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Are The Seattle Sounders Ambitious Enough? - Ep. 79
1.6k Plays8 days ago
We are back with an offseason episode with some headlines around MLS to cover, including a new sporting director for Atlanta United with Seattle Sounders ties. We also update the Seattle Sounders’ ongoing pursuit of an FC Dallas duo and give our thoughts on the team’s offseason to date.
With the release of the 2025 MLS schedule, be sure to tune in to the Lobbing Scorchers YouTube on Friday at 7:30 pm ET for our live reaction show!
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Lobbing Scorchers is a production of Just Once Media.
Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
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Transcript
Introduction to Episode 79
00:00:00
Speaker
What's going on, everybody? Welcome to episode 79, Lobby Scorchers. This is Ari Lillianwall. Got producer Noah here with me. And folks, the MLS offseason is in full swing, and we've got some headlines to cover. Noah, how are you feeling?
00:00:15
Speaker
I feel excited, rejuvenated, like rumor milled. I'm on Twitter just constantly refreshing Tom Bogert's account, hoping, praying that there's something new, something in the water.
Why is the MLS offseason exciting?
00:00:29
Speaker
We've got a lot to talk about. Yeah. For sickos like us, this is actually one of the more fun parts of the year.
00:00:35
Speaker
I definitely, I'm the same way, transfer season. I love obsessing over all the roster movement and the transfers and, you know, picturing the fits of players on their new teams and stuff. So we're going to have a good off season talking about all of that up for this one.
Atlanta United's Strategic Moves
00:00:55
Speaker
We've got a new sporting director for Atlanta United with Seattle Sounders ties. A few roster moves around ah around MLS. Nothing major, but a couple of things to talk about. And I'm sure there will be more to come on that front as we ah as we go forward in the offseason. ah We've got some updates kind of on the Seattle Sounders ongoing attempt to plunder the roster of FC Dallas. We're going to give our thoughts on that. It'll be updates if you just listen to the podcast, which I'm sure you can hit on the live show part of this. yes exactly um
00:01:27
Speaker
But before I derailed, I totally derailed that, Ari. You're good. You're good. I'd have to get this ad read by. Lobbie Scorchers is part of the Sounder at Heart podcast network. If you want to get the best yet ah independent Seattle soccer coverage, consider supporting us by going to sounderatheart.com slash LS. That's sounderatheart.com slash LS. Scroll down to subscribe and support to get 30 days completely free. Every sign up through our link helps support and grow this show. No, I believe we have one new sub to thank. We have one new sub. Brian?
00:01:54
Speaker
Walker Brian Walker. Thank you for being sub number. I'm not actually sure cuz I don't have the complete sheet up I think it's over 50. I think we're at 51, which is a great number We love to see that now if you want to support the show and you enjoy the content the absolute Best way to do that is to subscribe to sounder at heart by using our link at sounder at heart comm slash LS Another great way you can support the show especially if you're watching us on YouTube. Yes You can subscribe to the Lobbing Scorchers YouTube. Noah, the drive to 850 subs is alive and well.
Growing the YouTube Channel
00:02:28
Speaker
We've been stacking and racking. We've been stacking and racking. And it's really it's about the drive to 1,000, ultimately. And we're actually pretty close to being on that road, which is exciting. But you know to get there, we have to hit 850. So go ahead and hit Subscribe. We're going to have a lot more content on YouTube coming all offseason, including some more live shows. We did our second ever live show.
00:02:51
Speaker
It was a flop and it was not a flop. it It was really, I consider it kind of our debut yeah because we did one after the game in l LA, but that was sort of crash course testing it out. It was only for 20, 30 minutes. I popped in like for two seconds right at the end. didn't really dish any takes or anything but we did our first full live show and yeah smashing success thank you to everyone who tuned in I think we had about a hundred people in there like simultaneously at the at the apex of it ended up pulling over a thousand views on YouTube which for us is really good so ah yeah excited to keep doing those and we are ah we are going to do one this weekend we're gonna have ah we're gonna have some sounder stuff to talk about
00:03:33
Speaker
ah hoping to get some information on their schedule release which if so will definitely react to that so tune in for our next live show it's scheduled for Friday at 7 30 p.m.
Handling Negative Comments
00:03:45
Speaker
Pacific I believe is that right something like that you can go on our YouTube channel it'll say upcoming live streams hit the little bell button and you'll be notified when we go live Noah, we did unfortunately have someone who is quite unhappy in our YouTube comments. um This is a good plug, actually. Noah did an interview with Jordan Morris about his his diabetes charity. And you guys talked about some other stuff, too. It was a good interview. But I think it was mostly ah like charity-based content. That's something that's important to him off the field. And so we we gave him a ah little shine for that.
00:04:22
Speaker
Apparently Chris was not happy about that. it was not So he crashed out in the ah in the lobbing scorchers YouTube comments and I only bring it up I mean I So you were going back and forth with him a little bit which I thought was funny But I parachuted in saw what was going on and just banned him immediately. Yeah, don't be a crash out Chris but ah the reason I bring it up is because From now on, anyone who crashes out in our YouTube comments is going to be known as a crash out Chris. And if you're a crash out Chris, you're probably going to get banned. You know, you can always come if you want to talk ball and you want to come in and ah disagree with us and you lambast our takes. Yeah, totally fine. In fact, encouraged. yep But if you crash out and start throwing around crazy toxic stuff, I mean we're just gonna ban you. So don't be a crash out Chris guys. We're all for content, a little trolling here and there. Spirited debate. come Come at us, we'll take it. Don't you ever. Don't you ever be a crash out Chris though. cause you
00:05:17
Speaker
You're gone. You're gone. You're gone, buddy. You're gone, buddy. Pack it up. Get him out of here. Get that guy out of here. The whole thing with Crash Out Chris actually made me appreciate the brigade a little more because, you know, like the brigade, they don't like our takes always all the time, but like you're good natured about it. Crash Out Chris was going crazy. We brigade.
Atlanta United's New Leadership
00:05:36
Speaker
Crash out Chris yeah down here down below brigade stock up crash out Chris stock down in the gutter All right, let's get to ah let's get to a few of these headlines from around MLS We'll get to the sounder stuff later offseason shows without games might take a little bit of different format from time to time So today we're gonna start with the league-wide news, which I think the biggest story Definitely the biggest story of the day Noah was the news that Chris Henderson is departing and into Miami CF where he built the super team with Lionel Messi and the Barca boys helped build I should say yeah you got to give David Beckham and Jorge Moss their credit there as well but Chris Hendo he was uh he was really on the ground for all of that for them from their ascent from
00:06:18
Speaker
Kind of a joke of a team under a bunch of MLS roster saying an illegal team. Yeah. Yeah. With like five. But still getting 12th on the table. Yeah. And they're now a Lionel Messi led Barcelona laden juggernaut. Thanks in part to the work done by Chris Henderson is sporting director. He now joins Garth Loggerway at Atlanta United. They're back. They got the gang back together and run it back.
00:06:41
Speaker
the time-honored Atlanta United strategy of poaching Seattle Sounders. Basically, it sound trying to become Seattle Sounders East you between Gonzo Pineda, Garth Lagerwey, and now Chris Henderson. um But obviously, this is this is a big move because you've gotten Atlanta United Club right that um they are downtrodden the last few years took the league by storm when they first got to MOS and have fallen off quite a bit Carlos Boca Negrives out of there Garth Lagerwey he went there from Seattle I think
00:07:16
Speaker
and see It seems like he thought that a they were further along than they actually were in some ways. They fleeced him a little bit. A lot of his press conferences this year, I got the vibe from Garth that he was like, wow, it's a lot more messed up around here than I thought. I don't know what's going on with this roster, but I'm going to have to bring my old buddy, Chris Henderson, back.
00:07:38
Speaker
My take on this, though, is that I mean it's the obvious move for Atlanta United. And I guess the way I feel about it, Noah, is that if like if this doesn't work for them, I don't know what will. You know, I liked the Gonzo Pineda higher when they made it. That didn't work out. Garth Loggerway so far has not had the impact.
00:07:58
Speaker
that I think they thought he would. Although to be fair, he's still early on in his tenure. But ah I think if you're if you're thinking of ah it from Atlanta, United's perspective is a high percentage move that seems destined to put them on a better track. I think this would be it.
00:08:14
Speaker
Yeah, I mean listen. I think we have to dwell on the comedy of Atlanta United fans deeply believing in their hearts that Seattle ruined soccer and then immediately after that happening. They're like we're actually going to do everything in our power to create Seattle Sounders of the East. We're going to get Gonzo. We're going to get Garth and now we're going to fire Gonzo and then we're going to get Chris Henderson. Yeah, it's just the bit is incredible and also I think it's funny that they fired Gonzo because he landed in League of Mechis. Not that that's an upgrade or a downgrade, but it's like clearly there's some value in him being a coach and maybe there was a lot more to do with the roster than you know just ah the coaching issues. but
00:09:02
Speaker
Who knows? I'm excited to see what they cook up there. I mean, they have a lot to do in a short amount of time. And I don't i don't really think they're going to be competitive this season, no matter what moves they make. Elena? Yeah, I don't think they're going to be super competitive.
00:09:18
Speaker
I'll be interested to see because, uh, for all their struggles in recent years, Arthur blank is, I mean, he kind of like he's kind of like, uh, yeah, exactly. He's kind of an executive's dream in terms of the amount of resources and money he's willing to put into it. They haven't gotten the return on that. yeah in recent years, really since Miguel Maron and Joseph Martinez, they have not gotten ah the return on the massive investments that they've made. But in theory, if you give a guy with Chris Henderson's experience and knowledge and acumen, that type of checkbook and those types of resources, ah you can see why ah why you'd think that was the right move. OK, they'll win the open cup. OK, fine. They can win the open cup. Yeah. I mean, it is, so it's hard to know how much of Chris Henderson's success at Miami was due to him, how much of it was David Beckham and Jorge Moss just, I mean, like, I think the most obvious roster building strategy I could think of for any pro soccer team in any league is sign Lionel Messi. You know, I don't know how much credit you get for that.
00:10:20
Speaker
oh But, you know, they still all their whole brass there. They built that team. They got it done. So David Beckham leverage or not, they did get it done. And then I also do think you can look at Chris Henderson's track record dating back to his Seattle days, which we are all familiar with and know that this is like he definitely knows what he's doing as it pertains to building an MLS roster.
00:10:41
Speaker
ah he he did He made a lot of great signings or helped facilitate a lot of great signings along with Garth in Seattle and they both I think helped ah set up and ah ultimately have a prospering youth development program here in Seattle. Chris and Garth I think are two guys that you have to give ah at least some degree of credit for that, like building the foundation that Seattle has ah used to rise near the top of the league over these last five, six years.
00:11:06
Speaker
so um We'll see how that pans out. But yeah, that was the headline of the day. Hendo on the move. It might seem weird to like, you know, if I was an executive at inner Miami with where they're at right now, I might never leave. You know, you get to live in Miami and your team is pretty much set up as well as it possibly could be, at least for next year. But the feeling I get is that he, you know, he kind of enjoys the build, it seems like.
00:11:31
Speaker
So that for anyone wondering why he would seemingly ah downgrade in terms of the quality of the club and roster and take on a rebuilding project I think that's kind of the point I mean, i I think I see where you're coming from, but I also think it might be a note of some internal Miami struggles and strife, some potential ah things are not as great on the outside, or they're not as good on the inside as they look on the outside. I think that that's the case with Tata leaving. and ah I don't know that um it's like melting down in Miami. I just think that there was probably a point where Henderson was like, you know what?
00:12:12
Speaker
I'm gonna actually be able to do a lot more and going to be able to have a lot more ah opportunity to yeah do like a rebuild or something like that if I do move on to a place like Atlanta, but I do think it's an interesting storyline that we should track about inner Miami and kind of like they had two really big figureheads leave the team in short succession and I don't know that's interesting and now apparently maybe they'll sign Neymar rumor and Is that in the rumor mill? I don't know if I saw that one. I'm okay. I mean, I don't believe it, but I think it people were saying that it's most likely just to try and strong arm, uh, the Saudi team that he plays for to give him more money. Okay. You know, that would make sense. Well, either way, uh, we'll see, we'll see if Atlanta United can rise back up to the top of the East this year. I, uh,
00:12:59
Speaker
i Think they'll be I think gotta to be improved. I have a hard time believing just with how much How much investment they put into it that they would still be I mean every year that I think that they end up struggling again Yeah, and I still ah feel shot in Freud over the ah the year that see out the Seattle Sounders killed soccer against them that you mentioned um I mean to to to one last thing to that point is we talked a lot about how It's hard to integrate a bunch of new pieces into a cohesive team. I just think that's where they're gonna struggle is You got to you got to kind of find your identity again. You're going to have all yeah they have some really good pieces, but they're going to go out and add a lot more and, you know, piecing that all together in some sort of way that's going to work.
00:13:43
Speaker
and't know ah transfer season in full effect ah we're gonna be debuting ah new segment here but before that there are two minor moves that took place in the last few days I It hasn't been that hot so far.
Chicago Fire's Offseason Moves
00:14:03
Speaker
It's been a lot of like homegrown MLS next pro guys or like role players that a lot of people haven't heard of. But there have been a few, I think the most notable move of the off season so far is the Chicago Fire signing Jack Elliott from the Philadelphia Union. Chicago Fire, they're rebuilding with Greg Berhalter as their head coach. And this is like Berhalter's first major move.
00:14:26
Speaker
and It's not surprising that this was the move that he chose to make because I think Greg's got to be looking at it like, all right, past number one here is just building a defense that's.
00:14:38
Speaker
doesn't even have to be good. yeah Just league average. yep That's the Chicago Fire's 2025 season. the The wins and losses, trophies don't matter. I think it's can Greg Berhalter build a functional MLS defense that doesn't blow leads every time they have it and frankly doesn't melt down pretty much on a weekly basis. yeah If they get out of this next season with that foundation in place, I think they're in a good direction. Jack Elliott, I could see being a piece to that as far as he's a proven and MLS center back who has been grinding with the Philly Union for years. And they ah before this last year where it got all got away from them, they were known as a very good defensive team. So ah i think that I think that's a telling ah first move for Greg Berhalter with the Chicago Fire. You have any Jack Elliott takes?
00:15:29
Speaker
Jack Elliott. I mean I think it's a good thing. I did a good yeah like for the yeah like I don't know if it's a blockbuster news like some people are making it out to be but I think it's a great signing. I mean that's that's a good pickup for a team that needs a, they need, so they need something, man. They need something there. I'm interested to see what Greg does on that team. I know. i'm it ah If he does fix their defense, even at all, I'll be disappointed because the Chicago fire, do they provide I think one of my favorite moments of this season was
00:16:00
Speaker
when I predicted that they were going to score the first goal against the Sounders and then immediately blow the lead. yeah And then they exactly did that. so like you just yeah it was It was great. I know them too well. Yeah, it was great. Like I was sitting next to two Chicago Fire fans at that game and they scored first and they were stoked. And I looked at them and I said,
00:16:19
Speaker
Just watch what happens. Just wait. just Just wait. And they were like, shut up, bro. And then we scored. And they were like, yeah. They knew. They knew what was coming. yeah um The Philly Union, speaking of them, have re-signed Alejandro Bedoya. That was the only other and really notable move of the last couple of days to my eye. Team captain.
00:16:36
Speaker
been a been a pillar for them now. Thirty seven years old. But like, I don't know, watching him last year for however much the union struggled. Like, I think Bedoya has kind of still got it. And they've got him in this like, I don't know if you knew about this. They have him in this like dual role where he's like he's like helping their scouting or player development or something. It's not even like player coach. It's more like player so development. Oh, I don't know. ah But anyway, they're keeping Bedoya.
00:17:01
Speaker
And, uh, but we'll see the Philly union, our club. That's there's going to be a lot of changes there too. I mean, Jim C is out um there in a situation where they're money balling, which they had written to great effect the last few years kind of stopped working this year. So that's another club to keep an eye on over the off season. All right.
Introducing 'Rumor Mill'
00:17:19
Speaker
Uh, new segment time. Yeah. ah Um, this one is called the rumor mill. Why don't you tell people what what this is all about?
00:17:27
Speaker
All right, the rumor mill, Ari, we're spinning up. we're doing ah We're doing a windmill formation here. We are going to talk about who's in the news with the Seattle Sounders, with some off-season moves. It's going to be a big one for the Sounders, apparently. I mean, I think we had kind of predicted that it might be a big off-season, but Definitely the rumor mill that has taken hold is different than I would I would i didn't expect this much. f Yeah Alice, but yeah that's what we got well Yeah, let's why don't you lay down the rumors, and then we'll give our takes on them. I'm assuming that was your for the of the format but You know we cook on this show so
00:18:08
Speaker
Starting off with the biggest blockbuster trade of, this might be like the biggest blockbuster trade in MLS history too, which is kind of insane.
Potential Trades for Seattle Sounders
00:18:17
Speaker
Jesus Ferreira traded to Seattle. That's wild. He's a DP right now, but apparently, allegedly,
00:18:25
Speaker
in the rumor mill this tre hasn't gone through this hasn't gone through yet. Yeah, but this deal hinges on him agreeing to a non DP contract ah which seems to be okay with Ferreira and it's close to being done. So it seems like it reportedly reportedly it's close to being done. So these are that that's the that's a big deal. So that is the first one number two another FC Dallas legend Paul Ariola is another rumored transfer to Seattle, which would also be a trade where FC Dallas would reportedly hold $1 million dollars or more of his current contract, which we talked about it on the live stream. He makes an insane amount of money on his contract. It was like what? 1.7. Yeah. 1.7.
00:19:15
Speaker
ah That's crazy and that trade may or may not involve a player These are all alleged reported rumor mill stuff now the next thing we've got here might make a certain select group of individuals unhappy But it seems likely that Albert Rusnak will be coming back as a designated player to Seattle though That contract is not signed. Nothing is done yet. That's just seemingly what it it's looking like And then another one here Leo Chiu to Fluminense the rumor mill is I don't really see this one. yeah What is this? um Apparently there's been no official offers, but there is interest from Brazilian clubs to bring him back, but I don't really think they're interested in paying a transfer fee um and I just I don't I don't really see this one as
00:20:08
Speaker
If we're going to rate these, this one's definitely lower on the potential happening. And then last but not least, in an interview with Sounder at Heart, Craig Weibel talked about you know contract negotiations. He mentioned Albert Rosenach. He also mentioned mentioned Jordan Morris. and It's not really a rumor, but it is something that's happening in this offseason. So that's something to keep track of. That is the rumor mill that we have going on right now. So maybe we just hop into the first one.
00:20:36
Speaker
We haven't talked about it on the podcast, but Jesus Ferreira to Seattle blockbuster trade. I mean, yeah yeah, I mean, like you said, there's not really a like for like ah trade and MLS history as far as this like age and profile of player. And, you know, I've been I feel like I've been pretty consistent on my thoughts on this, which is that, you know, Tam, i love ah Tam, I actively love it. DP um less enthused. I mean, that's that's basically how I think I'm going to feel about this the whole way. I mean, for me, um you know, we've heard kind of conflicting reports or opinions on whether or not this would be as a DP or on Tam money. I mean, this is simple for me. If you're Craig Wibes and company, you say,
00:21:21
Speaker
We'll take you for TAM money. We'll give you a platform on a really good team to show your skills. And if you ball out, we'll shop you for a bag. And you'll go somewhere where you'll make the type of money that you feel like your market demands. If you need it to be a DP contract to be on this team, we just can't do it. it can We can't do it.
00:21:45
Speaker
That's I mean, and I would draw a hard line on that and I definitely would not I would be ah I'd be very apprehensive about some sort of situation where it feels like where it felt like they got strong, strong armed into ah making this a DP move.
00:22:00
Speaker
Like I honestly don't know at this juncture what the what the exact intent here is on both sides all I know is what we've heard which like I said is kind of feels conflicting to me as far as The players willingness to come here on Tam the team stance on Tam versus DP, but that's how I see it Yeah, I'm, I'm excited at the prospect. Honestly, regardless, I know that most people are going to be upset about that. I would be, I would be hyped to have, to have him on the team for Tam money. And if, if you think that Hey Stu's Ferrera on Tam money is bad business and MLS, I think your ball knowledge is might not be what you think it is. That would be really good business. I don't even care if he was on a DP personally like I'm cool with that because if you have a two year DP slot for a 24 year old a 24 year old who had yes he had a down season but like long term is still an upgrade at the striker right like in someone who wants to go to Europe so if you're like hey whatever you know you're gonna be here a season or two and then we'll move you on and we could bring someone else in and maybe we get a transfer fee out of it
00:23:05
Speaker
I'm I just I don't understand what the hate is on this guy I think it's because he's a USMNT washout like there's just this like crazy hatred for him, but he's not even a washout there's so it's partially that it's partially because he's coming from MLS and ah Not an outside league. He's not coming partially because his production was down last year and he was injured last year um but you know, I think that's a lot of looking at only the negatives and not acknowledging the fact that he has 53 MLS goals and his proven MLS player, you know, I would be I would be excited to have him on the team and see how he fits into this attack. I think like they need to make a signing.
00:23:47
Speaker
like this and ideally it one more to bolster this attack and i think it's a good start i think we talked about it on the live show but i think the consternation is the notion that this would be the this would be it this would be the move and you don't make any other moves to bolster your attack outside of Jesus Ferreira i get people being underwhelmed like that i'm with you in the sense that if it did turn out to be on a dp deal i don't think it would be the end of the world i wouldn't melt down about it but i look I like the idea much more on tan money. um Let's go to the Paul Areola one. ah Nico Moreno reported that this deal is nearing nearing completion, so it seems like Paul Areola to Seattle could be on. Not confirmed yet, we'll see what happens. I'm sure he's still evaluating what he wants to do.
00:24:34
Speaker
um I'll give my take on that which you know is pretty much the same as it has been which is that I mean if FC Dallas is picking up that much of his salary and you can bring him in as more of a depth piece than like a week in week out carry the load counted on starter then i i I would be happy to have him on the roster too. like I know it's meme-able because it's like you're poaching two FC Dallas us m and t former USMNT players that like that fan base doesn't like and all that. But as far as ah as far as on their face on its face, like I think both moves on the right numbers are pretty good.
00:25:19
Speaker
i just That can't be it. That can't be it. It would be would be my word of caution. like They're good supplementary moves, and Ferreira is a big time move, but ah I would not want that to be the only attacking addition.
00:25:35
Speaker
Yeah, it's I don't know. Sure. Paul Arriola, too. um I believe that ah FC Dallas had been deployed him as a wingback. And we've talked about an attacking skill set, because he's a winner by trade, but he can play back a line. I think that's probably where he would play. Yes. back And like I think that actually has the potential to bring ah a lot more of a dynamic presence ah from Seattle's wide defenders than they've had because Paul areola he can actually play that game and He's he's pretty good at it. Like he was a good MLS winger in his heyday before injuries kind of Derailed him at FC Dallas. So I just I don't mind if I don't mind the flyer if the money is right It's a good depth piece. I don't really care who you are. He's proven in MLS again, these are not flashy signings, but
00:26:24
Speaker
I don't really know what anyone was expecting. if they were really We'll talk about our expectations at the end, but like every indication that I ever get ever from this team is that they would rather sign someone who is proven, who is has some upside, who can do well,
00:26:41
Speaker
than some random 10 million dollar Euro transfer. like What they want to do is they want to spend bank on potentially youth prospects, like a U22 initiative, and bring them in and then let them like develop as a potential. They would rather do that than go spend 20 million on a transfer fee, bring someone in, and then they flop.
00:27:02
Speaker
Like that just that I I just see like that is that's what their strategy is. I'm not saying that's right. And I'm not saying that people shouldn't be frustrated. But if you're in that mindset, I think this is a great move from both of these players. Now, here's the controversial one.
Albert Rusnak's Contract Speculation
00:27:18
Speaker
Albert was back as a DP.
00:27:21
Speaker
Do I even touch this with a 10 for four? Yeah, I don't know what to do with that. Yeah, so it seems like the reporting on this right now is that the expectation is that he will return and that it will be as a DP, which is not what a lot of people might have wanted to hear. Taylor Twelman, Taylor Twelman himself, he jumped in your mentions, Noah, to say that he doesn't love Roosnack as a DP, which is a sentiment that a lot of people have. I still can't say that I really get it. You know, like I made this point a few times, but I don't think people's evaluation would be the same on this at all. If Rusenak was assigning that came to MLS from outside the league, if he, if he was like, take
00:28:07
Speaker
his past MLS track record out of it, take his two years or his year or so with the Sounders where he was playing out of position out of it. If they had signed this guy from any league overseas that you want to name, he came in as a DP and he had the season he had where he pushed 30 goal contributions. There would be no debate about this. And even the brigade knows that that is true. yeah In your heart, you know that that is true. If your perception of the deal would be at all different like if he had come into the league if he had come to the league this year from some other league then I think you're basing you're basing it on stuff that's just like not relevant to uh his attacking output and uh how well he's played since he's been on the team and really this year was the first time he was uh he was the full-time number 10 and uh to my eye he delivered the production that you need I like how he ran the offense I think he's elite on set pieces I really like
00:29:05
Speaker
You know, I saw if I was like, man, if TT is telling Noah, he doesn't love it. There's got to be. And I just thought about it more. And I was like, I don't I don't see what's wrong with it. And, you know, we rate the player more than than some out there. But um that's that i that I just don't get it. I don't get it. I mean, listen, and I. OK, listen, here were the this the sentiment, the anti-wurst neck brigade sentiment, I will say, is seeping into sound or at heart discourse because I was listening on my way over here to no study at this.
00:29:32
Speaker
And guess who was guess who was preaching a little? We shouldn't bring him back on a DP. The nos adiates boys were preaching that sentiment. So I think I think we might be the last I think we're the last two standing. And I think that the he's he's like, Tam, not a DP is the prevailing conventional wisdom. And I'm sorry, I have to I have to challenge it like there. There's nothing output wise that You're realistically good. hope and but Unless you scout up like an insane yeah like player that can push 30 goal contributions and exceed that. Which like hell yeah just which he yeah. If you find that player then do it. Move off Rusnak and do it. i People seem to think that that player is just you go out and you say hey there he is and you say do you want to be a Seattle Sounders and he says yeah and then he's on the team and he puts up 30 plus goal contributions.
00:30:25
Speaker
That's just it's it's just not not how it works. That's not living in reality. And I understand it might be like ah might be satisfying or you might feel righteous in the arguing otherwise. But like i just ah I'm going to stay, I'm going to dig in and double down doubling down on this because the more that this like this kind of underrating him goes on, the more convicted I feel in our take on it.
00:30:51
Speaker
ah Here's what I'll say. Here's my current take on the situation. If you can get him on a Tam deal, yes, absolutely. he would just There's no reason for him to do that. The sounders have zero leverage against a play. This is just comes into the business side of things. It's like the sounders have no leverage on A player coming off his most productive season of his entire career where they're in a position where they don't have a replacement for him. Who's going to take, who's going to take the facilitator position if he doesn't resign. Yeah. And people talk about like you need someone better for the club world cup, integrating someone with the amount of time you have before the club world cup, you're probably going to be worked. Look at Evander. Just because like there is an adaptation period where that you you bring a new guy in as the centerpiece. He has no reps of anybody. He has no time on the training ground with anybody. If you mess with that continuity, move off Ruth's snack.
00:31:47
Speaker
because you think he's more a tam player and then try and plug in whatever the new guy is and then go into the World Cup with your entire attack built around a new player. I would argue you're putting yourself in a worse position for that tournament, so I really don't get people bringing that up as a consideration at all. I think there's a fair amount to be said for maintaining that continuity. so um Yeah, just to just a but like so ah just another point, though. like you know If you're Seattle in this situation, I think the leverage that you might have, just as like a hypothetical, would be, you know yeah, you had a you had a good year last year. Three of your goals you know did come against Sean Sawatzky. The offense as a whole didn't produce all that much. It's not like you were dragging the team after all the injuries to a way higher height than it should have.
00:32:40
Speaker
We're the Seattle Sounders. we We believe in ourselves to go find a number 10 that we think can do what you do. And if you feel like you had such a good year that ah you can get DP money, go ahead. They could say that. They could say they won't.
00:32:58
Speaker
Well, and the question is, should they? No, they shouldn't. Because like like I was saying, like I was trying to say is like, you don't have another option. If there was even a somewhat integrate like somewhat like like for like replacement, even if they were like a step down or two steps down, there's just there is legitimately nobody in that position that could step in to what he would do even on a mid-season and replicate his production.
00:33:25
Speaker
It's like, it just sucks. Cause it's like, okay, that's, that, that's great. Yes. Get him on a Tam or let him go. But the problem is who are you going to go out and get? Who are you going to go out and get Evander? Do it. But guess what? You know what he did his first season?
00:33:38
Speaker
Nothing, we made fun of him the whole time because we were like, this guy's a literally just a joke. And he was great this year, but it took time for him to get to that. Case study. Yeah, so I actually think the people who are making the club, like we got the Club World Cup coming up. yeah like We got to move off Rusenak. I think you're actually making the exact the opposite argument yeah with that. like i think I think trying to switch that out like going into the club World Cup is actually way riskier than just reinforcing on the foundation that you already have, which was good. I mean, it did get you to the Western Conference final last year. You just got to boost this offense. yeah um All right.
00:34:15
Speaker
So our last one's here. Leo Chu to Flumenensei. I feel like we can just skip this. We can maybe hit on it really quickly. I'll believe it when I see it. Yeah, that's where I'm at too. I'll believe it when I see it. Like if you can get a bag for him from a Brazilian club. Which they think they can. Which they've been thinking they can for a long. Time now, his stock is pretty far down. He was injured all year, didn't really produce. Got in a fight with Brian Schmetzer. There was a bunch of drama with that. Every time he got subbed out, he looked all pissed off. If you can sell him, sell him. I honestly don't want to hear about this rumor mill anymore until it happens. Yeah, I just feel bad for the guy. I just feel bad for the guy. Let him go. I don't know. Last one, Seattle Sounders Jordan Morris contract negotiations.
00:35:00
Speaker
I don't know what this means. I don't know if this means anything, but I just thought it was interesting. I mean, he was also coming off of a hot year. Yeah, can I make I mean, I don't know what's going on with the contract. I guess we'll have to wait for more information on that. It is interesting to hear that they're working on something. I would I would like to make a point about Jordan Morris in a similar vein to the to the Rusnak discussion, which I mean, I don't want to be a broken record on all these things. But Noah, let me just for the sake of argument pose a question.
00:35:30
Speaker
Jordan Morris had 18 goals across all comps this season. I don't know what his assist numbers are across all comps, but I know he had five in league play. So that's over 20 goal contributions across all comps. 18 goals across all comps is one shy of the record for Seattle song Sounders number nine in a single season, which belongs to Obafemi Martins. Ruby Diaz, I don't believe, I don't think ever hit that number.
00:35:58
Speaker
If Seattle had signed a DP number nine going into this last year and they put up 18 and five across all comps leading the line, would you have any problem with them leading the line next year? No. No. So the only reason people do is because it's Jordan Morris. Yeah, that's it. So well, and that's what that's what, you know, shout out to the interview we did with him. That's what I said. I was like, you're the number nine we've been wanting. It was it was kind of a joke. We're just joking about it because I know he understands the the friction between all of that. But it was this like On pure stats alone, Jordan Morris delivered exactly what we needed during the season. We're on an island with this, too. By far, from the national pundits and the fan base, the prevailing sentiment that I hear is that he did pretty well as the nine this year. But but you it But either it won't continue, or it's not going to it's not ah enough like it's not enough juice to take you to the next level, or what have you. If you go into the Club World Cup with him as your nine, that's an embarrassment.
00:36:57
Speaker
if If any number nine, no number nine that is coming off an 18 goal across all comp season, would that be said about? And so I'm not going to, I'm not going to change how I, uh, how I look at it based on who's providing the production. I'm going to judge that on the merits. And yeah I saw, uh,
00:37:16
Speaker
ah very good very productive number nine last year 14 and five after he made the full-time switch to that position so like he could have had more had he played the full season there he probably would have broken the record had he started off the season in that position doing all of that I don't think it changes the conversation we have because I think people are just in their own head about it. And I will say, I understand if you watch every single Sounders game and you've been watching Jordan for a long time and there's times where you're like, Oh my God, Paul Rothrock just put in the perfect ball. He should have finished that. He's a bot. He's whatever, blah, blah, blah. The prevailing online narrative.
00:37:58
Speaker
Go watch soccer, period. Go watch, go watch Peter Moussa. Who's like, you know, you know what I'm saying? It's like, go watch, go watch one of these other DPs from another country that's been brought in. That's like, you know, this high, high, big signing. Like, yes, he's not been teke. Fine. You're right. But he's still productive and he's doing exactly what he needs to be doing. And ah I hope that he stays on this team.
00:38:23
Speaker
I mean, yeah, he's ah he's ah absolutely going to be on the roster next year. I think the question is, is he the centerpiece number nine that's leading the line? And then hey su for others are questions you devote resources elsewhere. But I mean, the thing that I take issue with is this idea that he he wasn't good as the number nine last year when in reality, like he put up He put up numbers that if like Opafemi Martins or Rui Diaz put up, you'd be like, yeah, that's like yeah a normal season for them. That's what they get paid for. So I don't know. not The Rusenac-Morris discourse continues continues to confound, but ah I'm going to keep doubling down on our honor our takes on it. All right.
00:39:05
Speaker
ah I don't think we have all that much else left to get to. Just a couple ah couple of parting topics that we had written down here. We can keep this one pretty short off-season episode and then get out of here for episode 79. Noah, what was on your mind with these last two topics? A little bit of let's dive into some questions because we didn't take any from the audience this time. um I think I just want to know, we've we've seen a little bit of the rumor mill.
00:39:31
Speaker
Were a couple we're not even really technically into the the signing period yet, right? It's free pre-agent season But uh, what are our offseason expectations updated from the last time we talked about this? Yeah, I mean I think the ah the FC Dallas rumors Have it's given us something to kind of launch our expectations off of that. We didn't have before um and I think ah
00:40:02
Speaker
you know we're gonna have to see like what additional moves they make besides these or if these even it's it's not confirmed at this point that these are even happening but as far as evaluating the offseason as a whole I think it really just comes down to if these moves get over the line number one and then what if any moves you make on top of that um For me, if they're able to get Ferreira over the line in particular um on a TAM deal, and then they're able to make another big time edition on top of that, um I will be excited about the offseason. I really think in terms of skill set and fit,
00:40:43
Speaker
on this team, Ferreira, I'm excited to at the potential of watching that. yeah um But it really, it just it just comes down to how I feel about where the roster stands in attack compared to where it was last year. I think what happened this previous year is that you had, De La Vega was the big time edition that was supposed to bolster what it was previously. That obviously didn't pan out. So what I'm looking for for the rest of this offseason is for them to exit the offseason looking ahead at this big year with the Club World Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup with a roster and attack that I feel is meaningfully better and can be expected to produce more goals and more dynamic offense than it has for the last two years, yeah frankly. I think Ferreira is a great start to that, but I don't think that it can be everything. and mean i don't I would hope that it's not everything and I don't
00:41:39
Speaker
Think it was guys. We are all on the same page with that like yeah, like I think yeah people are gonna get tilted about what we said about Rusnak and Morris, but again We're both on the same page of like if you legitimately identify someone who is way more talented, way better, is leaps and yards ahead and you think that they can come in immediately and compete in this team, do it. Like, I've been saying, I'd love to see Evander on this team. I think that would be funny, but I also understand that if you make that signing, he might not be integrated into the team in time for Club World Cup. Now maybe they don't care about Club World Cup, maybe they care more about Champions Cup.
00:42:24
Speaker
That's way earlier. in And I think that people aren't identifying like what Craig and Brian said at their press conference, which was, they're obviously gonna take Club World Cup seriously, but I think it's valid to say,
00:42:40
Speaker
It's a pretty damn hard competition, and it's it's very improbable that they advance out of their group. And even if they do, who they're gonna have to play is gonna be a challenge. yeah So for them, it makes way more sense to keep their eyes on the prize, which is Champions Cup, which to me, I'd be just, I mean, yes, I'd be thrilled to win Club World Cup, but I'm not like,
00:43:00
Speaker
going to be upset if we lose. I actually think that they have a chance in Champions Cup. They build out a roster like they're doing right now with Jesus for era, Paul or Yola, these depth pieces, these people who have an understanding of the league. They have an understanding of playing against this South American competition.
00:43:16
Speaker
I don't know Ari that is my favorite tournament dude like the feeling is winning is low-key a god against concrete I didn't even really think about that upshot of the signing um But yeah, I'll wrap it up within a tiny bow by saying my updated offseason Expectations is a lot less than I think most people online I think that it is going to be more about filling out the roster that they already have and they already believe is somewhat good. It's going to be about finding pieces to take pressure off De La Vega. It's going to be about finding ways to supplement Morris and Rusnak. Exactly. Supplement Morris and Rusnak because they saw, hey, we got to
00:44:00
Speaker
we were We were five minutes from basically winning MLS Cup. With Georgie out there, who like is a Tacoma Defiance kid that had barely played in MLS, yeah you know imagine imagine like ah not and you know not that's not a shot at Georgie at all. I don't want it to sound like that. It's just the reality was like ah he was in a tough situation where you know if ah If they can bolster those spots on the roster, it will go a long way in making this team much more competitive. Yeah. And my expectations aren't what I want because if in in my dreams, I want a $50 million dollars DP striker, but like I'm trying to be realistic in what I believe is actually going to happen. Right. Yeah. As far as the club world c cup goes, I feel like the, uh, the objective there is you just can't be an active embarrassment to the league and the city. Yeah.
Seattle in the Club World Cup
00:44:45
Speaker
like You know,
00:44:46
Speaker
On a Monday night at 4 30 like yeah the results of that tournament are pretty immaterial to me it's more about just like putting on a dignified performance and Not totally torpedoing which honestly in the last one for however people were Mad people were about that game against Ali. That was a good game. It was a good game So like I don't know. Putting him up against you know PSG and Atletico Madrid and even Botafogo, that's like a different animal than ah i Ali, but you just gotta compete with dignity. That's that's all I ask. um i did ah I forgot to mention, but we got some comments on our live stream. We were were watching Botafogo highlights which the feds actually came after these photo after us. we had to ah so we had been just right We had to cease and desist to get our money from that. but So we were clowning on BotaFogo not because we know anything about them at all but we were watching their game where they got both raced against Pachuca. They were conceding goals, and we were kind of joking around. oh Seattle's going to have a field day against these guys. A couple of people who actually followed the Brazilian league jumped in the comments to point out, apparently, Botafogo was in some crazy like schedule where they were across the world, yeah flew in for the Pachuca game. where They had five 17-year-olds out there or something, completely rotated lineup. yeah jet la you know all that stuff. They had just won like the the league the day before and they were playing that game in Qatar I believe. yes yeah So it was like yeah their entire second team was in Qatar and their first team was in Brazil. Yeah so the point being ah the highlights we watched and that game in particular is evidently unfortunately not indicative of doesn't matter i believe it but focus defense at all But that's exactly what I was gonna say because I changed nothing about my ah my take on that because that was pretty funny watching them concede those goals and I prefer to dream that The Seattle Sounders are gonna do that against them um All right, do we have anything else that we wanted to hit Yeah, um I just wanted to hit one more here. Are we excited by what we've initially seen? um yeah Are we happy? I'm honestly excited about the Freire thing. I mean, I realize I've watched him a lot more than most people, so I know how good of an MLS player he is.
00:46:57
Speaker
I know he didn't have a good year last year. From everything that I've heard, he was very unhappy at FC Dallas. FC Dallas was not happy with him. It sounded like a bit of a toxic dynamic. And at his best in MLS, this is a big time, very productive goal scorer who is, he's fun to watch, man. It's really not like a, ah it's not as boring a signing as people are making it out to be in terms of what he gives you on the field. Like Roosnack, I think,
00:47:26
Speaker
You know, if I'm if I'm being honest about what part of ah part of the anti Rusnak sentiment is He's not necessarily the flashiest player. It's not like this Yeah, it's more ah He's a great passer. Yeah, but it's not like ah he's not gonna be ricky on any and one mix tapes like Ricky poos dribbling through entire the entire defense um so I think people want to see more something more dynamic. Ferreira's got a dynamic skill set. I'm just i'm just telling you, like you can go look at his MLS highlights. It's not blowing smoke. You know you don't score 53 goals in MLS before you turn 24 for no reason. like That's the fastest pace of any player his age ever so in the in the league. yeah So I am genuinely excited about that potential addition to this roster, if the if the money is right.
00:48:14
Speaker
If the money's right, come on. It's a great signing. I'm stoked. i'm um ah Listen, I was at Ferreira's first ever game. I photographed it, and he scored a goal in his first ever game. The hype around this kid has been massive since he jumped into the league. He's 24. You can have a down season when you're 24, and it doesn't it doesn't mean anything. I don't think he's washed. I don't think he's bad. And I think if the Sounders can get him on a TAM deal,
00:48:42
Speaker
Which I think is most likely how this would happen. That is a piece of business where all of the Craig Weibel haters I think are gonna have to just shut up because that is that is an amazing piece of business taking a DP making DP money and saying cup Just come over to our club because you're gonna have a chance to do what you want to do. He's got to do that though but He's got to get it over the line i'm just saying if he gets it over the line He does that's you you they better give him his flowers for that because that is some good wheeling it deal We're gonna if if Craig wibes gets Jesus for error on time. We're gonna Craig Come on the show Craig come on the show. We'll play pinball. I know you like pinball.
00:49:23
Speaker
um All right, I think that's about a good place to leave it known. one Does that say unless you add anything else? to him All right. um Good off-season episode. Thank you so much as always to everyone for tuning in. We love to the stream. We love and appreciate every single one of you. Yes, we are going live this Friday at 7 30. I'm going to Niko Moreno. He ignored my ah he my text to our group. He claims that he didn't get the text. We're going to try and get him on. I have one other idea for someone. I'm going to try and get this stream with us. But Tom Bogert doesn't want to come on. He he was in chat though. He was in chat. Definitely bother him. If you guys didn't tune into the live stream last time, definitely tune in. it's It was a lot of fun. Jeremiah broke news. Jeremiah broke news live, and you get to interact with us in real time. You can put chats and super chats in there, and we'll talk about them as we go. And yeah, the last one, it it ripped. It was awesome. It was fun. And this one's going to be good too. And hopefully we're going to have more content to talk about by then. um Like, comment, subscribe in the meantime.
00:50:20
Speaker
Sub to the YouTube sub to the YouTube sub to all our socials. We ah we need more on IG and we need more on tick-tock before they ban it Yeah on January 19th on my birthday our tick-tock is actually doing a little better But we're we we could use more followers on both of those. You know hit us with following IG and tick-tock. All right um We're gonna call it right there. We will see you guys for the live show Friday at 7 30 PT until then we out peace