DC & Philly
Kara
0:15
Welcome to this week's episode of The Queens Pitch. I'm Kara. And I'm Bridget. And today we have a double match up for you. Because I was gone this past weekend. Sort of. My sister got married. Yay! Congratulations. But that meant I was marathoning the wedding and did not get to watch the game. So Bridget had to hold down the fort. Yeah.
Bridget
0:35
She didn't go watch it or anything. And, you know, she's my end to my yang. Like I told somebody, she's a little calm to my craziness. So I left the game all over this place. So luckily, Kara had to rewatch it. So yeah,
Kara
0:49
so it took me a bit to do our rewatch. So we're just going to briefly talk about that and
Bridget
0:55
then we'll have the Philly. Yeah, yeah. So anyway, let's go ahead and just go ahead with let's tell you what the results of the game were. What, where was the results? Were we tied 1s another time,
Kara
1:10
another tie? Yeah. But also I think it was a personal favorite to me that no one scored, so I'd miss zero goals because it was zero zero. Yeah. Zero zero is boring as crap game. I'm kidding. Wasn't that boring? It was boring in the first half. Second half wasn't as boring. But it's not fun. And they don't score any goals. It's just not
Bridget
1:29
mean. It's not fun.
Kara
1:31
They just did it for me. I was so happy.
Bridget
1:34
Oh, you know what? The best thing in that game was? The best. The highlight of that game was for me. And now I remember it was a week ago, so. Well, the highlight of that game was that LaTonya got a yellow card. But it's true. And I told you and I've told you in the couple of those podcasts a couple weeks ago that if I love it when I when a coach gets a yellow, that excites me more than anything in the world. So when I got that yellow, he like, if you watch it, he like scurried across. I mean, he just jumped like little legs, like leprechaun legs, like he just went across the field like he was mad. But he got a little younger and I was all like, Yeah, I got a lady here. But it's like, she's crazy. And I'm like, Yeah, I am. But I was excited. I like it when coach gets a yellow. So he was just excited. He was passionate. Anyway, that was highlighted. That game.
Kara
2:19
Yes. And actually, weirdly enough, the reason why shares a theme with Phillies game. So it's really interesting to see some of the same themes that or strands that run through that game and this game. And I feel like there's a lot of similarities there. So maybe we'll tease some of that out. But you're right, that was immensely entertaining to find that the rough carded lady, it
Bridget
2:43
was out of bounds and they called it. It was supposed to be for us and they got it on. They let them have the ball and Laddie wasn't having that. He saw it. It was right there in front of his face. So he just jumped out of his little coach box over there and let that line judge know. And I don't think he's allowed to come out of the box. He got his little yellow card. 1s I was like kind of pulling for him to get a read because I think that'd be even funnier. I mean, it really wouldn't be, but it was like the 90th minute, though.
Kara
3:09
Whatever. I guess then the fans would really see what would happen if Lattanzi wasn't in the match for the next two games. I mean, that would be like, okay, here's here's some nice comparisons for you. Oh,
Bridget
3:21
God, didn't think about that. The fans probably really wanted that to happen. Oh, my Lord, Don't do that.
Kara
3:27
Well, 1s all right, now we'll mail him a note. 2s Yellows are okay, but only one per match. Okay. Yeah. They're scared to let us know because they never know what we get into his head. Just
Bridget
3:42
mess him up. Anyways, that's probably the highlight of the game, but other than that, I thought it was a good game. Maybe not
Kara
3:49
really. Well, this match against DC is the fact that it doesn't take the same tone as when we went to DC and everything seemed to go wrong for us in that they got it was 3 to 0. Benteke had a really nice bicycle
Bridget
4:04
kick killed Mark
Kara
4:06
killed him. It was just
Bridget
4:09
I was there and it was
Kara
4:10
horrible. I thought they lost by more than three. I really did. I thought we lost about more than three. And I was there. That's
Bridget
4:18
how bad that game was.
Kara
4:19
You just had to drive the whole way home in your misery. So that's why it felt like more a lot of weight to carry there. Me Right, right. Yeah. No, it was a good time. It was, yeah. No, we walked out and I could've swore they scored again when I walked out, but guess that was the third score. But, yeah, they got a peek on marks at the beginning. I've been talking. Got that tacky thing and the bicycle kick, which, by the way, Enzo tried one of those. It did not work out well on that later.
Bridget
4:42
And but yeah, so that game was pretty, pretty stellar. It was boring, but we did a good job as far as we didn't let them score. It was a clean sheet. I think it was like clean a six clean sheet or something
Kara
4:54
crazy. Yeah, I think Kaleena had a had a good game that that thing.
Bridget
4:58
Oh, Larry thought it was his best game ever.
Kara
5:00
One of the best games this season. But we also haven't had that many where we haven't had many scored on us. So, you know.
Bridget
5:08
You know Lena.
Kara
5:09
Yeah. Go clean.
Bridget
5:12
Anyways. You got anything you wanted to say about your recap cap that you watched?
Kara
5:16
Yeah. So thought this game was a tale of two halves, right? So you had the first like, the first half I thought were there were a lot of decent attempts, like four or something offensively, but no official shots on goal, which is fair criticism. But the connections and the chemistry were really doing well. I made a personal note that the petty connection was doing better. However, I think the most ridiculous thing that happened is the handball call that didn't get called. What did you think about that be? 1s Yes, that
Bridget
5:59
was ridiculousness. I'd totally think that it hit the guy's hand. And I don't think it was a reflection. I think we should have gotten the call. I was hoping we would get to have the call, too, because. 1s Enzo and Karol were playing around and Karol had the ball in his arm and Enzo was running around like, Give it to me, give it to me. So I was kind of hoping that we could see who was going to take it rock, paper, scissors style. But we didn't get to do that. It was it was just frustrating and we never, ever win the vase at
Kara
6:28
all. That one wasn't unfortunate. It couldn't even go to Var because it happened right just outside the box or something, right? Yeah.
Bridget
6:37
No, that one happened in the box. The one I think it was.
Kara
6:42
It
Bridget
6:42
was I think it was Marilyn that was outside the box, but that one was totally in the
Kara
6:45
box. Well, you were there. Maybe I'm remembering something different. Um. Oh, maybe it was like Marilyn falling in front of it or Enzo falling in front of it, and it was just like a foot out of. I think I'm remembering that one. But no, I think it had to go to VR, but I think because he had already ruled on it. They didn't want to disagree with him because to me it looked more like, sure, it hit his foot, but he had his hand up making his body bigger on top and in the ricochet hits his hand up there so the first touch doesn't go to his hand. Sure. But it just yeah, that felt really unfair because it did feel like his hand and arm away from his body outside of it on the bounce and ricochet purposefully moved the ball away and change the play. 1s So. 1s But I'm not a ref. I don't know. It did seem like an unnatural position. Well,
Bridget
7:44
they should let us ref them because I think we can have better than these other MLS refs
Kara
7:49
or we probably actually be more biased than 1s everyone else. So probably a good thing that we aren't. But yeah, but obviously that was extremely memorable for the game because that was pretty early on and would have made a big difference in the momentum of the game. One of the other notes I had was that we overall looked better against DC this game than when we had traveled there and that was an absolute facepalm. So yay, we made a better showing at the bank then going to DC. But again, the tale of two halves. The second half is just disjointed to me and they lost all the attacking that they were doing well until like the 75th or 80th minute. And that's just too late to do the right thing. There were some nice attempts like after that point, but overall DC had the edge the second half and that's where Kalina got his saves. So. 1s And, you know, those positives and negatives there.
Bridget
8:52
It was kind of like they retired in the second half, kind of like in my kids soccer games. And then they did that last week where they played so well in the first half. And then the second half they were just come out there and they were like gassed and retired and we're just trying to hang on for dear life so that they don't lose any worse. And I felt like that's kind of what we were doing in that second half. We were just trying not to lose the game. So
Kara
9:13
if we were going to give many, many favors in rafts without going too much into it, because again, we're doing a short bit about. DC Who do you give your favor to for DC?
Bridget
9:23
I think if I was going to give it to anybody, I would give my favorite two year year. It is named differently, depending on who you're talking to. He said that there's not a specific way to say it in the English language, so I'm going to go with the IRA. And I think they did a great job. He does that inverted fullback stuff that Lattanzi likes really, really well and he can step up and when he he notices like when when Privet moves forward, he can come over or prevent knows for that one he's going to go up. He seems to be all over the field. He's not scared to attack. And I think that's one of the things I really like about Gary is that he's he's willing to get in there and do what he's got to do, but he makes smart decisions when he's doing that. And so it's not hurting the team. He's actually helping the team. He kind of also gets you confused because you see him out there. He kind of he's he gets up there in that final third, too. So it's like in zone him and then sometimes can be one. You're like, oh my gosh, I don't know which is which. But he's a good guy. I what he's doing and he also does those left corner kicks for us too.
Kara
10:27
Yeah, it's really nice to have a solid left back finally, and one that you feel pretty confident in his ability to play. No disrespect to Nathan Byrne, but Nathan Byrne is a natural. Right back. Okay, so let me just make that clear. We haven't had a left back since Fuchs left. Really, that that plays the way theoretically Latti wants him to play. No disrespect to Joseph Mora in that because he was very good defensively, but offensively. Blatty thought there was something lacking there. So. But no, I feel like Jerry takes his offense to a different level, and I think that's really his value in bringing what he needs to to defence. But his real. Push and sparkle, I guess, is coming into those attacking moments. And he was getting up pretty up there and making overlaps with data. And Maram actually thought that he might score, too. He was getting up there so far. I think he switches with his coming on this side. Either way he switches up and he goes back and forth and he's very fluid and he he's not making mistakes. And if he needs to be on the back line, he's where he's at on the back line. If he needs to go up and be aggressive and make a play, he's trying to make a play. He's saving the ball's going out of bounds. He's doing he's
Bridget
11:52
protecting the back line. And I like that.
Kara
11:54
You know what I thought was interesting experiment, this match was that Kerwin came in for Carroll at the ten.
Bridget
12:05
Yeah, Vargo came in. He's got that, like, little pizzazz on him. He's got some spark. He's got whatever it takes. And he comes in with a smile and he was going to come in and he does. He crosses over the field. Well, I thought he was going to actually shoot and score. We needed him. He brought that energy. He needed to the fit, you know, that we needed to the field. And I'm surprised we haven't seen more of
Kara
12:28
him. Well, what I wondered is, you know how. Sometimes we won't see our guys for a few weeks because they're learning a different position. Like that. Was Bender last year? Like, yes, he got. The freshmen fatigue, sort of freshmen fatigue and needed some time off. But I also think that there were people we were trying to teach a different position. And I wondered, okay, is that why he put Carolyn back there? Because Carolyn can take those shots. And so he was putting Carolyn there to see if he can get any of those really nice shots off from those optimal positions that he likes to play because we already had good wingers out that he wanted to keep. And just let to think about.
Bridget
13:15
This is a good point. Maybe. Maybe Lattanzi is trying to give Vargas something different to do or given us another option because obviously Lattanzi comes up with some neat stuff how he's doing. He is a midfielder, so maybe he's trying to give Vargas some other opportunities to do other things that he hasn't done. But he also needs to do something to make us get some action in that last half. If it's taken Vargas being in that spot, then we got to do it.
Kara
13:42
Yeah, he didn't have too much time to, I guess, make make an attempt there. But I just thought that I was like, how what is he thinking with that? And so was trying to read into what result he wanted with that choice.
Bridget
13:56
You make a good point. I haven't really thought about that. But like Marin was saying afterwards, like you have to they're having to fight for their position. You've got Maram, you've got. 1s Degree. You've got gains. You've got Camille. You've got.
Kara
14:11
Vargas said. They're all out there trying. Patrick, you've got a lot of them that are out there trying to win this position. And so maybe Larry's trying to give him an opportunity at something else so that he, even if he can't be that winger, he can do something else. 2s And one of the things I noted with the biggest difference here was he puts Vargas in and doesn't put Jones, whereas the choice in Philly is he puts Jones in. It's just a different attitude, which I think I can theorize later why we did that, but I'm not sure I want to do that now. Now, I will say there is a big connection to Philly as we move into it. This
Bridget
14:51
that we tied. We both
Kara
14:52
tied. We tied. But my favor on DC would probably go to Miranda. I thought he had a very good game because he was primarily covering Benteke and trying to be really smart there. And so I feel like he had a very hard job considering what that happened to us last time.
Bridget
15:10
A lot of did a great job, man, a force to reckon with on that backline. And he's a leader. He knows what to do. He was all over Benteke. He kept him from even getting anywhere close to scoring well a couple of times. But he did what he had to do back there to hold it down and without him it would be scary. Luanda is so good for him, for his age, and he's so good for what he does. And he kept DC at bay and he helped clean out a lot.
Kara
15:38
And I do think Colina had a very good game with some of his saves. Like if he hadn't gotten those then. 1s Now, once again, we would have had holes punched in our back line.
Bridget
15:49
Lattanzi said that it was Cleaner's best game that he has this year, so he did a really good job and everybody liked it. So go clean that.
Kara
15:57
Exactly. Good for him. And Benteke is, you know, extremely talented. So he was getting saves against him and some other talented because DC has come up in the world this year as opposed to last year. So they're not a easy team here. I feel like that was more even than we'd seen, but just neither side was just lining those goals like they needed to. So as we move into Philly, let me point out the one thing that I noted for DC that will make a difference here in Philly, because I think Bridget,
Bridget
16:33
we should probably just
Kara
16:34
go ahead right into our wrath for Philly with this little note. Are you ready? My note for DC before I went to last night's Philly game. Was Diana is not looking match fit for back to back games. Well we were all wondering as began when Miriam was in for Brecht, we were like, okay, I don't know why he did this. Why was Brett not starting? Was Miriam starting? But then
Bridget
17:07
when Brett came in and he lost the game for us, like he straight up lost the game. There's nothing else to say about it other than that. And so he came in and he shocked all of us. It was amazing that he was the one that caused all of this headache when we were like really thinking this guy was going to help us out. He was going to be, you know, the next message or help us out on the next message. But he was going to be the messiah on our team to try to, like, guide us to help us out. Score He did none of the above. He just messed it up for everybody.
Kara
17:40
What a loss. What a loss. And again, in in such a heart wrenching way. Except we didn't lose. We tied. We didn't lose. So you can't really say we lost.
Bridget
17:53
It's just it felt like a loss. But we didn't lose. It was a really a
Kara
17:56
tie. No, that was the point. But we lost. That was a loss. They deliberately lost us. The win at Tie feels different. This is not that. That was a loss that we absolutely took
Bridget
18:08
there. Let's play a game here. Let's switch it up and let's play a game of would you rather. Okay, this led back in school when he was a kid. So would you rather have the goal that was scored against us in the Columbus game last year where Collina was out of the goal? It was a penalty kick or a free kick from the middle penalty, but a free kick from the middle mouse over his head and went into the goal. Or would you rather have what Brett did the other night by just laying dude out, by kicking his feet?
Kara
18:41
Let me add one more to it. Or would you rather have Bill's own goal? 1s We're going to go back there. We're going to go with Bill's on. Go. I don't even I I'm going to be even. I don't know. I'm going to go with. I would rather have Colina have it bounce over his head because at least it wasn't like clean and just did well. He did some more on it by being out of the box
Bridget
19:04
further than I like him to be. But he didn't. Just like willy nilly. I'll go up and lay down. Just a lay dude. I don't even know what breakfast thinking in his mind. And I don't even know soccer that well. But I know you don't do
Kara
19:14
that. Yeah, I. I would rather take Bill's own goal. This is a sad that we're even playing this game because, you know, like, we could even keep it up. We could keep on. So would you rather have what Brett did or would you rather have cleaner where he was drinking from the water bottle and Jalen kicked it back to him and he almost let it go and go because he wasn't paying attention.
Bridget
19:39
Or would you rather have when Bern did the whole Miami thing in the box? Would
Kara
19:47
you rather that or that was Harrison. That was a full burned in a different one. Yeah. Oh,
Bridget
19:56
it was just an elementary mistake by a professional player. And we shouldn't even be this mean because we really shouldn't. But it's just that he's. So he's supposed to be a professional. He was brought in and he has paid so much money and he wasn't even there was no reason for that foul. There was absolutely no reason the ball was in his place. I think it was in where he needed to be clean. It was where he needed to be. Westwood was there, so it wasn't like he didn't mean he didn't even stop the ball, like he didn't touch the ball. So it wasn't like he was stopping it anyway. So why do it in foul? Oh, oh. Now, the only reason we're being so hard on on this like normally, if most of our team made a mistake, we would be like, Oh, it's a mistake. We're so sorry, man. But first of all, Brecht is a professional. He yes, is New Charlotte FC So it's not that we don't appreciate him as a person, welcome his family again. I don't want him going home and crying into his pillow, but we all did, certainly. So he should probably join us. But I think the important thing here is the fact that with the things he's achieved in his soccer career, the professionalism, the trophies, the, you know, champions, whatever, whatever that he's been on. The I'm sorry, I can't quote all those things because I'm not that great. But with those things behind him, we expected better. And I feel like. You also have to go. You know what you're doing. You knew that was, like the stupidest move. And I just have to think what I said. I think it was his wacky Wednesday. Was he did he trade bodies with someone? Like was his consciousness in someone else's body like normally and someone else flopped into his and they were like, oh no, what do we do? Because inadvertently and and this is kind of a shared problem with the first goal is that when the first goal comes in, it's partially his fault too. And I can't
Kara
22:03
give it all to him. Some of it's profit is tracking back in the run, and he is right beside the guy that waits in the space. And Privett could have tracked the runner and he didn't. He went back to the spot. But Brecht, also who is just come in, has completely fresh legs. 1s Is supposed to be in midfield and error in Winger and helping that midfield. He just stands there like a big goon watching the guy in the space and just looks at him. 1s Doesn't move to attack him just as like, Oh, hey, there's a man. Oh, yeah. And then he later goes, Oh gee, I'm a professional. That's my fault. And so in this second goal, I think he's like, Well, the first goal was kind of my fault. I feel so responsible. I'm going to wait, kill us all on this double edged sword. That's
Bridget
22:59
exactly what he did, is like, I messed up. He came in and he messed up on the one which was like he said, it could have been perfect, but it was him. He missed it and whatever. And he was like, Well, I'm going to come back and I'm going to be hero. I'm going to make sure this one doesn't go in at all cost. I'm not going to lose it. For us, this is in getting past me no matter what. And it wasn't even his place to do that because he's not a defender. I understand he was trying to play some defense, but the way he did it was out of control. I wouldn't do that. I don't play soccer. And if any of the kids on Lilly's team did that, we would lose our mind. So it just doesn't make sense that he would he would have done that. Maybe. Maybe something happened to him. It
Kara
23:39
was like a move you'd expect out of A1V1, no one else behind you situation. Sort of like absolute desperation. That was completely unnecessary.
Bridget
23:50
It wasn't like he made a smart one, like he needed to stop one. Like, you know, let's he do it but his arm around the and pulling down I guess he could have done that instead of like cut his legs
Kara
23:58
off. Well even that's still a penalty in the box.
Bridget
24:01
But I don't know. I guess I would just feel better if he was like making a play because it was going to go in. Otherwise either way was going in and you just tell Mary to save it or something. But this just it just didn't make any sense. On why he thought he should do it. So
Kara
24:16
again, I put this on Rex Shoulders where it should be an opportunity for him to come out and honestly apologize for his unprofessional action there, because I feel like that would go a long way to owning up to the fans who are so upset about this match. Again, if he were not this supposed to be this absolute professional, I wouldn't be saying that wouldn't be that hard. But I feel like this one, it calls for it. He's not a professional. We didn't get him that way for nothing. 1s Did the curse jump to Brecht? Because we've we've we've had some unfortunate happenstance his last year and this year to where you're just like, oh, this can't possibly be that bad. And then it is, well,
Bridget
25:09
I'm going to go with another. Rath And my other. Rath was going to be to the rift, because I was telling you, I felt like at the second half, especially in the stoppage time, that the ref was against us. But anyway, I started messaging her and I was like, oh, the ref's not doing. I was like, the ref is awful. The ref is awful. And you were like, Oh no, the best. Not that bad. It's not that the
Kara
25:28
first half in the first half, then they were
Bridget
25:31
awful all along. Even before the second half, I just thought that the refs changed the outcome of the game or this ref did because he wasn't calling anything in the first half. I felt that there was a lot of stuff that should have been called in the first half and he was just letting it slide. There's a lot that I don't know. I was feeling like that actually fouled in zoning. Should have called some of them, but he didn't. And then in the second half it was just like, Here, I'm going to start giving cards to everybody in there, brother. And then somehow, someway they had seven minute of stoppage time and there's just no way in my mind that there could have been seven minutes. It just seems eerily similar to the last few
Kara
26:06
games. Yeah, there were some. Egregious similarities there. That. I do think seven minutes did seem absolutely ridiculous, especially when some of that time I feel like he was too busy carting the trainer for Ben and he like wasn't even paying attention to Ben sitting down being like, Hi, I hurt my leg for four minutes or something ridiculous where he could have stopped it and gotten him off, but he just ignores it. So. 2s I can't explain it with them to mind. So this is my theory. But because I did go back and rewatch it, but to me it looks like he tells the trainer and he tells them to get off the pitch and they ignore him in favor of making sure that Ben can walk safely. And to me, the trainer was I mean, the the ref was not having that that the trainer was like, hold on, man. We've got to make sure his knee walks so that we can make sure we don't need something more serious. But the ref was like, What are you talking about? He can walk, he can run, he's okay. Move off the pitch. Um, so that was more of it because you also see Andre Blake come over there and talk crap to them too, so.
Bridget
27:20
Well, I don't even have a lot of things to say about Andre Blake. I think he flipped off someone on our bench anyways, from what I heard. So he had no sense. But the fact that the ref was doing that every other game that we've had, the other team just flops around on the ground, sits there, bends over if they're out of breath. I want to say a couple prayers or something. They just sit down and they let him do it. So I don't understand why Ben wasn't even on the ground that long, especially when he saw him. So I don't even know what's going on. And then he goes over here and gives the card to Westwood. And that just was ridiculous. Everybody was getting cards for no
Kara
27:57
reason. That was hilarious. Well, Westwood tries to start the play fast and the ref tells him no. I mean, when he should have allowed it, he should have allowed it, but he doesn't. And then the and then Westwood deliberately misses the ball, misses receiving the pass so that it wastes a second or two. So it does seem a little retaliatory. It was
Bridget
28:22
funny and I like seeing Feisty Westwood. He was just trying to do what he had to do. 2s He's being the captain. And I think it was I think I don't know. And then there was one on Patrick that should have been called, but they didn't. Instead, they called it on Patrick instead of calling it. I don't even know why they got that one on Patrick either.
Kara
28:42
Isn't this the same one that. Usually gets a yellow. I tried to rewatch that one, but they were showing a replay and like Eric and Lloyd don't. They're like, Oh, what happened there? Well, we think maybe Was there a handball? Like, either way. Usually gets the yellow. But I honestly think he was trying like it was a agyemang foul, which here is my note for the refs and also why booed at the end? Okay. Are you ready? 2s It's because Patrick among. 1s And Jess set it best, honestly, when she talked about it. Okay? Because Pat did everything to prevent the fouls on him. And Jess and Lily are like, This is complete garbage, which I really appreciated. And then. They called it on Pat. 1s Again the next foul, but gave Camille the card. 2s And so by that point, I had just lost all sensibility and I was just getting red cards to the ref every time because I was like, Well, if he's not going to be fair to Patrick and he's going to be constantly like, What is it? I don't know. Highest. He's going to constantly judge him for being tall and strong and trying not to foul that. Yeah. So I was just extremely. Extremely mad. But then he also who is it burn or somebody. Somebody doesn't get a card when they should have gotten a card. Oh, it might have been Jerry should have gotten a card. But then it cycles back around. It cycles back around to Patrick. Assuming. And I'm going to quote Jessica Charman when she says anyone refereeing Patrick Agyemang is a nincompoop. It's my favorite quote of the
Bridget
30:38
night. Word of the day, nincompoop. 1s I like that word. Oh, nincompoop. That's
Kara
30:44
to me why I saw Laddie got the yellow card last game and this one Laddie was losing it again because they can't possibly ref agyemang correctly. So that's why. But at the end, because the won the game shouldn't have been over till we can't ref Patrick Archibong because he was constantly calling it on him, even though it wasn't his fault. 1s And three months
Bridget
31:10
I was brewing and I think it was all for about a couple of seconds, but I believed that the the outcome of the game, it wasn't the players. It necessarily it wasn't anybody specifically, it wasn't the coaching, it was the ref, of course, because he was stupid and he changed the outcome of the game. And I didn't like the fact that we tied when we should have won. And so I was booing the fact that it was a tie, but we should have won. It wasn't even on the
Kara
31:34
player. Now there's always going to be people who boo everybody and there's always going to be really harsh sports critics. But I think sometimes the real attitude, it's just that we're just as discouraged as the team. 1s And I absolutely wasn't booing the players at all. But it's really hard not to show your emotion that way, because I feel like if the players could have booed the result themselves, they probably would have. I mean, they went and disappointed as well, just as crushed and heartbroken as we all did. I mean, it was everybody really shared in that emotion. But the crowd has no other way. Of doing
Bridget
32:19
that. I mean, personally, I don't think there's ever a time to boo the players or the coaches if you don't. I mean, there's we're not like people. We're not going to get along with them. But that's their job, that they're human beings and we shouldn't be out there booing them in the stadium. We can we can express our disappointment other ways. I think I do. I did hear there were some people that were, you know, being inappropriate. But I feel like for the most part, we weren't booing the we weren't booing the we were born, the rats were in the how come we weren't booing the team at all. And so I just feel really disheartened that anyone of the players felt that way. And they did. I mean, obviously ma'am said it, but Hondo said it a couple of times, even though I don't know, sometimes he says stuff. I don't know if he knows what he's saying. It's not coming across the right way. I don't mean him, he was saying anyway. I just don't think there's ever a time to say they're booing. I did boo. And I thought, you know, booed for a second. I was just so frustrated at the score. But it wasn't directed at anyone in particular. And I guess, well, looking back, I probably shouldn't have done that anyway.
Kara
33:18
And if you notice right after the like, I'm still going at the ref ref is blowing his whistle because I stopped when he stopped blowing his whistle. But I watched like that second that it happened. Our players are walking off the bench and I see Carol Swirsky take his towel and just throw it to the ground with so much vitriol that I absolutely understand. And I felt like for us, that was our kind of we can't we're not throwing things because it's absolutely unacceptable and you'll be kicked out. Don't do that. That's abusive. But the boos like for us felt like the proverbial throwing down of the towel because we're all frustrated at that result that we like. We won the game. 2s And some of our players, like, honestly, like psychologically, they can't handle that. So it shouldn't hopefully feel like that. And so I hope that someone tells them like it shouldn't really be at them, although there are those people
Bridget
34:13
out there. And I do think it's a lot easier for those that are experienced. So like your Westwood's has played over in Europe, I assume. Brett Ury You know, obviously any of those bigger guys that have been over there, they are used to getting booed because that's what they do or they're they don't, they don't really care. But then you would think about the new people like the Jalen's and the um. Andrew privates and the Milan is in the, you know, benders, the people that are really out there just trying to give their heart out and they're doing everything they can and they're literally getting hurt. And so sometimes they might hit on the wrong way. And even if you know that the boos aren't for you, it's mentally good that you just let Marilyn said it kind of he understood why we were booing. But at the same time, it's a it's a psyche thing and we don't want our team to go out there thinking that we're booing them when we really are supporting them. We might not be happy with them at the time, but no matter what, we're going to support them. So I feel like it's a little bit easier. Like you said, we're just getting our frustrations out, not us was everything that I was in the players, but there was people getting their frustrations out and hopefully the players will be able to get over it and understand that come Saturday, we're going to still be cheering for
Kara
35:22
them. I feel like we've done enough on the negative for Philly, which we had to do. We had to get out of our system. It's gone now. All right. Let's we cleared the air. Let's talk about the positives that we saw for Philly, because I feel like there there were some considerable ones. What would you consider your favor or your favorite thing you saw against Philly?
Bridget
35:40
I think one of the best things I saw against Philly was in as a positive that I'm going to take away was the passing. The passing was great, Imam, I'm going to give him my favor, actually, because his passing accuracy, I think, was one of the top ones while he was out there is out there considerable part of the time. At one point it was a 100% and Mariam was the follow through or I know a lot of people say it was because Carroll and Enzo were doing their thing and so that's why Mario had an opportunity, his goal. But man is always there to follow through. He seems to do that when it's needed. He doesn't give up. He's very humble and he tries really hard and he works really hard at what he's doing. And so I'm going to give my favorite to
Kara
36:22
Marion. Marion played a good game. I thought there were some missed connections, like he was trying so hard they just weren't landing. So it's nice that that goal really does land at his feet and he pulls off a beautiful shot. He's like
Bridget
36:35
kind of like the glue there. He's going to make sure that it's it's done and he's going to do whatever he's got to do. He does back up a lot of times. Sometimes he, like, switches spots with burned going back and forth. So you can see that he's doing a lot more than just trying to be a winger. I guess the wingers go back. I didn't know that until this year, but he's doing a lot of things and even if he messes up a little bit, he's on point. And I think that he's a expertise that The Times is always talking about the characteristics. I think that Marion definitely has that. One of the
Kara
37:07
things that I was going to say about my favor kind of goes along in with yours. And to me it's the Carroll Enzo connection, which it was kind of pointed out on Facebook a little bit and stuff that where there was a play that where Miriam is getting the goal right that's the that's the one he gets. But there's a tiki taka effect, which Wayne Carroll and Enzo and they were pointing out like on Facebook, they were like, wait a minute. Petty Like hit. Carroll What is that about? Because it doesn't look like they're like competitors shoving him and they're having a fight, essentially, which you pointed out at the last game, like Carroll and Enzo, were trying to figure out who was going to take the potential, which doesn't happen. But what did you say about. The Carroll and Enzo. I told you
Bridget
38:01
that I saw that. The Carol. Enzo, they're kind of awkward. I guess they're getting better. But there's just. This is like, this really weird awkwardness is like two coworkers that are or colleagues that are. They're both really, really good in the top of their game and they're competing, you know, who is like a little it's like a not like a main competition, but like, I'm going to one up you kind of thing. So I feel like that's what they were trying to do is like Carol was like, I can do it. And then I was like, Whatever you can do, I can do better. And so that's how I felt. But you totally saw something totally different.
Kara
38:34
Yes. So I was going to say, at least this this goal that happens I thought was really talented in the connections that they were making on those passes. Now I feel like this Patty wasn't angry in that moment. I felt like he was just excited and he was like, We got a goal and that was a freaking good pass that Carol gives. And they they go back and forth and he was excited about it. To me, it was it looked like he was congratulating Carol on an absolutely brilliant play. But I also think that, you know, they haven't had the best connection in the past. To me, these last two games have seen a progression in the Carol connection. It's not quite that second striker, but I feel like Carol is kind of playing around in and around Enzo and Enzo is kind of doing the same thing. They're kind of being more fluid but also more connected, trying to pay attention where they are, but they're having fun. And so the way I saw that was the fact that they must in practice play together and it must connect better. And then so they try to do the same thing in the game, but it doesn't. 2s It obviously didn't come off because Carroll Enzo tries to put it around his left foot like Carroll does, and he doesn't get it and kind of gets into a defender and then it goes to Mia. So lucky Miriam's there to to get that. But I wrote at the very beginning because the very beginning of the of the match. Their connections that are missed right there in the final third. And it is and Carroll Enzo gives one away, Bender gives one away and so they're trying to make that. Those tiki taka passes really work there and they're trying to get them correct. Some do go astray, but I will say I don't think it is malicious or competitive except in like a. 1s Respectful, teasing kind of way. Like, I think they're just having fun, you know, Enzo seems to have this just very playful energy about him and. If you notice that it's like five minutes after the goal, Carroll gets fouled. And Enzo is the first one to advocate for him with the ref and to help Carole up. I'm so glad that you see, it's like interesting how we all say different things because I'm over here thinking they're awkward, they're being weird, and you're over here seeing like something totally different. And I did see Enzo do that little Kiki thing that Carroll does. So maybe it is that Carroll is trying to teach Enzo how to do some of those moves that he maybe Enzo is not having as easy of a time and then less that he used to. And so Carroll was like, Hey, well this works for me and maybe we need to try to do this. So they're sharing with each other and trying to help each other out. And maybe that's more of it than what I was thinking was going down. And when you look at it the way you say it, you see it, then it kind of makes sense. So I hope that that chemistry is coming along, because
Bridget
41:50
if that's the case and I can see the glimpse of it, then then they will be unstoppable when they do get it. And and finally
Kara
41:57
click. I think they're just having fun. And I think that Enzo is having because in Argentina he was facing against players who were kind of either on his height or. 1s Shorter than the MLS players that were against right now. And he has a tough back line he pretty much has to get into. And so he's not really winning a lot of headers. There's guys that are just as muscly as he is and he's not allowed to get away with the same type of muscle that he did in Argentina. So he is really having to adapt his play here. And I think that's where Carroll is trying to teach him some of the things that had been working for him. And Enzo isn't quite up to par with that yet. So I think that's why they're having fun and it must come off better in practice but won't like the bones are there, the structure is there. It's just the magic hasn't happened yet, but to me I'm just waiting for this series of like six goals in a row or something like that from Mike Carroll and Enzo. Because you just think we see it. It's just not landing. But I think the potential is there just to go, go, go, go, go between them to in some way, shape or form.
Bridget
43:10
I really do have, they're getting that chemistry. I did see where Enzo was hanging out with Colina and that, you know, they're little, they're little daughters were playing together. So I think that that's awesome to see the Enzo's finally building some relationships with other people on the team, building that chemistry. And it seems like Endo is enjoying playing
Kara
43:29
way more. You know, we're playing better
Bridget
43:31
than he did at the beginning of the year. And it might just be because he's finally figuring it out. And, you know, it took Carroll that much time last year to do it. So I don't know why we're so surprised, but I'd like to see Carroll hanging out, too, maybe, you know, with him. Yeah, And I think Carroll. Even though Enzo doesn't get a guarantee, a goal this game, you know, Carroll does. And so I thought Carroll had a really great game with how creatively he was playing his just where his spacing was on that goal was absolutely brilliant. And Philly has just caught standing there like stupidly dumb
Kara
44:08
and that was just beautiful to see. Please go back and rewatch that. It's just we need to see some nice happy things, especially about this game and that. It almost made me go. Wait a minute. Why is he pulling me off? And then I had to come back to reality because I wasn't really after that, because we play a game against Cincinnati on Saturday.
Bridget
44:28
So and I think that is why they put he pulled him out because they they both usually get really angry when they're being pulled out. And they weren't angry this time when they were going to put out, they were doing their little huggy hugs, half hugs with LaTonya and had smiles on their faces. So maybe this was playing. They knew that they're going to have to, you know, be an integral part on Saturday. So they weren't mad about the fact that they were being taken out and Carroll had scored his goal. And so maybe they were just like, okay, I get you now. And it's nicer when you see them walk off the field with a smile on their face instead of being angry. That's
Kara
45:02
probably the whole point, is that we're trying to conserve some of our energy. Is there anything else you notice about this game that you want to chat about? I had like 1 or 2 other notes.
Bridget
45:11
The only other thing that I really noticed was the team chemistry their passing seemed to be doing much better than previous games, their tiki taka, and they weren't doing so much of the back passing. I love the I mean, they still did it a little bit, but they didn't do as much of it. And so I just feel like as a team, they're playing better. We see that this system that Everton Zoo has is finally working in inverted fullback, you know, mess that I'm not a big fan of. It seems to work with the right people in it and there seem there seem to be getting along. They seem to be able to to figure it out and they're they're thinking about a couple two steps ahead. Instead of trying to be reactive, they're, you know, trying to actually do something and make things happen. And I see it happening. I feel like we're almost there. And if there's that one little thing clicks again, then we're going to be an unstoppable
Kara
46:01
team. The notes I essentially had on this game where the fact that we had against Philly, we had more shots on target, we had more shots, period. We had more shots on target, which is completely different from DC. So that was really nice to see. And then all the rest of my notes are pretty much on Nathan Burn because he got a gold chance. And I was like, Oh, please, the back pass that moment where there's a back pass from Philly to Andre, Blake and Blake and whiffs it. And we almost hope that there's going to be another own goal. And then Burn is the one trying to pressure him. So he's like watching Burn come up on him when he misses catching that pass. They scared
Bridget
46:49
the crap out of Andre Blake. It was so funny. You know, Burn reminds me of the Super Mario. You know, when you're playing Super Mario Kart and you get that little fireball and you can, like, throw the fireball somebody, it's like, that's what burn is. He's like those little burning balls, firework. And he's coming around and he's like, doing that towards Blake, and he's just Blake just sees him and he's like, Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. It's already like, freaks out because, I mean, who wants that little burn running up against you? And, you know, so go burn, go, run, burn, run. But yeah, he's like that little fireball
Kara
47:19
thermal. I also thought it was nice how he blocked out. Bueno. And then Bueno gets so pissed that he shoves them once and then he shoves them twice. Like just full on hands thrown down. He doesn't get a card, for which I'm not sure why, but then he stands over and talk smack to him. So. 1s I don't know. Feel like Bern played a very good game. And I also thought the year had a good match as well with that play where he gets his arm hooked because that's like the play that happens right before our first goal. So it's really nice having a solid left back too. But those are those were all my notes about Philly. Other than how much I was hollering, I still can't believe he carted the trainer. Like, what on earth? I got a little man energy. Maybe that's why he carted the trainer. Like, what happens when you carted? What happens? Do you get a second card for the trainer? Like, what happens then? I don't know.
Bridget
48:13
No one's ever done it because no one does that.
Kara
48:15
I guess. I guess there's some sort of fine or something. I don't know. Probably. Well, I just know that we have a game coming up Saturday, and I don't know, I guess I'd be happy if we tie against Cincinnati because they're the best in the league. I mean, I don't know.
Bridget
48:28
I mean, do you really think that we're going to win on Saturday? I mean, maybe we could. I don't know. We
Kara
48:33
play better away. Why not? But also, I do think it's important that I noted that this came from Von Polman via Twitter, because I'm only calling it Twitter. And he noted that last year's Cincinnati record is practically identical to our This Year record. And Cincinnati is on top of the pack this year. So I feel like these results aren't really going our way. I mean, I feel like Chicago is also in kind of that boat. They also have a better season this year than they did last year. Same thing. Tons of ties. And it's just not. 1s Those 23 missed points from behind are are just killer and they feel like stabs to the heart. But there's one other thing I wanted to shout out. Carol Walton put out in her football Friday, last Friday, that she had interviewed Alexis Sims, who was Anton Marx's partner and mother to their daughter, Isla. And I just want to say she made a just very compelling and thoughtful write up about Alexis and and what happened if from her point of view and some things. And I just wanted to say, you know, Alexis, I do think about Anton just about every game and some of the things he did in the way that, you know, I feel like that apology last year, that's what Breck needs to come out and do for this game. But just his character in that moment and I know that that situation is is just so incredibly. 1s Hard from her into and especially how it came about in the aftermath. So I just have immense sympathy and love for her and I and wish her the best. And even if she decides not to come back sparingly to Charlotte FC, just we love you and we're just hoping the best for both of you. And and in missing Anton,
Bridget
50:28
Carol did a great job with the article. It's something that I think a lot of us have been wanting to know about what had happened. We're all, you know, invested in it. And Carol did it beautifully. She wrote it from.
Kara
50:43
From
Bridget
50:43
Alexis's perspective, but also gave Anton a voice in it. She did it so well that she respected Anton. She respected Isla. She respected Alexis for the way that Carol handled this article was so beautifully written. And it just makes me feel better knowing that the Charlotte FC organization and the women and group and everyone hasn't just dropped her because he's gone, but they've still continuing to wrap their arms around her and help her guide her through this.
Kara
51:17
Yes. And it's just really nice to know in reading that that Alexis is getting support of the other Charlotte FC women, spouses, partners, kids like they're drawing a community of support and some of the key moments that that she's there and I just love that that she had someone to call and to talk to and to hopefully be around her when she needs them. And even though we're complete strangers fans just I hope you know that there are those of us fans, moms who will feel just a lot of sympathy and and want to make sure we show you love at least this way as well. So, you know, you have other a bigger community out here, even if you don't see
Bridget
52:05
us. And another thing is, I love seeing her daughter, their daughter and the her soccer jersey. She has a wall. You know, obviously, she's a walk. So she has the jersey on and her kit and she's so cute about it. And so I think it's awesome that they're letting her continue to live that legacy because it has to be hard. It has to be hard on all levels. So just know that we as fans are there and I'm just glad that the Charlotte community is there for
Kara
52:30
her. Yeah, and something special about that too, is that's where Bridget and I met in at the memorial for Anton. So, you know, that's, that's where we formed a small community. So we hope you have a great Friday and then we'll hopefully see you like Saturday, Sunday, Monday, something like that. Have a good weekend. This could age badly
Bridget
52:50
until we talked to you. Next time, stay safe and go Charlotte FC. Hopefully we'll be Cincinnati. Talk to you later. Bye
Kara
52:58
bye. Bye.