Futbol Americas: Poch Puts Weah Down

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25:24Herc Gomez:Go to maintainx.com slash sports. That's maintain and the letter x dot com slash sports. I like things my way, my coffee, my schedule, and my treatment. So I talked to my doctor about self-injecting with the Vivgard Hytrulo Pre-Filled Syringe, which contains F-Gartigamide Alpha and Hyaluronidase QVFC. It's injected under your skin subcutaneously. It means I can inject in my space on my time. It's my treatment, my way. Visit VivGuardMyWay.com. That's V-Y-V-G-A-R-T MyWay.com. And talk to your doctor about VivGuard Hattrulo. Brought to you by Argenics. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy.

26:06But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery. They're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner and protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click granger.com or just stop by. All right, let's have a little bit of calm or alarm. Has there been a bit of a drop in form for Christian Pulisic at Milan?

26:44We know that he has started very, very well with a lot of gold contributions. But look, I know we're still technically in January, but January is coming to an end. And since this year, I mean dramatic, since this year, he has not had any goal contributions. Listen, our producer Costa said that we need to sound an alarm bell about this. And as Herc pointed out, Weston McKinney is creeping up on Christian Pulisic's goals. So calm or alarm. Be yourself calm. Listen, I get it. I get the point. You know, no goal contributions in 2026. But at the same time, Milan have not lost in 2026. So team continues to win.

27:27You continue to be a significant part of that. Even with all the goal contributions, batters come. Alarm. Oh, okay.

27:37Herc Gomez:Yeah, I think Milan should be worried. I think U.S. Men's National Team fans should be worried. He didn't play the last two games with the U.S. Men's National Team over an injury. and he's not featured much in the last four games because of injury. He sat out, and with good reason, the summer camp for the U.S. Men's National Team, the string of friendlies and the Gold Cup, because he needed to nurse, to rest that hip flexor. He asked Milan last year for time off from that hip flexor. They did not allow that time off. There were money issues. They needed to creep up in the standings. Europe was way out of place, but they still needed to better their positioning to earn money, I guess.

28:18Herc Gomez:And he was part of that equation. He wasn't afforded that time. The U.S. men's national team, in what I could think we'd all say ugly fashion, afforded him that time. It was a big old mess between Marisa Pochettino, Christian Pulisic. The media got involved, ex-players. It was ugly. But it was the right move by Christian Pulisic. And we see now that something is going on. We see now that this could be something that is chronic that could be, quite frankly, affecting him. If you're Allegri, excuse me, if you're Allegri, Max Allegri, you're playing Christian Pulisic because he's your best player.

28:52Herc Gomez:But only if he's fit. So the fact that he's not playing tells me he's not fit. The fact that they say, well, he's just not 100 % right now, that's why we're not using him, tells me something is still not right with Christian Pulisic. And if I'm a U.S. Men's National Team fan, if I'm part of the U.S. Men's National Federation or Marisa Pochentino, I am freaking out at the possibility of my best player, the best player I have in the pool, the man who most likely when it's all said and done will be known as the best U.S. Men's National Team, best American product of all time, that leading up into a home World Cup may not be fit.

29:27And that should worry the hell out of them. I mean, we were just talking about the fact that, you know, it's like when it comes to selection and whatnot, it tends to be a what have you done for me lately? You know, you're only as good as your last game. But Shaka, when it comes to Christian Pulisic, of course, that, you know, what Herc said, there are some alarm bells that start to go off and wondering, you know, if it's a chronic issue, if he's really going to enter not 100 % fit, which you want your Captain America to be at a home World Cup. But Christian Pulisic, you feel like he is that player that you can give him that time to manage it?

30:00And also, either way, his spot will never, dare I say, be in danger? I agree with everything. Morshi Bochettino might disagree and try to tell us different, but as long as Christian Pulisic is fit, not even at 100%, if he's 90 % fit, he starts. And you try to manage his minutes accordingly, you manage his training schedule accordingly, but but he starts i i understand and listen to his point christian pulisic is the one who knows that injury and and how much is hampering him and how you how you manage that between now and the summer and everything that comes with it um but he arrives in june 90 fit he starts yeah listen

30:45Herc Gomez:footballers are never 100 fit that's just the life you've grown accustomed to but But this is different for Christian Pulisic. This is a player who's had throughout his career these injuries that have kept him off the field. And now he understands his body. And his body was telling him he needed a rest. I don't think he's quite there. Because his time at Milan, his time at Serie A has taught us one thing. If he's healthy, he is productive. And the fact that he is, one, not productive. And two, not getting on the field as much tells me he's not healthy. So that is worrisome right there. I mean, I feel bad for Almo saying this is 2026.

31:24He has zero goal contributions. We're only like three weeks in. We're only three weeks in, guys. Calma. I'm not that dramatic. What?

31:33Herc Gomez:No goals at all. He's got no goals since last year, you should say. He has no goal contributions since last year. All right. Well, another U.S. Men's National Team player and another big name who is also in a race for fitness is Tyler Adams. just have a look at the recent injuries that he has unfortunately had to contend with them. There have not been easy or short injuries. He's currently nursing an MCL injury that he picked up whilst playing in the Premier League with Bournemouth against Manchester United after colliding with Mateus Cunha. Well, I managed to travel all the way to Bournemouth last week to catch up with Tyler Adams for a much-needed update on exactly when we can expect him back on the pitch.

32:16All right, Tyler, good to catch up with you. All the guys back there from Herc to Casey to Shaka, everybody desperate for an update. Just in terms of like a realistic checklist timeline for how you've been doing since the injury. I'm in a good spot. Realistic timeline. I don't want to throw anything out there that I can't stay true to my word. What's the checklist? I mean, I'm running now, which is obviously one of the most important things in order to play football. So I wouldn't say I'm too far away. I would say probably another month. Let's call it four weeks, hopefully, until I'm back in action in a game, which is not that far.

32:52That's pretty ahead of time or what we thought. Yeah, I mean, I think some people thought March. Some people thought a little bit earlier. It was just varied about when I got out of my brace, how I felt. And I've been able to kind of tick the boxes pretty quickly. So I would say, yeah, hopefully in the next four weeks we're in a good spot. And you've obviously seemed to have taken this all in stride. Like, I feel like it's us that's been the dramatic ones, panicking a bit more probably than your own mother i'm happy you guys care about me back in the states um no listen i think that yeah it was a little bit frustrating and i think how the action happened people probably got a little bit nervous i knew right away it wasn't anything major major like we spoke about but um yeah still a little bit of time i mean all together it'll probably be 10 weeks but it could have been so much worse so i'm happy yeah i know i mean you say that but of course we did panic because a couple of shows obviously ago when you know the draw for the world cup came out and I think it was actually Shaka who said that when we were going through the options for the U.S.

33:47trying to build the roster ahead of time both Shaka hurt Casey said that they feel like there's nobody else on this team pound for pound light for light that can bring what you bring so I think that's why there's such a need to see you at least in this March international window coming up especially because it's two big games you know against Belgium you've already scored on Thibaut Courtois 16 years old Portugal as well those are some good ones so how realistic is March for you? I think it's really realistic. Again, I think my main focus has to be here with Bournemouth and playing games and playing a good amount of minutes before going to that camp.

34:21But the club wants to see me go to national team, I think, just as much as everyone else wants to see me go to national team. And, you know, I really want to be there because I think for one fortunate circumstance, one unfortunate circumstance, I didn't go to the past two camps and obviously had a concussion before one of the camps and then had my son for the other one. So So this March one was always on the radar as being a super important one to me. I think it's important to find that cohesiveness with the team in order to lead up to the World Cup in June. So, you know, I'm hoping, fingers crossed, that everything just goes smoothly until then.

34:52But I don't see it being a problem. What did you think of that last count? Because, of course, it gave us the 5-1 over Uruguay, which I think blew everyone's mind, especially because when you look at the names on the pitch, it's not what I think any of us would have had as a full-strength U.S. men's national team. So what did you think of it and did you have any contacts with any of the guys after? Yeah, I woke up and I texted Sebastian Berhalter right away. I'm super close with him now in these past camps. And, you know, after the summer, after the World Cup, we just got super close over the past year.

35:20And I was so happy for him because, again, I think it's one of those things where people look at the names and, you know, of course, like everyone wants to see the full strength U.S. men's national team squad every single game and every single camp. But that's also not realistic to the development of, you know, so many players in the wider pool to get them prepared for a World Cup. So to see those boys go out there and ball out, it's amazing to see because, again, I'm a kid that came from MLS. So whenever a kid from MLS does really well, it makes me happy because it just puts it on the map and shows what it's made of, what we're made of.

35:48So, yeah, I was proud of the boys for that one. It was exciting to see. I felt super patriotic waking up in the morning and knowing that they smashed them 5-1. And that's against a good team as well. So that was good to see. And I mean, just now looking at the next camp, what do you hope you guys, of course, get from this? I think the rest of us want to know a clear idea of what the roster will look like, or at least what a consistent XI would look like with an eye to the World Cup. Because obviously one thing Poch has done is that he has given so many people chances and rotations. But then the panic starts to set in because you're like, you want guys that have been playing together enough when you're opening a World Cup on home soil.

36:23So as a player, how do you navigate through that? And when do you know, like, OK, these are the guys that I feel is the core of this team? I think what Pocz has done such an amazing job of and, you know, he's not made us stress in any moment. He makes sure everyone understands their roles. And I don't want to say everyone's replaceable, but he's shown that we can take a player out, put a player here, change formation, put players there and we could still win and it's still going to work. And that's the that's the environment that we've created in the team, that it's super competitive, that nobody's guaranteed a spot.

36:57that he's given guys opportunities. So don't worry, you'll get your opportunity. It's about how you take it and how you progress. And that's the environment that we've created. Every single time I go into camp, I fight for my spot. And that's what he's created. He's made it feel that it doesn't matter if you come from Bournemouth in the Premier League or if you come from somewhere in MLS, show me what you're made of. In every single camp, you got to go in there and show what you're made of. So yeah, I think in March, I can't speak for the manager, obviously. But yeah, who knows who he's going to call in and see.

37:25but I'm sure a lot of guys will still get an opportunity as well because there's a lot of season left in your club to play as well. So you can change perspective for anybody and make a run going into the World Cup. And I feel like nobody manages you better than you, and especially just dealing with your injury now. Obviously, it's great to hear that you feel like things are ahead of time now too, but how much of that do you have to balance, and how do you balance with the, look, it's March, it's the last international window with my country before we go straight into a freaking World Cup at home, but also I need to play the long game.

37:55Maybe I don't need to throw myself out there too soon. I'm not good at balancing. Oh, he has a flaw. You want to be out there. I got to be held back sometimes for sure. But I think it's not fair to speak about, you know, trying to play the long game when you have club obligations. Like I still want to develop as a player here. I want Boydman to be in the best position at the end of the season, and I want to be physically in the best position at the end of the season so that I'm able to go and obviously play in the World Cup successfully. but too far to think about for me. It's not even on my radar.

38:28All right. Thanks, Tyler. We'll catch up in come March.

38:34All right. Always a massive pleasure to catch up with Tyler Adams. You guys know that he's definitely one of one, but even better news now to hear that it sounds like he is around a month ahead of time. I think the original date was going to take him into March where he could return to the pitch. Now he's saying that it could be mid to end of February, which feels like just around the corner. Now, when I heard that, I was like, oh, gosh, I want to wrap you up in bubble wrap and save you until that first World Cup game. But as you heard what he said, he's not good at balancing. He wants to be back out on the pitch.

39:09Now he has started doing some running on the treadmill. Eventually will gravitate to doing that on the pitch. But that's great news, of course, guys. But knowing as players that have been through injuries as well and it's a World Cup year, are you also a little like, oh, Tyler, It sounds like too soon. Yeah, we've all been there. And as players, you are anxious to get back out in the park. And when you do, you're trying to give it your all. There's no kind of, to Tyler's point, there's no real balance about it. You just want to have an absolute go at everything. But credit to him for this positive attitude in what he brings and how he overcomes these injury issues.

39:48And I think the biggest challenge is around Tyler Adams himself. just kind of recognizing his injury history and worrying about how that, worrying every time he goes down because of that history and because of how important he is, not just to Bournemouth, but more to the point of the U.S. men's national team. That's the challenge for Tyler Adams here.

40:09Herc Gomez:You mentioned wrapping him up in bubble wrap. The problem with a player like Tyler Adams is that his heart, his pride is bigger than maybe his body will allow. You see how small of a frame he has, but then you watch him play. He's the most aggressive individual on the field. He throws caution to the wind. He puts his body on the line for his team. And when you have a player who constantly plays on that edge every single weekend, every single game day, every single training session, you're closer to injury than you are anything else. But he does that for his team. He does that for his country. So you want a player like that always on the field.

40:49Herc Gomez:The problem is keeping a player like that healthy on the field. But you can't ask him to tone it back. You can't ask him to give you less because that has taken away for how great Tyler Adams is. This is an awesome interview, honestly. Very well done. No, I'm being honest because Tyler, he's not always as comfortable. He's very good in front of cameras. But you can tell when he's comfortable and he's letting us into his life, to the U.S. Men's National Team, peeling back the curtain. And that's always good to see because oftentimes, Jack, we were athletes before. We don't give that kind of access like the Mr.

41:23Herc Gomez:Bob Foley gave. Bob Foley, who, by the way, also owns our Las Vegas Knights. Thank you to the cherries, to Michael B. Jordan. Oh, thank you to Michael B. Jordan. Las Vegas' son thanks you from one vegano to another. Thank you very much. Michael B. Jordan, can I get a shirt too? You like this? Yeah. Some people get a holly push. It's a goalkeeper shirt, isn't it, Shaq? No, no, it's long shirt. No, I know, but it's giving, like, 90s goalkeeper vibes. It is. It is. Shaq, I know you got a blue light. If you got a blue light, this has some amazing colors on it. Michael B. Jordan, can we get a short shirt?

41:59We didn't know I got a blue light.

42:01Herc Gomez:We're not a bear. We're not a bear. Where are you going with this? Another thing on Tyler Adams, Shaq, and I'll come to you for this, because actually when I was asking him that question and saying that the rest of us probably were the ones that were super worried in terms of this U.S. men's national team was because in the production that we are currently working on with him we use the clip that where you spoke where you said and i remember asking you all right well if not tyler adams then who else can fill those shoes and you said i don't think there is anybody in an entire roster that can bring what tyler adams does the fact that he has missed the last two international breaks and windows important windows for the u.s how necessary is it that they need him back for this march one considering it's the last one before the world cup i i'll be honest here.

42:42It's not. And I know what he says, and from a player perspective, I totally agree. As a player myself, I would want to be in that last window. But you feel you're always fitting. I just feel, given his skill set, given his importance, given his history with the U.S. Mets national team, and this squad, if he doesn't make March, it's not as though if he doesn't make the March window and perform there, that he drops in the pecking order for Mauricio Pochettino. I think he still starts. I can see that sitting here. Admittedly, I can sit here and see that as much as I like. But as a player, I would have felt completely differently, which is exactly what Tyler Adams is seeing in the interview.

43:30And I understand that point, that perspective.

43:33Herc Gomez:I think for me, it's the last thing you said, which is the squad. It's just this player pool. there are very little holding midfielders that you can actually trust and if we're going on a depth chart it's Tyler Adams and then make of the names what you will insert number two three and four however you want but you're talking about an Aiden Morris who plays in the championship you're talking about double pivots like maybe that could play like a Sebastian Berhalter even though he's more of an eight or a Christian rolled on maybe a Tanner Tessman like there is a I would say significant drop off from Tyler Adams and the rest.

44:09Herc Gomez:Not that those players couldn't be good together, but there is no like for like for Tyler Adams. Yep. I think I agree with that 100%. Well, like I said, that was just a snippet of a side chat and a big chat that we are, we will be having with Tyler Adams as part of an ESPN and landscape production, his diaries. We will be catching up with him once a month until the world's cup. So some pretty good content as he shows us around Bournemouth. and you can look out for the first episode, which is live right now on ESPN and Anscape's platforms. Well, from one great U.S. player to one of the best to ever do it for the U.S.

44:46women's national team, Crystal Dunn has announced her retirement today. She said on social media, Today I'm announcing my retirement. This decision has not come easily, but I am at peace and deeply fulfilled with all that I have accomplished. She went on to say that she just wants to spend more time with her son and her husband. She said, I've achieved nearly everything I dreamed of in this sport and gave all I have to give. So Crystal Dunn, they're retiring at the young age of 33, might I add. And I'm pretty sure the ladies, Ali Krieger and Christina Alexander and more, will be talking about this on the latest edition of Football W.

45:26It's coming up for you on Tuesday with some special guests, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson. Look out for it.

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46:40In as little as 10 minutes, you can get your free quote and up to$3 million in coverage at ethos.com slash sports. That's E-T-H-O-S dot com slash sports. Ethos.com slash sports. Application times and rates may vary. Want to earn extra income for your business? Amazon Hub Delivery is looking for ambitious business owners to assist with local deliveries. When you become a partner, you and your staff will deliver packages to customers in your area on a schedule that works for you.

47:09Herc Gomez:With each package delivered, you'll gain extra income and exposure for your business. Plus, Amazon Hub Delivery makes it easy to get started. There's no upfront costs, delivery experience, or long-term contracts required. Sign up to learn more at Amazon.com slash Hub Delivery. That's Amazon.com slash H-U-B Delivery. Quick timeout. Some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak Frozen Power Waffles and Flapjacks are built for busy mornings. Heat it, eat it, and you're out the door. No long prep, no complicated game plan. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber, and crafted with 100 % whole grains, not refined white flour.

47:49So you're getting something that actually fuels you. And there's depth on the roster. buttermilk and vanilla, blueberry, chocolate chip, even gluten-free options. Breakfast that delivers, snack that delivers. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box. All right, so American billionaire majority owner of Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, has admitted that he has proposed that MLS clubs or or Inter-Miami specifically, should be playing in the Copa de Libertadores. This is what he said. I have had conversations with Conmebol and with the president, Alejandro Dominguez, about looking into participation in the Copa Libertadores.

48:34There are precedents because Mexican clubs have played in the Libertadores before.

48:43All right, well, Alejandro Dominguez had this to say. It is an issue that must be discussed with CONCACAF. It has been done in the past, but we are very respectful of other confederations. So it's not a no-no because he goes on to say, but yes, it is an honor that teams from other confederations view the Copa Libertadores as a reference point for international and global competition. So it's not impossible. And I think the whole reason that we would want to see this happen is because Lionel Messi is playing for Inter Miami and Lionel Messi playing back in a Copa Lib in his home continent I think would just send the entire continent into a great meltdown.

49:33Unless, of course, you're Brazil.

49:35Herc Gomez:He's never played in there, right? So it would be a tournament that he would probably want to play in. According to Jorge Mas, we were at the national championship with Nauron Nunca. He told us Messi's on board. We want this. Here's the issue. Why would Connebo want this? Why does Alejandro Dominguez, who at every... Kaching, kaching. Exactly. At every beck and turn. Alejandro Dominguez, by the way, who is the federation president of Paraguay, got in the 2030 World Cup Paraguay to be a host nation. To what affiliation to the 1930 World Cup? I do not know, but he got that. So now we're going to get six countries, three continents, 1930 World Cup.

50:15Herc Gomez:He's a good politician. got that going because it's money for his federation and guess what would be money for his confederation it would be not only Messi but Liga Mekis clubs who once participated in this tournament and once did very well compete in this tournament 2016 Tigres made it to the final against River Plate they couldn't host a return leg because only a South American team can host a return leg so it was in River Plate and River Plate ended up winning that game I firmly believe if the roles were reversed, you'd probably have a Mexican champion. That's how good Tigres was. Andre Pierre Gignac's first season, that's how good they were and how, I think, maybe not so great River Plate would have been.

50:56Herc Gomez:But it's been all downhill for the rest of Covnebol since. Brazilian football has completely dominated South America. So this tournament needs a shakeup and desperately. Why did Liga Mekis teams leave? Because they know what they are worth. They know that South American football in this side, in this country, United States, isn't as viewed as Mexican football, isn't as viewed as other footballing leagues. And Cominable understands that they want that piece of the television rights. Mexico left. They haven't gotten back. CONCACAF, will they go back in? I don't know. Everything's negotiable, but you're asking CONCACAF to make its products worth less?

51:37Herc Gomez:dilute their CONCACAF Champions Cup when you have Leagues Cup that's already diluted that. I think they got to look out for the greater interest. But do I want to see Liga Mexicans? Do I want to see Lionel Messi playing in Copa de Libertadores? Yes, absolutely. Do I think it's doable? Yes, absolutely. Even with all the traveling that they'd have to endure? I think they do more traveling. I mean, they're big continents. If you include the likes of Mexican football and Messi, there's going to be a trickle-down effect to how the shares are equally distributed within Conable, within those clubs, and I think it'll make it worth their while.

52:11Herc Gomez:I think it'll spark development to the countries that aren't Brazilian to have lost out to that money, and it could be good for the Confederation in general. And iron sharpens iron. We've seen this with Mexico and Liga and Mexico. There's a lot of player turnover on both sides. The gap has closed. It's gotten shorter. The same thing can happen in South American football, but this is all money. And we can't ignore that the bottom dollar will be the bottom dollar. Shaq, it's a spectacle we all want to see, I feel, especially with the Messi factor. But you are usually our level head in terms of the players.

52:44But Shaq's the level head? The kaching-ching. I mean, would this be fair on the players? Is this something you don't want to see? I think it's inevitable. I really do. In much greater, I think the Copa America will grow pretty soon. And we've had some kind of precursors to that to embrace all the Americas. And the Copa Libertadores will do exactly the same in an effort to continue to keep pace as a product. Again, maybe a money-making product with what you're seeing in Europe, both with the Euros and in terms of the Champions League. Now, you can't compete with the finances of Europe in general, but certainly you can at least keep a pace.

53:25You have an expanded Euro format. We have an expanded Champions League format. For the Americas to do the same, I think, again, as we've seen a couple of versions, all of the Americas be involved in the Copa America and more, I think, sooner rather than later, whether Lionel Messi is around or not. This is not a Lionel Messi thing for me. I know it's Jorge Mas who's kind of blowing his horn at this point to make this happen. But I think it does. I'm just in an effort to make this a bigger product, a more globally recognized product.

54:03Herc Gomez:I 100 % think Messi is the carrot that they're dangling in front there. Well, for now. I know. For now. I just think my point is with or without Messi. Right. Even if Messi had never signed for Inter Miami. We're going to get there. I think we'd have gotten there. Yeah. I just think Comerbo desperately, Libertadores desperately needs to do something because Brazilian football is running away. Lucas Paquetado just signed for$50 million. $50 million. There is no rivalry to that. Argentina, the Argentine League exports, not because they're good at it, because they have to, to survive. The players that they're being reinforced with are players that were once in Liga Américas, were once in MLS, are coming off those stepping stools of the Portugal or the Eredivisie.

54:57Herc Gomez:Like, it's not the league it once was. It is still great domestic football and a great national team, but they can't compete financially with the Brazilian league. There's a reason they run away with Libertadores every single year. And if they don't do something, it's just going to continue. I do feel you include some of the bigger markets, and I say this respectfully. You allow Inter-Miami to spend. You have teams down in Mexico that spend. You have other teams like Cincinnati, LAFC. There are teams within this continent in North America who have the funds to actually compete in a way to make it competitive.

55:32Herc Gomez:Yeah. Maybe not the$50 million, but there are ways to make it competitive. And I think it's a trickle-down effect that could better the rest of their region. And I really think they desperately need it. Do you know what? I wish on days like today we had our South American Commonwealth representative in Ale Moreno. Oh, he hates the idea. He hates it. Should we text Ale? No, no, no. You know what he's going to say. If he wants us conca-cafers playing in his generation. No, no, he doesn't. I can call him right now. He would pick up. He would definitely answer this one. I don't think he'd pick up.

56:03How did we just get a swift no? Ale? You wouldn't even say no and hang up, but he would pick up.

56:08Herc Gomez:He would pick up. We're going to ask him next time. He is on. But either way, Ale has lived here longer, so he's a part of this CONCACAF family. He's not bending. He's not fooling. Or not. He's not changing. Anyway, someone else, much like Ale Moreno, is leaving their home region to come over to this side of the world in this parting shot. Timo Werner is going to be joining MLS side San Jose Earthquakes. And this almost had to happen, though, Herc. Did it? Did it really?

56:44I think for Timo Werner in his career, he needed some sort of a. You mean Major League Soccer? Well, but he also needed it. Major League Soccer needed another big name. OK. Sounds like a match made it happen. Do you agree?

56:56Herc Gomez:No. OK. Because it's the San Jose Earthquakes. And I saw a quote from Timo Werner talking about how he's accumulated trophies everywhere he's been. Well, you just made it to the San Jose Earthquakes, my friend. and Timo Werner is a guy that's found it very difficult to score goals um in in the last two three years it's been that that kind of that's very kind I know that's kind I was gonna say and listen San Jose Earthquakes new leadership but it's the same ownership and I'm glad they're finally spending but until I see something different distinct from this organization I don't think this will be as fruitful as Timo Werner thinks it'll be.

57:36But in terms of ambition, I applaud the San Jose Earthquakes from going out of that comfort zone and finally spending.

57:45Herc Gomez:Because it's the same owner who owned the Oakland A's, and we see where they're going. They're going to be in Las Vegas soon. They don't spend. They've not treated the fans well. Well, hopefully this is the first of many more signings to change what once was a great MLS franchise. Shaka, it sounds like both of them just needed this at the same time. Well, it's a new opportunity, I suppose, for both, Shaka. How do you see this going? Because I still feel like the name Timo Werner carries some weight, even though we have seen his struggles over in the different leagues in Europe recently. I agree.

58:16Listen, I think Timo Werner still has a lot to offer as a player. Still young enough to contribute at 29 years old. He is lightning fast. Yes, he is. And while, to Herc's point, I don't think you've seen, I don't think European football has seen the Timo Werner of Leipzig first time around before that move to Chelsea, where he was so lauded. But then, you know, the Chelsea experience and Denton confidence and just hasn't been able to regain it. I also find that strikers coming over from Europe have a good success rate in coming to Major League Soccer. and at times it's been strikers who a little bit past their sell-by date may be looking for that last move, that last opportunity.

58:59As I mentioned, Timo Werner hasn't hit 30 yet. So he still has a lot of football to play, potentially. I think this is a good move. It's a good move for both. Strong team and a player who needs a fresh lease of life and maybe some distance between that loss of confidence that he experienced, as I mentioned a few years ago. And the player that he showed he can be before that.

59:25Herc Gomez:Yeah. You're getting a player who is on the right side of 30. He's not even turned 30 years of age yet. You can't hurt me positive now. Shaka's just turned things around. No, hold on. Hold on. Because I was very big on Timo Werner. I recall before the 2014 World Cup, we were asked here at ESPN FC to fill out our ballots. Who would win? You know, who are the finalists going to be? Who's going to be the golden boot? Who do you think your boy put down as a golden boot? Timo Werner 2014. And I wasn't the only one. To my surprise, Alejandro Moreno put down the same golden boot. So this was a player that was on the up, and we expected big things from.

1:00:00Herc Gomez:So if you go down a level, which Major League Soccer is compared to most European leagues, big European leagues, maybe he could find his feet. He's still very fast, but it is a physical league. And it's a league that's very demanding. And if he could somehow navigate that, Bruce Arena, he surprised us before. All right, there we go. We've ended on a positive note. Herc started a bit negative, but we got it back around. Right, Shaka? Because we're just a positive. What does Ale always say? A beacon. A beacon of positivity. A beacon of positivity. Ale, we miss you. We're going to be playing in the Copa Libs soon.

1:00:35Conquer Cavs, Conmebol. Conquer Cavs, Conmebol. That's it for this edition of Football America.

1:00:40Herc Gomez:Columbus Crew versus Caracas. But we will have one Monday to talk more about all of this.

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