Wildcard players Pochettino should call up this window! | USMNT Weekly

Ryan Bailey (0:21)

Welcome to the Total Soccer Show and USMNT Weekly, it's our regular foray into all things National Team. On this episode, we're digging into Maurizio Pochettino's recent comments about young players, about the Olympics, and much, much more. We look at some potential wild-car picks for the upcoming roster, and we're looking at dual Nationals. There's so much to come on this episode. Do join us. My name's Ryan Bailey. Hello, Taylor Rockwell. How are you?

Taylor Rockwell (0:47)

I'm doing well, Ryan. I appreciate that you always do a good job in the introduction of explaining everything we're going to be talking about. And then I also appreciate that you implore the listeners to continue to listen, because I do picture somebody tuning in and being like, they're talking about what? No, enough of these Americans, I'm out. So thank you for keeping listeners tuned in and locked in.

Ryan Bailey (1:04)

What they stick around for is you deconstructing the intro immediately after it's happened.

Taylor Rockwell (1:08)

I mean, I don't see why they wouldn't and I don't see why they shouldn't.

Ryan Bailey (1:12)

Indeed. Let's deconstruct that as well. Let's just keep this thing going and we'll introduce Graham Russell. Hello, Graham. How are you?

Graham Russell (1:17)

I'm good, Ryan Bailey. How are you feeling now that the longest international break from a season in history is just around the corner? Do you not have any juice at all for... Do you know what? I went in to look at England's fixtures and I really badly wanted like an England, North Macedonia to throw at you here. Do you know what England's first game in the Nations League is in a couple weeks?

England, Spain. You don't got any juice for that at all.

Ryan Bailey (1:43)

Is it Nations League or is it friendly?

Graham Russell (1:44)

It's Nations League.

Ryan Bailey (1:45)

Okay. Sure.

I'll get around to that later.

Graham Russell (1:48)

Right. Okay. You'll rewatch that in your own time.

Ryan Bailey (1:51)

I'm deciding in real time right now. I'm rebranding Graham. I'm an international soccer guy now. I can't wait for this really long window that's prevents us from watching domestic soccer for four weeks. I think it's going to be awesome.

Graham Russell (2:01)

Sure. Okay. Is that because AFC Wimbledon are doing Pyrrholaic? No, I watched you on The Big Sky on Monday night and you won. I went to Bromley and you're a nice red kid.

Ryan Bailey (2:08)

We won at the home of the London City Lionesses and also Bromley. Wonderful. What a time to be alive, Graham. Yes, indeed. Joe Lowry is also here. Hi, Joe. How are you?

Joseph Lowery (2:17)

Hey, Ryan. I'm great. I am actually quite looking forward to this international break. I think maybe after the World Cup, I'll need a little bit of a break. And I think I've had enough because I am really, really excited about this next gen of US Prospects. I'm excited for US Mexico in my own backyard. Well, like 52 minutes away from my own backyard. I'm stoked.

Let's do this thing, man. Why not?

Graham Russell (2:40)

We've all been talking about Taylor's backyard all this time. Joe's backyard is a stadium.

Taylor Rockwell (2:45)

Wow.

Joseph Lowery (2:47)

My backyard is a floating stadium. It takes me 52 minutes to get off the shuttle, really down to the actual earthbound stadium. All right.

Taylor Rockwell (2:54)

Why did Joe and Ryan both sound like robots trying to feign enthusiasm? You both got really close to authentic enthusiasm, but both of you had a vibe of like, yes, I'm really excited to be back for international soccer.

Graham Russell (3:07)

They're AI. I can't wait. They're AI. I read that thread this morning about how they're all going to kill all humankind within the next 10 years, and that guy has resigned from Anthropic. This is the start of it. It started with Ryan and Joe.

This is going to go in the history books this moment right here.

Taylor Rockwell (3:20)

Graham, how do we know Joe wasn't AI all along?

Graham Russell (3:23)

Oh man, you're asking questions. I don't have the answers to.

Ryan Bailey (3:27)

Okay. For the record, Taylor, I never sounded enthusiastic, just so you know.

Taylor Rockwell (3:30)

Yeah, that's true. You stayed on brand. Joe, however, now I am slightly worried about actually being an AI.

Graham Russell (3:34)

Not even AI can imitate that.

Ryan Bailey (3:38)

All right. Well, AI has not yet replaced the Total Soccer Show or has it? Could be some Westworld stuff going on here.

Graham Russell (3:44)

Joe is very silent.