[MUSIC] >> 11 hours. >> No, 13, I don't know, one of the two. My math's off. Give me a break. >> It's Friday, people. I'd tell kickoff at Copa. >> 13. >> 13, all right. Give me a break, I'm tired. >> It's a fun night when my kid is screaming in my face. There'll be a lot of screaming tonight down at Jerry's World. Well, what way or another? If I know anything about soccer fans are gonna make just a, just a hair of noise, somebody who's been a soccer fan. I wouldn't dare say who will again though. But definitely been a soccer fan throughout his life. Thrilled, thrilled to be joined now. And this insider is brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online. And in the showroom visit DonValleyNorthlexus.com. James Sharman, host of the footy prime podcast. Sharms, always good getting a chat with you. How are you doing on a Friday morning? >> You know, I feel as I am a fan, but sometimes the sport can test me and my love, that's the shore. But yeah, deep down, if you peel away the layers, there's a fan at heart. >> Are you saying that because of England? James, is that the word of all your despair? Like they're playing in a quarter final of the world. And I know you're just probably sitting there like, God, I'm gonna hate watch this. Like I am not looking forward to it one bit. >> That is 100% the case. You know, I put that on social media yesterday, but my team, you know, the country of my birth is into the quarter finals against a team that's decent, but you know, it's not, it's a team that they should be to get to the semi-finals. And I haven't enjoyed one second of this thing so far. It's so bad. Maybe one half. Okay, the first half of the first game, but pretty good. Apart from that, it's been just, I'd say a labor of love. I mean, the love's dissipating by the minute. It's been pretty annoying, pretty frustrating, pretty boring, quite honestly. >> There's a bartender at my local who's been wearing his England kit, if you will. >> Well done. >> Yeah, the throughout. So I've been getting this, I've been getting this commiserating from him as he pulls the tab on a draft for me. So I know it all too well. Also, I'm a Leaf fan. So yeah, I know what it is to love. >> You even never loved you back. >> Oh, you're lucky. >> I know, yeah, I know. >> Pick up a little there. >> Boy, you know how to pick him. All right, maybe Canada soccer could make us feel something good tonight. How excited should we be? The first thing we were kind of talking about with this is just, let's say they win tonight and pull this off. How does that feel in comparison to doing what at the time was the unthinkable and qualifying for World Cup? >> Yeah, it's a good question, right? Two very different things. I think the qualification of the World Cup was bigger. I mean, it's just been so many years, right? There's been such a boulder on the shoulders of all things Canadian football for so long. And finally, they broke through onto the big stage. That was a tipping point, I think, in some regards. This is pretty special, though. I spoke to some former internationals of Canada and asked them, you know, what is it exactly? And this is one of the biggest games in history, for sure. To play in a knockout round of Culper America, one of the all time, you know, great tournaments in world sport and all that comes with that. And the momentum that can encourage and inspire moving forward, it's a huge match. And listen, Canada's got a chance, right? Venezuela are a really good team. They're the favourites, they should be the favourites. They look very decent in the group size. They've been very good in qualifying for the World Cup and the toughest qualifying group in world football. That's consumable, South American qualifying. So yeah, it's a huge game, it's a huge challenge. But if you're a Canadian fan, you should have some real optimism that we could see something pretty special tonight. >> Yeah, speaking of that Venezuelan side, I mean, they've only dropped one match in 2024 so far. And that came against Italy, and I have to mention it 'cause it was my Italians. But mind you, that's a pretty good resume to have. In terms of overall, they're across the board, international competition, they've been fairly steady and look to be in really, really strong form heading into this quarter final matchup tonight against Canada. Do you think there are, like, there is any ounce of pressure on the Canadians to get a result? This is something I'm sort of grappling with, is trying to figure out what the expectation should be. And if there should be some actual tangible pressure in this environment, in this setting, to say, okay, go out there and let's see if you can actually get a pretty solid result here in a big match. >> I hope there is pressure. I really do, and I'm sure there is in that room, but at least to him, they really believe in themselves. And Jesse Marsh has followed John Herban and he's brought this barometer together, so to speak. And they have to believe they can win these kind of games. Otherwise, what is the point? You understand why they enter an Argentina game, which is the match that awaits the winner of this match, by the way, and at that point, there's no pressure. No, because Venezuela, yes, a good team. A team, much like Canada, emerging on the world scene. They're going to get better as well. There's some real good youth on that side. But as a team, that Canada can beat. That's not to say they will beat them, but they should be pressure. They should be thinking, yeah, we can get a result here, guys, and make the same finds of Copa. And what a story that is. So I hope they're waking up this morning and they have those butterflies. This is not a case of, well, we've done the hard work now. It doesn't matter what happens. It does matter. We ought to be respected as a team, a legitimate side and wealth football. You've got to get results in these kinds of games, and we've been crying out for these matches, right? It's so long. Finally, games against other considerations, games that mean something. And here we are. So, yeah, there is pressure. There should be pressure. And I think that's great to Canadian football. - Yeah, it certainly is. Obviously, there were two names that I think kind of, most people expected to have a big impact in this tournament, and it's the alliteration. It's perfect. It's Davies and David, right? David got his goal. Davies has had his flashes of spectacular moments. But I think from a perspective from most people, the guy who has kind of taken on a life of its own or had a bit of a coming out party, however you aren't afraid it is Schauffelberg, what is he as a player? I mean, obviously, there's a massive gap, I'd imagine, between him and where somebody like Davies is, playing for one of the best sides in the world. But just, how much does something like this help players of his kind of ilk grow to kind of get to the level of some of his other teammates? - Well, yeah, well, the rumors are starting, right, about a chance out of MLS already, under these performances. And before this tournament, you know, the belief was that a number of these players could use it as a platform, a foundation to get their name out there in World Football. And I don't think anyone's done it better for Canada than Jacob Schauffelberg, who's been brilliant, coming up with the bench a couple of times, starts in the last match. Listen, he's still raw, right, he's young, he's raw, but he's got that, that almost arrogance out there, which, and that's a good thing in football, is he's brave, he goes at players, he does him back down against some of the most physical teams in World Football, which is what we're seeing here in the Coco America. And he's just been so much fun to watch, you know? He was a TFC, but I forget once upon a time, they let him go to Nashville. Don't know why, what a terrible move that was. So yeah, this kid's very good. He's exciting to watch, he'll, if he starts tonight, and not sure if he will or not, if he starts tonight, he'll go there with no fear whatsoever. He really kind of embodies that mentality of that Canadian team. So yeah, a lot of fun, but listen, he's not the finished product, he's still, like I said, very raw, and that's okay, he's young enough, but yeah, he's been the standout performer so far, I'd say, for Canada, probably. He's the guy we're talking about the most. - He's been a terrific story, no doubt about it. You know, Brent mentioned the pairing of Davies and David in terms of their overall importance to this team and this program, and that's obviously evident. One thing that this team has struggled to do, since Jesse Mark took over and this being his first window over this five game span, including the two friendlies, they've struggled to score goals. They have one goal over this five game period, and of course, one goal in this tournament, and yet here they are in a quarter final. Is there something that they can do to unlock more offense? Is there, whether that's maybe a tactical adjustment or even personnel-wise, is there something that needs to change going into a matchup like tonight in order to unlock some more offense, even if that means it comes at the foot of Jonathan David, but finding a way to tap into some more of that offensive profile? - Yeah, well, I do suspect that Venezuela will be going at them a little bit more than Chile and Perudid, which might open up some potential with the pace that Canada has, and Canada's strength is that pace out wide, right? Even without Tisha Buchanan, I'm sure we'll get to shortly. They have that in transition. They're very fast on the break, and that's important. Now, the issue is, you know, we can criticize Laren and David's not scoring the goals and finishing chances, but there hasn't been that many chances, quite honestly, who is creating those chances? Who's that player in the middle of the park that can put his foot in the ball, control play, and thread that needle? I don't know if they have that player. Estacchio can sure pass the ball well, but if you know that high-lying midfielder playmaker, I don't think he is. So I think that's one player that they really missed. So maybe they go to their strengths and that's pace out wide, stick it in the mix, so to speak, or in transition and go from there. I think that might be the solution. They have the talent. David's going to score goals if you put him in a good opportunity to score goals. He's done that throughout his career. Laren's, you know, Canada's all-time leading scorer. I imagine he'll start tonight. He might not, depending on what Jesse Marsh does, but he'll probably start and he's got the ability to. So I think it's more about the creation of chances, not so much that they're like a finishing right now, because, yeah, there's been some chances they haven't capitalised on, but there haven't been that many chances. - Is that where they're maybe going to miss Tejambucan in most then? Because it feels like whether he's starting or coming and off the bench as we saw against Chile, he's able to make that type of impact and do so in a very, very, like, you know, potent fashion. Like he is very much able to put his foot on the game in those areas, and that's part of the reason why I feel like he maybe fell out of favour after the first couple of games of this tournament and came off the bench against Chile. We didn't see a lot of those moments from him, but is that an area where they're perhaps going to miss him most? And if so, then who are the guys that really need to elevate and step up to generate more of that service into the area for Jonathan David, Kyle Laren and company? - Yeah, you know, I really think that he would have started this game, actually. He started the first game like he mentioned there, then they must drop the bench. He hasn't been really matched. It hasn't played much before the last number of months. It's moving into Milan. He's been on the bench, got a few minutes here and there towards the end of the season, and he hasn't been a tough form, as simple as that. And when we've seen that in recent games of Canada, but he is, when he's in form, he's a game breaker for this side. He provides that, again, I used to wear to arrogance, but with him 100% out wide, he can take it low. He can cut it inside. He's got that ability to beat a man one-on-one, and there really isn't anyone to replace him. Richard Laren is a different kind of player, very effective, you know, out wide, great pace, and great, you know, he's very tenacious, let's put it that way, with a particular area, but a different kind of player. So, you know, have they got a replacement? Not really. I think they would have to focus more, maybe on the other side. You have to see Alfonso Davis getting more positions more often. He's shown real flash. He's had a good tournament so far, I think. But we know what he can do. Who's going to partner him on the left-hand side? Will it be Shapperburg or will it be Liam Miller, who I think at times look really good with Fonzi on that left-hand side? They work very well together. That's a possibility. So I think you're going to see Fonzi getting more of the ball tonight. I think you have to. Let's put the captain, the best player on the spot. Let's throw the team in his shoulders, because he's the one that can really be a game breaker in those wide positions. Yeah, I mean, we saw him put himself on the spot in the World Cup, right? Like, he's obviously a guy who wants it, right? And I think you've already empowered him, naming him captain, giving him the armband. It's time to kind of increase what you ask of him and not regard. What have you made of Marsh as a whole? I mean, this is a guy who, I certainly, you know, I'm not going to pretend I had a strong opinion on one way or another when he was first named. It felt like they were pretty kind of conflicting opinions. Obviously, at the time you were coming into the program was a pretty interesting one. What do you make of the job he has done and has it kind of changed your opinion of him at all? No, I mean, listen, I like him to the image. So I respected him at Leeds, in the Red Bull system as well. I like the way his team's placed up. Well, it's fun to watch. But I mean, talk about throwing a guy into the deep end, right? I mean, new coach is learning about his score against the likes of France and the Netherlands and Argentina and Chile and Peru and his huge matches. He's had no time to read just going to breathe and try things out. He's got to just try and win every game, which is difficult. But I like the way he's playing. Yes, he's that coach that loves the high press and the high-octane football. But we're not seeing that, you know, for 90 minutes, we're seeing a different side to him as well. More tactical, perhaps. In very difficult circumstances, right, terrible conditions in that he's been stifling for this team for a couple of games. The plane is very physical, South American team. So he's had to adapt. And I think we're seeing a different side to him, but they have that in their locker room locker as well. So, yeah, I've been very impressed so far. I'm sure he's looking forward to getting out of this. He's still enjoying this right now. They're getting out of this tournament, having time to kind of be compressed, look at the tape and then build towards the goal cup, which comes next summer, right, a tournament that Canada, given the way the states are playing and the way Mexico is playing, Canada should be feeling pretty good as being one of the favourites to win that in next summer. And how would that be? So, yeah, very impressed so far. He speaks really well. He's a smart guy, he's pedigree. So, I think so far, he's caught trumps. - Yeah, it's been, it's certainly gone well. We'll see how it goes tonight. And yeah, thinking ahead to the Gold Cup, crazy to think of a world where Canada could dare, I say, be if not the favourites, certainly among them. It's crazy how things have changed. Charm always loved getting to talk to you. Thanks so much for jumping on this morning. - Any time that has enjoyed it, thank you. - There it goes, James Sharman, host of the footy prime podcast. That insider brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online and in the showroom. Visit DonValleyNorthlexus.com. I believe we're gonna talk to Josh Cloak in just a sec. No, we got him right now. - Oh, okay. - That continues from Sharman to Cloak, Josh Cloak, right, we're reported for the athletic covering, the Leafs, TFC, and Canada soccer, currently in Texas right now. Josh, how are you doing this morning? - I can't believe Sharman opened for me. That could be the other way around. Sharman is great. - Yeah, take everything up with as a party. I put the mic on and talk to whoever they talked me to. I tell me to talk to you, although I did specifically ask for you. I'm like, "Bring me Josh Cloak." I did say that. So yeah, I love getting on. And yeah, first things first, just what's it feel like being down there? I mean, you've certainly been in the building for some big games of other sports. What's the kind of atmosphere like in Texas ahead of this one? - Yeah, so yesterday was my first time checking out the AT&T Stadium or the Death Star, as they call it. Like, it's just kind of a giant, giant, giant building, you know, very state of the art. They've got the press box behind glass. So I think we're gonna lose a little bit of the atmosphere there. But look, already, and this is becoming a theme for Canadian matches, but already you can feel that the crowd is gonna be what, 95, 5, 90, 10 in favor of the team Canada is playing, right? Like, I think they expected this would be a Mexico-Canada match, but you know, you can already see that the thousands of Venezuela fans here. And I haven't seen a single Canadian fan here at all in the past few days. And that's not a slight on the Canadian fans. It's just to, you know, I guess remind people that when Canada plays in these Copa America matches, it's in a way match for them. And so I think that's just another hurdle that they're gonna have to face. Because look, this, you know, these matches, every single match has been difficult for Canada. At least in this one, you're not gonna have to face the heat, right? The dome is gonna be closed, but man, oh man, it is just gonna feel like another way match for Canada and all that that entails, good and bad, right? You start to learn more and more that, you know, when you have all the fans on your side, you think about the Chile game, that started to work against Chile, right? Because they could just feel this mounting, mounting pressure to get a goal, you know, again, from the thousands and thousands of fans on their side. And Canada has been able to play free, play liberated. And so again, a lot of Venezuela fans, whether or not that works for or against them will see. - I'm sure they're welcome the fact that at least they get some cozy confines and it's gonna be a controlled environment and they don't have to worry about the heat. That is obviously a big perk for them in playing at AT&T Stadium this time around. Okay, Josh, I mean, we talked a lot throughout the week about Tejan Buchanan and his absence from this lineup. And you've been on the ground there for, in the short time that you have been on the ground with the team, have you gotten a sense of what the mood might be like surrounding the club right now, given all that they've endured this week? It kind of feels like this could, that injury could ultimately be a galvanizing moment and an opportunity to really rally around Tejan Buchanan and have that extra motivation to go into tonight with a chip on their shoulder to try and win this game. - Yeah, the mood has certainly shift. I mean, first things first, let's talk about Tejan Buchanan and why this injury is so serious, you go back to the 2022 World Cup, Tejan Buchanan was their best player. He was spectacular in the World Cup, right? Unquestionably, they're the most dynamic player. And so you're talking about a candidate team that has scored one goal through three games. That's not sustainable, right? That's not sustainable enough to keep pushing through. So you're gonna need more goals. And Jesse Marsh is aware that he was asked about that multiple times in yesterday's press conference, including by yours truly. But so you lose a player like Tejan Buchanan, not only does that hurt the team, it hurts the team's spirit, right? My understanding is, you know, the feeling around the team was really, really low in the immediate aftermath of him breaking. It's Tibia, right? They canceled practice. But then what I saw what happened is that every single player, either on their own or in groups, went to go say, and this was unprompted. No one was told to do this. They all went to go see Tejan Buchanan, like immediately after surgery, right? It's the minutes after he got out of surgery, like a lot of his teammates were there. When you are, when you do that, unprompted, it certainly does speak to an improving team bond. And then I do think there was sort of a feeling, you know, one of those classic kind of Disney feelings. We got to win this for Tejan. All the entire team gathered outside of the hotel lobby to welcome him back when he arrived yesterday. So he's gonna be with the team from here on in. He's gonna be at the game. And I just think that, you know, it just speaks to the fact that this team has really grown in a short amount of time. And, you know, whether it's a galvanizing moment, we'll see. But the fact that this team has gone from feeling like really, really low, and it's tough, right? Because you talk to guys about that play, you know, him breaking the bone and, you know, unfortunately, all these players all say the same thing, like it was just so loud, right? Now, that's what made like that play so jarring. And so for them, yeah, no, and for them to kind of get over that so quickly and recover and have Tejan's back, they said that's essentially all you want to see from a team in a tournament that really doesn't have a lot of time to come together. - Yeah, they certainly don't. And obviously, something like this happened, you hope to take anything you kind of can out of it. I mean, I'm really just relaying this for Dan Yellie's benefit. But honestly, all I can think of here in these stories is Paul George breaking his leg at the Team USA camp and all the stories coming out of it. And the guy is going up to, it's jarring how similar it is. Your latest in the athletic, although you get also like the fans in New York Times byline now, so good job by you. Why Canada made the Copa America quarterfinals and the US and Mexico didn't. First things first, great headline. I know you don't write them a great job in your face America right after your birthday. What, how jarring is this? It seems very jarring for me. The Canada is here in a major international tournament and neither of those countries are. Have we seen a turning on its head of soccer in North America? Well, what's happened exactly in the Incopa regarding those three nations, Josh? Yeah, it certainly felt strange or invasive to write that headline on July 4th yesterday of all days. No, great day for it, I disagree. No, look, I don't know if we're at a changing of the guard yet, but I think what we saw from this Canadian team, you know, over the past week or so, that we didn't see from the United States and Mexico, is just an understanding of tournament football, right? Like tournament football does not have to be glamorous. It very rarely is outside of the very, very best teams in the world. It's such a results driven, you know, like that thing, right? Like, we're not talking about an 82 game season where, you know, we're talking about player development and lines coming together and all that. You have to get results in such a short amount of time. And I think what we saw Canada do, that Mexico and the United States didn't, is just manage games a lot better. Utilize physicality to kind of shut down opponents, win ugly, win dirty if you have to, but ultimately get results. And this is gonna go so far to just, you know, breed confidence throughout the Canadian room. So there's a lot of that. There's a lot of what I spoke about before. Mexico and the United States feel pressure to win, right? They can feel the 10,000 pounds, you know, elephant on their back every time they play. The United States are at home. Mexico has felt at home everywhere they've gone. And no disrespect to the Canadian fans, you know, traveling here, but there haven't been a lot of them. And, you know, I had Stephanie Stackio, you know, one of the teams, either one of the guys on the teams leadership committee, you know, tell me in an interview, if we finished third place in our group, you know, what would happen in Canada? Like, frankly, nothing. You know, there might be a few hits on shows like yours talking about it, but we're not there yet. I think there will be a point one day where Canadian soccer is kind of discussed, you know, the way it is in the United States, right? Because when the United States goes out, like it's the top story on sports programs, it really is. But Canada isn't there yet. So they've been able to play without the mental hurdles that the United States and Mexico have. And I think as a result, you've seen Canada's best players play to their potential, right? Jonathan David has had a great tournament. Maxime Crippo, the team's goalkeeper, has been, you know, their MVP. So the players, for the most part, Alfonso Davies has been very good as well. The players that you needed to see have big tournaments have because they're not feeling that mental pressure. So that's kind of the off pitch component on the pitch. I mean, this team, without saying it, some of the players that I talked to have kind of danced around in their own diplomatic way, they feel so much more prepared for games via training sessions, thanks to Jesse Marsh, than they did under past coaches. And look, that's what Jesse Marsh is. He's more of a tactical mind than, you know, some of Canada's past coaches. So these players just feel like the other opponents are better scouted. And then whatever they do in training has prepared them that much better. And I think just, there were a lot of questions about, okay, Jesse Marsh is getting hired like a month before Copa. Is that gonna be enough time? Ultimately, what's happened is that spark that he's provided the team has just literally grown so bright in such a short amount of time. And players have clicked with him so quickly that yeah, they're starting to get results in a very surprising way. So on pitch, off pitch, it's all working right now and you certainly can't say that about, you know, our neighbors to the south. - That quote from Stephenastacio is pretty revealing and it is pointed, it is an interesting one. It does feel like every time the United States bows out of a tournament, it's a national referendum on the program. And you see that in a lot of other countries. Here in Canada, we're not at that point yet, but maybe, and I think for the betterment of soccer and the growth of the sport, even here, domestically in our country, it would be good to get to that point where we're taking everything so seriously and we value it that much. I just had one final question I wanted to present to you, Josh, in regards to the game tonight. When we look at the starting 11, do you foresee any changes? What do you think Canada is going to look like in terms of their shape, in terms of their structure and their personnel decisions when they take the pitch tonight against Venezuela? - Well, there's a few questions to consider. I mean, I think the forward line goes on touch, Lahren and David. I think with Buchanan out, you probably do have to stick with your wingers of Liam Miller and Jacob Schaffelberg. I mean, that's another thing I should say that the Jesse Marsh has done so far. That's been really impressive is he understands his job, most importantly is for 2026 and getting results out of this team for 2026. So he's rolled the dice with some young players through Copa America that a lot of teams don't really have the benefit of being able to do. Jacob Schaffelberg is one of them and he's really, really improved under Jesse Marsh in short amount of time. I suspect he starts. The only real question I have is in the midfield because Jonathan Asorio has come in for Ismail Kone, who Ismail Kone still has, I would think maybe the highest feeling of any Canadian player, just such a silky dynamic midfielder, but he struggled against Argentina, right? He hasn't had a tournament that has really spoken to his capabilities. So Jonathan Asorio has come in, he's kind of that calming veteran presence. So I wonder if Jesse Marsh says, you know what, we need goals, we need someone in attack, we need someone to really move this ball forward. Do I go back to Ismail Kone or the game is going to get really testy? I need that kind of calming presence. So I'm going to go to Jonathan Asorio. That's the only real question I have. I think everything else stays. But Jesse Marsh has shown that he's really strong when it comes to game management. So we'll see. But Marsh versus Kone, or sorry, excuse me. Asorio versus Kone, that's the one I'm really looking at tonight. - Yeah, it'll be interesting. All eyes on Jerry World, the Death Star, whatever you want to call it. All eyes on Canada Soccer. I can't believe we're here. Josh, I've enjoyed chatting with you all year long, and I'm happy, not that I wouldn't have had Jeff bug you about the Leafs, but I'm happy we had another excuse to extend the window that we could talk to you in. So thanks so much for jumping on, man. - Anytime, boys, take care. - Also, I did quickly wonder with him, and he said he gave you the extra, he gave you the later slot, the Charmin, because he wanted to give you time to sleep 'cause you're an hour behind. - 'Cause Josh was on Central Time. - Just wanted to let you know, that was why. - No, I'm going to hear about this from Charmin. I'm going to hear about this from Charmin. - I feel like I'm jumping, I'm jumping the cue in the Canadian soccer media lineage. I don't like that. Charmin is one of the goats. So, now I feel dirty. - Okay, that's all right. Hey, I'm happy to get my hands dirty on this show. There it is. I don't know. Maybe we'll have to have the great soccer off between two of you at one time here. I kid 'cause no one wants that with Charmin. Let's be honest. Cloke, this was awesome. Thanks so much, man. - Yeah, take care guys. - All right, there he goes. We're going to actually let him hang up the phone now. I'm going to let him hang up. - He's probably going to get yammered as I was in your office. - Yeah, he'd do it when you want to make Charmin's. - We can be, he's going to go there. - I respect him so much. - One thing I wanted to say, and I know I'm wrong about this. I know I'm wrong. - Okay. - Let me just preface this with I'm wrong. - Okay. - But every single time I see Alexi Lawless or American sports pundit ex up in arms about what's going on with their soccer team, I go, how dare you? You're America. Like, you think you're supposed to be as good as France or Brazil or Argentina or, and I know the argument is like, yeah, LeBron was the keeper. And we like, we've all seen the like, make your starting 11 of every other American. Yeah, of course, but they don't. But they don't. They play like football and basketball. And now they play hockey and other sports America cares about. There is nothing to me that highlights, and God should have done this yesterday. American ignorance, then me seeing them crying after they don't win a soccer tournament every time, every time they get booted, of course. You're not, I'm sorry, you're not Brazil. You're not the Netherlands. You're not, whatever. Spain, countries, XYZ, Portugal, England. You're not those guys. Why do you think you are? - Okay, so generally, I am with you. I think your point is pretty apt, and it makes a lot of sense. I will say, this is where maybe more of their frustration holds water. They're a country with 350. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - I know, I know. - France for comparison. - Sure, sure, sure, sure. - Which has been obviously a nation that's had plenty of success in specifically recently. - Yeah. - 68 million people. - Yeah. - There's a difference there. - But it's in their blood, I think. - Okay, fine, I would say the same thing about Italy, like I'm going to say this. - Sure, yeah, for sure. - Yeah, for sure. Now, mind you though, mind you, for the United States, just like we're sitting here, and again, we're not holding the programs feet to the fire consistently day after day, week after week, unlike what's happening in the States with soccer. But this is supposed to be pretty much their golden generation of elite talent that they are producing. Even in the days of Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan being these awesome figures. - The love figures. - They weren't at the highest levels of professional soccer in terms of being world-renowned stars. Yet, the United States was more successful in that era than what they are currently, where they have actual quote-unquote generational talent, players of generational talent caliber that are producing at the level that everybody expected them to be. Like, you've got guys that are playing for elite premier clubs. - Yeah, yeah. - On this United States American soccer team. And yet, they just keep bowing out in the most unceremonious fashion possible without actually producing any decent results. That's where I think a lot of their frustration derives. Do I think the reactions are overblown? - Yeah, sure. - It's all, dude, it's awesome. - It's all performance, right? Like, it's all performative. They live for those moments. - They do. - They're sitting there like Alexi Lawless is like, deep down, he's hurt that they lost, but he's also like, oh God. Yes, we're gonna be able to rip these guys for 10 minutes and go viral. 'Cause I'm gonna say some hideous things. - Yeah, he is. Here it is. - And that's it. - The reality is, is they didn't get it done. And when you look at a team like Canada who actually got out of their group, you know, scoring one goal, you know, it is a failure. We do not wanna see Canada getting out of the group in a co-op American tournament. So, - I can't believe it. - You know, something needs to happen. - Yeah, no one needs to happen. - I can't believe it. - You eat it. Well, you watch Canada play in a quarterfinal at Copa. - Oh my goodness. - I love it. Honestly, the arrogance, and you're right, like the guys play in a big clubs overseas. Like, I know it's like moved now, but it's like, played for Chelsea, all the, I got it. I got it. Okay? Yeah. Go look at, like again, just like pick a real soccer country. Sorry, not us either. But like, you know, Brazil, Argentina, whatever. They don't, they don't go. - Yeah, one guy played in a Chelsea once. - No, the whole team plays it again. Chelsea, Manu, whatever, you know, good teams. People have heard of ridiculous American ignorance on chief display, or, oh, tries me nuts. But again, like, please-- - I think they have to do that. - Please keep, please keep being so invested that you keep getting mad about this. And then I get to have these clips. But you're right, the work is the work. Like I saw a skip Bayless did a clip the other day. Like, I've already seen more clutch gene out of Bronnie Jr. than I ever had. Which like, honestly, I just like, I respect the angle. - Shuts your mouth. - Yeah, agree. But also like, good job having a take. It's America, I love it. Adnan Verx down there. He's keeps it a little more on the rails, okay? - And yes, we're gonna chat with Adnan. I do need to make sure, before the show is complete, I have a wonderful, hockey-related nugget that I think you'll appreciate. So I think we need to make sure we fit that in in the next segment. - You don't need to ask me twice. Adnan Verx, bat and clean up MLB network. He joins us next fan morning show with Gunning and Dan Yellie. Sportsnet 5.9 to the fan. - Driving deep into leaps, rafters, J's, and NFL. The JD Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. - Smell that. Oh, weekend, right around the corner. It's almost here. Not for you driving into work right now, but for this guy, right here. Oh yeah. And then I got a long weekend because I got Monday off. I think I'm back. You got subjected to one day of me on Tuesday. And then I'm on vacation. So the loopiness is already kicking in. - Can you tell? - No, nobody can tell. - Who's the thoughts left and right? - Nobody can tell at all. We'll see if our next guest can. And it's not every day. Although for this program, it is every week that we get to talk to a sports Emmy award winner, host on MLB and NHL network, as well as host of the popular Cinephile podcast, The Wonderful, The Talented Adnanverk, Adnan. How you doing on a Friday? - Brando, I love it. You're driving today. That's the warmest introduction you give me. We sure play eight spot the lies and all the things you just said. I think like Cinephile, I don't think is wildly popular. Everything else you said, fairly accurate, but you're going to chat with Danielle. - Adnan, I got to give you props, man. I saw your, your Canada Day fit. That suit was tremendous, by the way. It was like that, that was snazzy. And then that ties in nicely because today, we've got a wonderful heritage moment that might occur tonight in Canadian soccer with Canada taken on Venezuela. And then you guys just have to be subjected to a burnout by the United States. So, you know, you were wearing the Canada Day fit on national television of all things. Where is your allegiance lying? Are you rooting for Canada? - You were looking like Jamie Campbell in that thing. - You were literally, yes. - Jamie Campbell, it's very high praise. I appreciate that. You know, a couple of years ago, I did a stint for NBC. I just took like a winter Olympics through the extent hosting like a wrap up show. So, at one point, of course, you would say played Canada and curling. And so they said to me, you know, what's your suit size? So they got me that suit. And then I remember the last day that I worked there, I laughed and they're like, "We forgot your suit." I go, "What do you mean?" They go, "Do you think anybody else who's in a workout?" (all laughing) - So it was a free parting gift from NBC. And I haven't like closeted, I said, "Hey, Canada, right?" Let's bring it out. I'm glad to represent that. But no, of course, we're supporting Canada when it comes to COPA. Greg Burholt or USA, I mean, obviously, yeah. But a lot of how about around him and the fact that USA's soccer, I'm forced to fall apart. But yeah, hopefully Canada can film as well. That'd be amazing. - Yeah, it'll be, it'll be fun tonight. Just fourth of July, I mean, it was funny. And you know, you can definitely appreciate this as well as anyone. I was actually saying that 4th of July and Canada Day just actually perfectly fit the two nations. Like, Canada Day, it's not that we don't like celebrate, it's not that we don't barbecue, have a party, but it's just a little more laid back. It's kind of chill, maybe watch some fireworks at the end of the night. And then 4th of July is the 4th of July, like fireworks all day long. And you're gonna eat as many hot dogs as you can and you're gonna have a lot of fun 'cause it's America's birthday. It really does just feel like the two days just fit the two nations so perfectly, Adnan. - Oh, completely, Brent, there's an aggressiveness about the 4th of July. You're absolutely right. You're not, it's borderline hostile. If you're not celebrating it properly, you know, you're gonna get deported. So I'm like, okay, all right, fair enough, right? You know, as you guys know, I work in the end 4th of July. There was like, what are you doing in Canada Day? Exactly, you just said, I'm like, hey, it's fine. Like, it's cool. Hey, we're proud to be Canadian. Maybe a couple of fireworks. - Yeah. - Well, I'm bored. Well, you don't get an Uncle Sam hat or hat or citizenship revoked or something, it's okay, but. - No, you don't, although I did do our Canada Day show well wearing my hockey Canada jersey. So, you know, I am who I am still at the end of the day. All right, we should talk a little baseball here. We have some Blue Jays questions, but we do that every week. Let's get into some Yankees to start things here, okay? Want Soto continuing to truck towards free agency or maybe not, I don't know, depending on the week, ask Steinbrenner how much money he feels like spending on anything in particular and you'll get a different answer. But the question that kind of has come up around Soto in his contract is, can there be anybody other than Aaron Judge that's the highest paid Yankee? What do you make of that dynamic of it all? I mean, you know, and again, not to continually bring it back to hockey, but it's like, there's the understanding, salaries go up. A guy gets paid a year later, he's probably gonna make a little more if it's the same percentage of cap. It is interesting that in baseball, we still kind of deal, especially if the deals are relatively close in terms of the years in which they're signed, that we still just kind of deal and raw total numbers. How much do you think that part of it will become a bit of a headache or maybe something the Yankees kind of have to work around? The idea that Soto is probably gonna eclipse judge on what he's worth, it's just a matter of if they can give it to him. Yeah, you know, I've heard of Danny about it a little bit, Brett, and I'm like, I think that's a foregone conclusion. I don't know how you get around that. I mean, nine years for 360 for Judge, even at the time to be fair value. I mean, it was it was obviously weighty, but at the same time, $40 million a year for a guy like Judge, when he brings the tables off the baby, he's underpaid if you see what he's doing this year. But again, that contract, once he's 37, 38, who knows what kind of production you're gonna get? So normally with those deals, you look great out of the gate. And then by the end of it, the owners are gonna like, I can't, I'm still paying this guy $40 million a year, but it is worth it. With regards to Soto, I can't imagine a scenario where he's not getting well north of that salary, right? I mean, we all know what he turned out for the nationals, which was for 40 to 15 years. And the main issue that Scott Borges' agent had was the AAB, the average annual value, which was only $29 million, I'd say only, but of course that's what it is. So in the case of Soto, especially if you see, but he's got 10 years, 700, and I get it, he's going to pitch again, we hope next season, and the Dodgers don't his value extends beyond the baseball field because of the fact these Japanese met different market, et cetera. But I mean, for Soto, I don't know how the number doesn't start at $450 million, right? He turned down for 40. That was over 15 years. I would think the number starts at 10 for 450. Because the fact he's such a young guy, he's only 25, 26 years old. You know, he could sign a 10-year deal and still get another five or six-year deal, or he can get the 50-year deal, and it's $600 million. So I mean, that blows judges' number out of the water. And I don't think all the significant of the renegotiated judges' kind of trick that you understand the fact that, yeah, okay, it's all about timing, the way things work out, and what I want to have the more money, sure. But I'm like, I don't know how you would play it. Is ego judges seem to be the very much like a cheater type that he wants to win more than anything? Which is not to say that guys don't look at that. Of course they would, but I don't know, man. I don't know how he's not getting worth the $360 million. It's my first guess to me, just with what Soto has done this season, the way his numbers are, it looks like a half a billion dollars, and then go from there. - Yeah, not only does he have talent on his side, he's definitely got age. That's a factor. And even for judge, who got a massive payday, heck, he signed it at a different point in his MLB lifecycle as a player. It's just a fact. Speaking of a guy who's very much in a similar vein in terms of the timeline as it relates to age and where they are in their current major league careers, that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in an interesting position here. And Gunnar and I had a conversation earlier in the show because of comments that Vladimir made yesterday where he talked about, man, I don't want to leave. If there's anywhere I want to be, it's here. I think it's sort of difficult to pinpoint, or at least even get into a general range, of what might be an acceptable or suitable contract for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. There aren't a ton of logical comparables out there that you can point to. So where does that leave the J's and what a contract could look like for Vlad? And what do you think is reasonable, given what we've seen from him in terms of his track record? - Well, it's interesting to me, you know, I went from like, okay, of these two guys, you can't re-sign both. So which one are you going to re-sign? And I think a couple of years ago, probably more with siding around both because he's the hit champion, plays a premium position, et cetera. And now it's like a foregone conclusion, like, are you kidding? Of course you would sign Vlad up with two of them. It's just a matter of what would the contract be. You know, I know there's some people being cute, saying, you know, maybe I'd say it kind of for left. There's been the first half MVP for the J's. This war is a little higher, 3.1, Vlad's 2.7. But Vlad's starting at the all-star game. They've got an 850 OPS. The only issue with the lack of power, which he has shown better recently. You know, he's still going to be a 327 home run guy, let's call him 90 RBI. So if those numbers, those translate, I think originally you would have thought of Vlad's and to get $2.53 million. But if you look at first base and what they get paid, and if you look at Paul Postman, Freddy Freeman, again, those guys are older than Vlad's, but it's more around like $27, $28 million a year. So I think if you could convince Vlad's camp to go like, you know, $20 million a season, eight years, and all of a sudden you go to eight, one, six. It's perfectly palatable. Maybe that's not enough money. Maybe it's 10 years, $200 million. But to me, that starts to get the framework done. And I think initially, people fought. So unlike Vlad is going to get $300 million because you saw Cattice's contract for 340. You know, you saw Bryce Harper at 330. But I'm like, first base and don't get that kind of money, especially with Vlad's diminished power. You know, he's not going to be a 40, 45 home run guy. He just is, but he can be a 300 guy and won't drive him, like I said, 90 to 100. So to me, maybe that's not enough money from his camp. But I think if you can get $20 million a year for eight to 10 years of Vlad, then yeah, I'd be willing to give him $200 million. And we can lock up a cornerstone franchise player. And then Bo, I'd say, okay, I'm gonna have to wait and see how he does the rest of the season the next year. I might have to ship him out 'cause I can't pay him $200 million as well. But to me, that would be reasonable money for Vlad. - In that scenario, Adnan, which side do you think would be more reticent to go down that road? Because we don't quite know a lot of the particulars or have insight into the true thought process. Like there's no truth serum that we've been getting from the J's for an office here in terms of how they actually feel or if there have been material talks and what that's been like. But if you had to venture to guess, which side do you think would be more reticent to go down that road of saying, all right, you know, eight years, 20 million a season or 22 million a season, would it be the camp of Vlad who feels like maybe there's more out there or would it be the Blue J's and their willingness to actually commit to the player for that length of turn? - Yeah, I think it's definitely both, of course. I think that the team is definitely reticent 'cause they're not as sure of what exactly the value is going to be. But I think ultimately Vlad's came to be a little bit more reticent. I think they're the ones kind of going, eh, I think somebody out there is willing to overpay because, you know, we've seen contracts, especially this past off season, right? Every single contract, you know, oh my God, like none of these guys got the money they thought they're going to get, Tony Bellinger, Blake Snell, and one after another, you go, oh my God, like we thought they'd get, you know, Bellinger five for 125, no, three for 75, et cetera, option years all over the place. So I think the teams kind of realize that they've got more juice than they want. Having said that, the top guy still gets paid. So, you know, Tony's still gone, he's $700 million, nobody else still alive. So I think Vlad's camp says, hey, don't settle for the 18 or 2022, $23 million a year. Somebody out there's going to pay 27, 20, 80, maybe $30 million a year. Maybe you can get 10 for 300 because there's teams out there that want a young star. They know that what you can provide over the long term. And some of them like Seattle, right? They're desperate for offense. They're offense is horrific. If they got a Vlad, you need all that they would overpay and give them $32 million a year over the long term deals. Like that, you know, I see the comb with the match. He's always going to be willing to spend top dollar. So I think of the two, the J's camp is probably a little right of sync goes, I don't know, Vlad the guy, but his camp probably says, let's wait and see on this because we might be able to get some big dollars out there when we get for agency at the end of next week. - Yeah, the Mariners, I didn't even think about them. They're such an interesting one because they already have the value contract locked up with Rodriguez, right? I mean, they've done it to that 12 year, 200 and change or whatever it worked out to be. Although, then you kind of run into a judge soda thing. You want to bring Vlad in, start handing them, you know, $10 million, $8 million a year more than J-Rod. I'm sure they'd find a way to figure that out. Adnan, always love talking to you. I will be having fun on America's birthday yesterday. And I hope you have a good weekend this weekend. - I've still got some more hot dogs to eat, fellas. I feel like I had to be otherwise they're going to deform me, but I was going to get after the fight. And by the way, where are you guys out on fireworks here? I used to think when I was younger, fireworks were awesome. And I started to become a little bit jade in the clinical experience, now I'm back in. I got to be honest, I took my kids last like 20 minutes of fireworks, I thought it was awesome. What do you guys think? - I am at a firework dead zone for myself. They exist as a thing where my child, it's like, look, I know it's bright outside, but you need to go to bed. So I'm not somebody who like shames other firework users, like go do and set things on fire. It sounds so much fun. But I'm just like in a dead zone in my life right now. But yeah, I remember loving a good firework. I can't wait till my child's old enough to stay up for him. So yeah, I love a good firework, but like time and place, you know, we don't need random fireworks just 'cause, oh, I actually, I gave this take to Ben, he was a big believer of it. We need more winter fireworks. It gets dark at like five at the end. It's like five at night and it's dark outside. Winter fireworks, why are we waiting until 1030 in the middle of summer, Adnan? - Sign me up, I'm with Gunning on this one. - That's a great point. - That's my thing is we only have it once a year, so I feel like you have to embrace, even if I'm not into it. I'm like, well, it's only once a year to go to the firework, 'cause you're right. It's you gave me like a winter solstice firework. So you know, December 19th, we're gonna firework. - I'm all in. - Forget December 19th. Like once it's dark after six o'clock, it's firework Fridays as far as I'm concerned, quite honestly. Shoot 'em off everywhere. All right, Adnan, if that doesn't, that conversation right there, doesn't ingratiate you to America, despite not having eaten your required number of hot dogs, I don't know what will. So Adnan, love chatting with you. Thanks so much, man. - Thanks, Brett, thanks Danielle. Firework Fridays, let's get after it. - Firework Fridays, Adnan Burke, sports Emmy, award winner, host on MLB and NHL Network and host of the, not wildly, just regularly popular cinephile podcast. Fun, fun week with you. - Very fun. - It was great getting you in here. I will not talk to you next week. - Yep. - You and Marquesi, I believe, will be shepherding our wonderful program on Monday. - Correct, then I'm in with Ben a couple days and then it's Maddie and I again next Friday. So yeah, and then you and I are reunited after that. - Okay, whatever happens after Tuesday, I will not be engaging with until much, much after that Tuesday, believe me. It's been fun. I have been really enjoyed the weekend with you. I'm fired up for Canada Soccer tonight. - Should be, should be a good one. - Oh, I've been studying consistent, Canada wins. - It's going to penalties, man. - We're going to have some drama. It's going to penal these, I know. People out there like, oh my tummy, I'm going to be anguished. Yeah, let's have some fun. - The legend of Maxime Crapo making big saves in the penalty. Is that that scene? I can visualize that. I do love going Crapo after a big save. I do love, love that one. Daniela, it's been a great week with you. - Thanks, Gunnar. - Great work to the guys behind the glass and most importantly, thank you all out there for listening. It's been a fan morning show with Gunnar and Daniela, SportsNet 590, the fan. Good morning. - How dare you? How dare you? Look at what you've taken from us. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (intense music) [MUSIC PLAYING]
