00:00:00
Speaker 1: And Ashley Westwood, the captain of your Charlotte FC squad, is with us. Westy, congratulations on the comeback win, man.
00:00:06
Speaker 2: How you doing?
00:00:08
Speaker 3: Good morning, lads. Sorry, I overslept.
00:00:11
Speaker 2: That's all right. No problem.
00:00:12
Speaker 4: Everything went well while you were gone. We had no show fights or anything.
00:00:16
Speaker 2: We're fine.
00:00:17
Speaker 1: Yeah, we did get into a bit of a Donnybrook on the show. But I feel like that's your doing, whether it's on the field or whether it's here on this show by just delaying your appearance.
00:00:30
Speaker 2: I feel like you're good at starting fights.
00:00:35
Speaker 3: I can't finish them, though.
00:00:37
Speaker 2: I can't finish them. Oh, man.
00:00:39
Speaker 1: All right, so let's talk about the comeback. Before we get into tonight's game against Columbus, let's talk about the comeback against Dallas. I was absolutely ecstatic watching it, and you could just kind of feel the goals coming. Once y'all went down 2-0, Aloko really seemed to change the game on the right wing, but y'all just were all over him. I felt each time, like, I think another goal's coming, and you finally got the third and pulled it off.
00:01:03
Speaker 2: What was that like to be a part of?
00:01:05
Speaker 3: There's no better way. I mean, obviously, it's not nice being 2-0 down, but when you come back and you score a last-minute winner, there's no better feeling in football. But I thought the first half, we actually played well. We actually played well. We were unlucky to be behind. Obviously, they scored one, then they scored another. But then that shows the character of what we've got. We've created a brotherhood. And, yeah, when you get that, it's a hard thing to stop.
00:01:32
Speaker 4: How well, this team, as we head to the postseason, Westy, how well prepared and ready for the postseason do you think your squad is this year?
00:01:44
Speaker 3: Yeah, you never know. You never know. But we've put ourselves, obviously, we weren't happy with the start of the season. I've said that many times, and the manager wasn't happy. So we've come back after the World Cup break. We've been exceptional. I think there's only one team that's beat us, and that's Chicago. They've beat us twice. But no, like you said as well, you've got Rodolfo coming off the bench. You've got Will coming off the bench. People are now coming off the bench and affecting the game. So when you have that, it's a nice thing to have.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: No doubt about it. Ashley Westwood is with us. So I'm assuming you are in like a hotel in Columbus?
00:02:19
Speaker 3: We are. We are. I think we're three miles from the... Ohio State College. Okay.
00:02:24
Speaker 1: All right.
00:02:25
Speaker 4: Nice.
00:02:25
Speaker 2: I hate Ohio. Don't talk to those people, Westy. They're not good humans.
00:02:30
Speaker 1: Go by there and yell something, Westy. I can't stand them. Man, I can't stand Ohio State.
00:02:34
Speaker 3: I'm going to go for my morning coffee and start some trouble.
00:02:37
Speaker 2: Oh, there you go.
00:02:37
Speaker 4: Westy, what is the MLS cities that you've been to? What's your favorite away city that you visited?
00:02:44
Speaker 3: That's a tough one. Obviously, Nashville, you go for a walk on the Friday night and you have to stay in. So that's a fun to not get dragged into. But I think Columbus is nice. There's no better city than Charlotte, we say.
00:03:02
Speaker 2: Now you're talking.
00:03:03
Speaker 3: It's always nice to get home.
00:03:04
Speaker 1: Now you're talking. Speaking of home, did you feel at home in the torrential downpour rain on Saturday night? Do you love that, being from England?
00:03:15
Speaker 3: I used to, but now I hate it. I must say, it does create, when the rain's pouring, the fans are singing, and obviously the score last minute winner, there's no better feeling. And like I said, I've said it before, the fans turn out, it was Wednesday night, and yeah, it was special, it was special.
00:03:37
Speaker 4: Toklamati's been red hot lately. What do you think has led to the surge that he's on, and how much is Maxi leading to that duo really having a lot of success?
00:03:49
Speaker 3: I think being away on international as well. He said he played against Ireland, and Ireland have got a lot of championship players. They're big, physical, and tough. When he comes back, he goes, I realize you have to be– you have to be physical and strong. And listen, Idan was exceptional the other night, even when he chased back and he was winning the ball back on the edge of our box. And I think he deserved his two goals. I know we should have had three goals, but Toph took one off him. But no, he certainly deserved it. And hopefully now we've got a striker that's on top of his game and we're going to miss Archie, but Idan needs to carry the torch now.
00:04:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, I like what y'all have going on up front with those guys, no doubt about it. We got a great question about you, Westy. Not from us. You made the comment. Yeah, we got to go to the listeners for this. And feel free to ask Westy your question, 704-570-9610. Seven oh four number says Westy just said he doesn't finish the fights. I have noticed he goes out there and causes a whole brouhaha. Does Westy actually ever get in fights? He doesn't seem like he would be a good fighter.
00:05:05
Speaker 2: You are from England, though. Y'all fight.
00:05:08
Speaker 3: I love the scraps, but listen, my dad's always taught me to, if your mates are in trouble, you have to stay there. And if you get beaten, you have to be with them, but you never run away from a fight. But no, it's not, it's not. Yeah, I don't, I don't like it. It's not me, mate. You know me, you know me. I'm a chill guy.
00:05:27
Speaker 2: You're a fun loving dude, but you're intense on the feet.
00:05:30
Speaker 3: When I get on the field, when I get on the field, I just want to win. That's my problem.
00:05:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's all business. Our show's 0-2 in fights, Westy. Mack Walsh, what was that, third grade? Third grade was my only fight. And I got beat up by a girl in summer camp once.
00:05:45
Speaker 3: I hope you remember it.
00:05:46
Speaker 2: Yeah. Her name was Sarah.
00:05:50
Speaker 4: She did the hockey-style move with the shirt over the head thing.
00:05:53
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. It was ugly.
00:05:56
Speaker 3: Never forget it.
00:05:58
Speaker 2: Never forget that butt whooping from Sarah. It was on the basketball court. She threw me over the chairs. Oh, my God. This gets worse. Yeah, you don't forget that, Westy. This gets a lot worse.
00:06:06
Speaker 1: Westy, we were talking earlier about the fact that y'all can clinch a playoff spot tonight, but I know that's not what is your goal, right? You've got to get in a playoff, so get that one secured. Then it's about seeding. Hopefully you can get– I know Chicago– is up there now, but hopefully, you know, you tie with New England, hopefully you can get a top four seed and get a, get home advantage for a series. But in your, in my mind as a fan, like as a supporter, Westy, it's like, I feel like y'all have to take the next step in the playoffs. Like you have to advance around at least. Is that a fair way to put it or, or no?
00:06:40
Speaker 2: What do you think?
00:06:42
Speaker 3: Uh, yeah, we've, listen, we've, we've not spoke about it as lads for obviously the last two years. We've, we've come up short, so we're not, we're not, we're not unaware of what's gone on. So I think, listen, I've said we wanted to reach, we wanted to be the top in the East. I think we are, but Nashville had a great start to the season. But it's all about playoffs. And I think we've, I've said it many times, we've got a very well-rounded squad. And yeah, I think for us to achieve something, we have to go to, we have to go to the next level. We can't come short of the playoffs again. Last year, we, We did what we wanted to do. We finished in the top four. We got a home draw. We come up short. So this year we want to go one, two, or three better. And I've said it before, I won't be happy until I bring a trophy home.
00:07:31
Speaker 1: Yeah. You're thinking bigger than what I'm even saying. I appreciate that. All right, Westy.
00:07:36
Speaker 2: Good luck tonight.
00:07:37
Speaker 1: We'll be watching. Good luck tonight in Columbus. And thanks for joining us on the game day, man. We appreciate you.
00:07:44
Speaker 3: Thank you. Sorry I was late.
00:07:45
Speaker 2: All good. All good, baby. All right, there you go. Ashley Westwood.
Speaker 1: And Ashley Westwood, the captain of your Charlotte FC squad, is with us. Westy, congratulations on the comeback win, man.
00:00:06
Speaker 2: How you doing?
00:00:08
Speaker 3: Good morning, lads. Sorry, I overslept.
00:00:11
Speaker 2: That's all right. No problem.
00:00:12
Speaker 4: Everything went well while you were gone. We had no show fights or anything.
00:00:16
Speaker 2: We're fine.
00:00:17
Speaker 1: Yeah, we did get into a bit of a Donnybrook on the show. But I feel like that's your doing, whether it's on the field or whether it's here on this show by just delaying your appearance.
00:00:30
Speaker 2: I feel like you're good at starting fights.
00:00:35
Speaker 3: I can't finish them, though.
00:00:37
Speaker 2: I can't finish them. Oh, man.
00:00:39
Speaker 1: All right, so let's talk about the comeback. Before we get into tonight's game against Columbus, let's talk about the comeback against Dallas. I was absolutely ecstatic watching it, and you could just kind of feel the goals coming. Once y'all went down 2-0, Aloko really seemed to change the game on the right wing, but y'all just were all over him. I felt each time, like, I think another goal's coming, and you finally got the third and pulled it off.
00:01:03
Speaker 2: What was that like to be a part of?
00:01:05
Speaker 3: There's no better way. I mean, obviously, it's not nice being 2-0 down, but when you come back and you score a last-minute winner, there's no better feeling in football. But I thought the first half, we actually played well. We actually played well. We were unlucky to be behind. Obviously, they scored one, then they scored another. But then that shows the character of what we've got. We've created a brotherhood. And, yeah, when you get that, it's a hard thing to stop.
00:01:32
Speaker 4: How well, this team, as we head to the postseason, Westy, how well prepared and ready for the postseason do you think your squad is this year?
00:01:44
Speaker 3: Yeah, you never know. You never know. But we've put ourselves, obviously, we weren't happy with the start of the season. I've said that many times, and the manager wasn't happy. So we've come back after the World Cup break. We've been exceptional. I think there's only one team that's beat us, and that's Chicago. They've beat us twice. But no, like you said as well, you've got Rodolfo coming off the bench. You've got Will coming off the bench. People are now coming off the bench and affecting the game. So when you have that, it's a nice thing to have.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: No doubt about it. Ashley Westwood is with us. So I'm assuming you are in like a hotel in Columbus?
00:02:19
Speaker 3: We are. We are. I think we're three miles from the... Ohio State College. Okay.
00:02:24
Speaker 1: All right.
00:02:25
Speaker 4: Nice.
00:02:25
Speaker 2: I hate Ohio. Don't talk to those people, Westy. They're not good humans.
00:02:30
Speaker 1: Go by there and yell something, Westy. I can't stand them. Man, I can't stand Ohio State.
00:02:34
Speaker 3: I'm going to go for my morning coffee and start some trouble.
00:02:37
Speaker 2: Oh, there you go.
00:02:37
Speaker 4: Westy, what is the MLS cities that you've been to? What's your favorite away city that you visited?
00:02:44
Speaker 3: That's a tough one. Obviously, Nashville, you go for a walk on the Friday night and you have to stay in. So that's a fun to not get dragged into. But I think Columbus is nice. There's no better city than Charlotte, we say.
00:03:02
Speaker 2: Now you're talking.
00:03:03
Speaker 3: It's always nice to get home.
00:03:04
Speaker 1: Now you're talking. Speaking of home, did you feel at home in the torrential downpour rain on Saturday night? Do you love that, being from England?
00:03:15
Speaker 3: I used to, but now I hate it. I must say, it does create, when the rain's pouring, the fans are singing, and obviously the score last minute winner, there's no better feeling. And like I said, I've said it before, the fans turn out, it was Wednesday night, and yeah, it was special, it was special.
00:03:37
Speaker 4: Toklamati's been red hot lately. What do you think has led to the surge that he's on, and how much is Maxi leading to that duo really having a lot of success?
00:03:49
Speaker 3: I think being away on international as well. He said he played against Ireland, and Ireland have got a lot of championship players. They're big, physical, and tough. When he comes back, he goes, I realize you have to be– you have to be physical and strong. And listen, Idan was exceptional the other night, even when he chased back and he was winning the ball back on the edge of our box. And I think he deserved his two goals. I know we should have had three goals, but Toph took one off him. But no, he certainly deserved it. And hopefully now we've got a striker that's on top of his game and we're going to miss Archie, but Idan needs to carry the torch now.
00:04:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, I like what y'all have going on up front with those guys, no doubt about it. We got a great question about you, Westy. Not from us. You made the comment. Yeah, we got to go to the listeners for this. And feel free to ask Westy your question, 704-570-9610. Seven oh four number says Westy just said he doesn't finish the fights. I have noticed he goes out there and causes a whole brouhaha. Does Westy actually ever get in fights? He doesn't seem like he would be a good fighter.
00:05:05
Speaker 2: You are from England, though. Y'all fight.
00:05:08
Speaker 3: I love the scraps, but listen, my dad's always taught me to, if your mates are in trouble, you have to stay there. And if you get beaten, you have to be with them, but you never run away from a fight. But no, it's not, it's not. Yeah, I don't, I don't like it. It's not me, mate. You know me, you know me. I'm a chill guy.
00:05:27
Speaker 2: You're a fun loving dude, but you're intense on the feet.
00:05:30
Speaker 3: When I get on the field, when I get on the field, I just want to win. That's my problem.
00:05:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's all business. Our show's 0-2 in fights, Westy. Mack Walsh, what was that, third grade? Third grade was my only fight. And I got beat up by a girl in summer camp once.
00:05:45
Speaker 3: I hope you remember it.
00:05:46
Speaker 2: Yeah. Her name was Sarah.
00:05:50
Speaker 4: She did the hockey-style move with the shirt over the head thing.
00:05:53
Speaker 2: Oh, my God. It was ugly.
00:05:56
Speaker 3: Never forget it.
00:05:58
Speaker 2: Never forget that butt whooping from Sarah. It was on the basketball court. She threw me over the chairs. Oh, my God. This gets worse. Yeah, you don't forget that, Westy. This gets a lot worse.
00:06:06
Speaker 1: Westy, we were talking earlier about the fact that y'all can clinch a playoff spot tonight, but I know that's not what is your goal, right? You've got to get in a playoff, so get that one secured. Then it's about seeding. Hopefully you can get– I know Chicago– is up there now, but hopefully, you know, you tie with New England, hopefully you can get a top four seed and get a, get home advantage for a series. But in your, in my mind as a fan, like as a supporter, Westy, it's like, I feel like y'all have to take the next step in the playoffs. Like you have to advance around at least. Is that a fair way to put it or, or no?
00:06:40
Speaker 2: What do you think?
00:06:42
Speaker 3: Uh, yeah, we've, listen, we've, we've not spoke about it as lads for obviously the last two years. We've, we've come up short, so we're not, we're not, we're not unaware of what's gone on. So I think, listen, I've said we wanted to reach, we wanted to be the top in the East. I think we are, but Nashville had a great start to the season. But it's all about playoffs. And I think we've, I've said it many times, we've got a very well-rounded squad. And yeah, I think for us to achieve something, we have to go to, we have to go to the next level. We can't come short of the playoffs again. Last year, we, We did what we wanted to do. We finished in the top four. We got a home draw. We come up short. So this year we want to go one, two, or three better. And I've said it before, I won't be happy until I bring a trophy home.
00:07:31
Speaker 1: Yeah. You're thinking bigger than what I'm even saying. I appreciate that. All right, Westy.
00:07:36
Speaker 2: Good luck tonight.
00:07:37
Speaker 1: We'll be watching. Good luck tonight in Columbus. And thanks for joining us on the game day, man. We appreciate you.
00:07:44
Speaker 3: Thank you. Sorry I was late.
00:07:45
Speaker 2: All good. All good, baby. All right, there you go. Ashley Westwood.
