ALEXEY MIRANCHUK - WHO IS THE NEW ATL UTD #10? + MUST WIN VS SANTOS LAGUNA | FIVE STRIPE WEEKLY #325

welcome to P weekly the new DP is here and it's a must-win over the weekend in the leagues cup we get into all that more coming up before we get into it become part of the notification Squad by hitting the Bell next to the Subscribe button on YouTube Welcome to the show 5 famam I'm AJ and this is Michael and ANL United unfortunately lost the penalty shootout to DC United in the leagues cup we will review that briefly uh coming up very very soon uh but before all that let's give some massive shout outs to our loyal patreon members uh and specifically Gavin Jordan Nile Andrew and Chris you guys are legends as always but yes let's get into the match review so yes the 2024 leagues cup has commenced uh yeah get your uh predictions uh well we already did the predictions in the Discord but uh definitely in terms of all that if you are doing well let us know in those uh comments below but yes uh last Friday at the Benz uh yeah we saw a Helter Skelter match man it was absolutely nuts uh six goals uh a goal in the fourth minutes uh penalty shootout I mean it's just uh for the neutral it had everything if if you uh you know if you're an ATL United fan or a DC United fan I'm sure you were cursing your United's but yeah the uh you know uh the let's just start with it the the Gaff is just terrible and Josh Cohen started uh it was yeah I mean I think we're seeing some frailties in uh in his game maybe it's some nervousness maybe it's a little bit of him wanting to prove prove himself uh a little bit or maybe not prove himself because uh with his play I almost thought that he should have been taken off in the first half because that was a pretty horrendous uh half from him he definitely uh salvaged it a little bit with the save at the end of the half but the fourth minute Gaff with the clearance or failed clearance more so with his right foot it seems like it's uh his right foot is just a you know right right Peg only standing only it's and then uh having that uh that ball come back to him and not really be able to uh you know collect it and then yes you know the one person you don't want to score Christian bent he uh you know he gets a two touches and an open net it's just is there like a a term for that when the goalie or the guy just like kicks it over the the the goalie or the defender and then puts it in is that I remember um Ral Ru Diaz did a spectacular one to Brad guzan some years ago that everyone was you know over miles Robinson yeah little little Rainbow uh it wasn't quite a little Rainbow flick or anything a sombrero or something I I don't someone said something like that I don't know yeah either way uh it it was egregious and uh yeah kind of just started this whole train of nervin in the first half sure what is what is Cohen doing playing so Cavalier like that yeah he could even C this is a tournament game this is a big this is your shot you knew this was going to be your shot going into the season along with open cup and to play like that I don't know that doesn't seem to be the way to go but yeah it is what it is exactly but uh yeah cuz coming in we were you know maybe not brimming full of confidence but there was a little bit of confidence after beating Columbus Crew at home so yeah the very fact that it really did not look too promising from the first opening minutes oo yeah and then uh you know another uh another moment where they hit the the crossbar uh it's just uh the first half we were extremely lucky not to be down more somehow but uh yeah I mean uh we were able to equalize Brooks linen was able to whip in across to Daniel Rios at the back post and uh we were at least able to not make it super ugly but things definitely weren't exactly going to plan but uh yeah we we definitely uh it could have looked a lot worse I mean honestly the three goals it was uh actually it it flattered them a little bit but uh yeah uh should have had two goals we gifted them two goals and we absolutely did give them two goals and uh yeah you know they hit the uh the crossbar as well and and yeah I mean you know the the matter of it is uh yeah another just errant play by La United uh you know we have essentially a uh a ball in over the top and Lennon is trying to clear it but he heads it backwards right into the path uh yeah and yeah shoud he was able to just uh you know run it down and squeeze it in into the near poost past Josh Cohen and really a tame shot it's really it just exemplifies that man like Cohen had a really really poor half uh but uh yeah and stoud it's the Stroud show uh it's yeah he gets a brace and you know it's a guy takes it off of a like a a half volley like it's an hour R sh it's an outside of the box too like damn okay we we'll see if he does it again in like I don't know I'll give him three years to try and do it again and he probably won't right I mean cuz it's hit sweet and you know honestly it's uh it's something that this one Cohen couldn't do anything about so that at the very very most uh it's yeah it's just a dagger uh to a degree but so we thought a lot of people in the you know maybe watching they're like oh boy yeah are these the floodgates fortunately it wasn't somehow and yeah I mean you know it's uh it's 3-1 but uh yeah Valentino uh Rob Valentino the interm head coach he he was after the match he was saying he was really angry really angry that they were uh that they were down in that situation inexcusable there's no reason to be in a position like that is what he said and uh yeah it's basically he say scoring goals is great it's awesome but we have to go and work we shouldn't have to do that and yeah I mean we did some work to get back into this game that's for damn sure but um yeah it is uh yeah pretty much where uh you know the in terms of uh yeah our uh our second goal uh I mean it's it's something where we had to work for it we really had to work for it but uh cuz we had two uh penalties but the the second one yes sabalun is uh yeah just Upper 90 top bends it's sweet it is a sweet yeah he he was like okay Strat I'll see I I'll raise you one a little bit but uh even though his shot was a little closer and it wasn't a half volly but it was just as good so exactly you know him him channeling his you know inter Miami form uh and just putting that in top that was awesome seeing that and then boy did that fire us up a bit it did and uh yeah you know for Saba who switched over to the left wing a little bit uh Silva little less effective in this match and it seemed like Saba was really more of the the guy that uh was going to make things happen and that he did and yeah I mean it's uh it's one of those now the the two penalties uh that well the first one yeah it's it's something that V had to look at for a long while long long booze from the crowd to hurry things up and surprise surprise BTO steps up to the Penalty spot and yeah he struck It Low it was just telegraphed it was a little too easy uh not the worst hit penalty just telegraphed a little too easy and yeah if you're going to Telegraph it that hard it can't be that you know basic of a shot you have to really put it where you where they can't get to it but it was just too easy and like you said telegraphed it made it even easier right and you know a lot of people are wondering why SCH and and the only thing that I can think of when your defensive midfielder is the first one uh to take the penalty is that they practice penalties in training and he won out and he was the best one of uh you know the day that they took penalties and that is surprising because that is I mean it's not it wasn't super surprising to me uh because I saw you know in the open cup he slotted his home really nicely so he's got it it's there and you know you see it he scored that one goal uh against I think Nashville from like long distance at one time like he he can definitely do it it's just evidently now when the pressure is on you know not on the practice pitch anymore he wasn't really able to do I mean you saw with the first one and then when we get to the second one of the penalty kicks it's literally almost the same thing right and almost it's a little bit more Central we'll get to that of course but uh yeah so we get the other penalty kick and Daniel Rios uh he steps up this time and uh yeah he was able to level the match at 33 81st minute to lock up a a brace for the night but yeah that sent us to penalties and yeah it was uh unfortunate that Rios he had to be subbed off due to cramping so he was unable to take a penalty kick and it was definitely perplexing when uh you no no uh no talk about why he was taken off obviously we're in the uh you know if I'm at the stadium there no one's really saying anything about that uh you know it took basically you know kind of after the match to know okay he did did get subed off due to a little bit of an injury but man I would have maybe even just on one leg okay Rios take take a penalty man like you know even if you have to pretty much just be a spectator for the last couple minutes I think I would have taken it cuz uh but it is what it is uh yeah you know uh La United it seems interesting because we were we took uh the penalties on the supporter section side so one would behoove to think that we won the coin toss and so we us going first or us uh okay DC United going first is actually surprising because I think you know the maybe maybe the uh the wisdom says yes of course you want to you want it on your supporter section side and also you want to set the pace so you want to take it because there's more pressure taking a second usually that's at least kind of my my understanding of uh of penalties and uh you know if you are in the coin toss that's what you want that's those are the things you go for but instead we take him second and yeah by my God we had the pressure and it was uh I think it it showed because uh yeah it came to the you know another penalty that came down to SCH but um yeah Cohen was able to save the first penalty kick by DC you know so uh yeah he guessed the right way or whatever I mean I I to to a degree it was a the tactic kind of paid off in that you know get them to shoot first get them kind of unsettled by being looking down at you know looking straight down the the barrel at the supporter section and it maybe it got to him maybe it you know flustered him so you know and that's one of their more you know Precision oriented kinds of Strikers so uh or attackers so I feel like you know that was a really good sign going into the penalty kick that they lost they missed their first one and one of their better kickers I was like okay we got a shot here DC is kind of kind of selling it kind of sending it but you know they just they just like you know what we're just not going to miss again no more missing no more missing and unfortunately yeah Brooks lenon who's uh looked nervous in front of uh in front of go you know for any of the penalties pretty much uh should honestly not be taking one and it's just uh you missed it in open cup you missed it here like at this point um I have no one's going to have faith in you taking another penalty right and he I believe missed it in his previous leagues cup as well might have to fact check me there but um yeah it just was not convincing uh he also telegraphed his and yeah I mean uh it's just it came all the way down to SCH at the end and yeah he's getting reamed for this uh you know by several not several but a large uh part of the fan base and it it's tough because yeah you know he already he already missed that uh one in the game he was the seventh one to take it I believe and so I think so you know with the the seventh person it's not like he was you know a person that was just uh raring to to take another one uh it came down to him The Bravery was there I think to take it uh and for that too Lennon I appreciate the the courage in stepping up to take it but why do you think he's seventh if we run with the assumption that he did the best in penalty kick training yeah I think or did they just change it at the end of the game yeah I think they they changed it because well he missed one so maybe you know maybe he's not going to the back of the line but it is where maybe he lost a little bit of confidence there and and that could that could very well be the back of the line you know maybe could be may not have gotten to seven so it's like think he may not have had to do it and that's your quote unquote best penalty taker according to the theory that we're running with so I don't know it just seems weird to me right and you know it's uh It's just tough uh you know either way on uh on this player who uh yeah I think besides besides the penalties like I said this in the the live stream I think he had a decent match not the best match but I think he had a decent match and our Midfield did they got they they they they kind of abdicated uh any kind of positional domination on the Midfield it was not very good in terms of holding it down there um both of our guys Tristan and siss on uh sofa score they're they're they were the lowest on our team in terms of their scores it was uh it's a it was you know they could have they I've said this before I'll say it again when Tristan is on a heater when he's feeling it we do well but when he doesn't like that game it it brings the whole team down yeah and it's that it's uh I think part of that is maybe I don't know if's rating gets affected by the penalties so no idea but I would imagine it does but I mean still it's it was very low yeah and then you know with mua I think there is something to it where you know kind of Bright Lights there are some of these uh these moments sometimes I think where uh you know in these uh kind of more pressurized situations I'm not sure like uh you know maybe it's it's not in his uh quite DNA per se uh but who knows uh you know it's it's really it's been hasn't really been tested at that level you know right so you know it's unfortunate hopefully he can uh you know turn around in some of these other performances and we need it we need him too but he's only what like 20 24 is he yeah something like that 25 uh let me so like he has time to grow in experience and to be able to better handle high pressure situations the more he runs into them so hopefully the next time he's in a situation like that you know he'll have learned from from it has uh grown a bit of a you know tougher skin right 27 but yeah either way still in his prime but uh yeah 27 yeah okay that's a little bit more than I thought all right right by the way he should be there by now right right and it's this uh yeah so you know La United like rxg was 2.5 DCS was 2.2 I mean I think it it pretty much yeah it showed that yes this was a uh I think a worthy score line at the end of the day where uh yes 33 after uh you know regulation but definitely I think for uh penalty shootouts whatever it is at the Benz we just are dire we just cannot win them and yeah I mean maybe it's a little bit where yeah like the the atmosphere maybe we need to figure it out a little bit too uh it's not completely just on the players I feel like uh if we it's something like I noticed we were we were making a quite a bit of noise for our penalties and uh yeah you know maybe not enough noise for DC when they were shooting and you know putting them off essentially like when it's essentially for La United they don't need any sound they pretty much it's quiet and I think that's where it's you know beneficial for our players and then you know of course rockus cheer and you know drums everything horns everything uh when we score so it's uh it also sucks that just the our opponents for whatever reason they do very well they don't really miss a lot when it comes to penalty kicks against us um so I mean you know they they see the environment they see what's going on they see the stakes they step up they go okay I need to slot this home yeah and they do um they only missed one and before I forget how many uh the Machina missed in the previous one against us but um you know they they scored enough to get by us and you know in other games teams don't seem to be super rattled they don't seem to be intimidated I mean maybe their first shooter was a bit but they got their stuff back in line real quick after that so yeah it's just unfortunate that it seems like we're the team more so that gets rattled in our own home when it comes to the pressure of penalty kicks right and it's something that like uh England if uh anybody watched the Euros uh you know there was the penalty shootout that England uh kind of took part in where uh it's little things like this where uh you know just the shoulder theh shoulder uh that you know teams often do where uh you know you know it's almost like this impenetrable wall that you have to like return to sometimes and if you miss one well it's you know extremely tough on your psyche uh to go back to that instead of yeah what they did which was a little bit of having a Buddy Walk you to the Penalty spot and in that it's a little bit more psychologically more like hey you know you have somebody on your side and especially if you have somebody you know a goalkeeper that houses very well can distract you which is also I think something that we need to maybe have uh with either goo or Cohen is uh take a book out of Emmy Emmy Martinez debu you know like what he's able to do would just put off the penalty Taker and yeah whether it's you know taking the ball a little bit you know uh really just distracting uh you know the penalty taker where uh you know you try to intimidate them uh really celebrate like rock asly and garishly if you you know save something uh just various things that can put off the other team I'm all for it like we need any sort of housy because we are anemic at these and so we need to figure it out because there might be another one there might be another one on Sunday so uh but anyway so you're saying you're saying we should have uh Josh coner bragan whoever's in golf for it uh do the dances that uh the T Grace goalie was known for doing right uh was it griman he's he's known for uh doing like popping and locking in the uh in between the post exactly I mean I don't know if uh Cohen has that kind of bravado it doesn't seem so not yeah I mean grima had like a mohawk at one point I don't see Cohen having a mohawk like I just don't see the personality lining up but you know hey you got to figure out you got to figure out your yes silly dance to throw people up you know exactly I I I feel like Cohen's maybe more of a worm type of guy and if you got to do that well then hey man you know get some uh get some rubber uh you know kind of uh dirt on you and you know just move on and uh put off the other team whatever it takes guys because yeah I want to see us win a penalty shootout at the Benz for bleep sake JZ against against up a position that's at our level or higher not yeah against USL teams who we absolutely should be being and honestly should never have been in a penalty should have to begin with because we should have just beat them right out but you know that wasn't at the Benz though so but anyway yeah right it's true we were able to win that one but yeah anyway uh so uh I think the the positive that came out of this match was that uh the uh the team definitely went to console s they were quick to uh you know kind of protect their own and that's really great to see uh yeah I mean it's just something that yeah hopefully he can recover from quickly uh there's a lot of people that were hopefully yeah there was a lot of people that were like SLE out after this and it's just that's a bit silly I mean he he just came in he he needs the support if anything and uh I think he's shown some very good glimpses that he can be a good player for us but yeah uh I mean I remember Tyler Pilgrim was saying how he's taking it really hard I remember we saw him after the game in the locker room I think probably and he uh he said yeah he's taking it really hard so that's that's of course it's rough of course it's rough so hopefully he like you said he can get back up on his feet but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him like a game or so to get back on because that that is rough right if we don't have a team therapist we absolutely should hire one uh like believe we do yeah and it's one of those uh yeah hopefully he gets into that uh ASAP because if it were me man I'd be I'd go straight straight to the uh the therapist because I know I'd be talking myself for some time so yeah get The Yips out of you early exactly but uh yeah so uh also Doug Roberson he mentioned that uh SCH um he did talk to the media after and answered a couple questions and he didn't have to and I think that's huge that's a that's that's a shine sign of good character from SCH as well that he's accountable and yeah exact definitely wants to uh you know show up for the team I think uh you know that's that's a big big thing so uh hopefully he can recover very very soon but um yeah so final thoughts on that match yeah it's I it's like what uh same same kind of song that we you know we danced to last League's cup that was that was not great um this cup is possibility of things turning around against our next match that we preview but this was not the way to set yourself up DC I mean now that I've seen kind of what Santos is I and like they are definitely the the weak uh member of this group but DC at the beginning is I thought was definitely getable um I mean we've beaten them before this season yes they beat us but we also beat them so we could absolutely do it it's just like kind of how I've been saying a lot of the season it's what Elan United shows up you know is it the one where Tristan just isn't really get in his head on straight is the one where our our we just can't get any service to our attackers and then if their attackers do get anything they they just they goof everything up um like is it going to be one of those games where just we can't buy a goal no matter what we do um or is it a game where the other team just gets super lucky turns out it was kind of like that mhm yeah and this was a a winnable match now the next match is a must win so it's definitely going to be all for for you know having to pretty much get past uh Santos Laguna but uh let's get into the news so congratulations to sabalan on his newborn Alesia uh yeah he and his wife uh yeah just gave birth and yes uh so you know major major congratulations to them uh he did a celebration for her obviously uh with the a celebration for the second goal for Allen United and uh yeah next bit of news Allen United announced that they acquired a 2024 International spot from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for $100,000 in 2025 gam so uh some gam from next year uh and immediately used it uh for the incoming player in Alexi miranchuk and so the long Saga is finally over Ellen United have signed Miran truck to a contract through the 2027 MLS season with an option for the 2028 season and he is signed as a DP he will have to uh get a Visa uh but the reports were that it was in the region of a 13 million fee one of the most expensive in league history uh just for reference uh we have probably like four of the five most expensive uh transfers in we do in league history but uh yeah as well uh yeah uh Roberson of AJC he did mention that uh yeah the Visa process has started and it could take as few as two weeks but can take maybe three weeks so uh yeah if we're expecting maybe him to play a part in League's cup I would say probably unlikely unless we can really really go far but uh yeah he did uh Roberson also mentioned that it's about the government scheduling not the attorneys working on it so but uh yeah K banega he uh mentioned that uh yeah he's very excited to sign a player of Alexis's quality uh he says he's an attacking player who's an excellent chance Creator capable of scoring goals and over the last four years he's been a consistent player in the seti and has more than 40 combined appearances in in the Champions League Europa League and also helped Atlanta win the Europa League title in 2023 2024 so uh yeah he also mentioned that uh yeah it did seem like Miran truck uh was very stoked to come here uh and a large part of that could be because of the hip-hop scene in Atlanta so love that that's uh you know if that was actually true and which sounds like like pretty unique story so I would tend to more believe that uh then you know it's the Atlanta culture just uh influencing everything so fantastic but you know of course there was that uh that story as well I forget exactly from who now but uh saying that you know when the move was stalling a little bit that Mir truck was maybe a little apprehensive to come here and you know if that's actually true or not who actually knows but uh yeah maybe that uh that story about The Hip Hop was maybe said to kind of mitigate a little bit of the uh the concerns that he wasn't you know absolutely stoked uh cuz yeah I mean you know as far as El United and kind of posting a little bit about the quality quote unquote about Miran Chuck uh they did post something today uh we're posting recording this on a Wednesday uh for all uh transparency but uh they said the top 10 Wingers in expected gold contributions in the top five leagues in 2023 2024 minimum of a th000 minutes played uh they said Kevin De bruyne at Manchester city is first with uh a goal contribution uh per 90 of uh 0.82 Muhammad Salah at Liverpool obviously uh at 78 uh and and lay San of Bayern Munich at 77 and then Alexi miranchuk right after that at7 uh rounding it out Thomas mher Rafia at uh Barcelona Brennan Johnson at Tottenham Usman Deele at PSG Fon Torres at Barcelona and Jiao Felix at uh at Barcelona as well Barcelona yeah just uh all over that but uh it's also Wingers yeah exactly but yeah very odd list because not much uh by way of Wingers except for maybe uh I would say five or six of these because Mir Chuck not necessarily known as a Winger per se he has played there well he played there two times last season uh more so played in the middle uh so you know a little bit oddd but he did play uh Center forward as well he is a 6ot tall player but uh you know the type of player he is is also yeah uh you know just the quality on the ball he plays probably a lot shorter than he actually looks um you know it's he looks like a lanky type of guy but you know his left foot is a wand it uh will be interesting to see how well he can press how well he can uh you know kind of last a full 90 as well as uh you know he did come off the bench for Atalanta a lot and so you know while he is an elite chance Creator it is definitely yeah interesting can he do it for 90 consistently yeah and so you know for a designated player you want him to be able to play as many minutes as possible and you know Cho for uh a little bit of the up and down that he had this season one knock that you can't for him is that he is available he plays the entire 90 and uh yeah hopefully that miranchuk uh you know is capable of doing that but uh yeah I mean just back to that list it's just I don't know it's it I I get it I get why and United posted that uh maybe they should have just gone with chance creators instead of calling it Wingers because it's just uh when was the last time de bruo was called a Winger I don't I don't get it uher yeah oh yeah okay also not really a Winger it's I don't know just just a bit odd uh seems like a little bit of a reach uh trying to you know bring in some of these uh these other players into the list um but you know still either way like a great goal contribution per uh per 90 and so yeah def definitely absolutely um you know that alone still he is quality and that that much is true uh whether he's a household name or not along with the rest of those players that's a different thing yeah I don't know about that right but you know like uh like other players from Atalanta uh you know that have uh come here namely Carlos Carmona who yeah you know definitely uh was a player that a lot of people appreciated you know kind of Bulldog in Midfield you know hopefully he can be um you know just like successful or more than Carona but that's a air bit of trivia there AJ um it is but I I have some I have some other trivia for you as well if you're down you want to try and guess it shoot it so um we have some players that have played in World Cups in the past and currently with marcha so he played for Russia um so he has minutes for their national team at a World Cup um can you tell me all the other players who have had minutes for national teams at a World Cup man you are making me dredge into my memory at 10:30 p.m. at night here so I'll give you a hint it's only two besides the obvious one Thiago yeah so so two uh there's I think there's going to be too much Dead Space here for me to think so so I I'll give you a hint both of them were on the inaugural team okay okay in a World Cup okay and obviously before they landed at Ali United and okay uh one of them let's see oh I'm drawing blanks right now it's all right I'll help you out the first one is the guy you just mentioned oh Carmona yeah Chile yep okay yeah twice two different World Cups okay all right right and the other one was one that stumped me um that I didn't know because I just uh I completely slipped my mind that this country even has attended a World Cup but it did so maybe that'll give you a hint oh that's a tough one um position what what position did he play fourward forward Kenn Jones that's right for Trinidad and Tobago boom I was like I completely forgot they ever went to a World Cup yeah sorry Mark no no shade I just completely forgot yeah I mean that's the thing it's uh they haven't been exactly uh killing it lately uh but absolutely yeah you know it's probably in spite of the US Men's National Team unfortunately but uh you know it is speaking of men's national US Men's National Team Brad Gan gets honorable mention but he was never played at the World Cup he was on the roster he wasn't played yeah so I didn't say him because I didn't think that he actually had any minutes and so yeah yeah definitely interesting but um but yeah and so you know uh as far as uh you know miranchuk anyway back on track here uh what are your thoughts on miranchuk and what he might be able to bring to La I'm I'm a little worried that people are expecting a lot of goals out of the guy like perhaps like Thiago Amada who was not you know when his when you think about his goal creation opport you know events activities there're there's like equal parts goals and assist almost uh where I think what you'll see with him is more so more assist less so you'll still have a lot of creation uh hopefully like hopefully we're talking MVP not like you know challenging numbers like Thiago was able to do one season at least one season but like it will be more from assists and less from goals I believe because it just that seems to be what hiso is seems to be that's what his skill lies in um and this is a kind of player that instead of just like being being the guy and putting the you know the team on his back and having to do everything himself which a lot of players that come to Atlanta seem like they have to do um and what this creates sometimes is a lot of hero ball and that's not exactly what we want instead what I think this guy is capable of doing and which is perhaps why he was brought on is that he can be a force multiplier for the entirety of the team making everyone better and not just him having to do everything so that's what I'm looking forward to see the most out of him that's kind of what I was expecting from SCH when he came but on the defensive side of things um so if they can both be that you know engine for those two parts of the team that's going to be a solid team cuz we like I said we don't need herob ball we don't need that anymore like that was maybe perhaps our next nine can do something like that but we've seen it come and we see it Go and it's not not been super successful with herob ball so maybe some guy like mirin shaku can uh Stitch everything together I think is perhaps the way we decided to go in the way that probably will be better right that was exactly the word that I was going to use is uh Stitch the lines together a little bit uh maybe Allah kind of a very very light light light version of mezard oil a little bit languid a little bit uh you know the height kind of similar a little bit but uh yeah you know obviously not as ripped as Mees Ozil is now but I don't know if you've seen what he looks like now it's insane he's like like boxer uh levels of of rip now but uh my sister-in-law absolutely adores him so I have seen him yeah yeah but uh it is this it's uh you know I think miranchuk kind of provides that level of kind of just creation um you know making players around him better and yeah we we really need that I think you know some of these these players kind of feel like they're on island sometimes and especially if he can recognize space take space and also uh kind of create space for people where there's you know players they maybe through his Direction they now know where they might need to be in order to uh get the fin ball for them to be able to put it in the back of the net and especially it's this it's you know one of our biggest Achilles this season is obviously you know being clinical in front of goal but it's also the types of chances that we've gotten so the types of chances that we've gone probably as far as like difficulty maybe or as far as uh maybe where the ball ultimately ended up maybe it isn't exactly where it needed to be but maybe this is where miranchuk can actually cook so it's a possible good thing that uh you know it's this type of player obviously we all have flashbacks of cross banega and his Squad building so you know we all kind of take this with a little bit of a grain of salt as well and so hopefully hopefully he has turned to Paige and you know this is the right type of player for United it is uh with bokeh now under G it's trust but verify yeah so we shall see uh and hopefully yeah with the uh handful of games that we have left in this season uh you know we'll see either what Mir Chuck can do but also uh what he can do with the team but also if we also bring another DPN which has been said by bocanegra that we are going to do and it seems like it might be more of a Ford so that is going to be interesting so they said they're they're kind of uh drawing in close to getting this forward soon so a little ambiguous but very hopeful um so keep an eye out for perhaps another International spot that at land United buys up real quick cuz that might indicate something mhm exactly exactly but anyway uh so moving on from that Marcelo Gallardo he unfortunately uh you know obviously Matias gallardo's dad he has been by some W you know kind of wanted at La United well uh unfortunately he is probably going to be back at riverplate uh succeeding Martin D michis and uh yeah it's kind of a sad sad thing cuz you know it might have been a pipe dream you know for Garo to be at La United uh even if his son was here but uh yeah him going back to River play it just seems like it's just you know what else can you achieve there like I know just it's kind of weird go for something else A new challenge something but yeah it didn't work out at LAD so okay you know he's back in Argentina so but um yeah very bummer of a news but not bummer of a news El 2 defeated Huntsville City FC 2-1 Saturday night uh with a second half brace from Rodrigo Neri the uh new boy and those were his first goals for the club and uh yeah Matt Edwards and Tyler wolf each chi in assist for the second Road win of the season so congrats to the twos but uh that's the news and it gets us into the mail bag one other piece of news real quick that just came off the presses yoro sakamaki did a interview right ahead of the Charlotte uh yeah leagues Cup match tonight that we were filming on Wednesday night and he he walked his comments back about MLS and and lei Max in general he was he claims to have been misrepresented in his statement and he rather would it would be that he was saying that Cruz aul is a step up from Atlanta or from MLS teams not that Liga MX is a step up in entirety from MLS so he wanted to clarify that right yeah and I I saw the interview and I thought it was a little weak it was uh yeah basically his reasoning for all of that I didn't believe him I mean it just uh you know I I I get why he would maybe try to walk it back a little bit because well yeah you're playing an MLs side so yeah if you lose against them well yeah you're going to look like you have egg on your face so you know uh I get it in that end but uh you know I wasn't really one of the people that was very upset with him saying you know that uh Cruz ofou was better than La United at this moment because well yeah it's the truth and it's uh I'm not going to be offended by what's going on uh in that like I if this was like 2018 uh yeah it'd be a completely different story I would absolutely be like are you crazy and probably you know uh kind of boot him out the door myself but it's uh yeah I think in this moment again it's I I think he's just trying to save face a little bit and uh you know just in case but uh but anyway any other news any other breaking news cool cool well uh yeah so let's get into the mailbag you guys send in these questions through Discord and IG story and uh please continue to do so and we might answer your questions in the future but first question comes from greatest Josh Cohen fan with me and Chuck joining as the quote unquote alada replacement what player will he replace in our current starting 11 as the number 10 and what is the best realistic time for him to arrive and start playing for us so obviously you know the playing time thing it's probably going to be after lease cup so that's a already been answered but yeah yeah it's the Rival time is depending on the Visas so like we want to your ASAP but it's just not in our hands so that is what that is yeah um but I mean as in terms of like replacement a lot of times we aren't even like seems like we're playing with a 10 sometimes so you know when firmino is out there then yeah replace him but um for the most most part it's you know it we would kind of it could be us just going back to what we were in terms of formation when Thiago was here and playing and everything was going through him so could see a return to that right because it's more of this uh obviously we've been playing a little bit more with a three man back line with three center backs and Wing backs uh whether we return to that or not well yeah if we play with three center backs then obviously one of maybe be the midfielders or attackers uh gets taken off I think uh you know we've been pretty much rotating between all of our midfielders so it's kind of tough to say but obviously I think it's more MOA and sches are the starters and then miranchuk would be slotting in into that number 10 spot so uh as far as if it was a three-man back line well I think more so maybe it's Silva that maybe uh gets taken out at times and you know he becomes that super Sub in which case you know maybe so we'll see yeah not terrible yeah and uh you know if you have the the attacking Trident if you want to call it that of uh you know Saba Miran truck and Rios you know uh I think we can at least you know find some balance there uh if we are to play a little bit more that way but um yep next question comes from Ethan ail UT 17s uh We've signed a d DP 10 we have another DP open spot now and another could be made available in the winter after buyouts what positions slash when would you choose to fill those two additional slots do it depends it depends on what the market is and what players you have identified that you want that have a realistic you know probability of coming here um like you know if we're gearing up to go for this guy we really want this guy but he's not going to be available until the winter then you're likely going to wait if he's the guy who's supposed to be your Lynch pin or something like that and you know it's just going to work you're going to wait so it really depends on those types of factors you know ideally we'd love it if we could just oh everyone that we want is available right now and just go out and get them and boom here they are but that's just not the way it works so um yeah hopefully they're doing their due diligence their analytics department is finding the right guys and making the best decisions about when to bring them in depending on when they're available and when you know their contract you know how far along they are in their contracts Etc so it's a you know it's not enviable job honestly like looking through all that kind of stuff and figuring it out um so you know luckily I don't have to do it do that would give me a headache yeah uh well yeah and as far as positions I mean I think you know you could go probably a couple routes as far as DP positions obviously yeah uh you know Striker to replace the outgoing yakum Maki or uh a you know starting DP level number eight where uh you know defensively and in attack he's able to affect the game and I mean we've both been calling for this we we need we have needed this for quite some time uh having pretty much less than probably three or four goal contributions coming from our Midfield in an entire season is pretty bad like we we need a lot more goal contributions from the middle of the park and uh you know somebody that can do that would be huge but you know I think I don't think it's G to happen yeah I think more in realism it's probably going to be a striker it's MLS you pay more for your uh attacking players and you know hopefully if it is somebody that's uh I think for Optics they need sell season tickets like I've mentioned they probably need to bring him in in this window uh obviously it is contingent on if you can like Michael was saying and so if uh I think the summer is more attainable but you know if it has to be the winter then it is but I think you know there are more players that are available in this window so I would say you know in order to not maybe displace a player or really uh kind of have to kind of make a uh a player turn their heads a little bit uh and essentially kind of have to like leave a team mid-season most of the other team if if you aim for the winter you're going to have to pay a premium then because they don't want these players to leave whereas in the summer it's it's not in season so you know it's just easier exactly so I would say uh you know if we're going to do it I think we have to do it now unfortunately and um you know because obviously there is the whole argument of okay we don't have a coach but uh yeah you just it's it's a conundrum and yeah uh we could hire the coach but which coach wants to come in in this type of situation right now what does he he said he talked to like what uh or the people he quote unquote has talked to so far have no interest in joining a team that is so rudderless in terms of like no DPS and it's middle of the season um it just doesn't seem right so it seems like they're definitely going obviously they haven't even hired the search firm yet so you know it's definitely going and they even said it Garf said it straight up you won't see a new coach until 2025 uh Valentino will see the season out right so it is what that is and I think that's uh you know whether that's the way to go or not I mean we we've got dump trunks of money he's just going to they're just punting it and allowing for this kind of to this season to tank or you know if they do well they do well and then the season doesn't tank and that's great and all but like they're not expecting it to do great in my estimation and they're okay with that because they know next season it'll essentially it could be like a clean slate you're going to have a lot of movement on the roster fresh DPS new coach it's going to be almost a brand new Atlant United outside of a few core players that you can probably already identify based on contracts alone so you know yeah it'll be interesting uh you know who stays and who goes but uh yeah next question comes from roie uh uncore enrosa uh it pretty much pertains to all this what do we need more of now a good Striker or a good coach well I think we need a good coach both you need both but like I don't know if one is more than the other I mean a good coach can give you that what was that 20% boost we talk about but also a and I mean just getting yourself on the right track to building some kind of cohesive identity and chemistry is just going to be it'll do us a load of good but I mean a striker can also just put like like a high high quality Striker I know Garf is talking like in the realm of like 10 or so million which is not going to be like a world beater but they can they you know yorgos yamaki did very well Jor Martinez did very well they are not World beaters they are not super high above 10 million but you know it's a you get a little worried about sometimes with what their Ambitions are based on what numbers they throw out regardless of whether or not that's going to be you know someone who will be the you know to the to the lofty Heights of a Joseph Martinez and MLS or something remains to be seen but you know we can be optimistic about it you can be optimistic that someone could kind of be a diamond in the rough and come and you know put the team on their back and then if you just get the nine and no coach perhaps a player like that can just start scoring for fun because that's just what they do and they're just that much better than everyone else and then that that kind of uh gets you some wins where you probably shouldn't have deserved them or you know gotten them without that that kind of player so you know you can get by probably with both um and I mean at the end of the day you just need both you just can't really you're not going to be a championship level Team without them so yeah I'll put it that way yeah for sure and I completely agree with you but I think I guess the answer the question more a good coach I think right now we have Strikers we we have some goals in the team it's really we we need more cohesiveness we need more of an identity it's that's been the thing that has been a prevailing thing that La has needed for quite some time but uh Brian Ross hdy uh he asks uh first year fan here why the f are we so so bad well uh yeah sorry you joined us on such a a low note but yeah he he hasn't the immunity built up uh from you know watching this team in 2018 and 19 um y the Goodwill does hold over for a lot of people yeah I mean sometimes I just go to bed and I thinking about you know humbling you know uh uh Club America at the Benz for the Campion cup like like things like that where you put your flag down on an international soccer as one of the first teams to like slay uh you know a Mexican giant like it was it it it's it's a it's things like that are a high you ride on for a while so but unfortunately it start it definitely probably has already ran dry for most fans and they're just tired and like let we say with Eddie Murphy what have you done for me lately so they need to they need to do something and yeah it's unfortunate here like I don't know I'm curious it's like why did you become a fan I mean if you became a fan of us when we're so bad then it can only get better from here so think of it that way like and and it will get better because yeah I mean we are very bad and then we're going to just get we're going to add incred like I just said in the other segment like or the other question right like we are going to this team is going to be completely different next season you have so much to look forward to it's it's kind of wild it's it's exciting and it's nuts yeah exactly and so you know I I don't think there's uh as far as any of this um you know like it's a first year fan yes uh I think it's amazing that you joined uh and followed the team through this uh but I think it's you know it speaks to The Testament of the game it speaks to the The Passion of the fans that uh you know are supporting anyway and yeah I think you know as far as any of it like you know there is always a kind of like a greater fan than thou type of thing uh there's that type of energy that uh you know some people have but for me I think it's this it's like whether you go to the games or you don't go to the games I mean essentially if you're watching while the team is just this piss poor well I mean I think it's just it's like what you're absolutely you know as great of a fan that goes to every single game and all that it's it's just you know it's uh there are levels probably of it of the fandom and you know that's not disputed but I think as far as uh you know you're a supporter and I think that's uh you know we're we're happy to have you and uh thanks for asking your question yeah but things are only going to go up and I mean big things about Elan United that are outside of what the team's performance is is we have some of the best fans in community around the team so this community in specific is obviously one we've cultivated and one we're very proud of and we we we love to have you part of it we have a Discord follow us on social media and if you see us at the games and if you see us at tailgates beating the pants off of people in Boo or playing soccer with some of the people when they you know bring out the balls and stuff like say hi or come get whipped in the games too so whatever your fancy is indeed so uh but yeah uh that's the last question for the mailbag and uh yeah um keep asking we might answer your question in the future guys but uh let's get into the match preview and yes 400 p.m. Sunday Santos lagona at the Benz uh they unfortunately lost well maybe fortunately who knows uh yeah against DC United 3 nil in the leagues cup so DC have uh essentially by my count they have five points so they are in poll position they're probably going to win it uh or they almost absolutely are going to win it regardless of uh this result uh for US versus Santos Laguna but uh yeah essentially we are fighting for second place in the group and it's a must-win we have to do everything it takes especially if it goes into a penalty shootout all the hous please God no please God not another Le cup shootout I know right because it's at the Benz I mean if it was at you know at Santos Laguna's uh home I might actually feel better about it but it's you know it is what it is uh it's going to be at home so we have to take advantage of it but uh essentially s Zuna they are in the do drums a little bit unfortunately uh they are not having the best time of it in the league at the moment uh and yeah for their time in Liga mechis they're pretty far down but uh as far as uh La United uh against them um actually no well so let's let's kind of talk about the intricacies for us uh in getting past this uh so we essentially we I mean it's essentially we must win you know that that part's simple right but we if there are any tie Breakers um you know essentially gets into some scenarios that are definitely interesting it's uh yeah we will have to uh kind of kind of get into uh let me try to break this down like super simple it's it's not exactly going to be simple I suppose but um yeah we essentially we're vying for a place in playing our next match or after this being able to play a match at Bobby DOD stadium and right if we're able to do that I think a lot of people will be pretty stoked at least uh it might even satiate their their leagues cup uh interest uh but I think all in all uh yeah it it's simple Atlant United must win and if we draw well yeah absolutely we will go to penalties and we have to win that as well so uh but as far as SOS Laguna so let's get into them just a little bit they've won six Liga mchis championships one Copa mchis and one Campion de campiones cup uh just like up us a little bit uh and they've also reached the uh CCC twice or the CCL back then uh and finished Runners up on both occasions so yeah they're not a small side by any means they're just kind of in a bad spell sounds kind of familiar but it's uh it seems like yeah this whole group DC United Santos Laguna and L United it's just a a group of underperforming you know underwhelming teams at the moment that essentially uh have history they just need to figure out out in the league currently but they for you know to their detriment they probably won't be able to because a lot of their top guys are just out of like kind of long-term injuries so that's largely reason why they're you know they usually are probably like mid-table but they're fairly low table now because of a lot of that they're underperforming um and I think if I read something earlier correctly their best guy hasn't scored over 10 goals since like 2015 so they aren't exactly firing on all cylinders either um and in this game against DC that we saw tonight all I could say from the highlights which there were many from DC and extremely few from I feel like they got their first highlight shot on on the DC Keeper at like 502 minute or something like that it took them the whole second to the whole to get to the whole second half in order to even start firing on the goal like their defense too was shockingly bad against DC shockingly bad so they apparently struggle to score for the reasons we mentioned and also their defense is shambolic so hopefully we can get yeah it's a possibility we can get at them uh but yeah so far in Liga M's apertura uh Santos they have three losses and only one draw in four games so uh yeah they are absolutely yeah just in the league not doing great and against DC not doing super well it should uh kind of be kind of a good thing for ell United but I fear that this might be a very motivated Santos Laguna as well then where they also feel because they are Le macki side that they don't want the embarrassment and I don't know if Atlant United the players the fans feel that I think a lot of no they're plenty embarrassed already well yes but as far as if they lose to a Liga acki side I don't think that they they necessarily are we have to win at all costs and that's really where my concern lies now I think I think think we should be able to probably be a little bit more effective against Santos Laguna as far as I think our attack goes uh but you know uh if we can if we can score three against D United I mean it never works out just ever like you know Apples to Apples in comparison with uh you know the actual score lines versus one team versus the other especially in group trans property of soccer right exactly but I think you know should be able to uh at least muster some attack against sosuna knock on wood but uh yeah who will do that can can do it for sure so who will do it let's get into the starting 11 then so uh in between the sticks I mean it's probably going to be Cohen but I don't know I don't know if he deserves it after that that performance well here's a thing he doesn't deserve it um but prob he is the cup keeper of course but yeah I mean like I just I don't know what Rob does in a case like this I don't know like what his personality is in terms of like or what his I guess tactics of switching would be here like does he go will we throw Cohen right back out there because we our philosophy is you need to get back out and have a good game to replace the one that was bad give him a chance to do that like you could have that kind of philosophy and in that case it would be Josh Cohen obviously goes back out there um it could also just be like well it's policy it's a cup game he's been guaranteed Cup games so he's going to play for that that could also be a case um another case is that well bragan here's your chance to come in and do this because apparently we need you maybe if you know Rob says this is a must- win like we've been saying and he believes bragan is the best option why not play him so if that's what he's thinking then why not put Brad in there so yeah who knows who knows what's going on in his head it's definitely going to be interesting because it could be very damaging towards Josh Cohen especially if he is a player for the future right now I have my reservations but Cohen as well he has been the keeper that actually has saved penalties and so you're not exactly going to sub him on later for guzan to save some penalties if it ever comes to that uh hope it doesn't but I think that's what it is is like you know it's like I it's probably going to have to be Cohen and so uh hopefully he can uh yeah pretty much really Rectify his performance from last match but yeah let's get into the defense then uh this could be interesting but I think the the probably uh easiest ones to predict are the center backs so uh yeah what do you think ston Gregerson and unfortunately he had that hitter that went right to stoud to just do a half Vol in but outside of that he had a good game I think um so yeah he's going to be one and I want to say if Williams is available I would like to see Williams be another Center back yeah and yeah by all accounts it's yeah uh both are available so uh yeah Gregerson and Williams for me as well uh in to the well you know whether we're going to stay with a four or if we're going to go with a three I think we're going with the a two-man you know uh Center back pairing instead of uh you know kind of a three-man back line so uh Lenin obviously at right back but left back that's really going to be the interesting bit is yeah do you uh stay with Hernandez or do you go with Amador hey it's going to be they're gonna have to talk to him and say do you have enough minutes from last game which he probably won't in order to start so it'll probably be another sub so it'll probably be Hernandez and Amador comes on as a planed sub for getting minutes under his legs yeah well so yeah I I probably agree but I think yeah it's like if any side you come in I feel like well you know it's also it's a must- win it's tough It's really tough cuz you want to give him some meaningful minutes but I guess you have the rest of the MLS minutes to kind of give him you know kind of more of a cameo uh but I feel like his delivery I feel like you know just more of a left footer would really help us from that left side a little bit but I'm curious if Hernandez doesn't start there it's like who's the captain then you know I guess Lennon oh yeah yeah probably Lennon uh maybe Williams um or depends on who starts in Midfield so it's got to be lenon I think because they they're they seem to be going by seniority at the team yeah so it seems a little bit of that I agree uh but yeah so Hernandez probably is the uh the left back there into Midfield uh yeah I mean it's whether we have three of them or just two of them or you know what do you think who's uh who's starting in Midfield for you um I would probably think two s and Tristan okay okay uh yeah I agree it's uh it's them two uh but actually I think in addition to that I think you need some experience in there as well even more experience uh Dax mccardy I think uh you in this regard where yeah you know you have you have this s Laguna side that are R for the taking you know we're we're not a good side either but you know you need some experience to to help you know your your players get in the right spaces and I think that's what needs to happen and um I think should so um I think it's slle moyamba McCarty uh into the uh you know the Fords you know we can either choose uh I think well you have four to choose from and yeah you know what do you got the two Wingers SLE uh no uh zande and saba and then two Strikers up top why not go for it punish them oh okay I mean yeah you do have Nick firmino on the bench to maybe uh spell one of them so you know and then you pretty much have to empty the tank a little bit possibly because yeah you don't you don't know you don't know if you have any more games after this uh in the leagues cup so you have to go for it so I get it um I think for me uh obviously with the the lineup so far that chosen saba and Silva on the wings Rios up top um yeah you know TI I think yeah he's able to bring in that energy where he's able to run in behind but when he's when he's the target forward he doesn't really connect the play he doesn't really hold it up that well for us yeah uh so I feel like it's not maybe something that we absolutely need from the start I think we you know us being at home we need you know Rios We need his ability to uh to at least play with others a little bit and um you know that that ability I think is uh going to help us in possibly getting the score line that we're predicting so yes what do you have uh I have a I I'm going to say two two one I feel like we're somehow going to let one in but I'd say 2-1 gotta yeah I also have 2-1 we're we're uh we're on Synergy here lately we're uh we're predicting very similar score lines and not the exact same score line uh but uh yeah I think we're able to do this in in regulation but yeah go ahead yeah the uh yeah the way we'll do it too I believe is um not playing out the back I think we're going to hoof it long balls line breaking passes fast Dynamic I think that's what we're going to try and do and just we're gonna you know like we talked about when we started uh the match where we scored in the first like you know minute or two whatever whatever um fast bum rush attacks in completely unsettle SOS lagona early and often and hopefully that's enough to see the game out that's what I'm thinking they're going to do and hopefully they can execute it yeah well uh you know it may be if we uh do score early well we might have a little bit more possession at that point uh in some regards because yeah we're hopefully playing keep away and so uh you know we'll see it's always kind of n just let him have long counter attack some more uh well that's that's kind of dangerous a little bit too it's uh can we defend well enough that's what we've been doing yeah but uh I think we've been doing that with three man back lines and yeah that's kind of the the difference is okay at home you know we're almost expected a little bit more to uh play with the ball uh even though it's not what Valentino wants but SOS Laguna probably also are not looking to play with the ball so it's just the you know this whole this it's almost like a group of death in a sense of who doesn't want the ball and man it's it's going to be interesting so a lot of mid teams yeah exactly so you know at some point it's like somebody has to possess the ball it's just law of averages and so yeah uh what do you guys think let us know in the comments below what your score predictions are uh and yeah if you have uh thoughts about the leagues cup and your anti- leagues cup let us know those thoughts as well but uh yeah that does it for the match preview and pretty much the entire episode except for the question of the day the question of the day is who do you do you want us to bring in as a striker if you have some suggestions or a pipe dream that you want us to possibly go after well then yeah you know let us know in the comments below and also yes of course you know let and let United know in the uh in the Twitter comments in the Instagram comments and maybe one of the social media managers will relay it to you know the the scouts the front office office and uh you never know you never I was about to say we'll just we'll forward everything straight to the front office if you send them to us exactly exactly but yeah let us know in the comments Below guys looking forward to what you have to say but that is the episode there and there remember to like share comment and subscribe that's Michael I'm AJ thank you so much for watching and we will see you in the next video [Applause] come