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Seattle Sounders road show goes to SPOKANE!
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The Seattle Sounders Road Show continued its hot start in MLS Matchday 4, this time smashing and grabbing all three points in Sunday night's 1-0 over San Jose at PayPal Park. We'll break down Seattle's mammoth defensive effort and Tino Lopez's insane goal-line clearance, then dive headlong into previewing Seattle's historic trip to Spokane, which will see the Rave Green seek to close out their Round of 16 series vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at ONE Spokane Stadium.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a production of Just Once Media.
Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Introduction and YouTube Channel Promotion
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Lobbing Scorchers was previously recorded and streamed live on YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers. If you want to listen or catch these episodes live, see the video, and see all the rest of our content, go to YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers or LobbingScorchers.com slash YouTube.
00:00:22
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be a real scorcher today. Why the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be scorcher.
Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps Preview
00:00:44
Speaker
Good morning, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff. I'm Ari, that's Nico, and we have got a lot to get you get to here this morning. We've got couple games to talk about, one game to preview. The Seattle Sounders Roadshow is headed to Spokane to close out the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16. against the Vancouver Whitecaps. They have a 3-0 aggregate lead there after League leg One at BC Place. And they're also coming off back-to-back road victories in league play, both by 1-0 scoreline, first at St. Louis City SC and last night at San Jose. So, Nico, yeah, jam-packed show here this morning. A couple of games to that we got to get to, a goal line clearance that we got to get to. So, ah yeah, how you doing, man? Thanks for tapping in.
00:01:31
Speaker
Happy as always, Ari, just to be able to come in here on a Monday and bring a little bit of sunlight into the Pacific Northwest, maybe, or at least to the Seattle area, because we got ah nothing but good things to say about the team. a couple of greedy wins. One particular that was ah impressive and dominating and another one that was just as impressive, but more in the Just effort and intensity department. So a little bit of everything from the Sounders looking at ah their depth, their system, and and just the ability to continue to get these road wins, man. So, yeah, I'm excited to be on today.
00:02:14
Speaker
Intrigued on the chat. See what people have to say. How high are they riding right now? And, of course, we'll have a midweek game to talk about if there's time, if there's time. So, yeah, man, let's get to it.
Social Media Engagement Drive
00:02:28
Speaker
Before we do get into it, shout out to our sponsors, Hicks and Ferments, Full Pole Wines, and Podium Menswear. Also, we'll have some exciting sponsor news for you starting in April. i've been teasing that, but now I have an exact timeline on that. So keep an eye out for that next month. And also, if you could please like the video and sub to the channel, that would be great. We are actually four followers away from 4K on IG. So if four of you out there have not ah followed the IG, follow the IG, get us to 4K on there. And also, if you didn't like the video of the post game stream last night, it's like 10 away from 200. So give it that a retroactive like and get that to 200. And let's get this one. Let's get this one to triple digits as well. Everyone go ahead and like the video. ah But Nico, without further ado, let's ah let's talk some Seattle Sounders because ah there's there's a lot to talk about right
Analysis of Recent Wins and Squad Rotation
00:03:20
Speaker
now. Four wins in five to start the season. All comps three wins in four in league play. And like you mentioned, we're talking about some some not the most aesthetically pleasing wins of all time in these league games. And let's start with the San Jose one, because that's the one that just happened. And I think that might be the most impressive league win of the season so far. In fact, that is the most impressive league win of the season so far. When you take into account the squad rotation that was employed, you had a center back making his first ever and MLS start.
00:03:52
Speaker
You had Cody Baker out there. You had Nikola Petkovich out there. You had Pete Kingston out there. This was a very rotated lineup, and it's the type of lineup where I think in years gone by CONCACAF Champions Cup, this type of lineup definitely probably doesn't take a win under these circumstances. You know, we've seen them grind out draws and get points in these situations before. And it's the type of game where if you grind out a draw, it's like fine because of you're going for it in CCC. And when you're balancing these competitions, sometimes you sacrifice league form and you have to rotate for these league games way more than you normally would. That's the situation they were in last night.
00:04:32
Speaker
And they get it done. Paul Rothrock with the goal about 20 or so minutes into the game. And then it was a lot of hold on to your hats, last-ditch defending in the second half. But I think what we can start there because we talked a lot about the defense last night. And we've talked a lot about the defense on this show dating back to last year about how ah there were a lot of situations where they were in situations like they were last night and they would give up the goal. They would give up the goal that sacrificed the two points. Draws were turning into losses. Wins were turning into draws. That was a theme last year. And that was one of the biggest things that we were hoping would change this year. So I think it's at the very least encouraging to see them gut these out and get the 1-0s actually over the line. like it really It doesn't need to be pretty in these situations. It doesn't need to be the most fun thing to watch. You just got to be able to get it done. And they were able to do that with with this lineup. And, I mean, there's a lot to talk to with it, Nico. So ah where do you want to start as far as what you saw from the defense, both last night but I guess over these last couple league games on the road here?
00:05:42
Speaker
Look, I would start by saying that I thought that the Vancouver win, the 3-0 win, was a statement win for the Seattle Sounders. Brian said it's a little too early to to say that, and I'm that is very Brian Smetzer-like. He does not want to get too high or too low in any particular game. That is savvy. That is a a coach that has been there, done that for once, and two, understands that he's got to keep this team motivated. But this second one, I mean, is just as close to a statement win as you can get because if there was anything that we discussed over the offseason, it was that this team ah was pretty deep, and that there was a level of continuity and chemistry that would allow this team to hit the floor running in 2026, and that their floor was going to be incredibly high, regardless of the teams that were playing. And that depth has been tested beyond
00:06:53
Speaker
what we could have ever imagined, right? No, no Jordan Morris, no Yammer Gomez Andrade, Hassani Dotson with a concussion protocol. I mean, injury after injury, after injury, no Kim Kihee, no Ryan Saylor. I mean, the depth has been tested to the point that now you are, you are um with all of the,
00:07:24
Speaker
um gratefulness and not being forced necessarily, but, but, but you are ah more than happy to sign two players that are coming from the Tacoma defiance. and you feel like they are just as good as signings that you could have gotten in the off season. And these two guys have earned it with,
00:07:51
Speaker
this performance with their preseason. And I'm talking about Peter Kingston and Tino Lopez, right? Those are the two guys that in this particular games were getting their first starts ever.
00:08:04
Speaker
Peter Kingston, he's debuted ever with, with the Sounders and they absolutely killed it. So the, the part of it being a statement win is that this is extremely Seattle like, right? You got a dog on the, on at right.
00:08:21
Speaker
back like Cody Baker, a local kid, a kid that has been working hard, that has been waiting for his chance to get there. He has to go against Timo Werner, right? that Just that start. His first start of the 2036 campaign goes against Cody Baker. And Cody Baker, you look, he he didn't lock him down. I mean, Timo had moments, but he held him. He was able to contain him a bit, right? And and that is...
00:08:50
Speaker
phenomenal for a kid that age, right? You had Captain Nuhu, right? ah A defender that you have had for a a very long time that you have molded, that you have gone with the good and the bad. Now you you give him that captain role and he has another big game for you. So from start to finish to the depth to to those players that started this game against San Jose, I feel like there's a debate on which was a bigger statement win.
00:09:22
Speaker
This one against the San Jose team that was undefeated, that had not been scored on at all, with seven new players in in your lineup, or a 3-0 win in CONCACAF Champions Cup against one of the best teams in the Western Conference. So I leave it to you. I don't know which one's better.
00:09:43
Speaker
Oh, man. yeah I mean, they I think they're both, they both, like you said, have the similar effect, but in in different ways, because I think it's kind of hard not to look at that result in Vancouver as kind of a statement, because, i mean, look what Vancouver did over this match day.
00:09:58
Speaker
They beat Minnesota 6-0. They took out all their frustrations from that leg one on Minnesota United, who, you know, I don't think we any of us expect Minnesota United to be particularly good.
00:10:09
Speaker
this year but even so six o is a 6-0 and to me it just shows that it's not like that result in Vancouver was due to any sort of narrative about the Whitecaps not being as good as we thought like no they're they are one of the best teams in the league one of the top two, three, four best teams in this league right now. And Seattle did that to them. And then they go out and six, so their next opponent.
00:10:34
Speaker
So I think that is definitely a statement, but I think you could also look, yeah, both of these games against St. Louis and now at San Jose in a similar light, as far as just, you know, improving on the stuff we saw last year when this team was in those in these situations. So All that is great to see. It's encouraging to see them to be able to get out these wins while they're rotating. That's something that all good teams need to be able to do. And if you could actually take wins in those situations, you're going to be in a good spot as far as playoff seating goes. So all encouraging stuff. But Nico, ah let's talk about Tino because that was pretty incredible. I don't I don't think any of us really knew fully what to expect. He got on the field in Vancouver and had a nice tackle. And I was like, all right, he looks like a lot bigger physically than I thought. And, you know, maybe they're onto something here, but you you don't really know until you see him play.
00:11:26
Speaker
That goal line clearance, I mean, I was trying not to be prisoner of the moment and overreact recency bias last night. I think that goal line clearance was legitimately one of the best individual defensive plays I've ever seen from a Seattle Sounder.
00:11:41
Speaker
Or anyone, honestly. like it really It doesn't get better than that. It was actually an even crazier play than i thought because I feel like with goal line clearances like that, the the way you usually see it is like the one that NewHoo had in Vancouver where it's sort of like a low shot. like It's either... a low driven shot or like rolling on the ground, like, like knew who had this one actually popped up into the air off Andrew Thomas and Tino ran it down and caught it out of the air. Like it was not a low shot that he had to clear off. Like he had to, he had to run that thing down and then track it and then catch it out of the air to get it out of there. Just,
00:12:18
Speaker
Insane play. Insane play. Like, what did what did you think of that play, Nico? And then also just Tino in general. Schmidt said after the game, which this was kind of a rare move, but he basically just announced that Tino's off to the first team after that game. He said something in his press conference to the effect of like the contracts in the mail.
00:12:36
Speaker
I mean, hard to argue with that decision after what we saw in that game. but Look, it's ah pretty funny that ah that's how the press conference started. i wasn't part of it, but i heard it after. And the game wasn't even over before I had put on socials that...
00:12:57
Speaker
we had seen enough out of Tino Lopez to sign him, but that I also thought Peter Kingston should be the next one to be signed because what both were phenomenal in this particular game. And he started off Brian's message did the press conference by saying, yeah I'm not only going to be signing Tino Lopez, but I I'm also encouraging Craig to sign Peter Kingston. So,
00:13:23
Speaker
Both well-deserved, but let's talk about Tino. I have been talking about Tino all preseason, and I was very skeptical about the Ryan Saylor move.
00:13:35
Speaker
I was concerned about Kim Kihi and that calf issue that has been a problem since last season. However, I understood why you would bring back a experienced guy that was good in the locker room that you could count on if you needed him on a veteran minimum.
00:14:00
Speaker
um But I had concerns about what would happen if he was going to be hurt for a long time. at the time I didn't quite know when or or how quickly he'd be be back on the field because he had a procedure done to take care of that calf issue.
00:14:16
Speaker
And I knew that the team was not going to go out there and get an international player, maybe a guy within MLS to kind of help that depth. But when you have ah Stuart Hawkins and you have guys that you kind of want to see get minutes from your either academy or Tacoma Defiance, you don't want to bring in guy that's going to block those minutes. So, Tina Lopez was the one for me that I thought was a clear cut.
00:14:47
Speaker
You got sign him right off the bat. I remember talking to Danny Jackson. He's part of the ah commentator and crew for KJR, 950 KJR. No, yes. KJR. And...
00:15:03
Speaker
I told him, I said, look, this guy right here, this is the guy that the team needs to sign to make sure that they're not having to bubble wrap Jackson Reagan and Yammer Gomez Andrade through TSA anytime that they go to one of these road games. And and he showed up, man. He absolutely showed up. I thought that his willingness to not just be physical and defend and track and, um,
00:15:31
Speaker
his open field defending, right? When you have to get out to certain parts of the field where there's a lot of open space was great, but his confidence to be on the ball and push forward. And there is that, that one possibility that he crosses into Jesus Ferreira, where Jesus maybe could have tried to go in the inside ah of the defender. i know Daniel comes off, um but it's a good ball and it's a good,
00:16:00
Speaker
decision of him just taking his pace. Nobody's pressuring me. I still have the ball. Nobody's coming at me. And that willingness to do that it was just phenomenal. So the read on the game, the decision-making, and just the overall play in a very difficult game where the Sounders, for the majority of this game, were under pressure, were absorbing pressure.
00:16:27
Speaker
Set pieces, I mean, they were just... pushed over and over again I don't know if there were what 17 set pieces between free kicks and and corner kicks. It was 17 corners, 17 corners, plus all the free kicks. And the Sounders just held on so well, right? As much as we love Alex Rodin. And I think that he is someone that I even asked Brian Smetser if he's working himself up the pecking order at center back.
00:16:54
Speaker
I think that having a guy like Tino just allows you to not have to do that so often. And and I just thought he was phenomenal. Yeah, it is funny because i was getting to the point where i was i was kind of raising my eyebrows at how this CB situation was handled, frankly, because you're in a situation where you're down all these bodies. And then it's like, all right, well, your plan for this situation was 36-year-old Kim Kehee, who got injured before the start of the season, and Ryan Saylor, who headed off to the White House with a degenerative knee condition. so not exactly the best duo i've ever heard of for cover there but then you know i guess apparently you just have one that you developed in the pipeline in tino lopez that can bail you out of this situation i guess it but it must be nice to have a pipeline like this because
00:17:46
Speaker
And honestly, I guess what and it's what it's an example of in all seriousness of how if you're on it with your youth development, it can cover over misfires when you're roster building, which are going to happen. Like not and every team is going to have an exactly perfect roster build where everything goes off without a hitch as far as injuries and availability and all that. So, you know, it just looks like another example of how they benefited from that and frankly got ah bailed out from a situation where the center back depth got to a place that was not not good, not where you wanted it.
00:18:20
Speaker
But you have this kid who, I mean, that's to be able to put him in there and have him perform like that, I was i was impressed by the kid. It really was. Michael Poxon getting us started with the super chat train. Thank you for the five, Michael. Appreciate it. This is a good question, too. This is one of the things we're going to talk about. So thanks for being the impetus. Very happy with the recent results, but is there any fear that the team is giving up so much possession and having to defend so much? ah Yes, I do think that, especially if you look at the St. Louis game and the San Jose game, ah they put themselves under more pressure than you would like. And there was there's too many giveaways and giveaways in bad spots. And really putting yourselves in situations, too many situations where you could
00:19:04
Speaker
get punished. Like, I think if you look at both of those games, I would definitely say that that needs to be cleaned up if they want to continue stacking clean sheets at the same time. I do really think that there's a character building element of that. Like you have to go through those situations as a team.
00:19:19
Speaker
to be able to learn how to deal with them. And especially when you're playing on the road, especially when you're rotating, there are just going to be sequences of these games where you are under it, where the other team has more of the ball, where they are putting you under pressure, where they are pumping crosses, pumping free kicks into the box. You gotta be able to deal with that. And Jackson Reagan was crushing it yesterday. Just any time there was a cross or a corner kick or a free kick coming in there, he was heading it out of there. That was big time. Tino was great. So I think it's its it's both things. You want to balance it. like you don't You don't want to be giving the ball away as much as they are and yielding as much possession as they are. But at the same time, when it does happen, which it's going to,
00:20:00
Speaker
Part of being a good team is knowing how to, I think the term we were talking about last night that coaches always use, you got to learn how to suffer together. And I think the the St. Louis game and definitely this game where they were as rotated as they were, were an example of that. But ah Nico, what do you think of this?
00:20:16
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not concerned at all. I think that it is a very good way to have a secondary approach to to games. And I'd be concerned if there were two things happening. One, that this was um a constant when it came to that starting 11 your A team, if you will.
00:20:43
Speaker
And then number two, if there weren't enough chances being generated out of being purposeful with possession, right? I mean, a lot of times a team can have 60, 70% of the ball and not create a lot of opportunities. And I thought that specifically for that Vancouver game with, you know, your best 11 on the field for the majority of it, you created a lot of opportunities. You were able to pass through pressure. You were able to get with out of your wingbacks or or wingers or in the way that you build out from your own end. so i
00:21:22
Speaker
I don't hate it. I think that I would much rather have a team that is dangerous with, what was it, 37% of possession that they had against Vancouver than one that isn't with 60% of the ball. Now, I'm not encouraging the team to...
00:21:42
Speaker
be a ah group that plays against the run of play. Cause that's not what I know for fact that that's not what Brian wants. He would never encourage that sort of play. He wants to possess the ball. He wants to be a protagonist. He wants to play good soccer. He wants to build out out of the back with possession.
00:22:01
Speaker
But when the games get like this, And you're able to expose a team to maybe get comfortable pressing you and and and hiking up that line of confrontation. And as you saw against San Jose, give you the opportunity to, with three passes, you you pass through that press. That back line is at the halfway line ah of the field. And of a sudden, Ferreira is giving you a through ball where,
00:22:30
Speaker
A guy like Paul Rothrock is just dying to get to that open space and you create a good goal opportunity. As a matter of fact, in the 45th or 42nd minute, maybe, there's another breakaway that should have ended in a goal where Ferreira presses very well off of a corner kick.
00:22:51
Speaker
because of the way that his San Jose was trying to get that that goal back. um They're very high and there's a breakaway from Ferreira and Giorgio Menungu is right in front of him.
00:23:07
Speaker
I think Jones does a good job at at angle in his body and and not giving Pereira the easy pass. But I think that there is a miscommunication. i thought that Jordi should have gotten wider. And I think that's what Jesus was waiting for. But Jesus can't just get dispossessed that way in that sort of breakaway moment. So those those little the things got to get better for this sort of situation.
00:23:33
Speaker
style of play to be as good as he can be. But I like it. i'm I'm not worried about it. I think that, again, that's not what Brian is indicating the guys. But sometimes the game goes its own way and you've got to be able to adapt to the game.
00:23:49
Speaker
The one thing I will say is they gave up 17 corner kicks last night, and then they also gave up 11 in Vancouver. So that's 28 corner kicks over the last two games. Nice little average of 14. Yeah, that's too many corner kicks. especially when we're talking about guys like Seb Berhalter, probably the best free kick taker in MLS right now.
00:24:11
Speaker
And Timo Werner, who he was pumping those quarter kicks in there. And there seemed to be polarized thoughts on how he looked. I thought he looked pretty good, Nico. I thought that. He looked great. Yeah, I thought he looked motivated. He looked explosive. He's a fast dude. I haven't really watched him play all that much, to be honest, in his career. I know about his career and his name and the stuff that he's done in his career, the clubs he's played for, but this was the first time I think I've probably ever watched him for a full game. I was like, all right, I actually can see how this could work in MLS. But I think that also speaks to the job that Cody Baker and Tino Lopez did because they had a world-class player coming out them all night. And Peter Kingston. That's what I love about Peter Kingston. Let's talk about him real quick. I thought that he was great just trying to bracket Timo when they could and assisting Cody Baker because he had his hands full with Timo who was so explosive and was able to get through a very good defender in Baker and before even
00:25:16
Speaker
Tina would have to go up there. I thought that Peter Kingston was doing a great job at just shadowing, supporting. Those runs that he was making defensively were were phenomenal. And it wasn't just Thibault. I thought that ah you know Jones has a lot of speed on that side, overlapping. So there's a lot of firepower there by San Jose on the left side, or at least with those two. Maybe firepower might be too too much of a praise there But but but Tebow himself obviously has that level. And then i think Jones brings another attacker that look for the Sounders to be able to handle that was phenomenal. And this is why this is such a statement type win for the Sounders, because it was.
00:25:58
Speaker
All about having. The collective effort defensively. It wasn't just one guy. It was it was Paul Rothrock. it was It was Cody. It was Ferreira pressing up high. it was Mussovsky. I mean it it was a complete team effort to really try to minimize things. And even when you did...
00:26:19
Speaker
get yourself in a situation where your emergency defending was the willingness to put your body on the line, right? There's that, I don't know, maybe 10 minutes after the Sounders first goal where San Jose just gets on top of you. And there is that one sequence where San Jose gets like five shots inside the 18 and Jackson Reckons gets two blocks. I think he got three blocks. I was crazy. Baker's throwing himself. I mean, everybody's just putting their body on the lines. And that is a foundation of the Sounders and Bryant's Metro Bowl. Everybody defends. Everybody has to be up to snob.
00:26:57
Speaker
But the intensity level, is it just never never drops. And I think that's what kept this... game um with a with a blank sheet. It it was that effort. It it goes back to Tino Lopez's save, right? It's it's the the the big save by Andrew Thomas because that that ball doesn't bounce that way if he doesn't get that big paw his on on that shot. And then Tino Lopez just never gives up and just smacks that ball and clears it. So that's the type of win that I think
00:27:31
Speaker
to me, says Bryant's Metzer and Sounders ball. Yeah, we were talking about that last night too, but I mean, you got to love the effort that everyone's playing with right now. Like you said, I think that sequence where Jackson Reagan had the, I think it was a triple block where they're just they're just firing shots at the goal and he's diving around all six foot six of them blocking these shots. You had a lot of sequences like that last night. And then at the game in Vancouver too, you have knew who on the goal line doing the same thing. So that's the type of stuff that you need to win games like this. And that's the type of stuff that Schmetzer wants to see on the topic of Pete, Pete Kingston.
00:28:07
Speaker
I mean, shout out to Pete, man. Like you got to hand it to him. This is a guy that I don't think anyone thought was particularly in the mix to ever make the first team. You know, he was a really good player for Ballard FC. He looked pretty good for defiance when he got his run there. But I don't, I mean, did we ever talk about Pete as a potential first team player? Like maybe a little bit, but I don't think that's something a lot of people expected to happen. And he made it happen. Like he, he worked really hard. He's been applying himself. Clearly he's been, he's been training hard, training well, integrating himself with the team. It seems like he's accepted as a, as part of the team. The guys all like him and everything. So fair play to Pete, fair play to Pete.
00:28:48
Speaker
No, he did. He genuinely did something, a lot of people thought that he probably was never going to do. And even being in the mix for the first team, and now you're starting a league game where the team wins, which is that's the number one way to earn Brian Schmetzer's trust is contribute to a win. And he did that. Like you said, he was doing a lot of good work, dirty work, helping with Timo Werner. Then he almost had an assist too on that ball. He played over the top up to Rothrock where ro it was a beautiful ball too. great ball And it's the way he picks up the ball, the way he, gets into the the the white channel and then picks up his head and just beautifully just puts it, just chips it, right? he You could see the technique of just being able to just hit the ball with that perfect pace and just clears her over that the defender that's on Paul Rothrock. And Paul, he tries to put it away, but he can't. But that that yeah, I thought that he was so good. And there was one, that there is a moment where
00:29:46
Speaker
I want to say the ball's all the way back into Andrew Thomas, and San Jose's pressing pretty high, and this is like late in the game, maybe like the 60th minute or something like that, and Peter Kingston comes to help at the top of the box to be an option. He checks in, and Andrew just puts the ball right on him, and you could see, think it's Nico Shakir, he's just...
00:30:16
Speaker
running, he he kind of he could taste that that that ball and just being able to intercept it, and he's about to get on it. And and Peter just does this effortless but subtle and smooth turn on the ball, and he gets past that pressure and and takes his space. I mean, there were just so many moments from Peter Kingston in this particular game that, to your point,
00:30:45
Speaker
We had been talking about Tino potentially being a guy that you needed to sign. Peter Kingston was someone who had a lot of things that we liked, right? hes The versatility. He could play right back, could play center back, that tenacity. He's a kid that...
00:31:00
Speaker
has shown you at Baller FC and has shown you ah with ah his his training sessions and in Marbella that he has that tenacity and that he could play at this level. But maybe that technical component, at least for me, I was still waiting to see. And in this one, it was enough. It was enough. And how do I say this without sounding too harsh?
00:31:28
Speaker
I thought... a beovvitch was I was okay. this is what i was going he was okay yeah I thought he was okay. I thought he had some very good passing moments, switches the field beautifully. He he opened up several attacks, I think early in the game. He ah slips Georgie through for one of the first early opportunities for the Sounders.
00:31:52
Speaker
But there are moments that are concerning on defense. There's silly foul that he gives on top of the 18. There are times where he gets a little bit too caught up on on on the ball. He's not quick enough on releasing. And and so the whole Peter Kingston, let's sign him, to me, would be in the conclusion that maybe Petkovic is more of a 10 and more of a player that you can play higher up the field because he does have that vision. And prior to this game, Brian had only brought him in as Albert's replacement. And and when Ferreira was in there, obviously, and and I don't want to get anybody too riled up, but I know that everyone wants to see Ferreira be that 10 over Albert. And don't like that narrative. I think that they both coexist perfectly, but if it isn't Ferreira or,
00:32:51
Speaker
Albert, I think that Petkovic could essentially play that 10 a little bit. ah So Peter Kingston is more of a two-way player for this particular pivot system, in my humble opinion. um And so that's why I would sign Peter Kingston is's because I do feel like he covers and he fits in better to your system in order to withstand when Christian Roldan is in an international play, if there is a need to rest some players, you know, all those components. He could play next to Hassani Dotson. i wouldn't want to see – maybe, you know, him and and and Snyder Burnell might be interesting, but I just think that Peter Kingston –
00:33:34
Speaker
fits in well in the system. pete Pete's definitely more of the skill set that you would expect from what Schmetzer wants typically in that position at that area of the field. I do like what we've seen from Petkovic maybe a little more than that, though. like i thought I was pretty impressed with how he played yesterday. And, you know, maybe that's because I've been a little bit hesitant on him just because he's coming in U-22 under not that exciting of circumstances from coming from Crown Legacy when he couldn't break in at Charlotte FC. And also, i don't know, I feel like he was the type of guy who gave me the vibe that...
00:34:11
Speaker
Like you were saying about defensively, like um i was I figured he's probably a very talented passer and facilitator, but is he going to have the engine and the work rate and the willingness to defend that Schmetzer demands of every player on the field?
00:34:25
Speaker
I had questions about that, and I still think there are questions about that. But like, honestly, he was, he was more, he looked more willing in this game to do that type of stuff than i was expecting. The foul you mentioned at the top of the box, not a great foul, but I i was, like I was thinking to myself, you know, at least he's, at least he's putting an effort there. At least he's trying. At least he's getting, mixing it up and getting stuck in and he's not just letting the guy go buy him. And I think he probably it's probably been imparted on him that he needs to be doing that type of stuff to be playing. So at least he's compartmentalizing that.
00:35:00
Speaker
And, you know, it i don't I think it's probably not really the type of player that he is. But the stuff that he does bring to the table, i think, could potentially bring a lot of value to this team. I mean, some of these through balls and switches that he's hitting, it's kind of a new little element where if you can get him playing the way that Schmetz wants a Sounders midfielder to be playing, As far as the all around game and the all around work rate, kind of like you were talking about with Pete there, there could be something there as far as him making a genuine contribution to this team this year. And he's definitely got good vision. He definitely is a very, very good passer. And you're actually seeing that come to fruition in the games.
00:35:38
Speaker
So far, even in the little cameo he got in St. Louis, I thought that you saw a little bit of that. And then in this game, I think I thought he had like three or four really good dimes that were proactive and setting the team out on the attack. So I would say on the Petkovich thing right now, I'm ah I'm pretty happy with what we've seen so far. And I'm cautiously optimistic on him, which is a better place than I expected to be. I was sort of thinking of him as like house money this year. If you get anything at all from him, Great, but realistically, U22s don't really hit that often, at least not to a real needle-moving type level. And also, I think there were these questions about how his skill set would fit on this particular team. But I think so far, I actually, I like what I've seen a lot more than I expected to.
Nikola Petkovic's Potential and Play Style
00:36:25
Speaker
Yeah, I think he's okay. I think that the the main reason why I'm not over the moon is because of the future price tag. I mean, I definitely would not... pay a million plus or close to 10 money for a player of his,
00:36:42
Speaker
characteristics and what he could provide. I honestly think that he is just a Danny Leyva replacement. I mean, I actually thought that Danny Leyva, his defensive output had gotten so much better, his dynamism, that you know he had the passing, he had the vision, he had all these things. yeah so he's kind of pretty similar He's pretty similar to Danny Leyva. Very similar. So that's kind of where were where I'm at on that. but But I will give him this, though, that I thought in this particular, it is the best game I've seen him play. And he was actually...
00:37:10
Speaker
um A lot more like you said willing to defend There was a couple of repressed moments where he Is angling his body correctly He is putting his foot On the line he ah There's a couple of moments that that I remember him being Very proactive defensively and then Along with the passing, there were moments that I thought that he passed and moved into really good positions. that There is that attempt. He's not a very good attempt, but he he takes a shot from top of the box. Daniel stops pretty pretty easily. but I like that. I like that. No, that sequence starts very good because he actually puts the ball through initially and then he makes that run late.
00:37:47
Speaker
gets on top of the 18 and then he takes that shot. And I do like it. He had two shots, right? That he is at least of tenth ah attempting to to put in there. And I like it too. So so there are things that I think are solid.
00:37:59
Speaker
I thought Peter Kingston was a better, more complete overall throughout the whole game. But yeah, there's there's things to like about Petkovic. Uh, Jesus Ferreira, Nico, another assist, another class assist that gives him, uh, five and five games across all competitions for, if you want to be the primary or, uh, secondary assists, don't count guy. But even if you want to be that guy, that's four primary assists so far this season. and this was a tasty one, Nico. I mean, that ball that he hits to Paul Rothrock, it don't get better than that. that was That was a beautiful dime. Shout out to Georgie on that play for being offside. But yeah, exactly. not I was proud of him.
00:38:40
Speaker
I was proud of him. That was a situation where he could have got excited and tried to receive that ball when he knew he was offside. And i do I think it actually ended up serving the purpose of throwing off the defense a little bit because you had – a couple of their guys putting the hand up and it's like, that's not who the, that's yeah, he was offside, but that's not who the ball is going to. The guy the ball is going to is very much onside and he's about to score on you. So shout out to Georgie for that 40 chess providing the distraction, but great time by Jesus. And he has just been in excellent form to start the season here. His playmaking and his facilitating is top class right now. And this was ah this was a fun game to get to see him play more of that kind of featured number 10 role. the The way I see their first choice 11 right now is you're basically rolling with with dual tens like When I look at how Ferreira is playing that position, it's not as a traditional winger. He's basically, what he's doing is he's playing essentially as a 10, but in the wide channel. Do you think that's like an accurate way to describe it? Because i think maybe people look at it and it's like,
00:39:49
Speaker
Well, it's not it's not really winger stuff in the traditional sense, but when I look at the way he's playing the position, you know it's different than that. It's not how you would typically think of that position in a 4-2-3-1, but it is very effective. And now we're seeing so far this season that when he is put in that spot, he's getting on the stat sheet every single game, it seems like, not scoring the goals. But you know it doesn't really make a difference to me who's actually putting the ball in the back of the net as long as it's going in. So if his role on this team is to just wreak havoc in that wide channel, facilitate, hit these through balls that he's so good at hitting and racking assists, that's absolutely fine. And teams are having a hard time stopping it right now. Like he was, he only played the first half in this game, but he was fantastic again.
00:40:37
Speaker
I said it at the beginning of the season. And I think that, uh, that, um, segment that I had with on the sidelines um with Ethan Reynolds is aging like fine wine. I said, Ferrero is going to have a big season. And if you thought that bringing in Jesus Ferrero,
00:40:55
Speaker
was a mistake or that he is not worth having in this team and that he's not an X factor, then you don't know ball. And that has aged pretty well. i'm not ready to take a victory lap just yet on that, but it's, it's pretty close. I'm pretty close. aging pretty good. And so I just think that he's your most influential attacker and it's as simple as that. And don't allow,
00:41:19
Speaker
Brian Smetzer's attempt to gaslight me and give me crap keep you away from realizing that when you're a pocket winger, you're still going to be a winger. I mean, you're not just going to play the pocket. So Ferreira in situation,
00:41:33
Speaker
pocket can do a lot of great things. and And if you go back to that Vancouver game, and we talked about this with Jeremiah on Friday is when you're pressing, you're pressing out of that white area. He created moments out of that white area. He has the acceleration and speed. He's not like ah a light, light out,
00:41:51
Speaker
ah you know, like pace abuser, but he's pretty quick. So he's able to give you moments where he does get wide. He allows i Alex doesn't have those underlaps. So if you press on a moment where you are that wide and you have the ability to get to the end, like he does that, he did that against RSL a couple of times as well. So It is his versatility and and and IQ that rises the level of that pocket winger for this particular team because there is so much movement and he can't be overwhelming for teams to defend. And I think in transition specifically, it's just the biggest, most important player that you can have in those transition moments. So I love
Praise for Jesus Ferreira's Playmaking
00:42:37
Speaker
it. I thought that the pass that he made –
00:42:40
Speaker
chef's kiss. I mean, it's absolutely delightful. the the The vision to... First of all, you you got to credit Paul as well because he he is dragging back a little bit before that pass from Danny Masovsky to Jesus. And when he sees Jesus come inside, he makes that run pretty strong and they almost like lock eyes.
00:43:05
Speaker
And then you see Jesus just play him into space perfectly. So I just think that Jesus has been...
00:43:16
Speaker
Phenomenal in in the attacking end for this team. I think he's going to continue to be a a huge starter. um I understand why people like to reason that he should be the the number 10 for this team. But I think that you take away from some of those things that he does do wide. And and in this game, he did phenomenal at the 10. I'm not saying he can't play it. I just think that when you have – the whole point ah of the Sounders right now, when when they have the ball, is to have as many creative players right behind that nine –
00:43:51
Speaker
to unlock some of that wide play and and give more services to your nine. Now the nines are doing a little bit more of that hold up play and they haven't really gotten there, but everything else is working so perfectly that you want to keep that. And I think that having those two creative players helps. and And even when maybe Albert came into this game and he didn't have a phenomenal game. And so people hang on to that. I think that once this team is in full health, those two are going to have a field day with Jordan Morris, with Pedro La Vega, and there's going to be so much movement in that attack in third that they're going to be a problem this season.
00:44:31
Speaker
Ryan coming in with the $1.99. Thank you, man. Appreciate the support. He says, what effect will Jordan Morris have on his return? He's talking Jesus Ferreira there, or what do you think, Nico?
00:44:46
Speaker
ah No, I just, I'm thinking, can he, in and in please correct me if I'm wrong, ah what I'm guessing is what what type of effect and and and what he he what can he give this team that's different? And I think that he can give a a different profile style of a nine and and that having that type of speed up top, I think is going to be important. um A lot of people tend to And I'm not saying that that Jordan Morris is not has not lost a step or two, but he's still a very explosive player. I think so, too. I think like i get like all the injuries, but when he has played over the last year, I think he's still, to me at least, he's still looked like he has a lot of those same attributes.
00:45:29
Speaker
yeah And look, i've I've always been who I am. And you know I've criticized Jordan when I had to. And there were moments where I thought that his finishing wasn't his strong suit. And at the time, that that stood pretty straight up. But I do think that he's grown in so many ways. He's grown in his finishing. He's grown in his hold-up play. He's grown up in in his link-up play. Unfortunately, he's been hit by all these injuries. But he's really...
00:45:54
Speaker
sharpened and and and fulfilled those holes in his game to make him a really good nine. So i think he deserves the benefit of the doubt that he's going to come in and and and give you a more lethal nine that than you currently have. And now I do think that De Rosario has had moments and just haven't been able to put away. Danny Masovsky has gotten chances, but it was disallowed or he just wasn't he wasn't able to get it there. But I do think that Jordan provides...
00:46:24
Speaker
a better more dangerous nine that's gonna really demand those center backs to occupy him more often than you're having now and uh in breakaway moments he's a guy that you're gonna be better in in transition than what you currently have so i'm excited to see him i will say this though let's I think they're going to be cautious. And I hear Brian writing and everybody up about Spokane.
00:46:54
Speaker
ah There's no way, in my opinion, that he plays first in Spokane. Maybe over the weekend, he can play a couple, little maybe 15 minutes, maybe 20 minutes. But he just needs to be carefully ramped up throughout the training sessions of the week before he gets any significant amount of time.
00:47:13
Speaker
The notion of him playing in Spokane, i did I was not really even thinking that as a possibility. So it might not happen, but the fact that Schmetz is saying that I think suggests that he's closer to coming back than at least I thought. Oh, yeah, 100%. And I do think that when we're talking about what effect that could have, i kind of see him as a more polished, a more experienced version of Osaze. I think when you're talking about Osaze versus Moose, which we'll talk about, Osaze's skill set is a lot more akin to Jordan than Moose's. is and i think that's a lot of why osaze has been the one who's getting the starts in these games but let's talk about that because you know obligatory obligatory osaze versus moose debate while jordan is still working his way back and uh nico i keep flip flip flopping back and forth on this and i continue to
Striker Position Competition: Musovski vs De Rosario
00:48:05
Speaker
flip flop back and forth on this and but i think i think last night finally kind of solidified how i feel about it which is that With Moose, you got you got a specialist who's really, really good at one thing, and he is very good.
00:48:19
Speaker
It happens to be the most valuable skill probably that you could have in the sport, which is volume goal goal scoring, and he's so good at getting in the spots to be able to do that. And I do think, too, like, Moose gets talked about in a way of, like,
00:48:33
Speaker
he's good He is good at that one thing, but he's bad at everything else. I think that's a little overstated. you know he He's able to play within the offense at a reasonable level. like Even on the ah on the goal last night, he he finds Ferreira in that space for before Ferreira pings that to Rothrock. So I think Moose gets a secondary assist on that. So it's not like he's totally hopeless in those situations. But the reality is Osaze offers just a lot more in terms of holdup play, in terms of his work in possession, in terms of his link up play, and really just how he positively impacts the functioning of the entire offense to where when you looked at how it looked with Osase on the field versus how it looked with Moose on the field, it felt like the offense was just humming more, functioning better with Osase up top. So i kind of I get why they've been continuing to start Osase, even though he hasn't been scoring because of all that stuff. He does need to start scoring, though. Like, you need goal production from that position. And I still do think that it does look like Moose is the more likely one to offer you that in terms of his track record last year. But also, up up until this game last night, I feel like Moose has looked really good. I know he hasn't technically gotten on the score sheet yet, but he was ah borderline offside call away from getting the equalizer in Salt Lake. There's been at least two or three, probably more other sequences where he's been in his trademark right spots and either hasn't gotten found or barely missed getting to the ball. But like ah even i can think of two instances in the last couple games for Moose where he was wide open for a tap in and the guy who was supposed to pass him the ball just didn't find him. So that's, that is all good to see. And I think that Moose had been playing well. I think,
00:50:21
Speaker
If there's two guys that ah didn't have great games last night, I would say Moose and Albert Rusnak would be in there. It was a big it was a big night for the Rusnak Brigade last night. They were having a field day with his substitute performance. which you know that's That's fine. That's to be expected. I do think that you know you could point to you could point to a bad game. I could also point to a lot more good games probably.
00:50:45
Speaker
ah But oh yeah ah but ah the the point is, Moose, I think by and large, has actually looked pretty good this season so far up until last night. But I think Osase, he's just a more well-rounded player. He offers more to the whole offense. And I think that i think that continuing to run Osase is the right decision because you want to – You don't want to ah like bail too early in a situation like this. You got to give him the time to work up to his top level, which I think that's what he's doing, and show the faith that if you keep running him and he keeps doing the right stuff and he keeps working hard, the goals and the chances will eventually be there, and they'll eventually come, and he'll start getting on the score sheet. like i really think that it's not I don't think it's banging your head against the wall with it. I think you keep... You keep running him. You build his confidence. You tell him to keep working hard.
00:51:36
Speaker
and And the goals will eventually be there. So that's what I'm hoping. And until Jordan gets back, I'm fine with them continuing to run Osasier. do you think? Yeah, I like Osasier.
00:51:48
Speaker
I'll keep it that simple. I just – I think Danny gets himself in some really good opportunities. And I love the fact that he's taking this – competition, you know, very healthy. You know, we talked to him prior to this game and, you know, he says, look, in MLS, you never have, you know, anything given to you and you just got to you know, keep working for that that position. And i I do think that, you know, being being more of a poacher and being a guy that it's a box, a fox in the box type and and he can do some things for you is, it's great to have. But there is, in my opinion, no denying that,
00:52:25
Speaker
Osase is the better aerial dual guy. He's the better presser. He's a guy that his physicality, even to just get off dribbles is, is, is just easier for him. He's so dominant physically. Um,
00:52:41
Speaker
The passing range, it's a lot better when it comes to Osaset, right? The types of pass he puts through, the the the key components that that he when he drags those center backs, I think he has very good peripheral vision to really unlock some of that wide play. um And so...
00:52:59
Speaker
Nothing against Danny because I've actually really enjoyed talking to him lately. And and there is a a level of disrespect sometimes that that we have towards Danny for everything that he tries to do and and brings to the table. But In my opinion, there's also no disrespect when it comes to saying maybe you're more limited than Osase. Now, that doesn't mean that you cannot, that your specific skill set is not important as well. But for the overall, if I'm starting right now, one of them too, I'm starting Osase. I want to have that more complete attacker. However, I will point to this. And I i do think that Brian's already setting it up. Yesterday when they he was asked about Danny or Asase, he brought up Jordan.
00:53:50
Speaker
He said, you know, I have three really good strikers. so Okay, that's okay. He brought him on because I really don't think that Brian wants wants any part of having to remove. Like like once Pedro gets back to full health, there's going to be someone that comes off in this attacking lineup, and you don't want to necessarily choose. Jordan's going to play. Brian's going to play Jordan. If Jordan's healthy, Brian's playing in Jordan. So if you need to play him at the wing, are you going to take out Pedro? You're not going allow him to play?
00:54:24
Speaker
he Of course not, right? Are you going to move him and then take out Ferreira? Are you going to take out Albert Rosnack? No. So he is going to want to play him at the nine. And and I do think that's that's great, especially because both of these guys, to be fair, both Osase and um Danny Masovsky have had their chance to win that striker battle, and they haven't. And now I understand that They're doing other stuff, but like Osasio had a really good opportunity in Vancouver in front of goal that he kind of makes a bad decision and he could have passed it back to Areola, could have taken a better pass. he He didn't do that. I think Danny has had moments this season as well where he's had opportunities, has him put it in the back of the net. So if if neither one is going to win the position and Jordan comes from way behind in the race and just passes through them, then that's just the way it works.
00:55:24
Speaker
I have three strikers. I have two starting goalkeepers. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just don't answer the question. 100 viewers and only 30 likes. That's unacceptable. chat Everyone, please like the video. Let's get this one to triple digits. Come on now. Noah also says. Let's get it. Let's get it. Look, if if we get more ah likes, I will give you I'm hearing.
00:55:47
Speaker
What I'm hearing. what i'm hearing On Yair Marcos Andrade's timeline, we haven't – we've dropped the ball a couple of times on on asking ah Brian more about it. have been asking around since Friday, and I'm actually – I don't know how I did not ask – Brian Spencer about it but I'm pretty sure I have a good timeline on it so yeah I'll share that but let let's get more likes let's get more get more questions in we're we're bribing we're bribing for to get you guys the AMR update Noah says we don't need to pick a nine play them both they both offer a different challenge for defenses Osaze is so strong Moose is super annoying good guys and yeah I think that is that is ultimately the correct way to look at it but I do think it is ah like it's a worthy discussion as far as
00:56:40
Speaker
If you have a big game like they do have coming up in a couple days in Spokane, who's the who's leading the line in the first choice 11? I definitely don't think Jordan, even if he plays in this game, he's definitely not going to be starting. So that's a decision that Schmetz going have to make. I think we know what he's going to do at this point. and seems like they're committed to running Osase, but...
00:56:59
Speaker
I think that's a good segue, Nico. Concaf Champions Cup, leg two, round of 16, versus Vancouver, playing historic match in Spokane. And let's ah let's preview it a little bit to take us down the home stretch of the show here, Nico.
00:57:14
Speaker
3-0 aggregate lead over Vancouver after a really fantastic performance at BC Place. I think everyone is feeling good about Seattle's chances of advancing. I think everyone's looking forward to seeing what this game in Spokane is like. I'm excited to see what's up with it. We're going to be heading out there, so it's going to be a lot of fun. But as for the game itself, Nico, I mean, let's talk about how you approach this thing, because I was talking about it last night, and You do have a very commanding lead in this situation. And the tough thing when you're the team who's behind in this situation is that you cannot, there's, if you're down one zero, you can be more tactical with it, right? You can be a little more conservative. You can sit back. You can look to, kind of poach one on the counter and even one goal kind of flips the complexion of the series and changes a lot of things, but they can't really do that because they're down three. So they have to go for it from the jump. So you're going to have a situation against a desperate opponent, which should theoretically give you more chances going the other way. It should like, you should see a lot of space opened up in this game. You should see Seattle be able to get out on the counter and hopefully they'll be able to exploit that. But what I was saying last night, Nico is like,
00:58:28
Speaker
<unk>s It's fine to be confident. You're in a good spot. That's all well and good, but you got to be professional about this. You got to not let the game state and the tempo and all that get out of control and let this Whitecaps team start running because if you are in a situation where the
Sounders' Strategy for CONCACAF Champions Cup
00:58:43
Speaker
game state is like it was in San Jose and you're giving way away the ball a lot and you're under siege and you're under pressure the whole time, that's the thing that can let their confidence and belief start to build. And you should not take the – possibility lightly that they get a goal or two that sort of puts them back in the series because look at what i mean i was i was thinking you know after seattle 3-0 them you know is that a sign that the whitecaps maybe aren't quite what we thought they were i don't i don't think so i watched a lot of that game that they had against minnesota and they ripped that team to absolute shreds like You could tell that they were pissed and had a point to prove that that that the game against Seattle was not them. And so when you look at that, when you look at the fact that they came back out and 6-0 their next opponent immediately, i would just be a little, I would be wary of that. I would not be, you cannot look past this game or think that you've got it in the bag just because you're up 3-0. Now, I do think that Schmetzer teams have a good track record by and large. of when they're in an advantageous position in tournament play. They've been pretty good about being professional, seeing it out and not letting anything crazy happen, but you still got to go out there and do that. And you got to find the balance of, ah you know, if they are, if they sit back at all and let you just knock the ball around,
01:00:00
Speaker
As long as it's still three zero on aggregate, literally just knock it around, like for as long as they'll let you make them press you. There is, you got no reason to be throwing numbers forward with abandon and like chasing, chasing an opening goal like crazy. But at the same time, like you do need to be trying to, to if you get the first goal in this game,
01:00:21
Speaker
that's effectively wrap on the series. Like it's not like actually a wrap, but at that point, if you make it four zero, that just puts them way, way in a, in a tough position. So you got it. You got to try and get that goal. You can't be just fully bunkering and absorbing, but you also, uh, you, you gotta be willing to slow it down, knock the ball around when they let you and really just try as much as you can to not let the game state become what it was in, uh,
01:00:49
Speaker
in San Jose, because that's the only thing I think where it gets scary. But anyway, Nico, ah how are you sizing up this first ever game for the Seattle Sounders in Spokane, up 3-0 on aggregate? Yeah, look...
01:01:02
Speaker
Before we move on, I just got to say two things that are on my notes that I'm not going just keep. um i don't I don't think we talked enough about Paul Rothrock. So I just in the last game, he was man of the match. I know that Tino was given that. But but to me, man of the match was Paul Rothrock. He was so relentless. man of He was such a problem. he You know, the finish, the...
01:01:26
Speaker
the intensity, how, ah how much he just completely um demands from, from defenses and just wears down that, that, that side. I just thought that he was man of the match undeniably. And then,
01:01:43
Speaker
to move on to CCC. If there's anything that I think Brian's really cooking on is the two starting goalkeepers because Andrew Thomas was phenomenal. I mean, he was huge. He was so good in this particular game. And I thought that in the first leg ad Vancouver, I thought that staff was also pretty good. So now we can move on to this particular game. And I think you're right. There's a lot of different components that,
01:02:11
Speaker
we have to be mindful of. There was no Andres Kubas in leg one. He's going to be back. He's a big deal for this team. Thomas Mueller did not start against Minnesota. They're letting him rest. They want him to be completely and ready to go for this game against Vancouver. So he's going to come in rested. They pulled off a compo pretty early on. They pulled off Sabi pretty early on. So Jasper Sorensen,
01:02:37
Speaker
by having a 5-0 lead like in the 50th minute, he was able to manage the minutes that he wanted in the way that he wanted. So he is absolutely thinking about how he's going to get back into this game. And I do believe that he's going to be relentless right after, right off the first minute, he's going to want to get an early goal. And that's where the Sounders are going to need to use this new found. No, that's, that's not fair. They've been very good in, in,
01:03:07
Speaker
transition moments ever since last season because of their press and and their ability to counter. I think that in this one, you're going to be able to have some moments where Vancouver is committing so many numbers early on that if you get one goal, you completely turn down the fire. you You grab the fire extinguisher and you turn them, you cool them off completely. And then you're able to play your game. So,
01:03:32
Speaker
Jasper Sorensen, right off the bat, I think he is going to really push extremely high the line of confrontation. He's going to add on everything he has into the attacking third, and he's going to want to get an early goal in this one. I mean, I'm not saying anything that is brilliant or never, and nobody's ever heard before, but I do think, but I do think that there is,
01:03:56
Speaker
I can't remember the last time that the Sounders went into a game with this much of a lead on a second leg. So that that that is something that I want to ask Brian about is how do you approach it? But you have to make sure that this team starts at the highest level possible to absorb some of that pressure, but also push back on that pressure being
01:04:24
Speaker
Exploding those spaces that Vancouver will give you. Are you expecting anything at all different or novel with the lineup in this one? I'm looking at the the Google lineup graphic, and they were cooking with this one. They've got Paul Areola as the number 10, Snyder Brunel as the right mid, Albert Rusnak in the double pivot with Christian Roldan, and KKR at center back. So that really they really did a great job with with that. But, I mean, I feel like they're going to – they have their lineup for CCC right now. Steph Rye is going to be starting a goal because Schmitz has two number ones, as he loves to talk about. And then, you know, I think we're both on the same page that they're probably going to keep running Osase. So do you think if this is just like a, if it ain't broke, don't fix it type situation? Because that's kind of how I see it.
01:05:12
Speaker
Yes. The only place that I think there could be something to think about and, you that might be something that we can discuss is did Tino Lopez do enough to make you feel comfortable to put him next to Jackson and play Alex Rodana right back?
01:05:36
Speaker
that might be the only one that, that maybe you could tinker with. See, I just think, I just think KKR is on one right now. And ah like Tino looked great and I definitely trust him kind of in any situation way more than I did previously. Now having watched him play and make that insane goal line clearance, but I really think that they might genuinely be onto something with this back line with Alex at center back and KKR at right back. Alex and Jackson Reagan at CB is like such a kind of dynamic distribution duo. And then Alex is, ah he's he's very athletic. He's got the pace to keep up with these attackers. And that kind of just lends itself to that position. And then you throw in KKR's attacking prowess. I love KKR. I love KKR. he's He's freaking sick, man. like his What he can bring in attack, but also just with his explosiveness and his athleticism, I think that just brings a whole new kind of different X-factor type dynamic to the attack. I really think that their most kind of explosive option offensively as far as how to line it up is with is with Alex at CB and KKR at right back. you know I do think there are questions as to
01:06:55
Speaker
how that will function defensively. But honestly, like Alex has kind of given no indication that he's not up for the defensive responsibilities of it. We know what type of distributor he is. And KKR is, he's not a slouch defensively. No, no, no. He's so athletic. Yeah, like he can, he, I think it's so important, especially in MLS. You got to have at least a couple bodies on your back line that have the speed and athleticism to keep up with some of the big money attackers that you're going to be facing in the league. And I think with Alex, Nuhu, and KKR all on the same back line, that is a very fast, athletic,
01:07:34
Speaker
explosive type of back line that gives you a lot of distribution and a lot of options going forward. I don't know. like it's kind of It's not the setup that I expected them to be running, but I kind of like what I've seen from it so far, and I'm down for them to keep trying it. like It doesn't feel like a you are doing it out of desperation or necessity type of thing at this point. It feels like ah you might actually be on to a legitimately good thing with it. Well, what do you think?
01:08:02
Speaker
and No, I agree. And I said this on Friday with Jeremiah. In the first five minutes, Kalani showed you that he was going to be giving his all in in the two ways, in both offensively and defensively, where Alex Roldan, he tries to dribble through pressure, and he gets dispossessed by Kenji Cabrera. And Kenji Cabrera is basically starting to run inside the box, and Kalani comes out of absolutely nowhere and just...
01:08:32
Speaker
clears that ball and and and puts it into a corner kick. And I do think that he has that physical ability, the athleticism. He just needs to be careful with how, whenever you have that sort of pace and you're that good on offense as Colonicos or Riencias, it's very easy to get caught up. And all it takes is one bad moment for AZ Jackson to be on a break behind you. ah But
01:08:58
Speaker
They did very well at keeping A.C. Jackson at bay because A.C. Jackson did not start that game either. It was Kenji Cabrera on that side. So now you're going to have to be ready to have a more explosive,
01:09:09
Speaker
Guy on on that on that a specific wing. And so, you know, can that pin Kalani back a little bit more? Maybe. But you just got to make sure that you are able to account for AZ Jackson. So as long as he is mindful of his moments when he gets forward, I don't have a problem with Kalani starting. Again, I absolutely love Kalani. I think that he is a completely different profile than than than Alex.
01:09:36
Speaker
But I would not be you know surprised if maybe that's the one place where Brian might tinker. and and in I mean, it's a it's a big ask for Tino, too. I mean he just played some really rough, big 90 minutes. So maybe just leave it as is. And then the other one is, does Hassani come back from Concussion Protocol?
01:09:56
Speaker
um I doubt that Brian moves that. Snyder starts anyway. I think so, too. i feel like not seeing him in this game. And, you know, he came in like the 86th minute Snyder did. i yeah think it just tells me that he's going to roll out the Snyder Christian role. But those are the only two places that there could be maybe, maybe a change. But I think both you and I and probably the audience, ah we can all agree that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
01:10:27
Speaker
Does aggregate apply if they beat us on Wednesday? Yeah, so just to clarify how it works for anyone not familiar with CCC. Yeah, like if they win if Vancouver wins one zero or 2-1, it doesn't matter because Seattle would still be ahead. on aggregate so i definitely like i would not be thrilled with the situation where they're down like one zero or two zero in the second half because if they go up three zero in this game then it is tied three road goals
Yamar Andrade's Injury and Recovery
01:10:57
Speaker
a piece on aggregate and if it ends three zero is is it extra time and then penalties or straight to penalties or how to how does how does that work
01:11:07
Speaker
karen quite ah i I think it goes straight into penalties I remember you remember they had that um it sister I think it's straight into penalties right or was that Leaks Cup? I forget yeah no I think that was Leaks Cup last year never mind Yeah, that's that's a good question ah We can definitely look that up. i don't know if you want to look that up. How many likes do we have so far there, Ari? I can't tell, but, you know, I feel like we've racked enough. You can you can give the AMR update here as we're about to wrap up. and all all All right. Yeah, so I know that we've kind of dropped the ball on on this one, not not asking Brian enough. As you all saw, a and Brian has indicated, it's definitely a big deal.
01:11:51
Speaker
injury they send a test back to england they usually do that when they want to take a deeper look at at the injury um and as far as i've been able to find out ah all the way through friday it sounds like it's a minimum of eight weeks that yammer will be out usually that eight to me means eight to ten yeah um depending on you know, recovery gamer has been extremely durable and he does come back pretty quickly from injuries. Uh, but this one particularly does feel like the longest injury he's had since arriving in Seattle.
01:12:31
Speaker
Uh, cause eight weeks is, is, is concerning. Uh, so eight to 10 is what, uh, would be my, uh, best, most, uh,
01:12:43
Speaker
hypothetical, um you know well-sourced, trying to figure out what's behind the the curtains, I think that that's what it would be, 8 to 10 weeks, 4 a.m. or so. it's It's good that you're getting a guy like Tino signed. It's good that you're going to potentially have...
01:13:04
Speaker
ah Yeah, maybe that's a stretch. I think that the next guy that's going to be ready to go is Stu Hawkins. And last time I talked to him, it was three weeks. So he's maybe like two weeks out. Ryan Saylor is the farthest guy out.
01:13:18
Speaker
And good thing they signed him. Been a great fit, all around great fit. Just ah incredible sounder so far. And then Kim Ki-hee is maybe a week after...
01:13:30
Speaker
Stu Hawkins and that's kind of the way I have him so in terms of your center back depth the next guy that should be ready is Stu Hawkins which I'm thinking is about two weeks and then after that it's going to be Kim Kihee and then the farthest guy out is Ryan Saylor Unfortunate to hear about Yamar is, agree, it's probably an eight to ten situation if they say 8. So that's not great. But ah yeah, on the Stu Hawks topic, that is that is exciting. You know, he's been out all season and it's not a guy that's been talked about. a lot, but I, I think Stu Hawks, uh, similar to Tino showed last year, every time that he was called upon, he did well. I had absolutely no complaints about him and he was at one point, like the most highly touted CB coming through the system. He's been slowed a lot by injuries, but I do think that that is, uh, that's someone who genuinely has a chance to contribute this year. So let's hope that he gets back soon and it can shore up the depth chart a little bit at this position the emergence of tino is great but with yamore out kind of long term here you're going to need some bodies there to uh get through ccc and really just uh stay afloat and uh the the tino development is is awesome like that was uh that was one of the more fun young player performances i know he's like he's like you know 23 he played college soccer so it's not like he's like a 17 or 18 year old coming through the academy But, you know, he had not a he had not started an MLS game. And for him to do what he did and get that crazy goal line clearance, that was one of the most fun moments of the season so far. And when you ah when you make the highlight reel of this season at some point, that's going to be one of the first plays on the list. That was honestly an all-time great moment for a Sounders defender, in my opinion. uh nico just a few more minutes to go and then we can wrap it up for this episode of loving scorchers kickoff ah thank you all so much as always for tuning in and uh like the video and subscribe to the channel if you have not yet already but uh nico anything else on your mind here to close it out i mean spokane on uh
01:15:32
Speaker
on Wednesday. So that's coming right up. 3-0 leads. So they're in good position. The other thing I guess I was thinking about is just FC Cincinnati. You know, they're also up 3-0 on Tigris, but they are struggling with the juggling CCC in the season. They had one of those situations. This is when one of the teams that's newer to the league and hasn't been grinding these games for as long, don't know how to do it. They got 6-1 against the New England Revolution. With Evander out there, i was i watched a little bit of that game, and he was out there. I'm sure they were very rotated.
01:16:05
Speaker
But it kind of shows, I think, that they their depth is not necessarily cut out to to balance these two competitions. But if they're throwing all of their their strength...
01:16:18
Speaker
at CCC, though they they would be a formidable opponent if that's what ah if that's who Seattle ends up having to play if they move past Vancouver. you know I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but I guess what I'm saying is like if they can just be professional and close out this Vancouver series, it's looking like they're getting a Cincy team that... ah played fantastic against Tigris in leg one. But I think there are questions with them right now of, I think, how deep they are to be able to withstand going for this tournament and also playing their league campaign. And it's kind of, it it feels like it could be, it could be, again, don't want to get ahead of myself, but it could be one of these ah stars aligning type things. Like when when Seattle's made a run in these tournaments in the past, I feel like there have been moments with the path where I've felt like, oh, wait a minute, if that team beats that team. Then that lines up for Seattle. And then if they can just get past that, then all of a sudden, like you're right there. It feels like a CCC run is within grasp for this team right now, which is exciting.
01:17:25
Speaker
I do, man. i It's interesting how things work because there used to be this... very maybe maybe very true narrative, or or maybe not now that we're kind of getting into it, is that this CONCACAF Champions League, which maybe started a little bit sooner before, um and MLS teams were just, you know, four weeks into their... season while, you know, League MX teams were way farther along in their seasons. And so and MLS teams would struggle, but that hasn't necessarily been the case so far. I think that the level of of play and talent has elevated so much for MLS that now the MLS teams are, you know, kind of running away with it. even a San Diego team with, you know, two players down where we're able to get a big win against Toluca, which is arguably the best Mexican team out there. um And I think LAFC, maybe, you know, they're, so they struggled there with a one, one, but I think they're going to Costa Rica.
01:18:24
Speaker
And when, and speaking of Cincinnati, I do think that it does kind of fit in well for the Sounders to maybe get through, uh, Tigres is not the Tigres of old, I'll say that. And so maybe I still thought that the Sounders would have a chance.
01:18:43
Speaker
But it has been surprising how how good... I did not expect Seattle to be this good this early. I kind of mentioned that I thought that in the in the midway through the year, the Sounders will be able to fill up a couple of holes depending on what that assessment of the half of the season would be done. But they've been extremely good. And and that... that Vancouver win was extremely encouraging.
Sounders' Performance Prospects in CONCACAF
01:19:07
Speaker
So look, if they can push past Tigres, I mean, if Cincinnati beat Tigres, and I think that they will hold on to the result in El Volcan, I think that the Sounders are setting themselves up to have a really, really good, long
01:19:25
Speaker
you know performance in this CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Cincinnati's Recent Form and Comparison with Vancouver
01:19:28
Speaker
and And I think they match up well with Cincinnati. And Cincinnati is coming off of a 6-1 defeat and they just don't seem to be as...
01:19:39
Speaker
elite as they once were. And and yes, Evander's back, like you mentioned, but I think that's how they match up well with with with Cincinnati. Since he's had some kind of weird vibes for a while, they had a really good season last year as far as point total. But remember, I feel like the narrative with them last season was kind of like, yeah they were winning games and taking results but not in very impressive fashion it was a lot of like one zeros and two ones where they were winning right at the end after not playing that well type stuff so good team uh great player in evander kevin denke is a guy that is definitely very very good and a physical load and all that so not to be overlooked but like ah what i mean what i was saying like this the vancouver team they're playing right now i think is better than cincy i At the very least, I would agree.
01:20:28
Speaker
Yeah, there's not that much of a gap between them, if any. And I don't think there's any way. i don't think anyone would rate Cincy over Vancouver right now. I think the best, you the best, you most you could say is that they're kind of close. And i I think personally that Vancouver is quite
Evander and Denki's Influence on Cincinnati
01:20:43
Speaker
a bit better than them. So, yeah, the midfield is just so much better for for Vancouver. And I think that they play in wide areas better than Cincinnati. Yeah.
01:20:54
Speaker
Susana has two big weapons there with Denki, who to me is a very streaky striker either way. He's very physical. He's very good when he comes to getting himself into chances, but his finishing is not $20 million dollars necessarily. He doesn't have he doesn't have a $20 million dollar finish. um And then Evander, who I absolutely love. I think he's a phenomenal player, but he has a He's streaky as well. and Yeah, he's exactly. He's streaky, but he he also has this, i don't know, ah bad...
01:21:32
Speaker
record or, you know, people think that he gets down when the team gets down and you know, he had issues in Portland, you know, what happens there with with Cincinnati? If they continue to have bad results, is he not really all locked in?
01:21:46
Speaker
i mean, that that's still to be determined. But I think that, yeah, the Vancouver, to me, is it's a better
Favorability of Vancouver Over Cincinnati
01:21:51
Speaker
team than Cincinnati. And if you can get past Vancouver and look, soccer is not linear, so it doesn't quite work like that. It's not just because you beat this and you can beat that team. But I think that you are putting yourself in a position where you're battle tested, you're figuring out your best lineup, you're figuring out your best concepts, your best approaches, and going into a game with a team like Cincinnati that there's more turmoil right now than anything. Man, you should be at least thought about as a favorite to get through.
Closing Remarks and Future Plans
01:22:20
Speaker
All right, I got to take off. So we're going to call it right there for this episode of Lobby Scorchers kickoff. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Appreciate all the support. Appreciate all the love. It's going to be a big week. We're headed to Spokane. We'll see you all out there if you're going.
01:22:33
Speaker
Going to be a lot of fun to see what it's like. Soccer, soccer out he spoke in Spokane. would have thought? This is not necessarily what I would have thought happening, but it's exciting. And 3-0 aggregate lead, so they just got to hold on. And then it's on to the quarterfinals and the CCC run to keep going. So, uh,
01:22:49
Speaker
Appreciate you guys tuning in. Like the video if you haven't. Like the video. Sub to the channel. Get us to 4K on IG. We're four followers away, so help us get that one over the line. And we will talk to you guys this week. Love y'all.
01:23:02
Speaker
Peace.