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What We Learned This Week: Sounders Cook ‘Caps in Concacaf Champions Cup Cascadia Clash
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Niko Moreno joins Jeremiah to discuss the 0-3 Sounders win at Vancouver in Leg 1 of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie, and they talk about Paul Arriola who started for the first time in over a year (knee injury) and helped secure the victory with a brace. They also talk about one of the key players in this matchup - Jesus Ferreira - and how his phenomenal outing helped the team tremendously. The two round it up by discussing the upcoming San Jose matchup and what will most likely be a very rotated lineup.
Follow Niko Moreno on BlueSky and YouTube.
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Transcript
Introduction and Roles
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.
Sounders' MLS Cup Victory
00:00:11
Speaker
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 just 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 and Community Ties
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.
Hosts and Discussion Setup
00:01:43
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Nos Adientes on the Sounder at Heart podcast network. I am Jeremiah Shan. It is Friday. i am joined by my good buddy, Nico Moreno, for another episode of What We Learned This Week. Nico, coming off ah a pretty, pretty fun game. We missed you, though, there.
00:02:03
Speaker
I know. I wish I would have been able to go. Hello, everyone.
Sounders vs Whitecaps: Game Analysis
00:02:06
Speaker
Excited to be on. The the Sounders beat the White Cup so bad that it started snowing in Seattle. that That's how bad that beatdown was.
00:02:15
Speaker
scoreline. So excited to be on with you guys. ah ah If you're out there in the snow, drive safely. The the roads are looking tough. But, man, yes, ah big win for for the Sounders. So I am... ah Probably pretty um pretty intrigued on your thoughts, and then you know what what did this mean moving forward? So, man, let's get to it.
CONCACAF Champions Cup Lead
00:02:42
Speaker
Yeah, so the Sounders won the first leg of their round of 16 CONCACAF Champions Cup tie, or series, however you want to call it, 3-0. So that's a pretty pretty big deal.
00:02:55
Speaker
They got not just a 3-0 lead, but they have three road three three road goals, which are the first tiebreaker. So theoretically they could lose, they could go back to Spokane, lose two zero and still advance. They could lose three to one and still advance. There's there's a lot of, they have a lot of room is my point. And what's interesting,
00:03:17
Speaker
yeah like also really good about this is that FC Cincinnati won their home leg against Tigris three zero. So as long as as, as long as they do better than Cincinnati does on the road,
00:03:33
Speaker
they are in advance there there's a pretty good i guess my point here is there's a pretty good chance they will host the second leg of the quarterfinals if they get there of course uh because like if tigris win they would have to just absolutely destroy they'd have to win by lot in order to sort of overcome this deficit that they currently have and if cincinnati you know this going to be in mexico so it's a Just from a purely practical standpoint, I guess is the point I'm making. It's ah it's of an
Strategic Flexibility and Comparisons
00:04:03
Speaker
important win. it's a it's It's a big deal to get three road goals and to be up three zero
00:04:09
Speaker
It's a huge deal, right? And obviously, for Cincinnati, going to play in El Volcan is not going to be easy. and the Sounders, just in this particular game on the road, um they give themselves a pretty good cushion, right? Because it is at home and it is going to be...
00:04:32
Speaker
with mainly or if not all of the sounder support, but it is another venue. And I think that Brian touched on it, right? it They've never played at this particular stadium. It could, you know, be different, but, but having this lead allows him to manage this pretty
Lineup Management for Upcoming Games
00:04:49
Speaker
well. He was not having it about Sunday's lineup. He said, we're going to go to San Jose and win. And that yeah doesn't matter. believe,
00:04:58
Speaker
expect him to make the necessary movements so that he has a more than capable team on the Spokane game because on Wednesday,
00:05:10
Speaker
and I'm going to ask them, i ask Brian about this. I don't know if he's ever been in this sort of position, definitely not in this tournament, but you have to be ready for a wide cap scene. That's going to come in just pushing everything they have and throw you know, everything in the kitchen sink at you. So, you know, how do you manage those first 15 minutes or 20 minutes or how that plays out, but he he's got to be ready for a desperate Jasper sword and swords in that second leg.
00:05:40
Speaker
Yeah, I would say the closest comparison that comes to mind to me, they've, you know, they've never won a road. like I mean, I guess they, they beat, you know, even like last year they played Antigua and they, ah they won the first leg three to one, three to one though is, is different.
00:05:57
Speaker
Also Antigua, definitely a different quality of opponent than the white caps. ah Maybe the closest comparison was back in 2017. think they beat,
00:06:09
Speaker
Houston Dynamo two zero in Houston and then came back for the second leg in the playoffs. They won that leg, I think 3-0. So they ended up being kind of a romp that that they went through in that one. But there's not a lot of good – that's not a good comparison either because Houston is not nearly as good of a team as the Whitecaps. I mean, I think what really makes this such an important win – and makes it also tough to contextualize is that the white caps legitimately are one of the best clubs in North America
Whitecaps' Historical Successes
00:06:38
Speaker
right now. You know, they won the Canadian championship last year.
00:06:42
Speaker
They went to both. they They're one of the few teams that have gone to both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the MLS Cup final in the same year. They lost both, but they went to those finals. And then they finished tied for the most points in the Western Conference. And then this year, they were they're currently 3-0 in league play. This is a really, really good team. Yeah, they were missing some players.
00:07:02
Speaker
but they've been missing players, you know, like really the, maybe the most notable player that didn't start in this one was Brian white. And he didn't, he came in on a hat. I think he came into halftime. I didn't even notice that he was on the field. He he barely touched the ball.
00:07:16
Speaker
There were a couple of ah players missing, and and I'm glad you touched that because I definitely want to give you my overall takes on the game. But before that, we could start there. ah I don't know about you, but I was surprised that so many players were missing from this team. I don't know if it was...
00:07:37
Speaker
Jasper Sorensen at the time I did like a small brief Twitter space prior to the game, like a little pre-funk. And I mentioned that, I don't know if it was disrespect that you can take from that or you're underestimating, but obviously Andres Kubas is huge for this team at midfield. He went with LaRos, no AZ Jackson when we KG Cabrera, that was surprising. Kubas was suspended by the way. Kubas was suspended.
00:08:03
Speaker
ah Kubas suspended. So that that's good that's a good note.
Impact of Absent Whitecaps Players
00:08:06
Speaker
So no Kubas for that that specific reason. So missing there. The Kenji Cabrera one, that that one I didn't expect either, but A.C. Jackson did come in. And then, of course, Brian White. That that was the biggest one, as you as you mentioned. that That's what I thought was going to be the clear... most difficult duel, whether it was Alex Roldan and Jackson Reagan just trying to deal with Brian White, a very savvy, very experienced guy that knows how to time certain runs into the box that can be difficult to to defend.
00:08:39
Speaker
good so yeah Great striker. And ah obviously these were things that I had not realized that Kubas was missing, but some some guys that were not part of the starting lineup.
00:08:50
Speaker
But regardless of, it doesn't take away from the the Sounders win. I don't want to in any shape, way or form diminish that, but I want to know if you were at all surprised with some of those moves. Oh, yeah. With the exception of Kubas.
00:09:02
Speaker
Well, I didn't, ah to be honest with i didn't realize Kubas was suspended until I was talking to someone last night and we talked like, why isn't Kubas starting? And they said, well, he picked up one of the dumbest yellow cards I've ever seen because apparently they were already up to zero on, a cart. The Hennis in the first round.
00:09:20
Speaker
And he came on for the last five minutes. just to sort of see out the win and picked up a yellow card in that five minutes. And so he, he was out for accumulation essentially. And like just a dumb, a dumb play, but that's not, you know, that's not the sounders problem. I do think it does sort of,
00:09:41
Speaker
inform the challenge of the second leg, which is they're going to get a better version of the white caps most likely. And so it's not like they can just go all out against San Jose and, and with the assumption that they don't, that they can just sort of sit on a lead in Spokane. I think they have to come ready to close this out in Spokane, but yeah, I was, i was with you. i was surprised.
00:10:03
Speaker
I don't know. i don't, I assume I haven't listened to the post game. So maybe Sorensen explained some of those decisions, but, in the post game, but it was still a good team.
Whitecaps' Depth Analysis
00:10:11
Speaker
And and this is still a really deep team. And, you know, Vancouver is what's, I was sort of struck by how many players they were missing, how many of the and these players that they didn't start,
00:10:23
Speaker
And they didn't, they, they still look like on paper, like a really formidable opponent. ah This is a white caps are a really, really good team. And, you know, i I, think, you know, early, one of the questions I asked Brian last night was I thought that you guys were really good on the counter. What did you, you know, what did you, what did you make of that? And he sort of like rejected the premise a little bit. And it's like, well, I thought we were really good in all phases of play.
00:10:50
Speaker
And I mean, Fair enough, I guess. But I think the reality was outside of the sounders were doing a good job of creating chances and they deserve a lot of credit for that.
00:11:01
Speaker
You know, even before they got the goal, there was the chance that that areola had in front ah in front in the fourteenth minute. It could have easily been two zero going into halftime, but aside from the chances they were creating, I thought the white caps were really controlling the match and putting the sounders on their heels, even if they weren't getting great looks on goal, which I would say is different from the St. Louis game where the sounders were giving up possession, but St. Louis just wasn't creating dangerous situations. Whereas the white caps, I thought were very close to creating, they were putting this in the sounders under a different kind of pressure. I thought in the first half,
00:11:36
Speaker
Yeah, but at the same time, Seattle was a lot more aggressive and a lot more effective on the ball. So yeah it was truly a back and forth game. And yeah I think you fit me perfectly into what I wanted to talk about because do not feel...
00:11:55
Speaker
ah dismissed because of Brian Schmetzer's response. Cause you're very spot on for one. And number two, that's just Brian Schmetzer being the very, he gets very defensive when he comes to, and I don't know if he's expecting us to ask him these questions to make him look bad, but you know, prior to this game, I asked Freddie Juarez a similar question that I typically ask Brian Schmetzer and
Coaching Communication Styles
00:12:20
Speaker
Freddie Juarez gave me this phenomenal, elaborate, illustrative answer. You know, he's like, Hey, Nico, I don't really agree with you, but, but this is what I saw. This is what I was trying to get at when he came to that St. Louis game. And i think that's a what, what, why maybe you feel like Brian, maybe dismissed it the the the question, but I just think that's just the way he is. Yeah, no, you're right. It is. It is
00:12:43
Speaker
And I don't know, sometimes it's almost gaslighting because, and I have a, um'm I'm going somewhere with this. One of the things that I was concerned about when it came to the St. Louis game was the lack of um elite players and end dangerous players in the attacking end when you had...
00:13:06
Speaker
Snyder Burnell playing as a pocket winger and Brian gave me crap about, well, he he's not a winger. No, he is a winger. On paper, he is a winger. ah ah In the concepts, he's not a winger. I understand that. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't do winger play. That pocket winger's got to be ready to get wide when there's an underlap and run. When you're in transition specifically, you've got to play wide because you're pressing wide. And I think that...
00:13:34
Speaker
Ferreira yesterday was phenomenal at it. That chance that you mentioned is one of the ones that I broke down because I've seen this game twice already. Jesus Ferreira pokes a ball in the Sounders half. He gets a pass into Burnell.
00:13:55
Speaker
By the time Bernal has the ball, Ferreira's already making that wide run. Bernal finds Albert Rusnak higher up the field. And as Albert Rusnak very well does with his vision, he's already seeing Jesus Ferreira make that run and is a one-touch pass to playing Jesus Ferreira into space. And now he doesn't play him far into space, so Jesus Ferreira...
00:14:19
Speaker
Being a very technical and smart player, he takes a huge first touch to get him some more room to get behind that ball. And then he has the sight to try a cross that wasn't very good. right you lacked a little pace or a lot of pace.
00:14:36
Speaker
But trying to make that pass is what makes Jesus, Jesus, because he will just test it. He'll try it. And and that ball gets to Jesus because i don't know if it's Laporta or somebody really misses that interception on Jesus' pass. And he finally gets to Areola. And Areola is the one who goes down and. black um ah So doesn't quite get there. And Areola, I think himself is surprised that he gets that. Yes. And then he hits it with his left.
00:15:06
Speaker
First time, it's an easy goal, but I think he was totally surprised by it getting to him the way it did, but go on. So, Takaoka makes the save, and obviously it's because it was a little bit surprising for Paul Arreola, but the the whole premise of me focusing so much on Ferreira is it's not because I just want Ferreira to be on all the time or because I'm obsessed. He's just one of our very few creative players that And he is the perfect guy to play that pocket winger. There isn't anybody else necessarily right now in this roster that can play it the way he does. And you saw it there. He created four transition opportunities. One that is in the 30th minute, I believe, another phenomenal transition moment. They get on the run. And unfortunately, he ends up giving it to Christian Roldan, who gets dispossessed on that particular transition moment, which...
00:15:59
Speaker
Also, we'll talk about Christian because he did not have a great game in this one, but um that's what Ferreira does. and And prior to this game, I was so focused on that Areola-Jesus partnership.
00:16:16
Speaker
In Spanish, especially when he comes to the Soccer world, we use asociaciones, associations on the field, guys that just play to you and you play to them. That's a huge component. That's what you had in Lodero and Raul. And sometimes you play...
00:16:33
Speaker
out of just memory. And there is another play. I should have noted this. and I'm going start noting this stuff once down. There is a little play where in the first half where Arreola and Jesus find themselves and there's a little back heel in between them two. And then Snyder does a great job at picking up space, but all those little associations, they make the difference. And in this one, that was particularly important. So for me,
00:16:58
Speaker
i don't I don't want to get too far into it, but I just wanted to ah notate how key Jesus is on that pocket winger position and how good Seattle was at being aggressive to not just punch with The Whitecaps in the mouth, which I don't think they expected, but keeping them guarded, continuing to be dangerous, continuing to push the envelope and make them defend. I thought that was huge by the Sounders to be this aggressive against Vancouver at BC Place.
00:17:29
Speaker
but Yeah, and to your point, you know the the goal actually comes out of another really nice Ferreira play where he takes advantage of a poor back pass. That one is Laborda, who has the poor back pass, and he he just chases it down. Not so dissimilar, frankly, than the than the goal against St. Louis, where he's it's it's a different it's different, but it's similar in that he's taking advantage of a defender...
00:17:55
Speaker
just not accounting for where the way he's, he's playing it. And, and anyway, he, he drives to that that. That goal is all Ferreira, frankly, because the way he drives towards goal forces Takeoka to respect the potential shot, pulls him out of position. And then he hits a really nice pass to,
00:18:15
Speaker
to Areola who is at, you know, right around the penalty spot, a little farther in. And so here's a fun little stat for you that sort of speaks to your point about the, the association between Areola and Ferreira. So they have now played rough, a little less than 6,000 minutes together on the field between chant or between club and country United States and, and Dallas and the Sounders they've combined on 16 goals.
Player Synergy: Ferreira and Areola
00:18:42
Speaker
o That's crazy. That's a crazy number. you know based on And so I've been sort of just TransferMark actually allows you to sort of look at this data.
00:18:53
Speaker
And there's not a way to see, I don't know if there's a way to see like who has the most, but like son and Wonga have eight goal. They, they, they're probably the most prolific in in MLS. They have eight goals in like 1500 minutes, but among the sounders, this is like, this is a really high number, but like ah just for fun, I looked at what Harry Kane and, and son had together. Oh, They had 58 goals, but in 20,000 minutes, which is actually works out to be about 0.25 goals per 90 combined. Right.
00:19:23
Speaker
Well, Ferreira and Areola are at 0.24. So essentially, if you want to, if you want to look at it this way, when Paul Areola and Jesus Ferreira are on the pitch together, that's basically like having Harry Kane and son together.
00:19:37
Speaker
Oh, that's going to go well with people. Oh, you're going to hear from the from the Euros now so quite takenly that point phenomenally. But look, I think it's huge. And I said it prior to the game, it could be a game changer for this team because you needed that. And I thought, and here's where I'll give you my overall take on the game. It was a huge team win. I mean, absolutely. Everybody played great. Even those who didn't have a great game, like Christian Roldan, were part ah of of getting this incredible win.
00:20:08
Speaker
i was... A little bit concerned about Costa Rianci going forward too much. But right off the bat, right off the first five minutes, he showed me that he was on, locked in. Because in those five minutes, Alex Roldan is trying to build out of the back. He tries to, he gets a little bit too cute with the ball um on dribbling and he gets dispossessed by Kenji Cabrera.
00:20:36
Speaker
And who makes the run to save that particular opportunity? Kalani Kosariensi. Now, Alex had a phenomenal game, huge game. I'm just i'm just ah kind of pointing out what i saw this one particular error. But Kalani's ability to get there was phenomenal and then he was good getting forward. So Kalani was great.
00:20:55
Speaker
Alex Roldan was phenomenal, so strong, so poised. I mentioned that one of my favorite things about center back Roldan, Alex Roldan, is his emergency defense. There is a breakaway from um Vancouver Whitecaps in that first half where Iliomi gets loose. And the last guy on ah in the defense is Alex Roldan. And Iliomi, he hits him with this two-move...
00:21:26
Speaker
and and and really gets Alex off balance, but he never loses positioning, and he pokes the ball out, a stops a counter. So Alex Rodham was phenomenal. He was good on set pieces. I took Jackson, Reagan, had a big game, knew who had a phenomenal game. So all of it, he just worked out so perfectly. Snyder Burnell, a guy that...
00:21:45
Speaker
He didn't have a great game against St. Louis. He was key in link-up play, in understanding where he needed to be, in helping out that initial build-out. It just was just ah such ah a great overall win.
00:21:58
Speaker
But the the the men of the match, the the story of it all has to be Polariola. Not because of the brace, but but because of the timing that it happened. You know what I'm talking about. One year and a day after he suffered that dramatic, drastic, you know, just horrendous injury in Mexico City, right? If I'm not mistaken. Yep. In the same round of the tournament.
00:22:25
Speaker
Same round of the tournament. and And now he's back.
Paul Areola's Comeback
00:22:28
Speaker
Goals, like you mentioned already, that first goal was great. But the second goal is just a guy making the right run, not not not giving up on a play. I think Kalani...
00:22:41
Speaker
I thought he was offside when I first side, even my wife was like, he's he's off. They're going to call that. No, he's, but he's on. Yeah. No, he's completely on. And when you go back and look at that play, he sees it and he almost tucks inside and then makes the run. That's why he looks like he's off. Cause he was just waiting to get ahead and that he has that athleticism to get there. And then,
00:23:03
Speaker
the technical component to get the ball where he needed to be. And then Paul, he hits it, it bounces in whatever. It doesn't matter. It's just being at the right place at the right time. And anytime that you see a player put in as much effort, sacrifice to get back from an injury of that degree, and you see it reflect in their performance, that just feels good. That's a great story that he is the man of the match and the story of this match without a doubt.
00:23:32
Speaker
Oh, I totally agree. ah the The narrative aspect of it makes it so like satisfying as well. And sort of like even the nature of the goals, the way that he, especially the second goal, where it's just this, you know he's he's making this run from the opposite wing, which is not, you know you're not the most likely to player to link up there, right? He's coming from the opposite wing.
00:23:56
Speaker
Kalani is cutting in. He doesn't really have a shooting angle and he really just puts the ball in a dangerous spot and hope something happens. I cause that's really all you can do in that situation. Like he's never going to be able to like Ariel is never going to get to that spot first. That's just not the geometry of the, of the runs, you know, but he puts himself in a dangerous spot.
00:24:18
Speaker
And he's there to capitalize when, when the ball bounces around and it just ends up coming off of his knee. You just love to see it. You love to see the, the hustle. You love to see the determination. And speaking of which the third goal, which could end up I mean, which really does the third goal really does change the entire outlook of what this, of this, you know, because it it turns it from anything can kind of happen to something really has to go wrong for the sounders to not advance, which,
00:24:46
Speaker
Whitecaps are a great team. This is not over, but it does. It changes the the math a lot. And on that play, Christian Roldan makes a nice run. It's actually a similar play to the, to the second goal. And he just sort of chips a ball to Danny Masovsky, who's making a run.
00:25:05
Speaker
he can't quite get there. I know on the, on the replay, it looks a little bit like he whiffs on it. I had a great view of this shot. I, we were like right in the corner where, where the ball is.
00:25:16
Speaker
we had a ah perfect view of it. And I I'll just tell you, i assure you, Mussovsky just did not get there. It was not a matter of him whipping. He, it was just a little bit out of his reach, but the ball is so perfect that it gets through the defense. And Paul Rothrock makes this run that you always coach players to make. You always tell them get to the back post because you never know what's going to happen, but it's so hard mentally to make that run because it takes a lot of energy And you are unrewarded so many times, like either but saw what you expect to happen. There is either Masafsi is going to tap it in or the defender is going to get there or goalkeeper is going to get there.
00:25:58
Speaker
And it just doesn't seem very likely that it's going to get all the way to the back post, but sure enough, Rothrock made the run. And and another thing i I want to say about that is that a lot of times, if you don't fully commit to that run, what either happens is the ball goes out of bounds or all your energy is just keeping it from going out of bounds.
00:26:18
Speaker
And instead he's able to just first time it into the goal because he made the hard run. He committed to it immediately. And you just love to see that kind of stuff from this team. Totally agree. And that's what you love about Paul Rothrock. And you might have a two-pole trouble or Paul squared or, you know, something along the lines Oops, too poles. Oops, all poles. I know. It's phenomenal, right? And...
00:26:46
Speaker
I totally agree with you in terms of not every player makes that run. Not every player. Someone might just be like, I'm just not going to try to make that, but, but he has the determination. He makes that extra run and then he's rewarded for it, which is phenomenal. But I want to take you back to, and this is not going to vote well for the, you know, Nico continues to bring up Ferreira, but if you go back to that past before that,
00:27:14
Speaker
Christian makes that run, but the pass from Ferreira to Christian, and you you need to go see it. The most South American pass you'll ever see is what we call la cucharita, the spoon. And he just like lifts, puts his foot under the ball and just loves it.
00:27:32
Speaker
Over the that the pressure or or or the the the person blocking that lane and he floats it into Christian Roldan and then Christian, you he you see it bounce and then he obviously Christian makes a great run and puts the ball away. but But those little details, those little things, that's what I'm telling you that that that link of play, those important moments. this team needs. And the reason why I focus so much on it is because I see the potential that this team has, and it's going to get even better when Pedro's back, when Jordan's back, but having a guy like that on the field just creates opportunities that might might not necessarily be there with that creativeness and that shiftiness and and ability to just change the game. So phenomenal play overall. I do want to,
00:28:25
Speaker
tame the conversations about the body language from Musavsky, uh, because he sees the ball get by and then he kind of gets down, but then he applause Paul. I heard people be like, Oh, then he's mad. Well, of course he's mad. He wants that goal. you strike him Yeah. People are acting like it's like some big revelation that a striker doesn't want is mad that he didn't score a goal that he saw just sitting there for him. like Like, yeah, I mean, sure. ah exactly it is You want it for yourself. but but it what I mean, it's not like he's going to hate ah for it. He's saying, man, that was my goal. ah kinda like yeah ah But then he applauds because, hey, man, we got the third goal. So it it let's just dismiss those that narrative because i as much as I'm not a – I've been known not to be a Danny Mussofsky guy. I feel like that's an enough for criticism. But overall, man, I just thought that from the game plan –
00:29:19
Speaker
to the approach, to that intensity. That is something that i don't know if I said on Friday in our show or on Monday or before the game, but I had mentioned that if there was something that was going to allow this team to get a win on an uphill battle with everything against them really was going back and, um,
00:29:46
Speaker
nurturing the same type of intensity that they had in Club World Cup where you were outmatched, outtalented every single game. But every time that you heard either Brian talk or the opposition coach talk, Luis Enrique said it, is that intensity, that ability to just effortlessly keep going and running and all these things – that can really condense the, the edge of talent. Cause you're just fighting every ball. You're keeping that intensity. And I thought the sounders did that. I thought that they had that the intensity, they harness that into good soccer, um,
00:30:22
Speaker
Brian, when he dismissed your question, he talked about the the possession play and the ability to get through pressure. i thought that was great, too. that There was yeah great passing patterns, phenomenal passing patterns. That that was absolutely part of the Sounders dominance in the game. And it is a factor that we cannot forget. Now, transition moments led to goals, and that's undeniable. But ah yes, that that that that possession play, that ability to switch the field, everything, it all just worked for the Sounders. That's why I'm so high on it. And it was so good that it hid some of the inconsistencies that you have with a guy like Christian, who usually is your all-star.
00:31:02
Speaker
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00:31:41
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:32:52
Speaker
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00:33:01
Speaker
Yeah, you know, that was one of the things we talked about on the on the live stream last night. And by the way, if you haven't watched it, if you are just a dedicated Nos Audientes listener and you don't always check out the Lobbing Scorchers post-game live streams that they do, this is one this one's worth watching. I just want to throw that out there. Even if you don't watch another one, this one is fun.
00:33:23
Speaker
We did it while we were driving in the car back to the United States. It even includes... So good. It even includes a surprise cameo drive-thru order that we just ah we just decided to stream the drive-thru order and that whole experience. It was a lot of fun.
00:33:40
Speaker
ah But one of the things we talked about is Christian Roldan may have been may have been the center's worst player. I don't, I don't say that like as a, as a dig, but he was, ah if you're going through all the players and the starters that had good games, he's down the list pretty far.
00:33:59
Speaker
And it wasn't that he was bad. It's just that he was not up to the normal standard that we have for him. He had a few bad giveaways. He wasn't super involved. ah You know, like it happens. And I guess the reason I bring it up as a notable occurrence is not because the sound is the centers didn't need him to be at his absolute best in order to have this performance, which itself is such a great development because it does sometimes feel like,
00:34:25
Speaker
this team is only going to go as far as Christian will Dawn can sort of carry them, especially when they're in the injury situation that they're in right now. And they just showed last night, they have the depth, they have the quality to even be at an elite level when Christian is not at his best.
Stefan Frei's Defensive Impact
00:34:44
Speaker
And we cannot talk about a team win without mentioning Stefan Fry. And yeah let me take a quick victory lap on this one, because I have been telling people that I do a lot of Stefan Fry watch. I'm at the facilities and I train way too often, way too often. And in a lot of the things that I do is watch certain players and Stefan Fry is one of those.
00:35:10
Speaker
And I have, I mentioned in our last show, some of the big saves that he'd had, ah the preparation, all of these things, but Beyond that that big save that he had, which was a phenomenal save, I mean, that has got to go in his portfolio.
00:35:25
Speaker
Do you remember the D'Rose chance early in the game? And and I think D'Rose, he gets set up perfectly by Areola, and he could probably have done better. I think you you could you could see, if you go back, yeah you could see Areola yelling, give me the ball back!
00:35:45
Speaker
But that starts off of a... Beautiful pass by Stefan Fry. It's a back pass to Steph. Steph sees the space. He puts the ball on a dime to Areola. And man that that's just the type of awareness, distribution, experience that Steph has. So he he was great throughout the whole game, but particularly that pass and that save, that paid it for me. And this is why you have a experience,
00:36:17
Speaker
ah still very informed goalkeeper is for these sort of situations. And I praise Brian for taking the gamble because I do call it a gamble because if every anything goes wrong,
00:36:30
Speaker
everyone is crucifying Brian Smith, right? For being, for playing with his heart and not, because I think a lot of people would tell you that Brian is making that decision, not because he thinks that's what's undeniably the best decision to make, but he's doing it because he just loves Steph. You know, I think that's what a lot of people, i you know, honestly,
00:36:52
Speaker
if you had told me that I wouldn't have totally disputed it, but I think what we saw last night is Steph is still very capable of elite performances. And I want to also point out that the save he makes on the border.
00:37:05
Speaker
It's at the time it's two zero. If that goes in, first of all, it's still relatively early in the game. Who knows how it, how it plays out. But even if the game ends to one,
00:37:16
Speaker
That's a very different, that's a very different result than three zero. It's a total, the game is completely, it's a wide open series at that point. And instead what happens is he makes that save and next on the, on the following sequence, like right away is when the Sounders get their third goal.
00:37:35
Speaker
They play out of the back for Rara makes that wonderful scoop pass. Christian plays it in and it's three zero. And in the span of 30 seconds, the the series is completely different.
00:37:46
Speaker
It's a totally, totally different series because of that save. And that save I think was easy to overlook in the moment because of the goal happening right away. But if we look back on it and, and we go into Spokane,
00:38:01
Speaker
if we want to look where the the series really, the whole complexion of the series change, it was right there when that save gets made. And Stephen Fry maybe makes one mistake in this game, and that's on what is almost the last play.
00:38:14
Speaker
He comes out. I don't even know if it was a mistake, but he comes out, and he ends up, I actually think what he ends up doing is like punching Jackson in the side of the head, ah and see which i best we can tell, Jackson is fine. We don't have any updates, but according to – to ah to b Brian after the game, it was, it was not, it was not a major concern, but he, he basically whiffs on the punch and Thomas Mueller ends up having to do this sort of acrobatic sort of side swivel kick that he puts off the crossbar and it ends up not making a difference. But other than that, I thought Stefan Fry was pretty much perfect, frankly. And, and I think it was also, like you said, he reminded, he's a better distributor than, than Andrew Thomas at this point. oh There's no doubt about that. Yeah, that that that's some that's a part of the game that – and Andrew knows. Andrew's a very self-aware player and person, and he's been phenomenal and this season. He's well-deserved of the job without a doubt. But if there is – and that's a hard one for goalkeepers. that Being a good keeper with your feet is difficult unless you've always been good with your feet, and that's not always the case. with goalkeepers. And then there is those goalkeepers that are way too comfortable with their feet and then they end up making mistakes. Like the, the Tigris goalkeeper yesterday who gave, who literally gave away one goal and then three minutes later almost gives away another goal.
00:39:40
Speaker
yeah and And it will be interesting to see how that series plays out, but that's something that, ah you know, the Sounders might have to be watching if they, if, if Tigris comes back and wins that series. Yeah. and And again, that that mistake on on um Steph is a little bit of a, if it's not communication, maybe it's just ah the the timing. You know, Jackson Reagan's going out for the ball. He's trying to get it. It's an urgency moment. So, you know, I also wouldn't put it so much on him. Thankfully, it doesn't cost the team anything, but I'm totally with you. I thought that he was near perfect.
Goalkeeper Utilization
00:40:12
Speaker
And he, if anything, gives you the certainty and the security that you have a very, very capable number two in my eyes. I know that um Brian said it's two number ones, but at least for this tournament, your number one is is is excellent. But if, yeah you know, moving forward, there is a need for his number to be called, he's going to be ready to go.
00:40:36
Speaker
Absolutely. i don't know if there's really much left to say other than i guess the D row Mussovsky battle is still sort of on. I think both of us thought Mussovsky would start this game. I have to think Mussovsky is going to start the sound's a game almost for sure. In fact, I think there's going to be, and this is maybe a good transition.
00:41:00
Speaker
A lot of, I have to think there's going to be some significant rotation going into sound's a, because they just can't like they, there was too much. There's too many games. I mean, cause it's not like the sounds a game is the end of the if the congestion or even the next white caps game is the end of congestion. They have an an additional game against Minnesota after that.
00:41:21
Speaker
And then they get a break, but they, they do sort of have to manage minutes for these next two games. I think especially because it's, it's going to be tough.
00:41:31
Speaker
Uh, you know, Brian at the end of the, in the post game, basically said, Tino Lopez was going to start against San Jose. That means one of Jackson, presumably it means one of Jackson or Alex Roldan is going to get the day off.
00:41:45
Speaker
That's the sales. Again, it's going to be tricky. I think that that's that much we know. and It'll be interesting to see how much rotation there is in what positions, but you bring up a good point and and it is moving forward. i think that last night, know,
00:42:00
Speaker
puts two positional battles very much in front of Brian. The one that we've been having is Osase and...
00:42:12
Speaker
Danny Mussovsky and how that's going to work out and maybe Danny Mussovsky does start against San Jose and he balls then that's going to be a a good problem to have but definitely is going to be interesting how Brian uses it could because I will say this for Dero his hold up play was very good he he does excellent at setting up players I think his pressing is is very good he plays excellent with his goal with back to goal So he he does a lot of good things for you. But, you know, ah sometimes you might need goals. And if Danny performs, it's going to be interesting how goes. I still think that Osas is your best option. And I'm sorry, Danny. I really do think that Osas is still the best option. But the one that I think is now more present than ever is Bernal over Hassani.
00:43:03
Speaker
That is, I think that's, so I, so my suspicion is that this is my suspicion is that Brunel will probably start this game.
00:43:14
Speaker
If only because there's a decent chance that Dotson will be available for the second leg and they just don't, they they need to give Brunel one of those two games off. I think that,
00:43:27
Speaker
And, that's funny I, ah I agree with you. I think that's becoming a real battle ah because Brunel, the Sounders do look, they looked better in this game than they have. other I guess you could say they look good against Colorado in the first game, but this, this was the best they looked.
00:43:45
Speaker
Yeah. I don't think they did either. i mean, I mean, they Brunel just has the, he, he does a lot of the Obed stuff that the Sounders are kind of missing. And,
00:43:56
Speaker
He is he's got that same sort of escape ability. He's good in tight spaces. He might not be as good defensively. i don't think he's as good defensively as he's Dawson is, but he is so tidy in possession. And, you know, sometimes I can get him in trouble too, but,
00:44:13
Speaker
he allows the Sounders to move the ball differently.
Midfield Debate and Strategy
00:44:16
Speaker
And I think that that could end up being a differentiating factor. And that's not necessarily ah a knock on Dotson. I think Dotson is still going to get minutes, but you can sort of see in a game like that, why that's more of a conversation than it might, it might initially seem.
00:44:30
Speaker
Yep. Cosign everything you just said. That's exactly my thoughts on the matter. I don't want to sound like someone that is ah trying to completely turn the page on on Dotson. um He is someone that I think has a particular set of skills that is very useful. You need that disruptor. You do need that guy that's going to come in and be physical and cover space and...
00:44:58
Speaker
At times, not be afraid to take a ah ah foul. But when he comes to just transition moments and and on on offense, when he has the ball at his feet is when Dotson struggles the most. And he's not all the time. He has good turns. He he has good passes. I'm not saying that he is, you know, one of those players that only does defensive duties because he he he has some ball skills. He does have soft feet like ah Brian said. I just don't think he is Aussie-Gustav mix that Brian tried to sell us on. is is just
00:45:29
Speaker
ah He's a very good defensive midfielder right now, at least, is what it feels like for for this particular team. But Snyder is undeniably the more like-for-like player than two to what you had in Obed Vargas. And I'm high in the kid. I think he's...
00:45:45
Speaker
going to continue to do well. But if I'm looking for someone that's going to make my team better in possession, better in transition, and just better offensively, Burnell has, you know, a clear edge, in my opinion, when it comes to that position.
00:45:59
Speaker
yeah And it's not the worst thing in the world if there's three players. Because the thing is is, I think Dotson can spell Roldan pretty easily. Not easily, but I think that might actually be a better fit for him yeah within the Sounders system is to play more of that Christian Roldan role dawn roll where he's a little bit more of a six and less of an eight. Whereas, you know, Brunel is a little bit more of an eight than a six. And I think that that maybe combines. And this I guess we're sort of what I'm saying is I think this is more about d um how much Brunel has impressed us than how much Dotson has disappointed us. i Exactly. Love that.
00:46:34
Speaker
like Brunel has really done some eye. Oh, like that was an eyeopening game. Like I like Brunel and yet ah facing a team like the white caps on the road. He just had a couple of plays last night that were like very calm and collected and beyond his years in some ways. And I liked him a lot.
00:46:53
Speaker
i But do you want, do we want to go through what we think? So I think we're probably in agreement. Masofsky probably starts against San Jose. Yes. Yeah. And then I got to guess that it's only going to be one of Ferreira or Rusnak that starts, but I think you got to start one of them. Right. And I think Ferreira might be the more likely player in part because I think he's both been more rested and he's more capable of playing like playing every game right now. He just seems like because of the way they've been using him, that might, it might make more sense to have him be in there. Would you share that opinion?
00:47:27
Speaker
I would agree. I think he has the last miles currently. I think that he looks extremely fit. You took him out at the right time in this particular game. And last season, he played close to the most minutes team. Almost every game. Yeah, he played he played the most game. He had the most appearances of anyone.
00:47:45
Speaker
So, you know, he he has got that endurance component. So, yeah, I think he's the one you starred. And before you keep going on that lineup, did you find out why Georgie wasn't No, the team we did. We did not find that out. And that's a good question. We, I don't know, maybe, hopefully they're just saving him for like, they they didn't bring a, co I felt like they didn't bring a couple guys. So I'm just hoping they are saving them, but we did not get, we did not even ask. And I, I'm kind of kicking myself for not at least looking into that, but no, we had no explanation at all. Why Georgie didn't, didn't travel. He didn't travel at all. That was, which is why you bring it up.
00:48:26
Speaker
It's not that he didn't play. Exactly. no and i can and And I mentioned it. So once you continue to do this lineup builder, if Georgie is available, I think he's star, right?
00:48:36
Speaker
I would think so. And I think row I would think Rothrock starts in this game as well. And so then you potentially have those your two wingers with Ferreira and Misofsky. And then in central midfield, I think you probably go Roldan Dotson or ah sorry, Roldan Brunel again, right? I think so. Yep.
00:48:55
Speaker
And then you're not going to play Nikola. I'll tell you that. Well, that, and that would be an interesting, that's, I guess that's an interesting thing. Do you think like, what did you make of Petkovic in this game? He, he, he got on the field. He didn't, he was a little anonymous. I thought I was actually didn't notice that he came into the game and I was like, wait a minute, who's 44.
00:49:12
Speaker
I had to look at my note. Oh, that's Petkovic. I guess he came in for a Rusnak. I honestly didn't even notice when it happens. Yeah. It, it, it just wasn't noticeable. And when you're a player that's dying for minutes and you come in in the 77th, you want to show up. And look, when my daughter's like, Hey, that that guy looks like he's tired. He just came in. i was like, who are you talking about? He's number 44. And I was like, Oh yeah. you know you he's not He's not, he's not pressing quite as much. And he's, I was like, wow, baby. Okay. So yeah, definitely. Yeah, no, coming in hot. I was like, Oh yeah. So anyway, so she noticed it and and I really did too. Right. And, you know, like I said, I watched it a couple of times this game and there was just nothing quite there that I could really hang on to. And this is another player that I don't want to necessarily crucify because there's just not enough data that I need to see a bigger sample. I don't want to judge them on a preseason game and a couple of cameos and, you know, 10, 15 minutes. but But it just doesn't give me any indication other than,
00:50:20
Speaker
he's clearly more of a 10 or Ryan's bringing him in for Albert Rusnak every single time. Right. he He's not playing in those pivots. So that's the one indicator is that you are seeing him more as a creative midfielder. So maybe if you want to keep Jesus on the right, maybe if you want to test what you got in Nikola Petkovich, you might put him at the 10. And then if it's not working, then you bring – ah ah let's say ah ah Georgie, and then you move Paul Rothrock to the other side, and then you put Ferreira at the 10. Maybe that's something you could do to figure out what you have in Nicola. Yeah, that's an interesting thought. But you're right. He's been used almost exclusively this year as more Rusnak's backup than as one of the central midfield.
00:51:05
Speaker
like He's not been used really along with Christian or Snyder or Hassani as more of a defensive midfielder. And then where I think the D this lineup gets very interesting is along the back line because you feel like to me, it just, in some ways you like, okay, well you don't necessarily need to rest these guys, but you do like, you just don't want to push them too hard either. What do you want? What do you think makes sense as a back line for the sounders?
00:51:37
Speaker
it's difficult. Yeah, no, no, no, no. Because I've been thinking about this. It's difficult, but I know for sure Tino Lopez is starting. So it's just who's going to to Tino. That was the one thing Brian basically announced was that Tino Lopez. He literally came out and said it, right? so And then I'm curious how many call-ups he's had, but whatever. I think that Tino, because he's about to be four.
00:51:58
Speaker
Well, yeah, but I don't think the Champions Cup counts against his total. Beautifully. Yeah, nice, nice. So I do think Tino starts. I want to keep the consistency just with Alex. Unless you're going to a three-man back line, which I don't think that's going to be the case. I think that you just keep Alex and Tino. I just want to rest Jackson. Jackson...
00:52:20
Speaker
You just need him healthy. he If you're going to put anyone on bubble wrap, it has to be Jackson. got to be Jackson. You know, you got to make sure that he's fine for that Wednesday game. So, you know, say for what it is.
00:52:34
Speaker
Tino and Alex, Nuhu on the left and Kalani on the right. Keep it simple. Yeah, the only thing I was wondering is if maybe you try to get, is it too cute to try to put Cody Baker either at left back or right back? You know, Baker has not had a ton of minutes. he did not He did not get into this game.
00:52:52
Speaker
He played okay in in the St. Louis game. But I don't, it's, i I don't know. I don't know. I suppose he could play either right back or left back. Theoretically, he's played both and he's like, okay, at both. And I'd be an interesting thought. I guess maybe you just roll the dice there and and see what you get. Who would you rather, if you were going to bench one of, or give a rest to Nuhu or Kalani, who would you be more likely to, maybe I guess Kalani just because you can't afford him to get hurt because you really need,
00:53:25
Speaker
ah you need that You need Alex playing at center back. Yeah, I think Kalani has put a lot of minutes into him and tough minutes. His explosiveness. He's he's the guy that's getting forward a lot yeah more than Nuhu. And Nuhu has a career of durability. I mean, he's a that, if anything, you know he's... if One thing about Nuhu is that he doesn't get hurt lot.
00:53:51
Speaker
And so if I'm taking probably just... As long as he's not getting malaria or whatever. Yeah. Oh yeah. Or he, you know, his passport got missed or something. I mean, maybe then, but, but other than that, you know, if he's not sick or some crazy, i do think that he has been durable. So yes, I, I rolled the dice. I think that if you play Cody Baker, it would have to be, in my opinion, in a three minute system where, you know, maybe, in and i don't even know who you would play like in the middle, like Alex in the middle with Tina. and I mean, I don't know. It'd be kind of weird. i think you're playing with too many players.
00:54:24
Speaker
pieces there. So, so I think that you leave it as it is, but, yeah you know be but, but look, if Kalani, if you do want to risk Kalani, then yeah, I would consider Cody Baker fine and and see, ah see how it works out at the very least. Now, San Jose,
00:54:41
Speaker
I'm still not as hyped as all of probably most of the pundits that I follow. Yeah, I mean, everyone seems really excited about. and i think I think what people, especially the pundits, ah sort of love about San Jose is they just sort of have this.
00:55:02
Speaker
i think there is this like odd symmetry in people Bruce just sort of reviving teams that seem dead. And so it's like, well, this is Bruce has done it again. He's revived, you know, San Jose who looked totally dead a few years ago. And now they look like they might be a decent team. I'm with you though. I'm not quite ready to totally buy this. They have not.
00:55:27
Speaker
it's not like they're like running through the toughest teams right now. And, and, you know, beating the Sounders at home would be ah a bit of a statement for them. I think you could say that it would be their best win. I mean, so far they've destroyed and a pretty bad sporting Kansas city team. They beat a very bad Atlanta United team, you know, winning on the road against the union is not, I don't want to dismiss that, but the union don't look quite as good as they were last year.
00:55:56
Speaker
And they didn't play great, Jeremiah. they They did not play great. I watched this game this morning um and they just didn't look great. they It took a long time for them to get into the game. It took Timo Werner to come in into the game, actually, to for for them to have...
00:56:14
Speaker
Any real creativeness in the attacking end. He's the one that sets up ah that that goal beautifully to Boda. I mean, he basically sets it up on ah on a platter with a gorgeous just diagonal pass that goes through like five players for Philadelphia. But there was also really bad defending. I mean, if we're being. No, it's terriblebra defending oh it's terrible with defending. and so so that That's exactly what I mean. This is not the best version of Philadelphia by any means. They almost look unrecognizable at times. And I'm a big Cornell guy. I really like them. and This is a team that doesn't have the Cornell intensity so far. And in this specific game, they have some opportunities, some missed chances, and they allowed San Jose to get into this game. So there was nothing crazy Brilliant about San Jose at all So i I'm just not as high Because of the teams that you've beat In the fashion that you've beat them With the exception of the Sporting Kansas City game So I'm just not i'm just not there yet i don't I don't see anything from this team Aside from I love the fact that there's so many You know
00:57:21
Speaker
draft picks and and American players that are in it. I respect it. Yeah. I absolutely respect it. I think Nico Shakir has been very good. I think that they have um ah revived Ricketts. I think that he's played excellently. I think defensively they do a very good job and and they mainly try to find ways to beat you with set pieces. And that's what they're very dangerous at. So, you know, the Sunners have played very good against set pieces. So to me, it's, Seattle matches up well.
00:57:49
Speaker
I think, in my opinion, they have more talent on the field. Timo Werner, sure, he picks up the the slack for the talent level of ah love ah a lot of other players. I don't want to call this team like a whole bunch of slobs, but but obviously he's the guy that raises that that ceiling. But I think that line-to-line, the Saunders match up well with San Jose.
00:58:09
Speaker
Even a rotated Sounders team matches Even rotated Sounders team. yeah Yeah. And so if Werner were to start, which I don't know if he's capable of starting, they've been sort of ramping him up those last two games. they Would he most likely start for Ricketts on the left? Is that the idea?
00:58:25
Speaker
That's a great question because we've all kind of ah thought that it was going to be like a two striker system. But yes, I think that on the left side is where he's played. So, yeah, him and and and Judd seem to work well together. And Nico Shaqiri is being allowed to just have all that freedom at that camp position. Um, they do get forward a lot with Jones on the left, a lot of those overlaps, which allows teamo to get inside. And at times, you know, he is a guy that's coming into the box. Uh, but yeah, I mean, that, that could potentially have some, some concerns, um,
00:59:01
Speaker
So, yeah, he's probably going to be the most dangerous player without a doubt. And now Daniel has been very good this season in comparison to last season where he was just. Where he's a disaster. Yeah. He was a disaster last year. Yeah. Yeah. He's. Daniel seems to kind of have these peaks and valleys ah sort of all over the place where goes from one year to the next. I mean, it's it's kind of been a weird. ah It's been weird.
00:59:23
Speaker
Yeah. And i think the most noticeable thing here, and I guess is the stamp of Bruce Arena is that they've given up no goals. Right. Right. Yeah, yeah. ah Yeah, and and so, I don't know.
00:59:35
Speaker
I like the Sounders' chances, even if they have to rotate in this one it's a But the game is, you know, it sounds like it's going to be a good test. i'm I'm just not. I think, ultimately, the way I feel is that you've got to set yourself up as good as possible for Wednesday. You can't get too wrapped up in what happens in this. Like, you you can't get, you can't afford to just,
01:00:00
Speaker
go all out, especially because the game is on Sunday. There's not a lot of you're not going to have a lot of rest. So you sort of just have to, you have to make some calculated decisions. Risks and that probably means rotating your lineup, maybe not fully, but if there are seven changes to the lineup, I won't be surprised. I won't be upset about it. You know, I guess you could, there's the danger of getting overly like they could over rotate, I suppose, but you know, these are the the players seem to be in good shape.
01:00:33
Speaker
you know, hopefully Georgie's healthy and you can get another, you know, you can get another fresh body in there and, and not feel like you're, you're dropping off too much. So I'm, I'm optimistic. I feel like this win though, really does not that the mood was
Sounders' Competitive Edge
01:00:48
Speaker
bad. i mean, the Sounders were two and one, so it wasn't like things had been going bad, but there was, i think this changes the outlook. This makes me feel like this is a team that can still play with the elite opponents in this league.
01:01:03
Speaker
That is as um an understatement as i can think of, Jeremiah. I do believe that as much as this team had not been bad, they also had not been necessarily exciting. And and a lot of the fans had that concern that this team ah just didn't have that TNT, the dynamite, that that ability to go out there and win a game. I saw so many... ah and and And I will say that I was on on not not not so extreme on that narrative, but after the St. Louis game, I just didn't feel too great about no it wasn't ah the approach yeah sure and and the way they played. So you know I heard a lot of fans th talk about, man, I miss the days when the Sounders were our protagonists and they were these exciting things.
01:01:55
Speaker
And I think that... now that and and
01:02:05
Speaker
I think Nico may have just lost his electricity. And ah it's probably a good place to call the show anyway. But yeah, Nico looks like he is...
01:02:17
Speaker
ah he's he's struggling. it looks like we have a slight connection, but I think we're going to just call it there. ah if i'm If I'm seeing correctly, the lights have gone out at his house and...
01:02:30
Speaker
Yeah, I think we're just going to call it there. I can still see Nico, but the connection is a much lower quality. So I think we've set our piece. That said, thank you so much for doing this with me, Nico.
01:02:42
Speaker
Going to sign off here. i am Jeremiah Oshan. This is Nosariate, part of the Sounder Heart podcast network. And we'll catch you next time.
01:03:20
Speaker
Let's go and sounders.