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Fuggerstädter Faithful
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Fuggerstädter Faithful
Episode 3-Germany and USA National Teams-A young Renaissance! Bayern Preview
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Ryan and Andrew are back to discuss the Germany and USA games during the break and fantastic youth talent on both sides. Also previewed the FCA game against Bayern on Saturday and lastly did a trivia game in relation to our new sponsor!
Hello everyone, this is again Ryan. This is episode three of Fugure State of Faithful. I'm happy again once again be joined by Andrew. How you doing, Andrew? Good. How are you, Ryan? I am fine. I am fine, my man. Like I said, it's been a couple weeks with episodes. Personally, you know, I don't mind international football and soccer, but we'll I am glad the club Osborne is back. The club game is back, you know. But yeah, it's been an interesting international break. I hope all listeners off had a good break, and we're gonna dive right into it. Um, first thing, you know, of course, the USA and Germany both played four games um during this break. Of course, Germany was competitive, USA was just friendlies, but we're still gonna discuss touch base on all eight games. Uh, but first we're gonna start with Germany. Um, you know, they played the Dutch first. I think when we previewed this, we said the Dutch will be a tough game. Yeah. And it was. Um, the first game under Klopp was always gonna be intriguing, to put it mildly. And yeah, and I think, you know, I had some kind of I didn't, well, I wouldn't say reservations about him being national team coach because he the man knows how to manage. When people think about Klopp, all they focus on was Liverpool and Dortmund, but they don't realize he did a very good job at Mike's, also. Um, that's why Dortmund wanted him for Mines. So people really understand his whole manager career, he's always had success. Like Mines, he got them promoted. I think that he made a poke cow send me something with him. He's really a good manager. So I was on the fence, sort of, but also I was intrigued what he could do. And you know, the game against the Dutch, overall, I think we looked decent in that first half. I don't think it was, you know, great by any stretch of imagination. I will say we did look better than we did in the World Cup towards the end in that first half. Yeah. Um, for sure. So, Andrew, just in general terms, you know, the first half, Nameka scored in 32nd minute, which was a good finish. But just in general, how do you feel about that first half of the Dutch game?
SPEAKER_01So I didn't get to watch this one. Um, I just had to kind of look up highlights. Um, unfortunately, a lot of the highlight packages put together aren't aren't really great and informative for this game. Um for whatever reason, the DFB's like official highlights packages are really kind of garbage. Um, you know, I just like looking at the result and the late goal, I kind of felt like Germany really should have won this game. And then I kind of looked more into the stats and and the highlights that I could find. And man, they were really lucky to kind of walk away with the draw the way that the Netherlands were coming at them the whole game. Um, you know, they they lucked out with some chalked off goals, which I mean I think were rightly chalked off, but you know, if you have to rely on that, you're still getting lucky. Um, and just I don't know, like Tershagen's performance looks impressive if you're just looking at the stats. I mean, he made nine saves, uh, but he also made some bad like giveaway mistakes. And um if if your goalie has to make nine saves, your your defense isn't doing its job. That that's not good. And uh I don't know that the Nemecha goal, I mean, like it's a goal, but he was you know, he and he put himself in the right place to to get it, but he was cleaning up a rebound, it was lucky. Um so I I think Germany really kind of lucked out with the 1-1 draw, even though that you know it was heartbreaking to give away that last minute um, you know, the death of of uh added time to give up that goal, otherwise they would have won. And I mean if they had two wins, like um, or god, did they even have one win? Yeah, if they had two wins, you know, we're probably talking about this this uh window differently, even if it even if it wasn't like a really impressive win. Um so you know, was lucky. Um it's not as disappointing as the next game, but uh I I think we definitely saw a lot of uh weaknesses of the Germany side. I think that something we're gonna talk about with these first two games is I think it's showing the the limits of the kind of older generation of German players that are still playing right now on the national team right now.
SPEAKER_00Oh, for sure. Like I said, you know, I mean stats don't necessarily all tell the whole picture, but like the Dutch had 22 shots, eight on target. Uh unfortunately we only had 10, 2 on target. Now, granted, not necessarily sometimes if it's two, you know, but in this game, I think the Dutch I just I think they didn't really feel happy with the point. I think they really felt they should win. And be honest with you, if they had won the game, I think it would have been totally fair the Dutch had to win the game, to be honest with you. For sure. Um, so at the end of the day, you know, I will I was disappointed with some players' performances. Almiri, you know, he does great for mice, but I think this one, I won't say he was our worst player. I don't know if I'll say that, but I'm he just looked lost out there. I'm not sure what was going on with him. Um Idayimi Adayimi to me is the almost he's he's turning into German version of Adama Troy, if you want to know that. He's uh the guy plays for Spain who fast as lightning, he gets in the right spots, but he cannot finish to save his life. I mean, if Idayimi could finish, he'd be like one of the top 20 players in the world. I'm like, seriously, he just cannot finish. And you already think about him just in general.
SPEAKER_01Um so like like I said, I didn't really get to see this whole game. I did see him sky that really good chance that he had. Um, you know, uh unfortunately he kind of reminds me of like Leroy Zane in a lot of ways. Like he's definitely a talented player, but like he just can't seem to put it all together at the same time. And he he can't seem to find consistency. Um and so I don't know, like you know, I I know he's doing well at at at Barcelona, but like show me a halfway decent player that's not gonna succeed at Barcelona. Well, right, right.
SPEAKER_00I mean, there's I always told my brother, there's a thin line between being a very good player and being a world-class player.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00He's not world-class, just simply fact is he can't prove his finish. And he's still somewhat younger. I'm not sure his age on top of my head, but he's a younger player. And I think you know, he'll be alright, but it's just you take the seek, he gets all the right spots. I mean, he's there, but he just cannot finish. He can save his life.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's kind of right on the edge of like, is he gonna make it or is he gonna pat Peter out? So he's 24, that's still young, but it's on the on the edge of still being young, you know? I feel like if he if he hits 26 and he hasn't made some significant development, you could probably write off Kareem Adiami.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, for sure. And it, you know, I like writing off players, but I do agree with you, Andrew. It's just with him, he's got a if something I don't know if he it was just click all of a sudden be a better friend, he'll always be like this.
SPEAKER_02I mean, yeah.
SPEAKER_00That's just one of the maybe it's it maybe finally gets a certain coach that can unlock it in him. I'm not sure. Um yeah. So if we did get a one-on-one draw, which at the end of the day, I think we should be well, I don't know if happy is the right word, but I guess at the end of the day, you take a point, yeah, special way to the Dutch. Okay with it for sure. Okay, I guess okay, okay is the best way to put it. Yeah, then we like Andrew sort of referred to it. Uh went home. It was cool playing Oxbore, you know, Bob I K arena. Um, I think Dahlman should have started. That's a whole different yeah. That'd be so cool to have his first appearance in Fermi's home fans or Jordan's home fans, but that's you know, I think that's a Byron bias a little bit on that, but we'll touch base on that a little bit.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, I don't think he gives up that goal that Newbull gave up.
SPEAKER_00Right. That's that's the thing. I'm I'm not don't get me wrong, Liz. I'm not saying Dauman's top 10 goalkeeper in me in the world. I'm not saying that, but I think he's getting there. I think he is.
SPEAKER_01I know I know I have Augsburg colored glasses, but I I think he's up there.
SPEAKER_00I think he's he's definitely on the up cuts for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. I I think he's the best German goalkeeper right now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and it's like now Terstegan starting against um the Dutch. I wasn't I can sort of see what Klopp was going for. You want a veteran guy or the young, so I see that, but with Dahlman not playing at all at any of these four games, that's still irritates me.
SPEAKER_01But yeah, but yeah, I could probably talk to you all night about how frustrated I am about that. Like I knew that Tirstegen was gonna get at least one game just because he's the veteran guy. I don't know why you gotta see Nuble. I mean, like he didn't stay in the Bundesliga, you know, nobody wanted he's playing in Turkey, like, and I mean the Turkish League's not a bad league, but like nobody in the top five leagues was willing to pay for him. Like, that says something, and he hasn't been able to break, like he couldn't he couldn't break through over Baumann. And Baumann's uh a fine goalkeeper, but he's not a great goalkeeper. I understand wanting to see Urbig. I was frustrated that he got two games and that we didn't see Dauman or Atabolu. Um, but like I said, I I could derail us and talk about that all night, but yeah, it was very frustrating to not see Daumin at all.
SPEAKER_00Oh, for sure, for sure. Um, like I said, Angel Space Ton went to it was cool to be in Bob I K, but let's just be blunt about it. I know Andrew, you'll agree with me. It was awful performance, I think, in general.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, I'm not saying it's the worst drummer I ever seen. There'd be some worse ones in the S one, but Greece, yeah, trait just shut us down. We couldn't, they came with a perfect game plan and they executed it to perfection. And finally, Corbeless, I think it was deserved goal. I think it was uh 74th minute. It was a way deserved goal for Greece. Uh, I think we touched base listeners that I told Andrew that Greece is a team, you know, people still don't give a lot of respect to, but I think they're starting to get they should get respect now, is what I'm saying. Um, Andrew, how do you feel in general about the Greek the first Greece game performed?
SPEAKER_01Uh I mean, like you said, Greece came out with a plan and with energy, and they looked great. Um, you know, they they executed. I I think we were lucky to only lose by one, to be honest. Like the way that they were attacking, um, it could have definitely been worse. Um and yeah. Um my main impression is that Germany looked slow and sloppy. Um and particularly like Karina Madiami looked sloppy. Um he looked like he was a step behind every time he had the ball, or or like he not not a step behind. He looked like he took at least a touch too many every time he had the ball. Uh he can't he just can't seem to settle and make a res make a response, make a decision quickly enough. And that hurt us like the whole game. Uh he wasn't the only player doing it. I don't think Namecha looked great. Uh I don't think Kimmich looked great in either in either of these games. Um you can never fault Kimmick's effort, but like the guy was all over the place in kind of a bad way. Like in a way that's kind of disorganized. Right, for sure. You know, if he wants to be the captain, he's gonna have to he's gonna have to learn to delegate more and be more of a director and not try to be everywhere all the time. And um I think we hopefully won't see very many more uh quarter kicks from him because I think we saw a lot more quarter kicks from other players later on in this window. Um yeah, it was just really frustrating. You know, we we couldn't finish. Um we just couldn't uh we had to take one too many touches with the ball all game. You know, Greece was on us because we couldn't move along fast enough and like have a plan. And yeah, it was it was pretty dire.
SPEAKER_00It really was. And Greece, like I said, the game plan because you look at the stats. Um I know again, stats don't tell the whole story, but like Greece literally had six shots on one target and they scored with it. But that does not take away their perfect game plan, you know. Um, I think Vagdamon and Todd Brown and um you know Bisseg at the back. I mean, they didn't have a lot to do during the game, but I do think they could have pushed the ball a little a little better, right? Um just in general, you know, you hate to give up Lily, other team have one shot on goal and they win the game, but again, at the end of the day, Greece deserved to win. I'm just gonna be honest with it. I'm not you know, I love Germany, of course, but I'm also not, you know, I give team credit when it's due, and Greece deserved to win this game.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. And their goalkeeper did a great job. I mean, we had five, we had five shots on target, which is honestly more than I remembered. And he made five saves, and he just looked fantastic. Um, definitely well deserved by Greece.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and like I said, I can I mean player the game for Germany, they all was pretty mediocre. I mean, uh Stotz did a decent job um off the bench, but he don't come in for like 10 minutes. So um at the end of the day, nobody, I mean, Conte looked okay, but yeah, it was just a bad performance. Again, I've seen a lot of I've watched Germany a ton of times. It was by far one of the worst performance I ever seen, but it was pretty dire, like you said.
SPEAKER_01The one bright thing I will say is it was fun to um that Barens got his uh national team national team debut there at the Vebe Ka. For sure, for sure. He he only got like 16 minutes. Uh it was nice to see him get subbed on. Um, you know, wish he could have done more with it, but uh oh yeah, yeah. It's just kind of a not great performance all around. Genabri came on and didn't do much, you know. Um yeah, there just was not a lot to work with, unfortunately.
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah. I mean, that's one of those deals if you know, if the Greek goalkeeper is good, but you know, if if we we played him the exact same way the next day, we probably got at least one or two goals, you know. Not take away from what he did, but it's one of those games when you're playing a goalkeeper just in it right there. You you know, you gotta be even more on your game. We just wasn't. I mean, we just weren't sure. We weren't creative enough at all. Um, so start the nation league, two games, one point, not exactly a bright start at all for the Germans.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Then we then went to Serbia with the well, I won't say B team, a second team came in. And the starting line wheels announced. I was very excited when the starting lineup. Um Serbia is definitely gonna thought we could win. Um Bischoff starting verts. Now, Florent Verts, I I'll be honest with you, I'm not I'm not a huge fan, but he did prove me a little bit wrong during these games. Um, Bischoff is a great young player. Pavlovich is a great young player, and that Serbian game, we just dominated from first whistle. And really, I think we should have scored more than two goals, to be honest with you. It was by far the it just seemed like these players understood Klopp's tactics better than the other team did you, or they just clicked better with each other. Maybe they worked better with each other. Um so Andrew and Gino, how do you feel about the Serbian game?
SPEAKER_01So this one again, I didn't get to watch live. I had to kind of rely on highlights and stats and stuff. Um, you know, I I think you hit on uh a few points that I definitely agree with. Um I think the captain's armed band is beneficial to Florian Wirts. I think it kind of maybe that additional responsibility has kind of instilled some more confidence in him, unlocked something that's been missing since his move to Liverpool. Um he looked a lot better. Um, you know, Pavlovish and Pavlov Pavlovich and Bischoff looked really great in the middle of the uh midfield. Um Derry Sherhunt and Philip Troy are I think two of the brightest spots of this whole international window for me. Um I think one of the best things that Klopp is doing is looking outside the traditional hot spots for the German national team, looking at Freiburg, looking at Elversburg, looking at other places, uh Brentford, um, you know, other places where people are performing and they're getting results, and you know, even if it's not like really sexy results, like Brentford's not, you know, like in the Europa League or something, but they're doing really well for a small team. And you know, they're they're um you know, being mid-table in the Premier League is a great result for Brentford. Um, but Philip Troy and Darius Sherhunt, man, like I I can't wait to see more Darius Sherhunt. I I mean he is he definitely he's a yes, he's a fantastic young player for sure. Yeah, he looks really dangerous on the wings. Um he's bringing a lot of energy, a lot better passing and stuff than some of the other players that we've seen this with this window. Um really encouraged by those guys. Um I thought Malik Chow did okay. Um I I saw more of him in the in the you know other game than this one. Um you know Urbig was fine, he didn't really have that much to do. Um, but man, Nick Voltemata, like he might never get a call up again. Like he I think, Andrew. I mean missed like three sitters in this game. Like, I mean, goals you and I probably could have scored.
SPEAKER_00Right, and that's the thing with Voltamata, he's a very he's a weird player because I we all know he did Studgar, you know. That's why earned him to move to Newcastle. Yeah, and at Eldersford before that, too. Right, right. So I mean he's his career progression is going up what you what you want to do. Go every you know, every club you go to, you want it to be in theory a better club. That's what it's been so far for him. But it's just not it's just not working. I'm not saying the kid, I mean, I don't say the kid's washed up, he's not even what 25 years old, but 24. I don't even think 25 yet. So he's yeah, he's he's saying he's done, but or washed American term people use, but I just don't know what I guess he needs a confidence boost, what he needs. Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what's going on with him for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, something needs to get unlocked. I don't know. He's I mean he's a giant guy. He's like, wow god, how tall is he? He's um he's 6'6, and like being being a being a really big guy, sometimes you age quicker too. And so I don't know. I don't know if there's physical stuff going on with him. I don't know if it's just all if he's got the yips essentially or something, but like somebody needs to unlock something with him, and unfortunately, I doubt that Juventus is the place that that's gonna be.
SPEAKER_00Well, I was about to say, Juventus, um I watched you know, it leave once in a while, but Juventus in general, if you're not listening to about their fans, they're not patient with players at all. I mean, I think Weston McKinney, West McKinney's done a great job for them, but there's still a batch of fans think he's worse party history of the club. I mean, seriously, I saw Vickins fans, they're very that's just how they are. So Waltimata, if he don't have score, I'm not exaggerating like double-digit goals, he he's gonna get booed. I mean that's why it is with them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00In theory, because Serie A primarily is a little bit better than Serie A. So in theory, he should do decent in Italy. Uh now Grant's only made three appearances so far, so he's got a whole season. He's on alone for the whole season, but yeah, I am curious to see why he does that. Again, you muttered his fans, they're not patient to put it mildly.
SPEAKER_01No. But he needs to produce there, like he needs to show he can he can hit the ball in the net, that he can make a difference. You know, Italy's an older, slower league compared to all the other top five leagues. If you can't break through there as an attacker, I mean, I don't know. Like, and and I mean it's not like an attack forward league, that's part of it too. But if you can't make a positive impression, I'm just not sure you got the juice.
SPEAKER_00For sure, for sure. Like I said, hopefully, you know, I'll somewhat keep an eye on him just to see what he does there. Uh Mika Bauer, it's good to see him get his first appearance. Um, you know, he plays for Celtic now, so that's a that's a good spot for him. Celtics are real good club far as progressing players. Now, unfortunately, Celtic does like selling well there, right? But of course, they do like selling players. Um, I don't think they should be sold, they sell them too quickly, I guess what I'm trying to say. Yeah, hopefully he'll be at least a couple years at Celtic. It's a great club to make Europe every year. It's a great club for him to progress. Uh, you know, I think he I think he will.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00So we're talking about Cherhan again. Fireberg fans enjoy him now because I do think they will have to sell him next year or two. Cherhan, I just can't, at least to be honest. Um, I can't see them keeping him from too much longer. Now, also we we know teams will go and go after him. The Liverpools, the Bayerns, it's all the same teams. That's just how the world works nowadays. But Firebird would want a pretty good amount for him, and they just deserve to get a good amount for him. So for sure. Um, so yeah, at the end of the day, it was a very good performance. So now after three games, we're on four points. Um so yeah, still not exactly what you wanted to, but we're making progress. I mean, we're making uh making progress. Then so going to Greece, the next Greece game, played them again. It just almost said we had ever so hyped up, so excited after the um Serbia game, but then we sort of retracted a little bit. I don't know if the right word to use back down to what we was doing before, not in a good way. Yeah. Um I thought Dom was gonna start this game. We'll talk about that. I just really thought I just I just I just I would I would put Megan Vegas Vegas on this, he would have started this game. Yeah, I really thought he would too. It's like, why would you call a guy in? I mean I understand you can you're exposing him to the national team setup and clock training and stuff, but it's like, come on, start the dude, you know. But unfortunately. He didn't get to start, and I'm not saying he would have made a difference necessarily, but you know, I hate he didn't start. And just in general, Andrew, how do you feel about the game? I mean, zero-zero draw, and that's it was a bad game. I mean, the only player to me that showed any kind of anything was wrong, and he went in that great. So how do you feel about the second Grease game?
SPEAKER_01It was a very frustrating game. Um, Germany really kind of had control of it for a lot of the game. I mean, kind of not that differently than the first Grease game, except we looked more dangerous, but we couldn't finish. Um we had got some crazy amount of shots. 21 shots, four on target. Um you know, just just really wasteful um finishing. Uh you know. I I felt really bad for Burkhart that that goal got disallowed. I I don't think it should have. I don't know, like I get it it's tough in the you know, in the era of V V AR. Like if you can review something, then you technically should, I guess. But like it was something that happened so far before the goal, and it to me it was kind of like a 50-50 kind of thing. It looked like something happened from a player on both sides. Uh I I thought it was a real shame that that got um shocked off. I mean, he kind of um got that on the rebound, but I mean he he collected it well, and um I think it was Verts that made the initial shot, if I remember right. And like his initial shot looked really good. Um I thought Verts looked good again this game, um, you know, aside from not finishing any chances. Uh I thought Derry Sherhunt and uh you know Bischoff and Pavlovich looked really good again. It was good to see Leonard Carl playing again. Um, I really like that kid. Um, and he's been struggling with in you know, coming back from injury. Uh he didn't look great, but you know, this is the first time he's played significant minutes in a while. Um you know, I thought the defense overall looked pretty good. Uh, you know, Phil Troy looked really, really good. Uh like you said, Round looked good. Um, you know, we shut Greece down pretty well. Um but like we should have we should have been able to get something.
SPEAKER_00Well again, Zulakis just had an incredible game. And yeah, Zulakis, if y'all listeners, if y'all pay attention to transfer news, you know, now never fails. You know, now of course Liverpool, Lipper goes out to everybody. They're after him. So whole city, they're gonna have a they're gonna have a hard time keeping him for sure. Um, I think you know, because their whole goal this year is to stay up in Premier League. It's gonna take a lot a large bid to grasp away from him now, but definitely next summer they'll have a hard time. Again, credit to that dude. I mean, he had his great all four games he was good against you know other teams he played against. So unfortunately, we couldn't finish. Um personally, I want to see Baku get some um timeout there. I really like that player. Um, I was surprised he didn't put him out there. But you know, at the end of the day, five points from four games, you like it a little bit better than that, obviously. But um I think you know, in general, we can see what um Klopp wants to do. I mean, what he wants to do. And I think it is a little more somewhat easier on the eye than our previous couple of managers. Yeah. But still also on the flip side, still definitely work in progress. Um and some of these players, I don't think I don't think any player played their way out of the German national team. Voltamotti, you never know. But I think in general terms, I don't think anybody played bad enough, they'll never get called by Klopp again. I don't think it was that extreme. But there are some certain players that would definitely need to up their game on a club level to get an invite again. Voltamati is one of those. Klopp's not calling in. If you continue to struggle in club play, what would be the point?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think Nuble might have gotten himself off the national team, to be honest. Like, I mean, yeah, did not put in a great performance. It's hard to say a guy that made nine saves didn't do a great performance, but I don't know why you bring Tershadagan in. I guess if if you're confident enough in Jonas Urbig to play him for two games, like you probably feel confident enough to to play him some more. And then you can have, I don't know, Daman and uh Atubolu backing him up. Um, I know then then you're kind of lacking some institutional stability there, but I don't know. That's probably what I see happening.
SPEAKER_00Um was I think I think I put on Blue Sky. I think I'm not sure what game it was. It might have been a second Greek game, but almost all the games, you need to play Undov. And I just really had wish Klopp had called Undov in. Yeah, he's got the tenacity and he's an incredible finisher. Now I'm not saying he would enable us to win all four games, but he'll definitely, I think, finish some of these chances. A Klopp, you know, I don't you know why he didn't call me in necessarily, but I wish he had called him. I think Undov made a difference. And you do agree or yeah, I think that I don't know.
SPEAKER_01I think that Klopp is a consummate man manager, and I'm sure there's a good reason that he didn't. Um yeah, that he must have felt like it would be motivating or something, or he thought he'd seen enough of Undav and really needed to see more of these other guys. Although, why do you need to see more of Kai Hobberts?
SPEAKER_00Um, I can have a whole podcast on my feelings on yeah, but yeah, I agree. Yeah, I I'm not a big fan.
SPEAKER_01Um, but um like and he and then he got hurt too. Um if he wasn't gonna be if he was just a few years younger, honestly, I'd say like I'd I'd have loved to see Nicholas Fulkrug back there. I I mean he's not gonna be he's not gonna be fit enough to play in the next World Cup, and that's why I'm not like heartbroken about it. But he's been playing really well so far this Bundesliga season. Um Dav would have been nice to see. I think he could have brought some energy that was definitely missing from the attack. Um would have liked to see maybe some more of Yannick Engelhart. Uh Conte looked good, I think. Probably could have used some more minutes, maybe. Um But uh I think that you know the first two games were really, really disappointing. I think despite how frustrating the last game was, I'm encouraged by the the second two games. And I think we're gonna see Germany more like that going forward. So when the November call-ups come around, I'll be interested really interested to see who makes that squad because it's not gonna be like 44 guys or however many. Well, yeah, he's gonna have to film it. Um so I think we'll really see kind of more what he's thinking um, you know, for the Euros coming up uh in a couple years, which is is the re the next real target. Um I think I think he's planning long range. I think you know that they're not um too heartbroken about uh nations league results, although I also don't think they want to get relegated either. So yeah, I mean I think that if we see more like we did in these last two games in November, because I mean I think we'll probably beat Serbia again in November. And if we can beat the Netherlands, which if we show up like we did in these last two games, I think we might. Um, you know, we'll be in a good spot. So it's tough because it was just so uneven and there's so much variability to the squad, it's really hard to have a good takeaway from it.
SPEAKER_00It's not like the US games that we're gonna be getting too. Oh, yeah, they're about to dive into. Oh, for sure. Like I said, um, the youngest player I was impressed with, I think he did on both games was Bischoff. I just think that kid's really got a very bright future. Um Pavlovich, I mean, you know what he can, I think he's got a bright future. Um, so yeah, I think in general, our young guys for Germany, we got a lot of talent, and we'll we'll start clicking. This was a sort of a trial and error type of thing. Um, Klopp is a great manager. I mean, he guy knows what he's doing. I mean, he knows, and I think in this day and age and the kind of players we have right now, he's a perfect manager for Germany. Um, obviously, you know, he loves the country, he loves Germans. Um, I think he guy knows what he's doing. He really does know what he's doing. So I think going forward we'll be fine. Andrew said, play Serbia on November 13th. Um, then the Dutch again, November 16th, um, right before Thanksgiving. Well, Thanksgiving over here anyway, then we'll, you know, we'll definitely see what's watched for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Hoping for a big win against Serbia for my birthday, which is November 13th. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Mine's the 23rd. I was like, yes, I am gonna get drunk and watch Germany on my birthday. Awesome. Mine's the 23rd.
SPEAKER_00I'll be f I'll be 40 in November 23rd.
SPEAKER_01Ah. I'm gonna be a little bit older than that.
SPEAKER_00Right, yeah. I already feel 40, but it'll be all right. Um yes, and now listeners. Um, we're gonna dive in. Touch base on this real quick. Um, part of the long we did on the Germany games was the US games with friendlies, but still, you know, we'll touch base on them. Um, first thing is they won all four friendlies, which was awesome. I can't remember last time U.S. we usually don't play four friendlies in a window, but yeah. Last time they really looked this good. Um now I won't say that was perfect all four games by any means, but definitely way better than I thought they would. Um first game, Peru 4-1, gold from Ellis, Tillman, Hall, and um Burr Halter. Um that was a good performance. And we know beat Chile 4-2, always a battle of Mexico, beat them 3-0, then beat Canadians 1-0. So right quickly, the um US versus Peru, um, Ellis scored an early goal, then Lapadula scored Peru, then rest of the game, we just totally dominated. And Peru is a decent South American team. Thought we was playing Belize or something, you know, Peru is a decent team. So that was a good performance. Just real quickly, how you feel about the Peru performance, uh, Andrew?
SPEAKER_01Uh, you know, it was I was really impressed with it. Um, you know, like you said, uh Peru is a tough team. Uh, they're defensive, they really um, you know, didn't uh concede anything lightly. Um man, I you can't say enough about these kids. Like Hall just looks fantastic. I mean, he he's the player of the window for me. Um I thought Tillman was kind of a little soft. He did better in the later games, but like uh I I think he was kind of getting pushed around by like Peru and Chile, to be honest. Um Burholter really showed up in these games. Um you know, it's I didn't like I expected us to win against Chile and Peru Chile and Peru. Uh I didn't expect it to be as dominant as it was. And uh, you know, it like you said, it wasn't perfect. Like I thought our goalkeepers were terrible. Um but we had so much offense it didn't matter.
SPEAKER_00Well, Julian Hall, I mean he like he lost one thing, he scored three goals in his window and really could have had any more. Like I said, the Chile game, I you know, I flew to St. Louis for that game. Um, it was a great atmosphere. There was a way more chili than I thought would be there. It was just a great atmosphere in general. Um, and that was a great performer. Baralter again, Hall, um, Chris Richards, you know you're gonna get from him. Albert, another young player. That was awesome for him to get a goal. Um, and Chile is uh, you know, I think the prime, but still Chile is a very good team. It's a very good, they're very decent South American side, and we just controlled them. I think we really controlled them about most of the game. And then, you know, I've been to just kind of side note here, USA for Mexico. I've actually been to a game at Azteca. Um, and everybody all listen, I know y'all know that Mexico, well, Canada's trying to say there are, but really, everybody knows Mexico's our biggest rival. Um, Canadian fans try to, well, no, it's Mexico. Um, and so I've been to Azteca where I got had beard thrown on me, almost got in fights walking out of the stadium. Um, so you're Mexico is always a very contentious game, you know. Um, Mexico, I think this was their first game, or maybe not first couple, they're new, they got a new manager, Rashford Marquez. Um, great player. So I mean I'm curious how he sees what does with the national team. He's a he was a great player, Marquez. So now going into Mexico, Andrew, I'm not sure how you felt, but I was it's always a tight game. I thought the way we played against Peru and Chile, we easily we could have we would have given a result, but I didn't think we would dominate Mexico the way we did. That's that's one of the most dominated we've been against Mexico in several years.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, how do you feel just in general about the Mexico game, Andrew?
SPEAKER_01Um, you know, I was cautiously optimistic. Um, you know, we had good results against Peru and Chile. Um, but I was worried about our defense. And you know, Mexico had such a good World Cup. And granted, like you said, they have a new coach now. Um, so they're kind of trying to re you know re-establish everything. And they also had some um some notable absences. Um, you know, Kinonez wasn't playing with them. Um there were some other guys too. I I'm not as familiar with L Tree as I wish I was. Um but uh you know there were some significant names not present on this uh on this team. And I think that did make a difference. I mean, we're kind of seeing a little bit of a Mexico B team. Um, not entirely. I mean, there's uh like Rangel is that has been their starting goalkeeper for you know probably eight to twelve months. I don't know, whenever it was that um America, Club America's keeper got injured um before the World Cup. But uh man, he looked terrible. Yeah, he I mean we were kind of gifted a couple of goals and like. I know, I know.
SPEAKER_00I think Troy finally retired. Gamer Tro, I swear he wants, I swear he would play 70. Every time you just knew he was gonna be the and he's played such random places. A Yacio in France, he's played such random places, but I think he finally said, you know, retire from the national team. Yeah, but like you said, Ron Hill, he he just I don't know, he looked awful. If I was a Mexican fan, I would not be enthusiastic about his future.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, I I I wish I could remember his name, but uh Club America's starting keeper is like starting to like do heavy training, so like he's gonna be coming back, and I think he's he's gonna have a good shot at getting his starting job with Mexico back. Uh if if he's you know in in the form that he was with in before, which was fantastic. I mean, Rongel had done really good up until this point. Um, you know, he had a a howler of a game that happens sometimes, but I mean he basically gave us two goals. It was really bad. Um, and just the Mexican defense wasn't very good overall. Um, you know, they they weren't very good at um keep you know stopping the U.S. in the midfield. Um, they weren't very good at at you know shutting down our attack, and then you know, they couldn't keep a uh calm head, and they gave up that really stupid red card. Um and you know, some of our some of our players are are getting more skilled in the dark arts or are getting uh some uh quality concaf shithousery credentials.
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, and even Burr Halter, he got I almost got fright with something. He I didn't really you know see the added film. His dad was concaf when he played, so I wasn't too surprised.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it was kind of funny when uh when the Mexican player got his red card, Berholt and Burr Holter ended up getting yellow, but like you could see he was kind of like watching which card he was getting, and then he was like, Okay, it's a yellow fair.
SPEAKER_00It was it was awesome. Uh yeah, I think you know, especially Concap really in general. I think US has always been one of these teams that I won't say we were scared as I said, but we always we should always been tougher, you know. You go back to the old school days of Dempsey and those teams, I think they was tougher teams. It's like, you know, nowadays we need to bring that back a little bit. The Dempsey Donovan days, um, McBride, Brian McBride, and go back to McBride days, was a little bit tougher, and we need to definitely bring that back for sure. Definitely.
SPEAKER_01I mean, if you go back to the the 80s and 90s, like physicality is what we had. You know, we didn't have a lot of world-class players on the USA. Like we arguably knew now. Uh well, I guess it depends on how you qualify. We didn't have a lot of guys playing over in like the top five leagues, playing for big, you know, brand name teams that everybody knows. Um all those guys had to fight real hard for everything they had and were in it much more for the love of the game than like these guys who are making you know big bucks over in Europe now. Um but uh you know that said, I think we kind of saw a renaissance of Giorena. Like G Arena looked better than he has in years. This window. Um I don't really watch any of League A, but like I hear he's doing well at Strasbourg. Um, you know, I thought Burholder looked really good, Adams looked good.
SPEAKER_00Um we gotta mention Kevin Sullivan. Kevin Sullivan. I mean, you can't watch that kid play, you swore he was 30 years old, just how like seasoned he is already. It's amazing. I love watching play. I love watching play.
SPEAKER_01The way he never stops attacking is just crazy. Like he is just always going for it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I think he I think it's set up well. We all we can't hope probably will happen in Man City, but I think the goal is he's supposed to go to Man City when he turns 18. I don't know if that's still gonna happen or not with what's going on with him. Yeah. But uh but so the word is still that it's the plan, but we'll see what. Well, right. I mean, right. I mean, but if some reason it does fall through, I'm sure the other European teams right there jump on him if that doesn't fall through. Uh, but he's just a great player. And I'll be I'm I'm gonna say this. I'm out, you know, his skill level at this age was way better than well, way better. It was tab Barry and Pulisic, or sort of even. But I think at the end of the day, I just I don't know. I just think like the way he plays Barry and Pulship. That makes sense. I just think he his attack in New Orleans newest is better. He knows how to read the game a little bit better at this age.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00The kids got a lot of pressure on his shoulders. I mean, he's got people expect him to you maybe be captain of the future, uh, maybe one bear players, you're mega players ever. Um, this I mean that's why it's you know, you read the Inklands, the media, what they're saying about the kid. He's got a but he seems like he's got a mature head on his shoulders.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um he's not cocky, he's not arrogant. You know, a lot of kids that young, already going to Man City, got all this, would be really arrogant and cocky. I don't really get that from Solomon at all.
SPEAKER_01I I think he's confident, but like, I mean, he deserves to be. But yeah, I I agree. I don't think he seems arrogant. Um, and I do think that this kind of emerging class around him, I hope will take some of the pressure off of just him needing to pan out and him needing to perform. Um, you know, Hall. Julian Hall looked fantastic. I mean, he had what three goals and and one or two assists this window. Um you know, uh Albert had a goal. I mean, we had uh two new youngest scorers for the for uh the US MNT ever with Albert and then Sullivan passed him up, you know, in two in three games.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was it was awesome because I mean, like I said, I uh this is my experience watching the US play Metzco in person and just in general. I always just want to beat them. Um I just it was a great it was a great performance. I really thought, you know, we could even score more than three goals. I mean, I don't think it would be in if we scored more four or five goals in that game. Mexico, um yeah, there's been some players, but then on the flip side, you can look at it, yeah. There's been some players we had a lot of guys never played before, especially when we had a lot of guys never played that hot such a highly highly contested game like that. Um, and some of these guys never played Mexico on the youth level. So I think you know they took it in a stride and they did a great job. Yes. And our last game window was Canada. Now we could have a whole podcast. I'm sure some listeners read some of Jesse Marsh's comments. We don't all I'm gonna say about Jesse March and and John if you grew up, and I think 90% of his, and I agree with what he said about US, you know how it is over here. I I the point, but I think a lot of his stuff is he's so sour grapes that we didn't hire him as USA national team manager. I would I will always say that, I will forever say that. That's what 90% of his problem is. Um but he you know where he plays up, Canada, and Canada is a good team, don't get me wrong. I mean, uh Canada, you go back even 10 years ago, Canada was like they would want to get a team. They would they just wasn't. But Canada is a very good team nowadays. Look at the players they're producing. Um, Davies, I mean, Alistair Johnson, he did great at Celtic. I mean, they produced some really good players, Canada. So it's interesting. This is a very interesting game. Right, right. Um, so just in general, you know, it wasn't the greatest game. I mean, we won one against Canada, but it wasn't like a fantastic performance. But it's still when you got to win, Ellis, another great, very I'm very intrigued, very excited for that young player. It's his second goal, Ellis. Um, we got you know, we got some guys to really bid on for the future. So just in general, right quick, um, Andrew, how do you feel about the Canada game?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um it's definitely kind of a a building rivalry with Canada. Um, I I didn't get to watch this one uh live either. Um, but I hear it was really chippy. Um you know, definitely kind of a very gritty defensive game. You know, we only won 1-0. Um, and like you said, Canada has more talent than they probably ever have. Um they're they're doing a really good job bringing people up. I think overall Jesse Marsh is doing a good job with Canada. Like, you know, they had their best World Cup ever, and granted, they didn't face the stiffest competition at the beginning of that, but um, you know, they're they're they're doing things that they've never done um under Marsh, and I think he deserves credit for that. Um, it's not entirely him, because he does have a great class of players to work with. Um but yeah, I mean I I think the uh the guy doth protest a little too much. It is definitely very personal for him uh whether he will ever admit that or not. Um but uh it it sure it sure does feel sweet to beat him though.
SPEAKER_00It does. It does. Like I said, uh overall, you know, Germany and USA windows, I think, you know, in national breaks would both, you know, I think in USA shade it just because they won all four games, but I think both teams definitely you know way more positive than negative, I think, in general for both teams, both countries. Um in the US, uh Ellis, Hall, Albert, we've got some great young players. Um, I'm very intrigued to see how they develop. I mean, because the next World Cup will be here before you know it. Yeah, I think it's what duel hosted by Morocco and um Rebecca, Spain, and Portugal, I think.
SPEAKER_01That's right. I guess people thought we were on the they're gonna have like an opening game or an opening couple of games in Uruguay to start it off. That's right, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00It's well, I mean, we all we everybody knows why FIFA is expanding. We we can we I mean it's pretty it's obvious we don't have everybody knows why. Um we have a whole podcast episode talking about the evils of FIFA, but um, but just in general, you know, I'm intrigued. I'm very excited for um young players coming up, and we'll definitely see what we got. Um, so now we're going to dive in. I said club football is back finally, eh? It seemed like it's been five months, it seems like. Um, and we the big game against uh Bayern. Um some people say it's a rivalry. I don't, I mean, you can say it's a rivalry game. Um I mean overall Bayern has patrolled the series. I mean, just overall, but you know, I last me um January, we beat them two to one. Chavez was a good goal, Macingo. Um, in general, even if we don't beat Bayern, Augsburg, we always give them fits if we don't beat them. I mean, look at times they beat us over the last several years. It's not like they beat us eight-nothing. It'd be like 3-2, 2-1, 4-2. I mean, it's not like they're totally destroying us. We always give them fits. Um, and with Baum in charge, uh, Baum came out of the interview this morning, and so we gotta be have high intensity and just stay focused the whole game if we want a result. And that's that's obvious because I mean Byron is just I mean, they're by far the best team in the league. I mean, he's gotta be realistic about that. And so we, I mean, Michalka head on zero to zero. It's not like it's impossible to get points from Byron, but you do have to be on your A plus game for sure. Um, and it's gonna be in it like Coddy's back, anti-Cotte's back. That's good to see. He'll probably be on the bench. I doubt he'll start right away. Um, Mooney's still out, which I mean, you know, unfortunately, Banks, our young player Banks got hurt during uh the um camp. So it's had a lateral something in his knee, and with that, I don't see him back. Maybe it'll be definitely after Christmas, maybe the season. I mean, they said the season injury, but anytime with knee injury, a young player like that, you've got to take it seriously. So Angie, I'm gonna agree, but I'll say at least after Christmas for Banks is back at the earliest.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I hope they don't rush it. Um, you know, Banks is is another really big guy. I always forget just because like he's so he's so baby faced. I always just expect him to be it like a smaller person. And then I see this giant guy in our in our back line. I'm like, who is oh yeah, that's Banks. He could be like a linebacker or something. He's huge. Um, you you're just carrying more weight because he's got that big frame and everything. Um that can complicate things. He is young and that always helps with healing and everything, but I do take I do hope they take their time and give him plenty of time to heal. Uh it is definitely gonna be a hole for us, you know. Um I wonder if if old uh Ab Abver Abver Jeff is gonna get uh a start against Lion. Yeah, yeah. I unfortunately don't think that's probably a good sign if he does, but um you know Matsima's been doing all right for us. Um yeah, uh, you know, it's just I feel like we'll probably be better rested coming back from the international break than than uh Byron.
SPEAKER_00Although Dalma Domin will be for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Domin will be for sure, and hopefully he has something to feels like he needs to prove something. Um I mean I hopefully we don't make him prove too much, but um yeah the the Bayern players will have definitely played more during this this break. Um, you know, some of them uh some of the German ones got more play in the earlier games than the later games, but I think our team will be fresher, more rested. Um I think one of the great things about Augsburg versus Bayern is you never know what you're gonna get out of this fixture.
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_01And it's it's usually closer than people think it would be. Um, you know, I would I would really like to say uh a 2-1 win for us. I I think it could I think it's probably gonna be like a 2-1 either way. One team, you know, it's I think it's gonna be close, and um, you know, one team's gonna squeak by the other one. Um you know, banks being hurt, that hurts us a little bit. Um you know, but aside from that, we don't have any any other huge people we're missing. You know, it looked like Gregorich had maybe gotten hurt um you know early on in the international window, but it turned out to just be a knock. I I think he's fine. Um, you know, gosh, he's been the the Gregorich Renaissance has just been so much fun to watch. I really like that guy. Um and you know, I there'll be uh you know, Ibrahimovich, I'm sure, would love to show uh show up against Bayern and show.
SPEAKER_00I love how Germany does that. You know, other leagues around the world, they don't really they don't allow players alone to play against you. Yeah like in England, England they don't allow you to do that. I know there's other countries. I love that Germany's like we want to play against the better team, so Bayer wants him to play. Now they might be aggravated if he gives scores the game winning towards the game winner, but I understand the concept they want he won, they want him to play against them, so it's gonna be interesting. Of he's not gonna, you know, he won't he won't approve himself to them. So it will be interesting how that goes. Um, Ryder did great with Switzerland during the break. Yes. Um and so I'm curious to see you know what he does. And I think, Angel, I agree with you. I see it going 2-1 either way. I don't see it being three or four, nothing. Even by I don't I don't really see either team getting totally destroyed or dominated. Um at the end of the day, of course, you know you won't win at home, but of course, when you play Byron, you will take a draw any day of the week. I mean, you just gotta be honest about it. Um, but my prediction, I agree with Angel. I'm I'm gonna say I'm I'm gonna go two one to the good guys, Osborne. I just got a feeling that we're gonna I don't know, I just got a good feeling at this one. I say that now, and I might be cussing come um Saturday afternoon, but yeah, for now I I do have really good feelings.
SPEAKER_01Talking about a Harry Kane uh you know hat master class back. I don't think we're gonna be. Uh I think I think Bayern are gonna be a little tired. I think it's gonna be a kind of a cagey match, and I think that um you know we'll pull out one more moment of magic than they will, and we'll come away with the win.
unknownPerfect.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, we'll you know, with a good start of the season. I mean, uh, you know, yeah, it's a good start of the season against Byron, you know, you never know what you're gonna get. And like our next game's after Byron, I think I looked this up earlier. Um, I want to say it's let's see, drawing a blank here. Oh, it's um then after Byron's at Elvelsburg, which where they play this season, you never really know. Yeah, and with like um, and we'll you know, our next episode previous on this game, then home versus union, you never know. Then away in the cup game. Um, cup games always tricky. Then Halloween night or Halloween over here, um, versus Fryberg and ellipsy. I mean, it's a tough, it's definitely tough, tough road to fixtures coming up, so a point would be amazing. Um, even Ellsburg, you can't guarantee anything there. So we definitely need to gather points as we go along. But um, but yeah, it will definitely be a great time. And we'll we're gonna see what we got. And listen, right before we wrap this up, um, I think I mentioned on Blue Sky. If you follow us on there, Substack. Um, we do have a sponsor for the podcast now, um, Lawson's Chop House. Two locations I haven't opened yet, just FYA. Um, but one's gonna be in Raleigh, North Carolina, and one outside Knoxville, Tennessee. Um, one of my friends wanted to sponsor the show. He's really getting the team lately, and it's it's awesome for the podcast for somebody to sponsor it. And yeah, so he's he's he's putting up a $75 gift card when it does open for the listeners. And so I'm just gonna ask these questions. Of course, again, you know, you can go back and listen to the episode if you gotta hear the questions again. I'm gonna ask five questions, and the first listener who sends me the correct answers to FCAugsburg USA at Outlook.com will get the gift card. Now, if some reason on the timestamp, two people do it at the same time. I'll just draw a name out of a hat or something. Um, but yeah, so the question I came up with, they're pretty straightforward. Um, first one is who was manager of Augsburg last time we made Europe? That's a pretty straightforward question. Um, the second one is who is our all-time appearances leader, appearances holder. Um, third question, who has the most cards, red and yellow cards combined in the Augsburg history? Um who's our biggest transfer sale? And this one, let's y'all just as older listeners that just really know Augsburg history. Who was the first Augsburg player to ever represent Germany? And a hint on this one, we wasn't called FC Augsburg, it was the the other club, BC Augsburg. So um just a hint on that question. So yeah, I think again, listeners. Of course, I don't know if you're Googling, if you're Googling these, but I'm sure some of y'all know these will top just top of your head. But yeah, again, first one, who was manager last time I made Europe? Who has the most all-time appearances, who has the most cards, red and yellow cards combined in Augsburg history? When he played for Augsburg, not just you know, when I actually played here, who was our ever biggest sell, and who was the first player to ever represent Germany while he played for Augsburg? Um, so I think it's pretty straightforward questions. And again, listeners, the first one who sent me the correct answers. Um, the FC Augsburg USA at Outlook will get that gift card. Um, that restaurant open Knoxville and Raleigh within the next month, both of them will be open. And it's a digital gift card, so don't feel like you have to you know get it shipped to you or anything like that. I can just email it straight to you. Um, so yeah, Lawson's Chop House is our sponsor now. My friend owns it, it's a great guy. And I think going forward, make sure I get more sponsors on board and really build the podcast up. And and this ain't the only time we're gonna do this gift card. We're gonna offer some more things. I have some a lot of sign Augsburg stuff I can, you know, maybe auction raffle off auction. I do a lot of charity things, maybe you know, donate towards a certain charity and most, you know, something like that, or bid on certain items. That's definitely something we can look forward to um in some more episodes. So our goal is after Bayern game, you know, to review it and preview Evansburg, and we'll go from that. Um, Andrew, got anything before we wrap this up?
SPEAKER_01Well, thanks to our new sponsor, Lawson's Shop House. Get those uh trivia question answers in. $75 will get you a real nice meal. And uh, yeah, stick with us. Uh, whether it's gonna be uh happy or we're gonna be uh crying crying in our beer, talking about the uh the Bayern game. We'll be back and we'll be looking forward to the Elversburg match after that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thank you. Thank you, listeners. Uh, again, this is Ryan Happy Dorma Andrew. This has been episode three of the Fugure State of Faithful. We'll see you next time. Thank you.