It all comes down to this! Decision Day Preview + Our MLS Best XI

Extra time is exactly how I find out. What's going on in the MLS? Get lost. Get lost. Maybe this podcast has influenced me a bit as well. Everybody up here, every single day goes into the office, into the laboratory. They're trying to cook up some great stuff for you guys. That's why he's here! Oh, from New York, New York, you are listening to Extra Time. I'm Andrew Weebie with my partners in soccer. Matt Doyle.

David Goss, Stefano Fusaro, two words decision day. It is here. All the time, all the effort, all the energy, all the hours on MLS season pass. We have spent comes down to this 90 minutes. Or Landogans TSC. Yeah, Michael Bradley is what we're starting today's show. No, we will give love to one of the votes of American soccer legend. Yeah, this is what it comes down to. The regular season has one day left, all the Eastern Conference games at 6 p.m.

Eastern, all the Western Conference games at 9 p.m. Eastern. Of course, you'll have MLS 360. Throughout on MLS season pass on Apple TV, there is a 90 minute pregame show. A full match of pregame, 4 30 p.m. Eastern on MLS season pass, and then wrap up afterward to give you all the highlights, all the goals from decision day, all the, I don't know the scenarios. We don't know what's going to happen. We'll do our best to sort through them right now. Then play off look ahead because it will be set.

I think we'll be ready in breaks in that full 90 minute. Or is it just half time? Well, apparently there's a lot of different people on the show. And there's not enough mics. There's so many people. There's not enough mics. So inevitably you do get a hydration break when you have to give your microwave. So I'm just trying to, you know, I'm just trying to get as many minutes as I can play a put a big roll. Mads oil will be there with us. We're just trying to sharpen things up for the playoffs.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, we're already in. I'm there. Yeah. I'm already in. Nothing to worry about over under hydration breaks for we be. I'm not I'm not as good of a hydrator as I should be. I'm going to be really. I spent most of my time in Portugal with Mindy yelling at me, drink water. You guys are the reverse. There's like a big cliche and social media of like people saying like I feel sick and their partner being like, have you drank water today?

And I'm that person in my relationship. Oh, you feel sick? Okay, cool. Have you drunk water? Yeah, Rebecca drinks water like twice a week at most. I'm not a great hydrator, but I'm trying. You were hydrating with beer. Yeah, no, no, no, no. You know, you know, you know, you know, there is like not that very hydrating. I was the Vino Verde was hydrating. Tell you that right now. All right, let's jump into it. Best decision day memory. Let's go to the past before we go to

the future. What is it for you? Doyle, take us back 10 years ago. The Red Bulls Terry Omri, I think he played his best game in MLS. The Red Bulls entered that decision day. I'm needing a win over the Chicago fire. That was the magical Mike McGee season. They needed the win to edge out Portland in decision day. And the Cursor Caricola was still a real thing at that point for those who don't know 1996. The first ever Red Bulls game defender

Nicola Caricola, Gordon Ongel at the death. Sort of set the standard for that team. They had never won a trophy. They go down one nil course at home to Mike McGee and the Chicago fire. Everybody in the stands at that stadium said, it's happening to us again. We're going to fall short of a trophy. Again, they were the only original team at that point that had never won a trophy. Terry Omri answers with a banger 10 minutes later. And then he proceeds to absolutely dominate

that game. He only ended up with a goal and assist. But he was the best player on the field by a mind. They won like five to two. They won five to yeah, they won five to and he turned that game on his head. And that was the first time I can ever remember seeing like real wild celebrations in the stands for the supporter shield. It meant a lot to that crowd as a full sold out stadium. We know we all know that stadiums amazing when they have a good crowd. Haven't seen a lot of that

this year. And that like it was a big moment for me. First of all, because I had so many friends who were still in the stands, you know, I grew up as a, you know, Metro stars supporter. So seeing them all get to be happy. I had not ever seen the team do that for them before. So I was happy for them. But also because Omri understood what the moment was. And this was one of the greatest players in the world still at that point, in my opinion, putting the team on his back, leading them

to a trophy. And that was the moment. I wish Kaelin Kair was here. That was the moment that really canonized the supporter shield is something that teams absolutely fight for. I'm pretty sure I was in the I was in the stand. Yeah, we might have been there. I think we're there together. Yeah. Because I remember us watching after they won. I was how was Charlie doing. Were you friends with Charlie fiction at that point? Charlie fiction is not a fake Red Bulls now.

Yeah. I can't remember that much. But what I do remember is on re like choreographing all of the photos on the field after of like who had to be in around the trophy. It meant like a lot to him. And he did it for like we were I was like 15 20 men. 100% I remember Pecky being super jacked up about it. Just it was just you don't forget the times where you see a trophy handed out. Like those are the things throughout my time. At MLS just being on a field when somebody wins

something is just one of those core memories. It just kind of gets burned into you with all the confetti and everything falling down. But I thought for a second, it's like was that a fever dream for me? But I was pretty sure I was there with you. So I'm glad to hear you confirm. Yeah, that confirmed your existence. Yeah, thanks to Dave. I know. No, I was there. Yeah, I've been there for other ones at Rebel Arena as well. I remember the armist one and they didn't have the actual

shield that day. They just had the team. Yeah, they had the like the Captain America that they were passing around. I mean, there's no supporter shield to hand out. We love nothing more than having to use a fake thing supporter shield when Philly wanted and they had the Captain America thing and you spent four weeks covering that. Yeah, let's see. That's just, you know, you go viral on one tweet and it just goes to your head, man. All you locked in on that story. What's that?

I'm sorry, Dave decision day memory. Mine's mine mine's more negative than yours. I guess not for our cell fans, but mine is 2018 with his LATON on the LA Galaxy going into the final game of the season. Did not show up. So the LA Galaxy had to beat a Houston team that had already been eliminated at home to pass our cell and and clinched their spot in the playoffs. They were up 2-0 on halftime. Houston's already eliminated. Houston was one 10 and five on the road that season.

Houston came back in one three two. Our cells on a buy has no ability to affect the standings anymore sitting at home. I think we had spent two weeks being like, yeah, and our cells eliminated and they don't play so we don't talk about that. Nobody's going to want to see the Galaxy and they're sure they give up goals, but they got LATON. They're going to kill teams

in the playoffs and was I don't know if it's Albert the least. I don't think it will totally remember, but it all fell apart and that was like the I think for me one of the big decision days where everything was happening at the same time where sometimes there's these big moments and it's great on the last day, but in terms of like everything's going on at the same time you're

flipping, you're trying to follow the scores. We're all yelling at each other. That was like one of the big ones I remember and obviously, LATON missing out was he was going to have to then talk about it and I think Chris Juan Alaskay had made a quote earlier that year about how he was excited

for LATON to help the Galaxy finish seventh in the West and they finished I think they finished seven I do remember all the YouTube like watchalongs that we've done over the years where we all just were sort of remote watching together, including doing the pandemic and those were just so fun, so fun to be around each other and to experience the moments at the same time to watch the

standings like are they changing is this happening? Did that goal just actually happen and scream? I mean, that's what decision day is all about is experiencing it together, but if you're the Galaxy sometimes it's painful so I'm gonna throw it back to 2021 for the Galaxy. Yeah, this is a rough one. Yeah, three three with Minnesota and they needed a draw or a win a win would do it but with help a draw would do it so Galaxy are tied three three with Minnesota and I think it was again at home

and I remember thinking why aren't they really going for this? Like go for the win but of course if you go for the win you open yourself up for the loss and then Kansas City, RSL it was the game we're just in glad pretty clearly handled the ball on Roger Espinoza in the box it didn't get called

that would have gone the Galaxy's way it didn't and then Demir cry like scored and then the Galaxy look at the scoreboard and they're like oh my god two seconds ago we were in now we're out we have to get a goal they couldn't get a goal and afterwards was that the game where Cheecherito did he cry

on the field? I think so yes yes yeah I'm thinking cried on the field and afterwards I mean it was just the Galaxy are just apoplectic because they go from we're in and we're gonna have every opportunity to make a run here to we're out and how the hell that happened and that's decision day and that

show stuff. I love a good underdog and if you've of your new MLS fan you would think that the Colorado Rapids are a perpetual underdog but just two years ago they win the West on the last day of the season they need to win to do that L.A.F.C. need to win to get into the playoffs they go down early Colorado does and then the rapids come back and absolutely crush L.A.F.C eliminate them from eliminate the playoffs contention Jonathan Lewis had two goals basket bodgie had goals I remember I

was working for the Red Bulls. I remember I was working for the Red Bulls in 2021 and I remember watching this game with a couple of Red Bulls players who had friends on this Colorado team and it was just like they were celebrating along with them so it was just a cool vibe to see that and and look it was better days at that time for the Colorado Rapids clearly one of the more

shocking winners of the Western Conference in a long time until this year. Yeah it's St. Louis which is a little more shocking even but yeah that I remember that that game in specific it was fun to see a team like that make the this all just got me high years I'm hype now for Saturday you

hyped for Colorado versus RSL pretty much right not just only on Colorado Rapids are trying to avoid losing four times in one calendar year to the rival here that's exactly what I'm talking oh boy no but like the the moment that always happens where it's like the here's the three potential

scenarios and then there's like four and five which were like won't happen and then there's always like in the 37th minute of the first half of the first games like one team scores all of a sudden and you're like oh all of these are back in play yeah and then that's you just gave a little

hope to NYCFC right there that's because that's what it would take for NYCFC have very little hope all right what's a stake on decision day on Saturday you mean plan first yeah there's a box down here from San Jose I dropped it well we'll get it it was it was a it was a may a couple on that one

two spots up for grabs in the Eastern Conference three spots up for grabs in the West yeah thank you no thank you to you Dave I appreciate you thank you well thank you for me home field advantage in both conferences it's still an absolute mass in the Western Conference in particular there are a

number of teams that can finish second or six that's how big the spread is concav champions cup is also at stake there's one spot open maybe a second depends on who wins in less cup but we'll figure out how that will go Orlando have already clinched by finishing second yeah because nobody can

pass them so they're in and same with St. Louis St. Louis right right yep so we have one more spot and I believe that can go to Columbus New England or LFC I know Seattle fans are like hey we could get it but it depends on the most cup yeah I know you're saying wrap it up be wrap I'm just saying

of all the things we're gonna talk about we don't need to do that's fine okay so let's get into the Golden Boot draft update clearly that's very important you'll care about that one so we'll update you on that and then we promised our best elevans and we put together four of course in the

pre show meeting and it took some significant restraint for us to stop it for so we have four and some snubs of course but let's start with the Eastern Conference matches starting at six PM Eastern and in less season pass on Apple TV again a 90 minute pregame show that will lead you in

existentially Montreal New York Red Bulls Chicago Charlotte and NYCFC are hanging in the balance are looking over the cliff Charlotte hosts Miami New York City host Chicago Nashville host the Red Bulls and Columbus host Montreal tough one for Montreal but let's start with

what got us here midweek Charlotte draw in Miami Doyle have two leads blow two leads now have dropped 25 points from winning positions it's the most in Major League Soccer and the manager Christian Laton Zio afterwards took offense to what I would call a pretty benign question asking what he

attributes the issues with holding leads to got pretty frustrated maybe a little flustered started going off about how people should focus on the positive and that that's Flabbergasting to me given that they are below the playoff line and the entire reason they are is because they've dropped

25 points from winning positions it's quite honestly Flabberg I am flabbergasted clearly what happened in this match what do you make of this quote I think the quote he's talking to the players this this seems to me this a good example of a coach trying to communicate to his locker room via

the media because a game like this where they had two separate leads and they coughed it up again I think it could get a team down heading into what is a do or die final game of the season in a vacuum a point down the road is good even though it was very frustrating I think the way it came

and it leaves them going into the final game needing a win and some help they had a chance to come out of this incomplete control of their own destiny they are not very young team I don't think any of us expected them to win on the road at Miami Miami was a significantly better team especially in

the second half did we not yeah I was gonna say did we not expect them to win when inner Miami's missing 11 players including the best player on the planet and has nothing to play for you did you really expect Charlotte to like you you guys would walk Charlotte all year long yeah no

no you're right right out with draw that but I will say one team looked more likely to win at the end one team looked more engaged with trying to win at the end and it wasn't the team I think that's a little I think that's a little bit of a miss no more because Miami had nothing to lose like yeah

of course they look like they were gonna try and win what else are they doing okay your throwing numbers forward Robbie and now if you if you look at this the way it it lines up now Charlotte are at home Chicago's on the road Red Bulls are on the road Montreal are on the road if

honestly if Charlotte take care of business at home and I don't think they will I do not expect them to win yeah but if they if they'll not do something else I thought right if they take care of business at home then they're probably gonna be in the playoffs and I think if

you gave Charlotte that up like if you set up the scenario at the start of the year and said decision day if you win at home you're in the playoffs and eliminated team against an eliminated team I think they probably would have taken that we know man now if you know man he's coming back and he says

he's going to play might not have been as psyched but as for what happened Charlotte's been a mess all year long look we haven't mentioned it a lot since it happened but Anton walks his passing was a tragedy in the human sense and that comes first but also he was a big part of that locker room

he was a huge part of that back line the stuff that they did last year down the stretch he was a huge part of that he was a really good player man and they have not been able to to fill that void all year long and no one has suffered more than his center back partner from last year Adelson

Melonda the very talented young French center back and he's lost out there both on and off the ball it's been tough like I can't imagine having to battle through something like that so that's one and then too is Christian Latanzio got I think way too cute all year long in terms of how this team would play a four three three single pivot with the left back pinching in to create a three two five two and now sometimes it's Andrew Pryvett stepping off the back line and the John Stones were

all in so every time they turn the ball over everybody scattered to the four corners man like there's nobody getting instant pressure to the ball in midfield and so if you give a team like Miami which even missing eleven players has a ton of talent out like Sergio Busquets Diego Gomez who

Gregory started in central midfield on this one that for yes and one wing and Stephanie and the other Leo Campa I just named like five full internationals out there and oh by the way Deandre Yedlin on one side come all Miller like Miami still a more talented team if you give a more

talented team chances to break chances to attack your young and still kind of lost center backs in transition you're going to give up goals that has been the story all season long I expect it to be the story again on Saturday except it's going to be Leon little messy taking the center roll adding

one more thing with Miami you have to outscore them so they're asking coming back from Poland didn't start I think that's a huge factor of like this is not a super dangerous attack without him and the reality in the attack for this team has just been they've got 15 wingers that they hope that they hope to be relevant to them they all have hit for 40 minutes over the course of two months

scattered throughout the season. Kermit Vargas had his 40 in this game and that's great if Swedrowski's in they probably win three two with Vargas playing like somehow finishing and creating if so if Swedrowski's in and they're playing a four two three one with him under competit and

that has actually been the big if all year long because Christian Latanzio yeah it's fair but like Capetti or you know Ajima like whatever a true center forward but like that has been that was what they did down the stretch last year when they were very good that is when they have been at

their best this year and Christian Latanzio has resisted going to that very simple very stable sort of default formation which I think would have helped them in attack by putting you know getting Swedrowski on the ball more but really helped them in defense by uncomplicating and uncluttering all of the roles it's like plug and play. All right one quick question before we dive into the

scenarios here we're talking about Messi. It's stuff is Messi going to play in this game? I mean he said it himself right after that Argentina game where he wins two not two nil scores two bangers you know drives pretty much and some Peruvian careers with a couple of moves in the midfield he said he's going to play does it make any sense not really team is out he's going to be playing against Charlotte on the road it's you know I I don't really see why he's going to do this other than he

wants to play one more soccer game because he loves playing soccer. But before going other he loves decision day he did obviously that's exactly why he's trying to play the execute. It felt like seeing him on the site or in the crowd on Wednesday of like he's at his limit of like I can watch from the crowd like he wants to play I think. And that's and clearly he has control over the situation.

By the way did you guys see the the kid jumped onto the field in the Peru Argentina game to try to take a selfie with Messi and Pedro Gaiace legend takes the kids phone and watches it. So you are absolutely not doing that. So good. He also he also gave Emmy a fist bump as he was walking by me Martinez which I thought was great. By the way you see Messi gets to the game is on the sideline. What are we thinking David Beckham sent the private jet to pick him up in

Peru and driving back or he had his own 24 hour turnaround. It was he was there less than 24 hours from kickoff in Peru. He's close to the large in Argentina. It's a lot closer. It's like a five hour flight. Just throw some ceviche. I mean he definitely flew a PJ like he they're all you know that. It's just a matter of whether that was on him or that was a you know Beck saying I got you. I feel like either one of them this is like you know rock paper scissor who's PJ exactly.

Which documentary is it going to be exactly exactly. Okay. What do we got Dave? Who's getting in? Monterey on eighth on 41 points DC and night throw them out. They're already eliminated. So red balls Chicago Charlotte and NYCFC all trying to jump above the line. Three of them on 40. That's the red bulls fire and Charlotte. And then NYCFC just down here on 38 just praying for a miracle. Yeah. So much. You're all plays at Columbus, which I think might be the toughest match of all of this.

It was like an L. They've won two games all year on the road. Red Bulls play at Nashville, which Nashville has some stuff to play for in the standings of trying to get up a little higher, but they have nothing to lose. They can't drop. I know you hate us talking about you have champions cup, but Columbus have something to play for. There you go. Columbus have something to play for as well. Then obviously Chicago at NYCFC. I disagree with you. I've got

belief and hope in Montreal that they go on the road. They get a result. So they get a draw. They moved to 42 points. What makes you believe in that scenario when the last match between these teams was in Montreal and Columbus. Shalact them for two. Do you learn from your mistakes? What makes you believe that the Red Bulls are going to go to Nashville. That's what I don't believe that. What makes you believe that Chicago or NYCFC are going to find

any difference. I don't believe so I have Montreal going and getting a draw and Charlotte getting a home victory and making it as the nine C. So Charlotte would jump to 43. Montreal will be at 42. Yeah. Sorry. The Red Bulls losing. Yeah. I don't know. It doesn't matter. I've read. I have Red Bull on draw in Chicago. NYCFC. Yeah. So then it'd be 41 points for them. And yeah, we'd have, uh, they have Montreal and

Charlotte and was Charlotte hosting a playoff game. I and Doyle talked about his, um, long time friends who have watched Metro Stires and Red Bulls. I've seen too many. The Red Bulls just need to score a goal. Yeah. It's late in this time of year and too many and you have to. But this time of year, they score the goal. They always get into the playoffs. They get 13. That's a, that's a major American sport current record. 100 streak in US. But this team does not feel like,

oh, can they get through the Eastern Conference? This is their Eastern Conference final. Back to back wins for the first time this year. Just trying to be convincing here. Five goals scored in those games. Even leukeñas is scoring. Those were all against nationals defense, right? That's the issue. Right. Oh, it's natural. It's like the best defense is really it. Like this feels like

one, one off of set pieces. 100%. Does one one do it? I don't think so. Yeah. Yeah. Cause you, cause you have that much faith in Camille Josviac against Leonardo. It's an air ski season, baby. Oh boy. What game is liable to be the most chaotic? Do we think? What's the game that you just gotta be Chicago and YCFC, right? Because NYCFC needs, they need to win. They need goals. They need to open up. Chicago is, I don't know. Shakiri is going to score a bunch

of goals when everyone's in the stadium and it's full and then disappear 80% of the time. That game, you love. You'll be on the map. You're any qualifying. Well, I did it against Miami though. Right? Yeah. They filled the stadium. Soldier field. Huge crowd. He had two goals. Who are you? This would be a city field, right? Home of the mits. Your beloved New York. Yeah, baby. Is that this is Benioch by any season? So is it good vibes for NYC? Because NYCFC

need to win this Gany Murphy vibes or it's getting out of the way. So NYCFC need to win this game and have the Red Bulls and Charlotte both lose because of NYCFC end up on 41 points. They cannot pass Montreal because Montreal has the the tiebreaker, which is wins and they cannot pass either New York or Charlotte if those teams just draw because again, the tiebreaker is wins. NYCFC have only

eight all year. Like even with a win, they end up needing all the help possible. I think that is going to make it chaotic because I think there's like you just have to go out there and throw caution to the win for a team that doesn't really score goals for a team that doesn't really score goals. The flip side, they don't allow goals. They I think four shutouts in their last seven of all these teams. They have played the best ball recently, but the frontoff is hung that team out to dry

all year long by refusing to sign a center forward. It's it's bizarre. I agree with you and that I think FC Cincinnati is rooting against NYCFC. I think if you're a Cincinnati, they're the last team you want to see of this group. Get it. Here's something to chew on. Of course, tiebreakers are going to be very important. So just to keep you updated, it's wins and then it's goal differential. So keep that in mind as you go through. You win the whole differential fire. Then goals scored.

Here is the goal differential for these teams. We're talking about Montreal minus 15 red bulls minus four Chicago minus 11 Charlotte minus eight NYCFC minus five for the most part though. That doesn't matter because Montreal is 12 wins. Yeah, yeah, no, I'm just saying NYC only has eight. It's a collection of real contenders. Oh, yeah, this is this is the big time. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Anybody disagree? Anybody

have the scenario is going a different way. Charlotte and Montreal in different different. I do have Montreal in what's the result that they get in? So they're going to lose and still get in. Oh, wow. Zero confidence. Yeah, they're going to lose this game against Columbus. I don't think these teams are going to win. The only word I think does win. I think NYCFC is better than Chicago. I think they win that game up to 41 points. So they up to 41 Nashville Red Bull get a draw at Nashville.

And I think they get that that puts them up to 41 as well. In my mbb Charlotte, no confidence in them. Messy's back. He's going to probably have a hat trick and they win that game. And then that makes it Montreal on 41 points in eighth because they have 12 wins. The Red Bulls in ninth because they have just 10 wins and that's eight nine Montreal hosting what a scintillating way to make 14 straight years in the playoffs. Come on Red Bulls. It would be delicious though for the Red Bulls by tying

in my CFC and knocking them out. If NYC Chicago and Minnesota SKC and tied, there's no justice in the world. Agreed. Agreed. To be out there. We need something we need extra like more Chicago Chicago could get in with a tie. I think if you offered Chicago a draw right now, they would take it. I have zero confidence in that Chicago. You should zero confidence. They'll be interested. The one point I want to make it'll be interesting because NYCFC is going to be all over the ball,

right? They'll probably have 60% possession. And Chicago, they're more comfortable in that situation. Like they're trying to be Nashville like really deep block 4231 and go. The other thing with Chicago, I think their biggest weakness defensively as many as they have is actually winning 50-50s in the box. And NYCFC, even though with they have Picard, they're not really I agree. Put the ball in the box. And so it doesn't really fit NYCFC's game model, but they're also

a much better overall team than Chicago. And so that's like the question mark in that game. Okay, let's move on to seating in the Eastern Conference as we see. Wait, what did you, yes, only a stupid. What? What? What? What are you guys? Did that we are not believe that the grand tradition of Doyle of voting predictions? Yeah, does not carry on. I've got, come on. I think Charlotte, I think Charlotte are going to win. What? I do. Wow. After all I have no confidence in

that. There's no confidence in these takes. So I'll go Charlotte up to 43. That basically means that NYCFC are out because now they can't have the time for they are out against Montreal. I do not think Montreal will win. So Montreal hold on 41 points. And then I think that inevitably it's just going to be draw season. So New York at best, at best. So you have Charlotte, Montreal. So I've Charlotte. Wow. Yeah, Charlotte hosting. I do. Yeah. And what do you have? Let me look again.

All right. Montreal is going to lose. Red Bulls are going to draw. Chicago is going to lose. Charlotte is going to draw. And NYCFC is going to win. So everybody's going to everybody's going to end up on 41 points. This is the one. I have Montreal and Red Bull in. All right. So we're okay. So there it is. It's been stated. Middle table versus out of old us to these takes. Yeah. Uh-huh. For sure. Betting against all these teams to win. I've never felt more confident.

Okay. So everybody loses. Well, not everybody can lose. This is the back in NYC. Chicago. After Patrick Shulte's picking Matthew Rishwan here is hat trick goal out of the back of the net. Well, let's find out where Shwan here is on our best 11s day. Let's see if you stood up for your boy. Good call. I found it. If you did, would you see seating? We talked about the Kakaq

Kaffa Champions Cup spot. Columbus is currently in pole position for that one. So if they can finish it up, basically better than New England and LAFC at this point, they will automatically qualify. And then you will still have a possibility for one more team to qualify depending on who wins them. Less cup. We don't have to get into that. The four games at stake here at New England hosting Philly. So head to head there right now. Philly third New England fifth. Columbus hosting Montreal,

of course, Cincinnati hosting Atlanta and Nashville hosting the New York Red Bulls. There's a lot of different iterations here in this. Philadelphia can finish third, fourth or fifth. Columbus can finish third, fourth or fifth. New England can finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth. Atlanta can't actually jump into the home field advantage zone. It's only fifth, sixth or seventh for them and it's the same for

Nashville. What are we watching closest here? What's the best game? The one that's going to have pure decision day energy. My feeling is Cincinnati Atlanta because Cincinnati is going for 71 points, which would put them tied for third with the Red Bulls of 2018 for the best regular season of all time. Only three teams have ever topped 70 points. And they have nothing to lose. So I think they start

Boophead and they go out, they attack, they're open. Atlanta gives up a million goals, but also they've been really fun to watch going forward. So I think overall I think that game and that experience is going to be really fun. But I would say New England Philly is the most like playoffie preview, probably feels more like a playoff game. Doesn't don't the revs feel like a dead team walking right

now though. The Nashville game felt like the revs had given up on the season. And then Chancolay was the best player on the field in the second half and heals probably the best player in this game. And that kind of pulled me back a little bit, but the back three with Omar and Romney and. They're just. And Kassler was was a Trojus. Yeah, with I guess it was Ema left wing back in brutal. And it's not going to get any better. It doesn't feel like it. Yeah.

Where's this end up? Who gets the two home filled advantage spots? I mean, that's what really matters here. I really there's no chance Philly falls below New England. They'd have to lose two New England by three goals or more to fall under fourth. So to me, whether it's third or fourth, Philly's locked it Philly's home filled team in first round. I think Columbus get it done. Columbus, it's Montreal's a good match up for them. I think they will take care of business at home.

So those two teams get the get the two. Get those two spots. I like can Nashville client. Yeah, Nashville can climb over the revs. Yeah, who do you want to avoid in the revs at Atlanta Nashville zone? Nashville Nashville. And I know it's up until last week. They had won one game in the entire second half of the season, but we've set on the show a bunch of times. We all think the real

Nashville is the Nashville that we saw in the Leagues Cup. And now having two weeks off during the international break, you know, being in a position where they're healthier, where surge has started to score goals. Who would who would want a faceless team? Yeah, 100%. Whereas look, Atlanta on paper and on grass work turf is the most talented of these teams, but they give you

goals. They let you play and like not just like you have to really play through them, but like you can walk up the field and then they're playing a high line and they don't put any pressure on the ball. So you just run over the top and you can score goal that he like we saw, you know, Messi do it and everybody's like, oh, look at how Messi is exposing how bad these MLS teams are.

Bernard Camoongo then did it like literally the next time they play as like, it's not you don't have to be the greatest player of all time to score this exact goal against Atlanta United. Yeah, by the way, some news around here, Dax McCarty will not play on decision day. He is suspended for Nashville. So smart. Smart. Get that suspension out. Yeah. Yeah. Meanwhile, yeah. Meanwhile at the top of the federy move Cincinnati and Orlando are sitting back watching

just to see who they will get in that first round. Cincinnati seeing who finishes in the eighth and ninth spot and then Orlando looking at a seven spot thinking, uh, yeah, I always think that they would want New England, but TBD. We'll see anything else to add in the Eastern conference. Are we talking MB 90? Are we going? Yeah, yeah. Michael Bradley before we get to the Western conference, Michael Bradley announced his retirement this week, 36 years old, a 19 20 year career,

the last remaining Metro star, Doyle. A lot of Metro stars. Yeah. Matchings on this. Has now, uh, has now hung up his, well, he's got one more game, but he will hang up his boots. 287 MLS games for Toronto FC 151 caps for the USman's national team. That's third all time. Played in two world cops scored a boatload of goals against Mexico, massive ones, including at the Azteca. Metro stars, Aaron Vien, Bruce Hymorch and Glaubbach, Austin Villa for a hot second,

Kiv of Rona, Roma and then Toronto FC. Just an incredible career all around a trailblazing career, a guy that was a starter and major league soccer as a teenager before that was invoked certainly, then went to Europe and made it happen. I still remember desperately searching for a Michael Bradley, Aaron Vien, heart jersey for like three years. I kind of kid. Yeah. Getting updates on Big Soccer at the time and otherwise about the goals he was scoring and then

he was doing interviews and Dutch. Then he moves to Germany, he's doing interviews in German and playing for Moch and Glaubbach. Uh, and then of course, making a career in Serie A and starting in a place that wasn't sort of a traditional power at all in Verona because whatever happened with Austin Villa or Arsenal, if you guys remember that, he was supposed to go to Arsenal and came to Alstrom, I think. Yeah, Kim, Alstrom took the spot. All right. I was following his career

very closely. He's my favorite USMNT player of all time. Um, yeah, he, he, he blazed trails and he did it his own way and he at the end of his career in particular was a really strong voice for important things that are very important. Social justice. Yeah. When it came time after the pulse shooting to show Al A ship in solidarity, this is in 2016. Um, he, he wore the, the rainbow arm band in the game and not just war. If I remember correctly, worked with US Soccer over the course

of about 24 hours to get it was his idea to get away the, the rainbow arm band. Uh, he did it even though at the time in this country, uh, anyone, any athlete who took a stance for, uh, social justice was immediately in the crosshairs of a certain segment of the population. Uh, he did it anyway. He did it in Copa America. This wasn't just a friendly. Uh, he wore it with pride. He was a great ally then. He was a great ally four years later during Black Lives Matter, uh, speaking thoughtfully

and forcefully. Um, and with curiosity and openness, uh, you know, his good friend from that Toronto team for a good long while, Justin Morro talked about how supportive, uh, Michael Bradley had been for the, the Black players for change movement in MLS. He did everything with his position and his privilege that we ask for from our athletes, from our heroes. Uh, I think like he, he's 10 years younger than me. I look at him as a role model for how he has conducted himself pretty consistently over

the course of his career. I wish him all the best. Um, as soon as I tweeted something out, there were a number of people in my mentioned saying future national team coach one day. It wouldn't shock any of us, right? Um, we will see him on the sidelines. I'm sure whether it's an MLS or in Europe, maybe one day for the national team. First ballet, US soccer, Hall of Famer, period. Yeah. I echo, obviously everything

you talked about off the field. And you mentioned trailblazing in Europe, but him coming to TFC was also a huge moment in MLS history. And us being a bloody big deal. It was a bloody big deal at the same time, Jermaine Defoe. He left Roma where he was legitimately playing for a big team. He came to create something new. The USMT captain going to Toronto as well was always this weird thing. I look at what

they created in Toronto as one of the big moments in MLS of club relevance in a major market. And then showing what an MLS club could be at the highest levels. He obviously was a big part of Josie Altador coming over and then them being able to win and continue to push things into CCL and what they did. Um, as a soccer player on the field, like I think part of your fandom is he was good at everything. And he was such he had worked so hard at his game and he flexed in and out of a lot

of different roles in Toronto. Um, obviously, national team, and the national team 2014. That was a whole train wreck for him. And he persevered through a lot of it. But the TFC teams that he was the backbone of that he helped create facilitate. I think a lot of players came there towards the end of their careers just to win because of the culture that he had helped set. Um, I mean, we sat down and spoke with him a couple of times. It's always an incredible conversation. You're introspective

for us because he's sort of pushing you at all times. Um, but I don't think Major Lixac are is what it is without the decisions he made in his career. And then the way he guided it and sort of pushed things and wasn't just like, I'm a player and I'm not part of this. He's always been very hands on for everything. Before I give you a chance here, Steph, to just air out whatever you get going, I want to jump in on what you said about Michael Bradley as a player. For me,

what really sort of locked me in on Michael Bradley was one where the same age. So it was relatable in a way to look across and be like, Oh my God, look what he's able to do. Things that we weren't seeing other people do. But I remember with hair, Michael Bradley at the U17, I believe it was, or U20 world cup in Canada. Yeah. I drove up to Montreal to watch. Yeah. And what I remember from the early days is what really locked me in, which was just insane competitiveness and like burning

so hot at times, sometimes too hot in certain situations. It cost him. But you could just remember. I do that was like, I am so locked into this. And I care so much. And that was something that I just couldn't help but look up. I just was like, that is it. That's what I want. He was suspended for the confederations cup final in 2009 because he picked up a red card against Egypt. I want to see. Yeah. So like, yeah, that that that competitiveness does not seem like the easiest

hang, right? Like yes. Like a great player, a huge competitor, not the easiest hang. Yeah, without a doubt. Look, I mean, you guys kind of touched every point. I think that celebrate him not at just as a player, but as a human. And what he was able, what he's done for social justice issues in this country at this level as well, I think it's just huge. As a player, you know, obviously, the iconic hola, the Astecha is one of the almost awesome moments. This is a video call as well

as huge. I remember him so clearly when playing at Roma and just like him being like, wow, like an American. He's at that level. Yeah. And being that good at a club like Roma in Sedia, I remember just being kind of in awe of that. You know what I mean? We're really hadn't seen that many players have that type of success at that point yet. It's all, yeah, I was just, I remember him for that for that goal in the Astecha really getting me into this team really like, oh, wow, okay,

this is cool. This guy, this guy can do this from that position. So many good things. It's a sell, a man to be celebrated. Like you said, on the pitch and off the pitch as well. Now, there are going to be, of course, people that say, hey, you should be mentioning KUVA here as a primary point as legacy. And we should. And it is a part of it. And I give him credit for being one of the ones that truly stood up and talked about it. But it's not just a Michael Bradley thing. It's a

your enclinement. It's a Bruce arena. It's every player in that squad thing, though he was in a leadership position. There are people that will say he shouldn't have come back to Major League Soccer that he shouldn't have gone to Toronto. See at that point in his career to those people, I say, nobody cares what you think generally. Especially the players. Like he had to make that decision. And yes, he made a boatload of money in doing it. And congratulations to him for doing

so I am in favor of American soccer players. Like having independent wealth off being great at their craft. Like that's a cool development in this country. And it's not a universal one at all. He chose something different. He chose to make a legacy. And like that's a personal choice. The choice was to go to Toronto where it was a dumpster fire objectively. So like the worst club in the league and turn it into a power. And he did it. And it's kind of sad now that he leaves

back at that other end of the spectrum. Yeah, it is. But the but the pathway to getting back exists for them. And when he arrived, I don't think anyone thought that it did for Toronto. Yeah, it took a massive lift to make that club into what it was to back half of the last decade. It doesn't feel like it'll take as much of a lift going forward. And that's part of what Michael Bradley built as for Koova. Look, he didn't ask to play 1v3 in central midfield. That was the

coach's choice. That you this was coming down. That was the coaches choice to go on the road and play a 4 4 2 wide diamond with only one true central midfielder when all you need is a win or all you need is a draw. You didn't need to go out and win that game. So there was world historically bad coaching at the start of the hexagonal. And then there was world historically

bad coaching at the back end of the hexagonal. And Michael Bradley, he was the one who stood up in the locker room after that game and was willing to talk and not many other players on the team. And took the booze along with Josie in particular coming around all these majorly soccer stadiums afterwards. And you know, look, fans had a right to boo and I said it at the time. I still believe that. Absolutely. They do. But you know, that's not easy. Simon Borg is about to come through that.

He's like, boo you right now. Speaking of, that was a little trauma from Doyle there. We had, you know, it was bubbling up. John Herdman used the name word trauma. Excuse me. This week, it's John Herdman's first game, the final game of the 20. Talk about this move on to the next thing. I'm not talking about TFC. And he said, they're stitching it to not talk about it. The only thing we got to tell TFC is build a mustatue, build a mustatue at the, at the Hall of Fame for

Michael Bradley, build a mustatue at the Hall of Fame, build a mustatue in Toronto. He deserves it. It's an interesting legacy because it's not just purely American soccer. No, you look at a lot of, you can get the Canadian men's national team qualifying in a lot of players. A lot of percent. Toronto area. All right. Wild Wild West time. Two different races, just like in the east one for three playoff spots that five teams could pick up. Those five teams are the Portland Timbers,

FC Dallas, San Jose, earthquakes, sporting Kansas City and Minnesota, united. And then there's a seating battle from two to six that is like, like shuffled the deck and you could end up essentially anywhere. I think only LFC are insured that they will have home-filled advantage in the first round. And same with us. Oh yeah, yeah, but they're chilling. They're hanging up.

All right, let's start with the folks trying to survive. Final three spots. All kind of hinges on one game, which is kind of awesome, but potentially disastrous if that game doesn't go the way we want. Sporting Kansas City, Minnesota, one of those teams has to win. A draw does absolutely nothing. If this is a draw, then it'll be Portland, Dallas and San Jose in whatever order they end up in based on their results. So as neutrals, we need a winner. We need Kansas City or Minnesota to win.

We need the pressure to be put on Portland, Dallas and San Jose at the very least, we need one of Kansas City, Minnesota to be leading so that the scoreboard watchers on those other benches are like, oh my god, push. Yeah, go get goals. Go make this interesting. It's morning, Kansas City, Minnesota, the best game in this bracket here. Who would you rather see

in the playoffs, Dave? If you could choose one of those two teams for the results to go a certain way for one of them to win for them to get in the playoffs, who would it be? Whew, that's a good question. I guess I would probably say Minnesota. I'm sorry, I wouldn't want to see Minnesota of the two. You don't want Minnesota as a neutral? No, if I'm a bad, we're talking about neutral. Oh, sorry. Yeah, no, I thought you were asking if

I was the team at the top of the West when I want to get in. No, I'd rather, as a neutral, I'd rather watch Kansas City right now. Yeah, really. Yeah. I thought this, I thought this was the bebello renocia table. No, I thought Alan, I thought Alan Polito was all, you guys put him on every team over my guys, now clouds. And Boogie's rolling in saying, hold on. Yeah, I just scored four goals. Yeah, I'd rather watch Polito in the new coach. Yeah, I know it's a different style.

Yeah. Where's Bungie Hive in all of this? He's, you've always been in the box, yeah, I'm telling my problem. Yeah. I would, I would rather see Minnesota. I'd rather see Minnesota, but I'm a big Adrian Heath guy. So I'm a little upset at Minnesota. So I did not pick Minnesota to win there. Yeah. Okay. Pick with your heart. It always works. Yeah, it always works. Right. How's this game play out? Well, because everything hinges on this, we must

we'll start there. Yeah, Kansas City have been a good team after the first 10 games of the season. They're a good team because they keep the ball. They have stopped. They stopped turning the ball over in bad spots, which stopped in turn stopped exposing their center backs, who lack a little bit of pace.

So they force you to take risks in certain parts of the field. And then they still, they're still not a high pressing team anymore, but they do once they win the ball, they start knocking it around and can pull you apart and make you defend across the width of the pitch and not just in the central zone. If Kansas City can do that with Polito dropping in and becoming a playmaker and those wingers crashing the box from various angles, I mean, I think they'll carry

play. I think they'll put Minnesota under a lot of pressure. And even last week is or two weeks ago as they Minnesota was winning five two, they still gave up two goals, man. Yeah. The first time the city won three two up a man and right. They still gave up. That's the thing, right? Like, that's why this game could be so fun. Yeah. It feels like it's going to be a high scoring game because even if minutes or sporting KC don't turn the ball over in bad spots,

Ray knows how so good he could carve you open anyway. We're looking at these five teams that we're talking about. Minnesota, KC, San Jose, Dallas and Portland all have pluses all have minuses. Only one team has a guy that I think could go into the playoffs and be the best player in the entire league for a month. And that's Minnesota United with a manual right now. So and now with Pookie and Bongi and you know, a few of the other attackers as well. Like they don't have

a sunny dot. They don't have to take such wild risks with their full backs, pushing them up field in order to create something. So it like, yeah, like this could end up being three two or four three. Like this could end up being the game of the of the day. And it could also end up not mattering because Portland's at home versus Houston and Houston's a better team, but Portland's been greatly lately and Houston's not great on the road. Dallas is at the galaxy and Dallas have

not won much, but the galaxy will give you five goals like without even thinking about it. And San Jose are home against Austin and San Jose like Dallas, they have been kind of ponderous in attack. But they're playing an Austin team that gives you goals. So if those three teams take care of business in games, they honestly should win. It doesn't actually matter what either Minnesota or Kansas City to the most fitting ending for Kansas City in Minnesota would be a high scoring draw.

Yeah, where they are threatening the goal, banging the crossbar, doing everything they can and just can't quite get it over the line. It would be indicative of their entire seasons. Kansas City starting off the way they did without a win in 10 games, Minnesota sort of collapsing at home in particular and then having the manager fired, it would just sort of be fitting. Portland, Houston seems like a sneaky one. Yeah, I mean, I think Portland have been one of the most fun

teams to watch. Basically since geosavare say has left, there's flow to the attack. Interestingly, the reason he left was Houston laid the smack. Yeah, absolutely. Now in this specific matchup, Houston wants to dominate the ball. And otherwise they get exposed. Portland doesn't really need the ball. They're super lethal, super lethal. They're lethal on the break. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm usually extremely lethal. What's the what's the qualifying?

The Royal Hades uniquely uniquely lethal. No, you could use unique as a qualifier. You can't qualify the world unique. The world the world unique. Got it, got it. Nailed them. What a food. So I actually think this sets up comfortably for Portland in the way they can play this game. There's going to be energy in the building. I think this is a team that has sort of rallied around themselves as a group of being like, we are better than that smackdown,

then being out of the playoffs. And I look at a team that can take advantage of the holes that Houston leaves. So I feel fairly confident that Portland's in. I think this whole thing comes down to Dallas. Like if Dallas can wake up and play with any sort of intent and look like they care and it matters. I think the playoffs spots are sealed. If not, I think it's open for SKC and Minnesota to jump them. So I'll preface this by saying I would rather watch Minnesota in the playoffs.

Rather watch Reynoz so because I want us to see him play all the time because he's that good. But I'm going to pick SKC to win to win that game against Minnesota. I'd home. I just trust Peter Ruimis a little bit more. And I do think that Palito will show out in that game. So Kansas City are up to 44 points. Yes. That would put them above Portland Dallas and San Jose. What are the scenarios for them though? For okay. So Dallas. Don't trust them at all. Dallas draws with the galaxy.

The galaxy and the season with a draw at home to FC Dallas. No 44 points, but 10 wins. Kansas City has 11 would have 12 with the win. So Kansas City would be above Dallas despite both being on 44. Yes. San Jose beats Austin. Okay. They're in 46. 46. Yep. And then the timbers draw with Houston at home. 44 points. So then I got it here. San Jose seventh with 46 points. SKC eighth 44 points. 11 wins. Negative five. Did I get this wrong? Yeah. I did. I guess they would have negative.

They would have 12. Depends on the they would have 12 would have 12 wins and the negative four good better. Okay. And then timbers 944 points with 11 wins. Yeah. It is. It can get hairy for the timbers really fast. It can against the good Houston team. And that's the thing where I do agree that you we know the atmosphere at Providence Park is going to be absolutely wild. But I still trust that midfield to be able to hold and to be able to control the game even at a

wild Providence Park to get at least a draw against that Portland side. How much do we trust San Jose? I don't trust any of these. I mean, it's the same thing. I trust them. I'll trust them just a little bit more than I trust FC Dallas. That's why I'm saying that they do get a they can get a result against Austin. Whereas Dallas hasn't show I mean, they've been just look at it's they've been uninspiring. It's not just that they're not playing well. They just don't

do anything home game against Colorado. And they can't get it done where they had a chance to lock it up. Yeah. And they can't get it done against Colorado at home. Why should I believe that they could even do it against their like the perennial 0.75 XG team. Yeah. Yeah. That's a great way to put it. It's like, oh, yeah, we're going to get through 90 minutes and you might create one good chance two half chances. That's it. Yep. There's nothing else. And that was a story at home

against Colorado. Now I do think Colorado is a better defensive team than the Galagia. I could see if if Dallas play with urgency and like we we've talked about this on the preview, we want them to start Bernie Camungo. I think Camungo is just a better player than their other options on the wings. I think he's more goal dangerous. And if you're playing the last guy was a 10 and Jesus Ferreira as a number nine, then you need at least one of your wingers to always be going towards

goal. And I think this is these are all the ifs that we said about Dallas, basically the entire back half of the season, but it like it yeah, I have to do it now, man. Like you have to come out with complete urgency. And they have it. They haven't they should have been coming out with urgency for the last three, four match days where they've had opportunities to do it. And they

it's just it's uninspiring, man. Like it's not it's not the type of soccer that you say, okay, this team can go out and and just like force themselves to a win just like because of how much effort in urgency they're putting forward. But you haven't seen it. The interesting part for Dallas and San Jose are both teams that like to be a little bit. You said ponderous Doyle, but patient, positional play, they're playing teams that would be you'd you'd best attack them in transition

right with extreme directness. Like Austin is just you can't a straffick in open open space. And the galaxy will just hand you the ball and be like, that's the lane. Run in that lane. Go there. You can't let a scrambled defense go to waste. And against Colorado this past weekend, Dallas little scrapped did a good job of scrambling. Colorado's defensive few times and they always let it go to waste. They were always saying, no, pass it backwards. Everybody snap back into your

positions. We can't possibly score unless it's a 16 past buildup. You know, like you have to like I understand the impetus behind that. But at some point you have to realize that if you can get in behind, that is the best play on the field to make. So make that play. I do trust San Jose a little bit more at home against Austin because they're at home. And also because in Jeremy of Oversey, like he's he's done it before. He's been in big moments before where he is risen to

the case. Sometimes literally he's one of the best aerial strikers in the league. Like he has risen to the occasion. And then they have match winners on the wing in Christian Espinosa and the back in in Daniel, who we're going to talk about here in a second as we get into our best 11. We better get there. So who makes it? Don't do the whole thing. Just tell us do the whole thing. Portland. Make it San Jose make it. Dallas make it because Ellie Galaxy back. Just so bad. Fair.

San Jose in seventh. Because I think they get the win. Portland. No, I'm sorry. Minnesota in eighth. I think they go to Kansas City and Reynau. So plays an absolute blinder and Minnesota gets the win on the road. So they leapfrag Portland in eighth. I think Portland get a draw against Houston and finish night. Yeah. Okay. I have Portland San Jose and SKC in that. We've got all everything has different orders. Basically, I like it. I love it. Somebody's going to be true.

At the end of the day, look, it's set up for Dallas and San Jose with the two teams at their playing. It's set up for them. It might not be the most fun that we want to see. But Dallas and San Jose, if they don't get it done against the teams that they're playing, as we've been saying, they clearly don't deserve it. Yeah, it's on them. No doubt about it. All right, final three spots. Or excuse me, seating in the West LAFC. We'll get a home field advantage spot. Second through fourth.

Seattle Houston Salt Lake Vancouver. Basically, it can all shuffle from second all the way. No, I don't think Vancouver can jump to second. I think they can have third. Third. Third to six. But they can all get home field advantage. They can all not have home field advantage. Vancouver hosting LAFC say Lewis hosting Seattle Portland hosting Houston, which we've talked about. And then the game of the weekend Colorado, RSL Rocky Mountain, which one has the most chaos in it, which

one has the most decision day Vancouver cannot lose anything. They can't drop any further. There's no value for them. Excuse me in not losing or tying. Oh, God, Vanny, Sartini, just let it open up and rep. Yes, let it go. But the last time that happened, Vanny said it, they drew Neil Nill with St. Louis. He was like, we're going for it. We're sending everything. And then it was a squirrel. Okay. Well, I wouldn't count on that happening again. Same. Yeah. So that's the one to me.

Okay. I got to agree. I think that's the one. What are we looking at here? How about we just order these up? Doyle? Let's just, you know, let's, we got best 11s to get to. I order them up in what sense. Yeah, how they going to finish? Okay. I think just take us. How about this? We're going to have we, you go through the results and then we'll just figure it out as we go. So Vancouver, LAFC, what do you go? I think Vancouver get the win at home. 50 points for Vancouver.

We're only at 51. We've got Vancouver jumping up the table. Right now, depending on goal differential, they're in third, they're in third. Continue. I said he didn't get a draw at Portland in the 2049. Continue. I think Seattle, go to St. Louis and get themselves a draw. So now it's interesting. Seattle are in, well, yeah, in third, because it's a draw, because wins is the typewriter. So I'll see you stay at second. Vancouver is now down in fourth.

And Houston's in Salt Lake. Now the Rocky Mountain Cup decides all. And because nothing ever makes sense, RSL goes on the road, beats Colorado for the fourth time this season and does that without Ruiz or Chico Arango. So a win for RSL. So basically you have everything stays the same except Houston drops all the way to six. And everyone else stays in the same order. No, because I yeah, yeah, yeah, because I Vancouver beating LAFC. Yeah. So it's all I've got to

be a train wreck. I enjoyed it though. It's going to be a mess. Which is what we want. Yeah. I couldn't like, it wouldn't shock me if I got everyone of those predictions wrong. Wouldn't because that's how the Western comments. Is there any scenario that we didn't say that's probably going to be the most like what to happen in Colorado wins? That's what I thought you were going to say. Me too. I was going to go with it. Chalk. All right. Well, we'll see how that all ends up.

Again, 713, a lot between world nationals. All right. So just a minute left, you know, just right start it you know, you didn't just throw in the first round, you feel like you seem to really avoid speed Exactly. I don't know. I don't know if unless this get started. It's type nine fry meal, right after the wrap up, which you can watch on demand through the next week as we prepare for the wildcard round in the middle of that next week. All right, squad pick, Dave, you know the deal.

Join our league, go to mls squad pick dot com to play or you can click the link we tweet out, join the official extra time league, use code extra all capitals, E X T R A to join. If you don't use the link, you can pick five players for your squad if they all score in the same match day, you win. Even if you don't win, you are still entered to win the grand prize of $10,000 if you do win. You could win a free jersey and up to $160 in gift cards to mls store.

What round is this from that you have the names in this was from the last time the last time we did this. Uh-huh. Well, altogether with stuff. And this was when we were one choice away. All this talk from Stephanie Fissaro about. Oh, FC Dallas. So. Hey, Hey, Jesus, Ferreros. He doesn't. I don't even remember. Remember there was a. There was a home game against Han Jose. I don't even think it might have been playing a hole. It was Houston come off open cup.

We thought we thought I was saying it's going to be a hangover game for you zero zero. Yeah, David got to check. Doyle, Fakutora's check. We be fleet. Amora check squad pick. Clouds check. We just didn't just what away. All right, who are you picks this time around Dave make a pick. For this weekend. I didn't realize this was a thing. That was the buildup. That was the service. Um, I'm going to pick. I'm going to pick Daniel Shallowie. Interesting. All right. All right.

Yeah, it's got to have goals. I think it's a good game to pick to pick from certainly potential MVP. Yeah, Daniel shallowie. I was not talking much about that. Doyle. America runs on Duncan. Nice. The man scored again this week this time for the USU 23s in Toronto. This is a good one. Yeah. Off the bench. Off the bench. Well, he started the first game. Yo, Han Gomez. He scored two against Japan. He scored the first goal.

I think there was a deal with the teams that they weren't going to run these guys into the ground. Nobody played more than I think 120 minutes across the two. Makes sense. Steph, what do you got? Kucho gets it done in Columbus gets their champions. Yeah, the champions, the cockat gap champions, the spot. Okay. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. Lucho Costa, either from the spot or otherwise. I don't think that they'll play full 90 minutes with the best of the best for Cincinnati.

But they will try to put on a show in their final regular season home game. So go, Lucho. Who's the squad pick? I'm going to put. Let's look for guarantee. I'm going to put belong out there. Yeah. Vancouver has nothing to lose. Open game. He's going for the golden boot. He probably has it safely, but yeah, yeah, no, I'm with you on that one. Go on, go on 19 goals, which will cost on 16. It looks like Danny, but won't go. We'll win that one.

But that's not the most important golden boot race going down on the final week of the regular season in major league soccer. This time we are relying only on producing onters is math. He says he's taken it a little bit personal the way that we've built up the guy in the mailbag who's done the math and has a pretty spreadsheet. So he says it has to be his math or nothing. So here we go. Why would the math be different? It should be.

It's certainly should not be in the last place holding on to their keeper as well as the potential number one overall pick in the 2024 extra time golden boot draft. It seems like we probably, I don't know. We can take a snake draft. What's on there's super strong feeling about the draft. Okay. That's fine. Okay. I don't know. Trust the process. Matt Doyle 77 goals. I was thinking all you get Michael Carter Williams in there. One. Oh boy. Led by Christian Mentechay with 14 goals.

Jeremy Obobozy with 10 goals. Nobody else even close to Johnson and Johnson McGuire. Oh, I didn't see that. It's hard when I have it. Do you not get Sergio Corte of us Turkish league goals? Even the first division in Turkey. Oh, in third place. Andrew Weebie 81 goals, 43 assists. I'm not sure if you're going to get the right one. I'm not sure if you're going to get the right one. You know, the Greek God of goals. Sergio Cacamaki says really done me. Right this year.

I had a lot of guys right around the 10 mark. And then some disappointments. Sam Surge is not really done what I was hoping for. Though he's starting to get informed. But anyone goals looks like I'll have the second pick. I would live if anyone else did this out there. Because we have gotten a couple of messages. What the numbers their teams finish. So like I'm. Yeah, average. Yeah. I'm curious if they're if we did. At. Performance. Yeah. Underperform. So sure about that. Uh, okay.

This is the this is the big stuff right here. We don't have a representative of team. I've seen. Kaelin slash Tom. So. Kaelin scored for my David Goss 92 goals 47 assists. In third. Rough one for you. Chicho Arango has gotten you five goals. That is her. But he's hurt and probably won't be available for this final match day. And you will have. It's fine. So Eric is going to lead his team to the playoffs. You will have to make up. Lewis Morgan could step in.

You will have to make Derek Etienne perhaps. That would be the best way for this day. Yeah. You will have to make up. Three goals on team Tom Kaelin who have 95 goals and Diego Rossi as their choice who's rolling right along. And she came in front of a big crowd, etc. Stuff. But it is always darkest before the dawn decision day. This is what we live for. It's pretty incredible what team Tom Kaelin has done with semis for rara getting zero and zero. I think Brenner. I think Brenner.

Getting come around one goal and zero assists. Okay. Keep your eye on that on decision day. We'll make sure to keep you abreast of all extra time. Go and boot draft updates. Extra time. Best 11s is how we will end this show. And I feel like we're like nine hours. I know. Doyle, you take the first team. We did all these together. Yep. There was disagreement at times. But we found a way to push forward with some semblance of a consensus. We have a coalition. You might say a quorum.

Yes. I was actually very proud of us. There were very few items thrown around the green room as we were working through this goalkeeper. Roman Burkey. There was no debate about this one. Left back. Alvaro Bariel. We. I should point out we went with the 442 diamond for this first team for his best 11. And as per extra times way, we always play guys in positions that they played in at least a little bit during the regular season.

And we choose the best 11 that is functional and representative of how teams played this year. And like most best 11s don't have a number eight. Sometimes not even a number six. Often not even fullbacks. We choose two fullbacks. We make sure there's a number eight. We make sure there's a number six. So bear that in mind as we go through all of these. 442 diamond. Burkey and goal. Left back. Alvaro Bariel.

We're playing with the back for Cincinnati plate almost exclusively with a back five this year, but a wingback is functionally the same as a fullback in the modern game. Bariel's left back. Dewan Jones is who we went with as our right back. He has played a lot of right back this year. He is primarily a left back, but we were willing to fudge it just because he is one of the two best fullbacks in the league right now. The center backs, Matt Miyazga and Robin Janssen.

We have this debate on Monday's show about one of these two guys should win. Emma less defender of the year. There was not a lot of debate over any other names. No, this back. The question was really right back and whether we were willing to make the transition to get Jones in there. And in the end, there wasn't another right back that was just so head and shoulders above. Dewan that he made sense to push into that. And the other thing there was originally we had thought maybe a three five two.

But given the strength of central midfield specifically number 10s this year, it seemed playing a four four two diamond for this first team was the right choice. Abin and Doroto was defensive midfielder. I think there are arguments for other guys, but given how good he was for the best for the best team in the league, I am fine with him being the number six. And then it's Ache Ache and Tiago Elmata as the shuttlers.

And Elmata often played deeper for Atlanta, especially earlier in the season, then Lucho a coast did for Cincinnati. So Elmata gets put in our shuttler position. And Lucho is at the point of the diamond as a 10. Those are the two, the first and second in the league in goal contributions 29 for Lucho 28 for Elmata. They both had to be in the first team. That is, I think the furthest bending of the NE of our self and post rules that we went for.

And then up top, it's Dennis Bawanga who's going to win the gold and boot. And Kucho Hernandez who has 15 goals and 11 assists. You could argue about those guys are more wingers, but we're fine playing them up top in a two. Second team, Dave. We have Daniel and goal who a lot of underlying numbers was actually better than Burkey, but didn't have enough minutes. So cleanly the second team goalkeeper for this one. This time we went with a back five to fit some of the center backs in.

I think going to the point with Juan Jones struggling a little bit for both fullback positions and a lot of teams in MLS play as a back five. So we went with Ryan Hollingshead at right wing back who has played on both sides. And he's done it very well over the course of the year. Steven Marrera at right center back who has been phenomenal and consistent for Columbus in that role is a special player going forward on the ball and has held up defensively.

Yai Mar in the middle and Jack mayor as the left center back. Yai Mar over Jackson Reagan and Seattle being one of the best defenses in the league. And Yai Mar carries more responsibility in that back line. I think he carries more of the game both in possession at a possession to make Jackson Reagan's life a little easier. That's where I felt the push to bring Yai Mar in here and Jack mayor.

He will if he starts is we're going to think start 32 games for the best defense in MLS Walker Zimmerman not as available this year. Lucas McNaughton has played in in that spot a few other people as well. And it's all held up thanks to Jack mayor elevating his game to being a consistent center back he wins his 5050 battles. He organizes similar to what we've seen Walker Zimmerman do in the past.

Odd because he missed all of leeks cup, which was the brightest moment of the season for national but that's not what we're basing this on. So his MLS league play he has been the best center back for that team and then we had Kai Wagner at left wing back which I in digging through some of the numbers.

Don't know that I totally agree with but he is a lead as a chance creator from the back line he is I think third for defenders for assists. He plays for one of the best teams in the league midfield three of Jaupalo Coco and Carlos heel a lot of numbers still say heels the best chance creator in the league Coco has been a linchpin to the Houston midfield

and it's done a little bit of everything and Jaupalo has returned from injury to his elite level and then the two attackers in the three five two or two who will be familiar with each other Brian white and your working class MVP. I don't know the letters. I'm not really one who normally gets an MVP combo to do with my hands. I feel like I'm in a space.

They are a top five attack and I think part of the thing with Vancouver is Vanny only really put these two together in the spot what 10 12 games into the season.

So if they had been the full year I think they would be one of the two or three best attacks their numbers individually are already in some of the best in MLS for gold both on and off the ball for white as a goal score and as a chance creator for his team and Vancouver is potentially going to finish us third in the west so both of them get in there as forward.

I like it. That's our second team of course two more teams to go. Third team Steph. Third team is for third team and we have our third different formation which I love for three three for this one goalkeeper Steph and fry of Seattle they were you know all around one of the best defense is in the league and he was great in goal.

As we've seen now for years from him the back four Julian Grestle as right back he's played in a lot of different positions center mid right wing back right back we know that he plays on that right side so right back feels feels good for him doing a great job for Vancouver and then doing the same thing when he was traded to Columbus the center backs Jackson Reagan from Seattle so now we have one on the second team in Yemour and Jackson Reagan on the third team as we mentioned this that great defense from C.

Defense from Seattle. The closer to Faris the other center back from FC Dallas and a left back John Tolkien my guy J. My happy for him another great season for the Red Bulls in the midfield it's interesting right this this defensive mid position was so hard to do where for the last how many years it's been a lock and Jose Martinez has been the guy on the first team you could have made a case for any of like our guys from the defensive mid and any of our four teams to be the one to be the one to be the one.

To be in the first team really trying to put Cuba. He tried and that's where we have Andreas Kubas in the third team the working man's defense. He's going to dig into this I just also just love that of course it's got the two guys in the with the hat.

Vancouver baby I love it Edward Lovyn in the midfield for this third team incredible season for him for St. Louis and honey muck Darryb and though he had a rough second half of the year he still had 15 goals and 12 assists and that's by having a really not good second half of the season by his standards.

And the front three will start with the wingers Christian Espinoza who had an incredible first half of the season dropped off a little bit but was still key for them as far as San Jose is concerned. And then he was really picked it up for Orlando City in the second half of the season and has pushed them to where they are now. And at forward to Yoridhiyo Yakomaki had he been healthy might have been competing for first team for I don't think there's any might it.

I think he's probably on that first. Probably wins the gold. Yeah. Yeah. Right. All right. What's your position? We're just how close is how he would have won the Golden Boot and he would have been on this team. If they were Boogie was here those. And then we open that because we did yeah the thank you the box from the San Jose earthquakes we do appreciate you. Did you take the tape off already cracked the. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I know a lot of minutes. I try to do this after I dropped it.

Okay. So we have a t-shirt off the top. Vote for the school. Yeah. The question says the t-shirt here first 11 vote for Pedro. This is a. We got a lot of. Yeah. We might have an entire box of a box of vote for Christian. We have an entire box of vote for Christian. Somebody get the t-shirt cannon. Wow. That's a lot of. Who does it? Who wants one? Yeah. Pass it over. Yeah. Who wants a vote for Christian. He has been your team. It looks like a dial. A dial away. So vote for Christian for MVP.

Only one of two players with 12 goals and 12 assists, number one in key passes, number two and expected assists. That's so says the. I'm not going to vote for him for MVP, but I'll vote for him for 13 best of life. There it is. Got him in there. Now look, one of the issues with these best 11s was that we didn't feel we had a ton of wingers. To push. That's why we were going with 352s and diamonds in the midfield. But Espinoza and Fukuindo Torres are I think are very clearly the top two.

And I think it's just one. I think it's one of the most. That's what I think it's like during the final four. You know, we are putting out pure wingers in the league. If you're counting Buhonga or Kucho, maybe you could get them in there. But I count them a little bit more as almost. Almost straight. Or the longest places a winger on the team. If we're saying Espinoza is Buhonga is dude. Okay, fine. I was saying. เร00H. Yeah. How did he say that?

No. No, no, I just not the way you said that was you show mean on quick. I didn't have wrist hardware spots. I'm glad you did it because I didn't want to play the heavy right. I've very weep was wrong. Yeah, Although you are dressed to play the heavy in that. Yeah, you are kind of dressed to play the got the the undertaker look at All right the fourth team wearing black Everybody at this table I never wear black

Andre Blake is our goalkeeper for the fourth team. This was a bit of a debate. We didn't have a clear I mean could have been Brad Stuver Brad Stuver is like nobody outside of Austin understands how Good Brad Stuver has been for four straight years could have argued for him. Yeah, so I look we could go Andre Stuver

Brad Blake whatever right back Brooks linen. I wanted this one for many other best 11s was not allowed until we at the fourth team But Brooks foregoles tennis sys not exactly a defensive He's not the undertaker Let's say for opposing attacks, but he's very good going forward from that outside back position Sean Neillis Yakov-Glesness are the centerbacks left-back Daniel Loveitz in the midfield This hurt us to have our tour all the way down on the fourth team

But he's in our fourth also aiden Morris Cesar Arrajo in the diamond here and then Daniel Goss dog is your attacking midfielder Then up top two forwards Alan Polito and Christian Bentech What are you checking your head about pretty much the whole thing? I'm ready to pick apart all these things like we did this in the meeting guys you guys like learning me Okay, all right. What who's your stuff then? What's your snow well?

So for starters, I think Julian Gressel's one of the best players in MLS I think he's phenomenal, but he played more than half the year with Vancouver and the entire time as a center mid So don't know that he gets to be a right back best third is the third team. Oh, I'm not allowed to be upset about the Time to build the team who's a better right back?

John Gallagher. I thought had a better year than Brooks Lenin Brooks Lenin But both of them were our attacking options as fullbacks I think Jowklaus even with the injuries he deserves well 100 minutes Jowklaus He played well for the best for the best expansion team of all time Yeah, but he was most of the like he was the motor was he was he more effective? They went to start the year was he more effective on a per minute basis than Nico Joe Keeney I don't know. I think he probably was

Okay, I think I think it's a taboo poohie had 10 and 950 stop. It's that's when it didn't matter when Jowklaus played right off the bat Led this team so that they could have a lead on the points the whole season You gotta play for the 1100 minutes to be best 11 maybe the other one I had was I thought Jose Martinez oversees our rajo in this fourth team Okay, fair show. Okay. Any snubs from you, Doyle?

Riki Pooge. I know we we tend to Avoid guys from losing teams and the galaxy are nothing if not a losing team this year But he is just the absolute best in the league at progressing the ball up field He gets he puts his attackers into such great spots

He doesn't bring much defensively, but in terms of making an attack go I'm not sure there's a better player in the league and to not have him On any of the first four teams feels a little a little rough to me Like the the most important thing in our game is putting the ball the back of the net

The second most important thing is getting the ball to spots where people can put the ball in the back of the net I mean there are some data folks who would argue that I have them reversed like getting the ball into the spots in the first place Is actually the most important thing and Like Riki just does that at a higher level more consistently than anybody else in MLS Stuff you know snub Leo messy I want everybody know that we be is creating a list right now as we say in the document

Uh, I just wanted to have messy on a list that was snub because I'd be the first time to be on any type of list of snubs Look we had to pick clouds only played 1200 minutes how many minutes We don't let me start with my with my rainoso take if you're gonna take clouds. No look We had to pick one Hase was for era was without without Hase was for error FC Dallas is

Down at the bottom down bad down bad. Yeah exactly So yeah, Hase was for era was you know a snub I guess he had I think it was 12 goals on the season You could argue over that decade for sure on that point I do think so yeah, I mean benteket was very good for it It's almost like for era and benteket are just were their whole teams

Uh, without either of those two players those teams would have be at the bottom. Oh DC's already kind of there But anyway, yeah, that's the that's where I'm pick I'm going with forever Here's my list carols with areski Julian Karanza a vander But most of all Matthew Schwanier

Justice from Matthew Justice from Matthew Yeah, I'm gonna say he's gonna get his justice in a hat trick in Columbus on decision day quick Matthew Schwanier story Uh, calling a game in Montreal this season and we're just me and my

Uh, uh, analyst were discussing you know the absence of Schwanier in that game He wasn't playing and how much are they missing Schwanier in that midfield And if you've ever been in the that stadium The players that are injured actually and I didn't know this sit right in front of the booth And we're talking about it and Schwanier just goes Yeah Locked it

We're saying it's a field awareness for Matthew. He just knows what's going on around the good play. Yeah, for sure All right, that's it for us decision day Going down on Saturday 4 30 PM Eastern is your 90 minute pregame show on emulsion You know making case for Jackson Reagan at any point on any of the 14 he's there 13

I'm at it. Yeah 13 did you I thought oh, Steph did the 13 I thought you did I gotta tell you David's been off all day we did the match previews this morning Well, he showed up yesterday I can't believe that the wrong that is on in game 4 is it is that is the liberty got you shook yeah They handed it away Why I'd watch the ace is celebrating for you guys all have Maria in in your I don't know but

She's saying that David's been off the entire week. He hasn't even come back from Portugal That's what this is right now No one's in my ass and I came back sharper Oh, man, it's possibly I just feel you know, I just feel happy for Dave To at least be able to see a finals at his building Ah

That's it for us 4 30 PM Eastern pregame show 6 o'clock is the Eastern conference 9 PM Eastern is the Western conference and wrap up afterwards all on emulsion pass on Apple TV audio So I'll see you guys in the next one