Red Bulls COLLAPSE at Home, NYCFC on a TEAR, McBride talks GRIT & BROOKLYN FC | Unfiltered Soccer

Does this team, in your opinion, have enough dogs?

Chris Richards is going to be a big part, I think.

He's got to be the backbone of how we start games.

You know, you go to battle with Weston.

He's someone you can trust any time on the field.

Diego Luna, he doesn't shy away from anything.

If you're going into a game and you need a little bit of bite,

I think we have some.

Unfiltered soccer with landing in Timbers,

ended by Volkswagen.

Volkswagen has long been a supporter of soccer in America

and has proudly been a partner of US Soccer for over five years.

Welcome into Unfiltered Soccer with landing in Tim,

presented by Volkswagen, LD, big last week.

We both have a birth this week.

Happy birthday, sir.

26 years old, last week, baby.

Not you, I'm 47.

What did you do for your birthday?

I know, tell the people.

My wife set up a little trip to Vegas for the night.

We had dinner, gambled, and then it was like 11.30

and we're like, should we keep gambling?

Should we go out?

And we went to bed.

You went to bed.

That sounds about right for our 2016 trip.

We went to bed.

What about you?

I went to...

I went down a Knoxville to visit my daughter.

I went to Eric Church concert,

belted out Springsteen with other 22,000 people.

It was good.

It was like the fourth time I've seen Eric Church.

He's brilliant.

And next day, I drove to have brunch with my son in Chattanooga.

I bought brunch.

I thought maybe he would pick up the check, but he didn't.

No chance.

He was amazing.

Chattanooga's nice, by the way.

I like that city on the river right there.

Yeah, he's really pretty.

He loves it.

That's where Volkswagen is.

And they, the old CEO, I went and spent like a day with him there.

It's really cool.

Yeah, it's a sweet place.

It's fun.

Okay, guys, follow us on social media and unfiltered soccer.

Subscribe to the show on YouTube.

Make sure you follow on Apple Podcasts.

Spotify anywhere you get your podcasts.

And if you like what we're doing, leave a review.

If you don't, tell Tim.

He's terrible on social media.

And you can email Jordan feedback at unfiltered soccer.

All right, let's jump right into USMNT on USLNT.

So we got some good news, bad news stuff going on.

I feel like it's kind of like that every week.

Good news, Ricardo Peppy back scored the winning goal for PSV.

He scored eight in his last nine appearances, including two of three

from two in three, since returning from his injury.

The bad news in that game is that Sergenio Dest was forced off early

with an upper thigh, upper leg injury.

They think thigh hamstring, it looked like his hamstring.

He has said, I'm out for a little while to do what I love the most,

but one thing for sure is it's not the end of the season.

So I don't know where that leaves us.

Probably at least a month, maybe two months.

So thoughts on Peppy and then Dest.

Well, I mean, I think Peppy, it's great.

He said to ground running again, scoring on the backside of that injury

now scoring after getting back from it.

So look, as long as our strikers are scoring,

I think it's brilliant, sort of disappointed for him

that that full of move didn't materialize,

because I would have loved to see Peppy in the Premier League.

Because I do, I think he's got an interesting profile physically

and one that I think he could succeed there.

But anyway, whatever, he's scoring goals, and that's important.

So Junior Dest, it's a tough one because he's going to,

you know, I think he'll miss the March friendlies.

He'll definitely miss it in the March friendlies, I think, yeah.

So I mean, he played twice in November, twice in September,

missed the October games for whatever reason.

And then prior to that, he was dealing with the,

what I believe was the ACL injury, right?

And so, you know, sort of been in and out of the national team,

and not terribly consistent in terms of appearances.

So the blow, it's a blow, I mean, you know,

we constantly say, we want the team to be together,

we want the best team to be together.

And you know, if he's the best right, fullback,

wingback in the squad, or potentially the best,

then we want to see that, you know, and the manager wants to see it.

I'm guessing, but again, hopefully by his words,

it's not the end of the season, and that would be a great thing.

This has fortunately become a position of depth for us,

immense depth between, you know, way has been playing there.

Alex Freeman, let's talk about him in a sec,

desk, Joe Scali can play there, and also

western mechanic can play there, if you need him to, right?

So it's a position of depth, but it takes away optionality

for, for Mauricio Pochettino.

Let's touch on Alex Freeman.

Okay, but it takes away optionality, but also I'm saying,

I think he's our best right, fullback.

You do?

That's what that's the consensus.

Yeah. And if he is, then certainly you want him

being able to compete, because I think, even if you have optionality,

even if you have guys, you think, oh, they can play that position and play it well,

you still want your best out there.

But yeah, that's true.

And then you want guys coming off the bench, you can impact the game, right?

So if that means that Alex Freeman's off the bench,

or way is off the bench, or way I'll play someone else,

somewhere else that helps a lot too.

Yeah, I agree with that.

So the Alex Freeman stuff.

So I play hockey every week, and our goalkeeper,

this guy, Jacob, is a massive Viera Alfan,

which I'm like, wow, how do you become a Viera Alfan?

I think you're one of one in America, dude.

But every week we, I go in, we talk about Alex Freeman,

and he's like, I just, when is he going to play?

When is it, and so I went and looked,

since that November friendly, the last friendly,

you know, many total minutes of competitive soccer he's played.

So that's in five months now.

34, 34.

And so I know I talked about this at the time.

I always say this isn't always green or dead.

And I do think, I will say, I have to say long term,

this is the right move.

I said at the time, I love the move.

I hate the timing.

And so I hope, I hope Tim, I really genuinely hope I'm wrong on this.

And I hope in a month, this is water under the bridge.

And he's playing and everything.

But if this continues through the summer,

he's now put himself at risk.

I think he'll be on the roster.

But of not playing, right?

And I think he's a good player, man.

And he's impactful.

And so I just really struggle with this.

I do, I did at the time.

I hope I'm wrong.

I hope he finds his way in.

But it's not trending well right now.

I didn't get off the bench this weekend

in the last few games he hasn't.

So it's not trending.

Here's what I would say.

No, I mean, you say in your hope,

and there's no hope.

I mean, there's a reason why he's not playing.

There's for whatever, whatever the coach thinks he needs time,

or what have you, he's not playing.

And that's real, you know, 30 plus minutes is just not a lot of football at all.

And I guess where,

because you and I were sort of texting about this the other day,

and I still was like, look, you said what you said,

and you stand firm on that.

And you're right.

But I also, I also believe that he needed to go timing or not.

And, and I still sort of sucks.

Sucks is not playing,

because that's going to affect his,

his sort of standing within the squad.

I mean, I, yeah, he'll be in the squad,

but whether he plays or not,

where he might have otherwise solidified himself

a role in the starting line up with the national team

if he was playing every week, right?

Here's why I, here's why I still say yes,

the move is right.

When your, the first move is scary.

So the first move out of MLS,

you don't, you don't, whether, whether you and I can sit back and say,

like conventional wisdom would tell you, kid,

hey, keep playing for your MLS club,

but the World Cup, it will happen, right?

That's easy for us to say.

And maybe we have the knowledge that we're right.

But when you're in that moment, that move is harder.

That move to turn down is harder.

Now, if you had a move or success at a club,

and you're in Europe or whatever,

and now you're trying to make the next big leap,

you might actually go, you know what,

my pockets are a bit more padded, I'm playing well,

even though let's say a Premier League club wants me,

I'm in Spain playing well.

Let me wait to the summer to make that move.

I think you have a little bit more stock.

There's all I'm saying.

So the first move, I think, I think you still have to take it.

I know I may be in the minority,

but I still think you got to take it.

Bearing in mind, this might happen.

And this has happened.

Yeah. Okay.

Well, let's look.

But again, let's hope I'm wrong.

Let's hope you're right.

And, you know, we'll follow along.

Okay, I want to dip into this dual national discussion,

because this has come up with Noah Kaibanks,

that I'm very high on.

He had an article recently,

did an interview with Sky Sports Germany.

And he quoted as, quoted as saying,

you know, they were asking him,

should he play for the US or should he play for Germany?

Because he's a dual national.

And he said, it's difficult decision regarding my nationality.

I'm very torn.

I'm in contact with both the USA and Germany

and both national coaches.

I hopefully have a long career ahead of me,

so I want to think carefully and speak with my family.

I don't want to make it dependent on a world cup run.

I'm just happy to be in this position

and to be able to make the decision.

We'll see what happens.

So all fair comments.

We're having Brian McBride on in a bit

who is really well versed in this,

because he was the GM for the national team.

And he has lots of insight into that.

Noah Kaib was born in Hawaii.

And then he moved to Germany.

He's been called into the youth national teams.

He was called into the US full team in September.

He didn't play in the friendlies,

but he was there.

Again, he grew up in Germany.

And he joined Augsburg Academy at age eight.

And now he's playing for their first team,

which is phenomenal.

So just give me your overall thoughts on this.

And I have a lot of thoughts on it too.

Well, I think it's a big decision.

It's a huge decision.

And I think the things he's saying are all right.

Or all correct.

Because I think he's because of how big this decision is,

you have to weigh all these factors.

In my experience, and during the Jürgen Klinzman era

in US men's national team history,

that was the time when he,

and we've had dual nationals before.

But that was a time where he basically said,

right, I'm, I'm going to unearth every single possible

dual national that I can think of.

Mexican American, German Americans,

I'm trying to think who else.

That was the bulk of, of the duels.

The co, the Scandinavian code.

Oh, yes.

The bulk of the bulk of them.

Where we're German American or Mexican American.

And we had mixed results, right?

We had some players who were uber successful in our national team, right?

And then we had others who,

for me, there was this sort of sense of,

because with respect to all of the people who run US soccer and support US soccer,

and two of the supporters are you and I.

Often times when players have to decide between the US or the other country,

you actually, you actually see them going,

I ain't good enough to play for your country.

Yeah, that's right.

I ain't good enough.

I might get a sniff.

I might go into one or two camps,

but I ain't good enough to play for your country.

So by default, I actually want to go to World Cup.

And I want to, and I want to get 100 caps.

And I can do that with the US team because they're not as good as my home country.

That's, that's just a matter of fact.

So why, what are the reasons behind certain players choosing the US?

The other part of it, I would say LD, is

when that happens, and maybe this was sort of,

this was a byproduct of the, they're being too many,

too many multi-nationals in the team at one time, it almost became aloof.

Like, training camps, I don't remember how much of that you remember.

Some of the training camps sort of like, there was no pizzazz within within the team, right?

Just by like, indirectly, you have, you have players who,

Englishes are second language, right?

So it's harder for them to sort of interact in banter,

which is what you do on the inside of the group.

So, so you then like, click sort of form,

because that's where they feel most comfortable, right?

And when you look at sort of our best US teams,

it's always been family and togetherness and this culture of banter and so forth.

And we, we missed out on that.

And again, that's not the fault of any of these players.

That's just, that's human nature, how people interact or don't.

So it causes, it causes its own problems when,

when someone doesn't just jump at the opportunity to play for the US, when I'm like,

I'm all in.

When there's a decision in the United, there's a balance.

Yeah, my struggle, look, I'm a dual national.

My dad was born in Canada.

So it never want, literally never once occurred to me,

to even contemplate painting for Canada,

because I feel American, I am American.

I can understand some of these kids, I mean, you know,

Nookai Banks is an interesting one, because he was born in America.

Right.

But he grew up in Germany.

Sure.

So my guess is, and again, I'm just guessing that he feels

he feels connected to Germany.

Sure, right?

Like that's, if you grew up in a place, of course you are.

So this is really challenging and the problem I have with all of this stuff is,

well, there's a few.

I mean, in the past, and I know from US soccer now speaking to some people,

this does not happen anymore and it should never.

People were promised places on the World Cup team if they joined, right?

And so that no longer happens, which is a good thing.

This, the challenge I have is, if you have to recruit someone and

convince them to play for your national team, that's a problem.

Like, Tim, I would, I swear on my life, I would have cut off my hand

to play for our national team.

Yeah.

And most, most people would.

So I understand I have compassion for the situation, no, it ties in.

But really, you need to dig deep and say, okay,

who do I really want to play for?

And, and the challenge for him is to your point.

Like, maybe he can't play.

Maybe he won't play for Germany.

Sure.

Maybe it's not enough.

We don't know.

He's 18.

We'll see.

But I mean, anecdotally though, it's, it's, and, and again, people,

US soccer fans aren't going to want to hear this because look,

all I care about was wearing the US shirt as you did, right?

But the fact of the matter is, having, having lived abroad for as many years as I did,

if the poll to wear some of these national team shirts is legendary, like, so, so if you're a German,

if you're a German international or you're an English international and you're like,

you're like, the US wants me bang, I'm nailed on, I can play every game for the next 100 games.

But Germany want me and sort of on the fringes.

That's still the thought of, of playing for, if you're a German,

the thought of wearing that choice, even if it's a, if it's a remote chance, you're like,

oh my god, because we love soccer in America and we were, but like,

Germany stops, the whole country stops when the German national team plays.

England stops when the English national team plays at Wembley, like,

there's a difference there and, and it becomes a harder decision for some of these kids.

No, look, before everyone calls me a xenophobic, I want to preface this by saying,

this is not xenophobic, they will, they will, they will anyway. First of all,

I'm curious what you guys all think out there, what your thoughts and opinions are on this,

because maybe there's things we haven't thought about. Second of all, the easiest way for FIFA to

cut this all out is just say, where you were born is the country you will play for.

And then it's just, and it, maybe it's fair, maybe it's not fair. No, a guy banks

grew up in Germany. You might get born in a country because, you know, the woman is, you know,

a couple weeks early or whatever, and that sucks, but like, that would just cut out all of this,

so it makes it really clean. But we'll see. Okay, let's move on to MLS. DC United.

This was the big storyline from the weekend. Move their game against Inner Miami to Baltimore's

M&T bank stadium. Not only did they move it out of their city, they moved it out of the state,

well, out of their district, into a different state. Miami 121, Messi scored. There were 72,000

fans. Yep. A lot of people get upset about this, about moving your game out of your stadium.

What's your take on that? I don't care. I don't care. Anything that has to do with Messi,

I don't care. Whatever he does is right. I don't know. I mean, like, what are you going to do?

What are you going to do? Like, like, DC, it's the district. It's close by. Don't the commanders play,

I don't know, they don't, they play way outside the city limits and are trying to build a stadium.

And I don't know, DC, whatever. But like, you're going to move, if it's, if it's, if it's an

inter Miami game, you have to move it to like the nearest big massive stadium because you want to get

70,000. So like, take your home stadium, right? That you play in and draw the, draw the closest line

to a 70,000 seat stadium. That's where you play. Am I wrong? Like, that's, if that happens to be

in your city in a mile away, you do it. If it happens to be outside the city limits, you do that too.

Like, I don't know. You feel it. It's a no brainer. It's a no brainer.

It's a no. We used to play like these friendly games in the Rose Bowl or the calls him whatever.

And the reason we would, they'd give us like an extra thousand dollars or two grand or whatever

is because they were selling all these tickets and it was to help them. So I'm like,

yeah, whatever. All right. I mean, curious how you guys feel, but we're pretty strong on this

one. Like, get over it. Other notable result NYCFC went to 3-0 on the season. They smashed Orlando

who lost 5-0, Orlando on a tough spot, lost three of three. By the way, Tim, four teams,

winless in the league, all in the East still. The West strong, bro. The West is strong. The East is

not good. They're moved. Francois and Griezmann or Lando's is off for now, at least.

So see what happens. That feels like they'll be back informed. Yeah, could do. I wonder why

that deal broke down. But anyway, that's an interesting one. They could use them.

Yeah, they could have used them. They're in bad shape right now. The other one, our guy,

Michael Brad, this is Emma last set. It's finest. It's finest. So they win their first two games.

Everyone, you know, they're playing all these youngsters, Julian Hall, whatever they play in my

am, or they play Montreal at home and everyone's going, wow, New York's going to go to 3-0,

final score, Montreal 3, Red Bull Zero. It's just Emma last all over. I didn't watch the game.

I saw the result. What? I was surprised. I was surprised. But insane. You know, also the

interesting part and sort of as paid closer attention to Red Bull under Michael Bradley is like,

he's playing kids and we're going to. Yeah, this is when they play really well. We're going to

get super excited. But also there's a learning curve with kids. You're going to have bad games.

We have to appreciate that that that's part of it too. And that's not by the way, the kids fault.

I'm just saying like, this is all part of it. And to be, you know, losing 3-0 hurts, but like to

be two and one at this point and and playing. Yeah, he would have taken that. Yeah, of course, of course.

Yeah. All right, early returns in the West Vancouver, San Diego, LAFC, all three wins from three

games as we probably expected. Also, San Jose. And I have to eat a little crow so far.

Timo Verna was really good at game. Had a couple assists. We'll see what happens. I still hold

to. He will not be the same that we saw years back. But for now, I'm eating a bit of crow and we'll

see. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'm looking the West is strong. I mean, no surprise. I mean, I think if

you watched Vancouver last year, even though they fell just short in the final, you're looking at

you're looking at that team. Don't really good team. Like it's a really well coached team.

Really well balanced. Yeah, got their DPs right. Got their young players right. So like that.

That's that's not surprising. I sort of think San Diego is the same. San Diego had a good

touch. They're going to be better. No, I know, I know. Right. And then there was sort of like that

trimming of the fat like what didn't work. Let's get rid of that. San Diego is also very, very

talented. Yeah. Vancouver importantly held on to Tristan Blackman. Yeah. And Sebastian Berhalter was

rumored to be moving or what's going to happen. So for now, they're both there and then that's

helping them. Okay, guys, just a reminder, please hit that subscribe button for lots of bonus

content to keep up up to date with us as the exciting summer comes around.

It's time for the unfiltered refresh sponsored by Core's Light. Choose, chill. Get Core's Light

delivered. Go to Core's Light dot com slash US LNT LD who chose chill this week. Talk to the US

women's national team and they just keep, they just keep winning. Emma Hayes has shown that she's

a winner. This team transition when she first came in and all they've done is one. Alyssa Thompson

who went from Angel City to Chelsea keeps getting better and better. She was good. We played against

her with the wave and watching her live. She's a real player. She scored incredible goal Sunday.

They were crown champions for the eighth time now. They beat Argentina, Canada and Colombia did not

concede a goal for Alyssa Thompson. It's her fifth goal now in 2026 for a club and country and

they just keep getting better, man. And it's exciting to watch ahead of the World Cup next year.

You would have to say they're the favorites, Tim. Every time they step on the field now, they're

competitive. They care so much about playing for their country. The pride is tangible and it's

been fun to watch. Yeah, I'm always so impressed. Like, one, it's fun when we have guests on like Emma Hayes,

who's just brilliant. And that's the one. So we still need to go to the pub drink beers and talk

football because she's that's just who she is. She's a she's a football fanatic, but a brilliant coach.

And you get to, you get this sort of cheer for people, you know, they come on the show,

you get to know a little bit and it's like, you become a fan. We've already, we've always been a

fan of that team, but I'm sort of in, I've always been in awe of our women's team. And I say this

often, like it's they continually churn out talent, right? And Alyssa Thompson is a perfect example

of that. They play three games, keep three clean sheets. Like they're constantly having the

pressure of having to win and perform and set the bar higher. Like, by the way, you can't be part

of the women's national team program setup and like, just be as good as the last team. You have to

be better. Like do you have to continually generation by generation year on year push the bar higher?

You know how difficult that is? They're setbacks. Don't get me wrong. They're setbacks in his hardships,

but that's so difficult to do. And every time they go out and they win and they lift another trophy,

I'm just in awe. I'm in awe and it's spectacular to sort of watch as a fan.

And they have to Tim because the rest of the world keeps getting better too. So if they just

stay the same, which they did, there was a period of time. The last five, seven years where they

kind of stagnated. And now with Emma Hayes, now they get better and better and they've been fantastic.

So Alyssa Thompson, the entire US women's national team, shares to you or choosing chill.

All right, let's take a break to me when we come back. We're talking with our former US teammate,

God, I love this guy. Brian McBride, I learned so much from him. We will talk to him right here on

unfiltered soccer with Lannan and Tim, presented by Volkswagen.

The unfiltered soccer podcast is brought to you by Volkswagen. It's really easy to become a passenger

in life to sit back and watch life go by day after day. Of course, it's hard to do your own

thing when everyone is following everyone else. But this is a call from me and LD from Volkswagen

and from all the other drivers out there, make the most of every day. Choose a different path,

take control, grab the wheel and get in the driver's seat of life because honestly, what are you

waiting for? Live life in the driver's seat. Learn more at www.com.

LD, MLS is back. Yes, it is. And you know what that means? Saturdays are once again all about soccer.

Walmart is making Saturdays of soccer even more glorious with Walmart Saturday Showdown.

Early practices to late night watch parties. Yeah, Walmart and MLS bring every emotion of the

beautiful game to Saturdays. Joy, nerves, excitement and unforgettable gollassos.

Walmart plays on Saturdays. Who knew unfiltered soccer is brought to you by Fandall soccer fans.

The beautiful game is reaching new heights of excitement and Fandall is matching that excitement

with a beautiful offer for new customers. Sign up now and score up to $300 back in bonus bets

every day for 10 days from soccer bets that don't win. It's like a free kick to try again every day.

Fandall is the best place to bet your favorite players. Build the same game parlay for a chance at

a bigger payout or try live betting and join the action after the match starts. Visit fandall.com

to get your first token and get up to $300 back in bonus bets every day for 10 days from bets

that don't win. Everyone deserves a second shot at greatness with Fandall. Play your game.

Very excited for our next guest. I mean, I had the pleasure of playing alongside and interacting

with quite closely on the field. I was just reading his bio. 95 caps for the national team.

30 goals. If you can score one in three, that's pretty damn good, Triker. Appear in three world

cups was the first American to score in two world cups, equaled by Clint Dempsey and yours truly

eventually was the number one pick in MLS's inaugural draft. And then I just read this one.

I didn't realize this two-time full-on player of the year. That's impressive. And then voted into

the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014. Now the GM of your Brooklyn FC. Mr. Brian McBride,

be welcome. Good to see you. Thanks, landing. Good to see you guys. Be back. Good to see you.

And listen, I remember being in high school. I mean, we played together on the national team.

But I remember you playing for the Columbus crew. And me going to watch you like play against

a match of stars. It's freaking crazy. And then they even become teammates and go to world cups.

And it's awesome. We'll obviously play against each other in the Premier League. So crazy journey

we had. It's great to have you on the show. Yeah. Pleasure, man. I'm glad I could be here. It's

funny how these things now attend to come across. I am just so freaking old. So anyhow, it happens,

right? True quick. Be, I didn't realize this. So you were a two-time full-on player of the year.

Like one time I won player of the month at Everton. And I was like, I'm the man. You were

player of the year for three months. You couldn't be player. I know. That's true. I know, but

that's incredible, man. That's incredible. What a run. No, I was, that time of form was really

special. Yeah, it was. So, be let's start. We're going to touch on a bunch of things, including what

you're doing now with Brooklyn. But you were the, you were the former national team GM.

And we were just having a long discussion about Noakai Banks, who is a dual national.

And we're curious in your, when you were in your seat, what was the strategy or the, the plan

around dual nationals? How did you guys speak about it? Because right now with Noakai Banks,

he's, he's hinted at, you know, maybe I can play for Germany. Maybe I can play for the US.

What is that? Is there a recruitment process? How do you speak to the players? Because I think

it's really fascinating for people to try to understand what's going on there. Yeah. No, it's,

it's a great question, man. And it really starts in the youth. Tony LePore, who leads up sort of

the scouting and, and the talent side of things, he finds out about most of the Americans, either

from agents or parents call him. And they start the process of really getting to know both the

individual and the family. There are a few times where you get the late bloomers that come,

and, or we never found out they were Americans. And that process is a little bit different. It's

a little bit more difficult because they, they're sort of set already where they were. So to try and

get them to understand and form Malagons, one of them, and get them to understand who we are,

how the process is, you know, our overall environment is, is really important. I'll go back to the

U side. So the U side, you know, Tony sets out building these nice, good relationships.

The family and the player will have conversations with each age group national team as they're

going. And just to see, you know, what we try to do or we, we tried, and I think they still do,

is sort of present them their pathway. And we, we've ran into a few different times that the other

national team is promising some of these kids. And it, it, it's just, it turns out wrong because

you never know. And so that's the one thing that we used to do. And I'm sure they still do is just

provide the pathway and then help them, you know, answer any questions, but not

never guarantee a player anything as you answer. And so is that, is that like a,

or those conversations that are you having those particularly with the agents, or are,

some of these kids well versed enough to, to have the conversations? Yeah, I know you talk,

sometimes you're talking to like a, a teenager, they don't have any idea. So it's more, you know,

how does that work? For the younger, for the younger players, it's more family. It's like you get on

a call with the player and their family. And, you know, because you're exactly right. And they're

just happy to be there. They're like, well, I'm getting pulled here again. And the parents are all like,

all right, let's get down to the nitty gritty. What's going on with how many camps do you do?

You know, who's the head coach? What's the background? How, you know, how's the team makeup and

all those things sort of come to fruition? But when you get into the older book, like I'll go back to

Florian, you know, I reached out to his agent and spoke to his agent five or six different times,

trying to set up a phone call or a meeting with, with myself him and Greg. And it just never,

never came about. Florian was still interested in his where he is next step was where he's

leaving Arsenal, going to wherever he was going. That was our first conversation. And finally,

when he got to Tamanico, he's a little more settled, tried to have a few more conversations with

the agent. And nothing, I never, I never spoke to him. But thankfully, frankly, Greg got, got through

to him time. But yeah, that process is unique, probably, especially as they get older,

because they've got to want to, want to come. Yeah, that was, it's not even on the radar.

Right, that was my next question. So what do you do if, and obviously you don't have to specify

names, but you have a kid who either, I'm not saying this is flail, by the way, is not into it,

or it's not on their radar. And you're trying to convince them. And when we've talked a lot on

this show about just having pride and playing for your country. And now you're trying to convince

a kid who it's not even on their radar to come play for, I mean, is that you probably have your

personal feelings, but then you're, you're an employee of the federation, you have your job to do.

Is that difficult? Yeah, I mean, it's, it's not difficult. I think it's interesting, because

those conversations, and I think more so, Landon, it goes the opposite way when, when kids are

interested in, or players are interested in us, and we're interested in them, but somebody,

the other dual national, the other national nation that they can play for is like really hard,

and they're all over me. They grind it down to where, finally, they're like, you know what,

I'm going to go, I'm going to, I'm going to go in. And the youth side, those decisions are,

okay, because they always come back. You can change, right? When they make that final decision,

and I'm not going to name them, but there's two or three players that made those decisions when,

when I was GM, and I felt, I felt really bad for them, because they were promised something,

and it never came to fruition. Interesting. Yeah. I think, I think the, and you can attest to this,

we didn't have, so you had a few, right? When in your heyday with the national team, sort of before

land, and I, you had like, Ernie, maybe was, or was Ernie a dual national? He was, yeah. He was,

a regime, a regime, yeah, trying to think about it. Thomas Dooley, maybe? No.

Yep, no, yeah. So, so not, not, not a ton, right? And so, it's really,

really, really, yeah. I mean, but it's illustrating my point, like US is so, it's so different.

There's a lot of, there's a few countries that can, that can have dual nationals, but when you look

at America, I mean, particularly with, you know, in the Jürgen Klinzmann era, I mean, that,

that just became, you know, that just became his idea of how to build a team was bringing as many

dual nationals as possible. And so, there is, there is that push pull. And, you know, sort of,

where does the US stand compared to their other country? You know, and, and are they choosing the

US because they really see it as a pathway, or is it the easy way? And I say that with respect,

because they wouldn't be playing for that underneath. Correct. And we've seen that. And we've seen

that. So, yeah, I think the process that you, that you undertake and is, is weeding some of that

out is really difficult. Wow. Yeah.

Be let's transition now to your new general manager role at Brooklyn FC,

congrats for the first win on the weekend. I know those, you know, having been a part of

San Diego loyal in the first game. There's so much stuff like on the men's side, the first win.

What's it been like? What's that transition been like? How did you end up there? What was the

process by which you ended up there? It's a good question. And yeah, so, so I'm the sporting

director. So I oversee both the men's and women's and then I'm right now on the general manager

of the men's team. Got it. How I ended up there was interesting. I got sort of a recruitment call

as to see if I would be interested in a position like this. I wasn't doing anything at the time

and I'm like, all right, let's hear this out. Not fully understanding, you know, the details

and the details matter. So as I think I've went through three interviews and always,

always pretty straightforward. You know, everybody's been on an interview. You know, you go through

what your plan is, what your thought process is, and then then it's got to match up with the

ownership. And quite honestly, when I was started the process, I didn't, I didn't really think that

we end up sort of being on the same, in the same mindset. And that's not against them or anything,

or I just didn't know what to expect. And as I went through those three interviews and then they

offered me the position, I got to really understand what they're talking about. And how much

ability I would have to be able to create something, to build something that, you know,

that Brooklyn can be proud of, that, you know, that is going to last and really have a foundation

where you can continue to grow and build. And that's been my experience. It's been a challenge.

I can honestly say our infrastructure is in need of deeper and more people that are soccer people

that understand the game. And yesterday was a great culmination of seeing pretty much all the

owners were at the match and you'd see the passion and the joy and what they really,

what they really are getting out of this and what they want Brooklyn FC to be. So it was almost,

it was almost like I got rejuvenated again, because, you know, we're nowhere near done. We still

have a few roster slots open, but agents, please don't just keep all the people in good luck now.

Actually, I shouldn't say that because they were great because, you know, if we didn't,

we don't have a scouting department. We don't have the way it was. Marlin and myself,

going through all the different, you know, videos and why scout and everything. And so agents thank

you on the radar. And right now we're really happy. Be as, you know, it's interesting as being

part of an ownership group. I think when you make hires like General Manager Sporting Directors,

I think it's important to give autonomy to that position and let, you know, you're hiring someone

to do a job, let them do a job. And, but with that comes challenges. And so can you speak to us

and our listeners about the challenges of running two teams? Because I think in America, right,

that's unique. Well, it's unique to the extent like in USL, I was a part of an ownership

group that ran a baseball team and a soccer team, right? So there's a lot of, there's a lot of that

and there's a lot of different ownership groups that own men's and women's teams. So sort of talk us

through the challenges that you face like on a daily seasonal basis where you're having to run two

teams. Yeah, it's a, the great question. And I've really haven't gotten my hands really into the

women's side of it. And that was sort of the plan because we were putting all the infrastructure

together on the men's. But it is, you know, there's the biggest thing, of course, is always going to be

budget, you know, and making sure that you're aligned with the budget and you're, you're, you're staying

at budget or under. And one of the biggest issues we have here is housing. And so in USL,

you provide housing and that's not cheap. So, you know, give credit to the owners and understanding

that. And we've got some flexibility here. But yes, the overall infrastructure and build out,

that was one of those things that was sort of non-negotiable when they were off from either job.

And they were right aligned with it. And they, they knew we needed to have two assistants. They knew,

you know, we, we need to have a high performance person. We need to have an analyst. And so,

you know, that process has been, has been sure busy in taxing. But I've had the support. And it's,

it's going, it's going, well, it's gone really well. And like I said, we still have more to do.

But I'm happy. That's awesome. Good. Okay. Let's transition back now so we can,

let's go down memory lane a bit. I just, before we, you know, I'm not, not,

blowing smoke here, but I learned so much from you and I'm really grateful for the time we had

together. It was, it was, it helped me grow a lot to see someone in your position who was

professional. Did their job every day showed up and went to work and for a young kid who's

egotistical and brash and excited and all that. It's good to see someone who shows up and does

their job. So, yeah, I'm curious. Your thoughts now as one of our best goal scores and one of our

best strikers ever. How do you view? And you had, well, you almost had some time with Florian.

How do you view the current crop of strikers? And it's, sometimes it's hard for me to gauge because,

you know, they're playing in the championship or he's playing in legal or, you know, you have Brian

right here, Josh Sergeant here. And you, it's hard to go back and think, okay, how did they

compare to our time? But how do you view the current crop? And are you happy, you know, with where we

are as a national team? These of you, the striker position? Yeah, I know. I think, you know,

a couple of years ago, it had been, I think there was more question marks. We had injuries. We had

lack of form. And we didn't have everybody playing a lot. And so I think we have more of that now.

And that's an exciting part. I think the talents there certainly, and at this, I think, you know, Florian's

got a lot of really good qualities. And he's also a player that brings other players in, which

is a great attribute to have, especially when you have midfielders that are going to make the

penalty area. And so that type of vision, I mean, Ricardo Pepe is, he's a goal scorer, you know,

he's improved with his hold up play, but his best attributes in the penalty area. He's got great

movement, I think. And he's a really good finisher of the ball. I said this before too, it, you

know, sometimes it hurts you when you play really well coming off the bench. And so, but it's a good

problem to have. And I think the biggest concern I have guys is, and you guys know this, you know,

the best teams are teams that that'll fight for each other that feel like family that can trust

everybody that's on the field with you. And I'm not saying they don't have that, saying they

haven't had the whole group together a lot. So it's, that type of chemistry building is going to

be really important in that, that three weeks before the World Cup. And can they get there? Yeah,

they can, but it's, it's a little more challenging because the group has been so mixed in and mixed

out. Yeah, it's, you know, I think, I think I like our striker crop. I do. And I think that

particularly this season, they all seem to be getting goals on the club level. I think the

question mark going into the World Cup for me has been, you know, and I'm probably going to

just serve it to service to a few strikers who have come before you guys, but yourself and Josie

and Clinton Landon who are hybrid strikers, they did it in big games. And we always sort of

knew we don't, this striker will carry us on our worst day. You, Brian, Landon, Clint, Josie at times

would be able to carry us. And that's a big burden for a striker. That's not, that's not just coming

in and playing well. That's a big burden. And I just, and I, and I wonder that's sort of the

question mark. Do I like our striker crop? I do. But that for me is the question mark. And then

just to sort of drill a bit deeper into what you talked about, you've been around the team.

Landon and I, we know people on the inside were fans were analysts. We can analyze on the outside.

But does this team in your opinion have enough dogs have enough leadership? Like we saw it

a little bit with Chris Richards. Now, I mean, I've been a fan of his, but now I'm even more of a

fan because I just think he's one of the guys who has some of that, right? And Christian, as a

captain needs more leaders around him, every captain needs leaders around him. So I'm just sort

of curious, you haven't been on the inside. Does this team possess that?

Yeah, I do. I think you're right in the fact that Chris Richards is going to be a big part,

I think. I think he's, he's got to be the backbone of what, how we start games, how, how opponents

not necessarily fear, but they don't feel comfortable on the field. You know, and he's doing

in big games in the EPL. And with Gahey Gone now, his roles become even larger, which I think

is going to help us. But yeah, I've said this before too, but I think Weston, Weston, you

go to battle with Weston. Yeah. He's someone you can trust any time on the field, especially in

big games. And hopefully, I say this nicely, hopefully someone kicks him early on, get some fire

up. But yeah, I think there's, I think there are players in there that that can provide that,

you know, Igaluna, he, he doesn't shy away from anything. And so, but how, how Puchatino puts

it all together, that'll be interesting. But I think there is, you know, if you, if you're going

into a game and you need a little bit of bite, I think we have some. Yeah. Good.

Be, um, you were part of, so 98, 02 and 06, right? So can you just walk us through what made the

02 team special? And now the, the men's team that has gone the furthest in the, in history of our

country. And then, you know, why that was different from 98 and 06 and that, and I'm leading you

into that, too, then to talk about this summer, too. So what made that team that group special

from your perspective? Part of this, you know, this, you could answer this question. I think,

for me, the biggest difference is we had every, every player, every 24 players, all 24 players

focused on the same thing. Yeah. There wasn't, there wasn't anybody being pulled like, okay,

I got to play well here. So I get my move after this World Cup. There wasn't anybody that was

over here thinking, I'm not starting. Um, everybody was focused on doing well and doing it together.

And Bruce, I mean, you know this, Tim, you know this. Bruce is great at making sure that everybody

feels valued. Um, you know, he, uh, if he talks to you, you know, you did something wrong.

Yeah. He just goes, good job. Yeah. Then you're doing amazing. You're doing great. So, uh,

but all in all, I think it was a family atmosphere. I think everybody, yeah. Um,

was, was focused on trying to, to be the best team, we could be. And you know, the way I describe

it is we, you, there was this group of, and it, and I want to then move it forward to the summer.

There was a group of guys, you were one of them who were in their, what, mid 20s to early 30s,

who were real pros. I mean, like you guys showed up, you were inspiring to the rest of us.

And, you know, the Claudios and Eddies and Ernie and Kobe and Aegis and Hope and, and Tony Sane and

the goalkeepers and all this. And then you had a couple young punks, me and bees and Clint, you

know, like a little brash and young, Johnny O'Brien, still kind of green and young who had some,

you know, flair and energy, whatever. But the core of the team was this group of just real pros

who could just do a job on the day. Frankie, hey, that's another one. And I, I think that mix was

really good. And when you're putting together a roster, which you've done many times and now you're

doing again, that feels like it's important. And so the question is for this summer, I guess I

want to just pick your brain philosophically. Now I believe there'll be 26 roster spots. I think

that's what, you know, right? Yeah, I heard. Okay. And so how do you put that, if you're a GM,

how do you put that together? Obviously, the coach has the majority of the say, but how do you

build your team in that way? Because a lot of people will go, well, that's the most talented

player. And that's the most talented. And he should be on, he should be on, and but it doesn't

work that way, right? If you really want to be successful, it doesn't, especially in a situation

like a World Cup, because you look at your group, let's say it is 26. Are you going to use more than

20, 22 at the most, right? That would probably be a lot. Yeah, that would be a lot, right?

You certainly want to have game changers or, you know, players that provide something different

than your starter or that way. But the off the field stuff is, is almost as important because

you're together for almost a month and a half before you even find out if you're going in the knockout

stages. And you need guys that are, that are great leaders that are glue guys. Like if coach is

missing somebody that's sort of down or not, not really, you know, feeling at their best,

you need a player to be able to pull them in and say, hey, we got you. You know, you're part of

this. We need you to be here. It can't always be the coach or the manager or somebody that

isn't around them all the time. So yeah, I mean, when you're building that there's two, at least two

players you're bringing along that provide stability and advice and leadership.

I would, that would, that's how I would do it, at least. Yeah. In 2006, I was, I was a glue guy

because I didn't get my butt off the bench. But it's interesting that I was glued to the bench,

but I had a great, it was a great, great tournament for me because I got to experience it as my first.

I taken just three things that stand out for me about 06, which again, we failed, right? In terms

of not getting out of the group. I remember the first game, when we trained all week, match up

with Young Kohler, get inside his shirt and then inside the first five minutes dunk at the near

post. That's the first thing that stood out. Yes. The third thing that stood out was Clint

Dempsey's corner's first goal and against Ghana. And then the Daniela Darasi elbow. A lot of our fans

want to know, has he ever apologized to you? And if so, he should. He did to him. And not only that,

I actually land him was right next to me when he came in and apologized. We were getting,

we were doing some recovery and whatever. It was just us two in the in the locker room. And he

walked through the door and I've never seen grown man more sheepish. He was like, I mean, he didn't

speak English. So, you know, his coach had to tell him someone to say, I had to tell him, I'm sorry,

so he just goes, he goes, I am sorry. That was it. You know, some of this generation

doesn't think the world existed before the day they were born. So for those of you listening,

who that's the case, if you have not seen, go back and just YouTube the O6 elbow to Brian McBride

and what he looked like. And I will just say, you know, it brought back memories of that game when

Diego Luna got hit in that friendly and his nose is broken and bleeding and shattered. And

a lot of people now would say, ah, that's a friendly. I'm going to come out of the game and it

doesn't mean anything. But it meant everything to him. Of course, you were in a World Cup game. So,

it was different for you. But I can remember so many times you getting just battered and beaten

your eyeball blown up, your forehead swollen and whatever. But you just got on with it. And that

that was as bad as that tournament was for the team that was such a memorable game. Do you

remember the national anthem for that game? Do you guys remember that? I will never forget it

because the Air Force or whatever that no, no, no, no, no, the military base or whatever was

nearby there. So it was in Kaiser's lottery. And there were like 20,000 military

and national anthem like crazy goosebumps because they were all singing it so loud. It was so

amazing. Let's switch to your Fallen days. So last year, you're inducted into the Forever Fallen

Club. Just what did that mean to you? I mean, you're a Hall of Fame member too. And when you have

time to step away and reflect, I think you realize how special some of the things you were,

what did that mean to you? Yeah, that was that was ultra special because my youngest had never

been to Europe. And so we had planned this. She got to bring a friend and her father who I'm

friends with came with. So it was D and my oldest daughter was able to make it. My middle daughter

wasn't. So we just had the best time. And not only was it great to be back in London, but then

that whole day, Fallen ends up pulling out the victory. And they got the whole experience.

I talked to you, but my daughter's going to play volleyball at Miami University

in two years. But she was a really good soccer player for so long. So she was desperate

to get to Fallen and see her experience. We keep telling all these stories. Stop it. I haven't

been there. So that part was excellent. And then just the people at Fallen were fantastic.

Well, it's a special football club, Brian. What you did there is incredible. You made millions of

full of fans in America. You became broke down very first. But also there's a debt owed to players

like yourself who, and I say this often, it's very hard for an American to be nailed on a starting

eleven in the Premier League. It's just hard. We've seen it. And it's not an easy thing to do

year on year. And you were able to do that. And I just, and you know, sort of taking a trip back

down memory lane for me. And, you know, because bullome got such a gem and because you became married

to that football club, people often forget you were at Everton on loan. And David Moise was

desperate. And you know this. David Moise was desperate to sign you. And there's a big

possibility that in a different world, you know, you had a testimonial at Everton because you had

such a great run on loan. And he just wasn't able to secure your signature. And then you, you know,

the rest of the story to him. I do. Yeah. But tell us. Give it. I want to hear it. It's amazing.

It's pretty funny. Because so Moise, a year and a half before that had brought me on loan to

I brought you a jam now. You're busy. Yeah. Yeah. It's one of our coaches.

He brought me on loan to press in North End. Yeah. And so in that one, it was before the winter.

I was there for like six months. But I really wasn't because I got a blood clot. So I missed three.

But got to really know Moise. And was just an awesome experience. You know, they're in the

championship. So I didn't know what to expect. But just loved it. And then he moves to Everton.

And Everton has Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson as not only two of their strike two of their

three strikers, because a little guy called Wayne Rooney cuts. But they both go down injured. And so

Moise, he's like, hey, do you want to come on loan? I'm like, yeah, yeah. Let's do it. So I go there.

And the first thing he says to me goes, hey, Brian, I just want to set the expectations.

I've told the board that I'm not bringing any, any players over 30

into the club anymore. And he goes, and my two center forwards are the two highest paid players

on the team. So they'll be back. I just want to set the expectations. So I said, no, no problem.

I totally get it. And then go and have a pretty good. Yeah. How many do score? I think

four, four and eight. Four and eight. Yeah, it's amazing. And before I left, he's like,

I can't tell you what he told me. Yeah, you can.

Times passed. He was trying to work something out. Moise is a Wheeler and Dealer.

Moise is a fan of the show. And we know he's a Wheeler and Dealer. And I mean, you're a

proper Everton striker. I mean, that's when I, when I got there and fell in love with the club

and spent 10 years there. And obviously, Landon was a part of that journey. That's what

that's what Evertonians would say to me. Brian McBride was a proper Everton number nine. And that,

by the way, for me, it gives me goosebumps to say because I think that's one of the greatest

compliments someone can give you being an Evertonian myself. So yeah, that's in another world.

But full of them got a great one. So that's awesome.

Did you feel, did you feel right away, accepted, wanted, loved at the club? Did you feel like you had to

earn it? Um, I think, I think there was acceptance, I think, right away. Okay. And I think that could have

been because they knew they needed a player because they didn't really have a center for it. I think

the, we, the first, I got there on a Friday. They were playing an FA Cup game in Truesbury.

Truesbury on Saturday. And the feel that Truesbury was like, it was, I mean, I don't,

I didn't see a field like it after the professional ranks. Let's just put it that way. And it was

rainy and muddy. And it's about right. And Wayne Rooney was the only person, no, Wayne and Thomas

Redzinski. So you have, you're, I think they were in, they're in division two at the time.

Maybe division one, I don't want to disparage them. Um, and they basically were set up to play

Longbowl. So the ball, the field didn't matter. And I mean, I was like, oh, wow, you know, this is,

this is going to be a different story. But um, so you knew that, you knew that, um, they love their

number nine. So I knew I was going to have, if I played while I was going to, I was going to get

some playing time. But, uh, yeah, just turned out to be this a great experience. And it's a short,

I mean, you know, your time, everything was short. But even when you went there for a few games,

and then you were at full and early, early on, I mean, you, I talk about all the time,

Lennon, we, we, we, we talk about how difficult the Premier League is. You try and put it into words,

and you're like, God, I'm lost for work because this is feeling that it's faster and, and it's,

it's, it's, it's chaotic. And so having played in the World Cup yourself and been experienced

and feeling like you, you could play at a high level, when you first stepped on the pitch and

got the grips with the game, did it, how long did it take you to think, yeah, I fit in here?

Or did it, was that a longer process? Yeah, I think the national team in the World Cup

experience definitely helped me. Yeah, it was, you know, because it is, the speed of play is

definitely, definitely better. But I'd also say the execution side of it is, is the one you

really see, you rarely get the, the pass on the wrong side of the body or, or pass behind you.

People see runs better than, you know, and differently. Just the talent level was that much higher.

Sure. I actually say at that time, when I, when I went to the Premier League,

MLS was more physical, just because there wasn't as much talent in MLS as there is now. And so

people relied on being more hands. Sure. Sure. You know, it was, they're, they're that part didn't really

affect or that, that was actually not something that stood out to me. But what's taught to me is just

the, the speed of play and they just amazing talent in the ortho league.

It's, and I say that all the time, like the Premier League for better, for worse and, and for

better, it's, it's the richest league in the world. Money buys equality and abundance. And so,

can other leagues buy top players? Sure. But they not top to bottom. And every team has so much

quality. It's, it's impressive to see. All right. Be last few. And then we'll get you out of here.

You've been very gracious. Thank you. And I just, I want to reiterate what I said earlier. I mean,

your ability to go and break down some barriers when I went, the reason I asked is because when I

went to Everton, and this only just clicked in my head when you were saying this.

From the minute I walked in on a whatever January 1st, and it was in the stands for in a way,

or a home FA Cup match that you guys had to me, the minute I walked in, the whole crowd as I

walked through was like, welcome, Landon, lad, welcome, welcome, great to have you, great to have.

And from the minute I stepped on the field, they were behind me. And the reason wise, because

guys like you and Tim and others made it, if you had had a terrible experience there,

there would have been some reticence and some hesitation. And so the reason that you did that

allowed, and I think all of our current players, oh, guys like you, a great, a, a dead of gratitude

as well, because you, you helped people accept us from the, we stopped to do the job, right?

When you step on the field, but you will allow that too. So that's what, of course. And that's,

and that allowed you to go. And that, and so that's a big part of, of growing this whole thing.

Okay, last, last few. Just out of curiosity, I'm very curious. Who is the best player anywhere you

played with? National team, Fulamini, like, that where you were like, this guy was just so good.

So Edwin Van Sarr was amazing. Yeah, sorry, Tim. No, no, he was.

Not so much. There was, there was a time, well, there's been plenty of times where I was off,

like my timing was striking the ball was just off. And so I had a way to get myself feeling

back more in rhythm. And I went through the first part, which is very stationary. And then I asked

one of our assistant coaches to, to serve balls from the wing to me. And I would just stand at the

in between the penalty spot in the six and take ballies, hit, hit balls on the ground, you know,

just really get my timing down. So I, I take three or four steps back, then time, you know,

time the ball, hit it. So I'm, I'm putting it on frame. And Edwin comes over, he goes, Brian,

you mind if I hop in goal? My, Edwin, I'm peeling balls from the penalty spot. And the six yard

box, he goes, he looks me straight in the face, he goes, does that happen in the game?

That was the first time I've ever, like, extended anyone. Normally, and Tim, you know, this,

normally goes, you're like, don't shoot from inside the tent of the year.

That's unrealistic. And he's Dutch. So he knows, he knows everything about football.

And he'll let you know he knows everything. Yeah, I know. But he was brilliant. He came to

every town. Obviously, I was mad as a hornet because I got dropped, but he came to Everton. And,

you know, I put that quickly aside. And I spent a year under his tutelage just standing behind

and watching, learning every day. Man, well, I mean, he was world class. And I learned so much. So,

yeah, yeah. I was not expecting that. Come on now. Yeah, tell me it was world class for one game.

Who is club work country? Who is your favorite manager?

Well, club, it's, it's, it's Bruce. And then country, as far as like, I'm sorry,

club is country is country's Bruce. Yeah, club. No, I didn't spend a ton of time with him,

but Moisee, and people asked me like, who is the best manager you ever played on? And David Moise's

is, is, is it just because he not only does he understand the game and can, can coach the game.

And, you know, in training, you know, Alan does a lot of the stuff. And I don't know if he's still

doing a lot of the stuff. Moisee is always the one that gives the, what, what we're trying to get

out of this, right? This is, this is exactly why we're doing this. And then having the ability to

man-manage like he does. Yeah, of course. That mixture of that, those two things is, is really special.

Too good manager. What was your favorite Premier League stadium? Outside of Kramer College?

Well, I mean, I would say it would be, you know, Everton's just, I was, yeah, you know,

Goodeson Park was, it was the first time I ever experienced, when I, when I went there on

loan, when I ever experienced a crowd going absolutely nuts because you ran five yards back over

the minute. It sounds very Everton. It was just, it's such a, just putting the effort in,

the extra effort in was respected. And then, you know, everybody in the stands knows the game.

So all the other like nice passes and goals. Great. But it was the first time I'd seen a group of

fans go, give you a big up when you did something defensively. The, the, the first week I was there,

I told this story, I'm in like the near the Cantina and I'm walking through the hall and stubby,

walks by me. And he says, Landon lad. So yeah, and he said, I want to tell you one thing.

Like, what's that? He said, you don't have to score a goal. You don't have to complete a pass.

You don't have to get on the score sheet, whatever. If you just run and work, those people out there

will love you forever. I got to have chills. And I'm like, huh. Okay. First sure enough, first game,

I, you know, I didn't do anything about it, but like I ran and ran. And then we had a home game

and sure enough, they were just behind me. And you just run and work. And they, that's all they

wanted. It's all they wanted. It was amazing. Yeah. It was so good. It was great. Okay. So,

so you're the captain of a five aside team. You're in the park. Flip a coin. You get first pick

of all of your, of all of your former US national team teammates. Who are you taking with the first

pick? Hmm. I know your answer. Sorry, landed. You're taking hook, Clint.

You can click in a five aside. Yeah. I am too. Yeah. And if I'm the, I'm taking Claudio. So,

land is like third pick for chefs. Am I even on the team? I don't know. We'll see. Okay.

You don't want me in a five aside. You want me on a big field. By the way, you just picked the best

five aside. Like if it's clean in tight spaces. Yeah. Yeah. Just give them the ball.

And in front of the goal. Yeah. All right. I actually agree with that. So that's fine. We forgive you.

We're never having you on the pot again, but we know you're always on. Always welcome.

All right. B, this has been amazing. Um, wishing you the very best. I mean, now this podcast has

allowed us to like reach out and reconnect and talk to different people. And then we also,

now we have new alliances like my old coaches at AC Boise. So I'm following them. Now you're at

Brooklyn FC. We're all following intently watching the games. You know, you're on my favorites

on FOT Mob now. So we're just wishing you the very best man. It's been really fun and really

excited to get out to a game at Brooklyn FC. So thanks, man. Appreciate it. Both of you. Both of you

guys, everybody there at the podcast, let us know and great to see you landing in Tim. Yeah, man.

Welcome with you and keep up the great work. We appreciate it. Thanks for the time. We'll be out

representing Brooklyn FC for sure. Awesome. It's stoppage time sponsored by Fandall. New to Fandall

Sportsbook. New customers can score up to $300 back in bonus bets every day for 10 days from

bets that don't win. Download the Fandall Sportsbook app to get started. All right, Champions League

Round of 16 this week. And we got a juicy, juicy matchup Real Madrid hosting Manchester City.

Love, love, love this matchup. I think lots of goals in this one. This is going to be a little bit

of a throwback to the 2000s, 2010s when Champions League games were back and forth in action and scoring.

So a lot of goals in this one. I think in the end, it'll be a draw. Probably a two-two draw

sounds about right to me. Erling Holland will, of course, score. He's a back informant and back

healthy. So I think he scores a goal. Definitely going over the two and a half goals. And I believe

a goal will be scored in both halves. Should be a really exciting game. I think everyone's going to

love this one. So again, we have a draw. Erling Holland to score over two and a half goals and a

goal scored in both halves. Don't forget to check out the full list of unfiltered soccer's

same game parlays on our socials later this week. All right, let's take a break. When we get back,

we will get into your questions in the AT&T fan connection right here on unfiltered soccer with

Landon and Tim presented by Volkswagen.

This episode is brought to you by Airbnb. To me, we both played for the national team. We played

in different places all over the world. And we know the value of an away fan. Away fans providing

energy excitement, especially at the end of the game, is so crucial. Hosting your home on Airbnb

provides visiting sports fans the ability to stay close to the action in a neighborhood location.

Big sporting events brings fans from around the world hosting your home on Airbnb,

but to be a part of the excitement. And your home might be worth more than you think. I don't

how much at Airbnb.com slash host. LD, things are about to get really hectic. End of the

Premier League season, summer soccer tournament coming up. It is just like all soccer all the time,

tons of travel. I feel like now is a time where it's important to relax and choose chill.

Yeah, this might not make sense, but for me, choosing chill, I talked to my wife about this

all the time, is not like sitting on the couch for that. For me, choosing chill is actually choosing

chill by going to play hockey, which is cold and freezing and like exerting a lot of energy.

But by the end, it's so relaxing. It feels so good. It's a connection to my Canadian roots,

to my dad. I love it. And that's when I choose chill. Choose chill. And then reach for a core's light.

Get core's light delivered straight to your door. Visit core's light.com slash UFS or you can find

it pretty much anywhere that sells beer. Yes, sir. As always, celebrate responsibly core's brewing

company golden Colorado beer. There's nothing better than feeling like someone has your back and

that things are going to get done, even without you having to ask, like your Chris New Jersey waiting

for you in the locker room or perfectly set up wall for a free kick. Yes, we and unfiltered soccer

get ready for next summer. We know that very little in the beautiful game is guaranteed.

But as we prepare to bring our unfiltered brand of nonstop soccer coverage,

it's good to know AT&T has your back with the AT&T guarantee. Staying connected matters.

That's why in the rare event of a network outage, AT&T will proactively credit you for a full day

of service. That's the AT&T guarantee. Learn more at AT&T.com slash guarantee AT&T,

connecting changes everything. Credit for fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more,

or a wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10

or more towers must be connected to impacted towers at onset of outage restrictions and

exclusions apply. See AT&T dot com slash guarantee for full details. It's time for the fan

connection presented by AT&T every week we invite you the listener to connect with us by submitting

your questions at AT&T connecting changes everything and on usl and t our connections with you

will help grow the game. Welcome into the AT&T fan connection. How are you Jordan? What's happening?

I am spectacular. How are you guys? Yeah, right. Spring spring is sprung here in our neck of the

woods. Yes, I have the window open. I'm letting the fresh air come in. I feel like a whole new woman.

The cold is done now, right? For good good.

Coming next week. April, we could get a snowstorm. No, no, 100%. Really?

Good. We good. Yeah. In fact, do you want me and Tim to order hours because we could order it?

No, thank you. No, keep it just like that.

LD, you know what? I love spring in New York because I don't ride. I ride bikes everywhere everywhere.

And it's too cold. It's too cold in with the snow in the ice. So I have to take a car everywhere.

Now I just bike. Do you have a bike or do you use those bikes that they have?

Both. I prefer the city bike. I prefer to use a city bike. The electric one.

It's kind of nice, isn't it? It's great. There's one right outside my apartment.

And so yeah, it's amazing. That's great.

Can we talk about drivers or crazy? All right. Go ahead, John.

Sure. Can we talk about, I'm wearing my Brooklyn FC. Yeah, you are.

So you guys are just talking to Brian McBride, but also there is a Portland Hearts of Pine scarf

behind me because the lovely people at the Portland Hearts of Pine sent a big bag of

stuff for the production team. So everybody in the production team got a hoodie

and I kept a scarf. And so yeah, so thanks. They know where their bread gets buttered.

Brooklyn FC, you know what I think you should do, John? I think you need to invest.

I think you need to invest in the USL team. You're very dialed into USL.

Yeah, you are. You need to invest.

Okay, which one should I invest in, do you think?

I think the Long Island Rough Riders.

Oh, that's old school. I used to play against Long Island Rough Riders.

No, I'm just saying honestly, I think they have a team.

Do they have a team? No, they still do. Yeah, that's cool.

I don't know. I think they play like a small investment to a club and we'll figure it out.

Okay, but then she, but she likes to support everyone.

I know she'd be all in on one. I don't disagree, actually.

Okay, well, if you are listening or watching this podcast,

let me know if you think, well, let me, let me know if you think I should invest in a,

in a USL club. Yes, which one and why? What percentage will you give her?

And are you giving a discount? Is Jordan getting a, a USL discount on the purchase?

There you go. I definitely need free merch, obviously.

Okay, let's get into some questions.

This first one is from Isaac via email. And Isaac says, the guys have mentioned several times

that MLS is not a good offensive league, but a bad defensive league.

It seems this is because clubs would rather spend their money on attacking players than defensive

players. Do you agree? What would happen if a club spent their big money on a star-studded

defense, whether that is backline, defensive midfielder, goalie, or all three?

Do you think an MLS club like this could be a perennial contender?

It's a good phrase. Yes, like, listen, for all of those reasons, and Landon's going to have

his own, his own comments, he's going to, he's going to agree with mine for sure. It,

defensively, the league is so poor. And the way that the league was set up by nature of the David

Beckham rule, which turned into the DP rule and all the rest of it, the idea was to spend money

on something that was flashy to sell tickets. Yes, this is prior to, prior to like us having

this amazing league and educated fans and stadiums and all that, right? So it was to get

butts in seats, which may be still the way. I think the way to get butts in seats is to put a

good product on the field personally. And so by nature of the rule, and we can probably go

in a, we'll do a list at some point on social media, like from its inception, it's

striker 10, striker 10, striker 10. That's who you bring in. Maybe a tricky winger.

You're not bringing a goalkeeper. You're not bringing in a center back. You're not bringing in a

defensive number six, a, a Rodry to, to be a stalwart. You just aren't doing it because

fans and MLS are clamoring for a big name. So that's sort of, and the tide hasn't turned.

If you look around the world, man cities by spending as much money on their defenders as

they're spending on their attackers. Like that's normal, but we don't do that.

Completely agree. And you know, when we talk to sporting directors or GMs or people who are,

you know, run the cap for MLS teams, they'll say the same thing. They'll be like, well,

we can basically spend like, I'm making this up two to 300 grand on a left back and four to

500 grand on a defend. And they've got these like charts and these structured like what you

spend on. And I'm like, this is a bunch of BS. Like throw that out the window. What's going to

help you win to Tim's point? The league used to need, and I mean need these stars and these

exciting players and whatever. Most of these teams are selling out every week. Like when you look

at, they're selling out every week. And it's because they're a good part of the community or

they put on entertainment or good, but these teams are selling out. So majority don't need that

anymore. And honestly, if it were me and I were running a team, my first, let me mount my first,

but I would put so much emphasis on a physical athletic center back who can deal with bad moments

and put out fires. I mean, the galaxy won the one MLS cup with this kid Garza's having the

game of his life last year. I mean, he was everywhere all over the field just and he's,

you know, he has his flaws. Yeah. Doesn't play all the time. But that would be my number one priority.

And you could, the rest of it's going to come. Like you're going to find good attacking players.

The teams do a great job of finding that there's tons of talent South America.

They're finding tons of talent. But Tim's right. I mean, the defending in the league is just

hopeful. Do you think if one team did it, it would change, yes, if they were successful for sure.

For sure. And it just, it will. I mean, sorry, eventually teams want to win. The owners are

going to look and, you know, they're not as educated and they'll go, wait, why are they winning?

Why is this happening? Would it? You have to be really successful. But like, to Tim's point,

Man City changed the game with like Kyle Walker stones. They've spent a ton of money on Yosko

like these are guys that can deal with, look at Virgil Van Dyke. He changed Liverpool.

They're now, they've been a dominant force for five, seven, eight years because they have a

center back who can deal with all that. So.

Well, I've said it and I didn't have to. I'll do. Yeah, whatever.

I'm still sorry. Landon.

Landon, I noticed that there's a sign behind you.

Behind your head right now. Oh, yeah. Happy birthday.

Dad. Yeah. Let's go.

Okay. So can I be with my kids said real quick? Sure.

It's very, very, of course. Dear dad, we want to say thank you for all the work you do.

We are really grateful for how hard you work for our family.

Even though sometimes we are mean towards you, we want you to know that we still are grateful

for the work that you do. And we want to say we love you.

Hashtag privilege kids. Even though we're mean to you are mean to me sometimes.

They're amazing. Our kids are amazing.

I know. All right, continue.

Your kids and I have that in common, even though I am also sometimes mean to you, I appreciate you.

Okay, here we go. I'm going to, there's a reason why I brought attention to that sign.

This email is from Salvador via email and he says, my question is to LD and Tim since they're both

fathers. My wife and I are expecting our first baby. Got any advice for a first time father?

PS, it's a boy really wanted to name him Landon, either as a first name or a middle name, put my wife said no.

First of all, where's he from? I don't know. He didn't say.

First off, my condolences, your life's about to get miserable.

It will eventually get good, but probably two to three years Salvador and it's miserable.

All right. What are thoughts on being a father?

There are amazing moments. It's really hard if you decide to be involved heavily involved in your

kids life, but it's worth it. So my advice would be, be involved. Don't be their friend. It's okay not

to be their friend. You're their parent, not their friend. But my learning in all of my fathering

is I'm on one end of the spectrum where I'm probably too strict, too much worried about the future

and how they're going to be and it's okay to still have fun and so I'm trying to meet them in the

middle somewhere. My parenting advice is a long line of the of soccer. So be a good husband, tell your

wife she can sleep in and you take the baby and get up and watch Premier League every Saturday

in Sunday morning. You'll get brownie points, you'll get brownie points, get a scarf, get a

get a little ball and a jersey create a create a Premier League fan and a bond with you and your

son. I don't know where you are. That's why I asked where you live. Go to, you know, go buy tickets or

ticket package to your local MLS team if there's one nearby. Sort of start those traditions early

because they last a lifetime and they create they create a father son bond that is really special

around the game of soccer. And Salvador, if you send NBC and Tim a picture of that, they'll put

you on my private mornings. Yeah, we'll put you up in the mornings in your in your kit. So I don't

get extra points from the wife extra points. I don't know this for sure, but I can almost guarantee

that Everton sells a onesie for an infant. So make sure to continue supporting Salvador.

Good people's club. And please take, take advice from the people who work on the show. Don't ever

refer to watching your own children as babysitting. Please Salvador, don't do that. No, it's

got a daycare. Just make fun of me. If dad has to, if dad has to spend time or watch the kids

is daddy daycare. That's just how it is universally. It's how it goes. We're looking for help everywhere we

can. Mom's are amazing. It's crazy. Let's try a new rule. This one's really chaotic. So I'm

really looking forward to. Okay. This one's from Stephen via email. Stephen sent in a soccer

rule change proposal, a multi-ball system introduced during stoppage time in a nil nil match to

increase excitement. Matches can still end in a draw, but you have to survive the multi-ball chaos.

What happens? Is there more than one ball in the field? Are there two or like multiple. That's

like, I was all he wrote. Tim, I don't know if teams do this anymore. Do you remember training sessions

where you'd have multiple goals on each set? So you'd have like four goals, two on one side and two

on the other. And there'd be multiple. Do I remember? Of course. So you'd have, you'd have two balls

on the field. So you're like trying to score over here, but you got to defend that side. And then

you might have to defend the other side and attack on the other side. And there's my, it is so chaotic.

I have no idea. Is the purpose of that? Yeah, I was just going to say like, it's actually to be fair.

It's not the worst. I mean, it has nothing to do with how you play or your game model or anything,

but it's kind of, it was fun. I have a feeling. I have a feeling there's a rule change coming in. I

don't know how much I'm how much I include into LD, but someone it's idiotic, but I'm just going

to say it. Someone came up with this arsenal. Have you seen this? Arsenal's time wasting? Have you

ever seen any of this or no? So basically, so basically, basically, every time Arsenal take a free

kick, they're they're taking really long to take free kicks. And over the course of the season,

someone came up with this big stat, which, which sounds really mean and terrible that they've wasted

X amount of hours or whatever. But I have a feeling that that's coming. I have a feeling that rule.

Yeah. I have a feeling there's going to be a rule, which by the way, I don't care. I don't care.

Arsenal doesn't waste like no one cared about that until this study came out. Yeah, but it was like,

it was like when the Premier League added, and one of the Premier League two seasons ago added

extra time. They added more time. Like at the end of each half, and it was like 12 minutes of

stoppage time in the world. And they did it. Yeah. And there was a survey that went around,

which is bullshit, a survey that they surveyed fans, and they said,

we want more extra time, but we want more time. I'm like, no one's ever walked away from a football

match and gone, I wish it was five more minutes. No, they enjoyed the match. Right. And so no one,

no one, up until that report came out, no one was clamoring for, hey, Arsenal wasting all this time.

No one thought of it, literally no one thought of it. Right. So according to the internet,

in their match against Brighton on March 4th, they wasted 30 minutes and 51 seconds. I'm sorry.

In a game, it's only 90 minutes long. That's how, what do you mean they waste exactly 30 minutes?

How do you define what's the normal 30 minutes and 51 seconds to restart play?

Mm hmm. Yeah, but 30 minutes. Yeah, but George, I'm normal match. I bet that number is like

25 or 27 minutes. They don't tell you that. They don't give you that. Because by the way,

because every time the ball goes out, it's 15 seconds. Okay, seconds. Okay. On average, Jordan,

in in a 45 minute half of a football, do you know how long the ball is out of play? Yeah.

I have no idea. 22 minutes. There you go. What? The ball is out of play or stopped.

22. Yeah, that's, I mean, that's the reality. It's like, that's, you don't think of it that way,

but think about how often the ball goes out for a goal kick, corner, throw in,

foul penalty, foul, et cetera. Yeah. That's insane. It's insane. Take a stop watching.

All of life. All of life is an illusion. My dad used to do this. My dad would send me a text. He'd be like,

the NFL's such a joke. He goes, I took a stopwatch and watched the game. And the ball is actually

in play for like whatever six minutes. And it takes three and a half hours. It's just like that.

It's just part of the game, dude. That's true. That's crazy. The NFL's crazy. It's true.

In a couple of weeks, I'm going to do this. I don't know which game I'm going to do. I can give

us your data. I will give you data. Do a normal game and do an arsenal game. And let's see how they

compare. A normal game and an arsenal game. Okay. Well, Liverpool's playing Spurs at the weekend.

So maybe we'll do a Spurs game and an arsenal game. I'm worried about Spurs this weekend,

by the way. We can't talk about this because there are too many Spurs fans who work on this show.

And I don't want to say. I'm just saying they're not. It's at Anfield, isn't it?

It is. Yes. They're not going to have to win and win. It is, right? Somebody. Somebody is not

I think is there. Anyway, they're not going to have to win. They're shrugging like we don't care.

It doesn't matter. They do. They care. They care a lot. We know who you are.

Well, if you care about Liverpool versus Spurs or really anything that you would like to tell me

about, you can email me at feedback at unfilteredsocker.com. So there you go. That went so well.

Thanks guys. Thank you. Always on brand. Great job.

All right. Amazing show. Thank you to our former teammate, Brian McBride. I just want to tell

a quick anecdote. I told him off air, but there was a game, Tim. We were playing Cuba in the Gold Cup.

I had not scored I think in six or seven games for the national team and it was really weighing

on me. Like I was struggling. He got played through in the first half. We are literally going on

a two on zero. You guys can Google this two on zero. He could have taken a touch. He was on the left

side. He could have taken a touch inside and he scores nine out of 10 times. He rolled it across

the goal mouth to me to a wide open tap and goal. And you know, you know how it is. You don't want

your other forward to succeed all the time. He made the right play in the right moment. I ended

up scoring four goals that game and went on like a tear forever because I got that to happen.

And I'm so grateful. He was such a great competitor. Great teammate. Love you B. Thanks for coming on.

That was amazing. Thank you guys for being with us. As always, please, please, please subscribe on

YouTube Apple podcast Spotify. Anywhere you get your pods. Follow us at unfiltered soccer on social

media for bonus content. Thank you as always to Volkswagen, our presenting sponsor, our fan

connection sponsor, AT&T and our stoppage time sponsor, Fandall. Yeah, huge shout out to be Matt,

Brian McBride, full of legend, USman's national team legend, friend and teammate is a dogman. He's

an absolute warrior. I mean, you talk about being in the tunnel with someone knowing he's going to

give it all. I mean, absolutely incredible. And some real real good reflections today. So

thanks, Brian. Thanks also to our unfiltered refresh sponsor, Course Light and our additional

sponsors, Airbnb and Walmart. Have an amazing week. We'll be back next Tuesday with another

edition of unfiltered soccer.

Two teams. One cup. The prime time stage is set for the TGL presented by SoFi Finals,

Los Angeles Golf Club versus Tigers Jupiter links. Keep up. It's playoffs. Tune in Monday, March 23rd,

9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN 2 and Tuesday, March 24th, 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and on the ESPN app.