Opposition Research: Footy Prime on SDH AM On Toronto-ATLUTD

And here's where we bring in our friends James Sharman Craig for us. I have no charm. I've

some of the charms for gosh 20 years 20 25 years. So when bring it let me bring in James

Sharman Craig for us from our friends at footy prime gentleman. Good morning. You guys

had chaos. We had chaos of a different variety. So who won the toss and who is going to

either defer or go first? How are we going to do this? Who won the call?

How about the the Hall of Famer? Let's let Craig do his thing. You know he's a guy that

brings the legitimate credibility. John you know as you know 20 years in the biz and still

no credibility from my end. Oh, all right. So we'll go to Craig. So Craig madness last night

involving Toronto. I did not have Luca Gavran on my bingo card being the third keeper in

MLS history to have a goalie goal and the chaos that was personified there. So for those

that missed it because we were paying attention to the match that proceeds Atlanta and Toronto

with Atlanta and New England. What did we miss? Wow. It was pretty special. Well, coming

from a goalkeeper is incredibly special. I'd never scored a goal. I always wanted to score

a goal and for Gavran to do it in his 25th or 26th professional appearance. I mean he's

averaging more goals and Zimmerman at center back, I think, per game. So his goal ratio

for appearances is actually very high for a goalkeeper. So, Charms, let me ask you this.

With the addition of Josh Starrgent, there's two S's very close together and when you're

up early in the morning, it doesn't wash very well. When you're when you have the addition

of a Josh Starrgent to the offense, how different is it looking now than it had been before?

As Charms, I think, has frozen. Nothing like live, nothing like live, you know what I'm saying?

So Charms froze. So Craig, let me ask you that question. Since Charms froze and I'll go ahead

and make sure that James comes back in and he's unfrozen. See, that's how this works.

So how different are they? Wish Starrgent to line up offensively now that they have this

talisman up top? Well, I think he's going to do very well in this league. I mean, most

designated players, attacking players do do well. I mean, look at the league last night.

I think there was 43 goals and 11 games, I think. It was, I don't know if there's ever been

more goals in a day for MLS in history, maybe, but that was a lot of goals. And it's a

frantic type of style, certainly with Toronto, I see if they can get themselves sorted out

defensively, I think they'll have a chance to do something. But overall, they're pretty

soft defensively. They, you know, not overly organized at times, like I said, frantic, but

Josh Sargent up top, I think he'll do very well. He's getting lots of chances and he's strong,

physical, and I think he's enjoying his time at Toronto. I see so far.

All right. So let's talk backline and the whack-a-mull that folks seem to be doing when it comes to

finding all these opportunities. Where are these gaps and weaknesses and how is it attempting to

be addressed? And I see, we need all the state secrets for Atlanta coming off of this lost

to New England to attack Toronto and yet another matinee at BIMO. So what are you staring at here?

Well, I think if Atlanta get at Toronto, they will create chances. There's no doubt about that.

But Toronto will also cause problems to bow just about any team in MLS at times. So they have that

to deal with it. But if they can organize themselves and play strong defensively, hold up Josh

Sargent, I think they can get a result. But as far as the team goes over the last few years,

it's been difficult. I mean, Atlanta is kind of in the same position not doing particularly well.

The last couple seasons. So trying to find their way in the league. And I think that's what we're

trying to see right now. They made some good moves for the last few years. I think they're

handcuffed with some of their salaries and caps. So they freed up that. They brought in the

designated player with Josh Sargent. I think they're moving in the right direction.

All right. So, Sharms, let me ask you this. The shiny object is obviously Josh now.

Who else do folks need to focus on? Who's in the spot shadow for you for the success here in

the short term with this edition of a major megastar DP? Who else do folks need to gravitate

toward to sit there and go, okay, so Toronto is doing well. Despite what we just talked about

in the back line, Toronto is successful because of not just A but B and C.

Yes, it's a good question. And I think TFC fans are still very suspicious of any players that

are doing the job properly at TFC, given what's happened the last little while, given the Italian

DPs they had that just didn't work out. But I think the optimism surrounds Georgie Mahalovich,

who obviously is out right now for a while, a real gut punch to the team, the injury

to him that the pelvis issue there. But, Daniel Shalowe, as a writer, is a player that I think

not many TFC fans knew too much about. Maybe they saw him as being a squad player,

someone that could step in and do a job at a time, but he's become a star. He's become a goal-scoring

star, a real fantastic footballer. He's brought a lot more to the table than we thought.

Well, and to that point, I mean, Shalowe is one of those guys, Craig, that in Kansas City,

he was a troublemaker. And if you did not account for him, then there was going to be issues.

And now I think that Toronto fans are seeing what Daniel Shalowe brought to the table in Major League

Soccer. And this is the guy that you were hoping for when you brought him in. Not the guy that was

having the issues. When sporting was having their issues, Shalowe obviously was somewhat of

the personification of that. You're getting the unleashed Daniel Shalowe now as a part of that

offense. And that was what you were obviously looking for. Exactly. Yeah, I think he was a great

addition and his ability to get forward, take chances, find space, find opponents, know where the

space is, and find a good pass is certainly within his capabilities. And it's showing certainly

an offensive zones for Toronto, I see. And Shalowe. All right. So, Sharms, we talked a little

defense with Craig. Let me get your thoughts on the back line and the net with Toronto. I want

to get your perspective on things and what you're staring at as well here in 2026 after the

first handful of matches. Well, I know you mentioned that the Gavron goal is funny. Earlier this

week on the 30 prime, the podcast, we were talking about his experience in there.

I had to get in there, Johnny. I mean, it was honestly for a team that has had so few high points

in the last number of years. It really is one of those goals that we'll talk about forever.

But just this week, we're talking to Craig about, you know, how he almost scored a goal a couple

of times for for Epswich in West Ham. Never really happened. He was talking about, it was a

relegation, Tussle, last day of the season. They had to score a goal, Epswich. He was up the pitch,

back the pitch, up the pitch. In the end, he had to stay back in goal, but he was just hoping

for that moment. He never got to enjoy it. So to see look at Gavron, who's a really good guy,

right? This guy is a solid human being. He's a Canadian boy. To see him get his moment

after being a backup the last number of years to Sean Johnston and getting his chance and having a

bit of a, oh, it's not a poor start to the season, but he's finding his feet as a started.

Had that moment, it was brilliant. So hopefully he can build on that. And in front of him, I mean,

listen, you have, you mentioned, you know, Walker Zimmerman, who I think is a legitimate,

you know, top center half in this league, very important, but it all starts and finishes with

Richie LaRaya, whether he's on the left or on the right hand side, he's beloved by that fan base,

he's beloved by Canadians. He brings that real tenacity. And I think sometimes his abilities

overlooked because of that tenacity, have he always plays on the edge? He's a very, very good player,

adds great pace, he can defend, he can attack. So I think it kind of starts and ends with Richie

as a wider defender, but they have to sort of out, right? Overall, because even in their,

their worst moments of last season, they could defend pretty well. This year,

Sean is entertaining. I think Robin Fraser is getting greater as we talk, just with the

opportunities the team concedes over and over again. He's, you know, he's got to get that

sword out, but, you know, as any footballer will tell you, it's easier to coach defense and get

that figured out throughout a season that offense, and they have the offense right now. So I guess

that's the positive, but yeah, they've got to figure something out of that because they can

see way too many goals. All right, so speaking of the back, I'm going to ask the keeper about a

keeper question. The differences between Luca and Sean Johnson, personality-wise distribution,

how they handle themselves, when folks are drifting into CTFC, what are they seeing in

Luca that they didn't see in Sean? That's a really good question. I mean, Johnson was a

solid goalkeeper. There's no question about that. And you still be here. I think there

probably is a money thing, contract thing, you know, and decided that it was time for Gavron to

to get an opportunity as a starter. I think as a starter, it is a little bit more intense,

playing week in, week out. That is going to be a bit of a problem and a challenge for Gavron.

Johnson's quite obviously used to that intensity. And like I said, it was a very, very solid goalkeeper

in a very poor team last year. So Gavron is going to be up against it because defensively,

they haven't sorted it out yet. And he's under an awful lot of pressure, but I have a lot of

confidence in him. And he has grown in confidence as the season has gone on here, even in the early

stages. So that's the biggest thing. I think it was just just for him to be in the same level as

Johnson, as would really be his goal at the end of the season, which I think he's capable of.

Yeah, John, just last couple of weeks with the international camp in Toronto,

Canada was based at the TFC training camp. And Luca Gavron was in there. He wasn't part of the

squad necessarily, but he was in there as that extra goalkeeper, with especially when Max

Kropow was a little bit hobbled to start the camp. So he's getting some time with some very good

footballers, different coaches as well. So at 25, I mean, Craig will tell you, he's still young for a

goalkeeper. He's still not even close to his prime. Some of these guys don't break through to their

late, late 20s, right? So I think TFC have a pretty good one there, but there will obviously be a

little bit of patience. But as long as he's scoring goals, they'll be happy.

I see what you did there, not quite as prime. I see what you're doing there, Charles. It's good

stuff. A footy prime guy is hanging out with us part of the equation. I think how many of you,

how many footy primers are there now, James, like 28, how many, how many are on the line?

Sometimes trying to hurt them and organizing it feels that way. Yeah, no, they're six of us.

But it feels like more sometimes, a lot of opinions, a lot of voices.

But that's good stuff, though. I do want to get into how you guys have evolved as well before

you get out of here and we discuss things. So then James, let me ask you this. You get behind

shallowy and sergeant. Then you're looking at folks like Kerr and Seafood and Osorio and Coazio

and folks like that. If you're not a true TFC Sico, these might be folks that aren't even household

names in their own household. But they're part of that glue that Robin Frazier is looking for for

the overall success for Toronto FC in the midfield and in the attack. With these glue guys that are

there in front of that backline that's got issues, what do they bring to the table? Yes, it's a good

one that because some of these players, you mentioned the Andre Kerr as a prime example,

Coby Franklin, he's now scored back-to-back games. He's doing really well. These are young players

that have come through from the academy in just the worst time possible for a young player.

During the Bernadesky and Insignia era, where it was, I'm not sure whether it was the all-time

lows, but considering that the money those guys were on and the fractures, shall we say? I think it's

fair to say. It's not happy with what happened and what that rate of return, brother. That's all I

told you. It didn't work out great, did it? When you look at the DP signings in the history of

MLS, maybe the worst too. Certainly Insignia being the worst, but anyone that's been in a sports

team that's losing all the time, you worry about the mentality of there's young players learning

from those players. It's always concerned. When you see these young players playing quite well now,

do Andre Kerr gets the minutes finally up front? I think it's really important and I think

glue's a good way to put it. You want to see academy players get an opportunity just for the good

of the club to give those young players that hope that, yeah, maybe that can be me next time,

but they're good young players. They won't be stars, I don't think, but players that can be

good squad members and are cheap and in a cap system, you need to have those guys that can put a

job in with a decent price there. Above them, you have the Kawajos midfielders who have been there

for a while now have that kind of tenacity, have a lot to prove, but it's playing quite well

right now. And then of course, led by the captain Jonathan Osorio, who, you know, no one's played more

games in this club than Jonathan Osorio. He's a leader, again, another great, great guy, but

a Canadian boy, a Toronto boy, you know, if he's not the face of the team, he's the, I think the

soul of that team, him and Richie LaRera, and still so, so important to kind of bring those young

kids through and saying, yeah, forget about the last two, three, four years, yet to endure that

nonsense. This is a new, a new start for TFC, and maybe we can be in a playoffs this year.

Yeah, Richie LaRera just fell down again. Craig, let me ask you, let me, let me ask this,

schedule compression and roster rotation. When it comes to this stretch of matches for pretty

much anybody in Major League Soccer, four in 12 for Atlanta United, pretty much the same for Toronto

UFC. Are you anticipating how, I guess let me phrase it this way, how different an 11,

are you anticipating from midweek considering all of the energy that was exerted last night?

You're going to have today, tomorrow, and then, oh, by the way, it's brunch, it's time to play.

I mean, how, when it comes to roster rotation, and, you know, sharms, you can follow up as well,

but Craig, how much roster starting 11 rotation are you looking at here?

I wouldn't expect an awful lot at this stage. I mean, he's trying to find his best 11 and his

best system with what he has. Obviously, there's a couple injuries that he's dealing with, but

overall, I say, getting that consistency with the team and the lineup that is physically able

to deal with those pressures, not just through talking about the goalkeeper, but obviously,

the outplayers as well. And I think they're in pretty good nick, they're in pretty good shape,

and I wouldn't expect an awful lot of rotation from last night to the next game. Would you sharms?

No, I agree. I think, like you mentioned, Craig injuries are a big part of this. They have

got some high profile injuries right now. You know, you want to get some consistency in that back

for, and the way Franklin's playing, you can't drop him at the moment. I don't think so he

stays in there. Richie's going nowhere. Mon Louis and Zimmerman need to get some kind of chemistry,

and you get that by playing minutes, right? So I think that makes a lot of sense. You might

see a Derek Etienne Jr. get an opportunity, you know, out wide, maybe for the Andre Kerr, for example.

But that as much as it's improving, it's still a work in progress. I know Keith Pelley

was talking when they fired the Maple Leaf GM Brad tree living, and they were talking about how

he's rebuilt TFC. It's like, no, you haven't. It's being rebuilt. It's in the process of being

rebuilt, but the depth isn't there. You can't compare it to the top teams in the league. So

I think it'd be a dangerous game to play with over rotation at this point. And come on,

they can play two games a week. These are footballers, right?

Yeah, exactly. Pelley actually said that they've that they've rehabbed and fixed Toronto,

I see, huh? Yeah, through data and analytics. That's how they did it. Oh, done. Finished.

Jumped done. All right. So then if I was in that press conference situation,

I would ask if they're doing analytics, how do you measure heart? How do you measure the South

American, what they call in South America, the Ghana? How do you measure this? Yeah,

I remember this. They have figured it out years ago. I remember being at a press conference

during the glory years. Actually, just before the glory years, I think when Tim Besbichenko first

arrived and Tim is a big data guy, as you know, and he said, we've we've found data points to measure

grit. Oh, I remember him saying that to this day, and no one asked him, what do you mean by that?

How do you measure grit? And he had, so they've got the answers. Okay, just checking. I mean,

because that's one of the things that when somebody, that's what I've, when you're in the analytics,

now let me ask this and jump in because I think we've just hit the freeform section of the program.

Is it literally 100% analytics? Is it a mix? What are we, what are we talking about here? Are they

all in an analytics? Or are they looking at shiny objects and going, we can't resist, you know,

Josh Sargent kind of a thing? Where are they in the analytics? The you meter. Where are they here?

It's interesting because I mean, when you talk about analytics, they just drop in the designated

player situation. When you had, you know, Toronto, see his nailed the designated players back in the

day. But they've also had some disasters in the designated player, you know, Jameen Defoe is a good

example. I thought I played with him at West Ham when he was a young, young lad, and I really

thought he would have done well here, but you never know if they're going to settle. So I think

they're in a position with a guy like Josh Sargent, forget about analytics. He's settling and he's

going to be fine in North America. Like we know he's going to be fine. And he played at a level

that we know is going to be conducive to doing well in MLS as well. So analytics can play a

major role. And we're seeing more and more of it these days. But I think you're right. How do you,

how do you, you know, really get to the deep, deep side of, you know, the heart of it, you know,

and what does that bring? And how do we measure that? I think that's still impossible.

Almost say, though, I mean, measuring heart. I mean, this team has shown resilience to come back.

Yeah. And last three days. I mean, you're Matt Naysharm is this year where you're sitting here

and you're going, okay, get out the shovels and all of a sudden it just turns into chaos.

Yeah, it's just done, right? And I think we just would kind of jaded from seasons past where you're

down two goals. Forget about it. This team is out of it, but not this year. This team will fight

back, but they will go down two goals. That's the problem so far. You know, so it's not perfect,

but there's certainly, there's an inner belief with this team that we haven't seen for a long time.

But they are still had that capacity to give up that late goal. I don't know whether or

I mean, listen, Jason Hernandez seems to be a pretty smart guy. I'm actually going to interview

him next week. So maybe I'll come on and give you a better answer. But I think he's going to,

he certainly takes, he thinks, he understands the importance of analytics, but I don't think it's

going to be everything. I think you have to balance it, use it as the tool. We're going for that right

now in hockey up here in Canada. A lot, you know, it's the hot, it's not the hot new world.

Would it's been there for a long time, right? But data analytics, you know, yes, it's very

important in modern sports has been for probably a decade now, right? But it's not everything.

Just use it properly. And the signing so far this season of what's out pretty well. But like Craig

said, Josh Sargent, you don't really need data points to prove that he's a good player. He's been

doing it in some good leagues in Europe. My data point data point tells me that Josh Sargent is

a good player for us to have a pop. Yeah, right? You scored 12 goals in the league championship

regularly. You're probably going to score 12 to 15 goals in the MLS, you would think so. And I think

he will. He's been a nice time. Well, if he's, if he's in a system that fits the skill set

because we are experiencing that right now with Latte Lot, who was at Middlesbrough in close to

20 year, and it has been an adjustment for him to come over here to Major League Soccer under

multiple managers with Atlanta United now with Tatumartino this year. It's been an adjustment

for him. So I think it has to be a system plus adaptation. I think is what you're looking at here.

And I think that Josh is doing that early on. Craig and James hanging out with us from Fuddy Prime.

Another couple of minutes with them because I have to get them to give their blatant promo about

where their, where their game has advanced themselves and where they can be heard in all these

kinds of things. We have to, we have to fill out the promo sheet for you guys before you get out of

here. Craig, expectations for TFC coming into this season were what?

Well, you would think that they, they were aiming for a playoff spot. If they can get into a

playoff, that would be a success for them this season, I think. And I think they're heading that

way and look as though they've, they've got a chance to absolutely do that.

And you know, Charms now that you see where they are right now in, in the standings in the East,

when you look at adjustments, players coming in, you have, okay, we, we kind of have the idea of

these are the guys, they're integrating and right now looking at where Toronto is, you're

six to three two and four middle of the pack, but there's still some space before you get to the

eight number for the nine matchup because Columbus right now is four points behind it. Obviously,

we're at the quarter pole here. How would you assess Toronto at the quarter pole right now being

in sixth with three wins in their first nine? Yeah, I'm beaten in seven as well. A lot of draws

in there, which is always a bit of a concern, especially during this, this long home stretch,

nine games, I think they're, I think they're six games in right now. And, and they've got points,

but they haven't got a ton of points with all those draws. So, and that, that's a slight concern

given that they're conceding so many goals. There's a couple of away matches before the World Cup

break, which are really important, obviously, to get them momentum going. But I think with all the

new faces, I think TFC fans are pretty happy overall, despite the attendance not being great. I think

it's the third worst in MLS right now, which is unheard of for this club. Well, it's like five

degrees outside. Yeah, but we're tough up here, John. You kidding me? It's football weather. I know.

I agree. Rain. Come on. Short sleeves. Oh, yeah, absolutely. It's amazing what a bit of winning

will do though. And, and maybe a few degrees and the older barometer there, that will change everything.

But yeah, I think they're there where they would think expect to be at this point in the season.

They're going to get better, obviously. They didn't bring in a number of signings till very late

in the window, as is the MLS way it seems, right? So you don't know, we know what you have,

but it couldn't have been much worse in the last few years, really. And they've been loyal to

Robin Fraser, who seems to be paying off right now. He's a calm, classic kind of guy, not too

emotional, which is what this team needs. So I think they're pretty happy at the moment with where

they're at in sixth place. It's a weird league, you know, you're in the hunt, right? And then you

get to the show who knows what happens. But overall, in what's going to be such a weird season with

the World Cup, anyway, I think they're very happy with where they're at. Yeah, even though you're

not banking as many points at home as you would like. Craig, I come walking in the door at BMO this weekend.

Is there anything else that we have not hit on the board that folks need to be keeping an eye on,

other than sitting under the overhang so they don't get wet? Yeah, perhaps. Well, I would expect

a bunch of chances, probably a bunch of goals as well for a team. I mean, if Atlanta come in here,

like I said before, if they come in here and look after themselves and hold up Josh Sargent,

organize themselves, they will play a very chaotic type of style, Toronto, I see you in the

last few games. That's what it seems to be very disjointed, but offensively creating chances. So

it's going to be important that everybody in turner and gold as well. I could be played well

again last night, but organizes everything defensively and structures themselves. And if they do

that, they'll have an absolute chance because they will get opportunities in the offensive zone.

When you mentioned about playing to a style that's going to suit the strikers, Josh Sargent,

or anybody, somebody like Kyle Lairon, the Canadian International, strikes me as somebody that

wasn't doing too well as Fanny, then he has been the Dutch league, doesn't get an opportunity,

almost, you know, we're wondering whether he's even going to get in the squad or play for the

national team, come the World Cup. He makes a move, he gets a place in Southampton, and that seems

to be just the right fit for him. The right structure, the right players that he's playing with,

and he can't stop scoring all of a sudden. So it's so, it's so important to play to the

strength of the striker and have those players that can do that to help, you know, accommodate

those strikers as well, and it does take time. And so then for me, I guess the matchup to look at

is the center back pairing for Atlanta United, a combination of an AME High,

St. John Greggerson, and Orwan Barracol, going up against Josh Sargent for the matinee on Saturday.

Okay, Sharms, I need you to cut the promo for me, and I need you to include the other

business that you are in because we have to figure out how to get the pies from the course

down here to the studio so we can share the experience and the love and all of the elbow grease

that you have put into the pies. So tell me, Fuddy Prime, tell me about the pies before you get

out of here. Yeah, well, Fuddy Prime, we started this back in 2019, Craig, myself, Danny Dickey

at the time, Dan Wong, and Jeff Cole. Since then, Deach has gone to coaching the coaching ranks,

of course, in Detroit right now. But yeah, we try to stay relevant, we thought it would be there

for a year or so, and then we get off of amazing jobs in the broadcast industry. And here we are

now, six years later, still doing this. But no, we love it. It's very much banter oriented. It's

like a bunch of good friends having a few pints, talking about all things sport football, using the

sport really as a vehicle for wherever we want to go. We have a lot of fun. We record four to five

times a week, Fuddy Prime, the podcast on Spotify and Apple podcasts. We have a YouTube channel as

well, follow us on Instagram, all that good stuff. And basically we're a bunch of idiots trying

to sound smart, you know, which I think makes us in good content. And as for the pies,

yeah, Sharma's proper pies in Ontario here in Canada. And we'd love to expand. And then you

want the ones to invest financially, that would really help. And we will expand across North America.

British style pies, Craig Zafang, in fact, Craig and Danny Dickey were when we first started

the business way back in 2018. They were our guinea pigs. And I would try some things,

mix and pies to them, they give me their feedback, having known the pie culture from England.

So without Craig, there'd be no Sharma's proper pies. Yeah, we're encouraging them to do it

because they are fantastic. Fantastic. See, like I said, we got to find a way to get those across

the peace bridge and work down here to the studio space and have our breaking of the bread.

You guys know, and I say this genuinely, it's always good because like I said, Sharma's

and I go back probably about two decades. And from our time on King Street. And it's always fun

for me to see how things continue to grow with you guys. We're in our tenth season. You guys are

in your seventh, your eighth. And so it's just great to see how things continue to evolve. Do not

be strangers. If you wish to vent your spleen about anything, you've got the key to the kingdom now.

You know where the key is under the door mat. You know where the garage door opener is. Just

literally yell at me and go, yo Nelson, look, I got to vent my spleen on something.

When can I come in? And you guys know that you can come in anytime because, hey, look,

we talk. It's always good to catch up with friends. Craig, James, great to see you guys.

And just stay dry and enjoy the game this weekend. We'll catch up with you soon. Yeah,

Sharma's on the back side. When you've got stuff to talk about, you know, just literally yell at

me and you'll come back in and we'll go from there. Good to see you guys. Thanks Joe.

Great to see you again, John, for sure. I like it. You're always welcome with Fuddy Prime.

We'll get you up here at some point. Very soon. Yes. No doubt about it. There goes Craig and James.

So it's great to see them and find out what's going on on the planet from their perspective.