Gearing Up for Glory – Charleston Battery 2025 Preseason Review

[00:00:14] Welcome to Cannon Crue, a weekly podcast discussing the Charleston Battery. Your host, Granite, will be joined by other defenders of the fleet from the black and yellow supporters section, and together they will help fortify and conquer. They are the Cannon Crue. Welcome to the Cannon Crue. I am Granite, and I'm joined by two spectacular co-hosts. One, Patrick Tully. Tully, how are you? I'm great. It's been a long time. How are you?

[00:00:43] It has been a while. I've been busy. You've been busy? I mean, not with watching soccer as much, but yeah. Yeah. And we're also joined by another fantastic co-host. You ready, Ryan? Ryan, how are you? Hey, doing fantastic. I'm just excited to be back. You've got a new addition to your house, and so that sleepy look on your face is probably due to a newborn, right?

[00:01:12] Yeah, we've got a little three-month-old now. I mean, I can't believe three months has gone by so quick, but it feels like it's also been five years at the same time. Just wait. It gets better. Oh, I'm excited. So, and Patrick, he's right behind you. Little Louis Skelly. Little Louis Skelly. Jim, who is that guy?

[00:01:39] Just a young gun who apparently is really good at collecting yellow cards now, so I think he's going to have a few WhatsApp phone calls with Granite Shaka and try and get that negated from his repertoire. And speaking of the yellow cards, we're here talking about the black and yellow Charleston Battery. And let's start out by talking a couple roster changes. Big one right off the bat. The one and only, Robbie Crawford.

[00:02:07] This transition from being a player to being an assistant coach. I think that's a stellar career move. I think it's fantastic. Robbie's such a nice guy. He has a lot to offer, not just as a player, but especially as a coach, too. The way he sees the pitch, the different tactics he can offer.

[00:02:29] I think it's a great type of mindset to transition from, especially being at the battery as well and everyone already respecting him and putting him at a different type of level of respect. I think it's actually really, really good for this club. And it adds that extra layer to our team. Already having a guy that was part of your squad. Now helping with the coaching staff, getting his first kind of toes in the water in that realm.

[00:02:59] And it's a comfortable environment for him. So I hope he succeeds. He has the mind for it, which is great for us because he can still teach our young players that we seem to recruit in how to see the game. I mean, he's a brilliant mind, football mind. So glad to see him. So let's talk about some other additions, especially in the keeper section. Ryan, you got any ideas on who we've added at Christian Gardner?

[00:03:28] Yeah, we've added two new people. Christian Gardner, who we've seen before. We've seen him before last year when we signed him on an emergency one-day contract. The battery signed him against a team that we beat 5-0 at the time. I can't remember off the top of my head who it was. It was a cup game, right? I think it was a cup game. And he didn't see much of, not much action at all. But still got his first win.

[00:03:57] And good to see him back up in the championship league as well. Because remember, he spent time up with Pittsburgh for a bit, playing for the Riverhounds. And then got sent down to Greenville. So it was really good to see Christian back up in the championship league. And then we also added a new keeper, Luis, from BC United Academy. Yeah, what do you think of him? Have you seen him play between the sticks very much? I've seen him play a bit. He's very elusive.

[00:04:25] He has a great reaction time on him. Handling has been quite well. I'm excited to see more of his distribution, which I haven't seen much of. And how he plays out of the back. I'm curious to see how high he plays. And if he kind of throws in that sweeper-keeper aspect. Or if he stays a little bit more in. So I'm excited to see that about him. So I went to the Fan Fest the other night. And he was at the door and talked to Luis for a little bit. Just walking in.

[00:04:52] And what a fantastic moment just to spend with a player. And he was there shaking people's hands. And saying how excited he was to be down in Charleston. How wonderful it was. And then later on they talked about his nickname. Anybody got it? The octopus. That's funny. Right? Seriously. I mean, great nickname for a keeper. Yeah. And I would try to pronounce it. But it's...

[00:05:23] Don't butcher it. I'll just butcher it. Samudio? Yes. No, no. I'll talk about... How do you say octopus in Spanish? El burpo. El burpo. It was definitely better than the window as a nickname. Yes. Now did Christian... El pulpo. El pulpo. Did Christian just pick Charleston over Greenville? He realized it's just that much better?

[00:05:53] I don't know. Well, what kind of happened was that Charleston re-signed Daniel Kuzma. And Kuzmecha got injured. And he's out for the whole entire season now. So, sad for Kuz. Won't be seeing much of him this year at all. And that's why we signed Christian. Christian had he... I think he had one more year left in Greenville. But I know he's excited to be out of there and back up in the championship.

[00:06:23] Well, plus it's Charleston, right? Yeah. He loves it here. How many Charlestonians are up in Greenville? Zero. Maybe two. They just got mixed up on which way to go. How many Greenvillians down here in Charleston? About as many as Ohioans. We love all people from all places in the country. So, that's our keepers. It's not our only keepers. We have one or two more, don't we?

[00:06:51] Don't we have a local lad that likes to play every once in a while? Ryan? They technically haven't announced if they re-signed him yet or not. Well, he was at the practice I attended the other day. And I think he was out. So, actually, there were six people out there. And I was like, man, we went from like two keepers where we were in a rural hurt last season. Now, looking out there and seeing six. Now, I don't know if all of them signed all these things.

[00:07:22] Yeah. We had six people. Wow. Yeah. So, it might be some of those people that you talked about that maybe we haven't signed yet. Because right now, it's looking like Christian Gardner and Luis. Yeah. They're the only two signed keepers at the moment. And then we haven't. And again, we also haven't announced our academy players yet. So, or we haven't signed any yet as well. So, we'll get a keeper position for that one as well.

[00:07:52] That signing. And then there should be about three to four field players being signed for academy this year so far. Is what I'm seeing. So, Vigo still counts as academy. In Soto. Yes. Okay. I see a big A after his name. So, talking about young guns. Vigo, he's still playing for the national team from Mexico. What, U17? Is that what he's doing? Yeah. U17. Yeah.

[00:08:22] It's still pretty impressive that we're putting out a 16-year-old out on the pitch. And he's playing and doing well. And playing for his country too. That's really cool. Yeah. And he scored a goal the other day too. It was nice. Nice. So, let's talk about some other players we've added. One is Langston Blackstock. Midfielder, right? I mean, sorry. Forward. Did you watch him play the other night? Is he out there?

[00:08:53] Defender-ish. Yeah. He's a good mix. Because he played all over the pitch in college. He played up top. He played right wing. He played right back. The battery, I've seen him being played in multiple different positions. The battery have used him as a right back. Has used him as a right wing back. Has used him as a right winger. Hadn't seen him go up top. But, man, do I love the fact that we are testing and trying different things.

[00:09:21] And the wing back position, I'm kind of a fan of, honestly. Having the three and then the two wing backs. Langston's got some speed with him. So, he was quite impressive to watch. And also how he breaks tackles. He will just run right through, which is awesome. Yeah, this is always fun. So, you look at the player bios that they put out. And it says, Langston Ford. And then you look at another player bio they put out. And it says, Langston is a fullback. Yep. So. Yeah, do your homework on him.

[00:09:53] I think there's an amazing signing for what we talked about for majority of the last third of last season. Of, like, not having someone to take those minutes from Dos Santos or take them from Segbers. Just even just giving them a break. And now we have not only someone who's just going to compete with them and compete for starting minutes. But we don't really have that predicament as long as everyone stays healthy. Knock on wood.

[00:10:23] But creating that void that we had last year. We're just filling it with more players of a higher caliber of talent and not just a question mark of, do we slot this guy in? Like, just to cover. Like, no offense to our center mids last year. But, like, I mean, we see a guy who's used to playing that position. Being able to fight for a starting opportunity in it. As opposed to just filling a spot. Exactly. Because that's what we would end up doing last year.

[00:10:52] It was mainly Robbie Crawford who was filling in that back line at times. From the midfield spot. And that was cool to see Robbie still getting those minutes and competing. But it's like, you know, we all know that that's not his position. His true position. We want someone in there that's their position competing and trying to get that starting position. And I think this is another great signing. You know, and also you throw in there, look towards the end. Chris Allen had to play left back, right? He did. He did.

[00:11:21] Yeah, Chris Allen played left back. So DeSanto slid in. So we take one of our best midfielders. And all of a sudden, he's having to play in a defensive position. Even though it's a little tacky. But it takes away from what we can do in the midfield. So hopefully that's what we're bolstering so we can handle all those situations. When injuries start creeping up on us. Yeah. And that's what happened last year was our center backs. And then an outside back would go down. So let's move on. We lost Leland for good.

[00:11:51] Sorry. Let's talk about this young man, Johnny Klein. He's fast. That man's elusive. He is. He is. He's a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. I think he's going to do some amazing things. He's got the quick wit about him. And he's very aggressive for someone that his exact size.

[00:12:21] And he draws. What I love about him, though, is that he brings this presence onto the pitch. Where he may not be the biggest guy on the pitch. But he makes people follow him. Where it's like he will sprint to the ball, checking to it. Make the defender follow him. And then just whip right around him. Down the pitch. Gets the ball one-on-one. Yeah. And he came from the next pro team from St. Louis. So he's got some skills.

[00:12:48] And I watched practice when they did a practice out at their practice fields. Of course. And I was just impressed by him. And then we watched him the other night. The Clemson match. Or Clemson match. And again, he's just an oppressive young player. I don't say young. But the oppressive player that I think is going to help us out a lot. I think he's going to be our surprise of the season. He's going to be our Juan David. I mean, this guy.

[00:13:15] No one just gets drafted MLS. Wait, wait, wait, wait. 30th overall. And isn't a good player. There's only one Juan David. You know what I'm saying. The expectation of like, hey, is this guy really going to do much for us? Yes. I agree. There's only one David. Only one. We'll talk about him later. But anyways, yes. I think when you have skill sets that you're getting noticed by teams that are MLS,

[00:13:44] even though it's even the next thing. I think that says a lot about his caliber of play. And he's also another dish to our midfield. Yeah. Yeah. And this is a guy who played four years at college. So it says something about his character and about what he wants to do with the team, as opposed to just leave and go try something at the next level.

[00:14:09] I see him as a guy who's going to come into this team, not only work for his spot to try and earn it first team and like starting minutes, but someone who's wanting to stick around and get us to the finishing line of that championship and see us get to the next level. So, I mean, these are the type of players we need to get. He definitely offers something different than just a holding midfielder.

[00:14:35] He offers that kind of mix of, would you say like Icaza and Malloy almost? Absolutely. It's nice to have like these hybrid options of players in all these different spots to, I mean, not to compare it to our professional club we support, but like almost a guy who can play three different roles and whatever you need him to do, he can slot in on it. I think that's when we start seeing systems of play, that's what we're going to see.

[00:15:03] We're not just see a four in the back and that's, we're static at that. It's going to be dynamic. And as we move into transition, different phases of play, you're going to see different people. Don't play your response and our formation is going to change. Our system of play is going to change as you know, as we react, as we go forward. Oh, I honestly see us playing in a shift slide system this year. Whereas a shift slide is where, you know, like the ball goes into the right hand side of the field.

[00:15:32] You're far, if you're playing four in the back, your left back would actually slide in front. And then you'd have three in the back. Everyone kind of just moves, right? So it's constantly everyone shifting around. And then when you go on the counter, you basically almost have six high. And I feel like the battery can just take, take that and roll with it with especially how we kept the ball a lot last year. And dominated on possession. It's, can we go on a quick counter and score? Like how Louisville did against us those two times, right?

[00:16:01] Those other teams, the way that they beat us was a quick counters. Can we accomplish that this year? And I think that's their goal was when they hit these targets. Hit these transfer targets, you know? That's where I see them targeting. And that's a great, great thing. Do you think battery is more attractive to players because we have people like Nick that's went overseas and those type of players that are starting to get noticed outside of the United States?

[00:16:28] I think it helps, especially, I mean, it really, really does help. But as well as you have the East Coast, West Coast right now, and the West Coast gets some looks, the East Coast gets some looks. But especially in the past couple of years with the big signings of not just field players, but also our goalkeeper with Tyler Muse too, going up to MLS. It opens up the door for everybody else on the East Coast, making this side a little bit stronger.

[00:16:57] And, you know, again, on the East Coast, there's nowhere else that's more beautiful than Charleston. You know, we are the hospitality city of the East Coast. And there's no other team down here too to really compete and to really make this place that much better. I think it's a great destination for them. And who else would you want to go against when you got the battery and then you're going against Tampa and Louisville as our big rivals? I think that those games are going to mean so much more this year.

[00:17:26] And especially the fact that we got two Tampa home games this year. Those are going to be amazing. Yeah, we're knocking on the door for championship, right? I mean, we are. We don't have the big trophy yet, but we're just knocking and keep knocking and keep knocking. And I think it's going to come. But what's also so amazing about this year, though, is that they have a chance to lift a trophy before the season's even over with. Because that comes in with the Jägermeister Cup. The Jägermeister Cup.

[00:17:54] Let's keep your drinking habits and talk about them later. So let's talk about... Oh, sorry. Patrick. Yeah, Grant, I'd like to just touch on... I think, most importantly, our head coach is the one who's attracting these players because of his willingness to give guys the shot and the play style of playing them in a position. Like, hey, if you're going to work hard, you're going to get minutes. It may not be in your number one choice, but I want to see what you can do. I kind of want to play around with these.

[00:18:24] We talked most of last first half season about this. Like, who's going to fit in here? Is he going to stick with this guy? And he rotated a lot. So I think the main attraction is Coach Bierman. And what you touched on, Grant, the fact that we are competing not just for the East Coast title, but for a championship.

[00:18:46] Like, I agree development and, like, the willingness to have a team bring you to the next level and, like, not hold you back and want you to go overseas and do something is awesome. But first and foremost, as a player, you want to win, right? So that's the most attractive. And I think having a coach who's going to willing to give you minutes and, excuse me, like we saw last year with everyone, like, even with Jake LaCava, he's not going to get minutes.

[00:19:13] I'm not going to just keep you here and let you sit on the bench and not do anything. He got his opportunity to go to San Antonio. So I think a coach like that is something that attracts players first and foremost. Yeah. So I went to a coaching clinic the other night and watched the session with the battery. And Ben talked at the beginning, went out. And the thing that struck me is all the assistant coaches are running all the drills.

[00:19:40] And he has an incredibly strong staff. And one of them popped out to come over and talked to us is Devin Rensing. And his knowledge and his just love of football, it's just amazing. It just took my breath away because of the way he was talking about it and the way he lives it and just, you know, he's just a junkie of it. And I'm like, this is the type of people that should be teaching these players. And I think he's been with Ben for a while.

[00:20:08] I think he did something over with Real Madrid for a couple of years. So he brings a lot of knowledge to the coaching staff. So I think it's just not Ben, but it's everybody behind Ben too that makes, I think it makes this whole team attractive to players. Yeah, you have a great example that players from whatever team he's gone to and coach want to follow him to the next place and he brings them. I mean, that can't speak more volumes to anyone.

[00:20:37] Yeah, and there's one in particular because he was talking about it. Cal Jennings, right? I think his rookie year he was with Ben and then he left whatever team they were at or Ben left. And now he's finally coming back to play with Ben. He was like, this is, we had something when I was a rookie and he wanted to spend more time under Ben Tutelich. So this is, I think it's his chance. So what do you think of him being up front?

[00:21:03] He's competing with our favorite, the doctor, of course. We got Jackson still up there. And I don't want to say still, there's Jackson up there. How does Cal Jennings fit in? Because he seems like a different striker. And apparently he is. Apparently he's a very good striker. He's a very different striker. And I was thinking... I'm sorry, you mentioned the doctor.

[00:21:32] So I was going to give Ryan his time first to defend him or go first. I think he was catching my breath. I was, I was catching my breath at first. You mentioned the doctor and he just started daydreaming about him real quick. Can't wait. Can't wait to see my man score some goals again soon. But it honestly adds a different threat because last year you had the movement of Nick and MD,

[00:21:58] whereas Nick could be outside, he could be in the middle, he could be what, you know, anywhere. Cal predominantly plays in the middle. But I've also seen him a few times when we played against Tampa. He's on the right-hand side. So he has... And with what Ben does is move players around, I think we're going to have a 4-3 this year. And it's going to be quite lethal. Last year I did the prediction of like, I think I said MD and Nick would combine for 30-plus goals.

[00:22:27] And that seemed like a long shot. Yet they crushed that right away. I think we're going to have an opportunity this season where you have at least 4-plus players for the battery. Cross 10-plus goals. Which hasn't been done in a while. I think it became close last year. But this year they're definitely going to have 4, maybe even 5 players hit that threshold of 8-10-plus goals this year. Yes.

[00:22:56] Whereas the main forwards are going to combine for them as 40-plus. So Cal was a two-time USL Championship All-League selection. 70 goals and 16 assists, I believe in 2020. And it just gets better from there. He was coming from a free agency. He played for Tampa Bay where he matched 34 goals, 5 assists, and 64 season appearances. That's a goal. I mean, that's a goal every other game. Yeah. This guy is a poacher through and through.

[00:23:26] It doesn't matter if he's the guy taking it and scoring. He'll at least be in the positions, like that soccer awareness of as long as I'm where I need to be. I don't care if there's happens because goals are goals, right? Yep. Yeah. I mean, just having a guy that is constantly involved in goals. I mean, we honestly were last year like, how are we going to replace Nick?

[00:23:51] I don't think we replaced him, but I think we got as close as possible as a human can get. Well, see, this is what's so exciting about it is that last year you're talking about goal poacher. That was similar what MD Myers was to us because anytime the ball came free inside the six yard box, who was there? It was MD every time inside that six diving for the ball. And Cal is just the same, if not just a more elusive player inside that box.

[00:24:19] But I'm excited to see the type of danger and threat they can present outside of the 18 yard box and see them start shooting. Because I've seen Cal rip some shots off and I'm ready to see MD actually take some shots because I didn't see much from him last year when it comes from cranking shots early on. I want to see him hitting some early. So let's go back to our defensive line. New player coming in.

[00:24:48] Joey Appanonu. What was his name? Joey Appanonu. Appanonu. Watched him at practice. I think he's kind of a tall player and he is just active. He's young. He's got a lot of energy to him. They were playing, they were doing a little session where they split the team and half of them were shooting on goals. So keepers were getting a bunch of reps and they were counting points.

[00:25:16] And some, the other team that they were going against was behind the goal. And so if they caught a ball that went over, then they got a point reduced from the other side. And he did this amazing chase, like a center fielder from baseball. And basically one handed ball went over his head. It was very exciting for the whole team. It was kind of fun. I was like, ooh, he's got some speed. And as long as he doesn't use his hands in the box, I think we'll do all right. But it was very exciting to watch.

[00:25:44] Yeah, this is another exciting signing. Another super draft guy who's been with FC Cincinnati for the past two years. So a high caliber talent that maybe is not getting his chances with MLS teams. And what better spot to come prove yourself, get the minutes, compete, and hopefully stay for the long run. And he is 6'3". So you're right, he's tall.

[00:26:14] Tall guy, tall guy. Tall guy. Tall guy. Tall guy. And also the main option as a guy for Smith. Maybe to take a break for a couple games. Archer to get a breather. I mean, he had the injuries last year, but a true sense of a center back. Yeah, those injuries in the back line caught. I mean, they really hurt us. And it's not the players. It just really hurt us because we just couldn't keep that.

[00:26:43] But we had to move people around because we kind of have a short bench. And so hopefully bolstering our back line a little bit with some players who can step in and fill in their notes times where they need rest so they don't pick up all those injuries. Or if they become an injury. I think it's going to only be beneficial to us.

[00:27:32] Yeah. But then this new guy coming in, we have more options now and not as worried in the back line. And then you also add in the additions of this League Cup too and more games being added to their schedule. You know, you kind of have to add some of these extra players in different positions or in the back line, especially to give them that rest. Because Leland's an Ironman. He's a guy who's going to play every single minute if he's healthy. Absolutely.

[00:28:02] So let's talk about another midfielder, Lusano Laundrie. I think he's from Ivarian Coast. Was it Ivory Coast? Ivory Coast. Very active in the midfield when I watched him at practice. And I think it's another one of those players we're adding into our midfield rotation that's going to be really helpful. Somebody compared him to some people enjoy watching play.

[00:28:31] Thomas Partey, that kind of role. So see how that helps us. I loved watching him when he played for New Mexico. I loved watching him play. I thought he had great footwork, great work ethic. And his determination just to go through every single person, no matter if they get the ball back or not. I've seen him just shoulder a guy and he went flying into the benches. And that was quite hilarious, actually.

[00:29:01] But just doing stuff like that, never giving up. And it's just another addition that we want and need to this culture. I'm excited to see how all these midfielders kind of gel together with playtime. Because we're exactly in the same boat as last season with, man, our midfield looks spectacular. How are all these guys going to play? And like... Yeah. Because you add Rodriguez is still there. Icaza.

[00:29:31] Malloy. And we just added three more guys that are going to make it more competitive. Yeah, Torres, Klein, Landry. I mean, it's great to have options. As long as everyone's copacetic and we can learn to split some minutes. But I think that comes down to the players, too. Just playing to that higher level. Yeah, we showed some players last year in the middle of the season, right? That were midfielders. They had to go away.

[00:29:59] Yeah, we saw Gutierrez go and Jake go, but... That was a surprise. That one was a shocking one. I didn't see that one coming. But again, maybe there's something we don't see in training and they're just not up to par or attitude or something. That's just not that winning mentality that we need in our team. And I'll note, this is, again, an awesome predicament to be as a fan having these options. Yeah, it's going to be very exciting.

[00:30:29] One last person, Douglas Martinez. Listed as a forward. So we're adding another forward to our forwards. How many is that? Oh, is he... That's the guy from... Is he from Colombia? Honduras. Oh, Honduras. I'm sorry. I thought... Okay. Honduras. You should play for Indy 11. Sacramento.

[00:30:58] Sandeco Loyal. And some other teams. Red Bulls 2. And MLS Club Real Salt Lake. Interesting. That's an interesting team. Right here. So he adds to our core of forwards that gives us several selections that... That's four forward. Yeah. Well, if that's where they play. But... Yeah. I mean, who else are you going to put out wide?

[00:31:27] I mean, I think Juan David is starting over out wide and... It's going to be quite interesting. I'm excited. I mean, I think honestly Juan David could start at camp this year. I mean, it's just that much depth that he could. I mean, that's the... That would be interesting. Or maybe we see him move out to where Nick used to play and kind of deliver that central... More centralized role off the wing. Not saying he's on the right side. But prefer his left and maybe he starts shifting in a little more.

[00:31:58] And he's all over the pitch. I mean, he's playing left, playing right. Like, end of last season, they were doing a lot of switching him. And Nick, remember right? You know, one would be on left, the other would be right. And then at a certain point, they'd switch and take each other's position. And I've been watching a little... You know, against Clemson. And he was doing the same thing. So, maybe he's just kind of a freelance player. He can just play anywhere in the midfield, winger, forward.

[00:32:26] I think they're going to give him that position, like permission this year. Like with the system. Just like Nick had last year. Because Nick... We could all safely say Nick had free roam. Mm-hmm. I think Juan David's going to get that this year. So, who scored the goal the other night? Against Clemson? JD. Was it JD? It trickled a little bit, but it went in.

[00:32:56] So, we got a lot of... He doesn't have his 60-yard shooting boots on yet. That was just preseason. It kind of like, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Now, Ryan, I have a question for you. Yes. With all this addition up top, where does Jackson Conway kind of fit in? Yeah. And like, I guess more so MD as well. Because I know he's kind of the most senior returning player as a striker.

[00:33:21] But do you see these other guys, like Cal Jennings, kind of being that lead guy from here on out? I see Cal and MD competing early to be that lead guy. And I think early on, we find success with Cal, Wendivid, and MD as our front three. But, you know, again, it's going to come down to who stays healthy, who stays consistency. And I think you'll see MD kind of switching out with Cal.

[00:33:50] Jackson, it's going to be hard to see him playing. I think he's going to get those kind of last minutes until the cup games start coming around. But honestly, in my opinion, I think Jackson could be one of those guys, if not Myers. I don't want to say that, but I feel like one of those two could be like Jake LaCava last year and kind of be sent on their way due to minutes and just wanting them to play.

[00:34:19] And Ben Pierman being that kind of coach saying, I still value you. I think you should get your minutes, but we're going to send you over here so you can get those time. I don't want to see that from either one of them, but I think it could. Do you think that we would kind of stick to the formation? I know formations are more glued to their coaches and not just the players you bring in. And that's why you bring players in to kind of fit your style. But do we maybe switch to a two forward system a little more this year?

[00:34:50] I think it's a great opportunity for us to actually switch a 4-2-3-1 and manipulate it to almost a... You almost want to be able to play a 2-3-1-3. Like that extra back is going to be sliding. Or four. I need the whiteboard behind me with all the magnets on it. Two, three. We've lost a player. Oh, 1-DV is rubbing.

[00:35:20] Yeah, 1-DV is rubbing. He is at the nothing but cake stand grabbing a quick treat. Basically you play 3-2-3-2 is what it comes out to by sliding and shifting players. And I think we have the team to play that kind of system. Okay, well we shall see. You asked. You asked. You asked. That's all I'm saying. 3-2-3-2. It's not a nice... It's not a formation that looks nice.

[00:35:49] But it's a formation that they can transition a 4-2-3-1 into that formation in the pitch. But when they're going forward. So I'm going to stop going with formation numbers. I'm going to just go where the ball is. And that's going to depict what shape we're going to take. Yes. So granted, you would say just one forward will probably stay with one. Just a striker. Of course.

[00:36:15] And I think we'll see a difference between Cal and MD. Because MD is kind of, I don't want to say a holding type of forward. No, that's exactly what he is though. But he does. He appears to be more of a... Turning. Yeah. And I think we're going to see a little bit different. I don't think we're going to go less than the possession that we usually have. But I think we'll probably see a lot more transition play. I think...

[00:36:42] We'll have more tactical awareness for these guys. It sounds like. And where we can do some counter. Are you telling me first goal? Luis hits it to MD on the break. MD controls it. Holds it off. Cal comes right underneath. Takes it. Goal. Going right to goal. One-on-one. We know who he's picking for first goal. Juan David's doing it for the fucking midline. Left foot. Boom. Who else can do it? That was against Miami.

[00:37:12] He did that week two last year. That's right. He could do it week once. So during the practice I watched, Juan David is most intense player out there. He was 100 miles an hour 100% of the time. And talking just... And just... And everybody's... I don't want to say their face. But it was just... His competition was fantastic. Now, in fairness, it was cold and raining. So he might have just wanted to be the most warm. No, no.

[00:37:41] That was the first practice. That was the first one. Oh, okay. It was cold and rainy. It was pretty nasty out there. This was the practice last week. So it was a little chilly, but warm enough it was buggy. We've seemed to lost one of our co-hosts and... I'm back. He's back. Okay. I'm here. So... We're about 37 minutes in.

[00:38:12] Should we talk about... We'll edit a lot of this. Should we talk about predictions? I think so. March 8th. First match. The season home opener. Against... Louisville. Louisville. The bluegrass. The bluegrass berries. Louisville. Patrick, what's your prediction? I think we're going to turn those thoroughbreds into glue.

[00:38:41] I think it'll be 2-0. You're going to stick to that? Well said. And you know me. Graham Smith's getting a goal. Oh, yeah. He's going to have another fantastic season. I think he's going to get defender of the year again. Love that. We didn't talk about returning players because we wouldn't talk about the new players coming in. New. But we could spend probably 30 minutes on each returning player about what they did last year

[00:39:10] and how they affected all of us and how they brought joy to our hearts the way they played the whole season. Okay. Yeah, I'll just say between him and Segbers, I'm very excited about our back line having the new signings come in and support those guys. Okay, Ryan. What's your prediction? Hold on. I'm going with a 3-1. This guy hates our goalies and he's a goalie.

[00:39:39] Yeah. No, it's not that I hate. I don't hate our goalies, guys. It's not due to our... It is. No, it's nothing to do with Christian. It's nothing to do with Lee. We're sorry. It had nothing to do with Grinwess last year. It had nothing to do with Trey Musen the year before that. It is simply the fact that I feel like, especially early on in the season, we tend to concede here and there due to transitional pieces.

[00:40:04] And you're also going against our rivals who were very good on the counter all last season and I just don't see them losing that edge. I see them being able to score one, but us maintaining and scoring three on them. Okay. I'm going 2-1 at halftime. I'm going 2-0. I know that's stepping out there. Juan David with a brace. All right. I like it. I think Juan David scores.

[00:40:33] I think Cal scores. And I think there's a surprise from the back line with Mark Segber scoring. Ooh. Off a set piece. Off a set piece. I'm going to get Juan David with one goal and our captain last Saturday night, Nate, with the second goal. That's it. Yeah. Okay. I like it. I like how we all chose a defender.

[00:41:02] I mean, that kind of speaks volume, though, when you have that kind of viewpoint of your defenders at the same time. Like, they're goal threats, too. Like, that's really big to have that kind of impact from your defense going forward, especially. I think we're going to see it this season a lot more than we saw it last season. Okay, guys. My pooch just come in and gave me the look like, let's go for a walk. So, it's time to wrap it up. We'll be at the match on Saturday night.

[00:41:31] Kickoff time is, Ryan? 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. We'll come to the match. And there were people still at the gate because they possibly, a bunch of them thought kickoff was at 7. At the kickoff at 6. But it's pretty impressive how many people showed up.

[00:42:01] Hopefully, we can repeat that and do better on Saturday. And just a reminder that for this game, unlike the preseason game, all three gates will be open. Which will be helpful. Yeah. I went to the other side, which was all closed. Yeah. But you've got, you're delirious, man. You're delirious. Apparently, it wasn't all closed off because you got past something, right? I was behind the owner's box for a minute and he turned around looking funny.

[00:42:33] He asked me earlier, he says, is that weird guy going to be killed? I said, yeah. And he's going to have a baby character. Give him the dirty look. Patrick, you can't look suspicious. Final thoughts. Our first game of the season, Firework Night. Going to be there early to tailgate. Yell a lot. Same as usual. This is the best night of the week to have it because the weather looks like shit today. Looks like shit tomorrow. And the next day. And garbage the following week.

[00:43:02] So, like, Saturday's our only day and it happens for a reason. So, let's get out, support, see all your old friends, and cheer the boys on for a win. First win of the year. Here we go. Up the battery. I'm getting chills. I'm so excited. For the match? You're very excited. You're a little young man, aren't you? Yes. That's fine. That's the reason why we love you. And I will be cheering you on from my bougie seats this year.

[00:43:32] Oh, he's not in the standing section. Oh. Sorry. My wife is pregnant and we have upgraded to the comfort seats. Yes. Congratulations. I'm the wife of the pregnant. We love her seat. I don't harass you. We might wait and just pick the seats next to y'all. I'll have security escort you out of the section. Okay, y'all. Talk to you later. Bye. Bye. Bye. Oh no!