Futbol Americas: A Call Up for Cavan? + Raphinha Stays Hot + Miami's Bad Form + Liga MX Check-In

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28:06Is there a hotter player in world football today than Rafinha? This is Barcelona. Xavi is part of there with a, well, fortunate goal off a deflection, but it's a Rafinha assist. I don't know how much you knew about it, Ale, but he will take it. I think both Rafinha and Barcelona have played much better this season than they did against Levante in particular. This was a sloppy game for Barcelona in which they lacked control, and frankly, I think they got fortunate to be able to get out of Levante with a win. Didn't play well, still scored four goals. Rafinha didn't score himself, but was always dangerous.

28:45Whereas the performance of Barcelona, not good. No, the Levante crowd is amazing. You can really feel the energy like they were about to do something. And Taladayemi puts that one away. The constant here for Barcelona is how good they've been offensively. And it starts and finishes with Rafinha. He's not a nine, but he's scoring goals like a nine. He's not a nine, but he's moving like a nine. He's not a nine that they wanted, but he's the nine that they needed. So, leads us to our question, if Ancelotti might be keeping a close eye. Because, per my estimation, Mateos Cunha, Richarlison, Joao Pedro, Victor Roque, Kyle George, Igor Tiago, and Igor Jesus, seven different nines, over 800 minutes combined, zero goals.

29:34Casey, what thinks you? Ancelotti, to use Rafinha as a nine, is that the answer? Well, I mean, didn't Spain win two World Cups without a true number nine? Clearly, it can be done. And what was the big conversation with Barcelona in this offseason? Oh, my God, they don't have a number nine. Are they going to score goals? Oh, they're only averaging like close to five goals a match so far to start the season. So in a lot of ways, we talk about formations. We talk about where players are. It's really just how players connect with one another, how the movement is right, and how it works for that specific group of players.

30:19The question mark is, in that Brazilian side, can Ancelotti get that team to play in a way without a number nine, the way Barcelona is playing without a number nine, the way Spain has played without a number nine? And if that's the case, absolutely no question. Because there is no Ronaldo for Brazil right now. There is no Bebeto, Romario. There is no real true marquee world-class number nine for Brazil. So why not? Why not just see if it works for Brazil the way it's worked for Barcelona? Vinny Estevão, Rodrigo's on the mend, but he surely will be back. Could be in one of those wings. It's a crowded room when it comes to the wingers.

31:06Why not play him as a nine, Ali? I would play him as a nine. Now, let me just back up for a second here. It's a sad, sad, sad reality, a sad referendum for Brazil. The land of the players that Casey just mentioned. Ronaldo Fenomeno, Romario, Careca. And you can go further back and further back and further back. And everywhere there's been a number nine that you go, Lord, that guy's good. And you don't get that player right now with Brazil. It's a sad reality for Brazil and for the standards of Brazil. Now, as it pertains to Rafinha, look, he's hot. He's playing at a high level. His movement has been excellent for Barcelona.

31:50His instincts have been excellent, even if he's not a number nine. He's finding himself in good positions, and more importantly, he's scoring his goals and taking advantage of the chances that Barcelona have created for him. And even if he's not getting the opportunities, his movement is also opening space for others. But to Casey's point, I can make a very comfortable argument. And it's a comfortable argument. I think there is debate in this. Barcelona and their attacking core group of players, even including their attacking midfielders, are far better. Not just better, but far better than whatever Brazil can put on the field.

32:29And that's including Joao Pedro and Vinny Jr. and Rodrigo and Mateo Scuña and this guy. Those guys are not better than what Barcelona has available. And what makes it even worse or even better for Barcelona is the fact that the movement of those players and the understanding, the place interchange, the rotation, all of that works really well together for Barcelona. Whereas if Brazil tried to do this, it would look like a big old mess because they don't quite have the same sort of movement. ask Vinny Jr. to have this freedom to move in and out of spaces and have the discipline to understand. I'm not just here on the left-hand side.

33:06I can appear on the right-hand side. I can appear in the middle. But when this guy gets out wide, I'm going to take his position as the number nine. Does that happen? No, because he'll park himself on the left-hand side. And then Mateus Cunha, you ask him to roam, he'll roam. He'll roam everywhere except where he needs to be as a finisher inside the 18-yard box. And so while you think that these players may be talented enough to do this, I'm not quite sure that that's the case. If the question is about Rafinha playing overnight, I have no issues. What's around him, I have concerns. What's his best position?

33:37He doesn't know what his best position is. He doesn't know what his best position is. Right now. I ask you because he's played on the left. He's played underneath the nine for Barcelona. He's played on the right. He seems to do everything so well, which is why I ask. I think that right now in this team, there's no doubt that playing centrally for him seems to be a natural fit. But with the freedoms that he has at Barcelona where he can drop underneath and he knows full well that now Danielma is going to take that space. So Fermín López is going to take that space. And even if he goes and combines out wide with Laminya Man, then other players are going to take the inside channel.

34:17If he goes on the left-hand side, you know he has certainty that Anthony Gordon is going to shift inside. These things are happening naturally for him and for Barcelona. And that's why, beyond the fact that he has all this movement, beyond the fact that there's plays interchange, beyond the fact that there's player rotation, he's finishing his chances. It was a stat, because we were doing the game yesterday, there was a stat that came up. He has scored an eight out of ten shots that he has taken on goal. Look, that's 80%. 80 %! 80 %! I mean, that's not sustainable, but come on now. This is silly.

34:56Highly productive. Silly. And it is playing at an elite level. This is elite level sort of performance so far from Rafinha. Yeah, I got to be honest. I'm very surprised we're even having this conversation. I would have thought Mateos Cunha would have been, even though he's not your traditional nine, somewhat of an answer. And Enric, who I think is a logical choice, who most reminds me of old school Romario with his traits, hasn't really established a club career, so I can't even believe we're here. Case. Hey, man, the disrespect to Romario. Don't put Hendrick in the same category as Romario. There are versions of.

35:29Case, last word with you for Rapina. Yeah, I mean, I agree. He has an unbelievable cast with him at Barcelona, but no more than that, a cast that understands the system the way they're all playing. And when, you know, Ali makes the perfect point, is when somebody moves in one position, somebody else understands they need to go in a different position and there's no ego involved. And Hansi Flick has that team playing incredibly well. It'll be difficult to replicate that for Carlo Ancelotti. If anybody can, he probably can. but it's definitely all clicking perfectly for not only Rafinha, but all of Barcelona.

36:16Don Carlo Ancelotti, we got to let him know the formula Hansi Flick has established. Maybe we'll let him know at Carnival, which is where Casey Keller, I hear, is going after this. He's got an important dinner. So, Casey, thank you very much, my man, for being with us. Until next time. Wow. Casey's going to Carnival? Thanks, guys. Wow. Well, you know who, not exactly, well, upcoming La Liga schedule. Listen, we got Tuesday, Rayo Vallecano Español, Elche, Real Madrid, 3 p.m. Wednesday, you got Alago Madrid, Osasuna. And then Thursday, you've got Levante Atletico Real Betis, Etafe, and Malaga, Villarreal.

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37:38Service Titan, AI for the trades.

37:43It's not Carnival quite, but it is Miami. Inter-Miami versus Nashville. Sam Serge gets in behind and breaks off with the scoring. What a surprise. Somebody gets in behind the Inter-Miami back line. Upside, upside, tell it. There's technology available. Apparently, it was not outside. It's a good finish, 1-0. All right, tell me what you think. Olímpico or autogolazo? I don't think this is a matter of opinion. This is autogolazo deluxe. Reid Baker widening with the autogolazo. How about this? This right here would be a golazo. Rodrigo De Paul with the beautiful layoff. And then Messi. It falls to Rodrigo De Paul.

38:20He's about to take it with his left foot. Let me just leave it to the guy that really knows what he's doing. Automatic. It really is. And then we're going to see Serge off a rebound right here. He's got a chance for it. And he does. I'll tell you what else is automatic. Inter Miami giving up a lead. It's the 91st minute there, Ale. Ah, the game would end 2-2 at New Stadium. And here are the recent results for Inter Miami. As you can see, only one win in their last six fixtures. A lot of those games at home. They are still second place in the Eastern Conference. 45 points behind Nashville SC, which is on a ridiculous pace at the moment.

38:58Nobody is stopping them. All right, Ali. Enter Miami. They've been on this skid. They can't even win at home. It seems every game they play at home, it doesn't matter if Messi's playing or not, they cannot win. And you mentioned the defense, the leaking goals. They seem to get in behind. But that's not stopping Messi. 18 goals, 13 assists. The individual output is not the problem here. Casimiro scoring goals. Rodrigo Paul scoring goals, getting assists. but there is no balance, which leads us to the question, can you find that balance with Messi on the field? Well, they found it last season. They found it late in the season, and they found it, more importantly, into the playoffs with guys that were willing to sacrifice their work offensively and give this team a lot of work defensively.

39:53Now, you mentioned Casemiro and Rodrigo de Pola, And while there is no disputing or arguing the resume of these players, I think there's an argument to be made that in order to fit those guys on the field, you are sacrificing your ability to cover the ground defensively. And while we focus on the back line of Inter-Miami, as we should, and the goalkeeper, too, let me just tell you, he gives out goals all the time. Both of them. Yes, yes. It doesn't matter who they play. Whoever they put in. Rocco Rios Novo or, yes, Dane Sinclair. Whoever plays in goal is having difficulties. And that's why you're having guys in and out.

40:34Neither one of these guys are really hung on to the position and say, I'm the goalkeeper of this team. You can focus on that. You can focus on the back line. But also, you have to put some, I think, some focus on the fact that in the midfield, they get played through all the time. Not some of the time. All the time. We focus on the run by Sam Sturridge there and thinking about, well, is he onside? Is he not onside? Let me just tell you. It doesn't matter whether he's onside or offside. How much time does the guy on the ball have in order to play that ball? And so Sturridge gets in behind and you kind of go, well, it's the back line.

41:15It's the goalkeeper. Yeah, but there's no pressure on the ball. And that's happening regularly. So when you have a team that is giving as many goals as they are, it's not just a goalkeeper. It's not just a back line. The midfield has a lot of holes in them as well. And the question is not going to be as to whether you can have balance with Lionel Messi on the field or not, because he's going to be on the field. So it becomes the job of everybody in this team in figuring out, let's give ourselves balance. He's going to be there. He's going to be a problem solver for us in the attack. Let's us resolve the issue behind him, and that hasn't happened.

41:48I'll be honest, I'm very surprised with some of the moves that Inter-Miami has made. Some of those legs you mentioned last season, one of those, Noah Allen, he's with the Chicago Fire now. You've got players who identify with the city, players who identify with the program. He's one of the leading appearance record holders in Inter-Miami's history, only behind Messi, I believe. And yet, you ship him off. Any type of player that has had that balance or those legs for you is no longer there. And you bring in star power. And that star power should equate to goals, should equate to wins. should equate to entertaining play at home.

42:20And yet, Ale, I look at this team. They're a much better team away from home than they are at home. What does that tell you? Well, I don't want to make this into a weather forecast, but it's hot in Miami. It's hot. It's humid. And so Casemiro has to get around in that. Rodrigo De Paul has to get around in that. And it hurts to do it. And so while Casemiro's scoring goals, See, here's part of the issue. So Casemiro scored a couple of goals, and people are saying, wow, look, Casemiro's scoring goals. But that's not what he's there for. It's nice that he does it, but that's not why he's on the field.

42:58He should be the guy who's in front of the back line, protecting that back line. And I can tell you with confidence that he hasn't been doing that with any sort of consistency. Rodrigo De Paul tends to wonder all over the field. And while I don't mind Lionel Messi wandering everywhere, you can go here, you can go there. Feel the game, Leo. You do you. I have no issue with that. But you can't have Rodrigo de Paul doing that, too, because now you start getting into a situation in which that balance that you're talking about is non-existent. Very quickly, I see Messi, and I don't see the best version of Messi, even though the numbers reflect that.

43:37I actually think this hurts Messi. It's much more difficult for Messi to do what he does when he's going against a lead. When the opposing team feels very good about their posture and they keep attacking at well this inner Miami side. It's not been the best version of Messi, yet he's still scoring those goals. Yeah, again, I don't think Messi is going to be the issue, nor should he be the issue. Because whatever you may think of his level of play right now, he's scoring goals. The productivity is still there. If you're going to find issues with Inter-Miami, you've got to look behind Lionel Messi.

44:12And it would also help if you get Werderame scoring goals with consistency. It would also help if goals come from somewhere else, which is also part of the issue. You had a clear one last night. It has become very Lionel Messi or nothing. And then defensively, it has become very nothing. What do they hang on to defensively? What is it that they do defensively? How do they go about closing out a match? There was an opportunity to close out a match against Nashville, who you just said is so hot and they're playing so well. There was an opportunity to get those three points at home. You're in the 90-something minute.

44:49How can you have so much time and space in a position in which now Nashville, not only can they get a shot on goal, they're also able to get in a position to get on the rebound after the goalkeeper makes a save. Where is Inter-Miami defensively? All over the place. Well, Inter-Miami does have an opportunity to win a trophy. Actually, this week, Ale, is Campones Cup. Inter-Miami versus Cruz Azul at New Stadium in Miami. And as you can see, Inter-Miami is a favorite in this one. Minus 150 to Cruz Azul, plus 115. There is a bit of reports coming out of Mexico City that Cruz Azul, the players were not able to travel today.

45:26They will be there tomorrow, which doesn't give them too much time. Ale, who are you taking here? The odds makers have Inter-Miami and Messi in this one. Well, I think we're going to show some of the highlights of Cruz Azul Club America. Yes, we are. And what a game that was. Yes, it was. And I think it's a game that became far more physically taxing and mentally taxing for Cruz Azul than it needed to be because late they were hanging on where they felt like they were in control of the match. That may hurt. Yeah. Because I think they may have overextended themselves in having to close out that match and then you add some of the whatever travel issues that are going on, and you have Inter-Miami playing at home.

46:13Logically speaking, and I'm just going with a logical thought process here, it feels like Inter-Miami should be the favorites and should win this. Yeah, I learned my lesson. I don't bet against Messi when it comes to this type of competition. If you remember, if you recall, Inter-Miami versus Cruz Azul, it was Messi's debut. He comes off a flight literally that week. my tie in hand comes on the field and scores a game-winning walk-off free kick. I'm not betting against them in this one. I will take Inter-Miami. All right. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy.

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48:01I trust my medical emergency kit, and I can save you$45 right now. Visit urgentcarekit.com slash sports promo code sports. That's urgentcarekit.com slash sports promo code sports. We got to talk about El Tri. We're going to do a little something, nothing, or everything. Rafa Marquez was just named officially head coach of the Mexican national team. Now, there is a little bit of a caveat with this, Ale. What's that? In this next call-up, the fixture window, these next four games, call up whoever you want, Rafa Marquez. But you get two per club within Liga MX because we don't want you messing with Jornada 10.

48:44Is this something, nothing, or everything? Well, I don't know what the premise of something, nothing, or everything is, but I can just tell you that if you're going to name somebody a head coach of a national team in his first call-up, which is an extended call-up. Yeah. Historically so. An extended call-up. Well, this one even more so, right? Yes. You can't be limiting what he does. So I think it's something, nothing, and everything altogether. together. It's all of it. If you're a manager, right, and you're trying to establish yourself as the manager of this team, the first thing that you want to do in your first call-up is make sure that you go and reach the players that you want to be and that you think can be part of your program going forward.

49:37And this is going to be the introduction to how we're going to work together. These are the things that I believe are going to make our team successful. I need you guys to buy into all of this. And in this case, what the Mexican Federation are saying is, well, not you guys, just two of you, two of you, two of you, and two of you. It limits what Rafa Marquez can do as a manager, and it hinders his ability to create the culture that he wants within the Mexican national team, if you are indeed saying, by design, that you can only get two players from this team and this team and this team. What about if there are four players that belong in the national team, in any specific club, whether that's Club America, that's Chivas or wherever it may be.

50:25You're saying, uh, no. It makes zero sense. It does make zero sense. One of the things that makes Rafa Marquez such an intriguing hire is he inspires hope. He gives the new generation, He gives Mexican fans that there's potential change looming. He was part of the regime with Javier Aguirre. He, in many eyes of the fans, was the guy responsible for bringing over the younger generation and having Javier Aguirre actually pay attention to him. So they're hoping things will change. Now you're going back to much of the same, Ale. Now you're thinking, why should I put faith in this program to keep Rafael Marquez around?

51:01The same program that from 2022 to 2026 hired three different presidents of the league. Three different presidents of the federation. Hired three different coaches. There was Diego Coca, there was Jimmy Lozano, and then there was Javier Aguirre. Why should this be any different? And you've said it. If you're going to allow him to work, allow him to work. And the reason this happens is because there's no separation of church and state here. The league ownership group have a say in what happens to the federation, which is the national team. And when they have that say, they can impose these things.

51:34And you're already starting off with these handcuffs, if you will. it's much of the same. And this is why, to me, it's everything. It doesn't feel like things are going to change. No, and honestly, I mean, to take it even further, I think we can agree that La Liga, that Serie A, that Bundesliga, that the Premier League, that these are bigger, more important products than Liga MX. Of course. And with bigger clubs, with more history, a budget that goes well beyond whatever Liga MX and the individual clubs can handle. These teams are allowing their players to be called up and go and play with their national teams.

52:19Right? Yeah. And so when you think about some of the limitations of Mexican soccer, it is rooted at the fact that they can't help themselves. Yeah. They just can't help themselves in, here's a national team coach, let's get excited, here comes the call-up, oh, but wait, you can't do that. And instead of actually taking two steps forward and continuing with the momentum, which was a positive one following the World Cup, I think that the Mexican national team rekindled that fire within the Mexican fan and the faith of the Mexican fan. and then now you're saying, yeah, see that momentum? No, let's bring it back, baby.

53:01Let's bring it back because we cannot handle success and we cannot get out of our own way. That's what it feels like. Well, that only applies to Liga Mexicans. It does not apply to Europe where our next ballers are putting the ball in the back of the net. Let's run it back here with the likes of Jonathan David. Ooh. Look at that. Oh, Pelegrino Matarato. Pelegrino to the homies. He would have to see Jonathan David come on in the second half And then Jonathan David here putting his defender on skates. Maybe, I don't know, you tell me, Ali, about the defending, but a beautiful up-put finish. You know, Jonathan David, he's a deceptive player because he doesn't seem to move all that quickly.

53:38No. And somehow he is able to just get defenders off balance. It is poor defending. But it is a good finish from Jonathan David. Made a difference, scored a good goal, and a big win for Atletico Madrid. Julian Hu. And from Julian Hu to Raul, si señor! Oh, Raul Jimenez, Wolves, El Lobo, with a beautiful finish there, Ale. This is such a my kind of range. But it's a position in which you expect Raul Jimenez to be in and to be able to finish. He did that perfectly. All right, all right. Cruz Azul, Club America, Clásico Joven in Estadio Azteca, and there's always goals. Balls cut back to Eric Lira.

54:24Failed Monica move, but does not fail here. That's a really good finish. Well taken. Cleanly taken. Opens up his body. Generates a whole lot of power behind it. Gorgeous. Yeah, and how about this from Paradella? Ball's going to come back to him. Left-footed finish. It's a banger. Okay. Just copy and paste what I just said. Hits it so cleanly. By the time the goalkeeper tries to react, it's already passed him. Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. How about this? creates contact with Paradella. And is there contact, Dale? Yeah, that qualifies as contact. And we're going to the spot then. As we should. And Rodolfo Cota, who is known for a saver too from the spot, comes up big.

55:09Well, he does. And at this point, kind of, sort of kept Club America in the game. Until Jesus Orozco at this corner kick. Oh, no. Goal side. Everybody gets sucked into the near post. Tapping from my kind of range. But wait a minute. Is there a comeback? Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Is there a comeback? No, no, no, no, no. What a goal this is. Oh, no, no, no, no. Ryan Rodriguez. The movement on this is ridiculous. We're in the second half now. Three to one. Hi. How about the defender here? Dude, honestly, you did the hard work. You got it yourself in a position. That's a good finish, though.

55:48Yeah, it's a good finish. But the defender is there. He's got it clear. Oh no, oh no, Oscar Perea. Oh, El Colombiano with the left foot and then the rebound. Who gets it? Oh, Borja, Miguel Borja. It's Oscar Perea, no Pareja. Oh, that's a Perea. That is a Pareja. I like that. Run it back. Run it back. It's more than three. It's more than three. Oh, geez. You could feel how tense the stadium was. You mentioned those demons. You mentioned the skeletons in that closet. They almost, almost gave that one away. All right, another Classico. I don't even know the name of this. I don't even think it's a Classico.

56:27Chivas Pumas is a big game. And Chivas would be all over here. Santiago Sandoval, 18 year old, the teenager with the header. He's not a nine, but he gets up like one. All right, okay. I can't give him a full Kevin Sullivan segment. Well, we'll give it some time. All right. Look at that. Hugo Camberos and him, their buddies. Angel Sepúveda with another slick pass. And how about this finish, Ale? Sandoval, that's a double. That's a brace. The combination play, but it's really just about the finish. Full stretch, courtesy dive. Never, ever getting there to nothing. Yeah, Efrain Álvarez, Mexican-American to Mexican-American here.

57:08And it's going to be Brian Gonzalez, El Cotoro, with a left-footed blast. Oh, that's just a sexy finish. You know, there's a guy for Cruz Azul. He's called El Chiquete. Found it funny. This win 3-0 to Chivas, who are leaders of Liga MX. All right, my man, we survived. We survived. I think we thrived. We did thrive. They put Alexis and Mauricio on notice. I don't know. I don't charge that much either for hosting duties. All right, next show. I'm sure we'll come up with something. Catch us on the Football Americas podcast. Oh, the U.S. Men's National Team and Mexican National Team roster reveal next to the Americas this Thursday.

57:52See you then. I won't be there. You're off? No, I'm gone.

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