Transcript
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.
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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.
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Speaker: Welcome back to another episode of Monday Soundcheck on the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network. We're here with Nico Moreno and Adam Race. Take it away, guys. Thank you, as always, to Jeremiah O'Shann, the one and only, for opening the show and producing it. Although today we got our guy, Nat. Thank you. guys for joining us make sure that you sit down relax buckling because we're gonna have a lot of hot take i'm certain after the weekend that the sounder fanbase had but before we get into all that make sure that you guys like subscribe Get ready to just help us grow, right? So you guys know that this is Monday Soundcheck, the only show that's designed to turn your Monday from bitter to sweeter, talking all things Sounders.
Speaker: My guy, Adam, of course, one of the best voices in the Pacific Northwest, a voice so important for Sounder at Heart that Jeremiah O'Shen just put a brand new insurance or a million dollar policy on that beautiful man right there. So what is up? How are you feeling?
Speaker: i I can already feel your vibe. You are the the voice of the people. You are a fan, someone who really feels this up in his core. So I could already feel like there is a little bit of that frustration coming out of you. But overall, how would you describe your mood right now? Well, look, there's been times this season where I've been frustrated because the Sounders played an awful game, because the Sounders played an awful half, because the Sounders looked bad.
Speaker: That's not the case this week. That's not why I'm frustrated. This is just... It just got away from us. And it was I was so frustrated watching, so upset, because I feel like for so much of this game on the road against San Diego, we looked like the team that we should be. We looked much better than them.
Speaker: We were in control of the match, especially... At the end, when we ended up giving away the penalty in the 10 minutes leading up to that, we looked great. The second half, we looked much better. The first half, we looked much better. We just didn't create anything going forward. Seba Gomez, another great game. There's a lot to be happy about when you look at the little things of this game. But the big thing is that we made two mistakes, all match, and they were awful mistakes, and they were at awful times, and they were at awful parts of the field.
Speaker: And we give away a two two result. It's getting to the point in the season where i am still convinced that this Sounders team is that squad that Brian Schmetzer says no one's going to want to play in the playoffs.
Speaker: But you need the points to get yourself in that position to host more games in the playoffs, to not have to be in the play-in. The ability to make a playoff run depends on a lot of things going your way. And even though the Sounders have shown they have the quality to make a playoff run,
Speaker: That's not going to happen if they put themselves in an awful situation by dropping all these points at the end of the season. It's not going to matter. Things are going to swing away from us if we don't help ourselves out. And we're just not helping ourselves out right now.
Speaker: My guy Adam coming in hot right off the bat, baby. We're getting right into the meats and potatoes of the show. And it does lead me to my headline, guys. said Here is the headline from me about this game. Self-inflicted wounds caused Sounders a crucial victory in San Diego with play of birth on the line. Because, look...
Speaker: It feels like the Sounders are playing with fire when it comes to the playoff berth. You just kind of said it. The play in is not the playoffs. That's not you being in there. That's just a game that's going to get you there if you're able to, you know, beat, I don't know, Galaxy, Portland, Colorado, whoever drops into that slot. So it's,
Speaker: Really unfortunate and frustrating that the Sounders were able to get ahead, get a lead, and because of their own doing or inability to want control the game to make better decisions. And we'll talk about those here in in a second. But just overall, it felt like this game got away from the team in the last maybe 20 minutes of that game, maybe 30 minutes.
Speaker: There were really big moments, I thought, that could have capitalized it and really made the lead for the Sounders even broader than it was at one point.
Speaker: And we're going to get to talk about the substitutions in the second half, but I do feel like there is this overwhelming... narrative about how in the first half, the team just didn't have the opportunities. And maybe they didn't in terms of those clear chances, but I thought that there were moments and half chances that could have ended in just getting the ball rolling early. And we've talked multiple times, every single time that we have one of these rollercoaster games from the Sounders, it's because they have a poor or slow start to the game. I think in this one, it wasn't all that. I thought that they played pretty decent first 25, 24 minutes. but You know, in the minutes, i think that
Speaker: finds Albert Rusnak in the box. He has time to take an extra touch, take a a better shot on on goal, and he doesn't, he kind of just puts it up.
Speaker: Those kind of moments, those kind of small errors ah throughout the first half is what eventually leads this team having a really slow start. So he leaves it all to the substitutions, the halftime talk, and maybe just kind of getting yourself off of some of those bad moments. And and that's what really has frustrated me from this team. So,
Speaker: Adam, you probably have um maybe a headline, maybe not, but maybe you have a better idea on whether or not this team in the second half getting the lead in the way they did deserved a little more. Or if San Diego, I mean, you got to give them credit, right? they They took it to you. They made the rest of the substitutions. They forced some mistakes.
Speaker: Did they steal it away or did the centers give it away? I think the Sounders gave it away, and that would lead to my headline. Sounders make two mistakes, give away two points. Absolutely could have won this game. Like I said before, I thought we played a close, not spotless, but a close to elite game for a lot of this. Remember, San Diego, they're one of the most high possession teams in the league coming into that. That's what they love to do. They're at home. They're playing for their lives. They could not lose this game. They have full playoff atmosphere coming in.
Speaker: And we just made them play a kind of game that they're not used to, that they don't want to. That's the kind of performance that shows the Sounders are at the level to be better than a San Diego team on the road. And what we've seen on the brightest spots of this post-World Cup break era for the Sounders have been the games where they go against a team that wants to play a certain way and just don't let them do it at all. We saw it in the New England game, which is, I still think, the best game the Sounders have played all season. New England never looked comfortable in this game.
Speaker: And San Diego, I'm not going to say they looked entirely uncomfortable the whole match, but they were not playing their style. They were not able to do what they wanted to do. The penalties, their penalties, both of them, absolutely stone cold, in my opinion. Two mistakes from the two options you may have for the rest of the season at at center back, depending on the health of Yamar, obviously not very good to see. And both players just need to admit, like,
Speaker: They made a mistake there. You know, Brian said in the postgame press conference, Stu Hawkins, he's going to learn from that. It's a mistake he makes at the end of the match. Holds on a little too long. the Penalty is given. I think that penalty should have been given. And for Alex rolled on, he just goes in late. It felt like a fullbacks tackle when he put that one in. he's He's going in and trying to get the ball. It's a little reckless when you consider that it's in the box and he's just a second late. You know, if you're doing that on the wing, trying to block across, you see that 10, 15 times a game, but you can't be doing that at center back and he gets punished for it. Yeah, it's two mistakes all match. I think the Sounders, as Brian said, post-match were better and deserved all three points. They give it away. I don't think this is necessarily an indictment of the Seattle Sounders in the way that the first 45 minutes against Montreal were an indictment of the Seattle Sounders.
Speaker: But it just comes down to points. The Sounders, they're in seventh right now. They could very easily slip below that. They still haven't locked up their playoff spot. They're desperately trying to get out of the play in games. I think that's the main goal at the moment is focus on guaranteeing that you're not in that play in game. But when you talk about getting home field advantage, getting the kind of opponent that you want,
Speaker: Like I said, things need to go right for you if going make a playoff run for any team. And they're not putting themselves in a situation where things are likely to go their way as much as they have to to make a deep run.
Speaker: Yeah, look.
Speaker: Let's go crora ah in a chronological manner about the way this game kind of got away from you, because I want to try to hit on two points that maybe I haven't seen enough of. There's been a lot of slander on Jesus Ferreira and what he was able to do or not do in the first half. And Seba comes in and make cause it makes a big difference. And I think he did.
Speaker: But it's very different to come into a game kind of in in the second row, in the second half. But primarily for me, what really... catapulted this team into getting comfortable again and getting on the front foot and maybe forcing this San Diego team to come even more open than they already were playing to you was that Joe Village goal.
Speaker: And he kind of comes out of nowhere. It's not a high chance shot. It's not one that
Speaker: you know, came from a series of passes or ah kind of that collective play is one player being that assassin, that that DP nine that we've been waiting for that can kind of create his own moments and has a phenomenal goal. I mean, that was a curler. That was, he had the pace. He had the location is one that is not out of the blue either. Cause he tests that mid range shot consistently here at the training field, but he's the one that kind of pushes it.
Speaker: that way, right? they they I feel like that goal is the turning point, if you will, of that second half on the way that the Sounders wanted to go.
Speaker: Was intensity a little bit better? Yes. Did Sebastián Gómez provide that 1v1 capability that he does so well? Absolutely. But if you go back to that first half,
Speaker: The link up play, the possession, what you just mentioned about taking the ball away from san Diego, it happened because you have guys that can connect a little bit better. In the second half, maybe you were a little bit more vertical. You were able to get behind a little bit more. You created some additional chances. But I feel like that starting 11 that played in this particular game wasn't necessarily the problem. was maybe the execution of certain moments.
Speaker: But that first goal is kind of what really takes you to that next level against again it gets a team like San Diego that once they feel like they have to go against the current, they're even more willing to take risks. And I feel like that opened up the game a little more for the Sounders in the second half. Yeah, it's so funny with Dejan Jovalich. His last two matches against Dallas and Montreal, he combined for nearly two expected goals on his own between those two games. And in this San Diego game, he only had.09 expected goals. And of course, he finds the back of the net.
Speaker: I love watching Dejan Jovalich score these kinds of goals. He's making a habit of scoring these kinds of goals. I do not want him to make a habit of only scoring those kinds of goals. I want him to get the tap ins a little more often. He should have three goals over the last three games, maybe four. So love to see that from day on. And as you said, that's what he has shown that he brings is he can just when a team is possessing the ball, but sputtering in the final third. he can just do something on his own that cannot be replicated and cannot be defended. And that completely changes the game, like you said, against a San Diego.
Speaker: I'm going somewhat disagree with you on the starting 11. And this is the main thing that we have disagreed about over the last few weeks as the starting 11 has slowly slowly started to take shape far too slowly started to take shape is what you're going to do specifically on the wings and Nico Brian listen to you and put out as close to a lineup as your preferred 11 as he could have with Yamar unavailable he puts Alex rolled on at center back Kalana Costa Rienzi at right back and he puts Jesus Ferreira on the right with Jordan Morris on the left
Speaker: Now, I said when you put that starting 11 forward that I just did not see Jordan Morris playing on the left in an ideal 11. And I really am sticking to that. I mean, we've seen times in Jordan Morris's career where he prefers the left, where he looks great on the left. It's just not how it is right now. He's saying himself that he looks more comfortable on the right. And it's just showing game after game. He's a high quality player. He just isn't getting involved on the left side. He looks a lot less effective on the left side. It's really night and day.
Speaker: from that first half to the second half in a lot of ways, but we've seen a few times over the last few matches, Jordan starts on the left because Brian rightfully wants Jordan on the left because it frees up the right for Jesus Ferreira.
Speaker: Understand why he wants to do it, but it's just not coming off with Jordan Morris right now on the left side. And Jesus, he didn't do a whole lot in the match on the right. I do think his... presence there allowed Kalani Kosoranzi to have the kind of game that he did Kalani looked very advanced uh he looked like he was really getting involved in the attack and making some good defensive plays this is the best shift we've seen from Kalani in a good long while and he goes the full 90 as well and we might have to see that from him uh depending on how Brian wants to work his center backs if he wants to work Alex in as the center back alongside Jackson or if he wants to work Stewart in uh
Speaker: Kalani is going to have to get some minutes on right back. So that was great to see. However, it's the story once again, where we know how good Jesus Ferreira can be. Is there the space for him right there to start at the moment?
Speaker: I'm still sticking with what is a somewhat controversial opinion, I think, is that I think right now, Jesus Ferreira doesn't have a place in the starting 11. I know how good Jesus Ferreira is. And the thing about Jesus is he can be good in multiple positions. He can be good as a 10. He can be good as a nine. He can be great on the right wing.
Speaker: he's not replacing down at the night obviously that's that's that's a non-sequitur question he cannot put albert rusnak out of this starting 11 and i know some people are saying that he should be starting at the 10 no i cannot agree with that albert had another really good game the thing about albert is a lot of the good games that he has are somewhat quiet he had another one another one of those tonight he is an excellent player the team usually looks a lot worse offensively with him out of the game. I will say that Jesus coming in for Albert in that Montreal second half was an immediate change that I did really like to see, but I don't think we can put Jesus at the 10 ahead of Albert Rusnak.
Speaker: And on the right side, I still think Jordan Morris on the right is better than Jesus Ferreira on the right. And Jesus has no experience on the left. As we've said, there's just no spot for him, however talented he is at the moment. I don't think there's a spot for in the starting 11. I would like to see Brian in this next game, put Jordan Morris on the right and Areola on the left with Seba Gomez as that super sub and Ferreira as another really, really good option off the bench.
Speaker: i don't know if he's going to do that, but that's where I see the starting 11 at its very best. So let me rebuttal with this as we continue to move on with this show. and And I do want to get you guys' takes. If you guys got comments, please bring them If you guys got questions, let us know. We're going to try to ah you know engage with you guys. I'll rebuttal with this.
Speaker: In this particular game, Jordan wasn't good on either other side. I mean, when it comes to... Being dangerous, he actually did more on the left side. he He got his better opportunities on the left side. He gets like a blocked shot. I think he gets an opportunity off of a run in that in that first half. But he just wasn't very good. in it but and And he's been dealing with some pains and aches. And we'll talk about this ah maybe right now. Because throughout the week...
Speaker: Jeremiah and I have obviously been quite often at the facility, and there's a lot of care on just keeping Jordan Morris healthy. You know, they were doing a lot of massages, keeping him ready to go. I think that they were really working with him throughout the week. He looked like he was dealing with some stiffness or so some pains and aches. He goes into this game and maybe doesn't look his best. And the way he came off maybe makes me think that He might need a game off. I mean, obviously you're going to a Wednesday game against Houston.
Speaker: Perfect game to just sit him down. b Brian said he came off with a knock. it Brian being Brian kind of mentioned that it wasn't a big deal. But with Brian, you never know. so But i'm I'm curious to see if It's kind of like an accumulation of different pains and aches if there's just one particular thing. But it does make me maybe think that it might be a mute point at some point that who's going to be on the wing might just be kind of forced on you.
Speaker: But it's Etseba Gomez. Because, look, he had a very good game. I'm not going to deny that. He continues to be a game changer. i like him in that role of that super sub coming in He just flies into the the game every single time. He creates so many opportunities. Obviously, we've got to give a lot of credit to one Hassani Dotson, who's constantly criticized by our audience. and who you know They feel like we give him a little of too much credit.
Speaker: He creates that second goal. He's the one that makes the run. He gains possession. he is strong because he's he's being challenged by a defender.
Speaker: ah He gets a great cross, picks up his head, puts the right pace, gets the ball to Seba. And Seba being Seba, who just kind of feels like a guy that is ah got a good nose for goal when he comes to being in the box, finds it, puts it away,
Speaker: So is Seba Gomez to you someone that, let's say Jordan Morris is not healthy. Is he without a doubt the guy that should be coming in?
Speaker: Or is Paula Riola still a guy that I know you like and I know you've talked about being someone that you want as a starter? It's a complicated question because what Seba Gomez brings as a change of pay pace substitute, that really cannot be replaced. That is something that he brings in such a unique way. But in an ideal world, you want at least one other person in the roster, really, who's willing to take on a defender one-on-one, create on his own. And right now, we just don't have anyone. We would have Pedro De La Vega to do that. That would be amazing. And I'm very excited if we keep this Sebastian Gomez as a super sub going into next year and we have Pedro De La Vega in the sprint season. I mean, man, that is an amazing one to punch. But Seba is the only guy who's willing to do it right now. And the offense looks really flat without that.
Speaker: option out there. You know, you might look at Albert Rusnak to put a perfect through ball in over the top to Jordan Morris or deck. He can score a wonder goal. That's always an option. But just in the run of play, a lot of these second halves have been you get it. Sebastian Gomez, he draws defenders. He can either beat a defender one on one or he can find someone else. The space frees up when he's on the field. I don't think Paul Areola can do that as much.
Speaker: I do think Paul Areola, extremely reliable. He's going to do his job out there. He's a good defender. He can get up and down. I guess my ideal is still Paul starts these matches. I think on a good day, Paul Areola can bring that spark on the offensive end. He knows he can bag some goals and assists. He's been on a good run of form in the last couple of months. I want him out there to start a match, but I want Brian to be pretty trigger happy with putting Seba into the game. I don't think he's shot. And he is and he should stick to that. I think Seba should be written in Sharpie as he's coming in at halftime or at 60, depending on how the game is going, because it's just a formula for success. You look at every single one of the last, I think, four or five matches that Seba's come off the bench right now. He's had a a goal contribution or at least a really good shift every single time it's happening and it's happening in the same way. It's not a fluke. It's how he's best used right now.
Speaker: yeah I don't know we should get a poll going about should Seba Gomez be starting in you guys' his opinion. i think it's a a good talking point. It it brings some ah pretty good conversation. But just to add to great conversation, J.O., my man out here, of course, do you want to – are you trying to chip in on this conversation or you got – something else for you know had something specifically about this conversation that i wanted to add to it just to sort of add a little color a little data uh behind uh seba gomez you know i i ran the numbers basically since they the sounders turned started turning around their season so we're talking about a 12 game sample size uh when he's on the field the sounders are averaging 2.27 goals scored and goals allowed per minutes so
Speaker: call it two and a quarter to one goal allowed, right? When he's not on the field, it's one point no it's uh 0.66 goals scored and 1.11 so defense about the same but their offense drops almost two goals uh per 90 minutes when he's not on the field and ah people have pointed out to me that this is almost more of a second half phenomenon because if you run the numbers the sounders have just been so much better in the second half than they have in the first half but look
Speaker: Seba is a common denominator in a lot of those second half performances where he comes in at halftime. And I don't know if he going to be that effective. If he starts, you know, he started a few games in that time.
Speaker: The best example was probably the new England game where he started. Yeah. He's had some other games where he wasn't, all that effective sure so it's it's possible that he's not really cut out for starting but his impact is undeniable sure this is the third game or the third straight time that sorry the second game in a row where he has scored coming off the bench and all three of his goals have come when he's coming off the bench he's a uh a spark plug i i thought the run that he made in this one was really what was impressive ah just the way that he does not give up on it He sees Hassani Dotson going down to the end line, and instead of just sort of like hovering around the top of the penalty bear area, he makes a ah run into the box, and he's available.
Speaker: Great pass, by the way. Yes. and he And he finishes it well. I've really come around to to really appreciate what Seba Gomez has been able to provide. This all goes back to our disagreement on the right side with Jordan Morris. ah And let me just kind of put it together for you, because, look, if we're saying – If you guys are out there saying or anyone really wants Seba Gomez to start,
Speaker: He fits better on the left side, right? There's no doubt about it. Because he goes back to the system. When you have a more of a defensive fullback like you have in Nuhu, you need someone else to provide some of that width on that side, right? That's why your left winger is your widest guy. Seba fits it perfectly. And I thought that, and and I think to his credit, Jordan Morris has looked good at times doing that on that side.
Speaker: But on the right side, Adam Reyes family out there in Sandra Hart, the role is a 10 or sometimes an eight because the the whole role, the whole purpose of these dual 10s when you have that inverted winger is that you're going to be able to link up. You're going to be able to pass through. You're going be able to drop in, pick up the ball a little bit more because you want to utilize Albert to the best of his ability. You don't want to have him running too much. So that other tank can do a little bit of that running, can pick up the wall a little bit deeper.
Speaker: Jordan himself in a interview with us during the week said that sometimes he has to play more of an eight role. Do you want Jordan Morris playing an eight role? Cause I don't, I know I don't now in a, in a, in a perfect world, is he just another striker? Is he a second striker and and fits inside? Sure. But Joe village should be getting all of your services. So what's the purpose of this whole system? When you got a guy, as I have,
Speaker: Illustrated so many times, he is that sharp edge in the point end of this dagger of this attack. You need to get him the ball. So what do you want out of your other 10? A guy that can distribute. A guy that can make the...
Speaker: courageous passes, that guy that's going to force the ball to Joe Village. And to me, there's no doubt that the only guy that can do that is Juan Jesus Ferreira. So if we're talking about Seba starting, then maybe Jordan Morris is the odd man out. Yeah, I agree with that, Nico, that it is getting to that point where it's either got to be Jesus or I mean, Sebago is demanding minutes right now. You can't keep him off the field. But the talent of really both Jesus and Jordan also demands minutes. I do not envy Brian Schmetzer. He's looked kind of bedraggled in a lot of these press conferences. When we ask about the 11, it'll be like, I'm trying. I'm almost there. with We have a lot more games to go. He hasn't made any promises that it's going to be
Speaker: set between now and the last game of the season uh it doesn't look like it's set right now it doesn't look like it's going to be set after this next game it might have to be set going into the playoffs and there's a whole lot of reasons is that that that is not ideal i do want to go through the chat right here there's some interesting points um First of all, to talk about the um stat you put up for Seba Gomez, the chat's also asking for a similar statistical breakdown for Paul Areola. I don't have that exact stat, but I will say that in this run that the Sounders have looked a lot better, and I say that since the Colorado match, I think that's really where they started to turn things around.
Speaker: Paul Ariella hasn't gotten consistent minutes. He hasn't been starting consistently. That's not something he's used to in his career, but he's still been really effective. He's got a goal contribution every around 55 minutes. He's on the field.
Speaker: That's starting level contributions as far as attackers go. I think that that deserves looks into the starting 11. I think that Seba Gomez playing off of that is going to be even better because Paul Arreola does provide a burst of pace.
Speaker: And then you follow up with Seba Gomez, who's more comfortable one on one. He's also got pace. That's not necessarily the number one thing he brings to the table. It is more the ability off the dribble. So I think that for that reason, that's statistically what I would use to back up Paul Ariel is starting.
Speaker: um But like you said, Nico, there's a lot more versatility when it comes to Jesus Ferreira that you just don't get with Sebastian Gomez. Sebastian Gomez is a very smart player, but he's not that high, high ceiling impact attacker that can do all these things that can play as, you know, a dual 10 that can play as an eight that can do these kinds of things. He is purely you stick him on the left wing. He's going to make life difficult for the fullback out there. He's going to draw attention. He's going to make everyone around him a little more free.
Speaker: It's tailor-made to be coming in off the bench, ah in my opinion. And I think it's a good point that it might be time to see Jordan take some minutes off and and not be starting, even though he's looked so good. in some of these games. It's just, it's vintage, vintage Jordan Morris. And it's been so fun to watch and his ability to turn a defense around when the team is struggling to create building out of the back has been so, so valuable, but this wasn't a great game for him, as you said. To me, it's just seeing him struggle physically to just get up and down the field. And this demands a lot from that left winger because you are so high up the field. You do got to press in a lot of moments. You do got to give a lot of defensive moments. And there were times in this particular game that...
Speaker: I pause the the frame and I see where Jordan's at. it He's just two steps behind on the presser, two steps behind here and there. And look, I love Jordan. He's a legend. He's a legend. He's someone that i i really admire for the way he approaches the game and the scrutiny that he's... being able to just repel and just everything about his career, such a great guy, but it it has starting to become a thing where maybe he's one of those guys is going to be not the the the player that you want for this specific system. We've talked many of times about him. Maybe he's,
Speaker: Moving on to another team at one point and offers that the team has gotten and all of these things, because I do not know if right now with Jovulic, because that's the role he wanted to play. Jordan, there was a point where he wanted to be the nine.
Speaker: Now that's out of the question. So so are you going to be a winger at your age with your injuries? I mean, it's real difficult. So with a guy like Seba Gomez, you start to ask a lot of questions. So. We've been talking a lot about the meats and potatoes, but let's get to the veggies. Let's get to the stuff that nobody really wants to eat, the carrots and all that stuff, which is a couple of those penalty kicks and the moments that that really made this happen. But before we do that, I do want to talk about one more thing that ah when I talk about self-inflicted wounds, it wasn't just the players. Because to me, and and tell me, Adam, J.O., Sandra Hart family, if I'm off base here.
Speaker: But when I look at the substitutions by Brian Smetzer, They look too conservative way too early to me. He felt like he wanted real early just not keep the foot on the on the throat of the...
Speaker: opponent and in you were just talking about Paula Riola, his contributions. I know for a fact that he is available for 45 minutes or more. He maybe even a full 90. I mean, what what I know about his health and and his game rhythm is that he's he's good to go so why oh why why oh why is he in the last two games your last substitution he's the last guy that you think about coming in brian's mad sir i just i don't know why what else does he have to do to deserve to be one of the the first guys that you bring into the field he brought snyder burnell who
Speaker: I understand that you're trying to put him into that role because he can help you manage the game and all these things. But the the two-way service that Paula Riola provides you with the high ceiling of his goal productivity seemed to me like a better option. So you wouldn't allow the other team to just kind of start to gain some ground on you. Because he, although not the fastest, he has the ability to get behind. at think he's very good at transition moments.
Speaker: I don't know. and again this is my opinion. It feels to me watching this game just twice that Brian was a little bit too conservative with substitutions. i don't know what you're talking about. It's an interesting point because I see some people who have been saying that the Sounders bunkered down in the second half of this game. In the second second half. I completely disagree. I think they played great the whole match. I think they were controlling the tempo. They were not even parking the bus in the last 10 minutes or anything. They were just controlling the game. That is game management. That's exactly how you draw it up.
Speaker: You could hear the commentators on Apple TV singing the praises, all the sounders. They're running this game down so well right now until that moment that Stu Hawkins gets a handful of jersey and ends up having the game get tied. They were doing everything right. I think that Brian, I do agree that he should really be giving Paul Heriola more moments. I don't know what more he has to do. And honestly, I think Paul might not know what more he has to do right now. It's frustrating and it should be frustrating because I think he's been great and he's not getting shots. Caden Clark starts over him against Montreal.
Speaker: I don't understand that at all. I could go on and on about that. ah Paul Areola should have been starting that match if he did want to rotate. I think that was ridiculous. ah But yeah, I think Paul Areola. Remember, he's our backup left back.
Speaker: He is so important to the depth of this team right now. And he's been so good on the left wing. I think we're not giving him enough minutes, not giving enough appreciation. Also, quick side note. This is for you, Joey P in the chat that you're saying all you saw Albert Rusnak doing that game was miss key passes and and shoot off frame.
Speaker: Albert Rusnak was 35 of 38 on his passes. He had three defensive contributions. He connected on over half of his crosses and long balls. He was not dispossessed a single time. He created the joint most chances.
Speaker: Please. Albert Rusnak is one of the best tens in MLS. I just don't see a world in which he is not starting for us right now. He just doesn't do it in the loud ways. It was interesting hearing Nos Audietes on Friday and talking about the impact of Albert Rusnak that some fans start to get tired because, you know, he's not an Evander. He's not a Hany Mokhtar. He's going he's not going out and scoring a banger every single game.
Speaker: He is in a quiet way. One of the best tens of the last season. 10 years in MLS. He's so good. Please stop with the Albert Rusnak slander. That was a side note. I just, I just had to get on that. Love you, Joey, but that I can't agree. I cannot agree. I think he's one of the most underrated by the way. Absolutely. And, and he's so available and he's so in crucial to this team.
Speaker: And he was good. I know he missed that one opportunity in the first half, which he really should have taken another touch and shot that on frame. You're absolutely right on that, but he was great. He has been great. I don't think he's had a bad game.
Speaker: in like 10 games or something like that. He's been so good. J.O., you got something? I mean, I agree with you. i i would quibble that Albert wasn't great against Montreal. I think that was maybe the yeah yeah the game that maybe gave some ammunition to the the haters, as it were.
Speaker: but I... i' ah I am still torn on the who should be starting. I do sort of think that it's coming down to Morris. Like you can only really i think you'd only have two of Morris, Rusnak and Ferreira right now, at least in your starting. I'm not saying they can't play together.
Speaker: i think they are the most talent. That's the most talent that you can get is all three of them on the field. They just don't they have not clicked altogether. i think i am sort of partial to Adam's perspective on Areola.
Speaker: deserving a shot to start, especially with some of these starters out there. Uh, but the, the, the, as far as the the subs go, i I have been impressed with Brunette. Like I, I understand what Nico's saying. I think it's fair.
Speaker: Why not bring Ariel in there? Why to not sort of go for it a little bit more, but to Snyder Brunel's credit, every single time he's come on the field as a sub, even when he's as a winger, like in the, the revolution game, he,
Speaker: He he pushes the game, you know, the best chance that they had to score was at was Brunel with that that shot that the at the near post ah that went right wide in the 83rd minute. I think that and may have ended up being the Sounders last real shot.
Speaker: ah But I also do to Adam's point, there is this sort of misperception, I think, of the way the Sounders closed out that game. where they they they weren't going for a third goal.
Speaker: If you go back and you really watch that, they made a couple really good runs. Like it didn't work out. Areola made a great run into the box where the goalkeeper came off his line really well, right at the, like actually right before they scored.
Speaker: But it's I think the Sounders actually played it tactically right in terms of trying to close out that game. It was just a couple unfortunate mistakes. And I think we have to sometimes separate the result from the process. totally And in this game, totally I was actually really OK with the process.
Speaker: The result was really frustrating. ah like it would to give away those two penalties. I thought that they were both on the soft side, even though, you know, ah before the recording, Adam, I had a, ah had a spirited debate. spirit and debate ah And I am, I am, I think we, we probably agree more than we don't, but,
Speaker: I honestly think tactically i had no issues ah even because I do think like, and I think you're it's fair to say, why not bring in Ariel like here? But if you just look at the way it played out, I think Brunel acquitted himself really well.
Speaker: Yeah, so to me, i will stick that the subs were not what they should have been. But to your point, I will not dismiss that the tactics and the approach to the game from Brian and his staff what was very good. Going back to the pressing, the the line of confrontation to start this game was very high. They were pressing with four. They made San Diego uncomfortable. They stole the ball. Closing the game, there were moments where they were able to keep the ball.
Speaker: extending their possession pretty effectively. And that's something that he's been asking from these players lately. What's up everybody David Goss here from soccer wise. This is our MLS minute presented by continental tire. We're so excited to be working with some of the best local MLS coverage in the league as part of our new collective. And we welcomed the north end podcast out of Austin, Texas to our fold. So a big week for us on top of the open cup final and so much more. So after you're done listening, about your team. Come on over. Listen to myself, Doyle and Tom talk about the entire league. And if you are a Pharma soccer fan, 615 soccer fan, if you are in Nashville, congratulations because it is officially done.
Speaker: Nashville has clinched the 2026 MLS Supporters Shield as the guaranteed best record in the league. Only the second trophy. in their club's history after last year's US Open Cup victory. But Nashville are not done. They're pursuing the MLS single season points record, which sits at 74, set by Inter Miami back in 2024. So Nashville on 70 points have three matches left to try and hit that. And a reminder.
Speaker: No team has won back-to-back Supporters Shield since the l LA Galaxy in 2010 and 2011. It shows where parity lives in MLS. Nashville's trophy celebration was on the road in Montreal where they clinched it. It was one of two trophy celebrations in Montreal last week, and neither of them were for CF Montreal. ford's knocked them off in the canadian championship midweek the cpl squad the first to win a canadian championship and then of course nashville's win things are bad in montreal the fans have said they will not return to the supporter section this season and it just seems like an all-around meltdown as alexis sanchez refused to come on in the canadian championship the golden boot race is still sort of alive and that's thanks
Speaker: partially to the New York Red Bulls, who held Messi scoreless off the bench in a 2-0 win for the New York squad to keep their spot in the playoffs for one more week. One point ahead of Columbus, who pasted TFC out of their U.S. Open Cup final loss. it was 4-0 in the 50th minute. In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia had their first loss in 15 matches. No Kevin Sullivan in the home loss to the New England Revolution. And Antoine Griezmann,
Speaker: Had his 20th goal contribution. He now is the second fastest MLS player to reach that mark behind Messi. Right behind Messi in the Golden Boot standings this year is Petar Moussa, who scored a brace to move within three goals of Messi for that race. The two goals got Dallas a victory over San Jose. And with St. Louis' is huge letdown off their Open Cup victory against RSL, Dallas has moved to sole possession of second place in the West. RSL's victory, Portland's victory, and Austin's victory means that all of them have kept pressure on the Galaxy in Colorado at the bottom of the West. On the NWSL side, by the way, seven of the eight teams have clinched their spot in the playoffs as we head to Decision Day next weekend. So we'll have coverage for that. Of course, we've got CONCACAF Nations League around the corner for the U.S. Men's National Team. and We cover it all at SACAWI. So come on over and hang out. This has been your MLS Minute presented by Continental Tire.
Speaker: Thank you for listening to the Sounder Heart Podcast Network, which recently added Monday Soundcheck to our roster of shows. Soundcheck airs live on Mondays at 1 p.m. You can watch it on our YouTube channel or listen to it at your convenience, however you consume podcasts. It joins a roster that already includes Nos Adietes, which airs on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the Cooler Guild, who cover the Seattle rain.
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Speaker: We're also looking for sponsors. Send an email to partners at pnwsoccermedia.com and we'll get you all set up. Thanks for listening. So let's talk about what we've been trying not to talk about this whole time.
Speaker: Two penalty kicks, two self-inflicted wounds. You hear me say the phrase, do not give the ref a reason. That's a phrase I use all the time.
Speaker: And in both of the PKs, You're giving the ref a reason. If you go to ground in the box and you don't you're not careful with the follow-through and the aftermath, you're going to get called for the peeking.
Speaker: So Alex, he knows better. He goes to ground. Maybe you can kind of live with that decision a little more than Stu's.
Speaker: But Stu is a young player, and I will not sit here and crucify Stu Hawkins. He's too talented, too much of a prospect. He's young. He'll learn from that. he He hasn't been playing necessarily. He comes into this game in the 64th minute to close it down.
Speaker: You know, it's do or die for him. so does he hold the jersey? Absolutely. Should I have done that? No. There was nowhere for the attacker to go. But in that moment, he's kind of – Playing for his life. So he grabs onto the jersey. Is it a soft foul? Yeah, I have no problem with that.
Speaker: It's soft, but you're giving the ref a reason to make that call. So both of those were bad. That's what happens.
Speaker: But Adam, I think you're probably more
Speaker: Not excited, but you you probably want to spend more time talking about the encroachment in the Alex Rodin PK than about why or why not those calls were made.
Speaker: Well, absolutely. I mean, your point on Stu Hawkins. Yes, it's soft. Soft is not wrong. It's just that it was soft. They my right they have to make that call. totally That's it was it was a stone cold penalty and in in both cases.
Speaker: What look, I hate, hate, hate, hate coming out of a game and getting mad about something the referee did. I think it's cheap. I think it's lazy. And 90 percent of the time, I think it's wrong.
Speaker: I stick to my guns here that that should absolutely be an encroachment call. the the The spirit of that rule is that if a player is encroaching and affects the play as a goal is getting scored off a rebound, that the goal should be called back. And Prony does not get the touch on it.
Speaker: If he had, they would have brought it back. Absolutely. That's 100 percent impacted the goal cause he would have scored the goal. But he is in front of Alex Roldan, who's trying to crash in and get to the rebound. The whole way that Alex is trying to get to that ball, he's being shielded off by Peroni, who was way early, you have full body in the box before the shot's taken. ah Really, as a plant foot goes down, his whole body is in the box.
Speaker: And he absolutely impacts the play. Totally. I know there's there's something in the rule that says, oh, technically, because he didn't touch it or because he didn't impact the goalkeeper directly or he didn't come quite close enough that this shouldn't begin. The precedent is that that shouldn't. That is ridiculous. That's absolutely ridiculous. The spirit of an encroachment call is if you encroach and then you impact the following play that leads directly to a goal.
Speaker: The goal should be called back. I've very rarely been that frustrated with a refereeing decision where I just feel like they didn't do enough. I feel like they didn't look at it with the right spirit of the of the call. I think that, of course, changed the game completely. Credit to Andrew for making the save. He deserves that to be a save.
Speaker: ah You heard it on the broadcast. The broadcasters immediately were like, this one's coming back. Peroni impact clear and obvious. It was clear and obvious. I am very upset about that call, but you know, like I said, yeah they put themselves in the situation.
Speaker: ah They gave away a stone cold penalty They're going to give up that goal 80% of the time anyway off a penalty kick. And they do get punished by, you know, all the fans who are like, it doesn't matter if it was encroachment or not because we put themselves in the situation. You're right.
Speaker: That's absolutely correct. All that call meant is it possibly cost us two points in a way that we can't control. And that's just another reason this game is so frustrating because we're we controlled what we could control except for those two little lapses of judgment. And then a third lapse of judgment from the officiating crew.
Speaker: And that's all it takes to drop two points. And we almost dropped all three points. and almost scored in the last couple of minutes there. Credit Andrew Thomas. Yeah. Oh, wow. What a save. I'm, you know jeremiah has brought up at times that andrew thomas could have a shout for for goalkeeper the year i don't think he's going to get it just because where the sounders are he's got no chance at all but man in a vacuum when you put his performances against every other keeper in this league the saves that he's made the games that he's kept us in the things he's had to push his way through and and still deliver he has been incredible it's been so fun to watch him uh distribution needs some work i think that was a big mark in this game but
Speaker: But he's one of the best shot stoppers. Yes, he perhaps absolutely. And he's definitely one of the best go ah penalty kick specialists. The guy just knows and understands exactly what it takes for someone to just stop a PK. This is what I'll say.
Speaker: There is no doubt in my mind that there was encroachment there. That call should be made. I feel like it was a goal that should come back just out of the premises of the the rule.
Speaker: But Brian Smetzer, for the 15, 16 years that I've been covering this team, has ingrained something in my mind that's called control the controllables. And the refereeing is something that you can't control.
Speaker: And so when you give the referee the chance to make a call, when those things happen, when you yourself as a team are unable to finish certain chances, when you make the wrong pass, when you... ah Maybe in in both of those moments, actually, but in both of those penalty kicks, there were breakdowns that happened higher up the field before the ball got to those spots. So all those moments is what really encapsulates the result. So I'm not going to sit here and excuse the team for a bad call from the refereeing because ultimately the Sounders should have done more to us.
Speaker: not allowed those moments to impact the result plain and simple. So when it comes to this result, when it comes to this team moving forward, my biggest concern is that mentally the team is just not finishing 90 minutes. that The team is just not being able to really finish in these moments.
Speaker: We cannot keep giving this team free passes for not finishing Montreal, for not taking the momentum from the New England game and and having a dud of a game in Dallas.
Speaker: For a game like this one where you were up 2-0 in the second half and you're unable to close it. The reality here, Adam, and audience, is that this team needs to be better.
Speaker: If they are... in their minds, true playoff contenders. and And so it goes to the next part of this segment.
Speaker: This team is playing with fire. Colorado is right behind them. Thankfully, l LA has an LA galaxy has not been able to do a lot. Portland, they got a big win against Charlotte this weekend.
Speaker: So the standings are starting to, you know, get a little bit closer. The Sounders have done enough where I don't think they'll fall out of the playoffs. Yeah. but they certainly are no longer stepping towards the higher part of the Western conference where I thought they were going to be. I thought that they were going to be in fifth. i thought they were going to be in fourth. That's out of the question. Now you're just hoping that you do enough to stay in that plan, Adam. And,
Speaker: You have a difficult game coming up um against Houston in a short week rest. You're at home, so you're hoping that that works well for you. But, man, it's it's starting to look concerning to me, Adam.
Speaker: Yeah, and look... I like our odds in the Houston game. Houston, they're four straight draws. they're They're not in great form right now. They've kind of stumbled down the stretch and the Sounders midweek. going to have some fire. I think they're going to be angry. We saw from Dan Jovulich in this game. He looked mad the whole match and it really it really helped his game. he He plays really good when he's angry. i hope he keeps some of that. I hope the rest of the team keeps some of that. But like you said, Nico, you know, the Sounders are sitting in seventh right now.
Speaker: They're only one point ahead of Colorado, a Colorado team that just beat the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are still the favorites in the Western Conference, despite a really bad run of form. I think one win in their last seven where the Whitecaps are right now.
Speaker: I don't want to play Colorado right now. L.A. Galaxy, the other ones hanging around there in ninth. I'm not scared of the galaxy, to be honest. and I don't think that team is very good. um Real Salt Lake. They're just coming. They're coming off a couple of big performances, a couple of big wins. Really.
Speaker: The Sounders need to be worried. They need to be scared. They need to be up urgent right now. And I can't believe we're saying that with three games left in the regular. We should not have to be saying that with three games left in the regular season. I will say, though, that Brian Schmetzer will constantly back the mentality of his team. And I don't think that's just fluff. I think he means that. And I think he's right that this is a team that has players who experienced. experienced, who know how to have the right mentality. And a couple of little things go our way and we're having a completely different conversation right now. I don't necessarily agree that the Sounders didn't play 90 minutes in that match. I don't necessarily agree that
Speaker: You know, that that's been the case all that often, except there has been that bad string of first halves, but they have shown they played full 90 against New England. i think they played a full 90 against Dallas as well. I think they played a full 90 in this game or maybe 93, 94 minutes and then they lose four minutes in stoppage time that they that they don't.
Speaker: play the way they need to, but that's just singular mistakes. I think this team absolutely has shown that they can go a full 90 minutes with some of the best teams in the league. I think when Brian Schmetzer says this is a squad that no one wants to face in the playoffs, he's correct in the fact that these Seattle Sounders can beat anyone in the Western Conference on any given day in any stadium in any city.
Speaker: I think they can also lose to any given team in any given stadium on any given day. They are trending towards the better of those two. But you have to catch fire like you did a couple games ago going into the playoffs because you're going to be up against it You're going be playing some of the top teams in the West with how you're going in the standings right now. There's a chance you have to be playing playing games, playing more games on the road.
Speaker: There's no time to be sputtering. There's no time to be sputtering. So, look, I understand the premises of any given Sunday or any given Saturday. Any game for this team, you can say, look, that they've been there, they've done that, they have talent.
Speaker: But I think there's a couple of teams that would certainly, i would want to play. And can the Sounders beat St. Louis on a playoff game? I'm not going to say no, but is that percentage high?
Speaker: Hell no no. St. Louis is a much better team when he comes to the system, when he comes to the talent, when it comes to the results. I mean, they're they're just a better team and and it's okay to say that Vancouver themselves. They're a, a better team on paper. Now, obviously, when it comes to the playoffs, the Sounders have shown that regardless of what that competition looks like, or when it comes to big-time games, just like it happened against Miami in the Leagues Cup Final. I mean, they were the better team. Miami was the the team that everybody was talking about with It was going be easy win, and they shocked the world. So can they do that?
Speaker: Absolutely. But... Before that, they got to get there. yeah And that's my biggest concern. Can this team put it together to get there? Because I'm with you. I'm um i'm optimistic against Houston at home. ah You've won four of the last five against that team.
Speaker: i think that there is a level of confidence, especially at home. Do you match up well on the field? I don't know if defensively you do. Guilherme is phenomenal. Bogut is excellent.
Speaker: Now, defensively, are they great? No. I don't think Houston is very good when it comes to the defensive aspect. ah Greg Olson, who is someone that is a pretty greedy and he's a reflection of his teams where they're just kind of this knife to the teeth. They're going to come at you. I don't see that from this Houston team. I think it depends a lot of individualities up top for them to get going.
Speaker: So i don't I don't know if the Sounders match up well, but I don't think this is a game that I'm looking at the schedule and saying this is a for sure loss. But I just don't know how well the Sounders match up against the style of play that Houston has, specifically with the injuries, right?
Speaker: Game art probably won't be back until the playoffs, if that. We'll see what happens with Jordan Morris. Alex has been beat up yeah for weeks now. I mean. But they need him. They can't afford to have him off the roster. Yeah, I don't even know what what's going happen on on Wednesday. If he's going to be able to get there, we'll be at the training facility tomorrow. So make sure to check out Sandra Hart, you know, Pools of Sports. We're going to be right there checking everything out. J.O., myself, we're going to give you guys the updates. But it's going to be interesting how that plays out because it's short rest and it feels like the team
Speaker: is feeling that convoluted schedule. It's very unfortunate that we have this, just the sprint where got four games in the last two weeks of the regular season, especially for the kind of season we've had. It's very, very unfortunate. And we were just coming out of this and thinking, Oh, we've got some real depth now. And it,
Speaker: Really shows how crucial Yamar is to this setup, how much of a wrench that has been thrown into the gears where now you've got Alex rolled on and Stu Hawkins as the other two center back options. And then you actually you have to rely on Kalani Kosarenzi being in form on the right. He was in form in this game, but he's had his down moments this season. Of course, Alex can slot over there. And then below that, you got Ryan Saylor and Antino Lopez playing.
Speaker: It's not who you want to be putting out in a playoff game. Very simple. um it's going to be It's going to be a real physical test of Alex Roldan, who Brian's been saying, as you said, for a couple of weeks now that he's been banged up. He's playing hard. He's working as hard as he can, and he just...
Speaker: He needs to put his head down. We need him so, so badly right Like with Jordan Morris, as we said earlier in the show, I want so badly to have him out there at full fitness, but it's just not been the reality this season consistently. When he's been there, he's been great. He hasn't been there very often.
Speaker: If he's not available, you've got plenty of options. You've got Jesus Ferreira on the right. You've got a cover on the left wing. You've got Dan Jovalich at the nine. Obviously, Jesus can cover the nine if absolutely necessary. You've got a lot of options if Jordan Morris isn't available. But if Alex rolled on,
Speaker: is even too tired to play more than 45 you get into a sticky situation brian has to do some managerial acrobatics and to put it frankly things haven't gone well when brian schmetzer has done managerial acrobatics this season at least last season he did so well with the depth that he you know found that he had and all the changes he had to make and that leaf cup run and the fixture congestion and all seemed to work out for him just hasn't worked out for him this year you saw in the first half against montreal that's some of the most over changes I think Brian has made this season and that first half was awful. I think that it's not out of the question that if Brian is forced to rotate enough that we see a half not too dissimilar to that Montreal game sometime in the next week and a half.
Speaker: But I think it comes to the point in the season where Brian still needs to be putting his best 11 out there. Some players are really going to have to just grit their way through it. Sadly, the last thing ill say about Houston.
Speaker: You do not want to get in a foot race with this team. They clearly are okay just exchanging in the middle of the ring, if you will. They're going to go two for two. I mean, that they've scored a bunch of goals this season. You look at their last couple scores, 3-3 against San Diego, you know, 2-2. I mean, they're just a team that gets the ball forward. In L.E., being able to play into this new wingback sort of position has been very good for them.
Speaker: I think Hilarme... should be considered right next to Griezmann for newcomer of the year in MLS. I don't know if i have a vote anymore because I didn't get a vote on the 22 for 22. So we'll see. Wow. But if I do, I will definitely vote for Guillerme. I just think that in the prolonged game, what he means to Houston, he's just so good. Hector Herrera,
Speaker: Don't like the guy person. He's he's good if he he doesn't get sent off. Yeah. If you if he's not spitting on people, you know, you know, he's a guy that's versatile. He, he's got experience. ah He's very good at just managing the game. um Antonio Carlos. I've liked him since Orlando, very good center back. So they got really good players. And when they put it together, where Ben Olsen can really dial it down and push the right buttons, pull the right levers. They're a difficult team. So,
Speaker: I'm excited to see the game. i don't think it's going to be an easy one. i don't know. if I don't think that the Seattle Sounders match up well with them, but I'm going to give the Sounders the benefit of the doubt at home.
Speaker: As you mentioned, Adam, in a game where they feel like they need to show up, where they, it's like a revenge game from them after what happened against San Diego. So hopefully they get that one.
Speaker: So yeah what's your score prediction for that game, Nico? Ooh, score prediction. Not to put you on the spot. or prediction That's a difficult one. I'm going to go, if the Suns are going to win, which I think they will, I'm going to go with a 2.
Speaker: I'm going to go with a 3-2. So, wow. that's It's a big game. 3-2 against Houston. That's the only way the Suns are going to be able to win is they're able to put more goals in the back of the net than Houston. Because to me, Houston's going to get their way. They're going to be able to score some goals.
Speaker: So I'll go with it three two For me, Houston's coming off a really awful game against Minnesota. They didn't score. They didn't produce a single expected goal against a not very good Minnesota team and not great Minnesota defense.
Speaker: I think that the Sounders win it 2-1. And I think Jesus Ferreira finally gets that goal. I think i think this is this is where he he's adjusted enough. He's fit enough.
Speaker: He comes in and he gets one of those two goals. That'll be my prediction for the match. I like it. Well, that is about all we have for the Sounders. We want to move on to the rest of the league. There were some interesting games this weekend, Adam. Let's start with your game and and what you thought was the the best game of the match day week.
Speaker: I will say that things at the Western Conference continue not be certain. As much as I think that St. Louis is the best team in the Western Conference and Vancouver will be a handful Not the best results for the top teams in the Western Conference. No, this was a very strange week ah in the Western Conference. You saw Vancouver lose. You saw St. Louis finally get beaten in MLS play. I'm going to forgive St. Louis there. They're tired. They're coming off the midweek Open Cup. Hangover.
Speaker: and They definitely had it. They were bad. in that game uh st louis were not good at all they were they were run off the pitch by rsl who aren't a great team at all um i think that's just a bit of a hangover match and early red card early red card they only had three shots in the game yeah things didn't go the way of st louis that's not st louis that's that's not the team that's going to be there in the playoffs i'm not going to hold that one against them vancouver I mean, when do you start worrying about Vancouver? When do you start thinking that they're pretenders? i They're really one win in their last six. They were, I mean, to be fair, Colorado, very difficult place to play.
Speaker: Always. That's that's this whole season. No one's going to want to go there in the playoffs. I'm I'm a little scared about facing Colorado in the playoffs. It's very well could happen. And and they are a team that, you know, Morgan Whitaker is a great player and they've played great as a team. They've played great with that home field advantage. They lead MLS and clean sheets.
Speaker: Vancouver. You're starting to get worried. You're starting to get worried. That is not my game of the week. My game of the week. I'm to have to go to the noisy neighbors, Portland. They get that three to win over Charlotte. That is, a that's a great match. That's a team that's battling just,
Speaker: desperate scrapping for that last playoff spot. So and good on you, Portland. you're You're almost to that last playoff spot. Almost. They get that late winner. Absolutely needed it in the playoff race. It was a great game altogether.
Speaker: But like you said, the the interesting results, although they might not be the more interesting games in the West, were the ones atop the conference. I also want to Shout out Dallas. They're coming out of nowhere. They're now second in the Western Conference. I'm sorry. I don't believe in Dallas. I didn't believe in Dallas. I don't think they're there. I don't think I mean, obviously, St. Louis only won one of their first 10 games. That's going to sandbag them for the rest of the season as far as the standings go. But we were better than Dallas the whole 90 minutes at Dallas. I thought the Sounders really outplayed them.
Speaker: Dallas played well in this game. I just I don't see them as that second place team. If there's a top four team in the West that I want to face in the playoffs, it's absolutely l L.A. Dallas or FC Dallas right now. San Jose has been on a really good run. St. Louis has been obviously on a really great run in Vancouver is probably the best constructed team in the conference. But yeah, I think this was.
Speaker: it's a wild West week. um This is, it's all thrown it kind of out of balance. It's obviously affects the Sounders playoff position a lot. Cause now you got Colorado right on your heels at 42 points in eighth place. And below that LA galaxy, who I will say, Nico, Nico, it's a little bit cheap to pick out traffic. Oh, as your game of the week. That's always going to be game. no it is cheap but But go ahead on El Traffic. It is cheap. Well, i will say this about Portland. I literally just checking my emails.
Speaker: Totally forgot that at 12, man, I'm pissed at 12 o'clock. There was going to be a a press conference with Diego Chata, uh, probably announcing his retirement. Uh,
Speaker: Man, that I'm upset about that. Such a phenomenal player. Legendary. yeah I think him and Ozzy Alonso were the best that this league has ever seen at CDM. Phenomenal guy off the field as well. Friend of the show. Friend of Sounder Hard. Always available for us. So we we wish him the best. Absolutely. But yeah, this game was was was exciting because I had Charlotte winning. I really thought that they were going to... They just had more. I mean, Portland has been such a coin flip when it comes to just they're very open uh i don't see the the hand of uh si fuentes in this uh particular team they give up so many goals the midfield's odd uh i don't know they're just a very one-dimensional team when it comes to the way they win games uh but look they did it in this one and they continue to climb and the sound has got to be careful but when it comes to that foe next door
Speaker: Continue to just jump lines in the standings because if you're not careful, either you play them the play-in or they're going to pass you by. So you got to be real careful with it. But that was a great game. i totally agree with you. El Trafico, let's get into it.
Speaker: Phenomenal game. Not what I expected. Not going lie to you. I thought that LAFC was going to be able to put this game away a lot earlier than they did. They were the better side for the majority of of this game. They got ahead in the score. I did think they get they got snakebitten by the refereeing. thought that the offside call on...
Speaker: One of their goals, I think Garces, they called it a deflection, where they're saying that it was a deflection, so he didn't mean to get the ball away, it was still enough sides. To me, Garces was trying to make that play.
Speaker: He's just not very good, so he totally passes it right to the LAFC player. So to me, they should have won that game, but it goes back to this LAFC team that...
Speaker: has been inconsistent. yeah And it wasn't Mark Dos Santos. People thought that it was going to be very simple. Hey, get rid of the coach. We're going to go back to being this great team. The roster is just not what it used to be. Igor DeJesus come back to this game. i thought he was great.
Speaker: He does give this team a midfielder that can dictate tempo, has some defensive qualities, But both of these teams, if it's not because of some errors and and some slip-ups from the goalkeepers, it probably would have been a much smaller of a goal frame in between these two teams. I thought that both Llorente and...
Speaker: the LA Galaxy keeper gave away some pretty easy goals. But to me, the 2-2 was fine. I love what I see from LAFC in terms of what they're able to do with their identity.
Speaker: LA Galaxy is such a reactive team. that They're not proactive. They don't really set the tempo. They're kind of going off of what they want to see from the other team. i get that they get early in the goal score in this particular game, right after that offside controversial call.
Speaker: I think Taylor's a very good player to a certain extent. He picks up the ball, nice interception, gets the ball forward, creates the play for Paintsville in that game.
Speaker: But LAFC to me was a better team throughout that game. And LA Galaxy ah is a team that has enough to make your life uncomfortable, but they don't have enough to be a protagonist in the Western Conference. And to be fair for LA Galaxy, they're a lot better now with João Klaus than they were told about a month ago. before they had him as as their their guy that can go in and just and just muscle his way to some goals. They look a lot better with him, but LA Galaxy, the whole season, they've just, like you said, they're reactionary. They're not taking the game to teams. They're not a threat in the West necessarily. i don't think so. They'll probably make the playoffs, but I don't think they're they're going to be a threat. They could bounce out in the in the play-in game or in the first round pretty easily. And LAFC, I think this was just, like you said, just another week where we show that it's just...
Speaker: not what you expect lafc to be they were better in this game but not good enough you need to win that game you you have to go and win that game hugo larise that's a bad mistake to give pencil his second goal this is just an ugly match when you really look at it and you look at the goals that were scored they were scored off of mistakes uh it's not the you know it's the drama that you want out of el traffico but it's not the quality of play that you want out of El Trafico. I do disagree. i think both of the offsides calls were correct. LAFC are obviously going to be very angry because the first one too. I think both of them, I think, i think, I think both of them.
Speaker: Um, but I, I obviously you're goingnna be mad if you have two goals called back for offsides. It's a, it is a shame that that second goal gets called back for it's correct, but oh man, what a moment that would have been. Um, yeah, it's just another week where LAFC underperform against a team that lafc shouldn't be underperforming against you look at the talent on their roster it just doesn't seem like it matters right now they're in flux and they're not looking like they're going be ready for playoff soccer i feel like a crazy person but i feel like the the defense but porteous and long to me they're a shell of where they were maybe a couple of seasons ago ah you look at that first goal by pencil
Speaker: the The run is not savvy. It's not shifty. Paisal's just running into the box and nobody picks him up. and it's It's such an easy tap-in that I just don't get it.
Speaker: LAFC has been such a... hard team to decipher because that defense to me just gives up such easy goals palencia great going forward but defending it's not his thing i mean i just don't know and he's had a fall off i'll say that there was a point where i thought he was one of the better fullbacks in this league i no longer think that i think he's just not a very good defender and laf is going to continue to leak goals if they can't figure that out now Nico, once again, I don't mean to put you on the spot, but the only team to have conceded less goals in the Western Conference in 2026 than the Vancouver Whitecaps is LAFC at 35. So it's interesting because I agree with you when I watch them. It's not clean in any of the stages of the game. But LAFC, they've been dropping a lot of these close matches as well. ah yeah So they're the team with the second least goals in the second least goals and the second best goal difference in the Western Conference. They're at plus. That's why hate stats. They have a better goal difference than St. Louis, than FC Dallas, than San Jose.
Speaker: ah It's very odd. And I, you know, i agree with you somewhat. You're more of an anti. I love stats. I love the advanced stats. I think that's more my bread and butter than it is for you. And I think there's a lot to be said for being able to have the eye test and go off of that. Because on this occasion, I agree with the eye test that LAFC, they're in sixth place in the West. I think they deserve to be in sixth place in the West. I think that's honestly probably. Yeah, it's where they fit in.
Speaker: Not necessarily talent, pure talent wise, but how they're playing as a team. That's where they fit in right now. Yeah, well, look, I was doing my best to wait for J.O. ah before we did the raffle. but He's not coming back today. he's He's gone for the rest of the day. oh okay. Well, there you go. So let's let's get the... Oh, yeah, we forgot to announce, guys. Yeah, we're doing the the giveaway, the Yamar signed jersey. i put that out on Twitter. So I wanted to make sure that everybody knew we were going to put together... oh Well, actually, Adam Ray deserves all the credit for getting all the names into the box. He gave the credit to everyone who...
Speaker: chipped in with the extra super chats so i believe it's in that box adam better it for you there you go adam appreciate it so adam himself is getting the box we're gonna do the raffle right now this is for a signed game jersey of yammer gomez andrade We had announced that earlier. We had said that only the people that were commenting for one of the specific shows that we had were going to enter that specific raffle. So here it is. Adam, you did the work. You did the work. So you deserve to put it together and let us know who it is. Now, hold on a second, Adam. If it is your name, make sure that you...
Speaker: either ah send a sender a heart an email. My DMs are open. You could add them on IG as well. You could hit them up on IG. Just let one of us know your contact information so we can get back to you. We don't want you to put it out here in the chat. Do not put your information. On the chat. They'll know you have the jersey. That's right. You have to Yeah, don't put your address or your name or your phone number. Hit us up privately, and then we're going to get this jersey to you. I'll deliver it myself. But, Adam, without further ado, let me give you the drum roll.
Speaker: but but but but but but All right. but but but bu bla bla The winner is Thick Moss. That's... I think this is one of the ones that had ah one of only one ticket.
Speaker: Thick Moss. At Thick Moss. At Thick Moss. Wow. If you are in the chat, you can celebrate if you want in the chat, but do not put your information.
Speaker: Contact us. Either Nico, me on IG, email to the sounder at heart. ah ah Email address. We will get you your jersey.
Speaker: Oh, are you want... It's here, guys. I wasn't cheating. It's right here. um Yeah, so shout out to the Beacon Hill branch of the Seattle Public Library. Printed out all the tickets in here. i can I'll just show for the team.
Speaker: For everyone... There's like 100 tickets in there, and I picked Thick Moss out of there. And we appreciate everybody. Again, hadn't raised all the credit. It was 100? Close to 100. Close to 100.
Speaker: For the record of how we did this, you get one ticket for commenting on that on that live a couple weeks ago. For every dollar super chatted, people got an extra ticket in there.
Speaker: the box right here um i guess i'm curious right now to see oh actually thick moss shout out to thick moss uh contributed five dollars during that stream oh so he was so thick moss had one ticket in there for commenting and an extra five for the five dollars donated so thick moss had six tickets in there and odds in their favor and it pays off congratulations a thank you moscomas andrade jersey Let us know. get Get in contact with us. I will deliver that jersey to you ah within this week. Just make sure that you let me know.
Speaker: I'm hoping probably by Thursday I'll be able to get out there. Tuesday I'm going to be on ah the training field. Wednesday I'll be at the game. Thursday should be a great day for me to take the jersey to you. Or if you're at the game on Wednesday, ah could definitely meet you at the stadium. So just let me know.
Speaker: Cool. Well, you know what? Obviously, this is one of the bigger things that wanted to do. I want to get more of this, you know, little raffles going. We're going to do some tickets. I want to do some jerseys. You know, some other things that I got, you know, planned for you guys. I'm a person that I keep a lot of ah this fan things going in my house. And in my little office, I got...
Speaker: you know a pair of gloves from Stephen Fry. I got some cleats from Lodero that are signed. I like it. If you like those sort of things, we're going to try to get that to you so you can put it up in your room, in your office, in your house.
Speaker: So yeah, hope you guys are excited about Yeah, and I also, I do want to give a shout out to everyone else who had a bunch of names in the box there for donating. Kenny Sloth had three tickets in there. I'm sorry, Kenny. I know one of the active members of our chat as well did not get it today. Derek Richards had six tickets in there, did not get it to go ah derek's way ah eddie jarvis had five tickets in there polo magno who i've seen earlier in the chat today had six in there squared one two three four had a ten dollar dono 11 tickets in there oh no way sorry sorry actually there were two people who had ten dollar donations uh in that in that stream and it did not work out it was about they gave themselves about a 10 15 chance uh and hey you know that's
Speaker: to to win the lottery, you got to buy a ticket. You do You do. And we do appreciate that. We're going to again, continue to do this pretty often. So you guys are going to have other chances, but we do appreciate it. see that you like subscribe out on be part of our family. That's the whole point of this thing is just to get more people going and and get us involved in everything that to do with the Seattle Sounders and provide you guys a little bit of a, I don't know, gift. Cause we do appreciate you guys's, you know,
Speaker: I don't know commitment to come and listen to us every Monday. We love to hear what you have to say as well. I mean, some of the, you know, when I publish an article on Sounder at Heart and I see the comments and not all of them agree with me, but I always read them and I always see people who have really good points. They bring stats to it. It's not reactionary. ah you know You know, we're on camera here, but but you guys have...
Speaker: ah so many great opinions and ideas that are backed up and we'd love to talk about you know the sounders with you guys you bring a lot to it um and thank you as well to everyone tuning in i know we've had some audio issues the last couple weeks i want to never give them another big shout out to nat maymoudis our producer right here this stream has run smooth as butter and that's what nat does thank you nat um and it's going to be that way uh from here on out for those who want to look in behind the scenes we've switched to OBS as our streaming software for this. It's getting put out directly to YouTube. For those who know how these things work, it just means it's going to be a lot quicker. The internet is going to not be as choppy. We're not going to have, fingers crossed, knock on wood, the issues that we had the last couple of weeks. Thank you all for sticking with us through that. I think those issues should be put to bed. Any other questions from the fan base? And yes, that that was the biggest thing, right? I mean, we, and we do appreciate your patience. We've been working with you guys, learning, kind of coming along. Nat has came in and just took us to a whole other level.
Speaker: and And that's what we want is for the stream to come out smooth. He he even has some like Martin Scorsese, like one-on-one shots. I love it. Nat produces the broadcast over at Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC where I also do commentary. That's where I know Nat from. and a he's ah He's one of the the future people of of of live production, broadcast production in this city. he is as committed as it gets.
Speaker: Love Nat. And yeah, he'll be he'll be a part of making this. the As I appreciated, Jerome, the quality that this show deserves and the quality that you guys deserve, because, yeah, you guys deserve that high quality Sounders fan media. We're just trying our best to provide that.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. and look, to be quite honest, the look, the the Sounders have honestly have put themselves in a situation this year where. you know, the fans have been tested.
Speaker: yeah It hasn't been easy. And so the fact that you guys are out here listening to the show, being so engaged, going to the games, mean, that just talks a whole lot about your love for this team, the organization, and where it moves forward to. So, look, the the Houston game should be one where think we're going to get a pretty good, you know, um audience. I think that it's going to be that 10 is not going to be bad. It's a 730 game against Houston. So, you know, you're hoping that it's going to get pretty filled up. that The pressure that you guys put as a fan base is going to be important in this game.
Speaker: And look, it's do or die. Adam, you got a couple more games. When you look at this schedule, you got Vancouver away. You got LAFC at home.
Speaker: Which game do you feel like is going to be the most important, right? I mean, you got Houston at home, you got Vancouver on the road, and they I believe you got LAFC back home.
Speaker: Look, you've got a chance to make a statement with Vancouver on the road. I don't think they're going to make a statement. as I think they could go get a draw. Vancouver are in bad form right now, but Vancouver are really good. We have not matched up against Vancouver very well at all for a couple of years now. ah They've had our number.
Speaker: I don't necessarily expect us to go get a result in Vancouver. i won't be mad if we don't. I think the game to watch for is decision day. I think if we go out and we put it on LAFC, who, as I've said through this show, I think...
Speaker: They're not at the level. I think that I don't necessarily want to call them pretenders because I don't necessarily think they were and seen as contenders. Maybe as a franchise, they're always seen as contenders. But the talent that's on that team, if we can go out and show that we are the better organized, better coached, better cultured team at this moment in time that I believe that we are on decision day.
Speaker: with all the pressure that that comes with against LAFC, that will be the marker of if we are ready for playoff soccer. That'll begin for me. I mean, that's the one that it's always going to be rivalry. I mean, ever since the Sounders beat this team,
Speaker: In their home, in the playoffs, I'll never forget. I was right there on the field. The Javier Arriaga tackles, the Nicolas O'Darrel goals, the O'Darrel goals. Everything about that game just resonates with me.
Speaker: And LAFC is, for me, always going to be A step down from Portland, but to me it's Portland and the LAFC. Yeah, the LAFC game. They were the new kid on the block. They were the Hollywood kids, the one that everybody wants talk about. That's a rivalry game, man. So that that that last game is big. Yeah, that game against LAFC, that's one of the best matches in Sounders history for me. That that that is always going to go down as one of the best moments in Sounders history. And I would agree that I love the rivalry those teams have built over the years because it's not that proximity rivalry where you just feel like you have to have it just because you're right there. It's because it's a team that represents the new guard of MLS and a team that represents more of the old guard of MLS. It's so strange as someone who's been watching the Sounders since they were that new team to to think of the Sounders as the the old guard, but that's what we are. We're the team that's always that's been there for 16 years now, 17 years, always competing, always doing it. And LAFC has provided that that counterpoint of the nouveau riche, the team that gets all the big signings coming in. And we've never really operated that way. we We build it out from our own academy, LAFC, credits that organization, but they do have to go splash every now and again to get the output that they want. And even that doesn't always work, but that's going to be a really great game. I'm hoping for the most attended game of the year.
Speaker: I'm hoping on decision day against LAFC, that is going to be the one to watch. It's one you can't miss. Should be a good one. And guys, this is it for our show today. Really appreciate all of you guys just commenting, sharing, liking the show, all of it. I really do.
Speaker: continuously get, you know, impressed and, and, it's, it's hard for me to just see all the support that we get from you guys. Uh, now with Nat, obviously things are going to be even better with the stream. we're going to continue to make this show even better. We're going to have a lot more of, uh, this raffles. We're going to get more great information. We'll be back next Monday to talk about where the team is at that point after a couple of games. So it was going to be very interesting. Adam, anything else for me, Momaya?
Speaker: Thank you to everybody. Thank you to, uh, Twimberly for the shout out on the good stream quality. Jerome McCaskill on the shout out. Milk toasting. Sounders till I die. And I ain't dead yet. Absolutely correct.
Speaker: Thank you to everyone who tuned in. As always, we hope to see you again on Monday. Yes. Shout out to a couple of, uh, players and parents who came up to me during the Bellevue college game.
Speaker: it was Bellevue against Everett. Everett ended up winning that game. They apparently took the league and it was a great game. little nephew, Diego Diaz, my man, love you. Tough game, difficult one, zero loss, but shout out to everyone who came up that loves the show, loves Adam Ray's and Monday soundcheck.
Speaker: Really appreciate you guys. Have a good day. Take it easy. you
Speaker: Let's go at Sounders.
