettino at the time, I thought in my head, I don't. I think you're missing the point. The point is not about you coming back and scoring. The point about. Is about you prioritizing your national team and being a part of your national team and wanting to win.
- [25:58]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [25:59]
Tim Howard
Forget about scoring. Nobody cares if you score or not. We want this team to not suffer.
- [26:03]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [26:03]
Tim Howard
And then Pochettino backed it up in his press conference. He said a million times to him, he kept saying, it's about we.
- [26:09]
Landon Donovan
We.
- [26:10]
Tim Howard
It's about we. It's not about Guy. It's about the team. It's about we. We. We kept saying it over and over. And I just thought it was a really interesting. A really interesting comment. He. He's obviously taking it personally, and I understand why he is.
- [26:22]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [26:23]
Tim Howard
But that's not the point. That's not. Kristen doesn't need to. We don't need you to score. We don't need you. I mean, that helps, but we just want you to prioritize this, be proud of this, and be a part of the team. That's what we want.
- [26:33]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. Now, look, I think that. I think that where I thought he was wrong was the fans and media. Sometimes they do judge off one bad performance. That. That's not this case. Now, up until yesterday, they. They had lost four games in a row, which was, you know, an unwanted record.
- [26:48]
Tim Howard
Yeah. Are you not allowed to be critical after a team loses four in a row? And by the world are we living.
- [26:53]
Landon Donovan
This group of, you know, and I Keep referencing, referencing 2017, when we lost in Trinidad and we didn't qualify for the World Cup. This current group of young kids was given the keys to the palace and they didn't have any leadership. They were asked to lead on their own. And there's some growing pains with that. But by the way, they got a coach fired. Gold Cup, Nations League, you name it, or Copa America. Like, there have been failures there, right? Like, these aren't. I don't know if people have been quick to judge so much as there's a body of work here. Look, I've heard from people on the inside, friends of ours on the inside of U.S. soccer, and there's this, like, there's this feeling going around that they should be supporting us. They, you and I, Other. Other folks on the outside should be supporting us, U.S. soccer. And the players within U.S. soccer won a free pass for being average. You don't get a free pass for being average. Yeah, like, we. We know what great looks like and we know what poor looks like. I have succeeded on the biggest stages in the world for U.S. soccer. I've also failed on the biggest stages in the world for U.S. soccer. So I know what that. I know what that looks like, and I understand what it's supposed to look like. So this idea that they should be supporting us, that we should give them a free pass, I don't buy it. You know, our friend on the inside also said, like, they kept throwing out this. Believe, believe. You have to give people something to believe in. Yeah, you do. There's just. And by the way, U.S. soccer has come a long way. There's an expectation, okay. There was a bunch of fricking college kids and semi pros that went to the World cup in Italy in 1990. All right? I mean, they were freaking awesome. I remember watching it on VHS tape. It's come a long way since then. Right. And so the fact of the matter is you're going to be judged differently based on a different standard. End of story.
- [28:44]
Tim Howard
Well said. Yeah, there's no. You don't get just unconditional support. If you're bad, that's not, by the way, that's not good for them either. Of course, you know, what's good is they heard all this. The noise filtered in a little bit, and they had a great performance yesterday. And I promise you, next time Christian and Weston and Musa and Anthony step on the field for the US they are going to perform because they know people are paying attention and that's a good thing.
- [29:07]
Landon Donovan
I don't know. I don't, I don't buy that necessarily. I, I, we, again, we've been.
- [29:10]
Tim Howard
You don't think so?
- [29:11]
Landon Donovan
I hope so. I hope so.
- [29:12]
Tim Howard
But I think they're going to be scared not to. Well, you know, people are paying attention and they know if they don't do well that they're going to get called out.
- [29:19]
Landon Donovan
They have.
- [29:19]
Tim Howard
And it's not, it's not personal. It's not.
- [29:22]
Landon Donovan
There's no precedent, Landon, that's been set to, for you to say that those players will come back and if they don't perform well or if they pull out of camp. But there will be consequences.
- [29:30]
Tim Howard
Not with the national team, but they do what they do with their club teams when they hear real criticism, when real things happen. If he did this, if. Let me just give an example. We're using Christian here, but this, this pertains to a lot of people. If Christian said to Milan at the beginning of the season, you know what, these first three weeks of the season or four weeks of the season or these first six games, I'm. I need a break. I'm tired. I'm not going to play. What do you think would happen?
- [29:55]
Landon Donovan
I know it would happen.
- [29:56]
Tim Howard
Okay, tell me.
- [29:57]
Landon Donovan
There'd be consequences.
- [29:58]
Tim Howard
There'd be consequences.
- [29:59]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [29:59]
Tim Howard
What would the fans, how would the fans react?
- [30:02]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, yeah.
- [30:03]
Tim Howard
How would the media in Milan react?
- [30:05]
Landon Donovan
Sure, sure. They probably burn your car or something.
- [30:07]
Tim Howard
Yeah. I mean, you get destroyed, right?
- [30:09]
Landon Donovan
That's fair. So what's your point?
- [30:10]
Tim Howard
So my point is he wouldn't do it. It's my first point.
- [30:13]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. Yeah.
- [30:13]
Tim Howard
My second point is if and when he did do it, when he came back and was welcomed back, hopefully he would be so determined to perform because he doesn't want to give anybody anything to criticize him.
- [30:26]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. Okay. But, but my, but I guess my, my point is, and like he said, when I, when I come back and score, everyone thing will be forgotten. He, the great thing is he's always scored. He's always, he's always delivered good performance. It's not about that. So when you Say, like, I think in the September friendlies, they'll have a kick up the backside and they'll perform. Maybe, but that doesn't. That this current group needs to show me more than just one or two September friendlies that they're together and driven.
- [30:52]
Tim Howard
I agree.
- [30:52]
Landon Donovan
I need to see that in October and November. And like, that needs to. That needs to be a very strong, consistent theme over the next 12 months. Yeah, like, so I'm not. I'm not necessarily bullish on the fact that that's going to happen immediately.
- [31:06]
Tim Howard
And let's just be clear. It's one thing for us to say needs to be said. Pochettino's now saying it publicly. Needs to be said privately by him, to him, to these players and the whole group. And the other players need to hold them accountable, too. Until that happens.
- [31:22]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, so. So doesn't matter what we say. So just to your point. And we won't know this. Well, we might, because there's moles in every camp. We don't necessarily know this. But until. Not you and me, not other former players, not coaches. Listen to what I'm saying. Not coaches. Until they're able to look each other in the eye and call each other out and make it fricking uncomfortable, you'll never see change. Because here's what the world needs to know. You and I have been in the same locker room as Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, by the way, Josie Altidor. Those names have looked each other in the eye when the fricking manager was in his dressing room somewhere, have looked each other in the eye and said, you ain't worth shit today. You need to be better. I'm not fricking having you. And let me tell you, those discussions are hard. They hurt, but they're needed. And I don't believe, unless I'm proven wrong, maybe they'll tell me I'm different. I don't believe that those star senior players are having those conversations with each other. I think they're saying the right things in the media. I think they say all the right things in the media. It's brilliant. Well, not all of them, but most of them. Okay, but those are the hard conversations that you and I have been a part of. Right? I've had players get to grips with coaches in the U.S. men's national team locker room. Coaches get to grips with players, players get to grips with other players. Things need to be broken up and shit was said. And guess what happened after that? Respect and performances were had.
- [33:01]
Tim Howard
So well said. All right, let's take a break. When we come back, we are going to recap the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. It's been pretty interesting to watch. Curious to hear your thoughts right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim. As always, presented by our great partner, Volkswagen. Stick around.
- [33:29]
Landon Donovan
The Unfiltered Soccer podcast is brought to you by Volkswagen, the presenting partner of U.S. soccer.
- [33:34]
Tim Howard
As the U.S. gets ready to host the world for soccer's biggest moment, Volkswagen is helping people discover new turfs and new ways to play the beautiful game right here in the US from deaf.
- [33:45]
Landon Donovan
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.
- [34:01]
Tim Howard
As a longtime friend of Volkswagen, I'm excited to support them in their mission to increase visibility of all forms of soccer. I was recently on set with them shooting their new campaign to do just that.
- [34:12]
Landon Donovan
Keep an eye out for that launching soon alongside the all new redesigned 2025 Tiguan. It's a beautiful car. We've even had one with us at our recent live show. Make sure to check it out in person and learn more@vw.com all right, Timmy.
- [34:26]
Tim Howard
This used to be my favorite time of year, playing all day outside as a kid. Summer, no school or playing during my career through the summer. The best times. Now it's the absolute worst. My kids are home. They're not exercising. Their brains aren't getting used. They're annoying. Daddy this, daddy that. So I try to choose chill as much as possible. Go for a walk. Love to golf. My wife hates it. I'm gone all the time. Read. But I got to chill, man. I have to.
- [34:56]
Landon Donovan
I choose chill in the summer more than any other time. I'm in airports all the time, traveling, get through security, straight to the bar for Coors Light. I love to chill out. Obviously in the summer, I'm on the beach, reaching the cooler Coors Light. And of course, summertime, you go to concerts, you go to music festivals. That's all you do. Me, some friends, a bunch of Coors Lights, perfect time.
- [35:21]
Tim Howard
Well, that's good to know. I guess that's what I have to look forward to. Coors Light is mountain cold refreshment, crisp and refreshing as the Colorado Rockies make the most out of the times you choose to chill. Choose Coors Light.
- [35:34]
Landon Donovan
Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door. Visit coors light.com USLNT Celebrate responsibly. Coors Brewing Co. Golden Colorado Beer this.
- [35:45]
C
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- [36:17]
Landon Donovan
LD since the last time we got together, I believe the inaugural FIFA Club World cup has gotten underway. There was a lot to talk about with this that they didn't sell a lot of tickets to start with. Would, would teams bring and play their strongest team and how seriously would teams take this? And then obviously we now have lineups and results and all the rest of it. What's your, what's your initial impression of.
- [36:45]
Tim Howard
The tournament as far as teams taking it seriously?
- [36:47]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, yeah.
- [36:47]
Tim Howard
I mean, PSG put out a full strength team Inter, certainly Botafogo and Sounders Inter Miami. I mean, whatever people thought that the clubs or the players might not take it seriously, that's out the window. That's, that's been made very clear now. Talking about ticket prices and the stadiums and all that. Too high. Ticket prices were too high initially. You started to get, you know, the Rose bowl had I think, 80,000 people, which is still good for the PSG game. PSG Athletico. So I think there's a decent start. I think if you, you know, backed Gianni Infantino into a corner and said, are you happy? Based on what you expected, yes or no? I think he'd say, I'm slightly happier than, than I thought I would be right now. So it's been in that way a good start. I've said from the beginning I'm excited about this tournament. I think it's great. I know people don't like, they don't like new things, but we did realize, and you know, we kept thinking, like, why are they taking it so serious? Prize money.
- [37:47]
Landon Donovan
Tim, talk to me.
- [37:48]
Tim Howard
Prize money. So I think each team got about $10 million to participate. But the winning team, I had no idea. Yeah, the winning team can make up to $120 million.
- [38:01]
Landon Donovan
Right.
- [38:02]
Tim Howard
And I had no idea. I guess I just missed that. That is a massive incentive.
- [38:07]
Landon Donovan
Correct.
- [38:07]
Tim Howard
Because you like, explain to people so they understand what will have happened when, when FIFA said the winning team will get 120 million. What do the players in the, in the club, how do they, you know, figure out who gets what?
- [38:18]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, so the way, the way it works is like, as an example, you, you, there's, there's legal contracts, right? So you said, like, okay, there's a wage structure and, and so on and so forth. What we would have at Everton as an example, right? We, as a, as a senior players would go to the club, right? They clear it through the manager and they take it to the chief exec and they'd say, before the season, this is the bonus structure. We would redo the bonus structure every season, right? And if you were happy with it from the previous season, you stuck with it and signed off. But it wasn't like a, it wasn't sanctioned like by the fa. It was through the club. And you basically said, if we make Champions League, if we get to a Cup Final, if we win three games on the bounds, if we are ranked in the top six in the Premier League and we win a game, the price goes, goes up and up. And so what these clubs would have done, right? Because as you just said, it is very, very beneficial for these clubs to win. You win the tournament, it's $125 million, right? The players know that. The clubs know that. The players think there's too much. It's too much running and too much, too many games, right? Rodri at Man City said that. And it's a fixture buildup and it's congestion and they don't like it. They would have gone to the clubs, whoever the senior leadership groups are at all these clubs, they'd have gone to the top of the club and just said, look, how are we, how are we going? We don't want to play here. You want us to play. We understand that. We don't want to play. So what's going to be the system? What's going to be the breakdown? And they would have sat and they would have just discussed it. And by the way, the Brazilians at PSG would have talked to the Brazilians at Man City and like, and Bayern Munich. All these players from different countries talk, right? And so they would have understood and they would have gotten pointers from each other. And the bottom line is the players would have gone to the club, or as you rightfully said, some of the clubs would have gone to the players and go, look, we know you don't want to play an entire extra tournament in the summer. But let's make it worth your while, because the fact of the matter is each player on the winning team of this, of this tournament, Club World cup, they're going to get a few million dollars. And for all of the guys, but all the people out there are like, all these guys are already overpaid. Million billionaires. Trust me when I tell you, when someone says, hey, go compete, and you know, at the end of it, for your summer holidays, we'll cut you a 2,3 million dollar check for winning, there's some incentive there. And that's, I think, why you see, you know, really strong lineups. You see Bayern Munich winning 10 nil against Auckland and. But yeah, I think, I think as you, you know, when we talked, you Talked about the 80,000 people, the Rose Bowl, I think you start to get deeper into this tournament and you get some real blockbuster matchups. Yeah, it's going to be pretty awesome.
- [40:53]
Tim Howard
Well, look for, for the players on the big clubs still a lot of money and they believe they can win. Right. So I just want to read you Luis Enrique's quote. He said, the club is hungry, the fans are hungry, the players and the team are hungry. And that's a good feeling. I don't know if we're favorites, but. But it doesn't bother me. We have the same objective as in other competitions, which is to go as far as possible and try to win. And so for the big clubs, they're looking at it as another seven games. Instead of playing friendlies, they play seven games and they can make a couple million dollars. That's real. And then for the small clubs, I mean, just to like, we have the breakdown here to get to the round of 16 is another £5.8 million, whatever. Seven, seven and a half million dollars. So if you're a Botafogo, you're a, you know, all Ollie or mellow Mamalodi sundowns from South Africa.
- [41:44]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [41:44]
Tim Howard
Now you got another seven and a half million dollars between 20, 25. That's 3, 350 grand each. Yeah. Like, this becomes real stuff. And you go another one, you get $12 million for being in the quarterfinal, et cetera. This is a huge. I'm sorry for the club. So there's a split. Yeah, yeah, but still, this is like, this is real money. Questions?
- [42:02]
Landon Donovan
Question for you. I'm backtracking here. Do you remember two weeks ago, was it that the Seattle Sounders players had that, like, T shirt? What were they protesting?
- [42:13]
Tim Howard
So what happened with them is different from what you're saying. And that's the first thing that came to my mind.
- [42:18]
Landon Donovan
That's what I'm asking.
- [42:19]
Tim Howard
MLS has a collective bargaining agreement with the players writ large in the entire league.
- [42:25]
Landon Donovan
Yep.
- [42:25]
Tim Howard
Everton doesn't. Everton has a contract with the players. Have a deal with the club.
- [42:29]
Landon Donovan
Right, Right.
- [42:30]
Tim Howard
But nevers. It's. The league has all the. All the clubs and they were upset because in their contract they had negotiated many, many years ago and it's never since been changed. They would split the prize money with mls, but it got capped at a million dollars. So if it was over a million dollars, that was it. The rest goes to the league.
- [42:51]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [42:52]
Tim Howard
So up to a million dollars. They split 50. 50. But now obviously with a chance to earn way more now.
- [42:58]
Landon Donovan
So they would obviously want like an addendum to the CBA and.
- [43:02]
Tim Howard
Correct.
- [43:02]
Landon Donovan
That hasn't happened.
- [43:03]
Tim Howard
The league has no obligation.
- [43:05]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [43:05]
Tim Howard
Right. But there's. So I don't actually don't know what's. I don't know the latest. I'd spoken to some people early on. I don't know what the latest is, but they did play.
- [43:14]
Landon Donovan
No, no, I know that. But that'll be interesting because again, you get. You talked about the benefit for some of these teams and players. If, you know, if Seattle's not getting that benefit, then the players. Yeah. So interesting. Watch this space. Yeah, yeah. Seattle. Seattle lost, I think.
- [43:32]
Tim Howard
Yeah, yeah, they lost to Botafogo. Just full disclosure, I've been watching a little bit from a distance because I've been focused on Gold cup stuff with Fox, but I think, you know, my, My interest is Inter. Miami drew their first game, 00. Seattle now lost and now they've got to play two powerhouses and it looks.
- [43:52]
Landon Donovan
Unlikely, probably that they're going to Athletico and psg.
- [43:55]
Tim Howard
Right.
- [43:56]
Landon Donovan
And.
- [43:57]
Tim Howard
And then we'll see how LAFC do. So LAFC are up next from MLS and, you know, we'll. We'll see how it goes. But I think it's been a pretty good start to the tournament. I am interested. If I wasn't, honestly, if I wasn't working Fox with the Gold Cup, I would spend more time paying attention. But I will pay attention as we get into it more.
- [44:14]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [44:15]
Tim Howard
All right. We will keep everyone updated on that. Be interesting to see how the MLS teams progress. Let's take another break. When we come back, we will get into all your questions. I'm sure there'll be a lot of questions after the live show last week and everything going on in the last few weeks in the AT and T Fan Connection right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. We'll be right back.
- [44:44]
Landon Donovan
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.
- [44:50]
Tim Howard
Like fans who start to sing and chant at the exact moment their team needs to rally.
- [44:54]
Landon Donovan
A coach who can change strategies at halftime to help their team win.
- [44:58]
Tim Howard
A keeper you know is defending your.
- [44:59]
Landon Donovan
Goal, or a forward who is always ready to receive the ball.
- [45:02]
Tim Howard
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.
- [45:12]
Landon Donovan
The AT and T guarantee is all about having your back. When you're with AT and T. If there's a network interruption, they'll proactively make it right with a credit for a full day of Service guaranteed.
- [45:23]
Tim Howard
Visit att.comguarantee to learn more.
- [45:27]
Landon Donovan
Terms and conditions apply AT and T connecting changes everything.
- [45:32]
Tim Howard
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.
- [45:47]
D
With a Venmo Debit card, you can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch? You can Venmo this or their next show? You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by Mastercard International, Inc. Card may be used everywhere. Mastercard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.
- [46:18]
C
This episode is brought to you by Polestar. There's only one true way to experience the all electric luxury SUV Polestar 3, and that's to take a test drive. It can go from 0 to 60 in as little as 4.8 seconds with the dynamic handling of a sports car. But to truly understand how it commands the road, you need to be behind the wheel up to 350 miles of range. The 3D surround sound system by Bowers and Wilkins. It's all something you have to experience to believe. So book your Test drive for Polestar 3 today@Polestar.com.
- [46:48]
Landon Donovan
It'S time for the Fan Connection presented by AT and 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 this sport. We all love at, AT and T. Connecting changes everything. And on uslnt, our connections with you will help grow the game. Time for the AT&T fan connection. You know why it's amazing that we're back? Because last time jr, she was only on audio. We didn't, people didn't get to see you. And today we get to see you and possibly a special guest.
- [47:26]
E
No, my special, My special guest is laying down right next to me on the floor.
- [47:29]
Landon Donovan
And who is that?
- [47:30]
E
His name is Brinkley.
- [47:32]
Landon Donovan
Brinkley is laying on the floor being.
- [47:33]
Tim Howard
Good, but is he a, what kind of dog is he?
- [47:36]
E
Golden retriever.
- [47:37]
Tim Howard
Retriever.
- [47:38]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. He might, he might pop in. He might not.
- [47:39]
Tim Howard
We'll see.
- [47:40]
E
Yeah. Depends.
- [47:41]
Landon Donovan
How are you happy to be back in the limelight?
- [47:44]
E
The jet lag is killing me. Absolutely destroying me.
- [47:47]
Tim Howard
The jet lag? What do you mean?
- [47:49]
E
I, I, I am an old lady who likes to go to bed early. I have been off until 12 or 1 o' clock in the morning every night and I can't, my body's.
- [47:56]
Tim Howard
You get jet lagged from three hour time difference.
- [47:58]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [47:58]
E
Yes.
- [47:59]
Tim Howard
Really?
- [47:59]
Landon Donovan
I like going the other way because when I was, when I was in LA, LD I'm waking up like 6 o' clock. Let's go.
- [48:06]
Tim Howard
Yeah, I know.
- [48:07]
Landon Donovan
That part's good.
- [48:08]
Tim Howard
Jer. Were there a lot of questions, I presume?
- [48:12]
E
Yes. We actually still have some questions left over from people who were at the live show. One of them is sneaking in here, but we do. Okay, so I, a couple of things I would like our listeners to know. First of all, if you're just unnecessarily mean, I'm not reading your question.
- [48:28]
Landon Donovan
Oh, read them. We like that.
- [48:30]
Tim Howard
I actually think that would be fun.
- [48:31]
E
That's fine. If you are unnecessarily mean to me, you will never hear, oh, you do.
- [48:35]
Tim Howard
That on the show, you're gonna have problems.
- [48:38]
E
If you misspell Pochettino over and over again and call him pooch, I'm not putting your question on the air. Like not, not like a one time mistake, like through the whole question.
- [48:47]
Tim Howard
No, I think it was intentional then.
- [48:50]
E
But here, here's just like a nice cross section of the kind of things that we're getting. So this one's from Jeremy via email. He said, as someone who grew up playing and loving the game in the 80s and 90s and have been a die hard soccer and US men's national team fan for decades. I feel the need to make a comment on the state of affairs of this U.S. men's National Team and U.S. soccer. The bottom line is that after the very small handful of elite players, we otherwise do not have a pool of players that can compete on the international level.
- [49:19]
Landon Donovan
Fair.
- [49:22]
Tim Howard
Yeah. I mean, I don't disagree. Look, the, the, it's not the elephant in the room, but the, the big picture problem, and we will, I know we keep teasing this, we will get into this is we just don't, in the end, don't develop enough world class players. We don't. There's like every. You can talk about the coach and the environment and what they're saying. We just don't. We don't. I mean, we had a call to B team, B minus, team, C team against Switzerland the other day. Tim, the difference in level was stunning. I mean, stunning. And I, I mean it just hits you in the face and you're like, just not. We're not close enough.
- [50:06]
Landon Donovan
I agree with that. I agree with him with the, with the comment for sure.
- [50:10]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [50:11]
E
We also have another slightly different comment. This one's from Michael via email. My man ld way off base on this one. A rarity for a man who's usually on point. If Christian Pulisic calculates what's best for him and, and the prospects for US Men's National Team World Cup 26 performance, where is the upside in questioning him? Yes, it's important and generally awesome to have your legendary voices chiming in and even holding current players to account, but in this case, I don't see the virtue of not giving this player the benefit of the doubt.
- [50:45]
Tim Howard
I actually, that's a fair opinion. Totally. And I, yeah, because I. Look, you can have that opinion. As someone who cares about the sport, follows the game. My opinion is because I have been in Christian's shoes and of 350 million Americans right now, I'm the only one who has been in his shoes the way he is literally the only human who has. Okay. In this country. So I'm speaking to it from experience, from knowing the consequence of. I missed a World cup when I, when I took a break from soccer. They're not apples to apples to me. I'm not going to rehash the whole thing, but I can understand if. Look, there is a scenario where this break, this whole thing works. It helped the team help Christian, he comes back and he. And that's fine. I'm just saying right now at this time, I don't think it's the right thing to do. I don't think it's the right time for it. I don't think it's the right thing to do.
- [51:53]
Landon Donovan
That's it.
- [51:54]
E
I mentioned that we have some questions left over from the live show. I think this is a pretty great one. Brandon, who joined us in Los Angeles said, what does it feel like to play in a World cup game?
- [52:08]
Landon Donovan
Brandon, thanks for coming out and supporting us. That was a freaking cool event. Being live is awesome. Gives us. We actually both had butterflies before. We were both saying, like, there's like, normally, like on these recordings, you don't get that. You get excited, but you don't get the feeling of being in an arena. Man, a World cup game. There was so, you know, having been to three World Cups, they all felt different. Like you feel this glory and this passion to play for your country on the biggest stage and like, in the build up to kick off and the night before, realize that, like, this is a lifelong dream. They felt different. For me, the older I got kind of the. The more intense the moment was because it just. There was more pressure to perform. But it's the ultimate. It's like, you know, how do you explain it? LD how do you explain to someone where, like, everything you've, you know, into. From the time you started formulating thoughts about the sport or about a subject? Right. Like from the time that I was, I don't know, seven, eight years old, like, you see these, you see these people on TV and you're like, oh, I want that to be me. You have no idea what that means. And then, like, the culmination of it, it's really hard to put into words what it means, but you definitely feel like, this is my moment. You know, in life when you, like, these are. These are singular moments, you feel it.
- [53:29]
Tim Howard
The culmination is the right word. You have worked every day of your life in one way or another. Even if you're resting for a day, taking a day off and taking care of your body, that is literally everything you have worked for your entire life. And then you get to do it. And it's. I don't know how else you describe it except how would you feel if every day since you were two, you'd been working towards that something and then you got to achieve it? It's incredible.
- [53:53]
Landon Donovan
I think you. I think you. It gives you this rare opportunity in life where in a singular moment, you feel the highest joy, the biggest fear, if you're humble enough, the most gratitude that you've ever felt like running through your body, and it's pretty awesome.
- [54:10]
E
I'm not gonna lie. Listening to you talk about that sounds really scary to me.
- [54:15]
Tim Howard
You only have anxiety.
- [54:17]
E
I, I so much enjoyed doing that live show because, like, that. That's kind of like my version of a big tournament.
- [54:24]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [54:25]
E
But if I had to do that in front of 80,000 people, I think I would just pass out on the floor.
- [54:28]
Landon Donovan
It's easy. You get. You get used to it at some point.
- [54:32]
E
Here is a question from Julie via email. I am a high school soccer coach. We are generally pretty competitive, but I have seen the landscape change over the past several years. I coach boys, but I have daughters who play both for club and for school. The hardest part for me as a coach is the leadership aspect. Any advice you could give me, Any advice on maybe podcasts or books to help me help my players?
- [54:56]
Tim Howard
Great question. I'll let you go first because you have a daughter who's just gone through this. Yeah.
- [55:00]
Landon Donovan
Help you. Yeah. So here's what I would say. I think. I think when you. When I look at high school soccer, and obviously this person, she has, you know, she has experience with club soccer as well. And the rest of it, I think in, In. In high school, what we talk about, what Landon, I've been talking about with examples of leadership, and we, in my experience, particularly with my daughter, there's this concept that everybody should be treated equally. It's not how it works. It's not how it works. And we try and teach this, I think, to a. To a detriment. We teach this like everybody gets a trophy. Everybody should be equal. Well, the fact of the matter is you're teaching a lesson that doesn't actually exist in the rest of the world. So when these, these. Well, you know, my daughter's case, when these young women go out into the rest of the world, the world ain't fair. Right? So, so to. So to give them this opportunity in high school to say, like, everyone's equal. No, it's not. Some players are better than others. Some. Some are leaders. Some should be put at the top, and everybody should look at them. And so I think. I think you. You have to support. Pick your leaders, you know, on your high school team, pick who your leaders are, support them, empower them, and allow the rest of the team to look at them as leaders. And I also, I often give the very quick example, and, you know, this is one ld that, you know, there was a break in the schedule in Everton or a break where Tim Cahill who was our star, he played every game. The manager said, take your family, take a physio, go to Dubai and take a week off. I'm not playing this weekend. Right. Get rested up because the next week we got three games and you're going to play every game. And one of the players complained, you know, one of the players said, what are you doing? And the manager said, well, Tim Cahill scores 20 goals every year in the Premier League, so I'm giving a week off. When you score 20 goals consistently in the Premier League, I'll give you a week off too. And so there was this hierarchy that's created that you, that players understand.
- [57:01]
Tim Howard
Yeah, for me, I mean, immediately as Julie, when I heard that question, junior, to me it's very simple. I see now in our world with this generation, we do everything for our children and coaches do everything for the players. They walk them, literally walk them through the game verbally. Do it here, pass it here, do it here. And what that creates is a bunch of people who don't ever take ownership. They're always looking to someone else to solve the problem. Always. It's perpetually looking to someone else to solve the problem. Clint Dempsey was not a vocal rah rah, or he was kind of rah rah, but not like a polished leader. But Clint Dempsey never had people solving problems for him. So when things happen on the field, he solved the problem. Tim would solve the problem, guys, defenders would solve the problem on the field. I never see that anymore, ever, at any level. And my, my advice is, and I'm not an expert, but this is just from my years of experience and also being a father now, let your kids solve problems on their own. Let them fail. Let them figure it out when they're fighting outside. Let them figure out how to resolve it when they're certainly on the field. Shut up on the sideline and let them solve problems. And then you'll see who the leaders are, you'll see who people, which ones have that tendency. And then you can sort of harvest that and make them better. So I just, for me it's very simple.
- [58:38]
E
So I love this question. This is from Matthew via email. Just got done watching the episode of the live show in LA and Tim had his sleeves on display. Can we get Tim to give us a tattoo tour to make up his sleeves? Tim, I think we have to do this as like a social post one day.
- [58:56]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, we'll do social.
- [58:57]
Tim Howard
Terrible.
- [58:57]
Landon Donovan
We'll do social. But yeah, if you're, if you're into the ink, I'M down. Yeah, I need next. Next is just get some. My hands and my, my neck done. But I, I think I need my bosses at NBC to sign off on that. And I have a feeling they are not signing off on it. So that's going to be a while. But otherwise I'm running a room. I ain't got a lot left.
- [59:17]
Tim Howard
I asked you, I said like, how much space do you have left on your butt? He said, none. No, you said your hands in your neck.
- [59:24]
Landon Donovan
Just what you see in your head.
- [59:26]
E
Do you have football related tattoos?
- [59:30]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I think I have a couple. I have a couple. I have a. I have.
- [59:36]
Tim Howard
I love that. You can't even remember.
- [59:37]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I've got. I've got like an. I've got like an Everton one. I've got. What else do I have? Oh, I have like a football one. I did for. I did for a magazine shoot where I was just like, yeah, just. You can just do this like little soccer player, football thingy. I got a couple.
- [59:53]
E
But Tim's at the level where people say, can we tattoo you for a photo shoot? And he's.
- [60:00]
Tim Howard
I would have so much anxiety.
- [60:04]
Landon Donovan
I got a couple.
- [60:06]
E
Okay, last one. This is from Marco via email. Can you each name a situation that comes to mind that was your first difficult moment in your young professional career? Did you have a big brother to lean on who was a veteran or someone on the coaching staff who always had the right words? Now, you guys, you were perfect from the moment you started.
- [60:24]
Tim Howard
Oh, no, no. I'm just trying to think if I had anyone I could like. But my hardest moment early, I mean, we're saying young, but I was 24, so I don't know if this counts was after the 06 World cup because we had a terrible World cup and I was shocking. I was really bad for three games and I was. It really hit me hard and the criticism hit me hard and I was depressed and so I didn't have anyone. Well, I shouldn't say that. I had my family and I had my agent and had long talks with all of them about just all of it and work through all of it. So I think the reality and what this person's getting at with the question is if you play soccer for a long time, especially if you're doing it at a high level and it's public, you're gonna have hard moments, like really hard moments. And I guess one of my regrets or things I wish I would have had was older players earlier who could have helped me. And maybe that was My fault for not asking for help, but I think that would have helped me a lot.
- [61:31]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I think that works. I, I, I'm, I'm reluctant to say like, young, like younger years, ld because like the problem, the problem, maybe it's a problem. The problem we have is when you're like any, when you become a World cup player or you become elite at some level professionally, that kind of means, that kind of means that you are the best when you were coming up. And when you're the best coming up, you get, you get afforded a lot. I mean, there's pressure, but you get afforded a lot of, a lot of liberties. And so like, tough moments when I was young, maybe, but I was always kind of the star of that show and maybe like, you know, even like when I went, I went to the Olympics in 2000 and one of the overage positions was free to, I'm a goalkeeper. But I was also kind of like, yeah, but I'm going to Australia, I'm going to Olympics. Like, I'm hang out. Like, that wasn't failure. I think for me, the mo, the, I think the biggest turning point in one of, in my career was at Manchester United my first season when we failed. And there was that infamous moment where there was a free kick from Porto and I spilled it, left it right on the doorstep. They, they put it in. Jose Mourinho sprinted down the touchline. It's like folklore now. And I lost my spot. And they're just like, the kid, kid can't do it. And that was a big failure. But I, I don't know, you know, you talk about leaning on senior player. Players are so insecure that very few players are going to be like, hey, kid, I know what you're going through. Come, come over, have some pizza and we'll talk about the time I failed. Right? Like, just players, players are just so, so closed off and so, I don't know, I, it was a me versus me type of thing and, and I knew I just had to get my head down and work hard. And you know, Tim Mulqueen, as I've always mentioned, is a dear friend and mentor and, you know, I probably called him and complained to him and he set me straight a few times. So I did have somebody from, you know, again that I grew up with and that coached me and was a mentor. But those are hard moments. They're really hard moments. And when you watch, you made a great point. I would do like watching letting your kids fail, letting, letting kids, you coach or your own kids fail. Like, that's hugely important. And so you want to be there for him. But I also think it's, you know, in my. In my own experience, it was, you know, you mentioned you. You know, you mentioned just a sidebar about, like, you being the only other person in America who knows exactly what Christian was going through or is going through. And that's why you're. You're a good person to have judgment on. Every time I failed ld, I f. I personally found it very difficult to find somebody else in my shoes who. Who I could be like, let me tell you this, because you'll understand. Like, no one's going to understand. This is. This is like, who's ever been in this arena, right? And so obviously, I talked about the other players, but very few are willing to share those moments.
- [64:25]
E
Great answers. Thanks, guys.
- [64:27]
Tim Howard
Thanks, J.R. thank you. Before we get out of here, anything but soccer, Abs. Tim, you know where I'm going.
- [64:34]
Landon Donovan
Oh, this is your gig.
- [64:35]
Tim Howard
I love golf, and the one thing I was able to just. Just follow along as I was working was the US Open. JJ Spawn. So this guy's from Southern California, like I am. I'm gonna grab my phone because I want to read this. Someone put out a tweet. So he started the day in the lead, had a terrible, like, first five holes. He was like four over par after five holes, whatever came back. In the end, he was tied with someone who was already in the clubhouse. And then he rolled in a long, long putt to win it. So he ended up winning it. But I just want to read. This is such a great story for young athletes. Okay, so in 2013, he made $11,000 on the Canadian Tour. Okay, so he's trying to make it in 2014. He made only one cut and earned 825 total dollars playing in Canada. I'm going to Skip ahead. In 2016, he finished third on the Korn Ferry Tour, which is underneath the PGA Tour, so he could earn his PGA Tour card in the next four years. He finished 97th, 62nd, 99th, 185th in 2025, and at that time, lost his PGA Tour card so he couldn't play on tour. He got it back the next year, kept it in 2021, only due to Covid. He finished 174th, 2022, finished 34th, 2023, 62nd. Last year, he finished 98. So this is a guy who was Never higher than 35th best golfer in the world. And then he won the US Open. And it's just A phenomenal story. I actually got to play in a Pro Am with him a couple years ago at Torrey Pines. Awesome human. Really sweet. Just so happy for him. And this is the crazy thing about golf, man. Every time I'm on the course, I think to myself, I'll hit a shot from 100 yards and it lands, like, 10ft away. And I'll go to people who know. I'll say, how many pros hit it to 10ft from 100? They say, well, they all can do it, but there's a lot of times they don't. And it's the only sport where that could happen.
- [66:49]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [66:49]
Tim Howard
Like, no random person who's never played soccer could walk out and play in a World cup match.
- [66:55]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [66:55]
Tim Howard
But I could hit the same shot that Scotty Scheffler can hit now. I don't do it often.
- [66:59]
Landon Donovan
Amazing.
- [66:59]
Tim Howard
But I can.
- [67:00]
Landon Donovan
Great show.
- [67:00]
Tim Howard
It's just. It's amazing.
- [67:01]
Landon Donovan
It's cool.
- [67:02]
Tim Howard
Just amazing.
- [67:03]
Landon Donovan
So you. So. So these are all serious questions. How many. How many days out of every week do you golf?
- [67:09]
Tim Howard
Roughly, on average, anywhere from two to four.
- [67:13]
Landon Donovan
It's definitely four because you're. We talk every day on. On our podcast chat group, and you're. It's definitely four, I think, you know, for me, and, And I'm not a golf fan, you know that I'm not a fan of golf. I, I, I am a sportsman, though, and I love moments. And so.
- [67:29]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [67:29]
Landon Donovan
And so when the Stanley cup finals are on, which they are now, or golf, or the. The Tour de France or a major tennis grand slam, I. When it gets to the end, I'm locked in because I. I want. I want to see moments of, like, execution and, like, what it's like for Pete, for men and women to be under, like, immense, immense pressure and perform succeed or fail. Like, that's where I get enjoyment out of. Out of watching. And I was my. My dear friend, one of my best friends, Cobble, who, you know, he. He recently worked for live golf with Bryson DeChambeau. And he. And he and Bryson are very close. And I text him last night because I was out. I was out for food with my daughter after the movie, and I looked up at the screen, and I knew it was. It's Sunday, right? So I know it's getting tight. And, like, I think Spawn was plus one. And I was thinking, that can't be. That can't be a leaderboard. Like, I don't. I don't know golf that well, but I know enough, right? I'm like, maybe I'm reading the leaderboard wrong. So I text him and I was like, is the leader plus one? And he's like, yeah. He's like, it's been a bad day, you know, and weather and all the rest of it. And I was like, that's incredible. But then I then, as you said, I think with. With two holes left, he. He made that approach, and he was like, putting for eagle, which he missed for to. For the outright lead. And then he made par, and I was just like, this is. I mean, to watch. To watch him play on the weekend was awesome. So much respect. And, you know, I think the thing about these, particularly in tennis and in golf, I always find it interesting because that one win puts to rest all the doubt. Like you. You don't have to be Tiger woods, by the way. Don't have to be Tiger Woods. Very few people are win that major. Thank you very much.
- [69:13]
Tim Howard
I mean, there's maybe a hundred or a few hundred people have ever won a major in tennis or golf, right? You think about that. It's incredible. So congrats to JJ Spawn. Really happy for him.
- [69:25]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, man.
- [69:26]
Tim Howard
All right, Timmy, another great show. As always, it was fun to one be back home, but also be here with you. Thanks to everyone. We appreciate all the love and support. As always, remember to subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcasts. And as always, follow the show across all social media platforms at Unfiltered Soccer for lots of bonus content.
- [69:48]
Landon Donovan
It's getting old to say that this is fun because every week something comes up and we have a blast. So love the interaction with you, brother, and love our fans. So thanks, everybody. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, VW and our Fan Connection sponsor AT&T and our unfiltered refresh sponsor, Coors Light. Have an amazing week. We'll be back on June 24th with another edition of Unfiltered Soccer.