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Fans React to Seattle Sounders at St. Louis CITY SC!
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We react and take calls following Seattle's MLS Matchday 3 fixture at St. Louis CITY SC.
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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.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Recording and Game Summary
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Lobbing Scorchers was previously recorded and streamed live on YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers. If you want to listen or catch these episodes live, see the video, and see all the rest of our content, go to YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers or LobbingScorchers.com slash YouTube.
00:00:22
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be a real scorcher today. Why the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be scorcher.
00:00:44
Speaker
Good evening, everybody, and welcome to your postgame live for Match Day 3 in MLS. The Seattle Sounders just took a 1-0 victory at St. Louis City SC.
00:00:56
Speaker
KKR with the game winner, Andrew Thomas with a huge save at the end, and the Seattle Sounders smash and grab all three points at Energizer Park.
00:01:07
Speaker
Noah, what's up, man? Got to talk about a win tonight. How are you feeling?
Seattle's Strategic Play
00:01:11
Speaker
Absolute jingle bells, Ari. Absolute jingle bells. It was ugly. It wasn't pretty at times. The first half of soccer was unwatchable.
00:01:23
Speaker
But you know what? Sometimes you got to go in. Sometimes you got to lose one of your most important center backs. And sometimes you got to let the young Kalani Kosarianzi, UW legend, s score a banger. He's been known to do that.
00:01:37
Speaker
He's been known to do that. He has been known to do that, and he did that tonight. And, yeah, we're going to be hanging out We're going talking about the Dugan. So everybody strap in. ah but We are, I believe, Noah was just telling me, we have come to an understanding with the oligarch class.
Broadcast Updates and Lineup Analysis
00:01:54
Speaker
We are allowed, evidently, now to play the press conferences. So we are going to do that. I thought there was going to be no Schmetz presser tonight. I was all ready to tell you guys, sorry, we can't play the presser yet. But apparently we can. So we're going to be playing the presser. We're going be giving our reactions and then we'll get you all in here to lay down your takes. But I guess while we wait for this presser, Noah, let's just do our usual thing and give our initial takeaways on the game. And we'll get we'll get to the game, our injury. But I wanted to start with the lineup.
00:02:19
Speaker
I think that's a good place to start because there was a couple uncertainties going into this game, namely, you know, what the attacking midfield. was going to look like and who's going to start at striker. We were talking Osaze versus Moose this week leading up to it. I had kind of no idea what exactly Schmetz was going to do, but he he goes out there with Osaze still starting up top, which i was I was fine with, and Snyder B getting the start at right mid. I thought you know earlier this week that Paul Ariel might get the start, but ah it seems like he's not fit enough to do that yet. So you end up with Snyder B at right mid.
00:02:56
Speaker
ah Which is... ah i ah can Can we start there? can we start with the Snyder B right mid position? What did you think when you saw Snyder B at right mid?
00:03:07
Speaker
I thought, it hell yeah, why not? right like He is a young kid, he's got energy, he's good on the ball, he has really good progressive vision. um i don't think he has the same dog in him that like ah Paul Arreola or Paul Rothrock has or anything like that, so I was a little concerned in that sense.
00:03:27
Speaker
But i got I don't like it. I don't like I don't want to see him playing there. The times where he looked the best was when he floated inside. There was one moment in particular in the kind of close to the beginning of the second half where he floated inside. He was playing almost his normal position.
00:03:43
Speaker
almost even a 10, honestly. And he floated in and he he worked that ball forward for a pass that it went nowhere, but it looked the most dangerous of all of his opportunities. And I just, I don't think that's his game.
00:03:56
Speaker
I don't think that like incessant pressing fighting winger play is is his thing. I think he's way better in that central channel. I just think like, There are some players who are just sick as hell in that central channel. It's way harder to be sick as hell in that central channel than it is to be a winger. I would know. i was never sick as hell in that central channel, but I was i was pretty okay at this at the winger position. So I think, honestly, i i didn't love it, but I loved that we tried it.
00:04:25
Speaker
And I really do think... This makes me my next question for you. Hassani Dotson. i think this performance showed that... He might need to sit for Snyder in in some upcoming matches because I don't know how you felt, but I felt it was a little bit rough there tonight. And I think that's now at least a question for for who should start in that position next to k Christian Roldan.
Player Highlights and Performances
00:04:53
Speaker
Yeah, there was a couple more less than ideal giveaways from Hassani tonight, ah which to be fair, I don't think a lot of guys were immune from the giveaway issue in this particular game. ah i do think, yeah, I mean, I think it's a discussion who should be starting there in a first choice 11 between the two of them right now. Like it is a, it's a good debate. I'm going to, I'm going to wait to see more Hassani before i write him off or anything because It is his first couple games on the team. we We've talked about how there was probably going to be some kind of acclimation period there. So I am willing to accept that that might be what's going on. And as he gets more comfortable and as he gets more acclimated, we'll see him reach more the level that we saw from him at Minnesota United, similar to the Jesus Ferreira situation last year. You know, there was ah a lot of talk in his first few games with the team last year about how it wasn't working out and it was a bust and he needs to sit, whatever. And then that turned out to be, that it turned out to work out pretty well, which I guess that's a another good segue into, I think, ah talk about the positives from this game before we get to the injury. But Jesus Ferreira picks up the assist on the lone goal of the game. And, you know, i'm ah I'm happy for him, Noah, because it was at that exact stadium against the this exact team last year where he had had one of his worst games of the season. And it was also a situation where they were down some guys and there was a lot of talk of, You know, this is a situation. is why you trade for Jesus Ferrer, like for him to step up and make a play in a big moment in a game like this.
00:06:24
Speaker
And last year that didn't happen. And this year it did. So that was great to see. He's got three assists in three games. You take that ah two of them primary. So this one was a primary. This one counts. It counts. You can't write this one off. You can't. can't write this one off.
00:06:39
Speaker
it was on the ah It was on the game winner as well. And then what a finish by KKR, though. Like, that was a great... The cutback, the way he moved his body, did the, like, fake shot... I mean, ah like it's it's a great play by Ferreira to win the ball and then, you know, immediately pick his head up, pick out KKR. But then KKR makes a great individual play to take that ball down, shake the defender, and then finish that like past Ramon Berkey, one of the best goalkeepers in MLS.
00:07:09
Speaker
Come on now. Doesn't get keeper. we yeah We, we, we, feel like we haven't, uh, I was thinking about this after he scored the goal. We haven't really talked that much about KKR, uh, like leading up to the season and at the start of the season here.
00:07:22
Speaker
ah but I think that was a reminder. Like, i feel like this guy, every time that he plays, he's making stuff happen. He's getting goal contributions. He's scoring, not just scoring goals, but like creating these really good high level, high quality goals. Yeah, I mean, you've been on the KKR agenda. That's one of your agendas dating back to last season. do you think of ah watching him get that game winner?
00:07:47
Speaker
I mean, it looked exactly like the type of player that I've seen him to be, especially in the attack, which is like he's an exciting player. He has really good body control. He's really good in those tight spaces.
00:07:58
Speaker
And I think that that plays really well to, especially this game where it was just like clogged. It was just clogged in there. ah So I don't know. I really like what I've seen from him. I think getting him more starts, he's going to get more starts, especially now that Yehmar is out. I assume they're going to slide. and They're going to be doing the classic Alex Roldan center back, which we can talk about that later. But Kalani is definitely one of those pieces that's like an up and comer. Where do you put him?
00:08:31
Speaker
He's going to challenge for minutes this year. And i mean, if he's finishing like that and he's doing that consistently, it's going to be a Paul Rothrock situation where you can't keep him off the field.
00:08:42
Speaker
And similar to Paul Rothrock, because I see them together at training all the time, they'll be out there doing doing touches together after training's done, like all that kind of stuff. He's a dog.
00:08:53
Speaker
He's a dog. And i really do think that he fits this mentality so good. So good. And and I wanted to go back to the par Paul Areola situation.
00:09:05
Speaker
mention that you had because did he not look absolutely lights out incredible tonight did he not look like a man possessed to win the starting role on the wing he looked like prime u.s s men's national team show los paul areola tonight like genuinely i know he saw just a glimpse of it but that was tantalizing that was tantalizing Yeah, he ah he looked good. I agree. and in in that same vein, another guy I wanted to shout out, ah maybe not to the same degree as Paul Areola, but Nikola Petkovic?
00:09:42
Speaker
yeah I was like, okay, all right. He hit it he hit a couple of genuinely like really nice passes. like He had one that sprung a counter that I can't remember to is who it was to, but... It was just a really good pass. And then I was like, all right, you know, maybe that's just one one good pass. what And then he hit like another. i was like, all right, where i' um saw I saw something, you know? So that was- You saw the vision.
00:10:05
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I also loved- on that last play where they kind of were dinking around in the box. And I think that Cody Baker was got flagged for being offsides. It kind of came back to Cody Baker. He plays it back in. Nikola Pekovic is standing wide open, kind of at the top of the box, back post almost, just with his hands up, screaming, just standing there, just absolutely screaming, yelling at his teammates, like, I'm here, I'm here, I'm here.
00:10:31
Speaker
I love that energy. You need that. He's a guy who has been tossed around, dogged down, put on crown legacy. What is a crown legacy? No one knows.
00:10:42
Speaker
So I think as long as he can absolutely keep up that dog mentality, play as that super sub, he could be great. But I i have liked what I've seen. he played He's been playing a little bit for Tacoma Defiance as well. So I think just getting him his minutes, getting him his confidence back, it's gonna be interesting to see what we get with him.
Defensive Strategies and Player Adaptability
00:11:01
Speaker
I wanna do a shout out the defense as well. you know i've been I've been saying for a while now, that's kind of my biggest concern about this team. Can they balance this new, more kind of aggressive, high pressing Schmetzer ball with also being solid at the back and not giving up bad goals, ill-timed concessions and dropping points? And I'm not gonna lie, like when KKR scored that really early in the second half,
00:11:25
Speaker
one of the things that was going through my mind was like, I kind of don't trust them to hold this lead based on what a lot of what we've seen over the last, yeah like it's too They got it too early. It's too early. There's yeah too much time left in this game for for them to hold this lead. And, but you know, I was like, you know what? Good. Like this will be some character building. You know, like this this is this is gut check time. You lost your starting CB. You got Alex Roldan playing CB. You got Snyder B playing right mid. Dig deep, ah absorb pressure, finish the game, get the win, take all three points, don't blow the lead. And they got kind of close to doing that a couple of times there. But like, you know, that's part of playing on the road in MLS. Like the other team's gonna have some chances. So credit to them for absorbing that. got the presser up right now looks like we got kkr there and uh an empty chair next to him hopefully they bring someone else in there so he's not rolling solo but uh yeah look we're gonna we're gonna get to hear it kickk here as the players sit down raise your hand and would like to ask a question and please do so kalani thanks for joining us
00:12:35
Speaker
all right jackson sitting down all you out sounds good all right jada why don't you go ahead and lead us off please Great, thank you. Congratulations on the win for both of y'all. I wanna kinda know, we usually have this conversation
00:12:55
Speaker
Uh-oh. I think Noah just ah got booted from the call. There he is again. all right I'm back. i'm back. Sorry, guys. He's back. Minor tech difficulties, but the hostage video will be back right throwing the ball back and then played Kalani. Kalani came on and had a great game, and he had a great goal. So we're out of them.
00:13:18
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, it's a good feeling for sure. so It's never a bad thing. when so what we train too is to capitalize and and you give any team a chance like that in a box, they should score it. So um we did what we've practiced and it's kind of just going through the motions again at that point. we We train that kind of thing all the time. So when we when we see the opportunity in the game, it it comes up, you've got to capitalize on it.
00:13:43
Speaker
And then Kalani, can you give a little bit more detail as far as your goals? It seemed like you had a little bit of time to you know kind of get comfortable a little bit and take the the shot that you wanted. Can you kind of describe that?
00:13:55
Speaker
Yeah, honestly, my first touch was not where I wanted it to go. it kind of popped up on me. um But that's that's what the game is. You kind of take it how it comes and I think my first touch kind of messed with them as much as it it messed with me. And then i was quicker to get my second touch ready to go. um I know that in those situations, I personally like to kind of take my touch across my body to then hit it with my left versus trying to open up because um that's instead of going, it's kind of going against the grain and it usually makes the defenders stop. um
00:14:32
Speaker
And i got enough space top of the box and then I just tried to find a corner.
00:14:39
Speaker
All right, reminder to media, if you have a question, please go ahead and hit that raise hand function button. I'm light on that side right now. I am going to go to Nico Antun next. I see your hand raised, Nico. Go forward, please.
00:14:51
Speaker
but yeah, Nico Antun now the House of Sounders. Question for Jackson. How well do you think the team adjusted after that forced substitution of ah Yamar earlier in the game?
00:15:05
Speaker
Yeah, that's a big bummer. Hopefully he'll be back soon. But yeah, I thought the the team did great. I think we have plenty of guys who can step up and and do the job that's required. Like Kalani, for example, and Alex Slottingen at center back and all the subs that came on. And, you know, we're dealing with a couple a couple injuries at the moment. So I think we have a lot of a lot of depth pieces who can step up and not have the level drop off.
00:15:34
Speaker
And for for Kalani, bit of an easier, and more fun question here of for your celebration. Could you talk about the inspiration behind the back foot? Like, is it like Obafemi Martin's expired inspired inspired what's the inspiration about?
00:15:52
Speaker
Honestly, it's i like, so, I mean, I think you guys know by now, but I used to do gymnastics. So I used to always be bouncing around, flipping around. um and so it just kind of became my my celebration. In high school, I did a lot.
00:16:07
Speaker
I didn't score a ton of goals in college, but for the ones I did score, I would usually hit the backflip. And then now I guess, yeah, it's just, um I'm just running with it. Yeah.
00:16:18
Speaker
Sometimes and I'm hesitant to do it because it's it's a tough look for sure if you do it and then you lose the game or tie a game and it's kind of like, all right, we're over celebrating. But um this time I was just like, I'm just going to do it. and worst case scenario, it it gives me motivation to work as hard as I can so we don't lose this game.
00:16:40
Speaker
Thanks. Congrats on the win. Thank you. All right, I would love to see another hand or two if there are any remaining questions. Thank you very much. Okay, we'll go over to you. Kasim, go ahead, please. Hey, Jackson, just wanted to ah know what you think of how Andrew is looking in the goals. So far, two clean sheets in three games.
00:17:02
Speaker
How are you liking his play? Yeah, he's done great. there's There's a couple of big saves he made tonight, you know, coming out on on set pieces as well and having some punches. And I think he did everything we asked. I think he's his distribution is getting better too. He had some, you know, we're we're trying to play out of the back and he's doing a great job.
00:17:25
Speaker
But I think also, you know, having him and Steph as two really elite goalkeepers, I think, um gives the squad boost of whoever's whoever' is in goal. We have one of the best goalies in the league.
00:17:39
Speaker
Still some time left on this road trip. How much confidence does this win give you guys going into the rest of it? Tom. When we talk about it after or before last game that all of these road trips are huge and in and MLS it's really hard to win on the road so wherever we can pick up points we need to pick them up and this was a great kind of tide shifter from last week.
00:18:04
Speaker
ah um After kind of a disappointing. result at RSL. So getting a win here is great. and And it's great momentum to take into the next week and then the week after that. And you got you gotta ah the earlier you get the wins, the more of a confidence we're going to get. And the more build up, the more we can make that snowball roll. So it's great to get that first win on the road here.
00:18:29
Speaker
Thanks. All right, Tim, we'll go to you next. go ahead and ask your question, please.
00:18:37
Speaker
ah Just for both of you guys, curious your thoughts and feelings on playing with Alex Roldan as a center back, ah both of you playing on either side of him. How is that compared to playing with some of the other center backs in the team?
00:18:55
Speaker
I think he's, I mean, he's done it before last year and I think the year before. So it's not, it's not something too new. You know, obviously he's he's just a different player than Yamar or another center back that I get to play with. But no, I think that, mean, you saw tonight the level, the level doesn't drop off and we have a lot of different combinations we can make of a back four that's still going to be,
00:19:20
Speaker
really elite when we're working well together and covering for each other and winning duels. So I don't, yeah, it was just normal. Yeah, I mean, I love it. He's he's a versatile player, as who we all know. um I think that, like Jackson said, the depth is a huge thing and being able to put him back there is great.
00:19:43
Speaker
For me personally, he's been a huge, a huge mentor for me and just, helped me my first couple years in the league, talked me through a lot of things. If I ever have questions, he's he's got me. So it's it's awesome to be able to play by his side. And I think that he is also a bit underrated there. Like players are going to look and be like, oh, this guy's not a center back. But he is a one of the best defenders in the league. He's one of the best distributors in the league. So it's great to have have another guy like that in our back room.
00:20:15
Speaker
All right, we'll take probably one more. Jada, go ahead with your follow-up, please. Thanks. Kalani, when you, well, St. Louis had kind of, you guys had under pressure a little bit um before Yamaha, you know, had the, suffered the and injury. So what was maybe said to you as far as when you, when you went on and obviously then there was that shift in positions too. So what was kind of the message to you?
00:20:40
Speaker
Honestly, it was, it was the same as, as what you would expect going into a game like that. um it's it's It's brutal taking an injury like that. And it's always hard to sub in to a game like that when I literally get two runs on the sideline and then I have to go in the game. um So it's not necessarily much of this tactic, that tactic, get all this stuff, because at that point, it's just like, you got to get in the flow of the game. So um before going on in, it was just kind of like,
00:21:11
Speaker
connect your passes, find your stride, catch your breath, just get into the game. Cause the most important thing at the start. um And for me, e my mindset is is that same thing. just Just get into the game because as soon as I start thinking about too much and which which player I need to mark and get into this gap, that gap, it just makes it a bit more hard, especially after not getting much warmup or anything. So for me, it's just connect the first couple passes, don't let anybody run past me, um and just stay calm because because as soon as you start to panic, that's when stuff goes down the drain.
00:21:49
Speaker
And it seemed like your first touch was kind of stopping, if I remember correctly, was ah you know stopping them from advancing. is that Is that right? I mean, do you remember your first touch?
00:21:59
Speaker
like you had I honestly don't. That's fine. yeah
00:22:06
Speaker
All right, Kalani, Jackson, thank you both very much for your time. Congratulations to the State Trial Summit. There you have it from, oh, Noah, you're muted. 210P, 210P.
00:22:17
Speaker
Really high quality hostage video tonight. Looks like the wi-fly Wi-Fi is actually just flying in in
Post-Game Reflections
00:22:24
Speaker
St. Louis. But i hope I mean, hopefully you guys were were able to hear all. I was able to hear everything. They're known for batteries. It's Energizer Park. They're not known for their internet connection. That's why we Lumen Field, which is an internet provider we can stream from there.
00:22:38
Speaker
Energizer Park, it's just how much the batteries are charged. So, like you can't like, you can't really get mad at them for that. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. ah But good stuff in the actual answers there. I enjoyed Kalani's. They're gone. They're gone. What happened?
00:22:53
Speaker
Oh, no. I enjoyed Kalani's breakdown of you know what was going through his head on the on the goal when the pass came in and all that. that's always i always like hearing like exactly how they're thinking about and analyzing a play like that. And then also, you know, hearkening back to his gymnastics background with the backflip, Selly. Shout out.
00:23:13
Speaker
Do a flip. uh we're uh so we're waiting on schmetz here but uh mean anything else stick out from uh oh i've got notes sorry i got notes not from the presser honestly i don't i don't really think well actually that's not true jackson reagan touched on andrew thomas with that question there and i just wanted they talked about alex rolled on too i thought that was yeah okay well'll we'll hit those two yeah yeah was more substantive than your usual postgame presser but yeah but uh like uh please dive into your uh to your notes I just, Andrew Thomas looked so good tonight. He had so, he had a lot of saves. He had a lot of like job to do and a lot of athletic job to do. made couple of diving. Yes.
00:23:52
Speaker
Yes. He made a couple of diving saves. He's done. oh he's here. all right. Looks like got some ads. I don't know. Alex, what do you think?
00:24:03
Speaker
I always love to hear from you. I think it's a great idea. I think it's a great idea too. you see All right, we'll we'll kick it over to you So, again, I'll let people kind of in on what I said to the group after the game.
00:24:18
Speaker
Because, look, these are one of these moments that we can share with all all of the Sounder fans that the that support the team. Number one, the... the people up in a very highest section. I don't know where they were, section 200, 300, 400. don't know where they were.
00:24:40
Speaker
I can still hear you. So thank you. After the game, of course, there was a quiet stadium and our fans were beating their drums and and we heard of them and the players all went over there. So that number one, thank you as always to the traveling fans.
00:24:57
Speaker
We're glad that we could you know make this an enjoyable game. And then there were there were just too many positives in the game that I had to take notes in the game in case I forgot anybody. because i didn't want to offend anybody or just forget about some of the stuff. So, you know, Asazi and Moose, you know, what they do to score goals is important. But at the end of the day, the stuff they do defensively certainly, you know, had a – outcome, it helped us with the outcome of the game. They put a lot of effort into that, you know, Albert Jesus, Snyder, you know, Paul Areola coming on tonight, Nicola coming on tonight, midfielders, they all have to do two things, defend and keep possession. The way we had a couple of little possession sequences as the game wound down to help us win and keep one nothing.
00:25:51
Speaker
You know, at the back, starting at the back with Christian, the Sonia, those two guys had monster games. They were all over the place. They're they're exhausted in there. Sonia and Christian are exhausted. Kalani, Alex having a deputized for you. I'm are again, Jackson, what a what a frickin monster game he had knew who.
00:26:13
Speaker
90 minutes of concentration didn't put one foot wrong defensively. So very, very good. Cody Baker. I love that kid. Here's a kid from, you know, is a quality Maple Valley, you know, i know exactly where his ad room address is, but there's a kid from the Pacific Northwest that that last tackle towards the end of the game.
00:26:33
Speaker
I love that kid. And so you've got Andrew Thomas. a learning curve for him tonight because that was a hard game. So I'm pleased that he got through with the shutout. So there's so many positives.
00:26:48
Speaker
And then we ended with, you know, Kalani because there's a great story. If you ever want a great story, here's a kid who always seems to make plays. The guy comes on the field. He gives you energy. He gives you everything he has.
00:27:01
Speaker
But that play he made was kind of, kind of interesting because he just gives him a, good ball, but he kind of messes up the touch and they were waiting to see if the ball had rolled up on his arm for a handball. But when he kind of miscontrolled it and he brought it back to his left, it kind of upset Berkey and the rest of the defenders. And he then he hits it with his left foot and goes in the corner of the net.
00:27:25
Speaker
And we're just like, you know, just overwhelmed with joy on the bench to see that kid make an impact. I talk about it all the time, making plays. We needed to make plays to win on on the road. And that kid was stellar. And then obviously these guys over here, Alex, they're probably going to text me in about five minutes for the Jingle Bell celebration because we had like four rookies, four rookies for Jingle Bell. So was pretty good.
00:27:54
Speaker
All right, and with that, we'll throw it over to you all for questions. Jada, why don't you go ahead and get us started, please? Great. You said a lot there, so let me see if I can pick out something for – well, actually, um the one thing you didn't say, I mean, with the MR, what is the – do you know any of the status or anything like that? It is a bright leg injury, which I'm going to update you guys. It's ah it's a hamstring strain.
00:28:19
Speaker
We don't know the extent of it. You know, he he was stretching awkward. We'll give the MRI. we'll We'll figure out how long and what the what you know what it is. So, you know, we're we're we're sad about that, but, you know, stuff happens.
00:28:36
Speaker
Yeah, sorry about that. But to the game, though, you don't have many opportunities where you guys get to take advantage of ah of a defensive error and win. You know, last week we were talking about not playing very well defensively, and obviously that led into a loss. So, I mean, can you kind of maybe talk a little bit about, a little bit more, i guess, about the the way that you guys defended? It seemed like ah a lot better execution and more so of what you want from your team.
00:29:06
Speaker
Excellent question, Jada. Absolutely. The defending for the entire game. was really good. I mean, look, in the first half, I would say we were loose with a couple of passes and they were coming on some transition moments, some counter attacks, but that one in the first half when it was three against two, i mean, Jackson did absolutely what he needed to
Team Confidence and Game Dynamics
00:29:30
Speaker
do.
00:29:30
Speaker
He cut one of the options out and closed the distance. We were able to recover. ah You know, Alex, again, deputizing Kalani one on one in the wing channel, ah you know, knew who had a monster game on his side of the field.
00:29:46
Speaker
Paul Areola did a lot of defending, you know, when he came on and good defending. So I would say overall, I give the defending an eight plus.
00:29:57
Speaker
OK, next we'll go to Ethan. Go ahead, Ethan, ask your question. Brian, congrats on the win. After the ah RSL game, you talked about needing to capitalize on opportunities, but also keeping a clean sheet to be able to win on the road.
00:30:10
Speaker
I was wondering what you thought of the guys' response after the result last week and then getting a win on the road. I mean, how much confidence does that give you guys with this stretch of the schedule coming up? Well, we always we always have the same message. ah You know, the players executed tonight. You know, the game against RSL, we played okay.
00:30:33
Speaker
But we just couldn't find that breakthrough on a goal. And again, tonight, Kalani gives us the chance to get ahead. The defense kept it clean. She did what we needed to do. So the confidence of the squad, the energy, even though they're dead tired, the energy in the locker room was really good. So I'm happy to see that.
00:30:54
Speaker
But look, we've got a tough stretch. You know Vancouver's playing Portland tonight. I hope Vancouver wins. ah And then, you know, we've we we've got a tough stretch. One up to Vancouver.
00:31:06
Speaker
It's one of Kevin, my crack stats guy, Kevin K, who kept his job in preseason because he did excellent work in Spain. Just informed me that it's one nothing Vancouver. Thank you, Kevin.
00:31:19
Speaker
Thanks, coach. All right. Next, we're going to go over to Tim. Tim, go ahead and ask your question, please.
00:31:29
Speaker
Hey coach, congrats on the win. ah Just curious your thoughts on Jesus Ferreira's performance tonight and how you feel about his outlook for the season. He's already, you know, directly or indirectly contributed the three goals.
00:31:45
Speaker
Yeah, three assists. Look, the first couple assists against Colorado. I mean, Paul does the heavy lifting on the one. ah You know, Paul finishes a good. Jesus is putting the ball on the best spot.
00:31:58
Speaker
Tonight, I thought Jesus had like three or four really good insightful passes, because I think that's where your question is leading. Sometimes to get on the stat sheet, it's something.
00:32:12
Speaker
But we, I as a coach, benefit of the panoramic view and all that, I see what he does and what he's looking at. In the first half, I thought he forced a couple of balls because we needed to extend our possessions a little higher up the field.
00:32:29
Speaker
But I'm not going criticize him because at least he sees the pass, which is good for me. Now, can you execute on what you see? Of course, we we can argue that all day long. But Jesus is a is a is a very talented technical player that that has good vision.
00:32:49
Speaker
Thank you. All right, Kasim back to you. Go ahead, please. Hey coach, congrats on the win. I was curious about what you thought of the brand of soccer tonight, you know, with all the pressing back and forth. How do you think he got a leg up and especially with the Kalani goal?
00:33:04
Speaker
ah How do you think he kind of came away in a a battle of the presses? I thought the game was pretty exciting in the first half. I mean, I'm going to watch the game on the plane ride home. But I came in at halftime and I was asking Freddie and and Johnny upstairs. I said, man, did you guys? I mean, that was a fast game. and That was entertaining. i mean We were going back and forth, back and forth in the first half. So that's credit to you on. And, you know, St. Louis plays a little differently than they did last year.
00:33:30
Speaker
And so I thought the game was entertaining. I mean, it was a one-nothing score, but I thought the game was back and forth. And look, they had some chances at the end of the game. And then we had that sequence where, you know, we get the ball and Snyder and Berkey has to make the save. And then we have to scramble and we got all this sort of stuff. So I thought the game was exciting.
00:33:52
Speaker
And, you know, we're we're fortunate to win on the road. It's it's challenging, but credit credit to the effort that the guys put in. And then one more. ah Paul got his first sustained run today, over 30 minutes. Looked pretty solid.
00:34:06
Speaker
What did you think? Paul Areola. Paul Areola, that's right. um And he he looked pretty good defensively, especially. What did you think of his play and how he's progressing? He looked really good.
00:34:16
Speaker
he looked good. If he can continue to perform like that, he's going to push the starters. He's going to push me, more importantly, to find a way to put him on the field. He was intelligent.
00:34:28
Speaker
He put the work in. And you could tell he's just more composed. He's got that veteran kind of composure where, you know, some of those possession sequences I talked about in my opening monologue, you know, he, he was the one that started some of those because after you defend for a long time, the first pass, the second pass, the third pass, those are critical for you to, you know, establish possession and get your team up the field.
00:34:54
Speaker
Thanks. All right. Now we'll go over to Felipe and Miqueta. Felipe, go ahead, please. Thank you Alex. Coach Brian, congratulations. Hasani has started the three games and then my question to you is how is the midfielder working for you and after the you know the exit of Obed Vargas and this ah Dan and these other guys are you happy with? um Happy of course Hassani is a talented player he's a tough player and I like that he reminds me a little bit of a combination
00:35:33
Speaker
of Ozzy and Gustaf. I mean, he's got a little bit of a bite to him. So I actually love that. And then he also, Felipe, he has soft feet.
00:35:46
Speaker
The ball at his feet, it doesn't look like he's, you know, hurting the ball or killing the ball or whatever. He's got soft feet. So I think he's been a valuable addition to the squad.
00:36:00
Speaker
Okay, next we'll go over to Nico and to Nico, go ahead, please. Hi, Brian. Congratulations on the win. Nico with the now independent House of Sounders. A start for a young player and academy product, Stuart Hawkins. He's also been involved in the first games too. So how do you feel he did today and overall in the in the first three appearances?
00:36:22
Speaker
Well, Stuart didn't play. um' I'm assuming you meant Snyder. Yeah, sorry, not Hawkins. I'm in Snyder, Brunel. I knew what you meant. And welcome aboard.
00:36:33
Speaker
Look, Snyder did really well. ah You know, he played in an advanced position tonight. Normally he's played at one of the double sixes where it might be his natural spot. But I thought he did very well tonight. You guys saw his quality, his ability to kind of wiggle out of things. The last question about Obed. You know, Snyder is the most...
00:36:54
Speaker
ah most similar to some of Obed's qualities. He can get the ball and dribble out of pressure, but he was excellent tonight, put the work in super, super talented kid.
00:37:08
Speaker
Now asked Jackson a similar question and wanted to get your thoughts on it as well. Basically, how do you feel like the team adjusted defensively after that forced substitution of Yamar? Right.
00:37:20
Speaker
i mean, ah we didn't change anything defensively like rotations or when to press, how to press. Alex has played there plenty of times for us. You know, last year he played center back in a back line of four. We did not go to a back line of five. It was back line of four specifically.
00:37:39
Speaker
Even when Cody Baker came on, we still stayed in a back line of four. And that's how much confidence I have in Alex Rolando. Thank you. All right, time for one, maybe two follow-ups, tops. Jada, go ahead if you have one.
00:37:53
Speaker
Thanks. I just wanted to ask about Kalani. Was there um a consideration or debate about anybody else as far as who to bring on when you did lose the game? No.
00:38:05
Speaker
No. No, it look, the natural thing would have been to slide Nguyen as a center back and Jackson and bring someone out on the left. But Jada, it was, we did it the other game. It worked against ah RSL. So that was an easy choice.
00:38:23
Speaker
All right. and My board is clear. Thank you all for your questions. Brian, and thank you for your time. Safe travel. So nice job, Kevin. Nice job, Kevin. Guys, thanks, Alex. You got it. Okay. Media, any needs?
00:38:39
Speaker
Shout out, Kevin. Thanks, Kevin. Shout out, Kevin. I did text him the photo of everyone in chat shouting him out, and he said, I'm famous and a smiley face. So chat, you glad made Kevin's night.
00:38:51
Speaker
Glad we worked the Kevin shout out in there. Yeah, there you have it from Invisible Schmetz. You had Invisible Schmetz to start off the presser, and then Schmetz did make an appearance on screen for the last part of it. so But I thought starting it with Invisible Schmetz was a fun little wrinkle, actually. So the lack of Wi-Fi in St. Louis... I think it's actually added to the content in
Coaching Insights and Fan Impact
00:39:10
Speaker
a way. But no, my takeaway from that presser is Schmetz was vibing. I mean, that's he was vibing. That's the happiest I've seen him after a win and in a minute. Like he. But so I think ah like, why do you think that is? I think it is because I think someone pointed it out in chat, but that's like Schmetz's favorite type of win, you know. You're down a bunch of guys. You're on the road. You're under pressure. You got to roll up your sleeves and gut it out. It's ugly at times. You got to absorb pressure. The goalkeeper's got to make some saves, but you get it over the line and you take the road win. But I think like...
00:39:47
Speaker
Probably part of the reason why he's so happy is because there was a lot of games like that last year where they didn't get it over the line and they didn't take all three points, especially on the road. There was a few of those instances. So I think he is just kind of over the moon that ah that they were able to take a type of win early in the season that they struggled. They struggled in those situations last year. So that's probably why he's feeling it right now. ah Looks like i can completely agree.
00:40:16
Speaker
It looks like we've got Timbo in the feed. is ah are we ah Are we getting the call train? I pushed out the calls just to see if we can stack some callers, but we can we can finish up with our our our convo here quickly. Timbo, hold tight for a couple minutes, and then we'll ah we'll get the calls rolling soon. The link's out, so if you guys want to start fill filling the queue up, feel free. We're going to rip a a couple more minutes here, and then we'll get that going. Did you have anything else that – Yeah, I have a couple of, i have a question for you. Now that you've seen Osaze get his run and you were pushing, you were saying, do we start Moose? Do we start Osaze? Do we start Moose? Do we start Osaze?
00:40:55
Speaker
Who is starting against Vancouver? ah It seems like they're going to keep rolling with Osaze. One thing I was thinking about was like, you know, Moose did have that back issue in preseason. So in all likelihood, Osaze is a lot more fit and that might have something to do with why he started this game. But I also think they're, I think they're trying to get him going. They're trying to like get a tap into this Osaze ceiling. And, you know, i thought uh,
00:41:23
Speaker
It wasn't like an amazing game for him, but I liked a lot of what he was doing. He was working really hard. His holdup play was really good. He was, ah he was doing like a lot of dirty work, which I think is something that he offers more than Moose. So it was not like a, it's, I think so far it's like, you feel like he's not quite really hitting the level that he was in preseason where he looked like a demigod, but I still, I still do like a lot of what I, what I'm seeing. I don't know what, ah what, did you think of Osaza's performance tonight?
00:41:55
Speaker
I don't think he was bad as a player, but I just don't think he's playing the role that they need him to play. Like, when you've got a right back scoring your game-winning goal and your nine has one shot that was one of the worst shots at like, I don't know what he but was in the 63rd minute when he took that shot, he dribbled, he dribbled, he had a good run going. And then he was like, I think I need to shoot now.
00:42:25
Speaker
I think, I think I have to shoot right this second when there is a big ass man right in front of me. I think I need to shoot right now. he He shot and obviously he did not even get close to making it. ah I think,
00:42:43
Speaker
I think you have to start Moose at this point. like i Wow. He's come around. I mean, what ah who else is going to start up there? Yusuke Nome, is he going to start up there? like We don't know what he looks like. you know what I'm saying? like These are the options we have. I'm not saying I'm happy, but Moose is giving you more than Osaze in that holdup play, which is you kind of got try that. I want to see how it looks. You're never going to know until you see how that looks. Maybe Osauze off the bench is going to look great. You know, like I don't really know what to make of it. Moose also missed his chance.
00:43:24
Speaker
So it's a little bit of a tough situation. um But the yeah, i don't I don't really know. i don't really know what's going on at the nine position. But I don't hate what Musavski's doing, frankly, because I think he's looked he's looked fine and good. And i don't hate what De Rosario's doing. But there's definitely not like a ah number nine in our rotation right now that I'm like, hell yeah, guys. Let's...
00:43:54
Speaker
I'm super confident we are going to be scoring a shit ton of goals through our nine. Yeah. I, I still, I still believe that they can get Osase going and scoring goals like they did in leagues cup last year. i think this game in particular, where it's a road game where you're down a bunch of guys and you got Snyder B starting at right mid.
00:44:13
Speaker
ah I don't necessarily expect like a super beautifully executed match offensively under those circumstances. So hopefully once they, when they get a little healthier play guys in position and get the season rolling, we'll see more of Osaze looking like he did in preseason. And then for me with Moose, I mean, Moose tonight, like he, he only really had the one really good chance, but they were also kind of sitting sitting on the lead the entire time he was in the game. So they, I don't think they were like,
00:44:42
Speaker
playing like they would normally play with him out there in this game so uh i do think ultimately though like the both these guys are going be playing a lot like there's a ton of games coming up uh the squad's real thin right now so it's one of those isn't it great to be three games into the season and your entire squad is decimated already yeah so that's what i was gonna say uh can any of you play uh center back because you might have to for the Seattle Sounders because they are three games into the season and they're already doing Alex Roldan CB, which, you know, is a fun novelty, but it's not necessary. It's not what you want. Like I, in an ideal way, we're going to see Cody Baker center back.
00:45:22
Speaker
Are we going to see Cody Baker center back? That's the question. question Yeah, it the the CB situation is obviously tough, but I do think that ah it it makes it like this was a good win, man. This was a good win. Like when when you have your starting CB go down that early in the game, already thin elsewhere and at that position and, you know, tough tough road game. I know St. Louis isn't very good, but like these types of games, even if it's a bad team, it's still hard. The degree of difficulty on taking results in MLS under these circumstances, it's pretty hard like when healthy. So the fact that they were that depleted, had the CB starting CB go down and they were able to win. It's a good win. Like I'm not going poke any holes in that.
00:46:04
Speaker
Absolutely. i agree. Like the win is nothing to be taken away from the squad. That's what these squads are made of. A Brian Schmetzer squad is a bunch of dudes who like don't really give a shit what their position is on the depth chart. They're going to go out there and try and win.
00:46:19
Speaker
And that's sick. That's kind of why I love the ex-dog mentality, right? He's like... Kalani, he's sick. Hell yeah, whatever. Like he can be a star, even though he's not even close to being a starter right now on this roster. I mean, he's going to be now, but you know, like when you came into the season, he wasn't even a voice in our head. Like, oh yeah, he's going to start in the back.
00:46:41
Speaker
um But I have to, I have to say this because I've been known to be the biggest Alex Roldan lover on the entire planet. Frankly, I should just change my username to Alex Roldan lover.
00:46:55
Speaker
Is he maybe even better at center back? Is he maybe just destined to be a center back? Because hear me out. His last-ditch effort clearance on the post, on the St. Louis shot, every time he plays center back, he has one of these miraculous plays that's like a 0.5, 0.6 XG shot that he's blocking. And I'm like...
00:47:23
Speaker
maybe Maybe he should just be playing center back. Maybe he should just be a center back. The guy is incredible. To me, Alex Roldan was my man of the match tonight.
00:47:36
Speaker
He had he was just lights out. He was just lights out. He can do everything. He can play CDM. He can play a winger. fuck He can play nine. He can play goalkeeper. He can play CB. He could probably play head coach, referee, linesman.
00:47:51
Speaker
I mean, this guy is the absolute ultimate utility tool, and I'm not even scared of him starting and continuing to play CB as long as Reagan is out.
00:48:03
Speaker
No, I'm definitely there as far as like if you are in this situation with the depth chart, it's like an actively good option to have. I don't know if I think he's a better CB than he is right back. I think like one of his biggest assets is his wide service and like ability to like create from that position. But I mean, to what you're saying, like. He like he he moved there unexpectedly tonight really early in the game and was yeah like that. I don't think he made a mistake that I could think of, which that's just it's pretty crazy. Like, yeah, like and now we have like three, four games where he's had to do this and he's kind of done that every single time. Like, I don't think he's had a moment in those three or four games where I've been like, oh, man, this looks dicey. This is going to go off the rails. Like, no, he just is nails.
00:48:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's... It isn't... I just am obsessed with him, man. Like, I'm obsessed with him. He's so good. i was That was awesome. that was That was awesome what he did in this game. He's so sick, dude. He's so sick. And honestly, what's even cooler is in a weird way because you can't not have him on the field that center back position opens up a Kalani Kosarienzi, like, a lot of minutes from him.
00:49:18
Speaker
Like, that's that's really important for his growth, for the team's growth. You know, whatever happens with the Yamar injury and whatever, like, TBD, right? It's hamstring injury, though, on a guy who is 30, how old is he? 32? 33. Yeah. 34.
00:49:41
Speaker
33 34 love that and you know ryan sailor has literally not reported to practice he's reported to the white house more times than he's reported to practice um he we have stew hawkins is still injured um you have uh who else did cb is injured kim kim ki behe who's even older than yamar is also injured and hasn't played. um And your next best option is Nuhu and Alex Robon, who are effectively, you know, wide backs. Like, I don't trust Nuhu as a center her back, personally.
00:50:23
Speaker
He was good tonight. He was good to tonight. No, I was going to note this. I was going to note this. have this on my notes, which of course, this is the last thing that I am reading off of my notes. Um, maybe the, maybe the rumors are true that I'm a new who, hater. I'm not, but kind of cooked kind of, kind of, not even slightly. He just cooked. He had a great matchup. He put that, uh, the one dude who has the whitest name of all time in absolute hell, uh,
00:50:50
Speaker
didn't put a ten put a foot wrong. like He had an insane block too. that yeah that that like divings Yeah, that like diving block was just absolutely incredible. um Huge doo-hoo game. Like absolutely huge doo-hoo game. He continues to look good on the ball too.
00:51:08
Speaker
What's up with that? He's not supposed to be good on the ball like that. No, it's just what, why is he doing that? So shout out to the, shout out to the whole back line for this win. Like if I could give COVID a match, it would just be the whole back line. Like they, cause they were under it for a lot, like a lot of the game too. I did think ah like, I didn't like the game state in the first half. Really? Schmetz was talking about how it was it was entertaining and back and forth. And I agree with that for the first like 10, 15 minutes. but that's like when on the road i just don't really like having it felt like you're kind of playing into how they wanted to play but i will say this too about st louis city uh that was a team that was known for ramsey balling last year and being absolute cowards and that's how they won the game against seattle last year was they ramsey i remember that they got a free kick at the very end and you know their new coach that he could be doing that same stuff again but he's clearly not like they played so different than they did than the yeah last year They were they were trying to counter the Sounders to bits. Yeah. It's hard because Simon Boettcher is awful. Simon Boettcher is terrible.
00:52:14
Speaker
They don't have the personnel, I think, to play like that. But I can respect the fact that the new coach is having them play like that. like It was much more ethical footy from them in this game than we saw from them all of last year. When, remember, their coach was throwing out, like, six center backs in the same 11 types games. Yeah. Yes, yeah. Yeah, it was literally the chelsea the Chelsea joke or the park the bus where it's literally they're parking the bus. spot it was It was pretty nasty. We didn't talk about that enough.
00:52:42
Speaker
Yeah, no, we didn't. We didn't because Ramsey Ball, like, overshadows it. That was worse. Like, how – to be that bad but not as bad as Ramsey Ball, again – Ramsey.
00:52:54
Speaker
We don't, I just, I can't even, I can't talk about it. Let's ah let's hit this super chat and then we'll get the calls rolling. Zippy Tuna you're started with the five. Thank you. Zippy Eastern conference, non-playoff teams, 10 through 15th, zero, zero and 15 negative 32 goal difference. That is all.
00:53:12
Speaker
Best conference. Best conference, guys. This is what I said on SoccerWise, okay? I said the Eastern Conference is an absolute joke. And Goss looked at me like I was insane. And so I kind of like walked it back a little bit because I was embarrassed.
00:53:28
Speaker
I'm not embarrassed anymore. I'm going to say it. The Eastern Conference is an absolute joke. An absolute joke. Free Pep B.O. Get him off that team. Get him on the Sounders. That game was a lot of fun. That that game was awesome. Red car. Yeah, that was sick. And you had Willie Zaha as a key character, which is always fun. But all right, let's get these calls rolling. We got Timbo and then we got Gianni after that. And that's all that's in the queue right now. So if you want to hop on and lay down some takes on this one zero dub over St. Louis city SC.
00:53:57
Speaker
Get on in here and we'll we'll get you we'll get you on the screen. But let's lead it off with Timbo. We're going to bring him in right now. Timbo, he's got the Schmetz background. Timbo, 1-0 victory at St. Louis City SC. KKR with the game winner and a backflip. What did you think? How are feeling?
00:54:13
Speaker
Was fantastic. How doing boys? Uh, great off season. I, this is the 1st time I've been on chats. I know we're game 3 and now, but. Hell an off season, you guys put together really appreciate it.
00:54:25
Speaker
All things considering, you know, that the product that Apple is putting out in MLS, I think you guys. the amount of content and the ability to pronounce players' names correctly on our team and other teams. Yeah, that's tough that's tough. I didn't shout out Pablo De La Vega yet. All right, Pablo De La Vega. Where was Pablo De La Vega tonight? where the hell is And this is why we need to trade Pablo De La Vega.
00:54:53
Speaker
We need to trade him. Oh my God. Probably the White House this week. Who knows? Well, yeah. um The other kind of bit of note, four goals over the course of the season, 50% from the bench. Like that's pretty good at this point. Like I know we're looking for starters that are going to score goals. We'll get there, but like, it's nice to see, um,
00:55:18
Speaker
guys coming off the bench and really getting after it. So tonight's an example of that. The Paul Rothrock goal, the first game of the year was was great. And then the other thing keep in mind, this is the sixth time we've played St. Louis.
00:55:35
Speaker
I think we're five and one. So what, I mean, like we're almost the, the the win ratio against this team is even better than the loons and give it time. They've only lost it once.
00:55:48
Speaker
They've only lost once last year. Yeah. You know, so i think with all the away games we're going to have early on, I think this is important to have, you know, grab the points where you can. Cause we're going to have breaks and stuff with the world cup and all that coming up.
00:56:02
Speaker
Is the shield race on? Yeah, I mean, if not if nothing else, it seems like we're we're doing better than our compatriots and the in the Cascadia Cup, and we'll see how that actually goes head to head here soon.
00:56:17
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Vancouver is up 1-0 at the half right now, so yeah not looking good for the old Timbys. um Don't want to talk too much about Portland on ah on a Sounders podcast, but they're they're dog shit, and hopefully we'll continue. They're Phil, but, like, the problem is with with Portland is, like, i want them to be mediocre because Phil Neville not only is an incredible character in this whole, like, bit that we have, he's a really bad coach.
00:56:48
Speaker
So it's been so, like, healing to watch just the worst football you've ever seen come from a guy who is one of the funniest press conference guys of all time. It's, like, den so...
00:57:01
Speaker
It would be really funny if his brother commented on this league the way he comments on Premier and just kind of put puts him to task. It would be so good. um And then I guess to to round out, kind of looking at us, I thought Nuhu played like a really mature game tonight, and I think he was under a lot of pressure to you know be Nuhu, right? Like to kind of get that yellow card, to get that foul that's going to get us into –
00:57:28
Speaker
shots and stuff, you know, and just, I think he kind of just kept it together and, and showed off. I mean, I hate, I hate to say it for the new who haters, but signs of leadership in a defense, especially when you have guys going down. I mean, that's, that's, that's wild to think about that. He, you know, knew who is not being new who tonight and was actually leading a really good defense that pulled out a clean sheet.
00:57:54
Speaker
Are we seeing personal growth from who? Who would have thought it only took him 18 years. We've, we've come a long way from throwing the ball into the stands and getting a crash out red card.
00:58:09
Speaker
If that was his final crash out, may it be his magnum opus. You know what I'm saying? It's a good magnum opus. If it was ah Timbo, anything else that you wanted to hit on from, ah from this game or this road trip coming up here?
00:58:22
Speaker
Uh, Don't other other than ah I'm assuming you boys are going to Spokane and that's gonna I think it's gonna be a wild party. I am I am not um I'm jealous of folks who are I hope you guys hope the 4500 of you have Yeah, no, we're, we're, well, we're going, I actually, this is a funny story. So I just want to share it because I think it's funny. I booked an Airbnb for us in the squad, obviously, as I do, I'm the, I'm the business guy. I accidentally committed fraud by booking this Airbnb because I used my ex-girlfriend's credit card. Uh, And then she called, canceled the card, and Airbnb was like yo, why are you committing fraud? And I looked, and it was my ex-girlfriend's credit card, and then we had to have a phone call and a conversation. I'd say, hey. How long have you not been with particular last, is it more than six months? It's been, yeah, it's been months. It's been it's been it's been months. We're cool. She's great. sure i mean um I said, let me hit your Venmo.
00:59:24
Speaker
Let me hit your Venmo and maybe you undispute the charge. My bad. My bad for the fraud. So let's just let's, let's hope that the Sounders don't have a disaster class in Spokane like I did.
00:59:40
Speaker
That's all I have to say. or There you have it. Credit card. credit card Yeah, or or, you know, ah we're an open book here on Lobbing Scorchers. So shout out shout out to her. She's awesome for not suing me or something.
00:59:56
Speaker
you yeah You love a good, little little just a little bit of fraud. Is that the ultimate Lobbing Scorchers tech bungle? Yeah, I think so. I think so. you might have you might have You might have outdone me with that one. but All right, Timbo. We're all growing tonight. You guys have a good one. Thank you, Timbo. Appreciate you, man. Great call, and we'll ah we'll talk to you on the next one. All right, we're going to get Gianni in here, and then there's still no one in the queue after that. Is the link pinned, or do you want to toss it in there? It's pinned. It's pinned. Link is pinned, so anyone wants to be a short one tonight. It could just be a short one tonight. I wouldn't be opposed to that necessarily. But if you guys do want to get in here, that we're going to be here for a little bit longer. So feel free to tap in. All right. I've been looking forward to this.
01:00:39
Speaker
This man has not been on the show for Country Minute at this point. Thank God we got him back. It's Gianni. What's up, man? Great to see you. Great kick. hey Hey, guys. well Hi.
01:00:51
Speaker
Glad to be back. Just got to say, first of all, I'm putting Noah on Fraud Watch. I guess not your lie as it is as it is already admitted. Yeah. ah Yeah. Fraud Watch. And then also, Schmetz. Fraud Watch is complete.
01:01:05
Speaker
Yeah. And Schmetz, I'm 6'2 and 215, and I can run faster than ah Jackson, so hit me up. How are your hamstrings? you might um At this point, non-injured.
01:01:19
Speaker
Okay. All right. I'm texting and more i'm texting yeah yeah let him. Yeah, let him know. and Yeah, well we'll get in touch. We'll have his people hit my people. Yeah, no, i tip so so this this is a vocal agreement. I'm now your agent.
01:01:34
Speaker
Okay, fantastic. Yes, agree with this. Yeah, yeah, so I get 65% of your salary and signing bonus. We'll deal with the rest later. It's a 360 deal. We'll work this out. Yeah, okay, perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
01:01:49
Speaker
Johnny, 1-0 win at St. Louis City SC. KKR with the game winner and a backflip. What did you think? how are you feeling? Man, KKR is the man. i fucking love that dude. he said That dude just works his ass off and just finds himself in the right positions all the time. I cannot wait to see that guy starting at some point.
01:02:09
Speaker
Yeah, same. Well, you're going to see him start now like until Yamar. So, I mean, I think – This is like what I was trying to say is, yes, it sucks to lose people.
01:02:23
Speaker
ah But you now get the opportunity to see Kalani. You now get the opportunity to see more Kalani and even more Kalani. I don't know. is this one what do you mean it's the best It's the best of all worlds then, isn't it?
01:02:40
Speaker
exactly it's the best of yeah yeah except yamar we prayed we're yeah that was a rough that was a rough injury so i actually went through it while uh we were in the press conferences and watched that back it was a really awkward landing and i don't think that one's going to be coming back super soon uh just the way so he came in and like planted his leg and it looked like his heel stuck and he just kind of went over the top and just stretched that thing i was like watching that in real time and I saw him go down, I was like, oh fuck.
01:03:13
Speaker
when and When he didn't get up and like slam the ground, just like Jordan did when he went down, i literally had, I had more flashbacks. it was It was awful. Yeah, yeah. It was like fortunate son in the background, helicopters and everything. It is just like, oh, here we go again.
01:03:31
Speaker
Yeah. yeah we're talking We're talking like probably four to six on that. So, I mean, I don't know that, but i'm I'm guessing. At least. I mean, if Jordan's was a grade one ah quad strain and it's taking four weeks, this Yamar entry is probably looking closer to eight.
01:03:48
Speaker
Yeah, that's kind of how ah I'm thinking of it, unfortunately. i mean, what do how do you feel the squad set up to ah deal with that? You know, Alex Roldan came up huge tonight. Can you do that every game? Noah thinks so. i mean i mean, apparently you can, but i would rather not find that out. But I guess we're going to find that out.
01:04:06
Speaker
So I like Alex in the three center back system. If we were playing him as a two, like two center backs with ah outside backs, probably not. But i mean, this is this is what we're going have to do. Like, what is our other option at this point, right?
01:04:23
Speaker
i Stuart Hawkins, who knows when he's back? Ryan Taylor, I don't know he's ever going to see the field as a sounder. He might not. I don't think he's going to. He has reported to training, and now what is a degenerative knee issue? what would a That sounds like a chronic injury that he they knew he had in Miami.
01:04:45
Speaker
And so if he went into the transfer portal, and or like if he was in that transfer and they said that he was healthy and it turns out he's not healthy, there is actually a recourse for them to... there is You can't do that. you Yeah, you can't do that. Unwind a trade. So that would not shock me if that's what the what they're going through right now.
01:05:04
Speaker
That's interesting. Okay, we're going to have to dig more into that. I'm going get our insiders on that. Nico Moreno. I would like to get some sort of clarification because that would change things a lot. Um...
01:05:16
Speaker
But yeah, Alex looked great as that right-sided center back. His distribution from that position is fantastic. We know if he can hit that ball. ah He has better distribution out of the back than Eamard does.
01:05:27
Speaker
It takes some of the onus off of Jackson, which is also nice because it makes him a little more... press resistant because he has an outlet to the side of him rather than him having to be the one to launch that ball downfield.
01:05:41
Speaker
So that's a benefit because new who's not the guy that I want passing out of the back most of the time. New who is great taking that ball forward. I mean, we saw what he did, ah moving that ball forward when Paul areola cleared space for him.
01:05:58
Speaker
I thought that was fantastic. Um, Yeah, I think the one thing that I really want to see, though, is an aerial to start with Osaze up front.
01:06:10
Speaker
Osaze needs a winger to feed him. Jesus Ferreira, I know that there's a lot of people who like him. I don't hate him. What he isn't is a winger.
01:06:22
Speaker
not Not in the traditional sense. Paul Areola is much more of a pure skill set that can give Osaze that service. Whereas, like i look I like what Jesus does in that wide channel, but it's not the same thing as like a normal winger. they He and Rothrock both kind of play a different way. Yeah.
01:06:39
Speaker
So when you have Osaze up there and your right wing was Snyder and your left wing was Jesus... Are we shocked that Osaze is not getting the ball fed into him like he would for a target forward like we want to see it?
01:07:01
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's actually a really good point as it like pertains to the Osaze-Moose debate because, yeah, the setup with with Snyder out there and Jesus out there, it does it does not lend itself to a target striker very well. So i before we write off the Osaze experiment, i I agree. I want to see him with Areola or just, yeah, like a more traditional. Well, and then if you think about what's what is our current subbing pattern looking like?
01:07:29
Speaker
Osaze is coming off. Moose is coming on. Jesus is coming off. Areola is coming on. And so that means that Osaze hasn't seen a minute of the field with Areola. Moose is looking better than Osaze on the field.
01:07:43
Speaker
ah Moose is not playing with Jesus. Osaze is not playing with Areola. So we're kind of being forced into this decision. It's like, oh, so who should we start? It's like, well, I mean, we haven't seen...
01:07:58
Speaker
we haven't seen one of the options yet. So you keep making the same sub pattern over and over and over again. It's like, there's another option here. You could give, and and i know that Ariel is probably not fit to start yet.
01:08:11
Speaker
I bet he's got 60. And that's what I was hoping, but yeah. So, and I was mentioning this in the discord and someone's like, okay, you know, you don't want to start someone who's not 90 fit. It's like,
01:08:26
Speaker
If they're guaranteed 60, I mean, you've got some options here. You can use you could use them for 45, and you don't have to burn a sub window. You do have to burn a sub.
01:08:40
Speaker
But at the same time, if you knew that Areola is good for 60, you could put him on for 45 rather than in subbing him on at 60 and only getting him for 30. You don't lose the window. You're still making that same sub.
01:08:55
Speaker
You're getting an extra 15 minutes out of him. You're increasing our probability of scoring because you have an actual winger playing the winger position. Like, I think that that's a reasonable thing to at least consider.
01:09:09
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And then just with our wingers in general, man, like that needs to be sorted. We cannot be having this issue going forward. I know that like,
01:09:23
Speaker
Jordan, he was good for, like, he was durable for one year. Like, that one year leading into the contract we respond now. Yeah. That escalators year, yeah, famously.
01:09:36
Speaker
But let's be real. This guy has had injury issues in the past. Like, and it's not just the ACLs. He's done his hamstrings before. Like, and now he's on to his quads. Like, he is actually prone to soft tissue injuries.
01:09:53
Speaker
Additionally, if we want to talk about... I can't say it. Because I got the hes the the Pedro hate, so I can't. I can't. No, I'm going to... You say it. You did shit. i would You did shit.
01:10:06
Speaker
Let's also talk about that... escalator like if we want to talk about Escalera, let's talk about that contract. When he signed that contract, what position was he playing? Striker. No, he was he was a left wing. No, he was a winger. yeah He was a winger when he signed that.
01:10:22
Speaker
When he signed the contract that had the escalators in it, he was a winger. Yes, yes, when he signed it. So, if he scored that number of goals from the wing, it would have made sense to escalate him to a DP.
01:10:36
Speaker
What happened was Raul Ruiz Diaz... regressed to the point where we could not start him in good conscience. Yeah, like there was no reason to continue starting him. So what did we And they still did.
01:10:48
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, weve we tried that for a long, long time. And as it turned out, that was not a good idea. um And then, but we did get the greatest player in Sounders history, Paul Rothrock.
01:11:00
Speaker
We did. From that. Because Ari said, I need to start a podcast to start begging them to stop playing to stop playing him and play Paul Rodbrock instead. So that was it. but that's yeah That's whole reason the show exists, yeah. But, yes.
01:11:13
Speaker
I would say that the reason Jordan Morris hit those numbers is because he wasn't playing as a left wing. He was playing as a striker.
Contract and Injury Concerns
01:11:21
Speaker
You score more goals from striker than you do from wing. And so, in a way, he kind of scammed himself into the DP contract.
01:11:27
Speaker
which is kind of sick if you think about it. it It's kind of fine. Get that money. i don't hate that. What I do hate is that it is now but let's using one of our DP contracts, i mean not having earned it from the from the wing position, because if he was scoring goals from the wing position like ah like Denny Belonga does, fucking go for it, dude. Yeah, get all that money. you Take that DP contract and run.
01:11:54
Speaker
um But at this point... Should we be talking about trying to get a contract extension going this year? Because if you do, you could actually extend him at a level that would take him down from a DP.
01:12:13
Speaker
extent Because he's 31 or 32. He's got probably like thirty well five years left. Approach him, ask him like what his long term goals are like at this point in time, he probably doesn't want to go to England again.
01:12:27
Speaker
Like he doesn't want to go out of the country. He has a family. He's set up in Seattle. I doubt that he wants to move his family from Seattle to go try and reestablish at another at another club.
01:12:39
Speaker
So why not offer him like Max Tam for the next four or five years, but throw some club options on there? I don't know. the Let the lawyers figure that part out. Try and get him locked down for a longer term contract at not a DP. We can resolve that this year.
01:12:56
Speaker
Following that, let's look at the Pedro aspect of this. If he gets healthy, oh, shit, my shit is... Did my computer fall asleep? Okay. No, you're good. You're good. You're alive. My screen went to sleep. so ah With the Pedro stuff, we need him to get healthy, obviously.
01:13:14
Speaker
um If there's an offer that comes in, you snap accept that. If it's like worth anything at all. like Just snap accept it. This dude, I get that he has looked good.
01:13:28
Speaker
we cannot be doing this injury thing. Like the best ability is availability. And what we don't have is two available DPs.
01:13:40
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Like I get that this guy on his best day can be a world-class player. The problem is how many of those days do we get?
01:13:54
Speaker
Yeah, no, I mean, ah it is it's a valid point, just what I, what I come back to, and I mean, you addressed it, but i what I come back to is like, but God, he's so good.
01:14:06
Speaker
He is when he's on the field. Yeah, yeah. But I think, yeah, where I'm at. That's the, that's the constant thing. It's like, you can weigh the benefit of having a really, really good player.
01:14:20
Speaker
but it's only good if it's on if the product is on the field. If the product is on your bench, then you're not getting any benefit from that product. No, you're not, yeah. I mean, where I'm at with the yeah with the DP situation is basically just like, I mean, if if you get a good offer for De La Vega, I wouldn't be against it, but I think the most realistic scenario is that you let this year play out, and hopefully the way it works out is you can get them healthy and contributing, and they actually look like they can be on the field enough to be viable DPs, or at least in the case of De La Vega, I think that that's what's going to happen, and I'm okay with that. ah And then as for Jordan, I think what you're saying about the extension actually makes a lot of sense, and if they they get to the end of the year and he was like unavailable for a lot of or most of the year, again, I would say that they kind of have to do something like that. like I don't think you need to wait that long. There's no reason to wait that long.
01:15:19
Speaker
ah we are going into a time period where there can be a lot of movement happening, especially this summer, leading into the World Cup window. um I don't think that waiting until this offseason is the right move.
01:15:36
Speaker
um If Pedro gets hurt... We need to sell Pablo. Yeah, we Pablo needs to get off this team. I'm just not a fan of it. um But honestly...
01:15:48
Speaker
Pedro gets one more injury, like not just like a little knock or something, but I mean like another multi, like month long, couple months injury that is straight up.
01:16:00
Speaker
That's buyout time. Like you cannot have nuclear option, nuclear. No, you can't keep doing this. Like how many different times can we have him go down with a multi-week injury?
01:16:11
Speaker
Like, okay The problem with buyouts, though, in MLS is they're so stacked against the club. like that's the reason like you you We literally cannot buy out Jordan Morris. like His contract, it's just like it's impossible.
01:16:26
Speaker
Pedro, I think is he's making less, so i think it is technically possible. But if you buy him out in the middle of the season, not in it not in like a season, you take the whole hit of his salary plus the buyout. So you're fucked.
01:16:41
Speaker
you're were We have no catchphrase. Only if no one picks him up, yes. like if you If no one picks him up, then yes, you're on the hook for that money. If we think someone's going to pick up that contract, well, then the league is going to... Yeah, you can trade him. Technically, the league still reclaims his rights, like holds his rights. Basically, inside of the league, you give up your ability to claim him as a player, but someone else can come and claim him.
01:17:09
Speaker
they then have to take on the burden of that contract and it removes it from your books. So yes, you would have to pay it out. Although, which i think, I think for another year, isn't it?
01:17:21
Speaker
Yeah, it's only for another year, and I think that his salary can be TAM. I think he's in the salary TAM threshold. Yes, so the only reason he's a DP for us is because of the transfer fee.
01:17:34
Speaker
Yeah. Because he's not actually making all that much money. The other option is, like, you could also try and rework his contract, but at this point in time, is there a reason to rework his contract?
01:17:46
Speaker
Like, do you want to extend him? Because I don't want to extend him right now. Ari does.
01:17:52
Speaker
I think R would be cool with just getting him on Tam. if you yeah If you got him on the books as not a DP, there would be less stakes on it every time he gets injured. Well, exactly. And so that's that's the whole thing. like You can afford to have like players who have a little bit of a downside if they're your Tam players.
01:18:10
Speaker
Our problem is we've got those players taking up our designated player spots. And we can't go through an entire another season playing with like one, maybe two DPs because the it lowers your ceiling too much. It also lowers your floor too much.
01:18:25
Speaker
Like we have Albert out there trying to just kind of like sheer force of will this team. like Yes, okay. for these i saw someone I saw someone talking about the same stuff we were talking about, but saying, we need to move off Albert Rusnak. And I was like, I'm sorry, he is the most durable DP in this entire league. Like, this dude plays every goddamn minute of every goddamn game, and he's good.
01:18:53
Speaker
I would rather have an Albert Rusnak at all three designated player positions. Yeah, he's not messy. I don't care. i want a durable, talented, production-heavy player as my designated player.
01:19:07
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. like he how many get like Outside of that one, i think it was his first season, he strained his calf. He yeah yeah had one. he missed a couple games last year. but he he really like yeah like Everyone can miss a couple of game He missed a lot leagues. That's not a big deal. He missed a lot of leagues cup last year.
01:19:26
Speaker
Okay, whatever. like You can miss a few games. We're not talking about 30, 40, 50% of the season. We're talking about a couple of games here.
01:19:38
Speaker
With the other two, we're talking closer to 60, 70% of a season outinjured That's unacceptable. You can't be doing that with your designated players.
01:19:51
Speaker
they They do do it with their designated players. and ah Yeah, and we crashed out the first round. No, yeah, I mean, yeah. like you know I don't know what you want me to say. like Sure, we did it, and then we finished lower in the table than we should, which meant we were not hosting our home games, which meant we then had to go to Minneapolis twice, and what happened? We fucking lost to the terrorists.
01:20:13
Speaker
Was that because of the absences of the attacking DPs though? Cause that's the only thing that where i where I might not say that it was on the ah on our defense, but also there are a lot of times in these games where we are unable to hold possession of the ball and we end up white knuckling it to the end of games like we did tonight.
01:20:32
Speaker
And so it is possible that while it's not necessarily their attacking prowess that we're missing, we're losing our ability to hold possession of the ball and which is making it harder for us to kill off games okay okay i uh i haven't thought about it like
Handling Pressure and Squad Depth
01:20:50
Speaker
that yet i'm uh i've kind of been of the mind that uh you gotta to bait him more he's not gonna get mad at you unless you you tell him that like pedra did really good shit he's done nothing he literally could go to in the dustbins of sounders history and people would be like oh who cares like you gotta bait him more
01:21:10
Speaker
You're not getting angry enough, Ari. This isn't content enough. so um yeah you know He's making actually some some decent points here. so I did make lot of these points before. You can stack bodies. You want to stack bodies in front of gold? Go for it. But eventually one of those balls is going to squirt through.
01:21:26
Speaker
Yeah, it's true. The problem is like, you can't just sit there and bunker and absorb pressure for that long. At some point in time, you have to break pressure and hold possession. They were playing we didn do that tonight they were playing with fire with that tonight and they were pretty bad in possession. And and honestly, like we, we played with fire a lot last year too. And it's not shocking to me that we ended up giving up goals that cost us wins, turns wins into ties, ties into losses. Like,
01:21:51
Speaker
That shit happens when you can't hold possession. And sometimes you can't hold possession because you don't have some of the talent out there to beat a man, break a tackle, get out into space, hold the ball and make a good pass.
01:22:07
Speaker
yeah And that comes from having, yes, X dog is great. X dog cannot make up for skill sometimes.
01:22:16
Speaker
Yeah. Absolute cinema. Good points. This is what we missed. This is what we missed. We need to call in. I'm sorry. Like, I'm sorry. The last, like towards the end of last, uh, the second half of the season,
01:22:31
Speaker
Fucking life got crazy, man. I was in school. yeah I finally fucking graduated. I'm off that shit. Hey! Congratulations! Yeah! Diploma. chat Give us some super chat money for that. Give us some super chat money for that. Put it towards my student loans! Yes!
01:22:48
Speaker
No, dude, congratulations. Yeah, that's awesome. We got Tyler in the queue next, but you have any like final wrap-up points that you wanted to hit about this game or the season coming up here?
01:22:59
Speaker
Um... Somehow Nuhu decided, like, he got started getting spun up tonight and decided instead of taking that red guard, he was ah just going to, like, brush that off his shoulder and walk away.
01:23:12
Speaker
My man, if that's not maturity, I don't know what the hell it is. We're very proud. We're very proud. Our goat. aren't oh yeah thank you johnny great stuff as always man great to have you back on the show don't never don't take any uh breaks that long again we gotta get you i'll be around more often now okay we got we got uh take care man appreciate it uh we got tyler tyler wait before we before we bring tyler in tyler are you parked i saw you were driving we can't be legally speaking so long okay okay we can bring you on i see you're good you're good good be good out there oh all right we got you're good we just want to make sure you're safe we got tyler he's in his car but he is parked not driving yeah tyler uh what's going on man one zero win at st louis city sc kkr with the game winner and a backflip what'd you think how you're feeling don't love the backflip considering how injured we are i will say that I had the same thought. I was like, hey. yes and that's white gra you're not steveonga You're not Denny Bwonga.
01:24:16
Speaker
i How are people feeling? Because I just joined, so I don't know like how people are feeling after that game. like What's the temperature? like Are people mad because it was kind of a sloppy game? Are people happy because they gutted it out?
01:24:30
Speaker
i think i think people are vibing for the most part. ah You know, I think most people understand like like the personnel situation and the injuries and Yamar going out and also just kind of how road games work in MLS sometimes. So I think the vibe's generally pretty positive.
01:24:49
Speaker
Yeah. It was just interesting. Cause I heard something for one second that was like, Alex rolled on at center back is an ideal But the more I think about it, I can't think of the last time we conceded a goal with him at center back. Yeah, apparently it is. Didn't he have three shutouts last year?
01:25:07
Speaker
and like the three So honestly, KKR at right back, Alex Roldan at center back, I feel like it's... New meta. new meta Because if we think about KKR too, when he gets on the field, he scores.
01:25:24
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Like, his goals per minute is insane, if we break it down. I mean, already probably has more career goals than New Who, probably more assists than New Who, different type of player. But, you know, obviously he has, like, a tenth of the minutes.
01:25:43
Speaker
I feel like i love Alex, and that's part of the problem, because I feel like KKR is ready to be, like, our guy. It kind of feels like he needs to be a featured player on this team. ah Like the, ah the, the statute production is like, you can't ignore that. That is very consistent. And the work rate.
01:26:04
Speaker
And the work rate. Exactly. So. And he's fast. Yeah. Yeah. Which, you know, you want to, you want, like, I think it's great. We're seeing the depth of the team so far this season. You know, we we just talked about how they don't have two of their DPs and you got guys like Paul Rothrock and KKR stepping up. So that is good on ah on one hand, but it does bring up those debates of like, all right, like KKR needs to play. So how do you make that happen? and do Do you move do you make move Alex? Because I feel like Alex, I know people have been giving him shit
01:26:36
Speaker
Ever since that like LA Galaxy turnover, but like I feel like Alex is definitely very underrated. i do feel like he makes very few mistakes, but for some reason when he does it, I think people just get amplified.
01:26:51
Speaker
Maybe because it's just mistakes in the biggest moments, but also in the biggest moments he's typically been a reliable player. Like, I remember watching the League's Cup Final, and I'm in my seat, and I see Christian Roldan going up to take that penalty, and I'm shaking my head.
01:27:10
Speaker
I'm not feeling great. And i was sitting by some Inter-Miami fans, and I was like, they need we need to have the right back come and take this. Like, our forward – Our strikers can't shoot it. i don't, Russ Neck wasn't in the game. There's no one else on this team that can take a penalty kick to just ice the game besides our right back. I feel like he's a clutch player who plays well at the highest level.
01:27:38
Speaker
When asked, like, we forget, but he spent a lot of time with El Salvador. He played well internationally. Like, I feel like he rises to the occasion. um And KKR is unproven, but there's just something about them. And that's kind of like, that's the dilemma for me, honestly. Like there is honestly a lot of pros and cons to both.
01:28:01
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I think for now they are probably forced into playing Alex at CB. So we probably are going to be getting to see more KKR, not under the circumstances that we wish it was, but I think for the short term here, like it is, I guess it's nice in a way to be in a situation where ah you're this under it with injuries in the personnel, but you still feel good about the options that they're going running out there. Like, There's definitely been past years where that when they were in injury situations like this, it was like, all right, well, this is all chalked. Hold on to your hats. But like, that's not how I really feel right now. They just won road game ah in that situation. So good start.
01:28:40
Speaker
See if they can keep. Yeah. If you if you told me they were going to tie both road games going into them, I probably would have been OK. So the fact that you win one, you're actually you're ahead. ah schedule a little bit that' hot despite what always happens and i'm not gonna lie at halftime i was like i was like just give me a zero zero like and i don't know yeah like when once after the yamar injury i was pretty much like all right like you got alex rolled on at center back unexpectedly and you got snyder b at right mid like
01:29:13
Speaker
And this team's also looking to just counter, counter, counter, counter. This just seems dicey. Also, they're giving the ball away a lot. You can get out of here with a point. I would take that. But then they won. So that was cool.
01:29:25
Speaker
Yeah. And i don't it's kind of hard to see the vision right now, because obviously like ah so I couldn't watch the start of the game. So I was watching it on delay. So I couldn't look at the lineups. Is Georgie Manugu like was he not there?
01:29:42
Speaker
He's got like a a foot knock. So he wasn't a sub. Okay. So I didn't want to... lose a sub you He was on the roster. Oh, he he was on He was on the matchday roster, but I assumed he was still... He was there and they weren't going to roll him out unless they absolutely needed to is what it seemed like. He was traveling and available. Okay.
01:30:03
Speaker
Because it just felt like a really thin squad. I know it is because people are hurt, right? But i seeing Snyder burn out, like, obviously, like, he's working himself into the team. And just to have him, like, go out of position, like, in the third game of the season is pretty interesting. And, like, the parts of his game that were really good was when he was in the middle of the park, right? But you could kind of see it. There's a bunch of times once he got isolated on the wing, there was really there was nothing there.
01:30:34
Speaker
And I'm not going to knock a player. I'm not knocking him or saying he's not his position. He's playing out of position, right? But I would say it was pretty glaring. There's a gap at that position right now.
01:30:48
Speaker
And i don't... I mean... I don't know how we can make it through a whole season with that. And last year, I felt like we had wingers forever.
01:31:00
Speaker
Like all that we had, like seven of them. so i'm saying we were waiting a dp it needs to happen is he still a free agent what's he up to can we give him a call i mean craig did just say he has no place on this team at the end of year right i don't think i was being sarcastic i don't want ryan kent back i was just like last year ryan kent was our worst winger and now i don't know i don't know what we're gonna do I was even thinking maybe kk KKR could play on the right going into I would like that more than Snyder. like Snyder, it's just like... snyder like it was not a fan it's a lot to ask It's just a lot to ask. It's a lot to ask for an 18-year-old who is just like starting to learn to play an MLS at one position to play out of position and and like ah to carry the load attacking position.
01:31:51
Speaker
like yeah You can muddle your way through one game like that like they did tonight, but like that can't be the every week thing. No, or even, you know, if it's a game like St. Louis and, you know, it's going to be a pressing battle, you know, maybe put Alex up a line and then put KKR behind him. I think that's redundant. I just, I feel like there are a lot of options and I was kind of shocked that it's like, you know what plan, let's just say plan B, but plan A, considering oh the scenarios going in tonight, plan A is going to be Snyder was pretty surprising to me.
01:32:24
Speaker
yeah I didn't really see anything that made me feel differently. um I don't know. i if If he gets that assist to Mussofsky, that he kind of, I don't, he kind of did a shot, like, right at Berkey, like, maybe I feel differently, but then it's like, are we just cherry-picking, like, when someone does something statistically over like how well they played. Right. the body or Yeah. Right.
01:32:50
Speaker
I thought Snyder, I thought Snyder did admirably considering what he was asked to do. Yeah, for sure. They got, they, I mean, in, in an ideal world, you got to just have him playing his actual position, I think. controversial take here, but talking to be playing the position that he's really damn actually plays. Yeah. Uh, all right, Tyler, we got tribe coming up next, but you have any, uh, last thoughts or takes you want to get out there either this game or the rest of the season.
01:33:20
Speaker
Yeah. Last thought. Um, you know, I know we were talking about depth a lot last year and, you know, talking about depth a lot this year and we have Paul areola coming back and,
01:33:32
Speaker
Like, part of me is still kind of worried about Paul Areola getting hurt again because it's been a few years since he's done it consistently. And, um you know, there was a point, though, when I was watching this game and is it Pekovic?
01:33:48
Speaker
Yeah. And I'm kind of watching this game and I'm kind of like, I kind of wish we still had Danny Leyva on the team. Oh, bro, he's killing it in Liga and Meckies, too, dude. I watch every single Nakaksa game because, like, I'm obsessed. He's, like, really fucking good.
01:34:05
Speaker
Yeah. He looks like a different guy. he looked Like, I think maybe he needed to change the scenery to, like, reach that. He needed it. Because, like, i'm what I'm watching this Danny Leiva and Liga and Meckies stuff, and I'm like, yo, what, like...
01:34:17
Speaker
what where was this to be fair he played well in seattle he did but like not what not like this yeah like no sure okay i i'm i'm uh not well versed on the the hulu fc he's like dan he's like flying around the field he looks like fast it's i'm telling you it's it's wild it's just uh liga mx diff is what it is okay so Yeah, I mean, he was he was definitely solid, and he definitely had opportunity. I think he would have played a lot more this season, but I think the deal they got for him and Danny just in general, I think i think it was the right move for him, but it is one of those where, like, i I'm in agreeance with you. i'm like, ah, shit.
01:34:55
Speaker
He would have been really good in this game today. Like, it ah would have made a huge difference, and it was like, this game is screaming for Danny Leyva, and sorry, I'll go. But Pekovic, though, I will say,
01:35:08
Speaker
He did look a little uninspired in the other appearances I did see from him. um Tonight, though, he did kind of cook little bit. He had a couple of really nice times. He had two plays where he had to make, like, two or three passes in quick succession, and he made all four or five passes perfectly.
01:35:27
Speaker
That little, like, it wasn't a one-two with Areola, but the kind of, like, transition play where he kind of breaks at an angle, and then he gets it to
Youth Development and Strategy Adjustments
01:35:36
Speaker
Danny, like, if If that goes in, I'm like, okay, I kind of see i kind of see the vision for Pekovic, but still at the same time, like at the end of the day, it's like I feel like I'd rather have Danny Leiva than a guy we're loaning out for like a U-22 spot.
01:35:52
Speaker
But you know I could be wrong. yeah yeah I mean, I'm not at practice. I'm not a professional. I never went pro. I don't know anything. Yeah. Tonight was the first time watching Petkovich where I was like, okay, they' they like there was stuff happening. It's a good start. It's a good start. it's a good start yes sister start somewhere We'll see if he can build on it. but All right, Tyler, great stuff, Thanks for all you do, guys. Take care. yeah Thanks for calling in, boss.
01:36:16
Speaker
Have a good one. All right, we got tried. Super chat, super chat, super chat. ok Time to start MLS, Proven Moose, make D-Row earn it. Thing is, I thought he did earn it in preseason, and it like it just hasn't quite hit that. But like I don't know. Sometimes I think with these things, you don't want to get like too recency biased. like You do have to kind of work your way up with it sometimes. So hopefully that's what the situation is. I don't think D-Rowe's been bad. It's just like he was so lit during preseason that the hope was that he could kind of just hit the ground running and get right to that. And I feel like that hasn't quite happened yet, but I do think it's still possible for it to ah pop. Reese is accusing me of hating Danny Leyva. I don't know. Am I a Danny Leyva hater? Am I wrong that he looks like a lot better for Nakoksa than he did for Seattle? Am I exaggerating that?
01:37:10
Speaker
I think we didn't see him enough, but I do think that he has clearly taken a step forward. I mean, he he looks amazing there. And this is a great time to say, go watch our Danny Leva interview that Nico Moreno did. And I edited and it's on our YouTube channel. Go watch it. Okay. Try Let's get tribe. And then we're going to call it a wrap for this post game live. I think ah tribe.
01:37:32
Speaker
What is up, man? One zero win at St. Louis city SC KK are with the game winner. winner And then you hit a backflip. What did you think? How are you feeling? I mean, fucking put him as striker already. I mean, two incredible goals for the Sounders and two years at that position. Hardly any game time. He looked like prime Rui Diaz and just a lot nostalgia with that little, that little what what's it even called? like Almost a Cruyff turn or something and just finishing it off. Oh, man, I just love that. But before I go on, the Ryan Kent hate is appalling. It's absolutely appalling.
01:38:12
Speaker
What are we doing? If Ryan Kent was starting every single game, he would have been our best winger. And I will die on that hill. I will die on that hill. Now, now with that out of the way, the Osase thing, it's not his fault. He never gets chances. He hasn't been in getting any of the chances that we see,
01:38:32
Speaker
Musovsky at last year he he hasn't gotten any tapping chances any clear cut header chances any any um real good chances for his skill set he did have one that he could have cut inside before shooting and that might have gotten better but again he's young inexperienced I wouldn't expect him to do better i say we keep starting him and trust the process. um mi Miguel Arteta quote, but maybe he's not the best person quote off of as they're about to bottle the league again. So trust the process with him. I really like Costa Rienzi, but also love Jesus Ferreira. That pass into Costa Rienzi was absolutely exquisite. Just a simple little ball. cut back through, like, two players. Incredible. But I really want to get your guys' take on how well we defended and what we're going to do without, um, Yamar now.
01:39:34
Speaker
I mean, I will say, i
01:39:38
Speaker
I love Yamar and I think he's been really good. i think he's had some tough moments this season. i think the back line was amazing tonight. i thought Yamar played great. I really liked his like kind of advanced play as well.
01:39:53
Speaker
That's where he got injured was pushing pushing up the fuel a little bit more, but it was interesting and it was a good look. yeah But dude, you I mean, you know me. Alex rolled on, man. He's going to hold it down and he's going to be fine. he's He's not Yamar, but like you have Jackson Reagan up there.
01:40:09
Speaker
I'm not too worried about it. Big Stu Hawkins, maybe one of these days, will come back, get him some minutes. What I'm concerned more about is how Yamar looks when he comes back.
01:40:22
Speaker
Because... yeah i he's the type of guy who loves to rush through recovery. He's a guy who just wants to get back on the field and play. He's a dog. he's a dog He's one of the biggest dogs on the team. It's something that I think that a lot of people don't acknowledge, but you talk to Nico Moreno and like, Gamera's like blowing up his phone because he's like, bro, I'm injured. Just put me out there. i don't even care. I'll stop my own leg off. Like, i just just get me out there. Like, he's a want to play guy. So I think you miss that. You miss that kind of
01:40:53
Speaker
grit um but i don't know like i think i think they can figure it out with alex back there i think what needs to be even more solid though is that double pivot pair and the possession in your midfield because when we're having turnovers from hasani dotson in dangerous positions early on in the game i'm sorry like if you have a if you have a stand-in center back even as good as alex i'm I don't know what to tell you. So I think I'm still a little bit more worried about that double pivot and their ball control than I am about getting replacement. see they They got, they got a little lucky to not blow this lead based on how much they struggled in possession and how many giveaways there were. Like, I will say that. I do think, though, that if there is something that I feel encouraged about coming off off this game, it's the fact that they they didn't give up the lead. Like, yes, they gave up some chances. They had a lot of bad giveaways. It was rough in possession. and they had to absorb a lot of pressure. And Andrew Thomas had to make more good saves than you would want. But I think um I'm hoping, like, psychologically to to get to one of the to get to the end of one of these and keep the clean sheet and not blowing the lead, which is what they were doing a lot last year. hopeful when it too much yes Hopefully that's a psychological building block and we can start putting the this blown lead stuff in the rear view mirror. And ah maybe maybe this is the the start of building towards that. That's what I'm hoping at least. cause ah i mean I said it before, but like i when KKR scored, I was like, you got to get at least one more because one goal lead is not going to cut it here because you can't keep possession of the ball. and they're countering their asses off, and eventually you're probably going ship one. But they didn't. So all's well that ends well. But if they can't get better in possession in these road games, they're going to get scored on by better teams than this.
01:42:50
Speaker
what What do you think about ah Jackson Reagan potentially being um in next year's World Cup or even this
International Call-Ups and Positioning Suggestions
01:42:58
Speaker
year's World Cup? do you think he deserves that that opportunity?
01:43:02
Speaker
No, I'll let go there. you Yeah, i I don't know. Here's here's the thing with ah the Jackson-Reagan situation. He obviously got a call-in. He did get a call-in previously in which the Sounders were like, we're happy to release him, but we we need to delay his his departure date by like two days. We just need them to play in this game, then he can come into camp. And US s soccer was like, fuck you.
01:43:29
Speaker
No, we absolutely do not negotiate with terrorists. And then the Sounders were like, okay, but like, we're literally playing in a competition that we pay this player to play in. We need him.
01:43:45
Speaker
And they were like, I don't care. Fine, whatever. Just we'll pick someone else. We don't even care. Jackson Reagan got the... Better than Tim Better than Tim Ream, but he got bad end... Not even close. Not even close. He got the bad end of the stick from that.
01:43:59
Speaker
And so I think that U.S. soccer and the Sounders don't really have a great relationship, and there was bad blood there and whatever, blah, blah, blah, blah. blah he got He got the short end of the stick, and I just think...
01:44:12
Speaker
for whatever reason, he hasn't gotten the call. I don't understand it. it It seems really stupid. i think he's pretty frustrated with it as well. He was really frustrated after that call-up was supposed to happen, and then he didn't get to know. Do you think they're, like, grudging over that?
01:44:27
Speaker
Probably. That would be so U.S. soccer. That would be so U.S. soccer. yeah Absolutely. So I think that I don't listen if he doesn't make the this World Cup.
01:44:40
Speaker
He's young. He has an opportunity to make the next World Cup. I think he's one of the best defenders in Major League Soccer. Soccer. I do. I really do. in u s songer i do yeah i really do Like in MLS for sure, in US soccer period. But like if you're if I see Tim Ream on that World Cup squad, just know I'm clipping every mistake he's making. I'm putting it on the Everything app and I'm going to start my agenda. Everyone knows me on there as the Christian Roldan guy.
01:45:09
Speaker
but All the USMNT fans either love me or they hate me because they understand the bit that I'm doing. A new bit is about to hit the timeline and it's going to be Tim Ream, hater. Yeah.
01:45:22
Speaker
And I just like, I don't know. I'm not normally a hater like that, but Tim Ream, I'm coming for you so that Jackson Reagan can get your spot. So the propaganda will start to commence.
01:45:33
Speaker
ah My last agenda, then I will let you guys call it a night because it's been an absolute wild one, hasn't it? What do you guys think about Schneider Brunel? I think he should play the center mid role and we maybe put Pekovic where Brunel was to see what he can do up there. But I don't i don't know. What do you guys think that that should look like?
01:45:54
Speaker
Well, I definitely think that ah him playing right mid is something that should only be done in emergency situations, which is that will that was what this was tonight. So I'm okay with it in this situation. ah But I think there is, we were talking about it a little bit earlier, but I think there is going to be increasing discussion about the competition between him and Hassani. I think I continue to love what I've seen from Snyder. this year. really I think like he he's going to be a starter on this team sooner rather than than later. i just I think the amendment I would make is i would I would put KKR at right mid and instead Petkovic and then but swap Snyder and Hassani if you say think that that if that he's earned that.
01:46:40
Speaker
Do you have any plans for Petkovic? Do you think what would what would you do with Petkovic? Just leave him on the bench? i mean i think you try and get him these cameo minutes where you can i thought he looked pretty good in this game like i was expecting it to be just kind of a wash where you didn't notice it was on the field and i did notice he was on the field like he hit he a couple of those passes he hit there's one in particular that where he sprung a counter and i was like damn that was like a legitimately good pass with a high degree of difficulty that led to like a dangerous sea that was good that was good so uh that like it was just like one or two plays but it was enough for me to be like all right give him another cameo he's quite he's quality i think i saw a little bit of that against rail salt lake i thought he was a little a little beacon of light absolute hell in america first field which we all hate we want to burn that place to the ground and we just we don't want to about but really think
01:47:36
Speaker
The body language, the movement, and in the very difficult degree of crosses I was trying to put in was was was very good. But with that being said, I hope you guys have an absolutely wonderful night. And again, let's fucking go.
01:47:53
Speaker
Let's go. Oh, yeah, Tribe. I appreciate you, man. Great stuff, as always. ah All right. I think we can call it right there for this postgame live. for Please like the video. Please, please, please. Please like the video. Please. I'm begging. Please. Like the video. Sub to the channel. Like, comment, subscribe. Rate five stars.
01:48:11
Speaker
And we'll be back at it on Monday for Lobby Scorchers kickoff. We'll see you next time. Until then, we out. Peace.