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What We Learned This Week: Sounders Storm Spokane for ‘Caps Cascadia Clash Cup Ti
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Niko Moreno joins Jeremiah to discuss the Leg 2 of the Sounders Concacaf Champions Cup matchup against the Whitecaps. They review the 2-1 victory as well as talk about their experience in the Sounders home away from home, Spokane. To wrap things up, the two talk about Seattle’s next league match away at Minnesota and finally share thoughts on the Sounders next round CCC opponents, Tigres of Liga MX.
Follow Niko Moreno on BlueSky and YouTube.
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Transcript
Introduction of Will Bruin to the Podcast
00:00:01
Speaker
Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounders legend. Now I get to do voice reads for the Sounder at Heart podcast network. Here we go.
00:00:11
Speaker
Come on. Hey, O'Shaughness. Let's The Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. The Sounders rule the region.
00:00:43
Speaker
Ooch of a gooch! All creatures, great and small! Rothrock gonna collect it, he does about, runs into the advertising order. Low to our left, ball goes in! Oh, what a goal! Where's my copy? got bunch of them How many do you cost them? 50 bucks.
00:01:08
Speaker
I'll deadline you.
Sponsorship by Full Pull Wines
00:01:18
Speaker
This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounder supporters.
00:01:32
Speaker
They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest.
00:01:42
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Adientes on the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network. I am Jeremiah Shan. It is Friday. We are back at Long Acres and I am with Nico Moreno for another episode of What We Learned This Week. Nico, have you caught up on your sleep yet? We might as well start there.
00:02:01
Speaker
I did. Thank you for asking, Jeremiah. How's everybody doing? i am rejuvenated after actually sleeping more than ah one and a half hours, as I did on Wednesday after our very ah worth it, but long but long drive. Yes. So ah in case people don't know, nikco drove je ni and I drove together. Nico did all the driving, I should note. ah But we we went there and back on Wednesday to Spokane.
Journey to Spokane and Community Atmosphere
00:02:32
Speaker
It was, we made a good time. You know it was about five hours there and we got back in like less than four and a half. That was, I was very impressed how quickly you got back. I was worried we were going to get back at like six, but I was back in in my house at three 30. So good job, Nico. Thank you. Thank you. We did. We, uh,
00:02:49
Speaker
I got a little heavy footed there for a little bit. I was kind of scared, hoping that my fellow Google users were being strong on letting me know if there was police ahead. And they really did. and So... If you hooked it up there, I appreciate it. But yeah, no, we did good time.
00:03:09
Speaker
But as tired as I was and as difficult as the driver was back, because he was got kind of got kind he got a little slick at the pass, I think it was worth it, man. It was really great. And it wasn't just the game, but the pregame, the people, the community. That was awesome.
00:03:27
Speaker
Like the Vancouver game a week earlier, I really was glad that I went, not because the game was so compelling. And both games were good. That helps for sure.
00:03:38
Speaker
But what really made the trip worth it in both cases was everything that we did around it. You know, the thing that really impressed me in Spokane was, you know, we showed up around five o'clock. So three hours before kickoff at Flat Stick Pub in downtown Spokane. And it was packed.
00:03:57
Speaker
And it wasn't just packed with people. It was packed. Every single person practically was wearing Sounders gear. It was very impressive. And whether or not these were of the people that came out from Seattle, which I don't think is probably the case, or they were people that are sort of like...
00:04:13
Speaker
in the area in eastern Washington, it was a very impressive showing. it was a knowledgeable fan base. These are people that clearly were not just sort of tourists coming to see the circus. They were people who are Sounders fans who are really excited to see the Sounders play a game in their you know on their side of the state. And you know the there was ah this hundreds of people in the march from the from Flat Stick to the stadium.
00:04:39
Speaker
If you you weren't there, it's kind of a cool setup downtown. you know If you've been to downtown Spokane, you know there's a river that sort of ah goes next to it. And then there's these bridges that go across the river. And right on the other side of the of the of the river is this whole complex where they have a basketball arena, they have a multi-purpose facility, and then they have this stadium.
00:05:00
Speaker
And it was it was a really great setup, you know? And for a 5,000-seat stadium, it fell it felt almost, I don't want to say big, but it it did not feel like Starfire's 5,000 seats, or you can get 5,000 people into Starfire if you really pack them in.
00:05:17
Speaker
This felt much bigger than that. And I think what what added to almost... my um almost
00:05:31
Speaker
appreciation for the San Luis community. And let let me start there because you know you kind of mentioned the the difference of people that that that we got to meet that came to watch this game. I met a family from El Pasco and I was trying to, I thought I wrote down their name and I didn't, but it was a family from Pasco that they made the trip two Sounder games, you know, six, seven times a year. That's a big drive, right? There was a a guy, I think his name was Sam, and he was from New York, born in New York. Oh, yeah, Had no affiliation with the Sounders or the Seattle area. He actually does some writing for Sounder at Hurt now.
00:06:10
Speaker
Just recently, just very recently, like in the last few weeks, he started writing for us. Wonderful. So, so see, those those are the the stories that I got out of this that are just so exciting, you know, uh,
00:06:23
Speaker
the The appreciation for what the Sounders represent and that community, that's something that I've learned to appreciate beyond just what gets done on the field.
00:06:34
Speaker
And so I was just amazed but by the the magnitude of of the event in Spokane. So if you were there, Flastic, I think that's awesome. You said hello. That's great. Shout out to my boy Nick Chargis that he came out to. um and And it was just great. But when he came to the venue, other than...
00:06:52
Speaker
the, you know, indication that he played a little narrow yeah and it was short and both you and I thought that he he played a little fast. the turf felt you know The turf definitely seemed like it was beaten down a little, but that's, know, whatever. I would agree. And I feel like that was difficult for both teams. yeah But as I mentioned before the game, the Sounders just have this ability to adapt and really rough it out of games like this when the field is off, when everything about the situation you go down a goal they kept their composure they kept the ability to stay in the game you gotta credit brian and we'll talk a little bit more about the game but in terms of the the venue other than than the field i thought the atmosphere was great yeah i mean it felt like everybody was like on top of you the press box was not my favorite uh i'll say that the press box was a little rough uh let's be honest but
00:07:47
Speaker
Go ahead. But yeah, no, in ECS, you could hear them out loud. I mean, I thought that they were amazing. When the game was over, they got a dual ovation, as
Game Discussion and Challenges
00:07:54
Speaker
they always do. and And all of that was incredible. It felt very CONCACAF, I will say that. and And that's cool. Some of these games need to have a little bit of that, always say, the dog running around the field or whatever. and in this one, there was that, you know, hey, you played a different venue. It was ah different than anything you've ever seen. And you move on now, whether we'll play there again or not. We'll talk about that afterwards. But it was a good experience. And I gotta give some credit to Jesper Sorensen. I had never really interacted with him before this, and I came away, frankly, blown away. He's a very impressive, no excuses.
00:08:28
Speaker
ah you know He was honest, you know basically said, I thought we did a good job playing our game. i thought we had the game at our pace. We had the game, you know we did the things we had to do, but we weren't, you know credit to the Sounders for not letting it sort of tip And i just thought he had some great insight. He had no complaints at all about that. He actually said really nice things about the venue ah broadly.
00:08:52
Speaker
And he was not because you you can imagine a few some coaches coming in there being like, what are we doing here? Why are we playing this game in Spokane? This is not what CONCACAF is about or what. There is a million. A lot of coaches would have come in there and complained. And he did not have any complaints. It was we didn't do what we weren't we as good as we were. We weren't good enough.
00:09:12
Speaker
And I thought that was a very fair analysis. And, you know, I want to, you know, speaking of the game, there were times where it felt like the it was on the verge of of tipping, of like going a little off the rails. And the Sounders, what I think they have done so impressively, especially in these four games where they've won four away from Lumen Field, lost possession battle in all of them, is they've ridden that line between losing control and seeding possession. You know, it's like there's a difference.
00:09:49
Speaker
Like they have not controlled any of these games really, but they haven't lost control if that makes sense. You know what mean? like the games have not felt like they're too big for them. It never felt like they were just being sort of like they're just hanging on for dear life.
00:10:01
Speaker
And that they got two goals. They won this game. i mean they got two goals. They got two good deserved goals. These were not fluky goals. And I just think that it's it's really starting, this is starting to become a a character building exercise. And, you know, they're now, they've won five of six games in this season.
00:10:24
Speaker
They're four and one in league, three and one in league play. It's it's shit in and they haven't been at their best. i think that's a great sign It's a phenomenal sign and I love that players came off that game Very, with every right to take a victory lap and and just focus on we moved on. We did it. We did it in Spokane. But it was the opposite. it was like, we just need to be better. like You know, Christian Roldan straight up said, look we cannot control games. and Let's not be naive about the the way we've been playing. That type of self-awareness is is phenomenal. So you're right. It's always...
00:11:03
Speaker
This is something that I say often as well is it's always easier to learn with a W on your side. Yes, it is. And that's what the sounders are doing. They're learning from their mistakes or where they need to adapt or from certain situations or where need to be better. But they're doing it, winning games. And there is a There is a a level of fortitude that you need to rough it out and the Sounders have done it. I also got a credit, Brian Smetzer, my best friend, um because his substitutions,
00:11:37
Speaker
in this game that were spot on. I literally had put on a a post on socials that age very well is the game wasn't just sloppy at a certain part of the game, but it got winded. Like it got a little bleak as if the The team just needed something else. And that spark plug usually is just Paul Rothwell coming in and just being this injection of adrenaline right into the heart of the team. But ah Peter Kingston and Lenny Musavski came in and they all did their own work.
00:12:09
Speaker
In their own way, they all provided this spark, and it was phenomenal. so So credit to Brian for when he decided to make the substitution. As you mentioned, I thought it was about to tilt, too. I thought it was it was about to tilt. You were absorbing too much pressure. You were allowing this team to kind of get on top of you. ah bri Brian White was the one that I thought the Sunners did a very good job at just...
00:12:30
Speaker
eliminated almost from this game, but but he just felt like something was coming, especially when they got in wide areas and they were really pushing the envelope there. couple of times Nahu got cut off, Sabi actually was very... Sabi, as soon as he came in for... He was causing a lot of problems. Too much pace was that that he was providing was difficult, and and Brian did phenomenally by bringing those three guys in. And to me, that was a turning point of the game. I would totally agree with that. And I want to give a special...
00:12:58
Speaker
Like, okay, you bring in Paul Rothrock and Danny Masofsky, that's like your chalk moves. Those are the
Impact of Substitutes
00:13:03
Speaker
moves, the standard moves. Those were probably written beforehand. Maybe not the exact time, but like those guys were coming. Every scenario of this game, Danny Masofsky and Paul Rothrock are coming into this game.
00:13:15
Speaker
I don't think Peter Kingston was on that list in the same way. And there was something that Brian saw. And I know that was the one when he came in, I was like, who's even coming in for?
00:13:26
Speaker
And it would that it was for Ferreira was shocking to me because I actually thought Ferreira was having, again, a pretty good game. We can get into all that. But that he came that Kingston came in as a wide player and to be a wide player and then has two assists.
00:13:44
Speaker
a master stroke and like what, what gave, cause the the other thing is like Peter Kings and if you had brought him in to solidify the midfield or something, you'd go, okay, you know, whatever. That's a, that's a, you know, he was good in the, in the game against San Jose, but he was playing as a six against San Jose. What in the world? Like, I kind of feel like i we should have, maybe we'll ask Brian this tomorrow when we talk to him. But like what in the world made him think that Peter Kingston was going to be a useful player as a watch as your. And he wasn't just and it wasn't like he was playing as a wingback.
00:14:13
Speaker
He was an attacking player. He's an attacking player that plays the position with a right back mentality. yeah And I think that's what maybe he saw. brian saw Yeah. saw. And you know me and him not always agree when it comes to things. And i actually thought that Albert should have been the guy that came off the field. Both you and have talked about that. Instead of Jesus. But regardless of, the the the plug-in player worked phenomenally because he has the two-way ability and the versatility of what he does in the specific area of the field, i thought it was important because he could get inside what he is comfortable playing in the inside channel and allow Kalani to be the guy that pushed farthest off the field, but then he could actually a track that. He can get out on the side. And,
00:14:58
Speaker
The biggest difference that I've seen or maybe something that I had missed from Peter Kingston in what I've seen in Tacoma Defiance and what I've seen in the training field that in San Jose specifically, I said he's ready to be signed, was how poised he's on the ball. There is a moment. There's panic. There's no panic. There's a moment in San Jose where he does this settled turn and he's receiving the ball on top of the 18 with somebody pressing. He probably hear the steps and he's so settled on the turn.
00:15:29
Speaker
In this one, that play for Danny Masovsky is not just the turn, but then the ability to cut in between both defenders, get to where you want to get to, put the ball with the good service, good pace, good location, And obviously you got to give Danny credit for putting it away. But that move, that's a veteran move. that That's someone that plays bit on his years with the technical ability that perhaps I hadn't necessarily seen. Because he was a guy that was in the bubble. But he wasn't like Tino where I was like, you got to sign him. right you You're going to have to sign him. right Or you know guys that we've had in the past where at Georgie, you're like, man, that guy is really, really good because he does this, that. You need to sign him. But he he kind of came a little bit of nowhere. He's not lot of to Georgie's game.
00:16:08
Speaker
But there is a lot of subtlety to Kingston's game. Correct. Exactly. so so And that's what it what it was that really impressed me. So, yeah, just Peter Kingston there ran through for me. And i I thought Paul Rothrock made an interesting comment after the game where he said he was talking about how the throw-in that he makes. So that this play starts as a throw-in, and it's in the deep in Vancouver's end, and Paul just sort of like – Tosses us off to like ah the easiest throw or the quickest throw he can make is a Peter Kingston and Kingston's up against the sideline. He's got two guys on him very easily could have turned into a turnover.
00:16:43
Speaker
And Paul was talking about how if that's a turnover, We're talking about that play for very different reasons because I shouldn't. There's no way I should have thrown that ball into him. I put him in a bad position. And what's he do with it?
00:16:56
Speaker
He turns it into goal. He like you said, he makes this move. He doesn't panic. He just takes possession. And then also the way he's just sort of shrugging off the defense. Like he's getting pulled from behind because he beats his man almost immediately.
00:17:09
Speaker
And then to, I mean, I don't know that he, I don't know if he saw Masovsky or not, if he was just sort of putting into a dangerous spot, but it was a, it was a beautiful ball and it was only going to get, the only person that was going to be able to get there was Masovsky. And, you know, to Masovsky's credit, you know, I was talking about this in the game where, know,
00:17:27
Speaker
Up until that moment, which was about 10 minutes after he came on, 13 minutes after he came on, something like that, he had been kind of struggling. And he it was almost like, what is what is his what is he doing out there? What's what's the point of having Danny Masofsky out there? yeah But you can see in that moment exactly why he's on there. Because there's almost like this switch that goes off in his head.
00:17:48
Speaker
as soon as there's an attacking opportunity, all of a sudden, he's like a totally different player. And he's like attacking that ball. And he's going for it. and he And you know, we saw it a few times in this game where all of a sudden he's like fast.
00:18:03
Speaker
But when he's asked to close down, a you know, he's when he's closing down the press, he looks like he's in concrete. and And that's fair. And it's it's not just that because we we pointed that out, but it it does feel like he's this player that where he's in his biggest comfort and where he feels like he can do no wrong is in the box. And maybe it's because the decision making, everything simplifies and he's able to just get to certain spots because he he's just, you know, Fox in the box and he gets to that ball. But you're right. Prior to that, both you and I were thinking, like you know, he, He's not doing very well. but you can see like I think we what we said is, in this game, you can see why D-Ro is starting over him. Yes.
00:18:47
Speaker
Because even as... as struggle And D-Ro struggled in this game. He did. i mean, he was doing a lot of dirty work. He was doing he had sort of ah a thankless job. He was doing a lot of... He was getting mugged, and he was...
00:18:58
Speaker
ah You know, he was asked to do a lot and sometimes he was not up for it and sometimes he was. But you can see why he's playing because he's relentless. He always is going after the ball. He's he's he has he understands pressing triggers. He he's he's willing to sit in there and and hold the ball up and do all the thankless work.
00:19:17
Speaker
And then you'll have moments where you're where he's he's able to, like, create for himself. i mean, he wasn't he didn't finish it this game, but you can see the moments. And then with Danny, it's like if he's not scoring, you're just like, why is he out there? But then he scored. I mean, and then he has a moment like that. where And that was a big moment. ah That was it was a huge goal. It wasn't an easy. It wasn't an easy shot.
00:19:37
Speaker
But he he did he was wonderful with it. And then, of course, there's the second goal, which is very different. It comes out of a sequence that is at least 15 or 16 passes long. I don't know if the the highlight actually captured the entire sequence. But they do a great job. It was like a perfect job of of pushing forward and then retreating tactically and resetting and then and kind of reassessing everything.
00:20:01
Speaker
And then the Kalani's ball to... i to Kingston does to put him into space beautiful ball and then King Kingston has Masovsky streaking in I'm sure that's who he's aiming aiming for aiming for and it was sort of behind Masovsky Masovsky kind of does his whole like routine where he's frustrated and the funniest thing is like while he's sitting there frustrated Paul Rothrock is controlling the ball and putting it in the net.
00:20:30
Speaker
Kind of a perfect encapsulation of of everything there. But Paul Rothrock, again, making that back post run in almost ah very almost like a mirror image, really, of the of the goal he scored in the first leg, where including Danny Masofsky just barely being out of his reach.
00:20:47
Speaker
And, chris you know, I don't know if I would call this a hustle goal because it looked like, mean, he was always making that run and there was never a moment where he had to sort of like un-give up on it or whatever. But it was it was great. it was And it was just like a perfect little moment.
00:21:05
Speaker
I guess I didn't know this, but Rothrock apparently has a ton of family in Spokane. His dad, I guess, grew up there. His grandma's still there. A bunch of his family was in town for a funeral for a family member. And so he had a whole bunch of family on hand.
00:21:19
Speaker
I did not know that he is a spoke. I mean, he's a sent, you know, he said, you you talked about, you know, we would make this five hour drive multiple times a year to go visit a grandma. So it was very fitting that Paul Rothrock got to have that moment.
00:21:33
Speaker
And although I wouldn't call it a hustle play, it is a a smart, very spational moment from from Paul. hillo He always has this. He he is always going to give you that specifically. He's going to do his job and he's going to do it at the top of his abilities. And he's rewarded for it, right? So, yes, in the the one in San Jose, that one was more of a, what was San Jose? i mean The one in San Jose was the one who got played into space and he was a breakaway.
00:22:00
Speaker
The one in Vancouver There you go. The one in Vancouver. The one in Vancouver is the one that he almost like he makes that extra run and he closes that to to that the run to the second post. In this one, same run in the far post, but he's just always watching. And then the ball gets to him and he has to control it, try to figure out not to panic, be composed. Let me put this away. Because how many times did we see in this specific game – a ball over the top of the the upper bar. I mean, it was often. don't think we've ever, we both of us mentioned this and during the game. I don't think I've seen so many shots mishit high the way that we saw. I mean, there were so many mishit shots, like just shots that had no, that seemingly were were like,
00:22:44
Speaker
not super difficult, not that you expect them to all score, but that they weren't even close. Like they were not even anywhere near the goal. And we saw a lot of that in this game. I assume it had a combination of probably the wind and the turf and the ball and everything else. But yeah, it was a game where players were seemingly having a hard time settling the ball the way they wanted it. So for me, you know, as someone who I do think that – Paul Rothrock, regardless of how good he does and how great he's been for the team, there's always ah sometimes reason not to play him because he is kind of not, hasn't quite solidified that position. But then he also gets put into this, you know, vacuum of, oh, it's just the effort. It's just the runs. It's just this. But he is more than that. It's the technical ability, that composure. that That savviness from getting to certain places that I like to highlight because he's rewarded because of that hard work. He's rewarded because he does understand the game. And that's why thought it was so amazing. And Peter Kingston, to his credit, he has a lot of those similar things. I just look back at that ah sequence for the first goal. Yeah, maybe he doesn't pick up his...
00:23:53
Speaker
head right away but he's aware that somebody's making that run right so he puts it where he wants it and then in the second goal he's definitely he's aiming he's aiming for danny misovsky and it's so sad because you see danny misovsky he doesn't even look back he just walks he knows what's coming knows this rothrock He knows Rothberg is right behind him.
00:24:13
Speaker
He's going to put it away. But that's great. That's what Brian and and let's give Freddie Juarez a lot of credit. Yeah. They've worked so hard on crashing the box and getting guys in and those passing sequences. I was asked prior to the game in our in our pregame show, you know, if I was concerned that the Sounders they didn't hold so much possession and that it was becoming this trendy thing where they were just going play against the run of play. Like, is it Minnesota United something? Exactly. oh though Obviously, nobody does it like Ramsey does it. But definitely, you know, there was that that question. And it's it's a fair question. It is, yeah. If you look at the statistical component. But Bryant's always going to want to use the ball. And if this was, like, the only way that they –
00:24:58
Speaker
handle games, I would understand that a little more. If those passing sequences were not there, I'd understand it because it's not like they're playing off of counterattacks. They're passing through press. that That one that you just mentioned, 16 passes, I didn't count those. But that that that passing sequence to get away from pressure, to get eventually that pass from Kalani to Peter Kingston, that's what this Sounders team does. So for me, it's adapting to to the game and it's being able to rough it out.
00:25:27
Speaker
Do they want to hold possession, as they mentioned, and control games? Absolutely. But you've got to credit those passing sequences and that ability for this team all the way to Vancouver. How how they were cutting through that press and and passing through it, that's unbelievable. Yeah. I mean, I think that what we're seeing is that this team understands there's multiple ways to win games.
00:25:45
Speaker
And I think that's one of the challenges. Although... I went back and looked. I think the degree to which the Sounders were just dominating possession last year can sometimes in our heads be overstated because they had that run through League's Cup where they were sort of just cutting teams open and doing sort of like almost like a Columbus style. They looked like a dominant team. But really, if you look at the way they played after Columbus or sorry, after the League's Cup, it was a much more pragmatic style and they were...
00:26:17
Speaker
they They did sort of figure out how to win games in that stretch. And that's part of what was so frustrating that they're because I think they had a run in them in the playoffs. And we're going to have to relitigate this, but they didn't lose a game in the playoffs. Like, which like which they did not like they fell apart at the end of last year. They just didn't.
00:26:33
Speaker
They didn't quite have the their defense really is what let them down last year. And that's another thing that they're doing so well this year. They've given up three goals in six games. mean, i don't know how much more we can ask. I mean, they've got four shutouts.
00:26:47
Speaker
ah they Defensively, they look really like a much, much better team. And not because they are dominating teams defensively, but they just seem to have a much more... a more defensive mentality where they're blocking more shots, where they're kind They have more numbers behind the ball. More numbers behind the ball.
00:27:05
Speaker
and And I feel like that's been very interesting this year because I feel like their emergency defense has been excellent. Yeah. And a lot of that has gone through, you know, Alex does ah a very good job of being the last guy and Yeah, he might the new starting center back. Yeah, apparently... You know, there there's a campaign from Brian to get Yammer's job. But no, its it really does talk about the mentality of the team. And and it's something that you want to have. you don't want a team that only does one thing. I've always said that those are the teams, even whether it's tiki-taka or whether it's playing straight up and and more direct. You always got to be able to adapt into a situation in Seattle. I feel like they're benefiting from this. Not the way they want it. Not the way they're going to want to do it always. No. but that they can win this games is is particularly important. couple of shadows before, and just in case we we we end up moving on.
00:27:54
Speaker
Let me talk about Diro real quick because watching that that game all over again and not live from a very off, weird spot in the press box, um I thought Diro was... ah There were moments where it was just maybe not enough pace on unlocking Areola, maybe not turning his head and seeing the Ferreras open into space, but he's pivoting. His his ability to really understand that hold-up play, it's there. It's...
00:28:24
Speaker
He didn't have a good game. I don't want to say that he didn't. but But I see it. I see where he's going. I agree. And I think we both saw this. even in the most you He was so close to making a bunch of sort of game-breaking plays.
00:28:37
Speaker
and and that's And it's frustrating, but it's encouraging that it's close. Because you can see it. you can Correct. me If he gets enough opportunities, that it's going to click. And then it's going to all of a sudden all make sense.
00:28:49
Speaker
and And so I still like
Jordan Morris' Return and Team Impact
00:28:51
Speaker
D-Row. I even though Mussofsky scored I do sort of think that until Morris is fully fit it's probably going to continue to be D-Row as the first choice and but at the same time it feels very much like this is all lining up for Jordan Morris reclaiming his starting job at the number nine once he's fit. Absolutely. I mean, it's going to be like these two guys have been in this race for two months and sudden Jordan Morris going to just hit and pass him right at the finish line because that there is no doubt in my mind that Jordan Morris will take over at the nine. It is going to be. It's a good thing to have different profile types of strikers. But, you know, the Dero...
00:29:34
Speaker
discourse I do think that i absolutely see it that yellow that he forces early on i mean that's strength that's power that's if if he doesn't if if that defender who was it Cubas don't remember who was who holds him Laborda was it Laborda think so When he forces that yellow that early in the game, if he doesn't pull him, he's gone. Dero is on his way. And then he had another play later in the second half where he sort of just... It was a similar play where he just sort of like out-muscled two guys, and he was able to generate generate a shot. he shanked the shot, but you like that he's able to generate it from nothing, really. Like, he was just a two-on-one. He was one-on-two, I should say. And he beat both defenders, set himself up, and yeah, you'd like him to do more with the shot, but...
00:30:17
Speaker
it's that You see the the the the process is good. Yeah. And then the other one for me, Snyder Burnell. Excellent on the ball. Oh, God, can't believe we talked Snyder Burnell yet. So good on the half turn. ah So poised. He put Andres Kubas upside down in one play. Just twirled him like a ballerina. He didn't know where he was at. And this is a a national team, Paraguayan, Paraguayan.
00:30:39
Speaker
To me, one of the best best sixes in the league yeah in Andres Kubas. And he he had him moving. So I love the composure. love how good he's on the ball. he He might not be the most defensive player, but he tracks down enough to get objective number one done, which is slow down the transition. ah Make that guy go negative. So to me, man, he has been shining. and And I haven't asked...
00:31:05
Speaker
Brian, I probably won't get to because I won't be you know at the availability on Saturday, but... Has he won that starting job? I mean, I think it's an open question. A couple as recently as a week ago before the the first leg of the Champions League, there was a that's been sort of an ongoing discourse is like, should Brunel be starting over Dotson? And it's mostly a criticism of Dotson because people have not been blown away by Dotson's play. My answer has always been we've got to give Dotson a little bit more time. I mean we know he's a good player.
00:31:39
Speaker
But the last two appearances, especially against Vancouver, were sort of eye-opening for me in Brunel. Because i don't know if I need to win one game, which one I'm going to go with. But I think there's a really valid argument that Snyder Brunel should be the starter.
00:31:54
Speaker
he's just a so He's a much more dynamic player. And what I think is a really interesting thing is he is really doing the Obed Vargas role. Absolutely.
00:32:05
Speaker
Almost a mirror image. I mean, if you compare where Obed was at 17, he's 17. No, he's 18. 18. He's 18. Uh, but if you compare where Obed Vargas was at 18 and where Snyder Brunel is, Brunel is leaps and bounds. I think in terms of like the high end stuff now,
00:32:23
Speaker
Vargas' baseline was better. he is Correct. he he was He was more reliable. He was able to... He logged a lot more minutes. I mean, there there's a reason that at this age, Obed had 4,000 minutes or whatever it was, and and Snyder has 500 minutes.
00:32:39
Speaker
But you can see in the moments his dynamism is on it. and Certainly at an age comparison way ahead of where Obed was. I think that a lot of the highs that we're gonna see from Obed, I mean from Snyder, are going to be higher than even what we were seeing from Obed last year, which is a
Snyder Brunell's Potential
00:32:58
Speaker
pretty high bar. Absolutely. ah i am I am enamored right now with Snyder Burnell. I mean, he did not, you know, he was like one for five or and dribbles or whatever. And there's a you could if you just look at the stats, it's not going to jump off as he had this amazing game. But go back and watch that game and look how he, like you said, he just has Kubas on skates. he is
00:33:16
Speaker
He's doing one-touch passes. He's seeing things. And it doesn't always come off. but you can see it's just so close. I am very, very high on Snyder Brunel. I can see him being, like, when it's all said and done, this is a special, I think this is a special player.
00:33:32
Speaker
He's certainly special. The way I see the Hassani-Burnell situation discourse for the position, i don't think that Hassani played himself out of the position, but I think Snyder-Burnell played himself into the position. And that is a difficult place to be at when you when you're Hassani. There's enough minutes right now that i think they're both going to get be had. Hassani's not healthy right now.
00:34:02
Speaker
That's the reality. Yep. He's not healthy. And I mean, it seems that they could play together. But the the the real conclusion here is that I think both you and I agree that it's going to be Christian Roldan and Snyder Bunnell as your number one, guess. think that's... I mean, I would be shocked if in July, August, September... like once once is Once we're in the meat, like the business end of this season, if it's not Bunnell and Roldan, I'll be a little surprised. Because I just am...
00:34:32
Speaker
anne i Like I said, I just think Brunel's upside is so high. I do think Brunel and Dotson could actually be a nice pairing. And Roldan is probably going to miss some time because of the World Cup. So that I'm sure we'll get to see that.
00:34:45
Speaker
But right now, I mean, I'm really liking the way this roster is built. I think that, you know, yeah you can blame whoever you want. The Sounders don't have, you know, they're not spending a lot of money.
00:34:58
Speaker
But I also think that's showing a lot of faith in the guys that they have. And those guys are taking are taking their chances. I mean, let's give them credit. Snyder Brunel, Snyder Brunel had brought brought in last summer for $5 million, dollars people would be over their mind about what a great signing that was.
00:35:14
Speaker
ah So i I really like him. I think this, I like the way this is setting up right now. I just, i and especially with, All the players that are missing that they're playing at this. Antino Lopez. we I don't know. We really have talked about him since.
00:35:29
Speaker
But for have that guy just sort of laying around on your second team. have Peter Kingston was not drafted. Peter Kingston went to two different colleges.
00:35:42
Speaker
Went into the draft. No one picked him. Played a year at Tacoma Defiance. And then just... turned in that performance. And then Ballard FC. And Ballard FC. Yep. And then he showed up here. And once again, is the Sounders jumping in a situation where they see something in a player and then they harness that, right allow him to succeed. And then all of a sudden, you're putting him in a good environment, give him the tools to succeed. And then he he makes a difference. I mean, that that was a great get. One that I did not see coming. Latino Lopez, I've been a Latino guy for a couple of years. Yes.
00:36:14
Speaker
And you have. I just, I really wanted him to get on. And I love everything he said today about, you know, he's been out on his own since he was 14 years old. Yeah, he went to boarding school Minnesota. Crazy. He grew up in Vegas, or he was born in Vegas, moved to Minnesota at 14, played a few years at a boarding school there, and then came to the Sounders and just spent his senior year here. But yeah, he's been on his own since he's 14. It's crazy. Love that. Love that. And just the way he plays the game, he plays like a guy that is just grateful to be on the field. And he reads the game very well. And he where I've seen him grow is confidence in himself on the ball. I've always thought that he's good on the ball, but he's confidence to do other things like in San Jose where he was breaking lines on the ball and he ends up getting like a pass that Ferrer doesn't quite get into. But that alone, right? And he's always had that physical ability. He's not the tallest guy, but he's extremely physical. And he has athleticism. So, look, it's another great get for the Sounders. And as you mentioned, you don't have to...
00:37:21
Speaker
You don't have to love the fact that the team isn't spending more money. Yeah. But you can appreciate exactly that they have. That there's an idea. There's an idea. that That there's a method. And that there's a true sustainable pipeline pipeline. It's a real, like, you know, I think the term pipeline gets misused a lot. I think we a lot of people want to apply it before it's a real thing. Like pipeline does not just mean you signed a couple. It doesn't mean you signed Jordan Morris from the Academy after he played for one year and then went to college. Like that's not a pipeline. That's you got a little lucky, right? And that's the reality.
00:37:56
Speaker
DeAndre Yedlin, same thing. And we can, you can kind of narrative your way into being like, okay, well they're signing all these kids. This is a real pipeline. They've got 13 players currently on the first team, almost half the roster, who played for Defiance first, who were signed by Defiance first, that they developed in their that their developmental team, brought through, and now are playing significant roles.
00:38:19
Speaker
I mean, this this you know you can't tell me that you know we were talking about, oh, maybe they can go sign like a Daniel Steers or whatever. I guarantee Tina Lopez has given you more than Daniel Stiers would be, ah just to name ah a free agent that's sitting out there. And if you can do that on a reliable basis, if you can if you trust your academy to do that, Peter Kingston, we're not going to go out and we're not going to sign Sean Davis. Here's another random player who's out available.
00:38:44
Speaker
We're going to give that job to Peter Kingston and see what he can do. And the upside is higher. And he already is he's already played with all these guys. Totally agree, man. And and you you see it in a way that when guys are slotted into the first team, they already understand the the system, the soccer module, which is the the the biggest line, the most difficult thing to to really learn when you're going. You're a brand new player. You got to understand the way this team plays. That system is already there. So guys slot in it and it's it works as if they've been there the whole time. They practice. Because they've been practicing with the first team. It's not just the ideas. They are actually out there on the training pitch with these exact players doing the thing. They've been hearing from Brian Schmetzer. They haven't just been hearing it, Brian Schmetzer, through Pablo Nagamora or whoever.
00:39:32
Speaker
They've been hearing it from Brian Schmetzer himself. They're sitting in the same film rooms. I don't think you can, you can't fake that. You can't snap your fingers and create a pipeline. It's a long process. And the Sounders have done that. And say, like I said,
00:39:46
Speaker
Criticize them. It's fair to criticize them for not spending more money, but recognize that they have invested in this pipeline and that the pipeline is working exactly how it's designed.
Sounders' Youth Development Success
00:39:56
Speaker
And Sean Henderson, Craig Weibel, Wade Weber, ah Henry Browner,
00:40:02
Speaker
All these guys are involved in it and deserve credit for it. And Brian Schmetzer for believing in it. It's very impressive to see right now. And it's making me feel very optimistic about where this could all head.
00:40:14
Speaker
And again, did this is us because two things can be true. And you just talked about those two things. At the end of the day, we're not sitting here saying this is a super team or they're going to go to the MLS final, but we are optimistic of where the team is going. And the the summer window is going to come, and maybe you can up your ceiling by getting a couple of players yes at the right positions, this, that, and the other. But don't let that don't wait until then to give the team credit for what is working and what what and what makes you different, what what makes you a team that...
00:40:48
Speaker
Other clubs should be looking at me like, man, we need to be on that train just like the Sounders are. So not to get too far into it, into the rabbit hole, but great game, obviously, but the Sounders. um
00:41:01
Speaker
Cincinnati went to El Volcan and dropped the... ah the Oh, no, the one they it wasn't El Volcan. It was Emesio. Yeah. And they got, you know, 4-0. 5-1. 5-1. 5-1. And... five one five one five one four five one and and um Now, no, um no, I'm tripping. Let's do this. Let's take a break. We're going to come back and we'll talk about this series.
00:41:26
Speaker
And then we'll also preview the Minnesota United game. And we can kind of put that all together. But you're listening to Nos Adiates.
00:41:36
Speaker
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00:42:18
Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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00:43:33
Speaker
Welcome back to Nos Arietes on the Sounder Heart Podcast Network. All right. So the Sounders have booked a date with Tigres UNAL of Liga Amequis for the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals.
00:43:48
Speaker
The first leg will be at Estadio Universitario. Is that right? Yeah, or El Volcano. Okay. And in Monterey. And then the second leg will be...
00:43:59
Speaker
Somewhere of Seattle's choosing, we don't actually know. It's Friday. We don't know where that game is going to be. it might be at Lumenfield. It might be in Spokane. It may be at a mystery third location. We don't know.
00:44:13
Speaker
But let's talk a little bit about how Tigres got to this game because that was a wild AF match that they played against Cincinnati or series against Cincinnati.
00:44:26
Speaker
It wasn't. Please forgive the stroke I had prior to the break. ah Because there was two big scorelines against MLS teams. And the other one was San Diego yeah losing 4-0, 4-0. Toluca. And that one was in Emesio. So that's the stadium was talking about. yeah ah But yes, no, Tigres.
00:44:44
Speaker
Against odds. I mean, I understand. Look, maybe surprising some, maybe some not so much. I thought that if anything, this Cincinnati team was going to be able to go into El Volcan and not get destroyed or at least make it difficult. They did not make it difficult. But Tigres just... No, but they just had their way with them. Yes, they did. Like, the whole time. Like, yeah, they did their job to not make it difficult on the scoreline because you were always one goal away from potentially moving forward. Yeah.
00:45:16
Speaker
But come on, man. That performance was a choke job if I seen one. Yeah. I think it's a bigger indictment on Cincinnati as a team that has obviously been inconsistent this year, which rosters I don't love. And it's more of indictment on that than the league. because there's this I don't think it's an indictment on the league. no good because because because the The problem is not they don't have enough expensive players. No.
00:45:41
Speaker
but i've had A lot of expensive players who did not do well in this game. So just set the table a little bit in case you didn't know the way the series went is Cincinnati won the first leg three zero at home and made Tigris look pretty bad. Tigris made it was their own worst enemy in that game, but it was three zero.
00:46:01
Speaker
Regardless of how you get to 3-0, you need to be able to manage that. You got to be able to make it difficult on the opponent. And instead, what happened is Tigris came out look with their hair on fire.
00:46:15
Speaker
In the first 10 minutes, it was three two And at that point, it was just hold on for dear life. It was a miracle that Cincinnati even got to halftime still holding that 3-2 lead.
00:46:27
Speaker
But then immediately after halftime, within the first three minutes, first four minutes of the second half, Tigres goes storming ahead. Now, granted, all four of their goals to that point were bangers. You know, they were either the product of really good passing or just great shots.
00:46:46
Speaker
You just can't let that happen, though. And then a miracle of miracles. Cincinnati goes back ahead on away goals. Evander sets up Kevin Dankey for a for a header and they push it all the way into stoppage time.
00:47:03
Speaker
Just hold again, holding on for dear life. And then i don't know. How would you describe what how this thing finishes? I just think that you were outperformed.
00:47:17
Speaker
You were unable to keep up with the intensity of the game. And I really do think that the pressure of both the stadium and and and the way you approach the game. That stadium is electric. Electric. Did you see the little kid with his shirt off? I mean, that is wild. I mean, So so all of it, they they they were not prepared for it. And again, that it to me goes falls back on the coaching. You have to prepare your team for this is a scenario. What happens we go down two?
00:47:48
Speaker
How is the crowd going to feel? All these things. the The team looked unprepared. And I think I put this on on the Sozos. They didn't have an answer for what Tigres was providing. And it always felt like they were just swinging everywhere.
00:48:01
Speaker
in a corner of the ring the whole time. yeah and And look, Kevin Denkett, too, he he had an opportunity to put this thing away early. he had another opportunity to make it 5-2, and he didn't put it away.
00:48:15
Speaker
You can only miss so many chances against a team like Tigres and expect to walk away from a game like this one. And that's what really happened. I will say this, though. Look, that is a talented team. Like, from from front to back,
00:48:31
Speaker
El Buffalo, the guy with the ah chilena or the the the the bicycle kick that he puts away. Yeah. He's a very good player. Actually, the Sounders had looked at him. He had a small stint in Uruguay. But when he was with L.A. Duquito, the Sounders were actually looking at him. And he had a lot of MLS teams reach out before he went into America. But this guy is relentless. He's strong. He could put it away from anywhere. you have an MLSer that I really like that – In Orlando, I don't think he shined as much as he should have. Cesaro Araujo in midfield, excellent player. I thought that he was ah one of those guys that they're going to make it interesting to see that battle between you know Christian and Snyder in that midfield or Hassani. In that one, a Diego Linus is a guy that was a star for Mexico at one point. They thought that that was going to be their next superstar. He went to Europe. He didn't quite cut it, came back, but he's still extremely shifty. He's quick. He's dangerous. If you don't watch him, he can really put you under some trouble. So this is going to be a a phenomenal...
00:49:38
Speaker
matchup for for the Sounders. But for Cincinnati, i just I just didn't think they came in there with the right attitude. And they were never in the game in in reality. I mean, they they were close to making it simply because of the away goal. But other than that, man, it was Tigres for the majority of it. Yeah, I mean, that...
00:49:57
Speaker
I don't think the Sounders are going to let themselves get into that position. i don't know if they'll be able to, you know, if they can win 3-0 at home, that would be nice. But i I have a feeling that this is going to be a much cagier match in Tigres.
00:50:09
Speaker
And, you know, we don't even actually, as as of right now, we still don't even know the dates for these games. But it's the the window is April six to eight, I believe. And then April 12 to 14, I want to say are the two windows for those games. But either way, it's, it's continuing to be a lot of fixture congestion for the Sounders.
00:50:33
Speaker
I like this matchup. I think it's fun. This is what champions cup is all about. Like I, I guess if it was up to me, would I have rather played Cincinnati? Probably. I think the centers match up better with Cincinnati than they do with Tigres. but this is why you want to play you want to play teams like this in champions cup and tigres is not some unbeatable juggernaut despite what they look like against cincinnati in the second leg you know they're in sixth place in the table they have been struggling yeah exactly exactly they are a good but not necessarily great tigre uh version of tigres uh i'm much scared more scared of toluca to be honest with you. like that That's a much, much scarier looking team. And they're on the other side of the bracket. And then if the Sounders can get through this one, they would have the winner of Nashville America. I'll take my chances. We did one of those two.
00:51:20
Speaker
I think that this team has a lot of talent, as I mentioned. Angel Correa. I mean, this is a good team when it comes to individual talent. I don't think they are as cohesive or as a collective unit in the level that Toluca is. So when the Sounders play a game where that's going to be their edge because that's their superpower, in my opinion. Right.
00:51:43
Speaker
I give them a fighting chance. I think that they are going to be up for it. I don't think, as you mentioned, i don't think they're going to be heavy underdogs either. I think that they can pair up. It's not going to be easy. and And I agree with you that if it was Cincinnati, both you and I would be sitting here a lot more optimistic yeah because you take away the playing in Mexico. You take away the...
00:52:02
Speaker
not understanding, you know, it's different to play a Liga MX team, and and especially when they have that much talent. I mean, you know, if you want to look at it in in the most simplistic way, i mean, they might have four DPs, you know, if you want to look at it like that. yeah And um'm I'm not looking forward to this thing ever going into pk's but but but um you know anuel is like the saint claire of the league imx don't know if you've ever seen him i know guzman yeah he's the guy with all the antics and like the ridiculousness so this is going to be a a tough of a matchup as you can get but it's it could propel this sounders team if they get through tigres they can believe they can beat anybody and even if toluca is the better team
00:52:47
Speaker
when it comes to momentum and belief, man, this dis team was already high on that, but if you beat Tigris, oh, come on. yeah Yeah. And one variable that we sort of alluded to is that we still don't know if Lumenfield is going to be made available to the Sounders. I found out that Even though the Sounders are moving in there on April 12th, that's going to be their first game.
00:53:08
Speaker
The grass is still as of right now is not in. I saw a picture yesterday of what it looks like and they're still building up the base for it. I would imagine the grass will be going in soon, but the grass is still in.
00:53:20
Speaker
will have just gone in when they, they'll be the, that'll be the first game that gets played on that grass on April 12th. And then the, you you know, the women's national team plays on it, a friendly on the 14th.
00:53:31
Speaker
And then I suppose the best case is that on the 16th, the centers would get to play on it. But I guess the way one of the the concern is that FIFA still basically controls the use of the grass. And so it's going to be FIFA's people that essentially determine whether or not the Sounders can play additional games because there's only, you know, as it is right now, I believe there's.
00:53:54
Speaker
I think there's 18 games across all, comp but you know, between the World Cup, the Sounders, the Reign, and the women's national team who are going to be playing games on that grass. And i guess there's some concern there's limited, it has a limited lifespan. And so they don't want to they don't want to mess it. the The whole point is to get it optimal shape for the World Cup. And everything that's leading up to that is sort of bonus, I guess, is the the way that we have to look at it.
00:54:21
Speaker
But if they can't play there, I would hope that they can play in Spokane. Spokane was is a great, you know, we talked about it. I think that would be a not ideal, but an acceptable fallback option. If they can't play in Spokane, i don't know where they would play. i guess maybe Portland or something horrible like that. That would be real bad. I just feel like it'd be really... not Nothing against Puken, but because of the limited seats, it would be a shame it would be a shame to miss a game of this magnitude with 5,000 or It would be not a good look. There's no way around it. ah
00:54:57
Speaker
That is a absolute, you know, it's plan A should be how do we make it happen at Lumen Field and we exhaust every possibility of playing at Lumen Field. And then if you can't play at Lumen Field, then okay fine. Spokane. You got to do it. I guess there's a maybe there's a possibility of playing it in T-Mobile. it doesn't sound That didn't sound very likely to me. I'm sure people are wondering, why not play at Husky Stadium?
00:55:19
Speaker
Husky Stadium is not wide enough, unfortunately. and then outside of those places, the the challenge is... the facilities because they need to have a certain level of broadcast.
00:55:29
Speaker
They need to have certain level of locker rooms. And these are things that like star fire doesn't have that the Husky soccer stadium doesn't have that, you know, wherever else you can imagine, I guess just are not suitable for this level of competition. And luckily Spokane was, uh, you know, credit to them,
00:55:50
Speaker
But I guess we should also talk about the Minnesota game. This is a huge opportunity for the Sounders. If they can get another win, and at that point, the Houston game, which would be the last road game on this five-game road trip, that is suddenly all gravy. That is...
00:56:13
Speaker
nothing but upside there. And yeah, I guess the Sounders are technically going to be playing eight games away is eight straight games away from Lumen field because they'll play. They've, they'll, this will be the fifth one, sixth one. This will be the fifth.
00:56:30
Speaker
And then they'll play the game against no, they've, No, this is the sixth. this is The Minnesota game is the sixth. This is the sixth game. And then Houston will be the seventh, and then they'll play in Tigris, eighth.
00:56:42
Speaker
And then they'll play RSL here. Here, right. So absolutely. it's It would be – don't think you could think – you could have looked at this road – bunch of games and and say look if this is the amount of points that we take off from this then man we did amazing right so if they win in Minnesota man you gotta be able to feel really good about the rest season and they should be looking at Minnesota as a winnable game sure Minnesota in case you didn't notice had a great game
00:57:12
Speaker
They got killed. They lost 6-0 to Vancouver, who the Sounders just beat twice in a row. So sandwiched in between those two wins over those two losses to the Sounders, the Whitecaps absolutely dismantled Minnesota United.
00:57:31
Speaker
6-0, say it again, 6-0. This Minnesota team is probably better than that 6-0 scoreline suggests, but they are not, by any stretch of the imagination, the same team that eliminated the Sounders from, and and swept the Sounders during the regular season, by the way, last year.
00:57:50
Speaker
Yeah, so lets let's talk real quick ah about what we learned in terms of what the team might look like. It looked like Hassani Dotson was only partial in training. We have not been given confirmation about where he's at on his status of that protocol, but I don't know how likely it is that he's going to start that game. ah But Jordan Morris is available and will be available. And Brian said it on KJR on Thursday. I saw how ah Jordan today.
00:58:18
Speaker
Talked to him off the mic. He looks really good, really excited. He was the only what you would call first lineup player. One of the few him and Tina Lopez that stayed longer on the field. Everybody else had already entered, but he he looks good. He looks thinner. he he looks like he's ready to go. I'm sure he's just dying to get back out there. I'm not saying he's going to start. And I think that he's going to be in some really heavy minute restrictions. Mini restrictions, but it's it's exciting to see him out there. ah We saw a little cameo of none of the players are going play in this one, but I just wanted to mention Ryan Saylor, Pedro De La Vega, Kim Keehee, and Stu Hawkins all were out there independently working out, which it is a good sign. None of them will play this game, but it was interesting to note. And I think that's about it. And now when he comes to Minnesota, Boxall and Peter Stroud should still be out for this particular game. Yeah, so Minnesota, just to give you a little bit more information on how Minnesota's season is going, they are one win, three losses, and a tie.
00:59:22
Speaker
Their one win was over FC Cincinnati. Their one tie was a againt was on the road. it was ah That's actually a pretty decent point against Austin FC. But then they've they've had a little bit of a rough road, admittedly. They lost 1-0 on the road to San Diego. They lost 3-1 on the road to Nashville. And they lost 6-0, like I said, to the Whitecaps.
00:59:40
Speaker
So I don't I'm not going to sit here and say that Minnesota is bad. But again, this is the kind of game that the Sounders should be circling as a potential win.
00:59:51
Speaker
And what kind of lineup are we expecting? Pretty close to first choice, I'm guessing, because they have the international break coming up. Yeah, for but both sides. So I think that the Sounders lineup will look a lot like at Vancouver. um That's my I mean, it's the same as as the the last game. Yeah. Yes. So that the Vancouver game. So maybe a couple changes, but closer to the Vancouver game than the San Jose game.
01:00:14
Speaker
I would agree. Yes, 100%. So definitely there's not going to be rotation because I did get that question. Are we going to see Tino again? Are we going to see Baker out there? I know. I really do think that this one is going to be a lot more your first lineup because you do, like you mentioned, you win this game. You're off to a great start. You get a two-week rest. Maybe Rothrock for Areola just because I'm doubting Areola is at the point where he can play.
01:00:36
Speaker
two starts in a row like that. Yes. and And, I mean, Paul has earned it. So, yeah, absolutely. um And in terms of what we can see against Minnesota, they have some talented players. I'm i'm not saying that they don't. I just, like, Chankalai is a guy that really like. I've always liked him since the Revolution. I think that he is a guy that is gold dangerous, that he gets behind. i don't know if the 4-3-3 is working as well as they want in Minnesota. I think Jaboa has...
01:01:03
Speaker
If not lost a step, maybe he's just not not getting those the services he did last last year. i ah There's one player that always gives the Sounders griefs and who I know for a fact loves playing the Sounders. Joaquin Pereira. Watch that guy. He...
01:01:19
Speaker
And I don't know why, but he loves playing the Sounders. And and and and he is going to be a guy that can uplift this team, this Minnesota team. Him and Triantis midfield. was going say, the player I really like is Nico. Yeah, those two for me and are are the the motor of the team. you You got the finishers. You got the the shift in this. But when it comes to what runs the team, it's those two. Yeah. Triantis is ah is ah is a handful.
01:01:45
Speaker
He gave the Sounders some trouble when they played him. And I don't know. I don't know if the i don't think Sounders fans view Minnesota as a rival still. I know Minnesota really wants it to be that way.
01:01:57
Speaker
But this is, a you know, the Sounders, I think, oh, you know, they should be motivated for this one. You know, they this is the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year is a team that had their number a bit during the regular season.
01:02:09
Speaker
this would be a This would be a good win. you know and i And I think it's notable that of the two Sounders wins on the road this year, they were both so far against teams they lost to on the road last year, San Jose and St. Louis.
01:02:24
Speaker
So if you can get – this would be a third – this is another team that they lost to on the road last year. and they can get this one, they're putting themselves in really, really good position.
01:02:34
Speaker
At that point, they'll have had nine points from their first four on this road trip. if they If you had told me nine points from five on this road trip, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. Would not ask you how they got it, especially if you throw in that they advanced past Vancouver.
01:02:50
Speaker
I'll take that every day. I mean, frankly, if they can get a point here, I guess numbers wise, like seven from five would have been an acceptable, the low end of what I would have hoped. But this has got to be, you go for the win here.
01:03:04
Speaker
And then if you want to rest everyone against Houston, go ahead. Yeah, and in terms of approach, you know I expect the Minnesota team to be more in a mid-block. I do expect them to try to exploit transition. they That's still their thing. yeah Set pieces with Jefferson Diaz, and obviously the the the service and the quality of the foot of Joaquin Pereira, that's where I think they're going to want to attack. That's something that the Sounders have been good at, but it's always good to you know keep that in mind when you're facing Minnesota. James Rodriguez, will he play? He could start. It's kind of funny that they would go they would go ah Timo Werner, Thomas Mueller, James Rodriguez. And that's quite a... It's a lineup. That's quite ah that's quite a murderer's row of big-name players that they've faced. That's interesting. that All playmakers, too. I mean, you know, it's... it's Yeah.
01:03:53
Speaker
Interesting enough, i don't necessarily expect... Hamas to start, he had a cameo in an awful game. that's else you Can you imagine what that's like? I came to and mls so that I could come off the bench down 6-0 in Canada.
01:04:10
Speaker
Yeah, and and there is a reason for that. I'm sorry, but he got to get minutes. He got to get some some fitness because in Colombia, man. i mean First of all, there is this one journalist that he's heavyweight. And him and James have this spat and he just hammers him all the time. And he's like, how could you be out there playing against Thomas Mueller and you're 6-0 and you still want to come into a game? But there is a reason. Obviously, he needs get game fit, so i don't expect him to start. But he's another player that if he comes in late in the game, he's got a little bit of magic, set pieces. So it's going to be a fun game to watch at the very least. Yeah, absolutely. But but heavy favorites, the the Sounders got to come in, in my opinion, and dictate the game. and dictate the game Be protagonist. You want to control a game? Start here. i would Start here. Control the game. Set the bar high in this one. And that's why I expect the first line lineup for for this one. I would agree with that. ah Just real quick. ah The league announced that the the details of the sprint season, I guess that's kind of the name that we've settled on. i like that. Which will be the twenty the first part of 2027. MLS is going to play. Every team is going to play 14 games, seven at home, seven away, all inside the conference. So they're going to play every team inside their conference once.
01:05:27
Speaker
And then they're going to have eight teams from each conference advance to the playoffs. Single elimination playoff. to MLS Cup. and MLS Cup will be in May. and then we'll start with the new calendar in July. i don't know. Do you have any thoughts on this sprint season? I actually find it to be a nice compromise.
01:05:46
Speaker
It's a compromise. It's necessary at the end of the day for the ultimate prize, which is connecting to the rest of the world in terms of calendar. I think it's great. It's it's well done. i mean, it's not MLS is back. no you know It's definitely, it feels a lot more put together. Right, I agree. I mean, the timing of it is not perfect. It would have been really nice if this could have been the lead up to the World Cup.
01:06:08
Speaker
And then the World Cup would have been this nice break. That's a good point. That would have been all nice. But... yeah they've They messed up and they couldn't make that happen. So, hey, this is I think this is a perfectly acceptable solution to a problem that, you know, MLS chose to create. But whatever, ah you know, if if we can agree that the that there's a point of switching the calendar, then this makes sense. I don't have a big take on it. I just thought it was important to put it out there that it's happening.
01:06:37
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's fair enough. I think on other news, nothing that we can necessarily add on, but I don't know if the Yemar Gomasander, I don't know if we talked about that here. No, we haven't talked about it. You said, think on Lobbing Scorchers, you said you think he's going to out like eight weeks? Yeah, eight to ten. Eight weeks is what I heard was the minimal amount of weeks that he would be out. And obviously that's from...
01:07:02
Speaker
the injury. Right. And Brian will probably speak to it more tomorrow. Yeah. I would imagine that that would be my guess. Yeah. um But it's, it's difficult, but again, opportunity for other players to come in and we'll, we'll see what Tino does, but um you don't figure to have you aim or back for this, like games at Tigris. He's a guy that you would have been to have, you know, excited to have on, but yeah, that's it.
01:07:24
Speaker
All right, well, let's get out of here, Nico. ah It was wonderful. i just want to say, in case this got skipped over, thank you so much for driving. You were a wonderful driver.
01:07:36
Speaker
I enjoyed the, we had a really nice conversation. It made the first, the way there fly by for me, you know as a, I don't get to be a passenger in a car a lot. And that was a lot of fun to just kind of get to know you a little bit better. We've obviously known each other for a long time, but we haven't spent five hours in a car together like that.
01:07:54
Speaker
I guess it was similar to us getting to hang out in Mexico for Champions Cup, that was, know, that was long time ago. but That was the first one. That was a good was that was a good one. But i appreciate it. It was a great time. Thank you for having to endure my son and his friends in the backseat. They chose to to eat at Chili's. We don't have to get into this. We we won't. We won't. but yeah But thank you for that. Yeah. I was like, well, all right.
01:08:16
Speaker
Teenage boys, what are you going to do? All right. Let's get out of here. I'm Jeremiah Shan signing off for Nico Moreno. This is Nos Ariatis, part of the Sounder Heart Podcast Network, and we will catch you next time.
01:08:57
Speaker
Let's go at Sounders.