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It looks like European interest in Obed Vargas is heating up
0 Playsin 55 minutes
With Obed Vargas out for at least the next two games while he’s at the U20 World Cup, the Seattle Sounders are looking for a replacement. The top candidate appears to be Snyder Brunell, who has played quite well since joining the first team this summer.
Jeremiah and Niko discuss what Sounders fans can expect from the 18-year-old, weigh in on the other position battles and give an update on potential European interest in Vargas.
Follow Niko Moreno on BlueSky and YouTube.
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Transcript
Introduction of Will Bruin to Podcast Network
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. Come on. Hey, O'Shaan.
Celebration of Seattle Sounders' MLS Cup Win
00:00:14
Speaker
Let's go. Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. Here comes Ruiz Diaz through the middle to crown it for Seattle.
00:00:25
Speaker
The Sounders rule the region. of
00:00:59
Speaker
you know what was the thought process in terms of who you decided to use and who you didn't? Ever since Sander Hart wrote a commentary that we didn't take the overcome seriously.
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.
00:01:41
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Nos Adientes on the Sounder at Heart podcast
Midfield Strategies and Player Partnerships
00:01:47
Speaker
network. It is Friday. We are here at Lumen Field today.
00:01:51
Speaker
i'm joined by Nico Moreno for another episode of what we learned this week. And ah yeah, mostly what we learned is how the the situation at defensive midfield or the the pivot is sort of coming together.
00:02:07
Speaker
ah Yeah, Jeremiah, we are here at Lumen, somewhere where we haven't been in a while. It feels like we haven't been here since Club World Cup. Since League's Cup? League's Cup final. League's Cup, that's what it is. I went way back there. Yeah, League's Cup for sure. That's how long it's been. We just can't even point it out. But it is good to be back. It is good to see the team.
00:02:27
Speaker
um And I thought it was interesting that they made that change late in the week. and And that's a good I thought it was a good idea just to get the guys back in rhythm to this specific surface. Right. So I thought it was important. Yeah, it was. You know, I always like having training sessions here because it's a lot closer to my house. a little longer drive for you. Yes.
00:02:48
Speaker
But ah it is it is. i It always lends itself to a a good training atmosphere. It usually means it's not going to be a super long training session, too. theyhar They do seem to be more on schedule here. That's a great point. Yes. It is a little further, but I do like the knowing exactly when it's going to be over, right? and and And Brian's usually right on time, and whoever is next or before Brian's right on time. So we we definitely get a little bit more structured there. But it has been a good training ah sessions run across this week.
00:03:20
Speaker
I've been um very...
Sounders' Player Health and Form
00:03:24
Speaker
um interested on focusing on a couple of players, some for health concerns, others just to see in what type of form and shape they're in.
00:03:36
Speaker
ah so I don't know if you want to start there or where you want to start there, boss. I mean, let's let's let's start with the Snyder Brunel. i like it Christian Roldan partnership, which seems to be that seems to be the direction that Brian Schmetzer is going to go. The other options ostensibly were Albert Ruznack moving back a line, ah possibly Danny Leyva going in next to Christian Roldan, maybe even Jao Paulo.
00:04:01
Speaker
And we might see all of those players get time there, but it looks like Snyder Brunel is going to be the one who gets the first crack. Yeah, and I think a collective effort to replicate a lot of the things that OBED does is the right approach. And you do have a deep team. You do have a a a team of individuals willing to play team ball, which is important because today i was very...
00:04:29
Speaker
um ah you know impressed at what I heard from Albert Rusnak, a guy who is the highest paid player on your roster. He is kind of the the main guy if you really think about where he was last year and he being a DP level type of ah soccer player.
Adaptability of Albert Rusnak
00:04:50
Speaker
And George, we've got to give him credit. Great, great question. Asked him if he'd be willing to play back a line now that Obed was gone. And he said, yeah, man, um'm I'm all about it. I'm for the team. It's all about what gets us wins.
00:05:02
Speaker
I don't think that any players should be above the team and want to play specific position. So love that answer. ah But Schneider is the guy. And I have been very happy with Schneider.
00:05:13
Speaker
Yeah. When he plays that position, I wasn't as happy to see him in the wing. I thought that he was fine. He was OK, serviceable there. but Not his strengths. Not his strengths, absolutely.
00:05:25
Speaker
But when he plays the pivot, I really enjoy his read on...
Strengths of Schneider Brunell
00:05:30
Speaker
the ball uh he's read on the field his field awareness i think that he gets to the spots he needs to get to he's also a very good passer and he's not making incredible key passes but he his accuracy and he's the quickness in which you make a pass a lot of times get doesn't get enough importance sometimes a player can take too long in that pivot area and Slow down a transition moment or slow down a specific attack or miss a window or miss a window. and And he does a good job by doing none of those things.
00:06:04
Speaker
And so I'm interested to see how him and Christian play together. I am, too. And I think that he does the best job of sort of replicating what they want from Obed. you know He is ah similarly two-way player. You don't have to worry about the defensive effort. you don't have to But you you know that he can still get into the attack, that he is good around the box.
00:06:25
Speaker
ah you know Even in the game against Austin, you know he didn't convert that chance. But the fact that he was in... the position to get the chance that he got in the first half was was a good sign, I thought.
00:06:37
Speaker
And so I think with Snyder, you know, one of the things that that coaches always say with young players is they want predictability. And I think Snyder is is giving Schmetzer that sort of predictability.
00:06:49
Speaker
He knows what he's going to get from him. And I think that, you know, ah we'll see how long he plays there. But I i think that it makes a lot of sense to me why he's going to, why he's the guy who,
00:07:01
Speaker
Schmetzer trusts most, even though I think you could make an argument that Danny Leyva deserves a shot at the at the position, but it really does seem like they see Danny as farther up the field at this point.
Danny Leyva's Potential Roles
00:07:13
Speaker
And that's a great point because I do not want to... I don't want our um liking for Burnell at the pivot to ah indicate in any way that we don't rate Danny Leyva high.
00:07:30
Speaker
ah But the reality is is that his attributes on the field seem to be used better, higher up the field. So when he came on for... Albert Rusnak at the camp. That's when I feel like he's made the more influential games. That's where he has been a player that you could almost see being a constant rotating piece there.
00:07:53
Speaker
um And look, once again, I'm i'm always going to say this because I was the first one to bring that up to Mr. Brands Munzer. And I think that that's a great position for him.
00:08:04
Speaker
But Unfortunately for Danny Leyva, those minutes are hard to come by anyways because Ferreira has been a guy that clearly is the second at that position.
00:08:16
Speaker
ah But now that everybody's healthy, now that you can pick and choose where you put people, I am totally okay with having Danny Leyva be that guy that perhaps comes in for ah Albert at times ah because you do want to you don't want to ask too much of Ferreira either because he's a guy that we can play with, a guy like Danny Leyva.
Roster Management by Brian Schmetzer
00:08:33
Speaker
so So I like that. I feel like right now, Brian is seeing this roster as good as I've seen him read a roster over the last, don't know, five years.
00:08:43
Speaker
So I'm encouraged by it. And I think that Danny could be a guy that could get more minutes up there. And ah going back to the pivot, when he comes to... schneider he's also going to have the support of a guy like Joe Pablo who has looked good all week, who I see with a demeanor in him that he clearly wants to get back on the field, but he wants to be productive.
00:09:08
Speaker
Every time that I've got to talk to him off the mics, I feel a sense that he just wants to help the team win. And if that is closing a game out, like Brian Smetzer indicated earlier this week, that JP could be that guy,
00:09:23
Speaker
then he's good for it. So I really do think that the Schneider JP combo is going to be the way to start more games unless something goes terribly wrong and, and, and there there needs to be a change. Right.
00:09:38
Speaker
Yeah. I think that this is a, there seems to be a coherent plan and it, there seems to be a strategy on, on how to utilize each of these players, which I think makes a lot of sense.
Pedro de la Vega's Readiness and Challenges
00:09:48
Speaker
ah You know, one of the big X factors that we have talked about throughout the year, though, and really might be the single biggest thing in determining the sounder ceiling is the availability of Pedro de la Vega, who has been now all in at training for at least two weeks.
00:10:06
Speaker
And according to, you know, according to Brian, he was available to play against Austin. He just elected not to play him for, ah you know, more strategic reasons.
00:10:17
Speaker
But it sounds like he is very much available this week. I would be shocked at this point if he doesn't play. Yeah, he he has to play, it right? I mean, you're absolutely right. He's got to get some minutes. Even if he doesn't start, there has to be almost a trigger minute where like if the scoreline allows it, right? 60 or whatever. Yeah, right if the scoreline allows it, you bring him in at 60 and you have him play 30. You test that knee.
00:10:43
Speaker
ah He got a cortisone shot, according to Brian Smetzer. Yeah, that's got to be working on him. ah We talked to him briefly off the mics and he seems to be in good spirits. He seems to feel like he is ready to go. was out doing extra training on his own, just kind of taking penalties and free kicks and doing the stuff that.
00:11:03
Speaker
to me say, I'm excited to be here. I just want more minutes. And so his his whole energy seems like a player who is is ready to to contribute.
00:11:15
Speaker
Yeah. And he he's without a doubt a guy that... He might not tell you that he wants to play every minute of every game and he's always going to have the right answer, but he wants to play every minute at every game. or now he He wants to be out there.
00:11:29
Speaker
He loves that idea of being the guy that makes the k crowd go crazy. And he being the guy that leads this team into some scores, ah that is what he wants to do. So, yeah, I without a doubt think that he is ready to go. He is definitely an X factor.
00:11:47
Speaker
but But it does concern me. it It does concern me. I want to see him out there more consistently. It's going to be a concern until he's playing, yeah starting and playing 60 minutes and playing as long as they need him to play. It's it's not going to go away until he shows us. Right. That's just the reality of it Yeah, and all these bad thoughts go through your head about you know the injury prone stuff that we we could kind of left in the past, right? and And so now all those things start to gloom and ah you know I've been looking into the tendonitis and it's not necessarily something you can just... Wish away. Yeah, or or surgery even. You can't just clean up. It's just kind of getting rest and it's something that probably won't be completely...
00:12:32
Speaker
Healed until the he gets the an offseason to just let it... let it rest. And cause at some point he's going to have to just play through some degree of pain and hope it doesn't get worse and hope that when he gets warmed up and he gets going, that he's feeling fine. I mean, for what it's worth, he looks great out on the training pitch. He does. He does not look like he's carrying an an injury. He does not look limited. He looks sharp.
Importance of Winning Against Strong Teams
00:12:58
Speaker
So, you you know, hopefully this is a ah sign that he's you know going to be ready to go and he'll be starting games. Hopefully, you know, I would hope by the Portland game, he's starting. Yeah. Yeah. And luckily you have a good system right now with Ferreira on one side.
00:13:12
Speaker
Paul Rothberg likely that guy there. This Vancouver team is going to test both of those guys, yeah in my opinion. i think that just watching them over the midweek.
00:13:26
Speaker
Although it was and we'll talk about whatan co there at the end, but but but he will be a good parameter for everyone, even, you know, all the way down to Steph or Andrew, obviously probably like the stuff and obviously the pivots and and everybody. is going to be a good parameter to see what the team is at.
00:13:44
Speaker
you know Is it a must win? I mean, i would say it's a must win from a psychological perspective. I don't know that it's a must win from a there's no there's no mathematical reasons that they absolutely have to win this game. ah The reality is that they are almost certainly going to make the playoffs. They it would be very unlikely that they're going to make the playoffs anything less than a seven seed almost no matter what happens in this game.
00:14:08
Speaker
But man, it would just feel good psychologically to get another win and to beat a, beat a good team. I mean, that's the thing is that for as good as they've been this year at times, they don't have a lot of signature wins over good teams. Leagues cup final being an obvious exception there.
00:14:24
Speaker
ah But you know, they, and they've been good at home. They've been very good at home, but this is, this is really feels like a game that they should win that, you know, if they, if they believe that they are MLS cup contenders beating, yes, one of the best teams in the league at home is sort of,
00:14:41
Speaker
What you that's the bar you said this is, you know, at this point, just making the playoffs is not a notable achievement for this team. This you know, they have shown that they are capable of winning League's Cup.
00:14:53
Speaker
And so obviously their aspirations need to be winning MLS Cup. And if they aren't, you know, so this is the kind of game that you need to win if you think you can win MLS Cup. yeah and Luckily, this is the sort of situation that the Sounders have done well in. The tough teams, the big moments, the one that the games that they need, they seem to win the random Saturday against the LA Galaxy or you know the midweek game at Fort Lauderdale.
Expectations for Match Against Vancouver
00:15:20
Speaker
Maybe not so much, but it does feel like this is the sort of game where the team plays at its best. So I think that's what we can hope.
00:15:27
Speaker
That's the case against Vancouver. Yeah. And so two other kind of question marks, I think in the starting lineup right now, ah maybe not acutely for this week, but over the, the last few weeks of the season is that goalkeeper where it does seem like it's Stefan Fry's job to lose essentially.
00:15:49
Speaker
And at striker where it seems like it's Danny Masofsky still, but like, I think we all expect Jordan Morris to ultimately be the starter if Sooner or later. ah Yeah. ah let Let's start with stuff that I think is the easiest one to kind of equate for, because i feel like Brian, ah he's never going to necessarily be a straight shooter when he comes to that question right now. Right. But to me, a lot of what he says indicates that there there really isn't a controversy that he's sticking with stuff.
00:16:23
Speaker
And I say that just by, you know, that when he's played stuff, obviously over the weekend, There was no Steph because there was an illness. ah But I have almost no doubt that Steph is going to be back on goal for this Vancouver game.
00:16:39
Speaker
And today he said that we are blessed to have two very good goalkeepers, right? So that that just to me says – I don't necessarily want to have the debate or the talk about debate.
00:16:50
Speaker
We just have to go good goalkeepers. ah But if I could bet on who it will be on goal, unless something goes wrong, it would be stuff. Yeah. And I think last week was sort of Andrew Thomas's chance to push the door open. And he made a couple of good saves, but they also gave up two goals.
00:17:13
Speaker
He wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but if he was going to grab that job and make it his, seemed like that was maybe his opportunity. And again, no fault of his own.
00:17:24
Speaker
i don't I think both goals he gave up were goals that Steph would have given up. He makes at least one or two saves that you can argue Steph may not have made. But he he you know he he wasn't he didn't play out of his mind. And it it feels like unless there's a compelling reason to make a change, Steph's going to be the goalkeeper.
00:17:45
Speaker
but better For better or for worse. And I think... that we kind of saw the competition at a more even field.
Stefan Frei's Role as Goalkeeper
00:17:56
Speaker
And I hate to say it that way, but a lot of the latest goals given up by Steph had been a product of some very bad turnovers or a very bad situation. I've talked...
00:18:09
Speaker
tiresomely about how soccer can be circumstantial and that therefore is difficult to really you know grade one goalkeeper over the other. And in this game, it was a lot of what we saw against the LA Galaxy where you had opportunities, you had chances, you weren't able to convert.
00:18:27
Speaker
You give up a very easy, very bad turnover ah to Rubio. Rubio takes the ball from Jackson Reagan, has all of the real estate to run into, puts the ball in the back of the net. There's nothing that I think Andrew or Steph could have done in that case.
00:18:41
Speaker
But I feel like sometimes people need that visualization that Steph is not Superman or Aquaman, because apparently he looks more like Aquaman sometimes. Andrew Thomas, you mean. Andrew Thomas. Yeah. Yeah. So, that you know, he's a great goalkeeper. He's very athletic, but he's also he can't just stop it all.
00:18:56
Speaker
And then the second goal, once again, is a bad markup by by Reed and whole cascade errors that lead to a bad goal in front of goal. So to me, Steph continues to be the right choice. He sounds like that is what it is.
00:19:14
Speaker
And the controversy might be starting to just die down. Yeah, I mean, again, until Steph does something egregiously wrong, which I don't really think is going to happen. I mean, he's he's been he's making the say he's, you know, whatever. We don't have to relitigate all this, but it's just that he's I just think my point is that he's going to have to almost play himself out of the job. at At least that's what it seems to me. And that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. And I hope it doesn't happen because I want the Sounders to play well. So and and I have every confident that Steph will.
00:19:44
Speaker
do well. So, you know, if you can get a shutout here, it would be go a long way to just sort of like putting this all to bed. Right, right. Hopefully it's not a shootout. And I don't think it is. I mean, i honestly, in my calculations, I have a 1-1 draw. I know if that's going to be.
00:19:59
Speaker
But regardless, I would feel like this is going to be a game that hopefully doesn't have a lot of goals and and and the controversy will die down. Now, the other position that you brought up, I think that's one that maybe some people are having a hard time with, but I don't seem to be.
00:20:15
Speaker
i I look at Jordan Morris in the time that he's gotten. And when he comes off the bench, the positions that he gets to the assist that he's given the opportunities that he's created.
00:20:26
Speaker
Yes. He missed a couple of goals in front of ah Austin. It's very good goalkeeper. So I wouldn't even say missed. He, I think Stuart got the best of Jordan Morris in those situations. Um,
00:20:39
Speaker
But I like what I see out of Jordan Morris. And I know that we are in the um ah age of what have you done for me lately? And it's very easy to say, look at the stats, look at what Danny's done. And, and,
00:20:56
Speaker
Credit to him. And thank you for being part of what the Sunners have been able to create in 2025. But I cannot look at both of those players and have any doubt on who I think should be the starting striker for this team.
00:21:12
Speaker
Yeah, it's one of those things where I get it. You know, Danny Masofsky is playing great. He's putting his chances away for the most part. He had an assist against Austin. You know, good for him. he's he's He's making the most of his opportunities.
Impact of Jordan Morris's Play
00:21:25
Speaker
But i just every time I see them both on the field, I see the way that teams have to react to Jordan. I see the way that ah the movements that he's making. And it's just he's such a this is not a dog knock on Danny, but Jordan is just such a more dynamic player and he's not doing anything to, you know, he's not wasteful. He's not like blowing chances.
00:21:47
Speaker
He's, you know, like I think at least on one of those, stufer makes a great save and then he he absolutely robs uh morris from getting an assist on the manungu one so i think i still just until i see otherwise i just feel like jordan is going to be the starter now i don't think he's going to be the starter necessarily this week which is great yeah uh danny masofsky and what's funny is that danny danny could come out here and score a hat trick and it's probably still jordan morris I would still tell you that. I'm glad that you say that because if that does happen, then it's going to be like, oh see, what were guys talking about? No, that that is exactly the the perfect argument.
00:22:29
Speaker
Danny could come here and and and put up a hat trick. And you would still not be able to tell me that Jordan wouldn't be the better option. Again, that's not a knock on Danny.
00:22:41
Speaker
It's just the way the roster is set up and the difference of talent. So to me, I've been encouraged by it. um I mean, you mentioned it perfectly ah when it comes to Stuver's performance was all out.
00:22:54
Speaker
Christian had one that he took off right of goal. Yes. The Minungu one. I mean, two from ah Jordan. yeah He snatches Ferreira in that one.
00:23:04
Speaker
Maybe he should have shot that, but he tries to get through him. and So he was just a very good keeper in that in that particular game. But, that you know, there were moments to me that I just feel like Jordan is starting to find his rhythm. and And that's the other part.
00:23:17
Speaker
He's just starting to find his rhythm. And him and Ferreira look like they could be something special. If that really gets some time to – if they can get that going by the time the playoffs start, that's a really good partnership.
00:23:30
Speaker
ah You know, and you can just see the way that they talk about playing with one another, Jesus and Jordan. They seem to genuinely love – playing with each other they seem to really like each other personally and it and it seems like it has a lot of potential to be a very powerful combination you throw albert rusneck in there you throw pedro de la vega in there this is a this has the potential i mean it it already is by the numbers one of the best attacks in the league but if they can get those four players all firing and and playing together this is a potentially really really good offense
00:24:06
Speaker
and And don't let me go through this show without giving Ferreira his flowers, man. I loved what he brought onto the field, right? He had some tightness. He didn't start. He came on He obviously is the guy that needs to be playing the position because of the runs he makes, the connectivity, that little back heel to Jordan.
00:24:29
Speaker
ah man, just chef's kiss. I mean, it was so good. It was so well-timed. ah so to me, And I've said this over and over again. He's continuing to progress. He hasn't peaked.
Sounders' Attacking Potential
00:24:42
Speaker
And I'm just excited to what this attack looked like when he's in full form, when Jordan's in full form. I mean, this is going to be a very good attack.
00:24:52
Speaker
I totally agree. I, I'm very excited about seeing what we, what they look like this weekend. Cause I think it's a great test. Uh, even if it's not sort of like the a lineup at the beginning, but this is, you know, uh, this has some potential. I'm, I'm oddly optimistic about this game, especially considering the the two fortunes of this, but maybe that's a good segue. We'll take a break. We'll come back and we'll,
00:25:14
Speaker
spend a little bit more time focusing on the white caps and what we expect to see this weekend. ah You're listening to Nos Adietes on the Sounder Heart Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network, which now includes Nos Adietes, Lobbing Scorchers, and the Cooler Guild. Although this podcast is free, it's only made possible through our paid subscribers.
00:25:34
Speaker
Plans start as low as $30 a year and allow us to remain independent and mostly ad-free. Subscribers get access to all our written and podcast content, including a full-text RSS feed and a mostly ad-free podcast feed that includes every show in
Invitation to Join Community
00:25:48
Speaker
one spot. If you really like what we're doing, though, I'd encourage you to sign up at our higher tiers, which include all sorts of various perks. The most popular of those is our members-only Discord, where the real Sounders 6 goes hang out. I know I've called this group the smartest, funniest, and best informed Sounders fans in the world, but it's more than the rough equivalent of a Sounders Mensa meeting.
00:26:08
Speaker
Discord is where we make things happen. Like, for real. You know the promotion the Sounders ran that offered fans the opportunity to trade in their messy jersey for a Paul Rothrock one? That originated in our community. You'll not only be the first to know about stuff, but you also have a semi-direct line to the movers and shakers at the Sounders organization. If you want to be one of the totally normal people who occupy the Sounder at Heart Discord, just become a supporter of Sounder at Heart. Anyway, thanks for listening and go Durs.
00:26:38
Speaker
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00:27:33
Speaker
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Anticipation for Match Against Vancouver
00:27:38
Speaker
Welcome back to Nos Adietes on the Sounder at Heart podcast network. So we are going to spend a little bit of time talking about the Whitecaps.
00:27:46
Speaker
We are also going to share a little bit of information that we've been able to get about Obed Vargas' situation. He's obviously with the U20, the Mexico U20 team at the ah World Cup.
00:27:57
Speaker
But... There's maybe some developments going on behind the scenes about ah teams that might be interested in them. So that's that'll be some good fodder. we' um mean Just use that as a teaser right now to get you to the end the show. But let's talk about the Whitecaps a little.
00:28:09
Speaker
They played midweek this week. They played the Timbers. They tied the Timbers. They needed a late goal, relatively late goal. They could have won the game very easily. Actually, Brian White missed a...
00:28:21
Speaker
Sitter. An absolute sitter. ah Really, to me I don't want to be hyperbolic about it, but you don't get much better chances. I think what happened is he was, the ball came over the top, and I don't think he totally saw it.
00:28:33
Speaker
That's the only way to sort of explain, because he ends up missing a wide open net. But they get a tie. The ah good news is that it it keeps the Timbers a little bit farther behind. the two it keeps them from catching the Sounders on points. Which is important. Which is important.
00:28:46
Speaker
It also keeps technically mathematically speaking, the Cascadia cup is still open for play. It's a long shot. The Sounders would basically need to win this game against the white caps by four goals.
00:29:00
Speaker
And then they'd have to beat the Timbers by two goals that would allow them to close the gap to, to erase the the gap in the, ah gold different standings. But the Sounders can catch the the white caps on points just by winning these last two games.
00:29:14
Speaker
That's secondary, though, to ah an important game just from a psychological standpoint, I think. ah There is a... matt You know, the Sounders, if they have any hope at all of getting fourth in the West, this is a Total must win. Yes.
00:29:29
Speaker
ah But even if they want to just get the season sort of like corrected and going back in the right direction, they need to get three points here. What have you seen from the Whitecaps? There was a very rotated lineup to start on Wednesday, but then by the end of the game, they had sort of their first choice group on the field.
00:29:46
Speaker
Yeah, it was a bit of an unlike Whitecaps performance, which I don't know if I like or dislike. And let me kind of explain to you why This was a game against the Timbers where i don't know if by design or by the rotation, Vancouver absorbed a lot of pressure in the first 45 minutes. They had some possession, lot of possession without. shots, though.
00:30:14
Speaker
yeah Exactly. An opposition without um any purpose. and And the Timbers were really all over them. And they seem to be, i don't know if vo okay with it, but they were just doing a good job of just allowing them to get forward. and you know, Anthony was all over from that right winger position. And there were opportunities consistently. Kelsey had another one.
00:30:35
Speaker
There were, i think at halftime, there were something close to like 17 shots 17 to three shot difference. And what was funny, though, is the only goal that the Timbers scored was this absolute banger from Kamal Miller from 25 yards out where he takes it on a half volley.
00:30:53
Speaker
ah but other than that, it was a lot of shots that weren't necessarily as dangerous as you probably would like. But yeah, the... it was unlike the white caps because the white caps are not used to being outshot 17 to three at home in any half.
00:31:08
Speaker
Uh, but it was, so it was kind of a weird game. And that's what I don't know if I like it. So part of me was like, okay, maybe it's the rotation that they cannot hold their, their rhythm of play. Cause they are a very vertical team. They like to get on the counter.
00:31:19
Speaker
and they have a lot of speed out on the flanks, but but they usually are more protagonistic with the ball in this one. I don't know if they're way if if they're kind of working on playing the Sounders a little deeper. Maybe. Right? If, if if you know, anything that the Sounders have had issues with this season has been breaking down teams, and if Jasper Sorensen has in any sort of shape, way, or form figured out that that could be a way to win, I would not like it.
00:31:49
Speaker
for the Sounders' success purposes, if this team was going to come in here and change the way they're played and just play completely against the run of play. ah The only thing that maybe makes me discard that idea is that By the end of the game, Vancouver did have more possession. a lot more.
00:32:08
Speaker
They dominated the second half. And when the second players came in and and they had more of their preferred lineup, ah they were definitely a team that was more in the front foot. And at the end of, i don't know, the last 15 minutes is all Vancouver Whitecaps. And you could have easily won that game.
00:32:24
Speaker
Yeah. But what we know is this. They're a very talented team. It sounds like Mueller will be back for this one. He's a guy that was ah doubtful or or at least questionable.
00:32:37
Speaker
Brian White came on and scored and looked dangerous. And the one chance that you mentioned, I think that if he's in rhythm, he turns that foot completely and and puts that in the back of the net.
00:32:49
Speaker
I think his body his hips didn't open up enough to get that shot off.
00:32:54
Speaker
Jalen Nelson is fast. He's, uh, he's a, he was a handful. He's an absolute handful that the the two pivots in, in Cuba's and Berhalter are as quality as it gets.
00:33:05
Speaker
So this is a talented team coming to lumen field. Absolutely talented team. They are only one point, I believe shy of the supporter shield lead right now. Uh, so they have a lot to play for.
00:33:17
Speaker
ah they are, yeah, they're one point behind San Diego in the, ah in the West and where are they in the total table?
00:33:29
Speaker
Uh, anyway, that's where they they're one point back in the West. Uh, I don't know. I, they might be a little bit farther back, farther back, in the way we're italy but they're in the, they're in that race still. yeah And they have a lot of games coming up too. They still have a Canadian championship games to play.
00:33:45
Speaker
But this is a good team. this I think people kind of started to forget about them a little bit because they had this amazing run to start the year. They get to the Champions League, camp Champions Cup final.
00:33:56
Speaker
They get smashed in the Champions Cup final. And a lot of people, I think, at that point started just stop paying attention. yeah and then Pedro Vita left. A guy that was so important. And then you you you were thinking, I was thinking that maybe maybe the Magic had left.
00:34:12
Speaker
And then I wasn't a big Mueller to MLS type of guy. And he came on with this infectious electric... ah incredible energy and now this team is rolling all cylinders so they're definitely a very good team i've always liked jasper sorison and by always i mean when i started watching this whitecaps team by him because they are a a team that is willing to win At all costs. And he's a guy that seems to put guys in the right positions.
00:34:45
Speaker
He understands what he needs to get out of his team. um I think Ocampo has been a revelation for this team as well. ah He should be in the lineup for the Sounders game and he's a wingback.
00:34:57
Speaker
that the Sounders are going to have to keep in mind when it comes to those overlaps on the right side because the guy is great on the dribble. He can finish. If you allow him to get to the end line, he's going to put consistent, good services into the box.
00:35:11
Speaker
They're a good set-piece team, Jeremiah. They're a good set-piece team, and that's always an easy way to inflict a little bit of pain in the Sounders when you sign against the Galaxy, right? So you cannot fall asleep with this team.
00:35:27
Speaker
And that's why I'm excited for it. This is the type of of game that the Sounders need to just not just not just win, because if you get a result but playing well, it would also be okay.
00:35:39
Speaker
But you just need to play well. They need to play well. Absolutely. And by the way, they're there are four points behind the the union for the Supporter Shield lead with the game in hand. So they are... you know If they don't win this game, it's going to be tough for them to win the supporter show. But the point being, this is one of the top teams in the league.
00:35:55
Speaker
They've been one of the top teams in league all year. They are 6-1-3 across all competitions since ah since July. So it's it's it's a good team. you know It's a good team that's going to...
00:36:06
Speaker
ask a lot of good questions of the Sounders. It'll be interesting to see what their starting lineup looks like. Berhalter did start on the midweek. I would assume he'll start, but whether or not Brian, Brian White, that was his first game back, I believe from injury. Yes. So it'll be interesting to see if he starts. I would guess that Mueller wouldn't start. He hasn't started for the last couple of games.
00:36:25
Speaker
ah He's been nursing an injury. It's a safe bet. Yeah. It seems like he'll probably be coming off the bench, but They're a good defensive team. They're a good possession team. They are not afraid of pressing.
00:36:36
Speaker
You know, the one good thing is that the Sounders have historically done well against teams at home, especially who want to play. And assuming they don't come in here and sort of throw a wrinkle at things, they tend to want to play.
00:36:50
Speaker
So this is potentially, that bodes well for the Sounders ah that they're not going to just come in here and try to park the bus. Yeah, and I was surprised, not pleasantly, but I was impressed with Kenji Cabrera's game.
00:37:06
Speaker
ah He is a Peruvian player from ah Melgar, ah twenty two year old a guy that i I knew of, but I didn't think he was going to have such a quick impact.
00:37:17
Speaker
But in this game, playing the 10, that he's probably going to hold for Bueller until he gets back. He was very good, very dynamic. He was good on the ball. ah Seems to have a good sense for through balls.
00:37:29
Speaker
ah So, yeah, man, ah just a lot of little pieces there for Vancouver that ah Seattle's going to have to be on point and defensively, right? That's where we want to see this team get back to that Sounders best defense of last season, right? Right. Is that ability to just dominate and control that face of the game.
00:37:50
Speaker
Yeah, that has been one of the constant frustrations that I think we've all sort of just expected to eventually kick in. Like this has been the best defense in MLS the last two seasons.
00:38:02
Speaker
And they had the Great Leagues Cup run where they only give up two goals in six games. They pitch four shutouts. But really, other than League's Cup, they have not had an extended run of really outstanding defensive play. And I don't know if there's a good explanation for it because it's basically the same personnel that they had last year for the most part in the and the defense, especially.
00:38:23
Speaker
You know, there's been some rotation with Yamar and and Reagan suffering some injuries, knew who's had some absences. But it's, you know, they've all been playing the last few weeks and you sort of just expect it to eventually kick in.
00:38:37
Speaker
Yeah, no, honestly, it's been mental lapses. And I sound like this broken record, but that that is what it is, right? It's just specific moments where, and it could be conceptual, because if there's a reality, regardless of whether b Brian or anybody with the Sounders coaching staff would ever admit it, is that this team is more aggressive offensively.
00:38:59
Speaker
yeah Even more aggressive defensively, they they press higher. yeah They push the line of confrontation. ah they had They're obviously a team that's excited to ah create volume of play. And so it's the 87th minute and you're kind of looking for ah three a third goal against the Galaxy. And of a sudden you're on the wrong side of the ball and you give up an equalizer on a throw in, right?
00:39:21
Speaker
Similarly against Austin. Maybe you're eager because you had some guys in that were playing well and you're thinking that you could win that game. it's a one one. Right. they're polite I think their mental position at the end of the game was how do we get a goal here? Not how do we keep Austin from scoring? Exactly. So that part of it is like, OK, so I understand it.
00:39:42
Speaker
But then again, they're in possession. you You have to get back. Yeah. You can't allow Pereira to just take that free, easy um ah ball into the 18. So those are the things that Seattle just needs to just sharpen.
00:39:56
Speaker
ah but But I do think that maybe that that that little step back on defense has to do with just concepts that, for better or for worse, have worked offensively. But they've you know made it difficult for us to watch defensively. Absolutely.
00:40:10
Speaker
All right Well, the last thing we wanted to talk about this week was the situation around Obed Vargas. You started to hear some whispers that there are, you know, because one of the constants has been, okay we keep hearing that Obed Vargas is this highly sought after prospect.
00:40:27
Speaker
But all that the only reports really have been.
00:40:32
Speaker
Interest from Mexico where you know Tigris supposedly has an $8 million dollars standing offer for him and ah the Sounders don't seem all that inclined to send him to Mexico. He doesn't seem all that inclined to... He's he's made it pretty clear that he would rather start... yeah His next step should be towards Europe.
00:40:49
Speaker
But what do you... so But there hasn't been as much... smoke coming out of Europe. What are you hearing? ah Yeah, you know, this is something that I've been kind of um really on top of. And I don't know necessarily to report it or not, but if feel like our audience would appreciate this, especially with the lack of other interesting news in the regard of transfers and things. But but I thought that I had mentioned before that PSV was a team that was very high and interested on Ovid Vargas. That's still the case. That's of teams the Netherlands. Yep, one of the best Dutch teams, a team that is also very high on Mexican players. A ton of them have gone through there. That's a Chucky Lozano. They've developed. Chucky Lozano was there. There's been a couple of others. It's where Pepe, Ricardo Pepe is right now.
00:41:38
Speaker
It's where there's a lot of CONCACAF players. team players yeah that have gone to PSV. Malik Tillman is there right now. So they definitely shop here. ah And they are a team that any, I would think, MLS player would love to go there and play.
00:41:54
Speaker
This one that i recently has come up is just as interested, if not more, because they've had a scout team watching them as of the latest games, unfortunately, including that LA Galaxy game ah here at Lumen Field.
00:42:09
Speaker
um But it's Club Brugge FC from Club Brugge. Yes. Kiev of ah the Belgian Pro League. They're currently third on the um pro Belgian Pro League.
00:42:24
Speaker
definitely one of the Belgian powers and a team that was actually playing Champions League and the team that has a lot of ambition for what next year could ah provide them.
00:42:34
Speaker
ah So, They're looking for a featured midfielder that could be, in MLS words, a franchise player, right? A guy that's going to be able to come in, stay a long time, and then they can eventually move on from him. But they want somebody that's going to perform. It's not a guy that they're just buying to sell.
00:42:55
Speaker
They're buying so he can help. get that team in to either international tournament win or a domestic title. But they seem to be very high on what Ovid Vargas can provide. Yeah. And both both PSV and Bruges are clubs where there's a reasonable expectation that they will increase their value if they play well.
00:43:20
Speaker
and I would say there's a very good possibility. they And so it's it's sort of like there are teams that can afford to pay ah fair amount up front. But if you get a sell on clause, which I would assume the sounders would be very interested in, you know, a 20 or 30 percent sell on clause is that there's actual real possibility that that's going to pay off.
00:43:38
Speaker
In fact, it might pay off more than the original transfer fee. Because that's sort of the kind of business that gets done when players are coming out of Belgium or Netherlands into the bigger European leagues. Oh, yeah, baby.
00:43:52
Speaker
Just ask, ah I think it was Aguilas. I forget the team that had John Heider-Duran, who was in Chicago Fire, then in Aston Villa, and eventually in the Saudi League.
00:44:05
Speaker
I think it was $130 million that they got that they sold him for. This little team ended up getting like... i don't know, 15 million that are like nothing. think So yeah, that could that could go a long ways.
00:44:16
Speaker
But ah yeah, no, I think Obed and we all have seen him being a guy that in the European leagues, he has all the attributes. He has the physical ability. He has the IQ.
00:44:28
Speaker
um He's a very technical player. um And beyond that, I see a a young man that has the mental fortitude, to play there because it's not easy. Look, I've seen very good players go to Europe, go to the the Turkish league. There's a good league, but but but life is is different there, right? And you have to be ready to have that impact of culture, that impact of not having your boys around, that impact of not knowing the language. There's a lot of barriers that make it difficult for players, but I see it in Obed. So for me,
00:45:01
Speaker
you even a team like Bruges, would love to see him in PSV, but even a team like Bruges where he could even be more of the face of the team, right where he's the one that this is my squad, I kind of dig that. I dig that that storyline of Obed going from the Sounders to being the guy that creates and makes, I don't know, a run in the Champions League for this team, right? So...
00:45:24
Speaker
but Sometimes we go with the, yeah, we we want to see our players in Manchester City and PSG and all of the Atletico Madrid. But sometimes when you go to the small teams and you could be that guy that just puts them on to another level, man, that's an even bigger story. Yeah, I think it would be potentially either one of those would be very good landing spots.
00:45:44
Speaker
What are you hearing, though, in terms of the extension talks? Like we know the Sounders have been talking to Obed about wanting to sort of like get him on a longer term deals that sort of like just creates a little sense of security for the Sounders so that they don't have to worry about potentially losing him for free.
00:46:03
Speaker
But it seems like those talks have maybe, if not stalled, there's a little bit of a They're in a tough spot, it seems. I think they have stalled. ah As recently as yesterday, I will tell you that they're starting... I'm getting a better sense that it's tilting towards a resolution.
00:46:22
Speaker
um It feels like with the U20...
00:46:28
Speaker
obviously venture now that he's going to be on with obviously a lot of interest around for the player and kind of what they see this team doing in 2026.
00:46:44
Speaker
They feel positive that, that, that there's going to be a resolution, but,
00:46:50
Speaker
ah it's going to take a little bit more from the Sounders. I'll just leave it there. It's going to take a little more from the Sounders. and and And obviously this is a situation where we all know that there's there's a number, right?
00:47:03
Speaker
But there there also has to be a commitment from both sides on, okay, this is what we expect out of this, right? So negotiations have all kinds of different layers that – go from the the most reasonable, oh, that makes sense, to the, oh, wow, is that what they're really asking for? So without adding too much on on on kind of what I know, I'll just say that the last sense that I got out of this whole talk is that, i think it might work out.
00:47:34
Speaker
Okay. I mean, I would say that's positive. Yeah. Yeah. I would say that that's positive. ah But there's clearly – a lot to think about i i i don't know ah people might think that um obi doesn't have a a lot of leverage here but but but i i feel like he maybe does have a little bit of leverage just because he understands that the sounders are obviously an organization that don't want to paint themselves in a as a team that's going to hold the team hostage or that is not trying to
00:48:08
Speaker
um adequately um incentivize their players and give them what they deserve. ah And obviously the Sounders also have a little bit of that saying, okay, look, this is what we can provide you.
00:48:19
Speaker
This is where we're going to lay the line. ah But I do think that that there is a little bit of sense of, because of all of the reflectors that are currently on top of Ovid Bargas, that maybe there's a little leverage on the side of Ovid Bargas. Yeah. And I think the Sounders are very...
00:48:36
Speaker
aware that there is this is an opportunity for them to show that they can sell players like they know that they can't not they can't hold oped back if a real offer comes in they i think believe they have to accept that offer and this is just another example of of sort of like the progression of the sounders organization ah I think that's, you know, they they should and they should do that. You know, they they should be helping players get to where they want to be, ah whether that's being here or that's being somewhere else.
00:49:07
Speaker
ah That's and I think that's that's fine. Yeah, you bring optics a lot, and I love that because there there is a sense of optics, right? I mean, the the Sounders have this very good, no, excellent ah reputation for having this great academy that sustains the club, that ah builds this talent.
00:49:26
Speaker
But I feel like the next step would be... hey, they they could sell to European teams, heres exactly right And although that's not maybe something that has been a priority for the team in the past, it is a caveat that gives you a little bit of that finesse or whatever it is that, oh, wow, that's that's very interesting. So it's a situation to watch, but I have recently feel like it's going in the right direction or you're starting to tilt in the right direction. direction yeah Well, that feels like a pretty good place to end this episode of nose. I do at this on the center heart podcast network.
00:50:03
Speaker
I am Jeremiah Shan signing off for a Nico Moreno, who you can also find on pool. So sports you can find them on L on blue sky at L Rolo NW, as well as lobbying scorchers. And of course, no sorry at this.
00:50:19
Speaker
I am Jeremiah Shan. We'll catch you next time.
00:50:49
Speaker
Let's go at Sounders. um