Stu Holden

Yeah, he was amazing.

Yeah, he was amazing.

Yeah, he was amazing.

It was actually the last part of that conversation with him, Timmy. I didn't finish or close the loop on it. When I asked him the question, he said, I don't want to sound arrogant, but I knew we'd be back here. And, you know, I guess it's one thing to say it now. It's easy to say it once you're in the final.

It was actually the last part of that conversation with him, Timmy. I didn't finish or close the loop on it. When I asked him the question, he said, I don't want to sound arrogant, but I knew we'd be back here. And, you know, I guess it's one thing to say it now. It's easy to say it once you're in the final.

It was actually the last part of that conversation with him, Timmy. I didn't finish or close the loop on it. When I asked him the question, he said, I don't want to sound arrogant, but I knew we'd be back here. And, you know, I guess it's one thing to say it now. It's easy to say it once you're in the final.

But look, I mean, all three of us are involved in club ownership in some different capacity. And the reality is to try to recruit those types of guys that you're talking about, Landon, with Ricky Pooge and loving the city. MLS has gone through these iterations, as you're talking about, Tim, but also in a period, I would say, over the last...

But look, I mean, all three of us are involved in club ownership in some different capacity. And the reality is to try to recruit those types of guys that you're talking about, Landon, with Ricky Pooge and loving the city. MLS has gone through these iterations, as you're talking about, Tim, but also in a period, I would say, over the last...

But look, I mean, all three of us are involved in club ownership in some different capacity. And the reality is to try to recruit those types of guys that you're talking about, Landon, with Ricky Pooge and loving the city. MLS has gone through these iterations, as you're talking about, Tim, but also in a period, I would say, over the last...

I don't know, five, six years really starting with Atlanta United's kind of growth and explosion in South America where they would get these younger, you know, Argentine, South American guys, 19, 20, 21. Hey, we will bring you to MLS. We'll develop you. We'll give you a platform, you know, and then we're going to sell you and we're going to make money on you. You're going to get to do this.

I don't know, five, six years really starting with Atlanta United's kind of growth and explosion in South America where they would get these younger, you know, Argentine, South American guys, 19, 20, 21. Hey, we will bring you to MLS. We'll develop you. We'll give you a platform, you know, and then we're going to sell you and we're going to make money on you. You're going to get to do this.

I don't know, five, six years really starting with Atlanta United's kind of growth and explosion in South America where they would get these younger, you know, Argentine, South American guys, 19, 20, 21. Hey, we will bring you to MLS. We'll develop you. We'll give you a platform, you know, and then we're going to sell you and we're going to make money on you. You're going to get to do this.

So then MLS and really the problem that's happened in Atlanta is that that model really worked and then And it didn't work. And then all these guys were expecting that. And it was just a stop. They weren't investing in the club and in the city and in the league and saying, I'm here now. Look, Ricky Pooja is getting paid a lot of money. So I think that helps. And I think that's part of it.

So then MLS and really the problem that's happened in Atlanta is that that model really worked and then And it didn't work. And then all these guys were expecting that. And it was just a stop. They weren't investing in the club and in the city and in the league and saying, I'm here now. Look, Ricky Pooja is getting paid a lot of money. So I think that helps. And I think that's part of it.

So then MLS and really the problem that's happened in Atlanta is that that model really worked and then And it didn't work. And then all these guys were expecting that. And it was just a stop. They weren't investing in the club and in the city and in the league and saying, I'm here now. Look, Ricky Pooja is getting paid a lot of money. So I think that helps. And I think that's part of it.

Like you have to pay these guys to not to, to want to think like, I got to go somewhere else after this. And there's always going to be those guys. Like, Gabriel Peck is probably not going to be an LA Galaxy lifer. Like, he's going to go to Europe. He's a young Brazilian guy. He's had a great season. He's probably thinking about the next stage. But that's the challenge.

Like you have to pay these guys to not to, to want to think like, I got to go somewhere else after this. And there's always going to be those guys. Like, Gabriel Peck is probably not going to be an LA Galaxy lifer. Like, he's going to go to Europe. He's a young Brazilian guy. He's had a great season. He's probably thinking about the next stage. But that's the challenge.

Like you have to pay these guys to not to, to want to think like, I got to go somewhere else after this. And there's always going to be those guys. Like, Gabriel Peck is probably not going to be an LA Galaxy lifer. Like, he's going to go to Europe. He's a young Brazilian guy. He's had a great season. He's probably thinking about the next stage. But that's the challenge.

I mean, and I know you're dealing with that in Houston, Tim. It's like... How do we complement a really solid core group of American players and guys that get it and a coach that gets it and then add these pieces and fit this puzzle together to have success on the field? But the signs are there in Houston. It's been a much better trajectory than it's been in the past. It sounds so simple.

I mean, and I know you're dealing with that in Houston, Tim. It's like... How do we complement a really solid core group of American players and guys that get it and a coach that gets it and then add these pieces and fit this puzzle together to have success on the field? But the signs are there in Houston. It's been a much better trajectory than it's been in the past. It sounds so simple.