WEBVTT 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:12.240 You're listening to Raising Anchor on 990 WBOB. 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:21.120 Welcome to the Raising Anchor Soccer Show with 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:24.199 Matt Entrickett and Jason Carey. Your home for 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:26.859 news, analysis, and everything Rhode Island FC. 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:30.019 Each week they take you inside the locker room, 00:00:30.339 --> 00:00:33.000 inside the stacks, and inside the storyline shaping 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:41.100 RIFC. Rhode Island FC are set to take on the 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:44.119 Pittsburgh Riverhounds this weekend. Can RFC 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:46.479 get a result against a team that they have struggled 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:48.840 against? We're going to break down this Eastern 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:51.820 Conference Finals rematch and discuss the significance 00:00:51.820 --> 00:00:54.299 that this game holds over the rest of the season. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.000 Returning back by popular demand and the fact 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:00.200 that Matt is still out is the one and only producer 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.439 Torn Kelly. Welcome back Torn. Hey, I'm feeling 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.879 good, man. I'm feeling good. That's my first 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.620 double header, you know, still mentally recovering 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:10.280 from both the World Cup final and an El Clamaco 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:13.060 win, but I'm feeling good for this weekend. Okay. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:14.939 You sure you so you've got enough fitness to 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:18.019 do, you know, back to back games here. Yeah, 00:01:18.099 --> 00:01:20.420 yeah. You know, I've I've trained a lot with 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:22.700 the you know, the under 18s, but I finally made 00:01:22.700 --> 00:01:24.560 my way up to the big leagues. I'm feeling good. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:27.060 Awesome. Awesome. Speaking of the World Cup. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:30.930 Just a quick Kind of like recap on on some things 00:01:30.930 --> 00:01:33.269 here. It's still lingering in some of our minds 00:01:33.269 --> 00:01:36.750 I've been seeing a lot of talk online about the 00:01:36.750 --> 00:01:39.129 fan zone and the experience specifically and 00:01:39.129 --> 00:01:41.670 like honestly I was really happy to see a lot 00:01:41.670 --> 00:01:45.870 of positive reactions to it And a little especially 00:01:45.870 --> 00:01:48.269 considering a lot of that is regards to the providence 00:01:48.269 --> 00:01:51.590 fan zone Uh, we know boston's closed down early 00:01:51.590 --> 00:01:53.250 as soon as like well, there's no more games here. 00:01:53.250 --> 00:01:55.909 We don't want to do this anymore Um, but like 00:01:55.909 --> 00:01:58.829 we watched the final in the fan zone of Providence 00:01:58.829 --> 00:02:00.750 and it was a great experience. There was a ton 00:02:00.750 --> 00:02:04.629 of people there. And then tying that into Fox 00:02:04.629 --> 00:02:08.770 Sports actually released a list of the top local 00:02:08.770 --> 00:02:12.449 markets. And I guess who cracked into the top 00:02:12.449 --> 00:02:16.330 10? Providence coming in there at number nine, 00:02:16.710 --> 00:02:19.490 beating out some big markets here like Seattle, 00:02:19.509 --> 00:02:23.750 Denver, Los Angeles. Apparently, Rhode Islanders 00:02:23.750 --> 00:02:26.840 enjoy themselves some soccer. Maybe someone should 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:28.620 tell Brett Johnson, maybe we could open up a 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:30.219 soccer team or something here. That'd be crazy, 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:33.300 right? Yeah, that'd be pretty crazy. I mean, 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:36.259 yeah, some of those city names are crazy. I can't 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:39.740 believe you beat LA. I mean, I think soccer in 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:41.500 this state, I've always known it's been big, 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.060 but especially in New England has been growing 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:46.060 like crazy, whether that's through the USL or 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:49.120 just through you know, the import of soccer in 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.259 this country in general. And I think the idea 00:02:51.259 --> 00:02:53.080 to keep that fan fest open all the way to the 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:55.439 final was such an amazing idea. It was so good 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:57.539 for the people. I guarantee you it made some 00:02:57.539 --> 00:03:00.319 money for the city as well. And yeah, I remember 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.759 we ran into so many people. I think it was the 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:05.340 final and one of the quarterfinal games that 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:07.439 were all the way down from like Boston, all these 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:08.939 places in Massachusetts were like, I want to 00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:10.939 watch the game, but I can't go to the Boston 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:13.000 fans. I'm going to come all the way down to Providence. 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:15.580 So just an amazing idea to keep that open. And 00:03:15.580 --> 00:03:17.860 it was an amazing experience. All around. Yeah, 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:20.300 it was a lot of fun. I'm glad they did it I hope 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:23.060 that for future, you know large soccer events 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:26.199 that we can kind of do something like this again 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.960 Moving on to our a FC news here though. We have 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:34.159 one of our players making the team of the week 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:36.819 Looking here at Rhode Island FC announced today 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:39.360 that defender Frank No Darcy has been named to 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:42.060 the USL championship team of the week for week 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:45.680 1920 The Defender earns the honor after scoring 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:48.680 the ninth goal of his RAFC career to lift Rhode 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.699 Island FC to a 1 -0 win over regional rivals 00:03:51.699 --> 00:03:54.960 Hartford Athletic on July 18th. Jojaya Quisera 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.439 was also named to the bench after providing the 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:00.379 assist to Nodarce's derby -winning goal. The 00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:02.659 selection marks the third weekly honor of the 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:05.400 20 -26 season for Nodarce and Quisera, tying 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:08.300 them with JJ Williams for the team lead. The 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:10.860 honor is the sixth of Nodarce's RAFC career and 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:13.979 the ninth of Quisera's RAFC career. The pair 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:17.160 represent the 10th and 11th Rhode Island FC selections 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:21.500 to the league's best 11 through week 20 Great 00:04:21.500 --> 00:04:24.300 to see the boys getting some nods here Yeah, 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:26.079 I think it's huge and I think it's both deserved. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:28.420 I think Frank was super on the week You know, 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:30.639 I think him getting the to find some out of the 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:32.920 match from the players was fully deserved. He 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:35.459 was absolutely incredible, both defending and 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:38.079 going forward. And I think it was funny. I think 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:40.459 it came as a shock to me that he was tied with 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:43.360 Kuzera and JJ at the top. But I think when I 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.420 think back on it in detail, I think he's been 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:47.000 great this season. I think that sort of sums 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:50.730 up, I think, his last Two two seasons even at 00:04:50.730 --> 00:04:53.110 RFC a very underrated player that continues sort 00:04:53.110 --> 00:04:55.389 of week in week out put in great performances 00:04:55.389 --> 00:04:57.490 and I think it's time that You know the rest 00:04:57.490 --> 00:04:59.269 of us start to put some real respect on his name 00:04:59.269 --> 00:05:01.290 as you know, uh, one of the first names in that 00:05:01.290 --> 00:05:04.610 team sheet Yeah, I I think the tough thing here 00:05:04.610 --> 00:05:07.050 with frank nodarse and matt kind of mentioned 00:05:07.050 --> 00:05:09.170 this here in the last press conference when he 00:05:09.170 --> 00:05:12.209 was talking to kano like Where do you see this 00:05:12.209 --> 00:05:14.509 guy playing like you you played him in basically 00:05:14.509 --> 00:05:17.949 every position on the back line? he Kind of a 00:05:17.949 --> 00:05:20.589 utility in that regards, he doesn't get a consistent 00:05:20.589 --> 00:05:23.850 starting role. So I think because of that, maybe 00:05:23.850 --> 00:05:26.790 I think we forget about how valuable he can be 00:05:26.790 --> 00:05:29.470 because there are probably times when he's playing 00:05:29.470 --> 00:05:31.649 in a position that's maybe he's not the most 00:05:31.649 --> 00:05:34.509 comfortable in and he's given it his a hundred 00:05:34.509 --> 00:05:36.310 percent, but maybe we're not seeing the best 00:05:36.310 --> 00:05:39.290 version of Frank No Darcy because of that. Yeah, 00:05:39.329 --> 00:05:42.029 which is so funny to me as well because it was 00:05:42.029 --> 00:05:44.170 in that press conference when I think Conor Smith 00:05:44.170 --> 00:05:46.610 I'd not to direct quote but said that at his 00:05:46.610 --> 00:05:48.430 best Frank Nadar say in his opinion is one of 00:05:48.430 --> 00:05:51.709 the best defenders in the entire league and honestly 00:05:51.709 --> 00:05:54.589 as much as again when I first started, I was 00:05:54.589 --> 00:05:56.290 a little bit like, all right, let's, you know, 00:05:56.410 --> 00:05:59.290 let's settle down a bit. At the same time, when 00:05:59.290 --> 00:06:01.329 you see him at his best, he's out here getting, 00:06:01.329 --> 00:06:03.290 you know, man of the matches, team of the weeks, 00:06:03.389 --> 00:06:05.829 three times already the season. I think that's 00:06:05.829 --> 00:06:08.189 fully deserved. And is it maybe time to stop 00:06:08.189 --> 00:06:10.389 using him as that Swiss army knife and maybe 00:06:10.389 --> 00:06:13.870 building around him instead? Or, or maybe some 00:06:13.870 --> 00:06:15.750 other people's need to pick up some other skills. 00:06:15.970 --> 00:06:18.029 Stoneman, Yao, come on. What else, what other 00:06:18.029 --> 00:06:20.230 position can you guys play? You know? Good point. 00:06:22.290 --> 00:06:25.829 Some more news here. An actual injury update. 00:06:26.129 --> 00:06:29.949 This is wild here. Got a press release here from 00:06:29.949 --> 00:06:34.050 our RFC. Rhode Island FC announced updates today 00:06:34.050 --> 00:06:36.670 on long -term lower bodily injuries sustained 00:06:36.670 --> 00:06:40.990 by Ford Jamin Gogo -Peters and midfielder Zachary 00:06:40.990 --> 00:06:44.389 Herevo. Gogo -Peters suffered an anterior cruciate 00:06:44.389 --> 00:06:47.970 ligament tear and underwent successful ACL reconstruction 00:06:47.970 --> 00:06:51.160 surgery. at Rhode Island FC official orthopedic 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:54.100 partner, Orthura Rhode Island. Gogo Peters will 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:57.319 miss the remainder of the 2026 USL championship 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:00.459 season and is expected to be out for nine months. 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:03.879 Ouch. Jerevo suffered an ankle injury in June 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:06.500 and underwent successful surgery at Massachusetts 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:09.339 General Hospital. Jerevo is expected to return 00:07:09.339 --> 00:07:13.750 in two to six weeks. What the transparency is 00:07:13.750 --> 00:07:17.470 this? Any any reason you think they're being 00:07:17.470 --> 00:07:20.610 kind of open with us all of a sudden? I mean 00:07:20.610 --> 00:07:23.050 part of me is I don't say worried a part of me 00:07:23.050 --> 00:07:25.230 thinks that at least the go -go Peters one is 00:07:25.230 --> 00:07:28.850 maybe a slight little ad from Rhode Islander's 00:07:28.850 --> 00:07:32.069 Seed to tag in their official orthopedic partner 00:07:32.069 --> 00:07:34.350 in North Rhode Island. But at the same time, 00:07:34.389 --> 00:07:35.870 then why would you release the Harrivo info? 00:07:36.009 --> 00:07:38.329 So who knows? Maybe this is a bit of a marked 00:07:38.329 --> 00:07:40.529 change in the front office. I mean, hey, we all 00:07:40.529 --> 00:07:43.829 love it. Getting to know that, sadly, Hugo Peters 00:07:43.829 --> 00:07:45.410 isn't going to be with us for the rest of the 00:07:45.410 --> 00:07:47.910 season. Hopefully, he recovers well, and we'll 00:07:47.910 --> 00:07:49.769 be able to see him for next year. And then same 00:07:49.769 --> 00:07:51.310 with Harrivo. Hopefully, he can return as quick 00:07:51.310 --> 00:07:53.769 as possible, and hopefully get him back in that 00:07:53.769 --> 00:07:56.480 two, three weeks period. Yeah, absolutely and 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:58.699 that not to derail from the fact that you know, 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:01.100 it's unfortunate to see these guys sidelined 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:04.120 I wish both of them speedy recoveries, but it 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:07.240 is kind of a new look for communication from 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.860 our FC It's generally not something we see from 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:14.860 them to be so transparent I was gonna ask you 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:18.160 if you think this guarantees reinforcements spoiler 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:22.959 They announced something today Why don't you 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:26.509 take it away here torn? So, of course, I'm assuming 00:08:26.509 --> 00:08:28.350 most of you have heard the news. There is a new 00:08:28.350 --> 00:08:30.430 signing, as Rhode Island FC have announced new 00:08:30.430 --> 00:08:33.629 signing today. Osman Foyo, the 21 -year -old 00:08:33.629 --> 00:08:36.049 Dutch forward, who spent the last four seasons 00:08:36.049 --> 00:08:38.210 in the English Football League pyramid clubs, 00:08:38.370 --> 00:08:41.710 such as Ipswich Town, AFC Wimbledon, Sutton United. 00:08:41.889 --> 00:08:43.629 I'm actually, funny enough, wearing a Sutton 00:08:43.629 --> 00:08:45.929 United kit at the moment, so I may not have RFC 00:08:45.929 --> 00:08:49.389 on, but I am repping one of our players. And 00:08:49.389 --> 00:08:51.970 Chelmford City FC, spanning all the way from 00:08:51.970 --> 00:08:54.940 the sixth to the second division of English football. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.419 Now, to kind of give my own analysis on it, Foyo 00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:00.919 to me is sort of your typical well -rounded center 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:04.039 forward. In a lot of ways, he can be that physical 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:06.120 presence up front. He is standing at six foot 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:08.500 four. And if anyone's actually seen him play, 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.259 he is absolutely massive. And he does have a 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:13.799 lot of pace in behind as well with that. Kano 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:16.240 did state that he is a player that can offer, 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.899 quote, speed and physicality to our attack. So 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:20.940 we definitely hope to see that moving forward. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:23.659 You know, diving a little deeper, I do think 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:26.539 Foyer really thrives in a more double striker 00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:28.460 formation rather than what we currently play 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:31.139 at the moment, where he's allowed to roam into 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.940 those half spaces, pick up the ball and make 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:35.259 things happen with it. He can also play in the 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.960 wider areas if needed, but his best season at 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.460 Chelmsford came when he was playing in this two 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:43.799 striker formation. Yeah, I think the signing 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:46.139 makes a lot of sense for both the club and Kano 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:48.480 Smith, right? He is a multi -positional player. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:50.419 Like you say, it gives us something different 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:53.320 in terms of formation options. Now we've seen 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:57.019 where, you know, uh, like we'll kind of play 00:09:57.019 --> 00:10:00.200 to strikers to a certain extent. Like we don't 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:03.500 always have the same formation going forward 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:06.759 as we do in defense. We've seen a few 4 -4 -2, 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:10.200 so it's good to have that option there. Another 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:12.559 left -footed player, very similar profile to 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.740 JJ. I assume this is kind of a natural backup, 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.360 or do you think there's maybe some potential 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.860 here for some starting minutes? I mean, I think 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:21.519 that's the big question that I have going into 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:25.139 this, is that as much as, again, he does feel 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:28.679 like a very natural backup to JJ, there has, 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:30.779 I feel like, been a lot of people who have been 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:32.700 starting to ask, is it right for us to try a 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:35.610 double striker formation? Our best season in 00:10:35.610 --> 00:10:37.490 terms of winning the Eastern Conference final 00:10:37.490 --> 00:10:41.309 was in a double striker with Fusan and JJ. So 00:10:41.309 --> 00:10:44.169 is it time to try and revert back to that? As 00:10:44.169 --> 00:10:46.669 much as I love Petty Rodriguez and a lot of other 00:10:46.669 --> 00:10:48.830 players, I don't think anyone's really solidified 00:10:48.830 --> 00:10:51.210 themselves in that number 10 role. So I think. 00:10:51.370 --> 00:10:53.450 This is a good time to bring in someone that 00:10:53.450 --> 00:10:55.490 maybe we try experimenting a little bit with 00:10:55.490 --> 00:10:58.129 the tactics. But at the bare minimum, I think 00:10:58.129 --> 00:11:01.549 he is a near perfect backup for JJ. And as much 00:11:01.549 --> 00:11:02.990 as there's a lot of good about this players, 00:11:03.409 --> 00:11:06.350 it's probably right that we do address the bad 00:11:06.350 --> 00:11:08.309 information that has been going around Defiance 00:11:08.309 --> 00:11:11.370 recently. And that is that Osman Fayo did have 00:11:11.370 --> 00:11:14.049 a bit of a betting scandal in the past couple 00:11:14.049 --> 00:11:17.960 of years. It came out that he placed 252 bets 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.799 on soccer matches between October 22nd and March 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:25.059 2025. During his time at Ipswich Town, he was 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:28.460 given a five -month ban by the FA and a £1 ,000 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:33.120 fine, and in result, his loan was concluded due 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:37.000 to this ban which expired in January of 2026. 00:11:39.129 --> 00:11:40.990 There's some good with the bad. I mean again, 00:11:40.990 --> 00:11:44.230 this did expire in in January of 2026 So we do 00:11:44.230 --> 00:11:48.210 hope that he is past this moving forward, but 00:11:48.210 --> 00:11:50.889 what's your sort of read on this Jason? Yeah, 00:11:50.889 --> 00:11:53.389 not that we're gonna turn into a betting analysis 00:11:53.389 --> 00:11:56.429 podcast all of a sudden But so it there I've 00:11:56.429 --> 00:11:59.049 seen a lot of mixed kind of like positions on 00:11:59.049 --> 00:12:01.190 this, right? I think there's one thing that we 00:12:01.190 --> 00:12:04.649 have to kind of point out is betting has kind 00:12:04.649 --> 00:12:08.080 of got its fingers into Football or soccer if 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:10.940 you will right especially in in England in the 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:13.240 Premier League There are so many teams that have 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:15.460 betting sponsorships right on the front of the 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:19.340 shirt I've I've watched some you know streams 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:21.080 where they're maybe from England or something 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:23.299 and there's betting commercials during that like 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:27.159 it is I Mean even young people in the commit 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:30.559 like betting has kind of gotten its hands into 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:32.440 sports It's even become a little bit more prevalent 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:37.000 here in the US that being said from what I understand 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:43.320 I look at what he bet place bets on and from 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:45.759 what I like I don't claim to have all the information 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:50.120 but from what has been told to me it's not match 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:53.000 fixing in the way that like I bet on myself to 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.220 have a yellow card and I'm gonna go out there 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:58.740 and make sure I get a yellow card like he bet 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:03.139 on himself to win like Which is one of those 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:06.679 things like sure. There's 11 other guys who are 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:09.480 Not gonna let you do that And then you also have 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:11.320 to make the other ten guys on your team have 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:14.059 to help you like there's not a sport where one 00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:17.220 person can literally win the game Right. We saw 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:20.139 that and you know the World Cup and bop a and 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:23.039 messy cannot Make up for deficiencies in their 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.340 team to win. It's it's very much a complete unit 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:29.259 So while I'm not a fan of it per se, I think 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:31.909 it could be much worse I think it could be in 00:13:31.909 --> 00:13:35.429 a situation where he was trying to manipulate 00:13:35.429 --> 00:13:39.350 matches. It seems like, I mean, 252 bets is a 00:13:39.350 --> 00:13:41.529 lot. I mean, I don't want to say this guy's got 00:13:41.529 --> 00:13:43.629 a betting addiction, but like maybe he needs 00:13:43.629 --> 00:13:46.169 help if anything. And I think there's a lot of 00:13:46.169 --> 00:13:48.029 young people out there who maybe spend a little 00:13:48.029 --> 00:13:51.710 bit too much of their disposable income kind 00:13:51.710 --> 00:13:55.230 of going into that. What do you, how do you see 00:13:55.230 --> 00:13:57.889 this? Yeah, I fully agree. I think at the end 00:13:57.889 --> 00:13:59.669 of the day you have to remember that he's young 00:13:59.669 --> 00:14:01.809 I know a lot of times you view these players 00:14:01.809 --> 00:14:04.929 as not being people and not being like young 00:14:04.929 --> 00:14:09.070 people especially But he's 21 and in 2022 that 00:14:09.070 --> 00:14:13.269 would have made him 18 You know like between 00:14:13.269 --> 00:14:16.730 17 and 18 That that's a very young age for someone 00:14:16.730 --> 00:14:19.110 to come in with again with a higher disposable 00:14:19.110 --> 00:14:22.409 income terms of being a professional player and 00:14:22.409 --> 00:14:24.529 at the same time not being paid enough where 00:14:24.529 --> 00:14:27.230 you need to find other ways to get that income. 00:14:27.649 --> 00:14:29.730 So I do just want to stress that he is a young 00:14:29.730 --> 00:14:33.210 player. I do have more of an insider view as 00:14:33.210 --> 00:14:35.649 someone that does work for Sutton United at the 00:14:35.649 --> 00:14:38.789 moment. that this was a bit of a shock coming 00:14:38.789 --> 00:14:41.269 in, that there was no sort of knowledge that 00:14:41.269 --> 00:14:44.210 we had up front about this. Sadly, because his 00:14:44.210 --> 00:14:46.210 loan was concluded, I can't speak to whether 00:14:46.210 --> 00:14:47.950 or not he did receive any sort of professional 00:14:47.950 --> 00:14:51.710 help from the club, because his loan did shut 00:14:51.710 --> 00:14:53.809 down as soon as the ban happened, and he went 00:14:53.809 --> 00:14:56.750 back to AFC Wimbledon. So again, I cannot speak 00:14:56.750 --> 00:14:58.330 to whether or not he got professional help. We 00:14:58.330 --> 00:15:00.830 hope he did, and hopefully that is all behind 00:15:00.830 --> 00:15:03.450 him, so he can come back to our AFC and start 00:15:03.450 --> 00:15:07.139 helping us win more games. Absolutely. We got 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:09.639 to take a quick break. When we return, we're 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:11.960 going to take a look at RFC and how they're going 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:14.840 to prepare for the upcoming match. Don't go anywhere. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:20.080 It is the Raising Acres Soccer Show. Thank you 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:22.059 for listening to tonight's broadcast powered 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:24.799 by Sprout Coworking. For all your business needs, 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:29.009 large or small, visit sproutcoworking .com. Powering 00:15:29.009 --> 00:15:33.669 990 WBOB, that's Sproutcoworking .com. Now let's 00:15:33.669 --> 00:15:36.110 get back to the raising anchor soccer ship on 00:15:36.110 --> 00:15:41.389 990 WBOB with Matt Entrickett and Jason Carey. 00:15:41.809 --> 00:15:44.389 All right, no midweek games played this week, 00:15:44.389 --> 00:15:47.269 so that's going to keep RFC in eighth place for 00:15:47.269 --> 00:15:50.389 the time being. Hartford plays after us on the 00:15:50.389 --> 00:15:53.090 weekend, so we'll have the opportunity to either 00:15:53.090 --> 00:15:55.549 climb higher, depending on how the results go. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.419 or at least potentially maintain our spot depending 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:02.059 on what Hartford does there that's very close 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:05.179 right now. Hartford does have to travel out to 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:07.960 Phoenix Rising who have been kind of up and down 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:09.700 so I don't think that's going to be a very straightforward 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:12.419 game for them. Oh, definitely not. Phoenix Rising 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:14.600 is always a very difficult team, especially having 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:16.740 to travel all the way out to Phoenix. But if 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:18.559 we look up at the standings, we currently sit 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:22.320 two points off of Miami FC and in D11, as well 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.879 as being three games in hand now on Miami after 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.990 their midweek game against uh, call of spigs, 00:16:27.990 --> 00:16:30.870 uh, indy will host loud in as Miami will host 00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:33.389 local rivals, Tampa Bay. So those will have some 00:16:33.389 --> 00:16:35.110 pretty difficult games. Loudon can always be 00:16:35.110 --> 00:16:37.730 a tough game and Tampa Bay are still flying at 00:16:37.730 --> 00:16:39.970 the moment. So hopefully some drops points in 00:16:39.970 --> 00:16:41.909 those games could see us shoot even farther up 00:16:41.909 --> 00:16:45.230 in the table with an away weekend away win this 00:16:45.230 --> 00:16:48.590 weekend. Yeah. Uh, and so looking ahead to this 00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:52.049 weekend here, Pittsburgh river hounds, historically 00:16:52.049 --> 00:16:54.549 a team that we have not done well against the 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:57.679 All time series has seen Pittsburgh victorious 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:02.779 four times One draw in one rafc win and that 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:05.279 one draw actually comes from our very first meetup 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:08.940 back in burn stadium Uh nil nil, you know very 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:12.420 much classic draw kings. Um And the one victory 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:14.880 that we got comes from a jaeger meister cut meeting 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:17.859 where there was a bit of rotation and it saw 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:22.240 albert diqua kind of you know, crap houses way 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.700 to a performance for us. It was very much one 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:27.119 of those games where I don't say we got a lucky 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:30.299 goal, but we were able to get ahead. And he was 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:33.200 harassing their back lines, getting fouled, slowing 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:36.400 down the game, very much making it very difficult 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:40.039 for Pittsburgh to get back into the game. When 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.279 we look back to our last match against the Riverhounds, 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:44.460 it was the twenty twenty five Eastern Conference 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:46.740 final, which saw us drive a bunch of us drive 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:49.880 what? Ten hours away. and unfortunately have 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:54.460 to take a 1 -0 defeat home. Sleeper agent Marky 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:58.460 Barra, I'm just joking. He was good for us, but 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:02.900 he got sent off. They scored. We could not get 00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:06.099 back into the game with 10 men. It was a rough 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:09.039 match. And honestly, that's kind of how most 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:10.720 of our games against them have been. They've 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:13.700 been rough matches. Yeah, I think that's a good 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.680 way of putting it. Pittsburgh is a very difficult 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.900 team to play against. That's kind of the way 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.859 they play. They just want to make it incredibly 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:21.539 difficult. But it is important to know that when 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.319 you look back at that last match in the Eastern 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:26.279 Conference Final, this is a drastically different 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:29.220 Pittsburgh side compared to last year's USL Championships. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.900 In my opinion, the best players in the day included 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:34.309 Eric Dick, who is the goalkeeper of the year, 00:18:34.470 --> 00:18:36.130 who made five saves on the night. He's now at 00:18:36.130 --> 00:18:38.730 Indy 11. Augie Williams, who I think had a very 00:18:38.730 --> 00:18:40.829 good game against Hamidi Diop and really sort 00:18:40.829 --> 00:18:43.349 of capitalized on his physical presence. Obviously, 00:18:43.490 --> 00:18:46.170 he's now at Hartford. And Robbie Mertz, who is 00:18:46.170 --> 00:18:47.930 the goal scorer on the night, has actually yet 00:18:47.930 --> 00:18:50.289 to net a goal for Pittsburgh since that match. 00:18:50.650 --> 00:18:52.730 So I do think this is a very different Pittsburgh 00:18:52.730 --> 00:18:55.390 side in terms of the players, but the game is 00:18:55.390 --> 00:18:57.089 still going to be a very difficult one. They 00:18:57.089 --> 00:18:59.490 still seem to play with that same sort of play 00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:03.809 style. Absolutely. Taking a look at RFC's current 00:19:03.809 --> 00:19:06.210 form as they head over to Pittsburgh with their 00:19:06.210 --> 00:19:10.369 win over RFC. They're now 2 -2 -1 in all comps. 00:19:10.390 --> 00:19:12.750 Technically, we could argue that maybe there's 00:19:12.750 --> 00:19:15.910 another win there with the Prinks Cup going to 00:19:15.910 --> 00:19:18.849 a shootout, but for all intents and purposes, 00:19:19.089 --> 00:19:22.950 it's a draw, right? So during that time, they've 00:19:22.950 --> 00:19:26.670 scored eight goals and let in four. When we look 00:19:26.670 --> 00:19:29.309 at the Riverhounds, they're 2 -1 -2 in their 00:19:29.309 --> 00:19:34.279 last five. Scoring 6 in giving up 5. Yeah, I 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:36.319 think both teams are coming off statement wins 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.579 at the moment. I think RAFC, Hartford is less 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:41.359 of a statement than Louisville, that's for sure, 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:43.539 but it is a derby, it is at home, so that is 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:46.559 still a statement win. Obviously Pittsburgh coming 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:49.579 off of a huge win against Louisville 3 -1, and 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:51.339 both teams I think will be looking to gain some 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:53.980 momentum with a second straight 3 -point game. 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:58.750 Absolutely. Looking at the roster construction 00:19:58.750 --> 00:20:00.690 here for the weekend, just touching upon the 00:20:00.690 --> 00:20:03.109 availability. So we just talked about Zach Haraveau 00:20:03.109 --> 00:20:06.069 here, two to six weeks. We're not going to see 00:20:06.069 --> 00:20:08.950 him here. Jamin Peters, obviously out for the 00:20:08.950 --> 00:20:13.410 season now. Amadi Joop and Clay Holstad are pretty 00:20:13.410 --> 00:20:17.130 close. I don't expect to see either of them. 00:20:18.230 --> 00:20:21.930 Maybe for Bad Bunny Night that's coming up. I 00:20:21.930 --> 00:20:26.039 think maybe they'll be ready for that. Didn't 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:28.700 have time to make a graphic here for the the 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:30.880 lineup, but we're thinking it's gonna be essentially 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.160 the same here We're gonna have Coque Vegas and 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:36.039 net with a back four of Nick Scardina Carifa 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:39.960 Yow, Grant Stoneman, Frank Nodarse Amos Shapiro 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:42.940 Thompson and Hugo Baccarac and that holding midfielder 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:46.440 as Clay is still out with Joe J Equizzara Petey 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:50.500 Rodriguez and Leo Alfonso with JJ Williams up 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:53.769 top Kano likes to tinker his lineup to kind of 00:20:53.769 --> 00:20:55.950 cater towards different matches. Sometimes it 00:20:55.950 --> 00:20:59.250 works, sometimes it leaves some of our fans kind 00:20:59.250 --> 00:21:01.529 of scratching heads thinking like, what is this? 00:21:01.950 --> 00:21:05.210 But to be fair, hindsight is 20 -20. Is there 00:21:05.210 --> 00:21:07.869 any reason you think that we shouldn't be looking 00:21:07.869 --> 00:21:10.670 for a consistent lineup here from last time? 00:21:11.569 --> 00:21:14.029 I mean, in all honesty, I fully agree with Kleino 00:21:14.029 --> 00:21:16.869 in terms of tinkering in catering to different 00:21:16.869 --> 00:21:20.150 matches. But honestly, I think in terms of tactically, 00:21:20.589 --> 00:21:22.750 this is going to be a very similar game to Hartford. 00:21:22.930 --> 00:21:24.630 I think again, Hartford are similar to Pittsburgh, 00:21:25.049 --> 00:21:26.950 want to make things ugly, want to make things 00:21:26.950 --> 00:21:29.109 difficult and rough and physical on the night. 00:21:29.369 --> 00:21:31.109 So I think for me, the lineup has to stay the 00:21:31.109 --> 00:21:33.390 same from what came with such a commanding win 00:21:33.390 --> 00:21:36.029 against a similar team. You know, Pittsburgh 00:21:36.029 --> 00:21:38.109 are going to be very structured defensively, 00:21:38.210 --> 00:21:40.569 and they're going to enjoy very long periods 00:21:40.569 --> 00:21:43.049 without the wall. Therefore, it's really important 00:21:43.049 --> 00:21:45.390 that we have that dynamic attack with Pitti, 00:21:45.690 --> 00:21:48.190 Leo, Quisera, and JJ. But also it's important 00:21:48.190 --> 00:21:50.789 to have that structured back line with Frank 00:21:50.789 --> 00:21:53.490 Nadarse in there rather than Aldair. And I think 00:21:53.490 --> 00:21:55.109 this is kind of the perfect solution to getting 00:21:55.109 --> 00:21:58.650 one over Pittsburgh. You talked about that structured 00:21:58.650 --> 00:22:01.569 back line and it's kind of infamous in a way, 00:22:01.670 --> 00:22:04.369 but there's been quite a change here too, though. 00:22:04.450 --> 00:22:07.569 You talk about all the players that were missing. 00:22:08.430 --> 00:22:12.779 To me, Part of it. Like was it just Eric dick? 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:17.079 I mean we went to Indy not too long ago and Honestly, 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:20.619 I think he still proved didn't do Indy that he's 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:22.740 still least a thorn in our side Can't speak for 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:26.279 the rest of the league, but we do not have success 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:29.460 against him Do you think there's any possibility 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:33.079 that without him? Maybe there's kind of some 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:36.539 option for our FC to maybe kind of get past this 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:39.569 Pittsburgh defense Definitely. I mean, I think 00:22:39.569 --> 00:22:41.529 that's for sure. Again, when you have the best 00:22:41.529 --> 00:22:43.750 the literal best goalkeeper in the league last 00:22:43.750 --> 00:22:46.170 year, obviously, when you don't have them, you're 00:22:46.170 --> 00:22:48.490 going to be a little bit worse defensively. But 00:22:48.490 --> 00:22:50.369 at the same time, when you look at our record, 00:22:50.589 --> 00:22:53.390 we scored once in six matches against Pittsburgh, 00:22:53.630 --> 00:22:56.710 whether or not Dick is there or not. That's more 00:22:56.710 --> 00:22:59.539 to that than just one player and. This is our 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.539 best statistical attack, however, you know, the 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:04.680 oceans of layout and pity and Quasar and JJ are 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:07.859 certainly in purple patches. So for me, I think 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:09.700 there's a couple of things this year that make 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:11.980 me believe we have a bit more of a chance. I 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:14.539 think set piece is a huge one. It's as we saw 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:16.079 with Arsenal all season in the Premier League 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:18.579 again. not a Premier League podcast. When you're 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:20.380 struggling to score and have good set pieces, 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:23.039 that can be a huge way to unlock a game, as well 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:25.460 as having more creative players, having Leo in 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:27.960 Pity Now, as well as Quisera being higher up 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:30.640 the pitch. This could definitely be a solution 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.319 for us, and hopefully we can make it more than 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:35.819 one in seven, at least two or three. So what 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:38.140 you're saying is just get into the box and foul 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:39.839 everyone, and they don't call it, right? That 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.019 doesn't count if it's in the box? As long as 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.779 you're offense. OK, perfect. Yeah, sounds good 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:48.759 with me. Who knew it was that easy? You know, 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:51.539 we, we talk about like trying to score on this 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:53.940 team, trying to get one over them and, and kind 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:56.680 of a history of not being very good against them. 00:23:56.900 --> 00:24:00.359 You brought up that kind of in a way this team 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:02.579 has gone through some transition, right? Players 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:04.880 like Eric Dick, Augie Williams, Sean Subber, 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:08.220 Luke Biasi and Burton Jackison to name a few 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:10.799 like are not there anymore. And all of those 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.539 players too played against us there in that final. 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:16.019 They've gotten through their transition away 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:18.420 from Bob Lily and come away with the championship 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:22.059 But Rob Vincent is no stranger to their system, 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:24.519 right? He's he's played for them He's the assistant 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:27.200 coach there and and honestly this transition 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:31.039 hasn't been too unkind to them But we also look 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:33.279 at some of their form There are some losses here 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.940 that kind of a bit of a head scratcher, right? 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:38.420 They lost to Brooklyn a team so far I mean, maybe 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.920 you know, we haven't really had too much of a 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:42.119 problem with them We tied against them with a 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:45.200 heavily rotated squad Sporting Jacks, we tied 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:47.059 against. I feel like if we played them right 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:49.500 now, we'd probably get past them. But also, who 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:52.559 knows? It's Rhode Island FC. But those kind of 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:54.279 stand out is a bit odd to me. They also drew 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:57.960 against Hartford, whose attack is basically nonexistent. 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:02.000 So it appears like there are still a little bit 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:04.539 of kinks in this Riverhound side. They've led 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.720 in 18 goals this season, which is the same as 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:09.859 us. So to say that they are the most elite of 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:12.140 defenses, well, our defense is pretty good here 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:15.799 too. They played one more game than us, but you 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:19.900 know, it's pretty close. I don't know, is this 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:21.839 Riverhounds team the same as they once were? 00:25:22.549 --> 00:25:24.329 I would definitely say they're not the same. 00:25:24.470 --> 00:25:26.690 Again, you list off those players, especially 00:25:26.690 --> 00:25:29.369 Eric Dick and Sean Suber, I would arguably say 00:25:29.369 --> 00:25:31.589 were their two most important players last year. 00:25:32.230 --> 00:25:34.609 They were absolutely fantastic, as well as Augie 00:25:34.609 --> 00:25:37.210 Williams, Luke Biasi, and Jackison, who I think 00:25:37.210 --> 00:25:39.190 constantly, whether he was starting or coming 00:25:39.190 --> 00:25:41.650 off the bench, was fantastic. I do think Rob 00:25:41.650 --> 00:25:44.609 Vincent is very much sort of the padawan to Bob 00:25:44.609 --> 00:25:47.950 Lilly. He is a very similar coach, and even when 00:25:47.950 --> 00:25:50.500 Bob Lilly wasn't there, They played pretty much 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:53.440 the exact same under Rob Vincent, who was obviously 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:56.599 the assistant coach to Bob Lilly throughout that 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:59.900 time. So I do think that that isn't going to 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:02.140 change anything, but the players was a big mess. 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:04.720 And as much as we have talked about them dropping 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:07.309 points. It's still important to say that they 00:26:07.309 --> 00:26:08.930 are still playing very well. They're still fifth 00:26:08.930 --> 00:26:11.089 in the table. Again, we talked earlier that win 00:26:11.089 --> 00:26:13.529 against Louisville was a huge statement to the 00:26:13.529 --> 00:26:15.170 rest of the league to say that they're staying 00:26:15.170 --> 00:26:17.869 in contention for that top four as that race 00:26:17.869 --> 00:26:19.809 for the top four is getting closer and closer 00:26:19.809 --> 00:26:21.970 for the home playoff spot. For anyone who's watching 00:26:21.970 --> 00:26:25.650 more USL, that top five is getting very interesting. 00:26:25.809 --> 00:26:27.970 And to get a win against Louisville, that was 00:26:27.970 --> 00:26:29.569 a huge statement. And they're definitely going 00:26:29.569 --> 00:26:31.150 to be looking to gain some momentum on that. 00:26:31.890 --> 00:26:34.829 Yeah, definitely getting a little spicy there 00:26:34.829 --> 00:26:38.970 in the kind of mix up the it's such a weird like 00:26:38.970 --> 00:26:41.309 table though, because we're behind so many games 00:26:41.309 --> 00:26:44.529 that it feels like we're in this constant situation 00:26:44.529 --> 00:26:47.430 where until we catch up, do we actually know 00:26:47.430 --> 00:26:50.369 where we really stand? So it's kind of tough. 00:26:50.890 --> 00:26:52.670 We got to take another break here, though. When 00:26:52.670 --> 00:26:55.369 we return, we will continue speaking about Pats 00:26:55.369 --> 00:26:57.210 Pittsburgh here and unpack some of the biggest 00:26:57.210 --> 00:26:59.930 storylines of the weekend. All here on the Raising 00:26:59.930 --> 00:27:06.380 Acres soccer show. Fans, as the weather becomes 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:08.559 more and more unpredictable, be sure to check 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:12.319 out 990 WBOB's weather page for all your temperatures, 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:15.579 storm, and travel info. Stay prepared for whatever 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:19.119 Mother Nature has in store with the 990 WBOB 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.480 weather page. Now, let's get back to the raising 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:26.740 anchor soccer show on 990 WBOB with Matt Entrickett 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:32.390 and Jason Carey. Albert? Chico Dequa. You ever 00:27:32.390 --> 00:27:34.690 heard of that guy before? No, I never heard of 00:27:34.690 --> 00:27:37.769 him. No, it doesn't ring a bell. Yeah. No bells. 00:27:37.990 --> 00:27:41.890 No nothing. In RFC's first season, they had an 00:27:41.890 --> 00:27:45.109 opportunity to sign the Golden Boot winner from 00:27:45.109 --> 00:27:47.549 Pittsburgh River Hounds and they took that opportunity. 00:27:48.509 --> 00:27:51.730 He spent two seasons with us playing 68 matches 00:27:51.730 --> 00:27:55.490 and during that time he scored 19 goals and recorded 00:27:55.490 --> 00:27:59.640 nine assists. That being said. It kind of felt 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:02.680 like he never really settled into Kano system. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:06.099 And ultimately, when there was an opportunity 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:09.279 for him to return to the Riverhounds, I think 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.720 it's kind of been the best option for both clubs 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:14.019 in this regard, especially considering our attack 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:16.839 this year has been a lot better than last year. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:27.599 Oh, did you meet yourself? Oh, there we go. All 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:30.829 set. There we go. All right. Sorry about that. 00:28:30.849 --> 00:28:33.309 Again, just we need Matt Entriken back. Please 00:28:33.309 --> 00:28:35.990 come back and have any technical difficulties 00:28:35.990 --> 00:28:39.390 on a raising anchor show. But you just know he's 00:28:39.390 --> 00:28:41.809 going to score. You just got that feeling. He's 00:28:41.809 --> 00:28:45.230 coming back. He's in great form at the moment 00:28:45.230 --> 00:28:47.730 as well. And, you know, I hold no malice towards 00:28:47.730 --> 00:28:49.849 him. I love to see him in great form. I do think 00:28:49.849 --> 00:28:52.569 he was very, I think he had a very unlucky time 00:28:52.569 --> 00:28:55.779 at the club for most of it. He leads the team 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:58.539 at the moment with six goals in the league play 00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:01.200 and seven overall. He's very quickly readjusted 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:03.319 to Pittsburgh style of play, which does make 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:06.680 you think like what really went wrong at RISC? 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:10.579 Why has he switched so quickly after the two 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:12.400 disappointing years that he had in Rhode Island 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:15.000 where he, again, as you said, never really fit 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:18.160 in, never really seemed to play his best. Do 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:20.380 you think it maybe it's just because as an arsenal 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:22.680 fan with with arsenal in the league, you know, 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:26.519 it kind of lifted his spirits and he's Maybe 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:29.839 maybe if that's what it was. We should have kept 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:34.339 it for another year Speaking of finishing though, 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.680 like tell me about this Pittsburgh offense. How 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:40.779 have they been like playing under the new manager 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:44.609 here? I mean, it's odd. I think it's similar 00:29:44.609 --> 00:29:46.789 in a lot of ways to the way that they play under 00:29:46.789 --> 00:29:50.230 Bob Lilly, where they're not great at creating 00:29:50.230 --> 00:29:52.990 chances. They do rank 23rd in the entire league 00:29:52.990 --> 00:29:55.569 for big chances created and 20th for touches 00:29:55.569 --> 00:29:58.289 in the opposition box. Again, we said earlier, 00:29:58.690 --> 00:30:01.410 they don't really like to have the ball for too 00:30:01.410 --> 00:30:03.750 much. They prefer to sit a little bit deeper 00:30:03.750 --> 00:30:06.470 and counter attack. But when it comes to when 00:30:06.470 --> 00:30:09.299 they get those chances, They are on absolute 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:12.319 fire right now a man and deco up front are killing 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:14.200 it They have five and six goals respectively 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:17.559 in the league with a man Having his famous record 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:19.380 -breaking hat trick last game where he scored 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:21.920 three goals in three minutes And he currently 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:24.279 has five goals in his last three matches in all 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:27.059 competitions So even though they may not be the 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:29.720 best chance creation team when they get those 00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:33.420 chances, they're gonna punish you You hate to 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:36.039 see it. What what what worries about me is a 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:40.829 team like this is RFC tend to give up a chances 00:30:40.829 --> 00:30:43.009 that almost want to call like flukes at times, 00:30:43.009 --> 00:30:45.789 right? They almost like no one would have scored 00:30:45.789 --> 00:30:49.450 that, but the one opportunity we give up is like 00:30:49.450 --> 00:30:52.250 a shot cross that just somehow floats over the 00:30:52.250 --> 00:30:55.730 keeper into the back corner. And these teams 00:30:55.730 --> 00:30:58.589 tend to capitalize on these. It's as if like 00:30:58.589 --> 00:31:02.009 our luck stat is just poor. I don't know if we 00:31:02.009 --> 00:31:04.309 need to like respect our character build or something, 00:31:04.309 --> 00:31:06.670 but it's just like. It doesn't make it. Sometimes 00:31:06.670 --> 00:31:08.309 it literally doesn't make any sense. Like how 00:31:08.309 --> 00:31:11.210 did, how did we give up that goal? And then like 00:31:11.210 --> 00:31:13.930 right into that game. So hearing about a team 00:31:13.930 --> 00:31:16.450 who like, yeah, we never go, we have no touches 00:31:16.450 --> 00:31:18.569 in the box. We never crossed the ball at all. 00:31:18.609 --> 00:31:22.230 Why would we do that? We just somehow score goals. 00:31:23.629 --> 00:31:26.049 Yeah, it's definitely worrying for sure. I think 00:31:26.049 --> 00:31:28.690 that sort of if you go back and look at our games 00:31:28.690 --> 00:31:30.490 against Pittsburgh previously, you'll definitely 00:31:30.490 --> 00:31:32.970 see it's very long spells with us having the 00:31:32.970 --> 00:31:34.589 ball, no real chances for them. And then out 00:31:34.589 --> 00:31:38.390 of nowhere, bang, one, no Pittsburgh. And, and 00:31:38.390 --> 00:31:42.549 to make things worse is I'd say our away performances 00:31:42.549 --> 00:31:45.970 haven't been too great, um, especially compared 00:31:45.970 --> 00:31:49.910 to the past. Like this year, RFC are two on four 00:31:49.910 --> 00:31:53.480 on the road. 11 goals for 11 goals against in 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:56.319 the past. I think that RFC were actually a bit 00:31:56.319 --> 00:32:00.339 better Than they were wrote on the road compared 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:03.079 to at home part of that Maybe I don't know if 00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:06.099 they took them a while to really settle into 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:09.339 Centerville Bank Stadium And like make it feel 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:12.799 like no, this is actually our home But I think 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.940 at this point it's kind of become a bit more 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:18.470 of a fortress but away matches to a certain extent 00:32:18.470 --> 00:32:21.210 feel like a dice roll. We were able to get wins 00:32:21.210 --> 00:32:23.049 against Loudon, which is nice to finally get 00:32:23.049 --> 00:32:26.630 that boogie off of our back. But Loudon is also 00:32:26.630 --> 00:32:30.049 not the team before. Not without Martin Ryan 00:32:30.049 --> 00:32:33.970 and his immaculate, you know, they just they 00:32:33.970 --> 00:32:37.150 they don't play the same. Lexington is a bit 00:32:37.150 --> 00:32:40.049 of a mess. They they're just kind of all over 00:32:40.049 --> 00:32:41.470 the place. And for some reason, they're in the 00:32:41.470 --> 00:32:44.609 West Coast. Who understands that? But we picked 00:32:44.609 --> 00:32:50.339 up losses again. Indy Sacramento and Miami at 00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:52.039 the same time though I kind of look at these 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:55.359 and think like Are these losses that are expected 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:58.279 in is there in a waveform issue? I mean, I kind 00:32:58.279 --> 00:33:00.299 of thought that maybe we were get the best of 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:02.740 Sacramento But then also I went back and looked 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:04.900 at the form is like maybe they're kind of turning 00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:08.079 the corner Louisville had just lost their coach. 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:11.200 So they've got the new manager bounce Indy were 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:13.759 like never good against And apparently Miami 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:15.900 has players who played in the World Cup. Like 00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:19.220 what even is? What is this timeline right now? 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:23.420 So is there a waveform issue? Does or does it 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:25.140 even matter if we keep picking up points at home? 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:29.259 I mean, I think first off, we've sadly lost the 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:31.960 Road Warriors title that we had from last season. 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:34.079 I think that's no longer us. Apparently, we are 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:36.299 much better at home, which as far as is good 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:38.420 for the fans to see that we're picking up more 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:41.119 points at home than away. It depends on what 00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:43.400 team we want to be. If we want to be a team that 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:46.240 is in the top four and wants a home playoff game, 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:48.480 then you've got to be able to do both. And I 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:51.240 really think in those games, it's sort of a mixed 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:53.380 bag. I think you look at Louisville, and you 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.960 look at Indy, I think those are sort of fair 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.900 enough. Indy, again, as you said, very difficult 00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:59.279 team for us in the past. Louisville, still a 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:01.019 good team, and we're coming off the new manager 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:05.339 bounce. But at the same time, Sacramento and 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:08.719 Miami, maybe not the best, especially when you 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.619 look at those games. I think specifically the 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:13.820 Miami game, as much as they are in good form. 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:17.460 That was a pretty rough game for my same as Sacramento 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:20.300 I think you can look at the other team and their 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.900 performance and talk about that all you want 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.900 but ultimately it's important to look at yourself 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:26.679 and say Those were not good performances from 00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:29.960 us and we need to improve away And I think there's 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:32.739 no better way to improve than to get a win against 00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:34.860 a team that's famously been very difficult for 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:37.719 us in the past Absolutely, I think if we're able 00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:39.860 to get something like this, I think this would 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:42.599 be an absolute statement win from RFC if they're 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:46.260 able to come away with three points. Continuing 00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:50.280 to look ahead to the match here, the last two 00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:52.920 matches against Pittsburgh have both seen red 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:56.199 cards. I joked earlier about sleeper agent Mark 00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:59.219 Ibarra. No, no, no grief against him at all. 00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:03.360 He was a consistently solid player for us, but 00:35:03.389 --> 00:35:05.550 He unfortunately picked up two yellows and got 00:35:05.550 --> 00:35:08.690 sent off in the Eastern Conference final. We 00:35:08.690 --> 00:35:12.329 also saw JJ Williams maybe lose his cool a little 00:35:12.329 --> 00:35:14.329 bit, throw some hands against some Pittsburgh 00:35:14.329 --> 00:35:20.789 players and we're down a man, both losses. So 00:35:20.789 --> 00:35:23.489 compare that to Hartford, if you will. There's 00:35:23.489 --> 00:35:25.329 maybe, I don't want to say there's any bad blood 00:35:25.329 --> 00:35:27.949 between these teams, but these matches maybe 00:35:27.949 --> 00:35:29.750 can get a little physical, a little feisty, a 00:35:29.750 --> 00:35:32.840 little fiery. Do you think this trend continues 00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:35.340 at all? Do we see anyone get sent off this weekend 00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:38.960 or do cooler heads prevail here? I Mean, first 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:42.400 of all, we hope not knock on wood But as you 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:44.639 said, it's certainly a match that has history 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:48.579 There is a buildup from whether or not it's us, 00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:51.260 you know feeling that level of loss from losing 00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:54.239 an Eastern Conference final last season But weirdly 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:55.960 I actually think as much as people are probably 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.539 gonna say oh we have a history I've read cards 00:35:57.539 --> 00:36:00.449 this year that's gonna you know Hurt us and that's 00:36:00.449 --> 00:36:02.150 gonna mean that we're more likely to get one 00:36:02.150 --> 00:36:04.010 actually that might help us I think we've sort 00:36:04.010 --> 00:36:07.170 of gotten that out of our system we have seen 00:36:07.170 --> 00:36:08.869 what happens when you lose your head in the game 00:36:08.869 --> 00:36:12.130 and you get yourself sent off and then We've 00:36:12.130 --> 00:36:13.909 sort of seen the repercussions of that So I'm 00:36:13.909 --> 00:36:16.510 hoping that by now Kano has sorted that out with 00:36:16.510 --> 00:36:18.389 the players and a little bit with himself we 00:36:18.389 --> 00:36:21.570 all saw that Louisville away game and Hopefully 00:36:21.570 --> 00:36:23.949 going forward this as long as we can keep our 00:36:23.949 --> 00:36:25.489 heads cool and play the way we've been playing 00:36:25.489 --> 00:36:27.269 I don't see why we can't get three points in 00:36:27.269 --> 00:36:31.150 this Speaking of three points, looking ahead 00:36:31.150 --> 00:36:33.769 to the match here and how our FC can take all 00:36:33.769 --> 00:36:36.670 three points. Pittsburgh's always been a tough 00:36:36.670 --> 00:36:39.130 matchup for us, right? The one time we saw success 00:36:39.130 --> 00:36:41.650 against them was in the Jaeger Meister cup where 00:36:41.650 --> 00:36:44.170 there was a little bit of rotation. I think that 00:36:44.170 --> 00:36:45.949 they are still, they've been a team that's always 00:36:45.949 --> 00:36:48.170 had good depth though. So I don't want to take 00:36:48.170 --> 00:36:51.409 too much away from what our FC did there. I think 00:36:51.409 --> 00:36:53.210 we kind of essentially use their own tactics 00:36:53.210 --> 00:36:55.610 against them very much. If it was a bit of a 00:36:55.610 --> 00:36:58.449 smash and grab, slow the game down, kill any 00:36:58.449 --> 00:37:01.489 sort of momentum that they have, is that something 00:37:01.489 --> 00:37:04.550 we can do again? I don't think so. I don't think 00:37:04.550 --> 00:37:07.849 it's part of this iteration of Kano Ball's kind 00:37:07.849 --> 00:37:10.989 of DNA, if you will. I think what RFC need to 00:37:10.989 --> 00:37:13.269 do here is they really need to win that midfield 00:37:13.269 --> 00:37:15.739 battle. I think it's going to come up huge. giving 00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:18.360 away a ball cheaply in poor areas is going to 00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:20.739 give an opportunity to someone like Chico or 00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:25.119 Amon to really capitalize on those scraps and 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:27.400 put away the one opportunity that we give. That's 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:28.980 what I was talking about earlier, like we can't 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:31.579 afford to do stuff like that. So midfield is 00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:33.659 going to be very important. Obviously the back 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:38.000 line here is key to that too. It's going to be 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:42.449 a tough match, but I think that if RAFC can Be 00:37:42.449 --> 00:37:45.269 calm and composed not let it get into some sort 00:37:45.269 --> 00:37:50.070 of you know fight and You know try and take their 00:37:50.070 --> 00:37:53.869 chances It's possibility. I think that they can 00:37:53.869 --> 00:37:55.730 kind of sneak away with like a one -nil then 00:37:55.730 --> 00:37:57.570 I don't I don't think this is something where 00:37:57.570 --> 00:37:59.989 a team you score multiple goals against you got 00:37:59.989 --> 00:38:04.110 a Get one and then to a certain extent not turtle, 00:38:04.110 --> 00:38:07.650 but you know keep it play a clean game What about 00:38:07.650 --> 00:38:10.349 your torn? No, I fully agree and and speaking 00:38:10.349 --> 00:38:13.309 on that I think even just scoring that first 00:38:13.309 --> 00:38:15.570 goal, that opens the game up because Pittsburgh 00:38:15.570 --> 00:38:18.110 want to keep that game closed. They want to fight 00:38:18.110 --> 00:38:21.309 from either a draw or a winning position. As 00:38:21.309 --> 00:38:23.389 soon as they're losing and you sort of bait them 00:38:23.389 --> 00:38:25.769 out of that defensive shape, that's when you 00:38:25.769 --> 00:38:28.550 see the second, the third, even the fourth, maybe, 00:38:28.730 --> 00:38:32.510 knock on wood, start to go in. So for me, though, 00:38:32.789 --> 00:38:34.289 as you said earlier about that sort of smash 00:38:34.289 --> 00:38:36.610 and grab tactics, and that's not exactly us. 00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:39.280 I agree, and I honestly think that's because 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:41.460 of the creative players that we have now, and 00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:43.519 this game is going to come down to that. I think 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:46.179 on the ball, those creative players need to find 00:38:46.179 --> 00:38:49.000 a way to create chances against this famously 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:51.619 good low block, but then in turn, our attack 00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:53.559 needs to be able to finish them off. We've seen 00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:55.360 the shot conversion. We talked about it last 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:58.119 episode. We need to get better at finishing the 00:38:58.119 --> 00:39:00.460 chances that we do actually have. So as long 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:03.039 as we can get our creative players like Jojaya, 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:06.739 Pity, Leo on the ball creating chances, we all... 00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:09.400 and then hopefully JJ in turn can finish them 00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:12.920 off. That's going to be where you see the best 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:16.159 RAFC. Off the ball, however, the defense needs 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:18.579 to be disciplined in the structure. We talked 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:20.519 about this is a team that's struggling to create 00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:23.139 chances in Pittsburgh, but when they do get them, 00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:25.619 they will hurt you and they will not let you 00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:28.360 think twice about it. So you need to be defensively 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:31.599 structured. Very similar last week. I think hopefully 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.300 if we can keep that defensive structure like 00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:35.559 we did in the second half, we could easily see 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:38.420 Koke having Yeah. Another week off, maybe one 00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:41.039 to say is if he's feeling like it and CS claim 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:45.519 yet another clean sheet. Love to hear it. So 00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:48.619 we got to take our final break here. Don't go 00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:51.679 anywhere. When we return, it's the mail bag and 00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:55.019 also maybe some breaking news here on the raising 00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:57.780 anchor soccer show. Now let's get back to the 00:39:57.780 --> 00:40:01.440 raising anchor soccer show on nine 90 WBOB with 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:06.570 Matt intricate and Jason. All right here breaking 00:40:06.570 --> 00:40:10.949 news before we jump into the mailbag Where are 00:40:10.949 --> 00:40:14.710 some rumors going around that? Unconfirmed unconfirmed 00:40:14.710 --> 00:40:18.030 one of our players is going to be moving up to 00:40:18.030 --> 00:40:24.690 the MLS So Who do you think that could be and 00:40:24.690 --> 00:40:29.070 then also like when we look at this is this a 00:40:29.070 --> 00:40:31.230 This is the point of frustration. Are we happy 00:40:31.230 --> 00:40:33.210 to see them move? Like obviously we don't know 00:40:33.210 --> 00:40:39.019 who this is right, but I mean, it's tough. Just 00:40:39.019 --> 00:40:42.239 drop a bombshell on you. Yeah, we just got some 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:46.860 breaking news mid -podcast. I think at the end 00:40:46.860 --> 00:40:49.820 of the day, as much as it hurts and it'll be 00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:52.380 frustrating because I'd imagine it'll be one 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:54.539 of our best players, because again, they are 00:40:54.539 --> 00:41:00.039 moving up, it is sort of important that we show 00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:03.280 other players that we can help move them up. 00:41:03.759 --> 00:41:05.940 Because as much as I would love for this to be, 00:41:06.059 --> 00:41:07.719 I'd love to have players that stay here for their 00:41:07.719 --> 00:41:10.659 whole career. If players are truly that good 00:41:10.659 --> 00:41:13.619 on this team, they're going to use this team 00:41:13.619 --> 00:41:16.460 as a stepping stone. And I think it's very tough 00:41:16.460 --> 00:41:18.179 to come to grips with that. I don't think you 00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:19.860 can ever fully come to grips with that, if I'm 00:41:19.860 --> 00:41:23.860 being honest. It's important to be able to show 00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:26.239 that especially for incoming players I mean we 00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:27.900 talked about the fact that we've of course just 00:41:27.900 --> 00:41:30.320 brought in a new player To be able to show them 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:33.719 that if you come to this club We can you know 00:41:33.719 --> 00:41:35.940 help improve you and help give you the minutes 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:38.639 to make you the player You know you want to be 00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:41.000 and then from there you can go on to bigger things 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:43.420 like the MLS Like you know higher divisions in 00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:46.019 European football. That's gonna be big for us 00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:49.039 moving forward So in the short term, it's gonna 00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:50.840 hurt And it's going to hurt seeing a good player 00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:53.860 gone. But in the long term, I do think that this 00:41:53.860 --> 00:41:57.280 is probably a good thing for us. Oh, I can't 00:41:57.280 --> 00:42:00.579 wait to watch the Fast and Furious meme where 00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:03.519 he drives away and just just start crying while, 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:06.059 you know, one of our players just leaves us. 00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:10.679 Yeah. Yeah, no, I I think it's good speculation 00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:15.010 there. You look at players like. JJ Quisaro who 00:42:15.010 --> 00:42:17.090 put it up are putting up good numbers like obviously 00:42:17.090 --> 00:42:19.710 we don't want our attack has been good this year 00:42:19.710 --> 00:42:22.809 like we don't want those players to go but Those 00:42:22.809 --> 00:42:25.730 would be players. They would be looking at You 00:42:25.730 --> 00:42:27.670 know, there's probably a few other there others 00:42:27.670 --> 00:42:31.170 there Alfonso has previous experience. I don't 00:42:31.170 --> 00:42:34.289 know if his performances have like Given him 00:42:34.289 --> 00:42:35.969 that boost, but it's also one of those things 00:42:35.969 --> 00:42:37.750 where they look at the familiarity. He's been 00:42:37.750 --> 00:42:44.079 there before Yeah, it's going to be if it happens, 00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:47.599 unconfirmed, it's going to be tough to see. But 00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:50.599 it's one of those like things that will be very 00:42:50.599 --> 00:42:53.659 good long term for the club. Players will look 00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:56.699 at this as an opportunity to be a stepping stone. 00:42:57.320 --> 00:43:01.500 And when you take a look at these teams and how 00:43:01.500 --> 00:43:04.300 some of them like their entire rosters like blow 00:43:04.300 --> 00:43:07.820 up, obviously, we've been very fortunate to keep 00:43:07.820 --> 00:43:11.949 a squad of guys. their third season like together 00:43:11.949 --> 00:43:16.030 and put a team that's like Sure, we're only an 00:43:16.030 --> 00:43:18.230 eighth right now But we've been to two consecutive 00:43:18.230 --> 00:43:20.210 Eastern Conference finals like this is a competitive 00:43:20.210 --> 00:43:25.250 competitive team we know come playoff time The 00:43:25.250 --> 00:43:27.889 boys will give it all and make a go out of it 00:43:27.889 --> 00:43:30.170 and not a lot of other teams can say that and 00:43:30.170 --> 00:43:33.309 when you can also Come back there and say well, 00:43:33.469 --> 00:43:35.750 guess what? We've also promoted players to the 00:43:35.750 --> 00:43:39.280 MLS I mean, that's huge in terms of selling your 00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:43.079 value to players and getting the ability to bring 00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:45.860 in players. And then even as you look at that, 00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:49.340 as that ties into D1, right? Like that's the 00:43:49.340 --> 00:43:52.079 reality. Like we're never going to be quote unquote 00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:56.940 bigger than MLS, but can we be a, our own system, 00:43:57.159 --> 00:44:01.019 our own competitive product and you know, generate 00:44:01.019 --> 00:44:04.219 and sell talent to like keep the league afloat? 00:44:04.380 --> 00:44:06.389 Like that would be. That's the place you want 00:44:06.389 --> 00:44:09.329 to be in, honestly. And I would also say that 00:44:09.329 --> 00:44:12.889 I think that it's also good in terms of forging 00:44:12.889 --> 00:44:16.489 relationships because whatever club we are going 00:44:16.489 --> 00:44:18.809 to sell this player to, that is forging a good 00:44:18.809 --> 00:44:20.789 relationship with that club. We've talked several 00:44:20.789 --> 00:44:22.909 times about our relationship with Minnesota United 00:44:22.909 --> 00:44:25.469 and being able to loan players in from there. 00:44:25.909 --> 00:44:28.170 And so to be able to show and make a good relationship 00:44:28.170 --> 00:44:32.280 with an MLS club and in return maybe get a little 00:44:32.280 --> 00:44:34.239 bit of preference on lone players, younger players 00:44:34.239 --> 00:44:36.760 coming into our club. I think that's huge. And 00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:39.840 in return, just to ask you a question and maybe, 00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:43.059 you know, put a little bit of a personal spin 00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:46.300 on this. Who is the one player that if you found 00:44:46.300 --> 00:44:49.880 out it was them that you that you think would 00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:53.960 like heart this team the most? Oh, I think it 00:44:53.960 --> 00:45:00.130 has to be JJ. Really? I think so. I mean. Do 00:45:00.130 --> 00:45:03.269 we like we just signed a striker but like is 00:45:03.269 --> 00:45:06.809 that guy good enough to just immediately pick 00:45:06.809 --> 00:45:11.449 up? Face where JJ left off like I I don't I really 00:45:11.449 --> 00:45:14.510 don't think we're as good I think that we can 00:45:14.510 --> 00:45:18.210 maybe beat some of bottom feeders but if we want 00:45:18.210 --> 00:45:21.550 to be competitive and if we want to go up against 00:45:21.550 --> 00:45:25.269 the Louisville and Be able to like beat them 00:45:25.269 --> 00:45:28.869 in a playoff match if you don't have JJ like 00:45:28.869 --> 00:45:31.730 I I just, I see, I struggle to see it, especially 00:45:31.730 --> 00:45:34.530 with the form that kind of our, the rest of our, 00:45:34.530 --> 00:45:37.409 our striker core is in, if you will, right? If 00:45:37.409 --> 00:45:41.050 we had maybe 2024, no, if you saw him, I'd be 00:45:41.050 --> 00:45:43.050 like, I don't know. Like, like, maybe like let 00:45:43.050 --> 00:45:45.250 that man cook. Like maybe we're good to go, but 00:45:45.250 --> 00:45:48.090 like, I just, I haven't seen enough goals come 00:45:48.090 --> 00:45:51.269 from other places. We have, we have a cast of 00:45:51.269 --> 00:45:53.050 supporting characters, but at the end of the 00:45:53.050 --> 00:45:55.989 day, like the leading man right now is JJ Williams. 00:45:56.150 --> 00:46:01.030 I mean, six goals, four assists. I, I just, you, 00:46:01.030 --> 00:46:03.989 you can't replace that. We look at Quisaro one 00:46:03.989 --> 00:46:06.530 assists, five goals, Alfonso one assists, three 00:46:06.530 --> 00:46:10.510 goals, two assists for Rodriguez. Just no one 00:46:10.510 --> 00:46:12.690 else comes close to the numbers that he has right 00:46:12.690 --> 00:46:15.929 now. And if you immediately, like this team has 00:46:15.929 --> 00:46:19.750 been scoring a lot more this year. Can we like, 00:46:19.909 --> 00:46:21.510 do we have, we have to go sign another striker 00:46:21.510 --> 00:46:24.269 if, if it's him, like we need to, right? You 00:46:24.269 --> 00:46:27.570 can't just. And I'd say we need a ready made 00:46:27.570 --> 00:46:30.690 striker too, not like someone who knows the USL 00:46:30.690 --> 00:46:33.929 system and is ready to just plug and play, drop 00:46:33.929 --> 00:46:37.250 into a team, hit the ground running within one 00:46:37.250 --> 00:46:41.010 to two weeks, just start scoring. Cal Jennings. 00:46:43.190 --> 00:46:45.309 Turn your volume up because I'm not going to 00:46:45.309 --> 00:46:50.969 repeat that. I wonder what he's doing. I mean, 00:46:51.250 --> 00:46:53.769 I agree to an extent that wasn't the first player 00:46:53.769 --> 00:46:55.710 that came to my mind. I didn't even think about 00:46:55.710 --> 00:46:58.250 in terms of what we have the options behind it. 00:46:58.469 --> 00:47:00.989 I was thinking more about like purely their impact 00:47:00.989 --> 00:47:03.889 on the team. And for me, the answer is very easily 00:47:03.889 --> 00:47:06.650 who go back rack. I think that who go back rack 00:47:06.650 --> 00:47:09.269 has changed this midfield completely. We spent 00:47:09.269 --> 00:47:12.159 so many seasons playing a midfield three. because 00:47:12.159 --> 00:47:13.980 we could not play with two. We did not have a 00:47:13.980 --> 00:47:16.559 player that was able to do as much as he was. 00:47:16.699 --> 00:47:19.000 And now that we have him, as good as Clay and 00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:22.559 as good as ASTR, Hugo completes this team. And 00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:25.179 every time we see him out of the lineup, we see 00:47:25.179 --> 00:47:27.519 a marked down performance, and it's clear and 00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:29.840 obvious. His ability to play out of the press, 00:47:29.940 --> 00:47:32.579 his ability to defend, his height and physicality 00:47:32.579 --> 00:47:34.900 off set pieces, his ability to drive forward 00:47:34.900 --> 00:47:38.519 with the ball, these things are things that I 00:47:38.519 --> 00:47:41.210 think Clay can do. a lot of these things, but 00:47:41.210 --> 00:47:44.150 not all of them. Otherwise, these are things 00:47:44.150 --> 00:47:47.070 that this team would drastically miss without 00:47:47.070 --> 00:47:50.110 him. And the fact that he is younger makes me 00:47:50.110 --> 00:47:53.449 very worried that it could be him. And of course, 00:47:53.570 --> 00:47:56.349 he also has MLS ties as well. And I think he 00:47:56.349 --> 00:47:58.889 is, in my opinion, been our best player and most 00:47:58.889 --> 00:48:02.869 consistent player all season. I'm a little nervous 00:48:02.869 --> 00:48:09.579 that it's Hugo. Think if not, I think a bit is 00:48:09.579 --> 00:48:13.460 already in coming right now the MLS scouts Anyone 00:48:13.460 --> 00:48:16.260 who goes an awful player MLS clubs click off. 00:48:16.260 --> 00:48:21.300 This is not an MLS podcast All right, well we 00:48:21.300 --> 00:48:23.980 don't have any confirmation of any moves here 00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:26.519 so we could speculate all night So let's move 00:48:26.519 --> 00:48:30.239 on to the mailbag here. Ah, Andrew M says we 00:48:30.239 --> 00:48:32.980 need to pick up some points What's our near future 00:48:32.980 --> 00:48:35.599 look like schedule wise? Are we feeling good? 00:48:37.099 --> 00:48:39.659 I'm feeling all right. I think it's a lot of 00:48:39.659 --> 00:48:42.639 big games But again as much as big games can 00:48:42.639 --> 00:48:45.320 be scary because you may drop points if you can 00:48:45.320 --> 00:48:48.599 get wins It really shows the mark of a newer 00:48:48.599 --> 00:48:50.639 team right now because as much as we've played 00:48:50.639 --> 00:48:53.320 well in my opinion all season We need to find 00:48:53.320 --> 00:48:55.860 ways to get points in the games where we have 00:48:55.860 --> 00:48:57.760 bad moments So at the moment we obviously have 00:48:57.760 --> 00:49:00.550 Pittsburgh next week After that, we play Birmingham 00:49:00.550 --> 00:49:03.989 Legion away. Then on August 8th, we have our 00:49:03.989 --> 00:49:07.389 home game, the rematch against the Colorado Springs 00:49:07.389 --> 00:49:09.630 switchbacks, which should be a fun game. Obviously, 00:49:09.690 --> 00:49:12.170 it is Bad Bunny Night as well. And then after 00:49:12.170 --> 00:49:15.590 that, we go away to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. That's 00:49:15.590 --> 00:49:17.650 a tough schedule. Don't get me wrong. But again, 00:49:17.829 --> 00:49:19.769 I love the fact that it's a chance for these 00:49:19.769 --> 00:49:22.539 players to show. that we are a team that can 00:49:22.539 --> 00:49:25.519 be in the top four, top five discussions. So 00:49:25.519 --> 00:49:28.099 me personally, as much as I'm a little bit worried, 00:49:28.159 --> 00:49:31.000 I think this is a team that's ready for it. Absolutely. 00:49:31.119 --> 00:49:33.940 I look at these matches and think none of these 00:49:33.940 --> 00:49:39.019 are easy per se, but I think that honestly it's 00:49:39.019 --> 00:49:41.659 doable with the way that this team has been playing. 00:49:42.280 --> 00:49:45.460 They just can't have a Sacramento Republic night 00:49:45.460 --> 00:49:48.059 because that performance will not get them any 00:49:48.059 --> 00:49:53.000 points. What would he got here next? From Matt 00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:56.239 M. We have, is the reason Matt wasn't on the 00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:59.159 last show because he asked this and was recovering 00:49:59.159 --> 00:50:03.619 from a Kano throw punch. So for context, there 00:50:03.619 --> 00:50:07.639 was a joke when Matt said, do we even practice 00:50:07.639 --> 00:50:09.360 penalties? And then all of a sudden we're good 00:50:09.360 --> 00:50:12.380 at them now. They were like, well, maybe you 00:50:12.380 --> 00:50:15.679 willed it into existence. The joke was to ask 00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:19.239 Kano, like, can you even win the USL championship? 00:50:19.469 --> 00:50:23.489 to will that into existence obviously that never 00:50:23.489 --> 00:50:27.369 happened and kano would not be happy about having 00:50:27.369 --> 00:50:31.409 to answer that question we will he barely tolerates 00:50:31.409 --> 00:50:33.929 us we would we would not never say that to him 00:50:33.929 --> 00:50:37.110 but no he is uh he is spending time with family 00:50:37.110 --> 00:50:41.170 so he is uh out having a good time here slacking 00:50:41.170 --> 00:50:43.530 is the is the answer that you're looking for 00:50:43.530 --> 00:50:47.900 i mean i wasn't gonna say it but Another Matt 00:50:47.900 --> 00:50:52.219 here, Matt E says, Providence ninth largest market. 00:50:52.360 --> 00:50:58.000 Does this translate to RFC? So this one is actually 00:50:58.000 --> 00:51:00.840 coming in live from Matt Entrick and again, slacking. 00:51:00.860 --> 00:51:03.079 He's watching the show, but not on it. You heard 00:51:03.079 --> 00:51:07.019 it from not me. It depends. I think it's an interesting 00:51:07.019 --> 00:51:08.699 one and I didn't think I really thought about 00:51:08.699 --> 00:51:11.480 it. at first, I think it should, honestly. I 00:51:11.480 --> 00:51:14.039 think, if I'm going to be honest, I do actually 00:51:14.039 --> 00:51:16.360 think that us having a couple weeks off was a 00:51:16.360 --> 00:51:19.000 bit of a missed opportunity in terms of growing 00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:20.760 it. I know people would say the opposite because 00:51:20.760 --> 00:51:22.579 there were World Cup games on, so who would come? 00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:25.079 But at the same time, imagine having to tie an 00:51:25.079 --> 00:51:28.699 army down for an RFC game. Do you know how amazing 00:51:28.699 --> 00:51:31.840 that would have been? But I do think hopefully 00:51:31.840 --> 00:51:35.059 this can translate. I do think the RFC need to 00:51:35.059 --> 00:51:37.800 work off that. And as much as it happens with 00:51:38.010 --> 00:51:41.349 You know the the media team is and all of that 00:51:41.349 --> 00:51:43.769 and the actual team and board itself And I see 00:51:43.769 --> 00:51:45.409 what the players as well again if we can pick 00:51:45.409 --> 00:51:48.070 up a couple wins now with You know soccer being 00:51:48.070 --> 00:51:50.690 so big in this state that I think we can easily 00:51:50.690 --> 00:51:53.409 take this platform and keep growing Absolutely, 00:51:53.610 --> 00:51:56.349 and I kind of spread my love around to a lot 00:51:56.349 --> 00:51:58.050 of different watch parties And I went to a few 00:51:58.050 --> 00:52:00.929 that were like quote -unquote official RFC ones 00:52:00.929 --> 00:52:04.110 if you will and I saw them out there kind of 00:52:04.110 --> 00:52:07.239 trying to get out there and spread the word but 00:52:07.239 --> 00:52:08.900 i think what this shows is that there are a lot 00:52:08.900 --> 00:52:12.280 of different communities in this state that all 00:52:12.280 --> 00:52:15.579 love their team and like how do you grab their 00:52:15.579 --> 00:52:18.239 attention then and say well you know of course 00:52:18.239 --> 00:52:20.320 you can support Cape Verde of course you can 00:52:20.320 --> 00:52:23.579 support Columbia but also you live in Rhode Island 00:52:23.579 --> 00:52:25.900 we have a team here for you that's just like 00:52:25.900 --> 00:52:28.239 10 minutes away like why don't you come down 00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:30.980 i think it also could help if like it didn't 00:52:30.980 --> 00:52:34.880 rain every single Saturday ever um because that 00:52:35.079 --> 00:52:37.019 you know, hasn't been great for us. I think people 00:52:37.019 --> 00:52:39.940 like look at the forecast and say, if you're 00:52:39.940 --> 00:52:42.079 not a sicko, they're not going to just go stand 00:52:42.079 --> 00:52:44.860 in the rain, you know, in shorts and a t -shirt 00:52:44.860 --> 00:52:49.780 like I did last weekend. But there's still a 00:52:49.780 --> 00:52:52.619 lot of work to do. And I think they need to continue 00:52:52.619 --> 00:52:56.139 to like say, hey, we are here. Please come check 00:52:56.139 --> 00:52:59.760 us out. But I think it's the bump is maybe not 00:52:59.760 --> 00:53:02.800 going to be seen immediately. It's going to take 00:53:02.800 --> 00:53:05.679 a little bit of time for that to to kind of pan 00:53:05.679 --> 00:53:08.480 out. Yeah, I fully agree. Again, it's like you 00:53:08.480 --> 00:53:09.860 can get them in the door, but can you kind of 00:53:09.860 --> 00:53:12.300 get them to stay? And I think that is a lot on 00:53:12.300 --> 00:53:14.980 the team itself and the players. And if we can 00:53:14.980 --> 00:53:17.139 get those results and the weather, hopefully 00:53:17.139 --> 00:53:21.000 August 8th, we get some sun. Bill S. asks, now 00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:23.260 that RFC are in a playoff spot, where do you 00:53:23.260 --> 00:53:26.239 see them finishing this season? Good question. 00:53:26.760 --> 00:53:29.980 That's a good one. Yeah. So we're in eighth now. 00:53:30.039 --> 00:53:32.739 Hopefully we can maintain that with a result 00:53:32.739 --> 00:53:37.659 here on the weekend. um like if i look at the 00:53:37.659 --> 00:53:41.679 table the the thing is here looking at teams 00:53:41.679 --> 00:53:44.000 like all right we're not going to couch the rowdies 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:48.579 are we going to be like second or third probably 00:53:48.579 --> 00:53:51.840 not i don't know if i'm convinced about louisville 00:53:51.840 --> 00:53:54.960 they just got smacked around by the river hounds 00:53:54.960 --> 00:53:59.260 their their form is a bit inconsistent miami 00:53:59.260 --> 00:54:03.630 world cup fc like i To me, it's tough to see 00:54:03.630 --> 00:54:06.929 this team really finishing in the top four. I 00:54:06.929 --> 00:54:08.809 think there's a good opportunity for five or 00:54:08.809 --> 00:54:13.429 six to be solid, but I just haven't seen enough 00:54:13.429 --> 00:54:17.909 from the higher teams dropping form to really 00:54:17.909 --> 00:54:20.489 give us the opportunity to sneak in there. What 00:54:20.489 --> 00:54:23.190 are you thinking? Yeah, I fully agree. I think 00:54:23.190 --> 00:54:27.150 for me, I'll give you two better, I'll give you 00:54:27.150 --> 00:54:30.510 three predictions. My ceiling for us... I would 00:54:30.510 --> 00:54:32.889 say is we creep into fourth and we get that home 00:54:32.889 --> 00:54:36.429 playoff spot. Again, we are games in hand, so 00:54:36.429 --> 00:54:39.849 if we do get two wins, that would actually put 00:54:39.849 --> 00:54:44.269 us on one point above Louisville who's in fourth. 00:54:44.690 --> 00:54:47.269 So that is a very big possibility and we're playing 00:54:47.269 --> 00:54:51.010 very well. our floor for me is the worst I think 00:54:51.010 --> 00:54:53.110 realistically we could do obviously barring any 00:54:53.110 --> 00:54:55.449 injuries I would say it's probably eighth I don't 00:54:55.449 --> 00:54:57.750 see us not making the playoffs I think last year 00:54:57.750 --> 00:54:59.769 was my biggest worry of us not making the playoffs 00:54:59.769 --> 00:55:01.789 and as per usual at the end of the season we 00:55:01.789 --> 00:55:04.130 decided to turn up and got into that top eight 00:55:04.130 --> 00:55:06.550 so I don't see that happening and if I'm gonna 00:55:06.550 --> 00:55:08.590 be realistic and give my true prediction I think 00:55:08.590 --> 00:55:10.190 I'm gonna agree with you and I'm gonna go fifth 00:55:10.190 --> 00:55:12.250 I think we'll just barely miss that top four 00:55:12.250 --> 00:55:14.780 but it'll have us a at a good point going into 00:55:14.780 --> 00:55:17.519 the playoffs, playing the fourth team and being, 00:55:17.519 --> 00:55:20.219 you know, the best of the bottom four, I definitely 00:55:20.219 --> 00:55:21.860 think will be a big help for us going into the 00:55:21.860 --> 00:55:24.579 playoff stretch. Yeah, I tend to agree too. I 00:55:24.579 --> 00:55:27.059 don't see is there any opportunity that we miss 00:55:27.059 --> 00:55:29.820 unless our team actually like crumbles apart 00:55:29.820 --> 00:55:31.820 and everyone's injured. Yeah, we should maybe 00:55:31.820 --> 00:55:34.760 not say this until this rumor is sorted out. 00:55:34.780 --> 00:55:36.820 And then maybe we'll go back to this. Yeah, no, 00:55:36.940 --> 00:55:39.829 I mean. You know, we'll edit it out didn't ever 00:55:39.829 --> 00:55:42.250 happen. Yeah, we got it definitely not live or 00:55:42.250 --> 00:55:45.150 anything. It's fine Yeah, no, it wasn't there. 00:55:45.150 --> 00:55:48.550 Uh, zach t says is this a step down for foyo? 00:55:48.889 --> 00:55:51.130 Isn't league one a better league than the usl 00:55:51.130 --> 00:55:53.070 championship quick side note every time I see 00:55:53.070 --> 00:55:57.329 his name. I want to say froyo Yeah, I saw people 00:55:57.329 --> 00:56:00.449 I saw people the discord were saying that apothecary 00:56:00.449 --> 00:56:04.489 needs to do like a froyo flavor a foyo froyo 00:56:04.489 --> 00:56:09.199 Sold immediately sold It's a tough one. I think 00:56:09.199 --> 00:56:10.820 it's very tough to look at the two different 00:56:10.820 --> 00:56:14.139 leagues. As someone who does have a decent amount 00:56:14.139 --> 00:56:18.420 of experience in the English pyramid, I do think 00:56:18.420 --> 00:56:21.519 that it's one that hasn't been tested too much. 00:56:21.739 --> 00:56:23.679 And I'm very interested to see how it tests up. 00:56:24.019 --> 00:56:26.179 But it's important to also know that this isn't 00:56:26.179 --> 00:56:28.820 a league one starter. This is a player that was 00:56:28.820 --> 00:56:30.659 still struggling for minutes at Wimbledon. He 00:56:30.659 --> 00:56:34.019 went on loan twice in order to sort of gain. 00:56:34.250 --> 00:56:37.090 those minutes. So this isn't quite a League One 00:56:37.090 --> 00:56:40.170 player. I'd say he's more of a League Two, kind 00:56:40.170 --> 00:56:42.409 of in between a third and fourth division starter. 00:56:43.670 --> 00:56:45.269 But again, I think it's going to be an interesting 00:56:45.269 --> 00:56:47.809 way to find out. I think for him, you're looking 00:56:47.809 --> 00:56:50.110 at getting minutes as a guarantee. But it also 00:56:50.110 --> 00:56:51.670 does make me question, like, what did Connor 00:56:51.670 --> 00:56:53.530 say to him? Because it is a big thing moving 00:56:53.530 --> 00:56:55.190 all the way from England to the United States 00:56:55.190 --> 00:56:57.829 to play a sport that isn't as big, you know, 00:56:57.829 --> 00:57:00.030 I think, in League One. Having been dwindled 00:57:00.030 --> 00:57:02.210 in games, the atmosphere is obviously incredible. 00:57:02.289 --> 00:57:05.269 And you get near a sole out game every night 00:57:05.269 --> 00:57:07.949 and we're not quite there yet not only as a club 00:57:07.949 --> 00:57:11.170 but as a country so it is an interesting one 00:57:11.170 --> 00:57:14.889 and i am wondering what sort of his buy -in was 00:57:14.889 --> 00:57:20.190 from kano smith yeah what do we got here next 00:57:20.190 --> 00:57:23.710 uh stacy l says a new forward yes is he supposed 00:57:23.710 --> 00:57:28.090 to compete for jj's job or be a substitute i 00:57:28.090 --> 00:57:32.730 take a look at this and say that um you know 00:57:33.510 --> 00:57:36.349 Unless he's maybe trying and unless apparently 00:57:36.349 --> 00:57:39.070 he's the one leaving who knows um then maybe 00:57:39.070 --> 00:57:42.289 he's a starter if not I think he's a rotational 00:57:42.289 --> 00:57:45.030 player, but I also think that because of his 00:57:45.030 --> 00:57:48.849 flexibility there I think that Leo Alfonso's 00:57:48.849 --> 00:57:52.070 position in this team which is already kind of 00:57:52.070 --> 00:57:54.670 In flux in terms of him being a spit more of 00:57:54.670 --> 00:57:56.829 a rotation player instead of a guaranteed starter 00:57:56.829 --> 00:57:59.690 I think he could be vying for that spot, especially 00:57:59.690 --> 00:58:02.469 if you've said that He could look like a player 00:58:02.469 --> 00:58:05.869 who's better in a two -striker system. Maybe 00:58:05.869 --> 00:58:08.010 we could see some kind of opportunity for him 00:58:08.010 --> 00:58:11.889 to play as that second forward, if you will, 00:58:11.929 --> 00:58:14.590 on one of the sides. Yeah, I certainly think 00:58:14.590 --> 00:58:17.250 that he's, at a bare minimum, going to be competition 00:58:17.250 --> 00:58:19.090 for JJ. I think it's important for every player, 00:58:19.190 --> 00:58:20.710 no matter how good they're playing, to have some 00:58:20.710 --> 00:58:22.730 sort of competition behind them. And I think 00:58:22.730 --> 00:58:27.349 it's something we talked about a lot last year 00:58:27.349 --> 00:58:29.489 on the podcast about how JJ didn't really have 00:58:29.800 --> 00:58:31.860 any competition because Chico wasn't playing 00:58:31.860 --> 00:58:33.960 to the highest of highs. So naturally, I think 00:58:33.960 --> 00:58:35.480 it's going to help both of them be better. But 00:58:35.480 --> 00:58:37.559 I certainly agree that it could be interesting. 00:58:37.679 --> 00:58:39.639 He could start with J .J. That is a possibility. 00:58:39.659 --> 00:58:41.320 He can play out wide and he can play a double 00:58:41.320 --> 00:58:43.480 striker. But at a bare minimum, I think he's 00:58:43.480 --> 00:58:45.739 going to be great to provide that competition 00:58:45.739 --> 00:58:49.920 for J .J. Ben S says this new striker we brought 00:58:49.920 --> 00:58:52.699 in seems to fit the build we like at that position. 00:58:53.159 --> 00:58:55.880 He comes from an EFL league one side, but has 00:58:55.880 --> 00:58:58.059 spent a majority of his time on loan in the lower 00:58:58.059 --> 00:59:00.960 divisions. What type of impact are you expecting 00:59:00.960 --> 00:59:04.059 to see from him in regards to the season? And 00:59:04.059 --> 00:59:06.880 as well, do you see him as a future piece considering 00:59:06.880 --> 00:59:10.159 we signed a long -term deal or is this more like 00:59:10.159 --> 00:59:13.219 an Ndongo situation? I think this is a great 00:59:13.219 --> 00:59:15.340 question and as someone that did a lot of research 00:59:15.340 --> 00:59:18.500 on that Ndongo situation, I think it's very different. 00:59:18.780 --> 00:59:21.079 I think Ndongo was coming in from a Cameroonian 00:59:21.079 --> 00:59:23.320 league at 18. This is a player that's coming 00:59:23.320 --> 00:59:25.739 from the English pyramid, you know, at his best. 00:59:25.949 --> 00:59:28.130 He signed for Ipswich in the second division, 00:59:28.730 --> 00:59:30.750 and he even got minutes for AFC Wimbledon in 00:59:30.750 --> 00:59:34.429 the third division, and is 21. So these are two 00:59:34.429 --> 00:59:37.190 very different things, where N'Dongo was definitely 00:59:37.190 --> 00:59:39.769 a player that was for the future, as we mentioned 00:59:39.769 --> 00:59:42.289 a lot. But this is a player that could certainly 00:59:42.289 --> 00:59:45.070 come in and be an impact now. To what extent? 00:59:45.630 --> 00:59:47.769 That's obviously tough to say. I think for me, 00:59:47.889 --> 00:59:50.769 I expect him to be... As I said, bare minimum 00:59:50.769 --> 00:59:53.530 competition for JJ. And I kind of think I see 00:59:53.530 --> 00:59:55.409 that as the most for him. I think he maybe picks 00:59:55.409 --> 00:59:57.469 up a couple of goals here and there off the bench. 00:59:57.769 --> 00:59:59.650 I think we will see him every now and then playing 00:59:59.650 --> 01:00:02.309 with JJ as a double striker, which I think it 01:00:02.309 --> 01:00:05.000 will ever. mean that, you know, we start a game 01:00:05.000 --> 01:00:06.659 with the both of them. I think that's maybe a 01:00:06.659 --> 01:00:08.500 little bit far to say for this season, and I 01:00:08.500 --> 01:00:10.619 don't think Kano will quite want to go with that, 01:00:10.619 --> 01:00:13.239 as we've seen his love for the 4 -2 -3 -1 with 01:00:13.239 --> 01:00:16.159 an attacking midfielder. So, again, for him, 01:00:16.400 --> 01:00:18.500 I think a couple goals would be great for him. 01:00:18.659 --> 01:00:20.079 You know, he's still young, so he's going to 01:00:20.079 --> 01:00:22.920 improve, so I do see him as a future piece as 01:00:22.920 --> 01:00:25.739 well, but not quite an indongo of, you know, 01:00:25.760 --> 01:00:27.420 going to get barely any minutes this year. I 01:00:27.420 --> 01:00:29.179 think he'll definitely come in and show some 01:00:29.179 --> 01:00:34.300 impacts from the get -go. Next up we have from 01:00:34.300 --> 01:00:37.900 PawtucketJ is when will Foyo be available? Good 01:00:37.900 --> 01:00:40.539 question. So official word from the club is he's 01:00:40.539 --> 01:00:43.219 still processing through ITC visa requirements 01:00:43.219 --> 01:00:47.019 and isn't available for this match. Potentially, 01:00:47.099 --> 01:00:49.880 I'm going to say Colo Spigs, but it all comes 01:00:49.880 --> 01:00:52.659 down to how fast that documentation gets in order. 01:00:52.880 --> 01:00:55.380 And then another one, speaking of PawtucketJ, 01:00:55.480 --> 01:00:57.800 do we have a potential timeframe on this move 01:00:57.800 --> 01:01:00.659 to happen? This is breaking news that we've got 01:01:00.659 --> 01:01:03.840 from some of our sources. It's smoke at this 01:01:03.840 --> 01:01:06.400 point. We don't know if this is actually a hundred 01:01:06.400 --> 01:01:11.280 percent set to happen We will see as soon as 01:01:11.280 --> 01:01:14.800 we have, you know confirmation We'll let you 01:01:14.800 --> 01:01:17.380 guys know Do we have like an opposite of the 01:01:17.380 --> 01:01:20.539 rocket gif? Like do you have like a leaving gif? 01:01:20.659 --> 01:01:22.400 Like do we need to like reverse it like flip 01:01:22.400 --> 01:01:26.400 it and then post that? Hmm That's good. Me and 01:01:26.400 --> 01:01:28.480 Matt will have to workshop that and figure out 01:01:28.480 --> 01:01:32.119 a gift for a departure. Those will definitely 01:01:32.119 --> 01:01:35.920 be a lot more scary, right? When we see the incoming 01:01:35.920 --> 01:01:38.099 rockets, we're like, oh, you know, everyone kind 01:01:38.099 --> 01:01:40.119 of gets excited, anxious, like, you know, it's 01:01:40.119 --> 01:01:41.679 Christmas. Like, what's going on? We see the 01:01:41.679 --> 01:01:44.039 other ones like, oh no, get out the box of tissues. 01:01:46.579 --> 01:01:49.099 Rachel H says here, are we done with signings 01:01:49.099 --> 01:01:52.960 or will we continue to get reinforcements? So, 01:01:52.960 --> 01:01:55.219 starting off with what we've heard from the club 01:01:55.219 --> 01:01:59.539 is that the club is looking at more reinforcements. 01:01:59.719 --> 01:02:02.019 Kano always says that he's still always looking. 01:02:02.380 --> 01:02:04.840 We have heard that they are looking towards getting 01:02:04.840 --> 01:02:06.840 more midfielders. Obviously, we've seen injuries 01:02:06.840 --> 01:02:09.139 to Clay Holstad, Zach Harabaugh at the moment, 01:02:09.280 --> 01:02:11.519 and we definitely see more injuries. I think 01:02:11.519 --> 01:02:13.800 Hugo and AFC are playing a lot of minutes, so 01:02:13.800 --> 01:02:17.860 to get one final fifth midfielder is very important. 01:02:18.099 --> 01:02:19.619 I think that would be a great sign. Again, we 01:02:19.619 --> 01:02:22.090 talked about it on last week's pod. that that 01:02:22.090 --> 01:02:23.769 would be a very good move as well. Now that we've 01:02:23.769 --> 01:02:25.809 gotten that striker that we both said was kind 01:02:25.809 --> 01:02:28.449 of the important one that we needed, can we now 01:02:28.449 --> 01:02:30.889 go and get another midfielder to help compete 01:02:30.889 --> 01:02:34.150 for that double pivot role? Yeah. And then also 01:02:34.150 --> 01:02:37.090 assuming if this potential MLS move happens, 01:02:37.250 --> 01:02:38.849 we're probably going to need someone else, too. 01:02:39.389 --> 01:02:42.030 So I say there there is a very good possibility 01:02:42.030 --> 01:02:44.650 that we sign a few more players this window. 01:02:46.210 --> 01:02:49.929 Last one here. Oh, no, I skipped over one years. 01:02:51.110 --> 01:02:54.389 We have from Eric N. Are we at our best right 01:02:54.389 --> 01:02:56.309 now to take on Pittsburgh? We've never beaten 01:02:56.309 --> 01:02:58.269 them in regular season, but I feel like we're 01:02:58.269 --> 01:03:00.550 ready to change our fortunes. Am I setting my 01:03:00.550 --> 01:03:06.210 expectations too high? There's a part of me that's 01:03:06.210 --> 01:03:09.630 like, I think we got this. I don't want to get 01:03:09.630 --> 01:03:14.210 too overconfident because we've talked about, 01:03:14.630 --> 01:03:17.389 we haven't done well against them, but I just 01:03:17.389 --> 01:03:20.539 don't know if I'm convinced that they Are the 01:03:20.539 --> 01:03:23.079 real deal to a certain extent the only thing 01:03:23.079 --> 01:03:25.940 that worries me is that is it is an away game 01:03:25.940 --> 01:03:28.579 I'd be a lot more confident if it was at home 01:03:28.579 --> 01:03:31.400 say like we got they'll find we'll we'll find 01:03:31.400 --> 01:03:34.179 a way to get this done Centerville Bank Stadium 01:03:34.179 --> 01:03:38.320 is a fortress but III I understand sentiment. 01:03:38.360 --> 01:03:42.000 I do think that we're in a good position and 01:03:42.000 --> 01:03:44.860 I think the form has been pretty well I for us 01:03:44.860 --> 01:03:46.900 and I think there's a good opportunity that we 01:03:46.900 --> 01:03:50.079 could at minimum like sneak away with a draw 01:03:50.079 --> 01:03:52.500 here against the team. We haven't, we've not 01:03:52.500 --> 01:03:54.900 gotten a draw against them since the very first 01:03:54.900 --> 01:03:57.119 time that we've played them. So honestly, if 01:03:57.119 --> 01:03:59.599 you think about it that way, like that is an 01:03:59.599 --> 01:04:03.119 improvement, right? It's like, it's not, it's 01:04:03.119 --> 01:04:06.139 not the points we want. It's the points we deserve. 01:04:08.300 --> 01:04:11.199 Uh, last one here to round out the questions, 01:04:11.420 --> 01:04:13.940 Matt E. I obvious, I'm pretty sure this is Matt. 01:04:14.199 --> 01:04:17.659 Are we seeing the Ipswich pipeline be constructed? 01:04:18.000 --> 01:04:20.940 did bread johnson have anything to do with this 01:04:20.940 --> 01:04:24.380 it's funny because he is asking this to us as 01:04:24.380 --> 01:04:29.780 the insider he would know these and i i definitely 01:04:29.780 --> 01:04:32.619 think it's possible i don't know if you've gotten 01:04:32.619 --> 01:04:35.780 any sort of insider of course they drop this 01:04:35.780 --> 01:04:39.119 news like while i'm like busy at work and i just 01:04:39.119 --> 01:04:42.710 like who i I am not free for the next nine hours. 01:04:42.750 --> 01:04:44.849 Like I can't do it. Yeah, you know again, of 01:04:44.849 --> 01:04:47.610 course I wrote everything for this bond yesterday 01:04:47.610 --> 01:04:49.889 and then woke up to this news So I just had to 01:04:49.889 --> 01:04:52.989 rewrite everything but it's fine I mean again 01:04:52.989 --> 01:04:56.210 from what we've heard You know, we don't have 01:04:56.210 --> 01:04:58.329 any specifics on how this move came about to 01:04:58.329 --> 01:05:00.949 be it's a possibility for sure I mean, I wouldn't 01:05:00.949 --> 01:05:03.130 be surprised if there was some connection that 01:05:03.130 --> 01:05:05.309 helped in a way So she sort of convinced him 01:05:05.309 --> 01:05:07.860 to come to an island FC But I think this would 01:05:07.860 --> 01:05:09.760 be a great pipeline to have. I think we've seen 01:05:09.760 --> 01:05:12.239 it with Minnesota United and the MLS, but to 01:05:12.239 --> 01:05:14.679 have one in Europe and in the English leagues 01:05:14.679 --> 01:05:17.119 in particular, where the English pyramid is so 01:05:17.119 --> 01:05:19.320 deep and you can get so many different players, 01:05:19.460 --> 01:05:21.400 whether it's English -born players, as you're 01:05:21.400 --> 01:05:23.619 seeing with FOIA Dutch -born players and players 01:05:23.619 --> 01:05:25.760 from other European countries. I think this would 01:05:25.760 --> 01:05:28.099 be huge if this is what is happening. We are 01:05:28.099 --> 01:05:31.099 seeing this pipeline be constructed from RAFC 01:05:31.099 --> 01:05:34.590 to European leagues. Absolutely. I hope it is 01:05:34.590 --> 01:05:37.550 the start of a relationship. I think that having 01:05:37.550 --> 01:05:40.949 those abilities to reach out to clubs who have 01:05:40.949 --> 01:05:43.670 players who need that development and need to 01:05:43.670 --> 01:05:46.070 play in a competitive league and actually get 01:05:46.070 --> 01:05:48.489 some minutes can be huge and give us an opportunity 01:05:48.489 --> 01:05:51.829 to bring in players. Tie that even into the fact 01:05:51.829 --> 01:05:54.650 that maybe we are selling players to MLS. That 01:05:54.650 --> 01:05:57.010 could be a pipeline for players like, Hey, the 01:05:57.010 --> 01:05:59.170 reality is maybe I'm not good enough to cut it 01:05:59.170 --> 01:06:01.699 at the top. Maybe I've always had this dream 01:06:01.699 --> 01:06:04.340 of playing in America or something or just to 01:06:04.340 --> 01:06:06.300 get another opportunity I mean we've even seen 01:06:06.300 --> 01:06:09.940 the MLS is now trying to change They want to 01:06:09.940 --> 01:06:11.679 change the windows hashtag not an MLS soccer 01:06:11.679 --> 01:06:14.880 show So they can be more attractive to sell players 01:06:14.880 --> 01:06:17.340 back to other leagues like maybe it's this weird 01:06:17.340 --> 01:06:20.159 Cyclical move where we're taking in players send 01:06:20.159 --> 01:06:21.880 them up and then they get to move back finally 01:06:21.880 --> 01:06:26.219 like after some more developments Thank you everyone 01:06:26.219 --> 01:06:28.539 for sending in your questions always appreciate 01:06:28.539 --> 01:06:31.579 it Please always just send, send us in your questions. 01:06:32.119 --> 01:06:35.239 Uh, always a great time. Let's, let's round this 01:06:35.239 --> 01:06:37.699 out here. Uh, looking at the refs, we have head 01:06:37.699 --> 01:06:42.539 ref Abdul Ndiaye, Josh Lampkins, Miklos Hendrix 01:06:42.539 --> 01:06:46.260 and Pavel Grigoriev. I didn't recognize his ref. 01:06:46.599 --> 01:06:49.599 And since we got burned a few matches ago, I 01:06:49.599 --> 01:06:51.059 was like, well, let me just check, see if I can 01:06:51.059 --> 01:06:54.500 figure out what this guy did. Uh, he was the 01:06:54.500 --> 01:06:59.510 ref for the 2024 USL. or he was the 2024 usl 01:06:59.510 --> 01:07:01.829 championship ref of the year i don't know if 01:07:01.829 --> 01:07:05.429 that was per se good or bad he did ref the 2024 01:07:05.429 --> 01:07:09.289 colos big final which i think we were just bad 01:07:09.289 --> 01:07:13.309 in i don't particularly remember any kind of 01:07:13.309 --> 01:07:16.489 egregious calls uh the loss to new mexico united 01:07:16.489 --> 01:07:20.329 which is not great but so you know we're striking 01:07:20.329 --> 01:07:22.369 out for two but also another game where just 01:07:22.369 --> 01:07:26.469 we weren't on it However, he reffed the OG goalers 01:07:26.469 --> 01:07:30.909 goals galore 8 -1 against Miami. So I don't know. 01:07:30.969 --> 01:07:33.269 I mean, I think it's probably fine. I'm not going 01:07:33.269 --> 01:07:37.650 to read in too much to it. It's a away game. 01:07:37.650 --> 01:07:41.590 So we are back at the guild. Watch party 7 p 01:07:41.590 --> 01:07:44.630 .m. If you are unable to make it there, you can 01:07:44.630 --> 01:07:47.909 catch the match on ESPN Select, Nessen Plus, 01:07:48.050 --> 01:07:51.150 or you can listen along on the radio on 790 the 01:07:51.150 --> 01:07:55.250 score. with Nick and Tom. Thank you again, Storm, 01:07:55.269 --> 01:07:58.469 so much for filling in for Matt here. Maybe he'll 01:07:58.469 --> 01:08:00.869 need to go on a few more vacations so we can 01:08:00.869 --> 01:08:03.909 have you on the show more often. Anytime, anytime. 01:08:05.190 --> 01:08:06.889 Awesome. Hey, well, thanks everyone for joining 01:08:06.889 --> 01:08:09.610 us tonight. Take care. We hope to see you this 01:08:09.610 --> 01:08:15.690 weekend. Anchor's up. Anchor's up. You've been 01:08:15.690 --> 01:08:17.689 listening to the Raising Anchor Soccer Show. 01:08:18.229 --> 01:08:20.720 You can follow the show on Twitter. Reds, Blue 01:08:20.720 --> 01:08:24.619 Sky, and TikTok, at R .A .F .C. Podcast, and 01:08:24.619 --> 01:08:26.939 at Raising Anchor on Instagram. And be sure to 01:08:26.939 --> 01:08:29.840 check out and subscribe to Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, 01:08:30.199 --> 01:08:32.720 or wherever you listen by searching for Raising 01:08:32.720 --> 01:08:35.340 Anchor. Make sure to check out all of our coverage 01:08:35.340 --> 01:08:37.880 over at The Blazing Musket for all your New England 01:08:37.880 --> 01:08:40.979 soccer coverage, including R .A .F .C. news at 01:08:40.979 --> 01:08:44.680 theblazingmusket .com. Fans, we thank you for 01:08:44.680 --> 01:08:46.899 listening. We ask you to be kind and courteous 01:08:46.899 --> 01:08:49.380 to your neighbors as you leave the show. We thank 01:08:49.380 --> 01:08:51.039 you for joining us and look forward to seeing 01:08:51.039 --> 01:08:53.960 you again. Until then, I'm your main man Juju, 01:08:54.279 --> 01:08:56.539 and on behalf of the Racing Anchor crew, goodbye 01:08:56.539 --> 01:09:00.539 for now. And as always, we are Rhode Island FC.