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LAFC pose Sounders’ biggest test of season
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The Seattle Sounders have been on a really nice run but they have mostly been beating pretty bad teams. They’ll get their biggest test of the season when they face LAFC on Saturday. To help preview the game, Niko Moreno joins Jeremiah. They also discuss some of the drama going on behind-the-scenes and look ahead to Leagues Cup.
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Transcript
Introduction and Sponsorship
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey, this is Christian Roldan. And Jordan Morris from the Seattle Sounders Football Club. And you're listening to NOS Arietes. 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 Sounders supporters. They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, the Pacific Northwest.
Sounders' Unbeaten Streak
00:00:33
Speaker
The Seattle Sounders have done it!
00:01:34
Speaker
Fucking awesome. This is a tiny fucking dog.
00:01:35
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of NOS Adietes, sponsored by full pool wines and our subscribers. We're recording on Friday, July 19, 2024. I am Jeremiah Shan. Today I am joined by my special co host Nico Moreno as well as our engineer Likit.
00:01:50
Speaker
Well, the Seattle Sanders come into Saturday's game against LAFC, playing arguably their best soccer since at least 2022 when they were writing the high of the CONCACAP Champions League. Over the last 11 weeks, they've gone 11, 2, and 5 across all competitions, which includes a six-game winning streak heading into this game.
00:02:07
Speaker
They're still trailing LAFC by seven points, but this game is as much a test of that recent form as it is a true six pointer. The Sounders have mostly been making their move up the table by taking care of business against teams in the lower half of the league with which very much includes their two zero win over St. Louis City on Wednesday.
00:02:25
Speaker
LAFC have been among the best teams in the league all year. We're currently second in the Western conference and up until a loss in time, their last two games had been probably the hottest team in the entire league as with nine wins in 10 games at one point.
LAFC's Formidable Challenge
00:02:40
Speaker
They, of course, are led by superstar Danny Bwanga, who is having another MVP caliber season, but his performance is bolstered by the emergence of Mateus Bogus, who is tied for sixth in the league with 12 goals. They also just got back Christian Oliveira from Copo America and continue to have a pretty solid defense that is led by goalkeeper Hugo Lorise. They do also have Olivier Giroud coming, although I don't expect him to play in this game, but you add it all together and we have a pretty tasty matchup. What do you make of it, Nico?
00:03:10
Speaker
Hey, Jeremiah, friends of Sounder are hard and knows that yet this happy to be here is always excited to talk about. I'm excited about this game.
Team Camaraderie and Vibes
00:03:21
Speaker
I think it's finally, we'll be able to see where the Sounders are at today. Look, I have been saying this everywhere that I have a chance to
00:03:34
Speaker
you know, collaborate and whether it is in Spanish or English is the fact that Seattle has been doing what they have to do. They've taken care of business against a
00:03:46
Speaker
You know, couple of weeks of, of games against teams that are subpar that are mid table below. I think that Houston who are currently eight are probably the best team that they've played recently. And I mean, it's Houston and it's a team that is still missing some components. It was a team missing some stuff at the time. It was a draw. So it.
00:04:09
Speaker
All I'm saying is that I still need to see where this team is at in their current form with this inertia, this different
00:04:20
Speaker
vibe. I mean, today I put in a tweet about the vibe. It seems like the vibe, at least for most of the team, is pretty positive. And that's something that had been lacking and, you know, call me what you will that maybe I put too much emphasis on the camaraderie and like the locker room. But I feel like it's huge. I feel like it's, it's a big thing. And just now we're starting to kind of come back to, is it the win? Especially with the sounders who are
00:04:49
Speaker
maybe at a talent deficit sometimes, if you just go player by player, right? Sure. Absolutely. No. And that collective play, I think, does take some of that.
Crucial Game Against LAFC
00:05:02
Speaker
And that's the reason why I put so much emphasis on it. So long story short, I think that this could
00:05:09
Speaker
This is a big game, it's a big test. But with the caveat that I really don't know if there's a lot of expectation. I think it's a win-win for Seattle as long as they can get out there and just compete and play. Because LAFC quite honestly, they're in a different level right now. I mean, the top three in the West are in a whole different league right now. They're at a different level. And if Seattle can just compete with LAFC,
00:05:36
Speaker
I'm probably gonna get killed for that egg right by the way. But that's just what I think. I just think Seattle at this moment in time isn't quite there. So if they can just compete, if they could draw, if they could win, I mean, it feels like a lot of the situations, the results are gonna benefit Seattle.
00:05:54
Speaker
Yeah, I would agree with that. I mean, I think that there's still a pretty big gap between the top three in the West and really everyone else. And the sounders are maybe in the top of that next group of teams right now, but this is, and I guess that's why this game is important in some ways. It's not so much important for the table anymore. I think the sounders have sort of
00:06:15
Speaker
made their move so that they are now in, they're going to be in contention for that number four spot regardless, right? Like they've, they've turned the math around where if they can just stay, they don't have to stay this off, but if they can keep, you know, if they can play at a decent clip for the rest of the season, they will be right there for that number four spot.
00:06:35
Speaker
Now, are they realistically going to move into that top three? I think that's tough, but being able to play with an LA FC is going to really tell us if they're real contenders or not. And I think that's really what this game is about. It's not so much about the math. It's not so much about the table. It's about the emotions. It's about the belief and understanding like, is this a good team or is this a team who can actually compete for MLS cup? Because.
Pedro de la Vega's Impact
00:07:01
Speaker
If they're going to win all of us cup, if they're going to compete for him last cup, this is who they have to go through to get there. Right? Absolutely. And a lot of that narrative will be written at the boots at the cleats of Pedro de la Vega. He's the component that has been missing. He is that guy that, uh, can't provide
00:07:23
Speaker
Factor that amplifies everything around him. He's the guy that you were hoping to be a guy that's gonna be defenders of the dribble that was gonna make Defenses collapse on him and he would create all these open spaces for all these other players so he's a guy that is gonna be at the top of a
00:07:45
Speaker
the, I don't know, magnifying glass, if you will, when it comes to this, I think that's true. I mean, in a way the Sounders could not draw this up any better where they come into this game, riding high and Pedro de la Vega appears to be as close to full fitness as he's been all year. Right? Like he, I don't, I don't know that he's 90 minutes fit, but he's closer to 90 minutes fit today than he was at any point in the last four or five months.
00:08:13
Speaker
That is correct, man. And I mean, he's going to start. I mean, I'll go ahead and say it. I mean, Brian indicated on it. I feel like by you not playing him at all, which I wanted to kind of push Brian a little bit more on that subject because I feel like whether or not the game against
00:08:31
Speaker
Austin or the last game here on Wednesday needed his Play just getting him some minutes. I feel like he would have been beneficial But then again, you don't want to risk him So I really want to see how he comes into this game, but I think he's gonna start I think regardless of how it happens He's gonna start and it's gonna be something that's gonna
00:08:55
Speaker
make or break the hope that this thing is creating, right? Because they're in a six game winning streak. They have been playing well. They have only lost two of their lives 18 when it comes to all competitions. But just now, are you really going to see where they're really at?
00:09:14
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's huge. And I think you're right, Nico Pedro is probably the key component as to whether or not this team is a contender or not. You know, without him, they've shown they can beat up on the lower table teams. They are a solid playoff team with or without Pedro de la Vega.
00:09:32
Speaker
But if if Pedro de la Vega is a difference maker, maybe they can contend if he is just a guy who is sort of coming along. And you know, we're gonna have to wait a little longer to see if he's really how good he is for another year.
00:09:48
Speaker
maybe they can't really compete with the best teams in the league, but that's why this game is so interesting. I think it's also going to be really interesting to see where they use him because in his last two starts, granted one of them was in March 2nd, but
00:10:03
Speaker
is two starts. He's played as a 10. I don't think that's where the Sounders really see him. I mean, Albert Rusnak has taken that number 10 spot and really made it his own, especially over the last few weeks. I mean, I don't, I would put him up there with any number 10 in the league right now, at least in his current form. And so I assume De La Vega is going to be on one of the wings. Which side do you think is better suited for him? And where are you expecting to see him?
00:10:30
Speaker
He gravitates towards that left pocket. So I think that you do want to sit on the left side. I know that Brian disagree with me on this, but it feels like that left side is the first point, the first outlet when it comes to rapid and transition moments. And if I see Pedro play,
00:10:53
Speaker
He is always asking for the ball. He's pointing at his feet. He's got his hand raised. He needs to be on the ball and having that player is going to be able to give you a quick outlet. He wants the ball. He's going to come at defenders. I just think that's where he should be now.
00:11:12
Speaker
I think something that we'll see is how disciplined he's gonna be if he plays on the wing cuz he's everywhere all the time. I mean, he sometimes cracks back so far deep because he needs the ball. I mean, I love that about him. I think that that's one of the reasons why you did bring him in. He's one of those guys that doesn't request it. He demands the rock. So the fact that maybe
00:11:36
Speaker
keeping him on that side and whether he's new or whether he's read behind him, I think he's going to be your main outlet on the left side. So that's why I expect him to be on that left wing and of course use that inside pocket whenever the Sounders play and they attack in their three, five, two or whatever combination they use when they're on the ball. Yeah. So
00:12:01
Speaker
De La Vega coming back into the team brings up a real question that we've had really all throughout the year, but we're going to finally start getting closer to an answer, which is, what is this team's best 11? Today, I asked Brian about that exact question. Does he even know who his best 11 is right now? He said it was still TBD. I assume he has an idea of who he thinks it is.
00:12:28
Speaker
But for the first time, he has real choice. He has basically everyone available. He's got basically everyone playing well too. The reason that there's a contention about who is in the best 11 isn't because it's not like a by default situation. It's because you've got a lot of guys who are actually playing really well. I think there's an open question. Is Reed Baker Whiting in that best 11? Is New Who in the best 11?
00:12:56
Speaker
Is Paul Rothrock in the best 11? Is Alex Roldan? Is Christian Roldan? Like who is Peijo even in the best 11? I think these are all questions that he's going to have to answer. I'm curious, who do you think if you have to start, like let's not, like there's other factors that go into who starts tomorrow's game. But if you are facing a must win game this weekend, who's your best 11?
Best Starting Lineup Debate
00:13:22
Speaker
Yeah. Um, I'm all about,
00:13:26
Speaker
high ceiling potential. And that's probably why I'm gonna make some people cringe and maybe grab their device and throw it across the room. But because I am a guy that wants that overall potential, this is my best 11. Fry on the right side, Christian Roldan, Yeymar, I mean, Regan and Yeymar on the left side. I'm gonna,
00:13:55
Speaker
I'm going to go with Reed Baker-White and I know, I know, I know. And I have a hard time because new who's such a lockdown defender. Yeah. But on the two, uh, holding midfielders as JP and his Obed, I think Obed has been so
00:14:14
Speaker
incredibly good as being a conductor, as being a guy that breaks through pressure with the ball. He's created so many good opportunities. To me, he's a must start. And then that line of three, I want Pepo on the left side, Albert on the midfield, and these other people are going to go crazy with me, is I still want Jordan on the right side, and I want Raul up top. And I just want to see it one time. That's all I want to see. I just want to see those players one time. I get it.
00:14:42
Speaker
Heal me if you will, but I just want to see it one time and see how it works out and see what happens and how the movements create and that's what I want to see. I just want to see it one time. That's my best 11. Right now, I get it that his form hasn't been there. I get it that at the time, the hot hand is Jordan Morris.
00:15:04
Speaker
I understand it, but I have no doubt that Jordan will still give me everything, all the wonderful stuff he's doing right now, the pressure, the runs, the goals from that right side. And that gives me the biggest ceiling, the highest ceiling, because look, I love Paul Rothrock on that right side. I think he makes stuff happen. I think he has all kinds of attitude and pressure, and he just seems to make things happen.
00:15:30
Speaker
Other than that, I mean, on the right side, we have been Christian, it has been Obed. I just feel like Jordan is the best right winger that you have. And I would like to see that happen. So that's my best 11. Add me at El Rolo and W and-
00:15:50
Speaker
Yeah, no, I don't think that, you know, it is an interesting question because I don't think it's that outrageous to suggest that, especially the way that Raoul is playing right now. And he's not necessarily bagging goals, but I loved the positions he's getting himself into.
00:16:10
Speaker
I will say I think right now Jordan Morris is the starting number nine. I think that's almost beyond dispute. But I will grant you that there is a world where the lineup that you're suggesting is a knockout game lineup. And especially if it's
00:16:26
Speaker
if we continue to see the Raul that we've been seeing the last month or so, where he's not just fading back into the midfield to pick up the ball. He's not just shooting from distance. He's getting, you know, that was the most encouraging
00:16:41
Speaker
play, frankly, for me, from that St. Louis game, was the sequence where Jordan makes that pass to Tahraw-Wool, he hits it off a volley from inside the penalty area, but then he follows it up, he gets physical, and credit to Berkey for making the save, right?
00:17:05
Speaker
but he I just love that he put his body on the line that he went up and he challenged for that header and he got a little unlucky not to score there but that's the role that we need to see every week and maybe the best thing for him is to save his legs to be playing 30 minutes a game right now where it's still you know we're still
00:17:26
Speaker
two months, three months away from the end of the season, right? There's a lot of soccer left to be played. So let's, let's keep getting him in the habit of thinking that way. And then maybe at when we're in knockout football, we see, we see him play there. I I've been really encouraged by roles play, even though he hasn't been scoring, you know, at the same clip, I actually think he's playing better now than he was at the beginning of the season.
00:17:52
Speaker
Yeah and I think you've been really smart about his play. I mean you've heard me here and in other places talk about his link up play and his ability to kind of make things happen. He's a very smart soccer player and I believe that this lineup that I'm kind of
00:18:08
Speaker
imagining in my head would create a lot of difficulties for any defensive backline because if you're having a track back on Raoul and you're having to keep some sort of defensive reference on and Jordan can get behind him and you kind of create so much mayhem with your movement
00:18:27
Speaker
I just think that it'd be solid again. I'm kind of going of best case scenario best possible game. Best role that we've seen all season or we take parts of those best moments we've seen this season and then you get a good lineup. But you know, I understand that Jordan has been really good and we probably won't see this locking up on Saturday, but I do feel like ultimately that would be my best 11 at this particular time.
00:18:54
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I don't think we're going to see that lineup on Saturday. I think we're probably going to see a little bit of a, you know, my, I mean, we'll see Morris on top. I don't think that's going to be a surprise. I think the big question for me is a
Speculating on LAFC Game Lineup
00:19:08
Speaker
couple. One is, is it
00:19:09
Speaker
is it Alex or Christian at right back? My suspicion it's going to be Christian, but I do think there's a valid argument for Alex there just because I think he's still a little bit better defensively. Although I think at home it makes sense to maybe go with Christian because he's going to stretch the field a little bit more. He's going to get into the box a little bit more and he's going to help out in the midfield a little bit more.
00:19:34
Speaker
I think that that'll be an interesting one to watch. And the other interesting one to watch I think is it which side De La Vega starts on?
00:19:44
Speaker
Because I think you're right. I think he's probably going to start. But I think there's an argument to be made that Reed Baker Whiting could be on one side and will be interesting if they see Reed more as a left-sided player or a right-sided player. He's mostly played on the left this year. I do think New Who's probably going to start. And I'm still unconvinced that New Who isn't in the best 11 in part because he's just been
00:20:10
Speaker
He has, when he's at his best, it's hard to, uh, take him off the field because he's just so good defensively and he makes, you know, like, I dunno, I, I thought that that was pretty funny comment that, that Brian made after the game on, on Wednesday where he said, Oh, I'm not sure if I took him out to save his legs or he was playing with a little too much pizzazz. And I thought that that was a very fair comment because it was a very new who performance. Like he was.
00:20:37
Speaker
He was all over the place. He was being a little extra at times. I don't know what I and I if I don't think he's at his best when he is sort of doing when he's up to his antics.
00:20:51
Speaker
When he's too cheeky, yeah, and I'm with you and he loves the applause this man. And I mean, you could tell him the stadium going crazy for him. And I think that's why I feel very comfortable with with read cuz he's such a a safe player when it comes to that. And then again, when it comes to the.
00:21:13
Speaker
technical ability once he gets forward. Man, I just think he gives you a weapon you don't have on that end, whether it's in those inside channels or his services into the box. I mean, you saw that ball he plays to Jordan in the game that Jordan could have had that finish.
00:21:33
Speaker
Yeah, so I mean, I just think he's so good. He's got so much quality. And again, I go over what team gives me the most potential in each position. And I feel like he's there. To your point, I feel like we're going to see Reed at wing, whether it's on the left side or it's on the right side. I feel like Brian is going to come at
00:21:57
Speaker
You understand that they're going to concede possession. They're going to play against the ball. You're going to need players in that game that have the technical and physical abilities to break down a good defensive team that's going to play off the counter. And I think that Reid gives you that, whether it crosses in, whether it's outside shots, or his ability to just get in space and create overload. So I think we're going to see Reid in this game.
00:22:27
Speaker
Yeah, you know, a couple of people observed this on the Sounder at Heart discord. They kind of likened the way that Reed moves to a baby giraffe, which I think is in some ways a little harsh because I think he is a coordinated player. He's clearly very skilled with the ball at his feet, but there is sort of this awkwardness.
00:22:47
Speaker
that he moves with and yet he's still so effective at beating players off the dribble and it's becoming sort of like his signature move where he'll sort of like split two defenders all of a sudden open up space on the wing and he'll be off to the races and you know he'll either put a ball down he'll put a ball into space but he just seems to have a way of wriggling out of jams for lack of a better term that's very fun to watch
00:23:14
Speaker
And I'll tell you, he's a player whose development is just absolutely fascinating. And he has put on so he's grown into his body. You look at him now. I mean, he's 18 years old, but he is built like a man now. I mean, he's he's filled out his frame. I also like he has got a really good head on his shoulder. I was telling this to somebody recently. This is a player who when he first came up now, granted, he was 15. So you don't really have high expectations, but he did not strike me as a cerebral.
00:23:43
Speaker
player when we first met him. And now when he talks to the press, he might be the best. He might be the most skilled interviewer or interviewee that the Sounders have right now, which is a pretty high bar. But he's great to talk to. He has really good insight. He's self-aware. He's not afraid to talk about it himself. He's not afraid to talk about others. I'm really excited about the future for Reed Baker Whiting.
00:24:13
Speaker
But the other player who I wanted to talk about a little bit, and I don't think he's in the best 11, I don't think he's in a lot of people's best 11, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him getting a lot of starts because of just the way that he has bulldogged his way into the conversation is Paul Rothrock, who is a player, if you had told me that Paul Rothrock was starting important games at this point in the season at the beginning of the year, I would have told you the Sounders are in deep, deep trouble.
00:24:39
Speaker
because Paul Rothrock was probably the 25th or 26th player on the roster at the beginning of the season. And here he is in the conversation for starters minutes when the team is totally fit and playing well. It's wild.
00:25:03
Speaker
Yeah. And he has this persona that he actually likes the pressure and he likes coming in through a game that is just in this array and he's going to come in there and just like fixed it with some good attitude and relentless effort. I mean, it's crazy. You know, it's funny about my youngest daughter. Oh, man. I'm just going to say it. My youngest daughter said he looked like Superman. I was like, well, he doesn't have a Clark Kent vibe. You're right.
00:25:32
Speaker
My youngest daughter, she's hilarious. She's like, oh, dad, you look like Superman. He comes in there. You know, he's like right when the team needs him. She's just starting soccer. She's starting to watch a lot of games with me. She's like a lot of questions. But yeah, so she said that. But yeah, he kind of comes in there with this attitude that he's going to fix everything. The superhero vibe. He's not the most technical guy. He's not the most
00:25:52
Speaker
brilliant player, but he's very effective. He's very smart. I think his space awareness is underrated. I think his ability to place himself in the correct spots, he finds the soft spots, the mid, the in-between spaces, he knows where to be. And that's why he's gotten so many goals. I think he's a lot smarter and his soccer IQ is probably higher than we give him, you know, credit for. So I think he's a guy that's coming up and look,
00:26:21
Speaker
To be honest, you have no idea how many games in the beginning of this season, I talked to a lot of players and sometimes players like, man, we should have brought him Paul for that game or, oh, that time Paul should have came in because he gives you this, that and the other. I used to hear all the time. And now I understand why I did because he practices like he plays. And that's literally what people tell me. Oh, man, I knew that guy was going to be there because that's the way he practices. He comes in, he gives you this, that and the other. That's what he does in the game.
00:26:50
Speaker
not an easy trade, by the way, not a lot of people train like they practice or practice like they play. Yeah, you know, and I think I would assume and maybe, maybe I'm wrong, but my, my sense is that you don't win, like roll rule ideas after the Houston game, I think it was, was just blowing up Paul Rothrock. And it doesn't like, they don't strike me as the, like,
00:27:11
Speaker
automatic obvious buddies, you know, and it to me, it speaks to him just winning the he's he's impressing him with his work ethic with he won him over is the way that that reads to me. And it feels very genuine. And I would imagine that's probably the case with a lot of players in the team. I know the guys on lobbying scorcher said this, so I want to give them credit, but I thought it was actually a pretty good observation.
00:27:36
Speaker
Paul Rothrock reminds me a little of Nico Ledero. He's not as skilled as Nico, but he does a lot of the stuff that Nico did well, which is work hard, draw fouls, cover a lot of ground. He's smart. He doesn't have the technical ability of a Nico, but I thought that was actually a pretty good observation that he
00:27:55
Speaker
that he sort of like sees a Nico Ledero and tries to emulate him and his work ethic and his sort of relentlessness. And it has really served him well. And I think at the very least, it's helping raise the level of training and competitiveness within the team to have a player like Paul Rothrock. And it's maybe something they were missing after Nico left.
00:28:17
Speaker
Wow, man, that's actually very interesting. And maybe that's the reason why some of these players that I'm mentioning do gravitate towards that contagious type of professionalism and willingness and sacrifice even when it comes to the way he plays the game. So, yeah, when it comes to the intangibles, I mean, yeah, 100%. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah, he's definitely no Nicolás Odero in other
00:28:46
Speaker
you know, spots of the field and what he did and the technical ability and some things like that. But wow, I actually, I'm all for that. I'll second that motion. I will allow it 100%. Yeah, I like that.
00:29:00
Speaker
You know, it was, what's funny about that also is that one of the first times I ever saw him play was at the Academy and I was talking to Wade Weber and he was like, I know this is going to sound a little crazy, but I think this guy has a little bit of Nico Ledero in him. And so I think this is a bit of a thing that's been going around for a while. And I like, I like that comparison. I also think that that's the thing that the sounders were missing earlier in the year is.
00:29:23
Speaker
And I don't think we always appreciated it. Outside of the team is Nico brought a competitiveness to training that was really hard to replicate because this was a guy who treated every training session like it was the most important game. He would, he was always pushing. He was always fighting. He was, you know, uh, such a serious, uh,
00:29:46
Speaker
player on the field in training that when you lose that you just lose that little edge sometimes and I think in some way like I don't think that Paul is exactly replicating that because training does feel different without Nico there but I think they needed somebody like that to sort of bring the energy up and and it seems like it served them well.
00:30:08
Speaker
I am curious, you have probably more insight of anyone in the press into what's sort of going on inside the locker room right now. Obviously, there is this thing with Nuhu and Leo Chu, or not Leo Chu, with Nuhu and Raul Rui Dias recently. What's your sense of how things are right now and what's going on, you think, behind the scenes? Yeah, I think that for better or for worse,
00:30:37
Speaker
the way that Brian handled the whole situation did work. I mean, the vibe does seem better. I feel like Brian Spencer, the way he handled it ended up kind of calming the whole situation. And I think that players have,
00:31:05
Speaker
unified after that specific moment, something that I questioned at the time, something that I thought was going to actually make things worse. So I got to give Brian credit for handling that situation. The problems we knew, who the problems with were Raul. It's not easy. It's almost, it's probably the hardest part of the job is dealing with a guy like Raul that
00:31:31
Speaker
It's not about ego. It's about just the, the, the play. Yeah. The respect, the desire to play that, you know, like I've been there my whole life. I want to make this team better. I want it to be at my feet. And it's not about not being a team player. It's just that no matter what, I'm going to feel like I'm the best guy for the job because that's the way I've been playing the game. That's the way that I've been proud player.
00:31:56
Speaker
Yeah, he's a proud player. So because of that, it's hard to ask Brian Smetzer, the coach, try to put the best 11 together, put the best team together, and not want to hurt anybody's feelings, and at the same time have to do what you got to do. So for your question, I think that the locker room has withstand its problems. I feel like there still are players and intricacies that are not
00:32:26
Speaker
where they had been in the past, where they had been in 2019, where they had been in other times where I felt like that locker room, that group was one band, one sound. I do think that Leo is one of those guys that you could visually see that made me not happy, right? And it's beyond not being happy, but it's just,
00:32:49
Speaker
not feeling like part of a team and and things of that nature and you know i think that a lot of the younger players sometimes see that and and could question certain things but i think that the core group
00:33:02
Speaker
The pillars of this locker room have done a good job, Stephen Fry included. I hear nothing but great things about the way Stephen Fry handles the captaincy and his ability to, what is the order that I'm looking for, to like lessen the problems, to mitigate it. You know, everything that he does as a captain is this.
00:33:30
Speaker
what players want. And I'm talking about not just the most experienced players, and you see, I'm talking about young players. I'm talking about players that need the leadership.
Team Dynamics and Player Satisfaction
00:33:38
Speaker
So I do think that the pillars, the guys that are holding up this locker room have done a good job. And Brian, to his credit, regardless of how difficult it was at the time and how you might've thought that it was the wrong decision to do certain things, and I still don't completely agree with it, he's in the right. I mean, he ended up doing it
00:34:00
Speaker
in a way that now it's made the team better. And I can't argue that. I could argue the fact that I didn't like the decision, but I can argue that the results weren't what they needed to be because, I mean, the proof is in the pudding and they're a great taste in pudding right now.
00:34:16
Speaker
Yeah, they are. They are. And I think it is going to be interesting to see what happens with Leo Chu for a variety of reasons. It's hard to think he's a starter right now. I got to say there's probably three or four players maybe who are going to get in ahead of him on the wing.
00:34:39
Speaker
all things being equal, right? Like, I mean, this is a guy who started the most recent game, so it's not like he's that far, but it just speaks to the competition, I think, that's in the team right now. And there's a lot of moving parts, and there's players who play multiple positions. You know, it's interesting that both Christian and Reid can both play as fullbacks or as wingers, and it'd be... You can sort of make a cohesive lineup out of that, and that complicates things as well, in terms of figuring out a best 11.
00:35:07
Speaker
But yeah, I'm hearing the same stuff you are about Leo. It sounds like he's not really happy. He didn't look happy at training today, which is always funny. It's funny to see players upset when the team is playing well because it does give off a vibe that maybe they aren't all in this together, right? Like you would like to think that when the team is going well, you put your ego aside. It's when the team isn't playing well and you think you're not playing enough and you could be helping the team be better. That's where it starts to make more sense to me.
00:35:37
Speaker
But when the team is playing well, and you're upset that you're not playing 90 minutes, you're only playing 60 minutes, that just feels off, right? Yeah, 100%. And it's also beyond that Jeremiah is kind of like, even if you're not feeling it at training, and you're not feeling it on the bench, as soon as you walk into that pitch, like, that should not matter. And you should have like this brotherhood.
00:36:05
Speaker
feel about it. There are times where, you know, I'm looking, we're looking from up there, right at the press box. And you can see a player telling Leo, go here, go there. There's interchanges. He just seems like
00:36:17
Speaker
He's not even in sync when it comes to just the soccer components of it. And I think a lot of that is the fact that he's just not happy where he's at and how his career here in Seattle has had more downs than ups because there's been ups and downs, but it feels like there's been more downs and ups. He's never really solidified himself as that.
00:36:37
Speaker
You 22 that we and all were hoping he was to become so a lot of it is is on him and look I like the guy he's such a nice guy and He just seems like a genuinely nice guy and yet there's this There's like kind of petulance about him that feels just a little a little it
00:37:02
Speaker
immature maybe because he seems like a guy that everyone likes that everyone seems to appreciate he you know he's like a light you know like he's a good personality and yet there's this element of competitiveness that isn't quite linking up the way that you like to and I don't know
00:37:21
Speaker
You see it in his play I mean you talked about development you talk about growth. When you're talking about this homegrowns and when we talk about, you know, Christian and where he's at that versatility. And when we look at over and what he's been able to do and you know all of this
00:37:36
Speaker
players that have, you know, added to their portfolios and he just feels like he hasn't been able to do that. He's the exact same player that came in when we got him. He's a guy that wants to get to end line. He has amazing speed, incredible athleticism, but the finishing product in the final third is not there either when it comes to that decision or that final touch and the defensive component and that effort and that extra sacrifice doesn't seem to be there. And I don't know if it's ever going to get there.
00:38:06
Speaker
I know, I agree with you. It's, you know, we're now, you know, he was signed in 2021. So this is his fourth season with the Sounders and we aren't seeing the progress that, you know, it's funny because he showed flashes of the same ability in that 2021 season. And it just hasn't really blossomed beyond what he was showing then.
00:38:27
Speaker
which is frustrating, and I don't imagine that it's going to get any better if the sounders are able to bring in another player, this transfer window, and it looks like it's probably going to be a winner who is potentially going to knock Nico farther down the pecking order. What are you hearing as far as rumors go around what the sounders are trying to do this summer?
00:38:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's definitely not going to be incredibly busy. It's one position is one guy for one position to be quite frank. The Croatian winger that you guys.
00:39:10
Speaker
Yep, that's a center has reported about and you know Tom Bogart has also reported on it. It is a guide that they're in talks with it. Those talks are advanced. Those talks are not close to finalized.
00:39:24
Speaker
There's been similar situations in the past with the Sounders where they're talking to a guy, there's events negotiations, and there's still a gambit of players, two or three, that are options there in case that doesn't fall through. I think that's where we are right now. I don't have names for you at this time. I do know that there is one South American player.
00:39:46
Speaker
that I like, that I'm trying to confirm before I throw anything out, but I think he's a guy that's very, very good, that has the same qualities in terms of the profile of player, a winger, a guy that could also be a scorer, a guy that is gonna give you some speed out wide as well, a guy with good link up players on that end, a guy that's willing to do that two-way,
00:40:13
Speaker
uh, effort defensively and offensively. So I do believe that that's where they're going to be putting their money at is that the one player that's going to maybe help what you have right now, which is Jordan Morris red hot at the nine or Raul coming in and, uh, using that experience and that talent to get you some goals. And when necessary, you also have Jordan out wide. So I think you're just adding depth out wide. So
00:40:39
Speaker
Jordan can continue to do what he does with Raul Rodriguez right there with him just in case there's a need for it.
00:40:47
Speaker
Yeah, and I know a lot of people would love if the sounders went out and got a new number nine. I don't see that being remotely likely. Like it feels like they are pretty set at the number nine spot. And as you alluded to, or as you said earlier in the show, like that could even be role being a starter at some point later in the year. So it would seem kind of a waste of resources to bring in someone
00:41:14
Speaker
Whereas there is clearly still competition out on the wing. And if you can improve your depth there, that's a much easier position to improve your depth.
00:41:26
Speaker
And so that I think that makes a lot of sense. I would love it if they went out and found a U-22 player just to sort of fill out the roster and bring in someone to give them a little extra time. But I don't necessarily see that happening either unless they, you know, I suppose they could bring a, like, call up a Georgi Minongo or something like that. But that doesn't feel like something that is going to be, there's no gun to their head that's forcing them to do that in the short term.
00:41:54
Speaker
Look, to be honest, and look, I know that fans want results now, and that's what this franchise has accustomed their fan base to, and I love it. I love the fact that as a fan base, you absolutely expect the best out of your franchise, and you should not settle for just playoffs, and I love it. But the reality is that when it comes to this sort of decisions, and when it comes to roster build,
00:42:23
Speaker
Panic moves lead nowhere. And when you have a better idea of what you have within the structure of your entire organization, the first team, the second team, and you decide, hey, these guys might be able to come up and fill some spots so we can spend money here and there.
00:42:43
Speaker
the end game is so much better. So have patience. I understand that Craig Weibull has been taking a lot of heat and I've given him a lot of heat. But at the end of the day, I have to really talk to myself and say, hey, this team, whether it's been bad or terrible at times,
00:43:03
Speaker
They're competitive. They're in six plays. They're above a timbers team. They spend a crap ton of money on a bunch of players in the last two seasons. They're right there with Colorado. They spend a whole bunch of money as well. They're above other teams. So you just got to have patience. And I feel like a guy like Georgie, that's the guy that you want to know where he's at because, man, he has all the right attitude. He has a whole bunch of raw talent. I need to know where Georgie's at.
00:43:32
Speaker
at the end of this Tacoma Defiance season. And I gotta know when he's going into 2025 before I do anything. Cuz if I'm not signing him, somebody else might sign him. And I don't wanna have a situation where you get another salmon dinner in or you get another, I know way back in the day, happened with the defender for New York City Red Bulls. What was it?
00:43:58
Speaker
Long long long, you know, there's a situation where you wish you have players back or you know, Indiana Vassa left and right? Carranza for Miami. I mean you don't want this I want to see where Georgie is that because I do see a lot of good Potential talent there. So because of that you need to just wait it out. You have to there's no reason to rush it at this time.
Raul Rui Dias Transfer Rumors
00:44:22
Speaker
Yeah, I guess, and before we, while we're talking about rumors, I guess we probably should address the kind of wild story around Raul Roo ideas where he, it's kind of surreal to see we didn't report on it a ton in part because it just didn't seem like there was anything there. And I know you talked to Craig Weibel about it. I suspect that you have more sourcing on it.
00:44:26
Speaker
I
00:44:48
Speaker
What can you say about this whole transfer saga? And I put that in really loud air quotes around Raul Rui Diaz that it seems to now have dissipated. Yeah. And I think it might reignite with other teams. And I do believe that there could be interest within MLS to at least pick up the phone and call that sounded to ask about Raul, which is absolutely natural. It's normal.
00:45:17
Speaker
What was weird and odd in a bit of a circus, I love that you use that word when you asked Brian Smetzer a couple of weeks ago about it. It was the fact that there was so much weight put on the player and basically saying that he was forcing himself out and that he was willing to pay his own
00:45:42
Speaker
a way out of it that he was willing to leave a million dollars on the table so that we could let him go for free. A whole bunch of nonsense that I don't think people realize that, yeah, these are pro players. They love to do what they do. But at the end of the day, this is a job for them as well. And they're not going to leave a million dollars on the table just for fun.
00:46:01
Speaker
Right. And then there was the fact that the president or the director of the sporting director for one university party was coming here like I was in Miami watching the Copa America final having a good time. You guys want to believe and created all these rumors that there was an email or an invitation to meet up with the Sounders. And they never answered that because they want to hold Raul Rodriguez hostage.
00:46:25
Speaker
It's just nonsense. So what I would say about this saga is just the reality that in South America, I think in all in America, maybe around the world, there are journalists and editorials and companies that need so much of that clickbait and interactions that they're willing to
00:46:48
Speaker
push the reality, be ambiguous with a lot of stuff and sometimes just fabricate things off of sourcing and or whatever. But the reality is that Raul is happy that he's here. Raul would love to get more more minutes and he's pissed that he doesn't get on the field. That doesn't mean that he wants to go to Universitario and that doesn't mean that he doesn't understand that the best thing for his
00:47:16
Speaker
life and career here on out is to be here in Seattle, continue to work, get value by play time. And when this contract is up, talk to the Sounders and talk to whoever it is that's going to be willing to talk to him and see what his best next move is. But talking about all of this nonsense just
00:47:35
Speaker
makes me upset. And that's the reason why I was so serious about it. Why when spoke directly to Craig Weibel in case I was missing something, because there was just so much on it that I was like, man, maybe there is maybe the founders are ragging Raoul and put him in the trunk of Adrian Hanauer's car right now. I mean, you know, it's just crazy.
00:47:56
Speaker
Yeah, no, I thought and Craig was it was funny, I was I was kind of sitting in on on that and Craig just seemed like so confused by this idea that that there had been an offer or even real contact made and he made he made a very good point. It's like, I am not the hardest person to get a hold of, you know, roles agents know how to get a hold of me.
00:48:19
Speaker
Most you know, there's always a way to in this world of football There is always a way to get a hold of a sporting director or whatever and it's not and and like he allowed the possibility that maybe I got an email that got caught in spam or something like that was very magnanimous of him to even offer that as a possibility but
00:48:40
Speaker
Yeah, if someone wants to get a hold of Craig, they know how to get a hold of him. The idea that, and he had definitely not talked to anyone about, or he certainly, he gave the impression he had not talked to anyone. No, we'll work as an area, get on the Sandra Hart Discord. There's a whole bunch of fans that will throw a note at him at the very least. Right. Maya will hand him a note. I will hand him a note. Craig Weibo is a business guy when he comes to, he understands the game and he understands players and he would,
00:49:10
Speaker
never deny a player the opportunity to go somewhere if it was right by the player and it was right by the team, just like they do with Javier Arriaga. That was a win-win for absolutely everybody. That's something that they were looking for at the beginning of the season. So again, I still believe in Craig Weibull and what he can do with this new rules and regulations, the 3DPs and the 3U22s or the 2x4 with the 4U22s.
00:49:38
Speaker
going to be fascinating to see how that how that all gets used. I think a lot of people assume that that certain kinds of teams are going to use that rule like certain aspects of that rule. I think that's I think it's all up in play. I think that's what's so exciting about this rule is that
00:49:55
Speaker
You're going to have high spending teams that go two and four. And you're going to have low spending teams that go three and three. And you're going to have everything in between, because there are different ways to build. I think what's great about this rule is that it gives distinct and different ways to build a roster. And I think that's where MLS really can get better is by having different
00:50:18
Speaker
templates that you can follow, different paths that you can take to improve your roster, to build for the future, to do all kinds of different things. And I actually love this rule. I think it's going to it's one of the more innovative rules that the league has had.
00:50:41
Speaker
I've been pretty critical of some of the different things that MLS has instituted, but this one I kind of like. And I also like that to get that $2 million in GAM, if you go with the two and four, that the owners have to pay for it. So it's not necessarily cheaper to
00:50:57
Speaker
to go that way. It's not like the league is gifting $2 million in Gamm to teams that only want two designated players. They got to buy that, which to me is what we want. We want to encourage investment from the owners. We should be rewarding owners who are willing to open their wallets and spend money. And this rule seems to do it, which is pretty fun.
00:51:18
Speaker
Yeah, and I think that Seattle is going to benefit from it. I hear and I hear you standard fans. I do. I'll always comment back to anything that you tell me and I know that there's been questions about the scouting or the scouting is fantastic. Sean Henderson is a guy that you might not know of, but the guy is
00:51:37
Speaker
a fan of the game. He's a guy that studies absolutely everything about every player. I asked him about just random Columbia soccer games and he told me who scored. I mean the guy is so impregnated with the soccer itch that he knows the game inside and out. He has the same networking that Chris Henderson had
00:51:59
Speaker
He has the possess, he's just a cool dude overall. He'll just strike out like I was just with anybody. So he's a guy that if he's going to South America to talk to a new player, he's gonna come off on the good side cuz the dude is just charismatic as hell. So do not question some things that you might not know of. I guarantee you that there is the right guys for the job.
00:52:24
Speaker
is just a slow coming train and a generational change doesn't come so quickly. It comes in time and I think that's where we are right now.
League's Cup Participation and Prospects
00:52:34
Speaker
Yeah, so before we get out of here, I wanted to look ahead a little bit beyond the LA FC game and into League's Cup. You know, after the LA FC game, that's the last league game that we'll have for about a month. And but that doesn't mean there's not going to be any soccer, there's going to be League's Cup, the Sounders are in a group with Minnesota United and Niekaksa from Mexico. And I don't I am not
00:53:01
Speaker
super worried about League's Cup personally I'm I'm willing to become intrigued if the sounders look like they're going on a run or something like that anyway uh yeah League's Cup is is coming fast and furious right now
00:53:16
Speaker
What is your, you know, you come from a, you're a little bit, you're a lot more tapped into the sort of the Latin market, the Spanish speaking market. What are people excited about LeagueScap or is this something that is viewed completely as a kind of cash grab on both sides of the border, you think?
00:53:37
Speaker
I think both can be true. But I do think that people are excited, happy because there are kind of two worlds when it comes to this sort of thing. There are the Mexican and Latin Americans in the States that are
00:53:54
Speaker
thrilled to be having these games here and they they understand MLS and they like the competition and they like going to like my son. Finally, he's been talking about MLS to his friends and they'll go back and forth about how our son was at the press conference the other day. I see.
00:54:11
Speaker
Yes, that guy, exactly. He's in there. He's looking to, you know, look at some grounds into communication and he's been doing some classes with the Rave Green Foundation and they've been amazing. But him himself has been talking about League's Cup and to me, that's great. I want to hear the youth and all this soccer community talk about it. So I think that there are
00:54:39
Speaker
people who are interested and excited about it, but both can be true. So I do think that there is an anticipation. I think that, you know, the messy factor and now the jurude factor and Marcus Rose coming to LA Galaxy.
00:54:56
Speaker
They do create this big headlines and I'm excited for it. Do I think that Seattle is gonna go far in it? Do I think that is super important that they do? I'm not so sure. I mean, I would like them to and I think that they would like to. But I feel like right now they're more focused on the league and Open Cup because they're in a semi final because it's two games and you get some silver.
00:55:24
Speaker
some titles. So that's kind of the importance of it. But the Seattle centers are in a, I don't want to call it an easy group, but one that they can get through. Nick Kaksa is the manageable group. Yes. Need to play home games. Yeah. What is it? RSL? Nick Kaksa and who else?
00:55:45
Speaker
No, it's just three teams. It's Minnesota United and so it's and they just got to finish top two it getting out. I wouldn't say it's a disaster because it's I don't know that any result is a as long as no one gets hurt. It's not a disaster, but they they should get out of the group.
00:56:03
Speaker
It does get a little bit more complicated if they get out of the group though because if I understand the bracket correctly, they are drawn into a side of the bracket with several teams from League MX who are
00:56:19
Speaker
who are like hub teams. And so they're guaranteed games in one location. And so I think the sounders, even if they were to win their group, would have to travel potentially to play like a Chivas or Monterey or a couple of teams like that. So it might get a little tricky after the group stage, but I think if I'm the sounders, doing well in the group stage is sort of where I'm setting my bar. Like let's get out of the group stage and
00:56:49
Speaker
Honestly, having one more game after that, we don't, we're, you know, you don't want to get too, like I do think there's some diminishing return. If you go on a long league's cup run and what that might do to you, what kind of impact that could have on the stretch run of the season, the Sounders are going to be playing plenty of games, especially they've already played three open cup games. They've potentially got two more open cup games after this. They don't need to play, you know, seven leagues cup games. If they play three or four, that's probably the sweet spot to me.
00:57:19
Speaker
No, it's really not. And look, I've even heard fans talk about how they'd rather win Open Cup than than Leaks Cup. So I mean, I would. Yeah, there you go. So I think it's all subjective. If Seattle had a necessity to win an international title still, I would say, yeah, but yeah, I think they're good. I feel like that CCL was even a better and more important title than this Leaks Cup is because of the
00:57:49
Speaker
history because of everything behind it. So yeah, I wouldn't mind if they rotated some players and got some results. I'm telling the cocks that's not a good team. I believe me the last three seasons never been above middle of the table. I mean, they're just not a good team. You look at the roster now and I take the Sounders roster over it. So I just feel like they can definitely manage and then see what happens. I think they'll be playing with house money at that point either way, but their main objective should be just.
00:58:17
Speaker
We didn't open club tournament and getting into the playoffs and being a contender within those players. Yeah. Yeah. No, I totally agree with you. It's amazing how we were heading into this league's cup break. There is, you know, after this game, the Sounders will have, I think,
00:58:35
Speaker
nine or 10 games left in the regular season. And, you know, you look back even recently, six weeks ago, it looked like there was no way that they were going to be going into the league's cup break in anything like this position. It's pretty exciting to have a game like this. I think finishing up with the LFC is almost perfect. It's almost too perfect. It's to have Pedro de la Vega potentially starting in this game, to have them playing the way that they are,
00:59:03
Speaker
yes the schedule has been very kind to them they have you know they they have now played six of their last seven games this will be their sixth out of their last seven league games that have been at home so it's been or actually i think it's it's
00:59:18
Speaker
It's more than maybe seven of the last eight. So it's been a good part of their schedule, but all credit to the Sounders for winning these games that they've had to win, for resurrecting their season, of turning this into an interesting campaign, which earlier in the year, it was not that. It was definitely not that. This was looking like a pretty bland season. We might even have a summer transfer window to talk about.
00:59:43
Speaker
I am, I'm pretty excited. Uh, I love seeing the growth of the young guys, Obed, Vargas, Reed, Baker, Whiting. Nico, it's been awesome. You've, you've brought some great stories to us as well. I think that should be said that has also helped here. And it's been, you know, been really great doing this, uh, so far. So hopefully we have, we have a couple more few more months of, of exciting, of interesting soccer. Uh, Nico, where else can people, you are everywhere. Where can people find you?
01:00:13
Speaker
Well, I appreciate it. It's always you bringing me on. And, you know, I always love being a nos arietes. And I think that the fans that I interact the most in English, at least is standard fan hearts and hard and those from nos arietes. But you could find me Thursdays. I do soccer down here. That is 730 in the morning to eight. That's 30 with Nico.
01:00:39
Speaker
We usually break down the entire MLS. We do a cliffhanger segment part where we talk about juice boxes. I do like to gamble so we kind of break down the you know the plus and the negatives and where you could maybe get more money depending if you want to bet on the goal. So that's a fun segment man. SDH they're great so check that out. 730
01:01:03
Speaker
to 8 in the morning, maybe 8.15. We will go a little bit longer. That's on Twitch. That's on Twitter. You can find it on my Twitter site. That's a real good one. And Pulcho Sports is mainly for Spanish speakers. So if there are any of you Spanish speakers out here, we do a soccer bar. And it's the only Spanish, only league-wide show Mondays and Thursdays. We've gotten
01:01:33
Speaker
More people come on and I think we're starting to get some popularity as the only Spanish-speaking show that covers full MLS. So again, that's Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. So check us out. That's on Puzo Sports as well. So yeah, that's kind of the couple of projects that I'm doing right now.
01:01:53
Speaker
Awesome. Well, I should also plug the other parts of the Sunderhart podcast network. You probably have already heard lobbing scorchers. Also check out the cooler guild that is the newest addition to the Sunderhart podcast network. They are covering the rain mostly as well as women's soccer in general. But Nico, thank you so much for doing this. It is great having you on. We need to do this more often. But we had a lot of talk, you know,
01:02:19
Speaker
A lot of talk about a lot of interesting stuff going on with the sounders right now, but thank you for doing this.
01:02:26
Speaker
No, man. Thank you. And the only time I get upset is when I'm not on here enough. So definitely we have a lot of good conversations being you off the mic. So I feel like sometimes I just want to press record on my phone and catch this off beat because man, we get in there. So I am available anytime and we'll probably have a lot to talk about after this Saturday game. And so I'll see you there.
01:02:50
Speaker
Absolutely. All right. Well, I with that I'm gonna log off. I am Jeremiah Shan Signing off for our sponsor full pull wines. This is no Saudi at this and remember you'll never get alone
01:03:38
Speaker
We love you. Let's win another one!